Down under the sea in Zadavia's home, Zadavia was praising a few members of the Loonatics for their improvements as superheroes.
Zadavia: I'm pleased with the progress you've made with your powers, Loonatics. Ace, your mastery of the Guardian Strike Sword continues to grow. Soon you will be ready to learn new skills.
Tech had been staring out through the glass window at two manta rays, lost in thought, when Zadavia called his name, while watching a TV screen of Tech saving Lexi from getting hit by the giant Robo Amigo's hand, and him using his APD invention to stop Dr. Dare's boulder army.
Zadavia: And Tech, I see you had quite an improvement from last year in the non-technology hero department.
Tech: I've been trying to get out of the lab more.
Zadavia: Well keep it up. It's most impressive.
Duck: Yeah, yeah. Impressive, schmessive. Techy's real tough.
Sophie: Tech is the best when it comes to inventing cool stuff. After all, he taught me.
Tech gave Sophie a smile for her compliment. He knew she always loved the things he invented to help them fight bad guys. Just then, a beeping sound came from the large screen.
Level Z encrypted message for Zadavia!
Zadavia: From whom? Read the message.
Zadavia, you plus one are invited to the cosmic abyss for tonight's concert. Signed, a friend.
Lexi: That's a pretty hot, ticket. So, who's your secret admirer?
Zadavia: I…don't know. But I would like to find out.
Sophie: Are you sure? Getting email from someone you don't know is bad news.
Zadavia: It's alright, Sophie. Nothing bad will happen. I would really like to know who invited to tonight's concert.
Duck: So Zadavia, who's the lucky one you're taking? As if I didn't know.
The black duck was certain Zadavia would pick him to accompany her to the cosmic abyss concert. Zadavia thought for a moment as she looked Slam, Ace, Lexi, Sophie, Tech, and Rev.
Zadavia: Hmm…let me see. I'm taking Tech.
Duck: (gasps) You're taking who?
Sophie: What?
Tech: (flattered) Really? Why, I'm honored. But, ( he looks at Sophie )
Sophie: It's fine. ( Smiles ) You are still my coyote. ( Turns to Zadavia, and playfully glares at her ) I'll let you borrow him, but remember: He's mine!
Zadavia: ( Chuckles ) I know. I will take care of him.
Duck: (odd chuckle) Yeah, yeah. Congratulations old buddy. (folds arms in jealousy) Teacher's pet.
That night at the cosmic abyss concert, a rock and roll band played loudly on stage to a cheering crowd. In the stadium seats, Tech and Zadavia sat beside each other, dressed in nice civilian clothes. Zadavia wore a pretty two-tone lavender and lilac dress. Tech wore blue sunglasses, a red hat, and a dark grey jacket with a red shirt underneath, blue jeans, and dark shoes.
While the two were enjoying the show, Duck showed up, teleporting himself onto Tech's lap. He was a wearing a snazzy white jacket that resembled an Elvis jacket. Duck then told Tech to get him and Zadavia some drinks, which Tech reluctantly does. The colorful light strums from the stage gave Zadavia a slight headache while Duck tried to ask her for a dance.
Tech had paid for the two drinks and turned to go back to where Duck and Zadavia were, when a young girl kissed him lightly on the tip of his nose, surprising Tech.
?: Hi Tech! You look handsome.
The coyote took one look at the young girl and could see that it was Sophie. She was no longer in her uniform, for she wore a strapless dark blue colored dress with a sweetheart neckline and a choker around her neck, and dark blue colored high heeled shoes. Her long hair was designed to be wavy, and it hung over her shoulders. Tech stared at Sophie with his eyes growing wide for she looked very lovely, but he shook his head to snap out of it.
Tech: Sophie! Not you too! Did you come here with Duck?
Sophie: ( Sighs ) He brought me.
Tech hears this and his blood started to boil.
Tech: (raises a brow) Oh really? Why?
