It's B-4 vs. M-5 in a battle to the nonexistence!

Lopez and his pilots ares tarting to get impatient. Lopez stands up, and unconsciously tugs the front of his uniform to starighten it out. He walks up to the door and pounds on it. "I demand to speak to your captain, now! As per the articles of war, prisoners have a right to speak to their captors. If your commanding officer has any honor in him at all he will meet with me."

No, the Red Zone is for loading and unloading of shuttlecraft only. There is no docking in the white zone!

The white zone has always been for loading and unloading. There is never stopping in the red zone.

No, the Red Zone has always been for loading and unloading.

I guess I forgot for a moment that I wasn't as high in the fighter ranks then I was in my home dimension... Where I came from, I was the Assistant Flight Commander, you see. I supose in the heat of battle, I instinctively decided to take over for a moment...not that I'm trying to take over, you understand, but when snap decisions had to be made, I made them...

Seeker spins to the right, narrowly avoiding Ginfus' latest blast. His trajectory continues away from the Spidership.

This makes Artsy uncomfortable. Shouldn't we be heading back towards the ships? Reinforcement and all that?

WHY? An IMAGE OF THE SPIDERSHIP BEING HIT BY PHASER BLASTS.

Because I'm not in the mood to be a hero right now! Artsy retorts.

Seeker finds this highly AMUSING and slightly HYPOCRITICAL. NOT HEROIC ARTSY, HEROIC SEEKER, he tells her smugly.

Then can we at least quit the evasive manuvers only and take that fighter out?!

Seeker whips a tight turn in reply, crackling energy snapping out towards Ginfus's ship. It's a direct hit...

Seeker did not know his own strength. That, or he didn't know Ginfus' ship's weakness. It blows up. Golfus is so enraged by this that he forgets his quarrel with Ginfus and starts to fire on Seeker himself. Seeker has unwillingly made a new enemy.

Ensign Yellowshirt speaks up.

"They're still firing, Commander. On Seeker."

Shoot. Hail Seeker and the enemy ship, tell them to hold off, and launch Shadow's shuttle. Milkshake to all fighters, prepare to launch.

"Alex?" Plevyak says. "Yeah?" "You're overdoing it. Your first apology was fine. Don't push your luck."

Rikard sighs and rubs his head.
Okay guys, let's follow the Cap- um, Commander's orders. Get to your fighters and prepare to launch.

Rikard glances over at a nearby viewscreen.
Looks like Shadow Senshi's on her way...

(Singing)
Off I gooooo
Into the wild, black yonder
Flying straight into trouble...

I hope I know what I'm doing.

Shadow, in her shuttle, touches down in Du'gril's docking bay. The door closes, and two large security guards escort Shadow out.

I guess we'd better get going, right Brad?
With that, they go to their respective fighters and wait for the signal to launch.

Maaaaaaan, am ah hungry. I cain't wait til we get signal to lunch.

"All right Banshees, I know they've got five of our own on that enemy ship. But we can't afford any dumb heroics. That's a good way to get yourself sent home in a box. I'm talking to you too Alex."

Yes, sir.

(The shuttle opens and Shadow sees lots of armed guards)

(To herself she thinks) Okay, what would Enesku do now?

Okay, lackeys, where's your boss? He wanted to see me!

But we can't afford any dumb heroics.

Sir, the Department of Superheroics Accountant has just embezzled most of our budget.

All we have left is $3.98 and a couple of buttons to pay everyone with this month.

What will we do?

(blowing soap bubbles)
Ah, senator, what brings you here?

Senator Crook: Vice-President Absurd, it's about mobilizing for this extra-dimensional 'threat'. We can't do it.

Of course we can! We've got the ships, the troops, the weapons, the dimensional drives & most importantly, the 10-foot tall giant ape things!

SC: That's not what I meant!

Do you want our dimension conquered?

SC: Of course not, but is it the only way? I mean consider the resources we are using. Not to mention the lives of those voters. And what about hostile attack from internal non-Earthian forces?

Senator, our relations with our space neighbors have never been better. And while we have pulled ships back from the borders, it was done with the utmost secrecy so none of our space neighbors should know about it. (pause, leans forward and says in an accusing voice) Should they?

SC: Wha... No! No. What are you implying?

Nothing... (spins in his chair then stops, facing away from the senator, leans back and looks at the senator upside-down) Anyway if something happens we can always count on LICC.

SC: Yes, yes. But this umprovoked attack...

Unprovoked? (stands up from chair and quickly approaches the senator) Unprovoked? They fired on the Psuedoscience Building without provocation or mercy! They have weapons of mass destruction that you cannot believe! And this is not the only dimension they have set their sights on! The only way to deal with them is a quick, surprise attack to take out their methods of dimensional warfare and show them that the people of this dimension will not just roll over & die! (pause, leans forward) Or do you want us to just roll over & die?

SC: Uh, no! Of course not!

Well, I'm glad to see we're in agreement then. Now if you excuse me. I'm scheduled to go fly a kite.

Wow! I can make up bracelets with WWED on them and then when people don't know what to do they can ask themselves, "What Would Enesku Do?" and then do the opposite!

In answer to her question, the 'lackeys' take Shadow up to the small bridge and show her to Du'gril.

Ah, Enesku, we meet again. I have a score to settle with you, but so does everyone else in this fleet. Guards! Take her to a cell until we can all meet on some planet, and decide what is to be done!

A cell? Not very hospitable for someone who wants his money back. Maybe one of the others would be interested in getting paid first?

(to Du'gril)
Sir, perhaps we should scan her for hidden weapons? This may be a slick trick by LICC.

Would Enesku really need to be given a transporter device? Couldn't the Spidership just pick up a signal from her nanobots?

Make it so. And send a message to the rest of the fleet. "We have Enesku."

Random blueshirt: Sir, I'm reading a dimensional instability! It appears to be a destroyed spaceship...from the Babylon Five universe. Odd...sensors show that it didn't come from that universe, though...

Here we go.

Pete, jam subspace and open fire on the ship holding our people. I want those shields down right now.

Milkshake to all fighters: Launch and assume offensive. Concentrate on protecting our rear.

Transporters, as soon as the enemy shields are down, beam Shadow and our pilots out as quickly as possible.

Aw, crud. Another bleeping crossover. Who cares about Jake Grey?

Dude, it's okay. It's like a cameo. Cameos are awesome.

(In the appearence of SuperBob) You should kill the new cast members, you know they will never be as entertaining or as well liked as ones named after food, despite their being written by better, older writters. You are weak if you do otherwise. Weak, Weak, WEAK!!!

A beam of light seemed to stab out from the sun, striking the Du'gril's shields. The beam was followed by a large fighter of unknown design. It flew around in an eccentric pattern firing beams and missiles at the Du'gril, while dodging returned fire, and enemy fighters.

Sensors on both sides had little trouble locking onto the strange fighter, but deeper scans were being reflected back, giving no information on the internal mechanism of the fighter itself, nor whom was piloting it.

Seeker, having taken out Ginfus, turns and speeds back towards the Spidership in obedience to Milkshake's order (and Artsy's repeated pestering).

Golfus whips around after them, firing wildly. Seeker jerks and twists, aborting his run towards the Spider, but the little fighter sticks close to their tail.

This is getting old, Artsy hints, as the a tight corkscrew spin turns her a vibrant shade of green.

AGREE. Seeker flips himself over , still moving in the same direction but backwards, and fires at Golfus as he had at Ginfus.

The enraged pilot dodges the energy burst, and the STARTLED Seeker is caught across the bow by a double phaser blast.

PAIN!

Momentarily out of control, the red ship tumbles end over end towards the Spidership. Artsy, sickly gray from her friend's telepathic echo, swallows hard. Pull out of this! she demands firmly. You know how to fight. So fight!

Seeker jerks to a shuddering stop and fires again at Golfus, who is still heading towards him far too fast. It's at least a glancing blow, but....

...it could be worse. It could have been a DANCING blow!

Du'gril transmits to all his ships.

Everyone, fire on that mysterious fighter! And try to raise shields!

Commander, don't you think we should wait until Du'gril has given us our pilots back before we fire on him?

