Flight Attendant: Thank you for choosing American Airlines as your carrier…"Chance Encounters"
By Ben
18:27 CST… July 29, 2001… Dallas, Texas… Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport…
Flight Attendant: Thank you for choosing American Airlines as your carrier…
Ben: (Groans) Why should they be thanking us when these damn V80’s have small seating and little leg room to boot… (Grabs bag from the overhead compartment) (Sigh) At least I’m here…
(As Ben walks into the terminal…)
Ben: Weird, Why isn’t Gary here?
(Elsewhere, Gary and Ken speed along the highway…)
Gary: Can’t this thing go any faster?
Ken: If I do we’re going to get busted by the cops!
Gary: Just great I finally have the chance to meet the dragoon and we’re running late…
(Back to DFW)
Ben: (Takes a whiff of his drink) Ahhhh… that’s much better. Compared to that crap the airlines serve…
Technovice: (Beeps)
Ben: (?) Huh? (Picks it up) There’s a reploid in the vicinity… I wonder if it’s…
KA-BOOM!!!
(Ben gets thrown by the blast)
Ben: (Groans)
Double: Where am I? Why am I here? (Looks at Ben) You, the one with a technovice…
Ben: Technovice! Armor up to…
(Ben transforms into…)
MAGMA DRAGOON, Flames of Compassion!
Ben: You can do this the easy way or you can…
Double: (Thrusts himself into Ben) RARGH!
Ben: Ugh! FIREBALL!
Double: (Gets thrown by the recoil and jumps onto the wall) REAPER SLASH!
Ben: (Lands in a magazine stand) Ugh… Gary, where are you?
(Speaking of whom…)
Ken: What do you mean the roads to DFW are closed?!?
Officer: It’s another reploid attack, only law enforcement and military personnel can pass. Otherwise you have to go home.
Ken: (Sighs) I guess we have to go back… (Turns around and heads back.)
Gary: Not if I can help it (pulls out his technovice)…
Ken: Oh no you can’t be serious…
Gary: But I am. Ben needs my help… Armor up to…
SPLIT MUSHROOM, Power of Cooperation!
Ken: (Sigh) Here we go again!
Gary: Time to be a hero again. (Jumps out of Ken’s car and heads to DFW in long bounds)
Ken: (Stops) That crazy eskimo…
(At DFW…)
Ben: (Gets thrown about by Double) (Crashes into a McDonalds) Ungh!
Double: Pathetic, But I expected this from a Level one reploid… I’ve supercede you, I’m at the Super level!
???: Save me the chatter Double! Ice Crusher!
Double: Wuf! Frost Walrus?!? But you’re supposed to be in Israel.
Alon: Says you Jello Man!
Double: But how?
Alon: (Slams Double further into the concrete flooring) Shut up you piece of shit. You’re worse than those Palestinians are!
Double: Brave words from a brave fool. You’re still at level one. (Throws Alon out of the window)
Alon: ARGH!!!
???: SOUL BODY!
Double: (Dodges) I was wondering when you’d show up…
Gary: That Dragoon is a good friend of mine. If you hurt him I’ll (Gets thrown into a seating row) ARGH!
Double: He’ll recover, but not for long…
Gary: No! SPORE CANNON!
(The cloud of spores doesn’t affect Double)
Double: MWHAHAHA! Such tomfoolery! Prepare to face…
Ben: (Recovers) Ungh! My head… What? Gary's distracting Double… (Approaches Double from hind)
Double: Any last words before you die fungus?
Gary: Why yes I do… SOUL BODY!
Ben: QUAKE BLASTER!
(Double dodges both blasts, but the energies mix and create a blinding explosion)
Gary: Holy!
(Everything stops and everything appears normal again)
Ben: (Back to normal) Woo… that was a doozy!
Gary: (Also back to normal) Ben?
Ben: (Huffs) Gary.
Gary: Wowza! You look different in those photos you’ve sent me.
