A/N: Hard to believe this story is already over a year old!

Chapter 21: The Not So Great Escape

Nearly an hour passed as both Courage and Computer tried to come up with a plan for their escape. Courage was sitting on the floor, trying to warm himself up, while Computer was pacing back and forth with a paw on his chin.

"I may have an idea." He spoke. "But it's not very good one, and-" He grinned. "You're not going to like it."

Courage cringed at those words. "W-what? What do I need to do?"

"We're going to wait for them to come and take you. When that stupid janitor comes around to pick you up we'll rush him and knock him out. While he's down for the count we'll make our escape. Easy enough!"

Courage shook his head. Computer was right to think that he wouldn't like the idea. "We can't do that! What if it doesn't work? What if he manages to stop both of us? What then? He'll take me into that room and..."

"This is our best and only chance." Computer interrupted. "If we can knock him out he won't be a problem for us anymore. There's no point in escaping if he just catches us again! He'll be completely off guard when he opens that door to get you and then we can rush him!"

Courage wanted to protest further but Computer was right, knocking out Rick would save them a lot of trouble. The old man would probably have very a hard time fighting off the both of them.

"Trust me!" Computer went on. His overconfidence didn't inspire any enthusiasm in Courage but he was willing to go along with the plan regardless.

The day seemed to go by even more slowly now that they were waiting for Rick to return. There wasn't even any guarantee that they would try to put down Courage today but that didn't stop his own nervousness knowing that one screw up would leave him strapped to a table and screaming out in agony as they pumped deadly chemicals into his body. He paced back and forth through the kennel, trying to sooth his nerves. The steel door hadn't opened in awhile but that didn't mean they were done for the day.

Finally, after another hour passed, the steel door did open up again and both dogs jumped with surprise. Courage had to fight back every ounce of instincts he had to keep himself from panicking.

"Ready?" Computer asked.

He nodded, taking a deep breath and hoping dearly that this wouldn't go wrong. Considering their current track record however...

Rick stomped out of the bright, white light, looking particularly unhappy. He glanced over at a clipboard attached to the wall and then scanned the various kennels. Cracking his knuckles, he walked forward, grinning maliciously. The gleeful janitor began to hum a happy little tune as he walked, stopping in front of their kennel. Courage shrunk away in terror. How he hated that man! How could he enjoy doing this to animals? How could he go about it with a smile on his face?

Computer tensed up, ready to pounce. He was probably eager to get his revenge after how much Rick had shaken him up before.

"It ain't your turn yet." The old man spoke, still grinning like a maniac. "But you're a trouble maker, I can tell."

It took a moment for Courage to realize that Rick was talking about Computer alone. He hadn't so much as glanced over at him yet. He might as well have not been there at all.

"Trouble makers get dealt with." He continued. "So you're being moved up on the list."

He reached over and unlocked the kennel. Sneering, he leaned down to grab Computer, and...

"GO!" The machine yelled, lunging at the janitor.

With a swift flick of his hand, Rick snatched the glowing dog right out of the air. Courage tackled his leg, hoping to knock him over, but failed to so much as sway the old man. He seemed to be far more fit then any man his age had the right to be. He lifted his leg and kicked Courage into the back of his kennel. Computer flailed around in an effort to get him to let go of his neck but Rick's grip was like iron and held him fast.

"Hehehe!" He laughed. "Thought you could outsmart me, hmm? No dog has escaped me in over thirty years! What made you think you could pull it off?"

"Uh, Courage..." Computer spoke, the full implications of what was about to happen to him hitting him like a ton of bricks.

Pulling himself out of a daze, Courage raced forward to stop the janitor. He was greeted by the metal bars being swung back into place and locking with a click. "Oh, no!" He whimpered.

"Trouble makers get made an example of!" Rick yelled, turning the glowing dog this way and that to show the other dogs. "Nobody escapes, nobody! And if you try, you'll be dealt with immediately!"

Courage grabbed the bars and shook them. He had to help Computer before it was too late! "ARRRUUU!" He cried, trying to get the old janitor's attention.

Computer gave him a helpless glance. Rick continued to swing him around, ranting on and on about what would happen to disobedient dogs.

"That's enough, Rick!" A voice called out.

Courage pulled his head though the bars and saw that there was a vet standing in the doorway of that bright, white room. His arms were crossed and he was looking particularly annoyed.

"They're just dogs!" He went on. "They aren't out to get you! Hurry up and bring that one over here! You're holding up the line and we can't call it a night until-"

"I know, I know!" The irate janitor snapped. He shook Computer one last time before tromping forward.

"D-dog, I could use a little help!" The machine yelped, glancing back over at him one last time.

Grumbling under his breath, Rick handed Computer over to the vet. He made one last feeble attempt to pull himself away but it was no use. Courage could only watch, terrified, as the steel door slammed shut.

'No, no, no, no!' He shouted over and over again in his mind. He had to do something! Anything!

He pushed on the bars as hard as he could. He had to get out! He couldn't let this happen! Try as he might, they wouldn't budge. He was as good as a stuck rat and Computer was the one with the keys!

"What are you doing, kid?" The bulldog asked. He pressed his saggy face up against his own bars. "You ain't gonna save your friend. Any dog who goes through that door doesn't come back out."

Courage clenched his teeth together and pressed harder. If that were the case then Computer was going to be the first one to come out!

"Give it up, kid. You ain't going to break those bars. Your friend is as good as doggy treats!" The bulldog let out his barking laughing which only fueled Courage to push even harder.

He growled in anger. This wasn't working! He couldn't let that bulldog win, or Rick!

"Come on! Think of Muriel!" He told himself. "If it were her in danger, you'd be out of here by now!"

