Big guy and rusty the boy robot #29: Rusty, a mutant and a woman.

Big guy and rusty the boy robot is the property of dark horse comics and whoever makes the series.

Previously on big guy...

"Dr. Poindexter!" Rusty yells.

Suddenly he flies off before Dr. Slate can stop him.

"Come back Rusty. You are just going to get yourself destroyed." Dr. Slate yells.

But Rusty is long gone.

"Rusty." Dr. Slate says softly.

And now the conclusion...

A ceremony is in session. Lots of soldiers and quark people are they're waiting for the unveiling.

"The loss of the bgy-11 was a big blow to the military. But I am proud to announce the next step." Thornton says.

The sheet is pulled back revealing a large robot that looks a bit like big guy but is smaller and sleeker.

"The bgy-12!" Thornton says.

A lot of murmuring occurs throughout the people in attendance but nobody really claps.

"I know it's a shock." Thornton says.

"How did you make one so fast?" Slate asks.

"We were working on a prototype to replace the big guy if he was badly damaged in battle and couldn't fight. Then if we still needed a BGY robot then we could use this one." Thornton responds.

The crowd murmurs more.

"Ever since the bgy-11 was destroyed yesterday the pit crew has been working on this constantly to get it up to snuff immediately." Thornton says.

"You mean single pit crew. After that damn robot killed Jo and Garth. Those rookies you gave me were no help. So it was up to old Mack to do the job." Mack says.

"The question is that is the bgy-12 ready for battle?" Thornton asks.

"Well yes. As soon as she gets a pilot." Mack responds.

"How deep should we search for a pilot?" A soldier asks.

"Don't advertise it. Ask the local air force base to bring its best pilots to try out but don't tell them for what." Thornton says.

"Okay but not just anybody can pilot the big guy." Mack says.

"I'm hoping that at least one person can." Thornton says.

Meanwhile Rusty is flying along.

"Poindexter come out and fight where ever you are!" Rusty yells.

But nobody answers of course. Rusty lands and looks around.

"Maybe if I return to his lab or what's left of it, I will find him." Rusty says.

He takes off again. Later on a bunch of pilots are gathered together to try out on a simulated console.

"For the love of mark."

"Next."

"For the love of Mitch"

"Next!"

"Love for the of mike."

"NEXT!"

"For the love..." A scrawny guy with a scratchy high-pitched voice says.

"NEXT!"

"But I didn't finish the..."

Another pilot steps out of the finished simulator.

"So how did I do?" The pilot asks.

"Well I don't know. You crashed the big guy 3 times. Shot 3 good guys down and blew up the white house." Thornton responds.

"NEXT!"

Yet another pilot steps out.

"Did I do good?" The pilot asks.

"Well you have to understand the Big Guy is a champion to the oppressed. But he doesn't carry people's groceries to their car, walk old ladies across the street, get kittens out of trees, and say, 'shame shame shame' to a pair of jaywalkers and litterers" Thornton responds.

"NEXT!"

"So how's the tryout going?" Mack asks.

"Not very good. Nobody can really handle all the weapons and controlling the bgy-11. It's not the same as flying a plane." Thornton responds.

"Well heck then why did you ask for pilots?" Mack asks.

"Well they have to be able to fly the bgy-12 as well as walk on ground and fight." Thornton responds.

The simulator opens up and the pilot steps out shakily.

"Are you crazy. What the hell kind of machine is that anyway?" The pilot asks.

He gets queasy and runs for the bathroom.

Thornton sighs.

"This is not looking good. Maybe Lt. Hunter was one of a kind." Thornton says.

"Why not give me a try?" A voice says.

Mack and Thornton turn around and get an eye full of a tall attractive woman.

"Excuse me miss? Try on what?" Thornton asks.

"You know what. What these other men are trying on." The woman says.

"I'm sorry but I only asked for men to try out. This takes a man to do this." Thornton says.

The woman gets angry.

"Look. There are women in the army and have been for quite some time now. But why are we still left out of certain things. I'm a damn good pilot. If you aren't even going to give me a chance." The woman says angrily.

"I'm sorry miss." Thornton says.

The woman storms away.

"Damn women. Think they can do everything." Mack says.

Meanwhile Rusty has arrived at the ruins of Poindexter's lab. He lands next to where the entrance used to be.

"Poindexter!"

Rusty blasts a pile of rubble revealing a panel in the ground. Rusty goes over to the panel and looks down.

"Are you down there you coward? Come out and fight!" Rusty yells.

Rusty blasts the panel and a hole appears. Rusty falls down the hole and uses his thrusters to slow the descent. When he reaches the bottom he finds himself in an immense cavern with a few devices scattered around. Suddenly a video screen comes to life.

"Welcome seeker of knowledge. If you are seeing this then my lab was destroyed and possibly I went with it. I created this to make sure my legacy is not forgotten." Poindexter says.

A light comes on showing a crude robot.

"This was my first robot. As you can see it's quite primitive. But it was the start of a very sophisticated A.I. Better than the world had seen. But it's programming was flawed." Poindexter says.

The light goes out and another one comes out showing a very familiar robot.

"Legion!" Rusty yells.

He fires on the robot and blows it up.

"Warning. Hostile fire detected. Defense system activated." A voice chimes out loudly.

"Oh oh." Rusty says.

Suddenly the large doors on the other end of the cavern open up. A pair of glowing eyes appear and a loud grown emanates. Rusty yelps when a huge dog like monster jumps out from the darkness.

"Uh nice doggy?" Rusty says carefully.

The dog howls.

"Hypersonic!" Rusty yells.

