New The Threat
From Planet 10
Part 1: Space Pods
By Regalo3000
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I
When the waving frightened-looking couple appeared in front of his pickup Slow Motion said a quick prayer to the Great Spirit and stopped the truck. He got out. What's wrong? he asked.
The man was sweating and out of breath, In our ... barn ... pods! he said.
We ran as fast as we could, said the woman. They made us promise! They said they'd kill ... kill the children if we didn't cooperate!
Wait a minute, said Slow Motion. You're all over the place, you're not making any sense, what are you talking about?
The man suddenly burst out, Red Lectroids! They've invaded our farm!
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II
Night time was not Slow Motion's favorite time of the day to be walking through the woods, heading for a farm he'd never been to, looking for an enemy he'd never met. But he was given directions by the farmer and his wife as to where the farm was. When he arrived, having made his way across a tomato field towards a small two story house, he found the house to be quite busy. He could hear the talk among the Lectroids.
The farmer and his wife are gone.
Even after we threatened their children?
They have no children, there are none in the house, they lied to us.
The children might be hiding. Find them.
What if there are none?
Then we go about our business as planned.
What if the local authorities arrive?
Then we blow up the barn.
What about the pods?
We have no other choice. John Johnner?
Yes?
There was a gunshot. That's for letting the humans escape. There was the sound of clapping.
Slow Motion made his way carefully to the cellar door without being seen. The farmer had told him of the secret hiding place where no doubt the two children would be hiding. He found the wine rack against the cellar wall. Kids? Hey, kids? Don't worry, I'm human, I'm not one of them.
Still there was silence.
I'm with the Buckaroo Banzai Institute, he said.
The two children popped out from behind the wine rack. Buckaroo! Buckaroo! they exclaimed.
Quiet! said Slow Motion. Don't make any noise! There're still Red Lectroids around! I'm here to help you! The kids were clinging to his legs by now! Okay, what's the safest way outta here? he asked the kids.
There's a tunnel that leads to the barn, said the boy. Through the barn we can reach the woods!
Daddy built it when the Lectroid Sightings started to pick up around here, said the girl.
The kids ran to the large wine rack. The boy and the girl knelt down and crawled inside. C'mon, said the girl. This way! Slow Motion got on his hands and knees, gun still in his hand. He pulled the wine rack closed behind him. They crawled in the darkness for what must have been fifty yards until they came to what felt like a ladder. Over here, said the boy. There's a trap door!
Don't touch anything, said Slow Motion. He maneuvered himself past the two children and upwards to the trap door. He could hear voices.
The humans must have called the authorities by now.
John Critter, begin putting the pods into the truck, they'll have to hatch there, while we're on our way to the rendevous.
I shall obey, John Joshua.
Slow Motion lifted the trap door and saw that there were what looked like pods situated all around the interior of the barn. Damn, but if this didn't remind him of Invasion of the Body Snatchers. Then he saw a Red Lectroid open a pod, lean into it, and spit out something. A spider, thought Slow Motion. The Lectroid closed the pod, then picked it up and carried it out of the barn. Slow Motion lowered the trap door and spoke to the kids, You'll be safe here until dawn, it looks like they're getting ready to leave. When the sun comes up head for the nearest town and find the local police, okay?
Don't leave us, the kids said in unison.
I have to, said Slow Motion. I have to find out what they're up to.
The kids held onto him for dear life. Please, let go, he was saying as the work of placing the pods in the truck proceeded above his head. There was no way he could proceed with his plans, he had to stay with the kids. He feared they might start crying or do some damn foolish thing like try to follow him, and in the process get caught. So, he settled for obtaining some evidence ... While there was no one in the barn he opened the trap door and pulled one of the pods into the tunnelway. Then he waited until there was no more noise above, and he could hear the trucks leaving.
To Slow Motion there was nothing worse than pure darkness. But as soon as he began to feel the darkness of the tunnel weighing upon him the burden was suddenly relieved, the pod he had stolen from the Lectroids began to glow, then steam slightly. Get out kids, said Slow Motion, throwing open the trap door. They all climbed out of the hole. They looked down into the tunnel at the pulsating pod which was now steaming crazily and shaking violently. The pod exploded with a loud popping sound and a small Red Lectroid came crawling out. It screamed and thrashed about in the tunnelway, trying to stand up. The rate at which it grew was phenomenal, it was a full adult within fifteen minutes. Soon, it stood up and climbed out of the trap door, hissing and growling at what it deemed were its three enemies, standing ten feet high!! Slow Motion shot it in the throat, but it didn't seem to stop the thing. It was still coming at them. He yelled for the kids to run, which they did, then emptied his whole firearm into the creature. After a great struggle it finally fell down dead. They were twice as big and twice as hard to kill.
