Dodgers was outside sitting on the back porch with his head hung after another hard night sleep while Cadet and E.J. sat on the couch inside the motel, keeping their eyes on him.

"We have to help him Cadet!" said E.J. worried. "What are we going to do?"

"I d-d-don't know," Cadet answered her baffled. "B-b-b-but we have to help him."

"That party was a disaster if you ask me. Then what he did in the bathroom. This is not good at all."

It was last night that Dodgers almost drowned himself in the bathtub which is why E.J. started to twitch. Both her and Cadet stayed up watching Dodgers fall asleep that they had to calm him after a nightmare. He was tossing and turning on the bed that it ended up to crying.

"Not good at all," E.J. mumbled. "I'm going to talk to him."

E.J. was about to head for the sliding door but suddenly, there was a buzz on Cadet's watch revealing Dr. I.Q. Hi.

"Cadet, I have to talk with Dodgers," said the scientist. "He's not answering my calls so make him talk to me."

"B-b-b-b-Just talk with me. He's not in a good m-mood."

"That is not an excuse."

"Sir, he tried to kill himself last night!" Cadet yelled without stuttering. "We have to take it easy with him."

"He what?!"

"We're not kidding!" said E.J. vehemently while looking at Cadet's watch. "After the party he did! He even said, 'Why'd you save me?' when we saved him. Captain Dodgers actually said that!"

"He n-n-needs help," said Cadet worriedly. "We d-d-don't know what to do but watch him."

"What else has he done?" I.Q. asked also apprehensively.

Cadet explained, "He won't le-le-le-let us out of his sight and he gets anx-anx-anxiety attacks."

"During those, I give him headphones," E.J. told I.Q. "Music seems to help him."

As for now, Dodgers was listening to the music from the iPod but through the headphones. He had the song, Free Bird playing.

"You need to bring him to the Mental Health Ward," said I.Q. Hi to the space cadets. "I called my brother and he said he'll evaluate Dodgers."

"I th-th-thought of that to," Cadet stuttered.

"I can talk to him," said E.J. "He trusts us, I think, out of anyone else."

"Make sure you bring him at 8:00 a.m. sharp," I.Q. told them. "As for now it's 7:30. You might want to come now since you're at the Galaxy Motel. I.Q. Hi out."

Cadet buzzed off his watch and said to E.J., "Now we can t-talk to him."

E.J. nodded and the two stood up. After opening the sliding door, Dodgers looked up from his left and saw his friends walking to him. E.J. heard him sigh and sat down on the opposite steel chair while Cadet stood. Dodgers took off the headphones and laid them on his shoulders.

"Do you want to go for a ride, Captain?" E.J. offered him.

"Where're we going?" Dodgers asked.

"It's a se-se-se-session Cap'n," Cadet told him. "Therapy session."

"What?"

"We're g-g-getting you help."

"I don't want help. I justht want musthic and you guysth."

"I know," said E.J. calmly. "I know. We're going with you anyway."

"I don't wanna do it alone and I don't wanna go."

"We'll be with you. It's alright."

Dodgers gave E.J. and Cadet a grave look that he looked down to his iPod.

"This is just to help you," Cadet told him without stuttering.

"I don't want help," Dodgers repeated.

"Don't you want to feel be-be-be-better?"

It took a while for Dodgers to answer while his friends looked to him that he kept flipping through the iPod until he replied softly, "Yeah. I can't take thisth." Then he rubbed his forehead. "I can't. You're right. I can't. Justht sthtay with me."

"We will," said E.J. happily. "We'll stay with you."

"Thisth iPod isth mine now."

With hope filled inside her, Dodgers stood up and followed E.J. and Cadet out of the motel. A taxi cab stopped for them and the three had the ride to the Center. No one talked since Dodgers had the headphones on while he listened to Lynyrd Skynyrd and Cadet and E.J. didn't have anything to say. As they came to the Center, the three got out of the hover cab and walked into the building. I.Q. was waiting for the three in the front lobby.

"There you are," said he. "Right on time. How do you feel Dodgers?"

Dodgers didn't say anything while he had his hands in his pockets. The iPod was in one but the headphones were on his shoulders.

"Okay then. Well, should we start?"

Dodgers, Cadet, and E.J. followed I.Q. Hi down a hallway and they entered a comfortable seating room where a long steel table stood in the middle with chairs around it. On the wall, from across the room, was a flat-screen television and a plant on the corner. From the left side of the room, Cadet, E.J. and Dodgers didn't know it but there was a two-way mirror. From behind the mirror was a crowd watching inside the seating room. The crowd consisted of Star Johnson, Queen Ty'hranee, Commander X-2, the President of Outer Space, and the First Lady. I.Q. went to join them.

