They were laughing at him! Him the Evil Emperor of the Galaxy. He has conquered worlds and brought millions to their knees, and yet to them, these heroes from a backwater planet, he was a joke! "Enough!" Zurg screamed. "You know I was going to brag about my ingenious plan, but now you can forget it!" Zurg then ran out of the room crying. Zurg ran all the way to his quarters, jumped on to his bed, and is now crying in his pillow. Standing next to his bed were two of his minion escorts, trying to comfort him. "It's not fair, those meanies!" Zurg cried. "Why is it when a villain taunts someone, they call it bullying; but when heroes do it, it's playful banter! It's discrimination I tell you!"
"Yes it is definitely a double standards sir," one of his minions commented. The other nodding in agreement.
"Sir, sir I have important news!" another minion came running in.
"Silence! Can't you see I'm having a hard day?" Zurg sulked.
"But sir, we've just got a message from our agents at Eisley-mos. They say that the Guardians are on our trail!" the minion reported.
"Guardians!" Zurg cursed. "Can't I do one evil scheme without some do-gooder getting in my way! Alright, let's see this would be hero?" The minion projected an image of Atomic Betty and Shezow. "These two little girls? You expect me to be worried about them!" Zurg laughed. The minions all started laughing as well, until Zurg gestured to stop. "Still I suppose I should take precautions," Zurg said to himself going over to the communicator. "Hello Warp are you there?" he called out.
"Yeah I'm here," the image of former Space Ranger turned hired thug, Warp Darkmatter responded.
"Listen, I have a little job for you" Zurg started saying.
"Fine, but only after you pay me first!" Warp insisted.
"Listen Warp old buddy, old pal. I'm a little short so can't you do this for old times sake?" Zurg begged.
"Well I suppose I could give you a discount," Warp said slyly. "I have been wanting a lovely mountain home to go skiing."
"What!?" Zurg yelled realizing what Warp was implying. "But that is my one of favorite vacation spots!"
"It's either that or cash," Warp replied.
"Fine!" Zurg agreed.
"Just send me the deed and I'll take care of your little problem," Warp promised.
"Here!" Zurg said hitting send on the communication controls.
Over at Warp's side, he waited patiently for the deed to be printed out. After going over it with his lawyers Warp nodded with satisfaction. "Okay Zurg, who's the target?"
"These girls," Zurg sending him a picture of Betty and Shezow. "I'm sure that they should be no problem for one of your talents."
"ATOMIC BETTY! Dammit you've scammed me!" Warp groaned.
"Um, you know this girl?" Zurg asked.
"Are you kidding! She was a legend even back when I was still with the Space Rangers!" Warp ranted. "The youngest Galactic Guardians to ever achieve the title of Atomic, and said to have an even bigger arrest record than Buzz!"
"Hold up, you're saying that she's even better than Buzz Lightyear?" Zurg said in utter disbelief.
"That or at least on par with him," Warp said.
"Never the less, a deals a deal!" Zurg said crossing his arms.
"Yeah, yeah, I'll do it!" Warp snipped turning off his communicator. "Man I can't believe it, I set the terms and Zurg still manages to get the best of me!" Warp grumbled as he studied the footage the Zurg provided. "They're all skilled fighters, nothing I can't handle," Warp boasts. "But it looks like they've split into teams. Even I can't be in two places at once. I'm going to need help on this one, but Zurg isn't exactly paying me for this job. Guess I could call in a few favors." Warp decided going over his list of mercenary/bounty hunter acquaintances. On his communicator screen the silhouette of a man wearing a wide-brimmed hat appeared. "Hey Cad old buddy old pal, how's it shaking," Warp trying to break it gently.
"Don't hey buddy me! What do you want? Wait I already know what you want, just tell me how much you're going to pay me." Cad demanded.
"Here thing, I'm not exactly being pain in cash, so I don't really have anything to split anything with you." Warp said nervously. The man growled as he was about to cut communications. "But you do owe me for freeing you from the Hutts!" Warp said quickly.
"You're calling in that favor?" Cad hissed.
"Yeah man, it's a real easy gig, just hit a couple of kids," Warp gulped.
"You know when someone says a job is easy, that usually means that it's more trouble than it's worth!" Cad lectured.
"Hey you owe me. After all it's because of you that I can no longer set foot in Hutt space!" Warp argued.
"Don't blame me for your foolishness! I didn't tell you to blow up their most sacred hall!" Cad shot back.
