"Ghostship"
Just beyond a system overrun by Monster Minds, vines held a derelict ship in space. A signal supposedly coming from Audric emanated from the vessel.
Jayce decided to go there to investigate. Herc had intitally resisted because security tankers -- of which the derelict was a type -- carried dangerous cargoes, but was convinced to cooperate when Flora mentioned the possibility of gold on board. After some difficult maneuvering, the League managed to board the derelict through an access hatch.
During their investigation, Jayce, Gillian, and Oon discovered that a powerful metal solvent was eating the ship from within. They found a card-like communicator left behind by Audric, which revealed partial coordinates of a distant system where he was headed. The communicator drew too much power from the derelict to run properly, so Jayce asked Herc to bring the Pride onboard to tap its power. When the others opened the docking bay from the inside, the barge made it through after breaking free of entangling Monster Mind vines, but so did a fresh batch of enemy troopers.
The Lightning League vehicles fought them while Herc restored power to the derelict via the Pride, but the wires were so corroded that they set off a destructive chain reaction. Ultimately, the entire vessel would explode. Jayce chased after a Saw Trooper heading for the communications room, hoping to rescue Audric's communicator, but it was destroyed in the ensuing fight. Jayce returned to the barge with five minutes to spare, and the League left the derelict at top speed. The detonation of the abandoned ship obliterated the surrounding Monster Mind vines and the nearby world they grew from.
The League pressed on, continuing the search.
Herc: "Okay, hotshot -- you'd better do something!"
Jayce: "Hey, I've never looked for a fight in my life, but sometimes you don't have any choice!"
Oon: "The sooner we get there, the sooner...!"
Herc: "The sooner I get paid for hauling you through every star system from Earth to Aldecron!"
Oon (happily laughing): "Ho-ho-ho-ho-ho-ho-ho, oh ho-ho-ho-ho-ho-ho-ho! It'll be so wonderful to see my old Master's face again!"
Gillian: "And rejoin the two halves of the Root!"
Flora: "And that'll be the end of those Monster Minds!"
(Their first glimpse of the derelict reveals Monster Minds holding it in space)
Oon: "Monster Minds!"
Herc: "They've been and gone!"
Jayce (quietly): "Then is Father... dead?"
Gillian (reassuringly): "NO, your father is not dead!"
Jayce: "I wonder... does he still look the same?"
Herc: "Sorry, kid, but you're not gonna find him out there! I wouldn't land on that thing on a bet!"
Jayce: "Herc! My father's on that ship!"
Herc: "Yeah, and what else?! You ever seen a ship like this one before?"
Jayce: "I've never seen a lot of things, and I haven't got the time to be afraid!"
Herc: "TAKE THE TIME! That's a security tanker -- dangerous cargoes! As long as that wreck's been drifting, it could be full of fumes and poison gas!"
Jayce: "OR, my father!"
Flora: "Probably even gold on a ship THAT big."
Herc: "Ahhh, you think that's all that matters to me!"
(Flora smiles innocently and nods)
Herc: "Hmmm... like the kid said... his father might be on that ship."
Herc: "Ohhh, terrific! The docking port's as frozen as Neptune's moons!"
Gillian: "There are times even a magician finds himself in need of a screwdriver!"
Saw Boss: "I knew one day there'd be a corner of the universe you couldn't hide in! GO! Go in search of your father -- but what you're going to find IS ME!"
Gillian: "We must be close! The Root is picking up Audric's homing signal!"
Gillian: "Be careful! The solvent is causing this entire ship to erode!"
Audric (recording): "The Monster Minds are getting too close. The crew of this ship has sheltered me, but now we must move on. Where I'm bound is far from here, and the journey will be difficult..."
Jayce: "We've gotta bring the Pride aboard!"
Herc: "Ho-ho, nothing doing, pal! Besides, the docking bay won't open!"
Jayce: "The docking bay can be opened from the inside! It's the only way to find out where my father is!"
Flora: "He's not there..."
Herc: "Jayce... get a port open for me. I'm on my way."
Jayce: "If the electronics don't work, we'll get it open the hard way!"
Gillian: "We can't let those slithering varlets in!"
Herc: "Ohhh! Ain't nobody knocks me outta my own seat, no sir!"
Gillian: "If those chlorophyllious villains break that shield, there won't be a gram of air left in here to breathe!"
Jayce: "ALL RIGHT! Armed Force, Drill Sergeant, Shield Shooter, Spike Trike -- Automatic Battle Program!"
Jayce: "Herc, replenish the energy supply. I'll hold off the Monster Minds."
Herc: "I hope you know what you're doing!"
Herc: "Oh, how do I get into these things?!"
Jayce: "Herc, I need some help down here."
Herc: "Help you want, help you got!"
Jayce: "Faster, Herc -- faster! We have less than two minutes!"
Herc: "And I was just thinking about taking a lunch break..."
Gillian: "Jayce... we travel on, and we learn. We know now that your father still lives, and he's waiting."
Jayce: "He won't have to wait much longer. HERC! Can't this tub go any faster?!"
Herc: "Hey, watch it, kid, just watch it!"
(Everyone LOL)
