The Green Death - Joshua's Path

This is Joshua's part of the episode The Green Death.

## Summary

Joshua, and the rest of his team, investigate the goings on at Shingleton's mines.

## Characters

### Player Characters

* Joshua Mendoza
* Tara Maclay

### NPC Characters

* Elgin
* Stevens
* Man
* Dan Evans
* Kyle Mendoza
* News Reporter
* Doctor
* Nurse
* Waldo Spataro
* Kim Leal
* Professor Jones
* Evans
* Man #2
* Man #3
* Global Chemicals Receptionist
* Jake
* Marty
* Captain Riley Finn
* Ralph Fell
* BOSS
* Nancy
* Soldier #1
* Sam Finn

### Creatures

* Killer Rabbits
* Giant Maggots

## Orginisations

* UNIT
* Global Chemicals

## Plot

Date: Saturday the 17th of November 2012

Time: 9:17am

Place: Global Chemicals, Shingleton

A white chrysler jeep drives through a crowd of locals and into the Research Centre. Security keep the crowd back as a man with a briefcase climbs out and is met by a middle management type.

ELGIN: Welcome back, sir. What's the news?

STEVENS: All good. How long has this been going on?

ELGIN: Oh, since early this morning. They want to know what is going to happen. We all do.

STEVENS: In that case, I'll tell them.
STEVENS: (to the crowd) I have in my hand a piece of paper which will mean a great deal to all of you. Wealth in our time!
The crowd responds with derision.
STEVENS: No, my friends, we must not be bitter. We must face the facts. Coal is a dying industry. Oil is our future now and the government agrees with me. They have not only given us the go-ahead for our plans, they have promised us money for future expansion! I have it here in black and white!
Cheers all round.
STEVENS: Money for all of us! More jobs, more housing, more cars!
The older folk cheer, but there is a group of long haired hippies off to the side.
JONES: More muck! More devastation! More death!
STEVENS: Who is that? What did he say?
ELGIN: It's that Professor Jones. He's a troublemaker.
STEVENS: The Nobel prize winner?
ELGIN: Yes. Go easy, sir. He gets a lot of coverage in the press.
STEVENS: It seems there are some who do not agree with my vision, the future we hold in our hands. There are always those who resist progress.
JONES: Progress? Don't listen to him. He means fatter profits for Global Chemicals. At the expense of your land! The very air you breathe! Aye, and the health of you and your kids! Can't you see you're being exploited?
STEVENS: Professor Jones, I assure you that I and my fellow directors-
A siren sounds.
EVANS: It's the pit!
MAN: Oh no!
EVANS: Right, boys, come on!
The men run to the old pit head, where a miner is hanging on to the siren handle, his skin all glowing green. He is most likely dead.

Time: 12:05pm
Place: The Mendoza Household, Living Room

Joshua is concentrating on his homework whilst Kyle is watching TV.

News Reporter: ...So far none of the hospital staff have any idea what could have caused it.
Kyle: This is it! This is exactly the kind of thing we've been waiting for. Just wait till I tell Kim and Waldo!

Joshua: There's definitely something strange going on at that mine, should be worth investigating.

Kyle: I'm surprised you even heard that. I thought you were too engrossed in your homework?

Joshua: I was listening at the same time, I got the gist of it.

Kyle: Right well, i'll call the gang. They can meet us here and we can decide on how to approach this.

HOSPITAL MORGUE

A male Doctor in his late 30's ponders over the green glowing corpse.
DOCTOR: Do we know what was he doing down the pit in the first place?
The young black female nurse is very new to the job and rather nervous about this, rather unusual, corpse.
NURSE: Apparently it was a Monthly inspection. Any idea what killed him?
DOCTOR: Some sort of gas maybe?
NURSE: But why has he turned green?
DOCTOR: I've no idea. Except...
NURSE: Expect what?
DOCTOR: Well, that phosphorescent glow. It's almost like you get with putrefaction.
NURSE: That's it then.
DOCTOR: Well, no, after several weeks. He's been dead only a few hours.

THE MENDOZA HOUSEHOLD

The gang is all assembled up in Joshua's room. Waldo immediately decides to take charge.

Waldo: Okay here's what we know...A miner has been found dead of unknown causes. He was glowing bright green. The mine that he works, sorry, worked at has recently been taken over by Global Chemicals. They are a growing company and have already implemented some controversial plans and have more developments about to begin. There is a local community, known as the Wholeweal Community, which is very anti-Global Chemicals. They believe that they are polluting the surrounding area. Wholeweal is run by Professor Jones. Kim, you know more about him?

Kim: He's a brilliant brilliant man. Won a Nobel prize for research into wind-farms and sustainable energy.

Waldo: Anyway, Joshua...this is your team. Where do you want to send each of us? I think Kim sounds like she'd like to go meet Professors Jones at Wholeweal, but I don't mind where you send me.

Kyle: Me neither.

Waldo: So we've got Global Chemicals and the Shingleton Mines that we can investigate, as well as anywhere else you can think of? Where do you want us?

Joshua: Okay, Kim you can go to meet Professors Jones. Waldo can go and investigate Global Chemicals. Kyle and myself will check out Shingleton Mines. Maybe after that someone could go to the Hospital Morgue to investigate the dead miner's body.

Waldo drives the team to the outskirts of town. The Shingleton Mines, Global Chemicals, and the Wholeweal Community are all part of a large area on the border of Shingleton and High Ridge. Waldo parks at an area equidistant between the different places. Everybody exits the vehicle and Waldo locks the doors.

Kim: Thanks for the lift.
Waldo: No problem, sweet heart.
Kim: Bye!

Kim heads off, up the hill, towards a psychedelic 60's style sign which says "Wholeweal".

Waldo: Well I guess I will see you two later.

Waldo heads to the large white Global Chemicals building.

Joshua and Kyle head off towards the Colliery (coal mine). Underneath the huge skeletal structure is a small building which houses a lift for lowering people into the mine. Off towards the left Joshua can see a large building which has, at it's main gate, a staff area for miners.

WHOLEWEAL COMMUNITY HOUSE

Kim opens the front door, making a bell ring.
Kim: Hello?
She tries a door labelled "Watch It - Toadstools"
Man's Voice: Come in.

LAB

A man is half hidden in a wicker chair hanging from the ceiling.

Man: Shut the blasted door! Of all the silly young goats.

The man checks a thermometer in a tray of fungi.

Kim: Oh, I'm sorry. What did I do?
Man: Probably ruined a month's work, that's all. Can't you read? It said on the door to watch it, didn't it? Tell us the dreadful news. You've come to join us, right?
Kim: Well, yes, in a way. You see, I'm Kim Leal. I'm doing an article for my school. I've come to see Professor Jones.
Jones: I am he.
Kim: (disappointed) Oh...
Kim leans on the desk next to him and knocks some stuff onto the floor.
Jones: Look. Look, Why not just have a stool over here. And careful, now! Look, that's it. Just sit there and simmer down. All right? Right. There, we've got off on the wrong foot, haven't we. Still I suppose you can't help being a bit cloth-headed. You're only a kid, after all.
Kim: Charming.
Jones: Hey, welcome to the Nuthutch!
Kim: Huh!

The Professor continues to do calculations at his desk.

Kim: So what's with the toadstools?
Jones: Oh it's our new hybrid fungus, Saliota Orbis.

It has a red and white cap.

Jones: It's a sort of cousin of the mushroom you can buy in the shops.
Kim: You mean you can eat it?
Jones: Oh yes, that's the whole point. Well, the world's going to need something instead of meat. High protein fungus could be just the answer.
Kim: Well, yes. Yes, of course!
Jones: You see, Kim, we haven't set up this community just to drop out. I mean, let's face it, who doesn't like the petrol stinking, plastic rat-trap life we all live? No, no. If we're going to make a success here at Wholeweal, we've got to do something that's going to help the entire world. So we're a biotechnic research unit as well as a Nuthutch.

MEANWHILE...
Joshua and Kyle are stood looking at the colliery.

They walk towards the building on the left.

STAFF AREA

Joshua and Kyle enter to find themselves in a room full of miners.
A large bullish man, in a dusty black coat and wearing a scarlet coloured scarf is in the middle of a conversation.

Man: It's plain stupid, man. Here we are, sitting about nattering like the women after chapel, and we still don't know what killed him.

All eyes are suddenly on the two of Joshua and Kyle.

Man: Can I help you?

Joshua: Hello, we're students from Shingleton High School, we are doing a school project on local industry and are here to do some research.

