Road Rovers: Christmas Inc.

By Gerhard Naudé

All Road Rovers names © Warner Brothers and rightful owners
Rembrant, Duroc, Johnston and the European Corporation © Gerhard Naudé
Otto, Samantha, Starlight © Robert Baer Jr.
Striker, Phoenix, Merit © Gerhard Naudé

Any question, comments, complaints, feedback or suggestions can be 
sent to gnaude_@hotmail.com.

Santa's Workshop
The North Pole
23 December
11:01 PM:

It is night over the north pole, but inside the large wooden building
that is Santa's workshop, it is bustling with activity. Everywhere elves
are busy assembling toys and other gifts, making presents or preparing
the sleigh. Inside his home's living room Santa Claus is sitting on a easy 
chair looking at a list.

Santa:"Jody was nice. As was Peter. Oh, Bobby had been a bad boy. Sarah
       was good too. Hardly any kids who were bad this year."

Outside in their corrals the reindeer were getting ready for the big day. 
The leader, Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer, is overseeing everything.

Rudolph:"Right. We go in the same order on the sleigh as the year beofre."

Cupid:"And every year before that."

Prancer:"I don't really mind it. We always still get a nice view of the
         world from where we are."

Rudolph:"Dancer, how's the flying sessions?"

Dancer:"Still as great as ever. In fact, this year we might set a new
        speed record."

Just then Kiki, a young reindeer jumps up to them.

Kiki:"Am I going along? Am I? Am I?"

Rudolph:"No, Kiki. You're too small to go along."

Kiki:"Awww! I'm big enough! See?"

She attempts to make herself look larger, but only succeeds in making her
look silly. The others (except Rudolph and Dancer) laugh.

Dancer:"I'm sorry, Kiki, but Rudolph is right. You're not ready to go
        along with us. Maybe next year."

Kiki hangs her head and walks away while the others resume with their
arrangements. Far away, evil eyes were watching them from the snow-covered
trees.

Voice 1:"Ready?"

Voices:"We."

There is the sound of a machine gun being cocked.

Voice 1:"Now!"

Suddenly large groups of heavily armed EuroCorp commandos appear from cover,
lead by Paul Duroc. They start running towards the workshop. Duroc signals
a group of them to the corral. The commandos nod and run up to the corral.
The reindeer all turn to look at them.

Dasher:"Hey! Who are they?"

Blitzen:"Looks like our local friendly snowmen."

The commandos all point their MP5's at the reindeer.

Commando:"Hands... I mean, hooves in the air!"

The reindeer don't waste and hold their hooves in the air. Donnar looks at
Blitzen, annoyed.

Donnar:"Oh yes. Snowmen, armed with machine guns and holding us captive. 
        VERY friendly."

Kiki, who had been hidden out of sight, watches as the commandos round up
the reindeer and begin to tie them up to the corral's wooden pillars.

Kiki:"Oh no! What will I do?"

She starts shivering from fear. Inside the workshop things are still going
as normal. The elves are still working with the toys, which range from
teddy bears to computer games. One of the elves, Peter, looks at a wooden
toy train passing his inspection point on the conveyor belt.

Peter:"In these days when we are making computer games and robotic dolls
       for kids, why are we still making wooden toy trains and teddy
       bears?"

Eddie, who is handling the machine which magically creates the toy parts
and components, answers.

Eddie:"There are still kids out there in the world who don't have the
       luxuries of the developed world, Peter. They've never even SEEN
       a toy before, and they would gladly like to get even wooden toys
       for Christmas."

Suddenly the doors burst open and the commandos, lead by Duroc, rush in
and aim their machine guns at the elves.

Duroc:"Hands in the air! Now!!!"

The elves all scream in fright and in the blink of an eye bunch together
in fear. All except Hiram, who defiantly stands in Duroc's way.

Hiram:"Hold on! Who are you and what you doing here?"

Duroc aims his MP5 at him.

Duroc:"Your executioner if you don't put your hands in the air, dwarf!"

Hiram:"Dwarf??? I'm an elf!!!"

Duroc kicks Hiram into the other elves, then leads another group of com-
mandos up the stairs leading to Santa's home while the rest secure the
workshop. Inside his home Santa hears the commotion.

Santa:"What is going on in the workshop?"

Suddenly his front door flings open and Duroc and his commandos rush in
with their MP5's aimed at Santa.

Duroc:"Hold it, Claus!"

Santa stands up and points in anger at Duroc.

Santa:"Who are you and what are you and your armed men doing in my work-
       shop?"

Duroc:"Simple old man. We are claiming your workshop in the name of the
       European Corporation."

He signals several of the commandos and they grab and begin to tie up
Santa Claus.

