[Dinosaucers] JL-03: Paul Yearwood and the Little People

[Lord Pouchlaw]

[Dinosaucers] The Jerry Lakes story

[Dinosaucers] JL-03: Paul Yearwood and the Little People.
By Darrel Vanwinkle (Lord Pouchlaw)
March 15th, 2021

Chapter One

Paul had just created a reduction machine with Jerry's Wererat assistance and then after a testing of the device, and it worked to reduce a pencil in size, Paul locked up the device in his project cabinet. Going home for the night feeling good about himself, he forgot to remove a custom rat-fur collar that he had the Wererat to assist him in creating to keep a person warm during cold nights. During the night, the Tyrannos broke into Paul's lab to see what the human nerd had been working on and they took the reduction machine that would lead to chaos.

"We used to be four ordinary teenagers! Until one day. We met some new friends; from out of town! They were called Dinosaucers! My friends and I became the Secret Scouts; allies to these Dinosaucers from outer space! And joined in their battles against Genghis Rex and the evil Tyrannos!

/The Dinosaucers are leaving, Bossasaur!/ /Well! Follow them!/

Dinosaucers!
Dinosaucers!
RAWR!"

The next morning, Jerry woke up in his bed to an unusual silence. There would normally be the sounds of his mother making breakfast or his father watching the morning news before his trip to work at city hall. But this morning, those sounds were missing. Then when he went to get out of bed, he noted that he was in his Wererat form albeit still wearing his human pajamas. "What the? I know I changed back to normal before going to bed. So what gives? I can undo this... Moonrise Jerry." And nothing happened. He was still in his human sized Wererat Guardian form. He grabbed his Secret Scout ring and put it on before activating it. "Come in Secret Scouts. Ryan? Sara? Paul? David? Dinosaucers answer please! Something is wrong this morning! I woke up in one of my Guardian forms and I cannot power down to my normal human form!"

After a few moments of silence, he was glad to hear Paul's voice coming over the secret Scout Ring. "Jerry? This is Paul. I cannot find my parents anywhere in the house. I found their clothes laid out for a day of work, as well as their car keys, wallets and purses as well as my father's itinerary from last night. Both cars are still parked in the driveway. I'll come on over as soon as I get my shoes on. Paul out."

Jerry walked around the house and as he entered his parents bedroom, he saw his shrunken mother and father sitting on the bed waving frantically at him. Jerry knelt down and said, "Paul and I are working on undoing this mess right now, Dad. Perhaps the safest place to be for you and mom is right here in your bed. I don't know why I didn't shrink like the others. Ryan, Sara and David never answered their scout rings. Do you want me to bring you guys some food and water in a small container? I don't think we have glasses in action figure sizes."

Edward Lakes said, "Son, your mom and I will be fine. Just do everything you can with Paul to undo this horrible nightmare."

Jerry said, "Now that I know you and mom are safe, I can focus on saving the rest of the town. Time to go meet up with Paul. I am sorry this happened to you guys." And he left the room.

Waiting on his front porch, he managed a smile when he saw Paul arrive on his Scout Cycle. "Paul. Your parents are not missing; they have been shrunk like the whole town. I found my shrunken parents in their bed; you and I are the only ones full size at the moment. And I think I know why... I added a fail-safe into our reduction machine making it so no one of the Guardian variety would be reduced if the device was used on them. And before that, when I made your Keep Warm Collar for you, I made it out of my own fur. That is why you didn't shrink."

Paul reached up and he touched the collar. "I often forget that I have this on. Good thing, this time. So where do you think the Tyrannos took our reduction machine? It only had the power to shrink objects the size of a large pencil. They had to have taken the device to an amplifier and linked it up before turning it on to cause this wide spread affect over the entire Pine Ridge county valley. Three other towns are in the same trouble we are."

Jerry said as he flicked his tail, "I suspect they took the device to the County Weather tower which has viewing access of the entire county. They would have brought the amplifier there to make use of it fully there. Lava Dome is just inside the county which explains why the Dinosaucers didn't answer. And the Tar Pits to the South are also just inside the county line. The Tyrannos couldn't know that they would end up shrinking themselves when they did this. Boy, are they going to be embarrassed when they have to be rescued."

Paul said, "Good thing you put the fail-safe in without my knowledge, Jerry. I probably would have removed it if I had known about it. You are still my favorite Techie."

Jerry grinned at his human friend. "Thankfully, I'm the only one you know. Now let's go find our device and put it into reverse."