The man eyes them suspiciously.

Man: So...you're not here about the mysterious death?

Joshua: Well we could look into that for you while we're here, if you like. Did you know him well?

Man: Twenty odd years. He was a good man. (He sighs). Look i'm sorry kids but i've got to find out what happened. I'm going down there right now.

He marches out the door.

Man #2: Come back, Evans.
Man #3: Ah leave him to it.

Joshua and Kyle follow the man.

STEVEN'S OFFICE

Waldo: No waste? No pollution from an oil refinery?
Stevens: Minimal. Negligible. It's been one of our strongest selling points. It makes nonsense of the objections. We've been able, in all sincerity, to assure the government, the people, indeed the world, that the Stevens process is clean.

The intercom starts buzzing.

Stevens: Excuse me.

He presses a button on the intercom.

Stevens: Yes?

Voice: Sir, we have a visitor from U.N.I.T.

Stevens: Okay, just a moment.

He releases the button and turns to Waldo.

Stevens: I'm afraid you'll have to excuse me.

He stands up and walks Waldo to the door.

Waldo: Thank you for your time.

As Waldo leaves the building he passes a well-built man in a camouflage jacket.

ENGINE HOUSE

Joshua and Kyle both finally manage to catch up to the man as he enters the building which houses the lift. There are two more men here to operate it.

Evans: Send me down, I'm going to find out whats going on here.

Evans steps into the lift.

Miner #1: Maybe you shouldn't have go down there yourself, Evans?

The two miners suddenly notice Joshua and Kyle.

Miner #2: Oh, hello, who's this?
Miner #1: Hey, this is private property.

Joshua: Hello. We know it's private property, we have permission to be here. We'd like to have a look down the mine.

Miner #1: Permission? Whose permission?

Kyle looks to Joshua and back to the Miners a couple of times. The tension is palpable.

Kyle: Um...we spoke to someone over at Global Chemicals.

Evans: I really don't have time for this. Marty, send me down.

The second Miner, operates a few levers and switches and Evans is sent down.

Miner #1 doesn't seem convinced about them both.

Miner #1: I'm phoning the boss.

He walks over to a phone mounted to the wall and picks up the receiver.

MEANWHILE IN STEVENS' OFFICE

STEVENS: No, I don't think it's a good idea that anybody should go down the mine. It must be sealed off completely.
U.N.I.T. Officer: I don't agree with you, sir. You need to show me that everything is above board. I can't help you if no-one is allowed to enter those mines.

The phone starts to ring. Stevens snatches up the phone.

Stevens: Hello? Look I don't care, I'm very busy right now.

He hangs up the phone.

Stevens: Look Mr...?
U.N.I.T. Officer: Finn.
Stevens: Mr Finn, I would ask that you do not interferre in our operation. Please.
Finn: I can see that you're not going to make this easy for me. I'd best be getting on.
Stevens: Do you still intend to investigate the mine?
Finn: Indeed I do.

Finn leaves. Stevens uses his intercom.

Stevens: Hinks. At once.

His chauffeur enters.

Hinks: Sir?
Stevens: Hinks, I want you to- I want you to-
Hinks: You all right, sir?
Stevens: Yes, yes. Nobody must go down the mine, Hinks. Nobody must go down the mine. Nobody.
Hinks: Yes, sir. You're sure you're all right?
Stevens: Yes, yes, of course. Go on, get on with it.

Hinks leaves. Stevens locks the door then goes to a console by the wall and uncovers a headset with a cable. He plugs it into the console and puts it on. A sound goes through his head.

BACK IN THE ENGINE HOUSE

Marty: So...what did he say?
Miner #1: Not a lot. He just hung up on me.

Joshua: So can we go down the mine?

Miner #1: OUT! NOW!

Joshua: Is it okay if we just wait here until that other miner comes back up and ask him if he found anything? You won't even know we are here.

Miner #1: Of course not. You are on private property. Get out or we will throw you out.

Joshua: We better go now Kyle. See how the others got on.

OUTSIDE THE ENGINE HOUSE

Joshua and Kyle both leave the building. The air is still. Nothing much going on. Then they both spot Waldo heading towards them from the direction of Global Chemicals. They keep walking until they meet up with Waldo.

Joshua: Hey Waldo, how did you get on at Global Chemicals?

Waldo: I spoke to the man in charge, Stevens. I told him that I was with the School Newsletter. I tried to keep him sweet by just asking him about the refinery. He says they've got a new process, the "Stevens Process". He claims it's almost completely waste and pollution free. I'm not convinced. He's hiding something. I think this "process" must be to blame for that man's death. I would've got more but some army guy turned up and I got kicked out.

Joshua: None of the miners seem to have a clue what caused the miner's death. We met a miner called Evans, he went down the mine to see if he could find anything out. We tried to follow but got told to leave. We need to find out more about this "process". I wonder who the army guy is who has been sent to investigate the death.

Waldo: But where do we start, I mean-

Suddenly shouting is heard from the engine house.

Miner #1: Hey! You're still on private property! Get out of here! Scra-aaaaarrgrggggghhhh!!!!!!

Joshua looks at the guy to see if anything appears to be wrong with him, that could be causing his pain.

Joshua: Are you okay?

He collapses to the ground. There's something white on his back.

Joshua moves closer.

Kyle: Um, guys...that's a...
Waldo: White rabbit.

Joshua runs off towards the miner and the white rabbit.

Kyle: Joshua, wait!
Waldo: Oh crap!

They run after Joshua.

As Joshua approaches the miner he notices another rabbit off to the right, heading towards him!

Joshua: Shit, there's another one. I'll try and get the one off his back, you two watch out for the other one. I read somewhere that if you put a rabbit on it's back it will go into a state of trance, so we could try and do that.

Kyle stops running.

Kyle: Guys! Just stop, we're going to get killed!

Rabbit #1 takes another bite out of Miner #1. Rabbit #2 waits until Waldo is closer enough and then pounches! It buries it's fangs deep into Waldo's right arm.

Waldo: Fuuuuuccccckkkk!!!!

Meanwhile Joshua grabs hold of the first rabbit by it's neck, forcing it to let go of it's victim. Rabbit #2 continues to bite into Waldo's arm. Waldo gives it a swift punch to the head but it continues to grip on. Kyle doesn't seem to know what to do, when suddenly he feels a pair of teeth bite into his left ankle. Joshua however, manages to flip his rabbit over, rendering it unconcious.

Joshua: Try and flip the rabbits on their backs.

Waldo's rabbit continues chewing on Waldo. He's screaming in pain. Kyle's rabbit bites further into his ankle. He collapses to the ground in agony, writhing on the floor. Waldo viciously punches at his rabbit but it doesn't want to let go. Meanwhile Joshua puts his rabbit on the floor and stabs it with his knife. A bloody stain spreads across it's twitching body. Suddenly three shots ring out! They are each left staring down at the exploded heads of their, previously vicious, rabbits. Soldiers come running to each of them.

Mysterious UNIT Soldier: Hey kid, you okay? I'm Captain Riley Finn. You'll be safe now.

Joshua: Yeah, thanks. I'm Joshua. Where'd all these crazy rabbits have come from?

Riley: Sorry, no time to talk just yet. Follow me.

Joshua, Kyle and Waldo are all ushered to an army truck which is now parked nearby.

UNIT TRUCK

Once inside the other two army guys tend to Kyle and Waldo's wounds whilst Riley asks Joshua a few questions.

Riley: So what were you three doing out there?

Joshua: We are with the school newsletter, we were investigating that mysterious green death.

Riley: Well that's gonna be some article. Any idea what was going on with those rabbits?

Joshua: I'm not sure. We heard a scream, so went to help and realised someone was being attacked by one of those crazy white rabbits. I had just managed to immobilize the first rabbit, when more rabbits suddenly appeared from nowhere and started attacking Waldo and Kyle, then you turned up. It's not the first time we've come across one of these rabbits.

Riley: Really?

Joshua: We were paint-balling a week or so ago and a boy called Eric was attacked and killed by one of these rabbits. When we went to look for his body, it attacked me and some other people but we managed to kill it. I wasn't expecting to see more of them so soon. I thought at the time that maybe the rabbit could be possessed by some sort of demon, may be under a spell, or drugged or possibly had intentionally been infected by rabies. Some hooded guy, who recently disappeared, his name's Gordon Wolfe, used be the manager of The Dive bar, he is suspected to be involved. The Rabbit was taken to the police lab for testing, so maybe if we could find out the results of these tests it might give us an idea of what is going on with these rabbits.

