A/N: HAPPY HALLOWEEN! This thing isn't quite finished, but hopefully now is
halfway through. Anyway, enjoy! I'm off with my ghost buddies to track down
Dr. Frankenstein!
Chapter 4
Penfold and Kim were talking quietly in Penfold's room. Since DM had left, the pair had been discussing possible reasons for their friend's strange behaviour - and none of them seemed right.
"Well, maybe yesterday's false alarm really ticked him off", said Penfold for the umpteenth time.
"So much that he's been snappish and cold ever since?" replied Kim dryly.
"Oh yes", said Penfold sheepishly, and fell silent.
At that moment, there was a faint sound of footsteps on the stairs, and DM passed the door. He didn't stop to say hello.
Penfold and Kim exchanged troubled glances.
"Well - he's back", said Penfold cautiously.
"I wonder where he's been", said Kim thoughtfully.
"Let's go and ask!" said Penfold, running for the door.
"No!" Kim grabbed his arm. "He might get even more irritated with us".
"But we're his friends!" cried Penfold.
"I don't think we are, Penfold. Not for much longer", said Kim sadly.
Penfold turned around and looked at her, shaking his head.
"I've known him for four years!" he cried. "He saved my life! I wouldn't be here if it weren't for him!"
"Penfold, calm down", said Kim gently, kneeling down beside him.
"I AM calm!" nearly shouted Penfold, with tears starting to run down his cheeks.
Before Kim could reply, the door opened and DM stood in the doorway, glaring at them.
"Do you two mind?" he hissed. "I'm trying to get some sleep".
Kim narrowed her eyes and frowned at him. Penfold jumped backwards as though he'd been stung.
"Now do me a favour and keep quiet", said DM angrily. Then he turned and stalked off down the hall.
Penfold stared after him. Kim came up behind him and put a hand to his shoulder. She could feel him shaking.
"What's wrong with him?" sobbed Penfold suddenly, and he turned to Kim, throwing himself into her arms as he started to cry.
Kim allowed tears to slide down her cheeks as she hugged her friend close. It was heartbreaking to see Penfold like this - it just showed how much he looked up to DM. But DM was pushing both of them away, without any explanation. Kim was befuddled.
At that moment, Kim had a thought. She suddenly held Penfold out at arm's length.
"Penfold", she said. "You remember the house you and DM went to yesterday?"
"Yes..." said Penfold slowly.
"Did you notice anything - strange about DM's behaviour during the time you were there?"
"Well - " Penfold gave a slight frown. "Now that you mention it, he told me to shut up on the way home. He NEVER tells me to shut up".
Kim bit her lip.
"Penfold", she said with one eyebrow raised. "I think there's something going on here".
*
The next day, Penfold cautiously opened DM's bedroom door. He looked around the room, and then let himself in fully.
The room wasn't tidy. The bed was unmade and the wardrobe door was open, revealing the clothes to be hung in a slobby manner. Some were even thrown about the floor of the wardrobe. The desk had papers and books in untidy piles, and more papers poked out of the drawe.
Penfold took a step back, suddenly feeling afraid. He felt like he was entering a death-trap; maye it was just the fact that DM was always a terribly neat person, and never left anything lying around.
Penfold poked his head into the wardrobe and started to sift around the creased clothes. He picked up a sock, and threw it carelessly over his shoulder.
The sock landed on the floor beside a white foot. A white hand bent down to pick the sock up, and then the grip tightened.
The white feet walked noiselessly across the room until the figure was directly behind Penfold.
"What's that...oh, it's a headband", Penfold was muttering to himself. Then he jumped as a hand landed sharply on his shoulder.
"Penfold", growled Danger Mouse. "What are you doing in my room?"
Penfold bit his lip and turned to face his Chief.
"Uh, hello, Chief", he said timidly.
"Get - out", snarled DM. "Never come in here again, you little worm".
Too shocked to speak, Penfold allowed DM to steer him to the door and push him out into the hallway, closing the door on him.
Now things were really getting serious.
Shut up...get out...little worm...DM never spoke to ANYONE like that, even when he was in a really bad mood. He had always shared a joke with Penfold and had been there for him when he needed him, especially when they had first met.
Penfold slid down the wall and remembered four years earlier when he had been kidnapped by a mob of rats. They had tied him to a railway line, but as the train had been pulling in, DM had arrived and cut Penfold free. It had been a close shave, for the two had gotten out of the way barely seconds before the train got there. Penfold smiled a little as DM's first proper sentence to him stood out in his mind:
"Normally, it's women who are tied to railway lines".
And Penfold had replied with:
"Yes, but how do you know that I'm not a girl in an untidy suit?"
