Gold Digger: The Were-Rats: "The Killing Time"

A What if...? adventure.

(Page 1. Full panel page. We see the Observer from Mystery Science Theater 3000 there. He has brain in hand and is standing against a field of stars.)

Observer: Ah, hello. Observer here. Ever since MST3K was cancelled, I've had a rough time finding work. So here I am, hosting a series of Gold Digger alternate reality stories by some guy named quamp. Anyway, this story takes place in an alternate reality where the were-rats are to betray their leader. Gothwrain will not be happy when his top assassins are turned against him. I've learned the hard way that it's not wise to get an evil genius mad at you.

(Page 2, panel 1. Gothwrain's office. Gothwrain is there, attired in a suit and tie. He is smoking a cigar. He is sitting in a leather chair. Standing opposite him are Lydia, Moisha, and Romeo.)

Caption (N): The were-rats have a problem. To solve it, Gothwrain sends their top assassins to do the job.

Gothwrain: I have to say your track record is most abysmal of late... you failed to kill the were-cheetah. You got yourselves captured by the leprechauns. One of you even died while escaping.

Moisha: Lord Gothwrain, we can explain...

(Panel 2. Gothwrain looks angrily at Moisha.)

Gothwrain: Be silent! You three are lucky I don't give you a bath in silver dust! You have one chance to redeem yourselves. There are a group of were-rats that have betrayed us. They no longer follow my leadership. they have left the clan and are trying to establish a new colony in Central America. You three must go there, find out who the leader is, and kill him or her.

Lydia: As you command, Lord Gothwrain.

(Panel 3. Lydia, Moisha, and Romeo exit the place.)

Gothwrain's thoughts: Well, those three are on their way. If they fail, no big loss... but if they return empty-handed... then they die by my hands.

(Panel 4. A simple farming community in Central America. The place looks like it was recently built, but modest in nature. We see about 5 were-rats in anamorphic form going about their various activities. One teenage male is carrying a hoe and walking around. A female is holding a basket in her hands filled with dirt. The third is a male holding a pitchfork and walking around. The fourth is a female with the fifth one, a male, holding hands. Most of them are young or in their 20's. They are all attired simply, in shirts and pants.)

Caption (N): Belize, Central America. A country known for being relatively stable in a region that's not so stable. In the interior of the country, the were-rats that have rejected the ways of Gothwrain have settled down to live their lives peacefully.

(Panel 5. Focus on the male and female holding hands. They are walking towards a field.)

Caption (N): They don't want to fight. They don't want to kill Britanny. They just want to live their lives in peace.

Randall (male): Well, this has been fun, but we really have to get back to work now.

Gallia (female): Yea, that's the price of having to be alive.

(Panel 6. The two of them stop, and pull each other close, and kiss.)

Randall: I love you, Gallia.

Gallia: I love you two, Randall.

(Page 3, panel 1. Lydia, Moisha, and Romeo are hiding in some foliage. They are attired in jungle camouflage and have several daggers and swords with them.)

Lydia: I can't believe our own brothers and sisters would betray Lord Gothwrain like this.

Moisha: Yet there they are, peacefully farming. They aren't working for the cause. They don't want the clan to survive.

Romeo: It seems such a shame that they had to betray us like this. I can't believe anyone would betray the word of Lord Gothwrain.

(Panel 2. Back with Randall and Gallia, the two of them separate, and Gallia walks away facing Randall.)

Randall: I'll see you tonight, all right?

Gallia: I'll be waiting...

(Panel 4. Lydia, Moisha, and Romeo suddenly jump Randall, and hold a dagger to his throat. Randall is surprised at this.)

Lydia: We've caught you, traitor!

Randall: !

(Panel 5. Moisha stares at Randall with anger in her eyes.)

Moisha: If you want to live you will take us to your leader!

Randall: Gothwrain sent you, didn't he?

Romeo: That's Lord Gothwrain to you, pal!

(Panel 6. Randall attempts to calm down Lydia, Moisha, and Romeo.)

