Copyright 2001 --- Robert Baer Jr. The Space Rovers -- "The Quest --- Part 1" 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 Boomer, Rasputin, Saundra, Alexander, Grunt, Daisy, Abdullah, Bob, Cactus Jake, Marie, Francis, Calypso, Sheena, Bruno, Molly, Deborah, Orchid, Porta, Dot, Luigi, Sophia, Willfong, Lao Zi, Su Li, Sno-wie, Numbia, Hojo, Shamansta, Derby and Poncho are all Robert Baer Jr's creations, copyright pending, 1999 - 2000. Kenai is a creation of Patrick Wood. The Space Rovers -- "The Quest -- Part 1" The scene is the lounge area of the Canius Minor. After listening to Cactus Jake and Flash singing for a while, the crew is now enjoying another one of Shamansta's magic shows. Dressed in her favorite black leotard and top hat, she amazes the crowd with several simple tricks before bringing out her 'magic cabinet.' PERSIA (smiles): Shamansta told me she'd been working on this trick for months GRUNT (confused): GRRRRRRRRR GROWL??? BOOMER (smiles): To answer your question, Grunt, she's going to have herself placed in a straight jacket, chained up with several chains, and then be inmersed upside down in that glass cabinet full of water SAUNDRA (nods): Harry Houdini was the first one to perform this trick, only a few others have attempted it since. SHEENA (turns to Persia): Captain? Are you sure this is a good idea? PERSIA (sternly): I trust in Ensign Shamansta's abilities. She'd never attempt a trick if it wasn't safe. Hojo and Mohawk tie the straight jacket on Shamansta as she explains the trick. SHAMANSTA (smiles): Ladies and gentlemen, my assistants will next chain me up with four heavy bound chains. Then I will be placed upside down into the water chamber. Holding my breath, I will have only about two minutes to escape or... I will drown. Please, you children in the audience, do NOT attempt this trick in your home quarters! I am a trained professional. Let the trick begin! After Hojo and Mohawk finish chaining Shamansta up, they go to the side of the stage and begin to hoist her into the air. Slowly they move her over the tank, gently drop her in and quickly cover it completely with a blue and silver tarp. A large digital clock above the stage begins to count the seconds. ORCHID (in the audience); She thinks she's hot stuff! Serve her right if she failed on this one PORTA (beside her): Shame on you, Orchid! How dare you say something like that SU-LI (scared): Oh my.... one minute down already... WHITEY (sternly); This is no movement from the tarp.... is it possible that Shamansta is trapped? The clock continues to count, past two minutes, past three minutes..... BOOMER (shouts): There's no way! She should've been out of there by now! SAUNDRA (screams): Someone do something! Grunt growls loudly as he leaps upon the stage, Rasputin, Hojo, Sno-wie and Mohawk quickly follow Grunt onto the stage, the mighty pit bull grabs the rope holding the tarp and gives it a quick jerk. To everyone's amazement, Shamansta is missing from the tank. Everyone in the audience, even the ones on the stage, begin to ask outloud, "Where's Shamansta?" Soon, Sno-wie steps into the spotlight, pulling on the bottom of her face, the rubber mask comes off to reveal... SHAMANSTA (smiles): Thank you, ladies and gentlemen! The audience stands to their feet and applaud as Shamansta takes several bows before walking off-stage. PERSIA (smiles): I told you all, she had the situation under control... WHITEY (shocked): She did look like Sno-wie, but she's in our quarters with the puppies.. BOOMER (points): Did you see Grunt's face? I think he really thought that Shamansta had drown... GRUNT (hugs Shamansta): GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR GROWL!!! GRRRRRRRRRRRR!!! SHAMANSTA (struggles): Thank you... Commander..... you're cutting off my circulation.... please release me. GRUNT (releases her): GRRRRRR GROWL... SHAMANSTA (nods): It's alright, I'm pleased you care so much about me! PERSIA (smiles, shakes her hand): Well done, Ensign! SHAMANSTA (smiles): Thank you, if you'll excuse me, I need to change. I have duty in Engineering in one hour. BRUNO (on PA system): All hands to resuce stations! All senior officers report to the bridge! PERSIA (into wrist comm): Persia to Bruno, what's going on? BRUNO (on speaker): Captain, I have just picked up a very faint distress call from the Artaks Android belt. PERSIA (into wrist comm): On my way! Within a minute, Persia, Alexander, Boomer, Saundra, Whitey, Grunt, Cactus Jake, Bob and Calypso take their places on the bridge. PERSIA (turns to Bruno): Replay the message on speakers, Bruno BRUNO (nods): Aye aye, Captain! FEMALE VOICE (on speakers, crackling): This is the frigate .... Trow-ren of ..... Prone.... have.... crashed..... life support..... running out........ BRUNO (sadly); That's the best I can do salvaging the message, it was badly garbled PERSIA (turns to Whitey): Pin point their exact location, Whitey! BOB (sternly): If they are marooned in the Artaks astroid belt, that's a very disputed part of space. The Jurrassian Allaince has claim to it as well as the Inzomans, the Prone, the Hajianals.... ALEXANDER (sternly); Why do all these races want this part of space so badly? BOB (sternly): Ancient rumors tell of a great treasure hidden in the astroid belt, a rare element of almost mythical fame called 'Phosolate." BOOMER (giggles); Great! What does this... this Phosolate do? BOB (sadly): No one truly knows... some say it's an inexhaustable energy source... others say it's an indestructable metal.... a few even claim that it's the key to the richest treasure in the universe! WHITEY (looks at monitor): I have the exact location of the distress call, Captain! PERSIA (nods): Excellent! Patch the coordinates to Saundra, plot a course! Boomer, best speed! SAUNDRA & BOOMER (nodding): Aye aye, Captain! Immediately, the Canius Minor is at warp nine. PERSIA (sternly): Estimated time of arrival SAUNDRA (looks at monitor): At warp nine, we'll be there in two minutes WHITEY (sternly): Two point one seven minutes to be exact.. PERSIA (shouts): Scan for other ships in the area.... ALEXANDER (turns to Bob): If what you say is true, there should be many, many ships in the vicinity searching for this so called Phosolate, right? BOB (shakes head); Few ever search because the astroid belt is dangerous. Not only is it in constant motion, legends also speak of many adventures who attempted to find the treasure. They launch for the Artaks, and are never heard from again.. CACTUS JAKE (shocked): Oh man! That's like a galatic Bermuda Triangle! CALYPSO (smirks): Stuff and nonsense, mon! Der be no such ting! PERSIA (sternly): Well, we have to find out... BOOMER (shouts): Closing in on Artak astroid chain... PERSIA (sternly): Drop out of warp, force fields to full power! Take us ahead slowly and carefully, Boomer. BOOMER (nods): Aye aye, Captain The Canius Minor slowly approaches the astroid. It is four times larger than the ship, and seems to be hollow with a large opening on one side. WHITEY (looking at monitor): This is definately the source of the distress signal. Unable to scan the interior due to subspace interference. ALEXANDER (sternly): Captain, I advise caution... PERSIA (sternly): Saundra, will the Canius Minor fit through that opening? SAUNDRA (nods): Affirmative Captain... WHITEY (shocked): Captain! We're not going to ..... PERSIA (sternly); Yes, we are Commander! Someone's in trouble in there, we have to do everything we can to rescue them! Boomer, takes us inside! BOOMER (pushing buttons): Aye aye, Captain! The ship slowly moves inside the huge astroid. On the front viewer, the crew sees a small blue vessel which appears to be damaged. WHITEY (looking at monitor): We have scanner contact! Three life forms inside, they are Pronates. PERSIA (shouts): Hail them! WHITEY (looking at monitor): Life support almost out! PERSIA (shouts); No time for introductions! Teleport them aboard now! BRUNO (nods): Daisy reports the three Pronates are now on board! ALEXANDER (nods): Now, let's get out of here! PERSIA (nods): I agree, old man! (sternly): Boomer, back up out of .... Suddenly, the entire ship is shaking. PERSIA (shouts): REPORT!! WHITEY (sternly): This astroid is under attack! CACTUS JAKE (angry): Some yahoo just caved the opening in! ALEXANDER (shocked): But how? We detected no other ships in the area! BRUNO (turns to Persia): Captain, we are being