The Mojo Dilemma - A Powerpuff Girls Fanfic Part 2

[Sharklady]

--- continued from Part 1 ---


(CUT TO: the phone ringing in the living room of the POWERPUFF GIRLS’ home. PROF UTONIUM walks in and answers it.)

PROF: (pleasantly) Hello!

MOJO’S VOICE: Professor Utonium, this is Mojo Jojo. I need to speak to the Powerpuff Girls immediately. Put me on speaker-phone, if you please.

PROF: Okay! (as he switches over, PULLBACK to show the three PPG’s at the breakfast table, each about to ingest a spoonful of Lucky Captain Rabbit King cereal) Girls! Phone call for you!

BLOSSOM: Who is it?

(Three spoonfuls of cereal go into mouths)

PROF: It’s Mojo Jojo.

(Three mouthfuls of cereal get spat across the table.)

ALL THREE PPGs: MOJO JOJO?!?

(They zoom into the living room; BUBBLES reaches the receiver first.)

BUBBLES: What do *you* want, you bad monkey?

MOJO’s VOICE: (coming out of the speaker-phone) Listen; I'm requesting your help! I’ve been kidnapped by an evil mad scientist- a Dr. Phineas T. Binsworthy- and I need you to come get me out of Townsville’s old Natural History Museum.

BLOSSOM: (snatching the receiver) Just what kind of trick is this, Mojo?

MOJO’S VOICE: This is no trick! Dr. Binsworthy intends to dissect me and convert me into a cyborg-drone to obey his every command. He’s already got hundreds of animal cyborgs in and around the museum, which is why I’m unable to extricate myself from this situation by myself.

BUTTERCUP: (snatching the receiver in turn) Even if you *are* telling the truth, why should we care what happens to *you*? You’re a Supervillain!

(CUT TO Museum Basement. MOJO, in his jumping-up-and-down-shaking-a-fist mode, does not notice when the pack of cyborg-drones enters the basement behind his back.)

MOJO: What does that matter?? You goody-goodies are supposed to render assistance to anybody who requires it, and in my current predicament there is no doubt that I...

(MOJO freezes, hearing the ‘ping’ of antennae. BACK VIEW as he whirls toward the sound, his expression terrified. POV shot of the scorpion tail descending.)

(BACK TO the PPG living-room. The girls display varying degrees of alarm as MOJO’s loud scream sounds over the speaker. It’s suddenly cut off, there’s a ‘THUD’, then a click and dial-tone. With a pained ‘what else can I do?’ expression, PROF hangs up.)

BUBBLES: (truly distressed) Oh, poor Mojo!

BUTTERCUP: Whadaya mean, ‘poor Mojo’? He’s our worst enemy!

BUBBLES: But, it sounds like he's in real trouble!

BUTTERCUP: Then he’s getting his just desserts. I say; let’s leave him to it.

BUBBLES: Buttercup, we owe Mojo for our very existence! Twice over!

BUTTERCUP: Those were accidents! Mojo’s never done anything good on purpose in his entire life.

BLOSSOM: Nonetheless, he did have a point, girls; as Superheros, we’re under obligation to help whoever needs it. Even evil monkeys.

BUTTERCUP: (folding her arms stubbornly) That really stinks! You two can go without me.

BUBBLES: We can’t split up- we’re a team!

BLOSSOM: Right! We may need you, Buttercup. There’s no telling what defenses that Dr. Binsworthy might throw at us.

BUTTERCUP: I’ve got an easy solution to that: let’s *all* stay home.

BLOSSOM: (irked) Hey! Who’s the leader here, you or me??

(For a few noisy seconds, BLOSSOM and BUTTERCUP squabble about leadership issues, and BUBBLES begins to cry.)

PROF: (cutting them all off) NOW GIRLS! You’ve wasted enough time arguing- you’ve got to get over to that museum and rescue Mojo!

(BUBBLES and BLOSSOM beam; BUTTERCUP looks irate.)

BUTTERCUP: Professor, that mangy monkey’s been nothing but trouble to us since the day we were born! Why should we help him now?

PROF: (holding up a finger) One simple reason, Buttercup; without Mojo, this show won’t be nearly as entertaining.

