Everyone ready for a little fun to start off? :)
Micky: Definitely. I could use some fun.
Davy: Please...
Mike: Same here.
Peter: Let's talk to Ursula!
(We begin at the crystal MonkeeCave. Ursula sits in her usual spot in the middle, unlit. She lights up suddenly, and we hear voices.)
Ursula: (As the kids begin to filter in) Welcome, my warriors.
Mike: Urse, your sister is at it again.
Ursula: (Sighs) I know. To use the parlance of Micky's gangster films, she busted outta jail.
Micky: To say the least. :P
Davy: That bloody bastard Alex did somethin' to Lauren and Daphne! X(
Mike: And he has my goddamn wife! X(
Ursula: Capturing Emma was not Alex's doing. That was entirely my sister.
Mike: Figures. :p
Peter: That's not all, either. Ursula, we think Alex seduced at least one young woman into giving up her soul. She was supposed to have an interview with Emma yesterday, but she never showed up...and Em disappeared a few hours later.
Ursula: Leslie Evans?
Valerie: Yes. (Sighs) She may not be the only one, either.
Mike: We all made some calls last night, asked a few people questions.
Davy: Called Seargent Nielson, too.
Mike: At least thirty young women who had up-and-coming media careers have vanished within the last six months...
Ursula: And more than half of them worked for Past, Present, and Future Inc at one time.
Valerie: How did you know?
Ursula: One of the few details I got off my sister. I'm afraid I'm not linked to Alex the way I am with her, which is why I don't really know where they are right now.
Micky: I don't think you'd WANT to be linked to Alex that way. :P
Ursula: I'm not crazy about being linked to my sister that way. :p
Mike: Do you know anything else?
Ursula: Only that the young women are in danger. All but two have been stripped of their souls.
(Peter whimpers; Valerie puts her arm around him. :( )
Mike: Oh, shit. :p
*Micky groans.* :P :( X-(
Mike: Ursula, do you know where they are?
Ursula: Somewhere in the desert, under old buildings. (Sighs) Shame such a nice little town was abandonded. It looks like it might have been a good home if given more time and consideration. :p
Mike: (Frowns) Under old buildings...
Valerie: Maybe a ghost town?
Micky: Yeah...
Davy: Wot about the girls? Em, Lauren, and Daphne are all in the clutches of that...that...bloody sex maniac! Lauren was leading Daph around on a leash the last time we saw her! :p
Ursula: Unfortuantly, Alex seems to have the ability to use his soul reading to turn those he's linked to over to his side; namely, Micky and Lauren.
Micky: Wonderful. :P
Mike: What about the other two?
Ursula: Alex and Shelia, reinforced by Lauren, have convinced Daphne that she is nothing more than their pet, without even a proper name.
Davy: (Growls) Like HELL she is! X(
Micky: Oh, man... :P
Mike: And Em? I don't feel stiff anymore, just sticky. :p
Ursula: Emma is a kitten, which is about all I've been able to get out of my sister. :p
Mike: That explains the three tuna sandwiches I ate this morning. :p
(That's when Ursula begins flashing.)
Ursula: Intruder! Intruder!
Micky: Now what? :P
Mike: (Quickly puts his hand on Ursula; his broadsword appears in a whitish-blue light) God damn it! They must have come for Urse.
Davy: (He and Peter touch Ursula and retrive their weapons) Micky, is the new security system on?
Micky: *nods* It's ALWAYS on. *smirks knowingly* ;)
*Micky touches Ursula next to get his dagger.*
Ursula: Peter, protect Valerie. Michael, stay here. Micky and Davy, take the front.
Micky: You got it! X-(
(Peter gulps and loads his bow.)
*They see three shadows coming in the entrance way. The shadows prove to be Alex, Lauren, and Daphne. Alex and Lauren are smirking. Daphne is still being lead by Lauren.*
Davy: Daph! (Runs to her without thinking)
Lauren: *glares at Davy* Didn't you learn before? :P >:)
Micky: *hisses* Dave! :P
Daphne: (Looks up at Davy) Hello, Lord David.
