*Alex walks back into his lab. A disco ball hangs from the ceiling. Shag carpeting covers the floor. There's a stainless steel table set up in the middle of the room, covered with beakers and test tubes and other such scientific items. A couch is set off to one side. He walks over to it and sets little Mick down. The "black box" holding Ursula is already on the table.*

Little Mick: (Points to the box) What dat? :-/

Alex: It's just a box, my boy, with very special contents. ;)

Little Mick: (Grabs an impliment) What dis? (Starts making vroom noises) Vroom! Vroom! Look! Me plane! ;) :D

Alex: *rolls his eyes* Put that down! *takes the impliment and puts it down, out of Mick's reach* :P

Little Mick: Awww! Me wannna play! :p

Alex: Oh, but you will. I'll give you a chance, but there's a few things I need to do first, okay? ;) >:)

Little Mick: 'Kay. :)

(Little Mick starts making "Vroom" noises again and running around, pretending HE'S a plane. ;) )

Alex: *turns back to the table; connects the "black box" to some wires on the table* Kids. *glares at Little Mick* Hey, kiddo, wanna come in for a landing and quiet down, so I can finish my set up here?

Little Mick: 'Kay. (Sits down and starts playing with papers at Mick's desk. ;) )

Alex: Maybe I should've been more specific. *goes over to the desk and pulls Mick away* How about you go back to sitting on the couch, okay?

Little Mick: 'Kay. (Goes to the couch and throws the pillows so that they bop him on the head and he ends up giggling. ;) :)) )

Alex: *quick glance at Mick; shrugs* Better. *turns back to the table*

Ursula: (Barely audible and slightly slurred; from in the box) What's...going...on...

Alex: *low voiced* Shush, you! :P

Ursula: What...do...to...me...

Alex: Right now I'm trying to figure out how to get you out of this darn crystal. :P

Ursula: Dunno....don't 'member....

Little Mick: Who ya talk ta?

Alex: *looks up* Just talking to myself, kiddo. ;) :P

Little Mick: 'Kay. (Toddles over to Alex and tugs his pant leg) Want food! Me hungry! ;) :D

Alex: Food... *reaches into a pocket and pulls out a Hershey bar* Want a chocolate bar? ;)

Little Mick: Oooh! (Takes the candy bar) Tanks! (Toddles over to the couch and eats it hungrily) ;) :D

Ursula: Alex...won't...talk...

Alex: *mutters* You don't have to. I'll try to crack this great mystery myself.

Ursula: Done...magic...not...science...

Little Mick: (With a mouth full of chocolate) You play with box?

Alex: *ignores Mick; still muttering* I know it was magic, but I figured maybe science would be easier to figure out HOW to get you out. :P

(Little Mick wanders off to inspect one of the tables while Alex fiddles with the box, his hands and face smeared with chocolate. ;) )

*Alex tries a few methods, trying to get Ursula out of the crystal. None of them work. He leans against the table, watching Mick get everything chocolately.*

Alex: *unenthused* That chocolate's gonna be a pain to clean. :P ;)

Little Mick: (Holds up a few wires) Snakes! Ssss! Ssss! ;)

*Alex grins. There's a small black light on the wires Mick holds. They turn into harmless garden snakes.* ;) >:)

Little Mick: Yipes! (drops the snakes - they wiggle over to to Alex's table where he works on Ursula) Snakes go bye-bye!

*Alex sends off a black light onto the snakes, turning them back into wires.*

Little Mick: (Perplexed) Where snakes go? (Looks under tables) Heeerrreee, snakeys-snakeys!

*Alex sighs, still working on Ursula. He unconnects one of the wires and connects another. He flips a switch and a control panel comes out the side of the table. He turns a dial, pushes a button, then flips another switch.*

Little Mick: (Sees the control panel and grins) Cool! Me too! (Runs over and starts pushing buttons) Me get Big Bird! :D

Alex: No! *moves little Mick away* Don't push anything! :P

Little Mick: Awwww! No fun! (Sticks his tongue out) :p

Ursula: Leave...boy...alone...

Little Mick: Huh? Box talk?

Alex: What? You're hearing things, kid. *turns his back to Little Mick and leans over the box; mutters* Would you shut up? :P

Little Mick: No! Box talk! :p

Alex: *turns back to Mick* Nuh uh! :P ;)

Little Mick: Uh-huh!