(There’s a long moment of no sound or motion [except blinking] as BUTTERCUP ponders this. Finally, she raises both arms in exasperated concession.)

BUTTERCUP: Oh, all right! Come on, girls; let’s get this over with.

(The three PPGs zoom off.)

PROF: (fondly) That’s my little angels.

(Standard Footage of the PPG’s in Fast Flight.)

NARRATOR: Go, girls, go! Even a crook like Mojo doesn’t deserve what Dr. Binsworthy has in mind for him!

(CUT TO the dissection chamber. MOJO, now strapped down to the metal table, is struggling fiercely against his bindings. BINSWORTHY, meanwhile, is carefully arranging the tool-clutching robot arms above him.)

BINSWORTHY: I really don’t understand why you’re making such a fuss about this, Mojo. As a cyborg you’ll be more powerful than you’ve ever been- I was under the impression you wanted that.

MOJO: Obtaining powers at the price of becoming your personal slave is not what I consider an equitable exchange!

BINSWORTHY: (stepping over to the control panel) You have to expect to give up *something*- that’s just the way the world works. No free lunch, and all that. (He activates the controls; the robot arms stir to life.) Now I suggest you hold still for this; it might possibly be less painful. Maybe...

(The arms, wielding their sinister instruments, start to descend towards MOJO, who, sweating profusely, can only grit his teeth in preparation....)

(... suddenly, a booming crash shakes the room.)

BLOSSOM’S VOICE: Not so fast, Dr. Binsworthy!

(PAN TO the three grim-faced PPG’s, silhouetted against a gaping hole in the ceiling.)

MOJO: (in his habitual angry tone) Oh, the Powerpuff... (he does a double-take; changes to a happy tone) The Powerpuff Girls!

BINSWORTHY: (frowning a bit) Well, well! I wasn’t expecting a visit from you three.

BUTTERCUP: (grumpily) It wasn’t exactly on our social calendar either.

BUBBLES: And just what do you think you’re doing to Mojo??

BINSWORTHY: Nothing that I’d have thought you girls would have any objection to. He’s not exactly a friend of yours, is he? Rather a bad egg...

MOJO: Oh, you’re one to talk! Haven’t you built yourself an army of super-powerful cyborgs for the express purpose of taking over Townsville?

BLOSSOM: ‘Taking over Townsville’? Then you’re just as bad as Mojo!

BUBBLES: (staring in horror at the rows of preserved specimens) He’s *worse* than Mojo! He’s mean to animals!

BINSWORTHY: My dear girl, animal research is absolutely essential to the progress of science.

BUBBLES: (flying right up to BINSWORTHY) Oh yeah? How would you like it if somebody did that to *you* ?

BINSWORTHY: As you yourself are a product of the present state of medicine, you’re hardly in any position to...

(A livid BUTTERCUP interjects herself between the two.)

BUTTERCUP: NO MORE DEBATING!! We’ve already had enough of that for one episode! (poking BINSWORTHY’S nose) Are you going to turn that monkey loose, or are we going to start kicking some tail??

BINSWORTHY: Well, if it has to be one or the other...

(BINSWORTHY reaches under the edge of the metal table, as if intending to undo the straps. But, as a low-angle shot reveals, he’s actually depressing a big red button labeled ‘SUMMON ALL DRONES.’ The girls hear a great sound of pinging and clanking behind them, and turn to see the entire cyborg army is now in the room.)

BINSWORTHY: (fishing out his controller) Then let the tail-kicking, as you call it, commence.

BUTTERCUP: (Gleeful) All right! (She launches herself into battle, her sisters close behind. The first thing she does is literally kick a scorpion-drone’s tail.)

(Fast Fight Montage; the PPG’s seem to be holding their own. At one point BUBBLES darts back to the table, grabs the straps at MOJO’s wrists and tugs until they snap.)
BLOSSOM’S VOICE: Bubbles! Take care of that later- we need you here!

(With an apologetic shrug, BUBBLES zooms back to the fight. MOJO sits up, quickly unstraps his legs, vaults off the table and runs to hide behind an adjacent counter. He pokes his head around the further edge to check how the battle is going.)

