Friday, April 14, 2006

SUPER ACTION DOUBLE LENGTH WEBISODE HAPPY FUN TIME!!

Episode #158 Chapter 14, part 14 Reunion part 13 --The Athena-- --Level 3-- Justin: (steps out of the assault bolt, clips a small headset to his ear) What’ve we got, Jim? Jim: Everything’s in lock-down. The whole ship’s been alerted and all the doors are shut tight. But we can easily fix that. All of a sudden, the doors to all the rooms and corridors open up. Justin: You’re a genius, James. Jim: I can’t unlock the way to the Zilders’ room. The security codes are triple encrypted. It’ll take forever. Justin: We ain’t got forever. Jim: Maybe you can unlock it from the security room. Justin: Where’s that? Jim: Level 5. Two levels up. Justin: On it! Justin runs to the end of the hall, around a corner, and makes his way to the elevator. He’s about five feet away from it when the doors open and several armed crewmen step out. Justin: Slag! (quickly runs the other way) Crewman: There he is! Open fire! Justin: (hides behind the corner just in time as a swarm of bullets hit the opposite wall, takes his pistol out of the holster) Gumdrop: (pops his head out of Justin’s pocket) You know how to use one of those? Justin: How hard can it be? Justin quickly leans around the corner and fires three shots. Then three men drop to the floor screaming in pain. All of them shot through either the leg or the shoulder. Gumdrop: 0.0 Wow. Justin: (smugly) And you thought I only used blades. Still that doesn’t even the odds enough. (unclips something from his belt and tosses it into the hall) The men watch the object as it bounces towards them. In an instant, the whole corridor fills with smoke. The sound of all the men coughing is quickly followed by the sound of punches, kicks, and bodies hitting the floor. As the smoke clears, all the crewmen are down and Justin stands over them. Gumdrop: Side effects may include watery eyes, dry scratchy throat, and WE JUST KICKED YOUR BUTTS! Justin: Jim, lock down all the doors except for the ones that’ll lead me directly to the security room. I want to have as little distractions as possible. Jim: You got it. Justin: (steps into the elevator, presses a button) Going up. --Adrien’s Chamber-- Aisha: (lunges at Adrien) RAAAAR! Aisha lets loose an onslaught of slashes, swipes, and kicks at Adrien. All of which he blocks or dodges. She spin kicks straight for his head, but suddenly Adrien vanishes. Aisha: Nya? Where’d he... Adrien: (behind her) Right here. (pushes her into the wall) Aisha: Oof! Adrien: (gets in a fighting stance, beckons her with his hand and an arrogant smile) C’mon. Let’s have some fun. Aisha charges at Adrien and the two fight like characters in a Capcom game. Each exchanging punches, kicks, sweeps, and blocks. --Level 5-- More crewmen are waiting in front of the elevator, guns drawn. “ding!” Crewman: Get ready. The elevator doors open up and the men cock their guns....... but there’s nothing there. The elevator is empty. Crewman: Huh? ???: Ahem! All the men look down. Gumdrop: (singing) “Mai-ya hee! Mai-ya hoo! Mai-ya haa! Mai-ya ha ha!” Crewman: What the hell... “WH-POW!” A pair of size 12 feet swing out from the elevator ceiling and hit the man in the face, sending him and all the other men down like bowling pins. Justin: (lands on his feet) ‘Sup? One of the men gets up. But before he can raise his weapon, Justin spin kicks him and sends him flying into a broom closet. Justin: Huh? (sees a broom handle fall out of the closet) Hmm. (notices that the other men are starting to get up, picks up the broom, to the man in the closet) Mind if I borrow this? Thanks. (breaks the sweeper off the broom) “crack!” Justin: Let’s dance. Using the broom handle as a bo staff, Justin twirls and thrusts his new weapon and proceeds to mop the floor with the crewmen. Pun intended. Cracking skulls, knee-caps, and just generally beating the ever-loving-crap out of them. Justin: HIYAA! HWAA! YAA! --The Outlaw Star-- Gene: What’s all that noise? Melfina: Is Artukei alright? Jim: Let me see if I can get a visual. (taps into the ship’s cameras and gets a picture on the Outlaw Star’s screen of Justin kicking ass with his staff. Justin: HAA! HIYAA! Gene: 0.0 Who the heck is that? Suzuka: It’s.... Artukei. Gene: No way. Just about an hour ago, I was talking bedside with a wimp. Where’d this guy come from? Soon, all the men are out cold and on the floor within thirty seconds. Gumdrop: (dancing) “Numa numa yay! Numa numa yay! Numa numa numa yay!” Justin: Gummy, come on! Gumdrop: Huh? Oh, right! (runs up and jumps in his pocket) Justin: The security room should be around here somewhere. --Adrien’s Chamber-- Aisha: (deals out a left cross) HAA! Adrien: (dodges and throws a right hook) Aisha: (blocks) How can he be this fast? It’s like he’s predicting my every move. YAA! (high kicks) Adrien: (grabs her leg) Give it up, girl. You can’t beat me. And neither can your foolish friends. Aisha: You know, I really can’t stand bastards like you. HIYAA! (kicks him in the chin with her other foot, causing him to let go, and backwards somersaults back onto her feet) Adrien: (holding his chin) You’ll pay for that. Aisha: How many times have a heard that one? So far, I haven’t seen anything worth selling! (beckons him) Adrien: You impudent little...! ???: (on the PA) Um, hello? Testing 1 2 3. Adrien: What? Aisha: Is that...? Gumdrop: (like a robot) How are you gentlemen? All your base are belong to us. Adrien: What the hell!?! Gumdrop: You have no chance to survive. Make your time. Ha ha ha! Aisha: (smiling weakly) Heh heh. Adrien: (glances at Aisha) You think they’re doing well, don’t you? You really think they have the upper hand? (smiles sadistically) Trust me. These little victories are meaningless. Their time is quickly running out. Aisha: Shut the hell up!! YAAAAAAA!! (her clothes rip off her body and she transforms into her full beast form) Grrrrrrrr! Adrien: What in the world!? Aisha: (leaps at Adrien) RAAR!! --Security Room-- There’s an unconscious guard propped against the wall. Justin’s sitting at the computer terminal and Gumdrop is standing on the console next to a mike. Gumdrop: Sweet! I’ve always wanted to do that! Justin: (staring at the screen) Just as I thought. That tower in the Zilders’ chamber is offsetting their powers. Jim: But its computer isn’t hooked up to the rest of the ship. It’ll have to be shut down manually. Justin: Like I can get to it. Just like you said, it’s all triple encrypted garble. I need Adrien’s passcode in order to unlock the corridor. Jim: There has to be some other way in there. Justin: (looks at a layout of the ship) Hmmm. (looks around the room and notices a small vent) .... Jim, pull up a layout of the Athena’s duct system. See if they connect this room to the Zilders. Jim: .... Yes! They’re all connected! But.... the duct is only eight by twelve inches. How are you going to get in there? Justin: I’m not. (looks over at Gumdrop) Gumdrop: .... what? Justin: (bends down and removes the grate from the duct) Jim, I’m going to hand you over to Gumdrop. Guide him through the duct system. Jim: Uh.... OK. Justin: (unclips the headset and hands it to Gumdrop, then picks him up and puts him inside the duct) Listen to Jim, Gummy. Go where he tells you to and do whatever he says. This is no time to mess around. This is a matter of life and death. Gumdrop: (holding the headset, it’s too big to fit on his head) Hey... Justin... when have I ever let you down? Justin: (raises an eyebrow) Gumdrop: I mean when it’s life or death. Justin: .... (grins) Get going. We’re all counting on you now. Gumdrop: (salutes) Mission accepted. (runs off and starts singing the Mission Impossible theme) Justin: *sigh* Good luck, buddy. (looks back at the computer console) .... 0.0 *gasp* (sees the corner of a leather bound book under some papers) ... can’t be. (brushes the papers off) .... King James? Justin touches the corner of the book and it glows with a golden light. When the light fades, a golden cross is lying in it’s place. Justin picks up the golden cross and it morphs into a long, elegant, broadsword. Justin: Yes. Gumdrop: (wandering through the air-ducts) Jim: Now, the Zilders’ holding cells are one level up. You’re going to have to find a vent leading up. Gumdrop: OK. (looks around and sees one not far off, runs up to it and looks up) ..... um... this might be a problem. Jim: Can’t you climb up? Gumdrop: No fingers, dude. Jim: *sigh* Aw, man. Gumdrop: Hey, we can do this. We just need to think. Now let’s see, what would MacGuiver do? (pulls out a piece of gum and starts crewing) Mmm... mmmm.... Jim: What are you doing? Gumdrop: Chewing gum I found in Justin’s pocket. Helps me think. Jim: *groan* It’s official. The rescue is a bust! Gumdrop: Mmmm..... Brainwave! (spits out the gum, puts it on both his front paws, loops his arm through the earclip of the headset and starts climbing the duct) I told you it helps me think! Justin: (running down the hall, King James in hand) The layout said that the Captain’s quarters are on the 9th level. If I can leave freeing the Zilders up to Jim and Gummy, I can free Aisha. (rounds a corner, and stops dead in his tracks) What the...!? The hallway is filled with giant robot sentry drones. They each stand at least seven feet high, have blasters mounted on their right arms, and look kind of like the robots from “Castle in the Sky”. Justin: You boys get lost on the way back to Cybertron? Without saying a word, the robots raise their weapons and aim at Justin. Justin: Looking for something worth fraggin’? (raises King James) Me too. Guess we both got lucky. (charges at the drones) HAAAAAAAAA!! --Adrien’s Chamber-- A white tiger-like beast has a bloodied and bruised Adrien pinned to the ground. Adrien: Uhn! Uhhh! Aisha: GRRRRR!! Adrien: UH! (kicks Aisha off) Aisha: (lands halfway across the room) ROOOOOOAAAAAAR!! Adrien: (gets up) That’s it. No more games. You want to take it up a notch, little lady? Fine! I’ll pull out all the stops! Aisha: (leaps towards Adrien) RAAAAR!! Adrien: (holds out his hand and Aisha stops in midair) Aisha: 0.0 !!! Before she can even think, Aisha is sent flying upwards and is slammed into the ceiling. Then, with breakneck speed, she’s sent plummeting back down and embeds herself in the floor. This agonizing cycle continues; getting flung up and down and crushed several more times by unseen hands. Finally she rests in her custom impression on the floor. Battered and exhausted, she slowly transforms back to her humanoid form. Aisha: uhhh.... (weakly raises her head) ... what are you? Adrien: Your future king. (presses the PA button) Lieutenant. LT: Yes sir. Adrien: It’s time to exterminate these pests. --The Zilders’ Cells-- Gumdrop: (pops off the duct’s grating) I’m in! Jim: Good! Now all you have to do is shut down the tower. Do that and we’re home free! --The Outlaw Star-- Gene: Hah! I can’t believe the furball did it! Jim: Once the Zilders are free, getting Aisha out of there will be a snap. “BOOM!!” Gene: What the hell was that!? Did something hit us? Suzuka: They shot at us! Melfina: But we shut down their weapons! Jim: (looks at his computer) Oh no! Why didn’t I see this before?! They have a secondary defense grid! Gene: What!? Gilliam: Gene! Gene, someone is hacking into me! I can’t... get...ermm... (shuts down) Gene: Gilliam! That’s it! I’m retracting the assault bolt! “WHRRRR... vooooooom...” Gene: The hell? The bolt won’t retract! Jim: Gene! That shot that they fired at us was a magnetic trap! The bolt’s bonded to the Athena! Gene: You mean we’re stuck!? Jim: -_- Basically, yeah. A giant cannon rotates and aims directly and the Outlaw Star. Gene: Aw crap! Fire missiles! Melfina: (looking at the starboard display screen) Weapon systems have been deactivated! Gene: No! No way am I going out like this! (starts trying to push away from the ship with the grappler arms) Jim: I don’t think that’s gonna help. (typing) I’m gonna disable the cannon. The cannon starts to charge up. Gene: Jim! Jim: Almost.... got it. The cannon is about to fire. Suzuka: ........ Melfina: ........ Jim: (typing and sweating) Gene: JIIIIIIIIIIM!!! --The Athena-- Justin: YAAA!! Justin continues to fend off the robots as he tries to get to the ninth level and save Aisha. Slicing up robotic limbs and torsos and deflecting laser blasts left and right, he turns the cybernetic army into scrap piles of titanium sushi. When suddenly... “RRRRRUUMMMBBLLLLLLEE!!!” Justin: Whoa! What the Heifong was that? (puts his hand to his ear) Jim, what’s.... frak! --The Zilders’ Cells-- Gumdrop: (at the base of the tower, standing on the computer’s console) OK Jimbo, what next? ........ Gumdrop: Hullo? (yelling into the mike) HELLOOOOO!?! ........ Gumdrop: Heck of a time to take a break, Jimmy. Now what do I do? (looks up at the tower) *sigh* Well... (jumps down and opens a panel on the side of the console) You know what they say. “Any problem can be solved if you take it apart from the inside.” (climbs inside) --The Combat Room-- Adrien: (steps inside a now fully operational combat room) Lieutenant, report! LT: Sir! The threat of the Outlaw Star... has been neutralized. Adrien: Good. What about the boy? LT: (brings up camera feed of Justin fighting the robots) One swordsman against thousands of drones. He’s good, but he won’t last long. Adrien: Excellent. No-one can stop me now. No man, no woman, no ship can stand in my way of ultimate glory! “beepbeepbeepbeepbeep!” Adrien: What is it now? Crewman: Captain, there’s an abnormality in the distortion tower. Adrien: What!? (looks at a screen showing feed from the Zilders’ cells, the light from the tower is flickering and the console at its base is starting to smoke) What’s going on!? Gumdrop: (stumbles out of the computer, smoking slightly) *cough, cough* Fire in the hole! *cough, cough, cough* Wait, why am I even coughing? Adrien: What is that? Crewman: I don’t know sir. There’s no energy signature so it’s not a drone. It looks like an animal.... but it’s not generating any heat. Adrien: What in the galaxy? Crewman: Sir! The computer’s overheating! It’s going into meltdown! Adrien: WHAT!?! NO!! The computer terminal explodes and the tower’s light fades out. Gumdrop: (staring at the flaming pile of scrap) .... wow. Do NOT go in there. Woo! The Zilders stir and start to become more alive. Their antennae perk up and start hovering in their cells. Soon several of them teleport out of their cages and into the room and fly around, squealing with joy. Gumdrop: (watching all the Zilders fly around) Cool. WHAA! (suddenly something picks him up and holds him tight) Ozz: Eeeeee! ^.^ Gumdrop: Ozz! ‘Sup ferret? Ozz: For once, I’m glad to hear him call me that. Oh, if only you could hear our voices Gumdrop! My brothers and sisters and I are eternally thankful! And I’m Justin will... Justin! Justin: (still battling the drones) Haa! *pant* Yaa! *pant* There’s too many of them. I can’t keep this up forever. I hope Gumdrop... “JUSTIN!!” Justin: 0.0 ..... ozz? “FLASH!” Ozz: (appears above all the robots) Justin: .... OZZ!! Ozz: I hope I’m not crashing a party. Justin: Crash away, pal! Ozz: (floats down between Justin and the robots and, like a hurricane, shoves them away from Justin, making them careen down the hallway in all directions, turns toward Justin) Didn’t seem like your crowd anyway. Justin: (almost crying) Damn, it’s good to hear your voice again, buddy. (goes to hug him) Ozz: (stops him) There will be plenty of time for that later. (grabs his hand) C’mon! (teleports them to the Zilders’ chamber) Justin: (looks up and sees all the Zilders free, smiles brightly) He did it. Gumdrop... “WOO!!” Gumdrop: (riding on the back of a Zilder) This is better then “Adrenaland”! Woo hoo!! Justin: Wayta go, you little twerp! I knew you could do it! (sees the headset on the floor, picks it up) Jim! Jim, we did it! Are you there?..... Jim? (nothing but static) .... that rumble. It must’ve been..... (clenches his fist, throws the headset down) NO! The Zilders stop flying and look at Justin. Justin: (holding his head) Why did I have to be so self-righteous? Why did I insist on going alone? Ozz: (pats his shoulder) Don’t think about it. There’s still much we have to do. Justin: ..... Right. I’m gonna make Polluck pay for what he’s done. Ozz: We all are. Justin: Is this all of them? Ozz: (nods) Most of them. Justin: Most? Ozz: ..... There was one. He tried to stop them by destroying one of the ship’s engines. I haven’t sensed him since. Justin: Funny you should mention that, because that’s exactly... “blip! blip! blip!” Justin: Huh? (looks up and sees that some of the Zilders are teleporting out) Where are they going? Ozz: They’re free again. They’re going back home to Zild before this gets any worse. Justin: What? No! They can’t! Ozz, call them back! Ozz: What? Justin: We need them! Stop them from leaving! Ozz: (nods, flies up) Uh... everyone stop! Listen to me! The Zilders all stop and look at Ozz. Ozz: Don’t run away! We have to stay! We have to fight! The other Zilders start to talk amongst themselves. Ozz: I know. I know. It’s not our way. But until this day, we’ve never had a reason to fight. We’ve never had an enemy such as this. One that threatens our lives, our home, our friends, our future! And the atrocities committed against us... warrant retaliation! For our families! For our future! For the memory of our fallen! For the honor of our race! I will fight. What of the rest of you? The other Zilders look at eachother. Ozz: Yes. Stay and you might die. Go home and you shall live. But if we leave things as they are..... I’ll be damned... Justin: 0.0 Ozz: ...if I let these actions go unpunished... and not stand up for my brothers and sisters. (flies down next to Justin) I will fight... to the end. What say the rest of you? The Zilders look at themselves for a moment. Then one by one, they float down and gather in front of Ozz and Justin. Gumdrop: ..... OK. What just happened here? Ozz: (turns to Justin) We’re in. What’s your plan? Justin: (grins) It’s simple really. (takes a can of soda out of his pouch, opens it) Take a hit... pass it down. (hands it to a nearby Zilder) Zilder: (sniffs it) Zzz?

