ECHO Data Recollection Files...
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End transmission.
[The Galtean Earthbase. The entire Galtean army enters the throne room with news for Arachness.] Zenos: The plan was a success, dear sister. Oppenheimer Techlabs was destroyed approximately seventeen minutes ago.
Argox: Unfortunately, Syncotron and Tourix were lost to the Sonic Five.
Arachness: And what of the Sonic Five now?
Divit: There were no traces of the Sonic Five found in or near the remains of the building.
Raybin: Then that's it? We've won?
Arachness: Not yet. We still have to find the location where my father is buried.
Raybin: Easier said than done.
Synchron: Raybin does bring up a serious point. Master Chronos was been buried on Earth for 7500 years! It took up 230 years alone to pinpoint his location to this planet!
Divit: Synchron is right. It will more than likely take more than a few weeks to find, raise, and reanimate Master Chronos.
Arachness: Then I believe that we have more time than I can afford to waste looking. Begin the plan immediately.
----------
[Onboard the main shuttle, the crew is working on navigating the other shuttles to the scheduled rendezvous point. A reporter is covering the news as the "in-flight movie." The S-Five team watch in dismay.]
Eric Hutchence: This is the scene from what used to be the technical laboratories of Watson Oppenheimer. So far, the noted doctor, as well as anyone that may have been in this building when it exploded, is nowhere in sight. Some people say that they managed to escape with their lives; some say that they weren't that lucky. No one knows for sure. In fact, no one can explain how or why O Techlabs were destroyed not too long ago. One thing's for sure; it looks like many stories may be buried under this rubble. In New York City, I'm Eric Hutchence for INN News.
[The screen then turns to the INN studios where Cass Hedgway is reporting.]
Hedgway: In other news, Richard Hartson, after being escorted for two days by Senator William Raybin, was returned to jail to complete his sentence of five years for illegal pornography charges. When Raybin was asked for a reaction, he had this to say...
Kevin (cutting off -- and drowning out -- the TV): Turn it off.
Carter: But this might be the clue we were looking for!
Kevin: I said turn the stupid thing off!
[Carter turns the set off.]
Neil: Not so quick with the enthusiasm, Kev.
[Kevin walks over to Neil as if he was going to do some serious damage.]
Kevin: You shut up.
Rob: Cease, Kevin!
Kevin: And what will the "great leader" do if I don't?
Rob: You don't want to know.
[Carter and Sydney break up the fight.]
Sydney: Will you two stop it? Look. I know what just happened is taking its psychological toll on us. But we can't go blaming each other!
Carter: Syd's right. If anything, we should be looking for a way to get back home as soon as possible.
Dr. O: I'm afraid that won't be possible.
[Dr. O, having put the shuttle on autopilot, comes in the room with a discerning look on his face.]
I just got off the phone with the contractor. He says that he can have O Techlabs up and running again in six to eight months. However, we have to salvage whatever we can from the wreckage.
Rob: But we can't just turn this shuttle fleet around and go to look for everything.
Dr. O: You're right. That's why we're docking off at LR-4 Mark 6 first.
Kevin: Wait a sec. You never told us what was at LR-4 Mark 6?
Echo: Approaching O Satellab.
Dr. O: Look out the window and see for yourself.
[The Sonic Five look out of the window to see a massive golden-colored space station. Collective "oohs" and "ahhs" round the board.]
That is the Z-Type Satellab. It was my first real success after building Rob.
Pixel: You couldn't have done this by yourself.
Dr. O: I didn't. I had a few friends at NASA. They were led by an old student of mine, Katsuhiro Koike. They helped me build and launch this. It took a year. Half the energy of the Mir with almost 7,000,000 times the power and strength.
Rob: I remember you telling me about this when you were teaching at NYU.
Dr. O: Yeah. I just never thought that WE'D be the first inhabitants.
----------
[The fleet of shuttles, one by one, enter the landing bay. The shots range from the technicians getting off of the shuttles, to the assembly of the new equipment, to the Sonic Five, Dr. O, Pixel, and the two chief technicians entering a DS9-type bridge.]
D'angelo: This looks huge!
Jackson: I never worked in a lab like this when I was in college.
[The rest of the team look around at their new surroundings.]
Neil (fiddles with the controls): Does this thing get Cinevue or something?
Rob: Hey, Neil! Don't touch that! The only one who knows what any of these things does is Dr. O.
Neil: Maybe so, but I betcha I can find out real fast.
[Neil takes a moment to scan the control panel. He then pushes a few buttons and links Echo to the Satellab.]
Echo: Electronic Computer Helping Operative now fully functional.
Neil: All right! Anyone up for a few subs while I'm at it?
[Over the intercom...]
Dr. O: S-Five team, assemble in the conference room.
Rob: Let's go.
----------
[In the conference room of the Satellab.]
Dr. O: Now onto phase two. Rob, you, Carter and I are going to take Shuttle 6 back to Earth. We have to begin searching the rubble for anything that we can salvage.
Carter: Right.
Kevin: And what about the rest of us?
Dr. O: The three of you must stay here, just in case we need help with something. While you are here, you four can meet up with D'angelo and Jackson to familiarize yourself with the controls.