Davy: Daph, can't you see? It's me, Davy! Your boyfriend!
Daphne: My...boyfriend?
Lauren: He seems to be mistaken. >:)
Davy: (Reaches out and touches her short hair) Oh, luv, what have they done to you?
Daphne: Nothing. I'm fine, David.
Lauren: *swats Davy's hand away...hard* You apparently didn't learn. :P >:)
Davy: God DAMN you, Alex! Let her go! Let them BOTH go!
Mike: And give me my god damn wife back! X(
Alex: I'm not letting anyone go. Where's the fun in that? *smirks* >:)
Micky: *mutters* I'll show you FUN. X-(
Davy: GET 'IM! MICKY, LAUNCH THE SECURITY SYSTEM!
Micky: *grins--brings up his wrist and punches a button on his watch* All systems GO! Everyone duck! ;)
*As they duck, we see Alex, Lauren, and Daphne look around, wondering what's going on. Suddenly, we hear sounds like gears turning, and paint balls come flying from the walls.*
(As they duck, "You Can't Tie A Mustang Down" begins.)
(Davy tries to go to Daphne and undo her collar again.)
*Lauren tries to make Davy leave Daphne alone.* :P >:) ;)
(Daphne ducks away from Davy and grabs his arms, but he pulls away and goes after Alex, who is dueling with Micky.)
*Micky edges his way to the side and swings his dagger at a rope leading to the ceiling. A net falls, but Alex moves out of the way. Micky snaps his fingers and mouths "Darn!"* :P
(Mike blocks Lauren from Ursula.)*Lauren is trying to get around Mike and finally ducks under his legs.* ;)
(Ursula blinks and reddens.)
(Mike cuts another rope. A bucket of slimy green stuff falls on Lauren. ;) :D)
(Peter's arrows shatter a group of balloons hanging on the celing. Alex and Lauren are splashed with water. ;) )
*Micky hits another button. A LOT of feathers fall from the ceiling and stick to Alex and Lauren.* ;)
(Peter's arrows fly again...this time dropping buckets of multi-colored paint onto Alex and Lauren. ;) )
(Davy pulls Daphne into his arms, but she squirms away.)
*Lauren starts after Micky, her hands outstretched as if to strangle him. Just as she gets to him, he blue lights himself across the room.* :P
(Mike grabs a length of rope and runs faster than any human around Alex and Lauren. When he's done, the two are tied tightly together. ;) )
(Davy hits a large button with his rapier. A hook picks up the two and lifts them into the air. ;) )
*As the song fades, the others looks up at their captives, who are cursing them out.* ;)
Micky: Gee, that worked even better than I thought. ;)
Ursula: Good work, Guardians. :D
Alex: You're gonna pay for this! X-( :P
Lauren: *slight hint of fear in her voice* Let us down! :P
Peter: What are we gonna do with them?
Mike: (Upwards, to Alex) Where's Em and Leslie Evans, you asshole? X(
Alex: *smirks* Like I'm going to tell you anything! :P
Davy: Oh, luv... (he starts towards Daphne, but she pulls away)
Daphne: No, I must bring you to Master.
Davy: 'E ain't your bloomin' mastah, luv! No one is! You're not a pet! (Touches her short hair) Oh, god, they've 'urt you.
Daphne: No, they've been good to me.
Lauren: Don't touch her! X-( :P
Mike: We could leave you there for another five hundred years, you know, Alex.
Alex: You think I'm worried? ;) :P
Ursula: Alex, I'd talk, if I were you. Remember, I have the same powers as my sister...and, by extension, as YOU. :p
Alex: *eyes narrow* I could also just black light out of here. ;) >:)
Ursula: And we could follow you.
Alex: *scoffs* Ha! :P
Davy: Daph, please, listen to me! You can't let them bully you around!
