From SrGunther@aol.com
I was sitting in the mouse hole with all the other LABBers, reminiscing about all the wacky times we had in the Cheese Cloud cell blocks, when it hit me.
ME: Be back soon! I have to get S&M!
Meanwhile...
And so we have a happy Space Monkey.
~Paul
From Pendrella@aol.com
Y'know, I just might tear myself away from waiting for Ally and help y'all out...hmmm...help my fellow mice....wait for Ally...help my fellow mice....wait for Ally....[does that annoying 'scales o' justice' gesture]....hmmm....I don't know!!...have I ever mentioned that I'm indecisive??....[Fay kicks Trill out o' the Mouse Hole]....ouch!!!....[Fay throws TV after her]....OW!! But thanks!...[Trill picks up TV and heads in direction of Teso Taco Loco]
--Trillian
From FuzziDuc@aol.com
As the gruel that Chris made made it's way down my digestive tracks (burp), I had a weird thought. I lifted my head and looked at Mel who was sitting across from me and she knew I got an idea. She blinked. "What?"
I squinted my left eye, "Ok. Sully came here, with no recollection of what he did with the clones, and he has a black eye."
"Your point being... ?"
Well, i tried.
"Oooooh." We heard from the next room.
Mel and I went to Sully, who was on the couch wrapped in the blanket. He looked at us. "I remember what happened."
We knelt to his side. "What happened," we said in unison.
"We were driving to the airport, and it was snowing like crazy. We had to stop at a station much like this one. I had planned from the beginning to leave them there. Where else would anybody look?"
Mel and I exchanged glances.
"The clones had fallen asleep and I snuck out about 4 in the morning, leaving the two there in the station. I swear, i didn't harm them. That station had a snowmobile there and I got on it, then I was attacked by YOUR clone," He pointed his finger at me.
"My clone? Dolenz? He's a peace-loving clone! Besides, it was late at night, how could you tell?"
"Maybe it wasn't your clone, but it sure looked like him."
"How far was it down the road?" Mel asked.
Sully shrugged.
Chris stepped up, "You hit this station at about 7 in the morning?"
Mel and I looked at Chris, he was dressed in a jacket, putting on his gloves, earmufs and red woolhat. He was ready to rock.
Mel looked at me. We both snapped to attention and got our things together. 'Finally,' I thought to myself, 'we're one step closer to our clones.'
~LabMouse Duc~~O8>
From Melissa White <s936812@buster.uu.edu>
Chris helped me into the coat he had loaned me. We were so close now. I helped Sully get into his coat. There was no way I was leaving him behind with all the unexplained happenings going on. My clone whimpered a bit as he gripped my hand. I think it gave him a feeling of security.
Chris turned on the heat in the taxi as he expertly maneouvered through the snow. Everyone for the most part was quiet. Sully refused to let go of my arm. Poor thing, he was feeling guilt, mixed with fright and anger about what had recently happened to the Peter and Dolenz. I was staring out the window, watching whitness stream buy , when Sully nudged
me. "huh?"
"This was in my fortune cookie." He said as he handed me a little slip of paper. Duc, who was beside me, looked on with curiosity as I read outloud. "'You will help a good friend out of trouble'". Sully looked at me hopefully. "Do you think Peter will be my friend now?" He asked in a really pathetic voice that cut worse then any voice Peter used. I bit my lip so I wouldn't start gushing.
"I think when this is all over, You and Peter, " I glanced at Duc, "And Dolenz will all be great pals."
Sully smiled. "Good. I didn't want to hurt them. Just .. I just wanted Peter to know who was in charge." Sully gushed. "I mean you loved him mor then me."
I was shocked by this revelation. I love dthem equally, But I kept silent while Sully continued. "And I wasn't supposed to get Dolenz but he was there, and I knew he'd tell his mommy what had happened. But.. But they were so nice, and Peter cried the entire time.... and I actually felt badbut it started snowing so we stopped. And then Peter gave me a fortune cookie. And I did tell him i was sorry, I did! but then... someone came.. and hit me and then they were gone." Sully sniffled. I put an arm around im as he wimpered.
"This is it," Chris said as he pulled up to an almost identical way station we had just left. Sully grippe my arm tighter. I don't thik he wanted to go back.
"The door is wide open," Duc observed.
"I'll go first, incase..."
"SO we don't get eaten by the boogie man?" Duc inquired.
I chuckled as Chris turned bright red. Duc and Chris went to the door and peared intogether. It was dark and there was stuff scattered all about. We al took out our flashlights and shined them around the room. There was definatly no one there.
There was a crunch which startled everyone. "I just stepped on something," Duc said as she stepped aside then, shined her light. "Oh my doof" She muttered. I was thinking along the same lines. "That used to be Dolenz's. " At her feet were the shattered remains of a Micky mouse Pez dispenser.
After looking a bit more wew found the remains f Sully's Darth Vader Pez dispenser and Peter's Kermit the Frog dispenser. I was suddenly very fearful. But there, amongst the remains, was a fourth dispenser. It wasn't either Sully's or Peter's. "Hey Duc look at this."
