Copyright 2000 --- Robert Baer Jr. The Space Rovers -- "The Ode of Hammecleus" 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 not 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, Cactus Jake, Marie, Francis, Calypso, Sheena, Bruno, Molly, Deborah, Orchid, Dot, Luigi, Sophia, Lao Zi, Su Li, Claudia, Numbia, Sno-wie, Derby and Poncho are all Robert Baer Jr's creations, copyright pending, 1999, Cobber is a creation of Mike Browner. The Space Rovers -- "The Ode of Hammecleus" The scene is the classroom on the Canius Minor. Lt Bob is reading some famous Jurrassian poetry to the children. BOB (reading from a notebook): The Ode of Hammecleus: Author unknown There be a famous legend, of a fable yet to come... About two daring heroes, who come from far away Of a planet left in chaos, by dark and dreadful deed A time that stands many moons of suffering One of fur, one of scale, traveling the stars One carries a mighty blade of valor, brave and strong Freedom for all, from a dungeon with no walls A land of flowing crystal, soon a new life begins When a wave of brightness fills the land with hope The twelve Rover children clap, so do Fydo and Calypso. Greta raises her hand. CALYPSO (points to her): Yes, Greta? GRETA (puts her hand down): Mr Bob, isn't poetry supposed to rhyme? BOB (smiling): It did rhyme, in it's original language. CALYPSO (point to Deng): Yes, Deng? DENG (sternly): This work of literature would seem to have some sort of hidden meaning. Would you happen to know what that meaning is? BOB (shakes head): No one truly knows. Many of our scholars believe it foretells a future event, there's been many guesses, a few simply think it was only a colorful poem with no hidden meaning at all. CALYPSO (stands up): Class, the Leuitenant be returning to his duties now! I tank dee for reading us poetry from your homeland! Fifteen minute recess period! The classroom empties except for Calypso, Fydo, Bob, Bernadette and Yuri. BERNADETTE (looks up at Bob): Mr Bob, how old is that poem you read us? BOB (smiles): Well, it's been handed down for many generations now. I don't know for certain, but I'd guess it'd have to be at least three thousand years old. YURI (nods): And no one knows what it really means? Why is this poem so popular if no one can understand it? BOB (smiles): It's the mysterious element of the poem that makes it so unforgettable. It sort of loses some of the mystery when it's read in other languages CALYPSO (sternly): Children! That be enough questions for today! Mr Bob must be going back to duty, and you two be missing recess! Go now, have fun! BERNADETTE & YURI (in unison): Yes, Miss Calypso! Bernadette and Yuri dash out of the classroom. Fydo picks up a copy of the poem and studies it. CALYPSO (looks at Fydo): Fydo, mon, what you be tinking about? FYDO (shakes head): The poem doesn't make sense to me either. BOB (smiles): My opinion is that this poem foretells the future. An enslaved planet and the heroic beings who liberate it! FYDO (nods): You have a point there, big guy! BOB (waves): I have to report to Engineering now, see you guys later! CALYPSO (smiles): Goodbye, mon, and tanks a million for reading to me class! Bob walks over to the elevator. The scene switches to the bridge where Persia sits in the captain's chair surrounded by Alexander, Boomer, Saundra, Whitey, Cactus Jake, Bruno and Grunt. BRUNO (looks worried): There it is AGAIN! (turns to Persia) Captain, I've been receiving a faint but very strange signal from an uncharted region of space. At first, I thaught it was just space static. but now I'm not so sure. PERSIA (walks over to Bruno): Can you play the signal on audio, Bruno? BRUNO (pushes a few buttons): On speakers. The sound the signal makes at first seems like static, but then they hear some voice signals, very badly garbled. PERSIA (turns to Whitey): Whitey, can you clear up the signal, sort out the voices from the static? WHITEY (pushes buttons): I think I can accomplish this task, Captain. Also applying the universal translator for clarity. (pushes more buttons) I believe I have the message, Captain. On speakers. VOICE MESSAGE (on speakers): Assistance ... is.....needed...... plague .... infecting..... changing .... into ....... please ....... before ....... WHITEY (turns to Persia): That's all I can get, Captain, the remainder of the message is too badly garbled. PERSIA (looks concerned): Pinpoint the source of that message, Saundra, prepare to set a new course! SAUNDRA (nods): Aye, Aye, Captain! WHITEY (looks at monitor): Source found, Captain. It's coming from the fourth planet in a star system approximately seven light years from here. BOOMER (shakes head): Even at maximum warp, it'd take days to get there! PERSIA (smiles): Whitey, how about .. WHITEY (interrupts): The artificial wormhole generator? Using it to venture into unknown space is quite a risk, Captain! ALEXANDER (sternly): Something tells me we are needed there, call it a hunch or a gut feeling if you will ... PERSIA (nods): I feel it too, old man. We have to find a safe way to get there fast! Bruno, call Daisy, Flash, Molly and Bob to the bridge. BRUNO (nods): Aye, Aye, Captain! Minutes later, in the conference room, Persia, Alexander, Whitey, Daisy, Flash Molly and Bob discuss