Chip stared blankly at the crowd encircling him. Dozens of Toons with pumpkins where their heads should be. Many carried what appeared to be weapons. Rolling pins, shovels, and a variety of other things that could be used to inflict pain on the brown monkey. Crouching down, Chip began to rack his brain. This had to be another bad dream, right? This was just like his nightmare previously. But how come he wasn't waking up? Hopping up he held up his arms and began to plead. "Please, I do not wish to cause any trouble for anybody. I just want to find the Toons I came here to find! As soon as I do, I will be out of here!" The mob seemed unforgiving of whatever it is he had done, as they continued to slowly encompass him. A bright yellow crocodile swung a boom mic out and swiped at Chip's feet, catching his left foot and tripping him forward. Barely catching himself against the hard pavement, Chip rolled away just in time as a different Toon whacked down with a rolling pin."What's your problem?" he yelled out. Spotting a small opening towards the thinning crowd in the back, the monkey knew he was going to have to fight his way out to survive. Jumping back on his feet, once again the yellow crocodile swung their mic towards the overwhelmed simian. Fortunately for Chip, this time he was ready. Leaping to the side to avoid the wide radius, he reached out and grabbed the soft end of the long stick, and pulled as hard as he could. The attacker toppled over and held out as Chip began to struggle for control. The attackers were not hesitant to gang up on him and soon several of the Toons had started hitting him with whatever they had. Enduring the pain, Chip wrestled and finally gained control of the long mic. Wiping sweat from his eyes with his sleeve, Chip began to spin in a circle, knocking away any impeding adversaries, and soon clearing a small pathway. Toons would step forward and immediately step back as he gained ground. Throughout everything not a single word was spoken.
Fighting belligerently, Chip could see the end he was seeking. As he made his way towards the end he was stopped suddenly when a black cat came into view. This cat was different than the rest as he did not have a pumpkin head. He was just a cat. However his eyes were glazed over, filled with spinning purple vortexes. The cat wore black, thick rimmed glasses, a blue baseball cap, and a blue button up shirt. Holding a megaphone in his hand, the blank-stared feline stood off to the side, unmoving and unthinking. Why was he different than the rest of them? Letting loose one last rapid spin, Chip knocked over several more oncomers. Stepping back into the vacated area behind him, the brown monkey took a deep breath. "For Toontown!" he screamed as he took a running start, digging the blunt end of the microphone into the ground, he used his makeshift weapon as a pole vault, leaping over the crowd and landing near the cat at the very back. "Hey, hey you! Can you hear me!"
"Yes, master." the cat moaned quietly. Unlike the other Toons he had encountered, this cat was not angry or aggressive. They spoke as if they were under some sort of spell.
"Come on, we need to get out of here!" Chip grabbed the cat by the forearm and began to drag him along as he fled down the street. His car was just a few blocks away. If he could get in there, he could easily outrun the other Toons until he could find somewhere safe. He needed to get this cat somewhere he could question him.
The black cat jogged along, trying his best to keep his feet underneath him as the monkey pulled him, nearly tearing his shoulder from its socket as he sprinted. Chip, still exhausted from everything else that had happened with the killer rabbit, sucked in air. His feet pulsated with waves of pain as he pummeled the pounding pavement. Looking back, he shrieked as the crowd of Toons continued to give. "Yes, master." the cat sternly stated.
"I'm not your master. Just keep running! We're almost there!" The sign of the California was lit up and blinking. Like the northern star for the sailors, it directed the pair of escapees back. Reaching across his body with his free hand into his pocket he yanked out his car keys. "I thought I parked over here. Where did I park!" Panic set in as brown monkey gazed the surrounding area. There were no vehicles anymore. Even his, which he had parked just outside of the building, was now gone. "Wait, did I park over on the other side?" stopping he looked around. Letting go of the cat, he placed his palms on his temples and closed his eyes. Trying to walk backwards through the previous days events, he was interrupted by his new partner.
