Chapter 6: Bad News

Ginny was deciding if she should feel intimidated by the fact that their enemy was right in front of them with two bodyguards blocking the exit, or if she should just look calm and collected and pretend like it didn't bother her at all.

The Doc's latest plan was a lot to take in. She was going to kill Prescott; she didn't give a crap if their weapons were better, now their friends were about to become a hybrid of toons and inky monsters, and it was all because the Doc didn't have that stupid pin anymore. Goddammit, Prescott.

"Doc." Oswald growled as a greeting.

"Tsk, tsk, Oswald; I figured you already knew you are to call me 'the Mad Doctor' by now." the Doctor drawled with a cruel smile.

"The name suits you." Ginny muttered and earned an elbow from the rabbit. Yeah, probably not the best time to crack a joke.

She almost froze when the Doctor chuckled and directed his glare towards her. Damn, she hadn't intended for him to hear.

"Your attitude amuses me, girly. I do not think a lot of people would've had the guts to say a word if they were in the same situation as you."

She caught the glare Oswald threw at her, which clearly said 'shut the hell up' and she frowned back, but stayed quiet.

"If you're done snooping around my personal stuff, care to share your thoughts? Pretty impressive, huh?"

"If by impressive you mean completely sick-" Oswald said in a harsh tone.

"Call it what you will." the Mad Doctor interrupted and raised an eyebrow at the notebook Ginny was still holding. "I see you got a look at my plans. Did you understand them?"

"I understand that they're as deranged as you; what's your point?" the rabbit snapped.

"I think you should drop the act, rabbit, but since I'm about to get rid of you once and for all, I believe I should as well explain my next move." the Doc began to walk around.

"How kind." Prescott retorted.

"Well, you three" the scientist pointed at Oswald, Ginny and Jack. "Stole my Resourcefulness Pin, which enabled my Blurs to quickly find the best way out of any given situation. But it also completed their organic composition. Thus, I needed to find a new organic source to fill in that gap, and what's more organic than the ink of a toon?" he smirked pointedly at the five toons. "You see, my friends, I intend to use all the toon ink I can find to create stronger, more efficient and invincible Blurs."

Ginny looked at Oswald, who seemed to be deciding between looking enraged or shocked. She quickly pulled Jack behind her protectively, ignoring his indignant 'huff'. This guy was insane and she was not letting him get a hold of her little brother.

"I believe your ink would form the strongest Blurs." the Doc continued with an evil grin, pacing back and forth in front of the rebels. "What do you say?"

But before any of them could reply, the sound of a low growl caught all of the room's occupants attention. Ginny almost burst out laughing at what she saw. Coming in through a small door on their left she had failed to see before, was a tall and sturdy Blur carrying Horace and Tony by the scruff of their necks.

In one hand, she found it hysterical; the same detectives who frantically stated that they did not need the Blotling Hunters' help because they could rescue everyone themselves, ended up getting captured. On the other hand, there was now one more security blocking the only exits existent, and it did not look like something to mess with. Goddammit.

"Well, well, well… if it isn't Mr. Holmes and Dr. Watson." the Mad Doctor said with a quite amused expression, turning his attention towards the detectives. "What's up? Wanted to join the party so badly?"

Horace just glared at him and Tony was trembling so hard Ginny could hear his teeth chattering from where she stood.

As the Doc seemed to be distracted with Horace, Ginny noticed Oswald reaching inside of his jacket and taking off of his inner pocket one of their special smoke bombs. She raised an eyebrow and tilted her head when Oswald looked at her and signaled with his hand.

"What?" she mouthed. What the hell did that mean?

Oswald sighed impatiently and then pointed at her.

"Prattle." he whispered. He wanted her to buy him some time while he did… whatever he wanted to do. She mouthed 'What do you have in mind?' and Oswald mouthed back 'You'll see', making her frown. "Fine, be that way. Hurry up." she whispered, getting 'Will do.' as a reply.

As Oswald crept behind them, Ginny cleared her throat, stiffening slightly when the Doc turned his head to face her. Oswald was slick, so she wasn't worried about him being spotted. Much. She was more worried about buying him as much time as possible.

"So, that's all you wanna do to us? I mean, turn us into ink-sucking monsters that only live to attend to your necessities?" she started, ignoring the questioning looks everyone was giving her.

"That's a rather… trivial way to put it, but yes, I would say so." the Doctor replied in an amused tone.

"And you don't find anything wrong with that plan?" she pressed, barely hearing her brother telling her to shut up. The Doc grinned and began stepping closer to her, much to Ginny's chagrin.