At that moment over the Scout Rings, they both heard Genghis Rex's angry voice. "Secret Scouts, This is Genghis Rex! Terrible-Dactyl is unaccounted for at our base! The rest of us have been shrunk to the size of toys! If you find his worthless tail, feel free to yank it out of his body along with every single scale he has! I don't know what dumb thought crossed his feeble mind! Just undo this horrible event! Rex out!"

Jerry and Paul looked at each other and laughed for a bit before heading out. Paul said, "When it comes to desperation, Rex finds a way to get the message out."

When the boys arrived at the Weather Tower, they saw a jury-rigged amplifier hooked up to their device as it was pointed straight up toward a four way mirror at the top of the tower. But Terrible-Dactyl was no where to be seen at all. Jerry said, "Scenario... Terrible-Dactyl set all this up, turned on the device and began to fly back to the Tar Pits just as the shrink ray began shrinking everything. When he realized that it was affecting him, he either tried to return here or else he crash landed in the tar pits and is stuck." Paul said, "That sounds like something brilliant he would have done. Good thing Rex contacted us about him. So if he is still around," he raised his voice and shouted, "REX KNOWS YOU DID THIS, TERRIBLE-DACTYL! HE IS VERY ANGRY!" Then he smiled at Jerry as he quietly said, "Do the honors, Jerry. I don't know where you put the reverse switch."

Jerry opened up what looked like a battery pack opening and he stuck a claw tip in and flicked a switch inside which caused the blue shrink ray to change to a pink growth ray.

End of Chapter One

[Lord Pouchlaw]

Chapter Two

With the device safely dismantled, Paul and Jerry-Rat returned to Lava Dome to report in to Allo and the others. Allo listened to Jerry give the report and then he turned to Paul and said, "This makes twice you have created a device which almost had everyone at the mercy of the Tyrannos. What have you to say for yourself, Paul? If Jerry hadn't installed those emergency fail-safes in case of this very thing happening, then we would still be stuck as toy dinosaurs. As for Jerry himself, I just got off the horn with Rex and I told him that the newest scout was responsible for getting all of the Tyrannos back to normal size; something he couldn't have done if they had killed him weeks ago. Rex has agreed to drop the ultimatum against you if you stop using the Smiley form when dealing with his people. I mean, now that we have two real Smileys we don't need the copy as much as before." He turned to look at the black boy once again. "I'm waiting for an explanation, Paul."

Paul finally said, "There is no excuse for the lack of security on where I locked the device up at, Allo. I had forgotten how easy Rex's goons could get into my labs behind my back and do stupid things that would often result in landing me on the hot seat. Saying I'm sorry isn't enough. Perhaps I should stop being a Secret Scout for a while since I am a liability to the team. Perhaps a good two-week punishment would do me a world of good."

Jerry-Rat reached over and removed the Keep Warm Collar from around Paul's neck and he pocketed it. "I have an idea on how you can repay society for this stunt, Paul; but make no mistake; this will not be a cake walk. Allo will keep your secret scout ring here while you are doing this two-week exercise. I've been in contact with the Guardians and they agree with my idea. If you are sure you want to undergo this punishment, we can get this started. If at anytime after a week, you are ready to return to active status, simply find your way back to me and we can get you back into the right shape. But as I said, this will NOT be a cake walk. Look how many times I've suffered since getting these powers before you complain about how I shouldn't lay a punishment on you. Allo just wanted an explanation; you started talking about punishments. So if you are serious, then hand over your ring to Allo so we can start."

Allo held out his hand palm-side up and said, "I think Jerry is within his rights, Paul; I only asked you to explain yourself. I would have dropped it after that; you volunteered to be punished. I don't know what Jerry has planned for you, but he did tell you how you could get out of it after a week." He glanced at the Guardian Rat that was Jerry before looking back to Paul once again. "The ring, if you please. The story we will tell your parents is that you are off on a two-week sabbatical to study something sciency. They should believe that."

Jerry-Rat said, "This must be Secret Scouts on P.M.S. month or something. First, Sara nearly blinds her own brother with that powered up scout ring falcon-punch to his visual center. Its a good thing I examined Ryan or else he would have lost his eye sight entirely. Now Paul arranges by accident for a Tyranno to shrink the entire county down to Troll toy action figures. Even Rex referred to the size as Toys. I suspect David will be next to do something outrageous. I want to keep an eye on Ryan, Allo. I am still concerned over his health."

Paul removed his Scout Ring and he placed it into Allo's hand. "I am sorry, Allo. Hopefully in a week, I will make this up to you guys."

He turned to look at Jerry-Rat Guardian. "Now what happens?"

Jerry-Rat asked, "Do you know where the farming community of Graygrove lies? And of the rich fertile lands of Golden Harvest?"