"Hey I needed a diversion, and how was I suppose to know that room was so important to them!" Warp defended.
"Didn't you see the size of the Hutt's bellies? How could you not know that the kitchen would be the most important room in the house?" Cad ridiculed.
"Okay that was my bad, but come on. Do me a solid." Warp pleaded.
"Fine, I guess I do owe you one," Cad sighed. "Who's the target?"
"These girls," Warp sending the info to his friend. "Normally I'd handle them myself but they've split up which is why I"
"I'll take this Shezow," Cad said. "I have experience dealing with powers like hers."
"Um great, I guess that leaves me with the Atomic Betty. Uh see you when the job is done," Warp said turning off his screen.
Off in another part of the Galaxy, the She C-10 was orbiting a frozen planet. "That's the third Fridgidaria we've been to, and still nothing!" Shezow yelled in frustration slamming her hand on the dashboard.
"Well don't take it out on me," Sheila said.
"Sorry, but still I can't help but feel that we're wasting out time. I mean we're not even searching the planets, just scanning them from orbit while Huntress and Huntsgirl investigate the prisons. How do we know that they're not locked up somewhere in some hidden fortress on the other side of the planet, shielded from our instruments?" Shezow complained.
"If we did miss something, well that what the satellite probes we're setting up are for," Sheila reminded her. "Besides, Kelly know you don't have the time to search every inch of every planet that we are going to investigate." Kelly hated to admit it but Sheila was right.
"Shezow do you read, this is Huntress." Huntress said over the communicator.
"This is Shezow, report," Shezow responded.
"We're finishing up down here and we're heading back," Huntress reported.
"Roger that, and good job you two," Shezow said sounding like a broken recording. After Huntress and Huntsgirl got inside, Shezow prepared to head to their next destination. "So how did it look?"
"Oh you know, a little cold, lots of ice, pretty much what you'd expect from a planet named Fridgidaria!" Huntsgirl joked.
"Just like all the other Fridgidarias we've been to," Huntress added.
"I meant the prisons!" Shezow sighed.
"Deserted, looks like it has been that way for quite some time," Huntsgirl reported. Shezow sulked as she went about her business of piloting the ship. The other two girls quickly caught on her mood. "Hey cheer up, we'll find them." Huntsgirl said with enthusiasm.
"Of course we will, because there's nothing the Hunter Sisters can't find!" Huntress joked.
"I never agreed to that name," Huntsgirl retorted.
"What, does that mean I'm not part of your club?" Shezow jest.
"Of course you are, it just that we're like uh, the Angles, the ones that actually go out and do missions, while you're the one who sits in their cozy plane delegating." Huntress joked.
"Oh is that right!" Shezow getting up from her seat. "Alright then, the next planet we go to I'll take point. In fact we will land on it and search the old fashion way!"
"Uh, are you sure that's a good idea?" They asked getting a bad feeling about this.
"You do know that the next Fridgidaria is not listed among the prison sites, and according to records, uninhabited," Sheila informed her.
"Of course, but who knows we might find something there," Shezow said full of vigor. "Besides, between the three of us, what can go wrong?" Naturally they all came up with a thousand different things that could go wrong, but of course no one said anything. As they approached the 4th Fridgidaria, Shezow landed the She C-10 on top of a glacier. "Man it's freezing here," Shezow shivered. "What a time to be wearing a miniskirt. Aren't you guys cold?"
"Nope, my suit is electronically heated." Huntress explained.
"And my suit is made from Sasquatch fur, it keeps me cool in the sun and warm in the snow." Huntsgirl said. The other two wasn't sure if they were impressed or grossed out from hearing that.
"Man, I wish I brought my fur coat," Shezow complained.
"Why not just use your Wardrobe Shelector option on your costume?" Sheila suggested.
"Wardrobe Shelector, what is that?" Shezow asked.
"Try twisting the 'S' on your chest," Sheila instructed. Shezow did as she was told and her costume suddenly changed to a pink cowgirl outfit. Twisting it some more it became pink business attire, jumpsuit, fancy dress, and whole lot of cool and lame superhero costumes until she stopped on a pink Eskimo coat!
"Cool, I mean hot," Shezow corrected herself admiring her new coat. "Why didn't you tell Gu, my sister about this?" she asked Sheila.
"He never asked, besides I though she liked the old outfit," Sheila joked knowing how much Guy hated the skirt.
