Jal's Tale
Jal Gorda, the Lightning League spy, was being chased by the Monster Minds in a large city on the planet Vaegon. Saw Boss had ordered them to capture Jal alive because he knew Audric's current location. Every time the troopers tried to trap Jal, he tricked them and escaped. But he was finally captured by Noak, an agent of Saw Boss -- the same one who had previously betrayed the League on Korvax. Noak and the Monster Minds took Jal to their ship and quickly left, passing the Pride on the way out.
The League proceeded to Jal's ship for a planned meeting, but he never showed up. One of the starport's officers revealed that Jal was taken aboard Noak's transport, but unfortunately she didn't know where it was headed. Flora found out that Jal was flown to the planet Naar, a Monster Mind stronghold in the Andares Sector, from some flowering plants who had "overheard" the information. (Lizzard's Note: I bet from now on you'll watch what you say in front of your ferns, eh?) After discovering his location, the League flew to Jal's location at top speed.
When Monster Mind satellites fired at the Pride, Gillian created an illusion of the ship blowing up. Thanks to his magic and Flora's psychic skills, the League landed safely on Naar. Jayce, Oon, and Gillian took Drill Sergeant underground to tunnel their way to Jal.
Jal had been hooked up to Dr. Zorg's Mind-Sifter -- a machine that painfully scanned a person's brain for specific memories. Whenever his memory was searched for Audric's location, Jal used a mental technique that made him think only of his first meeting with Audric. (Audric saved the young Jal from his village after it was completely destroyed by the Monster Minds. Jal thanked him and said that he "might someday return this favor;" his assistence to the Lightning League was his way of repaying this debt.) Saw Boss ordered more power to be used, but Jal only resisted harder. In his desperation, Zorg fed too much power into the machine, and Jal's memory was wiped clean.
Drill Sergeant burst in and Dr. Zorg fled. Jayce sealed the door in order to buy them some time. After studying the Mind-Sifter, Gillian managed to reverse the damage to Jal's memory while Jayce and Oon kept watch. Jal recovered just in time to blow away the Monster Mind troopers who had broken into the laboratory.
He revealed that Audric was on the planet Garvos, but didn't know for how long. When they attempted to return to the Pride, they ran into Herc and Flora escaping it. They explained that Saw Boss had teleported his headquarters right on top of it! The League was unable to penetrate the evil Black Light that surrounded the building, but Jal could, following Jayce's plan. While the League fought the Monster Mind troopers, Jal sneaked into the barge and activated the self-destruct simulation. The Monster Minds, thinking the Pride was about to explode, teleported away in a hurry. The League recovered their ship and hurried to Garvos, but by the time they reached it, Audric had already departed for realms unknown.
Chronological Notes: This episode took place after A Touch of Madness due to Gillian remembering Noak as "Saw Boss' agent, the one who betrayed us on Korvax!" It also occured after Double Agent Zorg, since the League recognized Zorg from before and vice versa, and Zorg stated that Jayce had fooled Saw Boss again.
Jayce: "We need more speed, Herc!"
Herc: "Relax, kid. Vaegon's not going anywhere."
Jayce: "Jal Gorda may have found out where my father is by now! And if the Monster Minds get to him before we do...!"
Gillian: "Jayce! Vaegon is well out of Saw Boss' reach, lad; we'll get there in good time!"
Saw Trooper: "Don't destroy the Lightning League spy! Saw Boss wants him alive!"
Jayce: "I've seen that ship before..."
Gillian: "It appears Jal never reached his ship! Perhaps he's still somewhere in the city."
Starport Officer: "If you're looking for the pilot of that ship, you won't find him. He was taken away in the same ship that the Monster Minds came in."
Gillian: "Ship?"
Jayce: "We saw a ship on the way... it was Noak's!"
Gillian: "Of course! Saw Boss' agent, the one who betrayed us on Korvax!"
Jayce: "Flora, ask these plants if they know anything -- they were near Noak's ship!"
Flora: "Come on, pretty plants; I know you understand me! (Flora concentrates, and is literally bathed in a stream of information emanating from the flowers) Naar... planet Naar... Naar! That's where the ship went, Jayce!"
Jayce: "Planet Naar..."
Gillian: "Yes! Naar is in the Andares Sector -- a Monster Mind stronghold. It won't be easy to get in -- or out!"
Jayce: "Unless we have a good plan. Come on, there's no time to waste!"
Saw Boss (speaking through a Saw Trooper): "I trust you will not fail this time, Zorg."
Zorg: "My Mind-Sifter cannot be resisted. The information will be yours, Saw Boss."
Jal: "Save your tricks, 'Doctor.' I am Audric's friend. I won't talk!"
Zorg: "My Mind-Sifter will display your innermost thoughts on this screen. They will show us where Audric is, no matter what YOU want! Now think... think of Audric!"
