Subject: [FFML] [Xover] [Pokemon/SW] Team Rocket Strikes Back, part 3
From: "Damien Hailey" <samas_1@hotmail.com>
Date: 9/13/1999, 4:36 PM
To: ffml@fanfic.com, pokefanfic@onelist.com


And now, the conclusion to the Battle of Hoth.

EXTERIOR: BATTLEFIELD -- SNOW TRENCH

           Rebel troops retreat under the awesome Rocket onslaught.

OFFICER: Begin retreat!

SECOND OFFICER: Fall back!

           Troops flee from the battle, the ground exploding around
        them.

EXTERIOR: HOTH -- BATTLEFIELD

           Three of the giant walkers, firing lasers, advance toward
        the Rebel headquarters.

EXTERIOR: HOTH -- SNOW TRENCH

           Continuing their retreat, the Rebels see the walkers
        looming ever nearer.

INTERIOR: ROCKET ARMORED WALKER -- COCKPIT

JAMES: We've got them now!

JESSIE: We're finally going to get this done right!

EXTERIOR: HOTH -- BATTLEFIELD -- ICE PLAIN

          On the battlefield, Brock watches as a walker foot rises and
       moves over him. He looks up at the underbelly of the huge
       walker, passing overhead.
          Running beneath the monstrous machine, Brock fires his
       harpoon gun at the walker's underside. A thin cable follows
       the projectile from the gun. The magnetic head and cable
       attach firmly to the metal hull.
           Still running under the walker, Brock attaches the cable
       drum to his belt buckle. Soon he is pulled up the cable and
       hangs dangling underneath the walker.
           The walker's giant feet continue to pound onward across the
       frozen snow. Stray laser bolts whistle by Brock as he climbs up
       the cable to the walker's hull, reaching a small hatch.
       Hanging precariously, Brock cuts the solid metal hatch with his
       lightsaber.
           He takes a PokeBall from his belt and throws it
       inside the Rocket machine. Quickly, Brock starts down the
       cable and crashes onto the icy ground far below. He lies
       unconscious as a giant rear leg passes by -- and just misses
       him.

INTERIOR: ROCKET ARMORED WALKER -- COCKPIT

         The sound of much crashing is heard from the troop carrier in
        the rear.  Jessie and James turn around.

JESSIE: Do you...

JAMES: ...hear something?

VOICE(through door):  Prrr!  Prr-Primeape!

         With a heavy pounding, large fist-shaped dents appear in the
    door.  Jessie, James, and Mewoth scream as the door breaks apart.

EXTERIOR: HOTH -- ICE PLAIN -- BATTLEFIELD

          The giant walker stops in mid-step. The muffled sounds of a
       struggle come from within -- and then the walker's head bursts
       apart as Brock's Primeape tears it's way out. The machine sits
       dead in its tracks, smoking like a locomotive on stilts.  Three
       distant figures can be seen flying into the faraway mountains.

EXTERIOR: HOTH -- BATTLEFIELD

           Veers's walker continues to advance toward the Rebel base.
        The smoldering walker that Brock exploded stands smoking just
        to the right of Veers's path.

INTERIOR: Rocket SNOW WALKER - COCKPIT

           Inside his walker, General Veers prepares to fire on the
        Rebel power generators.

VEERS: Distance to power generators?

PILOT: One-seven, decimal two-eight.

           Veers reaches for the electrorangefinder and lines up the
        main generator.

VEERS: Target. Maximum fire power.

EXTERIOR: HOTH -- BATTLEFIELD

           The Rebel troops continue their desperate retreat, pushed
        back by the relentless Rocket assault.

INTERIOR: HOTH -- REBEL BASE -- ICE CORRIDORS

           With Togepio lagging behind, Ash and Misty race through the
        crumbling ice corridors. Suddenly, there is an explosion. Ash
        turns, grabs the princess, and pulls her to the wall as a
        tremendous cave-in blocks their path.
           He takes the comlink from his pocket.