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Thursday, April 13, 2006

Episode #157 Chapter 14, part 13 Reunion part 12 --The Outlaw Star-- Gene: Switching to grappler combat mode! The lights in the cockpit go dim and Gene, Suzuka, and Justin all put on eye/ear pieces. Justin and Suzuka grab the controls in front of them and the Outlaw Star’s grappler arms activate and swing out. Each arm is holding a giant saber. Justin: Get busy Jim! Jim: Right! (starts typing on his computer) --The Athena-- --Combat Room-- There are several hands all stationed at targeting screens. Crewman: They’ve deployed their grappler arms, Captain. Adrien: It won’t help them. They’re fools for following us. Launch missiles now! Outside, the Athena launches a horde of missiles at the Outlaw Star. The grappler ship quickly counters the attack and launches their anti-missiles. The Outlaw Star swoops in towards its opponent while nimbly weaving through a spray of laser fire. Suzuka: Try to get in as close as you can. Those cannons target best at long range. The Outlaw Star gets almost within spitting distance as it races down the length of the Athena’s hull. Justin: Give’em a kiss, Suzuka. The Outlaw Star’s port arm stretches out and drags it’s saber across the outside; scarring the belly of the battleship. Crewman: Sir, damage to the lower port side! Adrien: GRRRR!! Destroy them! Blow them out of the stars! Justin: How we doin’ Jim? Jim: (still typing) Give me more time. Gene: You got it buddy! The ship’s arms swing back under and exchange their blades for two machine guns. Gumdrop: We gonna pimp yo’ ride, baby! The Outlaw Star dives underneath the Athena and begins to decorate its undercarriage with bullet holes. Melfina: Two missiles closing in; 3 and 9 o’clock. Two missiles charge at the Outlaw Star from both sides. Justin and Suzuka: I see’em! The Outlaw Star’s arms cross and they take out the missiles. Justin: Woo! Wyatt-frikin-Earp! Melfina: More missiles at 6 o’clock! Justin: Got’cha! The Outlaw Star’s starboard arm aims at the missiles, fires, but does nothing. Justin: Huh? Hey! Gene: Those are diamond-heads. Bullets are no good against them. Hang on! The Outlaw Star soars out from under the Athena and up against the side. The missiles stay hot on their tail. Gene: Crap! They’re seekers! Everyone hold on to something! Gene steers the Outlaw Star; bobbing and swooping trying to get the missiles to veer off and hit the Athena. But to no avail. The projectiles never deter from the energy trail of the ships engines. Justin: James?!? Jim: (still typing) Hold on! I’m not a miracle worker ya’know! Justin: If anyone can do it James, I know you can. Gumdrop: Uhhhhhh. I think lunch has landed. Urm. (covers his mouth) Gene: Wait. I’ve got an idea. Hang on, everybody! Gene turns the controls in opposite directions and The Outlaw Star starts to spiral. Justin: (grabs his seat) Whoa! Jim: Whaa! This is hard enough to do already, Gene! Gene: C’mon you! The missiles mimic the ship’s swirling motion and begin to drift closer and closer together. Gene: C’moooooooooooon. Finally, the two front missiles collide and detonate, resulting in a chain reaction that sets off the other missiles and creates a grand explosion. Gene: YESSS! (levels off the Outlaw Star) Justin: (holding his tummy) Oi, mommy. Jim: (typing) hmmmmm.... Yes! Artukei! We’re ready! Justin: Do it now! Jim: (punches in a sequence) Chew on that. Adrien: Enough of this. Launch the... Suddenly, all the screens in the combat room go black. Adrien: What the hell!?! Crewman: Captain, all our weapon systems have ceased functioning! The entire defense grid has crashed! Adrien: WHAT!?! Gene: WOO HOO!! Alright Jim!! Justin: I knew you could do it, kid! Jim: *sigh* Heh. Heh heh. Just call me “the miracle worker”. Gumdrop: Should we tell him it’s already taken? Justin: ...... (swats Gummy off his shoulder) Gumdrop: Yow! Gene: Now... let’s punch a hole in this sucker and get over there! Justin: Hold on a minute. (takes his eye/ear piece out, gets up) I need to get a few things. Crewman: Not only does that ship have an ace pilot, but they were able to hack into our computers and disable our primary weapon systems. Adrien: This is inconceivable. How did they find us?! This ship’s cloaking capabilities are unparalleled. And the distortion tower should’ve kept the Zilders from contacting them. How could they..... unless... Justin: (straps a utility belt across his waist, slides a small pistol into a holster on his hip) Jim: That was one of the hardest hacks I’ve ever done in my life. Adrien’s got some real hardcore security. I could only shut down the Athena’s external defenses. Its automated internal defenses, however, will still be operational. Justin: Good. I don’t want this to be too boring. Melfina: Are you sure you want to go alone? Justin: I need most of you to stay here. Jim’s hacked into the ship’s computer so I need him to be my eyes and ears. You and Gene should stay with the ship in case their weapons come back online. But you’ve all done so much more than we’ve asked of you. And now it’s my job to take us to the end. (tucks a few soda cans into a pouch on his belt) Gene: What are those for? Do you usually toss one back before you go into a fray? Justin: Actually, these are my ultimate weapon. (pats the pouch) Gene: o.0 ??? Justin: Now that you mention it,.... there is something that I do right before things like this. Suzuka: What’s that? Justin: .... If you would,... I’d like to ask all of you to fold your hands... and close your eyes. All: ........ Justin: Please. All: .... (reluctantly at first, they all fold their hands and close their eyes) Justin: (closes his eyes) *deep breath* .... Dear Jesus,... Aisha: (still lying on the bed, her clothes are slightly singed) *pant, pant* C’mon girl. You can do this. *pant* Adrien: (bursts through the door) YOU! Aisha: Nya? Adrien: (marches up to Aisha and picks her up by the collar) You did it! I don’t know how you did, but you led them right to us! (throws her against the wall) “SLAM!!” Aisha: (on the floor) Uh! What?! Adrien: (picks her up again) I should’ve had them kill the both of you right then and there when they found you on Zild! (throws her against the other wall) “WHAMM!!” Aisha: Aah! (hears little electrical noises behind her) “fzzt... fzzark” Aisha: Nya? Adrien: (approaching Aisha) I’ll just have to finish from where they left off. Suddenly, the whole room shakes and there’s a deafening bedlam of metal grinding on metal. Aisha: What now? Crewman: (on the PA) Captain, we’ve been breached! The red ship has drilled their assault bolt directly into level 3! Adrien: What!? No! This can’t be! I will not let some brats foil my perfect plan! I shall not be denied my dream!! “CLACK!... drop” Adrien looks behind him and sees the restraints lying on the floor at the feet of one angry C’tarl girl: claws out, teeth bared, and muscles bulging. Aisha: (practically growling) Forget about your sick little dreams, Captain. Meet your worst nightmare. (charges at Adrien) RAAAAAAAAAAARR!!! meanwhile... --Level 3-- The door of the Outlaw Star’s assault bolt slides open. Justin: (grinning) Time for some thrilling heroics.

