Copywrite 1999 -- Robert Baer Jr. DISCLAIMER Road Rovers characters, names, situations and the Road Rovers universe are the property of Warner Bros. I, nor this script/story are connected with Warner Bros. in any way, shape or form. This document may not be publicized or reproduced in any way, shape or form. It must remain fully intact and may be be altered in anyway. It is strictly used for not-for-profit entertainment purposes only, and is not intended to infringe on any Copyrights. This story is written by Robert Baer Jr and the characters Fydo, Boomer, Rasputin, Saundra, Alexander, Grunt, Daisy, Abdullah, Bob, Jake, Marie, Francis, Calypso, Sheena, Bruno, Molly, Deborah, Orchid, Dot, Hans and Flash are all Robert Baer Jr's creations, copyright pending, 1999. The Space Rovers -- "Ambush on Fliios 3 -- Part 2" Persia, Whitey, Bob and Grunt are completely baffled by the sudden 'return' of their crewmates. Cactus Jake in his pure canine form as a Golden Retriever, Flash as a Bloodhound and Orchid as a Sheba-Enu. Dr Abdullah was still missing and there was no contact from Alexander's group. From Jake's "barking," the others begin to understand what happened. Jake explained that as his group was looking for more Barium, strange alien creatures appeared as if out of nowhere, making loud whistling-type noises. They threw silverly round balls at each of them, and the purple smoke that they emitted somehow changed all four of them back into pure canines. The smoke also made them weak, but he, Flash and Orchid somehow ran and escaped the alien's clutches. Abdullah was not so lucky, he was grabbed and thrown into what looked like a large leather sack. PERSIA: Aliens? How? Our sensors didn't detect any life forms on this planet! WHITEY: Any KNOWN life forms, Captain. This must be a form of life completely unknown to our instruments. BOB: (excitedly) What about Alex, Rasputin and Daisy? PERSIA: (turning on her sensor device) Scanning for signs of Abdullah and the others. The sensors cannot detect them. WHITEY: That's odd, even if they've been changed into dogs, they should still register on our instruments. BOB: Maybe if we followed their trail .... PERSIA: (interrupting) You're right, Bob, let's go to their last known position GRUNT: GRRRRRRRRRRRR GROWL!!! GGGRRRRRRRRRRRRRR PERSIA: They're still Road Rovers, Grunt, they'll come with us! Persia and the others run swiftly to the last place Alexander had transmitted from. They climbed the small hill with all the boulders and reached the other side: BOB: (pointing) Look! Down there! I see something! Jake, Flash and Orchid ran to the scene first. There, in a small pile on the ground was all of the gear that Alexander's group had. Jake grabbed a knapsack in his mouth and ran back to Persia. PERSIA: (taking the knapsack out of Jake's mouth) Well, all of their equipment seems to be here! WHITEY: But there seems to be no signs of them. PERSIA: Ok, everyone, let's split up and look around for clues, there has got to be a trail to follow somewhere. Persia, Grunt, Whitey and Bob each walk away in a separate direction, Jake, Flash and Orchid all follow Persia. Everyone turns around when they hear a loud, whistling noise in the air. They hear loud barking in Whitey's direction, so the Space Rovers run over to investigate. The "real" dogs arrive first, and witness once again the silverly smoke balls tossed by the strange grey aliens. They gasp as they see the form of Whitey in the mist, in his pure Spitz form. Before any of them can react, each of the canines is grabbed by the aliens and thrown into sacks. Persia, Bob and Grunt see the smoke, Persia motions to the others to follow her and all three hide behind one of the boulders. PERSIA: (whispering low) We can't help them now, let's follow the aliens and see where they take them to. BOB (whispering low) I understand, this way we'll find the others, correct? PERSIA (whispering low) At this point, this is the only lead we have! Ok, they're all leaving, let's follow slowly and silently. Persia, Grunt and Bob follow the group of grey aliens from a distance, staying out of their sight. They enter the opening of a fairly large cave. It's dimly