18. Change of Plans

Max was on his hands and knees staring at the giant brown furball pacing beneath the grating.  He was lucky that the Schwarzenegger twins had left only moments earlier but he would rather it had been the bear.  That was one big bear.  He sure hoped the little dog-bone shaped scrap of tranquilizer would work on the brute.  He swallowed a lump in his throat as he thought of having to fight that thing to the door. 

He gasped as he felt something furry pounce on his head.  The bone fell from his grasp as he tore the thing from off him and pinned it to the floor.   His adrenaline pounded in his ears as he cocked his fist, ready to fight whatever snarling beast he discovered.   He let out a deep sigh of relief as he saw the small whiskered face staring accusingly up at him. 

He let the cat go.  "Sorry about that" 

Her two green eyes bored into him reproachfully as if to say:  "What's wrong with you?"

There was a low snuffing sound below them.  The bear was inspecting the item that had fallen from the above.  (maybe the sky was falling)  The sky sure smelled good.  With one quick slurp from it's oversized tongue it consumed the morsel and continued pacing. 

Max's heart sank.  It's not going to work!  I don't want to wrestle that.  I like bear hugs but only from 99.  A THUD interrupted his thoughts.  The bear had collapsed into a furry heap.  YES!!  He turned around and opened the dog door.  "Coast is clear Chief."

The Chief of CONTROL clambered awkwardly from the opening.  "Thanks Max.  Good luck."  He gave 86 a pat on the shoulder.  Max watched as he boss hurried along the catwalk, down the stairs and out of the building.

Meanwhile in another room.

"What?"  The female's face flushed with frustration as she fidgeted fiercely with the flashing panels forefront.  (say that ten times fast)  One of the monitors before her had just winked out.  She flipped a stray strand of yellow crimped hair from her eyes as she typed some more commands into the computer.  Why would the bear monitor go out?  That doesn't make sense!  If there's another problem with this equipment there's no way I'm calling customer service again.  I'll end up shooting the phone if I have to be on hold for an hour listening to elevator music.  Hmmmmmm.great torture strategy.  I'll have to remember that one.  She shook her head, bringing her mind back to the problem at hand. 

Her fingers flew over the keyboard as she instructed the computer to display the last minute of what the sensors recorded.  The earlier view from the bear's eyes came up immediately.  Carol O'Shannon watched the view-screen closely as the creature paced routinely.  She sat up in her chair as she saw a small object fall into view.  The thing grew larger as the bear moved in to inspect it.  She frowned as it dawned on her what it was.  The biscuit disappeared as Cach`e's minion devoured it.  Only moments later the screen grew fuzzy before blacking out altogether. 

"Tranquilizers!"  The desk shuttered as she slammed her clenched fist onto its surface.  She would have slapped herself in the forehead but was afraid she might have knocked herself out.  How could I have been so stupid?!  They used it on my tiger to get in. I was so deluded with having that pesky vet and another CONTROL agent that I didn't have them searched thoroughly. Apparently a quick weapons frisk wasn't enough.  But how did they escape?  There's no way they could have untied those knots!!  For a moment she wished she hadn't let her two thugs leave the building.  But they pouted and whined unless they were allowed a daily doughnut break.  She would have preferred better company but these two thought the world of her and would eat mud had she asked them to.  In fact she had considered it a couple of times.  It was a pretty amusing thought but she hadn't been board enough to go out and find the mud.  Oh, well. I don't need those idiots anyway.   Those do-gooders won't be getting out of here alive.  Her face morphed into an evil grin as she entered more commands into the computer.  With a satisfied nod she leaned back in her chair, set her feet on the desk and watched the monitors.      

"Do you see it?"  Max whispered 99 as she peeked around the corner of the large crate they were hiding behind.

"Yes."  Her reply was barely audible.  A large white tiger was grooming itself about fifteen feet from their hiding spot.

"Slide this over to it."  Max handed her one of the biscuits.

She took it and pushed it across the floor where it skidded to a halt in front of the striped furball. 

"What's it doing now?"  Max asked, still hiding behind 99.

"It's washing its face."

"Don't tell me it didn't eat the tranquilizer!"

"It didn't eat the tranquilizer."

"I asked you not to tell me that!!"   He grumbled under his breath for a moment.

"What are we going to do now, Max?"   As he appeared to be thinking 99 came up with an idea.  "Hey!  I bet we could fool it into one of these empty crates."

"Will you stop talking while I'm thinking, 99.  It's very distracting."  After another moment of thought.  "I've got it!  We could lure them into some of these crates and trap them!"

"Brilliant, Max."

"Thank you, 99"   

  

"Will you hurry up, Murphy?!"  Mark wasn't moving at light speed himself but his dog was going at a snails pace. 

"Don't rush me!"  The canine said as he took half a step with his front paw.  He was shaking and staring through the grating at the ground far below him.

"How many times have I told you not to look down?" 

"I can't help it.  I've got a crick in my neck.  Okay?"  He took another tiny step on the catwalk without taking his eyes off the ground.