(More Fast Fight Montage. The tide is turning against the girls; they’re being worn down by the sheer number of drones, and their laser-eyes are ineffective since the turtle-shells keep deflecting the rays. As BINSWORTHY welds his remote, CLOSE-UP of the wavy lines emitting from it, and the similar lines sparking from the drones’ antennae.)

(MOJO looks up and sees, on top of the counter, a miniature radio-tower, with identical wavy lines emerging from the apex. His expression becomes sly.)

(The PPGs are in trouble now. Dozens of drones manage to grab hold of them, until each girl is immobilized amid a huge mound of clinging cyborgs. Their angry struggling is ineffective. BINSWORTHY pushes the appropriate button; to the girls’ additional dismay, a number of scary-looking cutting-tools unfold from the cyborg’s backs.)

BINSWORTHY: I must commend you Powerpuffs for giving my troops some excellent combat-training. However, I believe one such session will be adequate. What they’re most in need of now is practice at finishing off the enemy. So, if you’re ready...

(The girls aren’t ready; they look like they’re about to scream. CLOSE UP as BINSWORTHY pushes a large black button marked KILL.)

(BACK TO full-room view. For several long silent seconds, nothing moves, except the PPG’s apprehensive eyes.)

BINSWORTHY: Eh?

(He pushes the black button again, and then repeatedly. The cyborgs remain completely still.)

BINSWORTHY: (shaking the remote) Oh, confound it, I just changed the batteries yesterday! What’s the matter with this thing?

MOJO’S VOICE: Perhaps the problem is... (PAN to where MOJO leans smugly against the side of the counter, an outlet-plug dangling from his hand) ... that I have unplugged your transmitter?

(DRAMATIC CLOSE-IN on the hanging plug. The PPGs look to MOJO with delight.)

MOJO: (gloatingly) Yes; I, Mojo Jojo, by the simply expenditure of disconnecting your radio-transmitter from it’s power-source, have by that one action incapacitated your entire army! Without electricity, the transmitter is unable to relay the signals from your control-unit to the intended recipients, and so your drones, instead of taking the actions you are signaling to them, do precisely nothing! (CLOSE-UP of the plug as MOJO flings it to the floor) Your mighty cyborgs are now useless lumps of inert matter!

(FRONT VIEW of MOJO, now in a very threatening crouched-to-spring posture.)

MOJO: (darkly) And now, Doctor; let us determine what *you* are without *your* gadgets and inventions!

(POV shot of the enraged MOJO hurling forward; teeth barred & claws extended.)

(POV shot of the about-to-be-sprung upon BINSWORTHY, looking startled.)

BINSWORTHY: Oh, I sa.....

(They collide. Fast Fight Montage of MOJO giving BINSWORTHY a thorough thrashing. BINSWORTHY takes plenty of damage, but somehow manages to retain hold of his remote.)

(CUT TO the still-trapped PPGs, staring round-mouthed at this display of carnage. With a final loud SLAM, the fight-noises cease. PULL BACK to show MOJO, breathing hard, crouched beside the wreak which was BINSWORTHY. MOJO pries the remote from BINSWORTHY’s misshapen fingers. Growling with fury, MOJO crushes the remote between his own palms, the pieces falling like silver glitter.)

(There’s a general sound of machinery shutting down. The glowing red eyes of the cyborgs switch off, then they all slump limply to the floor, releasing the PPGs in midair. With BUBBLES in the lead, the three of them float over to MOJO, still bent over with his back to them.)

BUBBLES: (concerned) Mojo? Are you okay?

MOJO: (whirling about and waving his arms frantically) No, I am not okay! I am nothing in the vicinity of okay! Okay is the antithesis of what I am! Furthermore, I am in a great quandary and agitation of mind!

(MOJO paces frenetically back and forth across the bottom of the screen as he rants; the PPGs follow him with with their eyes.)

MOJO: As you know, I have dedicated my life to destroying the three of you, since it is you who always foil my power-mad schemes and so forth. But now that you have by your intervention saved me from the most ignominious fate of being converted into a cyborg-drone, I am in your debt, I am indebted to you, I owe you one! And what effect is this going to have on my life-situation? Shall I to have to cease my efforts against you? Will I be obligated give up being a Supervillain- the only position for which I possess any substantial qualifications? (He halts and shakes both fists in the air)
Am I now going to have to become a *Good Guy* ???

