DISCLAIMERS: Jayce and the Wheeled Warriors is copyright 1985-present to DIC Audiovisuel and ICC TV Productions, Limited. The SFM Entertainment Division of SFM Media Corporation distributes this series. It is a Canada-France co-production. The author makes NO claim of ownership to any of the characters, locations, names, and/or situations associated with the above program/film/books. All original characters, locations, names, and situations plus the story itself are the author’s property and cannot be used without permission. This is a piece of non-profit fan fiction. Please send all questions, comments, and thoughts to Jayce6@gte.net -- flames will be forwarded to the Monster Minds’ complaint box.
Author’s Notes: I always wondered what Audric’s thoughts, experiences, and actions were when those brief clues pointing to his location would pop up (and inevitably get the Lightning League into trouble). These stories are my attempts to answer that.
Genre: Missing Scene with an Action/Angst focus. The events in this fanfic take place before and after “Escape from the Garden” and includes quotes/references/spoilers for it plus the “Ghostship,” Jal’s Tale, “Lightning Strikes Twice,” and Time Lens episodes.
*Asterisks* = Journal Entries.
CAPITALS and _Underlining_ = Emphasis in dialogue.
The time was one year before the Monster Minds’ creation. The beginning of sunrise painted the sky in molten gold, light pinks, and bright blues as the first white sun climbed heavenwards. A brand-new violet-gray orbed building dominated a small sandy-colored plateau overlooking a series of mountains. It had smooth walls that gleamed in the early morning light, circular silver sensor dish up front, and long galactic-range transmitter on one side. There was a sense of hope and new possibilities surrounding the whole thing.
A man in his early forties calmly stood by the front entrance, typing in some final calculations in a hand-held scanner as he looked at the building with pride. Strong blue eyes traveled over the length of the structure as a brisk breeze blew long dark brown hair behind him. His face had seen much joy and sadness, both reflected in the lines that marked out the living map of his life. He was clad in a white shirt, red tunic, long dark blue vest, tan pants, and brown boots. Gold accents on his clothes and the huge white streak in his mane seemed to glow in the strengthening light as all four suns made it over the horizon. The man, whose name was Audric, finished his scans of the structure and breathed a sigh of relief.
A small white, brown, and red suit of armor ran out of the building and headed towards him. His uniform consisted of an orange tunic, red belt, and pink plume, and he carried a pink-and-white striped lance everywhere. He was Oon, Audric’s Eternal Squire and friend. Saluting his Master and reporting that the insides checked out okay, he then took the scanner handed to him and ran around the place, double-checking the readings.
Audric gazed at the spectacular sunrise for several moments, taking a deep breath before turning back to the structure. He reached into his pocket and grasped a small circular gold chip, pressing a button on its edge to verbally record a journal entry.
*My laboratory is finished. I wish it wasn't so far away from my home galaxy, but this planet is the perfect spot for my experiments. It is also remote enough so that if anything catastrophic happens, no inhabited systems will be affected. The energy from its four suns will provide a source of limitless power! Oh, one of them shows signs of instability but there's nothing to get alarmed about: it won't become serious for millennia. Here I will be able to solve environmental problems, make new animals for colony worlds, and – most importantly – create a food-producing plant that can thrive in any terrain, thus wiping out the threat of starvation forever from this universe.*
It was six months before the Monster Minds’ creation. The bright light of mid-morning chased away all shadows. Audric was walking through his main lab, which itself was highlighted by blinking colored lights coming from the central computer pillar. He used a hand-held scanner to take readings of several plants with pink tulip-like flowers and appeared tired, yet seemed pleased with his work.
*My project's almost done now. So far, I have created several plants that can grow anywhere. The final step is to make one that can also produce food. If I can do this, no one will ever suffer from hunger again.*
Taking a break, he wiped his aching eyes and sighed softly. Looking up into the blue sky, he felt a strong longing in his heart.