Paul nodded his head. "Yeah, Graygrove is overrun with rats and Golden Harvest is cut off from the human access routes thanks to the recent earthquake we had a few weeks ago."

Jerry-Rat said, "The State is about to send in a force of fumigation experts to kill all the rats with poison in a week and a half. Your mission is to go to Graygrove and convince as many rats as you can to travel with you to Golden Harvest where loads of abandoned clean food is awaiting them. There will be know-it-all rats whom will not listen to you; so target the younger rats so they have the best possible chance to live through the kill strike. You must not tell them that you are a human under a punishment; For this mission, you will always know where Harvest Grove and Lava Dome is located no matter where you are either underground or on the surface. Avoid the surface when you can or we may not get you back alive. For the duration of this mission, Paul, you will be joining the Little People Tribe of Rats. Your name will be Paul Scouting-tail. And now... may Heaven save your soul, Paul... I am sorry..."

"Good luck." And as Jerry-Rat said those last two words, Paul felt as if he was falling through a vortex of vertigo and nausea until he landed on all fours in the form of a common Rat at the entrance to a network of tunnels directly under the farming community of Graygrove. Now he just had to find the other rats. Even if he found a know-it-all, he knew how to temporarily get on their good sides; tell them what the humans were planning to do to Graygrove.

Back at Lava Dome, Allo blinked his eyes as Paul vanished through a shadow hole in the floor which closed up once again as if it had never been there. "What exactly was that, Jerry?" Jerry-Rat said, "That was a direct access planned Backstage trapdoor effect leading directly to Graygrove's tunnel networks. I changed Paul into a common Rat. He will be able to speak only rat while on the mission. Should he return to me in a week, and since I can also speak Rat, I will restore him to his human form and then we will see if he has learned his lesson."

Jerry-Rat then changed back into his human form. "Besides, he is going to have another problem when he returns to his labs after the mission."

Allo arched an eye. "What problem will that be?"

Jerry made a dopey grin (that he had learned from the Were-Kangaroos) at Allo. "Paul and I test shrank a common graphite pencil and after it was small, he placed it into his desk drawer. When the growth ray was activated, the pencil grew to four times its original size. It destroyed his desk and is currently stuck in both walls of the lab building with the destroyed desk in the middle of it."

Allo started laughing at how silly that sounded.

Jerry then said, "With a pencil that size, he will never run out of graphite."

Allo was laughing again and rolling on the floor as well.

End of Chapter Two

[Lord Pouchlaw]

Chapter Three

A week had passed and the first deadline for Paul checking in was approaching. Jerry and Ryan were seated outside of Lava Dome waiting to see if Paul the Rat would show up. They weren't alone of course, Bonehead and Allo were also sitting with them. Jerry said, "He only had a week and half to get the rats over to Golden Harvest. The Guardians implied that Paul could do this. I am almost tempted to go look for him. But I could miss him somewhere in transit. What the guardians thought was doable by Paul, may have been more difficult than they thought. I'll blame myself if he got hurt."

Suddenly Bonehead exclaimed, "I see movement out along the treeline, Jerry. It is pretty small."

Jerry lifted his binoculars and scanned the treeline until he saw the rodent checking the sky and looking both ways to make sure the coast was clear. Jerry got up and rushed out to the treeline before slowing and kneeling down and saying in Rat-Speak, "Paul? Is that you?"

Paul the Rat nodded his head. "Change me back quick, Jerry! They will be here at any moment. Some of the know-it-alls kicked me out after I gave my message all because I wasn't one of their tribe. They've been trying to kill me ever since."

Jerry stood up and said, "Moonrise Rat!" And he instantly changed into Jerry-Rat Man. He then picked up Paul and ran back toward Lava Dome where he sat Paul down just behind Allo and said, "One restoration coming up. How many did you convince to go to Golden Harvest?" Paul said, "At first none, but when I mentioned there was food at the place and the humans couldn't get to it, a large group of weaker and young rats went to check it out as the know-it-alls chased me away from the clan den. I'm so glad you made it so I would always know the way back."

Utilizing the Guardian power, Paul was soon back in his human form albeit smelling like a rat. "Oh man; I better bathe before I go home. I stink like the dirty rats I was running from."

Bonehead said, "I see more rats peering out of the treeline."

Jerry-Rat stood back up and shouted, "On behalf of the Guardians, return to Golden Harvest where you will be safe! There are winged predators out here!" And all of the rats departed.

Teryx then came out of Lava Dome. "Do I count as a winged predator?" She winked with a grin.

Jerry-Rat said, "Moonrise Jerry!" And he returned to his normal human form. "So that's why they obediently left so fast."