DM had rolled his eyes and stated that "he had just saved a comedian". From then on, the two had been friends and two years later, Penfold had moved in with DM as his assistant. It was, as Penfold found out, a tough and scary job, but as long as DM was around, he could go along with it.
Penfold got up and went to Kim's room. He found her hanging some of her own clothes up, but she looked around when he entered.
"Nothing", Penfold confessed. "He came and threw me out before I could have a proper look around".
Kim rolled her eyes and put the shirt she was holding on the bed.
"Well, I guess that was to be expected", she said heavily, sitting down at the end of her bed.
"I suppose so", murmured Penfold, going to sit beside her.
"There must be something to suggest his behaviour", said Kim thoughtfully. "You really don't know anything that might be on his mind?"
"I've already told you, there's nothing", replied Penfold. "I mean, it's Halloween soon, but that's no reason to become the way he is - is it?"
"You've known him longer than I have, Penfold",
Penfold gave a sad little smile, and then left the room. Heading for the lounge, he was just in time to see Danger Mouse disappearing down the the lift shaft.
"DM!" he yelled, running over to look down the shaft. "NOW what are you up to?"
As was to be expected, his question was left unanswered.
Penfold shook his head, but then the radio/TV screen suddenly went off.
"Colonel K to Danger Mouse", said the Colonel's voice.
"Penfold to Colonel K, receiving you loud and clear", replied Penfold, turning to the screen as the Colonel appeared.
"Hello, Penfold. I need to talk to Danger Mouse. Where is he?"
"Er - he's not here", replied Penfold, not exactly sure what else to say.
"Not there? Where the devil is he?'
"Oh - uh - erm - "
At that moment, Kim entered the room. She saw the Colonel on the screen and ran over beside Penfold.
"Hello, Colonel sir", she said, with a slight nod of her head. "Is something wrong?"
"Where's DM?" demanded Colonel K. "I need to speak to him urgently".
"He can't come to the lounge", replied Kim, desperately trying to think up a lie. "Um - he's asleep - he didn't have a very good night".
Penfold turned to Kim, giving her a confused look. Kim ignored him.
"Oh, blow", said the Colonel. "That's all I need. Guess that's why he didn't stop here to help".
"Sorry, sir?" asked Kim curiously. "What do you mean?"
"Didn't you know?" frowned the Colonel. "Some idiot left an active plastic explosive in one of the corridors here at HQ. The end of the corridor's in a mess - luckily, no-one was hurt. But something much worse has happened".
"What? What's wrong?" asked Penfold, before Kim could say anything.
"I left three members from the 'Explosives' department to deal with the debris and came back to my office. Drawer was open, key on the floor, and blueprints gone!" the Colonel cried.
"Someone stole some blueprints? Which ones?" asked Kim.
"ONLY the blueprints on HQ's main defence weapons!" cried Colonel K. "All three of them have vanished - and if those prints end up in the wrong hands, we're all doomed!"
"And DM was there?" squeaked Penfold.
"Yes - he came to my office, but he took off after the explosive was discovered. Now, when can I talk to him?"
"He'll be asleep for a while yet", said Kim, wanting to get rid of the Colonel. "I don't think you'd want to wait around for him".
"Alright, Kim. I'd better go anyway", said Colonel K. "Tell DM to get through to me as soon as he wakes. Thanks".
The Colonel signed off.
"Why did you DO that?" asked Penfold in horror. "If the Colonel finds out you lied - "
"Do you want DM to get into trouble on OUR account?" answered Kim sharply, putting a hand on his shoulder. "If the Colonel finds out about DM's anonymous wonderings, he'll lose his career!"
"Oh". Penfold directed his gaze to the floor, but then he looked up again. "But - what if we - "
"We have to throw the Colonel off as long as possible", said Kim firmly. "Make up excuses, at least until we find out what's going on".
Penfold gave a frantic nod.
"Kim", he suddenly said, a scared look appearing on his face. "About what happened at HQ - do you reckon it could have been D - "
"NO!" snapped Kim. "It wasn't him - he would never do that".
"But you did say you don't know him as much as I do", pointed out Penfold.
"I know what I said", was the reply. "And I also know this - in the time I HAVE known him, he's always been so sweet and kind - at least until now".
"Well - that's true", replied Penfold.
"PROMISE me", begged Kim, taking Penfold's hand. "Promise me that you won't say anything about DM".
"Alright - I promise". Penfold raised his hand as if he were swearing an oath.
"Thanks". Kim gave her first true smile.
Penfold gazed thoughtfully at Kim when she turned away. She seemed to be looking out for DM tremendously. And then there was all the time they had spent together. It made Penfold curious. What were Kim's true feelings for DM? She must have felt something for him.
