The Terror from Beneath
Part 1: Regalo's One and Only
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The Institute was like a cold Tomb. Slow Motion had agreed to take care of the buildings during the winter and there was nobody around. The halls, usually filled with life were now dull, boring and dark. He stayed to his room mostly, trying to write down his thoughts. But, after a while he would just walk around the grounds aimlessly.
The car pulled up to the gate. Smalleyes had to get out of the car and yell before the gate opened. He drove to the main building and it was there that he saw Slow Motion.
?Man, you look like shit,? said Smalleyes. ?I brought some groceries.?
He turned and began taking the groceries out of the car. When he turned around again, Slow Motion was gone.
?Slow Motion? Hey, Slow? Where did he get off to??
Smalleyes entered the main building and was surprised to see the handwriting on the walls: THERE'S SOMETHING HERE AND IT IS ALIVE !!!, and it was written many many times in what seemed like blood. He took his go-phone out of his pocket and hailed the Cavaliers.
?Guys, it's Smalleyes, I think ?? But that thought was put to an end as Slow Motion came up behind him and placed his hands over the young man's mouth.
?Don't say a word, just follow me,? Slow Motion said letting go and grabbing hold of the go-phone. ?We'll be in touch.?
Smalleyes followed Slow Motion into the basement. Together they headed for the boiler room. It was there that they saw the crack in the floor. This was no ordinary crack, it glowed and steam was seeping from it.
?That is not a pipe,? said Slow Motion. ?There's something beneath this floor.? Slow Motion grabbed a pick axe and began to hack away at the crack.
?Slow,? said Smalleyes, ?we should wait until the others arrive. Let's place a call notifying the others first, then we wait for the city inspectors to arrive ??
?-- No! ? said Slow Motion. ?There's no time. I can feel it. We have to find it before it finds us!?
?Slow Motion,? said Smalleyes, ?the writing on the walls upstairs??
?Red dye, that's all.?
?Slow, perhaps you've been here at the Institute all alone for too long??
?No,? said Slow Motion, stopping for a moment. ?Can't you see? It's trying to get out. We have to stop it before it does. Look, I'm not crazy, okay??
?I'm not saying you are.?
?No, but you're thinking it.?
Smalleyes' go-phone was ringing. ?Yes, Buckaroo??
?What is it?? asked Buckaroo.
?Take a look at this.? Smalleyes aimed the go-phone's built-in camera at the work Slow Motion was doing on the glowing crack.
?What the hell is he doing?? screamed Buckaroo. ?Slow Motion, stop what you're doing at once, and wait until we get there.?
?Shit,? screamed Slow Motion. ?Well, you'd better get here fast cause this thing is not going to wait for you.?
?C'mon, Slow,? said Smalleyes, ?let's get some coffee and then you can tell me all about it.?
They left the cellar and the glowing crack in the floor.
?No time,? Slow Motion was saying. He knew the first things to arrive would be the choppers. Who exactly would be in them was anybody's guess. Even so there was ... no time ...
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Buckaroo Banzai: The Terror from Beneath
Part 2: FieroX
The glow became brighter. Beams of light spewed out of the crack in all directions. Slow_motion was returning from his bunk. He had hastily retrieved his laptop. The Indian inserted a card & madly commenced typing out his Login & Password. Seconds later he was hooked into the Institutes Wi-fi system.
The Hong Kong Cavalier soon heard some footsteps approaching; a bit of panting as well. Without diverting from his work, the Indian muttered.
?..about time you returned.?
Smalleyes held 2 rifles, a shotgun, and a knapsack of ammo and on his side, and his colt. ?Excuuuse me! I had to telephone Pinky for the combination to his room locker.?
?Why did you do that??
??His room was the closest, figured he?s packing the most.?
?Good idea??
?What are you doing??
?I?m running through the Institute records, tying into historical Archives.?
?What? You?re doing research? At a time like this? Come ?on! You oughta be Asking Jeeves for the nearest Army Reserve post.?
??Why would I do that?? mumbled the Indian.
Smalleyes smacked his forehead in defeat. He then walked a few steps back to observe the strange glowing anomaly. Slow_motion was scrolling through old maps, legends, and pulling up additional windows. Suddenly he heard a rumbling sound. Smalleyes heard it, too.
?Hey-that?s coming from above!?
?..go check it out.?
