BTTTF: OUTASITE 4

Chapter 4: (The Rescue and Choice)

Inside the glass house, the Freelancers walked inside.

Voice: Welcome to the Atlas House of Glass, the future of domestic life.

Nack: Okay, Max, let's get you out of here.

Fiona: Let's just shoot the glass down.

As she aimed her glowing fingers, Don looked stunned.

Boss: Fio, no!!

He quickly turned the arm away, causing it to hit the unglassed ceiling.

Boss: You could've got us killed! If it's soundproof and bullet proof, it would ALSO be laserproof too!

Wander: I'm sorry to say, but he's got a point.

They looked below, noticing Maximus talking with his younger father.

Sylvia: Max!

They looked through the glass a bit.

Sylvia: Idiot, don't listen to him! He's crazy!

Wander: Yeah! Nod if you understand!

However, they saw nothing changing.

Wander: Guess he doesn't?

Warren: (shouts) Don't be stupid, you idiot! Just hear us through the glass!

However, in the room the two were in, the shouts were blocked by the glass as Warren banged on it.

Max Sr.: (skeptical) I'm still not sure about this business proposal, bub.

Maximus: Let me explain it again.

Up above, the group groaned.

Voice: Atlas Glass: Unbreakable AND Soundproof.

Psycho: Soundproof glass. Ugh, that's just great. NOT!

Mr. Bump: I know! Let's breath on it and make messages with our foggy breath!

He blew on the glass, writing something. Though down below, Max Sr. noticed the backward words.

Max Sr.: "Pots"? What does that mean?

Maximus: Just come with me.

The two departed from the group.

Voice: Our living space can be configured to meet the needs of any family! Need a private study? Simply slide the walls in! Or slide them out again to create a spacious banquet hall!

Swiper: (pause) So it's like we're in Japan.

Wander: Yeah, or in that other universe Japan.

They went to the first handle, walking through the hall a bit.

Mina: This is more complicated than it looks.

Swiper: Right and we got to hurry. We don't know what Maximus would do to keep us from his dad.

Bowser Jr.: As proposed for...wait. He would not want us to see his dad.

Sleet: When we moved that first wall, we opened one passage, but we blocked another. Like so.

He slid the next one nearby, making a new hallway, but blocking another path.

Nack: Fascinating.

Psycho: (annoyed) No it isn't.

Another was slid before they saw Maximus and Max Sr. talking with the latter looking annoyed. Quickly, they slid the other wall, heading to where another blocked glass was. Then, to their shock, they saw Maximus taking out a bottle of a sort.

Mary: Uh oh!

At the other side, the gang shouted and banged while their voices were blocked. The future cat nodded to Max Sr., then smirked smugly to the others with Max Sr. sniffing the bottle, looking woozy before falling unconscious. He dragged his younger father away while they groaned.

Discord: THIS is why I should have my powers.

He angrily slid the glass blocking them, then walked up, noticing the glass blocking their path.

Discord: Oh, for the love of...

Sylvia: You've gotta be kidding!

The other glasses and walls continued sliding a bit.

Boss: (frowns) Okay, that's it!! Fiona, punch the glass with as much strength you have!

Fiona: (shocked) What?! But Don-

Nack: He's right. We can't get anywhere in this stupid maze. The only way out is to break the walls and glass.

Wander: But it's unbreakable!

Psycho: Wait a minute! I got these!

Psycho took out some familiar portable holes.

Nack: Where did you get those?

Psycho: From the ACME factory. I figure this stuff that you and Eddie once used in your adventures involving framed toons will help us out. I got the tunnel versions!

Nack: (grins) Ha-ha-ha. You little rascal. You amaze me more and more.

Later, near the House of the Future, the book case opened behind the wall where the ones in portable hole exited, then slid open.

Sleet: Finally!

Discord: Hey, Maxie? Where are you?

As the door behind them closed, what appeared to be Captain Cutler began standing up behind the booth.

Inez: Where'd you take him now, Doc?

All while on stage, Minerva looked at the crowd.

Minerva: The next exhibitor on our list is Officer Aero the Acrobat of the NYPD. Officer Bat is going to demonstrate a few of the marvelous tools that our boys in blue will soon have at their disposal. The criminal element has truly met his match today! Officer Bat?