Santa:"Unhand me! Naughty children like you don't get any presents!"

Duroc:"We. We get a large pay-cheque each month instead of some stupid
       and worthless presents."

Santa:"But why this violent take-over? I only deliver presents to kids
       all over the world."

Voice(from behind):"I-I-I will a-a-ans-s-swer that question, M-m-m-m-
     mister C-claus."

Santa looks towards his door. Standing in the doorway is Tony Johnston.
He is currently wearing a heavy fur coat over his suit. He walks up to
Santa.

Johnston:"A-a-allow me to i-i-introduce myself-f-f. I am T-t-tony John-
          ston, v-vice president of E-e-euroCorp."

Santa:"The European Corporation? What does EuroCorp want with me and my
       workshop?"

Johnston:"T-t-to the p-point. I l-l-l-like that in a-a-a person. T-t-the
          answer is t-t-this: EuroCorp w-w-wants to c-c-commercialize
          y-y-your workshop."

Santa's eyes widen.

Santa:"Commercialize? You mean make people pay for the presents I deliver
       them?"

Johnston nods.

Johnston:"O-o-of course we t-t-take 75% of a-all p-p-profit made f-from
          deliveries, b-b-but you c-c-can keep y-your workshop a-and your
          s-s-staff. A-a-as a d-d-division of EuroCorp, n-n-naturally."

Santa:"Never! I will never, ever make good folks pay for their Christmas
       gifts! Nor will I ever work for some money-grubbing corporation!"

Johnston:"Y-y-your can b-be rep-placed, M-m-mister Claus. Also, i-i-if
          you d-d-don't m-make the deliveries, t-t-there will be m-many
          c-c-crying children a-a-and ang-gry parents o-on Christmas
          D-d-day."

Johnston looks at Duroc.

Johnston:"L-l-lock M-m-mister C-c-claus, the r-reindeer and the d-d-
          dwarves u-u-up f-f-for a while. L-let them t-t-think o-our
          offer o-over. I-i-i have a-a-another b-business m-m-meeting
          to g-go t-t-to."

Duroc(saluting):"We, sir."

Duroc and his commandos lead the angry Santa out of his home and round
him up along with the reindeer and dwarves.

Hiram:"We're elves!!!"

Sorry, elves. As they are being rounded up, Kiki (who had been hiding
from the commandos) watches the events inside through a workshop window.

Kiki:"How can I help them now?"

She walks away from the window and steps onto an old newspaper. She looks
down and sees the front page shows the Road Rovers (its the same paper
from "The dog who knew too much"). She gets a bright idea.

Kiki:"The Road Rovers! They can help save Santa and the others!"

She looks around for any commandos who might be nearby. When the coast is
clear she runs out of the corral and starts to magically fly away.

Banquet Hall
Road Rover Mission Control
24 December
7:24 AM:

The banquet hall is decorated with various kinds of Christmas decorations.
Tables surround a large Christmas tree in the middle of the hall. Gifts
are stacked beneath the tree and the tables are being laid with plates
and glasses for the banquet. Hunter, Colleen, Shag, Striker, Phoenix, 
Merit, Otto, Samantha, Starlight are here busy with the decorating. The
Master is busy overseeing the entire process.

Master:"Good work, Rovers. We should have everything ready for Christmas
        day."

Hunter and Colleen are busy setting the plates on the tables.

Colleen:"Its amazing how Shag can so easily arrange these banquets."

Hunter:"Yeah, and with all the best dishes he can get from Peeare."

Colleen:"Especially when he threatens to take his business to Peeare's
         competition."

Hunter:"It always drives him mad, but keeps him on our side. Right, Shag?"

Shag, who is busy hanging socks above a specially made fireplace, mumbles
in reply.

Shag:"Rhea!"

Meanwhile Striker and Phoenix are busy hanging decorations against the
walls and doorways.

Phoenix:"I love putting up decorations, even though this is only my
         second Christmas."

Striker:"So do I. I have not put up decorations since that last Christmas
         before my family was massacared."

Phoenix:"I trust they are good memories, Love?"

Striker smiles.

Striker:"Ja. I remember them well. The smell of roast beef. The presents
         and decorations we put on and under the tree. Me and my older
         brother throwing each other with wet Christmas socks."

Phoenix giggles.

Phoenix:"Did you get in trouble with that?"

Striker:"Oh ja. My rear end hurt for quite a while after our father had
         spanked us, but it was wonderful memories."

As they reach a doorway Phoenix takes out a misletoe and holds it above
her and Striker. He looks at her.

Striker:"Need a little help putting it up, Love?"

Phoenix giggles.

Phoenix:"No, silly. We're under a misletoe and you know what that means."

