Police agents were going around the ruined room while Dudley and Kitty were interviewed by a couple private eye detectives.
"You're saying that a panther came out of the ground and just went back down?", one detective( a Bengal tiger) asked with a raised eyebrow while his partner( a goat) took notes.
Dudley nodded.
"It slid across the floor and then it took Stan Walker away."
The detective just looked like Dudley was talking gibberish.
"We base investigations on facts not fairy tales.", he said firmly.
"But we were there.", Kitty said just as firm.
The detective's expression didn't flinch.
"So where's Mr. Walker now?"
Kitty and Dudley each felt like they had been hit in the stomach. These investigators were on the job and looked like they ment biz. Luckily a wolf officer came by and the detective turned to them.
"Anything?", he asked.
The officer shook his heads.
"Nothing. No fingerprints, no footage, not traces, and no clues anywhere. Whoever did this knew what they were doing."
The tiger detective turned to Kitty and Dudley with a concerned expression.
"Looks like we got nothing here."
He turned and walked away with the officer and Kitty and Dudley went out also. Gwen was in a chair and clearly in distress. Dudley and Kitty came over.
"Gwen?", Dudley asked trying to sound sincere, "We'll find Stan and the perpetrators behind this."
Gwen looked up and dried her eyes with a tissue in her hand.
"Promise?", she asked.
"You have our word.", Kitty assured.
Later that night as the police forces cleared out, Dudley and Kitty met up with Jeremiah and Iris.
"Did they interview you too?", Dudley asked.
"They certainly did.", Jeremiah said firmly, "Something is just not adding up. Why did Stan just run? He could have just called security. I don't think this is going to go well in the election though."
"Why is that?", Kitty asked.
"People are going to think conspiracy is in play.", Iris stated, "They're going to get the idea that Mayor Teddy Bear delivered this attack on Stan to ensure he wins by default."
"That's crazy.", Dudley said sounding firm, "I know Mayor Bear may be kind of strange, but he wouldn't go that low."
"You know that, and we know that.", Jeremiah stated, "But we can't just claim Mayor Bear is innocent, we need hard evidence."
Even Dudley couldn't disagree with that.
Stalker hulled Stan Walker into the warehouse and set him on a crate before closing the warehouse doors and removing his blindfold as well as gag, but kept his hands and feet tied.
"What is the meaning of this?", Stan asked.
Stalker smiled.
"Hey, I'm just following orders."
"By who?", Stan asked.
"By me.", a voice from behind said coldly.
Stalker turned Stan around so he could see who he was talking to. He couldn't see through the darkness, but he knew someone was there cause a shadowy figure moved out and on to another crate.
"Leave us."
Stalker slid back into the floor and the shadow he became slid across the floor and vanished under the warehouse doors.
"Now that we're alone, I don't feel guilt in revealing my latest scheme to you."
"But who exactly are you?", Stan asked, "And what do you want from me?"
"You're position.", the shadow stated coldly, "With you at the head, I can manipulate the justice system any way I choose to. Including shutting down TUFF."
"That's what this is about?", Stan asked.
"No.", the shadow answered, "My employer has other intentions for you than your future position. Your company's knowledge on genetic enhancement will help turn the tide of our global gang war against our enemies."
"What enemies?", Stan asked.
"The ones who restrain the earth's true rulers.", the shadow proclaimed, "They had their victory, and now I've been sent to correct it."
Stan frowned.
"I'm not telling anything.", he said firmly.
"And you believe you can defy me?", the shadow asked, "I seriously doubt it. Galaril and Sabrina are already overseeing preparations. And you're going to deliver a speech against your opposition in this election."
"I'm not helping anyone.", Stan said.
"Who said you were leaving?", the shadow asked, "But don't feel too left out. The detonator will be going off shortly."
Stan looked alarmed.
"Detonator? As in a bomb?!"
The shadow walked over to the closed warehouse doors, but out of the light so Stan couldn't see who it was.
"Love to stay and see you're life explode, but I have an election to win with my name on it."
Jack peeked out of the window binds ,but kept hidden.
"What are you up to Zero?", he asked himself.
He had watched a special report on television on the attack on Stan Walker's mansion, and now with Mayor Teddy Bear being questioned, things were really starting to seem strange.