ASH: (into comlink) Transport, this is Solo. Better take off -- I
can't get to you. I'll get the princess out on the Pidgeot.

           Ash and Misty turn and race down the corridor.

TOGEPIO: But...but...but...where are you going? Uh...come back!!

INTERIOR: HOTH -- REBEL BASE -- COMMAND CENTER

           Rocket troops have reached the base. As they push through
the blocked passageway, Rock Vader strides behind them.

INTERIOR: HOTH -- REBEL BASE -- ICE CORRIDOR

           Ash and Misty run toward the entrance of the main hangar
        where the Millennium Pidgeot is docked. Togepio still lags
        behind.

TOGEPIO: Wait! Wait for me! Wait! Stop!

           The door to the hangar closes in his face.

TOGEPIO: (exasperated) How typical.

           Quickly, the door reopens as Ash reaches out and pulls the
        egg-shaped droid through.

ASH: Come on.

INTERIOR: HOTH -- REBEL BASE -- MAIN HANGAR

           Chuie paces under the shelter of the Millennium Pidgeot's
        landing gear. The giant Raichee pats the underbelly of her
        beloved ship and barks a few reassuring words. As she searches
        worriedly for her captain, something at last catches her eye.
           Chuie lets out a relieved shriek at seeing Ash and Misty
        running toward the ship. The Raichee runs out into the
        falling ice, lets out a howl, then runs up the ship's ramp.
        Ash and Misty run up the ramp after him, closely followed by
        Togepio.

ASH: Hurry up, egghead, or you're going to be a permanent resident!

TOGEPIO: Wait! Wait!

INTERIOR: HOTH -- REBEL BASE -- ICE CORRIDOR

           Rocket troops run through the base corridors. Vader
        surveys the place. A huge chunk falls, almost hitting him, but
        he calmly, purposefully, continues around it.

INTERIOR: REBEL BASE -- MAIN ASHGER -- MILLENNIUM FALCON

           A distant, huge, explosion rocks the hangar deck. Ice cakes
        come crashing down on the Millennium Pidgeot.

INTERIOR: MAIN HANGAR -- MILLENNIUM FALCON -- MAIN HOLD

           Ash, standing before a control panel, is busy flipping
        switches as Chuie watches a troublesome gauge. A worried Misty
        observes their efforts.

ASH: (to Chuie) How's this?

           The Raichee barks a negative reply.

MISTY: Would it helped if I got out and pushed?

ASH: It might.

           Togepio clanks into the hold.

TOGEPIO: Captain Solo, Captain Solo...sir, might I suggest that
you...

           Ash gives the robot a devastating Glare that would make an
        Arbok jealous.

TOGEPIO: It can wait.

INTERIOR: MAIN HANGAR -- MILLENNIUM FALCON -- COCKPIT

           They move to the cockpit where Ash flips some more
        switches. Misty watches him, impatient, disbelieving.

MISTY: The bucket of bolts is never going to get us past that blockade.

ASH: This baby's got a few surprises left in her, sweetheart.

          Ash and Misty look out the cockpit window and see a squad of
        stormtroopers rushing into the far side of the hangar.
           Quickly, Ash straps himself into the pilot's seat and Misty
        into the navigator's chair.

INTERIOR: HOTH -- REBEL BASE -- MAIN HANGAR

           Stormtroopers hurriedly set up a large bazookalike weapon.
        Behind them the giant hangar doors open slowly.

EXTERIOR: MAIN HANGAR -- MILLENNIUM FALCON

        A small plarform drops from the Pidgeot. Squirtle, standing on
        it, sprays torrents of water at the Rocket troops.
           The stormtroopers, preparing to fire their bazooka cannon,
        are hit by the Water Guns and are quickly frozen in the sub-zero
        temperatures of the cave.

INTERIOR: MAIN HANGAR -- MILLENNIUM FALCON -- COCKPIT

           Chuie rushes into the cockpit.

