Chapter 06
Meet Baera and Helga. They are two rats who live in Mossflower, spending their days robbing, thieving, pillaging, and generally being a pain in the neck for the honest creatures of Mossflower. Unlike most rats, they are extremely cultured and refined, and they always talk to each other with nauseating politeness. For the past few days they had their eyes on some shabby hedgehog dwellings, but they were biding their time because the hedgehogs were under the protection of a fearless squirrel named Mander. But, their fortunes were about to change.
Baera couldn't believe his eyes! Laying hidden in the bushes, the rat had watched the encounter between Jumba and Mander. The mole-creature had defeated Mander with a strange weapon. If he could get his paws on Jumba's raygun, then nobeast could stop them. He and Helga would be king and queen of Mossflower!
- - -
"MANDER!" screamed Lilo as she beat against Jumba, who was holding her tightly. She tried to pull away, but it was useless.
Pleakley spoke to her sympathetically but resolutely, "I'm sorry Lilo, but it's our job to retrieve you and Stitch. This creature was interfering."
"But you didn't have to shoot her!"
"Well, I, um--" Pleakley stammered before Jumba interrupted him.
"I am authorized to use whatever force I deem necessary. Come, we're wasting time."
"But what about Mander?!"
"She's be fine," said Pleakley, "She'll wake up in a few hours, albeit with a terrible headache."
- - -
"I have the most wonderful news for thee, Helga my dear."
"Then pray tell me, O Baera, love of my life."
"Well, my little candied chestnut with meadowcream, that impudent squirrel Mander has been felled!"
"By whom? And how?"
"The rogue was felled by a most ugly creature wielding a most extraordinary weapon!"
"Pray, do continue."
"Well, the beastly squirrel was threatening the mole creature with her sword, when, to my utter amazement, the mole creature felled her with a bolt of glowing light that proceeded out from a strange yellow device."
"My dear," Helga asked with a look of concern, "Are you quite sure you have not been in the wine cellar too long?"
"Oh how you do jest! It will be my good pleasure to show you, my love."
"Then please do, my scrumptious dish of salmon caviar."
- - -
"Now," said Jumba, "you will tell us where Experiment 626 is hiding."
"You can't find 'em?"
"We found you by using this biorhythmic tracking radar," said Jumba, holding up a weird device.
"Unfortunately, Experiment 626 is difficult to locate due to his ability to alter his composition."
"Huh? English please!"
"We can't find because he's changed himself again," answered Pleakley.
"He's a dog?"
"No, we could locate him if he were. We have no idea where to find 626."
"Good!"
That afternoon, they set up camp. Jumba handcuffed Mander (or pawcuffed, I should say), planning to interrogate her once she awoke. Even though Mander was bound and unconscious, Lilo was glad she was nearby. As Lilo sat warming herself by the plasma furnace (Jumba's version of a campfire), she heard someone muttering. She turned and heard Mander speaking the poem given to her by Martin the Warrior.
Lilo ran up to her. "Mander, you're awake! No...you're just talking in you're sleep," she said disappointedly.
- - -
Game Show Announcer: Now it's time to announce the winner of "Name That Vermin!" The winner is...
(drumroll)
Announcer: Stormrose Dewleaf for his or her suggestion of Baera the rat. Congratulations, Stormrose. You've won an all expense paid vacation to the Redwall universe. First, you'll spend two days at the luxurious Redwall Abbey! Enjoy fine dining, plus hours of music and entertainment. Next, you'll fly first class, courtesy of MacPhearsome Airlines, to majestic Salamandestron! Enjoy their fine displays of metallurgy in the armory. Be escorted by the Long Patrol to the legendary spot where the meteor for Martin's sword fell. And finally, take a luxury cruise aboard the Waveworm to the beautiful tropical island of Sampetra! You'll spend two days on the emerald isle at Ublaz MadEyes's five star hotel. Enjoy fun-filled evenings on the beach at the world's only authentic vermin luau. Congratulations!