Riley: Good idea. And I should really look into this Gordon Wolfe guy too. So, are you kids demon fighters?

He asks this in a kind of incredulous way but doesn't give the impression that he is laughing at Joshua, just surprised that he knows about demons.

Joshua: Detective Mapplebeck has been investigating the killer rabbit case. He seems like a total nutcase, he has some crazy idea in his head that I might be involved. As for us being demon fighters, we can be, when necessary. We don't go looking out for a fight, but if we come across hostile demons during our investigations, it may be necessary to deal with them, both for self-defence and/or to protect society from their evilness.

Riley: (joking) You sound like you're reading that off a card.

Riley: My superiors would probably not like this but...you are welcome to help me find out what is going on here. Just so long as you do as I say at all times.

Suddenly there is a loud SHRIEK!!!

Riley jumps out of the back of the vehicle and ushers Joshua with him, just in time to see Kim head into the engine house. He turns back to his soldiers.

Riley: Once you've patched them up, call in some troops. Once they've arrived, take these kids to the hospital.

Waldo: I'll be fine, let me come with you.

Riley pauses a moment.

Riley: Wait till the other soldiers arrive and you can stay with them until we come back.

He turns to Joshua.

Riley: Let's go.

He heads towards the engine house. The wheel above it is spinning. Someone must be using the lift.

Joshua: I'll do what I can to help and whatever you say. That girl that just went inside the engine house, that's Kim, she's with us, she must be looking for us.

Joshua and Riley both enter the engine house. Riley takes charge.

Riley: We just saw a girl run in here. Where is she?

Marty: Who are you?

Riley: Captain Finn of the Unified Intelligence Taskforce. This is my assistant, Joshua. Now where is the girl?

Marty: She's down in the mines.

Riley: Why?

And so Marty tells you...

THE ENGINE HOUSE (MOMENTS AGO)

Marty is sat reading a newspaper. A slovenly looking Miner called Jake steps out of the toilet and scratches his backside as he walks over and sits at the table next to him.

Suddenly there is a loud shriek and a short, curly haired, girl comes running in, slamming the door behind her.

Marty leaps up. Jake looks dim-wittedly up.

Marty: Hey!

Kim: Something terrible has happened! There's a dead man right outside.

Marty thinks of John. He'd only just stepped out to get rid of those kids.

Marty: But John didn't even go into the mine...

Kim: He's been killed by...well there's no easy way to say it. It was a killer rabbit.

Marty: What the hell are you talking about?

The phone starts ringing. He puts down his newspaper.

Marty: Hang on a minute.

He walks over and picks up the receiver.

Marty: Hello. Who is it?

He hears Evans' voice on the other end of the phone.

Evans: Marty! Help me, Marty! Help me!

Marty: Dan? What's happened? What's the matter?

Evans: Help me, quick! Help!

Marty: Dan? Dan?!

He puts the phone down and turns to Kim, his face is white.

Marty: Dan's in trouble. Jake, get in the lift, i'll work the cage.

Jake: Sure.

Jake slowly walks over to some clothes hanging against the wall. He dresses up in his mining outfit.

Kim: Well I'm coming, too.

Jake: No you're not.

Kim: Well look, I'm trained in first aid. I might be able to help save your friend's life.

Jake: Hmmm, well what do you think, Marty?

Marty: Well she's got something there, Jake. You take her down and look after her.

Jake: Right, come on with me now. We'll get you a helmet and lamp.

Kim: Right.

Kim joins Jake and gets dressed for her trip into the mine.

They both get into the lift.

Marty operates the controls and the lift starts to descend.

PRESENTLY...

Marty: They'll be nearly halfway down by now.

Suddenly there is a loud BANG!

Marty: Its running away!

He runs to the lift controls but somethings seriously wrong.

Marty: The clutch and brake are both gone! The lift is falling! We've got to do something!

Joshua is staring at the controls.

There's the flywheel, the brake lever, an up button, a down button and a crank for raising and lowering the lift manually.

Joshua uses the crank to try and raise the lift.

Marty and Riley run to assist him but it's no good. The best that can be done is to stop it from falling whilst holding the crank.

Joshua keeps holding the crank.

Joshua: Have either of you got any ideas of anything else we can do now to stop this thing from falling?

Marty: We can't raise it...but maybe we can lower it slowly?

Riley: Good idea. Okay let's go.

They all work together to slowly lower the lift.

Eventually they feel the pressure on the crank drop. It has reached the floor.

Marty: Now what?

Joshua: Is there another way to get up and down the mine, another lift, a ladder, stairs?  There must be an emergency procedure for situations like this?

Marty: There is the other shaft, but it's a counterweight lift system. As one lift goes down, the other one comes up. So if one is broken, so is the other.

Riley: Damn.

Marty: You could try climbing down, but that's 600 yards. In the dark. Otherwise we could maybe try cutting the cable to the second lift and rerouting in through the engine. It'd take time...plus we haven't got any cutting equipment because the mine's been out of action until recently. But I know where we can get some.

Riley: Where's that?

Marty: Global Chemicals.

Joshua: Do you think Global Chemicals would lend us the equipment we need?

Marty: It's worth a try.

Joshua: We better hurry up and try get hold of it then. Even if they refuse, maybe we could just borrow it anyway? Otherwise I will climb down myself with one of those head torches on, if I have to.

Riley turns to Marty.

Riley: Can I use your phone?

Marty: Of course, the number for Global Chemicals is on the wall next to the phone.

Riley dials Global Chemicals and waits.

ELGIN'S OFFICE

At Global Chemicals, Elgin, a small timid looking man, speaks to Riley over the phone.

Elgin: Good heavens. Is anyone hurt? I see. Do you think you can get down to them? Cutting equipment? Why yes, we-

The line suddenly goes dead.

ENGINE HOUSE

Riley: Hello? Hello?

Riley puts the phone down and then picks it up to try again.

Riley: Now it's engaged.

Marty: Look, try the Wholeweal people. Jones the nutcake. They might have equipment for cutting cables? Again, the numbers on the wall.

Riley calls Wholeweal.

COMMUNITY HOUSE

Jones: Cutting a cable? What cable? Why? What? Miss Leal? But why was she? Look, I'll come right over. No, no, we haven't, but Global Chemicals have. Well, yes, definitely. We tried to borrow it a few weeks back.

ENGINE HOUSE

Riley: Okay but be careful. A number of people have been killed out there.

He takes a while explaining the bizarre situation to Professor Jones. Eventually he is done and turns to Joshua and Marty.

Riley: Okay, Professor Jones will be over in a moment but he says they don't have cutting equipment either. Joshua, what do you want to do? I'm heading over to Global Chemicals. You can join me, or wait for Jones?

Joshua: I'll go with you.

STEVENS' OFFICE

The head of Global Chemicals, Director Stevens, is talking with his top scientist Ralph Fell.

FELL: But why me?

STEVENS: You're my senior man. They'll believe you.

FELL: I'm sorry, Mister Stevens, but I can't do it.

STEVENS: Of course you can, Fell. You must.

FELL: It was too late to save the miner. He was already dead, but this? Well, to leave them trapped down there, it's, well, it's murder!

STEVENS: Don't be ridiculous man. They'll never have survived a fall like that. I just need a little more time, that's all. That mine must not be investigated. You know that as well as I do.

FELL: One death is enough!

Hinks, the chaffeur, blocks the doorway.

FELL: Will you please get out of my way?

Voice: Stevens?

Stevens turns and talks to a computer monitor. Lines appear on it, matching the voice.

STEVENS: Yes?

Voice: Process him.

STEVENS: Is that wise?

Voice: It is necessary. Do as I say. Process.

STEVENS: Very well.

FELL: Who was that?

STEVENS: Our boss. Yours and mine.

FELL: I don't understand.

STEVENS: You will, Fell. Very soon.

OUTSIDE THE ENGINE HOUSE

Joshua and Riley leave the building and walk over to the truck to speak to two soldiers.

Riley: Me and Joshua are popping over to Global Chemicals. If these lads are okay, I suggest you both keep a watch over the area, we've got a Professor Jones popping down in a moment and there may be more of those things out here. Before you do that though, put a call through to HQ and tell them to send my mystical advisor. Things are getting increasingly weird around here.

Joshua and Riley both head to Global Chemicals.

They soon find themselves in Stevens' office.

STEVEN'S OFFICE

Riley is talking to Director Stevens.

Riley: But Elgin told me that you had the equipment. Right before the line went dead.

Stevens: He was mistaken.