Ben: (Gets up) Let’s say in a couple months a lot can change. (Looks around) Where's Double?
Gary: He must have escaped that bastard. I knew he would flee if he had the chance…
Alon: Hey! Have you guys’ forgetten about frosty already?
Ben and Gary: (!!!)
Gary: Alon? I thought you were in Israel…
(Military personnel secure the building)
Officer 1: Are you civilians okay?
Ben: Uh we’re fine but we have a friend out there. (Points out the window)
Alon: Will someone get me out of here?
Officer 1: (Looks out) Don’t worry son, we’ll get you out…
(An examination and questioning period later the trio’s finally released)
18:50 CST…
Gary: It should be awhile till Ken or my dad can pick us up. Tell me Alon, how did you get from Israel to Dallas in the blink of an eye?
Alon: Honestly, I don’t know, I was fighting those Palestinian bastards when all of a sudden, I get transported to here and you probably know the rest.
Ben: Hmmm. Do you think these Technovices are more than what they seem? Look they react when there’s an enemy reploid nearby, or if we’re needed somewhere or when our armor needs a quick upgrade.
Gary: Interesting, jeez I feel so hungry and tired.
Ben: Should be. These armor upgrades are like intense workouts… Does anyone notice a fog coming in?
(A mist settles in)
Alon: What the?
(An ebony black figure appears)
Nth: It’s time…
All: (???)
Nth: Time for the gathering…
Gary: Either we’re going down the deep end or this keeps getting weirder…
(Two headlights pierce the mists and a car runs over Nth)
Nth: (Groans)
Ken: (…)
Gary, Alon, and Ben: (…)
Ben: Uh… there’s no one there…
Gary: So someone call the X-Files. I’m already creeped out. Are you guys coming?
Ben and Alon: (…)
Gary: (Looks to Alon and Ben) Well?
Ben: (Shrugs) Why not?
Alon: Might as well.
(Alon and Ben get in)
Ken: So have you guys heard, he hit 5.4 on the Ricther scale?
Gary, Alon, and Ben: (!!!)
17:59 MST… July 29, 2001… Lethbridge, Alberta… Robinson Residence
TV: Tonight on Global, Reploids strike again. Dallas/Fort Worth suffers second reploid attack…
Andrew: (Changes the channel)
Rob: Hey! I was watching that!
Andrew: The news? That’s a (Gets a pillow thrown in his) MMMMPH!
Rob: Just do it…
(Andrew changes it)
TV: Hello I’m Cathy Gibson on July 29, top of international news. Another reploid attack occurred today as four reploids were battling at Dallas/Forth Worth International Airport. There some security footage just released to the public today… (Shows a picture of Double and Magma Dragoon fighting)
Rob: (Eyes widen) What the?!?
Andrew: Is that who we think it is?
Rob: Maybe… (Runs upstairs) MOM! Pat’s alive!
Mother: Oh?
Rob: Well it’s on the news, another reploid attack not…
Mother: Look Rob, I know it’s been two weeks but can’t you get over it? Do you need some counseling?
Rob: Erm… maybe I was confusing him with someone else. (Sigh) (Goes downstairs)
Andrew: So how did mom take the news?
Rob: She thinks I’m a nutcase…
Andrew: Not that you aren’t but maybe it’s Mr. Dragoon or something.
Rob: I don’t think so…
Andrew: An imposter? Or what if it’s really whom we think it is?
Rob: I don’t know honestly… I don’t know….
19:01 CST… Dallas, Texas…
(At a resturant in Dallas)
Waitress: And here you go…
Alon: Finally I’m starving… (Digs in)
Ken: That Alon must be hungry…
Gary: That’s an understatement… for all of us.
(Everyone notices Ben isn’t eating)
Alon: Ben you aren’t even touching your food…
Ben: Huh? Oh I’m thinking about what that weird dude said…
Ken: What did he say? I wasn’t there…
Alon: Something about “Time for the gathering…” Still gives me the chills.