"Sweetheart, when are you going to understand that, as the supreme leader, I don't have to find anything wrong with subjecting you worthless toons to inhumane treatments?"

The girl frowned at that. "How are you expecting to gain people's respect with such bright ideas as those, exactly?"

The scientist gave a dry chuckle. "I've already gained people's respect; most of your ridiculous friends succumbed to my power, remember?"

"That doesn't mean shit. They might have succumbed to your 'power', but the only thing you gained was their fear."

"I don't see the difference."

"It's entirely different!" she exclaimed, her temper getting the best of her. She heard Jack's plead to shut up, but ignored it completely. Oswald gave her a chance to speak her mind, and she was not going to pass it, "Respect goes both ways, and if you do not respect your subjects, you don't get their respect back. Terrorism isn't the same as being honored."

"Ginny, that's enough." Gus hissed.

"Terrorizing people to have your way is sneaky and dirty, and I for one refuse to follow someone who chose the path of violence to get their ass on that damn throne." she ignored the gremlin and crossed her arms, a determined glint in her black eyes.

"Ginny. Enough." Gus repeated sternly.

The Mad Doctor only snorted in laughter and scrutinized her up and down, as if he was observing a rare animal's movements very closely. But that soon became uncomfortable to Ginny.

"Take a picture, it'll last longer." she snapped and the mad scientist smirked.

"I see you like to run your mouth a lot." he drawled out teasingly, which made her left eye twitch in irritation. "That kind of attitude entices me, sweetie. You're unusual. And I like it. Though I wouldn't push my luck too much if I was in your position."

Ginny raised an eyebrow. "First you praise me, and then you threaten me? Jesus Christ, you sure love to contradict yourself, don't you?"

He chuckled lowly and she once again ignored her friends' warnings to stuff it. "I'm impressed, you know? You're surrounded by enemies, with nowhere to escape, and yet you still find time to defy me with a heartfelt little speech… You must either be very brave or very stupid."

"Aw, stop it Doc, I'm blushing." she batted her eyelashes mockingly, taking a hand to her chest like some overexcited girl who just got complimented by her crush.

The Mad Doctor raised an eyebrow, his amused expression never faltering. "I wasn't lying when I said you amuse me, but I'm warning you; if you want a painless transformation, you'll just keep quiet for now. My patience has limits."

"Y'know, I find it rather hypocritical that you haven't stopped talking since you got here and yet you're telling me to shut up."

Ginny was delighted to finally see his left eye twitching. It meant he was cracking. She felt Jack tugging her sleeve and saw him shaking his head, telling her to cut it right there, but she couldn't stop until Oswald said so. God, she was tempted to shout at him to hurry the fuck up. The Mad Doctor looked about to flip.

"You wanna test my patience that much, child?" he said in a threatening tone.

"I'm always up for a new challenge." she remarked with a grin.

"Well then, I've had enough." he looked at his large minions and said in a smooth voice, "Get them."

The Blurs wasted no time in leaving their posts and started approaching the group of toons huddled together in front of the Doc's desk. Fucking. Shit.

"Way to go, Loudmouth." Prescott snapped as the three Blurs came closer and closer, a mocking gleam present in their green eyes. She barely acknowledged the fact that the tall Blur on their left wasn't holding Horace and Tony anymore-

"Oy! Doc!" they heard Oswald's voice and they all turned their heads to look at him. The two detectives were free and standing beside the rabbit, though they didn't look as amused as him. "We'd love to stay for a little while longer, but we have places to be. See ya next time!"

And so, Oswald threw the smoke bomb to the ground and a deep green fog instantly filled the room. Everyone began coughing harshly and Ginny quickly held Jack to her chest, trying to shield him from the smoke. What was the rabbit's idea? Suffocate them?

Then she felt herself being yanked by her arm and the next thing she knew they were all making a run for it through the small door and down the hallways. She noticed Oswald was the one leading her way when he looked back over his shoulder to give her a smile.

"Great job, Gin." He said and she smiled back, tightening her grip on her brother and wishing they could get the hell out of there before the Doc even dreamed about their escape.

:::

Ortensia paced back and forth in front of Jamface, who was sitting on the armchair in their sitting area and googling on his laptop about the newest kidnappings in Wasteland. Ortensia wondered how Jack Kelly, the tabloid reporter of Wasteland, managed to get this information and put it online, since he never left his section of the Refuge.

