(WARNING: This episode contains suggestive dialogue and suggestive actions. Viewer discretion is strongly advised.)
ECHO Data Recollection Files
NAME: Watson C. Oppenheimer PASSCODE: *****There isn't much to report this week, except what I've been told by my colleagues. It started when an alleged "deliberately-caused power outage" shut down the Techlabs during the Sonic Five's syrotube recharging. It was up to the four of us (myself, Pixel, and technicians Russell D'angelo and James Jackson) to keep the Techlabs running. Pixel spotted a Galtoid outside and prepared to fight it, but she was unsuccessful, until -- and this is her talking -- "a sudden burst of energy came through her hand." -- Meanwhile, we were fighting to get energy back into the syrotubes so that we can call upon the Sonic Five. Eventually, they fought the Galtoid, but Arachness later called it out of battle. We can only wonder why.
End transmission.
[The Concourse Area. Rob is solemnly playing a sad tune on his guitar, with no one else around. After a while, Pixel enters. She is in a black dress and her hair has been cut to size.]
Pixel: Rob?
[Rob stops the song and looks up. At the sight of Pixel, he begins to stutter.]
Rob: Oh my god. That dress... That hair...
Pixel (posing): You like?
Rob (staring): I love it.
Pixel: Well, it's nice to hear that you like it.
[Pixel strides over and sits down next to Rob. Rob continues to stare.]
Rob: That's, uh..., a real... small... dress.
Pixel: Are you complaining?
Rob: ...No... I don't think so.
[Pixel notices that Rob's leg is starting to shake.]
Pixel: You look nervous about something.
Rob: I don't feel too well.
Pixel: I'm guessing you've never thought about sex before?
Rob: No. But if this is what it feels like, I'll avoid it.
Pixel: Trust me, you'll never be able to do that.
Rob: I... I want to talk about this. But, I don't want the others to know. It's too embarrassing.
Pixel (holding his arm): Rob, it's natural. Everyone has thought about it. But if you want to talk about it, maybe we can get together.
Rob: Where?
Pixel: Do you want to go to my room?
Rob (gulping): Um... OK.
----------
Rob: So what do we do?
Pixel: Just sit on the bed and try to relax.
Rob: Okay.
Pixel: I'll put on the stereo, if it helps.
[Rob sits down on Pixel's over-pillowed bed and sees a ratty teddy-bear sitting in the middle of the top.] Rob: Is this your teddy bear?
Pixel (heading into the bathroom): Yeah.
Rob (picking it up and examining it): It's so cute.
(Pixel): Glad you like it.
[Pixel steps out from the bathroom and sits down near Rob.]
Rob: How do we start?
Pixel: So, you... honestly never...
Rob: No.
Pixel (holding the left strap of her dress): Do you... want to see?
Rob: I don't think I could handle it.
Pixel (holding Rob's face): You're just a little kid, aren't you?
Rob (boyishly smiling): I guess. Technically, I'm only two years old.
[Pixel opens the covers on her bed.]
Pixel: It's getting late. Tired?
Rob: A little.
Pixel (keeping the covers open): Come on in.
Rob: You mean... in there?
[Pixel starts to giggle as Rob sheepishly gets into the bed.]
Pixel (laughing a little): You have to take your pants off, Rob.
[Rob moves around in the bed and lets his jeans fall to the floor.]
Rob: That does feel a bit looser. I've never slept in a "bed" before.
Pixel: Well... now what?
Rob: I have a question, Pixel.
Pixel: Yeah?
Rob: ...I don't know how to ask you this, but... are you a virgin?
[Pixel sadly closes her eyes and shifts in the bed.]
You're not, aren't you?
Pixel (beginning to cry): Oh Rob.
[Pixel tightly hugs Rob, crying.]
Rob: Did I say something wrong?
Pixel: I really hoped I wouldn't have to tell you this... but you'll have to know.
Rob (feeling around, slightly alarmed): Are you still wearing that dress?
Pixel: See for yourself.
[Rob feels around.]
Rob: Ah. I think I know what this is.
Pixel: Hey Rob, keep that up. It feels good.
Rob: That's odd. It's morphing.