She gasped. "Micky." was all she said.
-Mel
From Carson Maynard <haem@katie.vnet.net>
We made it to Teso Taco Loco with fairly few snags. It was pretty depressing to see the sign "LEAVING: Beiserville - ENTERING: LABBVille" followed by endless burned-out shells and stinky cheese. Nevertheless, we picked our way over to the hospital/asylum. It doesn't look too good...the top floor of the building has fallen off and the lower two floors are
badly blackened. I don't know how they've kept the hospital going.
TRILL: [panting] This television...sure gets...heavy! [wheeze]
[we all walked in]
NURSE FENITY: Oh, hello, hello - you must be the group from Beiserville.
[we all went in to visit Debi; the room was fairly covered in soot]
PENNI: Hello, hello, everyone! [blows kisses] It's so nice to see you again. It was lonely in North Dakota without you all.
[Penni started vacuuming Debi's bedsheets]
DEBI: BATS!!! BATS!!! Brian, help!!!
[Ian stayed in the room with Nurse Fenity, Penni and Debi; Sami, EnCat, Dawn, Queen Thud, Trill and I tromped out to the waiting room and sat down to wait for Dr Fuller Bull to tell us what we should do...]
Carson Maynard :>
From FuzziDuc@aol.com
The ringing of the tiny bell hanging from the door caught Elizabeth's ears. Four people walked into her diner, shaking the snow off their clothes. There were two women, and two men, probably travelers or they're on a lousey date.
"Morning," Elizabeth said eyeing them suspiciously. "We're closed, you know. What was left of the blizzard is still out there."
"We're just passing through," the tall blond male said, taking off his jacket. "Do you have any coffee?"
"You're in luck, stranger." Elizabeth said, pouring four cups. The man claimed his coffee, smiling, taking a sip. He turned his attention to the other women and the man, who were all sitting at a table, looking concerned. "What's with your friends?"
The man turned to Elizabeth, "It's a long story." And he set with his friends.
Elizabeth wiped her hands on her blue jeans and rolled up the sleeves to her gray sweater. "Would you like some hot strawberry muffins to go with your coffee? I was about to make some."
The man turned, shaking his head.
Elizabeth went to work on the muffins, pouring the mix into a bowl and stirring it by hand. She watched her first customers since the blizzard and wondered what was the matter with them.
The woman with long dark curly hair cried as she talked to the blond male sitting in front of her as if he was her counseler. The redhead female set in silence with her arms crossed, her face a frown, and the male redhead slept
with his head on the burnette's shoulder. One big happy family.
The woman redhead stood and approached Elizabeth, cleaning off her glasses with a napkin. "Have you seen anyone suspicious in here before the blizzard?"
Elizabeth pondered for a moment. "Like?"
"Famous people," I said without thinking.
"I saw Micky Dolenz and Peter Tork in here one day."
"Really!" she screamed.
"Really! I got their picture too. See?" Elizabeth pointed to her prised possesion; the picture of Peter Tork and Micky Dolenz, *in their 50's* posing for a picture with a fan.
The lady dropped her shoulders, hit her head on the counter and sobed. Elizabeth grew really confused, maybe she was a big time fan and had the chance to meet them too but didn't. "Uh... your day to meet them will come." Elizabeth said, trying to perk up her unhappy customer.
"You wouldn't understand." The lady said, walking back to her friends. Elizabeth shrugged it off and began to drop the mix into a pan.
The redhead lady stood again, walking to Elizabeth. "Phone?"
"In the back." Elizabeth said. "I think it works. The lines are still up."
The woman disappeared around the corner. Elizabeth put the pan in the oven and set the timer. She flicked on the TV. The reception was crappy, until she slapped it a few times. There was snow on the picture, but at least it came in, with sound.
"Did you folks want to watch the news or soaps?"
"We don't care." The brunette said.
Elizabeth turned to the news, sat on the counter and watched with her arms crossed.
". . . there have been no more reports of UFO's, but if you see one, be sure to contact 1-800-WEB-LIVE or at http://www.goufo.com."
"Good grief, if someone sees a snowflake, they claim it's a UFO." Elizabeth said outloud, not caring if anyone else heard or not. She took a sip of coffee.
". . . and in other news, Rachel Archadian, a local film student here in Fargo, claimed to have found Micky Dolenz." The reporter laughed.
Elizabeth laughed. "OH my God, can you believe that?" She heard a loud slam of the phone and here came the redhead lady sliding across the floor, jumping into the seat to watch the TV. She was immediatly joined by her other friends.
"Miss. Archadian claimed to heard a knock on her window and saw a man fitting Micky Dolenz's description, standing in the snow."
The TV showed a 20 something-girl with blond pigtales and square glasses on the tube. "Yeah, it was Micky, but it was Micky when he was 24.. or 25. Oh, it was the second season of the Monkees, 30 years ago! He had a fro."
Elizabeth noticed that the redhead was crying. She handed her a napkin.
