Gamma Galaxy Saga: Volume One (Ranger-Nova and Alexa only) (Completed)

Alexa wrote:Speaking of Mr. Four Arms... Alfred glanced over his shoulder in time to see some of the clones coming into the cargo hold. He grimaced and slumped his shoulders, not quite ready to be beat up again so soon.

"Oh, look, the stock boy's awake!" one of clones laughed. "I wonder if he wants to play punching bag again?" They all snickered.

"Hey, plenty of time for that later, boys," came Torque's voice from the cockpit. "We can't rough him up too much right now. We need him in one piece if we want to get a good ransom off of him. Just give him some time to recover... and then you can pound him some more!"

The clones laughed. "So who are we going to sell him to anyway?" one asked.

"Well, I just got an offer of five million unibucks from the big Z," Torque answered. "We'll see if Star Command can top that. If not, then I guess Alfreak over here goes to Zurg."

---

Back on Star Command:

"YOU LET HIM GET KIDNAPPED?!" Nebula roared at Buzz. "What kind of sloppy work is that?!"

"We tried to rescue him..." Buzz backed away, surprised by how angry the Commander was.

"Obviously you didn't try hard enough!"

"Buzz almost saved him," Booster chimed in.

XR held up his hand. "And I did my bit as well!"

"Oh, yeah, you offered Torque one unibuck to get Alfred back." Mira rolled her eyes.

Nebula glared at the team. "I send you all out on a simple stakeout mission, and you come back telling me the thieves not only broke in and got away with the goods, but you let them kidnap my son as well! I would have expected better from you, of all teams!"

Buzz gritted his teeth. The failure of the mission stung, as did the Commander's words. "Don't worry, Commander. We'll get Cosmic back."

Ranger-Nova wrote:
"Oh, look, the stock boy's awake!" one of clones laughed. "I wonder if he wants to play punching bag again?" They all snickered.

"Hey, plenty of time for that later, boys," came Torque's voice from the cockpit. "We can't rough him up too much right now. We need him in one piece if we want to get a good ransom off of him. Just give him some time to recover... and then you can pound him some more!"

The clones laughed. "So who are we going to sell him to anyway?" one asked.

"Well, I just got an offer of five million unibucks from the big Z," Torque answered. "We'll see if Star Command can top that. If not, then I guess Alfreak over here goes to Zurg."

"Five million...?" Alfred muttered. That was... Well, low for his own standards, but then again, he wasn't sure if Star Command would be able to top that. He'd give them a chance to counter offer at least, before risking his own funds by bidding on himself. Was that even allowed? Was he allowed to make a counter-offer on his own behalf?

"Gee, Mister Torque, I feel as if I should charge you for every nickname you call me," he sighed. There he went, running off his mouth again. Why was he doing that? He didn't even mean to speak up this time! "I'd make a killing off of it. This is what, your fifth nickname for me already? 'Alfreak', hmph." Oh, for Chyst's sake, just stop talking.

Alexa wrote:
"Five million...?" Alfred muttered. That was... Well, low for his own standards, but then again, he wasn't sure if Star Command would be able to top that. He'd give them a chance to counter offer at least, before risking his own funds by bidding on himself. Was that even allowed? Was he allowed to make a counter-offer on his own behalf?

"Gee, Mister Torque, I feel as if I should charge you for every nickname you call me," he sighed. There he went, running off his mouth again. Why was he doing that? He didn't even mean to speak up this time! "I'd make a killing off of it. This is what, your fifth nickname for me already? 'Alfreak', hmph." Oh, for Chyst's sake, just stop talking.

Putting the ship on autopilot, Torque stepped out the cockpit and joined his clones in the cargo hold. "Tell me, runt," he said, deliberately giving Alfred another nickname, "do you have a death wish or are you just stupid?" He glared at Alfred. "Why is it that you can't shut up for even five minutes?!" Torque shoved Alfred backwards. "You're lucky we need you in one piece, otherwise you'd be in a lot of pieces right now. You're driving' me crazy!"

Suddenly, a loud beeping interrupted their conversation. "We've got another ship approachin' us," one of the clones reported.

Through the cockpit windows, the massive, ominous silhouette of Zurg's dreadnought could be seen heading towards them. Torque frowned. "Zurg wasn't supposed to come to us... we were supposed to come to him, and even then only if he won the bidding."

One of the communications screens flickered to life. "Hello!" Zurg's cheerful face appeared. "I hear you've found something I want." He narrowed his eyes. "Someone I want."

Torque nodded, slightly nervous. "Yeah, we've got him right here." He grabbed Alfred by the arm and pulled him into view, and Zurg looked him over curiously.

"Hmm, you've certainly given him quite the make over," the emperor sneered. "I wish I could have been there to see that."

"Yeah, well, if you pay enough, he'll be all yours and you can do whatever you want with him," answered Torque. "So... what's with the sudden appearance here anyway?"

Zurg chuckled. "Oh, I was just in the neighbourhood and thought I'd drop by. You know, to make sure you actually have the person I want."