From behind Dodgers and his crew was Dr. Psy-Q Hi. Cadet heard him come in that the therapist introduced himself, "Hello Dodgers. We can start now but in private."

"Not without Cadet and E.J.," Dodgers insisted. "I want them here."

"Okay then. Have a seat."

Dodgers and the two obeyed. They sat by the table that Cadet and E.J. sat next to Dodgers. He sat between them. Cadet sat on his right and E.J. was by the left. With Psy-Q sitting across, he started with, "Tell me, what has been bothering you Dodgers."

"There'sth…there'sth…" Dodgers feet started to twitch while he hung his head. "There'sth…thingsth…I don't want to think about. I don't wanna talk about."

"Has it been from something that has happened to you?" Dodgers nodded but raised his hand to his face. "Would it be something that has happened recently?"

"Y-yeah," Dodgers stuttered.

Cadet had a feeling this was going to trigger Dodgers even more that he kept his eyes on the captain.

"Anything that deals with your time in the hospital?" Psy-Q asked.

"No," Dodgers mumbled.

"When you were kidnapped?"

"No."

"When you were with the Society?"

Dodgers didn't say a word but closed his eyes while he rubbed them.

From behind the mirror, the crowd were watching Dodgers twitch that Johnson said aloud, "I've never seen Dodgers like this before. How did this happen?"

"Just watch," said I.Q. Hi. "I'm curious about this to."

The Queen was leaning on the mirror as if she wanted to be in the room with Dodgers.

Psy-Q went on with, "What bothers you the most Dodgers? Is it crowds and balloons or is it the memories?"

Dodgers didn't answer that either that he swayed forward and backward after closing his eyes. Both his robotic hands were on the side of his head, almost clenching him tightly. Since he was next to him, Cadet noticed sweat coming down from Dodgers' forehead.

"What would you explain your triggers are?" Psy-Q asked. "Is there a reason why you've detached yourself? What is your biggest fear?"

Dodgers only replied with, "Everything. They know, they know." On the last four words, Dodgers mumbled.

"I have pictures for you Dodgers," Psy-Q announced. "You don't have to say anything but it's just for a test. These are pictures the Protectorate have obtained after you were sent to the hospital."

Cadet wasn't so sure about that but E.J. was whispering to Dodgers trying to calm him. Even though Cadet had his trust in Psy-Q he had a feeling something bad was going to come out from this meeting.

"It's okay, Captain," E.J. said to Dodgers. "It's okay."

"There are also videos about your ordeal Dodgers," Psy-Q also announced. "If you wish to watch them."

"Ordeal?" Cadet repeated. "You mean torture?"

Dodgers' sweating increased that more and more shakes overcame his body that he stopped swaying. E.J.'s comforting attempts were hardly working.

"It's only a test," Psy-Q told them. "But I know what Captain Dodgers has: Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. The videos are supposed to be very graphic but so are the pictures. I'll go with pictures."

Dodgers shook like a vibrator without making a sound that E.J. continued to comfort him by putting the headphones on him. Gladly, Dodgers allowed her and he flipped through the iPod putting on Black Sabbath's Paranoid. His shaking was so aggressive that everybody noticed it.

"What is going on with him?" the Queen asked. "Why is he shaking like that?"

"Dodgers was like that when I was with him," said X-2. "Before they put that wire on. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder? What's that? Is that serious?"

"I believe it must be," I.Q. suggested. "He seems terrified."

"Poor Dodgers," the First Lady sighed.

From a file cabinet, Psy-Q grabbed a file and he took out pictures. Dodgers was already facing down to the table that he opened his eyes after E.J. said, "It's okay Captain. I'm here."

He looked up to her that just then, there was a picture shown from the table. The image of his severely mutilated body was there on the picture that no one was expecting the loud shout from Dodgers after he hung his head again.

"AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!"

He dug the headphones deeper on his head while the music was turned on louder and louder. Dodgers' heavily bruised face, the many scars and burns on him, the words written on his stomach, the cut off arm, run through arm, crushed hand, wire wrapped legs, and fleshed off feet were shown on the photo.

"AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!"

Cadet flew the picture away that him and E.J. tried to calm down Dodgers.

"Captain, it's okay! It's okay! It's gone, gone! It's okay!"

Dodgers opened his eyes again that another picture came, showing the Society. Now it was General Z-9, Drake Darkstar, Nasty Canasta, Long John Silver the 23rd, the Catapoid, Count Muerte, K'chutha Sa'am, Baby-Face Moonbeam, the New Cadet, the Fudd, Commandante Hilgalgo, Tasmanian Warrior, Crusher, Black Eel, Magnificent Rogue, Van Chancey, Skunderbelly, the Whoosh, and the Serpenti brothers.

"NNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOO! NNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"

E.J. also flew away that picture but Dodgers already closed his eyes.

"NNNOOOOOOOOOOO! AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH! NNNOOOOOOOOOOO! NNNOOOOOOOOOOO!"

Everyone stared at Dodgers in worry while Psy-Q put the pictures back but Cadet and E.J. tried to calm him down.

"Captain, it's okay! It's okay, it's gone! It's alright!"

"NNNOOOOOOOOOOO!"

"The pictures are gone! You don't have to look at them anymore. They're gone."

"AAAAAHHHHH! Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah. Nnooo-ooo! Aarrgghh!"

"Captain, it's okay! They're gone! They can't get you! They're gone!"

Instead of screaming, Dodgers took off the headphones, dropped them to the floor, and covered his face behind his crossed arms on the table. He gave loud sobs, loud enough for everyone to hear, even behind the mirror. Ty'hranee kept her hand on the glass while she watched Dodgers sob loudly and the others looked back to him apprehensively.

Strong sobs came from Dodgers and tears were falling from his eyes that his sleeves were getting wet including the table. His eyes were not just watery but also red and he shook harder than ever.

"Dodgers," the Martian queen whispered softly.

Dodgers dug his eyes behind his feathered arms that it was no mystery he was still sobbing while his friends sat next to him. At least he wasn't sobbing that loud but he gave strong breaths in order to breathe but everyone heard him mumble, "They'll come back. They'll hurt me. They'll hurt me. They will! They will!" He gulped loudly. "I can't take thisth anymore! They'll hurt me again. They will. Everyone knowsth. They know. They know. Why me? Why?" Again, he breathed loudly but sniffled. "Why me?"

The crowd and Psy-Q Hi were speechless but E.J. said calmly, "They're gone Captain. They're gone. You're safe. They can't get you anymore."

After a sob, Dodgers sniffled refusing to look up that he dug his face more.

"I'm sorry Captain," E.J. went on. She has to cheer him up. "I'm very sorry."

"The Society's gone now," the Cadet said to Dodgers without stuttering. "You're safe Cap'n."

Dodgers sniffled again.

"It's okay Captain," E.J. spoke softly. "I'm very sorry they did this to you but it's gone now. They're gone. You're safe with us. It's okay. Everything will be alright."

Dodgers looked up that he noticed E.J. and Cadet looking down to him. The crowd saw him to but the three didn't know that. After a sniffle, Dodgers leaned on the table again.

"To help you Dodgers," they heard Psy-Q say. "You need to tell someone about your experience. It doesn't have to be me."

Dodgers first shook his head but until a few minutes, still with his head hung, he said in a grave voice, "They tortured me."

"I know," Cadet and E.J. replied in unison.

"They tortured me guysth. They tortured me." He sniffled. "They burned me, cut me, and hit me. They hit me all the time and I…I never knew what they were going to do. I couldn't do anything. I tried to esthcape but I could never find a way out." Again, Dodgers sniffled but wet tears came out of his eyes. "I had help to get out and sthave mysthelf until they caught me that I wasth afraid I would die." He took a breath. "Until you guysth came, I…I thought they'd do the sthame. They killed one of their own men. And I…I…" Stronger tears came out. "I couldn't let that happen to you." Dodgers sniffled again that he took a moment of breath.

"I never knew what they'd do. I never knew." More tears came out from him. "Z-9 sthaid he was going to usthe me but I never knew why. Darksthar wanted to hurt me that he told everyone to do it. Sthometimesth they would justht do it themsthelvesth. And it hurt. It hurt. Oh, Gosh, it hurt stho much that I couldn't move. I couldn't move at all. Everything hurt. Everything did. My face, armsth, legsth. Everything hurt." Again, Dodgers teared more and took a breath. "Darkstar'sth right. It'sth my own fault."

No word was spoken since every word Dodgers said was strong as stone. E.J. could feel every ounce of pain in his voice including Cadet. They hung their heads that E.J. tried to imagine the agony Dodgers' must've felt but she couldn't. Was it like the time she was frozen in the freezer? When the old friends tricked her? Is that pain? Like a thousand of paper cuts piercing around you? That did hurt during the time she was inside but being in pain for three days, what was that like?

"It'sth my own fault," Dodgers muttered.

"No, it's not," said Cadet reassuringly. "It's not your fault Captain. It was them. They're the ones."

