BotP Close-up 098

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Bobkat
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BotP Close-up 098

Post: # 719Post Bobkat »

Another week, another plot! :lol:

This week is the infamous Don Wade ep - "G-Force Defector". Don, a former team member, is now working for Spectra! (no way, man!) Anderson considers him an extreme threat due to his knowledge of the team, its inner workings, and procedures. That's the main gist but a favorite second-in-command is having issues. It's so bad, Jason nearly kills somebody with his car! :o It's an accident, of course, but we meet Mrs. Wade, Don's mother. Jason recognizes her when they're in her apartment.

This ep gives us so much insight into the team dynamics and their inner world. Princess proves again why she's the main peacemaker. We also see Mark's concern for each of his teammates and why he's a great leader.

There is an interesting scene in the Spectran base when Mark catches up to Jason just as the gunner is confronting Don. When Mark empties Don's gun, it's obvious the bullets are real (note the bullet hole by Jason's head!) but the commander lies his butt off! He tells Jason the bullets are mere blanks. I know it's the editing at play but it makes it very interesting to see the interplay between the G-Force members. Mark knows something is going on with Jason and he doesn't want to make things worse. Another sign of Mark's capable leadership. :) (just my opinion on this, btw). :)

Enjoy this week's plot! :)

The Other Jason's write-up is here: https://www.battleoftheplanets.info/ep98.html

E98: G-Force Defector

Act One

7-Zark-7 is relishing a "lazy, do nothing day" because there are no alien invaders anywhere around. The worry wart that he is, Zark isn't liking the quiet – it's too quiet. Zark says Chief Anderson has given G-Force a well-deserved day off and he's even considering an extra oil break while 1-Rover-1 sits by him. As usual, Zark "spoke too soon" and he flies to his monitors. He focuses in on Sector A15 where it appears one of Zoltar's crafts is attacking Earth. Zark will contact Chief Anderson first then each member of G-Force since he has all their frequencies at his "digi-tips." As that's happening, Zark can have the Phoenix readied for blast off.

The members of G-Force respond with Mark answering first. Princess answers next and both are already transmuted and moving to rendezvous. Keyop calls with Tiny following up. Jason is the last to acknowledge and he's not transmuted yet but he races through the city. A pair of bright lights, one in succession of the other, disorients Jason to the point he loses control of his car! He jumps a rail into a park and tries desperately to get things back in order but the light continues to bother him. The next thing that happens is he hits a woman! Jason stops and leans onto the steering wheel setting the horn off. He finally sits back and realizes what he's done. He gets out and goes to her to make sure she's not seriously hurt. She tells him it's her fault as she stepped right in front of his car but she's only shaken. Jason is about to leave but she goes to the ground again. He makes a fateful decision to help her rather than answer the alert, turning off his bracelet. He picks up the woman and carries her to the car. Jason thinks to himself that the woman looks familiar to him.

The Phoenix is airborne and answering the call without Jason. They go up against a giant mech looking like a caterpillar. The mech uses a blinding light to make the Phoenix let up on its counterattack. Not only is the front view screen blinding, the radar screen shows multiple bogeys – as if the sky is full of the things. Mark is sure this is another one of Zoltar's tricks, some sort of optical illusion. Keyop even questions whether he can believe his own eyes. Princess suggests they leave the area with Mark and Tiny agreeing. However, when the Phoenix tries to flee, it hits upon the bottom of the mech! There's no sky to go to!

The caterpillar whacks the Phoenix with its antenna making them "lose speed and altitude." Mark orders Tiny to level the ship off but the caterpillar has other ideas. It drops bombs into the air onto the Phoenix. The bomb blast in a burst of light and send off a bunch of smoke but worse, the contents are corrosive. The Phoenix shakes violently and Mark says they're giving them everything they have. Keyop wonders if they can take it with Tiny adding he's flying blind as a bat. Just then, the corrosive breaks through with a stream of smoke/gas pouring into the bridge. Mark says it could be poison and runs up to help Tiny. The corrosive eats at the Phoenix and even hits the other vehicles. Princess notes there won't be much left of the Phoenix pretty soon. Tiny adds there won't be much left of them either. Gas begins filling the bridge even more with Keyop commenting they need gas masks. Mark orders Tiny to take the Phoenix straight up at full power!

Tiny begins to climb the Phoenix out of harm's way and wonders what their next move is if the caterpillar is able to follow. Mark grits his teeth in his seat wondering what happened to Jason – they would have a better chance if he was with them. "He's not the Jason I know." The Phoenix climbs into the upper atmosphere and the caterpillar attempts to follow. However, the radar screen begins to clear as the caterpillar retreats swishing its tail along the way. Tiny says they can't use their weapons at this altitude when the light lets up. The Phoenix hovers while Mark tells them they still have to "limp home empty-handed."

Zark stands in his control room saying while the team fought off the caterpillar; Jason was involved in a "near fatal accident." It does give him a chance to practice his paramedic skills "to relax the jangled nerves" of Mrs. Wade. At her apartment, Jason settles her in and realizes where he's seen her before. He tells her that he knew her son, but she tears up. She tells Jason she doesn't know where he is and she hasn't seen him in a long time. When Jason asks her how long it's been since she's seen him, Mrs. Wade explains it's been two years – when he resigned from the G-Force program! Since then, not one word.

