Parts 11-16

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The story once again finds Tom Servo tending the TTPCTS bar. It is mostly empty now. Everyone who came in was sent to search some place in Subreality. Only one or two tables still have patrons. The little red robot has been trying to forget Mulder's theory, but he just can't. If it were true, then something horrible was probably happening to Joel right now. Servo was so lost in his thoughts that he didn't notice when the club door opened or the tense shifted.

Mulder stepped in, alone. The usually sullen man seemed almost cheerful as he walked up to the bar. "Mr. Servo, I have an idea. I think I know a way to find Joel and the other fictives, but I'll need you help," Mulder said without preamble, "But before you answer I must warn you. It may be dangerous."

"Oh, and I'm really safe right now I suppose. People are disappearing left and right, but I should be concerned about a little danger. It's not like Joel built me or anything. No, I'd never even think about risking my neck to help him," Servo replied sarcastically. He was still a little angry with Mulder for coming up with such a terrible theory. He was even angrier now that it seemed to be the most plausible explanation.

Mulder was taken aback by the hostility and abundant sarcasm. He chalked it up to stress and decided to ignore it. "As long as you understand the danger, here's what I need you to do..."

A noisy patron entering the club interrupted Mulder. The man obviously bought his clothes at the GAP. That was the only normal thing about him. A cape hung around his shoulders and Robin-like mask covered his eyes. The noise was caused by his incessant sobbing. A friend, or sidekick, was patting his shoulder and trying to console him. This undynamic duo was followed closely by Scully and Doggit.

"Mulder, this is Married Man and is sidekick College Buddy. He has information that backs you Manos theory. We thought you should hear what he has to say," Doggit said, "If you can, sir. Please tell us what you saw."

"It's not what I saw. It's what I heard," the caped hero began, "I was just pulling into the driveway. I would've been home sooner, but my wife called me at work and told me to pick up a quart of milk and a loaf of bread. Anyway, when I got home, I heard this theme music playing. I was scared; the only theme music I want to hear around my house is my own. I ran into the house to see what was going, but I was too late. The music faded away and my honey bunny, my wife, was gone!" With that, Married Man broke down and started sobbing again.

"Wow. This guy's taking it pretty hard," Mulder remarked. "Don't worry, sir. We'll find your wife."

"You don't understand. I've never been this happy. It's been a whole day and she hasn't called me at work or sent me to the store to pick personal feminine items that no man should have to purchase," Married Man said, "I know we have to find her and everything. Other wise, I'm not Married Man anymore, but there's no reason to be too quick about it."

"Umm....Okaaay. Anyway, the music he heard matched Torgo's theme music. As unbelievable as it sounds, someone must've liked 'Manos.' What's your plan Mulder?" Scully asked.

"We could try to keep an eye on likely female victims, but that would be too hard. Just about any female could catch Manos's interest. However, Torgo is also after MST3k characters. All the Crows and Tom Servos have been staying safely in the bar, so Manos's revenge is incomplete without them," Mulder began, "I had the Lone Gunmen make this little radio tracking device. We can attach it to Mr. Servo here and allow Torgo capture him. Then we'd be able to track Torgo to his master's lair where the victims are being held. The device also acts as a two way radio with my cell phone, so we'd be in contact with him at all times."

"No! Absolutely not!" a new voice declared. An SRPD had burst in to forbid the plan. "You cannot endanger civilians, especially helpless ones. That robot's arms don't even work. This job must be left to the SRPD," the cop maintained.

"Oh, for crying out loud. What could possibly happen?" Doggit demanded. "If he's torn apart he can be rebuilt. If he's mentally traumatized, his memory can be erased. What could be wrong with sending him out?"

Thus, a heated argument began between the SRPD and the FBI agents. Servo tried to explain that he wanted to help, but he couldn't get a word in edgewise. After several failed attempts, Servo hovered over to the tracking device Mulder had left on the bar, wondering how to attach it to himself. A shadow loomed over him. He looked up to find Married Man and College Buddy gazing down at him knowingly. Without a word, Married Man pulled out a bottle of quick-dry superglue. He glued the device to the diode panel on Servo's front. With any luck, Torgo would think it was just another diode. College Buddy picked the little robot up and together the trio silently stepped outside of the bar.