"Well, as you can see, we've got him right here, safe and kinda sound." Torque glanced at Alfred's bruised face in amusement.

"Yes, but I'd still prefer to be absolutely sure you're not trying to double cross me in anyway." A sinister smile spread across Zurg's face. "So, I'm inviting you over to my ship. We can discuss business there, and I can inspect your captive better. Perhaps ask him a few questions..."

Torque gulped. If he boarded Zurg's ship with Alfred, what was to keep the emperor from just taking him without paying the ransom? "Thanks for the offer, Z, but we'd rather stay here."

A faint glow of anger shone from Zurg's eyes. "Perhaps you misunderstood me," he said slowly. "It was not a request. Your clones can remain on your ship, but you and Cosmic must come here."

Ranger-Nova wrote:
Putting the ship on autopilot, Torque stepped out the cockpit and joined his clones in the cargo hold. "Tell me, runt," he said, deliberately giving Alfred another nickname, "do you have a death wish or are you just stupid?" He glared at Alfred. "Why is it that you can't shut up for even five minutes?!" Torque shoved Alfred backwards. "You're lucky we need you in one piece, otherwise you'd be in a lot of pieces right now. You're driving' me crazy!"

Alfred winced, choosing then to actually shut up for once. Perhaps he could actually stay quiet for a while.

Ranger-Nova wrote:
Suddenly, a loud beeping interrupted their conversation. "We've got another ship approachin' us," one of the clones reported.

Through the cockpit windows, the massive, ominous silhouette of Zurg's dreadnought could be seen heading towards them. Torque frowned. "Zurg wasn't supposed to come to us... we were supposed to come to him, and even then only if he won the bidding."

One of the communications screens flickered to life. "Hello!" Zurg's cheerful face appeared. "I hear you've found something I want." He narrowed his eyes. "Someone I want."

Torque nodded, slightly nervous. "Yeah, we've got him right here." He grabbed Alfred by the arm and pulled him into view, and Zurg looked him over curiously.

He flinched when he got into Zurg's view, realizing how much worse of a situation he was in now.

Ranger-Nova wrote:
"Hmm, you've certainly given him quite the make over," the emperor sneered. "I wish I could have been there to see that."

"Hold your tongue, hold your tongue, hold your tongue," he thought, clenching his teeth to keep from saying anything nasty in response.

Ranger-Nova wrote:
"Yeah, well, if you pay enough, he'll be all yours and you can do whatever you want with him," answered Torque. "So... what's with the sudden appearance here anyway?"

Zurg chuckled. "Oh, I was just in the neighbourhood and thought I'd drop by. You know, to make sure you actually have the person I want."

"Well, as you can see, we've got him right here, safe and kinda sound." Torque glanced at Alfred's bruised face in amusement.

"Yes, but I'd still prefer to be absolutely sure you're not trying to double cross me in anyway." A sinister smile spread across Zurg's face. "So, I'm inviting you over to my ship. We can discuss business there, and I can inspect your captive better. Perhaps ask him a few questions..."

Torque gulped. If he boarded Zurg's ship with Alfred, what was to keep the emperor from just taking him without paying the ransom? "Thanks for the offer, Z, but we'd rather stay here."

A faint glow of anger shone from Zurg's eyes. "Perhaps you misunderstood me," he said slowly. "It was not a request. Your clones can remain on your ship, but you and Cosmic must come here."

"For Chyst's sake," Alfred thought, nearly whimpering. "Next time just move the darn boxes..."

Alexa wrote:"For Chyst's sake," Alfred thought, nearly whimpering. "Next time just move the darn boxes..."

A few minutes later, Torque and Alfred boarded Zurg's ship and were escorted by a group of hornets to the throne room. The emperor was seated on his throne, absently glancing through a weapons catalog. When his guests entered, he looked up from the magazine and gestured for the hornets to leave. Rising from his throne, he then approached the pair of visitors. "Ah, Alfred Cosmic," he grinned. "So nice to see you again." He chuckled evilly to himself. "I must admit, things haven't been quite the same around here without you to assist me in my projects. It's good to have you back."

Torque looked at Zurg nervously. "You, uh, haven't got him back yet. You need to hand over more dough than Star Command to get him."

Zurg waved his hand in dismissal. "Star Command won't care enough about him to offer very much. I doubt they'll even bother offering anything at all." He turned back to Alfred. "You're as good as mine already."

Ranger-Nova wrote:
A few minutes later, Torque and Alfred boarded Zurg's ship and were escorted by a group of hornets to the throne room. The emperor was seated on his throne, absently glancing through a weapons catalog. When his guests entered, he looked up from the magazine and gestured for the hornets to leave. Rising from his throne, he then approached the pair of visitors. "Ah, Alfred Cosmic," he grinned. "So nice to see you again." He chuckled evilly to himself. "I must admit, things haven't been quite the same around here without you to assist me in my projects. It's good to have you back."

