Wheezy restlessly paced back and forth. He was worried. Something wasn't right, as if it could even be in this place, but there was something eerily different in how the thugs were handling this situation. Jiminy Cricket was sitting on Fox's shoulder, resting his chin on his hand and waving his crossed ankle back and forth. "Wheezy, try to stay calm." He said.
"Something's wrong." The penguin whimpered, then turned toward his friends. "Why haven't they brought her back yet? What do you suppose they're up to?"
"How should I know in this rat hole?" Jiminy replied. Link stood up.
"No, Wheezy's right." He said seriously. "Something is really off. I don't like this." Then they heard screaming, and Wheezy's lip quivered when he recognized the fear-driven voice. He clasped his beak with his flippers.
"What are they doing to her?!" He gasped. Fox and Jiminy had sprung to their feet when the screaming started and stood close to the anxious penguin.
"They've never done this before!" Jiminy exclaimed. Normally, Spike and his crooks would always bring their victim back to the dungeon immediately after they'd had their 'session' in the torture chamber, as a lesson to the other captives. But not this time. Something was definitely abnormal in their tactics and it made even Jiminy shudder. Fox stood straight and tall on high alert. "What in the world is going on?" Wheezy raced to the door and uselessly hopped up and down in efforts to reach the knob and turn it.
"Help me, everyone!" He wailed. "Please help me. She's my friend and she's in trouble! If they do it to her, they'll do it to Woody too. We can't let that happen! We have to save them! Please give me a hand!"
"Wheezy's right! Come on, fellows!" Link ordered and the toys stacked themselves up to the doorknob. Jiminy stuck his puny umbrella inside the keyhole and worked at twisting it to unlock the door.
The truck finally stopped and the toys heard the driver leave it. Buzz unzipped the bag and they all climbed up to the driver's window. "There it is!" Slinky barked, pointing to the school across the street.
"Well, what do you know?" Junior smiled, crossing his arms.
"Look, fellows!" Jack cried happily. "There's an open window!"
"Yeehaw! We did it, Bullseye." Jessie grinned, hugging her horse.
"Well, what are we waiting for?" Potato Head asked.
"Let's go!" Buzz commanded. Matthew placed his protective cap and goggles on his head and positioned his gun.
"Oh, boy. This is going to be fun." Katan declared eagerly, swishing his tail back and forth. Making sure the coast was clear, they descended from the vehicle and made a run for it.
"I don't see Mr. Wilson's car anywhere," Jessie said nervously.
"Me either." Jack shook his head.
"You sure this is the right place?" Potato Head muttered.
"Yes." Buzz answered confidently.
"Use your eyes, Tater Tot." Carl huffed. "It says Tri-County Dogwood Middle School."
"They may not even be here."
"Well, we're not leaving 'til we investigate!" Matthew argued. "We've got to find them!" Why do I have a feeling that something isn't right about this place?
"We will find them." Buzz said. Slinky hopped with his front on top of the window sill, the same sill that Woody and Mitsy had attempted to escape through only a few hours ago!
"Nice work, pooch." Combat Carl grinned, impressed at Slinky's flexibility. They all climbed his coils then did the same to get down inside the building.
"Better leave the window open." Buzz said.
"Yeah, in case we have to make a fast escape." Jack commented.
"So, now what?" Potato Head asked.
"Where do we go from here?" Junior echoed him.
"Why don't we try the principal's office?" Buzz suggested. "If it results negative, we can try the administration next."
"Good plan, Lightyear." Carl nodded. They walked through the hall 'til they reached their destination. Jack turned on the lights. There was no sign of the cowboy or the little princess.
"Uh, Buzz? What exactly are we looking for?" Slinky asked and Jessie nodded in curiosity.
"Well, if Mr. Wilson didn't bring Woody and Mitsy here, then maybe we can find his address and head there." Buzz replied. Suddenly, they heard voices that seemed to be coming from the walls, though they sounded far away.
"What is that?" Slinky asked nervously. They heard laughing, dark laughter which placed them on pins and needles. Then, they head Mitsy's voice, crying in pain and pleading for mercy. Everyone gasped.
"What the heck?" Carl groaned, appalled at what he heard. "Sounds as if thugs are running a torture chamber here."
"That's Mitsy!" Slinky exclaimed. Matthew gasped and almost dropped his rifle, but Katan placed it back in his hands.