Striker:"Actually, I do not to be honest."

She is surprised at this.

Phoenix:"Didn't you have misletoe hanging in your home during Christmas?"

Striker:"We never had any misletoe in South Africa, to the best of my
         knowledge."

Phoenix:"So you don't know what to do under one?"

He shakes his head.

Striker:"Nee."

She smiles slyly.

Phoenix:"Then it is time that you learn."

She puts her arms around him and pulls him closer. She then gives him a
long, passionate kiss. He is a bit startled at first, but quickly returns
the favour and kisses back. They remain like that for a while before
breaking apart. They look lovingly at each other.

Phoenix:"When you and your love are under a misletoe, one should give
         each other a kiss."

He grins broadly.

Striker:"Now THAT is a good custom. Maybe I should learn a bit more about
         it now."

She giggles, then they kiss each other again. Otto and Samantha, who have
been hanging decorations not far from Striker and Phoenix, see them kiss.
Samantha looks at Otto.

Samantha:"Does it give you any ideas, Otto?"

Otto looks at her and smiles.

Otto:"Yes, but we currently lack a misletoe above our heads."

Samantha puts her arms around him, and he does the same.

Samantha:"How about we pretend there is one right now?"

Otto:"Not a bad idea."

The two of them kiss as well. Merit, who is at the top of a ladder that is
against the tree, and Starlight, who is at the bottom, see them kiss.

Merit:"This 'kissing' is a very unusual yet very common pheonomena."

Starlight passes up a star to Merit, who begins to put it on the tree.

Starlight:"It is also fun."

Merit looks down at Starlight.

Merit:"Please define the word 'fun'."

Starlight:"It means to entertain, I think."

Merit:"Please define the word 'entertain'."

Starlight:"Um... it means to enjoy oneself."

Merit:"Please define the word 'enjoy'."

Starlight sighs.

Starlight:"That's the problem with having a robot who has little or no
           understanding of emotions and feelings."

She looks up at Merit.

Starlight:"Just keeping working, Merit. I'll try to explain later."

Merit:"Task received."

He(it?) continues to decorate the tree while Starlight keeps passing up
decorations up towards him. Back at the fireplace Shag keeps putting up
socks against it. Suddenly soot start falling from the chimney down onto
the fireplace. Shag sees this and calls the others. They all turn their
attention towards him.

Hunter:"What is it, Bud?"

Shag:"Rhit's Rhanta Rhaus!"

Hunter:"Santa Claus?"

Samantha:"Already? How can it be?"

Merit:"According to my studies of Christmas, the subject Santa Claus does
       travel down smoke removal structures to deliver the packages. But
       he does it during 23 December in the nighttime."

Striker:"Could it be an intruder?"

Master:"Rovers, stand ready. If this an intruder, then we should give him
        or her a 'warm' welcome."

The Rovers all surround the fireplace in a defensive stance. A large
object falls onto the fireplace, kicking up a cloud of soot. A tiny
coughing noise comes from the soot. When the cloud clears the Rovers
see who it is. It is Kiki, coughing and covered with soot. 

Merit:"Sirs, my fauna libraries indicate that this creature is called
       a reindeer. It is also very young."

Phoenix, Colleen and Samantha go to Kiki and help her up, wiping the soot 
off of her.

Phoenix:"Poor thing. Are you all right?"

Colleen:"It's okay, guv. We're all friends here."

Kiki coughs a bit more, then looks at them.

Kiki:"Thanks."

The Rovers (except Merit) is taken aback.

Striker:"It can talk."

Merit:"I do recall that this species of stag is capable of dialogue."

Master:"Who are you, little one?"

Kiki, with the aid of the females, stands up.

Kiki:"I'm Kiki, and I'm one of Santa's reindeer."

Otto:"A bit young to be out on your own, aren't you Kiki? Or are there
      others with you?"

Kiki:"No, I came here alone to you guys."

Master:"Why, Kiki?"

Kiki:"Santa needs help."

The Rovers gather closer around her.

Striker:"What kind of help?"

Kiki:"Some guys with guns came and took over the workshop and captured
      Santa, the elves and the reindeer."

The Rovers are all shocked.

Hunter:"Guys with guns? Who are they?"

Kiki:"I don't know."

Master:"Were there any kind of markings of symbols identifying them?"

Kiki thinks for a moment, then speaks.

Kiki:"They all had a symbol on them. It looked like a silver E and a C put 
      together."

Striker, Phoenix:"EuroCorp!"

Colleen:"Blimey! The European Corporation! What are they bloomin' doing?"

Starlight:"Whatever it is, you can bet that it has something to do with
           money, one way or another."

Hunter:"When did this happen, Kiki?"