They showed Miss Archadian again. "It's amazing! He just showed up at my doorstep, cold, without a jacket. Micky always was my favorite."
"THAT BITCH!!" The redhead screamed, scaring Elizabeth and the others. "If she touched one hair on his head....."
The screen went back to the reporter who rolled his eyes. "They have this Micky Dolenz look-a-like under orders, at Mercy Hospital in Fargo, not to allow cameras or anyone but the doctors in. With more update on this story, tune in at 6:00."
Elizabeth looked at the woman who was sobbing into her napkin and her friends comforting her. The timer went off and Elizabeth perked up. "Anyone for muffins?"
~LabmouseDuc~~O8>
From Melissa White <mwhite@memphisonline.com>
Before anyone could anser, we all shifted towards the door. I grabbed on to Chris' broad arm as I almost went sprawling into the snow. "whoah there," he said as he helped me regain my balance. Once the cab was unlocked, we all but fell in and Chris took off right after all doors were closed.
"How far is Mercy?" Duc asked, through her sniffles.
"Why has no one said anything about Peter??" I demanded to know, now that everything had caught up with me. "Where's my PETER!!" I screamed.
"He might be with Micky." Duc suggested, sounding unconvicing.
"The news would have mentioned something about Peter Tork wanna be running around with a Micky Dolenz wanna be!!!" I screached. I saw Chris glance in the rearview mirror back at me. Sully put an arm around me to try to calme me down but all I could think about was my poor Peter out there all by himself!! "he's never been by himself." I wimpered. "Atleast if he had Dolenz with him they would have worked something out."
'Um, your going to explain this too me whent his is all over right?" Chris wanted to know. That stunned me to silence. I had forgotten that Chris had no idea why we were chasing PEter Tork and Micky Dolenz look alikes. Atleast he could assume that Sully was just a friend or something.
"Sure." I lied.
The tires squealed as the cab pulled inot the parking lot. Sully, Duc and I were thrown to the left as he made a sharp turn into a parking place. "My Dolenz is in there!" Duc sobbed.
"And my Peter is out there by himself" I sobbed.
"And it's all my fault" Sully sobbed. Pretty soon we were all sobbing. Even Chris who had no idea what was going on was sobbing along.
After a few minutes of hysterical sorrow, I decided it was probably in everyone's best interest to pull themselves together. "We're no use to anyone like this man,"
"I know" Duc sniffled. Chris rummaged around in the cab and came out with kleenex for everyone. It took a few minutes, but finally everyone had themselves together enough to walk into the hospital.
Duc, like she owned the place, walked up to the closest nurses station. "I'm looking for the boy who thinks he's MIcky Dolenz."
The nurse looked at us like we were the 3 most clueless people in the world. "You have some ID honey?" she asked.
"ID?" Duc squeaked.
"No one is getting in there."
"But I"m his mommy!" Duc pleaded.
The nurse scowled at Duc. "HOney, even i'm not going to belive your old enough to be that boys momma, even with ID"
I could see Duc's lip begin to quiver. Chris and I drug her out of there before she started to sob again. "They won't let me see my baby!!!!" She wept. I tried to concole her adn to get her back together. We had to get in there.
"We have to get in there." I told her.
"I have an idea" Chris said.
Ten minutes later, we were walking into the hospital, new people. "Just remeber, act like you own the place, " Chris whispered. then he shrugged. "Someone told me that once." We were all now wearing white coats and glasses. My hair was pulled back into a knot as was Ducs. I nodded and
walked up to the desk like I had every buisness to be there.
I put on a professional expression and put on my best Swedish accent. "hullo. I"m Doctor Smidths."
"Hello Doctor," the same anal retentive nurse from earlier greeted, although she was a bit more civil this time.
"These are my interns Doctors Bjornson," Duc nodded, "And Sven," Chris nodded. "Ve are here to see a patient of yours. I velieve the one who believes he's a singer from the 60s."
The nurse nodded. "Right this way, Doctors" The nurse lead us through a winding maze of corridors. Finally we got to a door that had a guard that looked like he had eaten one doughnut too many. "These are specialist here to check the patient," The Nurse expained.
"We flew from Sveden. Very qulaified Psychologists here to help the patient" Duc said in her best Swedish, wiht just the hint of anxiety.
The disgustingly fat, couldn't chase a cow, guard opened the door and we entered the room. Dolenz was lying there, in one of those white with blue polka dots hospital gowns. "If you'll excuse us, WE have alot of work to do." I said closing the door, much to the horror of both the guard and nurse. I looked throught he glass until they were gone.
Duc was of course immedeiately with her clone who was hugging her and crying. I coudln't take it anymore. I pushed duc out of the way and grabbed the front of his gown. "Where's PEter!" I demanded.Dolenz began to cry harder. Duc recovered from having been pushed to the side, tried to tackle me away from Dolenz. IT was Chris who finally, just picked me up and
set me down away fromDolenz.