Torque looked at Zurg nervously. "You, uh, haven't got him back yet. You need to hand over more dough than Star Command to get him."

Zurg waved his hand in dismissal. "Star Command won't care enough about him to offer very much. I doubt they'll even bother offering anything at all." He turned back to Alfred. "You're as good as mine already."

Alfred slumped his shoulders, crossing his arms and pouting. Yeah... That was true... Now that he thought about it, why would Star Command offer anything to get him back? Even if they did, it's not like they would have the budget for it, considering how rich Zurg was in comparison to them... Of course, there as always the third option for people who would offer large amounts of money for his being. He turned towards Torque. "I'll pay you double whatever Zurg offers for me if you give me back to Star Command."

If he was going to run his mouth on anything, perhaps this was something he could actually risk saying... Though, perhaps it wasn't the best thing to make that counter offer in front of Zurg, but, of course, he was probably going to die either way.

Alexa wrote:Alfred slumped his shoulders, crossing his arms and pouting. Yeah... That was true... Now that he thought about it, why would Star Command offer anything to get him back? Even if they did, it's not like they would have the budget for it, considering how rich Zurg was in comparison to them... Of course, there as always the third option for people who would offer large amounts of money for his being. He turned towards Torque. "I'll pay you double whatever Zurg offers for me if you give me back to Star Command."

If he was going to run his mouth on anything, perhaps this was something he could actually risk saying... Though, perhaps it wasn't the best thing to make that counter offer in front of Zurg, but, of course, he was probably going to die either way.

"Really? Double?" Torque looked at Alfred skeptically. "You could never afford that."

"Actually, he could," remarked Zurg, leaning towards Alfred, "but if he values his life, he won't." Zurg's eyes glowed ominously, giving off a small amount of heat. "I'd prefer to have him alive, so he can continue working for me, but I don't mind seeing him a melted puddle on the floor either."

Feeling as though his plans were starting to go downhill, Torque quickly asked, "Would I still get paid if you melted him?"

Zurg shot him a glare. "No! If it weren't for the fact that I need business associates like you to trust me - otherwise you wouldn't come to me with deals like this - I would have taken Cosmic away already without offering you a cent!"

Ranger-Nova wrote:
"Really? Double?" Torque looked at Alfred skeptically. "You could never afford that."

"Actually, he could," remarked Zurg, leaning towards Alfred, "but if he values his life, he won't." Zurg's eyes glowed ominously, giving off a small amount of heat. "I'd prefer to have him alive, so he can continue working for me, but I don't mind seeing him a melted puddle on the floor either."

Alfred grinned nervously and held up his hands in surrender, showing that he was retracting his previous offer. Of course he couldn't win this. What in his right mind made him think he could win this?

Ranger-Nova wrote:
Feeling as though his plans were starting to go downhill, Torque quickly asked, "Would I still get paid if you melted him?"

Zurg shot him a glare. "No! If it weren't for the fact that I need business associates like you to trust me - otherwise you wouldn't come to me with deals like this - I would have taken Cosmic away already without offering you a cent!"

On the bright side, at least Zurg wanted to keep him alive, for the most part, right...? He'd just be a slave for the rest of his long, horrible life. ...Yeah, that was horrible as well. He couldn't help but wonder what Star Command was up to, since they didn't seem to be doing anything that would help him. Chyst, what he would do for his monocle at that moment... It would be so much better to actually have information on what to do so he wouldn't keep doing exactly the wrong things...

Alexa wrote:On the bright side, at least Zurg wanted to keep him alive, for the most part, right...? He'd just be a slave for the rest of his long, horrible life. ...Yeah, that was horrible as well. He couldn't help but wonder what Star Command was up to, since they didn't seem to be doing anything that would help him. Chyst, what he would do for his monocle at that moment... It would be so much better to actually have information on what to do so he wouldn't keep doing exactly the wrong things...

While Alfred was wondering if Star Command was doing anything, 42 was preparing to launch to go after him. However, before they could leave, Buzz had to settle something with the Commander.

"Really, Sir, it's not necessary for you to come along. We can handle it."

"Handle it?! You mean like you handled things back at the warehouse?!" Nebula was trying to board the cruiser. "I'm the Commander, and I say I'm coming!"

"But Pop, you need to stay here in case Torque calls," said XR.

"He has point, Commander," Buzz nodded. ""You're needed here. We'll get your son back, don't worry."

Nebula still looked unconvinced, but he reluctantly gave in and allowed the team to board the star cruiser. "Well, hurry up then," he answered gruffly. "Who knows what kind of trouble Alfred's getting himself into right now. Get him back before he does anything too stupid."

---

Back on Zurg's ship, Torque had been allowed to leave to contact Star Command to ask for a ransom (Zurg said it would be very amusing to record the conversation and play it over and over again in Alfred's cell, because Star Command was sure to refuse to pay), and the evil emperor was circling around his captive. "Now, while Torque is away, I'd like to ask you a few questions." He stopped and gazed at Alfred intensely, ready to judge the truthfulness of his replies. "First of all, have you worked on any projects for Star Command that I should know about? Developed any new technology that might be a threat to my evil?"

