"Oooohhhhhh . . . . . ." Fluey moaned, as he slowly came to his senses. He had a splitting headache.
"What hit me?" he asked. He tried to raise his arm in order to massage the spot on his head that was throbbing, but he couldn't. He noticed he had been strapped to what looked like one of the examining tables in the SSHQ infirmary.
"Huh?" he asked. "What's going on here? Where am I?"
The door opened just then, and in walked Multi and Coiley, followed by Dr. Phelps. Fluey heaved a sigh of relief.
"Wow, fellas, am I ever glad to see you!" he shouted.
"You are?" Coiley asked a little confused.
"You bet!" Fluey shouted.
"I thought you said he was acting like he didn't know who you were," Dr. Phelps said.
"Well . . . . he was . . . . ." Multi said. "At least he was when we brought him in."
"What do you mean I was acting like I didn't know who you were?" Fluey asked. "What's going on, anyway? And why have you got me strapped down like this? And why am I wearing this gangster outfit?"
"Don't you remember, Fluey?" Coiley asked. "We were at the warehouse, and you were about ready to shoot me and Multi and FG when Skittles ran into you."
"And you were leading the Syndicate on a crime spree," Multi went on.
"What?!" Fluey shouted. "Me?! Leading the Syndicate?! Are you guys crazy? Why would I do a stupid thing like that for?!"
"Believe me, we'd like to know that one ourselves," Coiley said. "Anyway, we strapped you down like that just in case you came to, and tried to make a break for it."
"I don't understand any of this," Fluey groaned.
"Fluey . . . ." Dr. Phelps said, coming over. "Tell me something. What's the last thing you remember?"
"Well, let's see . . . ." Fluey said, thinking it over. "The last thing I remember is escaping from the hotel room Manikatti's goons were holding me in. Then I ducked into an alley to shake them when they started chasing me . . . . . then somebody bopped me on the head, and everything's a blank after that."
"That's kind of weird," Multi said. "How is it he doesn't remember what happened in the past three days? And how come he acted like he didn't even know us in those past three days, and now he knows us? It doesn't make sense."
"It does to me," Dr. Phelps said. "Fluey, you said you were hit on the head when you ducked into the alley, right?"
"Right," Fluey said, nodding.
"And you two said you managed to bring him in here when the gun he had hit him in his head, and knocked him out, right?"
"Yeah," Coiley said.
"Then it's simple," Dr. Phelps said. "Fluey was suffering a classic case of amnesia."
"Amnesia?" Multi repeated. "No wonder he didn't know who we were!"
"You probably lost your memory when you were hit on the head in the alley," Dr. Phelps explained to Fluey, as he started unstrapping him. "And your memory was probably jogged after you were hit in the head with that gun."
"And Manikatti's men probably got to you before we could the first time you were knocked out," Coiley said. "And convinced you that you were a gangster."
"That explains the outfit," Fluey said, looking at his clothes. "How out of control did I get, anyway?"
"You were about two crimes away from being public enemy number one," Multi said.
"Sheesh!" Fluey groaned.
At that moment, Big D walked into the infirmary.
"I trust everything is in order here?" he asked, a little suspiciously.
"Yeah, chief," Coiley said. "We found out Fluey had amnesia, but he seems to be back to normal now."
"I can only hope," Big D said, walking into the room.
"Am I in trouble, chief?" Fluey asked. "I mean . . . . Multi and Coiley told me what was going on, but, seriously, I didn't know what I was doing! I mean, you . . . . . you wouldn't suspend me on the grounds that I didn't know what I was . . . . ."
"Fluid, calm yourself down," Big D said. "At first, I was going to put you on suspension for this, but now that I'm aware you had amnesia, I'm not going to."
"Whew!" Fluey shouted. "That's a relief!"
"But we still have a problem," Big D said. "The Syndicate is still loose."
"And they'll probably be looking for Fluey when they find out he's gone," Coiley said.
"Hold it a sec," Fluey said. "I think I just got an idea. But it's kind of risky."
"What's this idea?" Big D asked.
"Maybe I could go back to where you guys found me," Fluey said. "Be the mob boss for a little while. They didn't see you guys, right?"
"We hope they didn't," Multi said.
"Then they don't know I got my memory back," Fluey said. "It could work to our advantage."
"I'm not sure that's such a good idea," Big D said. "They could find out."
"You want to get these guys back in jail, don't you, chief?" Fluey asked. "Besides, I've got to go back, anyway. They've got my guitar and my transformer."
"What about your wrist communicator?" Coiley asked.
"They recognized it and smashed it," Fluey said.
"I just think it's too risky, that's all," Big D said.
"You got any better ideas, chief?" Fluey asked.
"No," Big D said, even though he hated to admit it. Then he sighed. "All right, then. We'll try your idea. Go to the lab and get a replacement wrist communicator from Dr. Johnson. And for heaven's sake, be careful!"
"We will," Fluey said. "Thanks, boss!"
And with that, the three Impossibles went to the lab to get a replacement communicator. Once they left, Big D shook his head, and started back toward his office.
"I swear, I don't know what I'm going to do with that boy," he sighed.
Once Fluey got his wrist communicator, the Impossibles went out to the Impossi-Jet, and flew to the warehouse. They filled Fluey in on what was going on.
"I hope you know what you're doing, Fluey," Coiley said.
"Trust me," Fluey replied with a wink. "Listen, I'll set them up, and then I'll call you guys."
"Okay," Coiley said.
"Good luck, and be careful, Fluey," Multi said.