He backed himself all the way up against the wall and charged forward on all fours. He nearly gave himself a concussion upon hitting the bars but his pain hadn't been for nothing. He looked up and found that the hinge holding the lock in place had almost broken off because of his impact.

"Yes!" He cried out before backing up to hit the door again.

This time the door came crashing open as he rammed into it. He didn't even take the time to stop, he just bolted straight for the metal door. He pushed it open as fast as his paws would let him and then he was bathed in that bright, white light...

"There's no way you can't understand me!" Computer yelled. "How many dogs have you brought in here that could speak English too? How many have you ignored? You humans are all the same! You only hear what you want to hear!"

Courage's eyes adjusted to the light. The room was a painfully sterile white, devoid of anything except a few medical objects. Three veterinarians were huddled around a metal table. Two were keeping Computer pinned down, who was currently struggling against their grip, and the third was preparing the deadly injection.

"Ugh, let go! You can't do this to me!" The machine shouted, desperately trying to get one of his limbs free. "I'm not some stray mutt! You can't just-"

"SHUT UP!" One of them yelled, taking his one free hand and punching Computer square in the stomach. He hit him hard enough to knock the wind out of a full grown human, much less a tiny dog.

"St...stupid humans..." He growled through grit teeth. His usual haughty nature seemed to melt away as his fate drew nearer. He stopped struggling, a calm sort of acceptance falling over him. He stared up at the vets who were holding him down, his expression unreadable. As hard as it was to believe, he appeared to have accepted his fate.

The third vet raised the syringe. "I won't miss this loudmouth." She said, rolling her eyes.

Computer cringed, glancing away. It seemed that all of his usual bravado had faltered completely in the face of his own death. Just as they were lowering the needle into his arm, Courage jumped forward and knocked the third vet to the ground. The syringe went flying, never getting a chance to empty its contents into Computer's arm.

"The hell?" One of the secondary vets asked. The two of them both let go of Computer long enough to help the third back up and that was all the machine needed to scramble off the table and get away from them as fast as he could. He landed next to Courage, looking unusually flustered.

"Dog, how on earth did you..." He tried to ask.

"I, uh...just used my head!" Courage laughed, knowing fully well that Computer wouldn't understand.

"Maybe I'm just new to this whole 'needing to be rescued thing', but don't you think you were cutting it a little bit close?" He asked in a huff.

"I think we've got bigger problems to worry about." Was his reply. He took several steps back, ears drooping.

All three vets were back on their feet and glaring angrily at the two dogs. The biggest guy was cracking his knuckles in anticipation.

"Got any ideas?" He asked Computer.

"Running would be a great start." Was his answered.

With that they both split up, running in the opposite direction of each other. There wasn't exactly a lot of room to run though and it seemed that the three vets had more of a grudge on Computer as they all went after him instead of Courage.

"Why me? Why is it always me?" He complained. They were easily catching up with him as they made circles around the room.

Courage climbed up onto the counter where they stored all of their tools and grabbed one of those large metal trays that they put medical equipment on. He waited for one of the three of them to get closer and...

WHAM

He bashed the sheet down on top of one of the vets head, knocking him out cold.

Unfortunately, the other two vets were on him like a pack of wolves. The female picked him and struck him across the muzzle. He cried out in agony and she dropped him on the floor, where her companion got a good kick in.

"Hey, idiots!" Computer called out.

They both turned and gasped at the same time. Courage looked up, ignoring the pain throbbing through his muzzle. Computer was holding up a red, plastic box with a hazard sign on it. Courage blinked, wondering why the vets cared so much about it.

"I've got used syringes and I know how to use them!" The machine yelled, causing both of the vets to gasp yet again.

"Hey, man! Watch what you're doing with those things!" The male vet cried out, backing up.

Courage had no idea why they were so afraid of used needles but he used the distraction to trip up the female vet. He then knock her out too with the metal sheet she had dropped on the floor just moments ago. The final male vet seemed to lose his nerve and made a run for the door. Computer jumped out in front of him before he could make his escape.

"Oh no you don't!" He growled, brandishing the red box like a weapon and causing the man to squeal like a little girl.

"P-please! I'll do whatever you want! Just don't contaminate me!" The man yelped, backing away yet again.

Computer glared at him. "How about you knock yourself out too? Then you can be like your little friends! I suggest you hit yourself as hard as you hit me...or else." He waved the red box threateningly.

The guy's eyes widened. "Wha-"

"Alright, I guess you want me to contaminate you then." He reached down to pull the lid up off the box.

"No! Alright, I'll do it!" The man cried. He made his hand into a fist, glanced down at the two dogs, then back up at his fist, and finally punched himself as hard as he could. He spiraled backwards before collapsing to the ground.

"Heh, idiots." The machine laughed. He dropped the box onto the floor and made his way over to the knocked out man. He gave him a sound kick to make sure he really was knocked out and shrugged.

"Are you alright?" Courage asked, jumping down off the counter to join him.

The machine scowled. "I almost came this close to meeting your fate! How do you think I feel! Honestly!" He huffed. "I think I'm going to have to start charging you money for my help because what I'm getting is not worth it!"

Courage shrugged. "At least I managed to save you in time."

"We wouldn't even be here in the first place if it wasn't for you and your stupid illness!" Computer shot back angrily.

"Well, what now?" He replied, hoping that he could change the subject.

"We've still got one problem left." Computer said, turning towards the door.

"The janitor..." Courage groaned. They still had to do something about him and he was very obviously good at stopping dogs.

"This could get messy." Computer warned him.

"What about this hasn't been messy?" Courage asked, glancing over at the knocked out veterinarians. He was not looking forward to this...

End Of Chapter