While most of Petropolis slept that night, an all too familiar Dante Swigger had made his way back to his place. He was now concerned because his "biker" look was getting a little old. So upon entering, the Redbone( who was still there of all places) was working on a laptop when he came near with more of the assigned things to "retrieve". He put it out on the coffee table nearby and turned to the Redbone.
"I'm gonna need a new look. I don't want anybody to suspect me of being too good for them."
"You got it.", the Redbone answered as he turned around and handed his friend a scanner like device.
Dante ran the scanner over himself and his malamute form shifted into the form of a gray hound. Then he fidgeted with his belt and his biker appearance faded and was replaced with shorts, a gray t-shirt, and red sneakers complimented with white socks. He also retracted his goatee, sideburns and mustache and his hair turned reddish brown and short. The biker had now become an athlete.
"Now, what name have I not used yet?", he asked himself.
"I got it.", the Redbone answered him snapping his fingers, "Matthew Garcia. Four time gold medalist of the Olympics."
"Nice. I'll work on my athlete voice later. Where's the lady?"
Then an orange cat walked in swishing her flowing black hair. She was wearing a white coat with a skirt that came to her knees, and white shoes. If it was anybody else, Matthew and the Redbone would have drawn fire, but they could tell it was a friend.
"Somebody mention me?", she asked kindly.
"Nice look. Using the nurse guise for the hospital retrieving?"
"You read my mind. Alicia Periwinkle is the name I chose. Nice athlete guise. Will these work?"
"For now. Did you get the items you needed?"
Alicia walked over and put her retrieved items on the coffee table next to Matthew's. The Redbone inspected everything and then after setting up the transporter, sent them on their way. He then turned to Matthew and showed his laptop screen.
"While you two were out, I did a little investigation, and get this, Matthew, you got a criminal reputation."
His screen had visuals of Matthew( who was Dante at the time) committing crimes and that worried Matthew. Alicia had already torn off the next piece of the list and had thrown it into the fire like she did the first time.
"Cobalt bars, hydro based panotron, particle accelerator, and a radioactive wave stabilizer. We're doing good so far, but it's not over yet.", Matthew declared as he turned to the Redbone, "Hey how bout we call you Otto for now?"
"Sounds good to me.", Otto answered him.
"Okay team, move out."
Meanwhile, 03 and 04 had finished their mission of "marking targets", and had now settled into a late night diner for some well deserved meals( hey they've been working round the clock and decided to take a breather). As their food arrived, the waiter gave them a look as he slipped a note onto their table. 03 and 04 did a quick look around to see if anyone was around. Nobody was so the unfolded the paper their waiter gave them which turned out to be a note with three words: Call the boss. 03 and 04 instantly set their communicators and the other end started ringing. Then, their boss picked up.
"You called us sir?", they asked in unification.
"Yes I did. After you finish your food there, I require you for a "special assignment."
"What's that boss?"
"Basically, it requires a very certain target that you've stalked for sometime now. He's almost at the ready. When I give you two the sign, you'll know what you need to do. Understood?"
"We live to serve-", 03 started.
"And obey, master.", 04 finished.
With that, their boss hung up and 03 and 04 went back to the hamburgers they ordered. When they finished, the waiter didn't give them a bill. Instead he handed them another paper that was folded just like the first one. It was another note but it had five words this time: Keep up the good work. 03 and 04 then turned, mounted their parked motorcycles, and sped off eager to get their "special assignment".
The following week was certainly one of the freakiest ones that TUFF had to deal with. First of all, there came the crime of somebody breaking into a crowded room and had several people butchered, then there came the crime where some computer parts got hijacked and assaulted the customers, and finally the crime where somebody sent several planes at the airport into a collision course. Besides that, the "mystery agent" had not shown up at any of them, and the victims that survived were so frightened their hair was on end, and they could barely talk at all. Kitty had never seen anything like this before. And at every crime, the were no clues that could help them crack this wave of crime. Where did these new criminals come from? She didn't know because she was also concerned about Dudley spending time with Donnagon. As much as she tried, she couldn't forget that smile she saw on Donnagon's face when he left. So dark and so..so something but she could not tell what. Keswick had tried to piece things together or at least make a new gadget that could help, but he often got carried away with other stuff. Dudley however was just as confident as ever. He was totally oblivious to what was going on and only thought about how much fun Donnagon really was. And now he wanted to do it again. Herbert was already pinning the blame on someone.