a bold plan to reach the mystery planet quickly. PERSIA (shocked): Hyperspace jump? DAISY (nods): It can work, Captain! It would allow the ship to travel at great speed without losing the ability to use our sensors for guildance! FLASH (exciting): All we need is to send pure Barium waves through our engines and ... MOLLY (growls): NOT through MY engines! You bloodhounds are going too far dis time! BOB (nods): I see! Jurriassian scientists have ran similiar experiments using pure Barium waves. WHITEY (examines the lady's lab notes): Interesting, Captain. In theory, we can cover the distance of seven light years in a matter of minutes. PERSIA (turns to Alexander): Old man, what do you think? ALEXANDER (smiles): Captain, we must try this! MOLLY (shakes head): This is madness! If this doesn't work you'll blow my engines up! FLASH (smiles at Molly): Don't worry, honey child, our equations are foolproof! MOLLY (nods): I agree! If this doesn't work, we'll have PROOF that you two bloodhounds are FOOLS! PERSIA (sternly): Enough arguing! We're going to do it! Everyone to your stations! Flash, Daisy, get down to engineering, tell us when you have the Barium relays ready! Persia, Alexander, Whitey and Bob return to the bridge, minutes later, the Barium relays are ready. PERSIA (sternly): Boomer, prepare for hyperspace jump! Whitey, Saundra, Bob, Cactus Jake, stand by on your scanners, we must be ready to alter course at a moment's notice! Set course and engage! Soon, the Canius Minor experiences a slight 'jolt' as the Barium relays are activated. In a split second, the ship moves into a 'space corridor' like a shot out of a cannon. The bridge crew continually adjust the ship's course to avoid obsticles. Within minutes, Boomer deactivates the Barium relays and the ship 'drops out' of hyperspace. Daisy and Flash's calcutations were correct, the Canius Minor is now orbiting the fourth planet. CACTUS JAKE (shouts): Yeeeee Haaaaww! We did it! We're here! PERSIA (giggles): Yes, Cactus Jake, we have arrived! Whitey, scan the planet! WHITEY (looking at monitor): I have found the source of the message. However, this planet is almost entirely covered in ice and snow. Electrostatic interference in the atmosphere is making a full planetary scan difficult. SAUNDRA (turns to Persia): And that electrostatic interference means we can't use the matter transporter to go to the surface. ALEXANDER (nods): Right, Saundra, we must assemble a team to fly to the surface. GRUNT (loudly): GRRRRR Growl! GGRRRRRRR! ALEXANDER (smiles): Of course, Grunt, you are our best pilot, you will fly the shuttlecraft. I also suggest that Numbia, Cobber, Bob and Deborah join me on this mission ... PERSIA (shakes head); Not YOU, old man, ME! ALEXANDER (shocked): Captain! PERSIA (smiling): Old man, I'm going on this mission! CACTUS JAKE (stands up): I want to join y'all on this one! PERSIA (nods): Ok, you're in! Have the other away team members meet us at shuttlebay three. ALEXANDER (reluctantly): Aye aye, Captain! Within minutes, Numbia, Cobber and Deborah join Bob, Cactus Jake, Persia and Grunt aboard one of the shuttlecrafts. The shuttle leaves the ship and heads for the surface. Grunt lands it near the origin of the distress signal. The crew, clad in parkas and snow boots, enter a small white building through it's two large front doors. BOB (looks around): This appears to be a science center (points) Look over there! That's a computer bank! COBBER (smiles): Well done, mate! I betcha that's the bugger that's sending the signal! PERSIA (looks at hand-held scanner): Correct, Lt Commander! But I'm not detecting any other live forms in the building. NUMBIA (looking out the window): Captain! Look out here! All of the Space Rovers look at the window to see huge, white, furry beings walking slowly through the snow. COBBER (shocked): What are those bloaks? GRUNT (sternly): GRRRRRRRR GROWL! DEBORAH (confused): Abominable Snowmen? PERSIA (nods): Grunt maybe right. Whatever they are, apparently they have invaded and have taken all of the inhabitants prisoner. We better hide before we .... Persia is interrupted by the sudden appearance of five of these 'snowmen' heading towards them. Grunt, Cobber and Numbia attack, but are quickly repelled by the huge, lumbering giants. PERSIA (telepathically to Numbia): Numbia, we're badly outnumbered. Change form and then follow us when they take us prisoner. Soon, more snowmen enter the building, they quickly subdue Cobber, Grunt, Deborah, Bob, Persia and Cactus Jake. The six Space Rovers are led out of the building, their captors don't notice the small grey squirrel that is following them from a distance. The Space Rovers are placed in an ice cage. Several of the snowmen lift their hands towards the cage and fire ice beams from them. Deborah's force field becomes a 'pocket' of unfrozen air inside of the newly created 'iceberg.' Within moments, the snowmen depart into nearby snow huts. Another snowman slowly and cautiously approachs their position. The snowman suddenly changes form turning into a huge dragon which breaths a quick and powerful blast of fire, melting the 'iceberg' and freeing the Space Rovers. PERSIA (walking out of the cage): Well done, Numbia! NUMBIA (still in dragon form): Thank