Gary: You, me and Ben… there is a connection.
Alon: We’re all fans of Mega Man?
Gary: (Sigh) Magma Dragoon, Split Mushroom, and Frost Walrus… which game are they from…
Ben: Oh my god. It was saying it’s time to gather the X-Force.
Ken: Er… sounds interesting but how do you think you’re going to do that?
Ben: We’ll know where the others are…
Gary: Rick’s in Buffalo…
Ben: Trevor’s in Oklahoma somewhere with Rob and Andrew in Lethbridge…
Gary: So whom are we going to next?
Ben: (Smiles)
Gary: I should’ve known…
Alon and Ken: (?)
Ben: Jeez. Come on now, I’m going back home to get Rob and Andrew.
Alon: (Mumbles) I wish I could go back home…
(Everyone looks at Alon)
Alon: Well, I’m starting to get homesick.
Ben: Okay, does anyone want to go?
Gary: Ah, sorry Ben. I have other responsibilites here in Dallas. So I can’t go… (Looks at Alon)
Alon: What? If I can find a way home…
Ben: Okay, I’ll go back to Letbridge and find a way to get Alon back to Israel. It’s settled. (Takes a bite out his burger) Hey it’s cold…
Ken, Gary and Alon: (…)
Ben: What? (Shrugs and takes another bite)
10:24 MST… July 31, 2001… United States/Canada Border… Coutts, Alberta…
Narrator: Their mission has taken them to some pretty neat places but They must now take the bus to Lethbridge from Great Falls, Montana…
Alon: So where are we?
Ben: Hmmm… We’re at the border. Should be another hour til get back to Lethbridge… Why do you ask?
Alon: My ass is starting to hurt from this trip…
Ben: Don’t worry at least it isn’t a seat of a Super 80… Those things are a real pain in the ass…
Alon: So have you been here before?
Ben: Many a time, my friend. Rob and I used to go down here for Silorama…
Alon: Huh?
Ben: Let’s say it’s a long story….
Alon: Well, I’m listening…
11:25 MST… Lethbridge, Alberta… Park Place Mall…
Narrator: As Ben and Alon exchange stories on the bus ride to Lethbridge. Andrew and Rob wander the Park Place mall looking for a certain CD…
Rob: Jeez… Where is that flippin’ CD?
Andrew: (…)
Rob: Andrew?
Andrew: Look! (Points to a Pat lookalike)
Rob: (!!!) Holy it’s looks like Pat but only thinner…
Andrew: Should we follow him?
Rob: Let’s…
Narrator: As Rob and Andrew follow the teenage wannabe, they stumble upon a crowd…
Speaker: People of Lethbridge! We need your help in terminating the reploid menace. What happens when they come to your fair city and destroy everything that’s precious to you? My brothers and sisters you can sign up with the Human Supremacy League, and save humanity…
Rob: You don’t believe this do you?
Andrew: Who would give into this junk? It’s pure idiocy…
Woman: What and you want your own kind to be wiped out?
Man: Do you want to think people to think you’re a…?
Speaker: Who wants to sign up first?
(Various voices in the crowd shout “me!”)
Rob: Andrew! Our Technovice’s they’re…
Andrew: …glowing?
Technovices: Armor up to…
SLASH BEAST, Talons of Loyalty!
CYBER PEACOCK, Network of Hope!
Rob: (…)
Andrew: (…)
Crowd: (…)
Man: GET THEM!
(Tons of people converge on both)
Andrew: SHIELD OF LIGHT!
(A Barrier surrounds them, people contiune to throw anything they can at it.)
Rob: Andrew! We can’t just hide behind this shield! Sometime we are going to have to fight.
Andrew: I know but we must prepare ourselves to do what we’d hope we’d never do…
Speaker: (Grabs Radio) Agent Espsilon-Delta calling, bring in the armorines. We have two reploids in our midsts…
(Just two blocks away at the bus station, Alon and Ben walk off)
Alon: Sounds to me that you and Rob are the best of friends…
Ben: Yep, we know…
Technovices: BREEP! BREEP!
