Chapter 25

The plan started along smoothly. The first group came into the back of the building via the delivery shop, and Astor was not amused. "Why are we getting a god damn shipment this late at night?" he scolded indirectly to the boys as they handed him the paperwork.

"Beats us, boss," said the boys.

"Just put it over there and go home," said Astor, pointing to an open spot. "You boys definitely work hard, I have to give you credit."

"Thanks boss," smiled the pigs as Astor left the shop. Floyd was driving the forklift that picked up the box from the delivery truck. After the coast was clear, the foursome popped out from the box to the faint smell of propane and started to make their way to the vault. Justin had given them a map on how to get there.

The other group were getting to where they had to go, but were slowed down by trying to cross secured locations. Justin of course knew all the codes, but they were losing time at each stop.

"Are we almost there?" asked an impatient Lisa.

"We just have two more areas to cross, and we'll be at the vault," said Justin. "Let's go, we have no time to waste."

The unit that included Ralph and Melissa were behind the front foursome by a couple of minutes. They already did their job; they were just making sure the path was safe when the others came back. They were catching up to the others quickly, since the locations were all clear. But then...

"Dad, we got a problem here," said Daniel over the radio to his father. "I think we got company. Sound the alarms!"

About twenty seconds later, the alarms sounded. Schaeffer turned around with worry and the group started to panic. A few seconds later he noticed a younger raccoon behind them.

"Well well, what do we have here?" questioned Daniel, walking up to Schaeffer. "So, you guys want to save the day? Well, try this on for size..."

Just then, several security guards came out of the woodwork. The gang knew that they couldn't do much, so now was time for plan B.

"Zoey, Zoey, over," said George with a hint of nervousness in his voice into his radio. "We are caught here. The alarms went off. You guys are now on your own, over."

"Copy that," said Zoey without hesitation.

"Who's that?" asked Daniel begrudgingly.

"Our little secret," boasted Ralph. "Run!" The group bolted towards Daniel with the fullbackish Schaeffer in the lead. This lured the security guards away from the direction of the vault, as there were none behind the younger Ringtail. They had to make a break for it.

"There are more of them heading to the vault, Troy," yelled Daniel into his radio. "Stop them at all costs!"

Melissa and Ralph hesitated for a fraction of a second when they heard the voice of Troy over Daniel's radio. "Troy Malone?" asked Melissa.

"No time to find out, run!" yelled George as the guards started closing in on them.

Justin and his gang finally reached the vault. They got in, and noticed the four raccoons tied up towards the back of the room.

"Justin!" screamed an elated Anna Belle. "How were you able to find us?"

"I had a little inkling," kidded Justin, "and played my cards close to the vest."

"I knew you guys would never let us down," chimed in Bert. "I'll keep that in mind when I need a poker partner."

"How much time is left on the bomb?" asked Maxie.

"Bomb?" questioned Lisa, feeling her body becoming numb.

"Only about five minutes," said Justin after he rushed over to it. "Quick, we gotta get out of here. The alarms have already gone off."

Zoey and Justin kept watch as Cyril and Lisa went to town on setting the family of four raccoons free.

"Who ever thought I would see the day of Cyril Sneer rescuing us?" asked Bert with a chuckle.

"I didn't," kidded Cyril back. "Not even in my nightmares, raccoon."

Just as Maxie was let go, Troy came running in with Astor and two other guards.

"Oh no!" shouted Lisa.

"Don't worry, kid." Then Cyril went running in to join the melee by the door, as Maxie and Lisa struggled to set the others free.

"Malone?" asked Zoey to herself. Before Troy tried to land the first punch, Zoey dropped him with quick kicks to the shins and shoulder like a sack of potatoes.

"Wow, she's pretty vicious," noticed an amazed Frank.

"You should see her clear out a bar!" ribbed Maxie, with her hands and head working more in tandem now.

"Justin? My own son? How could you?" questioned Astor stoned-faced, running past and letting his goons do the dirty work. Justin was almost as big as the security guards, so he, Zoey, and Cyril went to work on them.

Just as Astor started coming over, Bert was set free. He bolted up and got into a struggle with Astor to keep him away from the ladies, so they could set his parents free. "Oh no you don't!" shouted Bert as he grabbed Astor by the scruff of his collar.

As everyone was starting to get worn down from the huge brawl taking place, Maxie ran over to the bomb just as her parents were set free. "Run, everyone! We only got thirty seconds!"

By now, everyone was in a jam trying to get out of the narrow door of the vault, as they all congealed before the vault door during the scrap. A security guard, Zoey, Anna Belle, and Frank were the only ones who managed to make it out of the vault in the first twenty seconds.

Ten, nine, eight...

"Run guys, RUN!" exclaimed Bert, as everyone was trampling each other. He and Lisa pushed and pulled themselves out of the room.

Seven, six, five, four...

Justin and Troy scrambled their way out. Another security guard stumbled right after them. It only left Astor and Cyril towards the back of the room. Astor was making his jailbreak, but Cyril, being the track star he was in his day, caught him from behind and rag dolled Astor to the ground.

"Cyril, NO!" yelled Bert in desperation and astonishment from in front of the doorway. "He's not worth it!"

"Run, raccoon! This is my fight to finish," said Cyril in his trademark scowl as he pinned down Astor. "It all ends here, you dirty son of a bitch!"

Three, two, one...