- Somewhere near The Thunderbringer -
Zack and Regina are getting closer to the barrier on their dropship. They are on a mission where even the smallest mistake can make the situation disastrous.
Zack: We must be nearing The Thunderbringer. I can't wait to drop into action! This pilot seat isn't that cozy like I thought it would be and flying this bird for several hours without taking any pit stops is a bitter pill to swallow.
Regina: Don't get too antsy. Remember that we are here to fly beyond the barrier without the enemy knowing about us. If you really want to take a break, take my place while I take over the controls.
Zack: I'll just...try not to let this verge up to a mayhem and you must be crazy to think that I am going to let you fly this archaic bird. You should have brought a beginner's guide book about how to control this aircraft with you. Only then I would probably allow you to fly this thing.
Regina: Fine, then you better stop complaining about being worn out. We are almost there. Do you see those islands and that storm in the distance? That's our finish line.
Zack: Right, the second phase of our mission which can be... very influential depending on our approach.
Regina: Correct! Hey... Zack. I would like to say something important before we land and won't have a chance to really talk about....
Regina pauses...
Zack: What is it? Correlation talk? Our personal entanglements perhaps? My ears are gingerly listening with great interest...
Regina: Ever since your return, I was never in the right frame of mind and I was very hostile towards you simply because of our past but the more I speak to you, the better I understand your aim here. I've been thinking about this ever since we left Zootopia but I think Blake and the kids would be happier if you remained in our family after we are done picking up the pieces.
Zack: Don't worry, I got used to your pugnacity long ago dear.
Regina: What? Really?
Zack: Yup, it's why you made it through Operation Thunderbolt and earned a family in the very end. I am happy to see you acknowledge the fact I am doing my best to be the Zack you always wanted me to be. And... me being a part of your family? That sounds unreal but it's one of my dreams honestly. Having a convivial dinner around the table with your family would make me feel incredibly important and loved for the first time in my life. The feeling that I belong somewhere is of incalculable value for me. I could really use something like that after a series of shit shows I've been through...
Regina: After nearly conquering Zootopia and failing at it miserably, I think you earned the right to be warmly welcomed in our house anytime where you may ardently engage in worthwhile activities. No irony intended...at all.
She looks at him with a wacky expression on her face...
Zack: Okay, if you continue to talk like this you are going to earn us a deep dive into the ocean because my mind is trying to find a way to take it all in and I can't focus on what's ahead of us. Are you serious Regina? Where does all of this felicity come from?
Regina: If you help me get my love back, yes. You are going to be an important member of our family. I am saying this because I have a positive thinking even when we are about to go behind enemy lines.
Zack: I wish I had something like that too. My future is pretty shadowy right now. I am not sure if we will be able to come back, all of us. You and Blake have the grandest chance of returning back to your family, but not me. I am afraid I will take the role of a guardian way too seriously because of being afraid of losing you two.
Regina: No... Zack. Don't say that. Positive thinking, it's all it takes. We are all coming back home in one piece. Understood? We will all be there for each other.
Zack: Doing this for your family is my only saving grace. This is the only way I can show you how much I care about you and Blake.
Twenty minutes later, medium-sized islands become visible just before the barrier with a command post on each one of them that serves for communicating with the control towers on the other side of the barrier. Zack puts the dropship into hovering mode while they carefully plan their next move...
Zack: Okay, so we got a sweeping selection of undistinguished Gryphon islands to choose from it seems with an unknown amount of security which requires careful appraisal.
Regina: The islands closest to The Thunderbringer should be prioritized first. An island with minimal security forces will make sure our sneakiness doesn't get put in jeopardy.
Zack: Or we can avoid landing entirely and wait for them to deactivate the barrier for passing squadrons. We would wait for the right moment to blend right in and enter their territory. I can't think of any better route.
Regina: We wouldn't blend in so easily. Remember what Gyzmoo said about this ship? It's old and probably decommissioned officially by the Gryphon air forces.
Zack: But I don't see any other way. It's looking more complicated than I thought.
Regina: Is this really what you infer from Gyzmoo's advice he has given to us about entering their territory? Just get us to an island closest to the barrier so we can continue making progress...
Zack: Continue making progress? How exactly? It's an implausible step you don't want to take! This is shaping up to a very convoluted plan already...
Regina: You're not a big fan of this type of brainstorming eh? Trust me, it's going to work out when we cooperate and follow Gyzmoo's advice. Also, didn't you say you can't wait to drop into action?
Zack: I did. But the only existing major downside of this action is the necessity of stealth which is not my strong point.
Regina: It will be your strong point once you step out of this dropship with me.
Zack: Okay...let's get this suicide mission started with the highest hopes and positive thinking!
Regina: That's the spirit Zack! Remember, the sky's the limit!
Zack makes the Gryphon dropship speed up....
Zack: I'll try to slip us past their radar systems. We don't want them to throw an early welcoming party for us.
They enter some thick clouds high up in the air....
Regina: Is this supposed to be our cover?
Zack: I mean...the cloaking system is defective so that's out of the question. These clouds should provide us with natural cover.
Regina: This better work. Ugh...we can barely see anything. One day, I hope to reminisce about this day and how we all returned home safely and rejoiced together. This is going to get crazy. I can already feel it. And this...cloudy mess out there...it makes me think back to the day Operation Thunderbolt took place. The mist that settled in our city and turned thousands of animals into savage beasts is something that will haunt me forever. This is not something you can easily shake off.
Zack: I am sorry to be the selfish, power-hungry prime mover behind it. I will never forgive myself for being so callous towards the animals in Zootopia and making them go through pure terror....goddamn Neyla and her lies...
Regina: We all need to learn to live with our past. There's really no escape from it. It's okay to be different now Zack...
Zack: Do you...forgive me?