Alon and Ben: (???)
Ben: Uh oh that’s the alarm! (Notices a battalion of Armorines coming their way)
Alon: Hey you!
Armorine 1: Me?
Ben: Yes! What’s happening?
Amorine 1: We’ve found two reploids in that mall over there… I’ve got to join my battalion! (Runs off)
Ben: You now what we must do…
Alon: Yep…
Technovices: Amror up to…
FROST WALRUS, Blizzard of Determination!
MAGMA DRAGOON, Flame of Compassion!
Ben: Hurry…Let’s (Jumps with Alon in tow)…
Rob: Andrew! Drop the shield!
(Shield fades)
Rob: BESERKER SLASH!
Andrew: LASER BLAST!
(More armorines emerge from the fallen ones)
Rob: There are just too many! (Gets hit by cannon fire) ARGH!
Andrew: Rob! LASER BLAST! We need help and fast!
(Alon and Ben come crashing through the skylight)
Ben: There are too many of those assholes Alon! Time for me to…
Technovice: Magma Dragoon! Armor Upgrade to…
FLAME DRACON, Inferno of War!
Alon: Holy!
Andrew: It’s true he is alive…
Ben: How do you like this you bigoted asswipes! FIRE SHOTGUN!
(Two fireballs creates two huge explosions that rock the building)
Ben: How do you want your Human Supremacist? Grilled or charbroiled?
Alon: I’d prefer mine frozen… ICE WAVES!
(More armorines get shredded to pieces)
Rob: (Recovers) huh? Ben?
Ben: Rob! Attack!
Rob: (Roars) BASTARDS! BESERKER SLASH!
(Rob relentlessly slashes what little is left of the armorines)
Ben: (Grabs the leader by the chest armor plates with his claws) Let’s take a little flight shall we? (Flies up 5000 feet) Who sent you racist assholes to wipe out my friends?
Leader: (Groans) …why should I tell reploid trash like you?
Ben: My patience grows thin! Tell me now or I’LL ROAST YOU LIKE A CHICKEN!
Andrew: BEN! Let him go… he’s not worth the trouble…
Ben: If you insist… (Drops the leader)
Leader: ARGH! (Splatters on the pavement below)
Andrew: Ben! Why did you do that?
Ben: He attacked you and tried to kill you… I was returning the favor… (Lands on the floor at Park Place) Rob…
Rob: Pat…
Ben: Don’t call me that, Pat died nearly three weeks ago… I’m Ben…
Rob: Whoever you are… (Shakes Ben’s hand) Welcome back to the land of the living…
Ben: Ohhhhh…
Alon: You know guys that makes you look kinda…
Ben and Rob: (Stick middle claws up at Alon)
Alon: Heh… Why are you silent all of a sudden Peacock?
Andrew: Uh, nothing. ((The way Ben coldly disposed of their leader. It gives me the chills, is this the same Pat… or Ben that we knew three weeks ago?))
12:34 CST… Chicago, Illinois… Piedmont Towers…
Ms. Morningside: Here are the reports from the operation in Lethbridge, Canada sir.
Piedmont: (Hums)
Ms. Morningside: Is something wrong sir?
Piedmont: Oh no, no… just interesting… thank you for the concern, you may go back to your desk…
(When Ms. Morningside leaves)
Piedmont: Damn. These reploids power I have underestimated, I think we should lay low and develop our weapons. Most particularly Sigma, my beautiful virus, you will hand me the world on a silver platter as it was meant to.
Sigma: Acknowledged. ((That’s where you’re wrong human. When I have the strength and your resources I will cease control of Earth-Prime and annhilate the human race. You Alex Piedmont have been so easy to decieve into thinking you could control me. Soon it will be you who’ll bow to me. MWHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!))
To be continued in “The Fantasic Mr. Dragoon Returns?”