A mystery ship has just fired on Du'gril's ship.

(pause)

Du'gril's shields are down.

Alex, who has been firing at various fighters coming from Du'gril's ship, notices the mysterious ship and opens all LICC Comm channels.
Anybody know where that ship came from? Who are they, and are they on our side?

Du'gril's ship does not contain 'various fighters'. There were 12 ships pursuing Enesku, now one is destroyed, so now there are 11, including Du'gril's ship.

Several fighters were chasing the strange fighter, when one of them scored a lucky hit, sending the larger craft spinning out of control, with the smaller fighters in hot persuit.

The large fighter began to break up, leaving a wake of debris. One of the smaller fighters was unable to dodge the debris and was destroyed. As the fighter lost parts, it seemed that there was something else buried underneath the armor, engines, and weapons. But before anyone could make make out what it was, the fighter exploded.

Like a phoenix, rising from the ashes, Adon's combat suit, in fighter mode, flew out of the flaming wreckage. Once clear of the flames, it transformed into robot mode, aimed it's huge rifle at the chasing fighters and blew them both away with a single shot.

Onboard the Spidership, a voice came over the commlink.

Hi guys! Did you miss me?

Rikard smiles. Hmm. Somehow, that doesn't surprise me.

Rikard destroys the fighter that he is after. He then sees that most of the fleet that had been searching for them had left the various nebulae and were quickly approaching.

More company. What a joy. Rikard to all ships, we've got incoming.

The Masked Enigma had long since left the bridge, but Lieutenant Tupper can still sense his presence, as he sits at the ops station. It seems, in fact, that he isn't really concentrating on what's going on. Suddenly he realises that Enigma is now alone once more... hiding out on the holodeck! This makes him very annoyed.

"Computer, site-to-site transport, from here to holodeck one!"

And he vanishes from the chair in a transporter beam. A random ensign notices this and runs down to take over.

-

Lieutenant Tupper materialises in the holodeck, where the Masked Enigma is dressed as a French swordsman, with two fencing foils, one in each hand, with which he is duelling two other men at once.

"Computer, freeze program!"

The Masked Enigma looks annoyed at this interruption, and furious when he discovers who has caused it.

"Enigma, if you hadn't noticed, we are currently defending Enesku against enemies from her past. It seems, strangely enough, that the L.I.C.C. is willing to defend its members in spite of what their histories have been like. Maybe *you* should tell them about your past. Maybe it would bring them a step closer to trusting you. You know that 'The Masked Engima, master of diguise' is a name which automatically arouses suspicion."

Tupper knows he shouldn't even be there. What if the Masked Enigma *hasn't* changed his ways? One too many times Tupper can advise him against Enigma's will, and before he knows it, Enigma is blowing up the ship and destroying all evidence.

"No, Tupper. I have finally given that all up. I'm a new person now, as far as anyone's concerned it never happened, or it happened to someone else. And it did. I'm part of the League now, and nothing can stop that."

He don't know me vewwy well, do he.

Tell me 'bout it, brother.

Alex opens a channel to Adon.
Nice robot, where can I get one? In my dimension, figher robot were just being introduced when the war started.

What's a fig her robot?

A robot with a fig leaf covering her access port?

Dupree to Commander Rikard, I have an idea...
Maybe if we let the Furbies sing to the bad guys, they might free the pilots if we asked.

What about "We are the Champions"?

Ops, scan for our pilots and beam them back immediately. And pull Shadow out now!

Ensign hmmmhmmhm mumbles something

I know that, dang it. Polarize the hull plating, it should protect us for a few shieldless moments. All fighters, defend your base.

And let's keep the Furbies in reserve for now.

Adon, welcome back. See if you can keep Seeker and Artsy safe.

Meanwhile, orbiting the planet Dargilan IV, a cargo freighter has been boarded by three space pirates, who are holding the ship's only crewmember, the pilot, hostage. The pilot is a human male in his late 20's with short, spiky brown hair and blue eyes, dressed in a blue shirt and pants with a gray and white circular patch on the right shoulder of the shirt and some sort of insignia over the left breast pocket, a silver metal belt with several buttons on it, black work gloves, and black boots.

Pirate #1: So what are you....or, should I say...were you....hauling?

Pilot: Used parts. Mostly for Farm-Bots, but some other things, too.

Pirate #2: I say we just throw him out the air lock and fly outta here!

The pilot reaches for a red button on the wall near him, and presses it. Suddenly, a computerized voice speaks....

Alert! Self-Destruct has been activated! 15 seconds until self-destruct!

Pirate #2 (scared): F-fifteen seconds!!!

The first pirate points his blaster at the pilot's throat.

Pirate #1: Stop it. Now!

Pilot: Can't. Once its activated, it can't be overridden.

Ten seconds until self-destruct.

Pirate #1: Bah! Then die, fool!

He starts to fire, but the pilot produces a palm-size blaster from a spring-loaded holster up his sleeve and shoots the pirate in the hand, causing him to drop the weapon.

Five seconds.

The pilot notices the second pirate slowly reaching for the blaster at his side, and shoots the pirate in the arm, just above the elbow.

Self destruct in 4....3....2....1!

The pirates wince, but the pilot just smiles....

As the button he pushed earlier explodes!

Pilot: Heh. You didn't really think I'd be dumb enough to blow up this ship, did you?

He presses a couple of buttons on his belt, then starts to shimmer (obviously a transporter effect).

Pilot: At least, not with myself still on board! Thanks for walking into my trap, scum!

He beams out. Ten seconds later, the ship explodes!

(PD Insane slides up to Commander Milkshake, deserting his post at tactical)

A shadow and a threat has grown in my mind. The Masked Enigma is dangerous. I know that in this body I don't have the Force, but even I can sense something from him. I think Lieutenant Tupper senses it too.

(The random yellowshirt mentions that Shadow and the pilots are back on board, but before Commander Milkshake can reply to PD Insane's concerns, the tactical monitor starts blaring alarmingly. The young lieutenant runs back to his post, and looks in horror.)

Nine humanoids have beamed aboard from one of the ships.

Milkshake nods at Insane's warning, obviously concentrating on his tactical readout.

We'll deal with it, Pete.

The tactical monitor starts blaring alarmingly. The young lieutenant runs back to his post, and looks in horror, before reporting:

"Nine humanoids have beamed aboard from one of the ships."

Insane can see his own alarmed reflection in Milkshake's visor as the captain looks his way. Milkshake speaks calmly.

Not ours?

Insane shakes his head. Milkshake wordlessly touches an intercom control on his right-hand control panel.

Intruder Alert. Security Condition Blue. This is the captain, we are being boarded. All hands, repulse invaders. Computer, lock out all command functions save those of the bridge, drop security bulkheads, advance to Condition Dove on my mark.

And meanwhile, Shadow and the pilots feel the tell-tale shimmer of a Terran transporter beam around them. Lopez's grin is the last his captors see of him as he disappears rather Cheshire-Cat-like.

I read you, Commander.

Adon located Artsy and Seeker, transformed into fighter mode, and flew towards them. He saw Golfus flying towars them, and fired. The shot knocked the ship off course, narrowly preventing a collision.

He then transformed back into robot mode and caught the out-of-control ship, helping it come to a controlled stop. He opened a channel to Artsy.

Intergalactic tow-truck at your service, ma'am.

Not a bad idea, Alex. Maybe we can use them if we end up pulling out. Give our attackers a little "discouragement".

Rikard whisks by Adon's robot and Seeker and settles behind Golfus's ship, getting his sights onto the fighter and preparing to fire...

One of the nine humanoids is about 8 feet tall and very muscular, with his hair tied back in a black braid. He has grenades and firearms in his belt, a ridiculously large curved sword in his right hand and a mace in his left. He seems to be the leader, as he gives the others advice to split up. They do, all running to different doors and turbolifts.

On the holodeck, Tupper and Enigma hear the Captain's broadcast, and run out. The Masked Enigma still has his two fencing foils, and is prepared to use them. Tupper has no weapon, and mentions this to the Masked Enigma.