Regina: Yes, I do.
Zack: For...what reason?
Regina: Because now I understand your pain in your broken heart, a heart so pure inside that it does not deserve to be in such pain anymore.
Zack: Thank you....
Zack gets emotional and fails to hold back a tear that slowly flows down his face. He quickly washes it off with his paw so Regina doesn't see it...
Regina: What's wrong Zack?
Zack: Something....something just landed in my eye. It's nothing, just an itchy eye I swear!
Regina: I believe you...really.
Regina winks at him being aware of his emotions.
Then they suddenly leave the cloudy air space just to be surprised by The Thunderbringer appearing right in front of them...
Zack: DEAD END!
Regina: There's an island just beneath us! It's time to make a landing!
Zack: Say goodbye to the skies...for now!
Zack pulls the dropship down to land on the island closest to the stormy barrier. As they get closer to the island, they notice a couple of landing zones with some buildings and a tall comms tower reaching far out into the sky.
Regina: There's no way to avoid contact with the security guards. We cannot get through without being noticed either so being forced to approach them directly is our only remaining option.
Zack: I would love to land in the depths of the jungle but since I am not very familiar with the sheer wilderness of this island and to save us extra time, we're going to have to take the shortest and most dangerous path.
Regina: This isn't looking good but let's not let that discourage our strong will to rescue Blake and return home together!
Zack: This dropship is subject to examination because of this unauthorized landing which means we won't be able to get through like ghosts...
Regina: Was that really our initial plan? I say we take them by surprise! I must say I hunger for some action as well. I count around ten goons down there. This shouldn't be a problem.
Zack: And spare their captain before they send out a distress call which would blow the whistle on us. We don't want anyone behind that barrier to be aware of our presence here.
As soon as Zack and Regina land with the dropship, they get surrounded by a couple of Gryphon security guards...
Gryphon Security: This is an unauthorized landing! Your aircraft will be seized for inspection. We order you to walk out of the dropship with your hands in the air to undergo an identity verification followed by interrogation!
Zack stands up from his seat and grabs his equipment...
Regina: I can't believe we are doing it. Two outsiders versus some unknowing guards who are about to get jumped and sent to the other world.
Zack: This isn't their lucky day. Grab your gear. We are moving out and kicking asses with mounting fury!
Regina unholsters her CHEE-100-TAH submachine guns powered by sun energy and follows Zack to the back of the dropship...
Zack: My strategic mind tells me to use your fear against them first as a warm up action.
Regina: What do you mean by my "fear"? You may want to reiterate that...
Zack: Those cute little robotic arachnids...
Regina: Oh...look, as long as they aren't made of organic matter, they don't terrify me as much. Unlike living spiders, these are meant to help us and not scare the crap out of us.
Zack prepares two Shocker spiders....
Zack: Ready?
Regina takes a deep breath before she puts her fingers on the triggers...
Regina: Ready!
Zack: And remember, we need their captain alive!
Regina: You don't need to tell me twice...
Zack pulls a lever and the hydraulic door opens. He throws the spider bots on the ground that activate and scurry out of the dropship. The spiders paralyze almost every single security guard with their electric explosion.
Zack: Now! GO!
The two run out of the dropship like crazy aiming with their weapons at their targets outside. Regina eliminates six security guards in a row by shooting them with her special submachine guns while Zack eliminates the rest on his side while also delivering massive damage to the armor of some guards with the weapon's blast rounds. They all fall down to the ground like trees during a category five hurricane.
Regina: Well, that was a shockingly impressive landing and arrival! Let's see, no alarm raised, no captain found. Where is this captain guy hiding?
Zack: We did it before they could report us. The captain should be in that tower. Let's go pay them a friendly visit. They are going to take a real battering once we get in there, especially their cap. Let's try to be risk-averse from now on.
Regina: If we keep our heads up, then we will avoid detection and succeed in getting through the barrier. We can't really avoid taking risks here. They are now a part of our mission. Now that this area is clear, getting to the captain and forcing him to temporarily disengage the barrier is what's left. If we get past that barrier, we enter the unknown.
Zack: The lands beyond the barrier are not so unknown for me. I've been there before, obviously....heh. That was fifteen years ago. Things are going to be different there now.
Regina: Happy to be back home?
Zack: That dark depressing place beyond the barrier has never been my home.
Regina: We should get going and rescue Blake to be back in Zootopia. More guards may come which is why we must reach the tower before they discover us or in other words, the invading force on their island...
One of the guards behind Zack is still alive but fatally injured. The guard is still able to lift his weapon to shoot Zack from behind. Regina notices that just in time and takes action immediately. She takes Zack's hand cannon from his holster, pushes him aside and shots the guard right through his head...
Zack: Regina, did someone just attempt to shoot me from behind?
Regina pushes the hand cannon back into Zack's holster with a wry smile on her face...
Regina: What do you think I shot at? Thin air? You owe me one...
Zack: That was one helluva stupefying close call....thank you! Look, even if you didn't catch sight of that sneaky asshole, my shield would have protected me.
Regina: Oh really? What makes you think your "passive" shield would protect you from incoming damage?
Zack: Gyzmoo's gadgets have always been stable and reliable. Taking the hit would attest to its credibility and guaranteed protection.
Regina: And what did you say earlier? Risk-averse? This doesn't look like you are trying to avoid taking great risks Zack...
Zack: One of us has to put this protective shield through its paces, even inadvertently.
Regina: And it's not going to be me. Alright, I don't see any more guards trying to rise from the dead to shoot a heedless wolf. Let's go!
Zack: Heedless and cheating death!
Regina: That's on point!
The two then manage to reach the tower without being spotted by anyone. There are two guards patrolling the entrance to the tower which hinders their progress a little bit.
Regina: I knew there would be a stumbling block in our path.