lit, sunlight peeking through small holes in the roof. The three Space Rovers duck behind a rock formation and take a good look around. There is a large stone-like table near the entrance, which had a number of bizzare looking utensils on it that resembled knives and cutting blades. Further in the back of the cave several of the aliens were sitting on large rocks, collecting more silverly balls from the blue vines that ran up the cave walls. Bob was the first one to spot all of their shipmates, Jake, Alexander, Rasputin, Whitey, Daisy, Flash and Abdullah, all in canine form and behind a set of "bars" that looked like the front of a cage. All around them were the skeletons and carcasses of weird looking creatures, with a lot of green blood-like strains all over the cave. BOB: (whispering) Look at our friends, they're moving very slowly, could be another side effect of the purple smoke. PERSIA: (whispering) This cave is lined with a some type of lead substance, that's why our devices couldn't find the crew. From the looks of that table, these aliens are simply gathering food, those knives are probably used to cut up their latest catch. BOB: (frightened) We have to do something! We can't let them eat all of our friends! PERSIA: (whispering) Quiet, Bob, they'll hear us... At that instant, one of the aliens ran in their direction, tossing a silverly ball at them while still running. Bob jumps behind another rock formation as the ball approachs in Persia's direction. Grunt instinctively grabs the Captain and throws her far across the cave as the smoke engulfs him. In a matter of seconds, Grunt was back to being a put bull terrier. Persia lands on the floor, is slightly dazed, but manages to stand up. PERSIA: (shouting at Bob) BOB! USE GRUNT TO .......... As she yet spoke, silverly smoke balls landed in her direction, as she returned to canine form. BOB: (yelling) CAPTAIN!!! A silverly ball lands in front of Bob. Meanwhile, three of the aliens try to grab Grunt, but he growls and snaps at them furiously. When the smoke around Bob disapates, Bob was still a Dino-Sapien. BOB (surprised) Hey! The purple stuff has no effect on me! (yelling in Grunt's direction) HEY GRUNT, SIC'EM, ATTACK!!! Grunt pounced on the three would be alien captors, biting, barking and wounding them badly. They all start making even stranger noises as Grunt attacks the other aliens in the cave. Grunt really does a vicious 'Muzzle" imitation on them. In the confusion, Bob bends the cage 'bars' and lets all the other canine Space Rovers go free. Bob runs to the cave entrance and whistles, all the dogs follow him out, except Grunt who is still attacking. Bob calls out Grunt's name, and finally he emerges from the cave and follows the rest of the "pack" towards the shuttle. BOB: (opening the hatch and letting all the Space Rover dogs in) It's a good thing I studied the Shuttlecraft flight manual today! The door closes and the shuttle takes off as more of the aliens converge on it, throwing silvery balls at it that bounce off the metalic surface. BOB (on the communicator) Ensign Bob calling the Canius Minor, come in please. BOOMER (on speaker) Boomer here, Bob, what are you doing on the comm line? BOB (into speaker) It's a long story, you see, the others were ambushed by aliens and .... BOOMER (on speaker) Bob, I want to talk to the Captain or Alex, put one of them on the line. Persia walks up to Bob and starts barking. BOOMER (on speaker) Right, Captain, we'll have the transdogmafiers ready when you arrive, Boomer out! One hour later, after all of the shuttle crew are changed back to Cano-Sapiens, Captain Persia sits in her office, recording another log entry. PERSIA: (into mic) Captain's Log, supplemental. All of my crew has been returned to normal, Whitey, Flash and Daisy have concluded that the alien life on Filios 3 simply used the silverly balls to 'stun' animals meant for consumption. Since none of these life forms register on our sensors, we can only conclude that these are all life forms completely unfamiliar to our science. It was decided that we would gather Barium from the desert, since none of the life forms attacked us in that area. Ensign Bob