The next morning, all the Muppets were in the canteen, eating breakfast, since they had slept in accidently and had to rush to the theater.
Dr. Teeth, remembering what he did last night, felt better about himself that morning. He was sure he made peace with Zoot's spirit and now he can go on with his life without feeling terrible about what he did. Then, he remembered he said a lot of bad things to Kermit the day before, which brought back the bad feeling, but he was right to confront Kermit about, though he didn't intend to destroy Kermit's desk.
Kermit was alone in his office, sitting at his desk which Beauregard repaired earlier, looking through some papers. He saw there were still a few cracks in the wood, which reminded the frog of the argument he had with Dr. Teeth the night before. Dr. Teeth now knew the truth involving Zia offing a lot of the Muppets, and Kermit now knew Dr. Teeth was the one that tried to off Zoot, and Kermit also knew that Zoot was actually still alive, but he didn't want to tell Dr. Teeth that, mainly because Dr. Teeth might get mad again. Kermit then remembered that he said that he'd tell the other Muppets that Dr. Teeth murdered Zoot if the keyboardist told everyone what had been going for the last 30 years. The frog took the last sip of his coffee and decided to go down there and get more. Maybe this'll give him the chance to make peace with Dr. Teeth, before things got worse.
Somewhere else in the city, Walter, Sam, Digit, Zondra and Zoot were working on hacking the TV stations.
"Okay, we're going to have to wait a few minutes before it's ready," Digit told everyone.
"I can't believe we're actually going to do this!" Walter exclaimed.
"Don't get too excited. Things might not go as well as we planned. Someone might figure out how to take it down before it's done," Zondra warned the boy.
Walter nodded and waited patiently.
"What are we going to do after this?" Zoot asked Sam.
"We head back to the cave as fast as we can and get ready for the attack on Zia's headquarters to commence on the news of course," Sam said.
"Sam, why can't we just attack her ourselves?" Walter asked his friend.
"We're Muppets, Walter. We can't fight. We're not supposed to be violent. We're supposed to be sweet and loving," Sam explained.
"Good point," Walter said, nodding.
"Okay! It's all ready to go! Let the broadcasting commence! Zondra, if you please?" Digit asked the girl.
Zondra nodded and pulled the lever. Hacking into TV stations was easy for her since she, Ubu and Chip did it all the time on Jim Henson Hour every now and then, mostly to put up her own material.
Sam took out a telescope and focused on the big screened TV in the middle of LA. They had intended to get the video on there, and if it turned on there, then it was being shown all over the world. Around the world, people watching TV started to notice that their television sets were acting odd, for one thing, the program everyone was watching stop and there was now a black screen with a blue loading bar on it. The Muppet Theater was one of those places.
"What's up with the TV?" Rizzo asked.
"I don't know! I can't change the channel! Look, I'm trying as we speak," Fozzie said, pressing the buttons on the remote.
"Does it have batteries?" Gonzo asked the bear.
"I just put some in yesterday!"
"Wait, whatever the TV is loading, it's almost done," Floyd said, pointing at the screen. The bassist was right; there was only a centimeter left to load, and when it was done, the screen turned blue, then static, and finally, Walter was onscreen!
"It worked!" Sam hollered.
"Yes!" Zondra exclaimed.
"Cool!" Walter shouted in awe.
"WALTER!" all the Muppets in the theater screamed in shock.
"Hello, I'm Walter. You probably know me from the Muppets. And you're probably wondering what I'm doing in what looks like an old cave. Well, I'm about to tell you, so don't touch anything on the remote or the TV set and stay tuned in," Walter said onscreen.
Around the world, everyone was now watching what was going on TV right now. Everyone on Sesame Street was literally crowded around the little TV that was now set outside of Hooper's store to see what was happening.
Doc, Sprocket and all the Fraggles were sitting around the TV in Doc's workshop, ready to see what was about to occur.
In Smalltown, Gary and Mary were in their home until someone called them to turn on the TV. Gary did so and the married couple was very surprised to see Walter on it.
In Siberia, Russia, Constantine was in the cafeteria eating gruel, while the other inmates were watching TV until one of the prisoners shouted, "Hey Constantine! That kid that helped that frog, Kermit, stop your Crown Jewel Heist is on TV!"
