[upbeat sci-fi music playing]
[gasping]
[squeaking]
[Bing'Zoink] We're back with the developing case of Dr. Sleech,
who lied about her medical history to become a surgeon.
The question everybody's asking now: is Dr. Sleech a Pluriform?
[Sleech sighs]
Just tell us you have the disease!
We can't force her to disclose.
Fine. Then we'll just have to shut down the hospital for further investigation.
Wha-- Shut down the hospital? I-Indefinitely?
You can't close the hospital. Test me. You can test me.
[crowd gasping]
[shaky breath]
- She's clear? - Huh?
[laughs] She's clear!
- She's not a Pluriform. - [cheering]
Wait, what? I mean, obviously. [laughs]
The hospital can remain open.
[cheers, sighs]
[screaming]
- [pained grunts] - What?
[Flork 2] Uh-oh!
Sleech?
[Radha-900] There are two of them.
What? Is-is that a clone?
Uh... Can't prove it if I'm melted.
Your wife will never love you, Ponko.
Clones forever!
[gurgling]
Is this all a joke to you, Dr. Sleech, huh?
The careers of your colleagues, the safety of your patients?
- No, it's very important. - [grunting]
- I'm a Pluriform! - [gasping]
[squawking, crashing]
I hid this so I could live the life I wanted and become a great surgeon.
"Great" seems like an overstatement.
I refuse to live my mom's fate.
I'm done hiding in the shadows.
A-And I hope other Pluriforms will join me.
If there are... any of you out there.
Because if not, well, then, this speech has less oomph.
[laughing] Whoa!
I am not in control of my limbs!
[gasping]
This is a mockery. Go after her!
Due to this gross negligence,
your hospital will be shut down until further notice.
And anyone working there will be at risk of being penalized. Yeah.
Did I use that word wrong again?
♪ ♪
I'm done hiding in the shadows.
A-And I hope other Pluriforms will join me.
[exhales sharply]
Because if not, well, then, this speech...
[upbeat sci-fi music playing]
[sniffing, sighs]
[yelping]
[Sleech] I hope other Pluriforms will join me.
[screaming]
[commuters screaming]
Whoa!
[squelching, screaming]
[growling]
We support and empower our Pluriform friends,
e-even though we participated in questionable testing on them
and have archaic laws that directly contradict that sentiment, okay?
- Oh! Uh-oh! - [screaming]
Trust us, everything is under control.
Oh! Oh, no!
[mysterious sci-fi music playing]
[panting]
[grunting]
- [yelping] - [gasping]
[panting]
You know, you can just use the back door?
Eh, this is more fun.
I wish the clone had worked.
Me, too. I wanted her to build a life with Flim. [grunts]
Make memories. [grunts]
And in like five years when we find a cure for me,
I could kill her and take her place.
- You're such a romantic. - [grunts]
Ugh. I can't handle this!
Being totally out of control of my body?
I love control. And my body.
[crashing, squawking]
Plowp. You're here.
Of course I am. You're in trouble.
- [crashing] - [grunting]
- Oh, hey. - Hi. [chuckles]
- Oh, my shirt ripped. - [clears throat]
[screaming, grunting]
Um, hello.
Oh, goody, the whole gang is here.
Aw, gee, y-you took my entrance.
Okay, no. [chuckles]
You all need to leave.
You could all lose your jobs for being here.
We're willing to take that risk.
I know what it's like to have no control
[straining] over parts of your body.
What are we talking about? Me? Who?
Oh, did you know you're in this?
Everyone's here for you. Let them help you.
[breathes deeply] Fine.
But you're all going to make a lot of mistakes
and I am going to criticize you.
[intriguing sci-fi music playing]
[electricity crackling]
Why do you keep watching that? My mom looks miserable.
I just... I recognize this book.
That's volume three of St. Cthonk's medical journals.
I can't stress enough, we dated.
It is. I knew I recognized it.
Why would they have that during a Pluriformosis study?
"Several of the children have melded
with the items they have teleported with..."
[Cthonk] ...and the genetic residue of the Yagops.
Little fools.
It appears the test subjects are now randomly morphing
between their original form and the mutated form.
Once again, a perfectly nice day ruined by children."
Morphing was a side effect of St. Cthonk's teleportation?
Cthonk created the first Pluriforms.
He's responsible for the entire disease.
I would never have dated Cthonk if I knew about this.
Or the testing on children. Or the commitment issues.
Wait, there are pages missing.
