It goes without saying that life can be unpredictable, in fact sometimes there are moments when the most random and insane thing you can possibly imagine actually happens right in front of you. Now for most people this would be something like winning the lottery, witnessing a natural disaster as it unfolds, or even somehow managing to find oil or a fossil in your own backyard. Then there is Courage, a dog who has seen, experienced, and endured the most frightful, terrifying, and horrible things the world could possibly conceive. From gods and aliens, to the undead, and even a massive sand whale, there was nothing that Courage hadn't seen nor been surprised to find out actually existed, in truth though while he was still an easily spooked canine he was beginning to think there was nothing that could truly surprise him anymore.
But of course he was horribly wrong, for one day he found himself waking up surrounded by the most vile and malicious villains he had ever come across, and while this in of itself was enough to turn him paler than a bleached ghost, what ended up happening from this encounter was even more shocking. Instead of trying to kill him like he was expecting, they instead moved into the farmhouse and began living with him. And while he as one would expect was suspicious of this behavior and what kind of grand scheme they were trying to pull, all they ended up doing for the most part was help him maintain the place as well as cook and keep him company. This however only made him more suspicious, for while he did have some familiar faces staying there as well they being Kitty, Bunny, and Shirley, he was still surrounded by his greatest enemies to date, and he knew that this was all some kind of big plot to destroy him as well as Muriel and Eustace.
Speaking of his owners, he hadn't been able to figure out where they were being kept though Katz assured him that wherever they were they were fine. And if it had been any other time Courage wouldn't have humored the idea that the crimson furred feline was telling him the truth, but thanks to Kitty being his sister and seeming to keep him from doing anything too dastardly, he chose to believe him this time. Even so, if they were in fact okay and doing well they were still being kept somewhere, and it was up to Courage to find out where so he could save them and then turn on his villains in order to get them out of their home! Though to be honest, he wouldn't mind if Eustace wasn't doing too well, not in the sense he hoped he was hurt or something of the like of course, but seeing as how the farmer did always try to give him a heart attack he did enjoy the thought of him being scared just a little bit.
Nevertheless, while Eustace was mean to him he would still put in his usual heroic effort to try and save both him and Muriel from whatever dungeon, jail cell, or cage they were being kept in this time around, but in order to do this he would have to make sure his efforts would go unnoticed by his new roommates, which wasn't at all easy.
"Any luck yet?" Courage asked aloud as he typed the same question into Computer's keyboard.
Even though he had to keep his search for Muriel and Eustace a secret even from Kitty, Bunny, and Shirley, he was still going to need help in tracking them down. And while Computer did enjoy making fun of him and calling him a twit whenever possible, he was always there when Courage needed him for information or advice on what he should do, so it only made sense he'd include him in on his plan.
"You asked me the same thing yesterday, and the day before that, and the day before that, and the day before that." Computer replied with a sigh.
"And?" Courage inquired.
"The answer is still no." Computer told him causing him to slump in his seat.
"Ooooooh, where could they be keeping them?" Courage groaned as he let his legs hang off the sides of the chair.
"Obviously not anywhere that I could find them." Computer said in his usual sarcastic tone.
"They've gotta be somewhere though, and it would have to be nearby." Courage reasoned.
"Why would it have to be nearby?" Computer asked.
"Because they said they were being taken care of, so that means they would have to be nearby right?" Courage suggested.
"True, or they could have henchmen or even robots doing that work for them, which given the bunch you're dealing with wouldn't be unlikely." Computer argued.
"Still, if they were nearby where do you think they'd be kept?" Courage asked.
Although Computer was well aware as to what had actually happened to the farmers, he wasn't going to be the one to tell Courage the truth as it would go against the others' plans, as well as crush the poor dog's soul for the second time which he wasn't about to do. Though this didn't mean he wouldn't send him on a wild goose chase for his own amusement of course.
"You know, there is that motel Katz owns that is only a few miles from here, maybe they're being kept there." Computer suggested.
"You think so?" Courage asked.