Sophie: He wanted me to come along, so I could him get Zadavia away from you.
Tech: ( Confused ) But...it's only for the mission.
Sophie: Tell him, that.
Meanwhile, Mr. Leghorn introduced Bootes Belinda and his Rubber Ball band to perform next. As soon as the band played their song, Zadavia started to recognize that tune.
Suddenly, Bootes noticed Zadavia in the crowd and began blasting reddish yellow lasers from his guitar into the beams that held the dome of the buildings. The crowd began to panic and flee as Bootes continued to play his destructive tune.
Bootes: It's time to bring the house down, bobbles!
The lead guitar man, Worm Brain, fired a laser blast at the spot where Zadavia and Duck were sitting, and where Tech and Sophie had returned, and sent them all flying. Bootes fired at the beams above, but Zadavia used her powers to blast away the falling debris before it can hit herself and the three anthros beside her.
Bootes: And I want you all to get funking, baby! Rib Bone, hit me!
The drummer man, Rib Bone, beat the drums and small green plasma balls came hurling towards Zadavia.
Tech: Zadavia, look out!
Tech pushed Zadavia out of harm's way while Duck "quacked" himself out of the way, and Sophie fired her shock claw at the green plasma balls, although one hit her hair, and her hair now looked gray, tall, pointy, and static-like.
Tech kept his arms above Zadavia's head to shield her from harm,
The mallard lifted Sophie in his arms and, with the help of his jetpack, flew her close down to the stage where the band stood. He dropped Sophie down on the stage so she could confront Bootes.
Duck: Ha, ha! Time to get funky with Danger Duck!
Duck threw two flaming orbs down at Bootes, but Bootes played the strings on his guitar and a laser blast sent the two orbs flying into some beams.
Bootes: Let's bring it down!
Sophie: I don't think so, punk!
When Bootes blasted another laser at her, Sophie quickly defended herself with her shock claw, firing a lightning bolt at the laser blast. But the noise of the guitar hurt her ears and Sophie tried to cover her ears so she wouldn't go deaf. This gave Bootes, Rip Bone, and Worm Brain the chance to attack her.
Knowing Sophie needed help quickly, Tech made sure Zadavia stayed low to keep herself safe, then leapt forward and down onto the stage, right in-between Sophie and the band members. He used his magnetism to push Bootes and Worm Brain backwards. Sophie was glad to see Tech was here to protect her.
The keyboard man above the band members played a tune on his large keyboard and the pipes attacked to the keyboard began to glow. Tech created a green force field to protect himself and Sophie from the oncoming danger. A huge pale yellow laser blast struck the green force field, and Tech and Sophie were flung back into the stadium seats.
Bootes: Alright boys, it's time for our big finale!
The band all played their instruments loud enough to cause vibrations and the ceiling of the dome to come crumbling down. As Tech and Sophie recovered from the attack, they noticed the whole building was shaking violently. Zadavia and Duck took cover under the stadium seats, and Tech threw his arms around Sophie and held her close to keep her safe. The violent vibrations didn't last long,.
Bootes: Goodnight and thank you Acmetropolis!
After blowing a mock kiss to nobody, the stage that carried the Rubber Ball band rose up into the air and flew away. Tech and Sophie peered over the stadium seats while Zadavia and Duck got to their feet.
Tech: ( To Sophie ) Are you injured?
Sophie: ( Smiles and shakes her head ) I'm fine, ( Whispers ) and the baby is fine. I didn't get hit in the stomach.
Tech: ( Sighs ) Thank god.
Zadavia: Looks like the music maker boogied on out of here.
Duck: Why do I get the feeling we're gonna see them again?
Sophie: Why do I get the feeling that Duck's right?
Back at the Loonatics tower, Ace and the others were told about what had happened, and about Bootes Belinda. Zadavia was still wearing her pretty dress.
Duck: Who were those guys, and where did they get those funky instruments?
Zadavia: I don't know, but there's something about that tune they played. I think I once heard it on Freleng.
