Arthur looked at the two mice in near complete bewilderment. "So you did what, now?"
The Brain began to fidget nervously. "Ah, heheh. Well, you see Pinky and I were planning on taking over the world, you see, by altering the physical structure of space-time around us in the effort to alter our molecular makeup, giving us super powers and making us superheroes, thereby winning the respect and reverence of the people so I would be elected ruler."
Arthur clasped his head in an expression of fatigue as he tried to understand the concepts The Brain had spoke of. He failed horribly and stared blankly at them, feeling stupid and useless. The Brain continued. "There was an unexpected energy discharge. I believe it caused the structure of space- time around us to collapse and degrade."
"No foolin'," Arthur joked, completely confused but trying not to show it. For Arthur, looking at the two cartoon mice was like looking at two people he had never met before. He knew them, and yet he didn't. He had been a fan of their cartoons for many years, yet now he felt like he didn't know them at all--they were complete strangers to him.
Arthur began to feel sick from his lack of knowledge and of not being able to help the two mice--of not being who he needed to be. He looked at the toons solemnly. "You know I can't help you. I can't do anything here. All my powers are back in Toonity."
Arthur stayed overnight with The Friends of Forbidden Science while events slowly played themselves out elsewhere in the universe. He spent several hours getting to know the rest of the team as Phillip introduced him around to the rest of the scientists. They were all friendly, if a bit reserved. During the tour of their facility, Arthur had been startled to notice a printout of one of his cartoon fiction stories lying a work table.
"Research," Phillip explained. "We used it to verify your identity with the mice.
One of the scientists Arthur was introduced to was Winston, a short pudgy man whose mind was sharp enough to give any razor blade a run for its money. He was the lead theoretical scientist, dealing with abstract concepts and ideas most of the others either couldn't comprehend, or didn't want to. His topic that week had been, appropriately, how to explain the presence of the two cartoon mice in the next room. Winston and Arthur struck an instant rapport with each other, much to Arthur's surprise and relief. In the midst of enough scientific minds to make him feel like a grade school drop-out, he had found a person who liked talking about and watching cartoons as much as himself. Sadly, though Arthur wanted to help Winston try to solve the mysteries of his toon research, he was able to offer very little of what he considered "useful" information. Winston, however, didn't appear to mind, and kept Arthur up into the early hours of the morning, asking him about his home
in Toonity, his life, friends, and the world he had never been to.
A distinguished-looking ferret with sleek, brown fur perched atop the remains of an old tree stump in front of a small fire pit. Though she was a small animal, there was an almost regal glow about her, her presence seeming to command some unspoken level of high respect. Two prominent squirrel guards stood, one to either side of her. Several beavers stood near by, along with a gathering of gophers and a handful of other woodland residents. On the opposite side of the fire pit stood a large European badger next to another tree stump, completing the odd little gathering.
Andy walked up to the ferret and bowed his head slightly. "There are those who would call you 'vermin', lady," he said, bending down and taking the ferret's small paw. The ferret peered up at the fox with two curiously colored amber eyes. She returned the fox's comment with one of equal jest.
"As right they should," she smiled, "as they would call you no different."
Dropping the formalities, the two hugged warmly, as old friends do. Then, Andy took his place, sitting down on the stump next to where the badger was standing. The large animal had been appointed his personal guard and aid for the proceedings. Andy glanced at its black and white striped head and smiled briefly at it. The badger regarded him kindly, its dark brown eyes hinting of times long past as the animal nodded back, but remained silent.
"Told you I'd get him," Sasha said confidently to Lady Amber. The two shook paws, then Sasha trundled off into the woods muttering something about being late for dinner.
"I say, Skippy old lad, can I speak with you for a moment?"
Skippy waved a paw, not turning away from his computer game. "Hold on. I'm on Level 15."
"Humph." Fluffy sat down behind Skippy and muttered noisily. "First time since we've met that we can actually talk to each other and all he wants to do is play video games. Oh well. I guess I'll just go soak my ears or take myself for a walk or something."
Skippy hit the "pause" button and turned to regard Fluffy apologetically.
"I'm sorry," he smiled.
"Oh, it's all right," Fluffy shrugged. He stood back up and walked up to the brown squirrel. "Listen, Skippy. I need your help with something I need to do for your uncle. Will you help me out?"
"Okay," Skippy answered. "What?"
"Come with me for a bit," Fluffy said, cocking his head to the doorway.
In the quiet of the evening, Slappy's voice echoed through the lower level rooms as she sat talking on the phone. "Yeah, Gladys, you should've seen it--a mushroom cloud two miles high, and Walter right in the middle, heh ha!" The elderly gray squirrel barely noticed the two toons pass by her on their way upstairs.