"Alright girls lets keep this simple," Shezow going into serious mode. "We'll go off and scout around for a bit, but don't go further than a mile from the plane. And Sheila, while we're gone set up the probes. Report every 10 minutes and be back here within the hour. Any questions?"
"Nope," the other two girls responded.
"Then let's go!" Shezow said as she flew into the sky.
Huntress jumped into the air and her jetboard materialized. "Need a lift," Huntress offered to Huntsgirl.
"No thanks, I've got my own ride," Huntsgirl dropped her spear onto the ground where it transformed into a snowboard.
"Cool, I've got to get me one of those," Huntress said.
"I've got extras if you can get me a jetboard," Huntsgirl winked.
"Darn I just gave away my last spare," Huntress joked as she flew off.
"Man and I really wanted one of those jetboards," Huntsgirl sighed snowboaring in the opposite direction.
As the girls went off, Sheila fired the space probes into orbit.
Shezow flew low to the ground as to better find any clues, but all she could see is miles and miles of ice and snow. "Stupid aliens, kidnapping my stupid brother, and bringing him to stupid ice planet!" Shezow griped. "Why couldn't they build a maximum security prison on a tropical planet with sandy beaches! No one would want to escape from there!" Without warning a large explosion occurred in right in front of her knocking her to the ground. "What the what?" Shezow gasped as this blue alien with a wide-brimmed hat and a trench coat stepped out of the smoke. "Who are you, and why did you attack me?" Shezow demanded.
"The name's Cad Bane, as for the attack, well an associate of mine wants you dead." Cad pulled out his blaster and started shooting!
Reacting quickly, Shezow jumped out of the way of the first incoming shots. "Laser Lipstick!" Shezow yelled drawing out her sword to deflect the remaining shots.
"Well, well it's been awhile since I faced off against a Jedi," Cad laughed firing more shots.
"Jedi? I have no idea what you're talking about! Boomerang Brush!" Shezow yelled throwing her weapon at her assailant.
"Oh right because everyone uses a light saber," Cad said sarcastically as he dodged the brush.
"So I take it you're one of Zurg's stooges?" Shezow asked slowly backing away.
"So what if I am?" Cad responded. He was about to attack again when he noticed the smug expression on Shezow's face and this faint whistling behind him. Ducking fast he narrowly avoided getting hit on the head by the Boomerang Brush. Shezow however ended up taking the full force of her own boomerang as it struck her on the chest, knocking her down on the snow! "Hm maybe you're not a Jedi," Cad snickered as he fired more shots at Shezow!
"That was embarrassing," Shezow said to herself rolling out of the way of the blasts. "Time for a change of strategy. Shezow Brand Vanishing Cream!" Shezow squirting the cream on herself becoming invisible.
"Tricky little vixen," Cad grinned. He always did love a challenge. "Hiding are we, I thought you heroes were the brave and honorable type." Cad coaxing her to showing herself.
"I just want to know what you boss's big game plan is? Why does he want the Earth's heroes? And how did you find me here?" Shezow asked while trying to keep moving.
"Search me," Cad shrugged. "As long as I get paid, I don't care what he has planned. As for finding you, it was pretty obvious isn't it. Next time I suggest you try to be more random when planet hopping."
"And how much is he paying you to get rid of me?" Shezow asked out of curiosity but still keeping a good safe distance.
"Trying to bribe me," Cad chuckled. "Sorry but I'm a professional, I don't take bribes. It's bad for business. Besides I'm doing this as a favor to a friend." Cad trying to home in on the sound of her voice.
"You're not one of his minions are you," Shezow realized. "You're just a gun for hire!"
"Indeed, maybe you're not as stupid as that ugly coat!" Cad laughed.
"Hey no one disses the coat!" Shezow yelled revealing her location. Cad grinned as he threw several small bombs in her direction. Shezow jumped back trying to avoid getting blown up. All the while not believing that she let him bait her like that! After all she's suppose to be the smart one!
Cad Bain studied the smoke caused by his bombs. Just as he suspected, Shezow survived the explosions, but now he can make out her outline in the smoke telling him exactly where she is. Pulling out his blaster he fired several shots at her.