hailed... PERSIA (sternly): On screen... The front viewer now shows the smiling face of a Mataxian Comazar. FLAGGON (on screen); This is Comazar Flaggon of the Mataxian science division. You seem to be in some distress, Captain Persia! PERSIA (growls): You could say that, Comazar. FLAGGON (on screen): It's a shame that you vessel is trapped, we will offer to rescue you and your crew and take you back to Alliance space... PERSIA (furious): YOU are the ones who caused the cave in! And I know what you want from us! Bruno, close channel! GRUNT (angry): GRRRRRRRRRRRRR GROWL GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!! PERSIA (nods): it's true Grunt, I read the Comazar's mind! ALEXANDER (growls): They want our crew for guinea pigs and our technology for themselves! PERSIA (nods): Right, old man! CACTUS JAKE (growls): Let's just blast our way out! WHITEY (sternly): Impossible.... the interior of this android is comprised of a foreign alloy. Our lasers and torpedoes would be useless attacking it. PERSIA (angry): We need another option! BRUNO (turns to Persia): The Comazar is hailing us again.... he is repeating his offer.... BOOMER (angry): We can't trust the Mataxians! ALEXANDER (shakes head): Looks like we may not have a choice. We can't stay here forever... BRUNO (looks at monitor): We only have short range communications... they are jamming all long range frequencies... PERSIA (angry): Like Exile would say, we're in deep doggie donuts this time.... (sternly): Senior officer meeting in five minutes.. Five minutes later in the 'ready' room, Persia, Alexander, Boomer, Saundra, Whitey, Cactus Jake, Abdullah, Molly, Bob, Francis, Marie, Daisy and Flash meet to discuss the present situation. PERSIA (sternly); That's our present dilema. We are basically buried alive on this astroid, unable to use our weapons to break out. First, I want a report on our rescued guests, Doctor... ABDULLAH (sadly): The three Pronates we saved were nearly dead when we beamed them over here. Dr Sheena and myself have done our best to stablize them. PERSIA (turns to Molly): Molly, send Lt Wilfong to sick bay. I want them alive, maybe they can help solve the mystery of Phosolate. Old man, Whitey, any alternative way of getting the Canius Minor free? ALEXANDER (sadly): Sorry Captain.. WHITEY (sadly); We even were going to try high sonic pulses, but they would do more damage to the ship than to the astroid.. DAISY (excited): I GOT IT!!! I GOT IT!!! PERSIA (nods): Daisy? FLASH (excited): YES!!! IT CAN WORK!!! PERSIA (sternly): WHAT??? WHAT???? DAISY & FLASH (together): PHASIC SHIELDING!!! BOB (nods): I get it! Using the device we recovered from Raynard's space vessel! DAISY (nods): That's right Bob! Me and my sister have the prototype ready in our lab! FLASH (nods): It will allow this ship to pass through solid objects, just like Molly and Bruno can! MOLLY (angry): Bolshoi! Dis idea is crazy! PERSIA (sternly): Lt Commander Molotov! Do you have a better suggestion? MOLLY (sits down): No ma'am... PERSIA (sternly): Daisy, Flash, how much time do you need to get the ship ready for phasic shielding? DAISY (excited); We can get the job done in under an hour, if we can get Engineering and Damage Control to help us! FRANCIS (stands up): You'll have our full cooperation! MARIE (stands up): We we! PERSIA (turns to Molly): We must work fast, you will work with Daisy & Flash won't you, Molly? MOLLY (gruffy): Da! I vill! BOB (stands up): Captain, if I may, we'll need a distraction to keep the Mataxians busy.. WHITEY (shakes head): Standard teleporter won't work due to the interference.. BOB (smiles): Yes, but Calypso and my teleportation powers can operate in deep space... PERSIA (nods): Excellent! Proceed! Time is of the essense! The scene now switches to the Mataxian ship. On the bridge, Comazar Fraggon is excited about the trap he had laid for the Space Rovers. FLAGGON (laughs): Keep trying to raise the Canius Minor! Sooner or later they'll realize that surrender is their only option! The mighty Captain Persia and her crew will be mine! And so will all of their inventions! I'll be made Prime Minister of Mataxia for this! It was so easy! Our ship stayed invisible until the Canius