Chapter 15
Crash!
The Cougars crashed into the front gate, prompting the Naxi soldiers to take defensive positions as the car hit the parked car. The Cougars came out, singing in drunken voices and laughing. The Naxis took aim at the Cougars as one of the soldiers yelled, "Halt!"
The driver, Wildcat, turned to the sound of gun clicking, banged the top of the car to get his friend, Montana's attention. The Cougars smile drunkenly.
"Thar ya are!" Wildcat thundered, waving his beer bottle wildly, "Aren't y'all gonna introduce me and my buddy to yer boss, we wanna join y'all! Whooo!"
"Hey!' Montana exclaimed drunkenly, "Where's that fox and wolf traitors we saw on the news? Hope y'all cookin' them fer us!"
One of the Naxis yelled, "Stay where you are, or we will shoot you!"
Wildcat held up his paws, "Oh! Sorry about the mess here! We got here as fast as soon as we heard the news so we could to join y'all!"
"Yep," Montana chimed in.
At that moment, more soldiers came out of buildings, including the Fuhrer to see the commotion.
Several meters away, up in one of the high-rises facing the school, General's men observed the situation through their binoculars. One of the men signaled to communication officer who nodded.
"Go," the officer said into the speaker to relay to the team members.
Back at school, in one of the building's vent system, Judy and Finnick heard the go-ahead from the Army. Judy and Finnick looked at each other, nodded, and began to crawl toward the suspected location, making sure not to make any sounds.
They crawled for about fifteen minutes, checking every vent along the way before stopping at the sounds of voices from one of the vents. Judy put a finger to her lip. Finnick nod. They crawled slowly to check the vent.
Below the vent, one of the Naxi soldiers was talking with the other Naxi.
"I hope they get whoever came in the front outta here so we can get some inferior kids in and then we can cook without any more distraction. We are starving!"
A familiar voice chimed in, "You would not like to eat us. You have no idea what we foxes have been eating… bugs and all that gross stuffs. You'll barf."
"Oh baloney, you lying fox!" the other Naxi resorted.
Finnick pinched his cheek hard to prevent him from laughing. Judy looked at him with concerns, but he shook his head. They know that Nick hates eating bugs as he only eats poultry and seafood as oppose to most foxes who are omnivore and insectivore.
"Baloney, you say?" Nick resumed without a beat, "Do you know that in some places, some baloney meat is made from crushed bugs, especially roaches?"
Judy groaned quietly, turned to Finnick, whispered, "How can he say those things in a time like this?"
"It's his way," Finnick whispered, "Been like that since the war. There was a time he was forced to eat some bugs during survival training. Long story."
"Ugh," Judy whispered. "We need to get those Naxi out before Nick says something that'll make me puke."
As if on cue, Husky, being disgusted by Nick's bugs comments, puked on one of the Naxi's feet. Nick and, unbeknown to him, Finnick took the opportunity by pushing open the vent to jump on both Naxi with Judy followed. Husky recovered quickly and headbutted on the puked covered Naxi against the wall as Judy hit his head with her gun, while Nick headbutted the other as Finnick choked the soldier's neck into unconscious.
They doubled checked that both Naxis are out, and Hucky went to the door to listen for any sounds from the hallway. Judy took out a knife from her belt to cut Nick's binds. Finnick went over to Husky to cut his bind and also to listen to the door.
Husky turned to Nick and said quietly, "Remind me next time not to get captured with you by some bad guys. Your bugs talks are disgusting! You know how I hate eating bugs, unlike you foxes!"
"I hate bugs too," Nick said calmly as he took weapons from the fallen Naxi.
"Really?" Husky retorted, "Well, that's –"
"Shhhhh!" Finnick interrupted, held up his paw up to quiet the arguing duo, as he listened to the door. They stood still as they heard the sound of footsteps in the hallway. Finnick motioned to Husky to the other side of the door in case someone come in the door. Nick and Judy quickly dragged the fallen Naxis behind one of the desks to keep out of sight of the door.
Judy took out the walkie out of her belt and muttered, "Chewhauser, go!"
They waited few minutes that felt like an hour as they listen for the footsteps getting closer. Judy took a weapon from other fallen Naxi and threw it to Husky who caught it easily. They wait for either the door opening or polar bears' surprise entrance.
Crash!
The footsteps stopped just short of the door. Someone said to the other, "What's that noise?"
"I dunno, but that's not good. We gonna go check it out. C'mon!" the other said. The footsteps turned into running sound, away from the door. Finnick and Husky sighed in relief. The diversion worked.
Nick looked at Finnick and Judy. "Glad to know that whatever you and Chewhauser cooked on have done the job, Carrot."
"That was Jason and the polar bears using the armored army truck crashing," Judy beamed with pride, "They were waiting for my cue to start the diversion so we can get your tails outta here. So, C'mon and get outta here now before they realized you are gone."
"Right, do we go back to the vent or just go out in the hallway?"
"Husky won't fit in, so we leave the hall. Hope you remember the way out."
Finnick opened the door and checked the hallway.
"All clear," Finnick said, and the others followed him out with Nick leading the way.
Nick stopped at every corner to check for any person, using the small handheld mirror he has swiped from one of fallen Naxi. The way was clear until just before the exit where two Naxi are guarding the exit door. Nick gestured to the other that there were two persons at the door. Finnick got an idea and relayed to the others. Judy did not like the idea until Nick ensured that it would work as long as they can hustle the way out. She sighed.
"All right," Judy said," Let's get it over with."
Finnick took out some clothes out of his backpack. Apparently, Finnick has prepared for such a case. Their experiences of hustling can be beneficial for such situation as they were facing now. He handed it to Husky who hesitated for a moment before accepting it as he has no choice but to follow Finnick and Nick's plan. He put the long lady dress over his head and adjusted it to ensure that it fitted. Finnick handed a pair of "extra-padded" bra in which he put it under the dress. At last, put on the feminine hat. Judy started to giggle at the look, but Nick covered her mouth and said silently, "Shhhh, don't laugh, Carrots." That was close; she almost ruined the plan. Finnick put on baby clothes and the pacifier. Judy covered her mouth to keep herself from laughing. Finnick gave her a 'don't you dare' look.
Finnick motioned to Husky to pick him up and cuddle him like a baby. He sighed quietly and said to Judy and Nick quietly, "Don't you dare mention this to the rest of the cops!" Nick and Judy pinched each other to keep themselves from laughing.
Husky shook his head and sighed, "Let's get this over with, you sly foxes!" and walked around the corner.