"AAAHHH!" Shezow screamed in pain as she took a hit on the shoulder causing her to roll on the ground, Shezow quickly ducked for cover behind some rock, cowering in fetal position and crying in fear for her life. Never before had she encountered someone so cold and calculating, and from the looks of things, he's had plenty of experience killing people stronger than him. "Come on Kelly, keep it together," Shezow whispered grasping her shoulder in pain. "What would Guy do?" It didn't take her long to realize that Guy would have used Maz as a distraction while he did some stupid and reckless attack. Not a sound strategy, but one that somehow works out. Of course the obvious problem is that Maz isn't here! But thankfully she did have others to count on.
Cad Bane carefully surveying the area. Scouting for any signs of his target, when he spotted some blood on the ice. "Come on out, hero. It will be much more painless if you just let me kill you. Not that I care."
"If it's pain you want then I'll give you pain!" Huntress yelled swooping in and punching Cad in the mouth!
"You know my contract was only for Shezow, turn back now and I'll let you live." Cad said.
"Well too bad!" Huntsgirl yelled turning her spear into a bow and shooting energy arrows as him. "Mess with one Hunter Sister you mess with us all!"
"I thought you didn't like the name," Huntress teased as she landed next to Huntsgirl.
"It's growing on me," Huntsgirl laughed.
"Guys you've made it," Shezow breathed a sigh of relief as she rejoined her friends.
"Of course Shezow, now let's take this guy out!" Huntress said pointing her blaster at Cad. "So are we going to do this the easy way or my way!" She threatened.
"Oh dear me. You've got me outnumbered. Looks like you've won this round Shezow," Cad grinned as he dropped his blasters and kicked his guns over to them. "Or did you?"
Shezow's SheSP started tingling like crazy! "Oh no,! It's a trap, get out of here!" Shezow screamed, but she was too late." The blasters exploded right in front of them as Cad used his flamethrower to melt the ice underneath the girls, causing them to fall into the water! The girls struggled to get out, but the water froze almost immediately trapping them within the ice. "Well that was disappointingly simple," Cad joked as he signaled his droid to bring his ship.
Frozen in a block of ice, Shezow started to panic. Seeing how much of a failure she was and how she put her new friends in danger, filled her with such frustration and rage that she let out a massive Sonic Scream! Which not only shattered the ice, but it also sent Cad flying! Unfortunately her scream also triggered an avalanche that was about to bury them all! Shezow tried to fly her friends out of there but the ice ruined her hair. Huntress also tried to fly as well but her boots were damaged in that last attack, so she couldn't activate her jetboard. And Huntsgirl can't fly regardless. All seemed lost when the She C-10 appeared above and dropped them a ladder! Quickly grabbing the ladder, Sheila flew them all to safety! As they flew off thy could see Cad Bane being buried under a ton of snow. "Thanks Sheila," Shezow said.
"Don't mention it," Sheila replied.
"Who was that guy?" Huntress asked.
"He said his name was Cad Bane," Shezow said feeling depressed.
"What's wrong," they asked her.
"I guess my brother really was chosen," Shezow sighed looking at her glamazon ring.
"Your brother?" Huntress feeling confused. Shezow didn't say anymore than that and no one pressed her for more. They just sat quietly until they received a priority communication from Atomic Betty.
"Shezow are you there? Are you alright?" Betty asked.
"We're here, Betty. And we're alright." Shezow replied. "But we've kind of sort of ran into trouble."
"Let me guess, some blue guy ambushed you as well," Betty figured.
"How did you know?" Shezow asked only to see that Betty, Kim, Cuervo, Sparky, and X-5 were banged up pretty good. Not that her team looked any better.
"We need to regroup. If there are more after us we need to be better prepared." Betty warned.
"We are both pretty close to the next Fridgidaria making it ideal spot to meet." X-5 suggested.
"Best of all it has a canteen where we can get something to eat and relax for a bit." Sparky said excitedly.
"Understood, we'll be there as soon as we can," Shezow said preparing for flight.
As the She C-10 rocketed off, a lone figure left on Fridgidaria managed to rocket his way out of the snow with his jet boots. After freeing himself, Cad went over to retrieve his hat, only to see that it got pretty torn up in the avalanche. "Those brats owe me a new hat!" he sneered as he turned on his communicator. "Warp. No she got away, thanks to her accomplices. How did you fare? I see, that's to be expected. Like it or not we're going to need some extra help with this job."
"Really and how do you plan on paying this extra help?" Warp asked.
"Simple I did my homework on the targets. The one called Atomic Betty happens to have a rather sizable sum on her head. More than enough to recruit some aid." Cad grinned.