Ranger-Nova wrote:
Back on Zurg's ship, Torque had been allowed to leave to contact Star Command to ask for a ransom (Zurg said it would be very amusing to record the conversation and play it over and over again in Alfred's cell, because Star Command was sure to refuse to pay), and the evil emperor was circling around his captive. "Now, while Torque is away, I'd like to ask you a few questions." He stopped and gazed at Alfred intensely, ready to judge the truthfulness of his replies. "First of all, have you worked on any projects for Star Command that I should know about? Developed any new technology that might be a threat to my evil?"

"Oh, I wish..." Alfred pouted for a moment, but then flinched sensing the emperor's ire at his poor choice of words. "N-no, not 'I wish I made something to threaten your evil'; I meant 'I wish they actually gave me some work to do'... For some reason, Commander Nebula doesn't want me developing technology for them, just doing repairs and inspections on everything already made. Really, I wasn't even allowed to make the star cruisers faster. Gave me some rubbish about 'light speed limits' and all."

He huffed up, casting a glare to the side at nothing in particular. "This is why I don't like Gamma. Beta doesn't have any silly 'light speed limits'..." Oh, Chyst... From that "I'm getting a migraine" look Zurg was giving him, it was clear that he was rambling on pointlessly yet again... Whoops.

Alexa wrote:"Oh, I wish..." Alfred pouted for a moment, but then flinched sensing the emperor's ire at his poor choice of words. "N-no, not 'I wish I made something to threaten your evil'; I meant 'I wish they actually gave me some work to do'... For some reason, Commander Nebula doesn't want me developing technology for them, just doing repairs and inspections on everything already made. Really, I wasn't even allowed to make the star cruisers faster. Gave me some rubbish about 'light speed limits' and all."

He huffed up, casting a glare to the side at nothing in particular. "This is why I don't like Gamma. Beta doesn't have any silly 'light speed limits'..." Oh, Chyst... From that "I'm getting a migraine" look Zurg was giving him, it was clear that he was rambling on pointlessly yet again... Whoops.

"Do you think I care about light speed limits?" Zurg glared at Alfred. "I never obey them anyway!"

A Grub suddenly burst into the room. "Forgive me for intruding, Evil Emperor," he panted, "but we've just received word that Star Command has launched a cruiser to rescue Alfred Cosmic!"

"What?!" Zurg found it hard to believe they cared enough to do that. "Which cruiser?"

The Grub gulped. "42."

Zurg's eyes glowed. "Lightyear!" That really burnt his toast. "We can't let him find us. Somehow that "good will always triumph" spiel of his always comes true when he's around. Take the ship into hyperspace!"

"But what about Torque's ship?" asked the Grub.

"Forget about it! Let Lightyear find them. It'll give him something to do while we make our escape." Zurg then turned to Alfred. "There's been a change in plans. Since I'm being forced to abandon my deal with Torque, you and he are now my prisoners."

Ranger-Nova wrote:
"Forget about it! Let Lightyear find them. It'll give him something to do while we make our escape." Zurg then turned to Alfred. "There's been a change in plans. Since I'm being forced to abandon my deal with Torque, you and he are now my prisoners."

"Thrilling," Alfred groaned. "Today is simply a marvelous day for Kidnapping Bingo... I must say, bravo on your excellent business skills. Not only going back on your deal with someone, but taking that someone prisoner as well?" He clapped sarcastically. "You must have such and easy time keeping allies, don't you?"

Ugh, kidnapped twice in one day... The second time, being held captive with his previous kidnapper no less! Not to mention, every single place he had been today was such a mess. Ergh, he would certainly need a shower later. "You don't really clean around here much, do you...? It shows. Bravo on your excellent house keeping skills as well."

Alexa wrote:"Thrilling," Alfred groaned. "Today is simply a marvelous day for Kidnapping Bingo... I must say, bravo on your excellent business skills. Not only going back on your deal with someone, but taking that someone prisoner as well?" He clapped sarcastically. "You must have such and easy time keeping allies, don't you?"

Zurg glared at Alfred. "No one asked for your opinion."

Alexa wrote:Ugh, kidnapped twice in one day... The second time, being held captive with his previous kidnapper no less! Not to mention, every single place he had been today was such a mess. Ergh, he would certainly need a shower later. "You don't really clean around here much, do you...? It shows. Bravo on your excellent house keeping skills as well."

Zurg's eyes twitched, "Did you... did you just insult the cleanliness of my ship?! The ship my minions toil day and night to keep clean?!" He was beginning to get really annoyed with Cosmic's remarks. "No one, not even Buzz Lightyear, gets to insult the cleanliness of my ship!" Zurg would never let on to anyone, but when people made rude comments about how clean his ship was, it strengthened his fear of germs and cooties. "In future, keep your mouth shut, you dimwit!" To emphasize his point, he slapped Alfred across the face, drawing more blood.