vounteered for the duty, since he was both immune to the purple gas and could transform into his brontosaurus state and dig up the Barium quickly, which he did. Molly informs me that the Barium reactor will be in operation in a matter of days. While on the surface, Bob also grabbed a few of those silverly balls for further study. Another matter of a personal nature. Lt Grunt's behavior on this mission concerns me, he willingly sacrificed himself for my safety, and I want to know why. I've called for him and when he arrives in my office, I'll have a chance to use the Universal Translator prototype that Daisy and Flash built from a Jurrassian design. GRUNT: (Growls, but translator interprets his speech) I am here, Captain! PERSIA: SIt down, I have something to ask you. Lt Grunt, you're service on this ship has been outstanding. You are an able officer and have obeyed every order that you've been given to the letter. You are a model crewman, Grunt, but I must ask you, why did you throw me against the wall of the cave during our latest mission? GRUNT: (growling, but interpreted) To save you from the purple smoke! I regret if I injured you, Captain. PERSIA: I'm fine, Grunt, but I can't understand why you are willing to sacrifice yourself for me, explain. GRUNT (Growling, but interpreted) Because you are my leader, Captain! When I was a Cano-Mutant, I was conditioned to obey only Parvo and Groomer. These human masters were evil, ruthless and very cowardly leaders. They would never be willing to stand up for us, we were just mindless zombies to them. I sensed all along that you, Persia, are different. When you boldly offered to be executed for us on Jurrassia, you proved to me that you are a leader worthy of following! I am more tham willing to die for you, Captain, and woe be to anyone who tries to harm you! PERSIA (surprised): Grunt, is this because you have some sort of affection towards me? GRUNT: (growling, but interpreted) Affection? I do not understand the concept. PERSIA: You know, affection, as in love, as in mating? GRUNT (growling but interpreted) I do not feel this 'love' emotion nor do I have a desire for mating. Cano-Mutants have only one goal, and that is to serve their leader, and Captain, you are my leader! I will obey your every command and protect you from all danger! PERSIA: I'm flattered, Grunt, but the Master is our leader, not me. GRUNT: (growling, but interpreted) True, I owe the Master a debt of gratitude for saving my life, but, in my judgment, only you have proven yourself to be MY leader! PERSIA: And what about the other officers on this ship? GRUNT (growling, but interpreted): I will obey them also, because YOU have told me to! PERSIA: (shaking her head) Grunt, you've made it your mission to protect and obey me? My friend, this is touching, but remember, you're a part of this crew, are you willing to protect and serve them as you do me? GRUNT (growling but interpreted) Yes, Captain, because YOU have told me to! PERSIA (walking up to Grunt): My friend, why don't you learn to socialize a little? GRUNT (growling but interpreted): Socialize? PERSIA: Yes, life is more than just duty, Grunt. Why not go out to the lounge and chat with your fellow crew mates! Have a cool bowl of water, enjoy pleasant conversation, maybe even play a game of pool! How does that sound? GRUNT: (growling but interpreted) : Is that an order, Captain? PERSIA (frustrated) Ok, OK, Grunt, I order you do socialize and have a good time! GRUNT (growling but interpreted) I will obey, Captain! PERSIA: (bowing head down) I give up, dismissed. GRUNT (growling but interpreted) As you wish, Captain! As Grunt leaves Persia's office, she continues her log entry. PERSIA (into mic): Personal note: Grunt has an almost fanatic attachment to me. I do demand loyalty and obedience from my officers, but this is a little 'over the edge' I'll continue to monitor that situation, he just needs to 'loosen up' and 'live' a little. The scene shifts to the lounge area, where Catcus Jake, Flash and Daisy are surrounded by crew members that eagerly desire to hear about their adventure on Filios. Orchid is sitting by herself on the far side of the room. Fydo