Rusty shoots back up through the tube he came down in. When he reaches the surface he wipes his forehead.

"Whew. That was close." Rusty says.

But his relief is short lived when the ground shakes violently. Suddenly a hole opens up and the dog beast jumps out and howls at the sky.

"Uh oh. I need the big guy!"

Rusty starts to push his communicator but stops.

"Oh that's right. There is no big guy." Rusty says sadly.

But Rusty pushed it just enough to activate it without knowing it. Back at the USS Darkhorse the signal is received.

"Sir we are receiving a signal from the boy robot." A communications officer says.

"Okay put it on." Thornton says.

"He's not saying anything." The officer says.

Suddenly a loud howl sounds and a yelp from Rusty.

"Sounds to me like he's in trouble. Get a fix on that signal soldier." Thornton orders.

Thornton frowns.

"We don't have a pilot for the bgy-12 and we need him." Thornton says.

"We could use the new A.I. piloting system." Mack says.

"But that didn't work on the bgy-11." Thornton says.

"But I fixed the bugs. Been working on them since we shut down the bgy-11's program." Mack says.

Thornton sighs.

"Okay we don't have a choice. Deploy the bgy-12 immediately." Thornton says.

Meanwhile in the holding bay a figure sneaks into the back bay of the bgy-12 unseen by anybody. After a few minutes the new big guy is activated and brought out to the deck.

"Good luck bgy-12, I mean big guy. God speed." Thornton says.

Big guy takes off. In the cockpit a view screen shows a map with the location of rusty. After about 15 minutes of flight Rusty and the mutant are sighted.

"Big guy?" Rusty asks confused.

Inside the cockpit the mysterious figure comes to life.

"Computer override the A.I. system." The figure says.

She inputs a code and a light goes off.

"Okay it's time to kick some mutant butt." The figure says.

The weapon systems are activated and all the weapons come out of the big guy's arms.

"It's time for a mutant wienie roast." Big guy says.

"Big guy? It can't be you. They told me that you blew up. You look different." Rusty says.

"Time for explanations later. Right now we need to make the mutant population go down by one." Big guy says.

"All right!" Rusty yells.

Rusty blasts the mutant over and over again but it seems to just tick it off.

"Time to give this guy a case of lead poisoning." Big guy says.

The machine gun fires from both arms and hits the mutant head on. The mutant roars and fires a blast of energy at big guy. But he easily dodges it. The blast hits a small hill and blows it up.

"Nobody messes with a piece of this great land and gets away with it." Big guy says.

"Computer analyze mutant for a weak point." The figure says.

On screen an analyzer comes up and scans the mutant.

"Weak point found." The computer says.

The screen points to the mutant's underbelly.

"Time to give this guy some indigestion." Big guy says.

"Computer activate main weapon." The figure says.

"Warning this weapon has not been thoroughly tested. Use is not recommended." The computer says.

"Oh for the love of.. Just do it." The figure says.

A compartment in the upper chest opens up and a big cannon appears.

"Target mutant's weak point." The figure says.

The screen zero's in on the underbelly.

"Fire!" The figure yells.

The mutant howls once again and fires on rusty. He can't dodge it in time and gets hit badly.

"Rusty!" Big guy yells.

Big guy turns back towards the mutant.

"Nobody messes with my friend." Big guy says.

The cannon fires and scores a direct hit. The mutant howls once more and blows up.

"Big guy 1, evil 0." The figure says.

Big guy scoops up Rusty and flies back to the USS Darkhorse. When slate sees him she gasps.

"Oh god I have to get him back to the lab immediately." Slate says.

Slate carries Rusty and gets a chopper to go back to Quark's.

"Sir scans show the A.I. isn't active. And I'm picking up a life sign." Mack says.

"Whoever is in there show yourself now." Thornton orders.

Big guy turns around and the back compartment opens up. The figure steps out to reveal it's the woman that tried out earlier.

"Arrest this woman for commandeering a military weapon." Thornton says.

A bunch of officers show up and take the woman into custody. Later on Thornton visits her in her cell.

"What the hell were you thinking? You could have gotten killed or gotten the bgy-12 destroyed." Thornton asks mad.

"I wanted to prove to you that I could be the pilot." The woman responds.

Thornton sighs.

"I admit you did do good. But you did take and use the bgy-12 without permission." Thornton says.

Thornton's face softens.

"As soon as you are let out, come see me and we'll talk." Thornton says.

The woman smiles.

"By the way. What's your name so I can report you?" Thornton asks.

"Diana Keaton." The woman says.

Meanwhile back at Quark's Slate is desperately repairing Rusty's systems. When she is finished she walks back out and sees everybody waiting in anticipation.

"So what's the diagnosis doc? Is he going to live?" Jenny asks.

"Hey I'm the doctor. I ask the questions." Donovan says sharply.

"So what's the diagnosis?" Donovan asks.

"I liked my version better." Jenny says crossing her arms.

"It was touch and go but..." Slate starts to say.

"I'm back!" Rusty yells running into the room.

"But I think he's going to be just fine." Slate says smiling.

Later that evening Slate is preparing Rusty to sleep.

"Why did big guy have to go?" Rusty asks.

"I don't know. Bad things happen to good people. Even to good robots." Slate responds.

"Does that mean I am going to go eventually also?" Rusty asks.

Slate sighs.

"Not for a very long time I hope." Slate responds.

Rusty looks down sadly.

"I miss him." Rusty says.

Slate smiles and hugs Rusty.

"Me too." Slate says.

She looks at the picture of Dwayne on the desk and sheds a tear.

The end.