New Threat From
Planet 10
Part 9: Winged Things
By Regalo3000
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I
Penny was sunning herself on the roof of the Institute when she suddenly heard the flapping of wings. She thought the flapping sound was way too loud, as if some pigeon had just landed way too near her. She was half asleep half awake when she felt the large hands reach underneath her and lift her off her sunning chair. She yelped but when she saw the nightmare that was carrying her in the air across the rooftop she screamed and kicked out.
The Flying-Lectroid felt the impact of the blow and let out a harumph, then screamed in Penny's face, letting out a howl of disagreement with her action. But, Penny, more ready for action nowadays, pulled out a revolver and placed it to the creature's head.
Put me down! she screamed. The creature dropped her and she fell toward a tree top. Yelping all the way she grabbed for branches, which broke in her hands, but she tried again, landed on her side on a huge branch and felt something break, immediately knew she had broken a rib or two, she kept falling.
Finally, her fall ceased and she was still in the tree. Letting out a cry of pain she looked up. Flying-Lectroids were attacking the Institute, there must be at least a hundred or so.
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II
The Institute was thrown into a panic, all classes suspended. The creatures had no weapons to speak of, showed no real signs of being violent, but they were intimidating nonetheless. They strolled along the hallways peeking into classrooms, bedrooms, labs. And when the alarms sounded they were just as frightened as the students that were running to and fro.
With a cry of BAAAANNNNZAAAAAIIII, they took off for the skies like a flock of birds heading south for winter.
Buckaroo called a meeting.
Okay, what are we dealing with here? he asked. Any ideas?
Well, said Rawhide, definitely Red Lectroid. But I suspect some genetics organization is behind all this.
Reno nodded, The same organization that created the new and improved Kill-troids.
Well, we put an end to that mess, I hope, Buckaroo looked to Slow Motion.
Slow Motion nodded, Yes, that is true. But this is new.
It kind of makes me wonder, said Perfect Tommy, why you didn't see this coming?
Nobody's perfect, said Slow Motion.
I tend to disagree, said Tommy.
Okay, knock it off, said Buckaroo. This is a serious threat we're dealing with here. Somebody is playing dangerous games with a very dangerous species and then simply setting their experiments loose to see what happens. Now who would do something like that. I want you guys to find out. I want some answers.
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III
Professor Hikita was studying a digital tape taken by one of the students who had been taking a digital camera course. His eyes moved from the student's footage to the footage taken by the security cameras. At one point a group of Fly-troids actually lined up and knelt before running directly at a group of students on the lawn of the Institute. He got Buckaroo on the phone.
Buckaroo, I think I have something.
Before long, Buckaroo was staring at the footage. I see what you mean, it almost looks like they were playing a game of football, linebackers, quarterback ... They did no harm to the students, but ... Yes, this is a clue ... But then what if it's something they saw on television ... or ... The Football Stadium! Hikita, get everyone together, we're going to a football game ...
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Slow Motion and the New Threat From Planet 10
Result Number Two
Part 10: Too Late
By Regalo3000
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I
The game had come to a stop. People were looking up, both players and audience. There were winged things up there and they seemed to be getting restless. Soon, they were swooping down, grazing the heads of the audience, causing a panic. A human stampede was the result, and numerous people were trampled. Several Fly-troids landed on the field and walked up to the players, who backed off. One grabbed the football and held it out to the quarterback who refused to take it.
It wasn't until a security guard actually fired upon one of the Fly-troids in his enthusiasm to protect the quarterback's life that the Kill-troids actually became violent. They attacked the security guard and tore him to shreds, then proceeded to attack the football teams, tackling them with fantastic speed, breaking bones, causing even more chaos, then following the retreating teams into the locker rooms where more security guards fired upon them, causing the Fly-troids to screech with anger and fly away.
By the time Team Banzai arrived there was only opportunity to heal and give comfort to the wounded. A television crew ran up to Buckaroo and asked for a statement.
Well, said Banzai, it was clear that these creatures were non-violent until provoked and that has certainly happened due to fear and mistrust, which is understandable. But I don't think we should try and provoke them any further. Who knows what they might do?