Daphne: They're not bullying me! I'm a pet. I follow orders.
Davy: Luv, you're a human bein'! :p
Lauren: *not as convincingly* She's MY pet! :P
Alex: *growls to Lauren* What's wrong with you? :P
Lauren: I don't like heights! :P
Davy: Daphne, you're no one's pet. You're a muscian and a free woman in a free country.
Daphne: I...I am?
*Alex rolls his eyes.* :P
Mike: (To Lauren) We'll get you down, darlin'...IF you guys tell us what's goin' on, or at least let Daph go.
Alex: No!
Lauren: Ummm...
Peter: I don't think they're talking, guys.
Micky: Doesn't sound like it. :P
Mike: Laur's close, but Alex is bein' a pain in the ass.
Ursula: Of course he is. My sister created him. ;) :p
Mike: (Touches a lever) Hey, Mick, what does this one do? ;)
Micky: *unsure* Umm, it makes the hook swing out towards the entrance *reconsiders* but, Mike...
(Mike pulls the lever down with his sword; the hook swings to the entrance...and flings it's bound captives out the door. ;) )
Mike: Ooops. Sorry, Mick. Didn't mean to do that to your wife. :">
Micky: *makes a face; then shrugs* She'll get me back for it later, if she feels the need. ;)
Davy: (Goes to Daphne) Luv, please, stay wit' me. I...I...
*Daphne is surrounded by a black light and disappears.* ;) :P
Davy: (Roars) NOOOOO!!! God DAMN him! X(
Mike: Well, that did nuthin'. :p
Ursula: They probably came for me...and didn't know any of YOU were there, or thought they could easily get around Micky's system.
Mike: I wonder if they may have wanted to challenge us, too, and never got the chance.
Valerie: Good. I don't feel like playing games this time. :p
Davy: I was just about to tell Daph 'ow much I loved 'er, even undah the spell of a demon. :(
Mike: We'll get her back, Davy.
Alex: *voice over* Oh, and by the way, if you’re feeling up to it, you could always drop by for a shootout, and maybe even win some prizes. *evil laugh* >:) ;)
Mike: (Frowns) What do you mean?
Peter: Drop by where?
Valerie: What kind of a shootout?
Peter: Not more challenges, I hope! :p
Davy: You BET we will, you bastard! X(
Micky: Well, THAT was interesting. :P 8-|
Ursula: I'm afraid he may have something like the challenges in mind.
Valerie: I'm NOT going in a suitcase. :p
Peter: And I don't want to be hidden! :(
Mike: Mick, this guy is half-you. What kind of challenges would YOU come up with for us?
Davy: I'm almost afraid to even contemplate it. :p
Micky: *shrugs* I don't know. It could be anything! :P
Mike: He could just want a straightforward fight.
Davy: This is guy is an evil Micky, Mike. Do you think 'e'd do a straight fight?
Mike: (Sighs) Sorry, Mick, but guess not. :p
Micky: I don't think he would. :P
Mike: We've got to figure out where they are.
Valerie: The minute we get back, we could go through the most recent maps of Southern California, Nevada, Arizona, and New Mexico in his collection and find out what the closest large, abandoned ghost towns are.
Micky: I think he gave us some clues as to that.
Mike: The shootout talk?
Micky: It's possible.
Peter: Where did they used to have shootouts?
Davy: (Grins) At the Disneyland Shootin' Gallery? ;)
Mike: We did think it was likely that they were hidin' out under or around a ghost town this afternoon.
Valerie: It's worth checking out.
Micky: If that ghost town was an old wild west town...
Peter: (Grins) Like in the movies! :D
Valerie: There's a few out there that were never remodeled or removed.
Mike: Yeah, I like the idea of goin' back to the mansion and figurin' this out. It's gettin' too late for lookin' around the desert for them tonight. :p
Peter: (Looks worridly at Ursula) What about you?