"Oh, where is she?" Matthew asked timidly. This couldn't be happening. No, not now, not when he was so close. "And where is Woody?"
"Oh, Buzz!" Jessie cried out in alarm, gripping him tightly. "What are we gonna do? What's happening to her?!" Buzz stared, concerned at her, trying to think of what to do.
"The laptop!" Buzz cheered. "Let's turn it on. Maybe it'll have the school security video feed on it, and show us where she is." The toys all climbed one after the other up onto the desk, Jack and Buzz turned the computer on, and they watched the screen come to life. "Ah, here it is." Buzz remarked, moving the arrow on the screen to the surveillance icon. They pressed the spacebar twice, and then several rooms in the building appeared.
"I don't see Woody." Jessie sighed. "But he's gotta be in here somewhere."
"Look!" Slinky blurted out. "In the upper right hand corner!" The others followed his gaze.
"It's her!" Matthew sputtered. They could see the princess backing up then cringing on the floor against a wall. Her face was pained and full of fright. Matthew froze at the sight of her looking so petrified. How he wanted to jump into the screen and fight off whatever was causing her fear. It was as if her discomfort was running through his own body.
"No, please! Please! Don't!" She begged uselessly, raising her right arm to protect her face. Her friends were shocked with horror when a school teacher's rod came down on her rapidly with great force. Mitsy cried out in pain, then the rod came again.
"MITSY!" Bonnie's toys cried. Their friend tried crawling away, but she was kicked and they could see other figures starting to whack her with the rod. Mitsy crouched down to the floor into a tight fetal position, trying to make herself as small as possible, and gripped both sides of her head frightfully. Though his face glowered in anger, Matthew was panting heavily and his heart quivered. "That's her!" Slinky blurted to Combat Carl and Junior. "That's our friend!"
"YOU DIRTY SWINE!" Potato Head shouted, shaking his fists in fury.
"YOU PIECES OF SCUM!" Buzz growled, pounding his fists on the desk.
"YOU BLASTED CHOPS OF FILTH!" Combat Carl fumed with seething teeth.
"YOU WICKED BEASTS!" Jessie leaned in toward the screen. Bullseye snorted angrily and Katan growled as he pounced up at the screen.
"Get your bloody paws off her!" Slinky yelled, in anger and hurt.
Matthew and Jessie glanced at Jack, Mitsy's old faithful dog. What they saw startled them: the big, muscular, plastic armored clad German Shepherd was baring his teeth like a hungry prowler, his shoulders were squared rigidly for attack, his eyes were dark-very dark-and narrowed with full hostility, and his whole body was trembling vehemently. Mitsy had always said that Jack would never harm anyone without appropriate intent, but the dog in front of her friends was not the kind, loving, gentle canine she had described all these years. What Jessie saw was a savage-like wild animal, with only one intent: to destroy, and it made the cowgirl shudder. She felt as if she was looking at a gone-mad beast! "I'LL KILL 'EM!" Jack hollered viciously. "I'LL KILL THEM! I won't spare any stitch or gadget this time! They got away with this once, but never again!" And with that, he hopped off the desk but was unexpectedly tackled down to the floor and held firmly down by Buzz, Jessie, Slinky, Matthew, and Combat Carl. Jack struggled against his friends, but together, they kept him down. "Let go of me!" Jack snarled angrily, thrashing around. "Get your hands off of me, guys! NOW!"
"Slow down, Jack!" Buzz demanded. "We all feel just as you do, but first we've got to find her."
"I'll tear them to pieces!" Jack barked hatefully. "I'm gonna bust their gadgets! I'll rip out their stitches!"
"That won't do you or us or her any good!" Matthew interjected. "Get a grip on yourself, Jack. Don't let yourself stoop down to their level. Come on!"
"I've got to get my princess out of there!" Jack cried desperately.
"I know, Jack. I know." Buzz tried to say in a calm voice. "But we need to find which room it is. Now come on."
"Lightyear is right." Combat Carl said firmly. "You'd better snap out of it, soldier. Now! Your impulsive personal feelings will only blow the operation, and we want to get your friends out of here alive. Focus, Jack!" Jack exhaled heavily, trying to think straight. His fury was in no way extinguished at all, but he slowly tried to calm himself down. His friends were right: if they were to save Woody and Mitsy, Jack would need to stay level-headed. Climbing back onto the desk and putting their observation skills to good use, they identified the room as the nurse's office.