"I know I shouldn't do this.", Jack said as he pulled out a communicator he had when he was on TUFF's main forces, "But life is ment to be risky so."
Then he made a call.
"Meet me at the wharf downtown.", the voice on the other end said, "And make sure you're alone and not being followed."
"Copy. Over and out.", Jack answered as he hung up.
Now here is where things get interesting. Jack stocked up on his weapons and made sure he had what he needed before heading out. On the way out the door, Jack made sure he had cover. He already had a close encounter with his attacker and he had no intention of having another one. Luckily it was early morning and pretty dark out so getting around wasn't so hard. Still he kept his guard up in case he was followed. He checked every now and then as he made it to the wharf. The dock's street lights barely were on by the way they flickered on and off really fast. The water rippled on the sandy shore and looked like shifting dark glass. Jack cautiously looked around. His contact said it would be here, but now he was having second thoughts.
"Maybe I should have stayed behind and communicated from afar."
Just then, a warehouse nearby exploded with a loud bang that sent Jack flying backward into the dark and icy water. When he surfaced, Jack sputtered and waited til his ears got their hearing back.
"What was that?", he wondered.
As if to answer him, a zebra came from the smoke and debris carried by an gazelle in dark armor. It carried the zebra to the side of the dock and helped Jack out of the water.
"Glad you made it."
Jack looked perplexed cause he recognized the zebra.
"Stan Walker?"
The zebra nodded.
"I'm just glad that Guardian 2905 here was around."
Stan mentioned toward the gazelle who bowed nobly. They didn't pause cause they were then racing away from the sound of sirens behind them.
"You know a safe place to talk?", Stan asked as they ran, "I have information."
Jack nodded.
"You got transportation?"
Guardian 2905 pressed a sequence on a band on his wrist and his back plating shifted into a jet pack. Stan and Jack each grabbed an arm and with a roar of rockets, they were in the air and flying high above the streets. Jack pointed out the way and soon they were back at Dudley's tree house. Guardian kept watch as Jack and Stan slipped inside. Guardian followed.
"Surrounding area is secure.", Guardian stated in a military like voice.
Jack looked to Stan.
"Guardian?", he asked.
"One of my company ideas for home security.", Stan explained, "We were developing this special armor that our fighters could be in pedestrian areas and show up when needed, but then we got robbed of the blueprints except the one you see here."
Jack now got interested.
"So someone's using your stuff?", he asked
Stan looked worried.
"And I have a good idea on who might be behind all this."
Dudley walked along the street with a lot on his mind.
"Man, this is really biting me.", he muttered.
He paused for a minute to catch his breath, but then he felt a chill even though it was a warm night. He turned to see a familiar face poke out of the shadows.
"Galaril?", Dudley asked in shock.
"Indeed.", Galaril chuckled wickedly as he came into view, "So nice to see you again."
"What do you want?", Dudley asked, "I'm very busy here."
"Good question.", Galaril said as he slid closer, "But first, I'd like you to look my way."
Galaril's eyes glowed , but Dudley turned away keeping his eyes from view.
"You don't want to look my way?", Galaril asked.
"Why should I?', Dudley asked still refusing to turn around, "You just want me out of your way."
Galaril looked surprised for a second, but then caught himself.
"Oh, I see. You don't trust me do you? Even if I told you who would be responsible for crashing that party just a little while ago."
Dudley flinched and Galaril knew he had the dog's attention.
"So is that a yes to that you want my help?", Galaril asked trying to sound sincere.
"Like the time you helped me get out of Zero's contract just so you'll be in Zero's favor again?", Dudley asked sounding annoyed.
Galaril walked around trying to get Dudley to look his way, but Dudley turned around as he did. Dudley had the feeling that Galaril was up to no good, but he wanted to keep the demonic horse talking.
"The only person you want to really help is you."
Galaril put a wounded look on, but Dudley wasn't buying it.
"I don't blame you.", Galaril said in a hurt voice, "When I try being helpful, nobody listens to me cause they think I'll turn on them. But I know something between Jeremiah and yourself that Jeremiah doesn't bother telling you."
Dudley slowly turned around, but only got halfway before catching himself.