you, Captain, we better be going now! GRUNT (angry): GRRRRRRRRRR GROWL!!! GRRRRRRRRRRRR BOB (looks all around): It appears that Commander Grunt is correct, we are now surrounded, again. Hundreds of snowmen have now encircled the Space Rovers. Cobber draws the Sword of Canis out as the others prepare to fight. Bob wants to change into his brontosaurus mode, but the cavern they are all in is too small for that. The snowmen draw in closer and grab Deborah, Persia and Grunt by the arms. Bob becomes enraged, he is so angry, he doesn't even notice how he was beginning to glow brightly. Cobber looks surprised as he notices that his sword is also glowing, with the same intensity as Bob. As if by instinct, Bob lifts his hands up towards the crowd and soon radiates a strange blue light ray. Cobber, also as if being guilded from an outside source, points his sword in the other direction. The sword also produces a strange blue light ray. The ray knocks all of the snowmen down that it touches. Soon, Cobber and Bob had 'touched' every single snowman in the area. COBBER (surprised): What's happened to these bloaks? PERSIA (reads hand held scanner): Deborah, use your medical scanner. Are you reading what I'm reading? DEBORAH (looks at hand held scanner): Yes! These creatures DNA patterns are changing, all of them are metamorphing! The seven Space Rovers look on as every single 'snowman' change into smaller, human-looking beings. One of them is an older looking man in a labcoat. PERSIA (looking at the man): Sir, are you alright? SEIDOW LUX (happy): Alright? More than alright! WE ARE FREE AGAIN!!! My name is Seidow Lux, leader of what's left of Gilsa colony Beta. BOB (startled): The Gilsa? I thought they were only a myth! All of the other Gilsa colonists surround the Space Rovers as Seidow Lux tells their story. SEIDOW LUX (dramaticly): Four of your earth centuries ago, Colony Beta was a peaceful, happy place. Then came a strange warship from another world, we tried in vain to repel it's attacks. They used a 'wonder' weapon that wrecked the planet, killed nearly the entire colony and slowly turned we few survivors into snow creatures. You space creatures must've received my transmission, I set it for constant transmission days before I completely transformed. The radiant energy that eminated from the green one and that strange sword finally reversed the process! WE ARE FREE OF THE TERRIBLE PLAGUE!! LONG LIVE OUR DELIVERERS!!!! All of the Gilsa colonists cheer and shout for joy! Many hug Bob and Cobber, and offer them gifts of food and jewels. COBBER (shocked): Blimey! Is this a turn of events! PERSIA (nods): My gut feelings were right about this place! SEIDOW LUX (smiles): We owe you our lives, Space Rovers! Thanks to you, our colony can be reborn! PERSIA (smiles): Seidow Lux, this planet is now a floating pile of ice and snow. We have a vessel and can take all of you to another planet of your choice, what'd ya say? SEIDOW LUX (nods): Yes! YES! Many thanks! The scene switches back to the Canius Minor six hours later. Captain Persia is in her office, recording her latest log entry. PERSIA (into mic): Captain's log, supplemental. Our mission to save the Gilsa colony was a success. The remaining colonists have been transported to a suitable planet within the Jurrassian Alliance to begin a new life. Commendations for Daisy and Flash, Bob, Cobber, Deborah and Numbia. All of them showed great courage and ingenuity in this mission. Along Lt Commander Cobber's tour with us will soon end, he has proven himself to be a valuable member of this crew. End entry... The scene switches to the lounge, where Sheena and Cobber sit together at a table with Numbia, Poncho and Bob. SHEENA (looking into his eyes): Oh Cobber! I was so scared! I'm so glad you made it back to the ship! COBBER (reaches for her hand): Darlin', I wouldn't dream of leavin you ere all alone, now, could I? BOB (excited): THAT'S IT! NUMBIA (confused): What's it, Bob? PONCHO (confused): Amigo? What's it? BOB (smiles): The meaning of the poem! The Ode of Hammecleus was about me and Cobber! COBBER (confused): Come again? BOB (excited): Don't you see? We're the heroes from far away! One of scale and one of fur, and one with the mighty blade of valor! COBBER (takes paper from Bob): Let me read that, mate! BOB (excited): And the 'planet left in chaos' COBBER (nods): And freedom for all from a dungeon with no walls, and wave of brightness fills the land with hope! Blimey! I see it now! NUMBIA (takes paper from Cobber): Let me see that! BOB (excited): Do you know what this means? Everything that happaned today on that planet was the fulfillment of prophecy written centuries ago! SHEENA (shivers): That gives me the willies! COBBER (smiles): Well, I can see the future too, y'know! PONCHO (surprised): You can, senor? NUMBIA (shocked): Really? BOB (smiles): What's in the future, Cobber? COBBER (closes eyes): I see, a beautiful young lady dog taking a walk in the hyper garden with a certain dashing hero! SHEENA (smiles widely): I get it! (grabs Cobber by the hand): I'll make that prophecy come true! COBBER (smiles): I thought you would! Bob, Poncho and Numbia laugh as they watch Sheena and Cobber leave the lounge. ----------------------------------------------------