Chapter 14
Their mission was strictly classified, so Bogo volunteered to be the pilot of the aircraft. Gazelle managed to locate the cavern, and Judy and Nick got ready in the plane's cabin.
"Looking good, Wilde." Nick just made a face at both Bogo and Gazelle as he marched out of his lavatory. He wore a fitting grey bunny costume, a black tux, matching shoes, and blue eye contacts. Unfortunately, his tail was pinned to his butt to make room for the bushy faux tail.
"Drink it in, you jokers. This tail is so itchy - " He heard Judy exit her lavatory and looked up. His jaw dropped comically at the sight of her. His little dumb bunny was dressed in a sleeveless black dress and matching heels. A carrot necklace rested on her neck, and cute emerald studs were on the tips of her large ears. She also wore dark green contacts and had painted the tips of her ears a darker gray. And for a final touch, she wore a cute shade of bright red lipstick.
"Damn..." Nick caught himself checking her out and blushed a little. This was so not right. His cute wife was actually hot!
"What's wrong, Mr. McHorn?" She seductively sauntered up to the fox and trailed her paws up his spine. "You look handsome. But you don't like the dress?"
He playfully smacked her paws away and poorly hid his blush. "C'mon, Mrs. McHorn. Let's stay focused." But when she walked by him, he found himself smacking her butt.
"Alright Mr. and Mrs. McHorn," Bogo addressed Judy and Nick. "Once we have you inside, wait for my instructions and remember to blend in. Gazelle will be here to hack the system. Get a computer ASAP and help her get in."
"What about you?" Judy asked.
"I'll be your pilot and guard the plane," Bogo answered defensively, heading for the cockpit. "And grab some weapons, you two. You don't know what's gonna happen in there."
xxx
"This is Copper Bull, pilot of the McHorn's, requesting permission to land."
"Permission granted."
The plane landed smoothly. A side door opened, revealing the disguised couple. Behind them, Bogo stood ready and alert, while Gazelle kept herself busy on her laptop in the cabin. Two wolves, one gray and one white, both in black suits, stood to greet them with gracious grins.
"Welcome to Ms. Bellwether's Haven," the gray wolf greeted. "May I see your IDs, please?" Nick and Judy gave him their IDs. He examined them closely, before he narrowed his eyes bemusedly.
"How funny..." He thoroughly sniffed the cards and gave them back. "McHorn...You two aren't rhinos..."
Nick bit his lip, panicking inside. But then, Judy wailed dramatically and clutched his arm tightly.
"So we can't be official McHorn's because of s-s-such a st-ste-stereotype?! I'M ADOPTED!"
"How dare you?" Nick scolded. " Aw, would you look at this face? It's a pitiful sight." Nick held her chin, and Judy tried to make her eyes as huge as a rabbit could.
The other wolf punched his friend's shoulder. "Ned, you moron! You offended these guests!"
Ned stammered out apologies, but Nick curtly cut him off. They really needed to get inside.
"No worries." He patted Judy's back and held her close. "C'mon, baby! They mean no harm." He gave her an Eskimo kiss, which made her giggle genuinely.
"You're right."
"Will you be staying overnight, Mr. and Mrs. McHorn?" They nodded, and Nick turned to look at Bogo. "Hey, Bull! We just recruited you from pilot to valet. Get a move on, will you?"
"Don't push it, Wilde." Bogo uttered as he grabbed their two luggages.
Ned and his friend looked impressed. "Gosh, you're ordering around a cape buffalo?" The white wolf exclaimed. "Wow!" He grabbed Judy's shoulders and licked her cheeks. The rabbit cringed as the fox smirked to himself.
Fortunately for Judy, Ned yanked him away before he could do more damage. Still, that did not stop his friend from howling loudly and proudly.
"Gary, don't! You're gonna start a howl!"
"I can't help it, man!" He waved and grinned stupidly at them as they headed for the party. "Gosh, our mistress, er, Ms. Bellwether will love you two! Have fun!"
"You're pathetic, Gary."
"Your mom's pathetic, Ned."
"Your howl is pathetic."
"Your face isn't pathetic though." Ned looked at him. "It's tragic."
xxx
"Okay, you two. Find a computer fast and help Gazelle get in. Try to blend in."
"Welcome... to the... Haven. What can... I get... you..."
"We'd like - "
"To drink..." Nick paused, staring questionably at the sloth.
"We'd like - "
"Tonight?" Nick paused again before responding.
"We'd like a bloody cricket and..." He looked down at Judy.
"A carrot cocktail." Judy looked down at the sloth's name tag. "Flash."
"Flash, Flash, hundred yard dash!" Nick patted the sloth's shoulder. "I like the sound of that. Thanks, man."
Flash slowly blinked and walked away. "Sure...thing... Enjoy..."
Judy smiled. "We will. Thank - "
"The party..."
She felt one of her eye's twitch. "Thank you -"
"Tonight."
"Thank you, Flash." They could not have escaped quickly enough. They spotted some animals in booths on computers upstairs.
"Okay, Carrots." They grabbed two seats. "I'll go snatch up a laptop. You provide some form of distraction. Kay?"
"Pardon?"
"Great. Love you so much!" He patted her cheek and nuzzled her affectionately before ruining up the closest staircase.
Judy groaned and slouched in her seat. She had to make sure Bellwether did not see her because the sheep would probably recognize her. But what to do, what to do...
xxx
"Excuse me, ma'am?" Nick found a computer in front of a seemingly kind female sloth. "Could you tell me what time it is?"
"Of... course..." The sloth smiled warmly and, of course, slowly. Then, she lowered her head closer to her wrist watch. Nick felt one of his eyes twitch.
"It's..." He aimed an amnesia dart at her neck, and she slowly but surely fell down in her seat. Nick carefully scooted beside her.
"Okay, chief. I'm in."
xxx
Judy surveyed the area as she sipped her cocktail drink. Slow jams played, and only lovesick couples danced on the dance floor, including two very lovable pigs. (Their make out session was steadily making Judy more and more uncomfortable.) Everyone else was either sitting down or eating hor d'oeuvres.
She found herself standing in front of a Bengal tiger, the tiger, the tiger who killed Benny...
He eyed her like she was an appetizer, but he said nothing.
I must be out of my mind. She opened her mouth. "You know what would liven this party up?"
"You on the menu?" Judy shivered. She did not know whether he meant to flirt with her or express his desire to eat her. Probably the latter.
"Actually, I was thinking something more like... dancing?" She hopped to the disk jockey. "Let's liven this place up!" The DJ, a ram, grinned at her and put on a different track.
Judy hopped to the middle of the dance floor, letting her body move in synch with the music. She fully embraced the song as it came up to the chorus. Soon, everyone was watching, even Bellwether.
xxx
Bellwether grinned fondly at the bunny on the dance floor and lightly hit Slayer. "See? Told you we should've hired dancers!" The tiger just grunted in response.
xxx
"Wilde?"
"Hot damn." Nick whistled lowly as he watched Judy dance. "It's like high school again."
"WILDE!"
Nick blinked rapidly and turned back to the computer. "Huh? Oh yeah. I'm in, aren't I?"
"Yeah, but don't stay there! You don't know who'll show up."
"Chief, relax. No one will recognize us. Besides, it's not like -"
Nick felt a gun touch his temple. "Hello, Nick."