Constantine looked up from his breakfast and was surprised to see Walter on TV. "Little boy?" the evil frog said, confused.
Nadya, upon hearing the commotion, entered the cafeteria to stop the noise, but saw what got every going crazy and decided to see why the Muppet was on TV.
At Interpol headquarters, every single Interpol agent was watching the TV, which had subtitles so most of the agents could understand what Walter was going to say. Jean Pierre Napoleon was sitting way up front, wanting to know what was going on the most.
"Well, there's been something deep and dark going on behind the Muppets for nearly 30 years. Before I explain what, I'm going to ask the public a few things. Do you remember any one these characters?" Walter held up a picture of the cast of Sam & Friends. "This is the cast of Sam & Friends, the first Muppet TV show that aired in the 50s." Walter held it close to the camera to the people had a closer look at the image.
Then he said it down and picked up a few other photos. "This was the cast of Jim Henson Hour." He held up the picture of Vicki, Lindbergh, Waldo C Graphic, and Leon. Then he held up an image of the original Solid Foam Band, finally, he held a picture of Gorilla Television up to the camera.
"Okay, now these are characters from Muppets Tonight." Walter said, setting the photos down and picking up a few more pictures. He held up an image of Clifford, Spamela Hamderson, Seymour the Elephant, Mr. Poodlepants, the Muppets Tonight Band, and he was about to hold up another until he seemed to stop and asked someone off-screen, "Should I show them this one? It's basically you by yourself with a guitar."
A British voice answered quietly, "Sure, go on."
Walter then held up a picture of Zondra when she was playing the role of Darci. Then Walter set the pictures down and said, "A majority of you probably have no idea who they were, but for the minority of the public that do, you're all probably wondering whatever happened to those guys? They were funny, talented, and made great shows. Well hang tight because I'm about to tell you."
"Say, those were Muppets we knew! I nearly forgot about Solid Foam," Floyd Pepper stated.
"Yeah, and someone told me that Seymour's green card expired, okay," Pepe said, sounding a bit skeptical.
"I know that girl with the guitar! That was Darci. She was on Real World Muppets with me, Bobo and Clifford," Rizzo added.
"Quiet! I can't hear what Walter's saying!" Miss Piggy hissed.
"Well excuse me! I had no idea it was against the law to think about the past!"
"You see everyone, what happened to these Muppets had to be the most horrible thing to happen to them. You see, they were offed," Walter explained.
Everyone watching gasped in horror, but a few of the younger public had no idea what Walter meant, so they were wondering why the adults were freaking.
"Allow me to explain how they were 'disposed of'; you see, they were drugged unconscious, shoved into a wooden crate, and thrown into the river just outside of LA. Shocking, yes? But it doesn't end there, the person that's behind it all makes the person they're forcing to do this to lie to the other Muppets saying the Offed Muppets quit, when that is completely untrue! However, don't cry, because I have a little bit of good news about the Offed Muppets. You see, in 1986, Sam, Harry the Hipster and Yorick of Sam & Friends survived being offed and fortunately, their crates washed up onshore, where they broke out and hid from society for the last 30 years, and during that time, they helped save the lives of many other Muppets being offed by stopping their crates from going too far downstream. Also in that time, they found out why all the old Muppets or Muppets that had TV shows that didn't last long were being offed; they weren't popular enough and they were thrown out to make sure the modern Muppets stay popular. But then, one Muppet decides to take a second shot at fame, who only lasted for 2 seasons of Muppets Tonight and managed to get in as a background character in some movies. Everyone, Zondra, who some of you Muppets Tonight fans may identify as Darci."
Zondra took a deep breath and walked on-screen, which made all the Muppets that knew Zondra or Darci jaws drop. Zondra cleared her throat and spoke in the voice she had in Jim Henson Hour, her stiff and American accent. "Walter is correct; someone had been forcing someone we know to off all the Muppets. I was gone for nearly 3 years until there were auditions for Muppets Tonight. I figured I'd get another shot at fame, so I decided to go on and audition, but I gave myself the name Darci, and for a while, Muppets assumed we were related, when truth be told, we were the same person. After Muppets Wizard of Oz, I, along with Clifford, Chip, and many others, were offed and got back here thanks to Sam. I haven't shown myself to the public for a long time until now, so now you know Walter is telling the truth that we all survived."