ASH: Come on! Come on! Switch over. Let's hope we don't have a
burnout.

           A laser hits the window near Chuie as she is settling into
        her chair. Letting out a loud whelp, Chuie quickly pulls back
        on the controls and the first stage of engine fire can be
        heard. Ash flashes a big grin at Misty.

ASH: See?

MISTY: Someday you're going to be wrong, and I hope I'm there to see it.

           Ash looks at Chuie.

ASH: Punch it!

           The roar of the Pidgeot's main engines blasts out everything
        as the ice-cave wall rushes by outside the cockpit window.

INTERIOR: REBEL BASE -- MAIN HANGAR

           More stormtroopers run into the hangar, closely followed by
        Vader. Hearing the loud roar of the Millennium Pidgeot's
        engines, Vader looks toward the main hangar doors just in time
        to see the Pidgeot lift up and disappear outside the cave.

EXTERIOR: HOTH -- ICE SLOPE -- DAY

           Brock and two other pilots look up as the Millennium Pidgeot
        races above them, flying very close to the ground.
           The three pilots turn then, and trudge onward toward their
        Z-wing fighters, each going to his own ship. Brock waves
        farewell, then heads toward his own fighter.
           Vultoo, seated on his cubbyhole, chirps an excited greeting
        as Brock climbs aboard the spacecraft.

Brock: Vultoo! Get her ready for takeoff.

           From his ship, Brock sees Sabrina in her own Z-wing, preparing
           for takeoff.

SABRINA: Good luck, Brock. See you at the rendezvous.

           Brock smiles and nods at Sabrina, then lowers himself into the
           cockpit of his Z-wing while Vultoo waits in the cubbyhole,
           beeping impatiently.

Brock: Don't worry, Vultoo. We're going, we're going.

           The canopy over the Z-wing lowers and snaps shut.

EXTERIOR: SPACE -- Brock'S Z-WING

           Brock's fighter, its wings closed, speeds away from the icy
        planet. Soon it disappears into the stars.

INTERIOR: Brock'S Z-WING -- COCKPIT

           Brock, looking thoughtful, suddenly makes a decision. He
        flips several switches. The stars shift as he takes his
        fighter into a steep turn. The Z-wing banks sharply and flies
        away in a new direction.
           The monitor screen on Brock's control panel prints out a
        question from the concerned Vultoo.

Brock: (into comlink) There's nothing wrong, Vultoo. I'm just setting a
new course.

VULTOO: Vul?

Brock: (into comlink) We're not going to regroup with the others.

           Vultoo begins a protest, whistling an unbelieving, "What?!"
           Brock reads Vultoo's exclamation on his control panel.

Brock: (into comlink) We're going to the Cinnibar system.

           Brock checks his readouts and makes a few adjustments. He
        rides along with only the soft hum of the instruments to break
        the silence. Finally, Vultoo chirps up.

Brock: (into comlink) Yes, Vultoo?

VULTOO: Vul, vulpix.

Brock: (into comlink, chuckling) That's all right. I'd like to keep it
on manual control for a while.

           The little droid lets out a defeated whimper. Brock smiles,
        and continues on his course.

EXTERIOR: SPACE -- MILLENNIUM FALCON

           The Millennium Pidgeot speeds away from Hoth, closely
        followed by one huge Star Destroyer and four tiny BAT
        fighters.
           As it is pursued, the Pidgeot races toward two very bright
        star-sized objects.

INTERIOR: MILLENNIUM FALCON -- COCKPIT

           Inside the cockpit, Chuie lets out a loud howl. Ash checks
        as the ship is buffeted by exploding flak. He appears to be
        doing six things at once.

ASH: (harried) I saw them! I saw them!

MISTY: Saw what?

ASH: Star Destroyers, two of them, coming right at us.

           Togepio bumps and bangs his way into the cockpit.

TOGEPIO: Sir, sir! Might I suggest...

ASH: (to Misty) Shut him up or shut him down! (to Chuie) Check the
deflector shield!