*When this is all over, I'm taking time to be with my family. Jayce has grown into a compassionate and strong young man. Flora is now a curious and gifted child. It will be good to see them and my old friend Gillian again; he has done an excellent job in looking out for them both, raising them like he did me. They are very understanding about me being away, and I want to make it up to them.*
*And yet, I cannot regret choosing my current path. The data gathered from my plant experiments could have far-reaching uses beyond this one project, and Oon himself is more relaxed these days. He is the best and most dedicated assistant anyone could ever ask for, serving me faithfully without complaint. After two thousand years of continuous service in battle as an Eternal Squire, I think he’s relieved at doing some peaceful work for a change.*
Someone called out from a long distance away.
*What was that, Oon? All right, I'll come take a look...*
Audric’s voice faded as the entry ended.
In the hour before the Monster Minds’ creation, everything basked in the brightness of high noon. Audric was in a small private lab with a few gray tables, interconnected beakers and flasks, flashing computer consoles, and dozens of scanners. He was running many tests over and over for his latest botanical masterpiece. At the end of the double- and triple-checks, he became VERY excited; his eyes shone as he practically jumped for joy. On the table before him was an aloe vera-like plant with a spiky pink flower and long green leaves.
*WE DID IT! My new plant can produce nutritious, edible food and grow anywhere: desert, mountains, plains, rainforests, tundra, wasteland! I have to show this to Oon before giving it to the universe at large...*
The sound of his running footsteps echoed down a long hallway as his words were cut off by a burst of static.
Ground Zero...
“We’ve succeeded, Oon! Here it is, the finished product,” Audric stated proudly, bending down to show off the newest plant to his faithful friend. “When this is cultivated, no one will ever die of starvation again!”
“WHOOPIE!” Oon shouted, jumping four feet straight up.
Audric grinned widely and gently laughed. “Let’s contact the Intergalactic Science Council...”
BEEP-BEEP-BEEP-BEEP-BEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP!
“Whaaaaaa!” Oon jumped again, only this time out of panic. “What’s happening, Master?”
Audric swiftly turned around at the same time Oon did, glancing at a computer screen to his left. The readings there made his blood run cold. “Radiation levels off the scale! Quick, lock down...”
His warning was a millisecond too late. The sky above them seemed to explode as the unstable sun threw a massive wave of white-hot radiation onto the planet, saturating the laboratory with unknown energies. Both scientist and Squire ducked instinctively and squeezed their eyes shut against the painful burst of light. As one, they also felt an inexplicable dread creep into their very souls… a dire warning of things to come.
Audric heard a faint rustling from the prize plant he held. He opened his eyes to stare, horrified, at the monstrosity it had turned into. A small plant-humanoid grinned maliciously with hideous teeth, his spine-stalk twisting impossibly as he leered up at the scientist’s face. Audric acted instinctively, dropping the creature. The pot crashed on the floor next to Oon. The magical suit of armor wasted no time making tracks, running to Audric who then backed away while holding on to him. The creature’s metamorphosis continued at an incredible rate, growing into a tall humanoid form with a huge brain in seconds. His armored-looking body was colored violet, blue, and green, a red “cape” extended to the floor, and orange eyes with cat-slits had a hard sneer in them. Both Audric and Oon were eclipsed by his shadow. The other experimental plants jumped out of their pots and started changing into mutated humanoids as well. The scientist’s heart practically stopped even as a dim memory from long ago made its presence felt in a label -- a fitting name for these warped creations. “Oon, we have to flee! The Monster Minds are ruthless!” Audric declared as they both looked around in sheer terror.
“Aaaa-aaaahhhh!” Oon screamed, grabbing his Master’s hand. Thrusting his Magic Lance in front of them, he swiftly led the way out. They ran for their lives down long corridors, heading for the emergency cruiser. Insanely huge green vines burst through the walls, shredding the reinforced metal like tin foil; those came from plants Audric had cultivated in a nearby valley. They made it to the small hangar bay just as the exit doors were battered down by more of those vines. Keying in the entrance code, Audric and Oon jumped into the ship and went through the fastest pre-flight sequence ever invented. Twenty seconds later, the small spacecraft took off at full burn and easily ripped free of the few vines that had coiled themselves around it.