Penfold shook his head and left the lounge. He just didn't understand love.
Chapter 4
Penfold and Kim were talking quietly in Penfold's room. Since DM had left, the pair had been discussing possible reasons for their friend's strange behaviour - and none of them seemed right.
"Well, maybe yesterday's false alarm really ticked him off", said Penfold for the umpteenth time.
"So much that he's been snappish and cold ever since?" replied Kim dryly.
"Oh yes", said Penfold sheepishly, and fell silent.
At that moment, there was a faint sound of footsteps on the stairs, and DM passed the door. He didn't stop to say hello.
Penfold and Kim exchanged troubled glances.
"Well - he's back", said Penfold cautiously.
"I wonder where he's been", said Kim thoughtfully.
"Let's go and ask!" said Penfold, running for the door.
"No!" Kim grabbed his arm. "He might get even more irritated with us".
"But we're his friends!" cried Penfold.
"I don't think we are, Penfold. Not for much longer", said Kim sadly.
Penfold turned around and looked at her, shaking his head.
"I've known him for four years!" he cried. "He saved my life! I wouldn't be here if it weren't for him!"
"Penfold, calm down", said Kim gently, kneeling down beside him.
"I AM calm!" nearly shouted Penfold, with tears starting to run down his cheeks.
Before Kim could reply, the door opened and DM stood in the doorway, glaring at them.
"Do you two mind?" he hissed. "I'm trying to get some sleep".
Kim narrowed her eyes and frowned at him. Penfold jumped backwards as though he'd been stung.
"Now do me a favour and keep quiet", said DM angrily. Then he turned and stalked off down the hall.
Penfold stared after him. Kim came up behind him and put a hand to his shoulder. She could feel him shaking.
"What's wrong with him?" sobbed Penfold suddenly, and he turned to Kim, throwing himself into her arms as he started to cry.
Kim allowed tears to slide down her cheeks as she hugged her friend close. It was heartbreaking to see Penfold like this - it just showed how much he looked up to DM. But DM was pushing both of them away, without any explanation. Kim was befuddled.
At that moment, Kim had a thought. She suddenly held Penfold out at arm's length.
"Penfold", she said. "You remember the house you and DM went to yesterday?"
"Yes..." said Penfold slowly.
"Did you notice anything - strange about DM's behaviour during the time you were there?"
"Well - " Penfold gave a slight frown. "Now that you mention it, he told me to shut up on the way home. He NEVER tells me to shut up".
Kim bit her lip.
"Penfold", she said with one eyebrow raised. "I think there's something going on here".
*
The next day, Penfold cautiously opened DM's bedroom door. He looked around the room, and then let himself in fully.
The room wasn't tidy. The bed was unmade and the wardrobe door was open, revealing the clothes to be hung in a slobby manner. Some were even thrown about the floor of the wardrobe. The desk had papers and books in untidy piles, and more papers poked out of the drawe.
Penfold took a step back, suddenly feeling afraid. He felt like he was entering a death-trap; maye it was just the fact that DM was always a terribly neat person, and never left anything lying around.
Penfold poked his head into the wardrobe and started to sift around the creased clothes. He picked up a sock, and threw it carelessly over his shoulder.
The sock landed on the floor beside a white foot. A white hand bent down to pick the sock up, and then the grip tightened.
The white feet walked noiselessly across the room until the figure was directly behind Penfold.
"What's that...oh, it's a headband", Penfold was muttering to himself. Then he jumped as a hand landed sharply on his shoulder.
"Penfold", growled Danger Mouse. "What are you doing in my room?"
Penfold bit his lip and turned to face his Chief.
"Uh, hello, Chief", he said timidly.
"Get - out", snarled DM. "Never come in here again, you little worm".
Too shocked to speak, Penfold allowed DM to steer him to the door and push him out into the hallway, closing the door on him.
Now things were really getting serious.
Shut up...get out...little worm...DM never spoke to ANYONE like that, even when he was in a really bad mood. He had always shared a joke with Penfold and had been there for him when he needed him, especially when they had first met.
Penfold slid down the wall and remembered four years earlier when he had been kidnapped by a mob of rats. They had tied him to a railway line, but as the train had been pulling in, DM had arrived and cut Penfold free. It had been a close shave, for the two had gotten out of the way barely seconds before the train got there. Penfold smiled a little as DM's first proper sentence to him stood out in his mind:
"Normally, it's women who are tied to railway lines".
And Penfold had replied with:
"Yes, but how do you know that I'm not a girl in an untidy suit?"