Kiki:"Last night."

Master:"This is very serious, Rovers. If EuroCorp has gotten control of
        Santa and his workshop, then I fear we might be looking at a very
        bleak Christmas."

Samantha:"Or an expensive one."

Kiki's eyes widen in excitement.

Kiki:"Does that mean you guys will help?"

The Master smiles at Kiki.

Master:"Of course. We will gladly help out."

Kiki jumps around excited. The Master looks at the Rovers.

Master:"Rovers. Take Kiki and go to Santa's workshop, and free him, the
        elves, reindeer and the workshop from EuroCorp before they can
        do something terrible to Christmas. With Christmas so close we
        cannot get the others who are out on shopping. You must then
        carry out the mission."

The Rovers all stand to attention and salute.

Hunter:"You can count on us, Master!"

He looks at the others.

Hunter:"Let's hit the snow, Rovers!"

The Rovers (except Merit) howl and gather around Otto (Kiki as well).

Merit:"This howling is just as unusual as the kissing."

Otto claps his hands together and with a loud "BOOM!" they teleport
away.

Hillside
Not Far From Santa's Workshop
7:36 AM:

This is a pine tree-covered hill near Santa's workshop. Outside the work-
shop one can see a few two-man patrols of EuroCorp commandos walking all
around in. The Rovers (with Kiki) appear from the forest and hide behind 
the trees, watching the commandos and workshop.

Striker:"Ja, it is EuroCorp commandos."

Samantha:"I never knew a corporation would sport an army."

Phoenix:"EuroCorp has a lot of assets and interests, both legally and 
         illegally, and thus funds these special commandos along with
         the security forces for protection."

Starlight:"Isn't keeping an army by a company illegal?"

Samantha:"Unfortunately not. It is perfectly legal within the laws of the
          European Union's Economics Charter."

Hunter:"Which we cannot oppose. Fortunately we can stop EuroCorp's illegal
        deals because if they are brought to light the company could get
        in serious trouble."

Starlight:"But can't they be brought to light anyway each time we beat
           them?"

Striker:"We could, but then EuroCorp would let loose hordes of lawyers on
         any evidence we gather. But EuroCorp will not do it again, because
         they will know that, because we intervened, it is bad business."

Starlight:"So we can still screw up their operations?"

Otto:"Again and again."

Hunter:"Speaking of, let's see what we can do about these commandos all
        around Santa's workshop."

They turn to watch the regular commando patrols for a while.

Hunter:"Three two man patrols around the building. We can try to lure 
        them away, but we must not try to alert those inside the workshop.
        We don't know how many there are."

Striker:"We can lure them away using Starlight. She can change into a
         pegasus and draw their attention. I am sure even these commandos
         have never seen a horse wings."

Hunter:"Good idea."

He turns to Starlight and begins to explain a plan. Meanwhile the patrols
keep moving relentlessly. As they look around one member of a patrol sees
Starlight at the hill, now in pegasus form. He draws his comrade's 
attention it as well.

Commando 1:"Sacré bleu. It is a horse with wings!"

Commando 2:"That is impossible! It must be a regular horse with wings
            attached to it."

Commando 1:"I don't know. Those wings look too real to be fake."

The second commando rolls his eyes.

Commando 2:"Here. Let's go up to the horse and I will show that the wings
            are fake."

The two commandos begin to trot towards Starlight, who does not move. As
the commandos reach the trees, Striker and Phoenix appear from the trees.
Before either commando can reach, the couple knock the commandos' heads
against each other, knocking them out. They then each pull a commando
out of sight for Shag to tie up with ropes. Striker looks at Phoenix.

Striker:"Nice one, Love."

Phoenix:"Oh it was nothin, Love."

The two smile at each and hide behind the trees as the next patrol comes
around the corner. The two commandos also spot Starlight by the trees.

Commando 3:"A winged horse?"

Commando 4:"Non, those are fake wings. Though I admit they are really
            well done."

Commando 3:"Look."

The commandos look at the footprints left by the previous two commandos
leading towards Starlight. They look at each other, then back at Star-
light.

Commando 4:"Who is playing a joke here?"

Commando 3:"It seems that some of comrades are fooling around while on
            duty."

Commando 4:"Let's go get them, then report to Duroc about this breach
            of duty."

The two commandos walk towards the trees, with Starlight keeping her
ground. As the two reach the trees, Colleen comes hanging from a tree,
wraps her legs around the commandos' heads and knocks them against each
other. They fall to the ground unconcious as Colleen lets go of the
branch and drops on the ground. She rubs her legs.

Colleen:"Now I know why a good female figure can mess with a male's
         head."