Jamface had arrived not too long ago with news about a new type of Blurs walking around the Gulch. He said they looked like toons, but were covered in dark ink and had green, evil eyes, like the Shadow Blot had.

Her concern about Oswald and the others grew considerably after hearing this news. Where were they? What if they were kidnapped? What if they were being tortured? What if they were dead?

She was having trouble breathing as so many other 'what if' scenarios filled her mind. She should have taken a stand, she should have-

"Calm down, Ortensia." Jamface's voice made her snap back to the moment. "You know Oswald; he's a tough guy. He won't get caught that easily."

"But what if he is?"

He raised an eyebrow and looked up at her. "He won't. None of them will. They're smart, resourceful and skilled. They could do this in their sleep."

She sighed, wanting to believe him. She also hoped they'd find Horace; the horse would no doubt get caught.

She jumped when the door of their section opened and beamed when she heard the familiar bickering of her husband and the amateur sleuth.

"-and I specifically told you to stay put, rabbit! Do you have some hearing problem that prevents you from understanding simple orders like this?!"

"Horace, if I wasn't there, you'd be an inky cocktail by now! Just dry up and admit you're an idiot!"

"I'm the idiot? You were the one who put that pest enraging the doc-"

"Hey, don't drag me into your fight; I was simply following orders." Ginny stated as the seven rebels all came in through the doorway.

"Horace, if it wasn't for the prattle, I wouldn't have been able to get to you, and if I wasn't able to get to you, you'd-"

"Break free by myself."

"And how, dare I ask?"

Before Horace could reply, however, Ortensia threw herself at her husband, embracing him as if the world depended on it.

"O-Ortensia… can't breathe…" Oswald choked out and she immediately released him, concern filling her features.

"Sorry. What happened, Hunny Bunny? I was so worried!"

"Sorry, had to escape from the Doc-"

"You were captured?!" she began to hyperventilate.

"Honey Bunch, calm down. We didn't get caught." Oswald said in a soothing manner and caressed her cheek sweetly, which calmed her down some.

"See? What did I tell you? They're alive, aren't they?" Jamface said with a wide grin, stepping closer to the group as well.

"Greetings, Jamface." Gus chimed. "What brings you here?"

"Bonjour, Gus. I came here to inform you that I spotted some new type of Blurs over at the Gulch. They were odd, though; they looked like those inkblot-styled toons-"

"What?" Oswald gasped, looking extremely horrified. Ortensia frowned.

"What's wrong, sweetie?" it wasn't like they had never dealt with a new type of Blur before.

"Shit…" Oswald said, putting a hand over his eyebrows.

"Ozzie… what's going on?" Ortensia didn't like the look on his face. Something was very wrong…

He sighed and took her hand in his. "Ortensia… you may want to sit down."

:::

"What?!" Ortensia gasped. Oswald winced at her panicked and completely horrified face. He had just finished telling the Mad Doctor's sick plan and he could tell it was shocking news for his wife. Hell, it was for him, too. He was still processing the fact that the Doctor was already moving on with it. He did work fast.

"Are you serious?" Ortensia asked in such a low tone Oswald had to perk up his ears slightly to hear her.

"'Fraid so." Prescott answered bluntly.

"This goes far beyond us, mes amis." Jamface said with a worried look. "I think it'll take more than our efforts to win this."

"What do we do now?" Jack asked, looking up at Ginny.

"Oswald, care to share your thoughts?" Ginny turned to the Lucky Rabbit, who was now feeling uncomfortable as he realized that everyone was staring at him.

"Yeah, rabbit, enlighten us." Horace said sarcastically. "Show us how great and heroic you are-"

"At least he can do it without making a fool of himself." Ginny snapped at him, making Jack and Prescott snicker.

"Shut up, hobo-girl!"

Oswald rubbed his temples. Horace's constant grumble and snide comments weren't helping his thinking at all. And Ginny, Jack and even Prescott's replies to those comments didn't help either. He had to come up with a plan; everyone was counting on him and if they didn't do anything-

He looked over at Gus when he snapped his fingers. The gremlin had a triumphant look on his face, which increased Oswald's hopes significantly.

"I might know someone who can help us." he said. Prescott scoffed.

"Better than my weapons? Doubt it."

"I find it extremely amazing that you can actually compare someone to a weapon." Gus snidely said to him, making the grumpy gremlin huff.

"Who do you have in mind?" Ortensia urged. Gus turned to her with a knowing grin.

"Mickey." he replied simply, his hands on his hips.

.:END OF CHAPTER 6:.