Pixel: Is there any chance that we could get back to Earth?
Dr. O: Everyone's chance will come, Pixel. For now, stay here. We don't want any more trouble.
Pixel: Sure... Just rub that in my face...
Neil: Come on, Pixel. I'll fix up a couple of barbecued chicken pizzas.
[The two begin to walk off.]
Pixel: Okay, but what am I going to have?
Dr. O: Rob, Carter, get to your quarters. You'll find special crew suits to venture to Earth with. We leave at 1400 hours (walks away).
Carter: Come on, Rob. (Rob sits still) Rob?
Rob: Sorry, Carter. It's just that I've never seen Dr. O like this before. I mean, he's usually in a positive mood.
Carter: Maybe it's because he feels like he's lost his entire life.
Rob: Maybe so. Should we get to our suits?
----------
[The Galtean Earthbase. The forces are having a meeting of their own.]
Synchron: Is that the new Kelberoxin gene that we have been synthesizing?
Divit: Yes it is. It is a prototype, though. We have to test it on a subject though.
Synchron: I have an idea. Raybin!
[Raybin enters.]
Raybin: You know you should never interrupt me when I'm trying to catch up on my reports.
Arachness: They can wait. Divit has something you should see.
Divit: This is the Kelberoxin gene that I have been synthesizing. (holds up a vial) This will turn anything it infests into a raging Kelberox monster. It still has to be tested.
Raybin: No! There's no need. The battle's over. We've won. All we have to do is raise your father and then we're done with it. And even if there was a need, you think I would subject myself to be your test subject?
Divit: You think I'm talking about you? No.. I was thinking someone along the lines of your friend, Richard Hartson.
Raybin: That's impossible. I just returned that guy to the federal prison.
Zenos: Then get him back.
Raybin: You're crazy!
Argox: Why not? You have the power; Divit has the gene; Hartson has the will; and I have everything else! Let's go now...
Arachness: Do it.
Raybin: Yes, my queen.
----------
[Argox, Divit, and Raybin move to the Federal Prison in Ottawa.]
Raybin: Miss Shields, we've been asked to pardon Mr. Hartson again.
Miss Shields: I'm afraid that's impossible.
[Divit breaks out a tricorder-like device, aims it at Miss Shields, and shoots it. Instantly, Miss Shields is frozen in her tracks, her mouth hanging open as if she was about to gasp.]
Divit: I'm afraid we insist.
[The three proceed to the cell blocks. They spot Hartson.]
Raybin: Richard, you've been pardoned.
Hartson: Under whose authority?
Argox: Mine!
[Argox blasts the cage open. Hartson makes a break for it. The others follow him. On the way out, Hartson passes Miss Shields, still in her frozen gasp. Hartson looks perversely at the buttons on her shirt.]
Divit: Later, human!
----------
[The Satellab. Rob and Carter, decked out in their flight suits, meet the others on the control bridge.]
Rob (heading to the centre console of the semi-circular control panel in the centre of the bridge): We're beginning the full data uplink now.
[The computer screens begin filling up with data.]
Sydney (sitting to his left): What are you getting?
Rob: It's all the early work on the SV project. All the files and everything...
Sydney: Put an image on.
[Rob presses a button. Suddenly this image is shown on the screen.]
Carter: Who the...
Sydney: He's HOT!
Pixel: Who is that?
Rob: Echo, identify.
Echo: Unable to comply. The identity is under restricted access.
Rob: Authorize. Identity code Robin Edge, SV-005, Tetriary Adjunct of UniMatrix Zero One.
Echo: Access denied. Unable to authorize. Higher access is required.
Rob: Dad! You've got the highest access in the company.
Pixel: Dr. O? Who is he?
[Dr. O remains silent.]
Rob: Dad?
----------
[In the scanning tower of the Galtean Earthbase, Argox is seated at a searching station. He's taken his boots off and is wearing grey socks.]
Argox: Begin search.
Galtean Computer: Beginning worldwide search now.
[Synchron enters.]
How is Hartson?
Synchron: He is being sedated now.
Argox: Good. I will join you shortly.
----------
[In one of the work rooms in the station, Rob is going through the computer records. Pixel enters.]
Rob: Hey Pix. We'll be heading back in about an hour, I'm just looking through some of the records before we go.
Pixel: Yeah, I was thinking about that photo we saw earlier.
Rob: Photo?
Pixel: Remember? It was that young man in that red shirt?
Rob: When was this?
Pixel: Don't you remember? When we were on the bridge, you were accessing the early SV files, and you put that photo on the screen?
Rob: No. I have no recollection of that event.
Pixel: Really?
----------
[In the hallway, Kevin and Sydney stride past the door, which Pixel exits at the same time.]
Kevin: Oh hey.
Pixel: Hey guys, do you remember that photo from about an hour ago? We saw it when Rob was uploading the data files from the shuttle.
Kevin: No, not as such.
Pixel: Syd, you have to remember it. It was that cute guy with the hair... and he had that little goatee... you thought he was hot!
Sydney: I'd definitely remember THAT.
