A/N: *Ellie ET, Sabertooth Kitty and Trynia Merin come out of electric
double doors onto a stage before an audience of DM fans*.
Ellie ET: - *Taking up a microphone* Hi, guys! Welcome to my fourth Danger Mouse fic! Now, before we start, let's hear it for Sabertooth Kitty -
Audience: - YEAH! *Roars in approval*
Ellie ET: - And Trynia Merin -
Audience: - YAY! *Roars again*
Sabertooth Kitty: - Thanks, everyone!
Trynia Merin: - Thankyou, thankyou!
Ellie ET: - Alright, people, let's also give a round of applause for Aquila, for his dedication to Club DM and for being so supportive - and putting up with my brattish vibes! No-one else could be a better webmaster!
Audience: - GO AQUILA!
Ellie ET: - Now let's cheer for Juan, for simply being Juan! Let's hear it for him! No-one could ever parody MJ songs as good as he!
Audience: - ALRIGHT JUAN!
Ellie ET: - Lastly, let's hear it for Agent 57 for being so funny! No-one could ever make me laugh so much!
Audience: - AGENT 57 FOREVER!
Ellie ET: - And lastly, let's cheer for all DM fans, especially the Club DM'ers. Also, let's give Elvesmagic the support she deserves for such a great first Static Shock fic!
Audience: - ALLLLLLLLLLLRIIIIIIIIIIIIIGHT! *Everyone cheers their heads off*
Ellie ET: - OK, people, settle down! It's time to start writing! I don't own Danger Mouse - it belongs to lucky Brian Cosgrove! But well done to him for creating such a FAB series! Luckily (for me) I DO own Kim Taylor - who is now a mouse, don't forget - and William Woodruff, the SpiderMan fan- collie! Find out why he is at the bottom! Yes, he's back! He will be appearing frequently from now on - but we're going to try not to brood over Friends and Enemies for too long. It's time to make a fresh start. So, let's rock 'n' roll!
*Ellie ET, Sabertooth Kitty, and Trynia Merin slide back into the door, and the door closes up*
* * *
Love Me Not
*
Chapter 1
Count Duckula gazed out of the window of his bedroom. It was quite the starry night, and the thick velvet of the sky did not hold a single cloud.
The evil duck's brow furrowed. He knew what month it was - and he knew what the fourteenth meant.
Valentine's Day. The day full of hearts, and flowers, and overall, downright stupidity all over the globe as people everywhere made sure it would be a day to remember. Romantic meals, proposals, weddings, or 'early nights in' - it was far too sickening for Count Duckula. As far as he was concerned, there was no love in the world - or his world at least.
Duckula normally patrolled the grounds at night - but tonight he couldn't be bothered. His castle was fairly isolated, but many people liked to drive way out here in the dead of night around this date. Trespassing on HIS land, invading HIS privacy - how dare they! But of course, not many people knew he lived here, so to the outside world it didn't really matter.
Duckula, only being a half-vampire, was able to go outside in the daytime, and he didn't need human blood. He preferred eating meat instead - he was definitely no vegetarian. Of course, being part-vampire did have some disadvantages - he was allergic to garlic (although he couldn't see why people ate it anyway) and he had to be careful with every step he took. It also meant that he had been shoved aside by his family - there were not a great deal of vampire ducks in the world, and Duckula could not understand why he had picked up such a gene. Although old rumours in his family about his great-great-great-grandma falling for a vampire bat when she was in her prime may have had something to do with it.
Duckula had had to make his own way in the world. He had gradually learnt how to use his vampire abilities to his advantage, and while not always 100% keen to use them, he had to admit that they did help enemies out of the way.
Like that stupid Danger Mouse and his crew. The secret agent had foiled his plans several times, and it was becoming too much for Duckula to bear. Every time he had tried to create a TV show, and had always come so CLOSE...!
The vampire duck had always dreamed of being on TV. Years ago, Duckula's family had lived in a house with a huge pool. While his family were out swimming almost every day of the year, Duckula would always shut himself up in the attic and watch the big-screen TV that his father had stored up there. The space had become his own private little sanctuary and he stayed up there nearly all the time. No-one was bothered by it - his parents practically ENCOURAGED him to keep out of the way and his sisters had always next to ignored him.