DM had rolled his eyes and stated that "he had just saved a comedian". From then on, the two had been friends and two years later, Penfold had moved in with DM as his assistant. It was, as Penfold found out, a tough and scary job, but as long as DM was around, he could go along with it.
Penfold got up and went to Kim's room. He found her hanging some of her own clothes up, but she looked around when he entered.
"Nothing", Penfold confessed. "He came and threw me out before I could have a proper look around".
Kim rolled her eyes and put the shirt she was holding on the bed.
"Well, I guess that was to be expected", she said heavily, sitting down at the end of her bed.
"I suppose so", murmured Penfold, going to sit beside her.
"There must be something to suggest his behaviour", said Kim thoughtfully. "You really don't know anything that might be on his mind?"
"I've already told you, there's nothing", replied Penfold. "I mean, it's Halloween soon, but that's no reason to become the way he is - is it?"
"You've known him longer than I have, Penfold",
Penfold gave a sad little smile, and then left the room. Heading for the lounge, he was just in time to see Danger Mouse disappearing down the the lift shaft.
"DM!" he yelled, running over to look down the shaft. "NOW what are you up to?"
As was to be expected, his question was left unanswered.
Penfold shook his head, but then the radio/TV screen suddenly went off.
"Colonel K to Danger Mouse", said the Colonel's voice.
"Penfold to Colonel K, receiving you loud and clear", replied Penfold, turning to the screen as the Colonel appeared.
"Hello, Penfold. I need to talk to Danger Mouse. Where is he?"
"Er - he's not here", replied Penfold, not exactly sure what else to say.
"Not there? Where the devil is he?'
"Oh - uh - erm - "
At that moment, Kim entered the room. She saw the Colonel on the screen and ran over beside Penfold.
"Hello, Colonel sir", she said, with a slight nod of her head. "Is something wrong?"
"Where's DM?" demanded Colonel K. "I need to speak to him urgently".
"He can't come to the lounge", replied Kim, desperately trying to think up a lie. "Um - he's asleep - he didn't have a very good night".
Penfold turned to Kim, giving her a confused look. Kim ignored him.
"Oh, blow", said the Colonel. "That's all I need. Guess that's why he didn't stop here to help".
"Sorry, sir?" asked Kim curiously. "What do you mean?"
"Didn't you know?" frowned the Colonel. "Some idiot left an active plastic explosive in one of the corridors here at HQ. The end of the corridor's in a mess - luckily, no-one was hurt. But something much worse has happened".
"What? What's wrong?" asked Penfold, before Kim could say anything.
"I left three members from the 'Explosives' department to deal with the debris and came back to my office. Drawer was open, key on the floor, and blueprints gone!" the Colonel cried.
"Someone stole some blueprints? Which ones?" asked Kim.
"ONLY the blueprints on HQ's main defence weapons!" cried Colonel K. "All three of them have vanished - and if those prints end up in the wrong hands, we're all doomed!"
"And DM was there?" squeaked Penfold.
"Yes - he came to my office, but he took off after the explosive was discovered. Now, when can I talk to him?"
"He'll be asleep for a while yet", said Kim, wanting to get rid of the Colonel. "I don't think you'd want to wait around for him".
"Alright, Kim. I'd better go anyway", said Colonel K. "Tell DM to get through to me as soon as he wakes. Thanks".
The Colonel signed off.
"Why did you DO that?" asked Penfold in horror. "If the Colonel finds out you lied - "
"Do you want DM to get into trouble on OUR account?" answered Kim sharply, putting a hand on his shoulder. "If the Colonel finds out about DM's anonymous wonderings, he'll lose his career!"
"Oh". Penfold directed his gaze to the floor, but then he looked up again. "But - what if we - "
"We have to throw the Colonel off as long as possible", said Kim firmly. "Make up excuses, at least until we find out what's going on".
Penfold gave a frantic nod.
"Kim", he suddenly said, a scared look appearing on his face. "About what happened at HQ - do you reckon it could have been D - "
"NO!" snapped Kim. "It wasn't him - he would never do that".
"But you did say you don't know him as much as I do", pointed out Penfold.
"I know what I said", was the reply. "And I also know this - in the time I HAVE known him, he's always been so sweet and kind - at least until now".
"Well - that's true", replied Penfold.
"PROMISE me", begged Kim, taking Penfold's hand. "Promise me that you won't say anything about DM".
"Alright - I promise". Penfold raised his hand as if he were swearing an oath.
"Thanks". Kim gave her first true smile.
Penfold gazed thoughtfully at Kim when she turned away. She seemed to be looking out for DM tremendously. And then there was all the time they had spent together. It made Penfold curious. What were Kim's true feelings for DM? She must have felt something for him.
Penfold shook his head and left the lounge. He just didn't understand love.