Jaune and Courage the Cowardly Dog
Chap 37: Bad Hair Day
*Ring Ring*
"Dr. Vindaloo." The doctor greeted as he answered the phone that was ringing. "I'm sorry. It is unethical to share my patient's personal information-"
"That's always concerning to hear." Yang said leaning close to me as we watch the doctor answer the phone and tell whoever is on the other side that personal information cannot not be shared.
"Yeah, it's never good sign when you hear that." I said agreeing with her.
We were in the doctor's office for a regular checkup for Muriel. It was a few days since Summer and Muriel got kidnapped and we had to take care of some baby birds. Since then, Summer and Ruby had gone back to Patch. However, Yang had come soon after they left. Saying that she wanted to hang out a bit, explore Nowhere a some more and see if there is another adventure happening. But mainly to see if there is a bar here in Nowhere which there isn't.
"-How much? That much? What do you want to know?" Dr. Vindaloo asked as he continued to check the blood pressure of Muriel.
'That didn't last long.' Courage said when Dr. Vindaloo gave in and agreed to give information.
"Ah, ABXYZ is a very rare blood type. I do have one patient with that blood type." Dr. Vindaloo said as he picked up Muriel's chart.
"Well, you did say you want to have another adventure, maybe this is one." I told Yang as Dr. Vindaloo began giving out more information to the people over the phone about Muriel.
Farmhouse
*Knock Knock*
"I wonder who could that be?" Muriel asked as she got up from her chair and headed to the door.
We were back at the farmhouse. It was about an hour since we left the doctor's office and we have been continuously discussing on who or what could have been on the other end of the phone when Dr. Vindaloo gave away Muriel's information. And as usual, Courage thought of very 'unlikely' and worst-case scenarios. But considering what we have faced in the past, unlikely is very likely around here.
"Best go with her." Yang said as we got up and followed Muriel to the door.
"Yes?" Muriel asked as she opened the door to reveal a tall man in a blue business suit holding an open file.
"Muriel Bagge? Blood type ABXYZ?" The man asked as he read the file which was apparently her medical file.
"Yes. Can I help you?" Muriel asked unaware of the red flags already going up.
"Growth Industries would like you to participate in our, uh, research for science and things like that." The man said as he closed the file. But we were not buying and Courage isn't as well as he growled at the man.
"What kind of research?" Yang asked.
"Research for science." The guy answered after hesitating for a moment.
"What kind of science? I don't recall any that requires one to start off with asking the blood type of the person they want to participate for them." I questioned.
"And I have also not heard of an organization call 'Growth Industries.' What's the purpose of your organization?" Yang asked. But instead of answering, the guy turned back to Muriel.
"Let the adults talk children. Growth Industries is prepared to offer you this much money." The man said as he pulled out from his jacket a huge stack of money.
"Offer? Or bribe?" I asked glaring at the man. The more time I spent near him, the more I did not trust him. But before he could answer, Eustace came up to us smiling at the money.
"We'll take it." He said as he reached for the money but Muriel smacked his hand before he could grab it.
"Now, Eustace don't be greedy." Muriel told him before turning back to the man. "I'm sorry. But I got sewing to do."
'MM-HMM' Courage agreed before growling at the man.
"How about this much?" The man said as he reached in and pulled out an even larger stack of money.
"AAH!" Eustace said surprised before reaching for it but got smacked again by Muriel.
"Listen. She said no." Yang said as she threateningly crackled her knuckles.
"Let her answer little lady." The man calmly said.
"I'm sorry. But my answer is no." Muriel told him.
"Have it your way. We'll be in touch." The guy said before turning around and leaving.
"Bah. So long money." Eustace whined as he went back to his chair and pulled out his paper angrily
"He was persistent. What do you think he really is a part of Jaune?" Yang asked as we closed the door.
"No clue. I never heard of this Growth Industries and just the name sound like a cover up." I answered.
"Jaune?" Muriel asked as she sat in her chair with Courage in her lap.
"Yes." I said turning to her.
"Be a dear and bring up my sewing equipment from the cellar." She asked.
"Okay." I said as I made my way to the basement.
"I'll help." Yang said as she followed me.