As Audric plotted a course, Oon dared to look down after gathering the sensor data. The once-deserted area had turned into a place out of nightmare. By the millions, those enormous vines tore through dirt and rock to stretch in all directions. The plateau itself was no more; in its place was a throne of vines supporting his former laboratory with their sheer strength. Several others reached up to grab their ship, but it was moving too fast. The sky they shot through had turned into a mottled gray-black color, filled with storm clouds and laced with random lightning bolts.
“We’ll go to my observation post in the Elysium System,” Audric said in a quiet voice while glancing down as well. His entire form trembled with delayed shock, but his hands remained steady on the piloting controls.
“Is-Is there anything I can do to help, M-M-Master?” Oon stammered in a tiny voice, turning away from the awful sight.
Audric found it in himself to faintly smile. Patting Oon’s head, he replied with “Just keep a sharp lookout. Thank you, my loyal Squire, for staying with me.”
“I am at your service as always, Master Audric, no matter what happens,” Oon solemnly replied.
Audric punched in the final coordinates. After he hit a couple of buttons and pushed the steering lever upwards, the small ship entered hyperspace.
Both were silent on the way there.
Three days after the Monster Minds’ creation saw Audric and Oon hidden in a seemingly deserted series of white buildings deep within an asteroid belt, where the only outside light came from the surrounding starfield.
Audric lay on a bare bed in a small windowless room, recovering from radiation exposure. Even after being completely decontaminated in a chamber with anti-radiation gas, he was still weak because he went for several hours of poisoning before getting the treatment. Strength slowly returned as he drifted in and out of consciousness. His eyes were sunken behind huge dark circles, his skin had turned a sickly pale color, and the facial lines were so deep that he looked fifty years older than his actual age. His haunted gaze was heavy with guilt, sorrow, and determination.
Oon checked in from time to time during his watch, keeping a sharp eye out for trouble.
Audric found the strength to activate his journal chip once more, speaking in an exhausted voice as he paused to catch his breath at odd moments. *How could this have _happened?!_ I had finally succeeded in my experiments: my newest plant could thrive in any environment and produce food. Just as I showed it to Oon, the unstable sun –- which had shown no signs of trouble in the entire time we were there – suddenly threw off a massive wave of radiation! I opened my eyes after the light faded to see a plant-creature with a _hideous_ grin leer at me! I dropped it. As Oon and I backed off, it continued to develop at an incredible rate, growing into a large humanoid in seconds! The other plants in my laboratory jumped out of their pots and started mutating as well. The sense of absolute evil surrounding us was overwhelming.* He shivered violently as the awful memories played over and over in his mind like a bad recording. *I told Oon we had to flee, because the Monster Minds were ruthless. He led me to safety amid the terrible roaring noise made by the plants themselves. We had barely escaped before witnessing another horrifying sight: gigantic vines erupting from the ground! The sky was dark and thunderous all around us; we both felt a chill that cut through to the bone. I fear that in my efforts to do only good, I have instead unleashed a force of evil on the universe...*
The weary scientist collapsed into unconsciousness once more. But this time, his brow was furrowed in concentration as if wrestling with the problem in his sleep.
Six months after the Monster Minds’ creation saw Audric hard at work inside the small post’s laboratory. The various computer consoles surrounding him all flashed with multicolored lights. His focus was on two glowing golden root halves laid out in small glass dishes on a long brown table. As Audric poked and prodded them with thin needle-like probes, Oon assisted his master by monitoring them with a scanner.