Randall: You don't get it, do you? The prophecy of the were-cheetah leading a bunch to bring us all down... Gothwrain is leading us down that road.

Moisha: Liar!!

(Page 4, panel 1. Romeo presses the dagger into Randall's throat, but does not cut him.)

Randall: It's true... the were-cheetah would have left us alone had we not revealed ourselves to her, or went after her.

Romeo: You honestly don't expect us to believe this, do you?

(Panel 2. Randall looks Romeo in the eye.)

Randall: Not immediately - you've been indoctrinated too much by Gothwrain. It's time you found out the truth about them. I'll take you to our leader.

(Panel 3. Lydia, Moisha and Romeo let go of Randall, who stands up.)

Moisha: Try anything funny and we won't hesitate to kill you.

(Panel 4. Randall leads Lydia, Moisha, and Romeo down a pathway.)

Randall: So what are your names? My name's Randall Ellsworth.

Moisha: Just keep showing us to your leader, pal.

(Panel 5. Randall leads them to a shotgun shack.)

Lydia: This is your leader's home? It's not fit for man nor beast!

Randall: Our leader is well skilled in the mystic arts. What you see is an illusion.

(Panel 6. The were-rats are now in a large foyer, lavishly decorated.)

Lydia: Whoa...

Romeo: Don't forget the mission, Lyds...

(Page 5, panel 1. Enter a middle-aged male were-rat. He is attired in a simple outfit similar to a Buddhist monk's outfit. He looks over Lydia, Moisha, and Romeo.)

Altharion: Welcome to the pathway, young ones. Though you reek of Gothwrain's indoctrinations and punishments, you will soon see the truth.

Randall: They have been sent by Gothwrain to kill you, leader.

(Panel 2. Lydia, Moisha and Romeo rush towards Altharion.)

Altharion: Oh, please...

(Panel 3. Altharion waves his hand, and then Lydia, Moisha, and Romeo stop dead in their tracks.)

Altharion: Gothwrain's magic is powerful, but it is evil magic. The magic of good is always more powerful.

Moisha: Hey! What the-!? I can't move my feet or arms!

Lydia: Me neither!

(Panel 4. Altharion approaches Moisha.)

Altharion: My name is Altharion. Tell me, what are your names?

Romeo: We're telling you nothing, traitor!

(Panel 5. Altharion approaches Romeo.)

Altharion: I notice all three of you have scars on your necks. Looks like you were playing with silver.

Moisha: What business is it of yours?

(Panel 6. Altharion is next to Moisha now.)

Altharion: When a fellow were-rat is hurt, it hurts all of us. Gothwrain has forgotten that. He has held onto power for too long now - and it has corrupted him too much.

Lydia: How dare you speak of Gothwrain that way!

(Page 6, panel 1. Altharion smiles slightly at Lydia.)

Altharion: My, he's really got your number, doesn't he? Did he ever tell you the legend of how Sherisa killed Iceron?

Romeo: Yea, what of it?

(Panel 2. Altharion approaches Romeo.)

Altharion: The were-rats traded one bad situation for another, just like the Russian peasants did during the bolshevik revolution.

Moisha: Liar! Gothwrain is the wisest leader ever!!

(Panel 3. Altharion is face-to-face with Moisha.)

Altharion: If you had been rushing at Gothwrain, he would have killed you without a second thought. I, on the other hand, want you to know my motivations and reasons for betraying Gothwrain. You wear his heavy chains of servitude around you, but you're the only one that can lift them off.

(Panel 4. Randall exits. Lydia, Moisha and Romeo look surprised.)

Randall: Well, I've got some farming to do. Enjoy your time with our leader.

Altharion: You never did tell me how you got those scars on your neck. Let me guess... you displeased Gothwrain, so he made you hold a silver dagger to your throats.

(Panel 5. They continue to look surprised.)

Moisha: How did you know....?

Altharion: A very common punishment he metes out for those that have displeased him. I had displeased him by learning the magic of light and not the dark, evil magic he wanted me to.

