SHESH - DOUBLE TOONAGE
The "bit players" discussed in length the details of the private prom, and some time later, they all stood and left the cafeteria.
"They're leaving now, and 'our Elmyra' is staying put," informed Junior. "Teams Beth and Gimmel, stay with your targets."
"Right!" Shadows moved noiselessly, and they exited moments after the "bit players" did.
"Tex, what's happening over there?"
"'Our Elmyra' looks rather sad—wait—she's leaving now."
"It's getting late, Junior," explained Alexi. "Everyone's going home, meaning that both 'Elmyras' are going to turn in for the night. Whoever goes to her house has to be the real one!"
"And it looks like we'll find out where Dakota's camp is as well!" squealed Friz, with disturbing excitement.
"Once that happens, whoever has the real Elmyra, be sure to tag her—okay, hold it, these guys are moving too!" Junior stiffened his ears and held his breath as Montana and his companion stood, and left. Noiselessly, the three lagomorphs followed them outside. There, the limousine zoomed up, Grovely stepped out to open the door for them, and once everyone was inside, the vehicle sped off. (UNWARPUNWARPUNWARP!) Junior, Alexi, and Miriam were now outside Weenie Burgers.
"Monty and 'Elmyra' are headed east!" grunted Junior, watching the car shrink in the distance. "Tex, which way is 'your Elmyra' headed?"
A moment later, "Still headed south—wait, she just turned a corner and is now headed east as well!"
"What?" asked Miriam, wincing. "She's headed for Elmyra's house too?"
"We'll know in a little bit," replied Shotsy. "Ugh, all this hiding is murder on my make-up!"
"Stay with her, guys! Okay team, let's move!" At that command (WARPWARPWARP!) the three bunnies disappeared.
Several minutes later, (UNWARPUNWARPUNWARP!) they reappeared one-half block away from Elmyra's house, where Montana's limousine was currently parked, and Grovely had just stepped out. (WARPWARPWARP!) They moved to the shadows again an instant before Grovely opened the door. The girl stepped out, and in a flash, Grovely resumed his position and the limousine sped off again. The humanmaid looked at the car for an instant as it left at a ridiculous speed, and then went inside the house.
"Looks like you have Dakota on your side, Tex," whispered Junior, relieved that Dakota had not seen her plans fail at the diner. The Fourteen sighed with relief, and all raised their ears as they relaxed.
"Elmyra's in her house?"
"Just walked right in."
"Odd. I wonder where Dakota is going."
"Still headed east?" asked Alexi.
"Yes. Perhaps she set up camp near Elmyra's house to keep track of her as well?"
Junior thought about it, and answered, "Possibly, but this is a residential area. Where could she set up camp around here where no one would notice?"
Miriam then had an idea, "I'll take a look around, Junior. Something's gotta be out of place around here!" There was some movement in the shadows, but all anyone would have been able to hear was very light rustling.
Ten minutes later, Tex saw things begin to get weirder. "I think she camped either behind or in front of her house, Junior! She's right on this block!"
"We'll find out soon enough where she's camping at! Miriam, get back here!"
Some more rustling and the albino doe was once again with the other rabbits. Just then, the girl turned the corner.
"We see her coming, Tex. Where are you?"
"Just around the corner, Junior. Is she making any moves?"
"No, she just looks sad, still—huh?"
"'Huh' what?" asked everyone.
"Um, teams, I don't know what to make of this, but 'this Elmyra' is also going inside!"
The Fourteen tilted their ears sideways and gasped in unison.
"Dakota is camping inside Elmyra's house! But WHERE! HOW!"
"She's full of tricks, Shotsy!" replied Tex. "I don't know how she was able to trick the rest of the family and make sure they didn't see both of them at the same time, but she did it somehow!"
The redhead sadly went inside.
The mission leader grunted, "Oh dear, that means we still don't know who's who, and we DON'T know if Dakota was at Weenie Burgers watching her plans fail!"
All the communicators fell silent for a minute, until Anni asked, "Junior, can you go inside and check on them?"
"No. Elmyra has booby traps all around her house, she has plenty of cages in her room, and she has a pet dungeon in the basement! It would be too risky, and she could blow our cover!"
"(CENSORED)!" grunted Bekki, stomping in anger. "What do we do now?"
Junior also stomped in anger at the impossibility of it all. Finally, he made his decision. "Teams Beth and Gimmel, are Mary and The J.A.M. going home?"
"Yes," replied Morty. "Mary and Sweetie just went inside their building."
"The J.A.M. took her home and is now headed for the forest," added Anni. "The other 'bit players' have split off and gone to their homes as well."
"All right. Return to Base. Team Aleph will stake out Dakota and Elmyra here, is that clear?"
"Clear!" Silence again.
As Team Aleph reunited outside Elmyra's house, Junior looked to the sky, and sighed. Closing his eyes, he whispered, "Dear God, please help us rescue our friends, and let us complete this mission successfully." He looked at the ground, and then back at the house. They couldn't allow Dakota to defeat them.
They just couldn't.