Ranger-Nova wrote:
Zurg's eyes twitched, "Did you... did you just insult the cleanliness of my ship?! The ship my minions toil day and night to keep clean?!" He was beginning to get really annoyed with Cosmic's remarks. "No one, not even Buzz Lightyear, gets to insult the cleanliness of my ship!" Zurg would never let on to anyone, but when people made rude comments about how clean his ship was, it strengthened his fear of germs and cooties. "In future, keep your mouth shut, you dimwit!" To emphasize his point, he slapped Alfred across the face, drawing more blood.

Alfred staggered back from the slap, awed that it occurred at all. It stung, but also felt wet for some odd reason. He reached up to feel it and then examined his fingertips, choking on a gasp at the sight of red. It seemed wearing metal gauntlets helped to make slaps more damaging... "Chyst..." he breathed out, then flinching and taking a step back, not wanting another strike from Zurg.

He could hold his tongue easily now. It was harder with Torque because he wasn't afraid of Torque... Zurg on the other hand... He'd hate to admit it, but Zurg could certainly give him nightmares... He never actually met the evil emperor in person before quitting, after all... And, he never wanted to have to go back. ...Which is what was happening now. Chyst, he was dead, or at least going to die soon.

He tried to mop up the blood seeping out of the cut on his cheek, but gave up soon after when he decided it wasn't going to stop right away. He let his hand drop back to his side, but the action flicked off some blood from his fingers with further more dripping off, making a further mess of the floor. He cringed at that thought.

Alexa wrote:Alfred staggered back from the slap, awed that it occurred at all. It stung, but also felt wet for some odd reason. He reached up to feel it and then examined his fingertips, choking on a gasp at the sight of red. It seemed wearing metal gauntlets helped to make slaps more damaging... "Chyst..." he breathed out, then flinching and taking a step back, not wanting another strike from Zurg.

Zurg sneered in satisfaction. Sometimes it felt good to just give in to his evil instincts. And those instincts had been begging him to slap Alfred...

Alexa wrote:He could hold his tongue easily now. It was harder with Torque because he wasn't afraid of Torque... Zurg on the other hand... He'd hate to admit it, but Zurg could certainly give him nightmares... He never actually met the evil emperor in person before quitting, after all... And, he never wanted to have to go back. ...Which is what was happening now. Chyst, he was dead, or at least going to die soon.

It was refreshing to see the look of fear that crossed Alfred's face. Zurg never got that kind of reaction from Lightyear.

It made the emperor feel warm and fuzzy inside to know he could still strike terror into the hearts of some people (though he really wished Lightyear was one of them).

Alexa wrote:He tried to mop up the blood seeping out of the cut on his cheek, but gave up soon after when he decided it wasn't going to stop right away. He let his hand drop back to his side, but the action flicked off some blood from his fingers with further more dripping off, making a further mess of the floor. He cringed at that thought.

Zurg looked at the blood on the floor in disgust. "Please don't bleed where I have to walk. I have to keep this place sanitary, you know!" He was still miffed by the insults to his ship's cleanliness.

---

On Star Command, Nebula had been pacing the deck when a call from Torque suddenly came in. After much yelling at the four-armed alien, Nebula had finally calmed down enough to hear his demands. Apparently Zurg had offered five million unibucks for Alfred, an offer Star Command would have to top... and according to Torque, he and Alfred were both currently aboard Zurg's ship. Nebula's blood ran cold when heard he this. Alfred. Was. On. Zurg's. Ship? Not good. Not good at all. Why does he always get himself into such trouble? Nebula sighed. If that Bucket-Head so much as touches Alfred, he's dead. Even if I have to strangle him myself.

And then, something unexpected happened... while Torque was talking, a group of hornets suddenly arrived and began leading him away. "Hey, what's going on?!" Torque demanded.

Nebula stared at the screen as it went blank. Oh, this was definitely not good.

Ranger-Nova wrote:
Zurg looked at the blood on the floor in disgust. "Please don't bleed where I have to walk. I have to keep this place sanitary, you know!" He was still miffed by the insults to his ship's cleanliness.

Normally, at a comment like that, Alfred would retort by pointing out whose fault it was that he was bleeding. Or, perhaps if he actually stayed silent, he'd instead just roll his eyes and pout. But, no, he was feeling fearful and compliant at the moment. He actually bothered to dirty his own clothes, a rare event for him, by wiping the blood onto his trousers. He then fetched a disinfecting handkerchief from his pocket, then bending down to wipe up the blood from the floor, careful to not spill any more.

Alexa wrote:Normally, at a comment like that, Alfred would retort by pointing out whose fault it was that he was bleeding. Or, perhaps if he actually stayed silent, he'd instead just roll his eyes and pout. But, no, he was feeling fearful and compliant at the moment. He actually bothered to dirty his own clothes, a rare event for him, by wiping the blood onto his trousers. He then fetched a disinfecting handkerchief from his pocket, then bending down to wipe up the blood from the floor, careful to not spill any more.

