Chapter 6: A Secret Revealed

On the TTC Jet heading from Washington DC to England, PowerPaws told her friends her part of her story, while they listened attentively to her.

She said, "My real name is Eugenia Victoria Dudley, and I am from the year 2988, 20 years in the past. My dad was the one who stopped Morgana from hurting any more people or toons while he was there. After he arrested her, he went to England and lived in a secluded mansion off on the cliffs of Dover. Since his team had broken up and went their separate ways, he never bothered to show his face again-he always wanted to be alone. Time passed on, and Dad fell in love with a beautiful human woman. He wanted to marry her and have children with her, but it was impossible."

"So what did he do?" asked Bert.

"He created a child," continued PowerPaws. "Which was me, of course. He took the DNA of a raccoon, and mixed it with my mom's. My dad called it a super-secret experiment, mixing animal and human DNA to create the very child he longed for. People started to laugh and said that it'll never succeed, but Dad just went on planning anyway. By the time I was born, the experiment had proved to be successful-unfortunately, my mother had died in childbirth, so my father took great pains in raising me in his mansion."

"Bummer," muttered Bert Jr.

PowerPaws went on, "When I was two years old, Dad began training me in the art of Asian self-defense, and on my third birthday he bought me my first weight-lifting exercise equipment. As I grew older, I grew stronger and smarter, and in no time I had become a young fearless girl, with an instilled knowledge of kung-fu, jujitsu, and tae kwon do. My father's greatest wish was to turn me into a police officer-I didn't agree with that idea, because I wanted to grow up to be a rock star. My life changed when I got trapped in a Cryo-Freezer in 2996. I was eight years old back then-and now, I'm 22. And that's why I am related to him."

Bert was amazed. He said, "Wow! So, you are the daughter of the legendary cop! I've been hearing so many stories about him, and now I know it's true."

Charles said, "I guess that's where my evil brother Jackson got that from, and my sister the Raven too. They must be immortals."

"Yes," said PowerPaws with a nod. "And so is my dad."

Tails, the pilot, was flying the jet. Smiling, he said, "Our next stop for our jet is jolly old England. We may get to see Danger Mouse there, too."

Bert said to Charles, "And we might get to see two great figures over there-Zack Hare and Volf. Zack's the new president of Russia and Volf is the Vice-President."

Charles smiled. He couldn't wait to see his two favorite Russian cartoons that he watched on YouTube. He replied, "Cool!"

The TTC met Danger Mouse, Zack, and Volf in Heathrow Airport, and they drove together to the southern English countryside, to Dover. Spotting a mansion far up ahead, PowerPaws said, "This is it-Dudley Manor."

It was a splendid-looking mansion, built just like one of those fashionable antebellum plantation houses in the Civil War-era South. The van arrived at its destination, and the Time Toon Cops went up to the door. Charles was about to touch the knocker when PowerPaws stopped him. She said, "Wait a minute, Charles. Dad doesn't like having strangers to butt in without his permission, so I'll have to ask him to let us inside." She proceeded to press the doorbell button. A British voice said via intercom, "This is Master Rufus Dudley of Dudley Manor. Who's there?"

"It's me, Dad," said PowerPaws. "I'm back."

The voice replied, "Come on in."

The doors opened and the Time Toon Cops walked into the foyer. The entire room was decorated with beautiful European paintings and ancient Greek and Roman sculptures. As the crew settled down on the couches and chairs, Bert Jr. asked, "Just how old was your father?"

"He's about a few million years old," replied PowerPaws. "And even at that age he's still active."

"But how come he claimed to be the true Highlander?"

"You'll see."

They heard footsteps coming, and turned around to see an old figure (with a wooden cane) at the foot of the stairs. This was none other than Rufus Dudley, ex-cop/founder of the International League of Futuristic Heroes. He looked far more different than the black-and-white photos Charles had seen-his hair was grey, his once-brown fur was also grey, and his ears were ragged but still straight. A small set of glasses perched across his black nose.

PowerPaws, noticing her father, got up and bowed solemnly. She said, "Father..."

"Eugenia Victoria Dudley!" Rufus shouted angrily, as he began to make his way down the stairs. "Where have you been? I've been waiting twelve years to see your face after you've left on a field trip to Canerica!"

"I'm sorry, Dad," replied PowerPaws shamefully. "I got trapped in a Cryo-Freezer over there, and then-"

Rufus said, "Never mind. I was always used to you disappearing and reappearing for over a period of time." Spotting the others, he asked sternly, "And who are they?"

"They're my friends-the famous Time Toon Cops. I know you've heard of them."

"I have, dear. I have."

Bert got up and introduced himself. He said, "My name is-"

"Bert Raccoon," interrupted Rufus. "Former cartoon star, TTC veteran, and president of the United States of Canerica. And that must be your old friend, Charles Roberts."

"Nice to meet you, Mr. Dudley," said Charles, shaking hands with him. "I can't believe that after all those years of hearing stories about you, I finally get to see you in person!"

"That's very fortunate of you," replied Rufus. "Anyway, what are all of you doing here on this day of days?"

"It's about Morgana," said PowerPaws. "And her new plan to destroy the world."

"Her again! Why, of all the nerve!"

"You know her?"

"Come with me to my lab. I'll explain everything on the way."

Rufus led the Time Toon Cops to his expansive laboratory. There were tubes and glasses in every nook and cranny, and there were books about science and books about crossbreeding. Rufus said, "I knew it would come to this. I've hated and despised Morgana for as long as I can remember."

"And who was she to you?" asked Cooler.

Rufus replied coldly, "She...was my sister."

The cops were shocked. They shouted in unison, "YOUR SISTER?"