Zack: This is nothing we can't handle. With the right use of gadgets and artfulness, we will walk past their soon-to-be corpses. Watch this!
Zack releases one Venom spider bot which runs up to the two unsuspecting guards. Once it gets close enough it explodes, covering the guards in a poisonous green cloud. They breathe it in and start suffocating in pain...
Zack and Regina approach the guards while keeping a safe distance from the smoke...
Zack: And now they are history!
Regina: They're indeed...now we need to wait for that killer smoke to clear out...
Zack: That shouldn't take long...
The guards drop to the ground with blood coming out of their mouths...
Regina: Argh...repulsive. What the heck did you put into that spider bot Gyzmoo?
Zack: I would like to know the secret recipe for making such a spider bot with extremely adverse effects...
Upon waiting a little bit for the smoke to clear out, they walk through their corpses and get to the entrance door which is locked. There's a keycard reader on the door...
Zack: Now what?
Regina: Another stumbling block it seems but I already know how to pass...
Zack: You want me to use my well built body to force our way in?
Regina: This heavy door would make you run yourself ragged. We must look for an alternative way. See that terminal for keycards on the door?
Zack: What do you want me to do with it? Hack it?
Regina walks back and searches the corpses of the dead guards and finds a keycard....
Regina: Eureka! A keycard!
Zack: What a pushover...
Regina: Compared to your version of breaking in, it is!
Regina takes the keycard and swipes it on the reader. It beeps and the door quickly opens to the side. They are now unexpectedly seen by two guards who were just about to leave the building. Zack and Regina react quickly and assault them closely before they are able to raise their weapons and shoot. Zack takes the right guard while Regina tackles the left one. Zack punches the guard so hard he collapses on the floor while Regina disarms the other one and hits him with his own weapon across the face. Since it's not enough to make him lose his balance and fall, she trips him and makes him hit the ground real fast. When the guard tries to get back up she kicks him in the face, pinning him down. She gets a bit unlucky when the guard rolls her over and gets on top of her, punching her twice. She gets infuriated and shows the guard what a seemingly helpless girl can do. She manages to tip him over with her legs and get on top of him. That's when she starts pummeling him with rage while Zack breaks the other guard's skull on the floor. He turns around only to see Regina beating the life out of the other dude with her own fists. The guard is no longer conscious yet Regina keeps hitting him hard with blood everywhere...
Regina: DON'T YOU EVER TOUCH ME!
Zack: Yo! You got him! He's out cold! That's enough!
Zack pulls her away from the guard who is in between death and life...
Zack: You alright?
Regina calms down, rubbing the side of her face gently...
Regina: I received some hard hits but it's nothing I wouldn't shake off...
Zack: Look at you, Blake would have been proud of you! You were so fierce and merciless! You are starting to give off some sinister vibes. I will try to convey my opinions very carefully from now on because I don't want to end up like that guy...
Regina: Ah...c'mon it was nothing. I will never be as badass and formidable, killing bad guys in such gruesome ways like you do.
Zack: You are not far from being of such caliber.
Regina: It's all thanks to Blake... he taught me many tricks and moves and how to defend myself.
Zack: You did good!
Regina: I am still a bit rusty with self-defense. The following encounters shall be....quite refreshing for me.
Zack: Let's reach the top and have a little chat with our captain...
They start walking towards another door in a hallway. Regina is about to ask a question before Zack tells her to be quiet. There are more guards behind the door, talking.
Zack: Alright, here's my straightforward plan, we kick open the door just like a tempest with the ultimate destructive power and pray for them to reach paradise...
Regina: Paradise? Seriously? Their immorality will only get them to hell!
Zack: Paradise or hell, it doesn't really matter. They are both resting places for the dead.
Regina: Yeah just keep that thought in your head and you will be on the wrong side of religious people.
Zack: Dear God, if you are up there, forgive me for my sins.
Regina: Just...kick open the door already please!
Zack: Are you... nervous?
Regina: No... I am not...I am just...focused!
Zack: Sure, you are not. Fingers on the triggers and here we GO!
Zack kicks the door open leading into a room with four Gryphon officers operating the computers on both sides with three more Gryphon guards standing near the elevator in the distance. Zack and Regina take out the officers on both sides while the guards take cover in the distance behind tables and boxes made of steel. There's a red alarm button on the wall quite close to them which they can use to alert the command center up in the tower.
Zack: Shit! We cannot let them near that alarm box!
Regina: Get behind something, quick!
The two quickly take cover when the two guards open fire. Both hidden behind walls, the guards cease firing for a moment.
Zack: One of them is going for the alarm! We can't stay put like this any longer!
Regina: Go! I'll cover you!
Zack and Regina get out of cover and so does one of the guards who runs for the alarm button. Zack sets out running towards him as fast as he can, holstering his assault rifle in the process and pulling out his hand cannon with Regina close next to him. Before the guard is able to hit the alarm button, Zack shoots him in the head with a precise shot while Regina annihilates the second by firing with both of her submachine guns. The third guard remains hidden behind a wall, waiting for the right moment to fire.
Zack: Did you get them both?
Regina: There's still one remaining...be careful!
Zack looks around the corner when the third guard comes out with his weapon ready. Zack shoots the rifle in his hand, destroying it completely and making the guard fall down on his back. Zack then walks up to him, picking him up from the ground and pushing him against the wall.
Zack: Goodnight!
He takes his hand cannon and shoots him two times in his stomach, putting the last guard to eternal rest. Regina then proceeds to call the elevator. Zack holsters his hand cannon and joins her...
Regina: Look at the massacre we left behind...
Zack: It's just like in action movies? eh?
Regina: Except this is really what we are doing, just the two of us. I am really just standing here right now looking at this mess and I am truly mesmerized by your persistence and energy you have while doing away with your enemies. It's something that makes me extremely sick. I am not myself anymore. I guess I have too much compassion.
