As always the standard disclaimer applies: I do not own the Happy Tree Friends; they are the property of Mondo Media. In addition the character of Fresko the Feline belongs to Deviant Art user Yoshi Lord. I own only my own characters and this story.

Now here's chapter 61:

61 – UNCERTAINTY

Barry, Emily, Flippy, Fresko, and Toothy all walked out of the landing bay and into the city interior. They all got into a waiting transport and began heading up to the top level of the city.

"Tell me exactly what happened" said Barry once they were moving.

"We don't know everything" said Emily, "Zarkwon Du and Dunster are still missing. Presumably they have Anna Ride."

"How did they get out?" asked Barry.

"It was Dunster" said Flippy, "he attacked Tony Ride when Tony was questioning him. As far as anyone can tell it was completely spur of the moment. He knocked Tony out, took his blaster, forced a guard to take him to Zarkwon Du, and when the two of them were together they somehow managed to cause a riot among the rest of the inmates. In the confusion that followed they slipped away."

"And how did they catch Anna Ride?" asked Barry.

"She was also at the prison" said Toothy, "helping process prisoners. I guess they grabbed her during the riot and disappeared while the other prisoners were being subdued. When everything was secured again they were missing."

"No clue where they went?" said Barry.

"Not yet" said Flippy, "but they couldn't have gone far. It's impossible to leave the city right now without being detected somehow."

"There are a lot of places a person can hide in this city" said Emily, "but in the end they'll have to come out if they want to escape."

"But it's only been a day" said Toothy, "they might wait a while if they've found a good place to lie low."

"That hiding place had better have food in it" murmured Fresko.

Barry soon arrived at his home. A short time after that the Council met in an emergency meeting. It was a somber assembly; Mayor King was visibly upset by what was happening, seeming to take the incident personally. There were also three absences, as Anna Ride was still missing, her husband was still in the hospital, and Sniffles had stayed in the Animal City. At the start of the meeting Barry explained about Sniffles' absence.

"He succeeded in his project" said Barry, "we all know what that is, so it would be better not to come out and say it, in case anyone's listening."

"I presume that's why he isn't joining us via secure communicator?" asked Mayor King.

"You can never be too sure about secure lines" growled Virgil, "someone always seems to find a way to break through anyway."

"But we know what it's all about" said Barry, "and that's all that matters at the moment."

"The question now" said the Mayor, "is what we do next. Would I be going too far if I were to assert that this current situation could easily become a grave crisis?"

"No" said Robot, "but we do not know what it is the two Marauders hope to accomplish. They cannot affect the flight systems or any of the major life supports. And without inside help they cannot leave the city."

"Inside help" murmured Kevin, "well that's something they won't get from Anna Ride. Not if they torture her until the sun explodes. She'll never crack."

"Maybe not" growled Virgil, "but that doesn't help her at all if they decide to keep trying. And if they did figure that out they'd probably kill her."

"Then why keep her alive at all?" asked Splendid.

"A hostage" said Flippy, "is always useful, even if the hostage is irrevocably comatose."

Mayor King pounded the table once with her fists.

"This is so frustrating!" she cried, "they've been in hiding since the escape. If they've killed her, why haven't we found her body? And if they're keeping her as a hostage why haven't they made any demands yet? What do they want?"

Sometimes nature does arrange neat and timely coincidences. And this was one such occasion. An oily voice came from the door of the Council Chamber.

"If you want to know" said the voice, "then just ask me."

All of the Council turned as one to the door to see Zarkwon Du standing in it and smiling a smug, yet menacing smile.

"Well, well, well" Zarkwon Du said, "the Council meets. How nice for me."

(To Be Continued)