           Chuie barks a reply as she readjusts an overhead switch.

ASH: Oh, great. Well, we can still outmaneuver them.

EXTERIOR: SPACE -- MILLENNIUM FALCON -- STAR DESTROYERS

           The Millennium Pidgeot races toward one of the huge oncoming
        Star Destroyers. Suddenly, the Pidgeot starts into a deep dive
        straight down, closely followed by four BAT fighters. The
        underside of the Star Destroyer continues on a collision
        course with two oncoming Star Destroyers. Slowly, it starts
        to veer to the left.

INTERIOR: STAR DESTROYER -- BRIDGE

           Out the front window, the two approaching Star Destroyers
        can be seen veering to the left.

Rocket OFFICER: Take evasive action!

           Alarms sound all over the huge ship. The two other Star
        Destroyers get closer, one of them moving over the bridge so
        close that it makes brushing contact with it.

EXTERIOR: SPACE -- MILLENNIUM FALCON -- BAT FIGHTERS

           The Millennium Pidgeot races away from the colliding Star
        Destroyers, still followed by four BAT fighters. Laser bolts
        spark the pitch-black skies.

INTERIOR: MILLENNIUM FALCON -- COCKPIT

           Things have calmed down a bit, but the race isn't over yet.
        Chuie barks at Ash. Misty is still trying to recover from the
        steep dive. The ship is buffeted by laser blasts.

ASH: Prepare to make the jump to light-speed.

TOGEPIO: But, sir!

           The buffeting of lasers becomes louder and stronger.

MISTY: They're getting closer!

ASH: (with a gleam in his eye) Oh yeah? Watch this.

           Expectantly, they look out the cockpit window as stars do
        not go into hyperspace, but just sit there.
           Ash and Chuie look at each other and are thrown into an
        acute state of concern.

MISTY: Watch what?

           Ash tries again. Still nothing.

ASH: I think we're in trouble.

TOGEPIO: If I may say so, sir, I noticed earlier the hyperdrive
motivator has been damaged. It's impossible to go to light-speed!

ASH: We're in trouble!

           The explosions become heavier.

EXTERIOR: SPACE -- MILLENNIUM FALCON -- BAT FIGHTERS -- STAR DESTROYER

           The Pidgeot races into the starry vastness, followed by the
        four Rocket BAT fighters and an Rocket Star Destroyer.

INTERIOR: MILLENNIUM FALCON -- COCKPIT

           Stars race by as flak bursts outside the Pidgeot's window.

INTERIOR: MILLENNIUM FALCON -- HOLD

           Ash works furiously at some control panels while giving
        various orders to Chuie.

ASH: Horizontal boosters...!

CHUPIKA: Pikachu.

ASH: Alluvial dampers...! Well that's not it.

CHUPIKA: Pika pika.

ASH: Bring me the hydrospanners!

           Chuie hurries over to the pit and places the tools on the
        edge.

ASH: I don't know how we're going to get out of this one.

           Suddenly, a loud thump hits the side of the Pidgeot,
        causing it to lurch radically. Chuie barks. The tools fall
        into the pit on top of Ash.

ASH: Oww! Chuie!

           More turbulence rocks the ship.

ASH: That was no laser blast! Something hit us.

MISTY: (over comlink) Ash, get up here!

ASH: Come on, Chuie!

           Ash climbs out of the hold like a shot. Both he and Chuie
        run out of the hold and toward the cockpit.

INTERIOR: MILLENNIUM FALCON -- COCKPIT

           Out the front cockpit window, they see hundreds of
        asteroids racing by.

MISTY: Asteroids!

           Ash changes places with Misty who has been at the controls,
        and Chuie gets into his chair. Ash works his controls as a
        chunk of rock crosses in front of the ship.

ASH: Oh, no! Chuie, set two-seven-one.

MISTY: What are you doing? You're not actually going into an asteroid
field?

ASH: They'd be crazy to follow us, wouldn't they?