?Right!?
?Hey-?
?Yes??
?Leave me a rifle at least?.will you??
?Right!.?
Smalleyes pushed a hunting rifle. With a hearty shove, the gun slid all the way across the floor, and bumped against the South wall. Without looking away from his monitor, Slow_motion reached out and grabbed the rifle.
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Casper Lindley was holding the throttle, peering down below. Adjusting his shades with a free hand, he glanced behind to check on his Passenger. He was still shaking sleep from his eyes for it was early morning when he got the Blue Blaze Irregular Emergency call from the Doctor.
Buckaroo Banzai was peering down upon the Institute grounds below through the entryway. He had pulled the metal door aside. The wind blew in wildly blowing his black hair all around.
?Hey! Where do you want me to land this thing, Boss??
Banzai had to strain his ears. The Helicopter was loud inside with mechanical vibrations.
?Just hover above the Bunkhouse?That?s where Slow_motion is waiting.?
Casper carefully guided the chopper as he grunted.
?I?ll use the rope ladder to exit, I want you to head back to your service station for Perfect-Tommy. He should be there by now.?
?If you say so.?
Buckaroo pushed the rope ladder over the ledge. It quickly fell, unwinding and was soon dangling; swinging back and forth. He hoped PT wasn't too hung over from Christmas partying at the Cosmic Bowling Alley.
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Buckaroo Banzai: The Terror from Beneath
Part 3: Regalo's One and Only
Small_eyes was watching from the entrance of the Bunkhouse. Buckaroo banzai had climbed down the rope ladder and jumped the last few legs. He waved Casper on and the helicopter departed.
?Buckaroo! Man, I?m glad you?re here!? shouted Smalleyes.
?What?s with all the armory?? asked the Doctor.
?Hell if I know what we?re dealing with!..There?s glowing rays, crumbling rocks,- Oh shoot--Nevermind, let me just show ya!?
Buckaroo produced his pistol and followed the intern into the bunkhouse. They ran down the steps until they reached the cellar.
?I?m back Slow!?
He didn?t get a reply. ?Slow??
?You sure slow_motion ??
?That?s where I left him!? cried Smalleyes.
He ran over to the hallway. The mound of earth was still there, small bits of rock & earth scattered on the concrete floor. The laptop was sitting on the floor, still activated. Buckaroo holding his gun, walked over & peered over the edge. All they could see was a dark hole.
?Slow_motion! I got Buckaroo with me! Slow? Where are you??
The doctor put a hand on small_eyes? shoulder.
?Calm down, no need to get hysterical. Now help me find a flashlight so we can find your friend.?
?Sorry, doctor.?
The intern walked away and began searching. All of a sudden, Banzais? go-phone beeped.
The doctor unclipped it and squeezed the button.
?Yes??
?It?s me, Perfect-Tommy.?
?What?s your status??
?I?m in my ?vette on my way to Caspers? place. Figure I?ll arrive in 15 minutes.?
?Great, Tommy. Meet us at the bunkhouse, downstairs. Smalleyes is with me.?
?On my way!?
The go-phone de-activated and Buckaroo re-attached it to his shirt pocket.
?Doctor Banzai! ?
Buckaroo turned around. ?You got us some flashlights??
?Better than that! I found two Coleman kerosene lanterns.?
Smalleyes handed one of the green lamps to Buckaroo. ?They?re full. I got ?em from Rawhides room.?
?Good ?ol Rawhide, ever the cowboy?Yes, too bad he?s on vacation back with his folks at the ranch.?
?So it?s just us two??
?No. Perfect-Tommy?s on his way here. Give him a few minutes. Not sure anyone else will answer the Blue Blaze Emergency call.?
Smalleyes nodded his head nervously. The doctor decided to occupy his time to ward off the young mans? nerves.
?Here..keep watch on the hole, I?m going to see what slow_motion was looking at on his computer.?
?O.K. doctor.?
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The Terror From Beneath
Part 4
By Regalo3000
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Buckaroo was studying what Slow Motion pulled up on his computer. The man had written several things ...