Ursula: (Slurred mutters) How...mature... :p

Alex: *thumps the box* Uh uh! :P

Ursula: Ow. :p

Little Mick: What in box?

Alex: *sighs* Fine. It's a...pet, but it's sick, so you can't see it. ;)

Little Mick: Poor pet! Is it a doggie?

Ursula: No. :p

Alex: *slight smirk* Yes, it is, as a matter of fact. ;) >:)

Little Mick: Awww! (Reaches for the box) Me see!

Alex: You can't! She's sick, and if you get too close, you might get sick, too. ;)

Little Mick: Ooohhhh. We kiss her and make her better? :)

Alex: *quirks an eyebrow* Sorry, kiddo, but it doesn't work that way.

Little Mick: Aww. (Reaches for the button Alex is working on) What dat?

Alex: *eyes widen* Don't touch! :-O

(Little Mick pushes the button. Ursula is ejected from the box, landing on the floor.)

Ursula: Oooh, that...hurt. :p

Little Mick: Not doggie! :p

Alex: *groans* Aw, shit. :P

Little Mick: Rock talk! (Tries to pick it up, but Ursula is almost as big as he is; he makes a face at the black goo) Rock goo! :p

Ursula: Micky...me....Ursula...

Little Mick: Huh?

Alex: Uhhh... *picks Ursula up, spreading the goo out to cover Ursula better* Did I forget to mention I'm a ventriloquist, too? ;)

Little Mick: What dat?

Ursula: Oh...please...

Alex: Umm...someone who can make it sound like a voice comes from somewhere other than their mouth. *points at his mouth* ;)

Little Mick: Me ven-tril-kist! Me make noises with arm! (Demonstrates) ;) :D

Alex: *shakes his head* No, kiddo. That isn't quite what I meant. :P

Little Mick: Daddy show me that! :D

Alex: *snorts* That isn't a surprise. ;)

Ursula: Alex...you...have...nothing...against...me. Why...do....this...me....

Alex: *mutters* Where would you like me to start? >:) ;)

Ursula: Shelia...hates...me...not...you...

Little Mick: Rock still talk!

Ursula: Yes...I...talk...

Alex: *ignores Mick* I work with and for Shelia, so I share her hate for you. >:)

Ursula: You...were...created...long...after...she...killed..me...

Little Mick: Kill rock?

Alex: What does that matter? She made it so that I share her hatred. I want Milady to get her way. Then, I can get MY way. ;) >:)

Ursula: Which...is...

Little Mick: (Frowns) You way?

Alex: *groans, becoming very frustrated* I GET what I WANT! >:) ;) :P

Ursula: Little...Micky...is...more...mature...than...you....

Little Mick: What you want?

Alex: *glances as Mick; to Ursula* Now, I really shouldn't say in present company. I think you know what I mean. ;)

Ursula: The...Mother....

*Alex smirks, slightly.* ;)

Little Mick: Mommy?

Ursula: Yes.

Little Mick: Why you want Mommy?

Alex: *glances at Mick; turns to Ursula again* Big mouth. :P ;)

Ursula: Leave...her...alone...children...too...

Alex: No. They have such great potential. I am NOT letting the opportunity slip by. >:)

Ursula: (Slight blue glow under the black liquid) NO! X(

Little Mick: Po-ten-tal?

Alex: *growls* Oh, no, you don't! *cups his hands together, creating a ball of black light; throws it at Ursula, stopping the blue glow*

Ursula: Nooooo!!!!!! (the blue glow flickers and fades; Little Mick wails)

Little Mick: Head hurts! :(

Alex: No more warnings, Ursula. I WILL get you out of that damn crystal, no matter WHAT I have to do! Even if I have to chip away at it with a chipper and hammer! :P ;)

Ursula: Too...solid...not...work...

Little Mick: Ursula? (Squints) Auntie Ursula?

Alex: We'll see about that. :P >:)

Little Mick: Hurt Auntie Ursula? :(

Alex: It's time for you to go back to your box, Ursula. I have more experiments to try on you. >:)

Ursula: Noo...stop...