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Tuesday, April 11, 2006

Episode #156 Chapter 14, part 12 Reunion part 11 --Earth-- --Metrolex, USA-- --Artukei’s House-- A portal opens in the foyer and Kida steps out. Kida: Mom! Daddy! I’m home! ........ Kida: Mom? Daddy? Ozzy? Gummy? Is anyone home? Felix: (runs in from the living room) Kida! Come with me! Kida: Felix. What’s going... Felix: (grabs her arm) We have to get out of here! Kida: WHA?! Felix and Kida run out the front door and see Teshik sitting in his truck. Teshik: C’mon! Let’s move! Felix and Kida jump inside the truck. Felix: Gun it! Teshik slams on the accelerator and starts driving out of the neighborhood and away from the city. As they drive, Kida looks behind her out the back window and sees the silhouette of a city in ruin and a giant battleship hovering over the rubble. Justin: ....no. No! NOOOOOOO!! How can I stop this from happening?! ???: Trust in yourself. You have the power. Justin: ..... mmmm.... uhhhhhh... (opens his eyes and starts to see blurry versions of familiar faces) Suzuka: He’s coming around. Melfina: Artukei, are you alright? Justin: (with a black eye) uhhh.... aisha.... ozz.... adrien.... Polluck! (sits up) Adrian’s a Polluck! The guy called... (grabs the back of his head) Ow! Suzuka: Easy. Lie down. Justin: (lays his head back down onto an ice pack) Uhh. I haven’t had a headache this big since that karaoke party. Wait a minute. (looks around and finally realizes he’s on the Outlaw Star) But... you guys.... am I... are we all.... dead? Gene: Not if I can help it. What happened over there? First, your new buddy tries to frag us. Then, he jumps into hyperspace and we find you inside a jettison capsule. Jim: Yeah, and if it wasn’t for me, you would’ve blown him up. Justin: It was Adrien. He kidnapped all the Zilders. He plans to slice up their brains and attribute their psychic powers to humans. I don’t know why and where, but I think he’s planning some kind of siege. And this is interesting. I heard one of his men call him Capt. Polluck. Jim: Polluck? (pulls out his computer) It couldn’t be. (starts typing) Justin: You said the last member was a scientist, right? Jim: Yeah, but... it’s impossible. Look. (shows him the screen) Justin: (looking at a picture and profile of Adrien) That’s him alright. “Dr. Adrien Polluck. Hair: light brown. Eyes: blue. Height...” Jim: But look at this. “Died: GCD (Galactic Calendar Date) 109225”. That’s over 500 years ago! It couldn’t possibly be the same guy! Gene: Well, I don’t care if he’s the Prime Minister of Heifong! Nobody fires at my ship and gets away with it! Melfina: But they jumped into hyper-space right before we found Artukei. How are we going to find them now? Suzuka: (smiling) Simple. (pulls a piece of paper out of her robe) Gene, tell Gilliam to lock onto this frequency. I planted a tracer on Aisha’s clothes. Just in case. Justin: All right, Suzuka! Gene: (takes the paper) Gilliam, hone in on frequency 98.1519-6. Gilliam: Right away, Gene. Justin: Suzuka, when this is over, remind me to kiss you. Suzuka: I think your fiancé might get jealous. Gilliam: I’ve locked onto the signal. It’s coming from around Darin 5. Gene: Then stay locked on. That’s our destination. Jim, fire up the engines. Jim: You got it! (leaves) Melfina: I’ll go get ready. (leaves) Gene: All hands to the bridge, we’ve got some friends to save. (he and Suzuka start to leave) Justin: Give’em hell for me, Gene. Gene: (stops, looks back) Huh? (grins) Hey, c’mon pal. You’re not hurt that bad. Justin: I can’t face him Gene. Gene: .... Say what? Justin: I... can’t explain it, but... something really creepy happened back there. When we found the room where Adrien was keeping the Zilders, he seemed.... sad... at first. But then, as they were taking us away, he started eyeing Aisha in a most despicable way. I became enraged. I don’t think I’ve ever felt so angry in my life. Then he looked at me and it was like..... it was like he was a whole nother person. Gene: ........ Justin: We fought, but it didn’t last long. He’s fast;.... mind-bogglingly fast. I was down in less than three seconds. I’m really not meant for the hero business, Gene. I thought I was a long time ago, but.... this proves it. I’m just a man, and a man can only do so much. You’re the hero in this world. Bring them back to me, Gene. Please. ???: Now what kind of talk is that? Justin: Huh? Gumdrop: (pops up next to Justin’s bed) Just cuz you lost some little fist fight, you don’t think you can take’im? You can still be a hero, Justin. You’ve got it in you. I can see it and so can everyone else. Why can’t you? Gene: The little rat’s right. Gumdrop: Thank you..... 0.0 Hey! Gene: Just a few hours ago, you were willing to die for those fuzzballs. You’ve brought us all this way, and now you want to throw in the towel because some jerk gave you a black eye? I’m no more a hero than you are, and I’d gladly save them myself,.... but this is your adventure. This is your battle. He’s your best friend. She’s your fiancé. Dammit, Artukei! If you’re not supposed to save them, then who the hell is!? (leaves) Justin: ........ Gumdrop: He’s right, you know. ‘Cept for that part about me being a rat. Justin: ...... *sigh* Gene: (walking down the hall) ........ Justin: Hey Gene! Gene: (turns around) Justin: (grinning) You really think I’m that qualified? Gene: .... (grins) I think you’re crazy enough. meanwhile... --The Athena-- Adrien: You did WHAT!?! Crewman: Um... Adrien: You ordered a retreat without my consultation!? Crewman: I’m sorry, Capt. Polluck. But... *gag* Adrien: (holding him up by the throat) I told you never to call me that. I run from no-one! No matter how good you say they are. Crewman: *gag* But sir... *gag* we were running out of ammo. Our missile reserve is very low. *wheeze* Besides sir, this battleship has been modified to your exact specifications. It’s impossible for them to track our signal. *gag, wheeze* Adrien: (calming down) .... You’re right. No use getting all worked up. Crewman: ........ Adrien: ... Still. (squeezes tighter) Crewman: UHHG! “SNAP!” Adrien: ...... (throws their lifeless body against the wall, starts massaging his temples) *groan* I’m surrounded by incompetence. (grins) I need to relieve some tension. elsewhere... Aisha: Uhhhhh.... nyaaa? Aisha opens her eyes and sees that she’s laying on a large satin-sheeted bed. She tries to get up, but then realizes that her ankles are bound together and her wrists are manacled behind her back. She tries to break them for a second, but suddenly the door opens. Adrien: (steps in) Ah. You’re awake. Just in time. (takes off his jacket) Aisha: You lying,... scum sucking,...... ASSHOLE!! Adrien: Now now, that’s no way to talk to your new master. Aisha: Take one more step and I’ll tear that smile off your face! Adrien: (moves one step closer) Aisha: You asked for it. (tries again to break her bonds) Grrrr! Adrien: (shakes his head) I wouldn’t do that. Aisha: I’m a C’tarl-c’tarl. Do you really think these things can hold... “ZZZZZZZZTT!!” Aisha: (screaming in pain) AAAAAAAAAAHHH!!! *pant, pant, pant* Adrien: Told you. (chuckles) Nasty little toy, isn’t it? Apply just enough force, and it shocks its wearer back into submission. My own brand of electro therapy. Aisha: (smoking just a little) *pant, pant* You bastard. Uhh. Where’s Justin? What have you done to the Zilders? Adrien: (sits on the bed) The Zilders are no longer your concern. And that boy is probably debris by now. Aisha: I don’t believe you. Adrien: You two have become a liability in my plan for the last time. Aisha: What plan? Adrien: To rule. To reign. To conquer. And I will start with you. (kisses Aisha) Aisha: MMM! MFFM! Adrien: (gropes her breast) Aisha: Mmm! Grrr! (bites his lower lip) Adrien: Aaah! Aaaaaah! Aisha: (jerks her head back and tears his lip open) Adrien: (holding his mouth) AAAAAAH!! Aisha: (spits out a little piece of flesh) Never kiss a girl with fangs. Adrien: (blood pouring down his chin) Grrrrrrrr! (slaps Aisha) “WHAP!” Adrien: You bitch! You’ll pay for that! Crewman: (on the PA) Captain! We have a situation! Adrien: (gets up, walks to the door, and slams the PA button) WHAT!? Crewman: Sir! The red ship! It’s followed us somehow! And it’s closing fast! Adrien: Then destroy them, you idiot!! Man all battle stations!....... No! No mistakes this time. I’m coming there myself! (opens the door, looks back at Aisha) I’ll take care of you later. (leaves) outside... --Space-- “All gunners, target the Outlaw Star. Captain’s orders are to ‘Exterminate with extreme prejudice. Show no mercy.’” The Athena’s guns all activate and and pivot towards their target, which is coming in hot. --The Outlaw Star-- Justin: (in the starboard chair) Everyone remember the plan? Jim: Right! Gene: You got it! Justin: Then LET’S DO THIS! Gumdrop: (on Justin’s shoulder) WOO HOO!! Shoot’em up, shoot’em up! Pow, pow!