Zurg folded his arms and watched. "Missed a spot," he pointed out. Oh, he was really enjoying this. Too often, his evil fun was cut short by Lightyear.

Unfortunately, he had to drag himself away from the sight of Alfred mopping up blood so he could address the group of hornets that had just entered. They had Torque in their midst, and the alien was looking halfway between mad and terrified. "What's going on here?" he demanded.

"Lightyear is heading this way, so I've been forced to alter my plans," explained Zurg. "We are now at hyperspace, and you are now my prisoner along with Cosmic." He gestured to Alfred, who was still wiping the floor.

Torque's face fell when he heard Zurg's words and saw all the blood. Aw, craters, this ain't good. Why didn't I just leave with the stolen goods? Why did I think kidnapping would be a good idea?

Ranger-Nova wrote:
Torque's face fell when he heard Zurg's words and saw all the blood. Aw, craters, this ain't good. Why didn't I just leave with the stolen goods? Why did I think kidnapping would be a good idea?

That "good idea" was soon made even worse when Torque and Alfred were marched off and secured in a cell. Now out of Zurg's sight, more or less, save for the cameras keeping an eye on the cell, Alfred was free to be all huffy and pout at the travesty. He'd send the occasional glare towards his cell mate. Mr. Four Arms seemed none to happy about this situation either, and why should he be? It was Torque's fault they were in this, after all. "Well?" he demanded.

Alexa wrote:That "good idea" was soon made even worse when Torque and Alfred were marched off and secured in a cell. Now out of Zurg's sight, more or less, save for the cameras keeping an eye on the cell, Alfred was free to be all huffy and pout at the travesty. He'd send the occasional glare towards his cell mate. Mr. Four Arms seemed none to happy about this situation either, and why should he be? It was Torque's fault they were in this, after all. "Well?" he demanded.

Torque merely shrugged. "Don't look at me, baby. This wasn't part of the plan." He was never going to trust Zurg again. Ever. "Besides, if the Buzzer hadn't come after you, we wouldn't be in this mess." He grinned slightly. "Well, I wouldn't be. I'd be five million unibucks richer. Things would still be pretty much the same for you."

While he was talking, an idea suddenly occurred to him, and he asked, "Say, d'you know any ways outta here?" Under normal circumstances, he would never dream of teaming up with someone like Alfred (or "Alfreak" as he thought of him), but dynamics change when you're trapped together in the cell of an evil emperor who is clearly not in a good mood. "If you do, I could help you escape. You just think of a plan, and I'll give you the muscle to carry it out." He loved being able to clone himself. It made situations like this a lot easier.

While he waited for Alfred to respond, he added as if it were an afterthought, "Oh, and you're rich, right? So if I get you out of here, you wouldn't mind paying me all that money I was supposed to get if my plan had worked, would you? I mean, it's your friend Buzzy-Boy's fault that things went wrong, so I deserve to be compensated for the ransom dough I missed out on."

Ranger-Nova wrote:
Torque merely shrugged. "Don't look at me, baby. This wasn't part of the plan." He was never going to trust Zurg again. Ever. "Besides, if the Buzzer hadn't come after you, we wouldn't be in this mess." He grinned slightly. "Well, I wouldn't be. I'd be five million unibucks richer. Things would still be pretty much the same for you."

Alfred really considered flashing a quick rude gesture, but the hand gesture he had in mind was typically used by children in Beta, so he doubted Torque would understand what he meant by it. Instead he rolled his eyes. Of course he'd be left in a mess. When wasn't he left in a mess? Ugh, at least he stopped bleeding by now.

Ranger-Nova wrote:
While he was talking, an idea suddenly occurred to him, and he asked, "Say, d'you know any ways outta here?" Under normal circumstances, he would never dream of teaming up with someone like Alfred (or "Alfreak" as he thought of him), but dynamics change when you're trapped together in the cell of an evil emperor who is clearly not in a good mood. "If you do, I could help you escape. You just think of a plan, and I'll give you the muscle to carry it out." He loved being able to clone himself. It made situations like this a lot easier.

Alfred supposed he had no choice but to at least consider the offer and think of a plan of escape. Of course, that would require him to know HOW to escape from Zurg's ship, and he was working with next to no information at the moment...

Ranger-Nova wrote:
While he waited for Alfred to respond, he added as if it were an afterthought, "Oh, and you're rich, right? So if I get you out of here, you wouldn't mind paying me all that money I was supposed to get if my plan had worked, would you? I mean, it's your friend Buzzy-Boy's fault that things went wrong, so I deserve to be compensated for the ransom dough I missed out on."

"Oh, no you don't. I don't think that's how it works," Alfred answered, giving a small glare. "You don't just ask for my help and expect me to pay YOU for it. If you really want that five million, you can come up with a plan on your own to get us BOTH out of here." He turned away and pouted, and after a moment's silence he added, "Besides, Lightyear is NOT my friend. If anything, I despise that fellow..."

