-1Flushed Away
The Great Ruby Chase
Ever wonder what happened in Rita's life before she met Roddy? How did she get the Jammy Dodger? How did her father find the ruby, and how did the Toad steal it from him? How did she get it back? All this will be answered in The Great Ruby Chase!
Disclaimer: I don't own Flushed Away or any of its characters. They belong to Dreamworks entertainment.
Chapter One: The Jammy Dodger (Rita's Youth)
"Ooh, Daddy, can I see it when you're ready?" The young rat peered over the box that stood in her father's hands. She could hardly contain her excitement while she jumped up and down to get a better view, as if doing so would pull back the black cloth that hid the treasure inside.
Mr. Malone patted her tiny red head and grinned as he stepped all of the way into the door, using his tail like a whip to grab the knob and pull it closed behind him, "Of course, Rita, just let me get some breakfast and we can unveil my wonderful creation."
Rita laughed joyfully and rushed forward, her small legs propelling her forward into the kitchen. When she entered, she folded her arms over her chest as she looked at the table. It was so long, certainly unnecessary for Mum, Dad, Grandma, and her. Her mom said that it was to make room for the new members of the family, but as of now, Rita was the only child.
She pushed herself onto one of the chairs and let her shoed feet hang over the edge of the seat. She breathed in the delicious smell of grilled cheese on the stove, and her stomach rumbled gently at the teasing scent. Mr. Malone took a seat next to her and wrapped his arm over her shoulders to give her a small hug. Rita smiled and rested her elbows on the table before holding her head in her hands, humming a gentle tune that some of the slugs had taught her. Beside her, her dad began to harmonize with her singing and they began to go from hums to words, serenading until Grandma and Mrs. Malone came into the room.
The food consisted of large bread crumbs with delicious cheddar cheese melted between the bread. When her mom put the dish in front of her, Rita breathed in the delicious smell and folded her hands together. "Would you like to say the prayer, honey?" Mrs. Malone inquired as she grinned at her daughter.
Rita nodded vigorously and closed her lively, emerald eyes, "Thank you for our food, our family, and Dad's new invention which I'm going to see today!" she opened her eyes, saw her mom rolling her eyes, and added, "And thanks for giving me such an understanding mother, Amen!"
Her ear twitched as she heard Mr. Malone trying to stifle a chuckle and her mom buried her face in her hand, "You're just like you're father."
Rita grinned and gave her dad a wink which he happily returned. She then dug into her meal, enjoying the feeling of the cheese slipping through her teeth onto her tongue. Her taste buds tingled with the flavor and she absentmindedly went "Mmmmm," causing all four of them to laugh, Granny Malone went a bit overboard and fell off the back of her chair.
Soon, their bellies were filled, and Rita's spirits were lifted. "So, you guys are going to try out the new boat you made?" Mrs. Malone asked as she collected the empty plates. "Yup, we're going to explore the city!" Rita shouted happily, lifting her hands into the air.
Mrs. Malone smiled and planted a gentle kiss on her husband's cheek, "Do take care of her, Hun, she's only eight." The male rat nodded sharply and gave a salute, "Of course I will! I'll keep a close eye on her." Rita held her hand over her mouth and giggled, "Daddy, stop being so silly and let's get ready to ride."
Mr. Malone nodded "Ah, forgot one thing," he said as he reached behind him and grabbed the black box. He slowly took off the cloth and lowered it to his daughter's level. Her eyes gleamed when she looked down and saw the small, silver pop-lid that rested on the plushy bottom. She looked up expectantly at her dad and he nodded with a smile, urging her to take it.
Reaching her small fingers into the box, she grasped the key and took it out carefully, as if it were glass. She held it up to the light and grinned as it scattered light to and fro.
"So, are you ready?" Mr. Malone asked as he lifted her up onto his shoulders. "Yeah, Daddy, let's go!" "Oooh, can I come too?" Granny Malone asked from the dinner table, leaning up against it with a crazy look in her eyes. "Erm…sorry Mum, this is a father-daughter thing." Her son said quickly before bolting out the door with Rita above his head.
They arrived outside of their house onto the sidewalk. Both rats looked back at their home, admiring it's two stories that housed them and the other two. "Hmm, just think," Mr. Malone said as he cast his eyes upwards towards his daughter, "One day we'll have a bigger and better house for all of your brothers and sisters. Heh, maybe we'll have a bloomin' mansion!"
Rita smiled at the idea and pulled gently on her dad's ears, "How about we see the carriage that will bring us to and from? It's so hard walking to the city on foot."
"Hey," he said as he continued towards the small garage they had imbedded into the sewer wall, "I'm the one that does all the walking. You get a free ride ye' little bum."
With a push of a red button on the side of the wall, the garage door started to open and Rita's green eyes widened in amazement at the beautiful ship in front of her.