"Thanks, Buddy. So I just wander around until Torgo finds me? How will you know when I've been caught?" Servo asked after College Buddy set him on the ground.

"Yeah, just wander around. When you're caught, yell 'HELP.' We should be able to hear you on Mulder's cell phone. Thanks for help," Married Man said.

"Your welcome. Thanks for attaching the device," Servo said before hovering away to get himself captured. Finally, he wasn't just a second banana anymore.

"College Buddy, I'm going back inside to tell the SRPD and the FBI what we've done and what we're going to do. I need you to spread the word to all the pretty ladies to beware of Torgo's theme music and run whenever they hear it," Married Man ordered.
"You got it, Man. I don't get though. Aren't you happier without you wife hen-pecking you all the time?" the sidekick asked.

"Yeah, but in these perilous time, somebody has got to stand for truth, justice, and the monogamous way!" the caped crusader declared before reentering the bar.
----
Married Man and College Buddy are not mine. I'm just borrowing them from the John Boy and Billy Big Show. If you burn with curiousity and want them explained ask just about any Southerner (like me).

Amanda

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Joel and Mike, the ShadowKnight versions that is, had searched high and low for their missing man. They had gone through bars, looking through windows, and they had even braved a particularly pissy version of Madelyne Pryor, but with no luck.

On their way back to the TTPCTS Club, they neatly intersected with Vic and Adrie.

"Any luck?" Joel asked, looking at his teammate Adriana and X-Man Sabretooth.

"Nothin'," Creed answered, shaking his head. "Not even a whiff of 'im."

Mike paced a few paces, eyebrows drawn in thought. "You know, there has to be *something*."

"Music." Adriana shrugged, a chill running down her spine at the thought of the haunting tune.

"Music...?" Joel asked, scratching his head.

"Music..." Mike mused, as Muses were apt to do.

"Yea, music. Y'know, series o' notes or somethin'," Victor snapped. To further exxagerate his point, he whistled the four note melody.

The reaction was instantanious. Mike and Joel clung together like two terrified toddlers. Adrie shivered. The whole world seemed to feel colder and more menacing. "Stop!" Joel bawled, quaking in his shoes.

Creed raised one bushy eyebrow, looking at him with a 'you need help... now' type of look. "What's the matter with you?"

Mike shivered as well. "That's... that's... that's..."

"That's...?" Sabretooth was losing his patience.

Mike and Joel whispered in unison, "Torgo's theme."

Somewhere down the road, the deep voice of Tom Servo screamed. The quartet jumped, startled, then Joel ran down. Even if this wasn't his version of the little red robot, he felt the need to watch out for him. It was a sort of father's instinct. "Tom?!"

Mike was only a step or two behind. "Tom!!"

All the was left by the time the two men got there was an echo...

...a four note echo.

SLWatson

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"Hello, sunshine."

Shauna stiffened visibly, one foot still on the steps to the Subreality Police building. "Kirin."

The blonde, long-haired elf pushed himself away from the wall and walked up to the detective, face formed in a mock-pout. "You don't look very happy to see me. Don't you miss me after all this time?"

Shauna took a deep breath and replied, "The only time I've met you was when Bodger had first drawn me. As I recall correctly, you weren't exactly chivalrous."

Kirin gave a mock-bow. "I DO beg your pardon, ma'am, but when your first words to me are 'state your business,' I don't particularly feel inclined to be Sir-Freakin'-Galahad."

The detective pursed her lips in annoyance. "What ARE you here for?" she asked.

"Can't a guy say hello without being looked at as suspicious?" Kirin asked innocently.

Shauna looked at him askance. "Since when have you ever been by to just say hello?"

Kirin just shrugged. Shauna's eyes narrowed.

"Bodger sent you for information, right?"

"She doesn't need to send me for that. She already knows Joel's missing, if that's what you think it's about. She's got a closer connection to her fictives than most writers." Kirin absent-mindedly played with a coin from his pocket.

"So what, then?"

He shrugged. "Just to let you know -- for every scheme, there's a Master," he said, walking away.