Hunter smiles at her, then he and Shag drag the two commandos away as
Starlight waits for the last patrol. The patrol appears around the
corner and the two commandos spot Starlight, stopping as they do.

Commando 5:"That is the oddest horse I've seen."

Commando 6:"We. It has wings, but if I was to see an unusual horse, I
            would have expected to see one of those with the horn on
            their heads."

Commando 5:"The unicorn?"

Commando 6:"Qui."

Commando 5:"I think we should take a closer look at the horse."

Commando 6:"I agree."

The two of them start walking towards Starlight, but they have barely
begun when they spot the other commando's footprints and stop.

Commando 6:"Footprints."

Commando 5:"Hostiles?"

Commando 6:"Non, these are ours. Four pairs."

They see the footprints disappearing in the woods by Starlight.

Commando 5:"They disappear by those trees by the horse."

Commando 6:"Then where are they?"

The two commandos look at each other.

Commando 5:"A trap?"

Commando 6:"Maybe, but who would use a winged horse for a trap?"

Commando 5:"Good question. Still, this isn't right."

From the trees watch the commandos talking. Striker swears softly.

Phoenix:"What's wrong, Love?"

Striker:"I'm reading those commandos' lips. They are very suspicious
         about the situation and think it may be a trap."

Merit:"But is a trap, sir."

Hunter:"True, Merit. But those commandos are not supposed to know about
        that."

Samantha:"What do we do now? Those commandos might end up alerting all
          their friends in the workshop."

Otto:"I have an idea. Samantha and I will turn invisible, sneak up to
      the commandos and knock them out."

Colleen:"Great idea, guv."

Hunter:"Not bad, bud."

Striker:"Sounds fesable."

Merit:"There is a considerably dangerous risk with this plan, sirs."

Everyone looks at Merit.

Otto:"What danger, Merit?"

Merit:"There is a high probablelity that you will be detected."

Samantha:"Merit, we will be invisible. They won't see us."

Merit:"They will detect your footprints in the snow."

Otto:"Oh dear. I forgot about the snow."

Colleen:"What bloomin' now? We are running out of time. Those commandos
         could raise the alarm any minute now."

Striker thinks, then gets an idea and turns to Otto.

Striker:"Otto, you and Samantha can still go invisible without having
         your footprints give you away."

Otto:"Please explain."

Striker explains the plan to them. Back at the workshop the two commandos
were still thinking of what to do.

Commando 5:"We must still act. This whole affair reeks of danger."

Commando 6:"Shall we alert the others?"

Commando 5:"Qui. I think we should."

The commandos then see Starlight walking straight towards them. They ready
their MP5's, but do not aim them at Starlight. When Starlight reaches
them she stops a feet or two from them.

Commando 6:"You know, those wings do look real."

Commando 5:"It is probably a well made disguise. You saw how Hollywood can
            make..."

They then hear the sounds of feet hitting the snow. They look to the source
of the noise and see footprints forming in the snow in front of them.

Commando 5:"Mon de..."

Two invisible thumps on the heads knock the commandos out and onto the 
ground. Otto and Samantha become visible as the other Rovers and Kiki
run towards them. Starlight turns back into her equine-sapien form. When
they regroup the two commandos are disarmed, bound and gagged.

Hunter:"Good job, everyone. Now we can turn our attention to those
        commandos on the inside."

He turns to Kiki.

Hunter:"Do you know of a way in that the commandos might have missed, Kiki?
        Like a secret entrance?"

Kiki:"Oh yes! There is a trapdoor under the hay in the corral that leads 
      straight into the workshop kitchen."

Shag licks his lips.

Shag:"Rhet's rho!"

Hunter:"Good idea, Shag. Let's roll. Lead the way, Kiki."

Kiki begins to lead the Rovers towards the reindeer corral.

Workshop Kitchen
7:46 AM:

This a large, but ordinary-looking kitchen with all the latest kitchen
equipment along with some old-fashion wooden tables and tools. A commando
is here, sitting on a chair and eating some saugage he took from the
fridge. Underneath one of the preperation tables in the centre of the
kitchen a trapdoor is lifted slightly. Striker peers through it and spots
the commando sitting on the chair. He goes again, and Phoenix takes his
place. She throws a small ball of fire from her finger onto the boots
of the commando. The boot soon begins to catch fire. The commando smells
the smoke coming from the fire.

Commando:"Smoke? Is something burning?"

He looks down and sees the fire.

Commando:"Mon deu!"