Dodgers sniffled and rubbed a tear away. He didn't look to the two but he stared at the table.

"They're the ones to blame captain," E.J. started to say while she looked back to Dodgers. "Not you. They can't get you anymore. You're with us now."

"I've done stho much bad thingsth," Dodgers sniffled.

Cadet, I.Q., and Johnson nodded.

"I've hurt everyone. I hurt mysthelf. Darksthtar'sth right. I am a dumb duck."

"You're not dumb Captain," E.J. said to him determinedly. "You're not."

"I'm worth nothing. I should've justht died."

E.J. couldn't say anything there. She again hung her head while Dodgers wiped his eyes that she heard Cadet say, "Don't say that Cap'n. You have done b-b-bad things but you have sa-saved lives. Remember when you tho-tho-tho-tho-thought of that cruise? And when we st-st-stopped the Fudd that time? You are a hero."

"Now that I remember," E.J. started. "I did save your life. After me and Cadet rescued you, you died for a minute. I begged the doctors to shock you again and you started breathing. You're alive now."

Without looking at them, more tears came from Dodgers' eyes. E.J. didn't know what he was thinking but she had a feeling it was appreciation.

"If it wasn't for me, you'd be dead. I couldn't let you die. You're my friend."

Dodgers gave a few sobs before he cried, "Thanksth. Thanksth for sthaving me." He gave a shuddering gulp. "Thanksth."

"And we're here to help you. Everything will be alright. It's done now. You made it."

"You've always f-f-fought," Cadet also told him. "You survived."

After wiping his eyes, Dodgers sniffled again. It wasn't therapy that Dodgers needed, he just needed his friends. As for now, Dodgers hugged them both. First E.J. and then Cadet. He didn't say a word but still cried. He may not know it but from behind the mirror, Johnson, the President, and First Lady were stunned by Dodgers' reaction that only the President and First Lady were happy to know Dodgers has his friends. Johnson didn't know what to think such as X-2 but the Queen, she clenched her hands. She was the only person who changed from worry to anger.

"I can't believe this," said I.Q. Hi.

"This sure is quite a change of him," Johnson pronounced. "But that much pain…unimaginable."

"The Society were very ruthless," X-2 remembered. "Now I'm glad that Dodgers has had justice."

"Me to," said the Queen. "But why couldn't I be in the room with him? Z-9's a traitor to begin with but he breaks my hero, I mean enemy, and now Dodgers has his own friends."

"At least he'll be doing much better now," said the First Lady. "I feel so sorry for him."

"Me to," said the President and Johnson. I.Q. instead walked out of the room.

Dodgers let go of Cadet that he wiped the tears from his eyes when I.Q. came in the room. Him and his crew noticed I.Q. when he walked in front of Dodgers.

"Dodgers, I am very sorry," said the scientist apologetically. "Really. No one was expecting what the Society was capable of doing. Nobody knew."

Instead of Dodgers retaliating, he instead sniffled.

"What are you going to do now?"

"I don't know," Dodgers muttered.

"To make you feel better, the Protectorate have replaced your ship with a new one. If you wish to return to your job. You and your crew. What do you say Dodgers? And you to, Cadet and E.J. What will you do now?"

It took a moment for Dodgers, Cadet, and E.J. to reply that Dodgers mumbled, "I'll do it, okay. I'll do it. I'm coming back. Justht not too much people."

"You're coming back to the Protectorate?"

"Yeah. Yeah, I am. Yeah. More justhtice."

"Excellent!"

"No more therapy. I'm coming back."

"I'll get your ship ready!"

Dodgers stood up to him that E.J. said from behind, "Are you sure Captain? You want to do this?"

"Yeah," Dodgers muttered. "More justhtice E.J. More justhtice. I wanna."

Cadet and E.J. grinned that the two of them stood up, wanting to praise Dodgers for his bravery.

"Let'sth go guysth," said Dodgers.

Since the iPod was on the floor, E.J. picked it up along with the headphones. They were led out of the room by Psy-Q that in the hallway, the three were given directions to leave until Ty'hranee came walking up to Dodgers.

"You surprise me Dodgers," said she. "Is there any possibility for us?"

"No Queenie," Dodgers replied. "No. I've got my palsth. Sthorry. Let'sth go guysth."

I.Q. could've been happy if Dodgers did say yes to her but he instead noticed the Queen's angry glare.

"At least he said he was sorry," the Queen thought. "Let's go Commander."

"Yes, your highness," said X-2. "I'm just glad he's doing better now. The horror of Z-9. Good thing he's gone now."

"Yes, indeed."