"Master." the cat broke Chip's concentration and pointed to the Toons which were just a short period away. The brown monkey flipped back and forth as he looked for an exit.
Shoving his keys back into his pocket, he fumed. "Ugh, damn it!" looking to his left, he barreled inside of the hotel. Looking back out, he realized the cat was still standing there pointing at the crowd. "Get in here!" Chip slipped out and grabbed the cat by the collar and yanking him inside before slamming the door closed. Sliding both locks into place, Chip fell back onto his butt and then onto his back. "Wh- What is go- going on?" he breathed heavily and tilted his head back. It was like bizzaro world here. The cat had stood in place just inside of the doorway. Unphased by the pounding on the door, he stood there staring blankly. Rolling over and pushing himself up, Chip walked over and grabbed the cat by the shoulders. Twisting him around he looked into the other Toon's eyes. The cat's eyes were still purple vortexes. "What the hell is going on with him." he thought to himself. Much to his relief, the door seemed to be holding up against the onslaught of strikes from the outside.
"I told you to not come back." an ominous voice sharply lashed out, sending a shiver up Chip's spine. He had forgotten about Claws.
Turning around his heart skipped a beat when he saw an orange Toon with a pumpkin head fitted with the bellhop's hat. "Mr. Claws... What happened..." Chip backed up as the cat brandished a corded telephone. "Yes, yes. Please, use that to call the police. Call the Toontown Rangers! They're trying to kill us. Please!"
"Oh, Mr. Chocolate. It isn't that bad. You can become a part of us. Become a part of something bigger than yourself. It doesn't hurt at all... Well it will hurt a little bit.." whipping the phone from the base, Claws began to twirl and swing the chord holding the phone. Chip bobbed and weaved, avoiding the dangerous attacks. How did they get to Claws? Was he always like this? Where did the pumpkin head come from? Dropping to the ground and rolling underneath another devastating shot, he flipped up from behind the black cat. "You're not safe there, Mr. Chocolate." Claws pulled back the chord and hastened his grip. Ripping the phone from the base, the orange cat launched the base, narrowly missing Chip. Lassoing the phone over his head he started to close the gap.
Trying to shove the black cat who would not budge, Chip got angrier. "Come on idiot! We need to move!" Running to the cat's front and tried to pull him with him. Unfortunately he was unable to move him before Claws swung the phone. Ducking down, Chip dodged just in time as the swinging projectile flew by and whacked the cat right in the forehead, immediately knocking him backwards and onto the ground, unconscious. "Ugh, stupid cat!" While Claws reeled back in the weapon, Chip saw an opening. Sprinting head down he slammed into the orange attacker and tossed him to the ground. Tussling for position, the two hand checked each other. The cat kicked out but his legs were pinned down by the monkey's. Chip dropped an elbow on the cat's chest, immobilizing him temporarily. Rolling over he grabbed the disconnected phone and caught up to the cat who was attempting to crawl away. Leaping onto Claw's back, he pinned the cat to the ground and dropped another elbow onto the back of Claw's neck and dropped him again. Quickly swiping the cat's arms behind the cat, he used the chord to tie his foe up, and prevent him from causing anymore damage. While the chaos ensued inside. The blaring sound of a horn had echoed outside, loudly enough for even Chip to take notice and stop what he was doing. "Hey, you! Claws! What is that sound!"
The orange cat, knocked out from the final blow was unable to answer. "Great, that's just great." Chip whispered as he stood up. Walking across the lobby he plopped back down into the chair he had sat in earlier that morning. Almost everything in him struggled to keep going. He was surviving on the basest of instincts. His stomach was barking, and his muscles were screaming. All he wanted to do was just take a nap. Attempting to keep his eyes open, soon the weariness overtook him. Curling up into the chair, he decided to give in. If anything happened, it would happen anyways. He would just give himself a small break. Just five minutes. Taking out his whisper device he checked the time. Five minutes passed two PM. Placing it gently on the small table in front of him, he allowed himself to rest. Just for a few minutes.