Alexa wrote:"Oh, no you don't. I don't think that's how it works," Alfred answered, giving a small glare. "You don't just ask for my help and expect me to pay YOU for it. If you really want that five million, you can come up with a plan on your own to get us BOTH out of here." He turned away and pouted, and after a moment's silence he added, "Besides, Lightyear is NOT my friend. If anything, I despise that fellow..."

"I've never broken out of one of Zurg's jails before," shrugged Torque. "I don't know how to get outta here. You're the one who used to work for him, aren't you? You should be the one to think of a plan." He grinned. "Oh, and I despise Lightbrain too."

---

In a different part of space, Torque's clones were really despising Lightyear... and Zurg, for that matter, since he'd left them to fend for themselves. 42 had located their cargo ship, and before long the clones had been taken into custody. Now they were being held in the brig, where Buzz was questioning them.

"For the last time, what happened to Alfred Cosmic and the real Torque?" Buzz was getting annoyed with the non-answers he was receiving.

"I told ya, we don't know," one of the clones shrugged.

XR pointed a finger at him threateningly. "You'd better come up with something better than that, space scum, or it's the Gorvik Death Grip for you!"

"XR, you are not helping," sighed Buzz.

"Stand aside, guys." Mira approached the clones. "Let me handle this." She reached out, and Buzz held the clone still as she ghosted her hand into his head. "Okay, let's see. Zurg wanted Torque and Alfred to board his ship... and..."

"And what?" XR asked anxiously.

"Hold on, it's not easy to read the mind of a clone." Mira continued to shift her hand around inside the clone's head. "Aw, craters. That's all they know. It seems Zurg suddenly left, leaving them here to be picked up by us."

Buzz frowned. "So we're back to square one."

"No, it's worse than that." XR cringed. "We now know that Alfred's in Zurg's clutches! This is horrible! He could be doing all kinds of awful things to him!" The 'bot folded his arms. "And I never even got a chance to ask Alfred to include me in his will. Now all his money will probably go to someone else!"

Ignoring XR's remarks, Buzz turned to Booster. "Scan for ion trails. Maybe we'll be able to follow Zurg's ship." He sighed. "I just hope we're not too late." He still felt responsible for the whole situation.

Ranger-Nova wrote:
"I've never broken out of one of Zurg's jails before," shrugged Torque. "I don't know how to get outta here. You're the one who used to work for him, aren't you? You should be the one to think of a plan." He grinned. "Oh, and I despise Lightbrain too."

Alfred took on a look of discomfort and shrugged, helplessly. "Well, I've never actually... been here... before... I'm not even from this galaxy..." He sighed, shaking his head, disappointed in himself. "Well, if we're stuck here, at least we can bond over our mutual hatred of Lightyear..."

He leaned against the wall for a moment, glancing around the cell. "Well, first off, THAT tacky thing has got to go." He climbed up and inspected one of the cameras. "Let's see..." he muttered to himself. "Ah, that's pitiful, the cameras are connected in his particular cell. Disable one and the others disable. To say nothing of the ones outside the cell, of course... Bit a feedback if someone tries to tamper with them, however..."

He stared and then groaned, shoving a hand into his pocket and pulling out his pocket watch. He broke off the chain and put away the watch. Alfred attached one end of the chain to one part of the camera, wrapped it around, and then connected it to the other end. He noticed the another camera focused on him and turned towards it. "Yes, I know you can see me! Shut up!"

He grabbed at some vital wires on the camera and yanked them off. The "feedback" he had mentioned not only electrocuted, which caused him to curse before he could stumble away from it, but also flowed through the metal chain and around the camera, causing an overflow of conductive electricity. The result was a blackout in their cell and the cells around them.

"Huh..." Alfred remarked in the darkness. He stood up and pocketed the wires, trying to get used to the lack of light. "I didn't think that would actually do anything. ...Thrilling!"

He felt along the wall towards the entrance of the cell. "My guess is, someone's gonna show up soon, so we best be ready. As incentive, if we both get out of here and I get back to Star Command safely, I suppose I can give you that five million."

Alexa wrote:Alfred took on a look of discomfort and shrugged, helplessly. "Well, I've never actually... been here... before... I'm not even from this galaxy..." He sighed, shaking his head, disappointed in himself. "Well, if we're stuck here, at least we can bond over our mutual hatred of Lightyear..."

He leaned against the wall for a moment, glancing around the cell. "Well, first off, THAT tacky thing has got to go." He climbed up and inspected one of the cameras. "Let's see..." he muttered to himself. "Ah, that's pitiful, the cameras are connected in his particular cell. Disable one and the others disable. To say nothing of the ones outside the cell, of course... Bit a feedback if someone tries to tamper with them, however..."

He stared and the groaned, shoving a hand into his pocket and pulling out his pocket watch. He broke off the chain and put away the watch. Alfred attached one end of the chain to one part of the camera, wrapped it around, and then connected it to the other end. He noticed the another camera focused on him and turned towards it. "Yes, I know you can see me! Shut up!"