If we could get Cthonk's missing data,
maybe we could find another way to save you.
How would we even find him?
Easy. He keeps asking me to wire him money.
-[shouting] - Trust us--
[Radha-900] Oh, boy, we look real bad.
Uh-oh, are we real bad?
I mean, frankly, keeping Pluriforms out of certain professions
was supposed to be a stopgap while we pursued a cure.
But the cure never came and although the laws have kept people safe,
it's time for them to change.
Except for Dr. Sleech, who if we find, we will arrest.
- Oh-- - I'm surprised you think
the laws should change.
I know I have an evil vibe,
but I was here making positive changes to the GHU
since before you were born.
I'm 600 years old, you know, so--
Wha-- you're 600 years old?
Ah, what is your skin care routine? Please, tell me.
[laughs] Oh, well, uh, uh, just a cream with, uh, with Faanzu excrement,
- uh, some Sclobian fungal oil, - [sighs]
and-and of course a rigorous feather preening morning and night.
- Ah. - I use beetle soap on my nasola--
He asked me, Radha-900, so... Okay, back to work.
I use beetle soap.
[upbeat sci-fi music playing]
[squawking]
I can't believe Birdsalot Snakeface is a Pluriform, too.
It was right there in the name.
Wait, why are you packing?
- I'm, uh, going to get my mom. - What? No.
I need to show her that I'm okay.
You're too vulnerable right now.
I know, but Klak, if we figure this out... I can save her.
And you can't stop me.
[screaming]
Um, I didn't mean to leave that dramatically, it's the tentacles!
Whoa!
This isn't part of the plan!
Go with her.
Well, that was fun, but I'm dressed to be seen,
so let's get started.
Okay, everyone understand their jobs?
No.
[sighs] I'll go over it one more time.
While Matt and Nerlo find Pluriform volunteers for our clinical trial,
the Florks, Ovu and Nurse Tup
will prep the hospital for their unpredictable forms.
With Plowp monitoring,
Azel will do what they have to do to gain access
to the Head of UniYum Security.
I'm sure it will be stressful, dangerous work.
I am inside the fancy secret orgy.
[beeping]
[chuckles]
[chuckles softly]
[Flak] Once Zypha has access to the Botanigalactic Gardens,
she will steal a clipping of the Thistle Whistle.
We should be able to use its stasis-inducing sap
to completely stop a Pluriform's cells from morphing.
This would keep a Pluriform stable in one shape.
Meanwhile, Sleech has of course gone rogue
and with Vlam on tentacle watch,
will return to Pweek to hunt for her mom.
- [both screaming] - [zapping]
[screaming]
[hyperventilating]
[grunting]
[screaming, grunting]
[bones rattling]
- [growling] - [gasping]
[beeping]
[growling]
[screaming]
Mmm.
Oh. Sorry, Mom, hi. We thought you were the Beast.
You're okay.
I'm okay. Uh, this is Vlam.
It's an honor.
Hello. Welcome to my hole.
This is the safest place for you, Sleech.
I can reinforce the exits,
and I have enough dried and canned Grunks to last us years.
You're into canning now? Never mind, I have a plan.
I'm going to cure you. You won't have to hide anymore.
Sleech, no. We're safe here.
But we could use your DNA not only to save you, but to save her.
[moans]
[tense music playing]
[Klak grunts]
[sighs]
Uh...
[whimpering]
[groaning]
[eerie music playing]
No. You can't be dead, I need you.
What?
I'm going to die here.
[contemplative music playing]
- [growling] - [screams]
[gasps]
[laughs]
[crowd shouting over video]
[shouts]
Hey, why are people working at the hospital we shut down?
Do you two know?
[tense music playing]
- [gasps] - [Cthonk] I told you it wouldn't work.
- And they call you a-- - Cthonk.
- Yes? - Yes?
Why are you never actually dead?
I know you created the first Pluriform.
Uh, why is your clone bleeding so much?
- I like it. - This genius thought we could live forever,
but now look at him.
[gargles]
Press the button and say good night, Yabadab.
Have I ever gone out without a fight?
[shouts]
[groaning]
Onto the next clone.
[all] Hello!
- Hello, hey. - Uh...
[Cthonk] Aren't you proud of me?
I'm testing on adults for once. Totally ethical.
I'm going to live forever.
[cackles]
[coughing]
- [air hisses] - [panting]
Now... [gasping]
what did you say about Pluriforms?