(Panel 6. Flashback to a young Altharion standing opposite Gothwrain in a magical lab. There is a table with some potions on it there. Gothwrain is standing there in a suit and tie; Altharion is in a tunic and pants.)

Caption (A): Gothwrain was mad that I did not do exactly as he wanted.

(Page 7, panel 1. Gothwrain is now holding a box open. Inside we see a silver dagger.)

Caption (A): He ordered me to hold the dagger to my throat like you did.

(Panel 2. The young Altharion holds the dagger in his hand.)

Caption (A): I knew then that to do so would be to betray my inner nature and my fellow were-rats.

(Panel 3. The young Altharion stabs Gothwrain in the chest with the silver dagger. This causes smoke to emit from Gothwrain's chest.)

Caption (A): So I did the only thing I could do with a clear conscious... I stabbed Gothwrain.

(Panel 4. Go back to the present. We see Lydia, Moisha, and Romeo looking at Altharion.)

Moisha: You... killed... Gothwrain...?

Altharion: An evil mage like Gothwrain does not die so easily. He had cast a resurrection spell on himself. Shame too, I got him right in the heart.

(Panel 5. Altharion turns away from the others, looking down a hallway.)

Altharion: I had hoped Gothwrain's death would make my fellow were-rats realize how evil of a man he is... but instead, they chose to continue following him and walk down the path of destruction towards the were-cheetah.

Lydia: How are you so sure that the way Gothwrain is leading us is the wrong way?

(Panel 6. Altharion looks at Lydia.)

Altharion: Magic my friend. I have had some dealings in the past with her adoptive father. He's a kind soul named Theodore.

Romeo: You met her adoptive father? How do you know he wasn't lying to you?

(Page 8, panel 1. Altharion gets face-to-face with Romeo.)

Altharion: How do you know Gothwrain isn't lying to you?

Romeo: Gothwrain would never lie to us!

(Panel 2. Altharion pulls back.)

Altharion: He's really got you three good, doesn't he? How about I teleport you into his office right now and find out for sure if he's as good as you say he is. That's the biggest difference between Gothwrain and myself - I don't rule out of fear or with an iron fist. If you ask the fellow were-rats that have defected to my side, they will tell you life is difficult, but they're happier here than they've ever been before.

(Panel 3.)

Altharion: For example, that young man that led you here - he's named Randall. He's in love with a girl named Gallia.

Lydia: So...?

(Panel 4. Altharion approaches Lydia.)

Altharion: Gothwrain forbade them to see each other. Now why do you suppose that is?

Moisha: I'm sure he had a good reason.

(Panel 5. Altharion looks at Moisha.)

Altharion: You want to know why? Because he could. Because he knew it would make both of them miserable. Because he knew they'd be full of fear without each other. Because fearful subjects are more easily brainwashed.

(Panel 6. Altharion pulls back from the three of them.)

Altharion: You wear the chains - but only you can throw them off. You've failed in your mission to kill me. Therefore you have two options: come join me, and live your lives out peacefully and have some fun doing it, or you can go back to Gothwrain, accept further punishment for your failure, and probably your death. The choice is yours.

(Page 9, panel 1. Altharion heads down the hallway.)

Altharion: You will thaw out in a minute or two. Then you must make your decision.

(Panel 2. Altharion exits.)

Lydia: What if he's right?

Moisha: He's trying to charm us into joining him. Don't listen to him.

(Panel 3.)

Romeo: Either way, we are dead.

Moisha: What do you mean?

(Panel 4.)

Romeo: He was right about one thing - we've failed Lord Gothwrain too many times. Chances are if we go back, he will have us killed. If we stay here, he's going to send someone else to kill us.

Lydia: There has to be a way out of our dilemma...

Moisha: Gothwrain selected us because we are the best assassins among the were-rats. So far, we've done a few petty assassinations for him, but it is time we showed that we can be in the big-time.

(Panel 5.)

Romeo: Well... I've been wondering.. Is it really worth it all? I mean, we've been assassinating people for Gothwrain and where has it gotten us? We've been in prison, we've been beaten, I've died and come back from the dead... is it really worth it all?