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Wednesday, April 5, 2006

Episode #155 Chapter 14, part 11 Reunion part 10 --The Athena-- Justin: (sound asleep) Zzzzz... Aisha: (laying on her bed) I don’t get it. Judging by the tone of his voice, his breathing, and his heart palpitations, I could tell Capt. Adrien was telling the truth. So why do I have this weird feeling about him? (gets up) Something about this doesn’t smell right. Maybe I should have a look around. (leaves) later... Justin: Zzzzz... (feels someone nudging him) ...mmm. (opens an eye) Hmm? Gumdrop: Daddy, can I have a drink of water? Justin: Gummy! You wake me up after I’ve been asleep for only... (looks at his watch) ... 2 hours?! Gumdrop: But I’m thirsty. Justin: *groan* (sits up, looks around) Where’s Aisha? Gumdrop: I think she went to the potty. Must’ve fallen in or something, cuz that was a while ago. Justin: Hmm. (gets up, walks to the door) Gumdrop: (jumps into his back pocket) Justin: (opens the door and steps into the hall) Gumdrop: Now, I think the kitchen is to the right; down that way. Justin: (turns the other way and starts walking down the hall) Gumdrop: No. I meant my right. The other way. Hey, Magellan, turn around! Justin: (keeps walking down the hall, looking for Aisha, notices a crew member at the end) Gumdrop: I think the bathroom’s that way too. Are you even listening to me? Justin: (approaches the crew member) Excuse me. Have you seen my cat-girl around here recently? Crewman: I think she went to one of the upper levels. Justin: Thanks. (turns away) Gumdrop: (waves at the crewman) Thank you, nice man! Crewman: o.0 ??? later... Justin: (on level 6, still looking) *sigh* There’s nine levels on this ship. Where could she be? Gumdrop: Bored. Bored, bored, bored, bored, bored. (hops out of the pocket, slaps Justin’s ankle) Tag! You’re it! (runs off) Justin: Gummy, not now! (takes off after him) Justin chases Gumdrop through the corridors for several minutes. Until finally... Gumdrop: (runs to the end of a hall and turns the corner) Justin: (at the other end of the hall) Gumdrop Gregory Cat, if you don’t get back here, I am gonna... ???: (reaches out and pulls Justin into an adjacent corridor) Justin: WHAA! ???: (puts their hand over his mouth) Calm down, lover. Justin: Aisha. Thank God. Aisha: (whispering) Come with me. Stay quiet. (leads him down to the end of the corridor) Justin: (notices a small bundle under Aisha’s arm) What’s that? Aisha: Something I found while doing a little snooping. Justin: Huh? Aisha: Take a quick look. Justin: (peeks around the corner and sees two heavily armed crewmen guarding a large door) Aisha: They haven’t moved from that spot for over an hour. Justin: You’ve been spying on our friend? Aisha: I don’t think this guy’s our friend. Justin: What are you worried about? You said yourself that Adrien was clean. Aisha: I know what I said. But I guess I was wrong this time. (hands him the bundle) Justin: (unfolds it into a spacesuit with a black swan on the left shoulder) 0.0.... what the... (instantly angry) That son of a... Aisha: How much you wanna bet that all our answers are behind that door? I was just about to jump them when... “lalalalalalalalalaaaaaaaaa!!” Aisha and Justin: 0.0 ??? Gumdrop: (comes running down the hall towards the two guards) Lalalalalalalaaaaaaa!! The Guards: o.0 Huh??? Gumdrop: (sounding like a motorcycle) Brrrrring d-d-dingdingding brrrrrrrum biddi bum bum bum brrrrrrrrrrrrrrr! (runs past the guards) Woo hoo!! The Guards: (looking at Gumdrop as he runs away) Guard 1: What the hell... OOF! (falls down) Guard 2: HURK! (falls down) Aisha: (standing over both of them) Justin: Finally, he did something useful. Aisha: Remind me to thank him. (begins to pry the door open) GrrrrrrrrrrrrrrRAAAR!! (busts open the door, looks inside) 0.0 *gasp* Justin: (steps inside) 0.0 ... oh my god. Aisha: I almost wish I wasn’t right. They stand in a giant room. There’s a glowing tower in the very center that stretches all the way to the ceiling. There are cage doors covering the walls. And in those cages, you guessed it, all the Zilders. They’re all laying on the floors of their cages and their antennae are all wilting. Justin: What on earth could he be doing to them? Aisha: Are they sick or something? “rattle rattle rattle, rattle rattle rattle” ???: EEEEEEEEEE!! EEEEEEEEEE!! Justin: (looks up) OZZ!! (using the barred doors, climbs up the wall to his friend) Ozz! Thank God you’re alright. What’s going on here? What has he done to you? What’s happened to our link? Ozz: ... zzzz. (weakly points at the tower) Justin: Huh? (looks at the tower, notices a computer at the base, looks back at Ozz and nods) Don’t worry, buddy. We’re gonna get you all out of here. (climbs back down) Aisha: (trying to rip the door off one of the cages) Uhn! Grrrrr! Aah! Damn! This stuff is heavy duty. Gumdrop: (pokes his head into the room) ^.^ Lucy, I’m ho... 0.0 .......... whoa. Justin: (runs over to the computer) Gumdrop: (runs towards Justin) Justin: C’mon you. Gimmie some answers. (touches the black swan on the screen) The computer displays a diagram of a Zilder: it’s skeletal structure, muscles, nervous system, etc. Then it zooms in on the brain and highlights a portion near the front, located directly under the antennae. Then, a diagram of a different brain appears next to it. The highlighted part of the Zilder’s brain is taken out and moved into the other brain. The computer zooms out to reveal that the other brain is inside a human! The animated human then proceeds to levitate heavy objects, teleport from place to place, and fly through the air. He is then joined by an army of other humans with the same powers. Then, looking like an old WW2 film, they soar over an unknown city and rain devastation. Justin: (wide-eyed) God almighty. (looks up at the tower) ...... of course. Aisha! The tower’s inhibiting their powers! We have to destroy it!........ Aisha? (looks behind him) 0.0 *gasp* Gumdrop: Uh-oh. (hides in Justin’s back pocket) There are now four guards in the room with black spacesuits. Two of them are holding an unconscious Aisha. Justin: AISHA!! (runs towards them, but the other two guards rush him and grab both his arms, he struggles to get free) Uhn! Aisha! Aah! (notices the black swan on one of his captor’s arms, looks up at him sternly) Have we met? At that moment, Dr. Adrien enters the room. Justin: Adrien. You lying son of a bitch!! Adrien: (appearing more somber and disappointed than angry) I had hoped that we could be friends, Artukei. But it appears you don’t share my vision. Justin: A vision of what? An army of super psychics.... at the cost of an entire race!?! Adrien: What? Justin: Kidnapping all the Zilders so you could cut open their brains!?! Adrien: You’re mad. I had nothing to do with that! Justin: (motions towards the cages) Then what are those, huh?! Adrien: (looks at the wall in confusion) What are you talking about? I see nothing. Justin: That’s probably all they’re worth to you, isn’t it? Adrien: I am sorry to do this, Artukei. (to the guards) Take them to the detention cells. Guards: Yes sir. (begin to take Aisha and Justin away) Justin: (still trying to free himself) Uhn! Uhh! Grrrraaa! Adrien: (walks by Aisha) .... wait. (a devilish glint flashes in his eye and he brushes back Aisha’s hair) Justin: Huh? No! Get your hands off her!! Adrien: (tilts her chin up and caresses her cheek as he grins demonically, then moves his hand down and gropes the top of her breast) Justin: DON’T YOU DARE TOUCH HER YOU BASTARD!! Adrien: *sigh* Such anger. (turns and looks at Justin, smiling sadistically and speaking more coolly and almost condescendingly) You want to fight me, don’t you? You want to take a swing at me? Justin: (gravelly, scowling) I want to do much worse than that. Adrien: Well then.... let’s see what you’ve got. (motions for the guards to release him, and they do) Justin: (looks at them all confusedly, first the guards then at Adrien as if thinking “Is he serious?”, then quickly puts back on his enraged demeanor and charges at Adrien) HAAAAAAAAAAAA!! (prepares a right hook, but...) Adrien: (with insane speed, punches Justin in the gut, knocking the wind out of him, then square in the face, and finally kicks him in the chest) Justin: (sent flying backwards, lands on his back first, then somersaults onto his chest) *cough, cough, wheeze, cough* (the guards pick him back up) Adrien: Pathetic. (to a guard) Tell the gunners to destroy the little red ship that’s been following us. Justin: (looks at Adrien with one eye open and a bloody nose) .... you’re a monster. Guard: Yes sir. What about these two? Adrien: ....Take the girl to my chambers. Justin: Hrrrrrrrr. (hair starts to grow on his arms and his teeth start to become fangs) Adrien: Jettison the boy. Guard: Yes, Capt. Polluck. Justin: 0.0 Huh? UHN! (feels something hit him in the back of the head, then...... darkness.......)