One Hour Later
*Ring Ring*
"Hello." Muriel said as got up from her chair and answered the phone.
'Think it could be the guy from earlier Jaune?' Courage asked as he walked up to Muriel.
"Could be." I answered as Yang and I moved to stand next to Muriel.
"Well, ok. If you insist." Muriel said before placing the phone down and turning to us. "The hospital wants me to stay there a few days there so they can make sure my spleen is hooked up right." Muriel told us.
"Your spleen is hooked up fine. Now, what about me food?" Eustace demanded. Only to get slapped in the head by Yang.
"Um, what does a spleen do Jaune?" Yang asked after smacking Eustace on the head. But before I could answer, two large men burst through the door and grabbed Muriel's arms.
"Still, it pays to be on the safe side. I wouldn't want my spleen to get tangled or whatever it is spleens do." Muriel said as the men began to drag her away.
"Want us to come with you?" I asked her.
"No, it's fine dearie. I'll see you all later." Muriel answered while still looking confused either about everything or just what spleens do.
'Owoooo!' Courage said when we saw the men put Muriel in a strange vehicle that was not at all an ambulance and take her away.
"Stupid dog! Stupid kids! It's probably all your fault that her spleen is twisted. And now I got nothing to eat." Eustace complained as he left the room.
"Yeah, those guys are definitely not from the hospital. They are from Growth Industry." I said as soon as Eustace left.
"But now comes the question on where they could take her." Yang added.
'Maybe Dr. Vindaloo knows?' Courage suggested.
"Worth a shot giving him a call." I said as we entered the kitchen.
"Who Jaune?" Yang asked as Courage picked up the phone and began to dial the number.
"Dr. Vindaloo. He talked with Growth Industries. Maybe they told him where they are located." I answered as Courage began speaking into the phone.
"You think he might give us anything after they very clearly bribed?" Yang asked uncertain. Before I could say anything, Courage hung up the phone and walked up to us.
'Yeah, unless you have big bucks, he's not going to say anything.' Courage told us.
"Damn it. Well, maybe in his office there might be something." I suggested.
"His office on the other side of town Jaune. And I don't have my motorcycle. Besides, do you even know how to drive?" Yang asked.
"Yes, I know how to drive. Learned a while ago." I answered. She nodded at this. Turning around, I grabbed the keys to Eustace's truck. Heading outside, we got into the truck and headed down town to Dr. Vindaloo's office.
Dr. Vindaloo's office
Getting to the building, we exited the truck and went inside the building. Going through the hallways, we eventually found the office. Silently opening the door, we looked inside and saw the place packed with money. Hearing some gaging, Courage and I turned to Yang and saw her covering her mouth in disgust. Turning to where she was looking at, we saw a very hairy Dr. Vindaloo in a hot tub playing with his toy submarine. Ignoring him, we entered his office quietly. Looking around, we decided to check the filing cabinet near us. Opening the bottom drawer, we looked through the files to find Muriel's. After a bit of searching, we eventually found hers. Taking it out, we opened to see if there was anything we could use.
'AAAHHHH!' Courage screamed at what we saw but I quickly covered his mouth so he wouldn't alert the doctor. Tuning to him, we saw him so preoccupied with his toy submarine that he did not hear Courage screaming.
"I love my submarine. It's so pretty." The doctor said as he examined his toy. Ignoring him, I grabbed the file and we quietly exited the room and closed the door behind us.
"What did you find?" Yang asked as we closed the door.
"Something disturbing. We'll discuss it more back at the farmhouse." I answered. She nodded and we headed back to the truck. Getting in, we headed back to the farmhouse.
Farmhouse
"Huh? 'Property of Growth Industry?'" Eustace asked when Courage gave him the folder. On the way back, we informed Yang on what we found and discussed what could our next course of action. But once we got to the house, Courage immediately ran to Eustace and gave him the folder.
'What we do? What we do?' Courage kept asking.
"Why that double-crossing Growth Industries. They took Muriel after she said no. Well, I'm not putting up with this." Eustace angrily said.
'Us neither.' Courage agreed.
"Is it just me or is Eustace not being an ass and actually caring for Muriel?" Yang asked surprised.
"Three... two... one." I simply said before pointing to him.
