DANGER MOUSE:
THE NEXT LEVEL
WRITTEN BY ZARIUS
Disclaimer: Danger Mouse (2015) and all trademarked characters are property of Fremantle Media and CBBC
Authors Note: For more on the lucid dream date, read "The Great Mouse Detection"
When last we left our heroes, they had just defeated the computer-generated grunt known as Megahurtz, but not without great cost.
Not just to the cybernetic counter-part to Danger Mouse's assistant, the occasionally petrified Penfold, but to the pride of Penfold also.
As soon he got back to the Danger Agency, he knew just where to turn, and who to confront.
"Professor" he said in an angry tone as he stormed into the laboratory of Professor Squawkencluck.
The Professor gulped, Penfold seemed taller than she'd ever seen.
Perhaps aggression really does literally build character.
"Penfold...hi, wha-what can I do for you?" she said.
"You created that robot to replace me if I caved in during the Megahurtz training session" Penfold said, "Robopenfold told me all about it"
"Well, I, erm, you see..." the Professor attempted to explain, but words failed her at this crucial moment.
Penfold showed his back to her
"Not another word Professor, don't even try to deny it" a frustrated and hurt Penfold added, " I don't take to being lied to all that well, the Chief learned that first hand when he made me feel like I had achieved something, that I had elevated myself beyond cowardice. The fact I went and let that overtake me as soon as I realized I wasn't that altogether brave caused me to flee across half the city"
The Professor walked up and placed a hand delicately on his right shoulder.
"Look Penfold, I know you feel very hurt right now, like the world is against you, but if it helps you any, you made a believer out of me today"
"I did?" Penfold said
"Sure, you may be a bit of a cry baby most of the time, but when push came to shove, you manned up and used the same screwdriver Danger Mouse used to kick off this whole mess as a means of closing it out, at the risk of your own safety" Squawkencluck explained.
"Your robot helped a lot too you know" Penfold said, "Fine work there, even if I don't appreciate the motivation behind its creation, I'm sorry Megahurtz destroyed him"
"Nothing I can't fix" the Professor added.
"I think there's more important things that need fixing over time Professor, like my trust in you, the Chief's already had a steep mountain to climb where that's concerned" Penfold said, making the Professor quite aware of how torn up he still was.
"Maybe I can offer you dinner sometime?" The Professor asked.
"Oh I'm in no mood for a fancy date, I still remember the last place we went to...it was a dream date in the most literal sense" Penfold said, recalling the notorious lucid dream sting operation.
"How about a takeaway then?" the Professor offered.
"I'll let you know over the weekend, I'm exhausted and need some space to think. I just wish everyone wasn't so keen on advancing to the next level without me being a part of it" he said, solemnly walking out of the room, leaving the Professor alone.
Alone with her thoughts.
Oh Penfold, you're better off not knowing the truth.
I made the robot because I didn't want taking any more risks, you've done so much to take the weight off the world already, you deserve an early retirement...especially if it means you and I could maybe take what we have to another level entirely.
Squawkencluck headed back over to her desk to look at the plans for her various prototypes in development, she wondered just how much more often she would have to bury herself in work before someone came and dug her out.