Duck: Hmm. Too bubble gum for me.
Sophie: But that Bootes guy seems to know you, and you recognized the tune he played.
Emergency, emergency! Communications security breached!
Everyone turned to face the screen, which displayed an orange rippling, and a rainbow hologram of Bootes Belinda appeared in front of Zadavia.
Bootes: Hey, what's up, baby? This is the Bootes in the digital flesh. And I wanted to thank you freshly for making the scene at my little jam session. It's just like old times, baby.
Zadavia: I've never seen you before in my life!
Bootes: Maybe you're not looking close enough; Z. Must have one of those faces easy to forget. But don't worry; we'll meet again, soon Zaddy. Yeah!
The hologram disappeared and so did the orange rippling on the screen.
Duck: Ahem! Old boyfriend problems?
Zadavia: Like I said, I've never seen him before.
Ace: Maybe we should do some snooping and see where handsome and his funky band play next.
Sophie: You should probably go home, Zadavia, and leave the rest to us.
Zadavia: Very well. And you are right about not accepting an invitation from a stranger.
Sometime later, the Loonatics searched from club to club to find Bootes and his gang, but the search turned out to be unsuccessful as they left the Club in Toon.
Ace: That's the seventh club and no Bootes. We got zipped!
Duck: Speak for yourself.
The black mallard was the last to walk out of the club, with lipstick marks on his beak and forehead, grinning.
Ace: Your hopeless, Duck.
Sophie: Hah!. Looks like you got lucky for once.
Then, Ace's wrist communicator beeped red.
Ace: It's Zadavia! Cod red! She's in trouble! Let's jet!
With a concerned expression on his face, Ace was the first to fly away, with everyone else in tow. Duck quickly activated his jetpack when he heard the girl who smooched him from inside the club call out for him.
Riding in their submarine, the Loonatics made it to Zadavia's underwater home. They rushed into Zadavia's bedroom, which was dark.
Ace: Someone hit the lights!
Tech switched on the lights, and Ace gasped. The others had the same expression as Ace, eyes wide and mouths agape. The entire room was trashed and there was no Zadavia in sight.
Duck: This is bad, very bad!
Ace: Yeah! Where's Zadavia?
Duck: Boy! Looks like the maid's in for a butt-kicking.
Ace: I don't think a maid did this, Duck. Tech, run the security cam footage.
Tech did as he was told, and the screen in front of them played footage of Zadavia touching a floating blue flower and she becomes weak, and then passes out. The footage blacked out when it was done. Sophie was only puzzled as to what happened to Zadavia, but when she glanced over at her coyote, Tech let out a concerned gasp.
Suddenly, Bootes' hologram appeared with the same orange rippling background behind him on the screen.
Bootes: Hey Looneys, Zaddy's a little in the dark about this whole thing. So I'm gonna share a little flashlight on you, you digs?
Another screen displayed Zadavia chained up with a sickly green light over her body, making her weak so she couldn't use her powers to escape.
Zadavia: Help me, Loonatics! I'm being held prisoner! I need light! I feel so weak!
Sophie felt a growl rise up in her throat to see Zadavia chained up like that and in a weak state. Ace shared that feeling with her as he gave a dark scowl and folded his arms.
Ace: What do you want, Bootes?
Bootes: If you want your boss babe to finish the gig, there's a little cosmic guitar I'd like ugly coyote to funking start up for me. Do that, and Zaddy, she can go free as a bird.
Tech glared at Bootes, probably for calling him an ugly coyote when he's really good looking, and he began tracing the signal to where Bootes was making the call.
Ace: Where's the drop?
Bootes: Ask the bow-wow. I'm sure by now he's got it fixed.
The hologram vanished, and again the rippling background. Ace turned to Tech.
Ace: You got his signal?
Tech: It came from the old rail yard outside of town.
Ace: Can you build the guitar he wants?