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Tuesday, April 4, 2006

Episode #154 Chapter 14, part 10 Reunion part 9 --Ambrose Spaceport-- --Thompson’s Bar-- Man: (walking out) See you later, Verl. Bartender (Verl): Bye Jake. Someone walks up to the bar. Bartender: What’ll it be friend? Gene: I got a question for ya’. Bartender: Shoot. Gene: (leans in close) Have you seen anyone around here wearing a dark space suit embossed with a black swan right here? (points to his left shoulder) Bartender: Hmmm..... can’t say I have. Gene: They were here only two days ago. And this space port’s a pretty small place. (grabs his collar) You sure you didn’t see anything? Bartender: (undaunted) I’m positive. Gene: (lets go) Well, if you do, be sure to tell me. But watch yourself. These guys are considered very dangerous. Bartender: *whispers* Are you a bounty hunter? Gene: (grins) Just trying to help a friend. Thanks for your help. (walks away) Bartender: Don’t mention it. Gene: (outside, holds his earlobe) Jim, anything on your end? Jim: Zero, zip, and a whole lot of zilch. ???: (on the intercom) Aaaaaaaaaaahh!! Gene: -_- Is that Artukei? Jim: *sigh* Mm-hm. I’d better go check on him. Aisha and Suzuka walk up. Gene: What’d you find out? Suzuka: Other than that man is a spineless coward, nothing new. Aisha: Same stuff he told us before. Dark suits and black swans. At least that slime’s consistent. Suzuka: However, I did find something there that I think you’ll like very much, Aisha. (hands her something wrapped in brown paper) Aisha: (rips it open) *gasp* My uniform! Thank C’tarl! I thought they burned it. (hugs Suzuka) Thanks Suzu! Suzuka: -_-\/ Please let go of me. Gene: Let’s rendezvous, Jim. I’m gettin’ kinda’ sick of this goose hunt. Where are you guys?.......... Where?? later... Gene, Suzuka, and Aisha are all standing outside a bookstore. Suzuka: Aisha. Artukei said they confiscated his sword, correct? Aisha: Yeah? Suzuka: ... Then why is he looking in a bookstore? Aisha: Well..... I honestly have no idea. Justin: (inside) You sure no-one sold to you a New King James Version of the Holy Bible within the last few days? Owner: Yes sir. I’m quite sure. But I can check and see if we have any new copies. Justin: (sorrowfully) Nooooooooohohohoooo!! (bangs his head on the counter) As if things weren’t bad enough. Jim: What’s your deal? What’s so important about finding a used bible? Justin: Not just any used bible. My bible! Those assholes took my bible! Melfina: You can always get a new one, right? Justin: No! That bible’s been with me through high school. It has extreme sentimental value. Jim: I thought we were looking for your sword. Justin: That bible is my sword. Melfina: Huh? Jim: You mean metaphorically, right? Justin: No. It turns into my sword: King James. Jim: I’ve heard about “The Word of God” also being called “The Sword of the Spirit”. I never thought it could be literal. Well, I hate to break it to you, but if they found it on you as a book.... they probably burned it. Justin: Uso. Nothing can destroy King James. Not even the fires of Hell. later... The entire crew has regrouped and they’re all resting, trying to plot their next move. Justin, Aisha, and Melfina sit on a bench while Suzuka stands next to them. Gene is leaning against the wall and Jim is sitting on the floor. Justin: *sigh* (stares up at the ceiling, singing softly to himself) “Oto no nai mahiru, Kaze wa tada aka-...” (catches Melfina looking at him) Melfina: (staring at Justin curiously) ........ Justin: *ahem* Jim: Well, we’ve searched every level. Suzuka: Queried every shop owner and merchant. Melfina: Every pilot and mechanic. Aisha: Every bartender and waitress. Gene and Justin: Twice. Aisha: And still, nothing. Gene: Of course, this search would be a lot easier if we knew what exactly we were looking for. Aisha: We’ll know it when we see it, Gene. Sometimes you just gotta have faith. Justin: (smiles) ....Heh. It’s funny. Aisha: Nya? What is? Justin: Earlier today, this was the last thing I wanted to do. All I really wanted to do was go home. But now, wedding or no, that’s an option I’m not even considering. Aisha: You’re not considering time either. That was yesterday. Justin: Huh? Aisha: According to earth time, it’s Tuesday afternoon. Justin: 0_0 Then.... th-that means.... I haven’t slept in..... oh, I feel ill. “uuuuuhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh” Melfina: What was that? Gumdrop: (pops out of Justin’s pocket) Foooooood. Neeeeeeeeeeed fooooooooooood. Justin: Gummy, what’re you talking about? You don’t even need to eat. Gumdrop: OK. Waaaaaaaaaaant foooooooooooood. “eeeeerrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrmmmmmm” Justin: (holds his stomach) Ooh. Now that you mention it. Aisha: (holding her tummy) Mmm. Me too. later... --a nearby restaurant-- Justin: Itaidakimasu! (starts eating a plate of orange chicken and chow mein) Ooooh man. That hits the spot. Gumdrop: (eating a large piece of chocolate cake) Ahh! Nirvana de Chocolaté! Aisha: (steps out of the bathroom, back in her classic C’tarl uniform) Now this is more like it. (walks over to the table) Thanks Gene! (throws the jeans and t-shirt at him and they land on his head) Gene: (takes them off) -_- You’re welcome. Aisha: (sits down and starts gorging on a plethora of rice bowls, steak, chicken, and fish) Gene and Jim: 0.0 Gene: (leans over to Jim) You fightin’ the creepy deja-vu feeling too? Jim: Yep. Gene: Hey, Artukei. If you and Ozz share a link, couldn’t you just contact him and ask him where he is? Justin: If the situation were that simple, I’m sure Ozz would’ve done it himself hours ago. But here’s the part that really worries me. I tried contacting him a moment ago, but I didn’t get a single brainwave. And if I can’t reach him, that means one of only two things. Either he’s in another dimension.... or he’s dead. Jim: Inter-dimensional transportation? No-one’s even close to perfecting that kind of technology. Gene: (somber) Then, you know what that means. Aisha: Don’t you dare say that! Justin: (quietly) He’s right. Aisha: Nya? Justin: .... *deep breath* It’s the only logical explanation......... Then again, if my life has taught me anything, it’s that logic is a weak factor. Ozz can’t be dead. I won’t accept that. But even if he is, I still have a job to find the rest of the Zilders and bring them home. ???: (walks up to the table) Excuse me. I couldn’t help but overhear your conversation. They all look and see a tall, well built, handsome man. He appears to be in his late thirties, has short light-brown hair, blue eyes, and is wearing a Captain’s suit. Man: Forgive my eavesdropping, but are you talking about Zilders? Justin: (suspiciously) Yes. Man: And, I’m not sure if I heard right. But you spoke as if you were a Zilder’s bond. Justin: I am. Aisha: (whispers) While you’re at it, why not give him your bank account number? Justin: (whispers back) Easy Aisha. I think this is the clue we’ve been looking for. Man: Are you really a Zilder’s bond? You share a telepathic link with it? Justin: (somewhat proudly) Yes. I am and I do. Man: (wide eyed in amazement) 0.0 Incredible. (smiles) I never thought I’d meet someone like you in my lifetime. Justin: Who are you? Man: I am a scientist who’s very passionate about the Zilders. I’ve studied them for years. They fascinate me; always have. Justin: Then it would grieve you to know what has happened to them. Man: (very seriously) I do know and I am. That is why I am here. Like you, I seek the ones responsible for these crimes. Justin: (raises an eyebrow) Man: Poaching on a protected planet is bad enough. But the Zilders are gentle creatures and pacifistic by nature. They didn’t stand a chance. Justin: ..... (leans over to Aisha, whispers) What’s the word? Aisha: (ears twitch for second, nods) He’s good. Justin: (turns back to the man, smiling calmly) It appears we are united in our goals, sir. Man: Adrien. (holds out his hand) Call me Adrien. Justin: (shakes his hand) Adrien. later... The whole group is now walking through the space port. Adrien: You see, Zilders usually bond with plants. They nurture them, protect them, and keep them healthy. That’s why their planet is so thriving. But they almost never bond with humans! Justin: Well, I guess I’m just lucky. Adrien: I think you’re more than that. He must’ve sensed something very special in you. Justin: Oh, there’s nothing special about me. (under his breath) For the most part, anyways. Adrien: If it wouldn’t be too much to ask Artukei, I’d be honored if you’d assist me in my research. After this ordeal is over, of course. Justin: Great. Another scientist who wants me to be their guinea pig. Gene: So, you say you know where these guys are? Adrien: I’ve been studying the details of this incident ever since it occurred. And I think I have a good idea who they are and where they’re headed. You’re all welcome to join me on my ship. Justin: You’ve got a ship? Adrien: One of our engines sustained massive damage a few days ago. But they should be operational now. later... They’re all at one of the docking bays looking at a large white ship at least eight times bigger than the Outlaw Star. Adrien: Friends, I give you The Athena! Jim: Wow! Suzuka: (looks at the ship suspiciously) Hmmm. Justin: Man! Parking fees for this thing must be a real bitch. Jim: Oh no, that reminds me. Gene, if we go off with this guy and leave the Outlaw Star here, our parking bill will be astronomical. Gene: (to Adrien) Uh... if it’s alright with you, we’d prefer to follow in our own ship. Adrien: (nods) That’d be fine. Justin: I’ll go with you, Adrien. Maybe I can help. Aisha: (takes Justin’s arm) I guess that means I’m coming too. Adrien: Excellent. I’ll have my crew prepare a room for you in one of the dormitories. later... --The Athena-- Adrien: (walking down one of the halls, opens one of the doors to reveal a beautiful estate room with two big beds) Here’s you room. I know it’s not much, but it’s the best I can offer. Aisha: It’s great. Thanks a lot. Adrien: I’ll go inform my crew that we’re launching immediately after your friends have made it back to their ship. Aisha: Thank you. Adrien: (leaves) Justin: (smiling big and almost drunkenly) ........ Aisha: .... What’s with you? Justin: (points) Bed. (throws himself onto the bed and starts hugging the pillow) Mmmm. ^_^ Aisha: You’re going to take a nap? Now!? Justin: What are you worried about? We’re in the clear! We’re not in the dark anymore. Adrien’s a good guy and he’s gonna help us find Ozz. After all that’s happened in the last few days, I think I’ve earned a nap. Aisha: (sits on the other bed) Yeah. You’re right. Adrien: (on the PA) Attention all hands. The Outlaw Star has pulled out. Prepare for launch. Justin: ^_^ *sigh* Finally, things are taking a turn for the better. meanwhile... --The Outlaw Star-- Gene: Thank god he’s off my ship. Jim: What!? Gene: I didn’t want to say it in front of Aisha, but Artukei seemed kinda... (twirls his finger around his ear as if to say “crazy”) Plus, he made me look like a jerk. Jim: -_- You’re saying that like it’s a difficult thing to do. Gene: Shut up! Jim: *sigh* Hey, Suzuka, what’s up? You’ve been really quiet for a while. Well, more than usual. What’s wrong? Suzuka: .... We should not have left them. Jim: Huh? Why not? Dr. Adrien seemed like a really nice guy. Suzuka: I know. He was honest and very sincere. No doubt about that. But what kind of scientist pilots an A-class Movar Battleship? Gene and Jim: ........ Suzuka: I’ve got a really bad feeling about all this.