She looked at the booth, though noticed it empty with the crowd gasping.

Minerva: (nervously) Uh...it seems our next exhibitor is unavoidably detained. But I'm sure his presentation would have been both enlightening and exciting! Um...how 'bout a round of applause, just for the heck of it!

The crowd applauded before she fixed the roster. As the gang began departing, to their notice, they saw the sign showing Max Sr.'s name on top.

Meowth: Gah! This is bad! We gotta find him fast!

Inez: But where would a friend who gone nuts hide his father?

Br'er Fox glances at the bathysphere and points to it.

Br'er Fox: Shucks, in there?

They looked concerned before heading to the one in diver gear.

Mordecai: Excuse me, sir. I'm looking for a tall, thin older cat with a mechanical face. He might have been with a tall, thin younger gentleman...

Diver: (sounding like Maximus) Really, I mean (mock French voice) I know just who you're talking about. They just left, not a minute ago. If you hurry, you might catch them!

Rigby: We know you're in there, Doc.

Maximus: (fake French) Doc? Yes, I am a doctor of Marine Biology, but I fail to understand what you're-

Fiona: Please, we need to talk.

Meowth: Yeah! Quit foolin' around, Doc! (grabs him) What have you done with your jackass future dad?!

He pulled angrily at the helmet.

Dr. Viper: Meowth, no!!

Maximus: Stop! Help! I'm being attacked!

Dr. Viper: (yanks him) Get down, you half wit! You're making a ssscene!!

Meowth: I'm not making a scene! If I wanna make a scene, I'd do this.

He hopped on the helmet, shouting protests.

Meowth: SAVE THE POKEMON! MEOWTHS ARE ALL THAT!! PERSIANS ALL SUCK!!

Dr. Viper: (groans) Even in the passst, he alwaysss finds way to be an idiot.

Maximus: Someone help! This cat is a lunatic!

Many of them backed away.

Meowth: Someone help me out here!

Augustus: (glares) Meowth!!

He used a brick nearby, hitting him, knocking the Pokemon to the ground.

Meowth: (dazed) Mommy, is that you?

Mary: Sorry about that, August. Meowth's a doofus.

Augustus: (snaps) What are you doing? You can't assault the exhibitors!

Meowth: You don't understand! He's kidnapped his asshole of a dad!

Maximus: The boy's obviously confused.

Augustus: I'll say he is!

Koreena: You want I should toss him out on his ear?

Discord: No, no. Relax, Meowth meant no harm. He's an idiot.

Courage: Right. Hee hee. Won't happen again.

Augustus: That won't be necessary, Kareena.

Koreena: KOREENA, jerk!

He pulled Meowth away.

Augustus: Do you know who that is? That's Captain Cutler of the Oceanic Institute!

Meowth: No, it's not! It's-

Augustus: (yelps) Please! Keep it down! The Expo went to a lot of trouble and expense to secure Captain Cutler! We can't afford to antagonize him.

Meowth: But-

Augustus: If you've got a complaint against him, we can straighten it out after the show. But if you make another scene like that, I'm afraid I'm going to have to have you expelled from the hall!

Bowser: Oh do it! Do it!

Swiper: Bowser!

Mina: Won't happen again, Augustus, I promise.

Meowth: (frowns) Guys!

Shirly: (whispering) Meowth, if that's really Maximus, and we know he is, we need to rescue his dad without causing too much of a scene that will get us all kicked out.

Hiram: (to Maximus) Sooo..."Captain Cutler", eh?

Maximus: At your service...

Hiram: I like to be sublte: Do you know what you did with the REAL Cutler guy?

Maximus: I'm not sure I like your insinuations.

Meowth: I'm not sure I like you kidnapping your jackass pop!

Maximus: Perhaps I should call the authorities and have you removed from the hall.

Scalawag: You're a cold-blooded guy, Frenchie.

Maximus: C'est la vie.

Meowth: I definitely need subtitles taken with me next time.

Rigby: (grins) Oh oh. Say this. Say 'wee wee'.

Maximus: That is stupid. Why would I say we we?

Rigby: Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha!!

Mina: Take off your helmet! Please? I wouldn't mind getting a kiss for an autograph.

Swiper: Hey!

Mina: (quietly) It's the only way to get him to cooperate. Plus the power of please works.

