Too Close (Enough) for Comfort: Difference between revisions
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==Synopsis==
Equipped with a vibro-compass given to him by the [[Gorkels]], [[Planet Terry]] and his friends make headway through [[Gorkel|the planet]]'s impenetrable forest, aided ably thanks to [[Omnus]]'s great skill in uprooting trees. [[Robota]] offers to take over when he needs a break, but is appalled that Omnus considers it work best suited to a man. Terry tells them to stop bickering, and Robota is quickly distracted when she spots a cute little parrot. Terry has no cracker for "Polly", so he instead offers the bird a space cookie. The grateful parrot takes the cookie and flies away...
Reaching the [[Domed City]], the parrot changes into a vulture that [[Vermin the Vile]] addresses as [[Scavage]]. He tells his master that, as per the prophecy of [[Book of the Gorkels|the book]], alien creatures are approaching to rescue [[Princess Ugly|Princess<sub> (shudder) </sub>Ugly]]. Deciding to check that the princess still sleeps and that his control over the planet is maintained, Vermin radios down to his [[dungeon guard]]. He does not get a clear answer to his question of whether the princess is still sleeping, as the guard is unable to hear him over her loud snoring. Vermin then moves to put some obstacles in the path of his alien adversaries, crossing over to a large computer console called the [[Mayhem Maker]].
Terry and friends come to a break in the heavy woodlands, their only hindrance being a handful of hanging vines that Omnus reckons he'll make short work of. As he tries to swipe them, all three heroes are ensnared by the plants, which reveal hands at the end of each stem. As Terry and Omnus are tickled into submission, the vines prove ineffective on Robota, and she snaps herself free before using her robot ray beam to rescue Terry and Omnus. As Terry thanks her, Robota remarks that she had the last laugh.
The gang presses on, but halts as the ground underneath them begins to shake. A volcano spontaneously appears out of the ground, erupting with molten lava. It's Omnus's turn to come to the rescue, first grabbing a vine and then his two companions to swing them all to safety. When Terry says that someone mustn't want them to reach the Domed City, Omnus growls that he'd like to meet that someone.
Their next obstacle appears to be a simple stream. Terry deploys an aqua-analyzer, which bobs on top of the gentle water and tells him that it is only two feet deep and absent of hostile life forms. The three of them wade in, unaware that they are being watched by Vermin. The villain pulls a lever on the Mayhem Maker and the placid water suddenly froths up into a whirlpool. Spinning rapidly, the vortex launches them out into an aquatic prison Terry calls a bubble cell.
The bubble cell lands at the outskirts of the Domed City, where Vermin is there to welcome them personally. With the citadel visible now that Vermin has lifted the mist, Terry asks why the city is so named if it has no dome, but his question is dismissed by Vermin, who reckons it must have been written "in that dumb book of the Gorkels!" Terry refuses to recognise Vermin's authority over Princess<sub> (shudder) </sub>Ugly, but Vermin shuts him down; as they have trespassed to the Domed City, they are under arrest – and ''she'' is under a ''rust''! Vermin laughs evilly as Terry and Omnus gasp at Robota, who is succumbing to rapid onset oxidisation...
==Featured characters==
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==Quotes==
"Anytime you need a ''break'', Omnus, I'll be glad to take over!"<br>
"''Huh? Haw haw!'' Best you leave this work to a ''man'', miss!"<br>
"Why, you ''egotistical big ape!''"
:—'''Robota''' and '''Omnus''' on equal rights in the workplace.
'''Vermin:''' "Dungeon guard! Does the princess still sleep?"<br>
'''Guard:''' "''What?''"<br>
'''Vermin:''' "I said, '''''does the princess sleep?'''''"<br>
'''Guard:''' <big>'''"WHAT?"'''</big><br>
'''Vermin:''' <big>'''''"IS THE PRINCESS SLEEPING?"'''''</big><br>
'''Guard:''' "I ''can't'' hear you!"<br>
'''Princess Ugly:''' <span style="font-size:2em; color: white; text-shadow: 1px 1px black, -1px -1px black, 1px -1px black, -1px 1px black;">'''''Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z Z'''''</span><br>
'''Guard:''' "The princess ''sleeps too soundly!''"<br>
"''Domed City?'' There ''is'' no dome! Why is it called the ''Domed City?''"<br>
"Who ''knows?'' It must have been written in that ''dumb book'' of the ''Gorkels!''"
:–'''Terry''' asks a question of '''Vermin the Vile'''.
==Notes==
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