Ralph Fell enters.

STEVENS: Ah, Mister Fell. Our friend Riley, needs our help. I'm afraid there's been another accident.

FELL: Yes, sir. I heard.

STEVENS: Good, good, now...

Riley: Look, we need some cutting equipment, oxy-acetylene, that sort of thing, and we need it fast.

FELL: I'm very sorry, Captain Finn, but we have nothing of that kind.

Riley: What, in a place of this size?

FELL: The emergency equipment was withdrawn some time ago, to be replaced by thermic lances. They have not yet arrived.

STEVENS: Oh dear, oh dear, you'll think we're woefully ill-equipped.

Riley: I find it very hard to believe.

STEVENS: You're not accusing us of being deliberately obstructive, I hope?

Riley: No, of course not.

STEVENS: Of course not. But you still have this problem, haven't you? Oh, have you tried Professor Jones? Oh no, now I come to think of it they tried to borrow ours. Oh well, i'm afraid we can't help you. Fell, please show Captain Finn and his...assistant to the door.

Joshu and Riley are both escorted out.

OUTSIDE GLOBAL CHEMICALS.

Riley: There's something strange going on. I'm sure they must have the equipment we need. I'm at a loss...Any ideas.

Joshua: They are obviously hiding something down that mine, don't want anyone to find out at all costs and don't care who gets killed along the way. Maybe we could have a look around, see if we can find what we need. This is such a big place though, we could try looking in their warehouse, it might be in there.

Riley: Good idea, but I don't know how we'll get in with that fence in the way. We'd need a distraction and a way of getting over the fence at the back.

The fence is 7 feet high and surrounds the entire Global Chemicals complex.

There appears to be a lot of security guards around. From here Joshua can see that they are probably all the way around the building. High up on the main building is a security alarm.

Joshua: To create a distraction, we could make an anonymous phone call to Global Chemicals saying that a bomb has been planted within the complex, wouldn't they have to evacuate the complex until the bomb experts arrived?

Riley: Right but then how would we get in...unless, when the bomb disposal people turn up, I can speak to them and we can arrange to sneak in.

Joshua: That sounds like a good plan, if it works. You really think you can persuade them to let us in, are they friends or yours or something?

Riley: U.N.I.T. is above the typical military and so they have to follow our orders. The only reason I can't send a team in to check everything out is because the President himself has forbidden it, but if we can get in and out with the equipment and without any suspicion, we should be fine.

Joshua: Shall I make the phone call to Global Chemicals or would you rather do it?

Riley takes a phone out of his pocket and Joshua follows him as he walks away from the building, back towards the truck.

Riley: They'd probably recognise my voice, so you can do it if you want. Be very vague, just tell them there's a bomb and that they should clear out the building. When they start to ask questions, hang up.

As they continue to walk, Riley dials the number and hands Joshua the phone. Joshua puts the phone to his ear and waits for someone to answer.

Ralph Fell: Hello, Global Chemicals, Ralph Fell speaking, how can I help you?

Joshua: A bomb has been planted somewhere within Global Chemicals complex. If you don't want anyone to get hurt or killed, you need to evacuate the place immediately.

Ralph Fell: I- I see. And where is this bomb?

Joshua hangs up the phone.

ENGINE HOUSE

About half an hour later, the door opens and in comes Marty with some hefty looking cutters.

Marty: Hey they are.

Riley: Great. Thank you.

Marty: No luck with sneaking in to Global Chemicals then?

Riley: No. We called them saying there was a bomb, but they never called for bomb disposal...somehow, they knew we were lying. Anyway, that's not important now, how long will this take you to set it up?

Marty: Not long once we get started. Oh and some more of your soldiers have just turned up too.

Riley: Okay, well i'll leave you with that. I should be back in a moment. If I'm not back before you fix this all up, Joshua, you and Marty, head down, but come straight back as soon as you find everyone. Professor Jones, you can stay here to operate the lift.

Professor Jones: Sounds good to me.

Riley: Okay, well, I will see you all later.

Riley heads out the door.

It isn't too long before the second lift is rigged up to go down into the mine. Joshua and Marty get changed and get into the lift. Jones presses a button and the lift descends. Before long they are all at the bottom, the only light is coming from the lamps of their helmets.

THE MINE

Marty: Here's Dan!

Dan Evans is laying across the floor, glowing a luminous green.

Joshua: Oh no, not again! Poor guy. We need to be careful. I hope the others are okay. Kim! Jake!

The only response is the echo of his voice.

Marty: Look, Joshua.

By the side of the lift, next to a service telephone, is a piece of paper. It reads: "Couldn't wait any longer. Gone to find another way out. Kim." Underneath is a rough drawing.

Marty: That looks like a map of the mine. They must be heading for the west seam. Come on. Let's go after them.

Joshua: Hopefully this means they're okay. If we hurry we should be able to catch up with them.

Joshua follows Marty. They head for the west seam. Up ahead there is a green light and a terrible smell. As Joshua and Marty approach they find the source, something green is trickling down the walls.

Joshua: Not sure what this Green stuff is, maybe a chemical of some sought. Waldo told me about a new so called "waste free" process they're using at Global Chemicals, this could a waste product of that. Looks like they are dumping it down here and that's the real reason they shut down the mine.

Marty shrugs. They keep heading for the west seam, trying to avoid the green stuff. Soon they find another miner. This one is tubby and balding.

Marty: Look, here's Jake!

Jake doesn't look too good either. His hand is glowing green.

Joshua: What happened to your hand?

Jake: I touched the green stuff of the walls. It burns...Kim went on ahead.

Marty: I should probably get you to a doctor, Jake.

Jake: Don't worry about me. Just go find Kim. She's trying to find a way out.

Joshua: Marty, maybe you could take Jake back the way we came and back up the lift we came down, so he can get medical treatment, whilst I continue to look for Kim?

Jake: Okay.

Marty takes off his coat and wraps it around Jake's hand, carefully so as not to touch it himself. They head back the way Joshua just came. Joshua continues the way Kim went, through the tunnel, there is more of the green glow up ahead. Joshua suddenly spots Kim up ahead, she turns and sees him.

Kim: Joshua! Here, quickly!

Joshua rushes towards Kim.

Kim: Look, giant eggs!

And she's right, there's a collection of giant eggs just by an opening into a large cavern - which is where the glow seems to be coming from.

Joshua: Have you seen or heard any sign of the creature that may have laid these eggs?

Kim: Not yet, I was about to have a look in that cavern when I heard you behind me.

Joshua: Lets go in and have a look now, but be should tread carefully. We should try and sneak in quietly, so not to startle the creature.

THE CAVERN

They sneak through the opening of the cavern. Thousands of giantic maggots are writhing in a green ooze. Embedded in the cavern walls are green crystals. The end of a pipe leads into the cavern from the back wall.

Joshua: I wonder where that pipe leads to.

The pipe is at the back if the cavern. He'd need to wade through the ooze and push maggots out of the way. He looks around the cavern for a way out but there is no where to go but back the way he came.

Joshua: We better go back now and tell the others what we've found down here.

They both leave the cavern, wander through the tunnel and arrive back at the lift. Evans is gone.

Kim: I guess Marty must've taken Evans up in the lift...well his body...

Kim picks up the phone and presses a button.

Kim: Hi, we're now heading up.

She and enter the lift and start heading up.

Kim: So...any ideas of what is going on here?

Joshua: I'm not convinced Marty would have moved Evan's body, because I noticed he being was careful not to touch Jake's hand when he was wrapping it up. So why would he risk touching Evan's body, he would have been more worried about helping Jake. So someone or something else must have moved it, maybe the creature that laid those giant eggs?

Kim: I meant, any ideas of what is going on in general really. I guess Marty probably had some help. If some creature took the body, we would probably have seen it...right?

Joshua: It looks like Global Chemicals is dumping some sort of green waste into that cavern through the pipe at the back. I'm not entirely sure where these giant maggots come from, maybe they feed on the waste and it makes them grow unusually large.  I'm assuming they must eventually turn into giant flies and then they lay more eggs. Maybe it was one of these flies took or ate Evan's body whilst we were in that cavern, but when we came out it was hiding somewhere.

Kim: What about the rabbits though? They aren't unusually large, just unusually rabbid.

Joshua: I'm not sure if the rabbits are connected, but assuming they are, Maggots and Rabbits are very different, so would probably be affected in very different ways. They live underground in burrows, so their home or food source could have been contaminated by the green waste and it affects them by making them unusually rabbid.

