Lucky and Ace travel along the road a ways until they reach a giant spider web that stretches all over the place. "This must be the World Wide Web." Lucky states. Just then, a taxi cab riding along the web pulls up to them; the door opens and a largish black spider looks out. "Hi, folks. Where would you like to go?"
"Well, you see," Lucky says. "We're trying to find a computer virus. Have you seen one go by here?"
"Regrettably, no, but I can help you track it down." the spider replies. "Hop in!"
Lucky and Ace promptly embark the taxi, upon which the spider cabbie shifts it into gear. The cab motors along the web at a steady pace, until it finally comes to a stop inside a strange computer. The dog and cat disembark the cab and look around them in perplexity. "Hmm, I wonder where we are." Ace muses.
Looking through the screen, Lucky observes a room full of boomerangs, miniature bushwhacker jeeps, and various Australian animal memorabilia. "Looks like we're in Australia(1)."
Just then, a teenage boy wearing safari clothes enters the room; a shocked expression crosses his face as he looks at he computer screen. "Leapin' kangaroos, it's a pair a' small furry computer viruses!"
"Uh oh." says a very concerned Lucky.
"We'd better get out while the getting's good!" Ace exclaims, upon which they hurry back into the cab.
The taxi motors along the web again, then stops inside another strange computer. Looking through the screen, Ace observes a lush plain peppered with trees, bushes, and various wildlife, such as antelopes, zebras, and giraffes. "Now we seem to be in Africa." he notes, albeit not quite understanding why this computer wasn't inside a building.
The answer to this question was soon discovered as three large gorillas clad in lab coats come on the scene(1). "Egad, gents!" one exclaims, as he looks at the screen. "It's a pair of small furry computer viruses!"
"Gracious," another one says franticly. "Someone must have discovered our colony of super-intelligent gorillas!"
"Who's responsible for letting this happen?" the first gorilla inquires seriously, with his paws on his hips. "You, Reginald? Or perhaps you, Archibald?" Lucky and Ace exchange odd looks at each other, then hop back into the taxi.
The cab motors on again, then stops in yet another strange computer. Looking up at the far left corner of the screen, Ace sees a few Chinese characters. "Wow, it looks like we've ended up in China now!(1)"
"What's that writing say?" Lucky inquires.
"I'm not sure," Ace replies. "I can read readin' when it's writ, but I can't read writin' now that it's wrote(2)."
Scanning the room, Ace observes several tables and chairs; his gaze stops on McLeish, the pound supervisor, and his assistant Olaf sitting at one of the tables with a waiter standing nearby. "Whoops, looks like it's only a Chinese restaurant." Ace notes.
"And, what will you be having for lunch, gentlemen?" the waiter inquires.
McLeish browses a menu. "Hmm, let's see, I'll have the pad thai noodles with a little extra soy sauce on the side."
"And I'll have the chicken chow mein." Olaf says.
"Uhm, by the way, sir," McLeish inquires. "May I ask two questions, please?"
"Absolutely."
"Do these meals come with fortune cookies, and...could you bring me a menu without a scary dragon on it?" McLeish gives a small shudder.
"Yes, and...oh, grow up, will you?!" the waiter replies irritably. Lucky and Ace share odd looks again, then hop back in the cab.
The cab motors on until it reaches a stop just next to another data path. The spider cabbie opens the door, and Lucky and Ace hop out. Lucky hands the spider some money. "Thanks for the lift." he says politely.
"You're quite welcome." the spider cabbie closes the door, then jets away again.
"I'm not sure how much closer this got us to the virus," Lucky thinks, as he and Ace start off down the path. "But hopefully we'll find it soon."
(1)Several nods to the Fairly Oddparents episode, "Information Stupor Highway."
(2)A joke from the Popeye cartoon, "Popeye Meets Ali Baba's Forty Thieves".
