Here's Chapter 72.
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.
72 – MAKING CONTACT
Lifty was released from the hospital that afternoon and he and Shifty were both taken to the Buddhist Monkey's residence, where they would be staying while they were in the city. The apartment was Spartan in its furnishings, but it suited the Buddhist Monkey well enough since he lived a fairly simple life. There was room enough for both of his guests and Lifty and Shifty soon founds themselves made reasonably comfortable in their quarters, if not luxuriously so.
The raccoon brothers were given a few days to become acclimated to life in Metramegopolis before they were contacted about the first part of their mission. There was now no question about their attempting to escape; they were well aware that the tracers implanted in their heads meant that they could always be found, no matter how far they traveled. More immediately they knew were being watched in the Flying City and since they didn't know their ways around it yet it would be futile to try to escape and hide somewhere.
Even if they hadn't been under such close scrutiny they wouldn't have tried to escape. Whatever the Buddhist Monkey had done to Lifty had completely turned the younger raccoon around. Lifty had become fiercely loyal to his healer at once, and now, when he had the time, he sat at the Buddhist Monkey's feet trying to learn from him. In the little time they had there wasn't very much the Buddhist Monkey could actually teach Lifty, but he did give Lifty some basic instruction in how to meditate and get centered. During those days Shifty would often see Lifty sitting in one place practicing the techniques he was learning. The overall effect was to make him calmer and more level headed – something that could be very important later on.
Fresko was very impressed with the Buddhist Monkey's work and said so to Toothy.
"Yes" said Toothy, "I didn't expect things would turn out like this, but I knew he could handle them. Actually I was expecting that he would have to thump them around at least once to get them under control. He's quite capable of doing that."
"So I hear" said Fresko.
"So in a way it's lucky Lifty snapped when he did" added Toothy, "Buddhist Monkey has managed to reign them both in without having to resort to discipline. That's always better."
After some days Shifty started trying to learn Lifty's new meditation technique. He had a much harder time of it than his brother, probably, the Buddhist Monkey observed, because he hadn't gone through the same extreme emotional crisis that Lifty had. But he urged Shifty to keep at it nonetheless.
Shortly after that Lifty and Shifty received a pair of human visitors. One was an adult male, the other was younger, apparently an adolescent teen, who looked familiar to both raccoons. Unexpectedly it was the adolescent who spoke first.
"Hello Lifty, hello Shifty" said the teen, "nice to see you again."
"Do we know you?" said Shifty with some surprise.
"You look a bit familiar..." said Lifty staring at him.
"We've met" said the teen, "my name's Barry and I lived in the Animal City for some years when we were all a lot younger. I'm sure I look a lot different now, but I was only nine when you last saw me."
"Of course" said Lifty remembering, "you were Loco's ward, and Fresko's friend."
"That's right" said Barry, nodding his head, "I only knew you a short time before I left the Animal City and came back here. We weren't exactly the best of friends you know."
"We weren't enemies" said Shifty, "we never did anything to you, or you to us."
"True" said Barry, "that's why I'm here. Since (as far as I've been told) I'm the only human you know I was asked to facilitate your introduction to your main human contact while you're here – yes" he went on, forestalling the obvious question, "I knew you were coming here (although I don't know exactly why). I recently visited the Animal City and Loco originally wanted me to transport you here when I came back. But I was called home rather abruptly so that plan had to be changed."
Lifty and Shifty listened to this in silence.
"Anyway" continued Barry now indicating his companion, "I want to introduce you to Tony Ride. He'll be your main handler while you're here. He will take you where you need to go and have you see the people you need to see."
Tony Ride came forward and, with his hands on his hips, looked down at the two raccoon brothers as if sizing up their potential. They looked back at him not sure what to make of him or what to expect.
"So" said Tony Ride briskly after a brief pause, "you are the agents who have been sent to meet with Frik and Frak?"
"I guess" said Shifty, "we weren't given their names."
"No, that would be a security issue" said Tony Ride, "I've been given to understand that the nature of your business here is to be kept as quiet as possible. I've been informed exactly what it is that you intend to discuss with them; I have not discussed this with anyone else – not even Barry here knows – and that's how it must be; the fewer who know the details of your mission the better for you. I will assist you as best I can but in return I must ask that you exercise due caution and discretion. If you're going to speak to these prisoners I insist that you do so only with my knowledge and in my presence. They are a pretty pair; we've had trouble with them and I do not intend to give them any opportunities to try to take advantage of you."
"I think it would be tough to take advantage of us" said Shifty with feeling.
"I hope you're right" said Tony Ride, "I will conduct you to them tomorrow morning and you will see them one at a time.
"Good" said Lifty, "three against one is better anyway."
"As you say" said Tony Ride, "I will come for you in the morning. Please be ready for me." With that the meeting was over. Tony Ride turned and exited. Barry nodded to the raccoon brothers, gave a farewell sign to the Buddhist Monkey, and followed Tony Ride out.
Outside the Buddhist Monkey's home Tony Ride and Barry parted, with Tony Ride returning home. Barry, however, went to Toothy's office to tell him how the meeting with Lifty and Shifty had gone. He found the beaver at his desk dealing with mundane paperwork but Toothy was more than happy to take a break from it to hear what Barry had to say.
"I'm glad they didn't give you any trouble" said Toothy, leaning back in his chair.
"No trouble at all" said Barry with a grin, "but they do know me a little. They know I play rough."
"Now, now, you were only nine" said Toothy, smiling himself.
"And as much a terror as any nine year old boy would be" said Barry, "especially to a pair of young raccoons – oh I never did anything to them, but they knew I could. Oh yes, they knew it very well."
Barry sighed at the remembrance.
"So I take it you know why they're here" he said to Toothy, who nodded.
"Yes" said Toothy, "I know, but I hope you're not about to ask me to tell you that too."
"No" said Barry, "although, knowing Lifty and Shifty, I could probably hazard a guess. But I have enough things to worry about. You can keep this one to yourself."
"Thanks a heap" said Toothy ironically, "that's incredibly kind of you."
"Oh I know" said Barry, "you still got more work? Or are you ready for some lunch?"
"Lunch sounds pretty good to me!" said Toothy, rising quickly from his chair, "what are you doing later this evening? Fresko, Flippy, Splendid, and I are going to be having a working dinner around seven, if you would care to join us?"
"Thanks" said Barry, "but I have a date tonight."
"Then you'd better keep it" said Toothy with a knowing nod, "have fun."
"Oh I will" said Barry.
(To Be Continued)