Zack: I can tell this is clearly not what you had in mind when we landed. You know, when you grow up in a messed up society where you are constantly mistreated and written off, it makes you develop this unremitting hatred for everyone around you which makes killing sadistically bearable. That's who I am. There just aren't many people I have an affinity with.
Regina: Don't worry Zack, that dark thick cloud that kept your true character shrouded in darkness is long gone now. I know you the best and I totally understand you with my heart.
The elevator arrives and the door opens...
Zack: Come...this is the final push, then we are flying off this island.
They both enter the elevator. Regina has a wistful look on her face. Zack presses a button and the elevator starts taking them up...
Regina: I really hope Blake is not going through anything life-threatening. This journey can't be for nothing...
Zack: He is the toughest fox I met in my life. A bunch of idiots of Gryphon nature will not dim the blazing inferno that he is.
Regina: Words of truth....oh and...once we start making our way out of here, how are we going to leave Gryphon territory with our path being blocked by the Thunderbringer?
Zack: That's a bit daunting, but we will figure something out. Thank you for bringing this to my attention. We must be prepared for every possible contingency.
Regina: We've already got a warm welcome filled with frenzied activity when we landed so what could get worse right?
Zack: Yup, especially when there are no security cameras at all that would complicate our mission speaking of which I find it extremely lame and laughable to not have any security cameras installed in places like this. That just makes things for intruders like us so much easier.
Regina: Maybe their security really varies on every island situated near the barrier and we were lucky enough to land on an island with missing cameras hehehe.
The elevator stops and its doors are about to be opened...
Zack: Weapons ready! Once the doors open, shoot anyone you can except the captain guy.
Regina: How am I going to differentiate him from the others?
Zack: He'll be dressed up in fancier colors...
Regina: That...helps a lot....
The doors open and the two immediately notice the Gryphon captain sitting in the middle of the room at his main computer desk. He's different from the other Gryphon officers and wears a special peaked hat. Zack and Regina put dozens of bullets into the unsuspecting officers around him and leave the captain alive...
Zack: Leave it to me...
Regina: He's yours...
Gryphon Captain: You damned intruders! You will pay for this bloodshed with your own blood!
Zack smacks him across his face...
Zack: We haven't come here to have an insignificant talk between each other. We need to cross the Gryphon border and for that we need your cooperation. Get hold of your pals responsible for opening the barrier and tell them to disable it. Make it quick because I don't have the patience for your reluctance!
Gryphon Captain: Easy there cowboy. You think you will enter our Gryphon territory alive? You are just about to fly into your graves!
Zack grabs the captain's head from behind and slams it on his desk once almost making him pass out...
Zack: Trying to dampen our hopes and goals eh? IDIOT! Just say something like that once more and you will see your brain all over your table!
Regina comes closer to keep Zack under control....
Regina: Zack, keep it in proportion. I didn't come all the way up here to see you hammer him to death before he is able to get the barrier open...
Gryphon Captain: I think...you broke my nose. I'll get part of the barrier open so you can pass. Just don't kill me okay?!
Zack: I am not going to kill you, but you will die faster than lightning if you won't get it done promptly without raising any foolish objections to my demand!
The Gryphon captain scans his fingerprint which grants him privilege to reach out to any of the control towers. He pushes a button on the desk and gets in contact with one of the control towers located beyond the barrier...
Control Tower Command: This is control tower TB-14 on the line, got anything to report?
Gryphon Captain: This is Captain Ramirez from Trinity Island, I'm gonna need you to let some aircraft pass the Thunderbringer. Over.
While the captain talks, Zack is watching him and listening to every single word he says up close...
Control Tower Command: Understood sir. What's your codename and ID number?
Gryphon Captain: Nimble Hawk Seven – ID 851216
Upon saying his ID, Zack becomes agitated...
Control Tower Command: Copy that Nimble Hawk Seven. The Thunderbringer will grant passage to the incoming aircraft in ten minutes. Tower command out.
The transmission ends and that's when he gets his head slammed several times on the desk by Zack who has become exceptionally furious...
Zack: YOU THINK I AM A BENIGHTED CLOD?
Regina looks confused and speechless by Zack's sudden burst of outrage...
Regina: What are you doing? He did what you asked him to do...
Zack: His ID number is not what it seems. Those numbers form a coded message, a distress call. Gryphon reinforcements will be here any minute. Our mission is compromised and getting through the Gryphon border will be impossible. We are now both ill-fated all thanks to this dodgy Gryphon scum who thought he would pull a fast one on me!
Regina starts to panic...
Regina: No...this can't be the end. I will not let such a foul-up destroy our future! There has to be something we can do, a second way through or something...just please don't tell me this is the definitive end of our journey. I don't want to die here knowing that Blake is out there as well as my kids who are disconsolate, praying for all of us to return alive.
Zack: Our plan is carved in stone. This will not change the course of the action. We will push through all of their goddamn defenses and get my best friend and your love back home safe and sound! We will have to go through blood, sweat and tears to do that though. It's not over yet Regina, I promise! This is not how our journey will end.
He places his paw on her shoulder to comfort her while the Gryphon captain slowly regains his ability to talk after nearly getting his head smashed...
Gryphon Captain: Hopeless? That's what...you get for...killing my troops and infiltrating this place. You will...both die and I will laugh...at...your misfortune happily afterwards...
Zack's fists clench as he turns around bloodthirsty and fuming...
Zack: You may want to close your eyes now, Regina.
Zack walks back to the Gryphon captain and proceeds to do some really nasty stuff to him. The way Zack beats the captain to death makes Regina look away, sickened. Trying to not focus on the brutal activity behind her, she hears the cracking sounds of bones and intense screaming. After brutally slaughtering the captain, Zack walks back to Regina, stopping right next to her, panting...