"If they got Muriel. They are going to pay." Eustace began with Courage agreeing with him. "In cash. Lots of cash."
"There we go." I said when Eustace showed why he seemed to go along with us.
"Yeah, should have seen that coming." Yang said irritated at Eustace.
"In the truck everyone." Eustace demanded as he got up from his chair. Shrugging, we went outside and hopped into the back of the truck while Eustace got into the driver's seat. Soon, we were off towards somewhere.
Ten Minutes Later
After a quick trip, we came to a halt in front of a building I haven't been to before. Looking to the sign, I saw that it said Growth Industry which meant that this is probably where they brought Muriel. Getting out of the truck, we made out to the front of the building. However, before we could knock, the doors slid open and standing there was Ma Bagge.
"AAHHHH!" Eustace and Courage screamed when they saw her.
"Who's she Jaune?" Yang asked. But before I could answer, Eustace did so.
"Ma, what are you doing here?" Eustace asked her.
"Oh, hello Courage. Jaune. Who's this blonde girl?" Ma Bagge asked when she spotted Yang.
"My friend Yang." I answered.
"Hello." Yang said with a smirk and extending her hand. Ma Bagge just looked at it before huffing and turning to Eustace.
"Hi, stupid boy." She said to Eustace.
"AARRGGG!" Eustace growled at her.
"I got a new job running this place. Didn't I tell ya? I'm the big wig." Ma Bagge answered.
"You never told me that. You never told me anything. You got Muriel in there?" Eustace answered before asking.
"Muriel who?" She asked feigning ignorance.
"We don't have time for games. Muriel Bagge. His wife and my mom." I told her glaring.
"Never heard of her. Goodbye." She answered and tried to leave with the doors closing behind her but Yang managed to force them open completely again,
"I think you got Muriel in there. And if you do, I want me money." Eustace demanded.
"Well, if don't believe me, I'll show ya. Come on, stupid boy." Ma Bagge said as she grabbed Eustace ear and dragged him inside.
"She really is her mother." Yang said seeing as how Ma Bagge is just as rude to everyone like Eustace is.
"Like Mother like son. Either way, we better hurry before we lose them." I told her as we hurried up to catch with them. Quickly catching up, we were guided to a long hallway with lots of doors with viewing windows next to them. Looking inside, we saw two people with extremely long hair sitting at a table and eating something I did not know what it was but did know that it looked like hair.
"This is the hair for hunger institute. Where we turn hair into food to feed hungry people." Ma Bagge explained.
"I can't imagine what eating hair would be like. Nor would I even do that to my hair." Yang said shivering. Leaving that one, we moved down to the next room.
"Team hair. Where we're developing all sorts of hair sports." Ma Bagge explained.
"Ouch, that must hurt." I said when I saw three people swinging back and forth as they hang from the ceiling by their hairs.
"I wouldn't even dare think about damaging my luscious hair by doing that." Yang said shivering a bit. Leaving that room, we went to the next one.
"Hair for housing. Where people grow their own home." Ma Bagge explained as we looked inside and saw a lady inside a house that was made from her own hair.
"Huh, while I think my hair would make a great home if that was the case, I don't I want my hair that long." Yang said observing the hair of the lady.
Ten Minutes Later
"OOH!" Courage and Eustace shouted as Ma Bagge shoved them out the front doors while me and Yang simply walked out.
"Ok? Satisfied?" She asked irritated.
"Oh, sure Ma. I believe ya. Maybe Muriel already gone home. See ya." Eustace answered.
"Stupid boy." Ma Bagge insulted him.
"Stupid dog and kids." Eustace said turning to us.
'Huh?' Courage asked confused.
"Here. Have these collector's items wigs courtesy of Growth Industry. Now get out of here." Ma Bagge said giving each of us some orange wigs before the doors closed.
"Hey! Not bad." Eustace said as he placed the wig over his head and hat. He then laughed before heading to the truck.
"So, how do we plan on getting on?" Yang asked as we thew the wigs away.
'I got it.' Courage said as he opened the mail box cover and squeezing himself through. A moment later, he opened the door for us.
"Nice job Courage." Yang said as we entered the building with the door closing behind us.