Maximus: I prefer to leave it on. The inland air is difficult on my sinuses.

Mina: (sweatdrops) So much for the power of "please".

Marine: Where'd ya stash our friend? In the diving bell?

Maximus: It's called a bathysphere.

Marine: Aha! So Emmett IS in the bathysphere!

Maximus: I don't know what you're talking about.

Wander: Wow, I think I'm gonna take a closer look at that bathysphere!

Maximus: Not without a ticket, I'm afraid, sir!

Marine: (shows her ticket) Got it right here. Here's my ticket! I wanna see inside that bathysphere.

Maximus: I don't think so.

Marine: (snaps) What do you mean? I've got a ticket! (shows the ticket) You have to honor my bugger ticket.

Maximus: Uh...It's...the wrong kind of ticket. Sorry.

Some: Oh, gimme a break!

Meowth: That's it! I'm going in!

He darted to the line before Koreena snatched him.

Koreena: Hey!

Meowth: Ow! Let go, Kory!

Koreena: No ticket, no ride!

Mr. Bump: No tickee, no shirtee!

Koreena: (shows Meowth) Is this guy tryin' to bum a free ride?

Dr. Viper: No. He's jussst an idiot.

He was tossed to the serpent cat.

Koreena: See thatcha DON'T. (sighs) Feels good to be on the RIGHT side of the law. He-he-he.

Marine: But I got a ticket here!

Maximus: It's the wrong kind, I said.

Marine: Grrr!! AUGUST!!

Augustus comes over, looking concerned.

Augustus: Uh, is there a problem?

Marine: (points) I wish to make a complaint right now. Captain Cutler wouldn't accept our ticket!

Maximus: Gah! Now wait-

Meowth: Me first! That's Colin Fox in the Deep-Sea Diving Suit and he's holding Max Sr. captive in the bathysphere!

Koreena: (dryly) Really, Meowth?

Augustus: You're making a pretty serious allegation, mister! I'll have to look into it...right after the show.

Marine: Let me speak! (to Augustus) This ticket should get me AND my friends into any exhibit on the floor, right?

She showed the tickets to him.

Augustus: Sure! That's a P-Ticket!

Marine: Well...the bugger at the Aquarium is refusing to honor it.

Augustus: Huh. There must be some mistake. Come on, let's straighten this out...

Maximus: (to himself) Oh crap!

Augustus: Captain, this young lady claims you refused to take her ticket.

Koreena: Yeah, he said so earlier. I heard.

Maximus: Gah! Uh, no. Not at all! I am only too happy to take the ticket!

Mary: Right, 'Cutler'. Why don't some of us go up there and check the bathysphere out while we wait down here for our turn?

Maximus: Fine. Please. Climb the ladder, and I will raise the bathysphere.

The tickets were taken before half of them went up. As Maximus fiddled with the controls, Mary, Meowth, and their comrades came to the top, looking at the hose and bathysphere.

Maximus: (gasps) Mon Dieu! What is the matter? The gears: they must have become stuck! I am afraid I cannot raise the bathysphere at this moment.

Augustus: (sighs) What a shame.

Maximus: Yes, tsk tsk tsk. Well, I will work on the problem. Perhaps if you come back later.

At that moment, the gang noticed Minerva on stage.

Minerva: Hiya folks. It's me, Lucca, Muse of Progress, gracin' you once again with my presence. And speakin' of presents, what better gift could Manhattan offer the world than this magnificent Science and Technology exhibit! Eh, folks?

Some: Whoo!

Minerva: If you haven't done so already, I urge each and every one of you to take a peek at "Furnishings of the Future", right here in our main hall. Tickets are available from me, Lucca, at our information desk.

Many of them applauded.

Maximus: It may be quite some times before the exhibit is fixed.

They glanced at the hose with the group above nodding.

Mary: Hey "Captain"?

She stomped on the hose, starting to block the oxygen.

Maximus: AGH! Step back! You're crimping the hose!

Mary: (frowns) What does it matter, if there's NOBODY IN THE BATHYSPHERE...?

Maximus: It's...very bad form!

Mary: (mockingly) Oh, sorry.

Maximus: Come on. Joke's over. Get off.

Mary: Really? We will see who will give up first.