Slowly opening his eyes, Chip yawned and stretched out. A sharp pain in his stomach had disrupted his lone slumber. As the blurriness faded, the empty hotel lobby came into view. Kicking up a fit, Chip leapt to his feet. Knocking into the small table in front of him, magazines, and his whisper device fluttered to the ground. Dropping to his knees he sorted through the mess until he found his device. Ripping it open he eyed over the time. "Three-fifteen. Oh cog. I've been asleep for an hour." Standing still for a moment he scanned the room before his eyes landed on the pair of cats laid out on the floor. "Oh, crap!" Running over to the black cat who was face down, he stood over him. Breathing heavily, he was hesitant to do anything. While this Toon had not done anything, he also didn't know if that would change. After all, Claws hadn't gotten aggressive with him until recently. What if that spell was the first part, and now this guy was going to turn into one of those pumpkin heads? Rubbing his hands together, he pumped himself up. "Alright, Chip. You can do this." sliding his foot underneath the black cat's ribs, he pushed up and hopped backwards. The cat laid, breathing, but unmoving. Crouching alongside the cat, he rubbed his hand along their chest and stomach. Feeling for anything unusual. Up his neck and to his face. Resting his hand on the cat's face he plugged his fingers between the eyelids and slowly pried open. Tightening up, he turned his head and looked away. He couldn't bear to look. Letting go, he pulled his arm back. "Come on Chip. Stop being a baby." Swapping positions to be on both knees, the brown monkey leaned over the cat's face and slowly placed his hand back into position. Resting his left hand on the cat's cheek, he placed his fingers between the Toon's eyelid and slowly pulled it open.
"Get off of me you filthy scoundrel!" the cat flailed his arms and kicked his legs, causing a fuss and knocking Chip backwards onto the lobby floor. The cat, flustered, crawled backwards until he banged into the door and realizing he had nowhere to go. "I'm not joining you or your friends! Do you know who I am? I am Quentin Tarintoono! Filmmaker extraordinaire! Now back off!"
Chip was unable to move. "Did you just say Quentin Tarintoono?" he breathed out, his voice raspy and fearful.
"Duh! Never been in the presence of heaven before? Also do you think I don't remember you calling me an idiot earlier? Sure, I mean I directed Pulp Dogs, the highest acclaimed Toontown film in fifty years, but yeah I'm an idiot! You should be thankful I came to this dump to film a movie and try and bring some semblance of respect to this pit! But you messed up! I assure you my attorneys will be in touch!" Quentin stood up and rubbed a small, growing lump on his head. "Ugh, what is with this headache?"
"Mr. Tarintoono! My name is Chip Chocolate. I was sent from Toontown to come search for you and your missing crew! Well and a few other Toons. You've been a real pain in my bottom to track down. What were you doing in that mob of Toons? Where is the rest of your crew?" Chip stepped closer to Quentin who reached down and grabbed the phone base that had unknowingly bonked him earlier. Holding it up menacingly, Chip covered his face with his arms as he arched his back leaning away from a potential oncoming toss.
Quentin watched the monkey quiver in anticipation of his attack, narrowed his eyes, and dropped the base. "Fine. Whatever." crouching down, the black cat placed his head in his hands. "I don't know how I got here. The last thing I really remember is venturing out into the desert to look for my star who had gone missing. Then these two freaks show up and knock me out. I wake up in some basement or dungeon or something, tied up with a couple other Toons. A few from my crew, some I didn't know. Someone comes up and starts yapping about joining them and how it will release us from the dangers of our mortality. Blah blah blah. Anyways I was there for a few days and slowly more of these Toons start disappearing when I wake up. After a while it is just me and some girl, she's probably sixteen? Not much younger than me, well anyways she starts crying and whining. Apparently she wanted to see her family, blah, blah. I tried to be nice, cog forbid, and told her that her family would probably forget her anyways. Trying to comfort her, you know? This just sets her off. That guy comes back and she tries to attack him. Next thing I know he does something and she stopped moving. Don't know if she was dead or what, but at least I had some peace and quiet. Then the next day its just me. I start getting pretty hungry and desperate. I cut the guy a deal. I tell him if he lets me out I'd direct a commercial for him to bring other Toons here. Was it selfish? No, because I'm Quentin Tarintoono. If a few hundred Toons end up here in place of me, it seems like a fair trade. Anyways, it took long enough for someone to get here and find me." Crossing his arms, he tapped his foot as Chip tried to process everything he had heard.