"YOu've got to calm Down! WE can find Peter better if we get him out of here. I"m assuming that's the plan." he asked looking to Duc for confirmation. She nodded.
"Right. Sully has the car waiting right?" he said rubbing his hands. "Where do we begin."
-Mel
From FuzziDuc@aol.com
I still don't know how the hell we got past those guards, or that nurse, but we were on our way. Hell, if it was THIS easy than anybody could of gotten to my baby Dolenz. Perish the thought.
There he was, sleeping like a kitten. Like the way I left him that horrible night. I stepped to Dolenz, tears running down my face, and knelt beside his bed. I touched the bright red bruise on his cheek and he was cold. But his eye twitched and he looked at me.
Immediatly we were in an embrace. I kissed him and loved him all over until Mel had to come over and seperate us, by grabbing him. I could of killed her. Thank goodnes Chris was there. Finally, i believed that he was a good guy.
I stood in front of Dolenz, and he stood, with his arms wrapped around my tummy, close behind me. I doubt he would let go again. {{;-D
We listened to Chris's plan as Mel stood guard at the door. Chris and Dolenz exchanged clothes (wow, they fit too) as I worked on Dolenz's hair, trying not to make it so fuzzy, hiding it under my woolhat and scarf.
When we were finished, Dolenz took my hand, Mel put her hand on the door and looked at Chris. He scratched his side, stepping to her. "You're not coming?" she asked, hoping he would say the right thing.
"It's part of the plan, Mel. Besides, you gotta find your clone, get out of here before they catch you."
"But, if you're caught. . ."
"Don't worry. I can sweet talk anybody. Now go!"
"I'll tell you everything later, I promise."
"No need. I think i've figured everything out."
Mel took one step to Chris and engulfed him in a huge hug. "Don't forget about us."
They seperated and he winked, giving Mel his famous grin.
Mel opened the door and I went outside, screaming my head off. "Get OUT OF HERE!! GET OUT OF HERE!! AAAAAAAAAAAAaaaaaaaa!!!!! He's gone beserk!!!!!!"
I ran up and down the hall, quickly jumped up and down in front of the guard until he fell over in his chair. Mel ran outside too, in circles, until Chris ran out after her, with a scapel in his hand, and this BIG demented grin on his face.
Everyone in the hall had noticed the commotion, including the camera crew who was trying to get past a few doctors. The nurse who was there before, hurried to see what was wrong. Chris automatically ran to the nurse, pretneding to slice the scapel at her direction. They ran in circles.
The camera crew taped everything, patients, and doctors tried to catch Chris, but he was too quick on his toes. Mel and I continued to cause more panic when Dolenz slipped out the room.
Patients and doctors ran past him to catch Chris, and Dolenz ran the other direction, pretending to be scared too.
Chris made his rounds as I dashed down the hall way after Dolenz. Mel ran halfway down too, only to stop and see a security guard bash his knee in. Mel winced, but turned and ran towards the door. There was no turning back now.
Dolenz and I made it to the car first, and Mel jumped in the front seat, yelling at Sully to peel it. The car was moving before we could breathe, and Sully almost knocked over a handycap man.
5 minutes down the road, we were safe. I took my gear off of Dolenz and we hugged again. Lord, even though he was clonenapped, he smelled great. Mel was sobbing in the front seat. I held onto Dolenz. "Mel, he's going to be alright." I said.
Mel angry turned, ready to grab Dolenz again. "Where's PETER?!!!"
He about jumped in my lap. "He's with Micky."
"Where?" she said so sternly, even I got scared.
"I don't know. I left him with Micky at the station. I tried to go for help, but it got too cold and I had to go inside."
"Why didn't you say anything to little miss blond pigtales?"
"I couldn't. By the time I got inside, she said I had a temperature of 77."
"Dolenz! You could of died!" I about screamed, holding him tighter.
"I'd put my arm in the fire for Peter." He added, "the snow?"
Mel flopped in her seat and sobbed. "What if Peter and Micky tried to hike to the nearest store, or place? They could die too!"
"The only thing we could do is go back and check every store, home from here to that station."
Mel didn't have to say anything. Sully pulled over and turned the car around. She bit her lip. "You better be right."
I couldn't think of anything to say, neither could Dolenz. He squeezed my arm and smiled at me. I lifted up and kissed the corner of his mouth, laying my head onto his chest. It was good to have him back.
I only hope that Peter and Micky were safe also.
~LabMouse Duc~~O8>
From Melissa White <mwhite@memphisonline.com>
I turned around and looked out the back window, hoping to get some sign of Chris. Of course all I saw was a blur as Sully had driven well past the visual view of the hospital. I floped around and faced the front. My hair was beginning to give me a head ache so I deftly undid the knot it was in
and let it fall back below my shoulders. For some reason I was really missing Chris and frantically worried about wether he was ok or not. Well, he assured me he coudl take care of it.. and we'd have to get his cab back to him.
IN the back seat, Dolenz was asleep again on Duc's lap. Sully was concentratingon driving, which is something I dind't know he could do. I was utterly amazed at how well he was doing.