Shauna started. How'd he know. . . "Wait, what are you talking about? What do you know?!" she shouted after him.

He shrugged. "Don't ask me -- I'm just playing the archtypal mysterious figure. Figure it out yourself." He turned a corner and was gone.

Shauna thought about this for a moment. "A master? The Master?"

***

The little man was sitting down, polishing a long, crudely drawn bastard sword when Gambit finally caught up with him.

"Dere you are! You think you can just chuck rocks at pretty women and get away wid it?" he asked angrily.

Without looking up, the small fictive replied, "I don't think that was much of a problem back there. And if you're gonna massacre me, I should warn you I've got a few sword techniques under my belt." He finished polishing the sword and stood. "If, however, you're going to stand there lecturing me, I really don't have time for this crud," he added.

Gambit clenched and unclenched his fist, then reminded himself of why he'd really gone after the man. "Actually, I was wondering if you knew anyding 'bout a missing fictive. Goes by Joel Robinson?" he asked as calmly as possible.

Sean raised an eyebrow. "Be more specific. Joel Robinsons fade out of existence every day in this part of town."

"De TTPCTS Club owner. Bodger's Joel," specified Gambit.

Sean snorted. "'Bodger.' So THAT'S what she calls herself now. Guess her real name isn't good enough for her anymore." He laughed for a moment. "Heh, 'Bodger and Badger.' Somehow, not surprising."

Gambit counted to ten. "About de fictive?"

"Huh? So an established's gone missing, eh? Guess we faded folks weren't good enough anymore." Sean swung his sword idly.

"What do you mean?"

"Let me guess: a whole bunch of female fictives have gone missing, with no evidence of their disappearance, right?" asked Sean.

Gambit frowned. "Women? Funny, de detective woman done told us nothin' 'bout none o' dat," he mused.

Sean raised an eyebrow. "Really, now. That's the SRPD for ya. Well let me tell you something that might interest you -- they've been snatching Shantytown chicks for years," he revealed.

"Who dey?"

"THEM. We don't know who they are. They just come in, snatch some chicks, occasionally snap up a failed MST3K fictive, and disappear. Of course, now it sounds like they've moved up in the world. How daring." Sean snorted.

"Come on, you gotta gimme mo' dan DAT," Gambit wheedled.

Sean shrugged. "What more can I say? The only people who've been in contact with them have disappeared without a trace," he said. "Though there ARE rumors. . ."

This caught Gambit's attention. "Rumors?"

Sean looked at him askew. "You know, I've been feeling awfully hungry lately. How 'bout we talk about this over lunch?"

Gambit glared at the diminutive figure, then sighed. "I paying?"

Sean grinned. "Well, if you insist. . ."

***

Alexis wandered down the streets of Shantytown, rather annoyed. She'd managed to gather a lot of stories about women disappearing (which she hadn't been aware of and was going to have to have a long talk with Shauna about), and some about a few missing Joels, but they could easily have been attributed to the normal way of things in Shantytown.

What was worse, that irritating song kept playing in the background. . .

Bodger

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"All you've found is a beer bottle?"

"Yeah."

"How far is a bottle of Guinness goin' to get us?"

"It's Elsinore, remember?"

"Oh."

Larry sat back down, feeling defeated. The budgie dog was riding in the back seat of the yellow k car. He didn't mind this; the front was full of maps, notes, and wrappers from a resent stop to Taco Hut, not to mention Clarice and Rick. The back seat was much more roomy.

They had just visited The Stan Lee Condominium, turning up nothing. The duo-turned-threesome was running out of steam. Commander Rick drove while trying to scan for a good radio station. The stress was clearly getting to him again. To kill time, Larry fired questions about the previous stops and Blink answered them. This was done in their belief that an idea would click between them and they'd get a new lead.

"Do you know anything about this Elsinore stuff?" Clarice asked for a change. "Was it what the monk was drinking?"

Larry frowned. "No, the monk is always drunk, no matter what he does. I think my brother Barry had a couple of pints of it. He said something about it to me, then took off to heaven knows where. Knowing him, he probably went to the can to do a Technicolor yawn. After downing all that beer, who could blame him?"