Every day, young Duckula would find at least five different things to watch on the TV. He would always sit on the old stuffy couch, just watching the screen as the cartoons or the movies entertained him. Television seemed to be the only thing in Duckula's life. It seemed to tutor him the way a school teacher would, and as his parents had never bothered to look for schools for him, this became in very handy. And the more and more TV Duckula watched, the more he had been inspired until he had made up his mind to be a TV star - just like the people on the screen.
So when he finally moved out of the house aged eighteen (and his parents weren't exactly sad to see him go) Dukula had travelled to this old castle. It had belonged to an ancestor, and it was his property. Duckula had settled down quickly. But as he had never really spoken to anybody during his childhood, he had found that talking was always difficult for him - and it still was. No matter how much he tried, Duckula was always stuttering and spitting - and to him, that really affected his chances of ever appearing on TV. But he was in no position to go and get help from the outside world - not yet, anyway. He was saving it as a last resort - and a VERY last resort at that.
Count Duckula gave a little cough, trying not to brood on his past too much. It always hurr; it was no wonder he never spoke to his family. They probably didn't miss him anyway.
Looking at the clock on the wall, Duckula realised that it was two o'clock in the morning. It wasn't any big surprise - he had stayed up later than this before - but it just meant another day closer to Valentine's Day.
"S-stupid, m-moronic, i-idiotic Valentine's D-d-day", Duckula said to himself. "W-what I w-w-wouldn't give to just change it - to just t-t-teach the outside world a lesson in l-l-love!"
Suddenly, Duckula whirled around.
"T-t-that's IT!" he screamed out of the window. He heard flapping noises below him - he had scared some bats away.
"I-I'll s-s-spoil Valentine's Day!" cried Duckula. "I'll t-t-teach them ALL! And I'll d-d-destroy the White W-Wonder! Haha!"
*
Meanwhile, in London - and in a certain pillar-box in Baker Street...
Penfold crept along the hallway with sweat covering his forehead. His heart was pumping fast.
"Oh, no, oh dear..."
"Penfold?" asked a sugary-sweet voice. "Oh, Penfold..."
"Ooooh, 'eck!" Penfold ran down the hall. He was in trouble now...
"Penfold! Come out, come out, wherever you are!" called the voice again.
"No!" called Penfold. He ran down the hallway, and then realised his room would be the best place to hide. He started back towards his quarters, opened the door -
"Gotcha!" Hands shot out and tickled him mercilessly. Penfold, being incredibly ticklish, immeidately collapsed to the floor in giggles.
"No! Mercy! I'll talk! I'll talk!" cried the hamster, in gails of laughter.
"OK then. I think you've learnt your lesson", said the voice.
Penfold sat up.
"Oh, but Kim, I just couldn't resist", he tried.
The young female mouse above him raised an eyebrow and then held up an empty pancake packet.
"There were FIVE in here this morning", she scolded gently. "Now they're gone".
"Er - yes - well - er - I had them at different times of the day", said Penfold.
"It's only half-past one".
"Er - is it?"
Kim shook her head and laughed. She could never be angry at Penfold - he was far too sweet and funny for that. But it was amazing how such a small hamster could have such a big appetite.
At that moment, a young male voice called down the hallway.
"Kim! Penfold! The Colonel wants us!"
Kim looked at the door, and then back at Penfold.
"Tell you what", she offered. "We won't tell Danger Mouse just how much you've consumed - we'll keep it to ourselves, OK?"
"I'm more than OK with that", said Penfold, as the mouse and the hamster made for the lounge. On the way out, Kim threw the packet into Penfold's waste-paper basket.
When they came down the left-hand stairs into the lounge, Kim and Penfold saw a white male mouse with an eyepatch sitting on the couch.
"Kim, Penfold", said Danger Mouse, standing up as he saw his accomplices. "The Colonel wants to see at headquarters".
"ANOTHER headquarters visit?" asked Penfold increduously. "How many times have we been in the last four months?"