"So where do we start?" Sully inquired, startling me out of my reverie.
I rubbed my temples to try to ease the headache that was pounding in my eyes. "I don't know" I moaned. I seriously did not have a clue.
"I would say that we just drive a round a bit."
"Seems lke the best bet." Sully said.
"I have never seen so much blankety blank snow." I muttered.
Everyone was quiet as we drove around Fargo for hours, all creaning our necks to hopefully catch some sign of Peter. Finally after a l;ittle over 2 ho.urs...
"I have to go to the little girls room." I told Sully dolly. I was tired, i needed a shower, I missed Chris, I wanted to find Peter, and doofit, I wanted sleep.. or coffee.
"Why don't we go back to that diner place. It's up here on the next right." Ruth suggested.
"As good a place as any." I shrugged not relaly caring where we stopped just as long as we did. I grabbed the 'o blankety blank' handle as the car started to spin on the snow. Sully expertly had the car in control in no time. I had no idea my wonderful clone knew how to drive. It might comein handy at some point.
NO sooner was the car in park was I out the door and into the bathroom.
Duc meanwhile, was a bit less hasty. She gently woke the gently Dolenz. Sully waited for Duc and Dolenz and followed them into the diner.
" I see you came back for your muffins" Elizabeth said cheefully to Duc.
"Uh, sure. " Duc said, as she sat down in a booth. "And could we get 3 hot chocalates, and a cofee, black too?"
"Sure honey."
After properly washing my hands to avoid transmission of Hepetitas A and/or B, I walked back into the diner. I coudln't spot my friends right off so I had to go through all the booths. I passed bye one by the window when I heard a very familiar voice say "I wonder if kitty would like a fortune cookie?"
'Peter???" I screamed.
A blond head poked up. "YOu came!!!!!" he shouted and ran towards me, nearly knocking me down with a hug.
"You knew I would! OH i'm so happy to see you again!!" all logic said I should have been bawling my eyes out, but I was just too tired. Peter, on the other hand, was bouncing up and down and off walls.
"This is Sally. " he said pointing to the little girl. "Her mommy works here."
'Hi sally" I said with a tired smile.
"My daddy went out of town so mommy had to bring me to work." the little girl said.
"Are you having fun?" I inquired.
"yeah! Peter gave me a fortume cookie."
"He usually does that"
"And I gave him a kitten."
NOw that took me by surprise. "A kitten"
"Yeah! isn't it cute!!" Then Peter held up a cute little orange kitten.
"Buttons had kittens adn we had to give em away cuz we doudlnt' keep ;'em."
"And this is the last one" Peter said. "Can I keep him??"
"Uh, sure." I told him.
"OH good." PEter saidhugging his new kitten. "His name is Treble..becuase he has a high voice."
"tha'ts cute. It was nie meeting you sally, But Peter and I have to gon ow. We need to get home before to omuch longer."
"Ok!" Sally said cheerfully, giving Peter a hug.
Finally I was sitting down again with both of my clones on either side of me. I seriously wanted to just lay my head down and go tosleep.
"look!" Duc yelled suddenly, pointing to the TV.
There, filling the screen, was the same reporter as before. ::Today, we've got more details on the MIcky Dolenz look alike. This afternoon three specialist from Sweden examined him and were promptly chased out. Once restrained, it was found that it wasn't the man at all but another man who claims to be a Fargo taxi cab driver. He was taken for questioning, and
during the transfer process, managed to evade authorities. We may neverknow the anser.::
"He got a way!!" I screamed happily, almost knocking over my coffee.
As if on cue, a blast of cold air filled the diner as the door woohsed open. There, standingin the door was Chris, bundled up in his coat, scarf, and hat.
He squeezed in and gave us a huge smile. I gve him a big hug and kiss. My clones had wide eyes, but that's OK.
"So, what now?" Duc asked.
Mel
From FuzziDuc@aol.com
In the mist of all the exitement; Dolenz back with me, Peter, Sully AND Chris with Mel, everybody hugging each other, everybody mothering the kitten, I forgot about one improtant person.
I automatically slammed my fist, scaring the kitten, everybody else, not to mention knocking the hot chocolate all over the table, which caused the group to vacade immediatly. I about fell over before Dolenz caught me. "Where's Micky?!" I asked aloud.
Everybody stood in silence, then looked at Peter, who whimpered. "What's everybody looking at me for?"
Dolenz turned to him. "You were the last one with him."
"Yeah, we found his pez despencer at the station." I added.
He whimpered again, finally broke into sobbing. Mel hugged him. "Don't pester him! he's been through a lot!"
"So has Micky," Dolenz quicky said.
I grabbed Dolenz's blue velvet sleeve (drool). "What if he went to Miss Archadian's house?"
Peter looked up from his tears and sniffled. "The last place I saw Micky was at the park."
I about fell over. "Come again?"
"He was at the park." Peter smiled innocenty, like he was saying something good to help mankind. <G>
"What the hell is he doing in the park? In the snow? In the #$()&#$ cold weather?"