"Can you two please be quiet?" Commander Rick asked, trying not to sound too angry. He had heard something on the radio a few stations back, and was seeking it out. Larry and Blink stopped talking for a moment, allowing Rick to relocate the station.

Through the static, the three could hear Collage Buddy broadcasting a warning out to all the female fictives. When the message ended, Rick could only think of one thing. He slammed down hard on the brakes and changed the car course to go towards where Nan-Cy and Kitty were working.
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Kitty Pride jumped out of her seat; someone was pounding on the computer room's door and, from the sounds of it, they meant business. She walked cautiously up to the door, signaling Nan-Cy to follow. If whatever was on the other side was hostile; Kitty figured they could knock out before it caused any harm.

Holding her breath, Kitty swung on the door. She sighed a second later, finding out the visitors were only Clarice, Commander Rick, and a cross between a bird and a dog who identified itself as Larry.

"Welcome to our lair, Commando Rick," Nan-Cy cracked. "What gives? This ain't a residential area."

"Can it Nance," Rick growled. He regained his composure and filled Kitty in on what they had found. It wasn't much, but Nan-Cy and Kitty hadn't done any better. Kitty played the MIDI file, the lone piece of evidence they had found.

Larry perked up when he heard the music. "Torgo's theme from the movie Manos," he proclaimed. "Awful movie, but not as bad as, as, as… I can't think of anything worse."

"If that's all we can find, we better check in with the others," Kitty suggested. "They might know more about that warning that's going about." Seeing she was the smartest of all of them, the others fictives agreed with her idea.

"I call shotgun!" Nan-Cy cried, racing to the front passenger's seat. She hopped in and put on a tape of Level 42, pumping the volume up full blast. Commander Rick took the driver's seat while Kitty, Larry, and Blink managed to fit across the back.

The full loaded k car sped off towards the TTPCTS club.

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Barry, Larry's brother, isn't mine. Like his brother, he has a good home with Moxy Fruvous. The band Level 42 was featured on Prisoners of Gravity back on January 3, 1991. Episode guides are useful, eh?

Teddog

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Joel was not a happy camper. A version of himself was missing. After an exhaustive search, he returned to the TTPCTS to find a version of his robot missing. It wasn't fair. How was he supposed to find one person when more kept disappearing?

"Can you track them, Sabretooth?" Mike asked anxiously.

"It's weird. The scent just ends right here. I can't track it. Hey, look." Vic said while pointing at the club.

In the doorway of the TTPCTS club, a Crow was calling them inside. Unable to find Servo, the quartet obediently walked over to the club. Once inside, they saw total chaos.

"Servo went outside to get caught, only he had a tracking device so we can find the others," Crow quickly explained over the din of the argument, "I'd have gone myself, but no one asked me."

The SRPD, who had been yelling at the FBI agents, was now berating Married Man for letting Tom Servo go. Married Man wasn't much for confrontation, but the FBI agents were defending him quite loudly.

Sabretooth, sensing this was going nowhere, let out a mighty roar. The reaction was immediate. Everyone was silent and Doggit drew his gun and aimed it at Sabretooth. "No, no, Doggit. That won't do much to him anyway," Scully said as she gently lowered his arm.

"What's done is done. Let's just concentrate on keeping track of Mr. Servo and preparing a rescue," Mulder suggested, "The device seems to be working perfectly. We can even listen in on him if we want. We need to plan the rescue."

"How do we do that? I hate to bring this up, but how do we beat Manos? Torgo's no problem, but the Master is powerful, isn't he?" Married Man asked, "In the movie, he won."

"No. No B-rated movie ever beat us. No B-rated movie characters will beat us either," Joel said firmly.

"Hey, SRPD. Round up everybody involved and bring him or her here. It's time to organize a rescue party," Shadow knight Mike ordered. The SRPD wanted to arrest Married Man for endangering civilians, but decided she could do it later. She went out without another word.

The crowd drank Guinness as they waited for the rescue party to form. Mulder watched the progress of Servo on his cell phone occasionally turning the sound on. It was pointless, though. Tom wasn't talking and the only sound to be heard over the phone was Torgo's theme music.

Amanda

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