While they were running around after Calvin in space, Hobbes, Andy, Sherman and Socrates were retreating to the sanctity of the bedroom.

"What a day this has been," Andy groaned. "What is Calvin's problem?"

"Maybe the wrong end was slapped at birth," said Sherman.

"Followed by a quick blow to the head," added Socrates.

Hobbes looked over the stair railing at Evil Calvin, who was looking at world maps for some reason.

"Where's the lava?" Evil Calvin was mumbling. "This place is probably freezing!"

Hobbes sighed and joined the gang.

"He's reading maps and looking for lava," he moaned. "Where does he think we are? Planet Zok?"

The gang looked at each other.

"Something doesn't seem right about this," said Andy.

"I'll say. Zok is ninety percent lava," said Socrates. "Who on Earth would wanna liVE THERE!"

The gang jumped at Socrates' sudden outburst. He suddenly jumped into the air, landed on his tail, spun around, closed his eyes and put his hands up.

"Incoming transmission from Galaxoid and Nebular," he said.

The gang snapped to attention.

Socrates started to move from left to right, waving his arms around. "Warning! Warning! Danger! Danger!" He resumed his original position. "This message is a warning of danger."

Galaxoid's voice came on.

"Hobbes! Someone answer!"

Nebular came on too.

"Is anybody there!"

Hobbes got close to Socrates. "Guys, guys, calm down! What's the matter?"

"And this had better not be a call for rocky road ice cream," added Sherman angrily.

"No, it isn't," said Nebular. "We just saw Rupert and Earl!"

"And Retro and Bob!" added Galaxoid.

"Retro and Rupert?" Hobbes asked in disbelief. "Together!"

"Yes, they've joined forces and they've got Calvin!" said Galaxoid.

"What are you talking about?" asked Andy. "Calvin's here with us."

"No!" replied Nebular. "That's not the real Calvin! It's an evil clone created by the Imaginator! He's found Sherman's Planet Deteriorater and is planning to scare everyone into bowing down before Rupert and Retro!"

Hobbes' eyes crossed, Sherman gasped and Andy stared.

"What do we do!" Hobbes asked.

"There's no way we could save Calvin alone," said Galaxoid. "You'll have to come up into space and help us. Hobbes, it's up to you."

Hobbes groaned and held the bridge of his nose.

"Why is it I have to do all the hard stuff?" he asked.

"Yeah, I'm more deserving!" snapped Sherman.

"That's true, but you're far too small to handle it."

"You don't have much time," said Nebular. "You need to get off the planet before Evil Calvin blackmails Earth."

"But how do we do that?" asked Andy.

"Hey, that's your problem," said Galaxoid. "Some things you gotta figure out for yourselves."

"Well, thanks for the info, guys," said Hobbes. "We'll meet you in space whenever."

"No prob," said Galaxoid. "When you get a ship, call us at our number, and we'll send you the coordinates."

"This is Galaxoid and Nebular signing off," said Nebular.

There was a brief dial tone, and then Socrates said, "Resume normal functions in three, two, BELCH!"

Hobbes waved the bad air away from his face.

"What'd I miss?" Socrates asked.

"Uh, while you were out of it," Hobbes said, "Galaxoid and Nebular sent us a message. Retro and Rupert have teamed up to kill Calvin!"

"Yay!" cheered Socrates.

Hobbes glared at him.

"I mean, oh no."

"And they've replaced Calvin with an evil duplicate, and it's the one we've been hanging out with all day!" Hobbes continued.

"You're kidding!"

"And Evil Calvin found Sherman's Planet Deteriorating Radio Transmitter, and they're going to use it to scare everyone into their control."

"Ah, therefore making this all Sherman's fault," said Socrates.

"Exactly."

"Hey!" Sherman squeaked.

"So what do we do now?" asked Andy.

"We're going to go into space and meet Galaxoid and Nebular," Hobbes said decidedly. "We're going to save Calvin from Rupert and Retro! We'll do whatever it takes!"

"Wow, I've never seen you so brave before," said Socrates. "Usually you're terrified of moments like this!"

"Said the tiger that napped on top of a building while I wandered through town saying 'ALL HAIL RUPERT'," snorted Andy.

"When do we leave?" asked Sherman.

"Never," said an evil voice.

Hobbes, Socrates, Andy and Sherman froze. Slowly but surely, they managed to turn their heads around towards the door.