"Oh, Penfold, don't go on", said DM. "He said he wanted us to meet someone".
"Who?" asked Kim.
"He didn't tell me the name, but he said it's a new recruit", said DM. "Whoever it is, we'd better get down there".
Kim and Penfold jumped onto the couch beside their leader and as usual, the couch carried down to their transport, the Mark III. DM started the car, the panel in the pavement opened, and the Mark III slid out.
"I wonder who they want us to meet?" mused Kim once the car was in the air.
"I don't know", said DM. "Maybe it's one of the Colonel's friends".
"But he said it was a new recruit", pointed out Penfold.
"Well, not all recruits are young, Penfold", explained DM. "Some are around the Colonel's age - it depends on their skills and dedication".
Penfold blinked in surprise as he took in this information. "Cor 'eck. I never thought of it that way before".
"Well, you'd be surprised at how much you can learn in an agency", said DM to his friend.
"I'll say", said Penfold. "I never knew..."
DM and Kim chuckled.
"Don't worry, Penfold", smiled Kim. "I guess it must be a surprise to everyone, really. You're no exception".
DM smiled at Kim over the top of Penfold's head. He adored his second assistant - she had given up her human form to stay in the agency, something he could never forget. The relationship between them had also boosted - after their Christmas Eve kiss, they had become closer than ever. They had not actually gone too far, but there was definitely something strong between them.
As it was nearly Valentine's Day, DM was determined to do something special for Kim. But what? He was still racking his brains for ideas - he had never actually romantically entertained anyone before
Well - everyone has to start somewhere, he thought ruefully.
When the trio arrived at headquarters, they flashed their ID cards at the guards and after a trip in the elevator, made for Colonel K's office. However, when they got there, they found a note taped to the door.
"DM - Go to Level 10", the mouse read out loud. "Signed Colonel K". He turned to the others. with a frown.
"Level 10 - isn't that where they all wrestle?" asked Penfold.
"Yes - it's the Self-Defence Department", said DM. "I wonder why we've been asked down there - well, we won't know until we get there. Come on, you two", he said to Kim and Penfold. "Let's head back for the lifts".
The trio made their way back inside the lifts, and travelled down to Level 10. When they got there, they stepped out and saw Colonel K at the end of the corridor, where the gym hall was.
"Ah, DM, Kim, Penfold", said the Colonel, turning to see them. "I was wondering when you three would get here. There's someone I'd like you to meet".
"Who, sir?"
"Come in here, and take a look". The Colonel opened the gym doors, and led the trio inside. It was apparant that a training match was underway: people were crowded around the mat, cheering someone on in the middle. Sitting on a bench against the far wall beneath a basketball hoop, there were about six trainees, looking alarmed as they watched the fight going on. A few even looked a little scared.
Colonel K pushed through the group and DM, Kim and Penfold followed him, standing right at the front, able to see all of the action.
On the large mat, a cat was wrestling fiercely with a collie-dog. Both were dressed in wrestling gear - the cat wore a red vest and stripless tracksuit trousers, and the dog wore the same, only in blue. They both had punching gloves.
"C'mon, puss! Come and get me!" yelled the dog breathlessly. The cat made a run for him, and the collie grabbed him roughly, threw him over his head and crashed him down on the mat, pinning him to the ground.
"And he's done it! The Cat-Mangler wins!" he cried, blabbing his words.
The crowd cheered, and the collie looked up. DM and Kim both gasped as Penfold stared.
"Isn't that - ?" he started.
"Yes! It's WOODRUFF!" cried Kim. "What's he doing here?"
Suddenly, Woodruff's eyes landed on them. He got up grinning, wiping sweat off his brow, and as he took a towel from the referee, he came over wiping himself with it.
"Hey, guys!" he grinned.
"Woodruff! It's so good to see you!" cried Kim, running to hug him.
"Yeah, it's great to see you all. I've missed you three a lot", said Woodruff. "And Kim!" He held her out at arm's length. "They told me you were a mouse - I couldn't believe it!"
"William Woodruff", mused DM, grinning, as he came to greet the dog. "Who'd have thought it?"