Jason has something of a panic attack, unable to stay standing. When Mrs. Wade asks what's wrong, Jason blows it off saying he needs some air. He steps outside and looks down at the G-2 car but it's blurred and doubled! He thinks to himself, "it's starting again" and wonders what good he is to the team. He leans on the outdoor staircase to regain his bearings.

Zoltar stands on a platform with another man overseeing the caterpillar. The other man is Mrs. Wade's son! Zoltar is pleased with the performance of his Ooze bombs against G-Force. His only regret is that the bombs were unusable in the stratosphere where Zoltar was sure they could have ended G-Force once and for all. Wade assures Zoltar all that's needed is a boost in the caterpillar's power supply and while difficult, it's not impossible. Wade wants to end G-Force as well and Zoltar comments that it's refreshing to find someone who hates them as much as he does! He adds that Wade's "heart is in the right place."

Chief Anderson pulls the team into his office and briefs four of them about Donald Wade – a former G-Force member who has defected to Spectra! The chief tells them due to Don's knowledge of G-Force operations makes him particularly dangerous. The chief goes on saying Don is a genius in chemistry and at the time he left, Don was perfecting a formula for a universal solvent. Chief Anderson shows them the damage on the Phoenix and confirms through analysis that it's Don's formula – it caused the destruction. Tiny leans forward putting a hand on Mark's shoulder. Mark comments that Don wasn't a guy he could ever get close to and he and Jason couldn't really stand one another – Don was "a real loner."

The chief returns to his desk and Tiny shifts his chair over. Chief Anderson makes it plain: Jason has missed a mission and now a briefing – he better have a good excuse. Just then, the door opens with Jason entering with his eyes closed and arms crossed. He leans against the wall and Keyop is the first to notice him walk in. Chief Anderson asks him what's going on. Jason counters, "That's a good question." The chief isn't in any mood to put up with Jason's evasiveness, telling him that his behavior is "inexcusable." Jason then says perhaps the best thing to do is for him to resign. The chief and Mark are shocked. Jason tells them he's decided he's not cut out for G-Force anymore – if he ever was. Chief Anderson doesn't buy it and tells Jason, almost angrily, that he needs to make sure he won't make a mistake he'll regret for the rest of his life. The chief leaves the office with Princess calling after him but the chief ignores her. Mark tries to buddy up to Jason to help but Jason's having none of it and walks out himself.

Later, Jason sits on a hillside alone trying to figure out why his left hand is so numb. Princess cautiously approaches, telling him if he needs someone to talk to, she's available. She goes on saying she thought they were friends and they told each other their "troubles." Jason rebuffs her too saying he wants to be left alone and it's in a pretty harsh manner. Princess gives up saying she'll leave him alone and walks away. Jason realizes he's hurt her feelings but didn't mean to. He continues to sulk, because his situation seems hopeless.

Act Two

Zark rides the vacuum tube up to his Ready Room saying even robots need time away from the pressure of the job. He goes on to say the caterpillar is currently laying low but doesn't expect that to last. Zark then moves onto to the strained relationship between Chief Anderson and Jason, who seems to be acting out of character – "it's not like him to be this way." Zark lays on his slant board for a short rest but he's interrupted by a call from Chief Anderson. The repairs to the Phoenix are complete and after the chief meets with Mark, the team can "blast off." Zark tells no one in particular, he'll get back to his console "on the double."

At Camp Parker, Mark climbs some stairs to meet Chief Anderson in a small attic office. When Mark knocks, the chief invites him in and tells him to close the door. Mark tells him if it's about Jason, the commander is pretty clueless. "He's keeping to himself." The chief doesn't like the sounds of that but Mark offers if the team were given a mission, it might help. Chief Anderson says that's why he called Mark for the meeting – the caterpillar has been spotted in Sector 10. The chief wants it stopped before it can do the horrible damage it's capable of. He believes the way to stop the caterpillar is for one of the G-Forcers to get inside and he's decided who the someone should be – Jason. Mark isn't too keen about the idea and the chief explains that Jason needs to prove something to himself – they need to give him that chance. Mark assures him they get on it right away.

Mark meets up with the team and asks if anyone's ready for Sector 10. They chant, "G-Force!" and transmute. They launch the Phoenix out of Center Neptune and fly to Sector 10. Jason calls from the radar station reporting the caterpillar is closing in. Mark stands at his seat saying to be ready to execute their plan. He orders Tiny to level off and tells Jason it's all his. When he doesn't get an answer right away, Mark turns and receives a less than enthusiastic response from the gunner. "Whatever you say." Jason stands up and leaves the bridge. Princess watches him leave, worried about her teammate. Mark thinks, "Why don't I stop this?"