Because they can't prove anything in court.
I'm not going to turn you in, I just need your data, your records.
The pages missing in this book.
You're like me, you've got a hunger and a death wish.
I hate when you say I'm like you.
I'm trying to save my friend.
I had a friend once. It was awful.
Will you help me or not?
- Where's your data? - The safe.
It's where I keep everything dangerous and brilliant.
It's also where I keep my sandwiches.
Can you open it, please?
- To help me? - Oh, no, no, no, no, no.
But idea! You could help me--
[coughing]
[panting]
Uh, ooh...
- Kill him, Klak. - Make it a slow death.
I'm not killing anyone. Help me and you can have this back.
I don't help people.
So go on, kill me.
What? There's a very easy solution. Just help me.
You know my motto: "No."
[thuds]
[gasps] That's my girl.
[thuds]
Oh, no.
- I am like you. - [air hisses]
Oof.
[grunts]
- They're here. - Boo!
Kill me, I'm right there.
Wait, this is just a list of names for the disease?
"Cthonk's Disease"? "Cthonkluenza"?
"Cthonk's Whoopsie"?
"Cthonk's Whoopsie" was my favorite.
Hey, could you hand me a sandwich?
[suspenseful sci-fi music playing]
Plowp, what's going on?
Uh, I'm pretty sure everyone is scared and also has failed.
- What? What are we gonna do? - [whimpering]
- Is this your mom? - In one of her forms.
It's lovely to meet you. Your daughter was a complicated, sensual,
- athletic part-- - Plowp.
[groans]
- [pounding on door] - [all gasp]
It could be the GHU.
Are you the GHU?
No?
Well, I don't believe that at all.
[dramatic music playing]
Try as you might, but you can't stop--
The ambition of these wonderful doctors and scientists.
- What's happening? - [chuckles] Shh, shh, shh.
The GHU wants you to know that our biggest priority is the health of our citizens.
Especially our citizens who are multiple citizens: Pluriforms.
Like you, we want a cure.
So, we've partnered with Dr. Sleech and Dr. Klak to find it.
[chuckles]
- Explain, Flim. - They caught Azel, who convinced us
that seeking a cure with you was good PR for the GHU.
And it is. We can help you.
And the GHU has a lot of money to throw at this.
Like, a lot.
Like, "a lot" a lot?
Ugh, and those incredible facilities.
[gasps] No, no, no.
I will not allow my mom to go back to the GHU.
They poked and prodded her,
they put her in intense environments,
they didn't give her a single Grunk--
I'll do it. I'll go.
- Mom. - It's decided.
Plus, it's the only option we have left to cure you.
- [sighs] - [door opens]
[exhales] I have the illegal cutting...
[laughs] Oh, the GHU is here. I mean...
I have the...
illegal cutting.
[sighs] I'm really bad at lying.
[upbeat sci-fi music playing]
Any word from Klak?
Her body cam just came back on-line.
[whimpers] Can't feel my hands,
can't feel my feet, can't feel my nose.
I'm going to die.
Good, she's okay.
Please make me a copy of that.
Ha!
This is our first trial drug
in the fight against Pluriformosis.
We are going to put the disease in stasis, permanently.
And our first test subject will be my mother.
Ready, Mom?
If it helps you, Sleech, yes.
This could keep you stable in one form-- this form-- forever.
Just this form?
Forever? [chuckles] Okay.
These things are never foolproof,
but we are very confident she won't morph again.
[all screaming]
Oh, you're all screaming. [chuckles]
I can only hope that's because you're so excited
she has stayed one shape behind me.
[shouts]
[all screaming]
[whimpering]
[sighs]
[shouts] They're not responding to anesthesia anymore.
- No, no, no, no... - Whoa!
[shouts]
[roaring]
[others screaming]
- [♪ R.E.M.: "Everybody Hurts"] - ♪ When your day is long ♪
[sighs]
♪ And the night...
[exhales]
[moans]
[panting]
I saw you on the news.
I'm so sorry it didn't work, Sleech.
There's no cure, Klak.
This is probably my last night as me.
Beautiful me.
- [moans] - No.
But I made a sad playlist.
- Absolutely not. - [music stops]
I climbed a mountain for you, and it was truly pointless,
but I didn't give up, and you are not about to.
I have to give up.
Like me, my disease is unique.
Special, brilliant, stunning. [laughs]
What was I talking about?
[sighs]
If you were your own patient, you would never give up.
