"The Isle…"
PG 13
Summary: What "Riverdale" did to "Archie and Jughead" and "Betty and Veronica", I'm doin' to "Gilligan's Isle" ...
Disclaimer: All characters of Gilligan's Isle remain property of that series...Any resemblance of fictional characters to those living or dead is purely coincidental…
Part XX…
The Balinkoff complex…Gallery off the launch control complex…
"Isn't this exciting?" Louise enthused to Amanda, sipping coffee while cradling her counterpart, Henanda in arm.
You wouldn't have thought so six months ago when your big concern was finding a supply of nail polish…
"Sure…If you want to see that madman rule the world or at least try…" Amanda sighed.
"Mandy…Please don't say such things." Louise shook head, taking hand. "I understand we have political differences and I won't try to press my views on you, but it hurts me to see you so set against a good man like Boris Balinkoff."
"Uh-huh…The man who put my brain into her…" Amanda, indicating Henanda.
Hey…Two-way street, honey. Henanda thought, a bit miffed. Though I will admit I got the best of the deal.
Though tragedy may loom for me, if I lose my enhanced faculties…Sad "bak-bak…"
And you people don't seem to think I might now require better toilet facilities? Annoyed look about…
Though I appreciate the pad you put down for me, sister…Eyeing Amanda gratefully.
"That was to save your life after we got caught trying to escape…" Louise noted. "And it wasn't his fault you got hurt, jumping from that height. If Igor hadn't been able to save you…"
"I'm grateful to Igor and I get it might have been necessary for a few days. Though an induced coma could have done just as well." Amanda frowned.
"And then you ran…We all searched for you, for months. We were all worried, you know."
Amanda, sighing at the earnest face beside her. "I know, Louise. Thanks. I am glad to be back. And I will hope no one gets hurt today, will that do?"
"That's fine…I'm sure it'll all come off well."
"Countdown proceeding at T-minus fifty-five minutes and counting…" Owen's voice over the gallery's loudspeaker, view of the three ships on two huge video screens.
"So if he gets up there…?" Amanda eyed Louise.
"Safe Haven will be fully manned and ready." She beamed. "And the Operation can commence."
"What about the base here? The world's governments will know a launch occurred soon enough and even if he conceals it one last time, when he starts 'Operation whatever', they'll track us down here."
"By then we'll all be up on Balinkoffs Four, Five, and Six…If you'll come."
"He promised he'd release me, after erasing some of my memories of this place…" Amanda frowned.
"He will…Or we will, under his instruction…Jess is good at that, you won't lose anything important." Louise beamed. "I was just hoping…You know the offer to join us stays open…"
"To help blackmail the world into one government, under Boris? No, thanks. Sorry, I hafta get political here."
"We nearly fell under the thumb of Putinsky/Trump or even that awful Crumpt guy." Louise noted. "Even if you can't appreciate Boris' goodness, how could it be worse? You know his plans…Disarmament, end world poverty, end global warming…Equal rights for women and the oppressed…High speed rail all over America, Africa, Latin America…No borders…More funding for pure research…"
"Via a mix of mind control and blackmail…We get the Star Trek universe…It won't work, Louise. But…" she eyed the stricken face. "I said I wouldn't argue politics today, so…Lets just watch things. I just wanted to be sure you and the others would be safe now he's left you here. The governments will attack this place, you know. Soon as they trace the launches and he makes his threats."
"I know…But we'll be safe…And the Doc has some tricks up his sleeve for the UN and US, should they come."
"At your expense?" Amanda shook head. "Or whomever he has stay behind?"
"We'll do our Duty as we must." Louise shrugged. "But it'll be fine. Anyway you won't remember and you'll be safe on a boat headed home so…"
"I won't forget you, will I?" Amanda, nervous.
"No…Just things that happened after you got here. It'll be fine." Louise smiled, patting hand.
"You refused it when he offered you the choice."
"Well, I thought I could resist the Conversion via the Balinkoff treatment. I was a bit arrogant about my strength of will, I guess."
"Yeah, I guess…" Amanda sighed.
"But I am much happier now…And come on, you know how I was before…I gave up the moment they came after us, I was always whining…I know how I was, Mandy. You were a good friend to put up with me. I even would have sold you out, you know, to save my life."
"You didn't…And you really didn't have to tell me that." Amanda shook head.
"I was weak… I loved you but I was weak." Shrug. "I always admired you so, Mandy. You would never have sold me out…"
"I don't blame you for being scared shitless, lets not go on about it."
"You're like Danny…So brave…" Louise nodded. "I hope he's ok."
"So do I."
Louise, careful look… "I worry about him, out there. Especially if he's trapped there when the UN attacks, if they do…"
"I don't know where Danny is, Louise." Amanda frowned. "What that all this was about? To get me to tell you where he is?"