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III
The next day the children were reunited with their parents, who thanked Slow Motion for his courage. He used his go-phone to relay the information back to the Institute: The Lectroids had found a way to use their spiders as seeds for a New Warrior-Class of Red Lectroids. For lack of a better term, he dubbed them the Kill-troids.
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Slow Motion and the New Threat From Planet 10
Part 2: The Trap
By Regalo3000
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I
He's an awfully ugly Lectroid, said Rawhide leaning over the dead creature in the barn. Reno was by the barn entrance taking notes, speaking into a small handheld recorder. Perfect Tommy was signing autographs for the two kids.
Sure, I can get you a signed Buckaroo photograph, said Perfect Tommy. You two kids were brave, fighting those Lectroids!
Slow Motion was watching the woods. There was a chopper nearby sitting in front of the barn and another one appeared overhead. Someone lept out of the chopper.
Oh no, said Slow Motion, what now? A parachute appeared and Slow Motion could see Penny's Phoenix stitched into the material.
Oh boy, it's wonder girl, said Reno.
What? said Rawhide rushing to the barn entrance and looking up. What's she doing here?
Whatever she's doing, said Slow Motion, you can bet it's not Buckaroo approved. The surrounding area suddenly became silent. Guys do you hear that? asked Slow Motion.
Hear what? asked Perfect Tommy. I don't hear anything ...
Exactly, said Slow Motion. It was at exactly that moment when he felt something move under his feet. He lept to one side and watched as a silvery robotic crawler popped out of the ground!!
What the hell is that? Rawhide shouted.
There there was another, and another, more silver crawlers. They were everywhere, about fifty of them! Armaments protruded from their shells and fired off warning shots which made the Team freeze in their tracks.
It's a trap, said Perfect Tommy. Just then he heard a hissing sound and turned to look at the Kill-troid which was disintegrating, turning to mere dust within the barn. A perfect trap, he finished.
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II
Penny pulled out her go-phone. Buckaroo, something weird is going on, do you see this? She pointed the camera-end of the new go-phone at the scene below her.
I don't know what that is, said Buckaroo, but it looks like a hostile situation unless we can prove otherwise. Penny, can you make it to the roof of the barn in time.
I can land on a dime, said Penny, maneuvering the parachute towards the barn.
One of the crawlers spotted Penny and quickly raised its guns, but Rawhide swiftly kicked out and sent the crawler flying like a football over the heads of its comrades. More warning shots were fired at Rawhide's feet. Several crawlers moved toward the barn and began to torch its sides. Fire spread quickly up the sides of the wooden barn. Penny, atop the barn, smelt burning wood.
Just my luck, she said pulling out her gun.
Penny! said Rawhide from below. Surrender!
Like hell I will, said Penny, beginning to see smoke.
He's right, Penny, said Slow Motion. Surrender! Live to fight another time, sweetheart!
Penny put her gun away and walked to the edge of the barn, looked over the side, her arms raised high in the air.
How do I get down off this deathtrap? she asked, totally disgusted with herself.
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III
I knew it was too much of a coincidence, said Slow Motion. They found me too easily. It was all a setup. They want Buckaroo.
Of course they want Buckaroo, said Perfect Tommy. And don't fret, it's not your fault.
What looked like the leader of the crawlers moved towards the group and a speaker protruded from its shell. A voice spoke, This is John Joshua.
And this is John Johnner.
You are our captives. In return for your lives we desire the life of Buckaroo Banzai.
Are you getting this, Buckaroo, asked Penny now standing next to her comrades.
Loud and clear, said Buckaroo. Tell them I'm coming.
Hello? said Penny.
Penny, what are you doing? asked Rawhide.
Buckaroo is on his way.
Like hell he is! Perfect Tommy began. I'd give my life first!
-- Be quiet, yelled Penny. Don't mind our friend here, he doesn't know what he's talking about! Buckaroo Banzai will be here really soon!
How soon?
Soon, we'll just have to wait.
Very well. We will wait as long as it takes. Give up all your weapons, and don't try to hide anything, these Crawlers are equipped with metal scanning devices.
As their weapons were being taken away, Rawhide said, What is it with these guys? They must be new to the scene. I've never seen such patience in a Lectroid.
New and improved? said Perfect Tommy.
These guys are not native born, said Reno. They were born here on earth. Their tactics are different and they don't sound as angry, as desperate.
First timers, said Rawhide, that could be to our advantage.
Slow Motion, I'll put them to the test myself.
Be careful, said Penny.
Slow Motion nodded. Oh, great Lectroid leader, he said. The main crawler swiveled towards Slow Motion.
What do you want? asked John Joshua.
To meet with you ...
Come, said the Crawler. The other Crawlers separated making a path for the main crawler and the human.