Hearing some snoring, we looked up and saw a sleeping guard at his station. Ignoring him, we walked down the same hallway from earlier. Heading down the hall, we looked for the door that Ma Bagge grew nervous when we waked what was behind it. Grabbing the knob, we opened the door and entered the room. And what we saw surprised us. There were at least one hundred people being suspended in the air.
'Over there. Look.' Courage said pointing to the ceiling.
Looking to where he was pointing, we saw an old man being moved across the room. He stopped suddenly and two mechanical hands came down and started massaging him roughly. He then started moving again and went through a shower of something we did not know that kind of either looked like rocks or seeds. He then passed through a shower of water and then slowed down a bit as bright light shone down on him which caused a whole bunch of hair to instantly grow all over his back. Next, the hands came back as he was subjected to another shower followed by the hands adding shampoo and washing his hair. After a moment, he was then washed and dried. And finally, he was lifted higher into the air and joined the hundreds of other people in a similar condition.
'AAHHH!' Courage screamed at what just happened.
"Who would do this to people and all this beautiful hair?" Yang asked shocked at what she was seeing.
"Courage? Kids? Are you there?" We suddenly heard Muriel ask us from somewhere.
"Muriel?! WHERE ARE YOU?!" I shouted as we tried to find her amongst all the people.
"Courage! Kids! Over here!" Muriel shouted at us.
"WE SEE MURIEL!" I shouted when we spotted her.
"WE'RE COMING!" Yang shouted as well as we started to run towards her.
"AAAHHHH!" Muriel suddenly screamed as we neared her. But as we did so, we noticed that some people were being moved to another spot of the room where they had all their hair shaved and collected in cases below.
"Up you go Courage." I said as I grabbed him and tossed him up on top of Muriel. Yang and I then followed by jumping up and grabbing Muriel's legs and climbed up to the top. But at that moment, the door burst opened.
"Get those kids and dog." Ma Bagge demanded as two guards came in and managed to climb onto the people with relative ease.
"Crap. Run." I said as we crossed the very hairy and thick floor of hair to escape the guards. While Yang can easily take them out, we don't want to risk the people below us.
"Watch out!" Yang shouted as we dodged the mechanical hands that tried to grab us.
Continuing to run, we chanced a look and turned our heads and saw the guards chasing us go through the process the other people went through. And at the end, they even grew hair as well all over their body. But they quickly ripped it off and continued to chase us.
'I got them.' Courage suddenly said as he jumped up and grabbed the hair blower from the robotics hands and turned it on and aimed it at the guards that were chasing us. And while it blew them off their feet. But they grabbed onto the hair and climbed their way to us.
"Wait, Courage aim for the sprinklers." I told him.
"What good would that do?" Yang asked while Courage did as I asked.
"Hopefully help us lose them." I answered. A moment later, the sprinklers went off and a torrent of water came down upon us. Which caused da chain reaction and made all the hair below us grow by about ten times the size they were just at.
"YOU STUPID DOG AND KIDS?" Ma Bagge shouted as she turned off the sprinkler system.
Looking back up, we saw the guards begin to chase us again. But seeing as we were a bit away from the people and more hair between them and us, Yang could now wail on the two guards. Diving into the hair which felt weird, the guards quickly followed us as well. But they were met with Yang's fists and were quickly defeated and tied up with the hair.
"Damn, going to need a shower after this." I said as I helped yang climb out of the hair and noticed we were covered in hair that was itchy.
"Same." Yang said as she wiped off some hair from her body. Hearing a honking sound, we turned around and saw a Courage driving some kind of lawn mower. Quickly hopping on, we rode on top of the hair looking for Muriel. Luckily, we soon heard her.
"Courage! Kids! Are you there?" Muriel asked from somewhere nearby.
'Huh?' Courage asked as we hopped off. Pulling out a large comb, we moved the hair aside from where Muriel's voice was coming from. A moment later, we saw her.
"Oh, my." Muriel said as we found her.
"YOU STUPID SNOOPING DOG AND KIDS! GET AWAY FROM THERE!" Ma Bagge shouted as she ran towards us with a giant hairbrush.
'AAHHH!' Courage screamed before covering Muriel again with the hair as her screams of protest being muffled by the hair. With her safe for the moment, we moved away from her to some open space.