"There's a weapons locker nearby, if I remember right," says the Masked Enigma, without his former upper-class English accent but with a trace of a French one. "I'll cover you."

Near pandemonium on Deck 5, forward. Crewmembers are everywhere rushing, rushing, to armories and assigned stations. The newly cloakless Observer drops from a Jeffries tube not twenty paces from his quarters, enters them, and returns in a moment, clutching one of the silken pockets he removed from his formerly-ubiquitous garment.

Lieutenant Andrea Hill charges down corridor 505A, flanked by Ensigns Yang and W'w'w'w, all equipped with phaser rifles and nervous expressions.

"And--"

Observer has to jump back as Hill swings her rifle in his direction. Granted, he was hard to see in those shadows.

"Observer!" She drops the nose of her rifle just a bit, exhaling heavily.

He nods. "Are the intruders on this deck?"

W'w'w'w croaks an affirmative. "Yessir. Two of them. We're on our way to intercept."

Observer reaches in the disattached pocket up to the elbow, finally pulling out a long silvery sword. "Let's go then," he says.

Several minutes later, the corridors are nearly deserted, but the sounds of combat come from ahead. The four clutch their weapons tighter, and approach slowly. Hill can't help but voice her mind in a coarse whisper.

"Sir...I have to say it's a lot better having to fight with a supernormal at our side."

Observer doesn't respond. Preoccupied, with matters far more internal than the corridor and matters more external than the ship.

3002 AD, Beta 9 black hole

Warships approached the artificially created black hole. On board one of the ships a stowaway smiled, and as he did so the space/time continuum began to warp. He brought out a portable teleporter and beamed himself into the void.

On the bridge of a Blue Fugate ship caught in orbit around the black hole Taconator fumed. A year ago he had tried to get inside to give himself valuable information and technology that he would need when his younger self and future army left the black hole to declare war on the galaxy. However once they entered the event horizon he found himself trapped in orbit unable to land or leave.

The sound of a teleport surprised him, although not as much as the identity of the person teleporting.

"You traitor! Genetic Horror number 5! What are you doing here?"

"Hi, dad. Hug for your wayward son?" The Funky Horror spread his arm and tentacle wide.

Taconator's attack was repelled by a personal force field.

"Now I know we've had some problems in the past. Well, future actually. However I've seen the error of my ways. A rebellious teen. I thought I knew it all and... well... that's why I did what I did."

"You refused to kill and ran away!" Taconator said and attacked again. "Your shield is weakening."

"I'm sensing some issues here, dad. I'm trying to open up, start a dialogue, rebuild that old father/son bond we used to have... and you're trying to kill me. That sort of thing is likely to drive a wedge between us and I'll be forced to leave you again."

Taconator laughed. "Leave? You'll spend the rest of your life here!"

"Now that's quite a negative attitude to have there. You thought you could tamper with time and discovered that the P Continuum..."

"Q!"

The Funky Horror waved his tentacle dismissively. "Whatever. They created this black hole. Did you honestly think they wouldn't take precautions against time meddlers?"

"Why are you here?"

"Why to rescue you and stand by your side while we crush your enemies underfoot!"

Taconator smiled, "You think I'm going to give you the cure for your condition. Don't you?"

"Baspchhhh! I figured out the formula for that little genetic glitch ages ago... ahead... well, you know what I mean. And since I know you won't believe me I brought proof." He took a pentcorder out of a pocket and tossed it to Taconator, then, nonchalantly turned and studied the consoles of the ship.

Taconator looked at the formula displayed on the pentcorder. Inwardly he chuckled and thought, 'Yes. He has figured out most of the formula. He's just missing chemical X. The deterioration will continue, but he won't realize that until it's too late.'

Out loud he asked, "How were you planning to leave?"

"With the help of those unfriendly warships that are about to bombard the black hole with quantum weapons. Seems that they're a trifle upset with the X-CwX after that war you caused and they think they can tamper with time as well. I, um, 'fiddled' with a few of their warheads. The detonation should give us a 'doorway' to exit this place with." A signal beeped. "Ah, they're just about to start. So whattya say, pop? Will you give me a chance to prove myself to ya?" He spread his arm and tentacle wide again.

Taconator thought, 'He's up to something. However I need this genetic horror to get out of here. And perhaps... perhaps he could prove useful in another way.' He said, "Very well. But no hugs."

A burst of high-frequency static fills the air, as Taconator transmits directions to his small exploratory fleet. Prepare to return to the staging area.

Massive quantum explosions erupt on the edge of the stellar 'disk', and Taconator's small group of ships sucessfully break orbit and return to the void. As they jump to warp, their ion wakes disturb the remains of several very recently disintegrated warships...

No, that's not the popular talk show with the hosts Captain Blood, Al Gore and Cruella "Unnecessary" Violence of Greenpeace.

One of the intruders carefully searches a cargo room. He hears somekinda noise from behind a container and decides to explore. Bad idea, really. In the shadows already waits an unspeakable horror for him. Too bad he never watched a genre movie before or he would have known better. Now it is too late...

The terrible screams last for at least ten minutes before first turning into gargle then rattle. Silence.

The scpipt and a few fat combat tribbles leave the room. The scpipt burps.

Artsy laughs, a startled shade of pink. Seeker's reaction to Adon's "intergalactic tow-truck" comment is priceless: a furious combination of FRUSTRATION and REVULSION.

Don't get your fins crossed, Artsy thinks at him. You keep this style of fighting up and I won't hesitate to call you "bucket of bolts" myself.

Gathering her focus around Seeker's still roiling ANNOYANCE, Artsy sends to Adon. Thanks for the help, but we should be fine now. Don't worry about us--go get that fighter!

Whatever you say.

Adon released Seeker and brought the rifle around towards Golfus's ship to deliver a final blow, but didn't fire.

Not too bad, he's staying inbetween myself and the Spidership, making it difficult to hit one, but not the other. Time for hand-to-hand.

The robot attached the rifle to it's left arm, in between the mechanical limb and the massive shield. Then the shoulder armor opened up and the robot drew and activated a beam sword, and assumed one of Adon's stances in empty space.

Let's get it on!

Uh oh. They left the scpipts unsupervised!

And later on the show someone who actually does gardening!

3002 AD? Shouldn't that say 3003 AD? It is the middle of January.

Well, since they're in the middle of a storyline they probably wanted to keep it 3002 & the next storyline will take place in February 3003, or something.

test

The large humanoid runs around a bend in the corridor, and Lt Tupper and The Masked Enigma find themselves face-to-chest with him. He swings his mace.

"Duck!"

Tupper ducks the mace, and the Masked Enigma sticks one of his fencing foils into one of the links in the mace's chain. He then pulls it out of the large humanoid's hand, and gives it to Tupper.

"Go back the other way, I'll hold him off!"

The large humanoid now swings his sword at the Masked Enigma, who is able to put up a good defense with his fencing foil. Tupper runs down the corridor.

(Unfortunately as LICC started to teleport Shadow Senshi one of Du'Gril's men got a transporter lock on her as well)

LICC Transporter technician: Captain, something's wrong! The 9 pilots came through, but Enesku's pattern is breaking up!

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa........!!!!!!

Du'Gril's Transporter technician: Sir. I've sort of got her.

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa........!!!!!!

(After several tense moments, the transporter stations smoke and spark)

SFX:ZAP! CRACKLE! POP!

(When the smoke clears in the LICC transporter room Shadow Senshi, disguised as Enesku, is nowhere to be seen, although there is a mysterious extra shadow.)

LICC Transporter technician: We've lost her, sir! And the transporter is damaged!

(When the smoke clears on Du'Gril's bridge...)

*groan*

(Shadow Senshi, disguised as Enesku, is lying there, barely conscious, and missing her shadow.)

Dramatic music: Duh duh duhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!

A hatch opens above Observer and the three ensigns. They have their weapons ready, but it's only Lt Tupper, holding a fencing foil with a mace attached.

"The Masked Enigma is up on Deck 4. He's got another fencing foil, but he's fighting a large muscular man with guns, grenades, and a curved sword."

Bra, bad guy ship behind you! I'm going after it.
Alex loops around behind the enemy ship and begins firing at it. Soon, it is no more.
Just watching your back.