"Don't call me William!" wailed Woodruff. "You know I hate the name!"
DM chuckled warmly.
"Well, it's certainly a wonderful surprise to see you again", he said, as they made their way through the crowd and Woodruff sat down on a bench, exhausted.
"Here you go, Woodruff", said the referee, coming over and handing him a bottle of water.
"Thanks", wheezed Woodruff.
"He's one of our best trainees", said the referee to DM. "Taken down FIVE of 'em this morning!"
"Well, you're certainly popular, Jackie Chan II", teased Kim, as the referee started back to the mat.
"Hey! Just call me Spidey, OK?" said Woodruff, sipping some water. He gave her a grin.
Kim laughed - she had forgotten that Woodruff loved the SpiderMan series. She couldn't imagine what his room looked like.
"Alright, I get it", she said.
"When did you arrive, Woodruff?" asked Penfold, sitting down next to the collie.
"Just two days ago", was the reply. "I've been getting myself back together these last few months".
"What did you do after testifying against Crumhorn?" asked DM.
"Well, I went back to my home town to stay with my dad", said Woodruff. "My parents are divorced - my mum's moved somewhere else and remarried. Dad looked after me for a while, and then I finally went back to my own house. I cleared up, changed things around - I was trying to keep busy, really".
DM nodded sympathetically.
"Anyway", said Woodruff. "I used to go to the gym to work out. I returned almost straight away when I got back. I had a lot of nervous tension to release and I spent ages in the gym every day. I was keeping to myself really - not talking to anyone. Then the agency called me. They had been trying to trace me for ages because they wanted to offer counselling. I tried to turn it down, but after a while I realised that my life was really now revolving around eating, sleeping and gymnastics. I'd never worked out so much before. I wanted to be the old me, so I took up the counselling after all".
"And? Then what happened?"
"They offered me a position here in the agency. I took it up - I didn't know what to do with myself".
"So, are you enjoying yourself?" asked Kim.
"Are you kidding, I'm having a BALL!" cried Woodruff. "It's fantastic in the agency - the activities, the adventure, the social life - I don't know why I didn't join sooner!"
"Well, it just goes to show that being an agent doesn't always revolve around work. We do have our fun, you know", smiled DM.
"I can see that".
At that moment, the door opened and a young boy turtle came in. He looked no more than sixteen, and was looking around fervishly for someone. Colonel K came over to see him, and the boy handed over a piece of paper. On reading it, the Colonel's brow furrowed, and he went to approach DM.
"DM, Count Duckula's back", he informed the agent grimly as he handed over the piece of paper.
"Oh, no, not again", groaned DM. He read the slip of paper, frowned and then turned to the others.
"Duckula's holding a TV studio hostage. They fear he might be armed. He has two accomplices with him".
"We'd better get down there. There's no telling what he might do", said Kim.
The trio stood up.
"Bye, Woodruff", said Kim to the collie. "See you later, OK?"
Then they all ran to the gym door, narrowly avoiding the boy turtle who was just leaving.
Woodruff gazed after them until the door had closed. Then he stared at his paws.
So...it was nearly Valentine's Day. Not long to wait now...which was good. Woodruff had big plans. He looked back at the gym door again.
"VERY big plans", he murmured to himself. "Plans involving me - and a certain female mouse..."
*
Duckula glared at the three news reporters cowering behind their desks. The accomplices had taken out security, and the security cameras had been broken.
Duckula gave a quick grin. DM had fallen for his trap - now all Duckula had to do was to wait until he got here. And then...
Duckula reached into his robes and pulled out a bulging cloth. He pulled the cloth back and smiled at the object within the folds.
It was a loaded gun.
*
PS - Some of you may be wondering - why is Woodruff a SpiderMan fan now? Last time we saw him, he was a BatMan fan! So what's going on?
Well gang, I'm starting to enter the world of crossovers. At some point I'm hoping to do a Justice League crossover for the series, and obviously, it stars BatMan. So it might be a bit confusing, having the character and the TV show in the same universe. I don't think BatMan will actually be in the crossover, but I'm altering Woodruff's comicbook hero anyway, OK? Confused? Then go back to Friends and Enemies and read Chapter 7 again.