You'd stop at nothing.
Can't you just imagine that I brought you you as a case?
Ugh. Now I'm letting down hypothetical me.
[growls]
[creature screeches]
I wish I could cure her.
Yeah. It's hard not to be able to save someone you love.
- Whoa, your hands are freezing. - Don't worry, I'll be fine.
The cells are just working a little slower right now.
- [both gasp] - Our first treatment
tried to completely stop the cells from morphing,
which only made them react more aggressively.
What if we don't try to stop them?
What if we just try to slow them?
If we can freeze the cells to a temperature that doesn't paralyze them--
It might work to slow the time between morphs.
So changing forms would be less frequent, and easier to predict and manage.
- Ooh! - [laughs]
[both panting]
[contemplative music playing]
[growls]
[shouts] Hi.
Mom, we did it. We found a treatment.
Really? [gasps] That's incredible.
You can still be a doctor.
What? Yeah, but I mean, for you.
You can be you all the time.
Oh.
Uh, wow. Me.
Isn't this amazing? We can do it together.
I-I don't think I'm going to do it with you.
Oh, yeah, of course.
I'll go first, and you can see if I get, you know, dead.
No, no, it's not that.
I-I...
I don't want your treatment.
I don't understand.
Who wouldn't want to completely control everything
about their cellular makeup?
Do you know how I escaped when I was young, being held here?
The Beast got me out. She saved me.
I can't just erase her.
Sleech, I'm not just this one form.
I'm all of them.
I don't--
Managing the disease will make your life better.
It won't do that for me.
Plus, if I was suddenly me all the time,
I'd always have to know how much of your life I missed.
Why did you come here if you didn't want help?
[laughs] I came here for you, of course.
To help you.
Because of, you know, the, uh... [babbles]
[laughs] I'd do anything for you.
Even if that's not always obvious.
It's okay. The world wasn't made for me.
It should be.
Oh, Sleech.
- Uh... - [both sigh]
Huh? Wh...
You always shift right before I say something meaningful. [chuckles]
Eh? [shouts]
[cackles]
- You okay? - No.
I'm gonna have to pay for that window.
But I have an idea about how to use the GHU's research funding.
[roars]
[chuckles]
- [roars] - [shouts]
I'm excited to hear that idea when you can talk again.
[chuckles]
- [dance music playing] - [laughter]
[both laugh]
[high-pitched cheering]
[laughs]
- [chuckles] Amazing likeness. - Ooh.
[Teeb] So, the long-awaited cure
isn't a cure so much as a slowing down.
- Exactly. - For those who want treatment,
we found a way to suppress flare-ups:
this little patch that I wear all the time.
And I see the GHU is taking all the credit.
[Teeb laughs]
[Sleech] Yeah, they're morally gray, huh?
Thanks to Sleech, all that GHU money
is going into making infrastructure more accessible for Pluriforms.
Fireproof buildings, Malleable Transit Bubbles,
cute clothes that morph with you so you don't end up naked
- on a Tersker Ball field. - Happened to me.
And your mom?
My mom decided to forego treatment.
But at least now it's a choice she can make.
I truly appreciate the follow-up. And I'm off.
I have a date with someone else whose relationship fell apart
because they work too hard.
Oop, they canceled. What a relief.
Congratulations on everything, Dr. Sleech.
And on getting your medical license back.
- [both sigh] - I can't stop trying to impress her.
I feel like I do a weird voice around her.
Same, I didn't blink for that entire conversation.
- Do you want to talk about your mom? - Nope.
- You got it. - [Matt laughs]
She's her lover and her clone?
[chuckles] I never got that.
[shrieks] Oh, no. My third puberty.
No, no, no, no, not at a party.
Not in front of my friends.
My, my, my, there they are.
Congratulations, Dr. Sleech.
And congratulations to Dr. Azel on this apartment.
I mean, how much money did Nebula pay you?
A lot, huh? It's expensive.
Ooh, look who's here.
In light of all our recent success, we've added a new surgeon.
[Flork 2] Oh, hello.
- Who's that? - Wowf.
Did you just say "wowf"?
[laughs] I told you you'd like him.
He's one of my clones.
- That's a young me, baby. - [alarm sounding]
Oh, the GHU found me again.
Bye, Klak, I consider you my daughter.
Oh!
My wall.
Huh. You'd think he would have teleported.
I'm not like him, am I?
[upbeat sci-fi music playing]
♪ ♪
Chirp.