People are saying that the Institute is behind these genetic mutations, said the female newscaster.
No, no, said Banzai, we would never unleash such monstrosities upon the world. In fact, I've strictly forbidden any genetic research concerning the mysteries of Lectroid DNA.
He got an idea.
Hold on, he said.
What is it, Buckaroo? asked the woman.
I have a plan.
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II
Team Banzai got to digging the ditches on the playing field. The main booth got ready to broadcast a previous show over the loudspeaker system to attract the creatures. Hikita set about to create the net and the method by which the creatures would be caught. Inside each hole would be a man with a net-gun, they would hide under a trap door and raise it. The idea was to catch as many as possible without killing them.
Then the local law entered the picture and took control of the operation at the protests of Team Banzai. Instead of catchers, the holes were to be manned with men wielding flame-throwers. They were to burn the creatures to a cinder and shoot those that tried to escape.
Fools, Buckaroo was saying.
Rawhide tried to comfort him, It's okay.
All you need is one to escape, and there'll be hell to pay, said Slow Motion.
That's what I'm afraid of, said Buckaroo.
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III
The pre-recorded music and shouting was heard all over the stadium even though it was virtually empty, save for the team of nervous police officers impersonating a football team. They had shotguns strapped to their backs.
Hut, hut, hike! The football game proceeded. The creatures appeared in the upper bleachers. They seemed nervous and wary and stayed away for now.
It's not going to work, said Buckaroo. He was looking at a screen thinking how his plan would have been better. When he noticed someone was missing, Where's Slow Motion?
No one knew where he'd gotten off to.
The creatures flew down to the field, but still they kept their distance. The game proceeded as planned. The creatures came forward and mingled with the players. One of them even smiled at the quarterback.
Monkey see monkey do, said Perfect Tommy. The poor things have no idea they've just walked into a trap.
They're innocents, said Buckaroo.
Slow Motion was outside the stadium. A crowd of gawkers was being kept from rushing into the stadium by the local police. He stepped into the crowd, became a Mingler. He listened to the people speaking.
They kill the things for sure ... Naw, some are gonna get away ... It's on teevee, I got a good signal, everybody come see ...
Slow Motion moved through the crowd.
Hey, watch where you're going, Indian Joe!
Slow Motion ignored the outburst and climbed onto the front of a parked truck, then made his way to the roof, and sat there. He pulled out his gun.
The signal was given and the football team ran off the field leaving the Fly-troids momentarily confused. Flame-thrower wielding men popped out of trap doors and even more popped out with shotguns. A hail of violence fell upon the stadium.
Slow Motion by the sounds the crowd was making knew the massacre had begun. He watched the empty space above the stadium and soon he saw what he was looking for, a single Fly-troid survivor. It hovered above the stadium and let out an inhuman howl before dipping down and flying over the crowd. But Slow Motion was ready. He fired. The Fly-troid was stunned, looked about for the shooter. Saw him, and flew right at him. Slow Motion fired again. The Fly-troid would not go down easily. He emptied his gun into the creature, which smashed into the windshield below Slow Motion knocking him off his feet. He landed on the hood of a very expensive looking car nearby, crushing it.
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Slow Motion and the New Threat From Planet 10
Epilogue: On The Chance
By Regalo3000
How did you know? asked Buckaroo.
I didn't, said Slow Motion. I acted on the chance. I managed to put myself in the right place at the right time.
Do you have a knack for such things? asked Rawhide. Being at the right place at the right time?
One simply takes the chance, said Slow Motion.
Hikita said, They managed to freeze one of the creatures before it turned to dust, the rest were useless, it was too late to preserve the specimens.
Good, then someone is going to get that much closer to finding out who the GenOrg really are, said Buckaroo.
It is in my experience, said Slow Motion, that when an animal is cornered that it is at its most fiercest. Because it has no other choice.
What are you saying? asked Buckaroo.
I'm saying we should find the GenOrg before the local authorities do, he answered, I think we stand a better chance of fighting them the way they should be fought. The non-scientists might unleash a plague on this world of genetic mutations like the world has never seen.
Well, said Buckaroo, let's hope it doesn't come to that.
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