Regina: You just... applied a silencer to his mouth...
Zack: He could've lived...but he wouldn't shut up. It's time to leave this island. Come...
Zack and Regina hurry back to the elevator and get in. Zack pushes a button and the elevator starts taking them to the ground floor...
Regina: What are we going to do? If we are going to leave the island, where are we going to go? Past The Thunderbringer? Or...retreat home? None of this feels possible anymore. I feel so hopeless right now....
Zack: We are going through the storm....
Regina: But...how? It was built to stop aircraft from getting through. It's not passable like this. We are going to get destroyed.
Zack: We are going to commandeer one of their modern dropships with the latest equipment and powerful engines and attempt to get as high as possible to enter through the stratosphere. The Thunderbringer does not extend to such height. I saw it when I was in an escape pod heading towards Zootopia.
Regina appears very befuddled with Zack's crazy plan....
Regina: Calm down Regina, this is all just a dream, a god-awful nightmare actually that feels so real....
Zack: If this is a dream then why am I in it? Am I really that important to you? I never thought I would make it into your darkest spine-chilling dreams...
The elevator doors open...
Zack: Weapons ready....
They both walk out of the elevator ready to shoot anyone who gets in their path...
Regina: Weird, I was expecting hordes of heavily armed guards blocking our way out...
Zack: The worst is yet to come. We must get airborne before reinforcements reach our position. Let's make ourselves scarce real quick!
They start running towards the exit through the hall. When they get out of the command tower, they notice their dropship and the area around has been surrounded by even more Gryphon security guards who came from another island with two additional dropships to secure the island from any intruders.
Regina: Oh no, we are late...
Zack: I wish I had my powers back now....this just really feels like it was all predestined to go wrong. These buffoons will not stand in our way. Let's extinguish their lives!
Regina: Zack, wait! That mind-boggling idea to overcome The Thunderbringer from such enormous height, did you mean it?
Zack: Well if you got a more achievable route, a better idea we can put to practice, just tell me what we can do. My plan, as crazy as it may sound, it's nothing more than a calculated risk. We have to try for Blake...
Regina: The problem is that I can't think of anything else other than your insane master plan. Let's just do something to progress....I don't wanna keep going round in circles.
Zack: In that case we will have to go with my hardly conceivable plan. Let's shoot our way through. We are going to need one of their dropships. Get your legs ready because we are going to run towards them like a destructive shockwave of death!
Regina: No! That's not a wise thing to do!
Zack: NOW! GO!
Regina: Crap, I hate how intrepid he is...
They both run down the hill with Regina a bit behind Zack and start shooting from a distance. Little do they realize that there are two armored grenadiers too equipped with grenade launchers. They manage to shoot a couple of guards but they quickly return fire. The grenadiers launch a barrage of highly explosive grenades at Zack and Regina who are then forced to take cover behind a small hill upon getting knocked down by the blast radius.
Zack: Phew! That was close! You feel that adrenaline flow in your veins?
Regina: I am not a battle-hardened killing machine like you, so yeah there's more adrenaline in me than necessary and I don't like it one bit!!! I can't do this shit anymore. It's too much! I want to wake up from this nightmare!!!!
Zack: C'mon Regina, you know I won't let anything happen to you.
Regina: If you want to protect me, you better start being more vigilant and able to look after yourself first. We almost got blasted into smithereens!
Zack: We got these super advanced suits on us and these last couple of spider bots!
Regina: You and your cocky attitude is going to kill us!
The grenadiers then lob several grenades at them. Zack is able to quickly react and cover Regina with his whole body to protect her as the grenades explode all around them. Some shrapnel hit Zack's back but the suit's shield system protects him from sustaining any damage by destroying them with the invisible shield. The shield emits an orange glow after getting in contact with the shrapnel.
Zack: Shit! You okay?
Regina: Yeah.... I am still alive experiencing this horror. Thank you for the cover though!
Zack: I told you I would protect you!
Regina: Your suit just weirdly flashed for a second...
Zack: It must have indicated that it successfully protected my back from shrapnel. C'mon, we gotta go! We are sitting ducks here!
Zack helps Regina stand up...
Zack: Get ready to do one last frontal assault!
Regina: We are doing that run and shoot game of yours again aren't we? I am so getting tired of doing these frontal attacks of yours with almost no cover...
Zack: You are free to slag me off! I deserve it but we have no other choice now! Scorchers are going to ramp up the heat for us!
He grabs four Scorcher spider bots and throws them over the little hill. The bots target the enemy and the scorching show begins! Before the grenadiers are able to load their guns with new capsules, the bots sneak up on them and explode creating a big inferno all around them.
Zack: Blazing diversion set, it's now or never Regina!
Regina: I really can't do this anymore. It's just too much for me!
Zack: Do you want to rescue Blake or not? Letting your fear be dominant over your valiance will only push you closer to death! We can do this together! I know we can! As a murderous crazy guy and a savage girl! Positive thinking, remember?
Regina manages to regain her confidence and they both start running towards the Gryphon guards who are trapped in a circle of fire. They are all then mowed down by them. The two then get in their dropship hoping to successfully commandeer it and leave the island.
Zack: And we are in! See? As long as you are with Zack, you will always have the moral high ground anywhere you go!
Regina: No doubt about it. I would never get this far without you Zack...but I still hate how you just charge forward being overconfident and stern with someone so weak and craven. I just feel like I am starting to be mentally exhausted. I was too naive to think this would be a cakewalk...and to think I wanted to go alone at first before you showed up, I would never return home and make my kids forever motherless and heartsick.