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Monday, April 3, 2006

Episode #153 Chapter 14, part 9 Reunion part 8 --the Outlaw Star-- --Aisha’s room-- Melfina: Artukei seems like a great guy, Aisha. I’m really happy for you. Suzuka: He has a kind and noble heart. He really is a rare breed. Aisha: Thanks you two. I know. I’m lucky to have met him. Melfina: It’s going to be wonderful to see the two of you get married. Aisha: ...... *sigh* Melfina: Aisha, what’s wrong? Aisha: ... well... Suzuka: You’re not having second thoughts, are you? Aisha: .... I love Justin. I really do. But recently.... I’ve been reminded of certain.... “complications” and.... now I’m not sure if I can go through with it. --the galley-- Jim: So, they were using a black swan. But the galactic records show that no-one’s used the symbol for hundreds of years. Whoever these guys are, they’re operating way under the radar. Gene: (walks in) Everything’s all set. You sure about this? Justin: Orozan said we’d find our next clue back at Ambrose. Gene: Couldn’t he just tell you who did this or what their ship looked like? Justin: Orozan doesn’t know everything, Gene. He’s not a god. Gene: But if the Zilders have all those powers, why didn’t they defend themselves? Justin: I think those guns that were used to kidnap them discharged some kind of psychic disruption; canceling out their powers. Jim: Also, Zilders are a peaceful race. They never use their powers to attack. Gene: Hmph. What a waste. So, how’s someone like you set up a telepathic link with an alien over 25 million light years away? Justin: Actually, I met Ozz back on Earth. That was 4... no, almost 5 years ago. I met him through a friend of mine; a scientist. --Washu’s lab-- --almost 5 years ago-- Justin: (18 years old, clean shaven, short haired, and no glasses) It’ll be so cool! I’ve already drawn a rough schematic for it. (hands a piece of notebook paper to Washu) Whadaya think? I’m thinking about calling it “The Cloud Cutter”. Cool huh? Washu: (looks at the crude drawing, glances up) Justin, was it? You are my kind of crazy. Justin: Oh, I’m all kinds of crazy. So, what’d you want me for? Washu: I just need your help with some research I’m doing. Maybe answer a few questions. Justin: OK. Mind if I have a look around? Washu: No, go ahead. Just don’t touch anything. Justin: (starts to look around) Washu: And don’t wander too far... (under her breath) my little inter-dimensional friend. (puts on a rubber glove) “shuffle! rattle! clank!” Justin: Huh? (spies a nearby rattling crate) What’s in there? Washu: In there? You don’t want to know. Justin: (inches closer to the crate as it rocks and jumps) ...... (tries to look through one of the cracks) “SCREEEEEEEEEEE!!!” A long barbed tongue lashes at Justin from inside the crate. Justin: (leaps back) What the heck is in there!? Washu: A Ferillian garnak. And if you want your face to stay where it is, you’ll keep away from it. Feisty little critter. Justin: No kidding. (continues to wander deeper into the lab, noticing all the live creatures and specimens) Wow. This place is like the biology lab.... only bigger.... and more chrome...... and no overwhelming smell of formaldehyde. Hmm. (looks inside a large containment chamber and sees a small blue orb floating in the middle) Hmmm. What the heck is that? A little head with big black eyes, two leaf shaped ears, and a pair of antennae pop out of the orb. The orb then uncurls itself into a long slender figure. The creature looks like a fuzzy blue ferret. It has two small front paws about half the size of a human palm and three stubby little fingers on each. It has no rear legs, but rather two flipper-like stumps that funnel into two long tails. They look thread-like and delicate and are nearly twice the length of its body. At the tips of both of them, a small teardrop shaped node of fur. The creature floats in midair and its body and tails snake and curve as if underwater. It stares at Justin for a moment, then tilts its head to the side in curiosity. Justin raises an eyebrow in intrigue. The creature mimics his expression and raises an eyebrow as well. Seeing this, Justin blinks as his neck lurches back. The creature does the same. Justin then slowly raises his hand and waves uneasily. The creature mirrors him perfectly and waves back at him. Justin leans in close and squints as if examining the blue oddity. The creature stretches its neck towards him and narrows its eyes too. The two remain locked in this stare for several seconds. Suddenly, the creature lunges at Justin, startling him, making him yelp, and stagger backwards. The little fuzzball then presses its paws to its tiny mouth and closes its eyes as it loops through the air, laughing. Justin: You think that’s funny, you little squirt? Washu: (wearing her nurse’s outfit) OK! I’m ready! Huh? Justin: (making faces at the creature) Blehh! Nyaaa! Duuh! The creature does the same and blows a raspberry at him. Justin: Hey! Washu: Oh, I see you’ve met the Zilder. Justin: The what? Washu: A Zilder: an alien with phenomenal psychic abilities. Levitation, telekinesis, he can even read your mind. They’re also very friendly and very smart. Justin: And as immature as an eight-year-old. Washu: Look who’s talking. They come from a planet millions of light years away. But I found this little guy here on Earth. Just wandering around. “flash!” Justin: Huh? What’s he doing? The little alien is now emitting flashes of light. But they don’t seem to be doing anything. Washu: Oh, he must be trying to teleport. Justin: He can teleport too? Washu: Well, not as long as he’s in there. I suppose I’ll let him out for a little bit. With the dimensional shield around this lab, he won’t be going anyplace far. Washu presses a button next to the chamber and the glass wall disappears. The Zilder flies out and immediately gets in Justin’s face. Justin: 0_0 Mm.... (lurches back) The Zilder starts buzzing around Justin, chirping and squeaking incoherently in a soft and wispy voice that sounds like short high-pitched whizzing noises. Zilder: Zoo! Zoo! Zz zzz zoo! Washu: He seems to have taken an interest in you, Justin. He hasn’t acted this way around anyone else. Justin: (dodges and weaves uncomfortably) Lucky me. Can you put’im back now? Washu: Oh, just let him check you out. It won’t kill you. He’s perfectly harmless. Now... (cracks her knuckles) let’s get to work. Justin: Um, Little Washu.... why are you dressed like a nurse? “After that, I saw the Zilder every time I visited the Masakis. Over the next few weeks, he and I became fast friends.” Justin: Don’t you have a name? Zilder: (shakes his head) Justin: Well, I can’t just keep calling you “Zilder”. Should I give you a name? Zilder: (thinks for a second) ...... (nods) Justin: OK. Hmmm..... zilder... zilder.... zzzz.... zzzZack. No, too redundant. Umm.... Zander.... Zavier.... Zelda... Zilder: Grrr. Justin: Oh, right! You’re a dude. Zzzz.... zzzz.... azzz... ezzz... izzz... ozzz....... ozzzz.... Ozzy.... Ozwald.... Ozma.... Ozborn.... oz.... oz.... Zilder: Zzz? Justin: Hmm? Oz? You like that? Zilder: (nods) Zoo! ^.^ Justin: Oz. O-Z... Z. Yeah. Ozz with two Z’s! Cuz one Z’s a book and a prison. Ozz! Now that’s a name! Ozz: Zoo! (does a backflip) “Ozz became my best buddy. We hung out all the time; played games, listened to music, watched movies, he even took me flying a few times. And sometimes, we just talked. Well, I did all the talking, but Ozz was a great listener. Until he came along, I really didn’t have anybody to share my adventures with. I told him about all the different places I’d been to, the people I’d met, and the things I’d experienced. I felt like I could tell Ozz anything. He probably knows more about me than anybody else in this universe. He was my true-blue friend. Pun intended. Then one day, something happened that forever changed our friendship.” --Masaki house-- --dinning room-- Justin: Mmm. Could someone pass the tempura, please? Kiyone: (hands him a plate) Here you go. Justin: Thanks, Kiyone. Kiyone: You’re welcome. (grins) Justin: Mmmm! Man, this stuff is fantastic! Ozz: (sits on Justin’s head and looks down) Zoo? Justin: (looks up) Hey buddy! What’s up besides you? Ozz: (comes down and looks right into his eyes) ...... Justin: ... What? Ozz: (puts his antennae against Justin’s forehead) Justin: Um... what are you doing? Ozz: (puts his tails on both sides of Justin’s head) Justin: (nervously) Little Washu? Washu: (looks up, chopsticks in her mouth) Hmm? Justin: Um... what’s... Ozz: Relax. Open your mind. Justin: 0.0 What the... Ozz? You can... “BZZZZZZZZTTT!! BLAAMM!!” In a flash of light, Justin and Ozz are blown to opposite sides of the room. Kiyone: Justin! (runs over to him) Washu: (runs over and picks up Ozz) Kiyone: Justin, are you OK? Justin: (his eyes glow blue for a second, then turn back to brown) ..... wow. Kiyone: Are you in pain? Justin: Very much. Tenchi and Sasami come over and help Justin up. Tenchi: Are you alright? Justin: I think I’ll be fine. What about Ozz? Washu: Not sure. (holding an out-cold Ozz) hours later... --Washu’s lab-- Ozz is lying on a recovery table. Justin is sitting in a chair beside him, asleep. Justin: Zzzzz... “Justin. Justin, wake up.” Justin: (waking up) *snort* Free my men. Huh? “Did it work?” Justin: Did what work? Who’s there? (looks around, sees Ozz is awake and floating above the table) OZZ! You’re alright! What the heck happened back there? Ozz: Sorry about that. Guess I used a little too much energy. Justin: O__O ..... you... You can talk?? Oh my gosh, I’ve finally lost it. Ozz: Lost what? Justin: WHAA!! (falls off his chair) “whump!” Justin: you... y-y-you.... H-how did you hear that? How did I hear you?? Ozz: I’ve set up a telepathic link between us. We can hear each other’s thoughts. Justin: wha... wha... y-you..... why? Ozz: ...... I like you. ^.^ Justin: Huh? Ozz: A Zilder can establish a telepathic link with only one other living being within the course of its life. And I have chosen you, Justin, to be my bond. Justin: ... Why me? Ozz: Because you and I are very similar. (TK’s Justin back into his chair) You see, I was never one to be content with his surroundings or with the norm. So hundreds of years ago, according to your time, I left my home planet so I could explore the universe. Eventually my wanderings lead me here, to Earth. I stayed here longer than I had on other worlds, because there was something here that intrigued me more than anything I had ever seen. Humans. For over 200 years, I have watched mankind develop and progress. I’ve applauded their triumphs and pitied their failures. They’ve captivated me. And when I first met you and you told me of your travels, where you had been and what you’d seen, I felt I had found a kindred spirit. The adventurousness in your heart echoed my own. From a distance, I’ve shared in humanity’s collective adventures. And now, I wish to share yours and witness them first hand. (holds out his paw) Justin: ..... (smiles and shakes his paw) Ozz: I am your friend and companion for life, Justin.