"I don't know what to say Quentin. I just... don't know what to say. To be honest, I should probably tie you up like this sad sack over here and leave you to be sucked in by these... whatever they are. Pumpkin heads. But I need you, so I'm going to let all of that slide. However, I do need to know about the hypnosis they had you under. Why are you different than all of them?"
"Listen to me, monkey. I don't know who you think you are, but let me remind you of who I am. My name is Quentin Tarintoono. I will let THAT slide. I just told you. I cut a deal with that, whoever they were, and they probably did some sort of hypnosis so I wouldn't immediately get away. I guess not everybody is a complete idiot because I would have out of here quicker than he could slap his forehead." Quentin walked over and looked at the orange cat and shook his head. "I remember this guy. Guy was a real character. Glad to know he got pulled in with the rest of the fools here." staring at Chip, he scrunched his face. "Well, I guess that's all that. Isn't going to do us much good to stay here, is it? Let's get in the car and head back to Toontown."
Trying his best not to gouge his eyes out in frustration, Chip took several deep breaths. "We can't. They took my car. Besides, I came here for a hundred Toons. I'm not going back ninety-nine short."
"Well you're going to be here a long time, buddy. You really think you're going to be able to track everybody down? Have you seen this place? I mean, just look at this cat!" Quentin kicked out and landed a solid foot in Claws' leg. "How do you know he isn't from Toontown with that gourd on his head? What about that girl from the basement... dungeon... whatever it was. You think you're finding her? No. No you're not. Better to just cut your losses and be happy you found me."
As Quentin ranted, Chip broke his patience and ran over, grabbing Quentin by the throat and shoving him to the ground. "Listen you pompous trash-bag. I'm not leaving behind innocent Toons just to protect your fragile ego. If you want to try and head back to Toontown, you're perfectly in your right. But I'm certainly not going to go off with some selfish, frustrating jerk like you. Besides, good luck getting out of the hotel. There's a mob of fifty to sixty of these guys, mostly armed. They'll have you down in two seconds. If I could take you down, I doubt you're getting past them. Feel free to go walk into your death! It is probably what you deserve. But if you want to live, and redeem your awful actions, I will forget everything you said earlier and you come with me and we figure out where these missing Toons are! Do you understand!"
Both Toons breathed heavily, neither breaking their thousand mile stare that fixated on the other. Quentin swatted Chip's light grip away and pulled himself back. "Whatever. I guess if it makes you happy I will tag along. Not like I have a car around here anyways. But let me tell you. If I find one and I have an opportunity? I'm leaving you at first opportunity. Do you understand that?"
"It's a deal..." Chip didn't really want to deal with the iron weight that would be stuck on his back, but even if he despised Quentin, it was someone he could talk to. There was a comfort in not being alone in a horrible place like this. "Now, you said something about a commercial? Did he tell you anything else? Where is it being filmed? What is it about?"
"I don't know. I just told him whatever he wanted to hear. You think I was listening to his drivel? Him, telling Quentin Tarintoono how to direct? What a joke! Like I said, the last thing I remember is agreeing to that, and then I was here. Why don't you ask him, I'm sure he knows something?" Quentin pointed to the stirring body of Claws who was finally starting to come around.
The brown monkey nodded and smiled. "You know Quentin, that might be the first intelligent thing you've said so far..."