Lopez and the other four pilots make a mad dash for the flight deck to get to their ships, but are waylaid by an intruder. Lopez and Bosco duck just before the massive sword that would've sliced their heads off swishes over head. Lopez kicks out, and hits the assailant in the ankle. Yelping with pain he drops his sword and grabs his wounded ankle. Lopez overcomes his brief surprise, as he never did well in his self-defense courses, and grabs for the sword, but Bosco alreayd has it and lunges it into the enemy all the way up to the hilt.

"Up a deck, then. Yang."

Yang puts a foot in Observer's cupped hands and is boosted up through the hatch. Hill, W'w'w'w follow, and Observer finally makes it with a tough jump, pulling his sword after him. They collect themselves.

"Show us the way, Tupper." says Hill.

The large humanoid grows weary of this neverending swordfight, and pulls a blaster pistol from his belt with his left hand. He fires it. The Masked Enigma dodges to the side, but his shoulder is grazed. As he reaches to hold it, the large humanoid takes a swipe with his sword, and makes a long cut on the top of his other arm. The Masked Enigma has no choice but to run, but the large humanoid hurls a grenade at him...

The unlucky intruder stumbles out of the cargo room. He has lost all his weapons and most of his clothing (except the undies). Strangely he seems to have been covered with whipped cream, strawberry jam and nougat. Somebody must have licked it off mostly. Yuck!

He falls to the floor and is picked up by a security team and thrown in a holding cell. When he sees the combat tribble guarding him he starts to scream again. The tribble bounces and purrs.

...and a blaze of blue light erupts from Observer's two-handed sword, forming a mystic shield that deflects the grenade. The small explosive detonates, blowing Enigma and Observer's team back, despite the shield. Observer's concentration is broken, and the sword goes sliding down the hallway.

The large humanoid is less than pleased at this turn of events. He raises his blaster pistol, and fires twice into the small pile of crewmembers that had been flung down the corridor. He might fire again, but...

Two more lieutenants charge down the corridor, behind the large intruder, approaching him. They raise their phaser rifles and fire...

(After locating the position of the *real* Enesku on the ship, PD Insane tries to contact her)

Bridge to Enesku, bridge to Enesku... They're all after you. Come up here, it's more well protected.

(to everyone else on the bridge)

I think I'd better go down and help her.

(On D'uGril's ship)
Someone on Du'Gril's ship: "So Enesku, you thought you could escape?"

E...Enesku? I... I thought I was Evil*.

(No one disagrees with that idea, but they still think she's Enesku.)

Someone else on Du'Gril's ship: "Captain, sensors indicate something wrong here. It's as if she's not completely here."

(Meanwhile, over on the Spidermobile, one of the attacking humanoids (boy do they get around) just entered the transporter room, chasing after a convenient redshirt.)

Redshirt: "Aaaaaaaaaaa!"

(The transporter technician raises a weapon, but the humanoid shoots it out of his hand, while swinging his sword at the redshirt who ducks below the blow.)

Transporter Tech: Owww!

Redshirt: Whoo!

(At that moment the shadow on the transporter darkens, and moves across the room and hits the humanoid hard enough to send him into the wall. At the same time, Shadow Senshi on Du'Gril's ship begins to fade a little.)

Someone else on Du'Gril's ship: "Captain, she seems to be destabilising!"

(Back on the Spider, the humanoid has pushed himself away from the wall and started after the transporter tech & the redshirt in front of the transporter console.)

Humanoid: *grunt* *grunt* Rawrrrrrrrrr!!!

(The shadow covers his face so he can't see the tech & redshirt jump out of the way and his sword slices into the console, which sends 470,000 volts through the sword, frying the humanoid.)

SFX: KASIZZLE!!!

(The shadow lightens and on Du'Gril's ship the disguised Shadow Senshi restabilises.

Back on the Spider.)

Redshirt: I'm still alive! Inconceivable! (Whistling he gets up and starts to leave the room when he trips over his own shoelaces and crashes headfirst into a wall.)

* Shadow Senshi's real name is Griselda Ethylene Evil

holding a fencing foil with a mace attached.

Wouldn't that cut down on the effectiveness of the sword?

Bra, bad guy ship behind you!

Why warn the bra instead of the woman wearing it?

Bridge to Enesku, bridge to Enesku... They're all after you. Come up here, it's more well protected.

If he broadcasted that message on an open comm channel then wouldn't the bad guys know where to wait for Enesku to show up?

Meanwhile, on the bridge, the turbolift and a Jefferies Tube opens, revealing two attackers. They swing their swords in a menacing way, killing several redshirts in the process. One of the attackers rushes over, grabs Commander Milkshake, and holds him in a classic hostage pose.

Bridge to Enesku, bridge to Enesku... They're all after you. Come up here, it's more well protected.

If he broadcasted that message on an open comm channel then wouldn't the bad guys know where to wait for Enesku to show up?

By the book! No unencoded communications on a channel that is known to be insecure.

PIZZA POWER!

Springing into action (literally), Jadlad does a backflip and takes out the attacker that was nearest him with a deep dish pizza and hand tosses the attacker in a dimensional portal that somewhat familiar singing was coming out of.

He then looks at the attacker that took Milkshake hostage.

Want to give me one good reason why I shouldn't send you to the same dimension were I just sent your friend? Oh, there's nothing there...except for Furbies singing 24/7!

And here I thought the LICC were GOOD guys. But now Jadlad is torturing villains!

(A ten-foot-tall ape-like being [one of the invaders] has been able to locate Enesku on her way to the bridge, due no doubt to the problems pointed out above by the Idle Questioner and Mister Saavik. Enesku, unfortunately, has misplaced her spear. The ape swings his vast arms around in attempts to grasp or possibly knock out Enesku, but he reckons without Enesku's agility. She is able to leap up and push her feet against the vast anthropoid's shoulders, but unfortunately she is not able to knock him backwards with this gesture, due to his brawn. And she is concentrating so much on trying to achieve this end that she doesn't watch out for the limbs. The ape's right arm hooks around her, and before she knows it he's carrying her down the corridor. She is resolved not to scream like any helpless young woman being carried by an ape, but she isn't really sure what to do. Suddenly the ape is hit by an orange stun-bolt, and collapses. Enesku is able to climb out. She looks round and sees PD Insane, who had used his power ring to fire the stun blast. He nods at her. She runs to follow him.)

I'm sure I don't remember him.

"Probably just a hired thug."

(Exchanging no other words, they run back up to the bridge, where Jadald is bandying words with an intruder.)

The attacker holding Commander Milkshake shakes, not in fear, but in laughter. Indicating his headgear, the attacker points out the Anti-Furby singing protection device... a large pair of Furby hair-lined metal earmuffs. It then laughs again as it somehow pulls out a polymorph weapon from its armor, points it at Jadlad, and fires.

Du'gril has come to Shadow's cell.

"So, your friends the LICC haven't been able to pick you up, yet. And hopefully, things will stay that way. We all have a score to settle with you, and we don't want the LICC to find you until you've managed to repay us all, in whatever way we want you to... if you're still alive by then, of course!"

He calls up to the bridge.

"Take us away at maximum warp! The others can stay to hold off the LICC!"

His request is heard and carried out, and an order is sent to the other surviving ships to stay in the area. Du'gril's ship jumps to warp, leaving all the others behind.

It then laughs again as it somehow pulls out a polymorph weapon from its armor, points it at Jadlad, and fires.

At the same time Jadlad let loose with a couple of pizza slices. One's turned into a potted fern and the other destroys the polymorph weapon.

Well, there goes that idea, bright eyes. Ya know, if it weren't for the fact that that I might accidentally hit Commander Milkshake I'd turn your Anti-Furby gear into sticky melted goop using some pizzas with everything on 'em and let you join your friend. Normally I don't torture attackers. But you REALLY ticked me off.

The attacker presses a button on it's helmet, causing its armor to become clear. Underneath, is a ten-foot tall giant ape thing. With a slight grimice that reveals its long teeth and a uttering a spine-chilling growl, it pulls out a second sword, tosses Milkshake aside, and lunges towards Jadlad, both swords swinging.