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Saturday, April 1, 2006

Episode #152 Chapter 14, part 8 Reunion part 7 Aisha: ... What did you say? Justin: I remember.... everything. How we got here. What happened to us. And Ozz. I can’t believe I couldn’t remember Ozz. (puts his hands on Aisha’s shoulders) Aisha. Aisha: Nya? Justin: Look at me. Look me right in the eyes and listen to me very carefully. Aisha: (nods) Justin: (slowly and clearly) “April flowers blossom in the southern wind.” Aisha: (her face winces and she feels her head) Uhh! Oh. What the heck was that? (blinks her eyes) Wait a minute. (looks around) I... I remember this place. Gene: Hello! Remember us? Can we get the 411 here, please? What is going on?! Justin: Allow me to explain, Gene. Ozz is my best friend. He’s a Zilder. And this is his home world. Gumdrop: (thrusts his paws in the air) YES! Jim: (wide eyed) A Zilder? Justin: Yes. This all started a few days ago back at our home. I noticed that Ozz just wasn’t himself. He slept more, he ate less, and we barely got a single “zoo” out of him. He seemed really down. Gumdrop: The phrase I used was “bluer than usual”. Justin: Turns out he was just homesick. So, we decided to take a little trip. (flashback) --Zild, 4 days ago-- In a flash, Justin, Aisha, Ozz, and Gumdrop appear in the forest. Their faces adorned with wonder as hundreds of Zilders in ever color of the rainbow swarm in the trees above them. Ozz flies up to meet them and becomes lost in the storm of colors. Soon, several Zilders approach the others and float around them, inspecting them in curiosity. Justin and Aisha cheerfully welcome their inquisitive nature. Gumdrop, on the other hand, is a little more wary as he defends himself Bruce Lee style. Then, a familiar cobalt-blue native descends and leads the group deeper into the forest. They soon reach a lush and healthy version of the clearing where even more Zilders than before gather. Ozz looks at Justin and twitches his antennae, communicating with him. Justin then leans over to Aisha and mutters something. Aisha nods, and Ozz signals two other Zilders to come down and join them. Ozz then forms a psychic bubble around Justin, and the two new Zilders do the same for Aisha and Gumdrop. Slowly, they all start to hover above the ground. Slightly freaked at first, Aisha glances over at Justin who reassures her with a confident smile. The three rise higher and higher until they’re all above the canopy and surveying the treetops. Justin and Aisha gaze in awe as they relish their bird’s-eye view, and Gummy tries desperately not to look down. Soon, Ozz looks back at Justin, obviously communicating again. Then Justin nods, looks at Aisha and Gumdrop, and mouths out “hang on”. With a look of ‘nya’, Aisha leans back against her bubble, bracing herself. Gumdrop starts frantically looking for the seatbelt. Ozz looks at his counterparts, gives a nod, and the Zilders jet, dragging their passengers behind them. The three travelers are given the ride of their lives as they soar above the alien forest at over 130mph. Justin stands up, feet firmly planted and leaning forward as if riding a hover board. Aisha screams with excitement as she thrusts her arms upwards in a rollercoaster riding fashion. Gumdrop resembles a miniature X as he braces himself against the psychic walls. After the “tour” is over, the four are returned to the clearing. When they are released from the psychic spheres, Gumdrop immediately starts kissing the ground. Justin and Aisha, however, raise their fists and cheer as they’re still riding on the adrenaline. “And that’s when they came.” Hundreds of Zilders rush in from another area of the forest as they’re followed by strange noises. Justin and Aisha race off in the opposite direction the natives are fleeing and try to see what’s up. They soon see several men in dark suits with a black swan embossed on their shoulders. They wear face-less masks and carry unknown weapons. One of them fires what looks like a rifle with a bullhorn at the end. The rifle shoots a wave of energy that hits all the nearby Zilders and sends them to the ground like stones. Another man fires a large net cannon and captures the fallen Zilders. Infuriated by what he’s just witnessed, Justin springs into action. He pulls a small golden cross from his pocket, and it transforms into King James, the Holy Sword and Justin’s weapon of choice. He rushes at the man with the rifle and slashes his weapon in two. The man with the net launcher fires at Justin. But Aisha has Justin’s back as she leaps into the air and shreds the net with her claws before it can lay a fiber on her fiancé. As she lands, she commences kicking the ever-loving-crap out of the man. The rifleman pulls a small stun pistol from his belt and shoots at Justin. Quickly, Justin swings his blade and deflects the blast back to its executor, paralyzing him. Justin and Aisha fight gallantly for a few more moments, but alas, their efforts are futile. Set on neutralizing this inconvenience, the other men soon overwhelm the two would-be heroes. Barraged by stun blasts, it isn’t long before Justin and Aisha are incapacitated and knocked unconscious. (end flashback) Justin: They took Ozz. They took all of them. Aisha: That’s right. That’s exactly what happened. But I still don’t remember the next three days. Justin: Because we were unconscious. For the next three days, our minds were being wiped clean of any memory of what happened on Zild or how we got there. And since Ozz was our transportation, any trace of him was erased entirely. The only thing that could bring our memories back was the special code phrase that I just spoke to you. Gene: Hey, wait! If you were unconscious, how do you know about the brainwashing or the code phrase? Justin: .... (looks up) Orozan. All: Huh? Justin: He told me. He brought my memory back. And shared with me some vital information. He knew that if we were going to help the Zilders, our memories would have to be restored. So he lured us here in order to do so. Isn’t that right, Melfina? Melfina: 0_0 ... y-yes. Gene: What? Melfina: I couldn’t explain it, but it was like someone was calling me. Telling me that we should stop at the spaceport. Justin: Orozan knew you were our friends, so he influenced your decisions. Just how he influenced me. Aisha: Wait. My memory was gone too. So why didn’t he call to me? Justin: Every Zilder is linked to Orozan. And since Ozz is my bond, I’m linked to him as well. Gene: Hold up, just a minute. Who exactly is this Orozan everyone keeps yammering about? Justin: .... He was the first Zilder. Well, at least as far back as their native history can be traced. He died centuries ago, but his spirit still lives in this part of the forest. He is the father and guardian of the Zilders. Suzuka: (looks around) So that explains the condition of all the plants. He is in mourning. Jim: .... This is it. This is the Temple of Orozan. All this time people have been looking for stones, pillars, or monuments. When it’s been the very trees themselves. This is incredible! Justin: Orozan fears for his children’s safety. He wishes them returned. And we’re gonna return them. Gene: What?! Justin: Ozz is my best friend. I have to rescue him and all the other Zilders. C’mon! (takes off back towards the Outlaw Star) All the others follow and Gumdrop jumps into Justin’s back pocket. Jim: (running along) Wait a minute! Artukei! Do you have any idea what you’ve just done? You’ve solved one of the oldest mysteries in the galaxy! Justin: I’ll ponder that later, James. Right now, we have bigger worries. The missing piece of the puzzle has been found, and this is the picture. My best friend’s been kidnapped. Gene: Man, how do I keep getting into these messes?

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Friday, March 31, 2006

Episode #151 Chapter 14, part 7 Reunion part 6 Justin: Gummy, what are you talking about? Gumdrop: OZZ! Blue, fuzzy, flies,..... belches like a sick cow. You share a telepathic link with him!! Justin: Gummy, I’m not interested in hearing about your imaginary friends right now. Gumdrop: Aw c’mon! Aisha, help me out here! Aisha: He’s right, Gumdrop. This really isn’t the time. Gumdrop: I’m not hearing this. C’mon, Justin! Who’s been your best friend for over five years? Justin: Teshik. You know that. Gumdrop: Well... who watches Kida? Justin: You do. But not very well. Gumdrop: ..... OK then. Who teleported you home after you got stranded in L.A.? Justin: Teleported? Gummy, I took a bus. Now stop messin’ around. Gumdrop: (wide eyed) You really don’t remember him, do you? (looks in his ear) What’d they do to your brain?! Justin: Gummy, knock it off! Melfina: I remember. Gumdrop and Justin: (look at Melfina) o.0 ??? Melfina: I remember him. Aisha, in your e-mails, you mentioned someone named Ozz several times. Gene: (starting to remember as well) Hey yeah. That’s right. You said he was some kind of “blue squirrel” or something. Gumdrop: See?! They remember him! And they.... wait a sec, who are you guys? Aisha: This is weird. I don’t remember anything about an “Ozz”. Justin, what do you think? Justin: It doesn’t matter. Whoever this Ozz is, we’ll worry about him later. But we’re so close to solving this puzzle, I can feel it. Suddenly, the wind picks up and starts whistling through the trees and rustling their leaves. Then... “ping!” A pin-sized dot of blue light shines from atop one of the massive trees. Gene: (looks up) Hey, look at that. Aisha: What is it? More lights illumine from several more of the trees surrounding the clearing. “ping! ping! ping! ping!” Suzuka: What’s happening? Justin: .... James? Any thoughts? Jim: You got me. Gumdrop: (gazes upward) Wow. Shiny. Justin: (stares at one of the lights) ...... What in the...? Just then, the light emits a beam and bulls-eyes Justin right between the eyes! Justin: Aah! Gumdrop: Whoa! (falls off Justin’s shoulder) Oof! Aisha: Purram! Gene: Artukei! Justin is still standing and appears unscarred. But the beam remains fixed on his skull as he stands still with a trance-like expression on his face. All the other lights shoot a ray at Justin’s head and his eyes glow bright blue. Then, the lights slowly start to raise him and he hovers a few inches off the ground. Aisha: Justin!! (runs to help him) Jim: (stops her) No, wait! Everyone stares at this spectacle in a combination of fear and awe. Justin is suspended by the lights for several more seconds. Then, just as quickly as it started, everything stops. The beams cease, his eyes stop glowing, and he falls back down. He lands on his feet first, then falls to his knees, and finally his arms fly out and brace himself from falling any farther. Aisha: Purram! (rushes over to him) All but Gumdrop: (run over to Justin) Gumdrop: (still standing there) ..... That was cool. Aisha: (arms around Justin) Justin, are you OK? Talk to me. Justin: (raises his head) ...... We have to go. Aisha: Nya? Justin: (stands up) We need to get back to the Outlaw Star. Now! Aisha: Hold on a minute! Would you mind explaining what just happened here? Justin: I remember.