"But sometimes, not being popular enough isn't the only reason a Muppet is offed," Zoot said off-screen, before walking on-screen.
"OHMIGOSH! ZOOT'S ALIVE!" Janice cried.
"Oh, thank god. I thought we lost him…wait a second, if he's alive, then why did that cop Zia say he was dead?" Lips wondered.
"I don't know man, but it looks like we're about to find out," Floyd said.
Dr. Teeth stared at the screen wide-eyed and his mouth wide open in shock. Zoot was alive! Did Sam save him, assuming he was offed? Did Zoot know it was him that committed the crime? Did Zoot hear him shout his apology? Did Zoot know he loved him? Dr. Teeth was so deep in thought, that he ignored what Zoot said.
"Sometimes, Muppets are offed so some new Muppet could take their place in the show. That's what happened to me, because I saw the replacement when I tried to return to the theater. I was very upset, but I couldn't hold it against my friends for replacing, mainly because they had no idea what happened to me," the saxophonist explained.
"I knew it! Sandy! She has to be behind Zoot being offed!" Floyd shouted.
"But Sandy had to be like, a kid when all those other Muppets were offed. Maybe she's a small part of the operation," Janice assumed.
Robin then jumped on-screen, shouting, "I was offed too! And not that long ago!"
"Robin, what are you doing? It was supposed to be just the three of us doing this?" Walter asked the little frog.
"Walter! I'm evidence that this person is still offing Muppets! I'm Robin the Frog, Kermit the Frog's nephew, and I was offed 2 days ago!" Robin exclaimed.
Every person in the world gasped in horror. How could this person try to kill someone so young? But most importantly, who was this cold, heartless, Muppet-hating person behind it all?
"Now, after seeing all the evidence we have of this going on, you're all probably wondering who is behind it all. Well, I'll tell you; it's this group called the Offing Group: Organization for Murderous Felons. It's a team of hit man that had been trying to kill all the old Muppets, and they're all in LA. They're led by a woman by the name of Zia," Walter stated. The Muppet held up the business card and showed it to the camera and added, "I have a business advertising their little group. It reveals their address, phone number, and their boss's name. The address is…"
As Walter stated the address, several police forces, SWAT teams, and government agents wrote down it down, planning on going down to the building and put an end to the group.
"These people, as we've told you, are starting to off Muppets from the Muppet Show, and after they're done with them, who knows who'll be next; Sesame Street, Fraggle Rock, every single Muppet will be picked off until they're all gone," Zondra stated in a cold voice, making every Muppet watching the TV tremble in fear.
Everyone also noticed Walter whispered to her, "You didn't have to say it in that creepy tone, you know." where Zondra replied "What? I'm probably right. Had to be said."
Walter, shaking his head and looking back at the camera, said, "Everyone, what Zia's group is doing is completely wrong, and they have, no, need to be stopped! And soon, before they continue to do it! Please, help us take them down for good! This has been Walter of the Muppets, and this has been a warning to all Muppets. Be aware." And with that, the TV went back to static, and then the original program that had been on before the broadcast turned back on.
Everyone in the world was frozen in shock, surprised what they had just witnessed. Was it true? Were the world's most beloved Muppets being killed for the sake of popularity? They all decided to trust Walter and everyone wen about, trying to get to the bottom of things.
Zia and her henchmen had been watching everything and Zia was fuming with rage. So much rage, she whipped out a gun and shot at the television, practically destroying the screen!
She then shouted, "Everyone! To the warehouse outside of town! Cops are going to be here soon! We have to move now!"
Everyone ran out of the building, got in their vehicles and drove off as fast as they could. Except for Zia, who got on a black motorcycle and drove off in another direction, heading for the Muppet Theater.
On Sesame Street, all the characters were panicking a little, worried for their lives, until Alan did a loud whistle, catching all of their attention.
"Everyone! Calm down! Everything is going to be alright!" Gordon shouted.
"How do you know? Those people might be going after us at this very second!" Telly screamed.
"Telly, Walter said that those people are all in LA. They won't be getting here anytime soon," Bob told the monster.
"But shouldn't we be doing something to help the Muppets in LA? Their lives are in danger," Abby Cadabby.
"Yeah, and they're our friends, aren't they?" Grover asked.
