A Snake Always Bites

ROES forces get control of the place, carrying equipment and escorting guards and lab rats to different transports while the Rangers recover in the medical tent.

Maple: Why didn't you help me with the demonic ass doll?

Neve: I've seen you fight worse, so I assumed you'd have it under control.

Maple: Well yes, but...

Neve: Let me tell you what happened while you were discovering motherhood...

There I was, Neve, The smartest and most skilled Ranger of the Galaxy, an expert in hand-to-hand combat and hacker extraordinaire...

Maple: Straight to the point Neve!

Neve: Hey! you're not the only one who can play Rash Gordon.

Maple: NEVE!

Neve: Ugh! okay...

Neve: When you negligently rushed after Doc G. and set off the alarm, I paused for a moment to think about how to improve our situation, so I logged into the lab's mainframe, killed the alarm and gave the remaining guards a false location so I could lock them up like rats.

After I saved your ass...

Maple: I don't know what you're talking about!

Neve: I saw Doc G. escaping, so I followed her.

Dr. Gorgonia walks into her office, leaving the door open. In it, there's lab equipment, chemicals, a desk with papers and bottles, a refrigerator and a biological isolation suit.

Dr G. begins by mixing some substances and then stashing them together with some other things in a silver briefcase with black stripes. Among what she stores are files, vials, hard drives and schematics. A few moments later Neve walks into the office and closes the door.

Neve: Ready to jump ship, Doc.?

Dr. G. turns and faces Neve.

Dr. Gorgonia: I just remember who you are, the famous R.O.E.S. Rangers, tireless do-gooders, always fighting for the wellbeing of others, although for me you are nothing more than hypocrites.

Neve: If you come with us peacefully, we can surely get your sentence lessened and you might even...

Dr. Gorgonia: Go back to work on my investigations? I DO NOT THINK SO! Catnip was the only one that allowed me to express my genius!

Neve: Calm down Doc. I don't want to use brute force with you

Dr. Gorgonia: You don't know what I'm capable of, my creations far surpass nature. I'm on my way to change the fate of the galaxy!

Neve: Oh! So you are one of those...

Dr. Gorgonia: ONE OF THOSE WHAT!?

Neve: Last warning Doc. Surrender peacefully... Please!

Suddenly, one of the substances that Dr. G mixed starts to react.

Dr. Gorgonia: NOT GONNA HAPPEN!

Dr. G. takes the vial that contained the substance and slams it on the floor. A cloud of purple smoke fills the room. Neve tries to open the door to get out but she can't. The cloud envelops Neve who breathes in the smoke and starts to cough uncontrollably as she falls to her knees.

A beeping sound triggers and the ventilation system activates sucking the smoke out of the room. Neve is still on the floor coughing and gasping.

Dr. G. walks over to Neve who looks at her and realizes that Dr. G has put on the mask of the suit that was hanging.

Dr. Gorgonia: You defenders of the Status Quo will never be able to understand the beauty of evolution and assisted creation.

Dr. G. takes off her mask, opens the door and starts to leave but Neve grabs her by the ankle.

Neve: (Cough) You are (Cough) going nowhere... Doc.

Dr. Gorgonia: Do you think you can stop me? What you inhaled is a cocktail of my creation... A mix of hallucinogens and neurotoxins that will change your definition of nightmare.

Now...

Neve turns to face Dr.G.

Dr. Gorgonia: LET GO OFF ME!

As she says this, Neve sees the Doc's face but with the eyes, nose and mouth of a snake, this startles her and makes her drop Dr. G's ankle.

Dr. Gorgonia: Go chase that rabbit Alice...

Dr G. leaves the room. Neve tries to get up but everything is spinning around her. The visor that usually gives her information now makes no sense and she decides to take it off.

Neve manages to go out into the corridor where she can barely see the Dr G. in between shapes and colors as she slowly walks away.

Neve closes her eyes and she pauses for a moment to concentrate, her antennas twitch a bit and then she runs down the hall without opening her eyes.

Neve: GORGONIAAA!

Neve tackles Dr. G. and they both fall to the floor.

Dr. Gorgonia: UGHHHH!! You never quit, do you?

Neve: I'm sorry Doc, we small rodents tend to be quite stubborn and resilient!