*Their leader -– they call him Saw Boss – has taken over my laboratory! The Monster Minds now have access to my computer and inventions. They also possess deadly abilities of their own: they have total control over those huge vines plus can change into powerful vehicles and grow "clones" for ground troops. They hunt for minerals, water, new technology, and slaves. They drain whole worlds dry and shatter civilizations in their ongoing war. Nothing short of the total conquest of the universe will satisfy them.*
*They serve a force called the Black Light, an ancient evil power. It has been driven away many times before, but always comes back. The last recorded manifestation of its might was during the time of the Lightning League several centuries ago. From what I’ve been able to ascertain, it was the Black Light that made the unstable sun act up and also sent evil spirits into my plants when the radiation wave hit them… thus causing mutations in both science and magic to give birth to the Monster Minds. If they hadn’t possessed my creations… who knows what might have happened? It makes the guilt a bit easier to bear – not much, but a little.*
*My family is safe for the moment on our homeworld of Avalon, but it is directly in the path of the Monster Mind wave! I have managed to send a message through saying that I am all right and will come to lead them out of there. Until then, I recommended our planet’s defense systems be powered up and that Jayce go to Gillian’s garden. He wanted to help in our world’s fight against the invasion, but said yes to my request. Gillian himself is beginning construction of a series of combat vehicles that are the direct opposites of the individual Monster Mind troopers. Flora, Brock, and the Zoggies have been staying with him and will continue to do so. They will all be protected behind Gillian’s wall of light that only lets good enter.*
*I worked to create a good plant that would destroy those evil ones. After much research and thanks to the materials my scientific friends have donated, I came up with two Root halves. They are attuned to my life-force, powered by magic Gillian taught me long ago that allows them to survive on their own, and protected inside two special medallions of my own design. The positive energy released upon grafting them together will have a fatal effect on the Monster Minds as a whole. I have almost figured out a way to join them together...*
CLANG-CLANG-CLANG!
“Master, the long-range alarms have picked up something!” Oon ran over to a nearby computer console, manipulated the controls to activate the main screen, and promptly got sick to his stomach when it revealed a terrible sight. Only centuries of experience kept him from dropping the lance gripped tightly in his right hand. “Oh no... M-M-Monster Minds!”
The thick and powerful green vines swiftly dove forward and ensnared the asteroid, snaking around to hold it firmly in space. Troopers drove down them, demolished the place’s defenses, and broke through the walls to storm the complex.
Against the backdrop of explosions and crashes, Audric knelt down to hang one Root Medallion over Oon’s neck before tucking the other away inside his loose red tunic. Gripping the Squire’s shoulders, he met the innocent questioning gaze with his own and said firmly, “Give the Root to Jayce. He’s your new Master. Serve him faithfully – he’ll know what to do!”
The Squire grasped the flame-patterned medallion with his left hand as he looked at his friend in shock. “B-But what about putting them together?”
“There’s no time,” Audric replied sadly. Nodding at the images of destruction on the screen confirmed his next words. “They’re coming in hard and fast – this place won’t be standing much longer. The Root’s the only thing that can stop them for good; it cannot fall into their hands. If we each take half and split up, that’ll improve our chances of escaping with at least one of them. Please, Oon… it’s my last request to you.”
Oon straightened up to salute his Master with a tear in his eye. “Yes, Master Audric.” Hitting a button beneath the console opened a secret door in the wall that lead to a twisting underground tunnel. “This way to the emergency cruisers!”
Audric started the asteroid’s self-destruct sequence, making sure the warning blared out on the speakers for the Monster Minds to hear, then he and Oon ran through the door before it slid shut. While the invading forces milled about in confusion, both of them fled the carnage in different ships that shot out from a hidden bunker within the underside of the asteroid. They got separated while avoiding the approaching vines and dodging dozens of lazers. Seconds after they both made the jump to hyperspace, moving in opposite directions... BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!