Tech: Is the line integral of the magnetic flux around a closed curve proportional to the algebraic sum of electrical currents flowing through that closed curve? (chuckles)
Rev: Yes. Duh!
Duck: We gotta do whatever it takes to get our Zadavia back!
Lexi: You really do care about her?
Duck: You bet! We save boss lady and she's gonna owe us big time. I see paid vacations, maybe even getting paid period.
Sophie: (sly look) Why, I believe you just made that up, Duck. It's only a mask to hide your true feelings. Believe me, I can tell.
Lexi gave Duck a smug look, and Duck frowned at Sophie, his cheeks turning red with embarrassment.
At headquarters, Tech set to work constructing on the cosmic guitar. It was hard work, but Tech was finished. Ace, Lexi, and Rev were amazed and Sophie called Tech "a super-genius" as Tech stood proudly, holding the cosmic guitar as a green rippling background appears behind him.
At the old rail yard, the Loonatics arrived by jetpacks, but were prepared in case of a double-cross.
Ace: Everybody know the plan?
Each member held up a different weapon.
Rev: Check!
Lexi: Check!
Sophie: Check!
Slam: (unleashed big hammer) Check!
He glanced over at Duck, who was unpeeling a banana for a quick snack. Duck then realized everyone's eyes were on him and dropped the banana.
Duck: What? Uh, I mean, check!
Duck pulled out a huge bazooka gun and Ace frowned. Then Tech arrived on his green zoomatrixe, and with his gluco-gel gun.
Tech: Double check!
Ace: You got anything, Tech?
He held up his scanner, which sparks flew and malfunctioned, due to the loud guitar music coming from the sky.
Tech: Yeah!
The big floating stage landed in the rail yard, with Bootes, Rib Bone, and Worm Brain standing on the stage, and playing their instruments as usual. Close by, a train car door opened and there stood Zadavia, still in her weak state and her wrists chained up. Lexi let out a shocked gasp and Duck's eyes widened.
Using his jetpack, Ace flew up to Bootes and handed him the cosmic guitar. But the minute he did so, Bootes did double-cross him. Worm Brain fired a laser blast from his guitar on Ace, sending him falling back. Rev had seen what had happened and he quickly flies to his leader's rescue, catching Ace in his arms and screeched to a landing on the ground.
The band members blasted more lasers at Lexi and Sophie, both dodging the blasts, and both fired their weapons, along with Duck and Slam, right at the band members. The band members fired a larger laser blast at the Loonatics' laser blast. Tech quickly saved the day by firing his gluco-gel gun and trapped Bootes and his band in large Jell-O.
But being trapped in the Jell-O surprisingly exposed the band members to nothing but robots, except for one, Rupes Oberon the keyboard man. Using his powerful keyboard instrument, he set two trains on a collision course heading straight for the train car Zadavia was kept in, much to the Loonatics' horror.
As the two trains came closer towards Zadavia, Slam and Tech leapt fearlessly onto the tracks and used their super strength and magnetism to stop the trains just in time. The others rushed towards Zadavia, with Lexi reaching her hand out to her. But the minute she touched her, Zadavia proved to be nothing but a holographic dummy. Rupes freed his robotic band members and made off with the cosmic guitar on his floating stage.
At HQ, everyone met up in Tech's lab to figure out who the band's puppet master was.
Tech: I've been performing a sonic scan on each of the band members using my bio-quadrant filter. They're all manikins, except for one.
Lexi: You mean like puppets?
Ace: Yeah, but whose pulling the strings?
Tech: That would be the Keyboard Man. Now I understand why he the 64-string guitar. Are you familiar with the string theory?
Duck: Of course. It's that stuff that you wrap around your pinky so that you don't uh…you don't uh…I forgot.
Sophie: (sighs) Think of the Universe as a galactic orchestra. The Keyboard Man knows that if he can channel Zadavia's energy into the guitar; he can use that power to control the Universe.
Duck: Uhhh, you said something about string?