Jason runs to one of the Super Missiles in the Phoenix's weapons hold and climbs inside. The hatch closes automatically and when it does, he calls to the bridge saying he's ready. Mark continues with the plan, despite his reservations. Tiny moves the Phoenix just a touch closer and Mark wants them in "tight" so that they can transfer Jason to the caterpillar. The caterpillar uses its light weapon again with Tiny commenting, "I kinda get the feeling they're not glad to see us!" Mark launches the rocket forces a lot of gravitational forces onto Jason suddenly. But the rocket hits its target with the engine falling away and the Phoenix flies off in another direction.

Several goons discuss the Phoenix high-tailing it away from them. They feel G-Force "has learned its lesson" and they won't be seeing the team anytime soon. One goon, Kobul, isn't so sure – he tells his fellow goons it has to be a trick. One answers that he's always looking for tricks and he should put his feet up and relax. However, the goon kicks a button summoning Zoltar! Commander Blug, who kicked the button, immediately stands at attention with Kobul and the other goon reporting that all is well. Zoltar isn't happy at the summons and says they've barely begun their mission. He tells them to "get on with" the mission before breaking communications. Zoltar calls Commander Blug "a fool" and hopes he hasn't made a mistake trusting him with the mission.

The caterpillar lands at Spectra's secret base with Commander Blug reporting to another goon that he hopes to be as valuable to the other goon as he has been to Zoltar. He dismisses his men, about 50 of them after reporting. Meanwhile, Jason emerges from the Super Missile. He makes his way through the base into an office where Don is working. Don is concentrating on his work when there is a knock on the door and it quite perturbed to be interrupted. He's shocked to see Jason standing in front of him!

Jason tells Don he should be ashamed to look him in the face! Jason calls him a "traitor" but Don counters saying he's important to Spectra – they value his worth! Jason plans on taking Don back with him and hopes he's smart enough to "come without a fuss." Don has other ideas, almost pulling a gun on Jason who aims his cablegun at Don. Jason explains he doesn't want to hurt Don because Mrs. Wade believes Don is on a secret mission for the government. Jason says "the poor woman" has been through a rough time because she's heartbroken she hasn't heard from him. And she has no idea Don is a defector! In the middle of the confrontation, Jason blacks out after the image of Don blurs and swishes in his vision! Don aims and fires. Jason is on the floor but quickly regroups. When his vision clears, he sees Mark standing there holding Don and preventing the chemist from firing again!

Mark tells Jason he felt the gunner needed a bit of help but Jason doesn't understand how Mark found him. Mark explains they turned back and landed the Phoenix near the base. Jason says, "If you hadn't turned back, I'd be a goner." Mark tells him he wasn't in any danger, even Spectra doesn't trust Don! The gun was filled with blanks as Mark unloads the 9mm magazine! He wants to "get outta here" and leave Don to the Spectrans. Just as they try to depart, the office is sealed shut with metal doors. Jason slams his shoulder into one while Zoltar's voice fills the office. He laughs maniacally and the room begins filling with gas. Don becomes a sniveling brat, begging not to be left behind. Mark casually leans against the wall. Zoltar goes on to give Don his regrets for leaving him behind since his plans for Earth's conquest have been rudely interrupted but "these wretched G-Force interlopers." Zoltar takes off in an escape rocket and tells Mark, Jason and Don he's returning to Spectra at that exact moment. He bids them "goodbye."

In the office, Mark asks Don how it feels to be done in by his own invention! He tells Don that they should leave him behind because he caused all this misery! "You made your bed and you ought to be left to lie in it!" Mark does realize though that all human life deserves respect, even a wretch like Don. Mark asks Jason what they should do and Jason agrees, "Yeah, … okay." Mark tells him to try the door and it actually opens with no trouble. Mark picks up Don and the three walk out. Mark is certain the place is set to blow up.

Mark, Jason and Don meet up with the Phoenix and they all take off. On the bridge, Mark asks Princess if she's waiting for "the big bang?" She answers it won't be long now because it's Zoltar's MO – "if he can't win, he destroys everything." Soon, the caterpillar explodes taking the base with it. The Phoenix flies back home with Don on board. While the team has upended Zoltar's plans, Jason has one more task to take care of before the mission is complete.

Jason visits Mrs. Wade again, carrying a flower bouquet. She likes them a lot and says they're the kind Don would give if he were there. Jason tells her that's incredible and she'll see what he's talking about when she reads the card. Mrs. Wade tells Jason she was right about Don being on a secret mission for the government and he'll return soon. Jason notes the time and excuses himself to leave. Outside, he leans on the railing again but his vision is normal and the numbness in his hands is gone as well. Zark notes the symptoms are part overactive imagination and work stress. Jason walks down the stairs to the G-2. Inside, Mrs. Wade says Jason reminds her so much of Donald. She pulls out a picture of him from the envelope in the bouquet.

Zark stands by his monitors saying Mrs. Wade will see her son soon. Thanks to G-Force's intervention, Don is being put on probation with Chief Anderson and Zark believing Don has learned his lesson about defecting to Spectra. The robot also believes Don won't be giving anyone any trouble again. Zark wishes the same could be said about Zoltar but every time he's defeated, he counters with something worse! Zark concludes that they say freedom is achieved by eternal vigilance and "vigilance is my middle name."

This plot summary Copyright Bobbi Baker ©2021. No reproduction of any kind without permission.
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