Meet Baera and Helga. They are two rats who live in Mossflower, spending their days robbing, thieving, pillaging, and generally being a pain in the neck for the honest creatures of Mossflower. Unlike most rats, they are extremely cultured and refined, and they always talk to each other with nauseating politeness. For the past few days they had their eyes on some shabby hedgehog dwellings, but they were biding their time because the hedgehogs were under the protection of a fearless squirrel named Mander. But, their fortunes were about to change.
Baera couldn't believe his eyes! Laying hidden in the bushes, the rat had watched the encounter between Jumba and Mander. The mole-creature had defeated Mander with a strange weapon. If he could get his paws on Jumba's raygun, then nobeast could stop them. He and Helga would be king and queen of Mossflower!
- - -
"MANDER!" screamed Lilo as she beat against Jumba, who was holding her tightly. She tried to pull away, but it was useless.
Pleakley spoke to her sympathetically but resolutely, "I'm sorry Lilo, but it's our job to retrieve you and Stitch. This creature was interfering."
"But you didn't have to shoot her!"
"Well, I, um--" Pleakley stammered before Jumba interrupted him.
"I am authorized to use whatever force I deem necessary. Come, we're wasting time."
"But what about Mander?!"
"She's be fine," said Pleakley, "She'll wake up in a few hours, albeit with a terrible headache."
- - -
"I have the most wonderful news for thee, Helga my dear."
"Then pray tell me, O Baera, love of my life."
"Well, my little candied chestnut with meadowcream, that impudent squirrel Mander has been felled!"
"By whom? And how?"
"The rogue was felled by a most ugly creature wielding a most extraordinary weapon!"
"Pray, do continue."
"Well, the beastly squirrel was threatening the mole creature with her sword, when, to my utter amazement, the mole creature felled her with a bolt of glowing light that proceeded out from a strange yellow device."
"My dear," Helga asked with a look of concern, "Are you quite sure you have not been in the wine cellar too long?"
"Oh how you do jest! It will be my good pleasure to show you, my love."
"Then please do, my scrumptious dish of salmon caviar."
- - -
"Now," said Jumba, "you will tell us where Experiment 626 is hiding."
"You can't find 'em?"
"We found you by using this biorhythmic tracking radar," said Jumba, holding up a weird device.
"Unfortunately, Experiment 626 is difficult to locate due to his ability to alter his composition."
"Huh? English please!"
"We can't find because he's changed himself again," answered Pleakley.
"He's a dog?"
"No, we could locate him if he were. We have no idea where to find 626."
"Good!"
That afternoon, they set up camp. Jumba handcuffed Mander (or pawcuffed, I should say), planning to interrogate her once she awoke. Even though Mander was bound and unconscious, Lilo was glad she was nearby. As Lilo sat warming herself by the plasma furnace (Jumba's version of a campfire), she heard someone muttering. She turned and heard Mander speaking the poem given to her by Martin the Warrior.
Lilo ran up to her. "Mander, you're awake! No...you're just talking in you're sleep," she said disappointedly.
- - -
Game Show Announcer: Now it's time to announce the winner of "Name That Vermin!" The winner is...
(drumroll)
Announcer: Stormrose Dewleaf for his or her suggestion of Baera the rat. Congratulations, Stormrose. You've won an all expense paid vacation to the Redwall universe. First, you'll spend two days at the luxurious Redwall Abbey! Enjoy fine dining, plus hours of music and entertainment. Next, you'll fly first class, courtesy of MacPhearsome Airlines, to majestic Salamandestron! Enjoy their fine displays of metallurgy in the armory. Be escorted by the Long Patrol to the legendary spot where the meteor for Martin's sword fell. And finally, take a luxury cruise aboard the Waveworm to the beautiful tropical island of Sampetra! You'll spend two days on the emerald isle at Ublaz MadEyes's five star hotel. Enjoy fun-filled evenings on the beach at the world's only authentic vermin luau. Congratulations!