The base of the boat was made out of the bottom of a tin cooler, and the bars along side held tennis balls for make-shift buoys. A cabin was built on the inside where Rita figured was the engine for the boat. Her dad began to walk around it so she could get a better view, and she noticed an air horn, a pair of goggles in front of the steering wheel, and a roof above the controls.
When they circled around, she noticed the back was made out of half of a tire, and the words "Jammy Dodger" were written in bold black letters on a yellow sign.
"Wow, it's awesome!" Rita shouted as she leaned over her dad's head a bit further to get a better look, "How're we going to get it into the water? It's so big…" Mr. Malone grinned and climbed into the boat, using one hand to steady himself, and the other to hold Rita straight, "I'll show you."
He went over to the controls, picked his daughter off of his head to set her down, and reached out for the analog stick that had been made from a pencil. "Turn around and look at that hand-shaped thing back there." Rita complied and her eyes widened in shock as she saw the fingers on the hand begin to twitch and, eventually, move. The metal appendages "walked" to the end of the boat and the hand lifted over with the help of different jointed bars that stuck up from above the ship. The metal hands then planted themselves firmly on the ground. The bars pushed the hand against the ground and the boat lifted slowly up into the air.
The young red-haired rat ran to the side of the boat to see how far it lifted, and without warning, it crashed down again, causing her to fall on her bottom. "Hey, Dad, that' wasn't nice!" she yelled as she got back up and brushed off her pants. His hearty laugh met her ears and the boat lifted again, "I can't set it down gently, so we have to sort of inch our way across. If there were two hands it probably would be easier, but what would be the fun in that?" A few more pushes and they were finally at the edge of the sidewalk. The deck of the boat leaned precariously over the edge, and the metallic hand firmly pushed against the ground one last time.
"Hang on tight, poppet!" Rita grasped the sides of the boat just as it lifted upward and, like a clock, rotated over the hand before it crashed into the murky water, causing a torrential wave to stretch out from the sides of the boat. "Oi! Now that was fun!" she shouted in her clear Cockney accent, feeling the gentle rocking motion of the boat as it steadied itself in the water, "Now it's time to see this thing fly!"
Mr. Malone laughed and motioned to her so she could join him at the side of the boat where the starter stood, "You're turn, Rita, let's hear this monster roar!" She gave a quick nod and then clipped the pop can lid onto the cord that connected to the bike parts. She then gave a strong pull at the cord, trying it three times before she could get it started. The engine whirred and the water at the rear of the boat boiled as the turbines beneath began to rotate.
Soon, they were off, slowly pulling forward away from the confines of the garage. Mr. Malone cranked the speed lever a bit and the boat began to surge forward faster, allowing them to travel down the large tunnel away from their secluded home. Rita had to stand on a stool in order to see above the steering wheel. The look on her father's wide face was sheer determination, and she imitated the look, keeping a close eye upon the river in front of them.
They soon were in the open (well, as open as it could be in a sewer) and the young rat breathed in the fresh air that filtered in from the grate up top. "Come on Dad, pick up the speed!" she shouted as she looked at the many buttons and dials that covered the control panel. He nodded and pushed the lever even further, causing them to go much faster.
Now the wind blew across Rita's face, causing some of her red hair to fall out of her ponytail to fly freely in the breeze. "Woo hoo!" she whooped in excitement as she placed her hands upon the dashboard to lean further into the wind, "This is wonderful daddy!" His hands effortlessly turned the faucet knob around to maneuver around obstacles that came near to the Jammy Dodger's hull. Rita looked at him in admiration; she wanted to be just like him when she grew up.
As they reached the city, he pulled back the switch and the boat slowed down considerably as they reached a stop light that was suspended above the boats. They waited patiently for a few trolley-style ships to cross and once again they were forward, a bit slower than before in the crowded streets. "So, Rita, where do you think we should go first?"
The young girl rushed to the side of the boat and pointed at a stand nearby, "I want to say hello to Pegleg. Maybe he'd like to see the new boat." Mr. Malone nodded and turned in to the dark storehouse that was near the stand. He slowed the boat down until they were beside the sidewalk.
Rita helped her dad push the large ruler over to the side for a plank to walk upon. He boosted her up to the top of it and she easily crossed, even as it slowly bounced up and down from the light weight. Her dad had a harder time and he nearly fell once, but she caught his hand just on time and gave him the pull he needed to right himself up again, "That was a close one Daddy," she said with a laugh, "You need to be a bit more graceful."
"Cheeky little thing," Mr. Malone muttered as he righted himself and placed his hand on her shoulder, "Let's get going, I'm sure Pegleg would like to see us."
Rita laughed and ran forward towards the light that came from the open tunnel. She would occasionally stop so her dad could catch up, but she was eager to see her good friend. She passed by a few sleepy slugs who's droopy eyes followed her as she walked by. When she reached the main street of Ratopia, she quickly ran towards Pegleg's stand and grinned as she saw a familiar figure near him.