He quickly stands up and tries to put the fire out with the half-eaten
saugage in his hand. While this is happening Striker quickly climbs out
from beneath the trapdoor. Just as the commando succeeds in putting out
the fire, Striker punches him in the face and back into the chair un-
concious. The other Rovers climb out from the trapdoor. Shag helps Kiki
up, then goes over to fridge and begins to eat on the food. Hunter and
Colleen tie the commando up while the rest keep guard. Unknown to them
another commando was watching them through the keyhole of the door
leading into the dining room. The commando quickly gets up and runs to
alert the others.

Santa's Home
7:48 AM:

Duroc and some of his commando lieutenants are inside of Santa's living 
room. The commando who spotted the Rovers is also here and is giving his 
report.

Commando:"When I hear Guichy shout I went to help, but before I opened
          the door I heard someone punch him. I looked through the key-
          hole and saw the Road Rovers coming from the under the table
          and tying Guichy up."

Duroc:"From under the table?"

Commando:"Qui. There probably was a trapdoor there, but I don't know how
          they managed to get past Guichy."

Duroc:"Muerte! Those damned Road Rovers cannot keep their wet noses out of 
       our business!"

Commando:"Shall we engage them, sir?"

Duroc shakes his head.

Duroc:"Non. We have strict orders to avoid a stand-off with the Road Rovers
       and to evacuate as quickly as possible if they arrive. However, we
       must also make sure monsiour Claus is no longer a competitive
       threat."

He turns to one of his lieutenants.

Duroc:"You go and place the charges by the prisoners. Set the timer for
       three minutes."

Lieutenant 1:"Qui, sir."

The lieutenant as Duroc turns to another lieutenant.

Duroc:"Take your men and go to the production room and fire as many shots as
       you can into the machine that creates the merchandise. If the Rovers
       appear or two minutes have passed evacuate immediately and report
       back to the LZ."

Lieutenant 2:"Qui, sir."

The lieutenant leaves as well. Duroc turns to the commando who alerted
him about the Rovers and the other lieutenants.

Duroc:"The rest of you will gather the others and evacuate the workshop.
       Also, try and free any of our men who, like Guichy, have been
       captured by the Road Rovers. I will go and have a final word with
       monsiour Claus."

Commandos:"Qui, sir."

Duroc and the commandos all leave Santa's home.

Production Line
7:52 AM:

All of the machines are currently turned off. The conveyor is standing
still with toys on the belt. At the one end of the line is the toy-making
machine and the other end is Santa's sleigh. At the moment the commandos
who were inside the room are gathered around the lieutenant sent by
Duroc. They are standing by the toy-making machine listening to the
lieutenant's orders.

Lieutenant 2:"We must cause as much damage as possible to the machinery
              before the Road Rovers arrive. Weapons ready?"

The commandos all arm their MP5's.

Commandos:"Qui, sir!"

The lieutenant aims his MP5 at the toy-making machine and the commandos
follow suit.

Lieutenant 2:"Fire!"

The commandos all open fire on the machine, letting loose a rain of 
bullets into the machine. As they do so the Road Rovers appear through
a door at the other end of the conveyor belt. They all have their weapons
ready and see the commandos.

Samantha:"They're damaging the machines!"

Colleen:"Blimey! That's not cricket!"

Hunter:"Uh... yeah! Let's stop them!"

Otto:"Let me handle this."

Otto, along with Samantha, quickly creates a powerful forcefield around
the machine that blocks the bullets. The commandos stop firing, then
see the Rovers.

Lieutenant 2:"Fall back!"

The commandos quickly turn and run through another door just as the
shots fired by the Rovers passed by them.

Phoenix:"Do we go after them?"

Hunter:"We have to find Santa first. EuroCorp will most likely try and
        kill him before their commandos leave. Let's split up and try
        find him, the elves and other reindeer."

He then turns to Merit.

Hunter:"Merit, try and fix the machine the commandos shot up."

Merit:"Task received. Executing..."

The others split up and run into different directions while Merit goes
over to the machine. He makes a scan.

Merit:"Moderate internal and external damage. Commencing repairs."

His toolkit appears from behind the hatch in his chest and he begins to
do his work.

Storage Room
7:55 AM:

This is a square room that holds the workshop's supplies (mainly food-
stuffs). Santa, the elves and other reindeer are tied up in a bunch in
the centre of the room. Duroc and some of his commandos are here as 
well. Two commandos are busy arming two packs of C4 timed explosives
and placing them on the floor next to the prisoners. Duroc is speaking
to Santa.

Duroc:"It is a pity that we have take leave of you, monsiour Claus. You
       would have made a good business partner for EuroCorp, but now
       the Road Rovers have arrived."

Santa:"So, you admit that you were wrong to try and turn my workshop
       into just another money-grabbing section of your corporation."

Duroc:"Non. We just had orders to evacuate if the Road Rovers were to
       appear. You are just too small a fry to be worth fighting over."