"Well, actually, it did warm up a bit in the past hour or so." Elizabeth said, adding her 02. to the conversation.
I tried not to give her the 'go to hell' look. I grabbed Peter and Dolenz's hand and guided them outside. "You're going to show me wher this park is."
Sully followed, as did Sally, and Elizabeth who ran after Sally, armed with her tiny coat. She took her hand.
Peter turned back to Mel. "Ok. Let me get mommy!" Peter motioned to Mel to come. Mel took two steps before Chris caught her hand. SHe turned to Chris, he barely smiled before she turned back to her clone, who she had been worried about for days and nights, and said "You'll be fine without me."
Peter about whimpered before Dolenz grabbed his hand and led him with the gang.
Chris released Mel's hand as he walked to the door and closed it. He then stepped to the jukebox and peered into the selections, tapping his quarter on the glass.
He pushed a button and "Mystery" by Indigo Girls began to play. He slowly turned to Mel who stood in the middle of the diner.
"You put on one hell of a play at the hospital," he said, taking steps toward her.
"You were all but too convencing," she commented back to him.
He shrugged. "It was nothing."
Chris stood in front of Mel and held out his hands. She wrapped her fingers within his and they swayed to the music slowly. "How did you get free?"
He made a weird face to her. "I was a cop, remember?" He stared her straight in the eye. "And I told you I can sweet talk anybody."
Mel about melted in his arms. She caught herself and looked into his twinkling eyes as his famous smile grew.
"Tell me how you did it."
Mel blinked. "Did what?"
"The clones. Peter. Micky. Dolenz. How did you clone them?"
She grew confused. "Why, i don't know, I just found him."
"You just found them, like that? Don't your friend own an illegal clone pound?"
"I don't know what you're talking about," Mel said releasing herself from Chris's grip.
"Section 3-45, paragraph 4 in the Departmental Book of Cloning, it states that no cloning of famous people, old or new, is allowed in the United States, Canada, or anywhere in the world."
Mel's lip quivered. Holy Bleep.
His voice grew louder with every word. "Now, where did you clone them at?"
Dolenz and I held hands as we walked down the snow-paved sidewalk. I turned to see Peter and Sully holding hands for balance and figured that they were finally best friends. No more troubles with these clones. Elizabeth and Sally followed coach.
"How much longer till the park?" I asked, breathing out a puff of air and watching it disappear into the air.
"It's right in front of you," Elizabeth said.
I looked in front of me, seeing nothing. "Where?"
"It's just covered with snow," Peter said.
I felt a squeeze from Dolenz's hand, caught a wink from the corner of his eye and felt better. Micky wasn't in trouble. I had a felling he wasn't.
We reached the park finally, what we could see of it, and peered out through the white blanket of snow. "MICKY!" I yelled so loud that some snow fell off the frozen monkeebars. Everybody else joined in shouting for Micky.
I began a trench through the snow, followed by Dolenz, Peter and Sully. We made the rounds, all through the snow, at the park. I flopped my arms in fusteration and looked at Peter. "You said he was --" my voice trailed off, seeing a figure walking through the snow.
I took a few troublesome steps, to make sure. The figure waved. I frantically waved back, hopping through the snow. It was MICKY! MY clone was safe! We ran into each other so hard that we fell over in the snow. I sat up on Micky and pointed at his chest.
"What the hell are you doing here? You're suppose to be home guarding Torkie!" Micky couldn't think of anything to say. I didn't care, I hugged him tightly until Dolenz and the others came by. They helped us up. Now, we were all happy.
When the group finally reentered the restaruant, Mel was sobbing in a booth, as Chris sat in front of her. I immediatly rushed to her. "Mel, what's wrong?"
She couldn't say anything. Chris stood a head taller than me and flashed his ID. It was the crappiest picture I'd ever seen. "Federal Bureau of Clone Investigations?" I said dryly.
"That's right," he smiled. I wanted to hit him.
"And you two are the illegal owners of Micky Dolenz and Peter Tork clones. Do you know what kind of trouble you are in?" He tucked away the badge.
"I know what kind of trouble we're in, but I'm not going to tell you."
"Vialiation of Code 1-23, 44-223, 2-35 which states if any person/persons caught owning a world famous clone is arrested on contact. Any person/persons caught owning a world famous clone pound is arrested, without bail."
"We're done for," Mel said, grabbing onto my sleeve.
I looked at him in the eye. "And any person who is an accomplice to the owners is arrested without bail, also. I know the clone rights, you don't have to quote them to me."
Chris tightened his lip as I continued. "We have enough witnesses to put you under the jail for years. You would loose your badge, you identity, you would never work again. That is correct, right?"
He cleared his throat, Mel lifted her head, wiping her eyes. "As I already explained to your friend here, I am not going to charge you."
It was almost like he gut-punched me. "What?"
"I don't need to explain myself twice. Just, go. Pretend we never met." He looked at Mel as she stood.
"Mel, what's going on?" I demanded to know.
