4 Family Photos

Chapter Four Family Photos "Foggy, fly us to the ship, now!" said Abigail. She burst out of the aliens' gardens and paused to let the robot pick her up. "Hold on," said Finn. "We don't know what we're facing, and we don't know how we're going to stop it. If we go charging in there right now, we may not have a chance." "We have about eight minutes of chances, anyway," said Abigail. "Either we go right now or we blow up with the planet." "I just think we should wait a second and come up with a plan first," said Finn. "I'm the captain, Finn," said Abigail. "We don't have time to argue." "Well, I'm the oldest, so...," said Finn. "So that just makes you old," said Abigail.

Finn was surprised. The "I'm the oldest" trick had won him so many arguments when picking capture-the-flag teams back on the Marlowe. "Kids, let's not argue," said Foggy. He followed Finn and Abigail out, and the aliens trailed behind them. "There is no argument, since I'm captain," said Abigail. "Fine," said Finn. But you didn't need a glowing brain to see that everything was not fine. "Doug!" said Foggy, pretending like Finn and Abigail weren't staring each other down. "Great and wondrous Doug. Since you can put words in our heads, are you also able to place pictures?" "Doug can do anything!" all of the explorers heard at once. "You want to see the beast before you face it?" said Doug. "You are wise, metal man. Yes, one moment." Doug's head glowed bright red, lighting up the underside of the trees. A clear picture formed in the explorers' minds, like a memory. The enemy looked just like Doug, but its brain glowed yellow, and it wore an elaborate headdress, like a hat with vines that stretched toward the sky.

"You want us to stop this thing?" said Elias. "Why do you need us? It looks just like you all." "Oh, wait! Sorry," said Doug. "That is a picture of my sister. Hold on, let me transmit the right photo." The explorers suddenly saw photos of Doug's children as babies. Then they saw a scene at the beach where Doug had something that looked like an angry crab latched on to his toe. And then they saw Doug as a child burying his pet slug in his backyard.

"Doug," said Finn. "This is starting to feel a little uncomfortable." "Oh, sorry! I can't seem to find the right— aha! Here it is, sending you the picture now." "We don't have time for this," said Abigail. "I don't know, it seems important to me," said Finn. A new image entered the explorers' minds. But all they were seeing was a small furry creature. "Are you sure this is it?" said Vale. "It's really small." "Yes," said Doug. "And furry?" said Elias. "Affirmative," said Doug. "And it has floppy ears," said Abigail. "The floppiest," said Doug. "And really cute little toes," said Finn. "Just the cutest!" said Doug. "So we have to ask, then," said Foggy. "Great and wondrous Doug: Why are you so afraid of this little creature? And how could a bunny possibly blow up an entire planet?"

"Do not be fooled by its appearance," said Doug. "Many have made that mistake before. It will end all life on this planet in a matter of five minutes and forty-five seconds. So please hurry." "Okay," said Abigail, "all in favor of stopping this little death bunny and then getting back to the Marlowe before supper?" All the explorers raised their hands. They each grabbed on to Foggy as the robot blasted away from the planet's surface. "So long, beautiful Doug!" yelled Foggy. "We will not fail you."

"Try not to die, friends," they all heard Doug say as they flew away. "You very probably will!" The explorers felt a chill run through them. "Doug's the worst," said Vale.