Maximus started to begin cringing in pain before Mary grunted, starting to look wearily. As that happened, the female cat was starting to fade.

Karen: Temporal Ananomly Detected, moron!

Inez: (worried) What are you doing?!

Mary: (cringing) What I should've done a long time ago...making him choose.

Maximus: It's an old nautical superstition! A crimped hose means...imminent doom!

Mary: It does if there's somebody inside the bathysphere. But I thought you said there wasn't anybody in the bathysphere.

Maximus: There's...not...!

Both began clenching their head with Maximus trying to keep balance and Mary holding on the rails, trying to hold herself as both started fading more.

Maximus: I demand you uncrimp that hose!

Mary: Awww, what's the matter? Scare of something that ISN'T hiding in here, Captain?!

Discord: Funny...you'd think it was YOU along with her who was running out of air. Not the guy in the bathysphere.

Maximus: I...don't know what you're talking about...

Discord: It's as if you two were CONNECTED somehow...

Maximus: Step...off...the hose...

Both cats gringed in more pain, fading more as Koreena noticed as did Augustus.

Koreena: What the hell's happening to them?

Augustus: I don't know.

Nack: Someone's going to give.

Warren: Come on, raise the bathysphere, Doc!

Maximus: (wearily) I won't do it!

Mary: (wearily) Then neither will I.

Meowth: Now let's make things interesting...

He went to the hose as Maximus inside the suit yelped.

Maximus: What are you doing!?

Meowth showed his claws as he neared the hose close to the water.

Meowth: Doc...listen....I got a question...it involves your loyalty. Which would you prefer? Maleficent and Winnie?

He then almost dangerously neared the claws to the hose.

Meowth: OR your family?

Discord: (pauses) Wow...that's dark.

Sleet: Tick tock, 'Cutler'. Tick tock.

Mary: (dying) You have 10 seconds to choose, brother. Me or her! 1...2...3...

Maximus: (dying) Okay, fine!! (fake voice) Zut alors! The gears, they have become unstuck!

He quickly turned it, making the bathysphere rise while Mary was removed from the hose, causing her to fall in Warren's arms.

Warren: That will do, Doc. That will do.

Augustus: There! See? It was just a malfunction after all!

Koreena: That STILL doesn't explain-

Just then, the door opened, showing three familiar figures unconsciously plopping to the ones above.

Psycho: Right, let's get you out of there.

Augustus: (gasps) Maximus IQ!

Nack: What the-!? Kikyo? And Bat Squirrel?!

Maximus: Oh no! Then that means that...THAT WAS NOT PART OF THE DEAL, ANGELINA AND WINIFRED!!

Augustus: (confused) What are they doing in there?!

Koreena: I don't know!

As the others came to the group, Maximus discarded the disguise and darted off.

Augustus: Then it WAS true.

He then noticed the disgarded disguise before watching the door slam shut.

Augustus: Hey you!!

He darted after where Maximus was while someone noticed.

Man: Hey, he just took that guy's wallet! (to Eustace) I think he took his wallet!

Eustace: Who cares? I don't even know him!

All while up above, the vampire groaned, awakening before yelping with Meowth falling from his robe.

Batula: MALEFICENT!! (notices) Huh? (looks around) I'm in ze...exhibit?

Kikyo: (notices) Wha...? Where am...? How did I get here?

Max Sr.: (sits up) Remind me not to become an Oceanographer! I guess I must have a touch of claustrophobia...never should have gone in there!

Dr. Viper: Well, we've all got problemsss. Now, you'd better get back to your booth before-

Max Sr.: Funny thing is, I don't even REMEMBER going in there!

Nack: Well, we will sums thing up. 'Colin Fox' was manipulated by both Angelina and Winnie.

Psycho: And get this! Your old pal Winnie is the speakeasy arsonist!

Batula: I know. I vas getting ready to help Kikyo vhen I overheard Winifred, Maleficent, and Colin's conversation. I learned beforehand, but Maleficent found me and knocked me out.

Kikyo: And when I saw Batula not showing up, I went to find him. Then, I saw "Colin" with those two before that bird knocked me out.

Max Sr.: And last thing I recall, I was in the glass house talking to Colin Fox aka my son. Did you know he's really a scientist?

Inez: I am too and I've heard. What did he say to you?

