Sheentastic Voyage

by Gary D. Snyder

Chapter 16:

"There's definitely something going on in there," Jimmy said. In the Other World he turned from the meter showing the power level of his lab's reactor. "The reactor is at 103 and climbing."

"Is that good or bad?" asked Cindy. She looked nervously about at the other indicators, only a few of which were still green.

"Well, it's bad, because the reactor is operating past the point that the cooling systems were designed to handle and if it keeps up the reactor will overload. But that's good, because it means the system is still able to fight the virus. But that's bad because if it keeps up the reactor will go. But that's good because it will give Sheen and Libby a chance to eradicate the virus. But that's bad because –"

Cindy glared at Jimmy. "Will you for once just give me a straight answer? Is it good or bad?"

Irked by Cindy's question Jimmy put the burden of the decision back on her. "Well, why don't you tell me? We're alive but twenty feet from a reactor that could destroy most of Retroville at any time. Is that good or bad?"

The response made Cindy acquiesce. "I guess I see what you mean." She tried another tack by rephrasing the question. "What do you think our chances are?"

Jimmy's answer was surprisingly cheerful. "Pretty good, actually. I mean, Sheen and Libby have bailed us out of tight spots before, right?"

Despite Jimmy's optimism Cindy wasn't fooled for a second. "That bad?"

Jimmy admitted, "It doesn't look good. The system keeps slipping in and out of clock synch so I can't know how much time Sheen and Libby actually have to do anything. They may have weeks of cybertime in there." He stopped to look at the rooster clock that showed Retroville time and then around at the various status indicators. "Or they may have only a few minutes like – they may have only a few minutes," he finished lamely.

Like us, Cindy completed the sentence to herself. The thought so occupied her mind that she nearly missed what Jimmy was saying.

"There really isn't any point in you hanging around," he said. "Goddard can get you back to your parents at the mall in just a couple minutes so you can finish your shopping. I can keep an eye on things here in case Sheen or Libby needs help."

At first Jimmy's words angered Cindy, as they seemed to imply that she was just so much dead wood and incapable of helping him in a time of crisis. Then the real meaning of his message hit her. In the event the reactor did go out of control he wanted her to be with her family when it happened. Reason told her that if the end came she should be with the people she cared about. But still she hesitated. How can I? she thought. How could I be there with my parents knowing that at any minute it could all be over when they wouldn't have a clue? She looked over at Jimmy, who was seated at the main console again. His back was to her but he seemed somehow much older to her than he had been. And what about him? Sheen and Libby would at least have each other, but he wouldn't even have Goddard here with him. How can I just leave him here to face whatever comes alone?

In the end the decision was simple enough. Jimmy looked up in surprise as Cindy slid into the chair next to him.

"I'll stay," she said simply, staring straight ahead.

"Suit yourself," he replied just as indifferently, but out of the corner of her eye Cindy noticed that he seemed younger than he had appeared a few minutes before.

In the Cyber World a blast struck Ultra Lord from behind. The impact staggered him and caused his own shot to go wide, missing the radiant column. Angrily he pivoted his tank to confront and eliminate his attacker, and as he did so another blast struck, staggering him.

"How'd you like that, Ultra Dork?" Libby yelled. The impacter cannon she was using was too weak to actually hurt the augmented creature before her, but the concussion of the shots was still powerful enough to affect him and provoke a response. "You wanna bring it to me? Then let's get it on!"

"You dare to mock me?" Ultra Lord rumbled ominously. "You dare to challenge Ultra Lord?"

Libby's answer was to fire again, rocking her opponent on his treads. "Don't you ever use that name!" she growled. "You aren't all that and a bag of microchips. I don't know who or what you are, but Ultra Lord you definitely aren't. And as long as I have a weapon in my hand and a breath in my body I'll fight you."

"Then perish!" The cannon swung towards Libby and fired, but Libby proved too fast and agile for the massive gun. As close as she was she was able to move faster than the cannon could swivel to target her, although it kept her from launching any more attacks of her own. All she could hope for was to evade Ultra Lord's attacks and keep him from renewing his assault on Vox. After a few moments of fruitless effort it occurred to Ultra Lord that his strategy was ineffective and he changed tactics. Abandoning his attempts to blast Libby with his cannon he instead used the speed of his tank in an effort to run her down and crush her beneath its treads.

Libby now found herself at a distinct disadvantage. Fast as she was the tank was faster still and it began to herd her towards the perimeter of the chamber. It didn't take long for Ultra Lord to back her against the wall and be in position for a final, devastating charge.