Ellie ET: - *Taking up a microphone* Hi, guys! Welcome to my fourth Danger Mouse fic! Now, before we start, let's hear it for Sabertooth Kitty -
Audience: - YEAH! *Roars in approval*
Ellie ET: - And Trynia Merin -
Audience: - YAY! *Roars again*
Sabertooth Kitty: - Thanks, everyone!
Trynia Merin: - Thankyou, thankyou!
Ellie ET: - Alright, people, let's also give a round of applause for Aquila, for his dedication to Club DM and for being so supportive - and putting up with my brattish vibes! No-one else could be a better webmaster!
Audience: - GO AQUILA!
Ellie ET: - Now let's cheer for Juan, for simply being Juan! Let's hear it for him! No-one could ever parody MJ songs as good as he!
Audience: - ALRIGHT JUAN!
Ellie ET: - Lastly, let's hear it for Agent 57 for being so funny! No-one could ever make me laugh so much!
Audience: - AGENT 57 FOREVER!
Ellie ET: - And lastly, let's cheer for all DM fans, especially the Club DM'ers. Also, let's give Elvesmagic the support she deserves for such a great first Static Shock fic!
Audience: - ALLLLLLLLLLLRIIIIIIIIIIIIIGHT! *Everyone cheers their heads off*
Ellie ET: - OK, people, settle down! It's time to start writing! I don't own Danger Mouse - it belongs to lucky Brian Cosgrove! But well done to him for creating such a FAB series! Luckily (for me) I DO own Kim Taylor - who is now a mouse, don't forget - and William Woodruff, the SpiderMan fan- collie! Find out why he is at the bottom! Yes, he's back! He will be appearing frequently from now on - but we're going to try not to brood over Friends and Enemies for too long. It's time to make a fresh start. So, let's rock 'n' roll!
*Ellie ET, Sabertooth Kitty, and Trynia Merin slide back into the door, and the door closes up*
* * *
Love Me Not
*
Chapter 1
Count Duckula gazed out of the window of his bedroom. It was quite the starry night, and the thick velvet of the sky did not hold a single cloud.
The evil duck's brow furrowed. He knew what month it was - and he knew what the fourteenth meant.
Valentine's Day. The day full of hearts, and flowers, and overall, downright stupidity all over the globe as people everywhere made sure it would be a day to remember. Romantic meals, proposals, weddings, or 'early nights in' - it was far too sickening for Count Duckula. As far as he was concerned, there was no love in the world - or his world at least.
Duckula normally patrolled the grounds at night - but tonight he couldn't be bothered. His castle was fairly isolated, but many people liked to drive way out here in the dead of night around this date. Trespassing on HIS land, invading HIS privacy - how dare they! But of course, not many people knew he lived here, so to the outside world it didn't really matter.
Duckula, only being a half-vampire, was able to go outside in the daytime, and he didn't need human blood. He preferred eating meat instead - he was definitely no vegetarian. Of course, being part-vampire did have some disadvantages - he was allergic to garlic (although he couldn't see why people ate it anyway) and he had to be careful with every step he took. It also meant that he had been shoved aside by his family - there were not a great deal of vampire ducks in the world, and Duckula could not understand why he had picked up such a gene. Although old rumours in his family about his great-great-great-grandma falling for a vampire bat when she was in her prime may have had something to do with it.
Duckula had had to make his own way in the world. He had gradually learnt how to use his vampire abilities to his advantage, and while not always 100% keen to use them, he had to admit that they did help enemies out of the way.
Like that stupid Danger Mouse and his crew. The secret agent had foiled his plans several times, and it was becoming too much for Duckula to bear. Every time he had tried to create a TV show, and had always come so CLOSE...!
The vampire duck had always dreamed of being on TV. Years ago, Duckula's family had lived in a house with a huge pool. While his family were out swimming almost every day of the year, Duckula would always shut himself up in the attic and watch the big-screen TV that his father had stored up there. The space had become his own private little sanctuary and he stayed up there nearly all the time. No-one was bothered by it - his parents practically ENCOURAGED him to keep out of the way and his sisters had always next to ignored him.