           Another asteroid thumps against the ship and Misty winces at
        the jolt.

MISTY: You don't have to do this to impress me.

TOGEPIO: Sir, the possibility of successfully navigating an asteroid
field is approximately three thousand, seven hundred and twenty to one.

ASH: Never tell me the odds!

EXTERIOR: ASTEROID BELT -- MILLENNIUM FALCON

           The Pidgeot turns into the asteroid storm and as the ship
        completes its turn, asteroids start coming straight at the
        cockpit windows.
           A large asteroid tumbles away from the Pidgeot's path at top
        speed. Several smaller asteroids crash into the big one,
        creating small explosions on its surface. Other asteroids of
        all sizes pass by in every direction, some colliding and
        exploding. The tiny Millennium Pidgeot veers around the big
        asteroid and races past it through the rain of rocks, followed
        by four BAT fighters, which bob and weave around the
        asteroids.
           One of the pursuing BAT fighters connects with an asteroid
        and explodes. The other fighters are pelted with a steady
        stream of smaller explosions.
           Two huge asteroids tumble toward the Millennium Pidgeot,
        which quickly banks around both of them. The three BAT
        fighters follow in hot pursuit until one of the fighters
        scrapes an asteroid and tumbles out of control into deep
        space.

EXTERIOR: SPACE -- STAR DESTROYER -- ASTEROID BELT

           The massive Star Destroyer blasts oncoming asteroids as it
        follows the Pidgeot. Smaller asteroids explode across its vast
        surface.

EXTERIOR: MILLENNIUM FALCON -- BAT FIGHTERS -- ASTEROID BELT

           The Pidgeot twists on its side as it races around an
        oncoming asteroid. Two BAT fighters follow in the distance,
        coming from either side.

INTERIOR: MILLENNIUM FALCON -- COCKPIT

           Asteroids race by the cockpit window as Ash pilots his
        trusty craft through the dangerous field.
           Looking out the cockpit window, the Pidgeot crew sees a big
        asteroid drop past the window, narrowly missing their ship.
           Chuie barks in terror as a slightly smaller asteroid comes
        especially close -- to close -- and bounces off the Pidgeot
        with a loud crunch. Togepio pulls his head into his shell. He
        manages a short peek at the cockpit window. Princess Misty sits
        stone-faced, staring at the action. Ash gives her a quick
        look.

ASH: You said you wanted to be around when I made a mistake; well,
this could be it, sweetheart.

MISTY: I take it back. We're going to get pulverized if we stay out
here much longer.

           The group watches as more asteroids race by outside the
        window.

ASH: I'm not going to argue with that.

TOGEPIO: Pulverized?

ASH: I'm going in closer to one of the big ones.

MISTY: Closer?

TOGEPIO: Closer?!

CHUPIKA:  PIKA?!

EXTERIOR: MILLENNIUM FALCON -- ASTEROID BELT

           The Millennium Pidgeot dives toward the surface of one of
        the moon-sized asteroids. There is a continued display of
        explosions against the starry void as smaller asteroids
        collide with larger chunks of rock. The two remaining BAT
        fighters follow the Pidgeot to the large asteroid. The Pidgeot
        skims the surface of the giant asteroid as, all the while,
        small asteroids explode on the surface of the ship.
           The BAT fighters approach the Pidgeot, but a giant asteroid
        hurtles directly into their path. As the asteroid continues on
        its way, it leaves remains of the two exploded BAT fighters to
        tumble into deep space.

INTERIOR: MILLENNIUM FALCON -- COCKPIT

           Rattled by the violent rocking of the starship, Togepio is
        nearly in hysterics.

TOGEPIO: Oh, this is suicide!

           Ash notices something on his main scope and nudges his
        faithful Raichee, pointing.

ASH: There. That looks pretty good.

MISTY: What looks pretty good?

ASH: Yeah. That'll do nicely.

TOGEPIO: (to Misty) Excuse me, ma'am, but where are we going?