She turned to me and sighed. "Let's not make him the more angry. We got what we want."
"But-" I sputtered, as Mel pushed me away.
"Ok, everybody, let's go!" I raised my arms in fusteration. "Thank you so much," I cheerfully said to Elizabeth and Sally. They disappeared into the backroom as the clones and I went out the door. I turned to Mel who stood halfway between Chris and I. "Come on, Mel!"
"Just a second," she said.
I closed the door.
Mel stepped to Chris and slapped him as hard as she could. His face jerked away, but turned back to her as a tear ran down her face. "I trusted you. I kissed you. I loved-" she caught herself.
Chris rubbed his cheek and wiped Mel's tear from her face. "I promised you nothing would happen to you, or to your clones. I promised to help."
She sobbed more, "Why didn't you just tell me?"
"I don't know."
He bent and took Mel's lips to his, passionatly and quickly. She restrained at first, but mellowed and kissed him back. They kissed a long moment until finally seperating. Mel walked away, her tips tingling, and reached the door, turning to Chris.
"If ever you feel a need to go on vacation. . . you . . . you know where I'm at," he said, smiling.
Oh God, Mel couldn't resist. She grinned back at him, stepping out the door.
Chris heard the car start, and drive away. He smiled, leaning off the table and went out the door himself.
Elizabeth walked out in the diner with Sally and sighed. "That was close," Sally said. "Yeah, it was." She put her hands on her hips. "You can come now Mike!" The inquisitive face of Mike Nesmith popped around the corner, the woolhat,
sideburns, long jet-black hair and all. He stepped out in button-up shirt, blue jeans, and boots.
"It's safe," Elizabeth said.
Mike put his arm on the counter and sighed. "You know what I say about people like him?"
"What?" Sally asked.
"Behind every dark cloud, there's usually sunshine."
and we all lived happily ever-after.
~LabMouse Duc~~O8>
From Carson Maynard <haem@katie.vnet.net>
This is so frustrating! We've been waiting in the waiting room for days! Don't they write horror stories about this kind of thing? It's like the Twilight Zone! Nurse Fenity has let us sleep on the extra hospital beds (after Penni vacuumed the covers) but Dr Fuller Bull just hasn't been free yet, and Nurse Fenity isn't talking. I think something weird's going on.
And speaking of something weird...
DAWN: [stomach grumbling] What do you think Nurse Fenity did with that haggis?
[everyone stands up, shocked]
ALL: Brian! What are *you* doing here?!
[Sami runs to get Brian some water]
ENCAT: How long have you been walking?!
[Sami runs back in]
SAMI: I'm sorry, I couldn't find any water! But I got this sardine juice, three lemons and some liquid from a snowglobe. Is that okay?
So now Brian's reappeared. I wonder if he's going to help with the cure for Debi? And will he let us know what the cure is? If so, maybe we can cure the clones, too...
Carson Maynard :>
Picture courtesy of CheeseNet
Date: Tue, 14 Oct 1997 21:29:05 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: (LABB) 100% Grade-A Porcupine Jowls
I was missing a space monkey.
Stunned by the fact that I was missing my monkey, I struggled to remember where I had left him. That's when it hit me. Again. This time harder, but with a left jab rather than a left hook. I promptly grabbed "it" and threw it on the ground, stomping several times. All was well.
Except that I was missing a space monkey.
I finally remembered. When we bailed off the Cheese Cloud, S&M's parachute got caught in a tree. I went to find the firemen, but I kinda sorta wandered into the mouse hole and spent several days drinking various variants of very
virile Doof. Now, I rushed to action.
Brinson: Paul, it's not Thursday yet!
ME: I mean space monkey.
Brinson: Oops.
Carson: I'm not going to ask.
Janet: Neither am I.
Carson: As a matter of fact, I think I'm going to run to the bathroom and puke.
Janet: Ditto.
Brinson: Oh, good. ::sliding Louisville slugger back under chair::
I hopped onto my trusty unicycle and pedaled to the tree where I had left my Space Monkey. I found him, just as good as new, but rather angry.
S&M: RAAAAAAARRRRRR!
ME: 6 days, 6 minutes, what's the difference? Either way, I'm here now, and we're getting you out of this tree.
S&M: Rarrr raaaaaaar! Rar raaar!
ME: I said I'm sorry. When you're in a fictional bar drinking fictional beer, you tend to lose track of time.
S&M: Rarrrrrr....?
ME: Just jump! It's not too far!
S&M: Raarrr!
ME: You know how to jump! Just, well, jump!
S&M: Raaarr.
ME: Oh. Hmm... ::flips on TV to comedy central:: Ahh, here we go. ::reading closed captions:: Do your impression of David Caruso's career!
S&M: Raaaaar!! Rarr raar rarr?
ME: He's not a good actor! He sucks! What are you talking about?
S&M: Rarrr!
ME: No way, Jimmy Smits could kick his ass any day.
S&M: Raaarr raaarrrr raarr!
ME: Kiss of Death? I think you're the only person who actually saw that. I think the original was better.
