Hey! Time for some more action!

The Raccoon, the Panther, and the Divine Gods

Chapter 6- Mad Muscles

Beijing, China. 11:00 pm: In his office at the abandoned sushi factory, Muscles sits comfortably with a fresh, smoking cigar in his mouth. He was a huge black gorilla with dark, brown eyes and a thick mustache. He was wearing an expensive looking Armani suit with a slick bowtie and shiny black shoes. He wasn't alone, however. To his left, two adult panthers, a man and a woman in their mid forties, were tied up and gagged on the floor. They looked very worried. The male panther had blue eyes and wore a torn up looking outfit, while the female had yellow eyes and had a nice but dirty gown. Muscles looked at them with a sinister smile. "Oh, don't be too worried. If your pretty little daughter manages to swipe the map and bring it back, I just might let you off the hook." 'Of course, it doesn't matter to me whether they live or not, all that matters is that map.' He smirked at this thought.

Just then, he heard his intercom box on the desk buzzing. He pushed and held down the black button to hear the incoming voice. "Yes?" "Hey boss, the cat is back. She says she's got the map. She wants to see ya right away." Muscles seemed very pleased as he smirked. "Alright. Tell the little kitten I'll be right down." "Sure, boss." The big ape got up and walked to the door. He looked back at the tied up couple. "Well, it looks like your precious girl held up her end of the deal. Let's see what happens next." He then stepped out and closed the door behind him. The couple looked more worried and shocked than before. Suddenly, they heard some noises near the window of the office. It was being opened…

Meanwhile, Muscles was already down stairs in the main lobby of the factory. He thought nothing could go wrong at this point; that map was as good as his. When he arrived, he found a few of his flunkies standing around a cute, young female panther; it was Jade. Jade looked calm, but at the same time grim. She knew what she had to do. Muscles looked at her with a sleazy grin. "Hey doll face, nice to see ya back. I hear you got my map, and with time to spare I might add." Jade nodded as she got out the parchment from her pocket. "Yeah, I got your precious map. I had a little trouble earlier, but in the end it was me who got away with the prize. Now, I want to see my parents." He held up his hand. "Not so fast, cupcake. What kind of trouble did you have in acquiring the map?"

She looked quickly at the door into Muscles' office, and then back to Muscles' himself. "Oh, just another thief. But he was an amateur. It took a little work and effort, but I managed to lose him. I assure you, Muscles, he did not follow me back here." He studied her a little bit. Jade swallowed; she hoped he would buy it. He laughed. "Well done, pussy cat. I must say, you really know how to get the job done." He then held out his hand, expecting something. "Now then, give me the map, toots." Jade hesitated. "First, I want to see my parents." He shook his head. "Sorry, honey. Map first, family reunions later." She shook her head. "Let me see my parents first, then you can have this old piece of paper. Otherwise, I'll tear it up right now."

Muscles started to look angry. "Look babe, I got no time for games. Give me the map or your parents will be shot right now! And since you are being so rebellious, I'll do the honor of shooting your them right in front of you!" She looked shocked. "Last chance, Jade! Give me the stupid map!" She looked at the office door again, and she saw a hand waving at her. She froze for a second, and then looked back at Muscles. She seemed to have surrendered; she held the map out to the gorilla. "Fine, you win." Muscles smiled as he approached her. "Finally, some compromise." When he was close enough, he took the map from her. He then examined it to make sure it was the real deal. Jade started to sweat a little as she waited. Finally, he looked back at her, smiling.

"Well, this old paper looks like the real deal. I can't wait to see what loot this thing points too." Jade interrupted him. "Alright, you got your map. Let me see my mom dad." He looked skeptical. "Well, I don't know…" "We had a deal!" she yelled. Muscles laughed. "Of course we did, kitty cat. Follow me." Jade followed him up the stairs to the office. They had arrived at the door. He looked back at her. "Now don't try anything funny, young lady." He said as he pointed to his chest pocket. Jade nodded. Muscles had unlocked the door and opened it. What he found shocked him. There was no one in the room; his two hostages were nowhere in sight! "What?! Where did they go? I had them tied up nice and good, plus the window and the door were locked from the outside! There is no way they could've gotten away!"

He quickly inspected the window; it was still locked up tight. Just then, he turned back at Jade with an angry face, though Jade remained strangely calm. "What did you do, missy?" Before she could answer, he heard loud noises down in the lobby. He listened closely; it sounded like his men were in a fight! Muscles shook his head. "What the hell is going on down there?" He marched back through the door and looked down. His jaw dropped as he saw a big pink guy bashing each of his men. The big guy called them out. "Come on, mobsters! Is that all ya got?" Two of them tried to shoot him, but he jumped up and belly flopped on them, squashing them flat! He got and brushed himself off. He then went after another guard and punched his lights out! Then another, and another. Within seconds, all of Muscles' henchmen were out cold.