Little Mick: (Grabs Alex's arm) No! No hurt Auntie Ursula! :(

*Alex shakes little Mick off his arm, then picks up Ursula and sets her back in the box.*

Little Mick: You HURT Auntie Ursula! X(

Alex: And what're you gonna do about it, kid? :P

Little Mick: Go 'way! No hurt Auntie Ursula! (There's a faint blue glow around Alex, and he's now dressed like a clown ;) )

Little Mick: (Giggles) Look silly! :))

Alex: *eyes wide* What the hell!? X-(

Little Mick: You funny! ;)

Alex: Why, you little... X-( :P

Little Mick: (Takes the box) Bye-bye! (Runs for the door) ;)

Alex: No! X-( *quick black light over himself, changing his clothes back; goes after Little Mick*

(Little Mick runs out the door with the box as "(I'm Not Your) Stepping Stone" begins, with Alex in hot pursuit. ;) )

(He runs over to a set of steps and runs down them. When Alex tries to run down them, they turn into a slide, and he ends up falling on his rump and sliding down hard. ;) )

*Little Mick runs into a room full of mirrors. The mirrors reflect him in as many different ways as possible. He stops at one and makes a face. His reflection is Alex, until Alex reaches out for him. Little Mick takes off again, and Alex flops face down on the ground.* :P ;)

(Little Mick runs over a platform. When Alex gets on it, the "platform" starts shaking. When a still-shaking Alex comes off, we see the name of the ride over it - the "Whacky Shack." ;) )

(Little Mick jumps into a huge room full of colorful plastic balls and dives in. Alex dives in after him...and comes up rubbing his head from hitting it when he hit the bottom. It's deep enough for a two-year-old and a box...but not a grown man. ;) )

(Alex wades after him, occasionally sticking his arm around, looking for him. He pushes down very deeply...and comes up with a fistful of "snakes." On a second look, the "snakes" are fake plastic. He makes a face, throws them back, and wades to the other side. :p)

(Little Mick goes through a tube tunnel. Alex follows him...and gets stuck. The tunnel was made for kids, not a grown-up, even a very thin one. ;) )

*Little Mick comes to a rope bridge and runs across very easily. Alex gets to it and pauses, considering it. He finally shrugs & begins to cross, but the bridge swings and he falls off, landing it more colorful plastic balls.* ;)

(Brief scenes of Alex chasing Little Mick here and there over the platform as Mick giggles. ;) )

(As the music ends, Little Mick looks over his shoulder; no Alex. He slides down one more long, twisty slide, and lands safely. He thinks he's gotten away safely, until he sees a pair of expensive Italian leather high heels...and looks up to see Shelia, shaking her head. :p )

Shelia: Young Savage, what are you doing here? And why are you playing with that? It's not a toy!

Little Mick: (Holds the box tightly) Me save Auntie Ursula! X(

Shelia: (Narrows her eyes) You'll do no such thing. Where's Alex?

Little Mick: (Shrugs) Me no know.

*Alex finally runs into the room, puffing slightly. He rolls his eyes upon seeing Shelia.* :P

Shelia: Alex, how did he get out? You were supposed to be molding him, not chasing him like some dumb hunter aftah a rabbit eating a carrot and saying "What's up, Doc?" :p X(

Alex: I was trying to "mold" him. *shakes his head* He was too intent on messing up my experiments instead and then ran off with the damn box! :P X-(

Little Mick: No! Hurt Auntie Ursula! :p

Shelia: He's not hurting Auntie Ursula. He's trying to get her out of the rock, so she can play with us. ;)

Little Mick: Really?

Shelia: Really.

*Alex nods.* ;)

Little Mick: Won't hurt Auntie Ursula?

Alex: *smirks* Wouldn't dream of it. ;)

Shelia: Now, Little Mick, give us Auntie Ursula, so we can let her play with you. ;)

Little Mick: 'Kay. (Looks up with large, hopeful eyes) No hurt?

Alex: Nope. ;)

(Little Mick slowly but reluctantly turns Ursula over to Alex.)

Alex: Thank you. ;) >:)

Shelia: (Pats him) Good boy. Now, what shall we do with him while we work on my sistah? ;)

Alex: Perhaps we could let him check out one of our "game rooms." ;) >:)

Shelia: That sounds like fun. ;)

Little Mick: (Perks up) Game woom? :D

Alex: Yup. ;)

Little Mick: Where game woom? :D

Alex: We'll show you. *motions with his head for Shelia to follow* Come along, Young Savage. We'll show you the game room. I think you'll like it. ;)

Little Mick: Yay! (Claps and follows the adults) :D

*They walk down a hall, turn a corner, down another hall, up a set of stairs, down another hall, up another set of stairs, and down another hall until reaching a door near the end of the hall.* ;)

Little Mick: What there?