"Couldn't hurt to check it out, I mean you've got nothing better to do than to sit around all day with the loons downstairs." Computer responded.
"But they'll get suspicious if I just suddenly leave." Courage argued.
"Then make up some kind of excuse to go to town, and when one of them takes you all you need to do is slip away from them to go and investigate." Computer explained.
Taking a moment to think this plan over it honestly was a pretty good plan, and considering he didn't have any kind of back up plan or better ideas just lying about in his head, this was his only option.
"Okay I'll do it." Courage decided as he hopped down from the chair and walked towards the attic door.
"Good luck." Computer said as he left the room, his monitor turning off once he was gone.
"Man there is NOTHIN on today..." Cajun groaned as he mindlessly flipped through the channels while laying on the couch "What's the point of havin a TV if there ain't gonna be anythin worthwhile on it?" He asked.
It had been roughly two weeks since everyone had arrived, and yet despite the assortment of personalities and colorful characters that made up the lot, they had actually managed to work out a perfect balance. First of all there was Katz who was the leader, whether it was due to everyone seeing him as the best option or they were a bit too unsettled by the thought of what would become of them if they objected, either way he was the head of the house. Then there was Le Quack who actually was Katz right hand man, for while his sister and Bunny had just as equal of a say as to what was to be done around the farmhouse as he did, Le Quack was not only resourceful but had a myriad of extremely useful connections, which he insisted no one spoke of in any way whatsoever. Next there was Queenie who held the same amount of power as Kitty and Bunny did, though if any sort of matter were to be debated it was quickly made clear that she and Kitty were NOT to do so with one another, as they were likely to start trading blows.
After those five though everyone else just kind of did their own thing for the most part, Weremole would be outside digging holes and burrows wherever they pleased, Big Toe with his attached cohorts in crime were often scarce as they no doubt were busy planning some kind of heist or scheme, while Cajun was the elected chef of the household and when he wasn't busy cooking he could often be found lazing about. And as one would expect, Shirley mostly stayed in her shack and only ever came out if she was needed, for meals, to watch television, and if Courage needed her help with something. But then there was Freaky Fred who amazingly even in this group was the strangest one of all, no one ever knew what was really going on inside of his head and he often at times would just randomly appear when least expected, in fact the most predictable thing about him was how even after two weeks of being there he still terrified Courage the most by just looking at him with that never faltering toothy grin of his. Still, everyone had found their place and routine in the farmhouse and everything had reached a comfortable norm, at least as normal as the middle of nowhere could get anyways.
"Maybe you should find something better to do with your time then." Katz suggested as he sat in the rocking chair with his legs crossed with a cup of tea in his hands "Perhaps then you wouldn't just be lying there groaning all day."
"There ain't nothin to do though!" The fox exclaimed as he pointed to the window "All that's out there is dirt, blazing heat, and more dirt, what is a fox to do with such conditions?" He asked.
"Maybe bury his head in the sand so I can finally get some peace and quiet." Katz replied as he took a sip of his beverage, earning a glare from the other in response.
But before any more remarks could be exchanged between the two, the sound of hasted footsteps was heard coming from the stairs just before Courage came into view.
"Hey pup, where've you been?" Cajun asked as he looked over his shoulder "Haven't seen you all day." He noted.
"In the attic." Courage answered as he reached the floor and without stopping walked towards the dining room.
"Were you talking with that pompous machine?" Katz inquired.
"Mhm." He simply sounded in reply before going into the other room.
"Does he seem distracted to you?" Cajun asked.
"Better to be distracted than useless." Katz responded as he took another sip of his tea.
Although he wanted nothing more than to take out a mallet and hit him over the head with it, Cajun knew that would be the absolute worst health decision of his entire life, and so he just went back to mindlessly channel surfing. As for Courage, he made his way through the dining room and into the kitchen, where he found Queenie playing cards with Le Quack.
"Do you have any threes?" She asked as she looked up from her hand to him.
"No, go fish." He told her, causing her to draw a card from the deck "Why do we always have to play zis game? why can't we play blackjack or poker." He asked.