Zack: I am a very unconventional dude with my battle tactics, I know. I was made to be a peculiar wolf after all. Life has taught me to be unyielding and merciless. It's not like your usual way of living with your family where suffering, emotional pain, and existential crisis aren't part of your everyday activities. I can't really blame you for getting cold feet about our little rescue mission. Trust me, most girls in your case would simply back down from this mission at the very beginning and search for another partner to go all lovey-dovey with instead of facing the trials and tribulations of this journey beyond the horizon.
Regina: We were both built differently and about my deep sense of insecurity, maybe you are right. Not everyone would venture out into these lands full of peril.
Zack then finds out the controls of the dropship have been blocked to prevent hijackers and unauthorized personnel from stealing it.
Zack: Regina, I don't want to ruin your day, but we've gotten ourselves into a pretty serious predicament. We aren't taking this bird into the air...
Regina: This is NOT happening right now...
Zack: We must return to that piece of junk...
Regina: But we will never be able to fly over the barrier with that one due to its limited engine power...
They start hearing buzzing sounds just outside the dropship. There are drones scanning the area with their sensors while several Gryphon dropships approach their location, making the situation completely hopeless...
Regina: Oh no, it's the end of the line Zack. We can't possibly outmaneuver the incoming Gryphon squadron from the ground.
Zack: No, this is just a minor setback. I refuse to make any concessions! We haven't gotten this far to be encumbered by a bunch of idiots with rudimentary fighting capabilities!!! We will fight our way back to our ship and try to get through from high above the ground!
Regina: You gotta stop with your ill-advised ideas Zack, it's over! I can't keep doing this forever! Just look, we are greatly outnumbered!!!
Groups of Gryphon guards rappel down from the dropships with one of the notable commanders of the air forces of Gryphonia, Xander Shadowfang, a black and white saber-toothed tiger.
Xander: Raiders, we know you are in there! You are encircled by our forces and we will flush you out with heavy fire if you won't surrender to us!
There are many Gryphon soldiers aiming at the dropship Zack and Regina are in with a whole squadron of Gryphon dropships and drones to worsen their situation.
Regina: You heard the guy, let's comply with their demands. This may be the only way to survive and get past the Thunderbringer.
Zack: Giving in to the Gryphon forces is certain death. This is some real bullshit and you know it!
Xander: This is a final warning, exit the dropship unarmed or we will destroy you!
Regina stands up and gets ready to move out...
Regina: They are going to kill us both! Are you just going to keep lazing around on the chair like that? Stand up and let's move out!
Zack hits the control panel with his fists in anger....
Zack: Darn you modern security system!!!
He stands up disappointed....
Zack: There is no tomorrow for us then...but fine, let me be your devoted follower and walk with you blindly...
Once they leave the dropship with their paws in the air, two Gryphon soldiers approach them with extreme caution and bring them down on their knees....
Zack: Are you happy now? We can start digging our own graves just because of your foolish decision to surrender to these inferiors! I really hoped we would never end up in such an ignominious situation...
Xander: You...you are Subject Alpha!
Zack: Congrats for recognizing me, Xander. Long time no see. My reluctant and ignoble compliance made you a very lucky guy today!
The Gryphon dropships land nearby and more Gryphon soldiers come out. This is when Zack realizes there's no way he can get out of this mess with Regina...
Xander: You will stand trial for your betrayal and mass murder of Gryphon units on this island and so will your beautiful companion. Empress Odynhood will go easy on you, probably. But I can't say the same about that Zootopian fox. We will probably just dispose of her body once we execute her somewhere deep within the jungles of this island. She is not worth our attention unlike you, a special creature made to serve us but has fallen into the wrong hands.
Zack: Great. We are back to the start. At least I am. You are going to get beheaded Regina while I get to sleep in a goddamn refrigerator again for another decade. I already know what Neyla's verdict is going to be for me.
Xander: That fox is not the most talkative person on this island. Is she missing a tongue or what?
Regina is in dead silence looking at the ground, ignoring everyone around her....
Zack: That's because she is not going to waste her energy by acknowledging disdainful clowns like you.
Xander: Maybe making her scream in pain will make her talk before her final moments on this island, right Beauty?
Zack: I would put you in eternal sleep long before you did something hurtful to her...
Xander: Subject Alpha, if you say one more word that is meant to upset me, she will die in front of your eyes for your impertinence. Now, since I got you two troublemakers restrained with your fates in my hands, I can finally start having my moments of enjoyment as a Gryphon Air Force Commander once again. It's been a while since I got someone like you to interrogate and have fun with.
Xander kneels next to her and caresses her face. She grunts angrily and tries to turn her head away from him...
Xander: What's the matter cutie? Still not keen to talk with me? And I thought you would be a sassy little fox with a worthless character. I must say you got my attention now.
Zack: She is quiet, but she has the loudest mind on this island. Don't ever touch her again or you will start seeing floating stars in front of your eyes!
Xander: And you got the loudest mouth in the universe! Take this insolent creature onboard. He is draining my mental power with his annoying remarks! Keep him in there and wait for further commands while I try to give this cutie the third degree!
Zack: No! If you are going to take me, take me with her! Regina, it's time to break silence and give him what he wants!
Xander: Fool, she is not going with you! You two better stay separated. You know, there are some precautions I need to follow.
Two soldiers then pick up Zack from the ground and start leading him towards one of the dropships. That's when Regina finally speaks up...
Regina: Blake Thunder, that one red fox with special blood, where do you keep him?
Xander: SHE CAN TALK? Well, butter my Gryphon butt and call me a biscuit! I will give you some prominence after all. Why begin our conversation with a two-bit red fox?
Regina: You know where he is, don't you? He is the reason this island became a burial ground for your fellow fallen Gryphon friends! All we want is to get past the barrier!