"Beginning to get the feeling that something is wrong here at the Institute, so I've begun a search of the entire complex" -- (Buckaroo scrolled down) -- "I found something in the basement, a growing crack in the floor. It's as if something is trying to come out from beneath the cement floor, and it is glowing!!" -- (he scrolled down again) -- "The dreams are coming more and more, the fluttering of great wings and I am filled with terror, terrified of the thing from beneath, I fear if it gets out we will all be in great danger"-- (he scrolled down one last time) -- Something is wrong with it, something is wrong with it... (Buckaroo closed the note and saw the image of a large telephone booth on Slow Motion's desktop) --
?I've read enough,? said Buckaroo.
Smalleyes appeared at the bunkhouse door, ?I can't find Slow Motion.?
Show me this anomaly, ordered Buckaroo and together they made their way to the basement. The glowing crack was growing very near the boiler which was humming perfectly.
? I want this boiler shut down right now,? said Buckaroo, ?before we have an explosion on our hands.?
?The crack, it's gotten bigger,? said Smalleyes.
?Are you certain?? asked Buckaroo. He knelt and placed his hands upon the chipped cement. And this is where Slow Motion was chipping at it with the axe.
?Don't touch the glowing thing,? warned Smalleyes.
?You're right,? said Buckaroo. ?What are we doing? This could be radioactive and we're exposing ourselves. Let's get up to the bunkhouse, find a Geiger counter and get a reading on this phenomenon. They began moving towards the door. Slow Motion may have received too much exposure and that's why he's got a few screws loose.
They heard the sound of a chopper coming in.
?That would be Perfect Tommy?, said Buckaroo. Then the men heard a crumbling sound. The anomaly was breaking its way through the cement floor, rising up like some submarine out of water, then a doorway popped open and something stepped out. Standing at the bottom of the stairs Buckaroo noticed the thing's teeth first. The glowing door closed behind the creature. And the thing made a mad rush towards Buckaroo, who turned and with Smalleyes at his side, ran up the stairs. They reached the door and shut it behind them, striking the creature at the same time. It tumbled back down the stairs and hit bottom, screeching with anger.
Buckaroo got on the go-phone. ?Tommy, can you read me??
?Yeah, boss, I'm on the roof.?
?I want strike teams here ASAP, said Buckaroo. We have a deadly intruder, possibly of alien origin.?
They were running towards the roof when the door to the basement exploded, the metal door torn off its hinges. Buckaroo aimed his guns in that direction, but could see nothing. ?What are you waiting for?? he said to Smalleyes. ?Get to the roof!?
?I'm not leaving you alone!?
?What is that?? said Buckaroo. There was a shimmering just below the fluorescent lights not too far away. It was a kind of movement but then it was gone. Buckaroo fired anyway. The creature screamed, wounded. Its ability to blend in with its environment temporarily ceased as it turned and ran in the opposite direction away from the two men. It had what looked like the wings of a butterfly, beautiful colors melding into one another. It retreated down into the basement again.
?This is not good,? said Buckaroo. ?We're going to need some motion censors for the strike teams, who knows how many of those things there are??
Perfect Tommy arrived; he had his guns in his hands. ?What's with all the shooting??
?We have a situation. Is the chopper standing by??
?Yes. And more are on their way.?
?Good,? said Buckaroo. ?We're going to need all the help we can get.? He turned to Smalleyes. ?Now I know where I've seen that telephone booth.?
?What telephone booth?? asked Perfect-Tommy.
?The one on Slow's computer,? said Banzai. ?It's Dr. Who's Time Machine! Something is wrong with it, Slow wrote before he disappeared. Something was always wrong with Dr. Who's machine and it sent them sometimes to the strangest places. Slow believed we have a space traveler on our hands, I think. And his ship has materialized beneath our basement. Why he's angry is another matter altogether. And now he's wounded and that could be bad for us. Let's get to the roof. We'll return later with more firepower.?
?What about Slow Motion?? asked Smalleyes.
? Right now we can't do anything for him. We'll come back. I promise.?
Banzai & Smalleyes headed for the roof, where they got into the chopper with Perfect-Tommy and flew away.
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The Terror from Beneath
Part 5
By Regalo3000
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The snowstorm was at its peak now. The Strike Teams, lead by Buckaroo, made their way through the woods towards the main building. Helicopters hovering overhead dropped more Strike Force members on top the bunkhouse. Slowly, with motion detectors and flashlights, the Teams made their way into the building. It was slow going. Every corner had to be inspected before they would move on, poked and prodded with cattle prods. With precision they moved through the labs and classrooms, pointing their weapons this way and that. Others moved about with metal detectors, weapons strapped to their backs.