"Can you see Woody anywhere?" Slinky asked anxiously and Bullseye whimpered.
"No, I don't." Jessie shook her head sadly. She desperately hoped that he wasn't already dead!
"Negative." Buzz muttered. They had to save Woody too. "All right, let's move!" They closed the computer and all dashed out into the hall.
Snaps kicked her now limp body away from him, like she was a roll of dirt. Mitsy lay helplessly on the floor, clutching her side and out of breath, mostly from the pain. It was like a movie rerun, the gang torturing her just the same way she'd seen them do to Woody a few hours ago! She'd hardly even began to activate her effective self-defense moves that Buzz had taught her when they'd relentlessly started in on her. Two months ago when they were held hostage by the same gang, thankfully Woody, Jack, and Slinky had rescued her before the gang actually physically hurt her. Now it seemed that they were making up for lost time...big time! Puss grabbed her by her hair and roughly shook her around like a wet rag, making her dizzy on top of everything else. He was having a delightful time in this full-blown cruelty. Then he held her up like a coat, while Scar hit her and slapped her. Poor Mitsy feebly tried to fend him off, but she had little strength to do it. Then Puss dropped her to the floor and Scar grabbed her foot between his teeth and tossed her around like a tree twig. When he finally released her, Mitsy was on her back and could do nothing to help herself. She was shaking from pain and stress. Then to make matters impossibly worse, Spike stepped on top her and deliberately forced his weight into the foot keeping her down. Mitsy choked and struggled to push him off but it was no good. All the devilish toys were laughing at her turmoil and she could barely make out what was happening. "Had enough yet, Your Highness?" Spike sneered at small doll he had pinned to the floor. Mitsy fought for breath but it was impossible and she went limp underneath him. She'd used up the rest of her strength trying to save herself. Spike finally let up his foot and Mitsy just lay there, almost like a dead dog. "I've been waiting for this," Spike snickered hideously at the princess. The last thing she saw was Spike's giant fist aiming straight at her. Then...everything went black!
Bullseye arched his head when they turned the corner and took off running in the opposite direction. "Bullseye! Where ya going?" Jessie called. The horse stopped at a door and started pawing at it, sniffing and whining. "What is it, boy?" The two of them opened the door, thankfully the light was on, and Jessie followed her horse. "Buzz! Jack! Over here! In here, quickly!" They all came rushing. Bullseye had found Woody, but the cowboy was out cold. "Woody! Woody, are you okay?" Jessie cried, shaking his shoulders. She looked anxiously at her husband for help. They all started saying Woody's name.
Woody's eyes started fluttering. "Ah! Stop that." He moaned, and Jessie shrank back. "Ugh," Woody tossed his head back and forth as Buzz and Potato Head used a screwdriver to free his arms and legs from the duct tape. As he was finally released, he sank down to the floor and his friends gathered around him, concern on their faces.
"Woody, it's us." Slinky said. Woody barely opened his eyes and looked up above him. He couldn't believe it: he was surrounded by his good friends! Bullseye happily licked him.
"Woody, thank goodness you're alive!" Buzz exclaimed in relief.
"We saved you, Sheriff." Katan said proudly, wagging his tail.
"Oh, Woody!" Jessie hugged him, but he winced in pain.
"Ah, Jess, please," Woody grimaced. Jessie let him go.
"I'm sorry." She said sadly.
"It's okay, it's not you."
"Boy, Woody, am I glad to see you!" Slinky smiled.
"We were so worried about you." Matthew said.
"It's okay, Woody." Buzz said reassuringly, touching his friend's shoulder. "We're with you and we're gonna get you out of here."
"Glad to see you're still in one piece, cowboy." Combat Carl smiled.
"C-Carl?" Woody sputtered, trying to gain focus.
Jack just stood there. He was relieved that Woody was alive, but he felt invisible. "I'm glad you're safe, Woody." Jack said gruffly. "But, guys, we need to move it! Have you forgotten that Mitsy's in trouble, right at this moment?!" The others looked at the angry dog solemnly. Woody tried to stand up quickly, moaning but he ignored his pain. But he lost his footing.
"Guys, help me up." Woody said, wincing with pain. "He's right. Why are we standing around for? Lets get going! Now!"