The charge never came. Instead, there came the sounds of a projectile being fired and striking its intended target. Libby saw Ultra Lord writhe in pain as tendrils of energy surrounded him and his armored vehicle, and then saw the tank literally failing apart around him. As he stood there, shaken and exposed, a mechanical figure came up behind him and Libby could make out Sheen's form inside it.

"Get away from her, you glitch!" he snarled.

Ultra Lord turned to face his new adversary just in time to receive a savage blow from the Jimmybot's clawed arm. Caught off-guard by the attack he went sprawling, and Sheen closed in to follow up on his advantage. He struck again with the Jimmybot's other arm as his adversary climbed to his feet. Although the tank-killing projectile had been expended it still made an effective bludgeon and it sent Ultra Lord flying backwards again. Libby raised the impacter cannon to fire but was unable to get a clear shot before Sheen closed in on Ultra Lord. By this time, however, Ultra Lord had recovered from his initial surprise. As Sheen swung again Ultra Lord blocked the punch and staggered the Jimmybot with a mighty blow of his own.

"Fool!" Ultra Lord sneered. "Ultra Lord always wins against evil."

"That's sort of what I'm counting on," Sheen countered. He moved in again, albeit more cautiously. "You aren't Ultra Lord, and I'm not evil."

"I am Ultra Lord, and you're my enemy," Ultra Lord replied as he carefully circled Sheen. "That makes you evil."

"I'm evil?" Sheen returned. "What about you? You've betrayed everything Ultra Lord ever stood for. Truth. Justice. Quality product placement. You don't care who you fight or who gets hurt along the way. If you destroy Vox you'll be hurting people you've never even seen. I said it before and I'll say it again. You aren't Ultra Lord. You aren't even a decent game!"

So intent was Sheen on what he was saying that he dropped his guard just long enough for Ultra Lord to close and grapple with him. For a few seconds the two struggled together, each trying to gain the upper hand. "Whatever you think I am, I will be the victor," Ultra Lord panted.

"Really?" Sheen gasped back. "What happens when you destroy Vox? What then? Ultra Lord always had a purpose beyond fighting. What happens when there's no more evil for you to destroy? What happens to you when you destroy this system? You're supposed to learn. Haven't you learned that if you destroy this system you'll destroy yourself?"

Sheen succeeded in breaking the clinch and the two resumed their maneuvering. "I've learned this. I've learned that there are other systems," Ultra Lord answered. "The game will go on. And I will win. That is all that matters."

"And the innocent people you'll hurt don't?"

"Mercy is a weakness," came Ultra Lord's mechanical reply. "Victory is all. And I will be victorious."

Sheen shook his head. "Not on my watch. There's no way that's happening while I'm here."

Ultra Lord seemed to consider this. "Perhaps you are right," he said, stepping back. "You are quite formidable."

"Watch him, Sheen," Libby warned. Ultra Lord had been careful during the battle to keep her from getting a clear shot and even now was keeping Sheen between him and Libby.

"Yes," Ultra Lord continued. "Quite formidable, indeed. Your abilities would be most useful." As Sheen puzzled over that comment a brilliant glow surrounded Ultra Lord's hands and faded to reveal a familiar-looking weapon that Ultra Lord immediately aimed at the Jimmybot.

"Look out, Sheen!" Libby screamed as Sheen stepped back in surprise. Her warning came too late. A bright beam from the weapon enveloped Sheen and the Jimmybot, and for a brief moment Libby saw their dark shapes silhouetted against the dazzling glow of the beam. Then the glow faded and the outlines crumbled into nothingness, leaving Libby to stand in stunned silence at the terrible swiftness with which it was all over. "Sheen?" she whispered in shock.

Her gaze went to Ultra Lord and she stared numbly as a mechanical frame materialized around him. He walked towards the shimmering pillar and as she watched a lethal-looking weapon shimmered into existence in Ultra Lord's armored hands. As he took careful aim at the column the realization of what was happening snapped Libby out of her daze. She fired the impacter cannon in a desperate attempt to stop him and watched helplessly as the shots bounced uselessly off the mechanical shell. Ultra Lord didn't even turn to determine the source of the attack.

"Game over," he intoned, and fired into the column.

End of Chapter 16

Authors' Notes:

I had envisioned the battle between the Sheen in the Jimmybot (as seen in Jimmy Neutron: Rescue Jet Fusion) and Ultra Lord to be similar to to that between Ripley in the powerlift suit and the alien queen in Aliens. As this chapter probably shows, my favorite part of the movie is when the Ripley first appears in the suit and tells the alien queen who is menacing Newt, "Get away from her, you b!"

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