After a while the lift finishes it's ascent. Joshua and Kim both step out into the room.

ENGINE HOUSE

Professor Jones, Marty and Waldo all greet them.

Waldo: Hey, they let me come help out. So how did you two get on down there?

Joshua: We found a green glow coming from a cavern, at the opening to a cavern are some giant eggs and inside is full of giant maggots covered in green slime. There are green crystals are set into the walls. There is a pipe coming in through the back of the cavern.

Waldo: The pipe is coming from Global Chemicals no doubt.

Joshua: Probably. The giant maggots appear to be feeding on this green slime, which I suspect has made them grow to an usually large size. If left they will probably pupate and eventually hatch into giant flies.

Waldo: So...what now?

Joshua: We must not allow these maggots to grow adulthood, they could be very dangerous, would soon multiply and could become a very serious threat the world. We must find a way to destroy them and stop Global Chemical from dumping more waste.

Professor Jones: I couldn't agree with you more, but you'll have to convince Captain Finn first.

Joshua: Where is Captain Finn? Is he back yet?

Marty: He headed out to see his soldiers before we went down there, Joshua. He should still be out there.

Joshua: I will go outside and look for him.

Joshua goes outside to look for Riley.

OUTSIDE THE ENGINE HOUSE

Riley stands talking to a group of three soldiers. He points off in the direction of Wholeweal and they head off in that direction. Then he spots Joshua and walks over.

Riley: Joshua, how'd it go?

Joshua: Down the mine we found Evan's lying on the floor dead, he was glowing green like just like that other miner. We found a green glowing slime running down the walls, and Jake. He was still alive but in a bad way, his hand was glowing green, so I suggested Marty take him back up in the lift to seek medical help.

Riley: Okay, but did you find Kim?

Joshua: I found Kim with some giant eggs at the entrance to a cavern with a green glow coming from inside. We went inside the cavern. The cavern is full of thousands giant maggots squirming in green goo. Some green crystals are fixed into the walls of the cavern. The green goo appears to be coming in through a pipe at the back of the cavern, which I suspect is coming from Global Chemicals. The giant maggots appear to be feeding on this green goo, which is what I suspect has made them grow to an usually large size. If left they will most likely pupate, hatch into giant flies and reek havoc on the world. They must be destroyed and Global Chemicals must be stopped.

Riley pauses, deep in thought.

Riley: Before we consider that possibility, I want to know what those crystals are first. No one has mentioned the mining of crystals, just oil. Would you be able to head back down and retrieve one? Also an egg and some of that ooze would be good too.

Joshua: Yes. I hadn't really thought too much about the crystals. I will need someone to go with me to help. I will also need some equipment to get the crystal out of the wall and something to put the specimens in.

Riley: I'm sure Professor Jones will be able to help with collecting samples and you can borrow a pick axe off one of the miners.

Joshua hears an engine starting and turns to see a woman sat in the front of the army truck. Riley gives her a wave, and she turns the vehicle around and drives off.

Riley says "UNIT's mystical advisor" by way of explanation.

Joshua walks back to the engine house.

Professor Jones: So...what did he say?

Joshua: He has asked me to go back down the mine to gather some specimens. He would like one of those green crystals from the cavern wall, one of the giant eggs, as well as a sample of green slime. Would you mind coming with me to help collect them please?

Professor Jones: Yes, of course. I'll need to fetch a few things first though. Specimen jars, things like that. Do you want to join me or will you wait here?

Joshua: I'll go with you.

Joshua and Professor Jones both head out the door, and up the hill, in the direction of Wholeweal. They pass three soldiers, with guns pointed apprehensively at various holes in the grass - a rabbit warren. Further up they pass the "Wholeweal" sign. It's even more psychedelic close up.

The Wholeweal Community is one lone house, all bright colours with an allotment either side of a path leading up to it.

Professor Jones opens the front door, it's not locked, and Joshua hears a bell ring.

Joshua is a hallway with some stairs leading upwards and several doors. Jones takes him through the door marked "Watch It - Toadstools"

Joshua finds himself in a lab. There's a wicker chair hanging from the ceiling, by a desk. On the desk is a tray of red and white toadstools, a thermometer, various stationary, and a notepad with some scribbled notes.

On the opposite side of the desk to the wicker chair is a small stool.

Across the floor is a vast persian rug and in the corner of the room is a large wooden cabinet filled with a variety of scientific apparatus.

At the far side of the room is a long table containing many different trays of Mushrooms.

Professor Jones: Welcome to the lab.

He points over to the long table

Professor Jones: That's my special stash.

He taps the side of his nose with his finger and winks.

In the brief silence, as Professor Jones crosses the room and opens the cabinet, Joshua hears a faint scratching sound.

Joshua: Did you hear that scratching sound?

Jones: What scratching sound?

Joshua: I thought I heard a scratching sound, it was quite faint. Could it be one of those pesky rabbits?

Jones: Well I didn't hear anything. Now then, this should do it.

He's collected some specimen jars and pipettes.

Jones: Let's go then.

Joshua: Okay. Do you need me to help carry anything?

Jones: Let's put them in your rucksack.

Once the items are in the bag, Joshua and Jones both leave and head back to the engine house.

Professor Jones puts on a miner's uniform and attaches a pick axe to his belt.

Jones: Right, well I think we've got everything. Shall we?

Joshua: Yes, lets go down the mine.

Joshua goes over to the lift.

Professor Jones joins Joshua in the lift and Marty operates the controls.

The lift descends into the darkness. Joshua had forgotten quite how dark it was down there and felt grateful for the lamp on his helmet.

THE MINE

On stepping out of the lift Joshua can see three tunnels. Last time he simply followed the map (which is still in his possession) and headed for the west seam but there is another tunnel opposite the one he followed.

Professor Jones: Which way was it?

Joshua looks at the map and points at the tunnel he went down last time.

Joshua: The cavern is down that tunnel over there. Look there's another tunnel opposite it, we could have a look and see what's down that tunnel?

He points at the tunnel opposite.

Jones: Well it's up to you.

Joshua: Lets just have a quick look down the other tunnel to see what's down there. Then we can come back and go down the tunnel leading to the cavern to get our samples.

Joshua and Professor Jones start walking down the opposite tunnel.

After a short walk they find themselves at a fork and all around them there are more of the green crystals embedded in the walls.

Professor Jones takes a specimen jar out of Joshua's bag and uses a pickaxe to pry a small crystal out of the wall.

Professor Jones: I could be wrong here but, this looks like Kryptonite. If they are mining Kryptonite down here, that's an illegal operation. Now then, where next? Left, right or head back they way we came?

Joshua: If it is Kryptonite and they're mining it, I wonder what they are doing with it? Lets go left, see what's down that way. We better not be too long or the others may get worried.

Jones finishes removing the crystal from the wall and pops it in a specimen jar.

As they continue down the left tunnel they start to notice small holes all along the walls of the tunnel.

Joshua: From the holes in the walls, it looks to me like someone's been mining it.

Jones: Are you sure? They look more like rabbit holes to me.

Joshua: Oh yeah, maybe you're right. Be should be careful, I don't really want to come across more of those rabid rabbits again, especially not down here.  I think we should start heading back.

Jones: Agreed.

They both reach the point where they had collected a green crystal. They could try the tunnel to their left (which they have yet to visit) or continue ahead past the lift and off towards the maggots.

Joshua: I think we should have a quick look down the other tunnel, the one on the left.

MEANWHILE IN A CORRIDOR AT GLOBAL CHEMICALS

A small and nervous man, Elgin, is talking with a bald man in a suit and tie, Global Chemicals top scientist, Ralph Fell.

ELGIN: Have you heard? They brought another two out of the mine. One dead and the other dying.
FELL: Yes, I heard.
ELGIN: Is that all you can say? Do you feel no responsibility at all?
FELL: I? Why should I?
ELGIN: You told them we had no cutting equipment, and you knew we had, and I'm sure you know something about what's going on down in that mine.
FELL: No, I-

Fell puts his hands to his face, in pain, then recovers.

ELGIN: Oh, for heaven's sake, man. Tell the truth. Others might die if you don't.
FELL: You are mistaken.

Fell goes into a nearby room, which controls the pumping operations. He takes a clipboard from the wall and sits at a console. Elgin sneaks in and hides behind some large vertical pipes to watch.

BACK IN THE MINE

Rounding the corner Joshua and Jones find the way blocked by a rock fall. They turn and head back down the original tunnel.

Joshua can once again see the green glowing light up ahead and the smell hits him. He'd forgotten quite how bad it was. They reach the slime that drips down the walls.