Neve sits up but her vision hasn't improved, she tries to focus, but before she can understand what is in front of her, Dr G. hits her face with the briefcase and she sees it, and feels it, like the tail of a big snake.

Neve falls back to the floor and immediately gets up again.

Dr. Gorgonia: Enough!

The doctor repeatedly slaps Neve who tries to defend herself unsuccessfully throwing some punches but landing none. Each of Gorgonias's blows takes the form of things that don't make sense, an iron, a kitchen sink, an anvil...

Dr. G. sends Neve to the floor once more and climbs on top of her putting her hands around her neck.

Dr. Gorgonia: I was willing to let you go, but now I'm going to kill you like a python kills its prey...

In Neve's perception, Gorgonia's arms become a snake that wraps around her neck, Neve begins to choke while the head of the snake entangled around her neck appears in front of her, freaking her out.

Dr. Gorgonia: That's it, it will be all over soon...

Neve finally closes her eyes and Dr. Gorgonia smiles.

Both parties stopped struggling so Dr. G. relaxes and at that moment, Neve's arms and legs move extremely quickly making a headlock that turns the situation around. Now, Neve chokes Gorgonia with her legs until she becomes unconscious.

Once everything is calm, Neve releases her and notices how her sight begins to improve as the room stops spinning.

Neve: Coff, that was a very good idea, Doc. Thank you!

A bit later Dr. G. comes to her senses to discover that she is tied up.

Neve: I must admit Doc, that was indeed an interesting trip, Please don't do that again.

Dr. Gorgonia: YOU INFERIOR RAT! YOU ARE AN INSIGNIFICANT MISTAKE IN EVOLUTION! YOUR SPECIES IS NOTHING MORE THAN A...

Neve puts a gag on her mouth.

Neve: Shut it, Doc. Your form of communication is the one that needs to evolv... COMMUNICATIONS! MAPLE!

Neve takes out her wrist computer and starts using it.

Neve: Now, with communications restored I asked for backup and then caught up with you while you were an inchworm.

The Rangers, now with some bandages, are supervising the R.O.E.S. agents as they take things out of the lab.

Maple: Interesting, sounds like you had a great time there.

Neve: You want to try the Doc's cocktail?

At that moment, two R.O.E.S. agents pass by escorting Dr. G. to a ship that has the appearance of a Pet Carrier and one of them is holding onto the silver briefcase with black stripes.

Dr. G. stares at the Rangers with notable hatred on her face.

Maple: NO WAY! Snakes attacking me, is not something that...

A voice is heard in the distance.

Voice: SNAAAAAKES!

The snakes that had escaped from the laboratory during the fight, are now seen coming out of it, spreading in all directions.

The R.O.E.S. agents become hysterical and begin to collide with each other, throwing equipment, boxes and climbing wherever they can while the snakes flee everywhere.

Maple climbs on top of Neve who takes a few steps back but doesn't panic as she watches the reptiles go by.

The two agents guarding Dr. G. also trip and fall, while some snakes climb on them and then continue on their way.

During hysteria, Gorgonia's briefcase falls and opens scattering the content on the floor.

There's chaos everywhere, but Dr. G. remains calm as she takes advantage of the moment, grabbing a vial that contains a bright green substance and hiding it under her clothes.

Neve: GET A HOLD OF YOURSELF! THEY ARE HARMLESS!

Nobody pays attention to Neve and the snakes eventually disappear into the distance. Once everything is calm, the agents calm down, some laugh, others continue on with fear but everyone returns to what they were doing, including those who were escorting Dr. G. towards the ship after picking up the things from the suitcase.

They lock Dr. G. in a cell and, despite the gag, a big grin can be seen on her face as the hatches close.

Maple: Can we get out of here? This place is starting to get on my nerves.

Neve: Who would know? The Great Maple has a weakness.

Maple: Shut up!

Once they've finished supervising everything, Maple and Neve board one of the Ships.

The ships of R.O.E.S. which are; the pet cage, one in the shape of a cheese shovel, a platform where the remains of Maple's ship are moored and several small ones that resemble a slice of cheese with wings, begin to take off one by one, leaving the laboratory abandoned and silent.