Copyright 2001 --- Robert Baer Jr. Space Rovers (Galatea) -- "Unplanned Meeting" DISCLAIMER Road Rovers characters, names, situations and the Road Rovers universe are the property of Warner Bros. I, nor this script/story are connected with Warner Bros. in any way, shape or form. This document may not be publicized or reproduced in any way, shape or form. It must remain fully intact and may not be altered in anyway. It is strictly used for not-for-profit entertainment purposes only, and is not intended to infringe on any Copyrights. This story is written by Robert Baer Jr and the characters Delta Dog, Dayton, Rocky, Yuhon, Otto and Julia are all Robert Baer Jr's creations, copyright pending, 1999 - 2000. Captain Rikes, Sarah, and the Space Rovers (Galatea) concept are the creation of Shawn Tigges, Christian is a creation of Bart Walls. Wolve is a creation of rrWolve. Space Rovers (Galatea) -- "Unplanned Meeting" The scene is the surface of planet Fripous Four. First Mate Sarah is leading the 'away' team which consists of Dayton, Yuhon, Delta Dog, Wolve, Rocky and Julia. As the group use their tricorders to explore the surface of the planet, Sarah's last log entry echoes in her mind. SARAH (recorded, voiceover): First Officer's Log -- Today I am leading my first away mission. The Captain allowed me to select my own team. I chose each member for their special skills. I chose Lt Yukon for his mineral expertise, Lt Wolve for protection, Nurse Julia for her medical skills, Ensigns Dayton and Rocky for their relative stregth and Lt Delta Dog for her 'fire' skills. Our mission is to explore the surface of this uninhabited Class N planet for Barium or other useful minerals. Rumors from a traveling Gheletari trader have led us to this world. Let's hope our mission is successful. End Entry. SARAH (shouts): This is the spot where the Galatea's sensors detected the highest concentration of Barium, so we'll divide into teams. Rocky, you and Wolve go south. Dayton, you and Delta Dog will travel north while Lt Yuhon and I go east. JULIA (excited): What about me, Commander? SARAH (stutters): Well.... let's see... JULIA (takes Wolve by the arm): I'll go where he goes! SARAH (nods); Alright, it's settled then. Each team will maintain contact with the others every five minutes... DELTA DOG (interrupts): No fair! (embarrassed); Well, I mean Commander, with all due respect... how about I go with Yuhon and YOU go with Dayton.. DAYTON (sarcastic): Don't wanna be seen with street trash like me, huh.. SARAH (sternly): Enough! I have made my decision on the pairing, let's move out, we're wasting time. Julia, Wolve and Rocky walk together in a southernly direction, as she watches Sarah and Yuhon disappearing over the horizon, Delta Dog is fuming. DELTA DOG (to herself): That Sarah! She's a mere child and she sure makes certain to pair off with Yuhon! He's MY dreamboat! Not hers! (outloud without realizing it) It ain't fair I tell ya, it just ain't fair! DAYTON (turns to her): What ain't fair, Delta? DELTA DOG (growls); Nothing! Continue scanning for Barium, Ensign! DAYTON (defensive): Hey, you don't gonna snap at me! We're on the same crew, remember? DELTA DOG (snotty): Don't flatter yourself, ENSIGN. I outrank y'all in more than just crew status! DAYTON (nods): I agree! You sure outrank me in arrogence, in ego, in.... DELTA DOG (furious): THAT WILL DO, DAYTON!! DAYTON (points): I'm getting very strong readings from that direction, let's go look at it! DELTA DOG (sternly): Wait a minute, I'm the ranking officer here, I will make the decisions for our team! DAYTON (rolls eyes): Yes, ma'am DELTA DOG (smiles): We'll go in that direction, to investigate those high readings... DAYTON (under breath): Great idea, glad I thought of it.. DELTA DOG (turns to him): What was that, Ensign? DAYTON (big grin): Er..nothing ma'am! The two are now standing over a good sized shaft in the ground. They peer down into it, from where they are standing it seems to be bottomless. DAYTON (pointing tricorder at the hole): Yes, this is it! Definately strong Barium ore readings in that shaft! DELTA DOG (looking into it): Maybe this was an ancient mine shaft, it certainly is wide enough to be one! DAYTON (smiles); Well, we found it, now if we could only get a good sized sample for the science officers to study.. Meanwhile, the