"Now, come to Ma like a good dog and kids." Ma Bagge said as she motioned us with her finger to come to her while doing a poor job to hide the brush behind her back.
'Nope.' Courage said as he dived into the hair. Turning to each other, we shrugged before doing so as well. Coming back up, we saw that we were suddenly in another spot.
"Courage. Kids." Ma Bagge said as she did what we did and appeared in a different spot. Shaking our heads, we did the same thing again and ended up in a different spot again.
"Um, we are just going down and back up. How are we ending up in different spots?" Yang asked when she noticed we moved to a different spot. But instead of answering, Ma Bagge tried to lure us again.
"I only want to give you all a hug." She said trying her best to sound innocently.
"Yeah, right." I said as we dived into the hair and repeated the process of ending up in different locations.
"I have a doggie treat and twenty for each of you kids." Ma Bagge tempted.
"We're not kids." Yang said irritated as she we dove into the hair again. This time, when we came up, we ended up next to each other.
"There you both are. Wait. Where's the dog?" She asked. As if summoned by her, Courage popped out of her hair a second later. "Get out of there! That's my hair!"
'AAHHHH!' Courage screamed as he jumped of her but took her hair which was revealed to be a wig.
"My hair. My hair is gone. I'm ugly... ugly." Ma Bagge said as she started to cry before running away.
"Well, that takes care of her." Yang said as we watched her flee the area.
"Courage? Kids? Ae you all still there?" Muriel asked as she raised her arm through all the hair.
"Hold on. We're coming." I shouted as we raced over to her. As we did so, Courage pulled out a giant electric razor and started to cut all the hair that was covering Muriel.
"Thanks everyone. It was getting so fuzzy in there." Muriel said once we removed all the hair covering her.
"I got you Muriel." Yang said as she helped Muriel to her feet which Courage then picked her up.
"Thanks. Now, how about we leave this place." Muriel suggested with a smile.
Nodding, we headed over to the window and tried to get out that way since it was too thick the hair to get back down to the actual floor. Getting there, Yang wound up for a punch to break the window to let us escape. But I pushed her to the ground when I saw a guard dive for us. Courage had thrown Muriel into the air before diving us well. The guard missed us and crashed through the window and made and exit for us. Getting back up, we heard the sounds of fire trucks coming towards us followed by a siren.
"This is the fire department. Evacuate the building." A firefighter said using a megaphone.
Soon a ladder was placed against the building allowing us to get climb down. Yang and I both grabbed Muriel as we headed down the ladder followed by Courage. Getting down, we looked around and caught a glimpse of Ma Bagge with the guy from earlier in the day in a car that quickly drove away. Knowing that it was futile to go after them now, we decided to just head home.
Farmhouse
"You know, it was an atrocity to what they did to all that hair in that building. I'm glad my hair made it out fine." Yang said as she fixed and Muriel's hair.
"Thanks for everything dearies." Muriel said as she sipped on her tea.
"You welcome." I said as Courage and I plucked all the remaining hair that grew on her legs from that procedure. But after a few more hairs were plucked, we heard the door slam open.
"Woah." Yang said shocked. Turning around, we saw Eustace covered head to toe in long dark hair.
"Eustace! What happened to ya?" Muriel asked shocked.
"MONEY!" Eustace answered as he held up two large stacks of money in his hands and laughed.
'What he won't do for money.' I thought with a sigh. Looking over to Yang, I saw her check her hair to see if it was still the same.
Note:
(1) Hot head with Yang. (2) Record Deal with Weiss. (3) Serpent of the Evil River with Weiss and Blake. (4) Sand whale strikes back with Team Rwby's mother. (5) The Mask with Blake and Velvet. (6) Muted Muriel with Ruby and Weiss. (7) Car Broke, Phone yes with Pyrrha. (8) The last of the star makers with Winter and Iris. (9) Night of the Scarecrow with Qrow, Ruby and Yang. (10) Thousand years of Courage with Sun and Neptune. (11) Wrath of the librarian with Blake. (12) Squatting Tiger, Hidden Dog with Nora and Ren. (13) Cabaret Courage with Wiess. (14) Family Business with Winter. (15) Curse of Shirley with Qrow, Yang and Ruby.