"I just like this one the most is all." She answered with a casual shrug.
"Ahem." Courage sounded in order to get their attention.
"Oh look it is ze little doggie." Le Quack said as they both looked towards him "What do you want dog? can't you see we are in ze middle of a game?" He asked.
"Don't be so rude to him." Queenie scolded the fowl before looking back to Courage "Is there something you need Courage?" She asked.
"Can either of you take me to town?" He asked causing Le Quack to raise a brow.
"Why do you need to go to town? we do not need anything." He questioned.
"I just want to get out of the house is all." Courage lied, doing his best not to seem suspicious.
"Then go out ze door and stand there for a few hours." Le Quack instructed as he looked back to his cards.
However, just as Courage was about to say something in response Le Quack was suddenly hit over the head with a frying pan, causing him to fall to the floor unconscious.
"Don't listen to him Courage." Queenie said as she gently set down the pan on the table "I think a trip to town sounds like a perfect idea, nothing's happened these past few days since the whole mummy thing, and it would be nice for a change of scenery." She admitted as she got up from her seat.
Gliding across the floor as she always did Queenie made her way out of the kitchen and towards the front door, Courage on the other hand remained where he stood for a few seconds as he looked towards the currently limp form of Le Quack.
"I hope this works..." He muttered beneath his breath before he followed after her, dreading of what would happen if he was caught sneaking away.
"We're going out." Queenie announced as she opened the front door just as Courage came out of the dining hall.
"Where are you going?" Katz asked as Cajun propped himself up on his elbows to look at her.
"To town to get a change of scenery." She answered as Courage walked over to her side.
"A change of scenery huh? that sounds like a great idea!" Cajun exclaimed as he got up to his feet "Mind if I tag along?" He asked while stretching.
"YES!" Courage thought with widened eyes, as trying to get away from one of his villains would already be incredibly difficult.
"Not at all, the more the merrier." She replied before looking to Katz "Do you want to come?" She asked.
"Hmm...I suppose it would be good to get out of the house for a bit, even if it is just to go to town." He admitted as he set his now empty tea cup down on the nearby table.
"NO!" Courage thought as he tugged on his ears.
"Do you think the others will wanna come? I mean they've been cooped up just as much as we have." Cajun pointed out, as Katz got up from his chair and walked over.
"Couldn't hurt to ask, though one of you are going to have to ask Fred, I am still not used to that guy's smile." Queenie replied as the mere mention of his name sent a shiver down her spine, as well as Cajun and Katz.
"NONONONONONONONO!" Courage mentally chanted, as his plan was being ruined with each passing second.
"If all of us are going to be going then we'll need to take the truck, though I don't know if all of us can fit in it." Katz said as he put a hand to his chin.
"That's no problem, I can go there through my puddle leaving you, Bunny, and Kitty to all sit in the front of it with Courage, the others can sit in the back." Queenie suggested.
"You mean I'm gonna be crammed together with Big Toe and the psycho barber?" Cajun asked with a clear look of disappointment on his face.
"Unless you'd rather walk to town then yes that will be the seating arrangement." Katz told him.
"Why can't Kitty and Bunny sit in the back?" Cajun asked only to earn a stern glare from the feline "...Or you know I could do it, could use the fresh air and all." He quickly replied.
"Then it's settled! I'll go through my puddle, you all take the truck, and we'll have a day in town!" Queenie exclaimed with zest as she brought her hands together.
"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" Courage mentally cried as he lightly jogged in place from panic.
"You know Shirley does have that cart of hers, she could use that to get to town." Katz noted as both he and Cajun started walking towards the dining hall.
"Yeah! and Freaky Fred can catch a ride with her! maybe even Big Toe!" Cajun chimed in as they walked through the door.
"I'll go make sure the truck is ready for everyone before I set out." Queenie told them as she opened the front door and glided out.
And so, with his plan having been reduced to a pile of ashes within the span of but one minute, Courage was left standing there in a state of horrified shock, while Cajun and Katz came across the still knocked out Le Quack lying on the kitchen floor.