Out to Launch - Episode II of the Oxbrain in Space Crossword Adventure

oxbrain.com __ __
Crossword Adventures with Oxbrain

Episode II: Oxbrain is alone in space in an abandoned UFO, but here on Earth, Farmer Breakneck thinks he's just
"Out to Launch"
by John T Sherman
Illustrated by Katie Burgess

_____ In our last episode, Oxbrain was abducted by aliens. They intended to surgically remove his cerebral cortex for study, but held off until they could give him a good washing. All this time our Ox was in peaceful, anesthesized slumber in the medical bay of the spaceship.

_____As luck would have it, the alien craft carrying Oxbrain was spotted by a band of Zatani, roaming outer space in their new, turbo-charged warship. The Zatani, (a roguish and "enterprising" race of humanoids with horns on their heads) were in need of some quick cash to meet the next installment on their warship, and the distinctive research spacecraft of the prosperous Xerxi presented the perfect opportunity.
_____After being threatened with destruction, the Xerxi (who had captured Oxbrain) surrendered. Their craft was boarded, and all the Xerxi crew taken hostage. Inexplicably, Oxbrain was left behind in the now abandoned (but still operable) craft, his captors now captives themselves, whisked away to be ransomed off in another galaxy.
_____Oxbrain awakened in the softly bright operating room. "Hmm, nice minty smell in here. I'm hungry! Anybody home?"
_____ None the worse inspite of his harrowing experiences, he trotted over to the galley and rifled through the many sleek shiny drawers for food, munching on a sweet mass here, spitting out other less-desirable entrees, until sated at last, he stood in the middle of what was once a neat, shiny kitchen, now filthy and cluttered with food, trays, drawers, half-eaten plastic packages and broken bottles.
_____He then ventured into the captain's navigation deck, and was confronted by a bewildering array of control panels, blinking lights and computers. The room was a half-circle punctuated with large portholes, through which he saw crowds of stars of every color in the darkness outside.
_____ "Wow, psychedelic space!" he thought to himself.
_____ As the hours dragged on, he realized that the food would soon run out, that he had better get the spaceship going and steer it back to earth. Oxbrain grew restless and angry. "Why did they just leave me here!? How do I steer this thing? How do I get this thing going?' he groaned.
_____ Raging like a bull, Oxbrain stomped around the ship, causing the lights to flicker, the floor to shake, and a coffee mug to fall to the floor.
_____ "Somebody launch this thing now!!" he bellowed.
_____ Tsk, tsk, Oxbrain. Get a grip. Well, let's see if any of the answers below will help you get launched...

You need Java enabled to view the crossword applet.

| Story continued here... |_

| Home | More Crosswords |