Minor arrived, she goes into the astroid, WE BURY HER!!!! SOLDIER (sternly): Comazar, the Canius Minor is not answering... FLAGGON (angry): No doubt Persia is planning something... but there's very little those space mutts can do! We're jamming all of the long range comm lines, and their matter transporter can't work through the crust of that astroid. Otherwise, we could board the Canius Minor ourselves. We can wait them out... and maybe blast more parts of the astroid to scare them into surrender. In another part of the Mataxian ship, suddenly Bob and Calypso in her vampire form appear. BOB (whispering); It's a good thing there's only one ship... CALYPSO (whispering): Stick to the plan, you go into engineering, I go up front and be gettin' into trouble mon! Bob nods as he uses his mind powers to make himself invisible. Calypso walks toward the bridge until she is captured by soldiers. The soldiers immediately take her up to the bridge to face the Comazar. FLAGGON (smirks): So, Calypso! How did you get aboard my ship? CALYPSO (smiles): I took dee stairs... FLAGGON (angry): Silence! Now I will tell Persia we have a hostage! Disarm her! One of the soldiers take two laser pistols from her belt and sets them on the front console. FLAGGON (laughs): Now! Any last words before you die? CALYPSO (laughs): Just two, BYE MON!! With that, she instantly disappears. FLAGGON (furious): IT CAN'T BE!!! SEARCH THE SHIP!!! SEARCH DECK BY DECK IF YOU MUST!!! FIND CALYPSO!!!! As the soldiers exit the bridge, the two laser pistols on the console morph into Numbia and Poncho. NUMBIA (sternly): Now's our chance, time for some heavy duty rewiring! PONCHO (nods): Si my little desert flower! NUMBIA (sternly): Better take one last precaution.. PONCHO (nods): Si! But Numbia and Poncho now morph into Mataxians as the 'chase' for Calypso continues. The wiley Jamacian dog keeps making 'appearances' all over the ship while Poncho, Numbia and Bob work. Meanwhile, aboard the Canius Minor the entire crew works feverishly to get the ship ready for the phasic shielding. Calypso now appears in the bridge again, next to the 'disguised' Numbia and Poncho. The now enranged Comazar quickly surrounds her. FLAGGON (shouting): The chase is over! Now we have you! CALYPSO (laughing): Dat's what you tink, mon! In a blink of an eye, Numbia and Poncho morph into bracelets on Calypso's wrists and then disappears. She reappears on the bridge of the Canius Minor beside of Bob. BOB (smiles): You're late, Calypso... CALYPSO (laughs): Only by a second, mon! Time for me jewelry to come back to life! Numbia and Poncho now morph back into themselves. PERSIA (smiles): Well done, we're ready to get out of here! Saundra. plot a course through the astroid wall. Bruno, tell Daisy and Flash to get the phasic shield online! Let's make Space Rover history! The Canius Minor moves slowly towards the wall of the astroid. To everyone's delight, the ship passes through the wall and into normal space. PERSIA (sternly): Keep the phasic shield on, the astroid belt is moving again! WHITEY (sternly): Sensors show the Mataxian vessel is pursuing us... PONCHO (laughs): Let dee poor hombres follow us! NUMBIA (laughs): After all the 'repairs' we made! BOB (laughs): Engine sabatoge is rather fun! The scene switches to the bridge of the Mataxian vessel. FLAGGON (shocked): HOW?? HOW CAN THAT BE THE CANIUS MINOR??? BLAST HER!!! FIRE EVERYTHING WE HAVE AT IT!!! SOLDIER (shouts): Firing torpedoes! A loud explosion shakes the ship. FLAGGON (shouting): WHAT HAPPANED???? SOLDIER (shouts): All engines just exploded, Comazar! FLAGGON (shocked): WHAT???? SOLDIER (shouts): Comazar! Astroids on a collision course with us! FLAGGON (furious): SPACE ROVERS!!!!! THEY DID THIS!!!! ABANDON SHIP!! SOLDIER (shouts): ALL CREW TO ESCAPE PODS!!! The Canius Minor steers out of the astroid belt just as the Mataxian vessel explodes in a fireball of fury. PERSIA (smiles): Old man, this crew did a heroic job during this crisis! You have the comm. I want to go down and visit our Pronate guests in sick bay. I have a feeling that this is only the beginning of something greater... --------------------------------------------------- to be continued....