Pixel: That's weird, because Rob doesn't remember either...
Sydney: You're sure that happened?
Pixel: I know it did. Maybe we should talk to dad.
Kevin: "Dad"?
Pixel: I mean, Dr. Oppenheimer.
Kevin: Well, you can't do it now. Carter and Rob are about to go with him to the site.
[Pixel stares as if she was in a confused state.]
----------
[A couple of hours later, at the rubble that used to be O Techlabs. Dr. O, Rob, and Carter park the shuttle in the mountain that they escaped out of.]
Rob: So where do we start?
Dr. O: Try checking the surface for anything.
Rob: Got it.
[Rob and Carter start looking around for anything on the surface. They find a few computer panels and the shards of their syrotubes.]
Carter: this is getting more hopeless every minute.
Rob: Wait a minute... What's that? By the marquee?
[The two rush over to the stone marquee that used to be above the main entrance to O Techlabs. Rob loosens the object from the giant octagonal "O".]
Carter: What is it?
[Dr. O soon joins in.]
Dr. O: Looks like a teddy bear.
Rob: I know... It's Pixel's.
Carter: What makes you so sure?
[Rob, thinking about the time that Pixel and him slept together, looks desperately for an out.]
Rob: Just trust me.
Dr. O: That came from Pixel's room. That room wasn't as protected as the hangar or any of the storerooms. Do you suppose...?
[Wasting no time, the three run over to where the hangar used to be.]
----------
[Divit's labs. They are ready to proceed with the experiment.]
Divit: The subject is sedated. Time for the Kelberoxin gene.
[Divit proceeds to inject it. Immediately, Hartson flinches and the gene takes effect. Hartson begins to open his eyes. They glow a neon green. He then starts salivating and getting stronger... Hartson, as he knows himself, no longer exists.]
It's too strong! It's supposed to be a controlled metamorphosis!
Synchron: Well it isn't! Notify Arachness immediately!
[Before they can, a mutated Hartson breaks out of his restraints and rushes for the door. Zenos rushes to tell his sister of the goings-on.]
Arachness: Loose? Why did you set the monster loose?
Zenos: I didn't. It escaped.
Arachness: Well, find Richard Hartson and bring him back here!
----------
[Meanwhile, Hartson continues to mutate into Kelberox as Dr. O, Rob, and Carter reach the remains of the hangar.]
Dr. O: You two keep looking over there. I'll stay here and watch out for any presences.
Carter: Okay, Doc.
[Carter begins to scan for anything. His eyesight is now a shade of blue as he begins to pan and scan for anything that may be of assistance. Dr. O comes into the ragged hangar wtih some startling news.]
Dr. O: Rob, Carter... Something's outside.
Kelberox (in a twisted amalgamation of Hartson's voice): Now something's inside!
[The three turn around to see Kelberox, a twisted fish-like creature made up entirely of muscle, ready to shoot an energy ball from his mouth. They dodge it.]
Rob: Carter, you don't suppose you found something?
Carter: Actually, I did.
[Carter picks up what looks like Kevin's SonicCannon and tosses it to Rob. Kelberox starts to fire another energy ball from its mouth, but this time Rob serves a counterblast that knocks Kelberox down.]
Rob: That ought to buy us adequate time. Father, do you think you can summon the others while we handle this?
Dr. O: No problem.
Carter: Wait. Do you think our powers still work?
Rob: If I recall correctly, the SV programs come from the Sonic Chargers, not the actual techlabs. They should work.
Carter: Only one way to find out. Sonic Pentium Charge Blue!
Rob: Sonic Pentium Charge Red!
[The two transform, pose, and go to fight the monster.]
SonicRed: Ready?
SonicBlue: Let's do it! SonicBlue!
SonicRed: SonicRed!
Kelberox: Well, well, so two of the Sonic Five are alive. And here I was thinking that we blew up everything!
SonicRed: Think again! SonicSwitchers now!
[SonicRed and SonicBlue pull out their SonicSwitchers and prepare to fight the incoming monster. SonicRed gives a sideslash that manages only to stun the offender. SonicBlue does a flying flip and a rolling slash onto Kelberox's head. Angry, Kelberox starts launching his pins onto the Sonic Soldiers. They hit them and the Rangers fall.]
SonicBlue: Man! We sure could use the rest of the Sonic Five now.
SonicRed: No kidding.
[Outside the hangar doors, Dr. O tries to get in contact with the Satellab. He reaches Pixel.]
Dr. O: Pixel! Where're the others!
Pixel: They've been monitoring the fight and decided that you guys really need some help. They've left on the first available craft.
Dr. O: Good thinking, Pixel. Dr. O ...
Pixel (interrupting): Wait a sec. I have to talk to you about something. That guy we saw today. You know something, don't you?
[Dr. O, staring down the barrel of Pixel's knowledge, remains silent.]
Doctor?
[Still nothing.]
Doctor Oppenheimer.
[Taking no more of the pressure, he disconnects his V-Pager.]
SONIC V STAND BY
Questions and comments should be addressed to either Chris or myself.
NEXT WEEK:
The mysteries of O Techlabs...
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