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Tuesday, March 28, 2006

Episode #150 Chapter 14, part 6 Reunion part 5 --Planet Zild-- The surface of Zild really is a giant forest. Blankets of bright green moss coat the rich brown soil and fern-like plants shade rippling brooks. Enormous trees stretch hundreds of feet into the air towards an azure blue sky while being supported by stilt-like roots that resemble twisted cage bars. Flowers of every color and shape blossom radiantly in the warm sunlight. And the leaves on all of them dance and sway in the balmy breeze. Justin: (completely awestruck) This is beyond beautiful. It’s like something out of a dream. Aisha: Absolutely breathtaking. It almost reminds me of home. Justin: I wish we could get married here. This place puts Roosevelt Park to shame a hundred times over. Gene: Well, if you’re done wandering around aimlessly, can we go now? Justin: Just a little longer. Jim, how much farther? Jim: (looks at his computer) The site of the Temple of Orozan should be another mile or two away. Gene: It’s just a stupid myth! We’re wasting our time! Nobody’s ever found them. Justin: What if I told you I feel lucky? Gene: Oh? Why? Cuz you’ve got a “hunch”? Aisha: Oh, shut up Gene! Gene: Hey! Don’t tell me to shut up! Aisha: I said shut up, so shut up! Gene: Aw, you shut up! Justin: Hey! Don’t you talk that way to my girl! Melfina: u_u \/ *sigh* Some things never change. Jim: Apparently, not even finding love is enough to keep Aisha from arguing with Gene. Aisha: Why can’t you just have a little faith in my purram? Gene: Your what? later... The whole group is trekking through the forest searching for the fabled temple. Justin and Jim lead the way, followed by Gene, then Aisha, Melfina, and finally Suzuka bringing up the rear. Melfina: Um... Aisha? Aisha: Nya? ‘Sup Melfina? Melfina: I was wondering. Why do you call Artukei “Justin”? Aisha: Cuz that’s his name. Melfina: .... You mean his nick-name? Aisha: No, it’s his first name. Melfina: Then.... is Artukei his last name? Aisha: No, they’re both his first names. Melfina: .... I’m confused. He has two first names? Aisha: Yep. He’ll respond to either one, but I think he prefers Artukei. It’s how he introduces himself and it’s the name most people know him by. He only lets me and just a few others call him Justin. Melfina: Strange. Why does he have two names? Aisha: ... I’m... I’m not really sure. (shrugs) I guess I never thought about it. Melfina: And also, this “Purram”. Is it his third first name? Aisha: Oh no. It’s an ancient C’tarl word that wives use to call their husbands. (sparkly eyed) And it’s also my way of telling him he’s my snuggly-cuddly-wuddly bear. Melfina: 0.0 ??? Aisha: Hee hee! ^_^ (runs up ahead to join Justin and Jim) Suzuka: (walks up next to Melfina) Forgive my overhearing, but... did Aisha just use the words “snuggly”, “cuddly”, and “wuddly”? Melfina: I believe she did. Aisha: (from up ahead) I can still hear you, ya know! later... Jim: Not much farther now. Gene: Good. I’m getting tired. Justin: .... Hmm? (suddenly stops and looks around) ...... Aisha: Nya? What is it? Justin: Is it me or does this area look a little.... less green? Gene: It’s you. Jim: (stops and looks) .... No. I think he’s right. Gene: Huh? (looks up) The whole crew stops and notices that all the color in this part of the forest is considerably less vibrant. All the leaves and the flower petals are withered and are sicklier colored compared to their earlier counterparts. Gene: Looks like these trees have seen better days. Aisha: What is it? A blight? Jim: Doubtful. Zild’s never had a blight before. Melfina: (looking at the flowers) They look so.... sad. Suzuka: What could it be? Jim: I don’t know. This is strange. Justin: Fits with everything else that’s happened today. Let’s keep moving. later... The group continues to walk through the ailing forest. They come to a large clearing, when suddenly... Jim: (looking at his computer, stops) ........ Justin: What’s wrong? Jim: (puts his computer away) This is it. The place most scientists believe to be the site of the Temple of Orozan. Justin: .... (looks around) ..... There’s nothing here. Gene: Can we go back now? Justin: Hang on. Just let me look around. (steps into the middle of the clearing) ...... *sigh* Well, I’m here. Now what? Jim: (glances at the ground) ... huh? (kneels down) Hey, look at this! Justin: Huh? They all come over to where Jim is kneeling. Jim: Artukei has two left feet! Justin: *groan* Tell me something I don’t know. Jim: I’m serious. Look! Jim points at the ground and, sure enough, there are two prints side by side in the dirt of Artukei’s left foot. Justin: What the Heifong? (picks up his right foot and looks at the bottom of his shoe) Suzuka: Hmm. (kneels down, feels one of the prints) This is the one you just made. (feels the other) This one is exactly identical, but it’s not fresh. Justin: It could be someone else’s foot. Aisha: I highly doubt Newbalance has a franchise all the way out here. Suzuka: (still feeling the print) It is recent. Probably a few days old. Justin: But I’ve never been here be-... 0.0 ...... “A few days”? Suzuka: At least two or three. Justin: (looks at Aisha, eyes wide) Aisha: (looks at Justin with the same expression) Justin: (franticly looks around) .... *gasp* (runs a few feet away and kneels down) Aisha! Look! Aisha: (runs over to Justin) Justin: (pointing in the dirt) It’s a print from your boot. Aisha: 0.0 .... Th... this means... Justin: We’ve been here before. “JUUUUSTIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIN!!!!” Justin: What the...?! (looks up and sees a small grey creature bolting out of the woods and towards him) Gene: What the heck?! Justin: GUMDROP!?!? Gumdrop: (splotchy with dirt patches on his fur, jumps onto Justin’s shoulder and hugs his face) Justin: Gummy?!? Now I know we’ve been here before! What’re you doing here?! Gumdrop: (speaking super-sonically fast) Therewasthisloudnoiseandeveryonewentcrazy-andthentheseguyscameandIgotscaredandhidbehindthetreeandthenyouguysweregone! Where were you!?! Justin: Whoa! Calm down. What happened? Gumdrop: How should I know? One minute we’re chillin’, then the next thing I know, these creepy guys in black show up, and then you were gone. Justin: “Guys in black”? Did they have black swans on their clothes? Gumdrop: What? You know I don’t have an eye for detail! Justin: -_- Great. Lotta help you are. Gene: (walks over) Umm... could someone please tell me what’s going on? Justin: Gene, Aisha and I have been here before. (gets up) If we look around, I’m sure we’ll find more clues about what happened to us. Gumdrop: Huh? (looks around) Hey! Where’s Ozz? Justin: .... *sigh* Somewhere over the rainbow, if I remember right. But this isn’t the time for games, Gummy. Gumdrop: ??? You’re the one who’s playin’. Where is the ferret? Justin: What are you talking about? Gumdrop: (grabs Justin’s collar) Ozz! Where is he? Justin: ...... Who?

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Sunday, March 26, 2006

Episode #149 Chapter 14, part 5 Reunion part 4 --The Outlaw Star-- --the bathroom-- Justin: (sitting in the shower) ...... *sigh* Now what do I do? --the galley-- Melfina: I see. That’s terrible. Suzuka: Sounds to me like those men that sold Aisha to the whore house could be responsible for their memory loss. Melfina: Do you think so? Suzuka: Aisha and Artukei could’ve witnessed something or had something done to them that their assailants didn’t want them to remember. But it’s just a theory. There’s still not enough information. And until we know more, we can’t assume anything. Not even that our friends’ words are the truth. Jim: Are you saying we shouldn’t trust them? Suzuka: I’m saying there’s doubt. We don’t know what’s happened to them. As much as I hate to think about it, their minds could’ve been tampered with. Melfina: But we’ve got to do something. Gene: Like what? Melfina: I don’t know. But they’re our friends. We have to help them. Gene: I know. That’s what we’re trying to do. Jim: But like Suzuka says, there’s just not enough info. Whoever’s behind this covered their tracks pretty well. Gene: There’s just something about all this that doesn’t add up. It’s like there’s a piece missing from the puzzle. --the bathroom-- Aisha: (enters wearing jeans and a black t-shirt, sees a shadow sitting on the floor of the shower, knocks on the door) “tap, tap, tap” Aisha: Purram? ........ Aisha: Justin? ........ Aisha: Justin! Justin: WHAdidah...agee...biduh...huh? Aisha: Were you asleep? Justin: I uh...... yeah. Sorry. Aisha: *sigh* After we’ve rested a little, we should go back and get some more information. What do you say? Justin: ....No. Aisha: Nya? What?! Justin: Aisha.... I’m tired. Aisha: Justin, don’t let your fatigue fog you up. You want to get to the bottom of this, don’t you? Find out who did this to us? Justin: No. Aisha: Wha.... what are you saying?! We can’t recall the last three days! They could’ve done something to us that we don’t know about! Don’t you care about that?! Justin: Exactly! I’m sorry Aisha, but I don’t care about that. Not any more. I’ve been thinking. We asked around that spaceport, up and down, for five hours and found nothing. What makes you think the next five will be any different? I hate to sound like a hypocrite, but let’s just forget about it. Aisha: Forget about it?! How can you just forget about it!?! Justin: I’ll tell you how. (stands up, opens the door a crack and grabs a towel, wraps it around his waist and steps out) We know nothing. We don’t know how we got here. We don’t know who did this. And we don’t even know if we can trust anybody! Well, I’m focusing on what I do know. (puts his hand on her shoulder) And right now all I know is that we’re together... we’re alive... we’re well... and back home there’s a beautiful wedding waiting for us. And if we hang around here any longer, we’ll miss it. And that’s what really matters. Tell me I’m wrong. Aisha: ..... but... Justin: I know you want to find these guys, and we will someday. (cups her face in his hand) But for now... Aisha: .... (smiles weakly and nods) Justin: Let’s not let it ruin our happiest days. *kiss* (notices what she’s wearing) Those look kinda loose. Aisha: -_-\/ I had to borrow some of Gene’s. --the cockpit-- Gene: So that’s it, huh? After all that, you’re just gonna give up and go home? Aisha: We’re not giving up! We just have something more important to attend. Justin: And you’re all welcome to attend with us. Melfina: We’d love to. Jim: Yeah! Suzuka: I agree. Gene: *sigh* (smiles) Alright, you two love-birds. I’ll fly ya home. Jim, map a course for Earth. If we burn hard enough, we can be there in about three days. Jim: Got’cha! (runs to his seat) Justin: Thank you, Gene. Gene: Hey, no problem. Gilliam, prepare for take-off. Gilliam: Right away, Gene. later... The Outlaw Star has pulled out of the docking bay and is ready to launch. Melfina: (in her pod) Course is set. Estimated travel time is about 72 hours. Launch will commence in 60 seconds. Justin: (standing up, looking out the cockpit) Man, this is gonna be so awesome. I’ve never traveled in space before. Well.... not that I can recall. Gene: (in the pilot’s seat) Hey, you’d better hold on to something, buddy. Justin: Hold on to what? All the seats are taken. Aisha: You can sit here. (gets out of the starboard chair) Justin: Thanks babe. (sits down) Aisha: (sits in Justin’s lap) Gene: (slightly shocked) Heh. If I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes... Melfina: 30 seconds to launch. Justin: (continues to look out into space and suddenly spies the little green planet from earlier) Hmm.... Aisha: What is it? Justin: .... nothing. (continues to stare at the planet) ... Orozan.... Orozan... Melfina: 20 seconds. Justin: .... Orozan.... Something about that word.... What is it?...... Melfina: 15 seconds. Justin: ........ Melfina: 10... 9... 8... Justin: (whispers) Abort the launch. Aisha: Nya? Justin: Abort the launch! Stop! Gene: What?! Justin: Melfina, stop the countdown! Melfina: Huh? Justin: (gently pushes Aisha off and walks up to the window) Aisha: Justin, what’s wrong? Gene: (gets out of his seat) What’s gotten into you? Justin: ..... Change course. All: What?! Justin: Change course. We’re going there. (points at the green planet) Jim: Zild? Gene: Why would you want to go there?! Justin: ... I have a hunch. Aisha: Justin, what are you talking about? Justin: Aisha, trust me. I’ve just got this feeling. I don’t know what it is, but... it’s like it’s calling me. Gene: There’s nothing there but acres of protected forest. What are you expecting to find there? Justin: I don’t know, but..... Gene, just humor me. OK? Gene: ...... *sigh* Gilliam,... set a course for Zild. Gilliam: Zild? But I thought we were going to Earth. Gene: (irritated) Just do it! Gilliam: Yes, Gene. Gene: (glares at Justin) Justin: ... Trust me.

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