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.

75 – DESPERATE TROUBLEMAKERS

Frik talked freely to Lifty and Shifty after that and answered every question they had. He didn't know everything about the set up of the Marauder camp but he was able to tell them enough for them to feel that they had a good amount of information to start with. The next day they were brought back to see Frak and the same routine from the previous day was played out with him. Frak's information was almost identical to Frik's.

Following these sessions Lifty and Shifty took some time going over everything they had learned in order to start figuring out the most effective ways in which to use it. During that same period of time Frik and Frak were not returned to the prison camp but were kept at the safe house where they were not only more comfortable than at the prison but they were even allowed to speak to each other. This was a mistake on city security's part. The two of them compared notes on their respective interrogations. Both had been subjected to the same threats by Tony Ride and even though Tony had promised that if they cooperated their secret would be safe neither of them really believed it. This, in turn, was a mistake on Frik and Frak's part as Tony Ride was not in the habit of telling lies or making promises he either couldn't or wouldn't keep. But neither Frik nor Frak realized this. All they knew was that they had been threatened with exposure and after the interrogations they had not been sent back to the POW camp. So surely, they reasoned, other prisoners at the camp must have noticed their absence and begun wondering what was going on with them. In truth that wasn't so because Frik and Frak had mostly been confined separately from the main prison population. Most of the other prisoners had seen very little of them, if they had seen them at all. Certainly their sudden absence from the prison was not noticed by the main population and their fears of any of the prisoners from the battle at the Animal City (or "Durago's Rout" as it was fast becoming known) knowing that they had helped give the forces away were groundless.

However they didn't know any of that. As far as they knew they were in grave danger and it was imperative that they escape as soon as possible by whatever means they could. An opportunity presented itself very shortly thereafter when Lifty and Shifty came back to the safe house for some follow-up questioning. Tony Ride was not present for the follow-up sessions, believing that his presence was unnecessary. As soon as they had entered the room Frik and Frak seized Lifty and Shifty and took them hostage. Then, by threatening to break the raccoon brothers' respective necks, the two troublemakers relieved the guards at the safe house of their weapons, immobilized them, and fled out into the city, dragging the two raccoons with them. Unlike when Zarkwon Du and Dunster had broken out there was no immediate alarm as Frik and Frak didn't also cause a prison riot. It was some time before anyone knew they were gone. By that time they had vanished into the city and gone into hiding.

"I knew something like this would happen!" exclaimed Mayor King pounding the table with her fist, "but you wouldn't let me invoke extra power. Now look at things."

The Council was meeting in an emergency session. Tony Ride had discovered the break-out when Lifty and Shifty failed to return from the safe house within a reasonable amount of time. A search of the house and talk with the guards laid the whole story bare. However a search of the surrounding area had turned up nothing.

"Power of Emergency wouldn't have stopped this" said Tony Ride, "this was a security lapse and it could have happened anywhere no matter how much centralized power you claim."

"Maybe" said the Mayor grimly, "but now that the mess is made it can at least be efficiently cleaned up."

"And how will you do that?" said Toothy forcefully, "will you invoke P.O.E. and have the two escapees shot on sight? And what about Lifty and Shifty? You can't simply tell the Animal City leaders that they're collateral damage."

"Of course we'll make every effort to make sure they come out of this situation safely" Mayor King said, "but Frik and Frak are known troublemakers and like it or not the overall safety of this city must come first."

"I don't think Frik and Frak are very interested in causing massive trouble" said Tony Ride, "they're too scared the other Marauder prisoners will find out that they've already given us information. Most likely they just want to get away from the city."

"Which is impossible" said Robot, calm as ever, "since at the moment no one enters or leaves Metramegopolis without permission."

"Exactly" said Tony Ride, "which is why I think one of only two things will happen. They might try to stay hidden for as long as they can. But even in a city of this size there are only so many hiding places. And they have two hostages who they must either feed or kill. I'll bet we'll hear from them very soon and when we do they'll be demanding a safe exit from the city in exchange for their hostages' lives."

"We don't have to wait to hear from them" said a voice from the Council Room door. All of the members of the Council turned to see Fresko standing in the doorway. He came forward to the table.

"I'm sorry to interrupt like this" he said, "but I've been in touch with Loco about this situation. He informs me that Lifty and Shifty are both carrying tracker devices implanted under their skin."

"Really?" said Toothy, "I was not informed of this."

"That's because they were only supposed to be used to ensure that Lifty and Shifty didn't try to run away" said Fresko, "I wasn't told about this either until today. Loco and the Mole didn't foresee a situation like this, but now – " Fresko put a device on the table that was recognizably a tracker, "we can use those devices to find them."

"Excellent" said Robot, picking up the tracker and activating it, "according to this the two raccoon brothers are heading toward the city roof so that's probably where we should go to find our escapees."

"Right" said the mayor, "I'll have security on its way at once."

"Fine" said Dane, "provided you let some of us try to deal with the situation first."

"These people are armed!" exclaimed the mayor, "they won't hesitate to shoot. I'm not risking anyone else."

"Then don't risk anyone unnecessarily" said Flippy, "have security standing by if you must but I think there are enough people right here in this room who can deal with this."

"Agreed" said Splendid.

"Ditto" said Fresko.

"You better believe it" said Anna Ride

"And how" said Barry.

Emily simply nodded.

(To Be Continued)