Shelia: Our game room. ;)

Little Mick: Play! :D

Alex: *smirks* You're going to love it. ;) >:)

*Alex opens the door and gently nudges Little Mick inside. Alex and Shelia stay outside the room and close the door after Mick.*

Little Mick: (The room is totally dark) Who turn on dark? :p

*Suddenly, a single light on the ceiling in the middle of the room comes on, sending light over the entire room, which turns out to be completely empty. It's just four bare walls with the one door.*

Little Mick: No games! No fun! (Turns to the door and tugs at it; it won't open) Hey? (Pounds on the door) Let out! Want out! No fair! No game! :p X(

Shelia: (As the camera cuts to the other side of the door) Nice work, Alex. That ought to hold the little brat. The three girls were being such pains, I had to put them to sleep. :p

Alex: *nods* Just like their parents. :P ;)

Shelia: How's the work on my sistah coming? ;)

Alex: It's isn't, so far. I started trying a couple ideas, but they either didn't work or got interrupted by the brat. :P

Shelia: Why don't we see how far we can get before we work on part two of our plan. ;)

Alex: Good idea. ;)

(Cut back to Alex's lab. Both are now in lab coats, and Alex is once again fooling around with wires and the box.)

Shelia: (Crosses her arms) Ok, apprentice, do your stuff. Impress me. How can you jolt my stubborn sistah's memory? ;)

Ursula: No...'member...can't...don't...Julia...

Alex: *straightens, folding his arms* Perhaps a little electric shock treament? ;) >:)

Shelia: A good way to start off. ;)

Ursula: No...

Alex: My thoughts exactly. ;)

*Alex flips a couple switches, turns a dial, then presses a button. A glow comes over the wires. The box begins to vibrate and shake with electricity.* >:)

Ursula: (Screams) No....AHHHHH!!!! :o

Alex: Come on...

Ursula: Can't...won't...

Shelia: Come off it, Urse, how can you NOT remembah somethin' this important?

Ursula: Had...other...things...mind...was...dying...then... :p

Alex: Guess I'll just have to turn up the juice... >:) *turns the dial up*

Ursula: AHHHHHH!!!!! NOOOOO!!!

Shelia: How did they do it? How did the original Guardians put you in that crystal?

Ursula: Just....used...powers...put...hands...me...all...know.

Alex: *looks at Shelia* There's still a little juice left to use. ;) >:)

Shelia: Why did you give them powers in the first place? They're just ordinary human beings.

Ursula: Help...good...kids...give...confi'densh...

*Alex turns the dial up as high as it'll go.* >:)

Ursula: (Shrieks) AHHHHHHHHH!!!! GOD, NOOOOOO!!!!! HURTS!!!!! :o

Alex: Ursula, you can't tell us this isn't jogging your memory! :P

Ursula: They...not...want...me...'member. Robert...saw...Julia...kill...me. He...brought....others...used...powers. Hands...on...me....blue...light...

Alex: Damn. :P

Shelia: You don't remember what spell they used?

Ursula: (Annoyed) No...dying...at...time... :p

*Alex spins the dial, shutting the experiment down.*

Alex: Well, we got a little bit from that, but not much.

Shelia: Bettah than what we had before.

Ursula: Julia...stop...please...why...me...now...

Shelia: When I get you out and corrupt you, you are going to help Alex and me mold the children.

Ursula: Never! X(

Alex: I wouldn't be so sure about that Ursula. :P >:)

Shelia: Including the one not yet born. We're going to bring him and his mother here soon. ;)

Ursula: WHAT?! :o

Alex: You heard her. >:)

Shelia: We're going to bring the Aristocrat and her son here. I could use a nice, elegant handmaiden who knows which knife goes where and what wine is good with various meats. ;)

Alex: And I could use another young'n to follow in my footsteps. ;) >:)

Ursula: You...not...get...them....Guard'ns...know...tricks...

Alex: But we have NEW tricks. >:) ;)

Ursula: Have...yet...to...see...them... :p ;)

*Alex growls.* :P ;)

Shelia: (Narrows her eyes) You want to see new tricks, sistah? (Looks at Alex) Why don't we show her some new tricks? :p X(

Alex: *nods* Gladly. ;) >:) X-(

(Shelia grabs the box, conteplating it.)