Then a Team came upon the fluttering of great wings. It was a blur of motion that cut across a classroom and ran into a hail of bullets. Once the creature was put down it lost its chameleon-like abilities and they could see it for what it was.
?Definitely alien?, said Perfect Tommy into his go-phone. ?Beautiful if the thing happens to be running away from you but, you don't want this ugly thing coming at 'cha.?
?I hear you.?, said Buckaroo from the boiler room. ?BTW, we found Slow Motion ... He seems to be cocooned inside of something, some kind of glass.?
They had found Slow Motion behind the boiler. He still had an axe in his hands. By the _expression on his face he did not look pleased to have been frozen in place in one corner of the basement.
Others were studying the Space Traveler's Pod when the door suddenly popped open again. They could hear the screeching voices of other creatures which seemed to be getting louder and louder.
?Do it,? said Buckaroo, and an explosive device was thrown through the open doorway into the depths of the glow. Then came the explosion and the alien screeches halted. The door closed and the thing began to descend until most of it was gone beneath the floor, but not all of it. Then it began moving like a ship cutting through ice.
?Where's it going??, asked Buckaroo.
?Damned if I know,? said Smalleyes who was trying to attend to Slow Motion. ?The ice is melting!?, screamed Smalleyes.
?Good. You see to Slow Motion?, said Buckaroo. ?The rest of us are going to follow this thing.?
The crack had spread to a wall and then was gone, along with the glow.
?It's like some infernal gopher!? said Perfect Tommy. ?IT'S MOVING WEST PEOPLE, he said into his go-phone.?
?I want people with metal detectors following that thing, yelled Buckaroo. ?NOW !!?
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The Terror from Beneath
Part 6
By Fiero
Buckaroo Banzais' Go-phone loudly chirped. The Doctor unclipped it from his collar. A voice rang out over the tiny piezoelectric speaker. "Casper to Buckaroo".
"Banzai here."
"I've dropped off your last guest."
"Thank you Casper, I owe you!"
There was a knock on the door. Smalleyes turned towards the source.
Banzai deactivated the go-phone. "That should be New Jersey, let him in."
Smalleyes opened the bunkhouse door. Sure enough it was Sidney. He was wearing his light blue hospital gown and converse sneakers. "I just finished putting in some volunteer holiday hours at St.Joseph's when I got the call."
Buckaroo faced him and smiled. "Glad to see you Sidney! I need you to check out Slow_motion."
"What happened here!" Jerseys' mouth fell open as he noticed the debris on the floor.
"Some sort of intrusion, invasion?We're not sure?never mind that now, Slow_motion needs your services."
"Right." Jersey straightened quickly and followed smalleyes' lead down the hallway.
Buckaroo Banzai gave an order to Perfect-Tommy. "I want to pick up some gear, my scope & lead a few Strike Teams in pursuit of the craft."
"Lets' Rock-n-Roll!", replied PT.
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Jersey and smalleyes entered the boiler room. Laying on the floor was Slow_motion. He was on his back, mumbling while wiping at his face. Sidney picked up with some maintenance towel-lets. He assisted the Indian, wiping the gel from his skin.
"What the heck IS THIS stuff you got on you?" asked Zweibel.
"It was ice a few minutes ago." Smalleyes commented.
The Indian finally spoke up. "I was attacked by the Butterfly."
Sidney scooped up a sample with gloved hands and placed it inside a mason jar. "I'd like to examine this at a lab?.Huh? A Butterfly? Aren't those little things migrating South this time of the year?"
"This ones' about 9 foot tall?..and came out of the ground."
"Weird."
The doctor was quickly checking his vitals, when Slow_motion brushed his hand aside. "I'm all right?.Just stunned a bit."
"O.K?If you say so."
Smalleyes entered the foray. "Slow, What the crap happened to you after I left the Bunkhouse?"
Sidney was clamping the lid down as the two conversed.
"I climbed down the tunnel. Tried to set a trap, but I was attacked before I could finish."
Smalleyes helped his friend get up on his feet then he gave a summary of events.
"Well, while you were gone, I met up with Banzai, then the Butterfly came after us!?.Luckily, 2 Strike Force teams arrived.?Thing went back into its' pod, we heard several of them inside. They took off underground after getting hit with some concussion grenades."