Every day, young Duckula would find at least five different things to watch on the TV. He would always sit on the old stuffy couch, just watching the screen as the cartoons or the movies entertained him. Television seemed to be the only thing in Duckula's life. It seemed to tutor him the way a school teacher would, and as his parents had never bothered to look for schools for him, this became in very handy. And the more and more TV Duckula watched, the more he had been inspired until he had made up his mind to be a TV star - just like the people on the screen.
So when he finally moved out of the house aged eighteen (and his parents weren't exactly sad to see him go) Dukula had travelled to this old castle. It had belonged to an ancestor, and it was his property. Duckula had settled down quickly. But as he had never really spoken to anybody during his childhood, he had found that talking was always difficult for him - and it still was. No matter how much he tried, Duckula was always stuttering and spitting - and to him, that really affected his chances of ever appearing on TV. But he was in no position to go and get help from the outside world - not yet, anyway. He was saving it as a last resort - and a VERY last resort at that.
Count Duckula gave a little cough, trying not to brood on his past too much. It always hurr; it was no wonder he never spoke to his family. They probably didn't miss him anyway.
Looking at the clock on the wall, Duckula realised that it was two o'clock in the morning. It wasn't any big surprise - he had stayed up later than this before - but it just meant another day closer to Valentine's Day.
"S-stupid, m-moronic, i-idiotic Valentine's D-d-day", Duckula said to himself. "W-what I w-w-wouldn't give to just change it - to just t-t-teach the outside world a lesson in l-l-love!"
Suddenly, Duckula whirled around.
"T-t-that's IT!" he screamed out of the window. He heard flapping noises below him - he had scared some bats away.
"I-I'll s-s-spoil Valentine's Day!" cried Duckula. "I'll t-t-teach them ALL! And I'll d-d-destroy the White W-Wonder! Haha!"
*
Meanwhile, in London - and in a certain pillar-box in Baker Street...
Penfold crept along the hallway with sweat covering his forehead. His heart was pumping fast.
"Oh, no, oh dear..."
"Penfold?" asked a sugary-sweet voice. "Oh, Penfold..."
"Ooooh, 'eck!" Penfold ran down the hall. He was in trouble now...
"Penfold! Come out, come out, wherever you are!" called the voice again.
"No!" called Penfold. He ran down the hallway, and then realised his room would be the best place to hide. He started back towards his quarters, opened the door -
"Gotcha!" Hands shot out and tickled him mercilessly. Penfold, being incredibly ticklish, immeidately collapsed to the floor in giggles.
"No! Mercy! I'll talk! I'll talk!" cried the hamster, in gails of laughter.
"OK then. I think you've learnt your lesson", said the voice.
Penfold sat up.
"Oh, but Kim, I just couldn't resist", he tried.
The young female mouse above him raised an eyebrow and then held up an empty pancake packet.
"There were FIVE in here this morning", she scolded gently. "Now they're gone".
"Er - yes - well - er - I had them at different times of the day", said Penfold.
"It's only half-past one".
"Er - is it?"
Kim shook her head and laughed. She could never be angry at Penfold - he was far too sweet and funny for that. But it was amazing how such a small hamster could have such a big appetite.
At that moment, a young male voice called down the hallway.
"Kim! Penfold! The Colonel wants us!"
Kim looked at the door, and then back at Penfold.
"Tell you what", she offered. "We won't tell Danger Mouse just how much you've consumed - we'll keep it to ourselves, OK?"
"I'm more than OK with that", said Penfold, as the mouse and the hamster made for the lounge. On the way out, Kim threw the packet into Penfold's waste-paper basket.
When they came down the left-hand stairs into the lounge, Kim and Penfold saw a white male mouse with an eyepatch sitting on the couch.
"Kim, Penfold", said Danger Mouse, standing up as he saw his accomplices. "The Colonel wants to see at headquarters".
"ANOTHER headquarters visit?" asked Penfold increduously. "How many times have we been in the last four months?"
"Oh, Penfold, don't go on", said DM. "He said he wanted us to meet someone".