Shelia: Now, what should we show my dear sistah, who has been such a pain over the years? :p ;)

Alex: Why don't you choose, Milady? I've already made several attempts. Perhaps you'll have the "magic" touch. ;) >:)

Shelia: Let's play with her. ;)

Ursula: Not...toy...

Shelia: Oh, but you are.

Alex: A FUN toy. ;) >:)

Shelia: (Opens the box and removes Ursula) Now, what game are you in the mood for, Alex? How can we...play...with my sistah's mind?

Alex: How about an especially torturous game? ;)

Shelia: My favorite kind. ;) >:)

Ursula: What...no....

Shelia: First of all, since she won't talk anyway, why don't we play with her voice? ;)

Ursula: NO! Uncle...did that...when...he had me...years ago....don't... :o

Alex: An EXCELLENT idea. ;) >:)

Shelia: (Wipes away a little of the black liquid so they can "perform" on her) Now, now, sistah, calm down. Remain calm. Don't have a fear in those pretty gem sides of yours. (Rubs her finger around the clear spot in a "muddling" motion)

Ursula: (Moans) Ohhhh....no...dizzy...can't...think...

Shelia: Don't think, sistah dear. Don't think about anything at all.

*Alex smirks.* >:)

Ursula: No...must...Guard'ns...prot'ct...help...

Shelia: Remain calm. Clear your little mind of all thoughts. Stay completely calm and rested.

Alex: *still smriking* Don't think of anything. >:)

Ursula: (Very slurred) Calm...I calm...

Shelia: Good. Alex, since you've been so good, you may work on her voice. ;)

Ursula: My...voish...work...yesh...

Alex: Thank you. *motions with his hands around the crystal, trying to figure out WHERE Ursula's throat is* Hmm. The only problem is, a crystal doesn't have a throat. *eyes widen* I've got it.

*Alex puts a finger on the cleared spot Shelia made and drags it all the way across. A black light follows it.*

Alex: There. >:)

(There's a flicker of slurry blue light, but no sound.)

Shelia: Good. Much better. Rocks should NOT talk. ;)

Alex: Right. ;) >:)

Shelia: She needs to be kept drugged and sleepy, and her powers must be weakened. If her powers are weak, the Guardians' will be, too...and they won't be able to come to the Aristocrat's aid as fast as normal. ;) >:)

Alex: *nods* Yes, Milady. >:)

Shelia: Any other...potions...you have that might do the trick, Alex? ;) >:)

Alex: Well... *checks his pockets; there's a quick black light; reveals a bottle of black liquid* How about this? ;) >:)

Shelia: More of that lovely stuff. What IS that, Alex? ;)

Alex: "The Goo." It's a special concoction I came across by accident, really. I was working on some other potion and mixed the the wrong ingredients together, and came up with this. It acts as though it's molassas. It slows you down and makes it hard to think straight. ;) >:)

Shelia: Oooh! That's the best thing you've come up with yet! Use it! :D >:)

Alex: I'd be more than happy to. It's time to "refreshen" our crystal friend, anyway. ;) *clears off Ursula and pours the fresh bottle over her; what's noticeable is that the bottle is very small, yet the "Goo" keeps pouring out, never-ending* >:) ;)

(The blue light dies to an occasional watery flicker. Shelia's grin becomes ear-to-ear. :D >:) )

Shelia: What's with the everlasting bottle? ;)

Alex: *grins* Another little trick I came up with. We'll never run out. ;)

Shelia: Would it work on, say, a pregant woman without hurting her or her child? ;)

Alex: *nods once* Yes. However, the only downside to the "Goo" is that it doesn't do any physical harm. :P ;)

Shelia: With a pregnant mother, that's perfect. We don't want to harm her physically. We just want to calm her enough to bring her here. ;)

Alex: *holds out the bottle* This should do the trick. ;) >:)

Shelia: Why don't we put my sistah away, check on the children, and go see the Aristocrat? ;)

Alex: Let’s. ;)

(Shelia puts on rubber gloves, then delicately picks up Ursula and places her in the box.)

Shelia: (As she peels off the gloves) Turn the box back on, Alex, and we'll be on our way. ;) >:)

Alex: *flicks the switch* All set, Milady. ;) >:)

Shelia: (Hangs her lab coat on a hook on the wall) Come on, Alex. Let's go. Bring The Goo. >:)

Alex: *tucks the bottle in his shirt pocket* Coming, Milady. >:) ;)

(They head out of the lab, leaving the box hooked in. The camera fades out on the box...and the slight blue and black light coming from it.)