"What would Jeremiah hide from me? We're buddies."
Galaril lifted an eyebrow.
"Are you?", he asked, "Or does Jeremiah trick you the way you think I am?"
Now Dudley was feeling a little bit peeved, but still kept his eyes off Galaril.
"Knock it off. Do us both a favor and buzz off."
Now Galaril was the one getting peeved, but he didn't show it. He didn't get the chance though cause Jeremiah was walking up and when Galaril saw Jeremiah, he knew better than to stick around so he bailed. Jeremiah saw that Dudley had his eyes covered so he put his hand on them and Dudley knew Jeremiah was around.
"Is Galaril gone?"
"Yes he's gone.", Jeremiah said, "That deceiver knows better than to try and sway others while I'm around."
Dudley put his hands down and Jeremiah looked concerned.
"You didn't believe anything he said did you?", he asked.
"Not at all.", Dudley said honestly.
"Good boy.", Jeremiah said as they both turned to leave.
As they did, Galaril watched from a distance and he wasn't happy.
"Dang it!", he sneered.
"Looks like I'm not the only one loosing their touch."
Galaril turned to see Sabrina with a smug smile on her face.
"What's wrong Lord of Nightmares?", she asked mockingly, "Lost your persuasive touch?"
"You think it's easy?!", Galaril fumed, "You try swaying one of those two without the other interfering!"
"Love to, but can't.", Sabrina said with concern, "We have a situation. Stan escaped his death."
Galaril still looked peeved.
"Geez, what does it take to get any evil around here?"
"As in going off on your own to do your own thing?", Sabrina asked, "Forget it. Zero's getting impatient with our delay of this election."
"And our pawn got taken in by the enemy.", Galaril stated, "What could Zero be up to so much he doesn't let us in on it."
"Cause if we get caught, he ensured we can't squeal.", Sabrina stated with an annoyed look on her face, "Zero knows what he's doing and how to get it done. I had to put a sneak who had his nose where it wasn't wanted down cause he almost revealed what was up."
Sabrina held up a skull belonging to a possum.
"Overheard a conversation and after he refused to tell me, I had to finish him off."
"Yet another spy in our midst.", Galaril griped, "And where's the Gemini? Off running errands?"
"They're keeping tabs on our client.", Sabrina stated calmly, "And if we want to take down our opposition, we better get a move on."
Galaril sighed heavily. As much as he wanted to burn Sabrina to a cinder, Zero would be the first to know and that wouldn't go well in his favor. As they turned to leave, Stalker slithered out of the shadows and stood before them.
"Well?", Galaril asked, "Anything to report?"
Stalker just smiled.
"They took the bait."
Galril and Sabrina both looked concerned, and then they slowly smiled too. Things were looking up.
Dudley and Jeremiah met up with Kitty and Iris at City Hall and clearly out of breath.
"Got anything?", Dudley asked.
Kitty and Iris looked unsure.
"Nothing.", Kitty informed, "We heard an explosion down at the wharf, so Iris and I investigated. We found a warehouse in ruins. Everything inside was destroyed."
"So was it some kind of set up?", Dudley guessed.
"Sounds like it to me.", Jeremiah stated, "Stan being killed and making it look like Mayor Bear is to blame sure sounds dirty and underhanded."
"But who's going to believe us?", Iris stated, "To prove Mayor Bear's innocence, we need hard evidence."
"And all we got is some soft stuff.", Dudley said with a sigh, "It's not like we have someone on the inside who can lend a hand."
Then Dudley's eyes lit up and Jeremiah caught on.
"Doesn't Gwen work as the chief executive at Stan's work?"
"So maybe we need to go ask Ms. Chief Secretary a few questions.", Jeremiah put in.
Kitty and Iris quickly lit up.
"Well , we're not getting anywhere by standing around.", Kitty said.
Kitty pressed an ignition key and the Tuffmobile shot up the road and parked in front of the foursome. Jeremiah pulled his cycle( in it's cube form) out and got that up as Dudley and Kitty got in their car. After Jeremiah mounted his cycle and Iris got behind him, both vehicles revved up and were ready to go.
"Let's do this!", both teams said in perfect unification.
They hit the gas and both were driving down the road with a mission on their hands. Failure was not an option.