Pixel: They do that.
[Rob continues.]
Rob: These are so soft.
[Pixel continues to cry.]
Oh yeah, there was this.
Pixel: Oh Rob... I don't know how to tell you this.
Rob (hugging her): What? You can tell me.
Pixel: Before we met, I was a... (sobbing)
Rob: A what?
Pixel: I did nude photos for the Internet.
Rob: Wait. How old are you?
Pixel: Seventeen. Eighteen in a few weeks.
Rob: Isn't underage pornography illegal?
Pixel: Well, I don't know. I just needed the job.
Rob: How much did it pay?
[Pixel begins to flashback about two years. Her visions are in black-and-white. A fifteen-year-old Pixel can be seen talking to two men in very elegant suits.]
Pixel: No money. You see, I was out on the streets. I didn't have any food or anything, so these guys offered me a constant meal if I would agree to be in their pictures.
[Back to Rob and Pixel.]
Rob: That's so sad.
Pixel: It was so demeaning. No clothes, and... other stuff... and I had to keep smiling the whole way through.
Rob (holding Pixel more tightly): I'm just so sorry for you.
Pixel (retutning the favor): Thanks, Rob. I didn't think you would understand, but...
[The two quietly fall asleep in that position.]
----------
Rob: Ohh man, what happened?
Pixel (in an red oversized hockey jersey): You fell asleep.
Rob: I never did that before. It felt strangely satisfying and rejuvenating.
Pixel: You feel alright?
Rob: Well, nothing that a good syrocharge won't fi... (looks down and sees his shirt missing) Is that my shirt? Pixel (posing again): Looks good on me, huh?
Rob: You look good in anything.
[Rob gets up and slips his jeans on.]
Pixel: You hungry?
Rob: I can't get hungry. I'm a Biodroid. But if you are, maybe we could get some breakfast.
Pixel: Sounds great.
[The two head for the door.]
Rob: Maybe you should put something on.
Pixel: Like what?
Rob: Underwear?
[Pixel blushes.]
----------
Rob: Uh-oh... This could be bad.
Neil (eating cereal): Hey guys. Where were YOU last night, Robbie? Heh heh heh.
Rob: Shut up.
Kevin: OK... from the looks of it... you two...
Neil (completing Kevin's sentence): ...had sex? You guys had sex, didn't you?
Kevin: That's disgusting, Neil.
Pixel: We did NOT!
Sydney: Sure looks like you did.
Neil (standing up and walks toward the two): Well, there's one way to be sure. Drop your panties and say "aahhh". Rob: Neil?
Neil: Yes?
[Rob whacks Neil upside the head.]
Ow. Sorr-ree. Guess one night of pleasure DOES equal nine months of pain...
[Dr. O enters with a grim look upon his face.]
Dr. O: Robin... I want to talk to you. NOW.
Rob (scared): Yessir.
[The two head off into the sub-office.]
Dr. O: Rob... I actually called you in for two things. First, I noticed that you didn't show up for nocturnal recharging last night. Is there something you want to tell me?
Rob: Father... You know, I know, THEY know. Can't we just drop this?
Dr. O: That's okay, Rob. I understand your privacy, but you have to realize that all fathers care for their sons like this. But onto bigger business. I got a call concerning Pixel. Here. Echo recorded it.
[Dr. O replays the call.]
Raybin: Dr. Oppenheimer, this is Raybin. I've just got word from the Security Office about a person named Ramona Brayman who is wanted for numerous crimes here in Ontario. We would like to call you in for questioning, at your convenience, of course. We'll talk later.
Echo: End transmission.
Dr. O: Do you realize what this means?
Rob: I'm afraid I do, doctor. She explained it to me last night, while...
Dr. O: While?
Rob: While we were sleeping together.
Neil (OS): I KNEW IT!! YOU ALL OWE ME FIVE BUCKS!!!
Rob (shouting): Neil, shut up!
Dr. O: I know how you feel, Rob. I'm still confused about the status of the temporary civilian status that the government imposed on her. I mean, according to records, she's clear, but...