And with that, Fluey got out of the Impossi-Jet, and the other two took off. Fluey then walked into the warehouse, and was met by three very perturbed gangsters.
"All right, where have you been?" Nicky asked.
"Just out and around," Fluey replied.
"You send us out to get a pizza, and then you leave, and don't come back for six hours," Johnny said. "Your grandfather was never like that."
"Yeah, well, I'm not my grandfather," Fluey said.
"I hope you managed to grab a bite while you were gone," Gino said. "We got hungry and ate the pizza while we were waiting for you. For a minute, I thought those weirdo Impossible freaks got you."
"Yeah, well . . . . ." Fluey shrugged, stifling the urge to knock out Gino's teeth for calling his friends freaks. "Forget them, and forget the pizza. We got bigger fish to fry."
"Like?" Nicky asked.
"Like our next job," Fluey said. "I've got something big in mind."
"Yeah?" Johnny asked.
"Yeah," Fluey said. "The Megatropolis Museum of Natural History."
"Ain't that the place that's got all the dinosaur skeletons?" Johnny asked. "And the stuffed mammals, and all those gems?"
"Exactly," Fluey said.
"Oh I get it," Gino said. "You want we should break into the museum and steal them dino bones."
"No, you bird brain!" Fluey shouted, swatting Gino upside the head. "The gem collection! On display in the gem exhibit is the Hopeless Diamond! The biggest diamond in the world! Worth at least five hundred grand."
"That's a lotta dough," Johnny said.
"Yeah, and the rest of the collection is worth twice as much," Fluey said.
"You want we should call the boys, boss?" Gino asked.
"Absolutely," Fluey said. "Call 'em up and let them know tonight at midnight, we're bustin' into the museum and making off with the entire gem collection."
"I'm impressed, kid," Nicky said. "Not even your granddaddy would come up with a scheme like that."
"Like I told you mugs before," Fluey said, propping his feet up on the table. "I'm not my grandfather. Now go call the guys."
"Right, boss," Johnny said, and he, Nicky, and Gino left the room.
Fluey smiled. His plan was working perfectly. Once he was sure the hoods were out of earshot, he activated his wrist communicator.
"Come in, Coiley," he said, quietly, just in case the three hoods were around.
"Did they fall for your story, Fluey?" Coiley asked, once he appeared on the screen.
"Hook, line, and sinker," Fluey said. "They're in the other room calling up the rest of the Syndicate."
"Just what exactly are we supposed to do?"
"I told them the plan was at midnight, we were gonna steal the entire gem collection from the Megatropolis Museum of Natural History. All you, Multi, and Skittles have to do is be there. Once I find my transformer, I'll be able to get in on the action."
"Okay. But watch your back."
"Don't worry, I will. Over and out."
Fluey ended the transmission, and started looking for his transformer. He had no idea where these hoods could be hiding it.
"That thing's gotta be around here somewhere," he said. "Unless they left it at that hotel, but I don't think they would, considering someone might find it."
"Looking for something, Tone?" a voice said, suddenly.
"Huh?!" Fluey shouted, whirling around, completely startled.
"What's the matter, Tony?" Nicky asked. "Did I scare you?"
"No, of course not," Fluey said.
"You seem a little nervous today."
"Yeah, well . . . . . don't worry about it."
"What are you looking for, anyway?"
"Nothing. Now shut up and go do something. I'm busy."
"Whatever you say . . . . . boss."
Nicky left the room. Fluey breathed a sigh of relief. That was too close. However, his relief was slightly short lived. Nicky was watching him through a crack in the door.
"What's he doing, Nick?" Johnny asked.
"He's looking for something," Nicky said. "I don't know what he's looking for, but he's definitely looking for something."
"Think he's looking for that weird box doo-dad thing?" Gino asked.
"He might," Nicky said.
"What could he be looking for that thing for?" Johnny asked. "He can't possibly remember what it is, can he?"
Nicky didn't answer. Gino and Johnny left to go "do something" (under Nicky's orders), while Nicky stayed behind and kept watching Fluey like a hawk. Something was different about the Don's grandson. He had a suspicion he knew what was going on, but he wanted to make sure.
Throughout the day, Fluey continued looking for his transformer, but only when Manikatti's hoods weren't around. Or at least when he thought his hoods weren't around. Nicky wasn't taking his eyes off this kid for one minute.
"I'd better find that thing soon," Fluey said, checking his watch. It was eleven thirty. "Only half an hour left before we hit the museum. Better call the guys."
Fluey then activated his wrist communicator, and Multi appeared on the screen.
"What's up, Fluey?" he asked.
"There might be a slight snag in the plan," Fluey said. "I can't find my transformer."
"You'd better find it soon, or else there goes the plan."
"Not necessarily. I just won't have access to my powers. Besides, they won't even suspect I'm gonna fight them. They still think I'm on their side."
"Okay. We'll see you at the museum. Over and out."
Fluey turned off his communicator, and continued searching for his transformer.
"That thing's gotta be around here somewhere," he said. Then, he spotted a crate in the corner of the room. He walked over to it, opened it, and found both his guitar, and his transformer.
"Eureka!" he shouted. He was just about to pick it up, when a hand was suddenly clamped over his mouth, and he felt himself being pulled back away from the crate.
"So, Tony, looks like you got your memory back," Nicky said. "You were setting us up to take a fall, weren't you? You were gonna double cross us, huh? Well, let me tell you something, Little Tony. You should never try to double cross a member of the Syndicate! Now, you're gonna have to pay. And believe me, twerp. You're gonna pay dearly!"