Chapter X

"Alan you, Robin, Friar, Will, Marion and especially my man here (Little John blushed at the mention) have grounded me more in the past 48 hours then I have been in the last several hundred years!" Aurora turned to all the Merry Men, "I will be forever grateful that I no longer exist in limbo as it were. So don't think that because you weren't able to return me to my original state of being, that you have failed in any way shape or form! You are all gentlemen and scholars!" she spoke with a stronger voice now, "I can't thank you enough! Especially my man here..." a wristband floated behind Little John's behind who jumped slightly.

-

Back on NOTT, the Sheriff stared down at the captured Sidney Starr who looked not at all worried about his predicament. The guards tossed him forward...

Grinning wickedly the Sheriff spoke, "Do you have any idea.. any idea at all.. as to why I've brought you here?"

"Well my good Sheriff, from the look of your castle, I'd be looking for someone to help me out too! How your castle is falling apart? I'd be ashamed too! See how the edges of your window sills are cracked and worn? You should have bought those storm windows I had in mind for you.." Sidney immediately piped up, "And just look at those cornices outside, they've got mould and they're crumbling. I know just the sealant to spray them with.. AFTER they've been fixed and re-shaped of course.."

Immediately concerned, the Sheriff questioned him, "What's wrong with my cornices? They didn't look so bad.."

Pulling out a hand held Personal Digital Assistant, Sidney held it up after bringing up some pictures of he'd taken of the outside of the castle and showed them to the Sheriff.

"See here? Those cracks on the edges of your window sills.. and over here.. your cornices..? How they're crumbling..?" Sidney motioned on his PDA for the Sheriff.

"Oh my goodness.. I've never noticed that before.. How did that show up?" the Sheriff put a hand on his chin alarmed.

"Nothing to be worried about my good man, it happens to the best of us. Heck mould creeps up on everyone and in a shockingly little amount of time too!" Sidney shrugged.

"What can you do?"

"Tell you what I'm gonna do... I've got just the thing." Sidney walked around to the Sheriff's side of the desk put his PDA down, and tapped it a few times as a catalog beamed out of it, "Here let me show you.. (he motioned a finger and the virtual pages turned) Why here it is! Exactly the perfect thing for you to fix those broken and worn cornices -Spray concrete! Just spray it on the area and re-shape it.. then press the button on the device and it hardens exactly how you shaped it!"

"Amazing!" the Sheriff and the two guards who brought him in looked impressed, "What else can you do?"

"Why I'm glad you asked..." Sidney pulled out a tube and uncapped it, "A tube of astro-sealant.. Now look here.. see this window?" he walked over and motioned to the sill. The Sheriff got up and walked over as well.

"Feel how worn it is?"

"Oh yes.. it needs to be polished.." the Sheriff looked concerned.

"Now watch closely.." Sidney pointed the tube at the sill. In moments the clear sealant suddenly wet the sill then a -sssst- was heard and the sill then looked polished and shiny!

"WHAT is going on here!" Prince John walked in sternly.

"Oh Sire he is showing what can be done about our cornices..." the Sheriff spoke up immediately.

"WHO cares about the castles-" Prince John looked at the pictures Sidney held up and he hesitated, "..why how did that appear?"

"Nothing to be alarmed about my Prince.. I was just demonstrating this tube of astro-sealant on the window sill there." Sidney pointed to a polished sill.

"I am impressed, so what can-" Prince John shook his head as if wakening from a trance, "What are we doing! Seize him! Let's get on with this! Come ON! Remember what we were going to do!"

"Y-yes yes of course your excellency!" the Sheriff stuttered.

The guards seized Sidney who still looked not at all worried as Prince John stared at him with an evil smile.

"I'm not even going to explain why we have you.."

"Can't imagine why.. I don't have any family to concern myself with.." Sidney shrugged.

Prince John stared thoughtfully, "We can't make it easy for them, let's see... Alright put him in the laser table!"

"Laser table? Why you have a funny way of making someone feel at home here.." Sidney explained as the guards dragged him off.

"I want him held there at the table for as long as we need him.." Prince John glared at the Sheriff who gulped.

"Yes of course Prince John! As long as we need..."

"Okay let's put a message for the galaxy.. sooner or later he'll heard it and respond and bring our new weapon to us!" Prince John heaved a sigh of relief imagining being able to invade other planets at a mere whim.

"I can't imagine a greater weapon! Being able to teleport anywhere!" the Sheriff nodded evilly..

-

As Rocket Robin Hood stood there ready with his quarterstaff, Little John feinted left. Robin easily saw what John had in mind and twisted aside, then stepped back as the staff swished past.

"Almost got ya that time!" Little John grinned.

"Yep! No wonder Aurora is watching you so admiringly!" Robin raised an eyebrow.

On the side with Marion and the other Merry Men, Aurora's hat moved over her empty dress as she giggled, to which John heard and blushed.

"Not getting me this time with that Robin!"

Giles raced up, "Robin! There's a message circulating on all communication channels! It's for you! Prince John is demanding you speak with him!"

Sighing in resignation Robin shrugged "Guess we'll have finish staff training later... Come on lads! Let's see what Prince John's got up his sleeve this time.."

Everyone followed as Robin walked into the stationhouse, "This is Rocket Robin Hood calling Prince John! I hear you're looking for me!"

Prince John's image beamed up from the communicator, "Well Rocket Robin Hood, how good of you to answer my call!"

"What is it this time...?"

"I hear you've acquired a very powerful weapon... a powerful one indeed. Something that would enable one to teleport across the galaxy instantly!" Prince John sneered.

"I haven't the slightest idea what you are talking about Prince John!" Robin shrugged puzzled.

"Come come now Rocket Robin.. you and I both know what you have.." Prince John sneered, "BUT I... have you at my mercy!"

"Unless it's to tell us bad jokes, I can't ever see that happening... my grace.." Robin bowed slightly as Aurora and Marion giggled.

"AH but we do! You see the weapon that you currently possess.. WE happen to have her only living relative!"

"WHAT?" Robin startled moved as Prince John motioned behind him as all saw Sidney Starr strapped to the same laser table that held Alan Adale captive. The burn marks were still apparent on the wood.

"Exactly what do you us to do?" Robin stood there as if caught off guard.

"Simple.. deliver us the girl.. and we'll let Sidney go free!" Prince John offered.

Crossing his arms Robin leaned up against the counter and hesitated, "Well..."

Suddenly behind him -PPTT- was heard as suddenly Aurora appeared behind Prince John and as her dress crouched under the laser and her wristbands floated up touching Sidney and -PPTT-

"So.. what was the second part of your plan?" Robin chuckled as he tapped a button ending the transmission as all everyone laughed out loud.

-

Back at the castle, the Sheriff was the first to break the silence.

"I must say Sire.. not one of your most well thought out plans..."