PREVIOUSLY: Stuck in the castle on Transylvania, Dr. Scott has developed a plan so that Brad and Janet can escape. In the meantime, Riff Raff and Magenta's executions are minutes away...
Two male guards grab Brad and Janet and push them
to backstage, allowing the main focus to be Riff Raff and Magenta, strapped
into their electric chairs. They each wear a white coverall, and
are barefoot. Riff Raff has his hair in a ponytail, its long length
draped over his left shoulder. Magenta's hair is downward flowing,
with many curls, and if one looked close they would be able to see traces
of gray on each side.
On the ballroom floor, the Queen, surrounded by
several Transylvanians, has raised her glass of champagne in toast.
"Before we get started with the execution," Queen
Andoria said, "I'd like to make a toast."
Transylvanians raised their glasses up for the toast.
Those that did not have a glass of champagne rushed to get one.
The Queen said, "To the wonderful memory of Frank
N. Furter. He was a great man, and even a greater doctor. When
his mother died, I vowed to raise him and take care of him as though he
were my own. I watched as he grew up and became one of the smartest
men I know. His memory will live on forever!"
The crowd applauded in cheer, and then toasted their
glasses.
The Queen sipped from her glass and then added,
"A year ago, I sent Frank N Furter to earth, accompanied by Riff Raff and
Magenta. Their mission was to see if Earth was compatible for future
Transylvanian life. Apparently, troubled by the length of time the
mission was taking, Riff Raff and Magenta took over control on the mission,
and they KILLED Frank N. Furter in the process!"
The crowded shouted several astounded "oohs" and
"hisses." Riff Raff and Magenta felt all their eyes focused on them
momentarily.
Queen Andoria concluded, "So tonight, ladies and
gentlemen, we are proud to witness the execution of Riff Raff and Magenta!"
The crowd applauded in loud clap and cheer.
As an afterthought, she offered the crowd a final
explanation: "I've chosen electrocution as the choice of execution.
It may seem, to some, a bit primitive to Transylvanian technology, but
under the circumstances, it is the best way to have them suffer in pain."
She nodded towards the stage to an unknown person.
Suddenly a guard appeared center stage, holding
a hinged box. The crowd became quiet as they watched him. He
opened the box and pulled out an item: a battery powered electric shaver.
Riff Raff watched the guard turn to him, and approach.
Turning the power switch on, the electric shaver sounded a continuous hum.
Riff Raff's nervousness increased as the cold metal of the shaver touched
his forehead and began removing his hair in quick strokes. Within
a few minutes, Riff Raff's head was totally shaved.
Magenta became even more nervous, and swallowed
hard as the guard approached her with the electric shaver...
In the control room, Dr. Scott sat in front of the
control panels, focusing his attention of one section only: the red button.
It was encased behind glass, and he had heard the guards mention that pressing
the button would activate a bomb so large it would blow the entire planet
up.
Dr. Scott shattered the glass carefully with his
shirt-covered elbow, and then nervously placed his fingertip on the red
button. There's something I'm forgetting, he said to himself.
Looking the controls over carefully, he realized
what it was: he need to set the timer on the bomb. Pressing a few
buttons, he set the timer for 15 minutes.
An automated voice, somewhat female sounding, spoke
from a small nearby speaker: "Are you sure about set time span? Once
explosive device is activated, the time frame cannot be altered."
"Yes, I'm sure." Dr. Scott answered, pressing the
"Time Set" button. 15:00 flashed on the monitor.
Dr. Scott replaced his fingertip onto the red button,
"Here goes nothing..."
Magenta cringed as the cold metal approached her
forehead to remove her beautiful hair.
"Wait!" a familiar voice called out from the crowd.
The guard stopped before the electric shaver touched one of Magenta's hairs.
The crowd turned to face the person of whom the
voice belonged to. It was Riff Raff and Magenta's mother. She
approached the Queen with haste.
"Your majesty," she said, "I plea to you one last
time. Please save my children from this horrible fate."
Queen Andoria wore a frown of disappointment on
her face, as she answered, "My decision is made, Serena."
"But, your majesty, if I may speak, I've been thinking
about this. There's a thing they do on earth, I am told, that may
prove beneficial in this situation and many future cases similar to this."
The crowd remained quiet, and the Queen nodded her
head in permission.
Serena continued, "On earth, when someone is accused
of a crime, the accused get a trial, with a judge and jury. They
listen to the evidence on both sides of the case. With a defender,
and a prosecutor providing evidence that eventually determine if the accused
is guilty or innocent."
The Queen thought about this some, and then after
a moment or so of silence, said, "Serena, I do appreciate your input, and
while there are many details I still need in considering this new system
of justice, the execution of your children will still continue!"
Then she turned back to the guard with the electric shaver, and shouted
to him, "Proceed!"
The guard turned the shaver back to Magenta.
Just as the cold metal touched her forehead, something happened: a loud
horn rang off in several deep-toned beeps, warning people of disaster.
"What is this?" Magenta asked to Riff Raff, "What
is happening?"
The crowd started to panic as they stood in confusion.
The horns continued, and suddenly a female automated voice echoed throughout
the castle: "Warning! Explosive device 40792 has been activated.
This spacecraft will explode in 15 minutes and counting!" The message
repeated itself again.
"Fifteen minutes!" someone in the crowd shouted,
and then suddenly everyone started running.
IN CHAPTER 15: Remember the guards that have been knocked unconscious? In the next chapter, Janet discovers who has been doing it and why...