"You heard the sheriff!" Potato Head ordered. "Move!" They exited the supply room, leaving Slugger to sleep in the utility room, snoozing.
"Woody, are you all right?" Buzz asked with concern, touching his shoulder. Woody bit his lip.
"You have no idea what we've been through, Buzz!" Woody declared, facing the brave space ranger.
"Well, no matter what, we're all leaving together!"
"Combat Carl says we split up into platoons." Carl said. "We can cover more ground that way."
"I agree." Matthew said.
"Whoa, be careful, guys!" Woody exclaimed worriedly. "I don't want anyone getting lost or hurt. You don't know what..."
"It'll be all right, Woody." Buzz said calmly. Woody, Buzz, and Jack set off together toward the nurse's office, Bullseye, went with Potato Head, Katan hopped alongside Combat Carl and Jr., and Jessie took Slinky and Matthew with her. They all hurried together to find the missing, abused princess and leave this place.
"Come on, Jiminy. Hurry!" Wheezy exclaimed.
"Almost got it." The cricket replied. The toys were stacked on top of each other, trying to open the locked door. The finally heard a click and they turned the knob and the door opened!
"Yes!" Daisy cheered.
"Okay, everyone. Stay low and keep silent. All right now, follow us." Fox whispered as he slowly, ever cautiously led them out of their dungeon. He wasn't sure what they would do to stop those barbarians and help an old friend, but they would try something!
Slinky was sniffing the floor, searching for Mitsy's scent. His nose led him to a door and he stuck his head in it, surprised it wasn't shut. "Matt! Jessie!" Slinky hollered. "Over here! I found her!" The two toys rushed to him. It was dim in the room, but they could make her out from the light in the hallway. The princess was sprawled on her back with her eyes closed. Jessie gasped and dropped to her knees, cradling her friend in her arms.
"Mitsy!" She cried. "Mitsy. Come on, girl. It's me, Jessie! Mitsy, can you hear me?!" No matter how desperately she tried to wake her friend, she got no response from the little doll. "She's out cold!" Jessie blurted out in fear and anger.
"Come on, Jessie. Let's get her out of here." Matthew said seriously. They never saw the shadowed snake tail that coiled its way around the princess's feet. Jessie pulled Mitsy up into her arms and both she and Slinky started to follow Matthew out when there was an enormous commotion behind them, a yelp from Slinky, and then darkness!
"BUZZ!" Jessie screamed.
Woody, Buzz, and Jack were investigating the door to the nurses' office. "All right, guys. On three." Buzz commanded. "One, two...three!" They shoved the door and burst into the room. "Okay, you bloody fiends!" Buzz bellowed. "Let the girl go!" But the room was empty of any malicious occupants. There was no one around! "Blast! They made a getaway."
"Well, they're not going to get far!" Jack growled, turning on his heel.
Buzz froze when he heard Jessie's scream for help! He gulped in fear. "Jessie!" He gasped and took off in the direction of her voice. Jack and Woody followed him, but Woody, still sore and weary, was having a difficult time keeping up, so he caught a hold of Jack's tail and hopped onto the dog's back.
Jessie was so scared. She couldn't see anything at all, not even her own hand in front of her! She trembled dreadfully as she realized she was in a box. "Help!" She cried. "Help!" She was already starting to hyperventilate.
"Jessie?" Came a male voice. "Jessie, it's okay. I'm here."
"M-Matt? Where are you?! I can't see you!" Jessie frantically flailed her arms around, searching for her friend. Then she felt Matthew's hard shoulder and scrambled close to him. "Matt, is it you?" She panted.
"Yes." Matthew said calmly. "I'm right here, Jess. It's okay." With a friend close to her, Jessie wasn't quite as panicked as she normally would be, but she still desperately wanted out!
"N-n-no. It's not okay!" She shrieked. "W-w-where's Mitsy? And Slink? Matt, where are they?!" Jessie clenched his arms in fright.
"I-I-I don't know!" He gasped, realizing that neither the princess or the dog seemed to be in here with them!
"We gotta get out of here!" Jessie shivered.
"Well, come on." Matthew said. Staying next to the cowgirl so she'd know he was there, they both stood up and tried to push upward, but their cramped roof was solid and didn't budge. Matthew reared back and tried poking holes against the cardboard with his plastic rifle. It didn't do much, but he kept trying with more vigor as Jessie tightly gripped his shoulders. "Obviously, there are books or something piled on top of us." Matthew muttered.
