Mindnet-Page4

Mindnet as reviewed by kalinara via the Pretty, Fizzy Paradise Blog continued....

---

---

Kilbane apparently is inside and trying to use the Mindnet. Sorry Ryker, but I think you have to HAVE a mind to net. Shane kicks in the door and they run to Kilbane, who cackles and reveals both himself and the Mindnet on his head to be a fake. Metal walls crash down, trapping the Rangers. Then the floor opens beneath them. When they land, they're in the Ranger Uniforms, the discarded disguises strewn about. Kilbane cackles and greets them. The Queen is there as well, and reveals she'd planted the images in Niko's mind to draw her here! Uh-oh! I underestimated you, Queen!

Kilbane and Gooseman have their own sort of bizarre brotherly reunion. Kilbane gloats that the "Runt" is "still a loser." Shane calmly retorts that he's still the man that Kilbane never beat. The Queen however is having enough of this and wants the rest of Mindnet. If they won't give it to her, she'll burn their minds out of them. The Mindnet starts to glow, and the men start groaning and recoiling, but Niko taps her badge. The other rangers quickly put their hands together to lend her their power. The Queen's got another attack though, and she blasts them apart.

Goose has an ace in the hole though. Because the only thing more powerful than Mindnet in this room is Kilbane's ego. He challenges him to a one-on-one fight "like the old days." With the winner getting both halves of Mindnet. Niko protests, and the Queen is offended by the defiance. But Kilbane is intrigued. It takes one accusation of fear, and Kilbane's ego wins out. The Queen vetos, but Kilbane points out that she has them either way. So he wants to fight. I want them to fight too. A super-soldier...sorry "Supertrooper" vs. "Supertrooper" fight ought to be a blast. Even if "Supertrooper" still sounds silly and makes me start singing Abba. The Queen decides that this looks interesting after all, and we soon see why, as the two genetically engineered fighters stand shirtless in the middle of a big room. I'd judge, but I'd totally make men do that if I had the power to. She tells them that there are weapons in the room, if they can reach them.

	In the arena, Gooseman wants to know about the other Supertroopers: "Gravestone, Dark Star and the rest." Supertroopers have weird names. Kilbane retorts that Goose shouldn't worry. They'll live longer than him. Looking at them side by side, Kilbane appears to have a slight size advantage. He's kind of pasty though.

Kilbane attacks first with his halitosis attack. Goose counters via badge, and goes kind of lizardy. Kilbane pops his claws. Goose gets a good hit in, but it enables Kilbane to grab a weapon first and shoot him. But then that's what bio-defenses are for, and now he's an ARMORED lizard-bug thing. Kilbane rambles about Goose being the weakest and not being good enough to be a Supertrooper, while Niko watches with concern. Aw. Goose reverts and from the peanut gallery, Zach mutters at him not to use his charge up.

The two characters have very different fighting styles, interestingly. Kilbane's more of a brawler, I think. Using brute force and strength. Shane's style has more gymnastics and skill.

Kilbane is not without transformative ability though, and when Shane challenges why he's the one backing away, Kilbane uses it to get all scary and ogre-y. He dives at Goose, who leaps out of the way, and kind of headfirsts himself into the wall, reverting back to Kilbane in the process. Heh. Both get their hands on weapons, which quickly run out of charge, but not of knives to poke out of the top! Awesome!

It's funny that the others keep urging he save his charge, but except for the first time, Goose really isn't making any move toward his badge. It brings to mind what I said about what New Frontier indicated about their use of their abilities. Doc and Niko (and now Zach) use their abilities as tools, so naturally, they expect in this situation, Goose to be using the charge for an advantage. But Goose has never been like that with his abilities. As far back as New Frontier, we've seen that his use of his power is automatic and fairly unconscious. But it also only tends to be when he NEEDS to use it. Otherwise, he's perfectly fine with using the multitude of other destructive skills at his disposal. They're projecting their own tendencies onto him.

Anyway, Kilbane's technique doesn't work very well for blade fighting, and despite a halitosis attempt, our man Goose is victorious. Shane urges Kilbane that "it doesn't have to end this way" and "we can help you." "And be like you? A slave?" Kilbane retorts. The Queen's had enough of vague homoeroticism and puts an end to it, by claiming the Mindnet back, as they never made the bargain with HER. Niko agrees. She can have it if she lets them free. Of course, she has a plan. The Queen agrees.

When the Queen's presented with the other half of Mindnet, the Rangers are freed (sadly, Kilbane and Goose are clothed again), and Niko warns cheerfully that she should use the low setting. The Queen is not inclined to listen, and as she places the Mindnet on her head, the Rangers gather around and share power, so Niko can shield them. Meanwhile, the Queen and Kilbane, both in the range of the Mindnet, get a glimpse of the other's thoughts. Naturally they intend to double cross the other, while even the robots are having issues of ambition. The Queen and Kilbane begin fighting over the cylinder component of Mindnet as the robots fight too.

The Rangers watch and then fight. Doc gets to punch two out, while Niko gets a fun somersault kick on another. Zach punches out a slaver lord, which must be cathartic. Shane, for his part, faces Kilbane, who's in the midst of a number of robots. Kilbane cryptically announces that "WE know you're coming after us, and I'll be waiting for you." With a surprising guttural scream, Goose attacks the robots. Kilbane escapes though. Niko tries to stop the Queen, but gets grabbed by a Slaver Lord. Fortunately, Buzzwang (the robot) saves her ass by swiping Mindnet and whamming the evil robot with it. Yay, Buzzwang!

• 
• 
• 

	But I'm distracted by Shane and Kilbane, as Shane tells him to WARN the others. He's not a supertrooper anymore and won't be again. Kilbane demands then to know what he is, if he's not human NOR a supertrooper. Gooseman, of course, answers that he's a Galaxy Ranger! Yay!

Back at Longshot, it's revealed that the Mindnet was damaged when Buzzwang saved Niko with it. Zach doesn't necessarily think this is a bad thing though. The Doctor says they won't experiment again without better safeguards. Walsh is just happy that the Board had to recognize Goose's innocence.

The Doctor points out that a lot of Longshot's inventions could use "unusual people" to test them. Shane likes the idea of an inside hook-up to more things to blow up. Doc is more skeptical, but is open to the idea of useful inventions like "stunt clones" and video for robots. Everyone laughs and the episode ends.

---

Previous: Page 3

Next: Page 5