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Slow Motion and the New Threat From Planet 10
Part 3: The Deal
By Regalo3000
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I
Slow Motion was walking up to a canopied truck. Red Lectroids were standing around with files and revolvers. Two Lectroids were in the truck and Slow Motion took them to be the leaders. Just then, seven or so very large Kill-troids appeared on either side of the truck, there to protect the leaders no doubt.
Now is not my turn to die, thought Slow Motion. But there's plenty of room for suffering and bleeding.
He came to a halt before the two Lectroids. What do you want? asked John Joshua.
To talk, said Slow Motion. You have won the battle. You outwitted us.
This is obvious, human.
The Kill-troids were drooling now, seemingly hungry.
I'm here asking for a challenge, said Slow Motion. What the hell, what did he have to lose by asking? Yes, a challenge ... Your Kill-troids against Team Banzai ... in an all-out fight to the finish.
You will lose.
No, we will win.
This is no contest, you will all die.
Your Kill-troids are weak, and they are no match for the might of Team Banzai.
Hmmm. What do you propose?
We are unarmed, send them in to destroy us, and we will kill them with our bare hands.
John Joshua laughed and laughed and laughed.
I accept, he said. Be ready. At sundown our Kill-troids will attack the farmhouse, and you will all die.
We will be ready!!!
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II
Are you crazy? said Rawhide as the Crawlers were backing away from the farmhouse and surrounding it at a distance. Why did you agree to something like this?
Actually, said Slow Motion. It was my suggestion. And, they've totally forgotten about Buckaroo for now. That's what we're here for to protect him, isn't it?
Perfect Tommy said, Is there some screw loose in that brain of yours. How the hell are we supposed to fight Kill-troids with no weapons whatsoever?
Well, we'll have to start looking for some because it's almost sundown.
Nice going Slow Motion, said Penny, you've just gotten us killed for sure ...
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III
I'm sorry, the farmer was apologizing to Slow Motion. They made us do it.
Where is it? asked Slow Motion.
What? said the farmer.
The escape tunnel, said Slow Motion. Everyone in the kitchen stopped what they were doing. The one that reaches beyond the trees.
It's unfinished.
Shit, said Slow Motion. All we've got is the tunnel between the house and the burnt down barn?
That's all!
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Slow Motion and the New Threat From Planet 10
Part 4: The Stand
By Regalo3000
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I
What's going on? asked Rawhide.
When in doubt, burn it down, said Slow Motion.
Burn what down? asked Reno.
The house, said Slow Motion.
No, you can't, not my house, said the farmer. He held on to his wife and two children in desperation.
Think about your kids, yelled Slow Motion. Your love for them got us into this, let it get us out of it! We trap those things in here and light that stove for the last time.
Rawhide walked up to the kitchen stove. We wire the stove to explode?
That's right, said Slow Motion. Kill them all in one shot. Seven ugly birds with one mighty blow.
Sounds good to me, said Perfect Tommy.
It's my house, protested the farmer, but weakly this time ...
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II
While Penny and Slow Motion pretended to concernedly board up the windows, Reno and Rawhide set to rigging the stove to blow. Before long there was a long wire going from the stove down to the basement and into the tunnelway behind the wine rack. The house would be blown from within the house. Slow Motion had volunteered to be the one to accomplish that task. The trick would be waiting to see if all seven of the creatures walked into the cellar -- it would be a big temptation to blow the house a lot sooner than that.
The sun went down. They waited. Each with his own household weapon. Inside the tunnel. Silence filled the air. Can you hear anything, pass it down. Nothing yet, pass it up. Any sign yet, pass it down. Be patient, pass it up. How about now, pass it down. Yes, pass it up.
There was the sound of the tearing of wood. Inhuman grunts could be heard. Glass was shattered. Then footsteps. Suddenly, there was a lot of crashing going on upstairs. Where are they? said a Lectroid.
The leader is here, said Slow Motion, pass it up.
Do it, pass it down, said Rawhide.
Slow Motion touched the two-ends of the wire, both positive and negative polarities. The house blew. Everyone felt the vibration in the dark.
Go, go, go, go!! They were yelling now in the dark, heading for the barn. Lift! Lift!
We're trying!
Got it!
They had come out of the trap door, threw aside burnt debris, and one by one ran into the nearby woods. There was no sign of any Lectroids or any Kill-troids, but, that didn't mean they were all in the house. The Crawlers did not move neither at them nor away from them. They made it to the trees and were finally safe.
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III
In World Watch One they celebrated their victory over the Kill-troids. A strike team had gone in and secured the farm and the surrounding area, and there was no sign of any Lectroids whatsoever. The Crawlers had remained on the location and motionless and were de-armed and placed inside crates for further study.
Penny said, Why so gloomy, Slow Motion?
Slow Motion said, I love celebrating a victory just as much as the next guy, but there's a new breed of Lectroid out there, inventive as all heck, and something tells me this is far from over. They'll learn from their mistakes, Penny. And then, watch out ...
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