"Help!" Jessie called out. She couldn't help herself. "HELP! BUZZ! Get us out of here!"
Buzz led the charge as he followed his wife's frightened cries. They found the door where her screams were the loudest and Buzz anxiously barged at it but it didn't budge. He groaned angrily and tried with all his might but it was no good. Woody had hopped off of Jack and all the toys had come and were trying to push open the door. "Jessie?!" Woody called back. "Jessie, it's okay! Stay calm! We're coming!"
"Blast this thing!" Buzz growled. He desperately looked around for another way in, when he spotted a vent! He rushed to it and pulled the door off then ran on ahead of the others before they realized what he'd done. Buzz could hear Jessie pleading for escape and as he scurried into the room, his green glow revealed a box. Buzz anxiously gasped. Jessie was trapped under there! He dashed forward and bravely tossed the books off the top, then flipped the box over with his feet. There was Matthew and Jessie.
"Oh, Buzz!" Jessie gasped heavily as she just dropped into his chest as she felt his strong, protective arms encircle her.
"It's okay, Jessie. I'm right here." He said tenderly. "I've got you." He carried her away from that horrid box and out into the light. Matthew followed.
"Jessie, are you all right?" Combat Carl asked, wide-eyed at her frail appearance.
"I-i-in a m-m-minute," Jessie panted, trying to catch her breath, clinging tightly to her husband.
"Mitsy was in there!" Matthew announced. "But, we lost her after they trapped us."
"Oh no! Where's Slink?" Woody and Jack asked at the same time.
"I'll find him." Buzz said confidently and after Woody protectively put his arm around Jessie to calm her, marched back into the classroom. It was a bit dark, but his green spacesuit glow served as a guide light, plus a desk lamp in the far corner of the room shone brightly. "Slink? Slinky, you in here?!" Buzz called out as he approached the light. "Slinky?"
Slinky grunted and whimpered as he squirmed underneath his prison of heavy books. "Buzz? Buzz! Help!" He yelped loudly.
"Slinky!" Buzz yelled as he saw his little pal's dilemma and raced to help him. "Slink, don't worry. Just stay calm, I'll get you out of here." Buzz spoke reassuringly as he threw himself into removing the heavy objects that were trapping the little dog. Slinky gulped, gazing fearfully up at the ceiling. He saw a massive tool box, hanging dangerously high above their heads, and for a moment he was taken back to the warehouse only two months ago when they'd been held hostage by the same toy gang, and Mitsy had been insidiously placed in the same scenario Slinky found himself and Buzz right now!
"Buzz, be careful!" Slinky whispered frantically, as if speaking in a normal voice would personally tick off the box and trigger it to collapse.
"You're almost out of here, Slink." Buzz said calmly. He only had two more books to remove then Slinky would be free! But they heard a sinister laughing voice through the walls, which cut Buzz off guard and poor Slinky shivered in his coils. And then...the box tumbled right above them. Slinky howled terribly, and Buzz with only mere split seconds to spare, dove to the floor and with all his might, hurled Slinky through the air behind him, then pounced on top of him as they heard the ear-splitting crash behind them! Buzz blew out his breath that he hadn't realized he'd been holding, and felt a cold wave of adrenaline and relief race down his back. He felt his springy friend go limp underneath him, and he turned to see if his friend was okay or not. Slinky lay there dazed with his tongue hanging out the side of his mouth, and his eyes rolled into the back of his head. The whole experience just now had been too much for him, and though he was a toy, Buzz realized that the poor pup was going into traumatic shock. The space ranger was no medical expert, but Slinky needed help...fast. Buzz rose to his feet holding his friend's front end up. "Slinky? You all right? Slink?" He asked hopefully. Slinky's head just drooped and he looked incredibly dizzy. "Okay. It's all right. I'm getting you out of here." Buzz said firmly, and hoisted Slinky's front end over his shoulder, and quickly carried him out of there.
The part of Buzz having to rescue Slinky was inspired by the TV show Diagnosis Murder, the episode History of Murder, the scene where Lt. Steve Sloan (Barry Van Dyke) rushed to save his friend Dr. Jessie Travis (Charlie Schlatter).