           Out the cockpit window, they see that they are skimming the
        surface of the enormous asteroid and nearing a large crater.

EXTERIOR: MILLENNIUM FALCON -- GIANT ASTEROID CRATER

           The Millennium Pidgeot dives into the huge crater and
        disappears.

INTERIOR: MILLENNIUM FALCON -- COCKPIT

MISTY: I hope you know what you're doing.

ASH: Yeah, me too.

Misty, Togepio, and Chupika facefault.

INTERIOR: GIANT ASTEROID CRATER

           The Pidgeot races down into the crater. The walls are barely
        visible as the ship speed through the tunnellike opening. A
        small cave appears on one side of the crater, and the Pidgeot
        turns, slows, and scoots into it.

EXTERIOR: SPACE -- Brock'S Z-WING

           The tiny Z-wing speeds toward the cloud cover of Cinnibar.
        Vultoo, riding on the back of the fighter, turns his head back
        and forth with some anxiety.

INTERIOR: Brock'S Z-WING -- COCKPIT

           Brock watches Vultoo's words as they are translated and
        screened on the computer scope.

Brock: (into comlink) Yes, that's it. Cinnibar.

           Vultoo beeps a hopeful inquiry.

Brock: (into comlink) No, I'm not going to change my mind about this.
(getting a little nervous) I'm not picking up any cities or
technology. Massive life-form readings, though. There's something
alive down there...

           Vultoo beeps, this time a slightly worried question.

Brock: (into comlink) Yes, I'm sure it's perfectly safe for droids.

EXTERIOR: SPACE -- CINNIBAR -- Brock'S Z-WING

           The Z-wing continues its flight through the twilight above
        the cloud-covered planet.

INTERIOR: Brock'S Z-WING -- COCKPIT

           Brock sees the cloud race by as he takes his craft closer
        to the planet. He must operate his controls carefully since
        the cloud cover has completely obscured his vision. An alarm
        buzzes in the background, Vultoo beeps and whistles
        frantically.

Brock: (into comlink) I know, I know! All the scopes are dead. I can't
see a thing! Just hang on, I'm going to start the landing cycle...

           The blast of the retrorockets is deafening, drowning out
        Vultoo's electronic squeals. Suddenly, there is a cracking
        sound as if limbs were being broken off trees and then a
        tremendous jolt as the spacecraft stops. Brock pulls a switch
        and his canopy pops open.

EXTERIOR: CINNIBAR -- DUSK

           The mist-shrouded Z-wing fighter is almost invisible in the
        thick fog. Brock climbs out onto the long nose of the
        spacecraft as Vultoo pops out of his cubbyhole on the back. The
        young warrior surveys the fog, which is barely pierced by the
        ship's landing lights. About all he can make out are some
        giant, twisted trees nearby. Vultoo whistles anxiously.

Brock: No, Vultoo, you stay put. I'll have a look around.

           Vultoo lets out a short beep. As Brock moves along the nose,
        Vultoo loses his balance and disappears with a splash into the
        boggy lake.

Brock: Vultoo?

           Brock kneels and leans over the plane looking for Vultoo, but
        the water is still and reveals no sign of the little droid.

Brock: Vultoo! Where are you?

           A small periscope breaks the surface of the water and a
        gurgly beep is heard. The periscope starts to move to shore.
        Relieved, Brock starts running along the nose of the fighter to
        its tip.

Brock: Vultoo! You be more careful.

           The outline of the shore is now more than ten feet away.
        Brock jumps off the plane into the water, scrambles up to the
        shore, and turns to look for Vultoo. The periscope still
        steadily moves toward shore.

Brock: Vultoo -- that way!

           Suddenly, through the thick fog layer, a dark shape
        appears, moving toward the little droid. The dark, sinuous bog
        beast dives beneath the swampy water, making a loud clunk
        against Vultoo's metal hull. The droid disappears from sight,
        uttering a pathetic electronic scream.
           Holding his ignited lightsaber before him, Brock wades a few
        feet into the murky pool, looking for any sign of his little
        friend.