Max Sr.: He had some sort of spur-of-the-moment business proposition. It was all very rush-rush, I never got the details. It would have meant leaving before the Expo was over, so I told him...(realizes) say, where'd he go? D'you know?

Mort: I dunno.

Julien: Ah, he probably had to leave. Probably one of his experiments blowing up on him.

Max Sr.: Ah, I know how THAT is.

Nack: So you two, still think Winnie's your pal after finding out her dark secret?

Max Sr.: I'm still trying to remember WHEN I saw my son.

Kikyo: And I'm still trying to remember what those three were talking about.

Batula: So you don't know about-

Both: About what?

Kikyo: And whatever is going on with Winnie, who cares about her? I mean after what I saw happened yesterday, our friendship was way over before today.

Max Sr.: Plus she dumped me yesterday. Why would I wanna know what else she does?

Batula: But-

Meowth: (yelps) Guys, you're on!!

He pushed the two as Minerva was on stage.

Minerva: Greetings and salutations to all our honored guests. I am Lucca, Muse of Progress, and it is my pleasant task once again to highlight one of the great minds who is hard at work, building a better tomorrow!

Max Sr.: I think that's me! I'm next on the roster!

Mr. Bump: We stalled for ya, Maximus. Now is your chance to prove yourself.

Miss Calamity: But are you ready?

Max Sr.: I don't have a choice. Did you bring the static accumulator?

The familiar object was shown.

Discord: Oh! Right. Here ya go.

Max Sr.: (grins) Great! C'mon, let's get up there.

They walked up as Minerva continued.

Minerva: And who knows? One of this kid's gizmos just might take off and change the life of everybody in town! (points) Could it be the very thing he's brought to share with us today?

They looked at the cat fixing the machine a bit.

Max Sr.: There. That ought to do it! Are the block bearings all in the raised position?

Kikyo: (looking) Block bearings...block bearings...(grins) Raised position. Check!

Max Sr.: Then it looks like all systems are go!

Kikyo: Right. Prepare for launch, Maxie.

Psycho: (grins) Is it lunch already? I'm hungry! Anyone got an algae cake?

Nack: Quiet, knucklehead.

At that moment, he saw himself starting to fade.

Nack: What the-?

Karen: Temporal Ananomly Correcting in 5 minutes.

Inez: Oh geez, I forgot about you and your two alternate friends fading once we fix the timeline.

Batula: From vhat I can gather...you'll fade back to your true self first, zen Fiona, and finally Maximus.

Psycho: Yeah, but wouldn't this mean Nack would be back in the present and...(yelps) GAH! My brain just threw up!

Nack sighed as he faded more.

Nack: Well, sorry gang. Looks like this will all be a dream in a minute.

Nic: (sighs) Yeah. Just come back as soon as OUR Maximus comes back.

Nack: Yeah. Later guys...

Finally, he faded away as Fiona started fading.

Fiona: Oh geez. But wait, will I remember any of this?

Sleet: Depends. Discord never bothered restoring your memory, did he?

Fiona: (sadly) No...he didn't.

She looked at the group.

Fiona: Still, what a weekend, huh?

Dingo: Awww. We were hoping you'd stay too.

Fiona: (smiles softly) Sorry, Dingo. But my universe needs me. And Don? (grins) Thanks for the adventure.

Finally, she kissed Don on the lips before fading completely away.

Boss: (sounds heartbroken) Yeah...bye, Fiona...

Kikyo and Max Sr. then looked at the group.

Max Sr.: Hey, where's your two friends?

Psycho: Uh they went to find your son and spank him.

Max Sr.: That's not fair. I wanted to spank him first.

Kikyo: Max!!

Max Sr.: Anyway, wish me luck!

Kikyo: (grins) I don't have to.

Shirly: Have confidence, Maximus. Nothing could go wrong now.

Courage: Yeah.

Max Sr.: Encouraging words for dogs.

Minerva: (points) Ladies and gentlemen, I give you Maximus IQ!

Voice: OBJECTION!!

The people looked stunned as each one looked at where the voice was. Then, to their notice, they saw what appeared to be an older chubby Siamese cat with balding white hair in judge clothing near the entrance.

Sylvia: AND things just got more stupid.

(End of Chapter 4)