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Episode 5: Part 43

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Episode 5: Planet of the Laugh Track!
Original Characters and Concept: Travers, Kenyon, & Rioux Jordan; Alex & Natasha Gorely; Sam Barnett
Original Story (Trapped on the Planet of the Laugh Track!): Kenyon Jordan
Adapted to Comic Form by: Travers, Rioux, & Kenyon Jordan
Photos: Travers & Rioux Jordan
Background Photos: Search Engine Image Sources & personal photos
Art/SFX/Photo Editing: Travers Jordan
Editing: Kenyon Jordan, Therese Jordan
Social Media Coordinator: Danielle Jordan

3/2/26:
Taking a break next weekend, as it's my birthday! Will be back on the 16th.

Comments from the Tagboard:
03/02/26 12:34 PM
BrickVoid: Back in my day there used to be something similar called brainwashing.
03/02/26 12:32 PM
BrickVoid: The answer also pointed out that electronic devices and websites change the way people think and can influence them indirectly through targeted development of certain ideas that would influence their mindset.
03/02/26 12:31 PM
BrickVoid: I asked an AI if computers could rewrite someone's brain, and the current answer is essentially, "No, not currently." There's no operating system in the human brain for a computer to target, although it might be able to influence it.
03/02/26 12:24 PM
BrickVoid: Happy Birthday Swiftbow! You've definitely got plenty of cheer and happiness to look forward to! :D

Transcript
Panel 1:
Doctor T'Zel: It's not a serious fracture, Andre. But you should be more careful.
Andre Peters: Sure, Doc. I'll try to remember not to break my arm the next time a torpedo strike knows me out of a Jeffries Tube.
Unknown Transmission: Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha!
Commander Dale Zurkett: Zack? Andre? That you?

Panel 2:
Zack Del Rio: Dale! What happened? Who shot us?
    And what are you doing down here?
Dale: Potemkin fired torpedoes. We think it was the virus. We're headed for the shuttlebay to go after her.
T'Zel: I was heading that direction myself when I found Zack and Andre. Injured.
Dale: What about the computers? Were you able to finish repairs?

Panel 3:
Zack: Just before the hit, yeah.
Dale: Good. Then maybe we don't need the shuttles. Once we have main power back, we can scan for Potemkin and transport down with better intel.
Zack: I'm not sure that's a good idea.
Commodore Jeffrey Bannister: What? Why?
Zack: It's the virus. It's evolving... I got it out, but we reboot... I'm not sure we can keep it out. Not unless we shut down absolutely all wireless communication.
Andre: But that's... we'd have to pull hardware all over the ship.

Panel 4:
Zack It's not just that. Doc... that brain scan you took on me... can you send it to my tricorder?
T'Zel: The concussion check? Sent. But I don't--
Zack: Look here... this is my brain wave scan on the left. And on the right... it's the sound wave pattern of the virus.
Jeff: Sound wave pattern? You mean the laughter?
Zack: It only sounds like laughter to our ears. It's computer code encased in an audible wireless transmission.
    But it's worse than that. See? That same sound wave... its in MY brain wave scan.

Panel 5:
Dale: So you're saying....
Zack: It's not just rewriting our computers. It's rewriting our BRAINS.
Jeff: It can do that?
Zack: Well.... yeah. Not quite the same. Brains don't work like regular computers.
    I can only guess at what will happen or how long it will take. Probably different for everyone.
    But the point is... if we don't stop this thing at its source... soon... we may not WANT to stop it.

Panel 6:
Jeff: Then it sounds like we're back to plan A. Commander?
Dale: Agreed. We need that shuttle. The Commodore and I will lead a team down to the planet.
    Ms. Hulyard and Mr. Shrunt, I believe... will insist on coming, too.
Special Envoy Lorraine Hulyard: Indeed, yes.
Dale: Andre... fixing the ship is top priority. Doc: You stay here, too. Figure out how to get that thing out of our heads.
T'Zel: Yessir.
Zack: I'm going down there with you. We've got to find this computer, or whatever it is, and shut it down. If I can access it directly... I'm sure I can.
Dale: All right then. You all have your orders. Let's save this ship.
    And everybody? Absolutely no comic relief.
Unknown Transmission: Ha-ha-ha-ha-ha!
Dale: Sorry.

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