Rob: You don't have to go any further. I know what you're thinking. We're abetting a criminal. If we don't return her back to the Ontario authorities, then you could lose your credibility and your job....
[pause]
And our cover could be blown.
----------
Pixel: ...I don't know what I'm going to do. Rob, you can help me, right?
Rob: Well, I don't have any experience in the legal system... and SonicRed isn't going to be able to do anything. I don't know what I can do.
Pixel: So you're going to...
Rob: NO! I'm going to try to help.
[Dr. O enters the glass chambre, with a few security guards.] Guard: Is this her?
Dr. O (solemnly): Yes.
Rob: Father!
Dr. O: I'm sorry, Rob, but we knew the risks... We don't have much of a choice.
Rob: But Father...
Pixel (touching Rob): Don't worry, Rob. It's alright. (steps forward) I'll just go quietly.
Guard: OK, Miss Brayman, let's go.
[Pixel turns her back to the guard and he handcuffs her. He and the second guard lead her off. From behind, Rob almost cries.]
Dr. O (as Pixel passes): I'm sorry, I didn't want to...
[Pixel just passes him a mean glare.]
Dr. O: Rob! You know I never wanted this to happen.
Rob: Right.
[Rob shoots him the same glare, then leaves.]
----------
Carter: Rob, you're still not over what happened yesterday, are you?
Rob: How am I supposed to feel? It's like the only true... love... that I had was taken away from me.
Sydney: That was forward...
Carter: Face it. Everything she said she was... It was all a lie.
Rob: No. I'm not convinced that much. Sure, she never told me of her previous... vocations... but what kind of information is this supposed to process?
Kevin: This may sound strange, but I'm agreeing with Rob.
(Everyone looks at Kevin funny.)
No, seriously. Think about it. The charge was from Raybin, the one man that Dr. O can't stand. And if he knew that Pixel was living here...
Neil: Think about what you're saying. You think Raybin set this up?
Kevin: Well, after what happened to me when I was working for him, who's to say that he can't be trusted?
Sydney: Kev's got a point. I'd love to stay and chat, but I'm gonna be late for class. (Sydney goes to the hangar to get White Speeder, leaving only the four men.)
Carter: I'm still a bit uneasy about this whole thing. I mean, if Pixel committed no crimes and if no charges were filed, then shouldn't we just let her have her day in court?
Rob: No! I won't let that happen! When they took Pixel, it was like they took a part of me. And the only chance of getting her back is...
[Everyone waits for Rob to say something.]
.. is if I fight.... Alone.
----------
Arachness: Divit, send out a bulletin proclaiming that we have captured our main fugitive.
Divit: I will, my queen.
Raybin: So where do we go next?
Argox: Whatever do you mean, "where do we go next?"
Raybin: Think about it. The Sonic Five are going to wonder where their friend went. And as soon as they find her, they'll find a link between us and the unauthorized activity that has been going on since the beginning of this year.
Zenos: The answer is simple, then. We wait.
Arachness: Even better. With Sonic Five gone, I can continue the plan of taking New America by force, starting with New York City and O Techlabs.
[Divit reenters.]
Divit: All media has been notified. The chances of Sonic Five getting this news are quite good, especially given the speed of breaking news stories.
Arachness: Very good, Divit. This will make for some excellent entertainment... Especially given the present rage that their leader must feel now...
[At this time, Arachness faces to the right and brushes her hand across her captive's chin and neck]
Wouldn't you agree, Miss Brayman?
[Pixel, now the prisoner of Arachness and the cheese for the trap, gives her a very cold stare.]
Take her away.
[Once again, she reconvenes her forces and begins to address the two guards that arrested Pixel. They morph into Syncotron and Tourix.]
Syncotron, your plan is faring quite well.
Syncotron: As I knew it would, your worship. Within moments, the Sonic Five will receive word of our capture.
Tourix: Then we move to phase two: The raid... and destruction of O Techlabs.
Arachness: Excellent. Continue the plan.
[Syncotron and Tourix morph back into the two guards. Then, they teleport back to New York.]
We are that much closer...
SONIC V STAND BY
Questions and comments can be addressed to either Chris or myself.
NEXT WEEK:
For the love of a woman...
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