"Sid!" she shouted as she ran up to the heavier rat. He turned around to greet her, his face smudged with dirt, and a large smile crossed his face, "Rita! Hey!" The two kids performed a small secret handshake that they shared between them, and a low chuckle rose up as they did so.
"Ye kids are sure full of energy." Pegleg said as he gazed down at them with one eye, "Aye, I remember when I was that young." Rita smiled and gazed up at the counter at the pirate-like rat, "I haven't seen you for a while Mr. Pegleg. How's it going?"
The cook gave a shrug of his shoulders and began to fry up some potatoes, "Business hasn't been good with The Toad coming along, but I won't frighten you with those kinds of stories."
"The Toad?" the two kids inquired, looking up at Pegleg expectantly.
"He's no concern of you kids." Rita looked back as her father spoke, and an angry look was on his face.
"I'm sorry Pegleg, but we shouldn't be discussing that sort of thing in front of the children." He added, afraid he might have upset the old man, "We'll take some fries."
"Exactly why I'm cookin' 'em." The pirate said as he lifted his hook over his eye and pulled the patch up, "and I'm sorry I mentioned that crazed fool, but it's got everyone startled now."
He handed both kids and Mr. Malone a box of fries and held his hook up when Rita's father tried to pay him. "It's on the house. I saw that amazing sea craft you created." He winked at the trio, "Wonderful thing that is."
Mr. Malone beamed and Rita grinned while folding her arms over her chest, "Told you he'd like it."
"Hey Sid, you coming?" The young boy turned to see a few of his friends nearby kicking around a soccer ball and he nodded vigorously before stuffing a handful of fries, "Mphno Proflem, A'im comin" he said with his mouth full.
"See ya later Sid." Rita said as she pat him on the back to give him a boost towards his friends. He waved with a greasy hand and ran towards the small group of kids.
Rita looked up at her Dad who had been whispering to Pegleg. He noticed her looking and he cleared his throat before pushing her towards a bench nearby, "Rita, I have to get a few things from the Mini Market, wait for me and then on the way back I'll let you drive when we get into open waters."
"Sweet!" She leapt onto the bench and began chewing her food, noticing from the corner of her eyes her father leaving to the grocery store.
"I know you have it, now why don't you be an obedient citizen and give me the antique?" Rita heard the unfamiliar voice and turned her head to see a large black rat standing in front of Pegleg, a menacing look in his crimson eyes.
"I don't have it," The pirate replied with a frightened look, "Why would I want something as useless as I collectable."
"Don't give me any of that, I know you have it, and if I have to bring you to the Boss, I won't hesitate to." She watched in alarm as the large rat rolled up his sleeves and held his fist back. Pegleg held his hands in front of his face and shouted out, "Wait! I'll give it to you!" He reached beneath his stand and pulled out a small, autographed picture of Prince Charles with his good hand and placed it into the black rat's huge paw, "There, I don't want no trouble from ye, just take it and leave!" the pirate shouted in fear.
"Pleasure doing business with you." The rat muttered as he turned and left. Rita watched his dispersion with narrowed eyes and she felt her hands clench angrily, "That thieving toe-rag!" she shouted, using a favorite expression of hers, "Why would he do such a thing?"
"Argh…The Toad is striking out even more now.." Pegleg muttered as he looked down at his empty hand, "If only someone were brave enough to stand up against him."
Rita didn't know who this Toad was, but she made it her chore to find out.
In a few minutes, her father came back with an armful of groceries and he motioned with his head for her to follow. She remained silent as she jumped down from the bench, ignoring the confused glances a few slugs were giving her, and followed him to the ship.
As Mr. Malone set his groceries down and started the ship, he looked back at Rita who sat beside the starter, holding her head in her hands as she looked down at the floor. "What's the matter Rita?" he asked as the silent whir of the engine met his ears.
"It's nothing…" she muttered as she looked up with a gleam in her eye, "Let's go now so I can drive."
Grinning, Mr. Malone nodded and went under the roof to take hold of the wheel. He used the mechanical hand to pull up the plank from the side of the boat and to lift the anchor onto the deck. At once they were off, driving into the busy waters of the city.
Rita's dad carefully navigated his way through the street lights and stop signs and soon they were in the large tunnel that led to their house. "Alright, Rita, are you ready?" Mr. Malone asked as he kicked the stool before him and rested his knee upon it so she could climb onto his leg, "Just be careful, you don't want to scrape the sides of it and have it wind up like the Titanic."
She gave him a quizzical glance but took the large steering wheel into her hand, feeling the cool steel against her fur. Her Dad sped the boat up and she soon steered it through the open water, as calm and cool as if she had been doing it all of the eight years of her life.
"You'll be a great driver someday," Mr. Malone said with a grin, "I just know it."
Rita grinned and just continued to watch the river, studying each of the dials and making mental notes of what they did when her father activated them. She was going to figure this out, even if it would take her years to.