While on the way to deliver the package that L.A.W. handed them, the duo get a distress call from Scratch and become contracted to help him too. Now Beebs has to make sure that Scratch and Shrike aren't at each other's throats while also having to deal with an unwanted visitor that Scratch brought with him.
Tropes:
- Blatant Lies: Scratch claims to Shrike that the damage done to his ship is part of a "new interior deco."
- Call-Back: The Lythop Genocide in the last episode shook Beebs pretty badly, as he and Shrike were partially responsible for it, even considering Dr. Agnes mislead them. He fears he isn't cut out for the mercenary life because of it, but fortunately, he realizes how good he has it after saving Us from the corrupted Them.
- Chekhov's Gun: Early in the episode reveals Beebs had been teaching Shrike how to play guitar so that he could have a healthy hobby, even if Shrike isn't good at it. He eventually finds out playing the guitar allows him to communicate with the Agari Us. When his arm malfunctions and renders him unable to play, Shrike has to be the one to play so that they can talk with Us.
- Comedic Strangling: When the crew is hurdling toward a sun, Shrike begins to take his anger out by choking Scratch. He continues to do this even after they are saved by Us.
- Convection, Schmonvection: Downplayed. As the Bucket is headed toward a star, the heat is enough to pop floating popcorn seeds, but has no other effects besides Beebs and Shrike sweating.
- Cosmic Horror Reveal: It's revealed that the goofy sci-fi galaxy of Monkey Wrench is currently in the process of being devoured by a nameless Cataclysm, a voracious black-and-green mass that turns everything it touches into an extension of itself. A whole quarter of the galaxy has fallen, with the infected area so thoroughly overrun that it looks like an unimaginably vast cloud of dark green smog. Unfortunately, that package from L.A.W. contains a sample of the Cataclysm, and a tiny shred of it escapes to cause chaos on the Bucket.
- Funny Background Event:
- As Beebs is talking to Us, Scritch is seen looking around, presumably wondering who he is talking to.
- Shrike tosses Scratch aside. The next shot shows Scratch floating in the air, bouncing off the wall with an audible squeak.
- How We Got Here: The episode opens up with the bucket flying towards the sun while Scratch and Shrike panic as Beebs plays guitar and Scritch hangs on for dear life. Then we get a 2 hours earlier transition.
- Exact Words: Scratch promises to clear Monkey Wrench's debt after they "get him out of [the] mess" he got himself into with Us. Twice, he tries weaseling his way out of rewarding the team with some specific wording:
- Even after being saved from Us' initial attack, Scratch comfortably moves the goalposts because he technically hadn't outlined the terms of his agreement. He now expects Shrike and Beebs to deal with the fallout of his "mess" by escorting his wrecked ship elsewhere for repairs.
- Once the conflict with Us and Them is resolved, Scratch still refuses to keep his word. Beebs had the foresight to record this promise, so Scratch is forced to follow through lest his boss hears about his dishonesty. He ultimately pays the duo their dues... but because they have multiple debts and no one clarified which one Scratch should clear, he saves some money by paying off the least pricey one.
- Lethally Stupid: A flashback plays during Scratch's explanation for why Us and Them are attacking him. His first instinct upon meeting the two is to fire a warning shot into the air, without any regard for where it might land. It hits a fuel tank just above him, causing it to expel its contents and rocket forth into Them, splattering them apart and provoking Us into attacking Scratch and Scritch.
- Mercy Kill: When it is clear that Them is far too corrupted to be saved, the Mercs use the Bucket to save Us and send Them into a nearby star to end their suffering.
- Never My Fault:
- Scratch refuses to accept any blame for the Agari being after him. Even when Beebs threatens him upon learning the truth, Scratch starts his confession with "Those things started it!". In the end, Beebs has to force Scratch to apologize to Us for what happened to Them. Even then, Scratch's apology is clear he doesn't actually want to take responsibility as he states that Us made him shoot Them.
- In a more minor example, Shrike seems to blame Us for the Bucket's arm going haywire, leading him to tear it off as in the Punctuated Pounding example below
Beebs: You did that one.
Shrike: It made me! - Punctuated Pounding: When one of the Bucket's arms gets infected with the Calamity, Shrike tears it off and repeatedly beats the Agari with it."I'll! Teach! You! To! Wreck! My! Ship!"
- Oh, Crap!: When Scratch finds out that Shrike was the one who responded to his stress call, he is quick to try and bail as he knew Shrike would take advantage of it. This goes even further when he realizes the advantage Shrike takes is to get Scatch to clear his debts to where he attempts to offer discounts on his wares. Of course, in his current situation, Scratch is too desperate to back out.
- Oh, My Gods!: Scratch speaks of a few deities throughout the episode, akin to how one would say "Oh my god."
- Scratch isn't happy upon realizing his distress call was picked up by Shrike.
"Oh please, my beloved primaries, anyone but them!"- After debris falls on him while Shrike is discussing payment, he invokes the name of a different god.
"Trinity give me strength..." - O.O.C. Is Serious Business: When Them is corrupted by the Cataclysm and takes over the ship, Beebs pulls out his weapon and grabs Scratch by the collar, demanding to know why the Agari attacked him in the first place. Scratch expresses his shock that Beebs, of all people, would stoop to Shrike's level, to which Beebs simply replies "It's. Been. A LONG. Day!"
- Self-Serving Memory: Scratch's flashback to when he met Agari Us & Them depicts them as though they were infected by the Cataclysm. However, present-day details before and after the flashback contradict it; Them is only infected after entering the Bucket, and Us, as they confirm to Beebs, is completely safe. It's strongly implied that Scratch's preconceived notions about the Agari clouded his perception, making him think he had to protect himself immediately. To his understanding, all Agari are hostile drones under the Cataclysm’s influence—no exceptions.
- Tempting Fate:
- While Beebs is still lamenting over what they did in the last episode, Shrike tells them that they can't have any regrets over the choices they make and accepts the distress call without any hesitation while again saying "No regrets". Then he finds out the distress call is from Scratch, and he clearly has a look of regret on his face.
- After the ordeal is dealt with, Beebs states their delivery of the package L.A.W. gave them should be smooth sailing from that point onward. What they don't know is that Kara has been alerted about their arrival, and she will most definitely be coming for them for both the package and vengeance for the trouble they gave her with Nobert.
- Unwitting Instigator of Doom: Us only attacked Scratch and Scritch because Scratch swiped their friend who ended up on a Terran picture frame after he accidentally blasted them. Scratch is also responsible for said Agari getting corrupted into stealing control of the Bucket.
- Wimp Fight: Shrike and Scratch briefly engage in a goofy slap fight when Us first sees them.
