With a sudden buzz, Fred and Barney's phones vibrated in their pockets. The alerts brought a shared gasp from the pair. Their guild in their favorite MMORPG just announced a raid is starting soon! Urgency hit them like a wave and they shared a knowing look.
"Let's try to get to the lab again," Fred whispered, and with that, they hastily exited the auditorium. Their mission was clear, but their path was blocked once more by the same vigilant adults chaperoning the dance workshops. Pleas and attempts at persuasion were futile; the guards remained firm and impassable.
As they turned away, their attention was drawn to a captivating sight. A dance team member, dressed in her tight-fitting leotard and sheer pantyhose, sauntered past the adults guarding the hallway, her cute rear-end swaying rhythmically. A fleeting smile crossed their faces as they appreciated the spectacle.
Their next attempt at the computer lab led them outside the school to the little-used courtyard. Here, the trick Gazoo had played on the security cameras ensured they remained unnoticed. However, the alternative hallways leading to the lab proved just as well-guarded, and they were forced to retreat to the courtyard again. They sat down on one of the faux-stone benches, at a loss for the moment.
"Fred, I think we're going to need Gazoo's help to get past those people," Barney said, scanning the area. "But he hasn't come back yet, right?"
Almost as if summoned, Gazoo appeared, hovering in mid-air with his usual nonchalant demeanor. "Hello, boys. Sorry I've been a bit busy. Do you need my help here?"
Relief washed over Fred and Barney at the sight of their alien friend. They jumped to their feet and eagerly began talking, both at once. Fred launched into their plans for the talent show while Barney pleaded for help to bypass the adult monitors.
Gazoo, with his super intelligence, managed to decipher the overlapping chatter. "Alright, dum-dums, don't worry your pretty little heads about this. I'm not planning on using my magic directly during your talent show, but I'll make sure you get the help you need to pull off a great performance. You should aspire to the same level of slick presentations you've been appreciating today, alright?"
They both nodded with a mix of eagerness and relief.
As for bypassing the adults, he shook his oversized head, condescension emanating from his green face like an unrelenting force. "No can do, dum-dums. They have very firm rules about who gets to walk around the school unsupervised today. My magic can't alter unwilling minds without days of prep-work, you know that."
"But then, who DOES get to walk around the school unsupervised today?" Barney asked, desperation creeping into his voice.
Gazoo's face lit up with a mischievous grin. He made a grand gesture with one hand and declared, "Why don't you two try asking them?"
Following Gazoo's gesture, the boys looked around the empty courtyard. "Um, Gazoo? There's nobody else out here with us," Fred pointed out.
"Right you are, human! I was setting up a joke." With that, Gazoo vanished.