"Yes, indeed," said Rufus. "My twin sister. We were separated at birth-I was raised to be a great hero, while Morgana spent the rest of her life in the gutter, becoming a criminal as time passed on. I don't know how she got to Earth, but what I do know is that when she dies, her soul goes on to inhabit a certain person or animal. Last time, she was a lion."

"Is there anything you can do to help us?" asked PowerPaws. "I mean, to defeat Morgana and rescue Cream?"

Rufus shook his head solemnly. He replied, "I'm sorry. Morgana is much too powerful, and there's nothing that I can do to help you accomplish that feat."

Hunter said, "But you're the hero! You've saved the world once, remember? Ever since I was a puppy, I wanted to be just like you!"

"Then, how can I be able to do that?" said Rufus. "I'm at a critical age. And I'm retired, too-there's absolutely no way I'm going to come out of my mansion and help you stop..."

"But Daddy!" PowerPaws cried pleadingly.

Rufus sighed, before taking off his glasses and cleaning them. He said, "Well...it seems I have no choice, do I? I guess I could just help you a little bit. But it comes with a heavy price-since the disbandment of the International League of Futuristic Heroes years ago, I've secretly taken an opportunity to form my own group and achieve the same goals my former team did."

Bert asked, "Really? Who are your new team members?"

Leading them to the next room, Rufus replied, "Follow me."

They came to the room, with a glass window on one side of the wall. Lisa peered inside and gasped in surprise. There were three people in the room behind the window. One was a small red female raccoon with a black mask and a black-and-red tail. The second one was a tall and thin grey cat. And the third one was a sweet female aardvark with golden yellow hair.

"These are my new team members," said Rufus, introducing the trio. "Roxanne Procyon, Samuel McGuffy, and Lucy Hooknose."

Lisa recognized them as her old friends. She cried out, "Roxy! Sam! Lucy!"

The three figures looked up, saw Lisa, and got up to go meet her. Roxy said happily, "Lisa! It's you!"

They embraced each other in a group hug. Lisa asked, "Where have you guys been?"

"It's a long story," said Lucy. "But we had the best time of our lives. It all started at a party over at the malt shop one night, and-"

Sam interrupted, "Lucy, there's no way anybody would believe that story. At least, we're so glad to see Lisa again-she hasn't changed one bit!"

"I'm married now," said Lisa. "My husband, Bert Raccoon, is the president of the United States of Canerica."

"No way!" marveled Roxy, Sam, and Lucy.

Rufus said, "That's enough. There's no time for reunion tales-there's so much that we've got to do..."

Meanwhile, back in Hollywood, Bentley was watching the whole scene from Alexandra's magic mirror ball. He said, "So, my sister's got her friends back."

"Of course, Bentley," said Alexandra. "There's nothing better than rekindling the sacred bonds of friendship."

Bentley peered into the ball once more. In the distance, just behind Rufus, was a small rocket. It looked just like the one he had seen in the magazine. Pointing to the rocket, he said, "There it is! The rocket that created Kal-El!"

Alexandra looked into the ball and said, "Ah, yes, I see it! I remember that rocket being launched on the day when Kal-El was conceived."

"How can you tell?"

"It flew right past the heavens, where I was still dwelling at that time."

"Does the rocket have something to do with what you want me to do right now?"

"It is as you say," replied Alexandra solemnly. "Rufus announced that he is unable to combat Morgana's evil force without his brand-new team. But the only thing that can truly defeat her is the miracle of new life."

"Which is...?"

"Your blood."

Bentley's face went pale white. He stammered, "My-my-my...my blood?"

"You have the blood of a genius. Legend has it that you were descended from one of the most famous figures in history: Lord Raccoon."

"Who is he?"

"He was one of Baron Reynard the Fox's friends, who secretly transported his riches to the new home of Baron Reynard and his family when they left the Great Forest. You and only you alone are the very person to stop Morgana and send her back to the deep and dark underbellies of the earth, where she belongs."

Still, Bentley was puzzled. He asked, "Then what am I supposed to do?"

"Take a sample of your precious blood," said Alexandra. "And pass it off as Kal-El's. It is the only way it can render the Doom Blaster useless, and therefore it will deprive Morgana of her strength."

"So, it comes to this-I'll use my blood to destroy the Doom Blaster, defeat Morgana, and save the past and the future. Is that right?" Alexandra nodded. "But what about the kids? My friends told me to watch them for a while. I can't leave them alone like this."

Alexandra said, "Allow me."

With that, she stretched out her hand over the peacefully sleeping toddlers, and a strange glittering gold mist began to cover them. To Bentley's great surprise, the kids started to turn into their adult selves, until they got too big for their cots. After that, the gold mist disappeared.

"The children are now your crew," said Alexandra. "They will help you on your way to help the Time Toon Cops defeat Morgana and to accomplish the task that I commanded you to do. Oh, and Bentley-don't forget to tell your friends that they'll have to travel back to the year 2001 in order to get to Morgana's lair on Krypton. Goodbye, and good luck!"

Alexandra faded away out of sight. Bentley was awe-struck. Never in his entire life has he been given this very special job-and best of all, his crazy babysitting days were finally over! Suddenly, he heard someone yawn. He turned around and saw Charlie, now fully grown, waking up. Rubbing the sleep out of his eyes, he moaned, "Is nap time over yet, Uncle Bentley?"

"Yes," Bentley replied. "It is."

The others soon woke up and looked over themselves. Realizing that they're not kids any more, they all screamed in terror. Alice said, "What's happened to us?"

"We're adults!" said the alarmed Daisy. She looked behind herself and added, "And our wings are so big!"

Arthur said, "How did we get to be this way?"

"I'll explain everything," replied Bentley, taking a laser gun from the shelf. After reloading it, he continued, "But first, come with me. We've got a world to save..."