S&M: Raaaaaaar..
ME: No, Jade was *not* cool. Jade was what we like to call "stupid".
S&M: Raaaaarr???
ME: Michael Hayes? The new show on CBS? HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Almost as good as C-16...ooh, it's cool, isn't it? I'm amazed.
S&M: RAAAAAAARRRR!
ME: Well, you like Touched by An Angel too, so you're not exactly the best judge when it comes to quality,
huh?
S&M: Raaaaar!
ME: Della Reese is *not* hot.
S&M: RAAARR!
ME: Whoopdi do dah day. You can say what you want, but you won't change my mind..AAAGGHHH! PICTURE PERFECT FLASHBACK!! ::twitch:: BLAAAAGH!!
S&M: Rarrr rarr rarr!
ME: You planned that, you bastard!!
S&M: Raar raarr raarrr rarr!
ME: Stop laughing! It's not funny! I have *trauma* from that film.
S&M: Rarrrrrr!
ME: Shut up. Now, get out of the tree before I call the farming block to whoop up on you.
S&M: Rar! <drops to ground>
ME: There. Now, let's go back to the bar, okay? You can have a Doof treat when we get there.
S&M: Raar raaaaaaaaaar!
Date: Wed, 15 Oct 1997 00:14:15 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: Re: {{{LABB}}} I think all extremists should be shot.
(Fay forgot to kick my titles out with me...they're busy getting drunk in the Mouse Hole)
Date: Wed, 15 Oct 1997 02:02:17 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: I got no time baby, got lots of better things to do (LABB)
Date: Wed, 15 Oct 1997 11:40:17 -0500 (CDT)
Subject: <<LABB>> My shaving razars cold and it stings
Date: Wed, 15 Oct 1997 23:35:08 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: [LABB] Anorexic Rats Eat Sweetcorn
DAWN: Aaaah! She sounds like Penni!
TRILL: Be [wheeze] quiet, you.
ME: I can't believe you brought that television all this way.
TRILL: The things I...do for [pant] Ally!
SAMI: Here's the mad hou - I mean, the hospital.
IAN: Yeah, they all wanted to help. [introduces us]
NURSE FENITY: It's a pleasure to meet you. Have you all had your vaccinations? [smiling evilly and brandishing a foot-long syringe]
ALL: Yes! Yes! We work in the lab, remember?
NURSE FENITY: Oh. Right. Well, I guess you can visit the patient, then. [reluctantly holsters the syringe]
ENCAT: Thank you.
DAWN: Yes, thank you, Nurse Fenity!
IAN: When do we start work on the cure, Nurse Fenity?
NURSE FENITY: [shrugs] Who knows?
SAMI: [looking around] I can't believe you came back to this dump...
PENNI: [shrugging] Well, I didn't have much success with my mission.
ENCAT: [growling, but quietly] Déjà vû.
QUEEN THUD:
PENNI: Yes, you're right, the room *is* a little dirty, but I have my handy-dandy cute mini-vac!
PENNI: Hush, darling, that's not Brian, he's dead. That's your IV.
DEBI: I like ivy. It's so pretty growing on the walls. Perry Como should write a song about it.
QUEEN THUD:
DEBI: That's not a Perry Como song! AIEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!
DAWN: It's okay, Debi, it's okay! Here, I made some haggis for you! [holds out a foil-wrapped plate]
DEBI: Yummy...
NURSE FENITY: No food for the patients! [takes the haggis]
ME: Well, so, um, what are we doing? About the cure, I mean.
NURSE FENITY: Please take a seat and the doctor will be with you in a moment.
Date: Thu, 16 Oct 1997 04:23:21 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: "It's been Nice Knowing You...." (LABB)
Date: Thu, 16 Oct 1997 23:07:28 -0500
Subject: <<LABB>> He reminds me of a penguin with few and plaster hair
Date: Fri, 17 Oct 1997 07:28:27 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: *There's Just one Flavor good enough for me, yeah me! (LABB)
Date: Sat, 18 Oct 1997 01:35:02 -0500
Subject: <<LABB>>all the kings horses and all the kings men
Date: Sat, 18 Oct 1997 05:09:16 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: *Love is a mystery when love is the Devil you call (LABB)
Date: Sun, 19 Oct 1997 02:23:26 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: [LABB] Heat Angers Monkeys
ME: I thought you didn't like haggis, Dawn.
DAWN: Yeah, I don't, but I'm starving.
QUEEN THUD:
ME: Yuck, that's gross.
DAWN: I will do no such thing!
SAMI: I don't blame you. [shudder]
ENCAT: How could you suggest that?
BRIAN: [crawling in] Water...must...have...water...
DEBI: [from her room] That's not Brian! It's my IV!
BRIAN: I just...walked...from North...Dakota...water?...Please?
BRIAN: Don't know...days...was spying on...Duc and...Mel...
ME: Spying on them?!
BRIAN: Yeah...but...had to leave...
BRIAN: Yes...please! [gulps it down] Oh, that's much better.
