Much like Ikran's epic, Recessional of the Red Dragons, this too was stored away for over 5 years in hiatus. As she was jotting down ideas for the former, she worked on parts of the latter too. In fact, it was roughly inspired by the Simpsons episode, Joy of the Sect, as well as a certain plagiarist.
A Trip in Paradise
Concept art of the 2 new bounty heads, the Drifters, Lyn and Takeshi
It's been several weeks since the Red Dragons War at Tharsis, Mars, and it was just any other lazy day for Trudy and Spike. Suddenly, Big Shots struck a bulletin for bounty-hunting; it's been back on the air thanks to a donation of several Woolongs thanks to the profits they'd earned as veterans for the War. Both Judy and Punch has announced the news that 2 bounty heads are on the loose, Takeshi and Lyn, 15k Woolongs each! And they wanted to brainwash all civilians across the universe, including Tharsis, to relocate to a make-believe planet named Empyrea, and the Master awaits them to attend. At first the two hosts weren't affected, till suddenly they were trying to convince others to do His bidding and they won't have to struggle for loot ever again. Spike and Trudy weren't buying this, and in came Julia.
She was covered in bags of food and supplies, in preparation for the upcoming dust storm. She also came across a suspicious-looking brochure announcing the Master and His false plot. Trudy even tried calling Jet, Faye, and Zero, but there was no response from either of them! Then, Spike and Julia suggested that they should revisit that grocery lot and investigate. Spike took the Swordfish, while the women took Julia's new Zipcraft, the Hearthstone, from the wreckage of her old red Ferrari.
Together, they arrived at a fueling station, and spotted some gatherings of the Master's mindless servants; when in reality, it was the 2 bounty heads leading the show. As their followers, the Drifters, were advancing onto the women most of all, Spike immediately went in for the kill, then assisted by Zero, much to his dismay. He too found the message and even downloaded their mugshots and data; when it came to the Maverick Hunter, he'd never miss a beat of Big Shots! Anyway, he noticed that Jet left the skyscraper while he woke up from his capsule, and he never received the message from him, nor from Faye. So, the guys split up from the gals, as they searched the interior, while the gals searched thru the exterior. As the men spotted an ancient overhead, a couple people attempted to leave, though a spotlight and voice persuaded them to stay and take in the BS the Drifters plotted; Zero gladly downloaded all the data they needed, and he also commented it was no wonder that Televid was made to rot the brain! As for the women, they found some Drifters eating gruel like slobs, and even discouraging others to make them join.
One of the mindless minions persuaded Trudy to join them at one of the picnic tables and eat the gruel, though she refused to do so. Both Takeshi and Lyn then praised The Master for the glorious day and opportunity for their mission; they did spot Trudy not participating and... they tried to singsong about the Bebop to get under her skin! She grew irritated, and she blurted out it was destroyed during the War--then, upon her worst fears, Jet and Faye were leading them! She grew so alarmed, that Julia dragged her away while the guys assisted them to board their ships, although Zero had to pull Spike away as he still had the urge to fight thanks to the remnants of Vicious' tainted blood in him!
While they escaped aimlessly, the group was discussing their brainwashing of Jet and Faye, while Zero analyzed the gruel as it had brain-killing chemicals that degraded cells faster than alcohol! Spike then came across an old, abandoned barn and went thru it. There was a humongous hole at the roof, and in it was an enormous spaceship just waiting to take the neo-Drifters away to Empyrea, while also sacrificing their lives and profits! He came across a brochure and realized the so-called planet on the cover!
He advised everyone to sail to the vast reaches of space, to the end of the universe at the dwarf planet's moon, Charon! Zero and everyone else were astounded that Spike of all people developed a plan!
They went thru the asteroid belt and landed at the facility, excepting the Shuttle since it was a primitive spacecraft. Julia, Trudy, and Spike witnessed the Drifters mining and gathering ice particles, while Jet, Faye, Takeshi and Lyn weren't seen. Spike soon saw Lyn, trying to show off her sleek body to him; Spike was buying it...NOT!! Bullets rang out, while he was looking for something shiny, but Julia was held hostage! They knew that if something should happen to her, Spike'd be at their mercy, and Jet and Faye joined in on the capture! Seconds later, Zero bombarded the place and resuscitated Julia while some of the followers turned onto their enslavers! They took the opportunity, only for Takeshi and Lyn be caught in a tractor beam by Andy!! That dirty dog stole their bounties away!!
As the facility was exploding, Spike stammered in and found a flash drive. He downloaded the content in order to restore the missing profits being sent to the two troublemakers, only to be caught in the crossfire! Everyone was alarmed, though, he escaped by a hair in his spacesuit and ordered Zero to not worry about Julia and save him!
Trudy and Spike were jamming to a song, Born to be Alive, with the cadet thinking if Spike'd sing the bass. The celebration was interrupted as both Jet and Faye wanted to confess something; they landed within Valles Marineras. They blurted out they were only "acting" to work with Takeshi and Lyn as bodyguards, in order to prevent their ways of living never be sacrificed. Trudy, on the other hand, literally punched Faye and ranted to them both of their betrayals, and she won't watch their arses ever again!! She stormed away, and Spike held Julia back in order to give her space. Zero came to the conclusion her faith was shaking and understood the saying.
About a day later, Spike was searching for poor Trudy riding in his Swordfish, till he spotted a small bonfire next to one of the large craters. He knew it was Laughing Bull's camp, and before he went to him, he saw Trudy climbing out and pulling her pants up. He mentioned that Julia, most of all, was so worried, especially on finding her before the impending storm. Laughing Bull sympathized on her going thru betrayal, and eventually she'll have the strength to forgive Faye and Jet; only time shall tell, perhaps when the dust storm's over.
Trivia[]
- This was an inspiration from the Simpsons episode, Joy of the Sect, and perhaps a little from the infamous Adventures of Rocky & Bullwinkle.
- Takeshi's design was based on a member of the Wing Kong from Big Trouble in Little China.
- Lyn Hawkeye Dogma was loosely based on maryjoyg38's design of HER character, the succubus Lyn Hawkeye; an asinine pilot she made for F-Zero riding the Revenge Hawkeye! She's actually the plagiarist from DeviantArt that has soiled so much of the F-Zero communities there, so Ikran used her as an act of revenge!
- Much like the Recessional of the Red Dragons, this too was kept away for about 5 years, till they were developed in mid-2018.
- The betrayals of Jet and Faye were bad inspiration as Krillin and Piccolo betrayed Gohan during the Garlic Jr. saga in DBZ!! She despised them both since that incident!
- The song, Born to be Alive, was an idea when Ikran heard it in Vegas Vacation, and always fantasized Spike singing the bass! Albeit not so well in the oneshot.