Hello everyone. It's been a very long time since I last posted here. I have no idea why I stopped updating this story, especially since it's complete and has been for several years. I hope to remedy that and I'll begin by finally posting the first chapter to the new arc. I call this the "Lifty and Shifty Arc" for obvious reasons. This arc will last for 23 chapters.
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 the Deviant Art user Rainbroach (formerly known as Yoshi Lord). I own only my own characters and this story.
68 – MISSION
When Fresko came to see Toothy that evening he found the beaver in a sour mood.
"You look like you tried to gnaw through a petrified tree" said Fresko, Toothy scowled.
"You remember what I said to you over a month ago when you first got here?" Toothy asked, "well we only averted a real power crisis today with a lot of arguing."
Cautioning Fresko not to repeat what he was told, Toothy filled the cat in on what had happened at the leaders' meeting.
"Power of Emergency?" said Fresko, "but wouldn't that let the mayor do whatever she wanted to whomever she wanted, and to hell with the consequences?"
"Yes" said Toothy, "it's only supposed to be used during the gravest of situations where very immediate action is needed and the leader can't afford to worry that any action he takes will come back to haunt him. It's the only situation where power can be used without accountability afterwards. But it's an absolute last resort, and as soon as the crisis is over the power is given back. It's not meant to be used at any other time, and certainly not to set up a surveillance state. You know what they say about power corrupting – "
" – And absolute power corrupting absolutely, yes I know" said Fresko, "everyone knows that."
"But have they learned it? I mean really learned and understood it?" said Toothy, "I'm worried. I really am."
"But you said she backed down" Fresko pointed out.
"This time" said Toothy, "this time."
Toothy reflected for a moment on the meeting and then sighed.
"Well enough of my problems" he said, "it's not really fair of me to lay them on you."
"That's all right" said Fresko, "I'm here to help if I can."
"Thanks" said Toothy meaning it, "by the way, what did you want to see me about?"
"Oh that" said Fresko, "I got a message from Loco. The raccoon brothers will be arriving in three days."
"Oh great" said Toothy with grimace, "just what we need – more troublemakers!"
In the Animal City the Mole was preparing to see Lifty and Shifty. The raccoon brothers had now been held in captivity for over a month and they were getting quite restless. The Mole was well aware of this but it didn't worry him and he took his time finalizing his plans. It wasn't until some time after the Zarkwon Du incident was finished that he was ready to begin putting his plans into action.
Lifty and Shifty were again taken from the prison to a secret meeting but this time they were taken to the Mole's main office. Both Handy and Loco were also present and it was the sight of all three of the top city leaders (especially Handy, whom they had not met before) in one room that told the raccoon brothers that their waiting was finally coming to an end.
For a long time neither the Mole, nor Handy, nor Loco spoke; the three leaders simply sat and looked at the raccoon brothers. In particular Handy seemed to be sizing them up, as if deciding whether they would do. After a few minutes of this Lifty began to fidget visibly; Shifty held his ground more firmly but was obviously becoming uncomfortable at the continued silence. Finally Handy gave just the slightest of nods to the Mole who sat back and began to speak.
"So" said the Mole, "how are you boys holding up? Quite impatient I would say. Well, your waiting is over."
Neither raccoon answered but they looked at the Mole expectantly.
"I've wondered exactly how this should be done" continued the Mole, "from everything I know about you two it seems you're first class troublemakers. That what's we need now. How would you like to go cause as much trouble as you want with no one to stop you?"
"What do you mean?" asked Shifty in a wary voice.
"The main Marauder army is on the move" said the Mole, "we know from our intelligence agents in the field that XL-Jack-3 managed to reform it again into a mobile unit in order to follow after Metramegopolis. They have a lot of catching up to do since the Flying City traveled a large distance very quickly when it first took off. But XL-Jack-3 is nothing if not persistent. Given enough time and the fact that eventually the Flying City must land again his forces will catch up with it sooner or later. We want it to be later. It'll be your job to slow the Marauders down."
Lifty's jaw fell open, Shifty looked at the Mole in dismay.
"You can't be serious" he said, "how are we supposed to stop an army by ourselves?"