Joshua: We need to get a sample of some of that green slime, Professor.

The Professor carefully collects the green slime in a container.

Jones: Okay, and what's next?

Joshua: We need to follow the map to the west seam until we reach the entrance to a large cavern and get one of those giant eggs to bring back with us.  While we are there I will show you the giant maggots inside the cavern and the pipe leading into the cavern, I told you about.

Joshua: Okay, let's go.

They start heading back towards the lift.

Soon they are both stepping out of the lift and back into the Engine House.

THE ENGINE HOUSE

Kim, Waldo and Marty all greet Joshua and the Professor, but Kim is really concerned about the egg.

Kim: Sheesh, you can keep that thing away from me.

Jones: That's not all we got. We also collected some green slime and a green crystal which, I suspect, is Kryptonite.

He casts a glance at Marty as he says this. Marty looks away.

Jones: Anyway, we should really be getting these back to my lab. You're all welcome to join us, Nancy should be preparing lunch about now.

Kim and Waldo nod in agreement.

Jones: Marty?

Marty: I think I should stay here.

Jones: Okay. Joshua, is there anything else we need to do before going to Wholeweal?

Joshua: I think we should speak to Captain Riley and his Mystical Advisor, before we go, tell them about the Kryptonite and about the rabbit holes we found down the mine. What do you know about UNIT's Mystical Advisor, who is she?

Joshua's question gets nothing but blank looks and shrugs.

Joshua: Stupid question, forget I said anything. Lets get going. I'm hungry.

Joshua, Jones, Kim, and Waldo all head out the door and stroll up the hill towards Wholeweal.

The soldiers are still down by the rabbit warren but they look pretty bored now.

Joshua: (to Waldo and Kim) Did I tell you about the rabbit holes we saw whilst we were down the mine?

Waldo: No. Presumably they run straight under this hill. Anyway, let's get to Wholeweal. I'm starving.

Waldo heads up the hill.

Joshua: (to Kim) What's been going on whilst I was down the mine, have you been up to much? What did I miss?

Kim: Nothing much. Just hanging around waiting for you guys really.

They continue walking up the hill until they reach Wholeweal.

WHOLEWEAL

On reaching Wholeweal, Jones leads them into the main room. There are bean bags everywhere, and many hippies chatting and smoking. A dark haired woman is sat playing a flute. She looks up and smiles.

Jones: Nancy, this is Joshua, Kim and Waldo. They'll be joining us for lunch.

Nancy: Wonderful, well just give me a moment and i'll cook a nice risotto.

She puts down her flute and heads out of the room.

Jones urges them all to put their things in the corner. He takes the egg and specimen jars all through to his lab and then returns with a tray of something blue green.

Jones: As an appetizer, would anyone like to try some of this? I call it "Speed Moss".

Joshua looks at it.

It's a blue green moss.

Joshua: Okay, I'll try some. Why do you call it "Speed Moss"?

Jones: It's one of my many projects. It's a natural alternative to energy drinks. Just grab a clump off the top, eat it, and it'll give you more energy.

Joshua takes some of the moss and eats it.

Joshua suddenly feels pepped up and raring to go.

Joshua takes another larger piece of moss and wolfs it down.

Jones: Careful. Eat too much and the come down is pretty draining.

Jones takes the tray out of Joshua's reach and offers it around to the rest of the group.

Jones: I'll be in the lab for a while now guys. You're welcome to join me if you want.

He heads out the door.

Joshua waits for the Risotto.

Jones comes back into the room.

Jones: It would help if I had my specimens I guess!

Jones picks up the egg and the crystal. Kim rushes over to help with the green stuff. She follows him back out the door.

Joshua and Waldo are soon served up some risotto by Nancy and spend some time chatting whilst they enjoy it.

Some time later the door bursts open.

Jones: You've got to come see this!

Joshua: See what?

Joshua goes into the lab to see what Prof. Jones is on about.

Jones leads Joshua and Waldo through to his lab in a state of some excitement. Kim is sat patiently on a stool opposite the desk.

Jones: First of all, this (he points to the green crystal), is exactly what I thought it might be...it's an alloy made up of plutonium, tantalum, xenon, promethium, dialium, mercury, and a small amount of an unknown substance. Put simply, it's Kryptonite. We'll need to speak to the miners but it looks like they were running an illegal operation. No doubt Global Chemicals is well aware. I've read about the affects of Kryptonite on various life forms but this Kryptonite must've been there for a long time. Just going on a theory here but maybe the toxic waste that Global Chemicals are dumping is bonding with the Kryptonite, creating something even more potent.

He walks over to a microscope at the desk.

Jones: Now have a look at this.

Joshua goes and has a look through the microscope. Waldo must realise he's missing out because he bursts in the door behind them. Not being an expert in science, Joshua doesn't know what he's looking at. Jones registers the look on his face and explains.

Jones: What you're looking at is the green goo trail with some human body cells.
Kim: Which? I mean, which body? Whose body?
Jones: Mine. Mucus membrane cells.
Kim: ...oh...
Jones: Anyway, the point is that the green goo cells change the internal structure of the human cells into their own nature.
Kim: Like a virus?
Jones: Yes. So anyone who touches the green goo gets infected. They become carriers.
Waldo: So those miners will be spreading the virus?
Jones: Maybe...so what now?
Joshua: We better tell Riley what we've discovered.
Jones: Right, well let's go find him then.

As you go to follow everyone out the door, you hear a sound:

Scratch, scratch, scratch.

Joshua: Did anyone else here a scratching sound?

Joshua tries to work out where the scratching sound is coming from.

Waldo: What? No. Now come on, let's go see Riley.

Joshua can't be sure where the noise was coming from but it was definitely close by. He figures that if he were alone in the room he might be able to pin point it but everyone wants him to follow them.

Joshua: I definitely heard something. You go on ahead and I'll catch you up in a minute..

Waldo: Fine. Whatever.

They all disappear off.

Joshua is alone in the room.

Looking around he can see:

A wicker chair hanging from the ceiling, by a desk. On the desk is a tray of red and white toadstools, a thermometer, various stationary, a notepad with some scribbled notes, the egg, Kryptonite, green goo in a jar and a microscope.

On the opposite side of the desk to the wicker chair is a small stool.

Across the floor is a vast persian rug and in the corner of the room is a large wooden cabinet filled with a variety of scientific apparatus.

At the far side of the room is a long table containing many different trays of Mushrooms.

Scratch, scratch, scratch.

Joshua tries once again to discern where the scratching sound is coming from.

He's certain now. It's coming from under the floor, specifically under the persian rug.

Scratch, scratch, scratch.

Joshua picks up the Persian rug to see what is beneath it.

Wooden floor boards.

Scratch, scratch, scratch.

Joshua puts his ear to the floor and knocks on the floor boards.

The sound stops suddenly.

One long moment later, it continues at it's original pace.

Joshua takes his knife off his belt and tries wedging it under one of the floorboards in order to lift it up.

Under the floorboards is darkness and dirt.

The scratching noise continues...

Joshua shines the torch light from his phone around under the floorboards and has a look to see if he can see anything lurking between the floor boards and the dirt.

He can't see anything.

Scratch, scratch, scratch, crack.

Joshua tries to work out where the cracking sound is coming from.

He realises that the "crack" came from the table. He hears a sound like porcelaine shattering as he watches the rest of the egg break to reveal a giant maggot! He clenches the knife in his hand as the maggot hisses at him.

Joshua tries to stab the giant maggot in the head.

He leaps at the giant maggot on the table but it dives out of the way, launching for his neck. Joshua throws himself over on his back and it shoots past him.

He gets up and goes after the maggot.

Joshua gets up off the ground, and rushes towards the maggot. He plunges the knife down towards the maggot but misses as it lunges for him. Joshua ducks to the left and just manages to avoid it.

He looks around the room for some salt or something else that he can throw over the maggot to try and kill it. In the corner of the room, on the large wooden cabinet, amongst various pieces of scientific apparatus are many different jars of contents unknown. Joshua can't read the labels from where he is.

The maggot comes back around for another attack, leaping at Joshua's back. This time, he doesn't manage to avoid it! Green oozing poison is injected into his back...

Joshua pulls the maggot off his back and throws it on the ground. He runs out of the lab, closing the door behind him.

He is in the hallway with his back to the Lab door. Ahead of him, heading right, are the stairs. Past it is another door. To Joshua's right is the door to the living room area (where he enjoyed a risotto earlier) and to his left is the front door.