He points at the C4 packs, which have begun to tick.

Duroc:"However, we are ordered to kill you and your employees and damage
       and or destroy your production capabilities. After all, we cannot
       allow competition from someone like you, monsiour Claus."

Santa is shocked.

Santa:"You are going to kill me? That is outragious!"

Duroc:"Non, it is business."

He turns to the commandos.

Duroc:"We leave now."

The commandos all follow Duroc as he leaves through another door in the
room. Santa, the elves and reindeer try to break free from their bonds,
but they are well tied up.

Peter:"This is it! We're going to die!"

Hiram:"Stop being such a sissy! The Road Rovers will come and let us loose
       before that pack of putty blows up."

Rudolph:"I hope so. If not, then I think we'll be missing many a Christmas
         day from then on."

Santa:"I am only worried for the children out there, waiting for me to
       bring them presents. If I die, then they will be very unhappy not
       to find any toys under their trees."

Voice:"Not if we can help it!"

The captives all turn to the main door and see Hunter, Colleen, Shag and
Kiki running in.

Elves:"The Road Rovers!"

Cupid, Prancer, Dancer:"Kiki!"

Kiki:"That's me! I got them to help rescue you all!"

Santa:"Wonderful job, Kiki!"

Hunter and Colleen both pick up a C4 pack and check the timer.

Colleen:"It's going to go in one minute!"

Hunter:"No worries. Just cut the green wire."

Colleen:"Good idea, guv. Just one problem..."

Hunter:"What?"

Colleen points at the wires of the bombs and Hunter looks at them. The
wires are all blue.

Hunter:"I would not predicted this!"

Shag whimpers. Hunter quickly looks around and thinks up a plan. He grabs
Colleen's arm and pulls her to the window. He opens the window.

Colleen:"What's the plan, Huntie?"

Hunter:"Just kick the packs out the window as you would kick Blitz when
        he makes the moves on you."

Colleen grins.

Colleen:"Great idea."

Hunter throws a pack up in the air and Colleen kicks it out the window.

Colleen:"Max Payne!"

The pack lands in the snow some distance away from the workshop. Hunter
throws the other pack in the air and Colleen repeats her kick.

Colleen:"Gordon Freeman!"

The other pack lands by the other one. Seconds later they both explode
with a loud boom, sending snow and earth flying through the air. Hunter
turns to Colleen and gives an "a-okay" sign.

Hunter:"Nice work, Colleen."

Colleen:"It helps to keep in shape. In fact, I can't wait until we get
         back home so I can kick Bimbo in the face."

Hunter:"Uh... cool."

Hunter and Colleen join Shag in helping untie Santa, the elves and the
reindeer. The other Rovers (sans Merit) come running in, very alert.

Striker:"We heard an explosion. Are they reg?"

Hunter:"Yup. Santa and the dwarves..."

The elves all groan.

Paul:"Why? Why do they keep calling us dwarves???"

Hiram:"We're elves, you stupid mutt!"

Santa looks sternly at Hiram.

Santa:"Now, now, Hiram. They did help us, so do be nice. Besides, they 
       didn't really mean it."

Hiram:"I guess not. Sorry about the stupid mutt thing, Road Rover."

Hunter:"Apology accepted, Hiram. And call me Hunter."

The other Rovers also introduce themselves.

Santa:"Well, Rovers. We are all grateful for saving me and my friends, my
       workshop and Christmas."

Starlight:"We're not so sure about saving Christmas just yet, Santa."

Santa:"Oh? Why?"

Phoenix:"Well, the fact is that the commandos fired some bullets into one
         of your machines and we left Merit to fix it."

Santa's face goes pale.

Santa:"What?"

Striker:"Moenie worry, Santa. Merit is the best repair robot in the world.
         He can have your machine fixed and working within a matter of
         minutes."

Santa doesn't respond and quickly walks out towards the production room.
Everyone follows him towards it. When they reach the room and the toy-
making machine they find Merit standing to the machine. The machine looks
brand new.

Striker:"Wel, Merit?"

Merit:"I have been unable to repair all the damage, sir. However, the 
       automated production device should operate at 89% capasity until
       the need materiale can be brought to effect complete repairs."

Santa breathes a sigh of relief.

Santa:"Not entirely the disaster I thought it was. We can still finish the
       gifts in time for Christmas."

Everyone else smiles. Santa, the elves and reindeer(with Kiki) turn to the
Rovers.

Reindeer:"You guys did a great job."

Peter:"You've saved us all."

Santa:"I make sure you all get special gifts on Christmas eve, just for
       you for helping."

Hunter:"Thanks. We're glad to help. Forgive us, but we have to go finish
        our Christmas preperations."