...but the large humanoid let himself fall to the floor, the phaser blasts passing over his back. As he did this he took a blaster pistol in either hand from his belt and fired upward and backward at the two lieutenants. They dropped their phaser rifles as they were hit in the arm/hand region by the blaster bolts.

Meanwhile, The Masked Enigma thanked Tupper and the others.

"Remember that we're not just defending ourselves, but the one they're all after: Enesku. We're all doing this for her sake."

He tore off the costume of a French swordsman, and was once more decked out in his superhero attire: black with red highlights, and a red eye-mask. On either side of *his* belt were two gun-like objects, but they fired ropes with plunger-darts.

"I can only hope that this act will make up for any ill-deeds I have comitted in my past."

Observer and the ensigns looked puzzled, but Lt Tupper was surprised in a quite different way.

(Insane fires a stun-bolt at the ape-thing, but the beast is too fast, and the stun-bolt flies past and hits a yellowshirt instead.)

(Enesku goes over to the display showing the events outside the ship. She notices something is missing.)

Hey... where's Du'gril's ship?

Three more large humanoid creatures, some with considerably more hair and snout-like noses than others, burst in on the scene and knocked down the two lieutenants. They fired their weapons at The Masked Enigma, Tupper, Observer and the ensigns, all of which were injured, some seriously.

"Get back to the bridge... or sickbay if you have to! I'll hold them off!"

He fired two sucker-tipped ropes from his guns up at the ceiling, and they stuck. Retracting them partially, he now swung above ground. With his body he battered into the first invader and stole his weapon. Spinning around, he kicked into the back of another, causing him to fall. The third shot him in the back with his own laser rifle. This only alerted the Masked Enigma to his presence, and so he raised himself to the right height, spun in the right way (entangling his ropes in the process) and kicked the invader on the forehead. He fell backwards, his weapon firing upwards and also hitting the much-wounded Enigma. All three were alive, but unconscious. But the very first large humanoid was still very much conscious. He lifted back up from the floor, his curved sword still in his hand after all this time.

The Masked Enigma landed on the floor, letting go of the rope-guns, and gasping. But they were to be his last gasps. The large muscular humanoid, taking advantage of the situation, used his curved sword to cut Enigma's head off. It fell to the floor, and the large humanoid made straight for the bridge. So ended the Masked Enigma, reformed villain.

Jadlad dimension hops out of the way. And the attacker slams into the wall full force as it was unable to slow its own momentum just as Insane's shot misses and hits a yellowshirt. Jadlad then hits the ape-thing with a few pizzas with everything on 'em dissolving the armor.

Sucker! Computer, put a level 10 force field around the intruder.

Computer: Acknowledged. Force field activated.

That happened fast.

Forget about the forcefield, Jad.

Milkshake stumbles down to the Ops panel, and in a matter of moments the ape-thing is beamed to the brig.

Pete, get over here. Let's try to net the rest of the intruders as soon as possible.

(PD Insane does a scan)

Most of them seem to be unconscious. There's one headed... right this way!!

The pounding footfalls of the large humanoid begin to fade.

Observer slowly gets to his feet, teeth clenched in pain, with one hand pressed to his side. With the other, he collects his sword, and notices what's left of Enigma.

There's some shuffling behind him. Hill has gotten up, using her rifle as a makeshift cane. Her eyes widen as she catches sight of the bodies.

"We need to beam him to Sickbay...the stasis field..."

But to Observer's 'second sight', the glow about Enigma's remains has already faded too much. He shakes his head.

Soft groans come from the two lieutenants, sprawled on the other side of the little scene of carnage. Observer looks over at them.

"Hill, help Naleau and Sarnov." Hill, numbly, follows his orders.

"Tupper." Tupper, seemingly unharmed, has also regained his feet. There is a haunted look in his eyes. "Tupper."

"Uh, yes sir."

"Check on Yang and W'w'w'w, they're not moving. Get them to sickbay as soon as possible. I'm going to the bridge." And in a half-bent sort of staggering gait, Observer turns and heads down the corridor, after the large intruder, the tip of his sword seeming to glow.

The soft clee-clink from the aft section of the bridge alerts everyone that a turbolift has arrived. Milkshake extends one arm in the direction of the doors, and remarks dryly,

Too late to shut the lifts off. Bridge crew, hold your ground.

The Furby quickly places a small red carpet before the turbolift door while alt-Furby is waiting on the ceiling with a large hammer.

The monster enters the bridge and takes a short look to the side. The hammer lands directly between his eyes causing a major headache. The Furby pulls the carpet and sends the howling creature tumbling towards Milkshake.

As the creature falls towards Milkshake, it pulls out a large knife and aims it towards Milkshake. In its other hand, it holds what appears to be a photon grenade, set to its highest level.

Milkshake fires two blasts from his gauntlet weapon into the intruder.

Four decks below, Observer leans on the turbolift call button. It seems to be taking forever. The pain in his side and right foot are intense, but he doesn't want to look down. And yet, he can't help wondering if he forgot something...something trivial..

The blasts hit the intruder, causing its head to fly one way and the body the other. Those on the bridge cringe, waiting for the rain of blood, guts, and gore, but it is not to be. This particular intruder is robotic, and all that showers the crew are wires, melted plotonium, and other things this creature was constructed of. The photon grenade soars into the air, bounces, and lands near Lt. Insane, blinking in activation.

Just as the grenade is about to explode, a teal-colored force-field surrounds it and contains the blast.

Close call, wasn't it?

Milkshake and Lt. Insane turn around to see Rocket Ranger standing there, dressed in black and teal armor that appears similar to his normal silver and teal armor, except his arms are covered and there is no cape.

It appears I arrived just in the nick of time, Commander.

Milkshake: Where the heck have you been, anyway?

Rocket Ranger: On a mission for the Galactic Order. Top secret, I'm afraid. Can't tell you about it. (Pauses.) Care to brief me what's going on? I tried raising the spidership on the SnowCrane's comm, but no one answered.

Sensor Blueshirt: Sir, sensors are showing a disturbance in the space-time continium!
All heads turn toward the viewscreen as a green wormhole opens an a beetle-shaped ship emerges from it. To confirm what the crew is thinking, a very familiar face appears on the screen.
Jackson: Hi guys, can we come aboard? Or should I make that more formal?

A lavender waveform appears, and collapses into Quantum Man.

Hi guys! Wow, I guess I'm lucky I got here. I wasn't quite sure where I was going! Permission to come aboard?

Grumbling...

Rassum-fassum-mumble-grumble... Darned redshirts...

Computer, connect me to ACME Redshirt Supply.

waits...

Hello, ACME? Yeah, this is the LICC. We need another 5 dozen redshirts ASAP. Yeah, thanks.

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!

(The part of Shadow Senshi on Du'Gril's ship screamed in pain, and was pulled to the back wall, as the ship leaped to warp. The part on the Spidermobile writhed in pain, but could not make a sound. Then Shadow Senshi's eyes glowed red and a faint glow could be seen between the Shadow on the Spider & the disguised Senshi on Du'Gril's ship. Months ago (LICC3 XIV), Shadow Senshi became the living receptacle for an artifact of the Ancient's. An artifact that allows the user to manipulate dark matter. Even though Shadow Senshi was split in two by dueling transporters, the artifact maintained a connection between the two and now that connection was stretched thin like a rubber band.)

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!

(Dark matter was attracted to and covered Du'Gril's ship and collapsed the warp field. Dark matter also was attracted to the energy connection, strengthening it and allowing it to pull Du'gril's ship and the Spidermobile toward each other at ever increasing speed.)

Hey! The only person who manipulates me is Zurg.

Uh, I'm afraid we'll have to add another one to our growing list of problems.

Jackson, his ship still beside the Spidership, notices the dark matter, says
Um... is this a bad time?

Not at all!

Milkshake tumbles back into his seat, the ship shuddering with the force of the dark matter connection. Collision alerts ring out.

Helm, half impulse, keep us from crashing!