"No…Honest…But it is important we know. We want him safe and so does the Doc."
"And the 'Doc' is scared of him. He resisted his session of the Balinkoff process."
"Some of us did, but only once…" Louise noted firmly. "But we honestly don't want to see him hurt, Amanda. If you say you don't know where he is, I believe you."
"Good. I don't."
"Ok."
"What about Karen and Steve and Todd?" Amanda asked. "Igor and Balinkoff told me they're still out on the isle. He came to a deal with them?"
"They were hard to hunt…And we didn't want to have to hurt them. Besides having a few people out there telling anyone who showed up, like those new castaways, that there was nothing going on was a good deal for us in exchange for leaving them be and giving them food."
"They do get to leave as well, right? That's part of the deal when you guys all leave?"
"Sure…Though if they want access to your escape boat they gotta agree to come in for treatment. We don't want any useful info to get out…Loose lips, ya know?" Louise smiled.
Crazy as a loon, this one, sis…Henanda eyed Louise from Amanda's arm…
"T-minus forty-five minutes and counting…" Owen's voice. "Alls green and go…Hey, Jess! Uh, sorry…Launch control out."
"Jess' back…Good." Louise nodded.
"She was…Out? Off isle?" Amanda eyed her.
"Oh, no…Just a security sweep thing…All cleared up now. It was the reason for the hold before." Louise smiled.
And of course she had to arrange for the body to be put in his boat and sent off to sea, transmitter sending automatic signal after a fake message that he'd found nothing but natives were arriving, with guns, and angry that their ceremonial spot had been…Arrgh…
A shame, really. Jess told me the other day the Brit was a real cutie. A bit of a Todd jerk, from his early days but…Young Sean Connery cute with more and curly hair.
Shame…
….
"Very odd…" the Professor noted, peering through binoculars. "I'd have to see to confirm but that's not natural steam. I'd even say it was more like…Some mix of vaporized oxygen and hydrogen, from a frozen stock, plus perhaps some industrial waste steam."
"You mean, like a rocket? The frozen fuel stuff they keep cold?" Ginger asked.
"Exactly, yes. Very good." He smiled at her.
"I watched all the old rocket launches and the newer ones on and You tube. I was a bit of a space nut when I was a kid." Ginger noted, beaming.
"Really?"
"I once thought of being an astronaut, but I flunked calculus and my father needed money and modeling then acting beckoned. I sold out, sorry." Sheepish nod. "Though I did find I really like acting, when I get to do some."
"Then you didn't 'sell out'. You found your calling. I'm one who sold out." He sighed. "I abandoned pure research for a stable university teaching career. I once founded a company and sold out my shares to pay for my downpayment."
"Let me guess. Mrs. Hinkle?"
"I made the decision myself. Though Skylar pushed me on it. Though I actually do like teaching, when I get to do it properly."
"Guess we both compromised." She grinned. "But what about this steam stuff? You think there's a rocket up there?"
"Could be…Perhaps a testing site…"
"Professor? You mean…We're saved?!" she eyed him.
"It's odd there's no security about…Cameras, fences…This has a disturbing air of secrecy about it." He pondered.
"You mean as in, they may not want to have people about…Even accidental guests?" Worried look.
"Perhaps not. But I would imagine they know we're here. If they haven't acted, it may be a good sign."
"But they haven't come to help us either, bad sign." She sighed. "And 'they' could be anyone…"
"Out here, yes. Anyone." He agreed.
"Yikes." Sigh. OH! She looked at him, rising. "We'd better warn the others! If they get too close…"
"The village is likely a sham, as Steven noted. And a good sign that they've never bothered Steven and Karen and that poor brother of mine. Possibly if they go no further…" the Professor noted. "But we'd better…If only we had a radio…Ginger?" he eyed her. "I don't think I'd be much use to you, I'm sorry to admit. I can try but I probably will just slow you down…"
"I'll go. You stay here and hold the fort. I'll be back asap with the guys." She nodded. Eyeing his distressed face carefully. "Don't worry, I'll be careful. I'm no heroine, like I sometimes play on TV." Grin.
"You certainly are…And be careful. Sorry I can't be of more use." He sighed.
"Just keep letting us know what's up. We'd be lost without you, Roy." She smiled at him, then turned…
"Ginger?! Be a bit cautious about Steven." The Professor called, she turning back.
"It is strange whoever is running that operation never interfered with three castaways running about…" he pointed out.
"I was just thinking that myself…" she nodded. "I'll be careful around him till we know for sure… You stay here and take care of yourself." She came back to him, eyeing him, then kissed him.
"See ya!" she hurried off, waving as he, stunned, pondered what had just happened…