Joshua goes into the living room area.

In the living room the hippies are still puffing away and chatting happily on their bean bags.

Joshua's rucksack and coat are in the corner.

Joshua puts on his coat and rucksack. He goes over and speaks to the hippies to warn them.

Joshua: Don't open the door to the lab, there is a dangerous giant maggot loose in there, it attacked and bit me. I suspect it may have a deadly virus.

Hippy #1: Woah, far out dude!

Joshua leaves to go and find the others.

THE RABBIT WARREN

Joshua finds Waldo, Kim and Jones talking to some soldiers down by the rabbit warren.

Joshua: That giant egg at the lab hatched and I was attacked by a giant maggot, it leaped onto my back and bit me. I think I might need medical treatment.

Jones turns to you.

Jones: What's that?

Joshua repeats what he just said.

They work fast, getting Joshua over to one of the UNIT vans. In the back of one, Kim patches him up as best as she can, making sure to get the poison from his wound.

Kim: We'll have to keep an eye on you but, you seem fine...Do you still want to call Riley?

Joshua: Yeah, I guess we should let him know what we've found out so far. Do you know where he is?

Waldo: We were just asking those soldiers. They say he had other business but we can call him from one of their mobiles if we want.

Joshua: Yes, lets do that.

Joshua goes over to the soldiers.

Joshua: Can I borrow one of your phones, so I can speak to Riley please?

Soldier #1: Sure.

He selects Riley's number, presses the green button and then hands the mobile to Joshua.

It rings for a while but no-one picks up.

Joshua: He's not answering his phone, he might be too busy. We really need to speak to him, there's not really much more we can do without his permission, we don't have the authority.

The soldier takes the phone from him.

Soldier #1: Well if you are willing to wait, we could try him again in a moment?

Joshua: That would be great, we can wait, thanks. Has much been happening around here whilst you've been guarding this rabbit warren, you seen any sign of any more of those deranged rabbits?

Soldier #1: Not really. It's been pretty boring actually.

Joshua: What is it like being a UNIT Soldier, is this what it's like most of the time, you just stand around being bored?

Soldier #1: Sometimes you stand around getting bored...sometimes it's the most exciting job in the world. Dangerous though. I've seen a lot of friends killed...but that's the job.

Joshua: Could you try calling Riley again, or do you think we should wait a bit longer?

Soldier #1: We can try.

He chooses Riley's number again, and presses the green button, handing the phone to Joshua.

After a couple of rings, it is picked up.

Riley: Hello?

Joshua: Hello Riley, it's Joshua.

Riley: Joshua, hi, is this important?

Joshua: Yes, I think it is. We got the samples you asked us to get. Professor Jones has doing some test on the Green Slime.

Riley: Okay, what did that turn up?

Joshua: It looks like the when people come in contact with the green Slime, they become infected with some sort of virus, which they could then possibly pass it on to others.

Riley: So that's pretty much what we already guessed.

He sounds pretty stressed.

Riley: Look, i'll be there in an hour or so. Unless there's anything else?

Joshua: The Crystals we found down the mine turned out to be Kryptonite. We found lots of rabbit holes down the mine. I heard a lot of scratching sounds coming from the floor in the lab and the egg we bought back hatched and I was attacked by a giant Maggot, which is still loose in the lab.

Riley: Okay, well that's more like it. Just hang tight for a while. Once I get there we can all go and confront Global Chemicals. Bye.

He hangs up.

Joshua hands the phone back to the soldier.

Joshua: Thank you.

Joshua goes over and talk to Waldo, Kim and Professor Jones.

Joshua: He says we should wait for him, he will be back in about an hour. Then we can confront Global Chemicals about what we've found. He sounded pretty stressed.

Marty: Hey, uh guys.

Marty the miner is walking towards Joshua, and the gang, from the Engine House. Joshua, Waldo, Kim and Jones turn around. The soldier goes and chats with a colleague.

Marty: I just got a call from Global Chemicals. They asked to speak to...well all of you. Could you go and meet them?

Joshua: Did they say where they want to meet and why?

Marty: Um...yeah...Well they said to meet at Global Chemicals and that...they had an important matter to discuss.

Joshua: We may as well see what they have to say for themselves. If Riley gets here before we get back, will you tell him that where we are?

Marty: Of course.

Waldo leads the way as the gang all walk to Global Chemicals. Just as they get closer to the building, Joshua's phone starts ringing.

OUTSIDE GLOBAL CHEMICALS

As he goes to answer it, Joshua sees that it's a local number.

Joshua: Hello?

Kyle: Hi, Joshua, it's Kyle. Just checking everything's okay. I feel a bit out of the loop, laying in a hospital bed.

Joshua: Hi, How are you? Do you know how much longer you'll be stuck in there for? We're heading over to Global Chemicals. Quite a bit's been happening during your absence.

Kyle: Looks like I could be in here for  a few days...so why are you going to Global Chemicals? Are they to blame for the rabbits and everything?

Joshua: It looks like Global Chemicals have been dumping toxic waste down the mine, in the form of a green slime, which has caused some maggots to mutate and grow in size. It looks like the when people come in contact with the green slime, they become infected with some sort of virus, which could potentially be passed it on to others. We also found Kryptonite, which we suspect Global Chemicals is mining. Down the mine we found lots of rabbit holes, so I suspect the rabbits are also being infected by this green slime. We bought back an egg from the mine, which it hatched and I was attacked by a giant maggot, it was pretty scary but thankfully I think I'm going to be okay. I told Riley what's been going on, but he's been busy elsewhere, he said he will be back soon to confront Global Chemicals. We were going to wait for him but just had a call from Global Chemicals asking us to meet them.

Kyle: A call? Who from?

Joshua: I don't know who, I didn't actually speak to them. Marty, one of the miners took the call. All I know is they said they were from Global Chemicals and they want to meet to discuss something important. Sounds a bit suspicious to me, I hope it isn't some sort of trap. Maybe we should wait for Riley.

Kyle: I think you could be right. Look I've got to go, speak later. Bye.

The line goes dead.

Joshua: This meeting with Global Chemicals Sounds rather suspicious to me, I'm worried it could be a trap. I think we should either wait until Riley gets back or ask if a couple of those UNIT soldiers could accompany us just in case there's trouble.

Marty: There's really no need for you to bring soldiers. We'll just wait. I'll just pop in and let them know.

He heads off into the building.

Joshua waits for Marty to return.

He is suddenly distracted from his conversation with Waldo, Kim, Jones and Marty, by the door opening behind him. He turns around to see Riley and a smartly dressed young blonde girl leaving the Engine House...

Riley: Joshua, i'd like to introduce you to Jennifer Swanson, UNIT's mystical advisor.

Joshua: Hi Jennifer, nice to meet you.

Jennifer: Hello Joshua, it's good to finally meet you.

Riley: Right, now that we are introduced; Joshua, Jennifer, I think we need to pay Global Chemicals a visit.

Jennifer: Good idea, I'd like to hear what they have to say.

Riley: Dr. Jones, do you think you could join us too? The science angle could be useful.

Dr. Jones: Of course. Actually, Marty the miner here got a phone call from Global Chemicals earlier. They wanted us ALL to pop by...apart from the soldiers.

Joshua: In the end we decided to wait until you got back, as I suspect they could be up to something. I wanted to take some soldiers just in case. If they have nothing to hide why would they object?

Riley pauses a moment.

Riley: I don't think I can really spare any more of my soldiers and I don't really think I can justify sending for more men...It's fine, i'm armed, and Jennifer has enough magic expertise that she should be perfectly safe...

He turns to Jennifer.

Riley:...this time?

Joshua turns to Jennifer.

Joshua: So your a witch, are you? I've always wanted to meet a witch.

Jennifer: yes I am a witch with some power.(To Riley) I think I'll be fine.

Riley: Well then, let's go.

Riley, Joshua, Jennifer and Jones all head to Global Chemicals.

Riley steps up to the gate and presses a buzzer. A security guard walks up to the fence.

Guard: Can I help you?
Riley: We're here to see Mr. Stevens.

The guard makes a call and then lets them in.

GLOBAL CHEMICALS

He leads them all into a room and brings some chairs over for them to sit in.
They sit opposite a large desk and wait.

Guard: Mr. Stevens will be arriving shortly.

It's not long before Mr. Stevens, director of Global Chemicals, walks confidently into the room and sits at the desk in front of everyone.

Stevens: So good of you to join me. Captain Finn, Mr. Mendoza, Professor Jones...and...

He pauses as if listening for something.