Brock: Vultoo!

           The black surface is still as death itself...until a few
        bubbles begin to appear. Then, phheewaat!! The runt-size robot
        is spit out of the water, makes a graceful arc, and comes
        crashing down into a patch of soft gray moss.

Brock: Oh, no! Are you all right? Come on. You're lucky you don't taste
very good. Anything broken?

           Brock helps Vultoo to his feet and begins wiping the mud and
        roots from his round metal body. Vultoo responds with feeble,
        soggy beeps.

Brock: If you're saying coming here was a bad idea, I'm beginning to
agree with you. Oh, Vultoo, what are we doing here? It's like...
something out of a dream, or, I don't know. Maybe I'm just going
crazy.

           As Brock glances around at the spooky swamp jungle that
        surrounds him, Vultoo ejects a stream of muddy water from one
        of his cranial ports.

EXTERIOR: VADER'S STAR DESTROYER -- VADER'S CHAMBER

           Admiral Piett hesitates in the entryway to Vader's private
        cubicle. After a moment, he steps into the room and pauses at
        the surprising sight before him.
           Rock Vader, his back turned, is silhouetted in the gloom
        on the far side of the chamber. A black, insectlike droid
        attends him. Among the various apparatuses surrounding them, a
        respirator tube now retracts from Vader's uncovered head. The
        head is bald with a mass of ugly scar tissue covering it. The
        black droid then lowers the mask and helmet onto Vader's head.
        When it is in place, the Dark Lord turns to face Piett.

VADER: Yes, Admiral?

PIETT: Our ships have sighted the Millennium Pidgeot, lord. But...it
has entered an asteroid field and we cannot risk...

VADER: (interrupting) Asteroids do not concern me, Admiral. I want
that ship and not excuses.

PIETT: Yes, lord.

EXTERIOR: ASTEROID CAVE -- MILLENNIUM FALCON

           The pirate starship rests in a dark, dripping asteroid
        cave. It is so dark that the cave's exact dimensions are
        impossible to determine.

INTERIOR: MILLENNIUM FALCON -- COCKPIT

           Ash and Chuie busily shut down the engine and all
        electronic systems. Togepio and Misty watch worriedly.

ASH: I'm going to shut down everything but the emergency power
systems.

TOGEPIO: Sir, I'm almost afraid to ask, but...does that include
shutting me down, too?

CHUPIKA(nods): Chu.

Ash, however, thinks otherwise.

ASH: No, I need you to talk to the Pidgeot, find out what's wrong with
the hyperdrive.

           Suddenly, the ship lurches, causing all the loose items in
        the cockpit to go flying. Chuie howls.

TOGEPIO: Sir, it's quite possible this asteroid is not entirely
stable.

ASH: Not entirely stable? I'm glad you're here to tell us these
things.  Chuie, take the egghead in the back and plug him into the
hyperdrive.

TOGEPIO: Oh! Sometimes I just don't understand human behavior. After
all, I'm only trying to do my job in the most...

           The sliding door closes behind the indignant Togepio as
        Chuie and he move back to the hold. Suddenly, the ship
        lurches again, throwing Misty across the cabin into Ash's arms.
        Then, abruptly, the motion stops as suddenly as it started.
        With some surprise, Ash and Misty realize they are in each
        other's arms.

MISTY: Let go.

ASH: Sshh!

MISTY: Let go, please.

           Misty blushes, averting her eyes. She's not exactly fighting
        to get free. But, of course, Ash blows it...

ASH: Don't get excited.

           The anger rises in Misty.

MISTY(deadpan): Ash, being held by you isn't quite enough to get me
excited.

ASH: Sorry, sweetheart. We haven't got time for anything else.

           Ash grins quickly wickedly at Misty as he turns and exits
        through the door. Misty's confused emotions show clearly on her
        lovely face.


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