Xander: Slow down there. That fox is everything that matters to you? If that makes you happy, then let me affirm he is being transported to the safest of places in all Gryphonia where no harm will come to him, Ember Island's prison complex, a heavily fortified fort with the most dangerous animals in this universe! Now that we put your mind at ease, let's talk about what will follow. I am gonna squash out all the info I can get from you now before we become besties and probably something more than that! I would love to show you the skies high above our land, just you and me honeybear...
Xander is then laughed at and scorned by his soldiers...
Xander: Shut up you all! This is my lifetime opportunity to have a female fox operating in our army...right next to me of course!
Zack: I am dumbfounded this guy is totally engrossed in you Regina and wants you in his army or your heart...
Regina: Too bad every single second spent with him is a wasted time.
Xander: A wasted time? It can't be...
Regina: Yup, I even almost forgot to mention that you're not my type and I have a family already! I don't care about your awful amorous intentions. You must be crazy to think I would join your good for nothing army of boneheads and losers. So, kindly shove it up your ass and get your sadist face out of here already...
Zack: She just shot you down in flames mate, accept her evil side that your heart deserves! You are trying to express your love to the wrong girl in the wrong place at the wrong time. You don't deserve to have such a Beauty in your life, but nice try brother. I couldn't have done it better myself hahaha.
Xander: Good, that's fine. Absolutely fine. I am not heartbroken or anything. But your inexpressibly poignant rejection just made me rethink my plans with you. I hope you are bold enough to face death! I just wanted to offer you a place among our ranks, to avoid your punishment and survive!
Regina: After everything we've done here? This just doesn't feel right dumbass...
Xander: I am in charge here! These islands are under my control and these men are my loyal followers. We would hush it all up and blame everything on Subject Alpha only and leave you out of this!
Zack: Xander, you sleazy asshole! Just wait till I get my hands free!
Regina: Screw you! Me and Zack stand together!
Xander: Then I shall continue doing my job aptly. Get them aboard. We are taking them back to our base where they will be submitted to a painful inquisition followed by their departure from life. You are our enemy and I want to gather all the intel I can get from you!
Zack: The only thing you are getting from me is a fancy present with my middle fingers in it...
Xander: You just can't stop talking drivel, can you, big guy? You'll be the first one I will silence forever, that's if Neyla gives me permission to do so. She may still need you after all but your girl right there, she is a disappointment. A real heartbreaker. She is useless to us...
Regina: Boy I'm glad to see that disillusionment on your face....
Two soldiers pick up Regina from the ground and start leading her and Zack towards the dropships. Then, an increasing sound of aircraft engines is heard coming closer to the island before two rockets hit two of their dropships, knocking everyone on the ground and creating fresh new chaos on the island. There are some casualties too!
Xander: Argh! Who dares to blow up my invaluable aircraft?!
Everyone is confused, trying to fully recover from the blast when they suddenly spot a whole squadron of ZDF attack jets and dropships loaded with combat ready soldiers all led by Ash Rylergate with his sister.
Ash: Destroy their aircraft, don't let anyone get airborne and escape! Cut their infantry to pieces, but watch out for two friendly targets of Zootopian nature...
ZDF Dropship Pilot: Acknowledged, sir! We've acquired all earthbound targets and two hostages. Engaging now!
Regina: This is it! We are about to be pulled out of fire! I knew this wasn't the end! HELL YEAH!
Zack: We've been blessed with the best luck possible...
Zack and Regina use this opportunity to help the ZDF take down all Gryphon forces around them. Having lost sight of their primary weapons somewhere nearby after the explosions, Zack and Regina quickly seize some fully automatic Gryphon rifles and start clearing the area from the Gryphon soldiers who are drowning in a sea of bullets with no hope as they are being shot to pieces rapidly by the ZDF forces in the air who just made it to the island's airspace.
Xander: GET ME OUT OF HERE NOW!
There's one last Gryphon dropship remaining on the landing platform. Xander attempts to make a run for it...
Xander: There's too many of them! We can't retaliate against them flying demons from the ground!
Xander runs out all the luck he had left and before he can make his escape, his comrades next to him get mowed down by VTOL attack jets from above, making him the only survivor left from the little group of "bodyguards" he had left. This is when Zack confronts him, with his hands free...
Zack: XANDER!
Xander: Shit... Subject Alpha. I guess this will be a very different type of discussion...
Zack: Let this be a fair game.
He throws his weapon to the ground....
Zack: Ready to test your combat effectiveness?
Xander: Is this a challenge? Because I strongly relish a challenge!
Zack and Xander come face to face with each other, but Zack does not ease up on him and punches him in his face a few times before ripping off one of his saber shaped teeth and slashing his neck with it. Xander falls on his knees, uttering words incoherently as blood squirts out of his neck fast. His body then drops down on the ground for good.
Regina: Super gross! You did not treat this guy leniently at all. He finally got what he deserved!
Zack: Never expected this island would become your resting place, huh Xander?
Ash: Lock and load everyone! Prepare for touchdown!
Ashley: This is the moment of truth!
The ZDF dropships land while the VTOL attack jets remain hovering above the island. Groups of ZDF soldiers march down from the ramps and finish the last couple of remaining Gryphon soldiers. Ash and Ashley come out from their ship soon afterwards. Zack and Regina are then surrounded....
Regina: Uh...hey! We can't thank you enough for coming to our rescue!
Ash then makes his way through his soldiers along with Ashley...
Ash: This was only fortuitous. We didn't really come to rescue you or did we?
Ashley: Hold up...
Regina: You?!...
Upon looking at each other in a more detailed and interested way, Regina and the Rylergate siblings recognize each other....
Ashley: Ash, it's that girl who gave me the fight of the ages!
Ash: And what is this girl doing here now?
Regina: I seek passage through the Thunderbringer to save my love...