"Who?" asked Kim.
"He didn't tell me the name, but he said it's a new recruit", said DM. "Whoever it is, we'd better get down there".
Kim and Penfold jumped onto the couch beside their leader and as usual, the couch carried down to their transport, the Mark III. DM started the car, the panel in the pavement opened, and the Mark III slid out.
"I wonder who they want us to meet?" mused Kim once the car was in the air.
"I don't know", said DM. "Maybe it's one of the Colonel's friends".
"But he said it was a new recruit", pointed out Penfold.
"Well, not all recruits are young, Penfold", explained DM. "Some are around the Colonel's age - it depends on their skills and dedication".
Penfold blinked in surprise as he took in this information. "Cor 'eck. I never thought of it that way before".
"Well, you'd be surprised at how much you can learn in an agency", said DM to his friend.
"I'll say", said Penfold. "I never knew..."
DM and Kim chuckled.
"Don't worry, Penfold", smiled Kim. "I guess it must be a surprise to everyone, really. You're no exception".
DM smiled at Kim over the top of Penfold's head. He adored his second assistant - she had given up her human form to stay in the agency, something he could never forget. The relationship between them had also boosted - after their Christmas Eve kiss, they had become closer than ever. They had not actually gone too far, but there was definitely something strong between them.
As it was nearly Valentine's Day, DM was determined to do something special for Kim. But what? He was still racking his brains for ideas - he had never actually romantically entertained anyone before
Well - everyone has to start somewhere, he thought ruefully.
When the trio arrived at headquarters, they flashed their ID cards at the guards and after a trip in the elevator, made for Colonel K's office. However, when they got there, they found a note taped to the door.
"DM - Go to Level 10", the mouse read out loud. "Signed Colonel K". He turned to the others. with a frown.
"Level 10 - isn't that where they all wrestle?" asked Penfold.
"Yes - it's the Self-Defence Department", said DM. "I wonder why we've been asked down there - well, we won't know until we get there. Come on, you two", he said to Kim and Penfold. "Let's head back for the lifts".
The trio made their way back inside the lifts, and travelled down to Level 10. When they got there, they stepped out and saw Colonel K at the end of the corridor, where the gym hall was.
"Ah, DM, Kim, Penfold", said the Colonel, turning to see them. "I was wondering when you three would get here. There's someone I'd like you to meet".
"Who, sir?"
"Come in here, and take a look". The Colonel opened the gym doors, and led the trio inside. It was apparant that a training match was underway: people were crowded around the mat, cheering someone on in the middle. Sitting on a bench against the far wall beneath a basketball hoop, there were about six trainees, looking alarmed as they watched the fight going on. A few even looked a little scared.
Colonel K pushed through the group and DM, Kim and Penfold followed him, standing right at the front, able to see all of the action.
On the large mat, a cat was wrestling fiercely with a collie-dog. Both were dressed in wrestling gear - the cat wore a red vest and stripless tracksuit trousers, and the dog wore the same, only in blue. They both had punching gloves.
"C'mon, puss! Come and get me!" yelled the dog breathlessly. The cat made a run for him, and the collie grabbed him roughly, threw him over his head and crashed him down on the mat, pinning him to the ground.
"And he's done it! The Cat-Mangler wins!" he cried, blabbing his words.
The crowd cheered, and the collie looked up. DM and Kim both gasped as Penfold stared.
"Isn't that - ?" he started.
"Yes! It's WOODRUFF!" cried Kim. "What's he doing here?"
Suddenly, Woodruff's eyes landed on them. He got up grinning, wiping sweat off his brow, and as he took a towel from the referee, he came over wiping himself with it.
"Hey, guys!" he grinned.
"Woodruff! It's so good to see you!" cried Kim, running to hug him.
"Yeah, it's great to see you all. I've missed you three a lot", said Woodruff. "And Kim!" He held her out at arm's length. "They told me you were a mouse - I couldn't believe it!"
"William Woodruff", mused DM, grinning, as he came to greet the dog. "Who'd have thought it?"
"Don't call me William!" wailed Woodruff. "You know I hate the name!"