Moisha: Of course it's worth it all! The survival of the clan depends on us!

Lydia: But what if Altharion is right, Moisha?

(Panel 6.)

Moisha: Lord Gothwrain would never lead us astray.... would he?

Romeo: I wish I knew, Moisha...

(Page 10, panel 1. The three of them can move around again, and do so to maintain their balance.)

Lydia: Whoa!

Romeo: We can move again!

(Panel 2. The three of them look at each other.)

Lydia: I can't believe he'd leave us alone like this.

Moisha: We've got the chance to kill him now!

Romeo: Should we though?

(Panel 3.)

Romeo: I'm having second thoughts about this.

Lydia: So am I. What if life is better here?

Moisha: Well....

(Panel 4. Moisha thinks.)

Moisha: We'll do it. Gothwrain must be pleased.

Romeo: Are you sure of this?

(Panel 5. Moisha stares coldly at Romeo.)

Moisha: If we stay here, we're dead for sure. If we kill him, at least we'll have some chance of escaping punishment.

Lydia: I guess... you're right.

Romeo: No. I can't do it.

(Panel 6. Lydia and Moisha look at Romeo.)

Romeo: Altharion is right. We are not evil people. We should live and let live.

Moisha: Are you out of your mind, Romeo?

(Page 11, panel 1. Romeo looks with concern at Moisha and Lydia.)

Romeo: No... I am tired. Tired of being sent around like some dog fetching things for Lord Gothwrain. when I signed up for this, I was promised a life of happiness and babes. What I got was a life of hard work, no love, and problem after problem. I want out. I want to be someone I can live with being.

Moisha: You are being a coward! I can't believe you'd say something like that!

Lydia: ....

(Panel 2. Moisha looks at Lydia.)

Moisha: Don't tell me you're thinking of joining him!

Lydia: Moisha, he does have a point. What has being assassins for Lord Gothwrain really gotten us? We've failed every major mission he's sent us on. We haven't been able to kill the were-cheetah or anyone as strong as we are for that matter. In fact, it's only out of sheer luck that we've been able to manage to kill anyone at all.

(Panel 3. Moisha looks away uneasily from the others.)

Moisha: Well.... you're right.

Romeo: I say we should start living life on our own terms, and not by the whims of someone else.

(Panel 4. They walk to the room of Altharion.)

Moisha: I can't believe I'm doing this.

Lydia: We have been lied to all our lives, and bought into that lie.

Romeo: I want the truth, guys. That's what Altharion offers.

(Panel 5. Altharion opens the door and smiles.)

Altharion: Ah, I am glad you have chosen reason. So tell me, other than fighting and killing people, what skills do you have?

(Panel 6. The were-rats look nervously at each other.)

Moisha: ...

Altharion: Oh, come on, surely there's some other place in society we can fit you three into.

(Panel 7. Altharion strokes his chin in contemplation.)

Lydia: We've been trained to be killers all our lives. We don't have any other skills.

Altharion: Well then, we've got a couple of places you can be at. We'll find out what your talents really are.

(Panel 8. Pull back to see Gothwrain looking into a scrying sphere.)

Gothwrain: Well... they are bigger idiots than I thought them to be. I will have to deal with them... personally.

(Page 12, panel 1. Back with Lydia, Moisha, and Romeo, we see them sitting in a room around a square table. They have several papers in front of them, and hold pencils in their hands. Standing next to them is a young male were-rat attired in a suit and tie.)

Caption (N): Later on...

Male: Admittedly this test was developed by humans, but it works well enough on were-rats. This will show what your talents are best suited for.

Romeo: Great, let's get started...

(Panel 2. Show Altharion looking into a scrying sphere. He sees Gothwrain casting a teleportation spell.)

Altharion's thoughts: So the time has come for us to meet again.... I have learned from the past, Gothwrain... but unlike the past, I will be a challenge.

(Panel 3. Altharion walks to the door.)

Altharion's thoughts: You will not defeat me so easily... nor will I defeat you easily either.