scene shifts to Sarah and Yuhon, who are still following a faint trail of ore on their tricorders. SARAH (looks up at Yuhon): Lt Yuhon. How close are we to the nearest Barium deposit? YUHON (looks at tricorder): Looks like there's only trace amounts of Barium in this area for a good square kilometer. CHRISTIAN (on comm): Christian to Commander McLaude! SARAH (taps comm badge): Go ahead, Leiutenant! CHRISTIAN (on comm): We're beginning to read some syzmic activity in your general area.... suggest your landing party return to the ship until it subsides.. SARAH (nods); Agreed! I'll get our teams together and we'll return to the ship in five minutes... CHRISTIAN (on comm): Tremor coming your way, you don't have five minutes! As Sarah reaches for her comm badge, the ground beneath her shakes violently. Instinctively, she reaches out and hugs Yuhon. Yuhon morphs his arms into a 'shield' to protect the two from falling rocks. The tremor reaches Wolve's team's position. Wolve 'powers up', allowing Rocky and Julia shelter within his energy 'field'. When the tremor reaches Dayton's position, it causes Delta Dog to fall into the shaft. Dayton grabs her arm and tries to reach for a foothold, but his brave effort to save her causes both of them to fall into the shaft. When the dust clears and the tremor stops, Delta Dog awakens to find herself with minor bruises. Dayton lies unconscience beside of her. DELTA DOG (scared): Dayton? DAYTON!! C'mon, wake up! PLEASE?? (sobs); I can't believe it. This scrub actually tried to save me... (taps comm badge): Delta Dog to Galatea! (taps it again): Delta Dog to Commander McLaude! (taps it again): DELTA DOG TO ANYONE!!! (waits... no reply): Dandy! Just dandy! (looks up): I can't see any light above! We're sealed in! (calmly): Ok... Delta.... hold yourself together... think of your training... (nods): First rule, tend to the injured... She looks at Dayton, who is bleeding some from his head. DELTA DOG (looks around): Where's our med kit? Shoot! Must've lost it in the fall.... gotta stop that bleedin' Delta tears off one of her uniform sleeves and wraps in tightly around Dayton's head. As she works, she sees Dayton slowly opening his eyes.. DELTA DOG (softly): Dayton darlin', are you alright? DAYTON (gruffly): Got one heck of a headache..... DELTA DOG (sternly); Why did you try to save me? You knew it was a big risk... DAYTON (smiles): I've never been known to play it safe... Been that way all of my life.... DELTA DOG (sadly): Now we're both trapped down here alone... the entrance is caved in, I can't get a message out and I have no idea where our field packs are. DAYTON (smiles): It could've been worse.. DELTA DOG (confused): How could it be worse? DAYTON (smirks): At least I missing weekly KP duty... DELTA DOG (angry): That's right, make jokes at a time like this! (stands up): Don't you realize, we may never be rescued! We could be trapped down here for the rest of our lives! DAYTON (struggles to stand): Now Delta.... DELTA DOG (gruffly); LT DELTA DOG TO YOU, ENSIGN! DAYTON (nods); Ok, Lt Delta, let's not panic. I've been in worse scrapes than this! DELTA DOG (sarcasticly): Really? Tell me about it! DAYTON (stares at her): Hey! Before I became a Road Rover I lived on the streets of the inner city! It's not easy for a stray dog to survive with all the crime, winter cold, cops and angry humans all around ya! Many a night I was lucky to find some garbage scraps for dinner and a place to sleep that was away from the roving street gangs and gunfire. DELTA DOG (softer tone): Really? DAYTON (nods): It was like the first time I met the Road Rovers. It was night, only lights all around were the street lamps and the full moon. I was lying on a fire escape when I heard the strangest gunfire sounds I've ever heard before. When I looked down, I saw four guys in silverly suits who looked like ... dogs... DELTA DOG (nods): That's Colleen, Hunter, Blitz and Exile, right? DAYTON (nods): That's right... Shag was with them, but he was already running farther down the alley than the others. I watched them pass by and then saw two goons who were shooting laser weapons at them. Later I found out they were Parvo and Groomer. DELTA DOG (excited): What happaned next, Dayton? DAYTON (smiles): Well, the first rule of the streets is survival, the second is every man