Evil Calvin stood there, holding a remote control.

"EVIL!" shouted Socrates.

Evil Calvin chuckled. He held the remote up.

"What's that?" asked Hobbes nervously.

"Nothing, just the button that will destroy the world if you make one wrong move."

"How'd you get that!" demanded Sherman. "I kept it locked up!"

"I'm evil," Evil Calvin replied. "I have my ways."

"Nice going, Vermin," Hobbes muttered.

The gang backed away slowly.

Socrates spotted an object on the floor the interested him greatly.

"Don't worry," Evil Calvin continued. "I won't do anything, provided you all stay here."

"Okay, but can I get a last request?" Socrates asked.

"What?"

"Can we have a group hug?"

Hobbes, Sherman and Andy stared at him as if he were a moron.

"Sure, why not. Go ahead."

Hobbes, Socrates, Sherman and Andy hugged each other.

But then, all of a sudden…

BOOM!

A strange sensation went over the four of them.

"Wha happened?" asked Andy.

When they separated, they saw that Evil Calvin was frozen in mid-pose. Everything had frozen.

They glanced at Socrates, who was holding Calvin's Time Pauser.

"No need to thank me," Socrates said, grinning smugly.

They handed it to Andy, who put it in his pocket.

"Don't leave it on pause for too long or the batteries will wear out," Hobbes reminded him.

They scrambled past the frozen Evil Calvin, down the stairs and out the door.

There, Andy hit the button and unpaused time.

BOOM!

"What do we do now?" asked Socrates.

"We need a rocket!" said Hobbes. "But where do we get one?"

Andy glanced at Sherman. "Sherman has one."

"Shut up!" Sherman shouted.

"Oh, he does, does he?" Hobbes said curiously.

"No!"

"Yes," said Andy. "Come with me. I'll show you."

They ran down the street towards Andy's house, Sherman shouting the whole way.

Evil Calvin looked around in confusion in the bedroom. He looked out the window and saw the four figures running down the sidewalk.

"Go ahead and run," he muttered evilly. "But you'll never make it in time." And he left the house. He had a place to go himself…


Upon arrival at Andy's place, Andy led Hobbes and Socrates towards the tool shed, Sherman shouting the whole way.

"I don't want these two felines getting fur all over my rocket!" Sherman was yelling.

"Tell it to someone who cares," Andy retorted.

Andy opened the tool shed and went inside.

"I'll be right back," he said, slamming the door.

There was a brief pause.

Suddenly, the ground started to shake as it opened up.

Hobbes and Socrates watched with wide eyes and open mouths as a gigantic rocket started to rise out of the ground. It was made out of chrome, so it shined.

"Sweeeeet…," said Socrates.

"How did a tiny lump of fur build something that big?" Hobbes asked Andy.

"Who cares?" replied Andy. "Let's go into space and save Calvin!"

Andy opened the door to the ship and ran inside, followed by Hobbes and Socrates. Sherman groaned and followed.

"Cool!" shouted Socrates. "It has cup holders!"

Sherman sighed and got up on the counter. "You blithering drone," he muttered.

Hobbes sat down at the front. "Okay, let's get in contact with Galaxoid and Nebular so that they can send us the coordinates."

Sherman pressed some buttons on the dashboard, and then they heard a voice on the radio.

"Hello?"

It was Galaxoid.

"Galaxoid, we're in Sherman's ship," Hobbes said.

"How did a tiny lump of fur build something that big?" asked Nebular.

Socrates suppressed some giggles while Sherman glared.

"That's not the point," said Hobbes. "We need to get those coordinates."

"Coming right up," said Galaxoid.

Numbers flashed across a screen on the dashboard. A 3D picture of space started to move along the TV screen. Finally, a 3D model of Rupert's ship appeared.

"Okay, we've got it locked," said Hobbes.

"Good. We'll meet you here," said Nebular. "Signing off."

With the radio off, Hobbes put the key in the ignition.

"Is everybody ready?" he asked nervously.

"Ready," said Andy.

"All set," said Socrates.

"Whatever," Sherman snorted.

Hobbes gulped nervously.

"Well, I've lived a good life."

He turned the key.

The thrusters kicked in.

The rocket lifted from the launch-pad.

A guy walking his dog walked on the other side of the street when he saw it taking off.

"Mmm-Hmmmm," he muttered to himself, and he walked his dog a little faster.