Chapter Fourteen: The Clone Ranger.

Eyes open...

Everything is a little blurred. Big greenish brownish blobby shapes everywhere.

Blink blink.

Ah. Much better. Those are trees! Very tall trees. And lots of them.

Everything seems to be rather tall, really. Aren't humans supposed to be a little further up from the ground?

Oh! Lying down. Now, how do arms and legs work again?

... Okay. That looks much better. This is called a forest, isn't it? How did that get here?

Right. This is how walking works.

"Cosmo?"

Hello, stick figure.

"Cosmo, it's me, Squid."

Ah, yes.

"Hi Squid! How's it going?"

"Oh, you know, can't complain. It's cold, and dark, Jeff nearly got his face chewed off by his dog, and we've been looking for you for hours, but it's going just great!"

"Super! I'm very glad to hear it."

"So where the hell have you been all this time?"

"Well, you know ... out and about."

"Riiight. It looks like something tried to eat your shirt. Did you get into a fight?"

"Hmmm, I don't think so. I would have remembered that. I'm pretty sure I just had a nice walk, and then a little nap. I feel quite refreshed now!"

"If you say so. I'm glad at least one of us got some sleep tonight. Now let's get back to the camp, Jeff and the others want to leave at dawn."


During their walk back, Squid kept a slightly anxious eye on Cosmo; he seemed fine, but you could never be quite sure. There was something a little ... disconnected about him that worried Squid.

Back at the camp, the tall robed figures had already packed everything up and were arguing over the map.

"... fell off a cliff and died horribly. But I'm sure you're right this time!"

"Problems?" asked Squid.

Jeff's eyes glowed a little brighter. "No no, not at all. We know perfectly well where we are and where we're supposed to go, don't you worry. Welcome back, Cosmo!"

More stick figures!

"Hi Jeff. Where are we going?"

"That way." Jeff waved his arm vaguely. "We should reach the space ship the day after tomorrow."

Space ship!

"Is something wrong, Cosmo? Only you just twitched a little when Jeff said 'space ship'."

SPACE SHIP!

"There, you did it again. Are you feeling okay?"

Patience! They mustn't know! Not yet...

"I'm perfectly fine, thanks for asking."

"Good. Let's go and find this ship, then. I can't wait to get off this bloody planet."

"Neither can I, little stick figure. Neither can I..."

"What?"

"Nothing."

Muhahahaha.