Santa:"But of course. We are busy ourselves, so we won't delay you any
       longer. Once again, thank you."

Rovers:"Our pleasure."

Hunter turns to Otto.

Hunter:"Let's head home, Otto."

Otto:"It is done."

He claps his paws together and the Rovers disappear with a loud "boom".
Santa the others then turns to Kiki.

Santa:"Well done, Kiki."

Rudolph:"Guess you're not as young as we thought."

Dasher:"And we all owe you an apology."

Kiki blushes.

Kiki:"It was nothing."

Santa:"Really? I think you deserve a special surprise."

Kiki's ears perk up as Santa tells her what the surprise is.

Rembrant's Office
EuroCorp Headquarters
Brussels
Belgium
25 December
7:05 AM:

EuroCorp's CEO, Jacques Rembrant, is seated at his desk looking at the
report given to him earlier by Duroc. Through the window behind him one
can see it is snowing.

Rembrant:"So, the Road Rovers have interfered again. This is starting to
          become a bad business trade, no? Still, it was not such a
          financial loss. In fact, the loss is so small the money could
          not even buy a second-hand Volkswagen beetle."

He suddenly hears bells jingle and someone tapping on the window. Confused,
he turns his chair around and sees Santa, his sleigh and reindeer hovering
in front of his office window. Kiki is at the lead of the reindeer with
Rudolph taking a back seat. They are all smiling at Rembrant.

Santa:"Ho! Ho! Ho! Merry Christmas, monsiour Rembrant!"

Rembrant forces a smile.

Rembrant:"Merry Christmas to you as well, monsiour Claus."

His face suddenly becomes angry and he stands up, pointing in the direction
Santa's sleigh is pointing.

Rembrant:"Now get away from my office now or I will call security!"

Santa:"And a happy New Year to you two."

The reindeer all laugh as they pull Santa's sleigh away from the window.
Rembrant groans and sits back in his chair.

Rembrant:"Of course, there is always the humiliation before one's com-
          petition from such a failed venture."

Banquet Hall
Road Rover Mission Control
At that moment:

It is still nighttime here. Everything in the banquet is set for the day's
Christmas celebrations. Under the tree, however, some of the Rovers have
already gathered to open their presents. Hunter, Colleen, Shag, Striker,
Phoenix, Merit, Otto, Samantha and Starlight are opening the special gifts
Santa had left there for them. Shag opens his present first and smiles
when he sees what it is. It a book called "1001 Recepies For Cooking With 
Toilet Water". Merit is next to open his present. He carefully removes the
wrapping without tearing it and examines his present. It is a very high-
tech all-in-one tool that resembles a screwdriver.

Merit:"I highly approve of this cost-free addition."

He opens his hatch and takes out his toolkit. He begins to add the new tool
to the others. Next Hunter and Colleen open their presents. Colleen gets
what appears to be some kind of pressure cooker. She smiles.

Colleen:"Finally! Something that isn't a squeaky toy shaped like a banana!
         The Piggie 2002 Pork Shank Cooker!"

Hunter unwraps his present. It is a tennisball with a button on it. He
presses the button and the ball begins to fly. He tries to catch it with
his mouth, but the ball dodges him. Hunter then begins to chase the ball
all around the hall, but the ball dodges him every time. It flies out of
the room with Hunter right behind it. Colleen watches him go.

Colleen:"I say. The new hover-tennisball, with batteries that can last
         for centuries. Now me and Huntie can go on proper 'walks'."

Starlight opens her presents and finds it is some multi-coloured ribbons.
She claps her hands in delight.

Starlight:"Oh! I just love tying ribbons in my hair!"

Otto and Samantha open their present (it is for both of them). They take
out a pair of tickets.

Otto:"It is a free trip around the world on the Ocean Princess."

Samantha squeals with delight and hugs Otto. They are both smiling.

Samantha:"The love boat, Honey! How wonderful."

Otto:"I must admit, this will be quite a cruise."

The couple kiss each other. Striker and Phoenix are the last to open
their presents. Phoenix gets a very elegant dress while Striker gets a
nice tuxido.

Phoenix:"This looks so beautiful."

Striker:"A tuxido. This could be useful."

The two of them look at each other.

Striker:"Shall we arrange an outing after Christmas day?"

Phoenix smiles.

Phoenix:"You're on."

Striker smiles. The two of them draw closer and then kiss each other. 
Santa, the elves, the reindeer and the workshop were saved, the EuroCorp
chased away from the North Pole and Christmas spared from the threat
of market profits. The Rovers now look forward to a brand new year and
it's own new challenges and surprises.

Happy New 2002, Dear Readers!


THE END