Chapter 5

I do not own Happy Tree Friends. All credit goes to Mondo Media

The group could see the sun beginning to set in the distance as they drove along the road towards Happy Tree Mountain, none of them saying a word as they traveled to their destination. Sniffles was typing on his laptop, searching for more information about the Dick Squad, Handy was looking out of the window to pass the time, and Russell was curled up with his eyes closed, hoping to get more sleep. Flippy couldn't help but worry once he thought of what they were going to be greeted with once they arrived, causing him to grip the steering wheel tighter. He sighed loudly, breaking the silence in the vehicle. "I was waiting for someone to speak up," Sniffles said. "I guess we're all too nervous to say anything."

"I'm not denying it." Handy replied, not turning away from the window. Sniffles closed his laptop briefly to glance at the veteran. "It's surprising that Fliqpy didn't come."

"According to him, he would go if it didn't involve the kids," Flippy replied, pausing for a moment before continuing. "Although, I think that's not the only reason."

"Then what's the other reason?" Russell spoke up and glance over towards the front seat. Flippy let out a sigh and ran a hand through his hair. "If I could guess with 100% confidence, it's because he has feelings for Flaky."

"What!?" Everyone's heads shot up simultaneously at the response and Handy leaned forward. "Wait, if he likes Flaky, then would he have not raped Flaky back then?"

"They were still one person when Flaky was pregnant," Russell responded with crossed arms. "I highly doubt Fliqpy loved anything besides killing." All of Flaky's closest friends were informed of what had happened between him and Flippy during his pregnancy. Of course, they resented the veteran for as long as they could before accepting that it wasn't technically his fault that Flaky was raped and traumatized from the experience.

"When did this start happening?" Sniffles asked. Flippy was quiet so he could think before speaking. "If I remember right, a few months after Ruby was born, Flakes told me he visited while I was out. Being the protective guy I am, I freaked out, but Flaky told me that he didn't do anything. I found it weird, so I went to talk to Fliqpy myself, and he told me that he didn't want to hurt Flaky after everything that's happened."

"Okay hold on," Russell interrupted with a lifted eyebrow. "Are we talking about the same person? The Fliqpy I know wouldn't hesitate to kill anyone. For him to suddenly take pity on someone just sounds absurd."

"It doesn't sound right," Handy continued. "Even after Flaky was traumatized and nearly died, Fliqpy would still try to hurt him. I could understand him not hurting Flakes at the near end of his pregnancy because he doesn't want to possibly kill a baby, but he would try to kill him after Ruby was born."

"Maybe it's a side effect from being split into two people." Sniffles suggested. Flippy nodded in return. "That's what I think, but let's not worry about that. We need to focus on the kids."

"I already have a plan regarding that," Sniffles opened his laptop, revealing a 3D blueprint of the Dick Squad's headquarters. Russell and Handy leaned forward to have a closer look and spotting many different colored dots. "You see, when the kids were born, I took a small DNA sample from each of them in case one of them went missing. I'm glad this actually came in handy."

"Next time, ask for permission before experimenting on our kids." Handy replied in a dead tone while the others gave him a blank look. Sniffles let out a breath. "You should at least be thankful that I actually have a way to find the kids in the first place. Anyway I hacked into their systems to get a map of the building, so I actually know which rooms the kids are in."

"It looks like Umi and Ruby are in the back." Russell pointed to a dark blue dot in one cube, and a crimson red dot in another. Handy glanced at the map and saw an orchid-colored dot in one of the side cubes, his heart beginning to fill with worry. "And how do we know they're alive?"

"If the dot disappears, that's when we need to worry. For now, nothing has happened to them," Sniffles kept his eyes on the three green dots that were huddled together in the side of a cube near the front before clicking on the cube, which showed the entire room on a video feed. "Which is why, just in case, I hacked the security cameras." He clicked on the other cubes that the children were in, revealing them to be curled up against the wall. Russell gripped the seat in front of him tightly with a glare.

Flippy lifted his head and saw that they had passed Happy Tree Mountain, and gripped the steering wheel tighter. "We're almost there. Sniffles, keep an eye on the kids and I swear if I see so much as a scratch on my daughter, I'm going to rip someone apart," The last few words were said with a growl before he talked in his normal tone. "Everyone else, prepare for the shit storm."

"Hey Keplinger." The second in command glanced over his shoulder to see Dave step towards him with a smile. He sighed and placed a hand on his hip. "Dude, we've been over this. We don't have to call each other by our last names anymore."

"It's a habit," Dave replied. "Anyway I know for a fact that those assholes are coming here to grab their kids, so what I want you and some other people to do is guard the brats and make sure they're not taken." Keplinger smiled in return. "Tell me where to go."

"You'll be with the pirate brat since you're the only one who knows that guy's weaknesses. I mean, didn't you sail with him at one point?"

"Yeah, but I wasn't as close with him as his first mate was." Keplinger replied with crossed arms.

"Still, you're our best shot." The second in command sighed before nodding. "Who will you be with?"

"Who do you think?" Dave's face grew a wide smirk and began to walk past him. Without another word, Keplinger headed towards one of the back rooms, opening the door to see the tiny bluenette curled up against the wall. He closed the door behind him and approached the toddler slowly, hearing her mutter something about her mother. Keplinger leaned against the wall and waited for further instructions from his partner, lifting his head to glance at the window and watching the sun disappear.

Once the base was visible, Flippy made sure that the vehicle was hidden safely in the trees, but close enough to the front entrance. He turned off the engine and glanced behind him, noticing that Russell and Handy were dying to run out of the van and into the building. "I know you two are itching to kill, but we first need to go over what we're doing," Sniffles brought their attention once again and pointed at the map. "Now Handy, because you have lesser combat skills than Flippy and Russell, you will be crawling through the vents to get to the rooms Lilac and the triplets are in-"

"Wait a minute," Handy interrupted. "Why am I getting your kids?"

"Do you really think I'd last a second in there? I'm not a fighter like the three of you," The bluenette replied. "And besides, if we left the car unprotected, someone might steal it and we would be stuck here to die." The orange-haired man opened his mouth to speak again, but closed his lips and nodded silently, allowing Sniffles to continue. "Anyway you'll be crawling through the vents to get to Lilac and the triplets, and you will lead them outside and back here. I don't think there will be any goons in those rooms once Flippy and Russell walk in. Speaking of which, you two will go through the front door and you are allowed to kill anyone in sight." The former pirate's eye lit up as he grinned. "But don't we need weapons or something?" Handy asked.

"Who do you guys think I am?" Flippy stepped out of the driver's seat and made his way towards the trunk, signaling everyone to follow suit. Once he lifted the door, he slid his fingers under a board and pulled it upwards, showing the others a handful of weapons they could use. "As for you," He said to Russell as he reached his hand down. A moment later, he pulled out a sheathed sword and Russell's eye widened. "No way."

"Apparently Evershed snuck it in before we left," The veteran replied before handing it to him. "I think you'll be alright, no?" The bluenette nodded and held the sword close. Flippy handed a gun to the orange-haired man before grabbing a handgun and knife for himself. "You're probably gonna need that if you run into someone." Handy nodded in response as Sniffles held his laptop in one hand and typed with the other. "Alright, after I disable the security cameras, we can put our plan into action."

Russell slightly unsheathed the sword in his hand and peered at it with a determined gaze before lifting his head to glance at the Dick Squad's base. The only two things on his mind were his daughter and killing those who kidnapped her. He knew that the other parents felt the same about their children, and he knew that once this was over, either he or Flippy would have the place burned to the ground. He only hoped that the plan would work and that the curse wouldn't get in the way of the mission.