Chapter 4-Jumba's Deal
Clockwork and the holographic Maddie walked into the jail below the Mother ship, where various ghosts were being held, Vlad among them. The jail's giant steel doors clanged shut behind them. Maddie was still trying to hit the right thing that would be good to send to get 626 off Earth.
"Friendly cousin?" She asked, watching the various ghosts in Jail, afraid. "Neighbor with a beard," she asked as she and Clockwork stepped onto an elevator-like platform that started to rise after they stepped on it.
Meanwhile, in Jail, Vlad was looking at the daily newspaper. The headline read "Idiot Scientist Jailed!" And had a picture of Vlad standing over 626, who was strapped to an exam table. Vlad got very angry, and he started yelling as he tore up the paper and started crazily eating the pieces.
Unfortunately, just as he was grabbing the pieces out of the air and eating them, Clockwork and Maddie appeared at Vlad's jail cell door. After the door opened and Clockwork and Maddie entered, Vlad finally noticed them. Maddie instinctively flinched back, considering she was looking at a crazy ghost.
Vlad started laughing, nervously at first, then realized why they had come. He held a scrap of the newspaper that he didn't eat and asked, "He got away?" Then tossed the paper aside. Vlad was sure of Clockwork's answer; he just wanted to hear Clockwork say it.
"I'm sure this comes as no surprise to you," was all Clockwork said.
"I've designed this creature for to be unstoppable," Vlad said, holding his cheek in mock modesty. Really, he was proud of his little 626.
"Which is precisely why YOU must now bring him back," Clockwork replied smugly.
"Wha- ME?" Vlad asked. He didn't expect this. He couldn't get his creation! He may have made it, but it was like Frankenstein, and now it won't listen to him. Vlad was thinking of all the possible ways to get 626, when Clockwork interrupted his thoughts.
"And to reward you, we are willing to trade YOUR freedom for HIS capture," said Clockwork slowly.
Vlad sat down on his cot, ran his fingers through his hair, and sighed. "626 will not come easily… Maybe direct hit from plasma blast will stun him long enough to-"
"Plasma cannon granted. Do we have a bargain, Dr. Vlad?" Clockwork interrupted. Vlad smiled and grunted an affirmative.
"B-b-but it's a delicate planet!" Maddie said nervously, then quietly to Clockwork, "Who's gonna control him?"
"You will," Clockwork said, then turned to the door and left.
"Very good, Your Highness, I-" Maddie stopped when she realized what Clockwork had said. "I didn't quite, uhh-" the door closed behind Clockwork. "You're not joking!" Maddie was scared for her life.
"So..." Vlad said, and Maddie tensed. "Tell me, my little one," Vlad said, stepping closer to a retreating Maddie. "On what poor, pitiful, defenseless planet has my monstrosity been unleashed?"