"Sorry everyone, but it's far too dangerous," Maria said.
"Come on, Maria! We got to do something! It'd be wrong to just leave them hanging like this! We can't let those bad guys win before the cops get them. We got to do this, for freedom, for justice, for honesty!" Bert stated.
"A lot of us have known Kermit for years, Gordon. We can't just stand by and not help him and his friends. It'd be like abandoning him," Herry Monster added.
"And besides, fighting villains will be a lot more fun than staying here and waiting for the fight to be over," Oscar added.
After that, all the Muppets started pleading the humans to let them go and help their Muppet friends in LA. After a while, the adults gave in.
In Doc's workshop, Gobo Fraggle asked Doc, "Doc, what's a hit man?"
"A hit man is a person, or a Silly Creature as you call them, that kills certain people for money," Doc explained.
"Kill! They kill people! We won't stand a chance!" Boober Fraggle screamed.
"What are we going to do, Doc?" Mokey asked the human.
"Here's what we're not going to do; stand here and let our friends in LA get hurt like cowards. My Fraggle friends, we're going to Los Angeles and we're going to help them stop those bad people," Doc stated.
"Really? We're going to fight them!?" Wembly Fraggle gasped.
"Yep, go round up all the Fraggles you know can help and see if they can help. We have a war to fight!" Doc exclaimed.
"Alright! Let's go!" Red Fraggle cheered, running into the Fraggle cave.
"We'll see if we can get the Doozers to help too!" Gobo said, running into the cave as well, followed by his friends.
In Smalltown, Gary was heading outside to the car. Mary went after him. "Gary, where are you going?" she asked, frantically.
"Mary, Walter and all the other Muppets are in danger. We have to help them in some way. And also, Walter's my brother," Gary stated.
"But, how are you going to get there fast enough? It's a long drive to LA from here," Mary asked her husband.
"Did you forget already? The car Fozzie gave us as a wedding present? It can travel by map!" Gary stated with a big smile.
"Oh…well that was convenient. Let's go," Mary said, before joining her husband to head down to Los Angeles.
In Siberia, Constantine was in the middle of breaking out of the gulag. He had to get to America fast. He was not going to let Zia get away with this crime, mainly because, if she succeeds in her plan in getting rid of every Muppet in the world, she'll be dubbed the most dangerous criminal in the world, and then he'll be #2!
Nadya and the prison guards were going after the frog as he ran. "Constantine! Stop! You cannot break out of prison!" she shouted.
"Yes I can! And I have a good reason to right now! If Zia succeeds in her plan, she'll be #1 criminal! I'm in the middle of defending my title here!" Constantine protested.
"Hold it, Constantine! If you're going to stop Zia, you'll have to take me and the guards with you! We want to stop her too!" Nadya stated.
Constantine stopped in his tracks and looked back at the woman. "You're kidding, right?" the evil frog, assumed.
"No, Constantine. I am very serious right now. Also, I am not going to let that woman hurt Kermit! I have to save him!" Nadya stated.
"Let us come too!" Big Papa shouted.
"Yes, we are friends of Kermit as well, and we want to go to America as well and help him. Nadya, can we go as well?" Prison King asked.
"That all depends if Constantine will allow me and the guards to assist him as well," Nadya said.
The guards and prisoners stared at the frog for a few moments. Constantine observed their determined expression for a few seconds until he said, "Fine, you can come to, but as long as you don't slow me down!"
"Wonderful, let's go," Nadya said. She, Constantine, the Russian Prison Guards and the prisoners of the Gulag proceeded to walk out of the Gulag and set out to America.
Outside of Interpol, Jean Pierre Napoleon got into his car, Le Maximum, stepped on the gas and sped out of the city. If there was a criminal on the loose that could be a threat to every Muppet in the world, that would include the ones that lived in Europe, and he had to stop them before they could try, and it didn't even matter how long it would take to get to LA, even if it involved him having to do underwater to do so!
Well, looks like the broadcast got out to the public and the news is starting to spread like wildfire! And some other Muppets are going to LA to help their friends.
What will happen once Zia confronts the Muppets?
What will the Offed Muppets do next?
Will the Muppets stay out of the fight or will they end up starting it? Find out in the next chapter of Offed-The Muppets Escape!
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