Ursula: I'll be fine, Peter. I've now got the world's most imaginative security system in addition to my own...natural defenses. ;)
Micky: A girl couldn't ask for more. ;)
Ursula: Presicely, Micky. :)
Davy: (Quietly) Daphne...did you 'ear 'er? She...she thinks she's just a pet.
Peter: (Puts his arm around Davy) This hurts a lot, Dave. You love Daphne so deeply. You can't stand seeing her like this, and I don't blame you. (Smiles) We'll get her back, Davy, don't worry.
Micky: *nods* Yeah, Dave, we'll get the girls back. :) *to himself* I hope.
Mike: (Sheaves his broadsword) Come on, guys. Let's go plan for a shoot-out. ;)
(Fade out on the MonkeeCave; fade in on the Cartwright Mansion. Everyone now sits in a well-appointed library, filled with books, maps, globes, and papers. Katie Nesmith's bassinet is in one corner. Everyone else is checking books and maps of the Southern California/Mojave Desert area.)
Mike: What do you guys have?
Micky: *holds a map* I can't figure out which end is up. *turns the map around and around and around* :p ;)
Peter: (Takes the map from Micky and turns it yet another way) It's this way, Micky. It's kind of like a blueprint...but brown and blue with red and black wavy lines. :)
Micky: Ohhh. *grins, blushing slightly* Thanks, Pete. ;) :"> :P
Davy: Did you guys find anythin'?
Mike: Yeah, I've checked a couple. I know they tore down that one near Vegas, but the one about an hour outside Flagstaff might be a possibility...
Valerie: (Comes in, beaming) Ok, guys, I got it. I called some people in the real estate place downtown that's owned by a friend of my dad's, and they got a listing of all of the known ghost towns in the southwestern US that were recently bought or showed signs of activity. (Hands them the list)
Mike: Val, you're a gem. Good work.
Peter: Oh, I know she's a gem. She's a diamond...and she's never been more beautiful. :D (Hugs Valerie gently)
Micky: Awwwe! :)
Valerie: (Dazedly) Thanks. ;) :">
Mike: You guys gettin' ready for your kid?
Peter: Yeah.
Valerie: (Sighs) Our own little boy. Chrissy wants to give him at least one of his names, and my father's already given us a year's supply of baby formula. :)
Peter: (Sighs) It'll be wonderful to have a son. You do so well with Little Mick, Micky. I hope I can be half the father you are. :)
Micky: I know you will be a GREAT father, Pete. I have faith in you. :)
Mike: So do I. Kids love you. The twins think you're great, and Katie adores you. :)
Valerie: I've already raised Chrissy. It'll be interesting to raise a boy. :)
Peter: (Sighs) Our own boy... :X
Valerie: Yeah... :X
Mike: (Goes to Micky and Davy and looks at the list) Anythin' look appropriate, guys?
Micky: *points* Here's the Flagstaff one you mentioned.
Davy: And 'ere's one in southeastern California, neah the Nevada bordah.
Mike: You know, after us findin' them so easily, I'd say they'd probably move out of state.
Davy: (Nods) Far away from US. :p
Micky: Right. :P
Mike: But close enough that they can still get at us without having to travel too far and drain themselves. :p
Micky: Figures. :P
Peter: Arizona is awfully far...
Mike: Not if you blue-light it. :p
Davy: Yeah. You can't blue-light cross-country...
Mike: But cross-STATE might not be as drainin'.
Peter: I wish there was a way to find out.
Valerie: Hmm? (Shakes her head) Oh...um, I think there is.
Micky: Could try it.
Peter: Val, what do you mean?
Valerie: (Smiles and picks up the phone) This. (Dials a number; pause, then) Hello, Aggie, this is Valerie Cartwright. I'm calling about the ghost towns again. (Pause) There was one in particular I wanted to know about, the one near Flagstaff. (Longer pause; Valerie nods, then grins) I see. When did they remodel it? (pause; eyebrows go up) Ahh. All right. Yes, I understand. Client confidentiallity and all that. Thanks, Aggie, you've been a true peach. (Puts down the phone)
Peter: What is it, Val?