*I was working on a way to graft the Root halves together when the Monster Minds discovered my location and attacked! At all costs, they must NEVER get the Roots! The process to create them in the first place was very difficult; since the rare materials, equipment, and conditions were destroyed with the asteroid, the procedure itself could take years to duplicate. By separating the two halves, it doubled the odds of getting away with at least one Root intact. It was a desperate gamble, but I felt we had no choice – if both were destroyed at the same time... I shudder to consider the consequences.*
*Oon, my brave Squire, agreed to my last request: give his Root to Jayce and serve him from now on. I activated the asteroid’s self-destruct sequence, which allowed us to go our separate ways.*
*I pray that he and the rest of my family are all right. For now, I am setting course for nearby Andares Sector to warn its planets about the Monster Mind advance.*
A year after the Monster Minds’ creation had Audric walking through a dirty worn-down spaceport. Wearing a nondescript hooded tan cloak, he tried to blend into the crowd while looking out for traps and ambushes. He had a grim determined look that seemed to be permanently etched on his face, giving the impression of being a fugitive.
He had sold off his emergency cruiser for credits long ago and survived by taking odd jobs on old tankers, smuggling ships, and various other barely legal operations. His skills as an ace pilot and repairman were in demand on the fringe, and he managed to usually work his way on craft bound for free systems or neutral stations far from the Monster Mind sphere of influence.
Ducking into a small tavern, Audric ordered a small meal from a dim-lit booth. He observed the patrons for a while, but none sent glances in his direction, content to mind their own business. Satisfied that he was unobserved for the moment, he slid out the recording device.
*Oon has found Jayce. They, Flora, and Gillian have all escaped from our overrun homeworld, thanks to a captain named Herc Stormsailor. They are calling themselves the Lightning League, after the famous group of old.*
*My old school, the kind people, Gillian’s garden... all gone. My past memories wiped out in an instant. The Monster Minds appear unbeatable at times, and it is hard to keep spirits up when the reports come in about them talking over more inhabited star systems – as of this moment, all of Andares Sector has fallen before their onslaught.*
*But there are still those who love freedom and will fight to the death for it. Inspiration comes from how Jayce and the Lightning League initially escaped from the Monster Minds and go on to help others while searching for me.*
*I have drawn strength from that plus those I have helped along the way.*
*In particular, the young Jal Gorda has become my friend after I saved him from the Monster Mind takeover of his homeworld five months ago. I wish I could’ve warned his people in time, but he says there was nothing more I could’ve done, bless him. He is now in the care of friends of mine in Vagon’s militia who are teaching him well. When we last spoke a week ago, they reported that Jal is physically and mentally nearing adult maturity, as is normal for his people, and his strongest talents lie in stealth, martial arts, and espionage. I pray that he will be safe and cautious.*
*Now the hard part begins. The Monster Minds always seem to be just one step away. I have to keep ahead of them while informing Jayce of my whereabouts so we may reunite someday. No matter what, we MUST meet again – the future of the universe depends on it!*
*I will never give up hope.*
Finishing his repast quickly, Audric paid and ducked back out, heading for the spaceport. Within the hour, he was doing maintenance on a derelict security tanker bound for the Galactic Rim.
NEVER, EVER, EVER THE END...
DISCLAIMERS: Jayce and the Wheeled Warriors is copyright 1985-present to DIC Audiovisuel and ICC TV Productions Limited. This series is distributed by the SFM Entertainment Division of SFM Media Corporation. It is a Canada-France co-production. The creator/author of this and related websites makes NO claim of ownership to any of the artwork, characters, events, images, locations, quotes, pics, situations, stories, tales, and thumbnails associated with the show's animations, audio cassettes/CDs, books, cartoons, comics, DVDs, graphic novels, laserdiscs, movies, people, programs, VCDs, and videotapes. ALL original addresses, character profiles, characters, episode information/profiles/summaries, events, fan fictions, FAQ answers, gallery reviews, humor, lines, lists, locations, opinions, quotes, pages, personal biographies, sites, situations, statistics, stories, tales, and vehicle profiles are the creator's/author's property and CANNOT be used without permission. No profit is made off these fan pages. Please send all inquiries to Jayce6@gte.net.