Ace: So if Fingers was tough before, he'll be impossible to stop now.
Lexi: Then what's his next move?
Tech: Beats me. I'm a brilliant scientist, not a moody musician.
Sophie: Hmm…a moody musician looking for attention. Whatever he's gonna try, he'll want the biggest audience possible. There could only be one musical fest for that.
Ace, Lexi, Tech, and Rev seemed to know what she was gonna say, and they all said in union "Galaxy Feast!"
Ace: The ultimate concert of concerts! You're a smart wolf, Sophie! We gotta figure out a way to stop and get Zadavia back! Let's jet!
In no time at all, the Loonatics went to the Mondo Bowl or the Galaxy Feat as they called it. They cautiously walked into the building, until Bootes and the band showed up, this time with the real Zadavia under the green light behind Rupes and still chained up.
The Loonatics all jumped downward to attack, but a musical blast from Worm Brain's guitar sent them falling back. Rev rushed onto the stage, but Worm Brain's guitar sent a laser blast at Rev's feet causing the roadrunner to fall and crash into the stadium seats. An angry Slam leapt towards the stage, but Rib Bone's plasma energy from the drum beats hit Slam and blew him away. Ace blasted his laser vision at Bootes, but Bootes blasted Ace away with the laser from his guitar. Lexi rushed forward, but Rupes had Bootes blast a hole beneath her feet and Lexi fell in. Now only Tech, Sophie, and Duck were left standing.
Duck: Well, I guess it's up to us to save the day. So, what exactly do we have in mind?
Sophie: You got something up your sleeve, Tech?
Tech opened up a sound wave cancellation reverberator from his wrist.
Tech: It's my sound wave cancellation reverberator. It'll stop the funk.
Duck: Yeah. Especially if they try to pronounce it.
Sophie: Hey Ace! Get Bootes' attention to fire at us!
Ace nodded at her, and he mocked Bootes about lip-syncing and his mama listens to polka music. This made Bootes mad, so he and his band members blasted a large laser blast at them, but the energy blast reflected off of Tech's device and crashed into the manikins, destroying them. Rupes the Keyboard Man was still standing, but he wasn't going down easy.
Zadavia: Stop him, Loonatics, before he-
Rupes: Takes this act to the stars!
Using the newly powered cosmic guitar, Rupes picked up Zadavia and raises her over the edge.
Rupes: I wasn't good enough for you, well you aren't good enough for me!
He then dropped Zadavia off the floating stage, laughing. Ace called out her name while the other Loonatics gave distressed gasps. But then Rev came flying in and caught Zadavia in midair, both smiling that she was safe. Everyone was happy and relieved that Zadavia was caught by Rev, then Ace took out his sword.
Ace: Time to cut this song short!
But Rupes opened up a portal in the sky and used the cosmic guitar to escape, saying he was gonna find someone else to complete his grand scheme of making the Universe notice him.
Zadavia: He's gone.
Duck: Good riddance to bad music, I always say.
Ace: You know, Duck has a point. We could always get the guitar back.
Zadavia: I'm afraid it's not just the guitar that he's taken.
She raised her hands and only tiny weak sparks shimmered within her fingers.
Zadavia: He's also taken my powers.
Back at the tower, everyone was really sorry for Zadavia, who was back in her regular outfit, about the loss of her powers.
Ace: Well, there's gotta be something we could do to help you out.
Duck: Yeah, can't we just plug you into the wall and wait till you recharge?
Zadavia walked over to the window and up at the moon in the sky.
Zadavia: Something far worse has happened then just the loss of my powers. Rupes the Keyboard Man said he was going to find someone else, someone as strong as himself. That can only mean one thing…my brother.
The Loonatics were dismayed to learn who Zadavia was talking about.
Sophie: Optimatus is back.
Somewhere in the galaxy, Keyboard Man found Optimatus chained to a chair on a big checkerboard and freed him with the help of the cosmic guitar.