Muscles was really pissed off now. "Who do ya think are, punk?!" The big guy looked up. "Just call me "The Murray"! I'm here for some fun, and these pushovers weren't as fun as I thought they would be. You want a piece of me, chump?" He took off his jacket and massaged his fists; the usual gesture that he is about to start a big fight. Muscles looked at Jade again. "Don't think I'm done with you, Jade! I'll be back for you." He then jumped down to the floor, which caused the lobby to shake a little from his massive form. He and Murray stared at each other down for a few moments, studying one another. Murray then attacked Muscles with his fists out, ready to strike! When he tried to punch him, Muscles simply blocked it with his hand; he didn't break a sweat.

Murray was stunned. He never fought anyone who could block his punches so easily. Muscles began to crush Murray's hand with his, very slowly. The hippo felt the pain and screamed. The evil gorilla then picked up Murray with the same hand and threw him across the room into the wall! Muscles laughed. "Come on, tough guy! Get up! I have some anger to get out of my system, and you just happen to catch me in a very bad mood!" He calmly walked to where Murray was laying down. He appeared to be unconscious. When he was close enough, Murray jumped him and knocked him to the floor. "Be careful what you ask for, ape face! You just might get it!" They began to wrestle around, one trying to get the other off of him. It was Murray on top, then Muscles, then Murray again. The cycle seems endless as their brawl continued.

While they were fighting, Jade was upstairs watching the whole event. "Wow, he really knows how to fight!" She heard another voice behind her. "You should see him on a bad day, he can bring the house down!" Jade turned around. It was Michael. She smiled as he joined her. "Are my parents okay?" The raccoon nodded. "Yeah, they are on their way to the police right now. Murray and I already took out any guards outside while you were keeping Muscles distracted. Nice job, by the way." "Thanks. Also, thank you for saving my parents. It really means a lot to me." He smiled back. "No problem, Jade." They both looked at each other for a few moments, looking into each other's eyes…

Suddenly, they heard some loud screaming and both of them turned back to fight below. Michael and Jade gasped; Muscles was on top of Murray's back, twisting one of his arms very painfully. The ape was sneering. "They don't call me Muscles for nothing, fool! Now to teach ya what real pain is!" He was twisting it even more as Murray screamed louder. Michael and Jade knew what to do next as they looked at each other. "Shall we?" "Let's do it." They both jumped down and kicked Muscles right in the head, causing him to let go of Murray. They helped Murray back on his feet. As he was massaging his arm, he smiled at them. "Thanks guys! He nearly broke my arm! I'm telling you, that Muscles guy is stronger than I thought." Michael patted his shoulder. "We're friends, we always got each others backs. Right, Jade?" She nodded. "You know it."

"Excuse me, kids." They all turned around; Muscles was back on his feet, ready for more. He was more pissed than ever. He shook a finger at them menacingly. "That was a big mistake! I don't know who you're new friends are, Jade, but they are going to pay along with you!" He crunched his knuckles again. Michael, Jade, and Murray stood ready to fight. Muscles charged at them, but they dodged out of the way. Michael then pounced on Muscles' back, trying to strangle him. He struggled to get him off, but Michael's grip was too great. Muscles then did a reverse head butt at Michael, causing him to lose his grip. He then pulled a haymaker and Michael fell to the floor hard. Muscles then picked him up by the tail. "Hey! No one touches the tail!" "You don't have a say in the matter, kid!" He then threw Michael on the floor over and over again. Seeing Michael being beaten up like that was really making Jade mad.

She couldn't stand it any longer; she ran up to behind Muscles and side kicked him in the head. He dropped Michael and turned to her. "You dare to hit me?! Now you are so dead!" Jade wasn't afraid. "Bring it on!" He ran towards her with the intention of turning her inside out, but she fell on her back and kicked him over her; she used his speed as leverage to launch him. He landed with a great big "thud"! He massaged his back as he got up again. Before he could make another move, all three were standing in front of him. "Lights out!" they said right before the triple punch they gave him. He fell to the ground again, unconscious. The 3 relaxed, victorious against him. Jade held Michael up; he was still hurting from the thrashing he took earlier. She looked at him with concern.

"Are you okay, Michael?" she asked. He nodded. "Yeah, a good bath and a hot meal and I'll be right as rain. Are you alright, Uncle Murray?" he said as he turned to the hippo. He too nodded. "My arm hurts like heck! But hey, it'll heal. Just need a good night's rest and "the Murray" will be back in top form!" They all laughed together. It ended when they heard sirens outside; the police have arrived. "Well, looks like we better leave the rest to the cops," said Michael. As they went to through the back door of the factory, Jade turned to Michael. "Did you leave behind the note saying, "I got the map. It is in my pocket" in the office when you freed my parents?" He nodded. "Sure did, and did he found out the map you gave him was a fake made by Bentley?"