Young Jal (memory): "My family! These creatures will PAY for this!"
Gun Trooper (memory): "Get moving, slave! Or must we destroy you too? Wipe that look off your face!"
(Young Jal growls angrily, then ducks for cover as laser fire rains from above, distracting the troopers long enough for Audric to swoop down in a small ship and grab him, flying them both away)
Audric (memory): "Come on!"
Young Jal (memory): "Who are you?"
Audric (memory): "Audric! I meant to warn your planet about the Monster Minds, but I was too late! At least I can help you get away!"
Young Jal (memory): "I thank you, friend Audric! Someday, perhaps, I may return this favor."
(Audric smiles as the memory ends)
Zorg: "Gorda must be using some sort of mind-technique! Any reference to Audric causes him to think only of their first meeting!"
Saw Boss (speaking through a Saw Trooper): "Useless fool! You said your machine could not be resisted!"
Zorg: "I could increase the power..."
Saw Boss (speaking through a Saw Trooper): "Do it! NOW!"
Zorg: "There's a risk. That much power could -- wipe his mind clean!"
Saw Boss (speaking through a Saw Trooper): "I do not repeat orders, Zorg!"
Gun Grinner: "Mighty Leader, the Lightning League ship comes this way!"
Saw Boss: "So the boy comes to save his spy -- weak fool! Destroy him!"
(After the Pride is seemingly destroyed in space by dozens of Monster Mind satellites opening fire)
Terror Trooper (excitedly): "Excellency, you've done it! The galaxy is yours, Excellency!"
Saw Boss (cautiously): "Funny... it's too easy. Gun Grinner, bring me all the debris of their ship!"
Gun Grinner: "Mighty Ruler, I've tried scanning the wreckage as you ordered, but -- there is no wreckage!"
Saw Boss: "Have all troopers fan out! Scan both skies and planet!"
Zorg: "Blast! His mind's been wiped clean! I-I must reach my escape pod before Saw Boss finds out!"
Saw Trooper: "What's happened to him?!"
Zorg: "Nothing you need tell Saw Boss about!"
Saw Trooper: "The order was to report EVERYTHING!"
Jayce: "Jal! It's me, Jayce!"
Jal (uncertain): "Jayce? Do I know you?"
Gillian: "We're too late -- this machine appears to have wiped his mind clean! He doesn't even know us!"
Zorg: "Fools! Why didn't you attack?!"
Saw Boss (speaking through a Saw Trooper): "My troopers take orders from ME, Zorg!"
Gillian: "Are you ready?"
Jal: "This... will help me remember?"
Jayce: "We hope so, Jal."
Jal: "I don't know who you are, friends -- but I trust you. I'm ready!"
Gillian: "That doesn't look good! Perhaps some magical help... Jal Gorda! Remember! You are Jal Gorda -- Audric's friend!"
Jal: "I... I remember! I am... Jal! Jal Gorda! I am a friend of Audric's!"
Zorg: "Audric's whelp has fooled that pompous plant, again!"
Herc: "Better hurry, kid -- I think Gillian's hocus-pocus has given out!"
Herc: "Saw Boss bleeped his cockamanie headquarters in right on top of the Pride! The Battle Base area is completely covered under the bulk of his headquarters!"
Jayce: "Gillian, your magic...!"
Gillian: "It won't penetrate that evil Black Light, and I'm afraid we can't, either."
Oon (promptly fainting away): "Ohhhhhhh!"
Jal: "I can get in, Jayce! Let me try it."
Jayce: "Okay, here's what I want you to do..."
Pride's Computer: "Destruct sequence activated. Destruct will be completed in T-minus 60 seconds..."
Terror Tank: "Excellency, their ship is going to explode!"
Pride's Computer: "59, 58, 57..."
Saw Boss: "NO. It MUST be a trick!"
Gun Grinner: "Scanner show fuel port building to critical mass!"
Terror Tank: "EXCELLENCY!"
Saw Boss: "If that boy wants to destroy his own ship, we'll let him! After his futile effort, we'll return and take him!"
Pride's Computer: "20, 19, 18, 17, 16..."
Jayce: "Nice work, Jal!"
Herc: "Nice work?! My ship's gonna blow up and it's gonna take us with it!"
Herc: "I can't stop it!"
Pride's Computer: "10, 9, 8, 7, 6..."
Herc: "Ohhhhhhhhhh!"
Pride's Computer: "3, 2, 1... Destruct!"
Herc: "What-What the...?!"
Pride's Computer: "Destruct simulation complete!"
Herc: "SIMULATION?! You mean...?!"
Jayce: "The last time we met, Jal suggested I program it in, just in case we ever needed it -- and we sure did!"
Herc (smacking his forehead): "Ohhh, kid... don't ever do that to me again!"