Teryx giggled. "I like you better when you are in your Ichy form. But I wouldn't give up the real version for anyone."

Paul headed inside to go bathe since the smell was about to overwhelm him. Only after he was gone did Allo chuckle.

Allo said, "Hopefully he won't ask for a punishment like that ever again. We haven't seen your sister all week, Ryan. What horrible punishment does your parents have her doing?"

Ryan whom still had the eye patch over his eye replied, "Mom is making her help take care of human toddlers at the city day care center. Everyone thinks a baby is adorable and cute until they have to assist in taking are of them and cleaning up their messes. Sara came home one day smelling worse than Paul just smelled. She asked me to make with the jokes before she went to shower off. I couldn't do it to her face. And I was already recovering from one eye strike punch to the face. Apparently rat stench has nothing on poopy diapers."

Allo said, "After Jerry's prediction that David would be next, David has been striving to stay out of trouble by working out in his gym. I have Stego watching him."

Jerry said, "It wasn't really a prediction, Allo. It just seemed like the Secret Scouts were starting to undergo the domino effect right after you guys dealt with your rut." He then felt his texting device vibrating in his pocket and he reached in and pulled out his cell phone and looked at the message from his father. "Uh oh! Looks like it's not over, guys! A swarm of large rats emerged from the woods and they have surrounded Paul's house! This is getting out of hand! I need to contact the guardians!"

Allo said, "I cannot believe that they want Paul back. That is silly."

Jerry stepped over to a smooth and solid cliff wall and he opened the door to Backstage and he went inside. It didn't take him long to find the Wolf Guardians to give his report on what the Rats of Graygrove were now doing. "If they don't return to Golden Harvest, instead of trying to get at Paul, the exterminators will put them under right in Paul's yard. My father, the mayor, asked me to look into this. What are we going to do about these rats? They almost swarmed Lava Dome until Teryx came out and presented herself as the local winged predator."

The Guardians said to Jerry, "You did as we asked of you. We will handle the rats from this point forward. You keep Paul out of their sight and scent range."

Jerry said, "Paul was cleaning himself with pumice and soap and shampoo. He said he stank."

One Wolf Guardian said, "Smelling like a rat was part of the punishment. Hopefully he won't be so quick to volunteer for a punishment next time."

Jerry then remembered something. "I wonder if Paul remembered to remove the rat fur collar I made for him to keep him warm at night. He said he often forgets that he's wearing it. I made it out of my own fur. That won't lead to bad things will it?"

The second Wolf Guardian said, "If your friend Paul is still wearing it during the next full moon, then he will change into a Wererat and have his own fur coat. After that, he will need Grey Huxley's help in getting back to normal. Your fur is magical, remember? And the next full moon is tonight."

End of Chapter Three

[Lord Pouchlaw]

Chapter Four

Jerry then said, "Due to my forgetting what I did before sending Paul on that trip, I removed the magical fur collar from his neck and pocketed it. So he isn't wearing it. I don't think he would want to be a Wererat. Even by accident."

The two Wolf Guardians departed and Jerry chose to go check on Paul. He found him in the showers being helped by Ryan and David. "The Wolf Guardians said that they would make the rats leave Pine Ridge. They said you did good for a task you volunteered for. I hope you never have to do that again. I was really worried about you." He sniffed at Paul. "I think you almost have all of that scent off of you."

Paul then asked, "How come when you are in rat form you never leave behind the loud rat smell and when I was in the form, it stank?"

Jerry replied, "The Guardians told me that the smell was part of the punishment. They both agreed that next time you should think twice before volunteering for a punishment."

Paul sighed feeling lower than a dirty rat and smelling the part. "I hope I lose this smell before my parents smell me like this. They might send me to a doctor."

Jerry remarked, "After we get this smell off of you, just guard your words and be careful what you wish for. I somehow don't think the rats will let you off the hook that easily."

Paul stated, "Don't worry, Jerry; I've learned my lesson."

As Jerry was starting to head out, He encountered Sara whom said, "Hand this to the boys so I don't see Paul naked. This is the industrial cleaner that the professionals use to remove skunk spray scent from dogs. Paul can thank me later. I have to return to town now." Jerry took the stuff in and handed it over to the boys and Paul explaining what it was and whom fetched it. Then he departed again. Sometime later, Jerry utilized his shortcut and he went and did some afternoon training with Mallard before returning home and having dinner with his parents.