"Pedestrians in severe states of horror. Technology hijacked. Airplanes malfunctioning. This has got "Donnagon's guilty" written all over it."
"Oh come on chief, Dad is totally not guilty."
"Agent Puppy, I know that dog a lot better than you do and I say, he's guilty."
"Really, cause I clearly see that there's no evidence against him", Dudley told Herbert in a very strong fashion.
At that moment Dudley's phone rang(the one on his desk) and he answered it.
"Hello?"
"Guess who.", the voice on the other end said.
"Dad?", Dudley asked excitedly.
"Bingo.", Donnagon answered, "So you up for another day together?"
"I wouldn't miss it for the whole world. Hey, can we meet up at-"
"ABSOLUTLY NOT!", Herbert yelled as he hopped over, swiped the phone off Dudley's fingers, and hung up.
"Hey, what was that for?!",Dudley asked sounding annoyed.
"Agent Puppy, that man can not be trusted with-"
"I'll tell you who can't be trusted", Dudley interrupted, "somebody who's mean, who's selfish, who's ...who's like the bad guys I fight. And Dad is NOTHING like that!"
Herbert cringed. Dudley had yelled before, but it was nothing like this. This one was more sure and loud than the others.
"Agent Puppy, don't make me use the-"
"I don't care. And now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to investigate this matter."
Dudley walked away from a very surprised and shocked Herbert and headed to the open elevator doors. Herbert thought he was going to leave, then he remembered Dudley liked to push all the little buttons so the problem took care of itself as the doors closed and the sounds of button pushing came from the other side. Herbert hopped back into his office as Kitty(who had watched the whole thing) stood there puzzled. Dudley was always a little hard to convince, but convinced enough to shun the chief of all people? That was one thing Dudley wouldn't do so harshly. Kitty even had Dudley go through that new list of possible new partners for Dudley, but it just didn't work. Just like the first time, the other replacement agents either fled or quit the very second they were partnered up. She knew that finding Dudley a new partner was hard, but not THIS hard. She need to get to a place where she could think and her soon to be new office was the only place she could think of. When she got there, she noticed a very formally dressed rabbit waiting for her. It was Kitty's ex-partner Jack Rabbit and when she saw him, she instantly attacked. Jack managed to hold off Kitty's attacks til Herbert broke them up.
"At ease Kitty. Jack"s a friend."
"Friend?!", Kitty asked.
"Yes Kitty, now that you're the new chief of TUFF, I can reveal my real job to you."
"Real job?"
Jack turned to Herbert who understood what was going on so he hopped out of the office so Jack and Kitty could be alone closing the door behind him. With him gone, Jack then assured Kitty to relax.
"I'm not really retired Kitty, I'm undercover", Jack explained showing his badge to her.
"TRIPLE Agent? What's that?", Kitty asked him as she read his badge before he put it away.
"I'm part of TUFF that's called the Troop Retrieving Intel Purposely Leading to Enemies brigade. It's our job to go behind enemy lines gather information on what they know or up to, then deliver it to TUFF."
"Really? What about that time you tried to drain my brain?"
"A few pots and pans welded together, some L.E.D. lights, and a sound disk."
"The time you downloaded data on every TUFF agent in the world?"
"A quick scroll down with the mouse and an already full flash drive."
Kitty couldn't believe it. A secret part of TUFF even she didn't know about. Why had Herbert not explained this to her and Dudley? Were they not ready to face the truth? Then the elevator stopped dinging and Jack knew what was coming next.
"Listen Kitty, promise you won't tell Dudley? I'm trying to stay undercover."
"I promise Jack", Kitty assured him, "Good luck with the retrieving."
"Thanks", Jack answered as he opened the office window and climbed down the fire escape.
