"Bounty Hunters"
The Pride's sensors detected Audric's unique signal, this time coming from the planet Korgon. Jayce ordered Herc to take the ship towards it at full power. Herc objected because they would have to pass by Galaxy Two-Zero, a place infested with cutthroats, bounty hunters, and pirates. Ascertaining that the Pride might be close by, Saw Boss travelled there to offer the assembled villains "the weight of Jupiter in gold" for Jayce, and twice that for the Root.
After the barge landed safely on a planet near that galaxy, Jayce and Oon left it to track down Audric's signal. The Root lead them to a message capsule hidden within a cliffside. Moments later, Monster Mind troopers ambushed the pair. Herc provided some cover fire from the Pride flying overhead. The rest of the enemy vehicles were shot down by bounty hunters. The leader of the hunters expressed an interest in looking over the Pride, but Herc blocked him with energy-rifle in hand. The bounty hunter then insisted on shaking hands, scratching Herc with his special ring. The barge took off soon afterward.
Jayce opened the capsule, and the message inside stated that Audric would be at the planet Berkleyem until the new Solstice -- which was only 24 hours away. When Flora saw Herc's scratch and tried to help, he gave her a hard shove and left the bridge. She attempted to tell Jayce something was wrong, but the ship began to shake violently. Jayce and Oon investigated, only to discover that someone tampered with one of the gyros by cutting the plug. Once back on the bridge, Jayce found that the Pride was far off course.
Herc shoved Jayce away and pulled a laser pistol, attempting to mutiny. They fought each other fiercely, wrestling back and forth on the bridge floor. In the end, Jayce and Oon disarmed the captain. Herc was imprisoned in the brig.
Gillian noticed the scratch on his hand and realized that Herc had been infected with a rare parasite that turned good to evil. If he was not cured within 24 hours after the symptoms first appeared, he would remain evil forever.
After the League escaped from Monster Mind vines in space, they went to Hippocraticus, the Healing Planet, intending to harvest rare herb pods needed to cure Herc. While they were doing this, the bounty hunters showed up again and demanded the Root at gunpoint. Monster Mind vines broke out of the ground between the two groups.
The League members ran back to their vehicles and drove off, with the bounty hunters and Monster Mind troopers in hot pursuit. As the chase continued, the Pride lifted off -- Herc escaped from the brig! Jayce called upon the Ring of Light for help, and it transported the pods straight into Herc, immediately curing him.
Herc defeated the League's pursuers, then allowed them back on board before departing for open space. He remembered little save that Saw Boss put out a bounty for the League's capture. The Lightning League set course for Berkleyum and vanished into the heavens.
Saw Boss: "There is the craft you seek, and aboard that craft is my enemy, Jayce! I offer the weight of Jupiter in gold to him who shall bring me my enemy, no matter what it takes! And double that for the Root which hangs about his neck!"
(During a very bumpy ride)
Jayce: "We're almost there!"
Oon: "My poor bones..."
Jayce: "You don't have any bones, Oon."
Oon: "Well, whatever I do have is dented beyond repair!"
Bounty Hunter Captain: "At least let me shake the hand of a great warrior."
(After training a laser pistol at Jayce)
Herc: "You don't give the orders any more, Jayce!"
Jayce: "Hey, take it easy, Herc..."
Gillian: "Something's happened to him! That's what you were trying to tell us, isn't it Flora?"
Herc: "Shut up, you old fool! Now Jayce: the Root!"
Jayce: "Herc, I-I don't know what's the matter with you, but...!"
Herc: "Would you prefer to hand it to me before you die?! Or shall I just take it after?!"
Gillian: "Look at his hand, Jayce! If it's what I fear, Herc has been infected, in a most terrible way!"
Oon: "Please don't cry, Flora... you're rusting my metal!"
Gillian: "The magic is in you, Jayce!"
Jayce: "Everybody buckle in! Our only chance is hyperdrive!"
Flora: "Gillian! We must help Herc!"
Gillian: "I know, child. There is a rare parasite that turns good to evil. Somehow, Herc was infected."
Flora: "Cure him, Gillian! Please, I'll never tease him again!"
Bounty Hunter Captain: "...Well, I'll let you cure your friend, but first -- the Root!"
Jayce: "Right of Light, Magic Might! If you have any way to help us, please, do it now!"
Herc: "All I remember is, we were heading out to meet Audric. Then I look down and see you guys on some strange planet!"
Jayce: "Don't you remember anything of the last 24 hours?"
Herc: "Wait a minute... there was something about a lotta gold."
Flora: "Yep! The old Herc is back again!"
Herc: "NOW I remember! Saw Boss is offering a bounty for our capture!"
Flora: "We won't be able to trust anyone anymore."
Jayce: "No, Flora. The good people we can always trust. And the others... well, we've always known you can't trust them anyway!"