That night, Paul in his bed seemed to have a dream that he was with the rats again and they told him that he belonged to them now. They told him that he was both human and rat and couldn't get out of it without magical help. And just before the dream ended, the dreamscape was abruptly interrupted by what looked like a magnificent glowing kangaroo dressed like a doctor. "Ask Jerry to bring yas to me. Or yas will never lose the rat, Paul. It isn't over. Don't wait until tomorrow night." And Paul sat up in his bed in a rush sweating and realizing that his rat scent was beginning to return.

Paul muttered, "Jerry is going to be sick and tired of dealing with me. I thought I had learned my lesson and now this happens." He reached over and tried to call Jerry on his Scout Ring and when Jerry didn't answer that, Paul picked up his cell phone and tried to call Jerry that way. "Unless this is one of Mallard's sexy animal buddies or the Tyranos are up to something and this is Ryan, then make it damned good. It's like two in the morning. I can't just ditch mom and dad for a playful whim. Whom is this?" Paul replied, "This is Paul. I have a new problem so listen carefully." And he repeated what the dream told him.

Jerry grumbled as he got out of bed. "Lord Grey Huxley must have forgotten that it's day time down under but it's night time here in California. I'll take you to him. If the rat scent is coming back, then you sadly might be infected by the Wererat and if you got it from my magical fur collar which I still have, then Grey is your only hope. Otherwise, get used to stinking like a rat every night. It won't go away. You might even wake up in rat form like you had been in during the punishment. I'm on my way. And avoid cheese no matter how tempting and delicious it may look."

Jerry soon found Paul waiting for him on the steps to his outdoor lab building trembling as if he was forcing himself to stay away from the family refrigerator. "You look awful. Let's get you down under."

Paul said, "When you mentioned cheese, I almost went straight for the fridge until I remembered mom saying last night that we were out of cheese and she thought she had gotten a supply earlier in the week."

Jerry hugged Paul. "That's what I was afraid that would happen. You've been raiding the ice box. We need to get you cured or this will never end." And then he opened the magical door to backstage and he took Paul through to Dreamtime's Kangaroo Town and escorted Paul directly to Grey Huxley's clinic. Grey Huxley had Paul strip and then he began examining the black boy carefully. "Did yas bring the magical fur collar, Jerry? Ah may 'ave to use it to make Paul's cure. And yas will lose the collar for the record."

Jerry smiled at Grey. "A small price to pay to get Paul cured of this. His rat scent was coming back after an anti-skunk fluid bath in the industrial stuff."

Grey said, "Tomorrow night in California would 'ave been the super full moon that would trap Paul as a dirty rat forever. Ah think 'e would rather be a sexy kangaroo bloke than a stinky rat."

The Were-Kangaroo doctor dissolved the magic fur collar and examined the result and then he took a sample of Paul's hair and dissolved it as he examined the result. "No doubt about it... this collar combined with the Guardians punishment is the culprit of yer problems. But Ah can undo this. Ah'll be right back. Don't leave, mates." And he teleported out of the office to go do something. When he returned, he was holding a dark brown liquid in one vial and an almost black liquid in another vial. He took some of Paul's blood and he mixed it carefully with each vial before examining the results and then he combined the three samples and he had Paul drink the contents of the serum along with a glass of purified water. The African-American young man nearly passed out on the floor until Grey helped him up on a table and then he aimed a sun lamp directly on top of Paul's naked body. "One 'our, tops, Jerry. Paul should no longer 'ave to deal with the dirty rat now that Ah 'ave given 'im the override cure."

Grey then said, "If anything else magical 'appens to Paul, yas bring 'im back to me so Ah can undo it. My brother only 'andles all-natural problems. Yas can get 'im back into 'is clothes and take 'im 'ome now."

After the hour passed with the sun lamp, Jerry got Paul back into his clothes and transported the young man directly back to his bedroom in Paul's home and put him to bed after changing the stinky rat-scented sheets. Then Jerry popped himself back to his own house to try to salvage the rest of his early morning sleep time. When the morning came, he got up had breakfast and announced that he was going to spend a day with Ryan and their mentor at the lair. His parents let him go and then Jerry headed to Lava Dome to meet up with Ryan and Allo.

Allo said, "I am surprised you didn't kill him for waking you up at 2 A.M. in the morning. Is he finally cured now?"

Jerry said, "If he isn't, I may hold him in place while a Dino stretches his anal ring. Being woken up at that hour was not fun for me nor anyone else. How do the Secret Scouts deal with him and David? I mean, we know that David can be a muscle-bound knucklehead, but a brain like Paul shouldn't be acting like Pee Wee Herman. I hope their problems are not my fault. Everyone was fine until I got these powers. Now everyone seems to be messing up every time Genghis Rex passes wind."

End of Chapter Four