Ash: Blake Thunder. I remember....
Regina: I hope you are not enemies anymore. I don't want any trouble with you anymore...
Ash: You think we are still in strong opposition after what... fifteen years?
Zack: You two had some eh...disagreements before?
Regina: It's a long story, Zack. A dark story that makes me really anxious...
Ashley: I felt sick after separating you from your love and leaving you all alone in your house after that fight. I wasn't doing it with passion. Our general, Hayden Fluxx commanded us to capture Blake, there was nothing we could do. Nothing of it was personal. Now that we are standing here amid our real enemy's territory, I would like to take this moment to say I am sorry about the pain we have caused you back then....
Ash: Ashley, I didn't tell you to talk on my behalf! Seriously now, I feel the same. I mean...things are different now. Everything that happened between us is all behind us written in a book on a dusty shelf. You can't have a trip down the memory lane with us in it, so tear that page off from it and you will never consider us enemies anymore, because as a matter of fact, we aren't. If you can somehow forgive us for those frightful memories in that part of your life, we would appreciate it.
Regina: I do wish to be on friendly terms with you. You were just taking orders but wow... I was scared to death...
Zack: So, you two caused Regina to experience such anguish back then but I am glad you commiserate with her now feeling bad for your hostile approach. What exactly is your mission here?
Regina: They have nothing to reproach themselves with. They were just carrying out their duty. That's it. I just wish I wasn't a victim of their takedown operation, witnessing my love being carried away from my heart. But anyway, it's behind us now.
Ash: We're here to disable the Thunderbringer, permanently.
Ashley: To destroy it....
Ash: Yeah, to make it non-existent so it will only be an active superweapon in Gryphon minds. May I ask, who are you? You two are working together to reach a mutual goal. You aren't Gryphonian? Are you? Your fur color isn't what we would consider common in our kingdom.
Zack: I do hail from Gryphonia. I was created in the labs to serve their army but as you can distinctly tell, I am a renegade now fighting for your kingdom.
Ashley: I love how straight he is with us...
Ash: Anything else you would like to add?
Zack tries his best to keep his deepest secret untold...
Zack: I got nothing riveting to tell you about.
Regina: Yup, he's got no more secrets to hide.
Ash: Good. It's time to clear the island from any remaining hostile forces.
Regina: Oh, I don't think that's necessary...
Ashley: Why not?
Ash: These couldn't have been the last Gryphon units on this island...
Zack: Actually, they were. Me and Regina are unstoppable island conquerors.
Ash: How?!
Zack: Their defenses are awfully poor and their units weak. This is nothing too enervating. I could do this all day just to get my best friend back to his family.
Regina: Or we just got some real prowess. We got so far that there's no return for us, not without Blake.
Ash: That's some laudable slaughter you left behind. Now that we are unified, it shall consolidate our firepower and success.
Ashley: That rodent knew who we needed the most....
Zack: Rodent? Oh Gyzmoo? He was the one who sent you after us?
Ash: Not really after you, but he implored us to assist you if we met. You got our assistance until we sabotage the Thunderbringer.
Regina: What? And what about the journey beyond the Thunderbringer? You are not coming with us?
Ash: Our mission is to destroy the barrier and not to go through it right now...
Ashley: We are here to clear a path for General Fluxx's army only. I am sorry. We are rigidly following our orders.
Regina: What?! That's it? You are just going to somehow bring the barrier down and then fall back or...what?
Ash: You can stay here and wait till the next dawn for his army to arrive.
Regina: NO! I will not sit tight and dawdle here... and wait for your armies to arrive. You said General Fluxx is coming. It could only mean one thing, war. I must get Blake out of there before it begins!
Ash: If you think this is an opportune moment for you to enter their kingdom without getting a break, then go for it. Once we destroy the barrier, you may enter their true territory on your own. But beware, it will be a leap in the dark.
Ashley: You should take advice from my brother. It will save your neck sooner or later.
Zack: As much as I agree with your sister, we must hasten to get ourselves through the barrier and rescue Blake before this war breaks out.
Ash: Like I said, you'll be on your own with no support from the ZDF. We will not hold you back. I just hope you know that you will be powerless to defend yourselves. The guards you've fought here were all blundering amateurs compared to the special imperial forces you will encounter there.
Regina: I don't care how strong their military force is, I just want things to finally get back to normal by bringing back my love home. Our kids' happiness matters the most. I cannot let them become orphans. I will do everything I can to give them the best childhood they can have...
Ashley: Awww! You and Blake have kids? So cute!!!
Ash: We will keep our fingers crossed for you to safely return.
Zack: Just get rid of that doubtfulness and you will be left amazed in the end. She will return with Blake back to their family. I swear on my own life!
Regina: We will ALL return without a scratch. Guys, now that we are here, with all the bad guys lying dead on the ground and your advanced jets high above us, I would like to know what you will conduct next?
Ash: General Fluxx consulted Doctor Gyzmoo for professional advice on this operation shortly before we left with our troops, he strongly recommends us to use our available rockets with proton warheads against the Thunderbringer. We have this island occupied and their forces terminated, that should elicit a strong response from within the barrier very soon. Once they open it for their reinforcements to come through, we will use this opportunity to launch our warheads through the opening to target at least one of their storm generators. If an impact is achieved, the proton energy from the warheads will trigger a chain reaction and destroy all power sources of the barrier which will clear us a straight passage into their mainland. The Thunderbringer will be no more a hindrance.
Regina: See? Their version of dealing with this stormy weather is manageable compared to your crazy one!
Zack: Yeah I know. Mine would be full of risks...yet quite fast-paced AND less time-consuming....
Regina: What do we do now Ash?
Ash: We play the waiting game...
The island is secured and the SDF forces are now getting ready to lure out the mouse from its hiding hole...