for himself. I was just gonna go on to sleep, but for some reason, I don't know why, I decided to help those weird lookin' dog people. So, I jumped down off the fire escape and came charging at those two goons, barking my fool head off. I managed to pounce on the bigger one, Parvo, and knocked him down. That's when the Groomer shot me in the back. This gave Colleen time to karate chop her and Blitz time to bite Parvo's tooschie! (laughs) That day, Parvo and Groomer got away but Hunter and the others took me back the Mission Control with them, and that's how I became a Road Rover. Dayton can see a look of concern in Delta's blue eyes, he walks over to put his arm around her but she suddenly backs away from him. DELTA DOG (shocked): Oh Dayton, I'm so sorry. But it's hard for me to get close to anyone anymore. And your story reminded me of ... of..... Delta Dog bursts into tears, Dayton slowly walks over and gives her a gentle hug. DELTA DOG (releases the hug): Reminds me of the day I discovered my abilities with fire.. You see, I was the pet of a young African American couple in Savannah. We were all so happy together for many years, I even played with their youngsters. One day... in just one fear filled night... all of that changed.. DAYTON (sits down with Delta): How did it change? DELTA DOG (sadly); I didn't understand it back then, but when I became a Rover, it was very clear. One night, a group of white hooded men snuck their way unto our property. I was in my doghouse asleep, but I heard some commotion outside and went to investigate it. The evil humans had erected a cross in our front lawn and were pouring gasoline on it. I barked and growled at the men, trying to warm my owners, but one of the men had sneaked up behind me, and before I knew it, I was bound and muzzled. DAYTON (reaches to hold Delta's hand): That must've been horrible... then what happened? DELTA DOG (sadly): One of the men got the idea to tie ME to their cross before setting it on fire. (crying); I was scared out of my littl' ol' wits! They lit the cross with a torch, and it ignited instantly. I struggled and struggled, barely able to move at all. DAYTON (shocked): Oh my... I have no idea.... DELTA DOG (partial smile): That when I realized something was different about me. At first I felt the flames, but in an instant, it was like the fire wasn't hurting me anymore! It was as if my body was absorbing all of the heat and intensity of the fire. That's the only way I could explain it.. The cross continued to burn, the ropes they tied me with burned off, even my muzzle was turned to ashes, but I was completely unharmed. I wasn't hurt, but I was so angry with those hooded humans. They was all laughing and running back to their trucks, but I was determined to protect my owner's lives and property! I lifted a paw in the air, to my surprise, a blast of fire shot out of it! If I'd been thinking clearly, I'd just calmed down, but I was red hot furious! I ran towards the laughing humans and pointed my paws at them! Soon, their clothes ignited in flames, they started screaming and yelling, jumping into their trucks. The group nearest to me ran for the woods. I was so upset, as I ran towards them my entire body formed a 'bubble' of fire all around it! The intensity of the flames set their truck's gas tank to explode. That's when the neighbors called the police and everyone rushed out into the street to see what was going on. All they could see was a 'flaming' dog and a blown-up truck on fire. There was no way for me to tell the crowd that I was only trying to protect my human master's family. I can still remember the look of fear on their faces, (sobbing) even the looks on little Ester's and Roland's faces as they saw me in my 'ignited' form. Later that night, firemen doused me over and over again with water and foam. As the sun was rising, I was wrapped in abestos material and placed on the back of the dog catcher's truck. (crying); I was so heartbroken, watching my owner's family look on as the truck drove away.. (shouts): I THOUGHT THEY LOVED ME!!! I THOUGHT THEY CARED ABOUT ME!!! Now Delta Dog is crying uncontrolably, Dayton hesitates at first, but then gives the frightened Leiutentant another warm embrace. DAYTON (pats her on the back gently): It's alright now.... it's alright.... DELTA DOG (crying): If