BUTTERCUP: Heck, no! The whole reason we saved you is because we *need* a Bad Guy like you around.

BLOSSOM: That’s right! Periodically going up against your unique brand of villainy is an indispensable part of what makes us the Powerpuff Girls.

BUBBLES: Not to mention; your amusingly redundant dialogue is a trademark running-joke.

BLOSSOM: In other words: the best way you can repay your debt to us is to keep right on doing what you’ve always done best. (sweetly) So; do we have a deal?

(Front View of MOJO as he thinks this over. His mouth twitches, he scratches his chin, he rubs the back of his head. Finally, he shrugs, smiling amiably.)

MOJO: Okay! Deal.

(CLOSE UP of MOJO extending his hand; BLOSSOM takes it and they shake. PULLBACK to show the girls all sporting wry half-smiles. BUTTERCUP & BUBBLES are looking askance at each other, as if thinking, ‘We did the right thing, but just barely.’)

NARRATOR: Well! You gotta admit that’s a different way to end an episode.

(CUT TO: Standard Closing Shot of the PPGs over background of pulsating-color hearts.)

NARRATOR: So once again, the day is saved, thanks to: the Powerpuff Girls!

MOJO’S VOICE: Just a minute!

(To the girls’ surprise, a scowling MOJO scrolls up into their space, crowding them to the side.)

MOJO: Aren’t you overlooking someone?

NARRATOR: Oh, yeah. And also thanks to: Mojo Jojo!

(MOJO looks well-satisfied with himself; the girls are somewhat annoyed.)

NARRATOR: (low voice) Like I said, folks; it’s an unusual ending.

(The PPG’s sigh; MOJO blinks, once.)


FADE TO: THE END

[don Jaime]

Mmmm, very nice! It's been too long since I read a PPG. You might want to submit this to the Pokey Oaks Fanfic Library.

A few quibble points: the Chinese cultural display is out of place in a natural history museum; the drones should power down when Mojo cuts the power, not when the remote (which they can't respond to without power) is destroyed; the cartoon self-awareness feels odd with the girls. Minor things, though.

Excellent job. Keep it up!

[Sharklady]

Actually, both the Smithsonian natural history museum and the Chicago natural history museum (aka the Field Museum) have Chinese cultural exhibits. They come under the Anthropology heading.

As to the other items; taking such liberties now and then seems to be part of the PPG format. Remember those couple of eps ("Moral Decay" and "Cootie Gras") when the girls suddenly forgot they could fly?

[Craig Marinaro]

Very enjoyable story! You adapted to the PPG style nicely. Mojo's opening scheme has to be the most vile, despicable plot a cartoon supervillain has ever come up with!

Loved this little reactionary humor:

MOJO: (in his habitual angry tone) Oh, the Powerpuff... (he does a double-take; changes to a happy tone) The Powerpuff Girls!

And of course, the ending was quite silly. But I am a sucker for metahumor.

Always great to see the writers around here trying there hands at something new. Great work!

-C

[Sharklady]

> Mojo's opening scheme has to be the most vile, despicable plot a cartoon supervillain has ever come up with! <

Yeah, I figured you'd appreciate that one.

BTW: You're welcome! to both of you.

[don Jaime]

You mean the big museums do that too? I just thought it was our little nothing natural history museum. Ah, well. I guess it goes to show that museums have no pride and will do anything for a little money and attention.

[Sharklady]

Update: My thanks for your suggestion that I offer this to the Pokey Oaks Fanfic Library, don Jaime. I did so, they accepted it without any editing, and it was posted there a few days ago. I'll be interested in seeing what comments it gets from the PPG fan community.

[freakyfuzzball]

lol very funny story there

[Sharklady]

Thank you, Freakyfuzzball. I did try to keep it humorous.

I have written another PPG fanfic; 'Buttercup's Blunder.' It's one of those "long on dialogue, short (tho not devoid) of action" stories. If folks want, I'll post that one here, too.

But I'm slightly puzzled about the way this first fic was received.

How is it, that Part II got about three times as many hits as Part I ?

[don Jaime]

Post "Blunder!"

Maybe most people read part one in one sitting, but had to return later to finish part two?