Sidney held the jar up to the light, studying the gel sample while muttering. "Where in the world did this visitor come from?"
Slow_motion calmly replied. "The pod came from underground, instead of from the sky. Perhaps the question should be- `from WHEN' did it come from?"
Jersey turned to Smalleyes. "This stuff, it was solid earlier? Then dissolved into this gel?"
"That's right. I saw it."
"Maybe this is some sort of immobilizing agent. Perhaps they were attempting to `collect one of us' for whatever reason."
Slow_motion responded. "That would make sense. Some insects cocoon their prey for later, like spiders and bees."
Smalleyes jumped as the bunkhouse telephone rang. Picking up the receiver, he answered. "Yes?"
"It's Perfect-Tommy, Buckaroo wants to know if Slow is well enough to join us."
Smalleyes glanced towards the Indian. Before he could ask him, Slow_motion replied. "I'm fine?Where should we meet?"
"Slow wants to know where to meet up?"
"We're at the garage, we got three hum-vees ready to span the base perimeter."
"O.K., we're on our way." With that said, the intern put down the phone.
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The Terror from Beneath
Part 7
By Regalo3000
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The Strike Teams were combing the grounds, looking for any sign of the underground craft. They were wearing white camouflage outfits so they could blend in with the snow around them if need be. Suddenly, a man with a metal detector screamed out: I've got something here and I believe it's moving!!
Then a burst of light shot out from the earth and left him standing there frozen in ice!
?Bring more metal detectors!?, someone was yelling. ?And inform Buckaroo that the thing hasn't left the compound.?
Another burst of light shot out imprisoning yet another member of the Strike Force that was holding a metal detector.
Then there was silence. The head of the underground craft rose suddenly out of the ground and the door popped open. There was a blue of motion around the entrance of the craft as if heat were escaping and its blurring effect obscured everything. The Strike Team opened fire killing several of the creatures.
Other members of the Strike Team were attacked, numerous creatures swarmed upon them, ripping them to shreds. Even so, the Team fought back. Then there was another blur of motion as if the heat were being swallowed like water down a drainpipe as the creatures retreated back into their craft and it descended once more.
Buckaroo, we're going to need backup, said a Team Member into his go-phone. These things are clever and faster than a sparrow in a wind tunnel.
?Help is on the way?, Buckaroo responded. He turned to his men.
?Okay, anyone got any ideas?,? he asked looking at Slow Motion.
?Something is wrong with the craft,? said Slow Motion. ?It's in need of repair. They didn't plan on landing here. They're way off course. My guess is that they were going to steal parts from the boiler room, from the boiler itself.?
?So, all this fighting is for nothing?? said Buckaroo. ?And if we just let them have what they need, they'll go??
?That's my guess?, said Slow Motion.
?Okay, everybody, back off now, said Buckaroo into his go-phone. No more shooting. We'll all meet at the gas-pump.?
?Before long the Strike Force was gathered with Team Banzai at the gas-pump as the snow fell heavily upon them.?
?We just wait, Buckaroo was saying. If Slow Motion is right, they'll be gone by morning. Let's set up camp here. And wait ...?
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The Terror from Beneath
Part 8
BBI_fiero
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Slow_motion was busy meditating, leaning against the warm hood of the Hum-vee, looking at the stars. Buckaroo Banzai was enjoying the heat inside, using his go-phone communicating with the Institute Teraflop, running a few calculations.
The Strike Team surrounded the area, at least the last known position of the pod, with armed Blue Blaze Irregulars.
Perfect-Tommy was approaching the vehicle, carrying hot drinks. Handing one to the Indian, he asked." Any change?"
"No?." answered Slow_motion.
Shrugging, PT rapped on the window. Buckaroo Banzai turned his head, then commenced rolling down the window. "Whats' up?"
"Nothing Boss, just thought it was time for something to drink, been several hours now."
"Thanks, Tommy."
Slow_motion stepped back from the hood and joined the two. He let them talk while he drank from his Styrofoam cup. Vapors drifted upwards into the cold sky.
"What do you think they're doing down there?" asked Perfect-Tommy. He was shivering slightly.
Doctor Banzai answered. "Your guess is as good as mine."
"Well, if you ask me, I think they're up to no good."
"No good?"