Artsy and Seeker have been lurking outside the Spidership, attempting to get past Golfus and return to base. The dense fighter pilot is at least smart enough to keep between Seeker and the shuttle bay.

Seeker also keeps a telepathic feeler out to the crew of the Spider, and both he and Artsy are alarmed at the damage being done by the intruders. Artsy tries to get a transporter tech's attention, to beam her back aboard (especially as she feels that Observer has been wounded, and that there has been loss of life aboard). No one pays her any attention.

Thus, she and Seeker remain outside the action when Du'gril's ships break into warp.

THEY STILL THE SHADOW HOLD! Seeker turns after the enemy ships.

Artsy, a shuddering, excited grey-orange as she turns away from her comrades on the Spidership, nods. Let's follow them! As Seeker reaches for Shadow's mental signature, Artsy uses his strength to send towards the Spidership.

We're going after Du'gril!

Du'gril's "ships" did not break into warp. Only Du'gril's ship (singular). And it's been pulled back towards the Spidership and they're about to collide.

The ship continues to shake and jump, the inertial dampeners displaying their famed inability to deal with stressful situations.

Milkshake stares disbelievingly at his tactical screen.

Can someone explain exactly how they've got us roped with a band of dark matter, and how we can break it?

Looks at the scanners

It appears to be linked to our... Transporter Room?????

He starts to vibrate.

Say, is this bridge smaller than I remember? I seem to be really uncertain about where I am...

He starts to blur out and bounce off the walls...

Oh boy...

Robots. Most of the "fighters" that the Spidership's squadrons had been fighting were just robots and holograms. Decoys. This was not something that made Rikard happy. They'd been fighting decoys and his target, Golfus, had escaped. The attacking fleet still had eight ships intact and fighting. The fighter squadrons had begun to attack the larger ships, ignoring the decoys. But the distraction had lasted long enough for Du'gril's ship to escape and jump to warp. Escape with Shadow Senshi. Frustrated at the fact taht the LICC was fooled, Rikard prepares to pursue, but Du'Gril's ship drops out of warp and begins to head directly for the Spidership. It appears to be out of control. Rikard's eyes widen as he realizes what's happening.
Oh cr-

Rocket Ranger almost loses his balance, but stops from falling and uses his powers to levitate about a foot off the ground.

Ship in peril. What else is new?

=/\=Rocket Ranger to ThunderWolf. There's a ship heading directly for us, and it doesn't look like it has any intention of stopping. Wayne and Kent, I want the ThunderWolf all over it like white on rice!=/\=

Kent (over Rocket's helmet-comm): You got it!

Rocket Ranger: I'm going to hop in the SnowCrane and go see if I can do anything to help.

He takes a step, but stops and hands a data crystal that he pulls out of a storage pod on his belt to Milkshake.

I almost forgot to give you that.

He teleports out in a flash of teal-colored light.

=/\=That's from one of the Galactic Order High Council members. Lord N'urga of Aktorius Prime, to be exact. Its a formal invitation for LICC to attend the wedding of his daughter next month.....if we survive this little situation, that is.=/\=

The SnowCrane's cloaking device drops and it flies away from where Rocket Ranger parked it, namely in orbit around the closest planet, heading toward Du'Gril's ship.

=/\=Wonder if the EMP mines would have any effect?=/\=

(On Du'Gril's ship)
Ob'veus: Sir! The ship has been coated in a layer of dark matter and we are being pulled backward. Sensors indicate that there is dark matter accumulating behind us. If keeps building up it could form a gravitational force too strong for us too escape. I recomend we try to blast away the dark matter over the shuttle bay and abandon ship.

(On the Spidermobile)
Ensign First: Captain, the transporter technician reports that there is a female shadow with red glowing eyes against the forward bulkhead of the transporter room. He also reports that transporter logs indicate that a second transporter beam interfered with our transporter and the shadow may be a part of her. (mumbled) Been there, done that before.* (normal voice) Ship's main transporter system is down.

Ensign Ardluck: This may sound like somekinda crazy Star Trek idea, but maybe we can use the transporter systems in one of the shuttles, or speeders, to reintegrate Shadow with Senshi?

* Currently unfinished LICCfic. ;-)

Milkshake sets the crystal down securely in his cupholder.

Let's do it, Ardluck. Get a few people to the shuttle bay, preferably transporter technicians. Colanator?

Here.

Can you assist with the transporter mods?

Affirmative.

Good. Helm, keep us away from that ship! Ow!

Quantum's accelerated form accidentally whacks him on the head.

Without warning a long, almost sword-shaped blue ship drops out of warp and begin pummeling Du'Gril's ship with low energy plasma bolts. Though the damage to the sheilds is negligible, the bolts have an acumulative effect and in a matter of moments the enemy's shields begin to dip in strength. A familiar voice hails the Spiderhsip. "All right, we got 'em doistracted boys and girls. But don't take too long in shaking them off. Andafi ships are built for speed and psychological warfare, hence the nasty looking design, and we can't take too punishment." Over-hearing this from his fighter Grant Lopez audibly gasps. "Jason," he says, "Is that you?" "Course it is Grant. I don't why but I felt compelled to show up. And Noah wants to say hi to the HoloDoc but I think that can wait. Hope you've been taking care of my old fighter and my old gun."

The gang's all here, almost. Milkshake to fighters, keep 'em busy, and prepare to scatter once we give the word.

Pete, if there's any power left for the weapons, get our tether-buddy's shields back down again. This won't work, otherwise.

Cap'n! It looks like 6 or 7 of the enemy ships are firing simultan--

BWACHHHHBANGNNNGNNGGDEETDEETWARNING!

Shields at...well, it's a really tiny decimal...

Rocket Ranger overhears Jason's conversation with Grant, and smiles underneath his helmet.

Rocket Ranger to...err....whatever the name of that ship is. Did you get that package I sent you last month, Jason? The one with the three bottles of Alazori'an Glormwater in it?

He activates the SnowCrane's weapons and makes a pass on Du'Gril's ship, blasting at it with turbolasers, then makes a sharp turn and another pass, unleashing a group of five Magnetic EMP Mines that attach to ship's hull.

Here goes nothing!

He speeds away, heading for the spidership, and presses the button to activate the mines. They all go off simultaneously, releasing a massive EMP blast.

Rocket Ranger to spidership. I just detonated EMP mines on the enemy vessel. Did they have any effect?

My Game Boy isn't working!

(The turbolift doors slide open, and Observer enters, staggering. His face lightens just a bit as he sees the occupants of the bridge.)

Quantum Man, Jadlad, you're back.

Jason Kiehart laughs. "Yeah. Unfortunately the new Empress and her Council got to them first. Fight hard, drink hard I suppose. Oh and the ship's named the Equalizer just so you know. She's the flagship of the fleet."

*laughing* Well, I bet they must have been really soused! One glass of that stuff is enough to put most hard drinkers under the table!

The SnowCrane does another fly-by of Du'Gril's ship, turbolasers blazing away at its hull.

Equalizer, huh? I didn't think the repairs on that would be completed yet. Techs must have worked quick. Pauses. I heard through my....sources....about what happened on its last flight.

Rocket Ranger contacts the ThunderWolf, which has been firing at the enemy vessel since before he arrived in the SnowCrane.

Kent, make a tactical strike at the ship's underbelly. The armor may be more vulnerable there.

Kent (over RR's helmet-comm): Affirmative. But shouldn't we consider linking up and forming the ThunderCrane? The superior firep....

No. We're more effective separated, since we can strike at different areas of the ship. But if it doesn't stop soon, then we may very well HAVE to form the ThunderCrane!

Fan #1: The EQUALIZER?! Why couldn't they have named it after a better show? Like the McGyver?

Fan #2: Yeah! Or The Fall Guy?!

Fan #1 spends the next couple of minutes slapping Fan #2 unmercilessly.

Careful everyone. Remember, Senshi's still on that ship. In one form or another.

And disabling the ship's engines won't work. It appears to be out of control. Some other force seems to be putting the ships on a course to collide. I suggest trying the tractor beams to help keep it away

Can we beam her out yet?

Adon finishes off Golfus's ship after a few quick passes.

There! That was supprisingly easy. What's next?