Valerie: Guess who bought that ghost town in Arizona six months ago?
Mike: (Growls) Alex.
Valerie: (Wide grin) Past, Present, and Future, Inc. Aggie couldn't say who did the actual purchasing. It was more likely a secretary who was on the phone...but I'll bet I could tell you whose idea it was. ;)
Micky: Yeah, that's fitting, alright.
Valerie: Apparently, PPF bought it for an unnamed TV company who wanted to use it as locations for westerns.
Peter: That's normal.
Valerie: According to Aggie, what ISN'T normal is the materials they used...and the amount of people they sent out. (Hands another list to Micky) Here, Mick. See if you can make heads or tails of these materials. Would they need concrete and the rest to build underground?
Micky: *nods* Definitely. Concrete, steel rods. They build with the rods and then pour the cement over them. Gives a really strong hold. The rest...sturdy wood, stone...I can only imagine the total of the BILL! :P
Valerie: It would all have been footed to PPF, Mick. I think they can afford it.
Micky: It's still a nice chunk of change. :P
Mike: Not if their head boss has been in the slammer. Shelia ain't gonna be too thrilled when she finds out how much Alex has been spendin'. ;)
Micky: *grins* Now that's a reaction I'd like to see. ;)
Mike: What's Alex been doin' under there all this time?
Micky: Planning, more than likely. :P
Davy: Seducin' women. No wondah no one can find Leslie Evans. I'll bet that's where she is. :p
Mike: And Strawberry. I'll bet she's really a Samantha or a Susan, not a Strawberry. She's gotta be another one of Alex's victims.
Micky: Considering how much those devils love to turn humans into animals. :P
Davy: The twins ain't gonna like hearin' their puppy friend ain't a puppy. :p
Micky: No, but I'M gonna be happy to not bring in a puppy to share the house with Onyx. *shudders* ;)
Peter: Well, what are we gonna do?
Mike: We're gonna sleep on it tonight. It's gettin' too late to be runnin' around Arizona lookin' for devils.
Davy: But we're goin' after the girls tomorrow.
Micky: And we're gonna FIND them!
Mike: You, Mick, and I are. Peter and Val, you're stayin' here with the kids.
Peter: But...
Mike: Pete, you're backup. If we need you, one of us will call you on the communicators. You and Valerie have to protect the kids.
Peter: I wish I could do more.
Micky: You'll be doing more than you think, Peter. :)
Valerie: Honey, remember, the kids have the most innocent souls of all, including Chrissy. We have to protect them.
Peter: (Quietly) When will you guys be going?
Mike: As soon as we can tomorrow morning. Preferably before the kids wake up, includin' Chrissy. I don't really wanna answer any questions.
Micky: I know I don't. :P
Valerie: Why don't we have something to soothe our minds, then get to bed early?
Davy: Yeah. I 'ave the feelin' we're gonna need all the strength we can get tomorrow.
Micky: No kidding.
Mike: Yeah. Not to put too fine of a point on it, but my wolf's intuition's been actin' up ever since this evenin' at the MonkeeCave.
Peter: What do you mean?
Mike: It's almost like I can...sense...when somethin' nasty's comin'. (Sniffs at the air) And I can smell it, too.
Micky: Great. :P
Valerie: Part of your wolf's powers - your senses are more acute.
Mike: Yeah, I know. :p
Peter: That's how you ran so fast earlier when you tied up Alex and Lauren, too!
Mike: Yeah, I guess.
Valerie: Come on, guys. Let's get a late snack in the kitchen, then head to bed.
Peter: (Nuzzles Valerie; she giggles) Bed sounds really good. ;) :X
*Micky makes a face.* :P ;)
Mike: Yeah, I could sleep one hundred winks right now. :p
(They all file out of the library, and we fade out.)