"Yea, probably planning their next move; how to strike back at us."
"Football?" inquired Slow_motion. PT glanced at the Indian.
"You got it, Slow?...doing' the Coach thing."
"That would be??"
"You know, looking at video tapes from the game. Studying their plays, last moves. Chewing out the side line for not being open, the quarterback for rushing instead of passing."
"That's what I believe as well?..though I had visions of Chief 10 Bears instead of John Madden."
PT looked at both Slow_motion & Buckaroo.
"You guys need to get out of the lab more often, watch some football."
"Watch football or place bets?" asked Slow_motion.
Perfect-Tommy looked down in embarrassment at the comment. How did he know? He thought to himself.
Buckaroo Banzai finally spoke up. "You have a point." He then displayed a grim look on his face. "I have an idea?However, it's going to be a long shot."
"You mean `the-bomb'.", quipped Slow.
That's' it! ," exclaimed Perfect-Tommy. "I thought you didn't watch Football ?" He elbowed the Indian on his right side. Slow ignored him, turning his attention back to Buckaroo.
Dr. Banzai continued. "Yes?We'll need to get to the garage; set up some instruments."
"I'm willing to try anything instead of waiting, wrestling with my nerves." mumbled PT.
"It must be done.", commented Slow_motion.
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The machinery was making a deep humming noise. Diesel Generators were on. Cables were strung out over the floor to the JetCar, which was pulled outside. Buckaroo looked at his wrist watch.
"I'd say everything should be warmed up by now."
"You really want to go through with this?", asked Perfect-Tommy.
"If the mountain can't be reached by Mohammad, then?"
"Mohammad must go the mountain.", finished Slow_motion.
Just then the go-phone chirped. Buckaroo Banzai squeezed the device and spoke into the built-in mic. "Yes?"
"It's me, Dr. Zweibel."
"What say you Sid? We're kind of busy here-"
"Sorry to interrupt, I'm in the Med lab. I've run an analysis on that gel."
"The gel?"
Slow_motion spoke up. "The alien ice I was encased in."
Banzai shook his head in acknowledgement. "What did you find?"
"It's a strange sort of clear elastimer. Has a short half-life when exposed to our atmosphere."
"Well?that's all good and all -"
"Wait, hear me out?I think we can insulate ourselves from it."
"Sid, if you got anything for us, you better run up here right now?I'm preparing to go meet that craft."
"I'll be right up!"
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Casper Lindley was outside; his helicopter was idling out on the lawn. New Jersey was hunched over as was Buckaroo and Slow_motion. All three men were heading towards the helicopter on foot.
"Here, take this can." ordered Zweibel.
"What's in here? Peanut Butter?"
"It's Sterno?. It will accelerate the evaporation process of the ice. Probably won't even form on you guys if you smear it over your suits."
"O.k?Sounds strange."
Slow_motion commented, "Strange is normal protocol with the Banzai Institute."
"Good luck!" yelled Sidney. He then ran back to the garage where Perfect-Tommy and Smalleyes were waiting for him.
Climbing in the helicopter, Dr. Banzai and Slow_motion quickly strapped themselves in. The leader of the Hong Kong Cavaliers blurted out the order.
"Lift off Casper!"
"Right, Boss!"
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The helicopter flew over to the coordinates the Blue Blaze Strike Team relayed to them.
Casper was muttering, ?D@mn, that stuff you got on sure smells! Ugg.."
"Blame it on New jersey," replied Buckaroo.
Slow_motion stood up. "We're here?."
Buckaroo Banzai stared at the Indian. Then he turned to face Casper.
"O.K. Lindley, hold her steady."
"What?"
"We're going to make our jump."
"O.K?.It's your funeral!" replied Casper; shaking his head.
Dr. Banzai squeezed the go-phone. "We're ready, has the equipment stabilized??
"Everythings? 100%?It's maxed out!" yelled Perfect-Tommy.
"Turn on the lasers!"
Both men looked down below on the institute grounds. The laser beam emitted from the JetCar, spewing out brilliant colors sparkling on the snow. When the beam had focused to the targeted spot Buckaroo made his move.
"Banzai!" yelled Buckaroo.
"Geromino!" yelled Slow_motion.