The two Martians took a different route, such as Dodgers, Cadet, and E.J. I.Q. was going to leave with Psy-Q when he noticed the President, First Lady, and Johnson take Dodgers' route. He knew they were going to leave but Johnson went up to Psy-Q.

"You have the videos of his torture?" Johnson asked the therapist.

"Yes, I do," Psy-Q replied. "But to warn you, they are very graphic."

"I have to see them to," said I.Q. Hi. "Dodgers!"

The crew almost took a turn when they looked back to I.Q.

"I'll be right there, just wait for me in the front lobby." Cadet and Dodgers nodded back and continued walking.

Along with Johnson, I.Q. went with Psy-Q to his office. Inside, they went to the television screen and sat on a couch. Psy-Q put the CD into the player and he pressed play.

"How'd you get the videos?" Johnson asked.

"Two mice gave them to J. Edgar Traschcan that I was able to obtain it from him," Psy-Q explained. "I haven't watched them yet but I was told they're very violent. Here we go."

Psy-Q went to join the two men on the couch and their eyes never left the screen. The first video showed Dodgers bound and gagged after annoying the henchmen then it led to him being dunked in hot water and his first beating. On the first beating was when Dodgers' shoulder was completely dislocated, was bitten and blood was drunk. The clown balloons were the only oddity. The screen changed when Dodgers lost his hand up to his arm. After that was the salt poured on him and then the impalement of his left arm.

"I remember this," Johnson gasped. "It was horrible."

The video went on. Dodgers had another beating along with stabbings, slashings, drilled, crushed, and branded. That was when I.Q. nearly threw up and Johnson almost fainted. Psy-Q was shaking. It also showed Dodgers being shot after he tried to escape for the second time and his feet were put in acid. It was on the third beating Dodgers was knocked out cold but revived. Then, there was the part when Dodgers had his legs tied by fiery, burning wire, pass the bondage on the pole, and to another beating. After he was bit again, his arms were broken and had water poured upon his face. That was it.

"Oh my Gosh!" I.Q. gasped. "How could they do this?! This is horrible! Just horrible!"

"Dodgers definitely had justice!" Johnson exclaimed. "How can you survive this? He is so lucky to be alive!"

"I agree!" said Psy-Q Hi. "Such horror! Now I'm glad I didn't show this to him. It would've been a huge trigger."

"And I…I have to catch up to him," I.Q. breathed. "I'll see you men later."

With the images in his head, it was hard for I.Q. to get it out. Dodgers and his crew were waiting for him and he didn't lose the look of terror.

"I'll take you three," he breathed.

"Are you okay sir?" Cadet asked.

"I'm fine."

Dodgers was with him now healthy with prosthetic limbs. For sure, Johnson was correct. Duck Dodgers is very lucky to be alive. Very, very lucky. I.Q. tried not to stare at him while he drove that the four came to the landing docks. Instead of seeing a teal and white spaceship, it was now a blue and white ship they had.

"This is the one," said I.Q. "Oh, and Dodgers."

Dodgers looked back to him before walking the ship.

"I just saw the videos of your torture. I am so sorry what they did to you. Consider yourself lucky."

"Lucky?" Dodgers repeated but gulped.

"Lucky to be alive. You are very lucky to have Cadet and E.J., and to have justice. I just wish the best for you."

"You already knew, didn't you?"

"Only at the theater Dodgers. Only there. The rest I didn't. I'm very sorry."

I.Q. didn't look angry and neither was Dodgers. He can't be angry now since he's going back in space with Cadet and E.J.

Don't have another attack, Dodgersth. Don't. Not now.

"Well, I'm going out," he replied. Now wasn't the best time to be angry. "Justht ring me if there'sth any missionsth. I already gave forgivenessth."

And with that, Dodgers walked to his new spaceship.

Everything was coming back to normal. He was alive, thanks to his crew, and no longer will he have to worry about his life in danger. They were gone, even though a lot of people knew, but they were finally gone. Darkstar and Z-9 were gone; dead, never to return. And the others will no longer come for him. But the memories will always stay with him.

Don't think about that now. Don't think about it.

He's a lucky duck. No longer will Dodgers turn down Cadet and neither to ignore E.J., he can prove to be a good friend; maybe the best friend. He's alive and happy. More justice will happen and he can prove it by saving more lives. Dodgers continued to walk into his spaceship where Cadet and E.J. were waiting for him.

Inside the ship was just like his own. The rooms where the same and he came into the main bridge where his crew was waiting for him.

"What would we do now?" E.J. asked.

"Any m-m-m-missions?" Cadet wondered.

"Not yet," Dodgers replied. "But there'sth alwaysth a sthecond chance."