(Panel 4. Later on, Lydia, Moisha, and Romeo have finished their tests.)

Caption (N): Later still...

Male: Well, I'll take your tests now and -

(Panel 5. Suddenly the wall breaks down with a blast.)

SFX: BLAM!!

(Panel 6. Standing in the hole where the wall was is Gothwrain. He has an angry look on his face, as Moisha, Lydia, and Romeo are surprised.)

Gothwrain: I send you three on a simple errand and what happens? You fall under his spell and betray me.

Moisha: Lord Gothwrain!

(Panel 7. Gothwrain waves his hand, sending a shower of silver dust onto Lydia, Moisha, and Romeo. This burns them on contact.)

Gothwrain: I am very displeased.

Lydia: AH!!

(Panel 8. Altharion stands behind Gothwrain.)

Altharion: Leave my friends alone, Gothwrain... it's me you want to fight, and you will get that.

(Page 13, panel 1. Gothwrain turns around and sees Altharion there. Lydia, Moisha, and Romeo continue to burn in the background.)

Altharion: They have seen the way you have lied to them... the evil you have propagated over the centuries... the path you lead your clan to certain doom... they do not want to be a part of it anymore.

Gothwrain: How DARE you question me, Altharion! Your decision to split the clan will destroy us all! It is time you were taught a lesson in the truth.

(Panel 2. Gothwrain unleashes a magical bolt at Altharion, who puts up a magical shield to block it.)

Altharion: You try to manipulate the clan for your own selfish gains... you seek to end the life of someone who could destroy us, but wouldn't if you left her alone... the path you lead us on is the path of doom!

Gothwrain: You are a fool if you think I will let you destroy the clan!

(Panel 3. Gothwrain puts up a magical shield as Altharion shoots a magic missile.)

Altharion: It is you who are destroying the clan. You are so bent on destroying all the were-cat clans that you don't see that you are killing your own clan.

(Panel 4. Aside. Now recovering, Lydia, Moisha, and Romeo are trying to get back to their feet.)

Lydia: Ah... I hurt all over....

Moisha: We... have to... do something...

(Panel 5. Romeo stands up.)

Romeo: If I must die, then I will die a free were-rat.

(Panel 6. Romeo jumps on Gothwrain's back, getting Gothwrain into a headlock.)

Gothwrain: What!? You still haven't learned your lesson yet?!

(Panel 7. Gothwrain struggles to get Romeo off of him.)

Romeo: I won't be your pawn anymore! I die a free were-rat!

(Panel 8. Gothwrain breaks free of Romeo, using himself as a center for a magical blast. Romeo is caught in this, and burnt up.)

Lydia: Romeo!!

(Page 14, panel 1. Gothwrain turns towards Moisha and Lydia.)

Gothwrain: You have earned my full wrath. When I am done with you two, you will wish I killed you.

Altharion: You're forgetting about me!

(Panel 2. Altharion unleashes a magical blast at Gothwrain, hitting him. At the same time, a silver arrow comes from nowhere and hits Altharion in the back.)

SFX: Whipt!

Altharion: GAH!!

Gothwrain: You honestly didn't think I'd come here alone, did you? Right now, my warriors are massacring your friends, Altharion. The clan must be kept pure!

(Panel 3. Lydia and Moisha get fried by Gothwrain. Behind Gothwrain, Altharion burns from the silver arrow.)

Gothwrain: You have displeased me... now you will be punished.

SFX: ZAPT!!

(Panel 4. Moisha and Lydia lie at Gothwrain's feet, fallen. Sherisa enters. She holds a crossbow in her hands.)

Sherisa: These kids today...

Gothwrain: There was a time when we were held sway by a Svengali.

(Panel 5. Gothwrain and Sherisa exit the place.)

Gothwrain: Have the boys take Altharion and shackle him up. I don't want that idiot causing any more trouble.

(Panel 6. Go back to see the Observer against the field of stars.)

Observer: Hmm.. Pity that one. Well, they all can't turn out happy now, can they? Well, that's all for now. We'll be back later with something a little happier.

-end-