They jumped out of the chopper. Their bodies falling like rag dolls. They immediately pulled their rip cords. Parachutes unfurled as they drifted downwards. They descended down, down, guiding themselves until they met up to the illuminated aura of the laser beam. Their bodies illuminated for a second as they were enveloped by the light.
"Casper to Base!"
"Perfect-Tommy here! What's wrong?
"I dropped off Buckaroo & Slow, but I don't believe it!"
"What don't you believe?"
"They're both gone!"
"Gone?"
"Yes, they just disappeared!. It's like the ground just swallowed them up!"
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The Butterflies were stunned as two earth men suddenly appeared inside their dimensional craft out of thin air ! One of them dropped a crystal in shock. They were flapping their wings nervously.
Slow_motion whipped out a Bowie knife and cut their parachute strings. The ropes running up to the ceiling were fused inside, a result of the laser cutting off and molecules returning to normal frequency.
Buckaroo Banzai held up both arms. He hoped the gesture of surrender was a universal constant.
Slow_motion started reaching into his suit. The Butterfly on the left held out a tube-like device.
The Indian recognized it as the ice gun he saw earlier. The Beast fired his weapon. First for a few seconds, then again several more seconds, finally he emptied its' entire contents in frustration.
Seconds later, Buckaroo Banzai was still standing, a bit frost bitten, but none the less whole.
Slow_motion unfurled a homemade length of paper. A primitive array of ancient symbols were visibly scrawn out in colored caulk.
The Butterflies stepped back in awe. One of them dropped the tube device and slowly approached the two men. It held out a long claw and traced out a symbol in the air.
"What's happening?" asked Dr. Banzai.
"It's deciphering.? , replied Slow.
The other creatures looked at each other. A minute or two passed and then they all withdrew from their attack posture. The one on the left, pointed a claw at its? chest, then pointed towards the window. Buckaroo Banzai saw it was the route back to the Institute. He shook his head in approval, hoping it too, was a universal gesture.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Sid Zweibel was staring at the lab monitor. Perfect-Tommy was pushing buttons on the Institute surveillance camera station. "I still don't get a signal?"
"Keep trying to locate their go-phones." replied Sidney.
An alarm went off. Looking up, both Hong Kong Cavaliers saw the map display panel. A lone L.E.D. was flashing.
"It's the boiler room!" shouted Perfect-Tommy.
"Lets' go!" quipped Zweibel.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
The Strike Team surrounded the boiler room. The Blue Blaze Irregulars all held their guns out, waiting for the command. Perfect-Tommy walked by the men, holding an AR-14.
He reached the door. PT looked back at his team. "Don't fire until I give the command!"
"Right!"
With a powerful kick, Perfect-Tommy slammed the door open. He rolled inside the room, somersaulting to his left. When he lifted his rifle, his jaw dropped open.
Buckaroo Banzai and Slow_motion were standing in the midst of the rubble.
Sid Zweibel snuck his head around the corner, taking a sneak peek.
Perfect-Tommy shouted, "What the F#* ?"
"Greetings Perfect-Tommy!" Banzai commented.
Sid and the Strike Team looked at the crevasse on the floor. They could see the glow from underneath. It was dimming in brightness, slowly, then finally leaving nothing but darkness.
"You- wow- I - I felt sure they've captured you! ", blurted the young intern.
Slow_motion started unzipping his flight suit. "We were successful."
Sidney looked back at the Strike Team. They were smiling, glad to see cavaliers instead of aliens.
"Without full use of the Jet Car, we could only descend a few yards, but it was enough to breach the craft hull."
"Wow, But- What about the creatures inside?" PT was confused.
"We made a Peace Treaty." replied Slow_motion. " A trade?.The last time their race visited us it was thousands of years ago?..So I had to research old linguistics that were in place then."
"Hence the paper mache." whispered Perfect-Tommy out loud. "I thought you lost your mind breaking out the crayolas while we were busy warming up the Jet Car machinery."
Slow_motion elbowed PT in his right arm.
Buckaroo shook his head. "They needed some material from the boiler room. Seeing some of this plumbing is also tied into our experimental Fusion lab, there were a few exotic metals the visitors could make use of."
"I see." replied Dr. Zweibel. " Man?That'll set us back a pretty penny?.Guess we better break out the briquettes & marshmallows to keep warm for Xmas."
Slow_motion shrugged his shoulders in defeat and mumbled. "What the heck?.it's only money."
THE END..........