DM chuckled warmly.
"Well, it's certainly a wonderful surprise to see you again", he said, as they made their way through the crowd and Woodruff sat down on a bench, exhausted.
"Here you go, Woodruff", said the referee, coming over and handing him a bottle of water.
"Thanks", wheezed Woodruff.
"He's one of our best trainees", said the referee to DM. "Taken down FIVE of 'em this morning!"
"Well, you're certainly popular, Jackie Chan II", teased Kim, as the referee started back to the mat.
"Hey! Just call me Spidey, OK?" said Woodruff, sipping some water. He gave her a grin.
Kim laughed - she had forgotten that Woodruff loved the SpiderMan series. She couldn't imagine what his room looked like.
"Alright, I get it", she said.
"When did you arrive, Woodruff?" asked Penfold, sitting down next to the collie.
"Just two days ago", was the reply. "I've been getting myself back together these last few months".
"What did you do after testifying against Crumhorn?" asked DM.
"Well, I went back to my home town to stay with my dad", said Woodruff. "My parents are divorced - my mum's moved somewhere else and remarried. Dad looked after me for a while, and then I finally went back to my own house. I cleared up, changed things around - I was trying to keep busy, really".
DM nodded sympathetically.
"Anyway", said Woodruff. "I used to go to the gym to work out. I returned almost straight away when I got back. I had a lot of nervous tension to release and I spent ages in the gym every day. I was keeping to myself really - not talking to anyone. Then the agency called me. They had been trying to trace me for ages because they wanted to offer counselling. I tried to turn it down, but after a while I realised that my life was really now revolving around eating, sleeping and gymnastics. I'd never worked out so much before. I wanted to be the old me, so I took up the counselling after all".
"And? Then what happened?"
"They offered me a position here in the agency. I took it up - I didn't know what to do with myself".
"So, are you enjoying yourself?" asked Kim.
"Are you kidding, I'm having a BALL!" cried Woodruff. "It's fantastic in the agency - the activities, the adventure, the social life - I don't know why I didn't join sooner!"
"Well, it just goes to show that being an agent doesn't always revolve around work. We do have our fun, you know", smiled DM.
"I can see that".
At that moment, the door opened and a young boy turtle came in. He looked no more than sixteen, and was looking around fervishly for someone. Colonel K came over to see him, and the boy handed over a piece of paper. On reading it, the Colonel's brow furrowed, and he went to approach DM.
"DM, Count Duckula's back", he informed the agent grimly as he handed over the piece of paper.
"Oh, no, not again", groaned DM. He read the slip of paper, frowned and then turned to the others.
"Duckula's holding a TV studio hostage. They fear he might be armed. He has two accomplices with him".
"We'd better get down there. There's no telling what he might do", said Kim.
The trio stood up.
"Bye, Woodruff", said Kim to the collie. "See you later, OK?"
Then they all ran to the gym door, narrowly avoiding the boy turtle who was just leaving.
Woodruff gazed after them until the door had closed. Then he stared at his paws.
So...it was nearly Valentine's Day. Not long to wait now...which was good. Woodruff had big plans. He looked back at the gym door again.
"VERY big plans", he murmured to himself. "Plans involving me - and a certain female mouse..."
*
Duckula glared at the three news reporters cowering behind their desks. The accomplices had taken out security, and the security cameras had been broken.
Duckula gave a quick grin. DM had fallen for his trap - now all Duckula had to do was to wait until he got here. And then...
Duckula reached into his robes and pulled out a bulging cloth. He pulled the cloth back and smiled at the object within the folds.
It was a loaded gun.
*
PS - Some of you may be wondering - why is Woodruff a SpiderMan fan now? Last time we saw him, he was a BatMan fan! So what's going on?
Well gang, I'm starting to enter the world of crossovers. At some point I'm hoping to do a Justice League crossover for the series, and obviously, it stars BatMan. So it might be a bit confusing, having the character and the TV show in the same universe. I don't think BatMan will actually be in the crossover, but I'm altering Woodruff's comicbook hero anyway, OK? Confused? Then go back to Friends and Enemies and read Chapter 7 again.