Second chapter for today. As always the standard disclaimer applies: I do not own the Happy Tree Friends; they are the property of Mondo Media. I own only my own characters and this story. Now here's chapter 34:

34 – TRAITORS

Tony and Anna Ride took the captured saboteurs into custody without delay. They turned out to be Sara Swutt and John Halloran, who not only were partners in crime, but were also lovers. There wasn't all that much to be gotten from them. They were Marauder turncoats who had renounced the Marauders over a decade ago and joined Metramegopolis. That was what they had said at the time, but they were really plants from XL-Jack-3 who were to lay quiet in the city until just the right moment. They had remained in communication with XL-Jack-3 during all their time in the city but only on rare occasions. On his instructions they had entered the engineering field of the city and slowly worked their ways up the management hierarchy until eventually they had both landed jobs of trust near the top of the ladder. It was in those positions that they stayed awaiting orders from back home. Those orders had finally arrived once the city had taken off and were quite simple: they were to let Frik and Frak into Metramegopolis to cause surface trouble and then, when most of the city staff was occupied with those two outside troublemakers, Sara and John were to sabotage the city flight systems to try to make Metramegopolis crash.

"If they had succeeded in their plan" said Tony Ride to the Council a few days later, "it would have been the end of us. Who knows how many people would have died if the city were to just drop from its current height?"

"And then" continued Anna Ride, picking up the story, "XL-Jack-3 was prepared to swoop in with one of his armies and destroy any survivors, which would end the war once and for all."

"But XL-Jack-3 couldn't know about Robot's system interface and heightened vigilance" said Tony Ride, "nor could he foresee Frik and Frak being captured right away."

"That was just dumb luck" muttered Barry in a low voice.

"Maybe," said Tony Ride, "but I'll take it just the same."

"This is all very well" interposed Mayor King, "but what do we do with these four people now?"

"The penalty for wartime spying is death" said Flippy, "which takes care of our two troublemakers."

"The penalty for treachery is also death" growled Virgil, "which takes care of our two in-house traitors."

"What do we do?" asked Emily, "toss them from the city roof?"

"There's a certain poetic justice to that" said Tony Ride, nodding.

"What if they survive?" asked the Mayor.

"Do you really think that's likely?" asked Tony Ride.

"Stranger things have happened" said the Mayor.

"If they did survive" said Robot, "chances are they'd be too injured to live long. If they managed to survive even so, they would still be stranded in the middle of the wilderness. It is very unlikely they would find any help." There was a pause around the table.

"I get the sense" continued Robot, "that you are not very happy with the idea of executing these people."

"No" said Dane, "even in light of what they've done, or were trying to do. We haven't executed anyone in Metramegopolis in many years – even though we still have a death penalty. I don't think it's been used in my entire lifetime."

"Nevertheless – " began Kevin when Sniffles interrupted him.

"I have an idea then" said Sniffles, "why don't we send them home?"

"Are you kidding?" demanded the Mayor, but Robot answered.

"Actually there is a certain logic to that" he said.

"But that would just be giving XL-Jack-3 back his people" objected the Mayor, "which he could use again."

"I highly doubt it" said Robot, "Ms. Swutt and Mr. Halloran will not be able to enter our city again. Furthermore, any information they might give him at this point will shortly be rendered useless when Virgil, Kevin, Sniffles, the Rides, and I, update all the security systems. Also Frik and Frak are now known to us, so he will not be able to send them back here. It is well known that XL-Jack-3 does not tolerate failure."

There was a pause. Everyone knew the truth of that statement. Yes, XL-Jack-3 might find other uses for his people, but he would punish them for their failures first, and it was well known that the only punishment he ever dealt out for failure was death. Tony Ride actually smiled.

"You know" he said, "if all we do is say we're going to send our four prisoners back to their master we might be able to get some use out of them yet. They'd be willing to do anything so as not to be sent back home."

"That may be true" said Mayor King, "but I don't like it. Who's to say they won't tell any number of lies to save their skins? No, I think it will still have to be death."

"Let's try this first" said Tony Ride, "we might get something."

"Fine" said the Mayor, "you get everything you can out of them, then toss them off of the city roof."

There was an uncomfortable silence.

"Diana" said Dane quietly, "you know we can't do that."

"Sure we can" said the Mayor, "XL-Jack-3 and his Marauder underlings would do it in a second."

"We are not them" said Toothy just as quietly as Dane.

"No" replied the Mayor, "but this is war. If we want to survive we may have to become as ruthless as they are. I'm prepared to do that if necessary. Are the rest of you?"

There was a silence around the room.

"I'm not saying that it will come to that" said the Mayor, "but as Mayor I do have the power to order these prisoners killed."

"Yes" said Robot, "you do. Do you intend to use it?"

Mayor King did not reply, and the meeting broke up in an uneasy state.

(To Be Continued)

A/N - Well that's the end of what I call the "Trouble Makers" arc. It will lead directly into the next arc of the story which begins in the next chapter. You all come back now, you hear?