Stevens: I'm afraid I don't know your name, Miss...?

Jennifer: I am Miss Jennifer Swanson. I am an adviser to Captain Finn.

Stevens: Well, well, well, Captain Riley. Yet another assistant. At least this one is out of high school.

Riley: Are you going to tell us why you wanted us here? Or should I tell you why we decided to come here?

Stevens: Be my guest.

Riley: Fine. Global Chemicals has been dumping waste in the mines, this combined with the illegal mining of Kryptonite, seems to be what is causing the mutation of local wildlife. You are going to close down this operation right now. Oh, and you can get the President on the phone if you wish, because we have all the evidence we need.

Stevens: Are you quite finished?

Riley: Well...

Stevens: I'd like to introduce you to boss.

Jones: I think you mean "to my boss".

Stevens: B.O.S.S. Boss. It stands for Biomorphic Organisational Systems Supervisor. Bare witness...

He steps over to a wall and knocks twice. The wall revolves to reveal a huge computer bank and monitor.

B.O.S.S.: So my friends...we meet at last.

Jennifer: Hello Boss. So you are in control here?

B.O.S.S.: My primary function is the running of Global Chemicals, with specific focus on the acquisition of money. That is why this chemical waste of which you speak is of no interest to me. It is also why we are currently running an illegal Kryptonite mining operation. You won't be stopping me, of course.

There is a moment of silence.

B.O.S.S.: Every one of you is under my control...let me demonstrate. Joshua, would you like to reveal your secret to the rest of your friends?

Joshua: I don't know what you're talking about. I don't have a secret.

B.O.S.S.: So tell me how your family came to this country?

Joshua: By aeroplane.

B.O.S.S.: Let's not continue this game, Mr Mendoza. You are an illegal immigrant. I have all the evidence needed to get you deported if I so wish. There will be no need however, as you will follow my instructions.

Joshua: I won't be blackmailed by some dumb machine. What instructions?

B.O.S.S.: Hinks will escort you to the conditioning room.

A man stands in the doorway dressed in a black chaffeurs uniform. He points a gun at Joshua.

Hinks: Come with me.

Riley reaches for his gun.

Stevens: I don't think so Captain Finn. Drop it.

Stevens has a gun trained right at his head. Riley drops the gun.

Stevens: Kick it to me.

Riley kicks the gun across the floor and looks to Jennifer with a shrug.

B.O.S.S.: Go with Hinks, Joshua.

Jennifer: Dissolvo

A bolt of light blasts from Jennifer's hand, knocking Stevens back 6 feet. He falls onto the floor.

Riley see's his chance and charges straight towards the fallen Stevens. He narrowly avoids gunfire as Hinks turns his gun on Riley.

Jennifer: Incindere.

A jet of flame fires out of Jennifer's hand, straight at B.O.S.S. The screen explodes in a shower of glass, and blue sparks come flying off him.

B.O.S.S.: BLlaaarrjhhshkkkk

Jones dives to the floor and tries to find cover behind the desk.

Meanwhile, Riley has slam-tackled Stevens to the ground, his gun skitters into the corner of the room. Just out of reach.

Joshua, feeling weak and drowsy, finally makes it over to Riley's gun and picks it up. He wonders if perhaps he shouldn't have taken two doses of "Speed Moss" earlier.

B.O.S.S.: SECURITY! SECURITY TO ROOM 613! EMERGENCY! EMERGENCY!

Stevens struggles under the weight of Riley, until Riley delivers a knockout punch, rendering Stevens unconcious. Riley doesn't see Hinks carefully training his gun on Riley's back, he gently begins to squeeze the trigger.

BANG!

Hinks collapses dead with a bullet through the skull. As he collapses to the floor, a very shaken looking short man stands over him with a smoking gun.

Man: Come on! We have to get out of here!
BOSS: ELGIN! WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!
Elgin: What someone should've done a long time ago.

Elgin points at the computer and fires at it's large data bank. Sparks fly.

BOSS: ELLLGGGGIIIIIIIiiiiiiuuuuuuuu

All of BOSS's lights fade out and his engines whir to a stop.

Riley picks up Hinks' gun and hands it to Jones who is still cowering behind the desk.

Riley: Now let's get out of here before security comes.
Elgin: Too late!

The sound of boots running along the corridor tells you that this isn't over yet.

Joshua: Jennifer, what you you think we should do? Can't you magic us out of here or something?

Jennifer: No, I can't do a spell Joshua. Elgin, isn't there another way out of here?

They all look around for a way out. The obvious routes are the door (which is where the security guards will come from any moment) and a couple of large windows. Jennifer also notices that floor around the revolving wall is wide enough to fit all of you. It's a separate piece of flooring, meaning that it's not just the wall that moves round, the floor does too.

Elgin see's where Jennifer is looking.

Elgin: Knock twice on that wall and it revolves...I don't know what's on the other side though.

Joshua: Let's have a look.

Jennifer: Come on Elgin, you don't want to be caught. Anyway out of this room has to be worth the risk!

They all run to the computer. Riley knocks on the wall. The entire area revolves and they find themselves in a low lit room full of trailing wires and one single door.

Joshua runs towards the door.

As he opens the door, a new sound fills the air.
"Autodestruct sequence initiated. All personal must evacuate. Destruction in 5 minutes."

Looking out the door they are facing a large fence (7 feet high). The one that surrounds the entire compound.

Riley: Right, now we could either climb the fence, or I could try and make a hole in it, or we could just follow the building round and just hope that the guards are all too distracted by the self-destruct timer?

Joshua: If you can make a hole in the fence that might be the quickest way out.

Riley pulled a well-used pen-knife out of his pocket and was soon cutting through the fence. He didn't have long, the timer was counting down to zero. On getting through the hole, everybody ran.

BOOOOOOOOOOM!!!!

The ground shook as the entire building exploded, showering the area around it with rubble. BOSS's reign of environmental terror was over.

Back at the engine house, Waldo and Marty were shaken by the sudden explosion. Waldo ran outside and then continued to watch in horror as long trenches began to appear in the surrounding area as the ground sunk into them.

From the direction of the Global Chemicals building, a group of people, led by Riley, came running towards him. They avoided the trenches and eventually got to Waldo. Joshua, Kim and Riley filled him in on recent events.

Riley: My theory is that there must've been explosives planted throughout the mines too. Someone clearly wanted to destroy as much evidence as possible. Hopefully we won't have that maggot problem any longer.(Riley paused) Wasn't Marty with you?

Waldo looked back into the Engine house, but Marty was gone.

Riley: I suspect that there will be a lot of miner's going missing right about now.

Just then a soldier came running down the hill towards them. He saluted Captain Finn before asking him to follow him to the Wholeweal Community. The whole gang followed.

On arriving back at Wholeweal, the team found it surrounded by soldiers and worried-looking hippies. Jones ran over to Nancy.

Jones: My God! What happened?

Nancy: It was terrible! There was this noise coming from your lab. I popped my head in...there were so many rabbits, they were frenzied. I slammed the door shut just as one of them rushed at me. I came out and grabbed the soldiers, but by the time they got here, the rabbits were all dead.

Jones asked the soldiers to let him into his lab. After speaking to Riley, they obliged. On examination, it appeared that the hybrid fungus that he'd been working on, Saliota Orbis, was poisonous to the rabbits. It killed them instantly. Riley arranged for crops of the fungus to be grown around the mines.

After everything settled down, Joshua and his friends decided it was time to leave. As he stood beside Waldo's car, Riley handed Joshua a card emblazoned with the UNIT logo.

Riley: Anytime you need any help. Just give us a call.

They all said their goodbyes. Joshua and his friends went home.

That evening, Riley interviewed Elgin at length. Elgin told him everything. How BOSS had been created with good intentions as a way of overseeing the business but soon found a way of manipulating the workers whilst pursuing profit over environmental concerns. Elgin had been growing more and more convinced that Stevens had been having dealings with the local miners after he accidentally walked in on a very tense meeting between Stevens and some of them. He hadn't known exactly what was going on but had a feeling it wasn't legal by the way he was shouted out of Stevens office. He felt lucky to have escaped Global Chemicals alive. Riley thanked him for his time and told him that the explosion would officially be put down as a terrible accident. Elgin assured him he would tell no-one the truth.

It was the early hours of the following morning when Captain Riley Finn finally got into bed. His wife, Sam, stirred briefly before falling back into a deep sleep. It had been a strange day. It felt like it had lasted months, but now it was finally over. He soon drifted off into a peaceful slumber.

THE END