brings her a root beer float, but she still sits alone, sulking. Rasputin sees her and sits at her table. RASPUTIN: Orchid, are you feeling alright? ORCHID: I don't feel like discussing it. RASPUTIN: I think I've been around Persia too long, I can read your mind. It's about what happened on Filios, isn't it? ORCHID (bowing her head) Yes, I feel like a failure! RASPUTIN: Failure? ORCHID: Yes, this was my first away mission, and I froze! I was so scared, I didn't reach for my laser gun to stop the aliens! I let my team down. RASPUTIN: (reaching for her hand) Hey, it all happened so fast. There was no way of reacting in time, my team was also turned into dogs! ORCHID (sobbing) But my job was to keep this kind of thing from happaning! I didn't do my job! RASPUTIN: Hey, you're not a failure. I've seen Grunt's report on the mission, he didn't site either of us for negligence of duty. ORCHID (brightens) Really? RASPUTIN: Yes, my friend! Sometimes that the way it goes on away missions. Grunt walks into the lounge area, sees Orchid and Rasptuin talking, and goes over to their table. GRUNT: GRRRRRRRRRRRRR GROWL GRRRRRRRRRRRR RASPUTIN: The Captain ordered you to socialize? (snickers) You poor fellow! ORCHID: Grunt, I've never seen you here before. What would you like to do? GRUNT: GRRRRRRRRRR GROWL GRRRRRRRRRRRRRR RASPUTIN: Well, I don't think they're got anyone your size to wrestle in the room right now. ORCHID (smiles) How about a game of darts? GRUNT: Grrrrrrrrrrr? RASPUTIN: Yes, darts! Ever heard of it? Grunt shakes his head "no." ORCHID: C'mon, Grunt, we'll teach you! (yells out) Fydo! Will you set up the dartboard for us? FYDO: Sure! This is going to be SO great! Fydo sets up the dartboard and hands Rasputin the darts, on the other side of the room, Flash, Daisy and Cactus Jake are on the front stage, singing together. Calypso is behind the bar, serving up bowls of water and pretzels. Hans and Bruno are playing a game of pool. HANS: Bruno, may I ask you a personal question? BRUNO: (lining up a shot) Sure, comrade, ask away! HANS: Do you believe that if anything would ever happan to Molly, you could ever ...... BRUNO: (smiling as he reaches for the chalk) Let's cut through the Bolshoi here, you're falling in love with Deborah, yes? HANS: (embarrassed) Am I that transparent? BRUNO (holding pool cue in position) My friend, we all can see how well you and Deborah are getting along, she's even with Greta now, isn't she? HANS: (smiling shyly) Yes, she loves my daughter! But still .... BRUNO: (interrupting) But still, what? I know you loved Helga, and she'll always be in your memories, but would she want you to spend the rest of your life alone? HANS: I suppose not, but how does Deborah feel towards me? BRUNO: Well, to find out, you can either ask Persia to read her mind, or you could just go up and ask her! HANS: I suppose you're right, Bruno. BRUNO: Da! I know I'm right, comrade! Now, let's play nine ball! There is a loud noise and screaming on the other side of the room. RASPUTIN: (yelling) GRUNT!!!! You're not supposed to throw all the darts at once! ORCHID: It's a good thing you're not a knife thrower! CALYSPO: (angry) Hey, mon! Why you be makin' me wall look like Swiss cheese, huh? GRUNT: GRRRRRRRRRRR GROWL GRRRRRRRRRRRRR CALYSPO: (smiling) Ok, I understand, big guy, but maybe you and your friends can play cards instead, yes? It be much safer and not be scaring everyone so much! RASPUTIN: (turns to Orchid) How about it, Orchid, shall we teach the big guy how to play cards? ORCHID: Sure, why not? Persia enters the room, sees Grunt and walks over to him. PERSIA (smiling) I see you took my advice, Grunt! How are you doing so far? Grunt shrugs his shoulders and lowers his head. RASPUTIN: Grunt didn't do so well with darts, we're going to try to teach him how to play cards PERSIA: Need a fourth player? ORCHID: (surprised) Captain? You? PERSIA: Sure, I promise not to read your minds during the game, OK? I'm just taking some advice that I gave to a friend a few minutes ago. RASPUTIN: Alright, Captain, you're in! Grunt smiles at Persia as they find a table and begin to play. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------