He grabbed at some vital wires on the camera and yanked them off. The "feedback" he had mentioned not only electrocuted, which caused him to curse before he could stumble away from it, but also flowed through the metal chain and around the camera, causing an overflow of conductive electricity. The result was a blackout in their cell and the cells around them.

"Huh..." Alfred remarked in the darkness. He stood up and pocketed the wires, trying to get used to the lack of light. "I didn't think that would actually do anything. ...Thrilling!"

He felt along the wall towards the entrance of the cell. "My guess is, someone's gonna show up soon, so we best be ready. As incentive, if we both get out of here and I get back to Star Command safely, I suppose I can give you that five million."

"It's a deal, sweetheart!" Torque pressed the metal rectangle on his chest, and a clone split away from him. "Let's get this party started!" He continued to press the cloning device, and soon the entire cell was crammed full of Torques.

A few minutes later, the sound of heavy robotic footsteps could be heard, indicating a group of hornets was heading their way.

"Since I know how bad you are at fighting..." Torque snickered at the memory, "...I think you'd better stay here while us Torqsters handle this." As he was speaking, the footsteps grew louder, and several yellow figures emerged from the shadows. A group of ten hornets had arrived, led by a Grub.

"The Evil Emperor is highly displeased with your attempt to escape," the Grub warned, tilting his head as he tried to peer into the darkened cell. "He wants to see you in the throne room."

Two hornets moved into position in front of the cell, aiming their weapons at the occupants to prevent them from escaping, while the Grub took out a small remote. He pressed one of the buttons, and the cell door slid open.

"Duck onto the floor and stay there," Torque whispered to Alfred. He then turned to face the Grub and hornets, glad his five eyes allowed him to see in the dark so well. "Sorry, baby, but we don't wanna see Zurg right now. We've got other plans." Several clones sprung out the cell, grabbing the hornets and knocking them to the floor. While the Grub screamed in terror and ordered the other hornets to open fire, the clones began breaking arms off their captured robots and using them as weapons.

The laser fight lasted about a minute, but in the end the hornets were all left in broken heaps on the floor, while the Torques high-fived each other ecstatically.

"Zurg is not going to be happy about this!" Throwing his hands up into the air, the Grub fled in terror.

Torque stepped back into cell, where Alfred was still hiding. "Alright, let's go! We don't have much time! We need to get to the escape pods so we can leave!"

Ranger-Nova wrote:
Torque stepped back into cell, where Alfred was still hiding. "Alright, let's go! We don't have much time! We need to get to the escape pods so we can leave!"

Alfred nodded and got up quickly. "Right, right. Let's get going." He was absolutely guessing which direction to go to get to the escape pods, but he neglected to tell Torque that. Luckily, Torque and his clones were too preoccupied taking down any hornets or other obstacles they might encounter to ask Alfred if he knew where he was going. Luckier still, they didn't need to since Alfred successfully got them to the escape pods. Torque and his surviving clones were boarding first, and then it would be Alfred's turn and they'd get out this mess scot-free. Everything was actually going well for once! He was surprised!

Alexa wrote:Alfred nodded and got up quickly. "Right, right. Let's get going." He was absolutely guessing which direction to go to get to the escape pods, but he neglected to tell Torque that. Luckily, Torque and his clones were too preoccupied taking down any hornets or other obstacles they might encounter to ask Alfred if he knew where he was going. Luckier still, they didn't need to since Alfred successfully got them to the escape pods. Torque and his surviving clones were boarding first, and then it would be Alfred's turn and they'd get out this mess scot-free. Everything was actually going well for once! He was surprised!

"Stop right there, Cosmic." The dual-tone voice caused Alfred to freeze as he was about to enter the escape pod.

Torque's face fell when he saw Zurg arrive with an army of hornets. "Bummer." Realising he still had a chance of making it out alive, he slammed the hatch closed and fired up the engines. "Sorry, Alfreak," he muttered to himself. "I guess I won't be getting that five mil after all."

Zurg watched the escape pod blast away from the ship, but he paid little attention to it. He was far more concerned with the man standing in front of him. His eyes glowed as he took a step towards Alfred. "Tell me, Cosmic," he inquired with feigned politeness, "why did you think it would be a good idea to try escaping from me, the Evil Emperor Zurg?" He ran a finger across Alfred's bruised face, still keeping up the friendly act. "Haven't you realised that it's impossible to escape my clutches?" At the word "clutches" he dug his talons into the side of Alfred's face and scraped them down, leaving several long gashes. They weren't very deep, but blood began to seep out of them. "You've made a very big mistake. I don't tolerate employees leaving, and I certainly don't tolerate prisoners escaping!"

Taking a step backwards, he swung his fist out and hit Alfred in the stomach, causing him to double over. "I expect complete obedience from my minions," the emperor snarled. "If you continue to be uncooperative, I may be forced to start hurting you." He smiled. "Believe me, this is nothing compared to what I have in store for you if you cross me again."