Adon noticed the situation with the Spidership and Du'Gril's ship and scans them both. Scan data fills the cockpit displays.

Again with the taking main characters hostages. Why couldn't they take someone like, a redshirt, hostage. You know, someone no one cares about. And who am I talking to?

Adon looks at the audience.

Oh yeah!

A red streak makes a sharp turn and heads back towards the Spidership...and an imminent collision....

Kent, did you hear Rikard?

Kent(over RR's helmet-comm): Affirmative. Guess that means no attack run on the ship's underbelly, huh?

Rocket Ranger: No. Go for it. Just don't use the Particle Cannon or Quantum Torpedoes. And see if you can pick up Senshi with the ThunderWolf's sensors.

Kent: Will do.

Rocket Ranger: Rikard, a tractor beam pulls objects toward you, so that would be a bad idea. It would most likely make the ship collide with the spidership even sooner! But I have an idea....

Rikard (over RR's helmet-comm): Which is?

Rocket Ranger: Check and see if there are any Verdanium Torpedoes onboard the spidership. You can figure out the rest yourself.

On-board the ThunderWolf....

Kent: Verdanium Torpedoes? What good would those do?

Wayne: They produce a massive concussive force when they explode. If enough of them were fired at that ship, they *might* either stop it dead in space.

Kent: Ah. I thought Verdanium Torpedoes released massive plasma and electrical discharges.

Wayne: No. Those are Erdanium Torpedoes. Remember? We fought a ship armed with those back during the mission guarding the Kyrbium ambassador.

Kent: Oh, yeah. Forgot about that encounter.

Haven't these new fangled TV writers ever heard of Repulsor Rays? They used to be real common in Sci-Fi. I think they even predated Tractor Beams. Then some writer turned a Repulsor Ray around & invented the Tractor Beam. I guess these new fangled writers forgot all about Repulsor Rays when they started using shields to prevent collisions.

Ah, the good old days. Jet packs, rocket ships with fins, fighting dinosaurs on Venus...

I have good news and bad news, sir.

The good news is that we won't be crashing into the other ship.

The bad news is we will crash into a ball of dark matter that is increasing in size between the two ships.

(over the intercom)

Sir, the transporter technicians and I are in a speeder and are heading out to attempt the transport.

(the speeder leaves the shuttlebay)

Jackson, who has been also firing at the ship, says
Steve, this ship has really good tractor beams. Do you want us to try and pull the bad guys back.
Mumbling from off-screen
Oh... and It looks like Butrfli might be able to do some magic to keep the ships separated for a while...

Yes, Rocket, it's true that tractor beams are primarily used to pull objects toward a ship. But they can just as easily repulse them. They've had the reverse setting for years.

As for the Verdaniums, that would probably help. I don't know if we have enough to stop the ship but they would definitely slow it down. I'll send the ideas to Milkshake but we still have to figure out what force is propelling that ship.

Quantum Man manages to stop bouncing off the walls for a few minutes...

Dark Matter????

Hmmm.... Let me handle the deflector controls please.

He manipulates the controls and his lavender aura expands, until it encompasses the console. Unfortunately, a redshirt is standing next to him, and is affected as well. The redshirt suddenly tunnels through the hull into the vacuum of space!

Oops. But I've managed to tweak the deflectors so that they will stop Dark Matter. The tractors are set so that the ball of matter should stop before it hits our shields. Now if someone can do something about that ship...

"Hey, what do you expect? The engines were built by the lowest bidder. But the point she can fly now. And she can fight. Commander N'In'jato, time to power up the Psychonic Beam." "Sir, are you sure?" a female voice can bea heard over the ship-to-ship comm open between the Equalizer and the ThunderCrane. "It hasn't been tested yet." Although they couldn't see it, Kiehart smiled. "Now's as good a time as any Commander. Kiehart to all allied ships, once you see what looks like a cylindrical pink and purple cloud streaking towards an enemy ship, stay out of the way." "Wait a minute Jace," Ranger cuts in, "I thought that type of wepaon was banned!" "Only in the ESG and the Space Marshalls. And the LICC. And the Sslrth. Anyway, just stay back."

Well, I've found the repellor setting on tractor beams to be somewhat unreliable. But...whatever trips your trigger!

He pauses for a few seconds.

As for the ship....I'm on it! Or...WE'RE on it, rather. Kent, its time to form the ThunderCrane!

The SnowCrane and ThunderWolf fly towards each other. Then the SnowCrane flies around the ThunderWolf and the two ships merge, then transform into the ThunderCrane. A minute later, Rocket Ranger walks onto the ThunderCrane's bridge.

Kent, bring the Particle Cannon online just in case.

=/\=Spidership, see if you can beam Senshi out of there now. If you can, then there should be nothing stopping us from blowing that thing straight to Hades!=/\=

On Du'gril's ship, Du'gril's ops man assesses the situation.

"Most of our ships have been lost, and the pilots of many of the others are starting to complain."

We'll have to retreat. Have you been able to keep Enesku on *this* ship?

"No. And what's more, I don't think we *will* be able to."

Perhaps this just goes to show that stealth and guerilla tactics can be better than big fleets of ships. Well, if we ever escape this dark matter, we'll try to remember that. Send a message to the other ships... pull back!

Captain, there's another ship on a collision course with us... it's Seeker, Artsy's ship!

Hmmmm.....so it appears that Seeker is seeking to collide with us?

(Shadow & Senshi dematerialize from from both ships and the force between Shadow Senshi's two parts stop pulling the ships, although inertia & the gravity of the dark matter ball still have some effect. On the speeder, amidst dramatic lighting & music, Shadow & Senshi form side by side, then dematerialize, then the shadow rematerializes and fades, then the human part appears and fades, then a negative image appears, then... then a short blows out part of the transporter console. Quickly emergency power is transferred to the console, and slowly Shadow Senshi materializes, and collapses to the deck. Then a medtech rushes over and scans her.)

Medtech: She's breathing! She's alive!

(Then she sat up, eyes glowing red and in a deep baritone voice yelled)

All ships pull back!

(And collapsed back into the arms of the medtech. Meanwhile, in the center of the artificially condensed ball of dark matter, without a conscious force to prevent it, nuclear reactions began as matter began to fuse together...)

Alex opens a channel to all LICC fighters still in space
Let's get out of here! That thing might blow at any time!
How ya doing Jackson?
Jackson: Doing good. Looks like we've got a slight problem on our hands. The Lucy in the Sky can take in a few fighters if needed.
Alex: Thanks. We may need that service soon.

Looking at his scanners, Quantum Man sees a problem.

Captain! That mass of dark matter is going to implode into a black hole any second! Get the ship out of here!

He expands into a wave form and disappears. On screen, a lavender sphere appears, apparently surrounding the dark matter ball.

Jackson, at the same time notices the same problem and opens a general LICC channel
This is Jackson Dupree, we need to get out of here, now! All LICC and related ships evacuate the area!
Within seconds, the entire LICC fleet, including the fighters jump into warp, to a safe position several light years away.
Jackson: Is everybody safe?

The dark matter implodes into a black hole, taking the lavender sphere with it.

So, wait, at first they were concerned because the dark matter was about to explode, but then it imploded? I'm confused.

Amazingly, though, none of the gravimetric disturbances affect the space that the fleet is in.

Sir, we seem to have been shielded from the effects of the black hole's creation!

"We've broken free, although two of the ships are low in power as a result. And Enesku is now back on the Spidership."

All craft, retreat! Retreat! We cannot reclaim Enesku by these methods!

The ships all leap to maximum warp, leaving the Spidership and its auxiliary craft behind.

Sir,

All decks report minor casualties. Only Lt. Cmdr. Quantum Man is unaccounted for.

Milkshake sits back, heavily.

All hands, this is the Captain. Good work. All small craft, return to base.

Helm, once the fighters and small craft are docked, take us back to the black hole. Seeker's still out there...and Quantum.

Tupper comes onto the bridge.

"One of us has died. As far as I know, no-one else has: Yang and W'w'w'w are alive but unconscious. The EMH thinks they'll awake at about 0900. All the surviving invaders are in the brig.