it wasn't the Master, I'd been gassed for sure! (sobbing): While the truck was on the highway, Otto teleported to where I was laying. "Don't be afraid' he told me in that John Wayniesh voice of his,"I'm here to rescue you!". That's when he teleported me back to Mission Control. The others there welcomed me with open paws.... (sadly); But nothing in this ol' world hurt me deeper than the day my owners rejected me.... (sobs): Guess that's why I don't really ... well.... let people get close to me anymore... DAYTON (nods): I sure know that feeling, Delta. So many times on the streets I would find a human, or even a fellow mutt who I thought of as a friend.. only to watch them betray me or turn tail and run at the first sign of danger... Dayton and Delta Dog now are looking deeply into each other's eyes. Slowly, they share a long, passionate kiss. Suddenly, they heard a shout from above. WOLVE (shouting, sound muffled): DELTA!!! DAYTON!!!! CAN YOU HEAR ME???? Instantly, Delta Dog jumps up and shouts loudly, waving her arms in the air. DELTA DOG (jumping, shouting): YES!! WE'RE HERE!!! WE'RE HERE!!! Dayton soon joins Delta in the shouting. DAYTON (shouting); WE'RE DOWN HERE!!! WOLVE (shouting, sound muffled): Commander!! I found them! SARAH (shouting, sound muffled): Don't worry Delta and Dayton! We're going to dig you out by hand, just stay put for the moment! DELTA DOG (happy, hugs Dayton): HOORAY!!! WE'RE GOING TO BE SAVED!!! DAYTON (happy): YES!! WE SURVIVED DARLING!!!! DELTA DOG (releases the hug): Darling? DAYTON (happy, nods): Well yeah... DELTA DOG (growls): I AM NOT YOUR DARLING!!! DAYTON (confused): But, the kiss, the sharing of ... DELTA DOG (sternly): If you EVER tell anyone what really happaned down here, I swear to you by all that's holy that you'll be scrubbing floors, peeling potatoes and cleaning toilets for the rest of your Space Rover career! Is that clear, Ensign Dayton? DAYTON (sadly): Very clear... LT Delta Dog.... (to himself).. it's like on the streets all over again.. DELTA DOG (happy): I can't wait to get back! I'll fix my makeup and ask that dreamy Lt Yukon to the lounge for dinner and dancin' and.... She stops in mid sentence when she sees Dayton sitting on the floor, his back turned towards her. DELTA DOG (softly): Er... Dayton... if it means anything.... thank you for all your kindness..... DAYTON (gruffly): Kindness, right. You're just like all the others, LT Delta Dog... Before Delta Dog can answer, Rocky and Wolve punch a 'hole' through the rubble. ROCKY (happy): Dayton! Delta! Good to see you are safe and sound! WOLVE (sternly): The Barium ore was blocking your communications and our transporter beams. I've brought some pattern enhancers so we can all beam directly to the ship! DELTA DOG (bubbling): That's wonderful! DAYTON (half smile): Yeah... The scene is back on the ship in the galley, several hours later. Dayton sits alone, eating his fried chicken and mashed potatoes, as Delta Dog enters the room, holding her tray and looking all around. Then she sees how Sarah and Yuhon are seated together, laughing and enjoying pleasant conversation. DELTA DOG (furious): That Sarah! Beat me to the punch again! Makes me feel like... DAYTON (behind her, interrupting): Like the way your owners turned on you, doesn't it? Delta Dog quickly turns around and growls at Dayton, but then calms down when she realizes that he's right. She sits down across the table from him. DELTA DOG (nervous): The.. galley seems full today.. hope you don't mind if I sit here, Ensign.. DAYTON (giggles): You mean you'd dine with a scrub? Delta looks up at Dayton, first angry, then understanding how she had been making him feel. DELTA DOG (softly): Look, Dayton....I never meant to hurt anyone... not you... or Rocky... or... DAYTON (looks up): Don't sweat it, Delta, I've been treated worse in my life.. DELTA DOG (calmly): Look, I'm not saying that I'd want to date you... but ... maybe.... DAYTON (looks up): Friends? DELTA DOG (nods): Friends! The two shake hands and eat their meals. DELTA DOG (to herself): He's not such a bad guy..... maybe if I can't get Yuhon.... DAYTON (to himself): Looks like the 'mouth from the south' has a heart after all..... They smile at each other as they share the salt and pepper. -----------------------------------------------------------------------