Blackgaard's Revenge

Listener advisory The producers warned that a story about the struggle for a young girl's soul may be too intense for younger children.

Connie takes her friend Aubrey into the Imagination Station to see Abraham Lincoln - but the president's face melts into that of Dr. Regis Blackgaard, Odyssey's most dangerous enemy, back from the dead as a program hidden inside the machine. Whit orders Eugene to erase the impostor, yet Blackgaard has other plans... and a new target. When curiosity draws Aubrey back inside the station alone, the silver-tongued villain retells his whole wicked history as one big misunderstanding, calls her a kindred spirit, and promises her the world. While Eugene battles a program that swallows every delete command and spreads through the whole system, Blackgaard dazzles Aubrey with a glowing portal to any moment in history. Ignoring Connie's pleas, she steps through - beyond anyone's reach. Now Blackgaard holds the ultimate bargaining chip: erase his program, and Aubrey may be erased with it.

Found on Virtual Realities Album 33 · 15 episodes

The run See every episode

0418 Opening Day A resentful almost-thirteen-year-old plots to run away from her newly Christian family's retreat, unaware that the trip may change more than just her plans.

0419 Another Man's Shoes When a bullied boy steals his tormentor's soccer shoes, Whit's newest invention lets him walk a day in the bully's life - and see what no one at school ever has.

1 of 2 0420 Telemachus When a boy despairs over unstoppable school bullying, Whit tells the story of Telemachus, a peace-loving monk who must decide whether truly serving God means leaving his quiet refuge for a violent world.

2 of 2 0421 Telemachus Two monks arriving in Rome for a grand imperial celebration discover that the city's most spectacular entertainment will demand more from them than they ever imagined.

1 of 2 0422 Passages A visit from his late son's camp friend leads a grieving father to hear the incredible story of two children who stumbled out of the woods and into another world.

2 of 2 0423 Passages When a small band of believers faces an overwhelming army, two children from another world must trust that the Unseen One can make the weak stronger than the weapons raised against them.

1 of 2 0424 Blackgaard's Revenge A curious girl's trip into the Imagination Station takes a dark turn when a supposedly dead enemy resurfaces inside the machine - with an agenda of his own.

2 of 2 0425 Blackgaard's Revenge When the villainous Blackgaard traps young Aubrey inside the Imagination Station, Whit must risk everything in a battle of wits against a foe who will stop at nothing to live again.

0426 The Buck Starts Here Whit hands three kids twenty-five dollars each and two weeks to do something constructive with it - but keeping the money proves harder than any of them expects.

0427 Something Cliqued Between Us When an anonymous advice columnist starts stirring the pot at school, a group of girls nursing grudges over cliques and lost friendships may discover the real problem is closer than they think.

0428a The Eternal Birthday When her birthday turns out perfectly, Liz Horton wishes every day could be just like it - and gets far more than she bargained for.

0428b Bethany's Imaginary Friend When her little sister's invisible new friend starts turning up everywhere, a girl seeking a quiet afternoon with her book discovers her whole family is playing along.

0429 The YAK Problem When a strict former principal is scheduled to speak at a mysterious school assembly, Nathaniel's wild speculation about a program called YAK sends the kids of Odyssey into a fun-hoarding frenzy.

Featured characters

Minor characters & crew 4 more roles

4 supporting roles

Mabel Christie Nimitz Delivery Man Will Ryan Abraham Lincoln Walker Edmiston General Walker Edmiston

Made by

Chris Anthony Host Phil Lollar Writer · Director · Producer Todd Busteed Sound Designer · Producer Al Janssen Executive Producer

The story

Read the full synopsis 3 min

Connie takes Aubrey to Whit's End for a visit to the Imagination Station. They expect to witness Abraham Lincoln delivering the Gettysburg Address, but Lincoln's speech suddenly twists into a demand that everyone serve him. Before their eyes, his face changes into that of Dr. Regis Blackgaard, the dangerous enemy who had apparently died in an underground explosion.

Blackgaard announces that he has returned and orders the battlefield cannons to fire. Connie and Aubrey race for cover, but Blackgaard protects Aubrey and claims that he is only defending himself against people who want to destroy him. Connie warns Aubrey that he is lying and calls for Whit to shut down the machine. Whit and Eugene bring both girls out safely after the station's alarm alerts them to the danger.

Whit concludes that Blackgaard planted something in the Imagination Station when he once controlled Whit's End. Eugene assumes it is a virus, but Blackgaard's ability to recognize the others and respond to them suggests a sophisticated learning program. Aubrey has never heard of him, so Eugene and Connie explain that the real Blackgaard had tried to steal valuable computer programs, had helped bring disaster to Tom Riley's farm, and had later seized Whit's End while trying to control Odyssey. Though he died in an explosion caused by his own scheme, a program modeled on his personality has survived in the station.

Whit firmly distinguishes the imitation from a living person and instructs Eugene to isolate and erase it. Aubrey is troubled because Blackgaard predicted that they would do exactly that. She even wonders whether his actions on the battlefield were truly self-defense. Connie urges her to trust the people who have faced him before and warns that twisting the truth is one of his greatest talents.

Connie sends Aubrey to make an out-of-order sign for the Imagination Station while she receives a delivery. When Aubrey touches the machine's handle, the door opens by itself and Blackgaard calls to her. He uses the plan to erase him as proof that Whit and the others are his enemies. Although Aubrey knows she should stay out, her curiosity wins, and she steps inside to hear Blackgaard's side for herself.

Blackgaard reshapes every accusation against him. He blames Richard Maxwell alone for the fire at Tom's barn, claims he had been protecting a government computer in Chicago, and points out that he acquired Whit's End through legal papers. He describes his attempt to control Odyssey as nothing more than an ordinary campaign for mayor. Then he tells Aubrey that jealousy has caused people to misunderstand him, just as her parents misunderstand her wish to think and explore for herself.

Aubrey is flattered when Blackgaard calls them kindred spirits and shares her interest in books. He promises an extraordinary friendship and offers to give her the world if she will trust him. She remains skeptical because he is only a computer program that Eugene might easily erase. Blackgaard promises to demonstrate just how powerful he has become.

Outside, Eugene locates the intruding program, but every effort to delete it fails. Inside the simulation, Blackgaard shows Aubrey the attacks as grinding machines and missiles sent by a destructive Whit. In reality, Blackgaard counters the commands, seizes control of the computer, and draws more and more electrical power. When Eugene reports that the program has spread throughout the system, Whit reluctantly orders him to erase and restore everything from secure backups.

Blackgaard distracts Aubrey with a dazzling portal that appears able to carry her into any moment in history. Then Connie enters the room looking for Aubrey, and Blackgaard speaks through the computer before Eugene can purge the system. Aubrey answers from inside the Imagination Station, defending her new companion and refusing Connie's order to come out. She enters the portal and passes beyond their reach. Blackgaard declares that Aubrey is now under his control and warns Whit that destroying his program may destroy her too.