The death was the Masked Enigma. I, too, will soon be leaving the ship, to return to my own. I don't belong here, I belong with the T.R.A.S.H*."

*Team of Really Amazing Superheroes.

"We're gonna have to hang back Spidership. Andafi ships can't handle a black hole the way you guys can. We're backing off but we'll catch up with you."

Fleeing from the Spidership Du`gril's ship hits a gravidy mine causing everybody onboard to become pregnant.

Rikard lands his fighter and makes his way to the bridge. He exits the same turbolift that Lt. Tupper had walked out of moments before.

So, did we get her back? Was the plan successful? Is everyone okay?

Not sure. Maybe. Don't know.

Rocket Ranger beams onto the bridge and looks around. He pauses for a second, then takes off his helmet to survey the damage. His hair is slightly longer and he has a goatee.

Hmmmm....Looks like a few repairs will be in order. Need Wayne to help out?

One of the blueshirts starts to reach for a weapon, but Rocket Ranger holds up his hand in a `don't bother. I'd fry you before you could raise it' type motion, and smiles.

I know what you're thinking. `He has a goatee, so he must be the evil Rocket Ranger from a mirror universe'. Well, sorry, but during the mission I was on that I just returned from, I had to grow this as part of my disguise. (pauses) The new hairstyle was my idea, though. Got tired of that short haircut.

He walks over to a replicator, orders a drink of water, and takes a drink.

I assume my quarters are still intact? I can't wait to go get this shaved off. Its itchy!

Alex's fighter lands in the fighter bay at the same time the Lucy In the Sky docks in the shuttle bay. Alex, Jackson, Butrfli, and the kids all meet in the turbolift.
Butrfli: So what's been going on since we left?
Alex: Oh, pretty much the usual strangeness. Conctact with dimensions showing LICC: the Series, ect, ect... The kids are sure getting bigger.
Jackson: That they are.
They all look down at the kids. Logan has the features of his father and the looks of his mother. Fran has more of Butrfli's features, but you can see Jackson in there somewhere. Both of them have small sets of wings that they occasionally flap, propelling themselves upwards for seconds at a time.
Butrfli: They'll get the hang of flying one of these days. It's just like walking.
By then, the doors open onto the bridge, Alex goes to his usual station, and Jackson and family stand nearby.
Jackson: Hi everybody, always nice to be back home. Steve, I think the LICC has developed its own fleet...
Just then, Fran starts crying a bit and looking at the viewscreen. Everybody turns their head to look, and see the newly born black hole.
Fran: Mommy, what happened to the pwretty lavender circle that was around it?
Butrfli: That was Uncle Quantum Man, and I'm sure he'll be alright.

A streak of red slingshots around the tiny black hole, shuddering to a stop just ahead of the Spidership.

It doesn't take a telepath to pick up on Artsy's very firm sending. Let's not ever do that again.

Seeker is MILDLY APOLOGETIC, and swings slowly towards the docking bay.

You should be sorry,Artsy scolds him. Cooped up in the bay too long, that's what's wrong with you. I'm taking you out every day from now on....

Adon's Combat Suit lands in the hanger and stands in its old spot. A hatch opens in the robot's abdomen and Adon jumps down.

Ahhh... it's good to be back here.

Adon leaves the hanger and arrives on the bridge a few minutes later. He hasn't changed much since everyone last saw him, aside from the small scar on his forehead above his right eye.

A shuttle launches from the Equalizer, and the Andafi warship goes into warp, headed back hoem for minor repairs. Kiehart adn his adopted son Noah are on the shuttle. jason is a litle upset that he still hadn't gotten to test the Psychonic Blast yet, but he just knows that the LICC is going to love the experimental weapon he brought for them. "Heh heh. Having access to confidential TerrSec files is fun," he thinks to himself.

All right, Tupper, what's going on? You sound like the only reason you came to this ship was because of the Masked Enigma. You were always looking at him with suspicion, and ging onto the holodeck at strange times. You had some business with him, and now he's dead you don't have any need to be here.

"If you remember, Klassikos joined my group, the T.R.A.S.H., last year, in order to find out about the person known as Roani*. When he had got enough information from us, he left. Was that really any different?

Because, you see, The Masked Enigma *was* Roani. He was once part of T.R.A.S.H. But that was in his previous body... perhaps this new one helped to bring about his change of heart somehow. But he was trying to make up for his past, that much is sure".

He casts a fairly obvious glance at Enesku.

"Others would do well to follow his example.

Which reminds me... I'll need to contact Klassikos. He's probably still out looking."

*LICC3 Parts XIII and XIV. A few boards earlier, Roani's spirit had taken refuge PD Insane's head, until Cid gave it a new body, which escaped.

The doors to the turbolift open, and out steps Quincy K. Rocket. He has not only shaved off his goatee, but has also changed into a new uniform: Black and purple jacket with a silver and purple emblem and a silver rank pin on the left breast, a purple shirt, black pants, and black black boots.

Wayne went down to Engineering to see if they need any extra help. Kent's still on the ThunderCrane, though. Left both ships combined just in case.

Random Blueshirt: What's with the new uniform, sir?

Quincy: This is my Galactic Order uniform. Since I'm not part of the Space Marshals anymore, I can't afford to dress more casual as often as I'd like to.

K-NIT Viewer: Good thing he's not wearing black white boots!

(Shadow Senshi opens her eyes to see she's in Sickbay. Weakly she asks)

I'm... I'm alive?

LMH: Obviously. Do you remember anything? How do you feel?

Beside myself.

(The LMH glances over at the EMH treating some other crewmembers)

LMH: I know the feeling. (To Shadow) The reintegration seems to have been successful. You need rest, but other than that your medical scan matches your previous scans.

But... but Doctor... will I ever play the... violin again?

LMH: Only if you could you play it before? (He smiles)

Oh, drat... you heard it... befo... *yawn*

LMH: That's it. Get some rest.

Wait! The explosion...

LMH: The Amazing Quantum Man was able to convert it into an implosion.

Oh... good. I... I'd hate to be... responsible for... *yawn* anyone's death... Zzzzzz...

(a man with a butler's outfit and a cape comes onto the bridge Ensign First asks him who he is)

I am Snooty Butler Man.

(she asks him what he does)

I butle... snootily. Now excuse me. I have business with master Tacoman.

(he walks up to Jackson and says)

Beg pardon, sir, but master Logan's Antarean Glakbeast got loose and was chewing up some of your belongings before I could restrain him.

(he holds up, in a way that most people on the bridge can see, a pair of boxer shorts with pink hearts on them and a big hole chewed in them.)

Should I throw them out and replicate you a new pair or would you like me to repair them?

Rocket Ranger, Jackson, Butrfli, Fran, Logan, Adon! Welcome back.

The kids can talk? Wow. They're developing quickly. At least for humans. Then again, they're only half human...

How old are they now?

Ah, tough luck there. I've never seen an Antarean Glakbeast before. Is it big?

Jackson looks at the boxer shorts.
Replicate another pair and see about repairing this one. You can never have enough boxer shorts around the place.
As for the Antarean Glakbeast, it's about the size of a scpipt... in fact, I think they may be related.

The turbolift doors open again, and out step Jason and Noah Kiehart, each wearing Andafi ceremonial garb. Jason has a sword at his side. It's metal has a slightly blue tint to it, and it looks like a machete, but longer, somewhat thinner, and with a jeweled handle. Kiehart notices Milkshake, Adon, and the Tacomen looking at it. "Ceremonial only. All Captains in the Andafi fleet wield these. I had to have the handle custom fitted though. I am after all the first Male in the history of the Republic to attain that rank, and my hands are smaller than your average Andafi warrior's. So, where are my pilots? I've been looking forward to seeing them again, and after the Starfighter Olympics got cancelled, I figured I might as well come to them."

Welcome backs are due all around, but we have another memorial to hold, and repairs to finish. I think this may be the end of another chapter in our adventures.

Everybody stares at Milkshake.

Or am I being too melodramatic?

Everybody nods.

Well, then. Hmm. Rocket, how do you read this thing?

Holds up the data crystal.

FINIS.