"By causing trouble" said the Mole, "I know your reputations, you're good at that. We're sending you into the field to shadow the Marauder army. It doesn't march all the time. You can sneak into the camp and start breaking things."
"Just that?" said Lifty in disbelief, "will stop an army?"
"If you do enough of it," said Loco answering for the Mole, "and if it's the right kind of trouble."
"Unbelievable" muttered Lifty.
"Not at all" said the Mole, "the Marauders sent two agents to try to do something similar in Metramegopolis. It might even have worked if they hadn't been caught so quickly. But they were and they're still at the Flying City. They can never go back to XL-Jack-3, but you can make use of them. I've arranged for you two to meet with them in secret and learn what they have to offer. I think you'll get along well with them."
"How do you know they're not just setting us up?" demanded Shifty.
"They have no way to do that" said the Mole, "they've been thoroughly vetted by intelligence. Also they were the ones who tipped us off to the planned attack on our city by Durago's forces. They have nothing to gain from not helping you."
"I don't like it" said Shifty, "I don't see how sneaking into the Marauder camp and breaking a few pieces of equipment is going to do anything."
"If it's the right piece of equipment" said the Mole, "it could do a lot. And you don't have to stop with that. There are a lot of ways to cause damage."
"Why can't a human do this?" said Lifty.
"Humans can't go where you can" said Loco, "I've been in the field with humans, animals, and A.I.'s, and animals are the best at this sort of thing. A human force would not have won the Rout of Durago, at least not as efficiently as we did."
"Okay" said Shifty, "suppose we do this, and suppose we actually manage to slow the army down, or even stop them for a bit. Then what?"
"You just keep on doing it" said the Mole, "we need you to buy us as much time as you can."
"The situation is increasingly urgent" added Loco, "because Metramegopolis is flying in our direction. Sooner or later it will get here and that means that the main Marauder force is coming towards us too. We need as much time as we can get to prepare our defenses."
"In other words we never come back" said Shifty angrily, "you keep us out there more and more until, inevitably, we get caught and killed."
"That's very possible" said the Mole calmly, "indeed I should say that it's probable, but it's not certain. If you stay on your guard and are always careful you might survive."
"I don't want to do a suicide mission" muttered Lifty. Loco turned and looked at him.
"You can still say no" said Loco, "we won't force you to do this. If you'd rather not, I can order up a firing squad for the two of you and finish things today. It's up to you."
There was a long silence. Lifty and Shifty looked at each other knowing there was no choice – at least not if they wanted to stay alive for a while longer at least – but still not quite willing to admit it. Finally Handy broke the silence.
"I know it seems hopeless" said the ruler of the Animal City speaking for the first time, "maybe it is, but it's better than the alternative, either for you or us. Somebody needs to try this, for all of our sakes. You're already facing death as it is so why not make the best of a bad situation? You can die today if you want – you heard what Loco said. But that choice is absolute; there's no escape. On the other hand if you take the mission there's a chance you might survive – not much of one I admit but a chance all the same. If you succeed, and if you do survive long enough to be brought home, you'll be heroes. If that happens then any crimes you committed in the past will be completely wiped away. And even if you do die in the field everyone will still know what you did and how much it mattered. Think what that would do for your families. What do you say?"
Both raccoons looked at Handy. Finally they nodded.
"Good" said the Mole, "in three days we'll send you to Metramegopolis so you can meet with the Marauder troublemakers. We've arranged for our colleagues in the Flying City to take care of you while you're there and to outfit you for your main mission. I should add that you will not be given personal emergency teleporters" the Mole raised a foot as the raccoons started to protest, "it's a safeguard for us in case you get caught and, let us say, an incentive for you to not get caught. Also before you leave we will be implanting tracers in your bodies so we will always know where you are – just in case you might be thinking of running away. We'll be keeping an eye on you so be warned. I believe that's everything?" The Mole looked at his two colleagues, both of whom nodded in agreement. The Mole pressed a button in his desk and some guards came into the office to take Lifty and Shifty back to the prison.
"Good luck" said Handy as the brothers were led out.
(To Be Continued)