She shook her head. "He totally bought it: Hook, line, and sinker! When the police discover that "he" stole the map while holding me parents captive, they'll able to lock him away for sure!" They were now hiding behind a few large crates, watching for the big moment. It came; the cops were dragging out Muscles, who was handcuffed, into a police car. Jade's parents were outside talking to the police chief. Happy, Jade turned to Michael and Murray. "Well, I guess I better get back to my mom and dad. Thank you both for helping me, it means more than you know." She then hugged Murray, and then she hugged Michael. When they parted, she looked at him with hope. "I hope you will be able to rescue your parents too, Michael."

He looked back at her with resolve. "I appreciate it, Jade. I intend to find my parents and save them. I just wish that…well…" Jade looked confused. "What?" He struggled to get the right words out. "I just wish that, you know, that you could come with me, with us. We make a good team, don't we?" She nodded as she smiled. "Yeah, we do. But I have my family to think about. But I really wish I could…" She then turned to look at her parents, then back at Michael. "I have to go. I'll miss you. Thanks again." She gave him a peck on the cheek, and then she ran back to her parents. Michael just sat there, totally dumbstruck as he rubbed his cheek. "Michael, you alright?" He snapped out of it and looked at Murray. "Oh, yeah. I'm fine. Lets go before we are spotted." They left the docks and headed back to the Safe House. On the other side, as she was hugging her parents, Jade saw her new friends running from the scene. She looked wishful…

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At some unknown location, Neyla just threw her tenth thunderbolt at her wooden targets. She seemed very pleased with herself. "Perfect. It seems I have finally mastered Zeus' power. I think it is time to collect my next victim, first thing tomorrow." She then walked away, thinking that she will soon be invincible. 'Yes, I can feel it. All the powers of the gods will be mine. And the only ones who could stop me are locked up downstairs, mourning the death of their precious son. Just two more weeks before all that power is mine…forever.' Neyla laughed as she walked away, thinking that victory was near.

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Back at the Safe House, Michael was drinking a coke along with his uncles and Panda King. They were drinking on a job well done. "What a night this has been. We have stolen an ancient map, beat up a huge mob boss and his gang, and helped a pretty lady free her parents and send their captor to jail." Michael said in triumph. Bentley nodded. "I agree with ya. You and Murray did a good thing tonight. Your mom and dad would be very proud of you." "Indeed, you have helped an innocent person and her family gain a better future. You should be proud of yourself." Michael nodded. "Personally, I don't tonight can get any better." Just as he said this, he heard knocking. They were all surprised; other than them, this building was deserted. Michael cautiously approached the door.

He heard knocking again. He then heard whispering from a familiar voice. "Michael, are you in there? It's me, Jade. Tell me you are here." Shocked by hearing her voice, he answered back. "How do I know that you are who you say you are, and not an imposter who's after my neck?" "I kissed you on the cheek when I left you. Murray was the only other one there." Surprised and convinced, he opened the door slowly. It was indeed Jade, looking tired. He let her in before closing the door again. Everyone was surprised by her appearance. When Michael rejoined the group, he explained that this was the person who he helped out there. Michael then turned to the girl panther. "Jade, how did you find us? What are you doing here?"

After she sat down and had a coke offered to her by Bentley, she explained. "When I saw you two running back to your Safe House, I realized that I had to remain by your side. I told my parents that your mom and dad are imprisoned too and I want to help you free them, just as you helped me. They argued with me a little, but they understood. They let me go to find you. I soon caught up with you and Murray and followed you back here. I hope you don't mind me working with you again?" Michael couldn't help but smile. "Sure, you can bunk with us guys. Besides, we'll need all the help we can get." She smiled back as she hugged him again. He returned the favor, unusually tightly. The others snickered silently.

After a few minutes, Jade asked Michael a favor. "Sure, what is it?" She smiled embarrassingly. "Could you let me go now?" He realized he had been holding her too long. "Oh! Yeah, sorry." He released her, while laughing embarrassingly. She didn't seem to mind him holding on to her a little longer, however… After that awkward moment, she turned to Michael and the others again. "So, before we turn in for the night, why don't you give me low down on the situation with your parents, Michael? How did they get captured? Who did it? And how can Slytankhamen's map help you save them?" He looked at the others, and then back to Jade. He took a deep breath. "Okay, but you might want to get comfortable. It's a long and complicated story." She shrugged. "I'm all ears." Michael then began to explain the mission to her, and as he explained, he resolved to protect her from whatever obstacle came in their way. 'No harm will come to her. Nothing, not as long as I live…'