Chapter Eight: Cow Stampede! Part one.

Mavis's POV

For being part of an American icon, Elise's plant really isn't all that large. In fact, I'd bet it's nearly the same size as our headquarters. Other than the warehouse, there's machinery that distributes the liquid to the bottles, the bottles to their packages, you get the idea. For the most part, workers have stuck to their respective work areas like the machinery, truck loading, distribution, etc.

This place does have a cafeteria, and since everyone seems to be more or less focused on what they're doing, I can walk around without attracting much notice. And now that I have actually BEEN inside this place, I feel a little more confident that I've gotten everyone who works here in at least one picture—including Rod, who I nearly missed as he was walking away from me.

Rod. Have I seen you before? I SERIOUSLY hope my imagination is just running on overdrive.

I stand with my back in between two of the windows, allowing my eyes to roam around the room and think a little. I'm really hoping my brother just collapsed from something simple like exhaustion—he's been known to do that a few times in the past. But whether that's true or not, Agent P's other owner Phineas has definitely been hit and that's a whole OTHER matter. It's hard to believe it would be Phineas, of all people. This kid—from Agent P's descriptions of him—doesn't usually go down with anything very easily.

Take note of the POSITIVES, Mavis! my inner voice says. Well, I've managed to get most of the people working here on film and Carl says they've gone through most and everyone so far is clean. And I have Elise, so far, on my side—although I'm still wondering whether or not this is a good thing or not.

I let my head roam around the cafeteria a bit: it's a little smaller than O.W.C.A.'s but then again, animals do not work here so there's no need for the extremely different diets. There's a small kitchenette type thing in the left-hand corner and a microwave. Near the entrance to my right is…a bookshelf. Wasn't expecting that, I think as I approach it.

The books on the shelf aren't entirely what I expected: It's all about nature, most are on animals but more are on the ocean. There are a few books about trees and there are even little guidebooks for flower, tree, and bird identification for the area. A small sign on the side of the shelf offers anybody to contribute a book.

Judging by the topic theme, I wonder if Elise wanted to be a biologist or something before she got into running her family business. Even though the fact that she started working right out of high school to pay her way to school feels weird to me, I suppose it's better than mooching.

My wrist communicator rings and I jump into a corner. Glancing out quickly it appears I'm in the clear.

"Mavis?"

"Pansy!" I whisper through gritted teeth. "What is it?!"

"Whoa, sorry! I didn't mean to scare you!" Pansy says quickly.

"I'm sorry but I'm a little—"

I break off as the intercom system suddenly comes on. Through it I can hear Elise, and that guy O'Hare! How'd he get here? Did I miss him coming in?

"Mavis, what is that? What's going on?" Pansy asks, sounding very concerned.

"Hang on a minute, I'm gonna find out," I whisper as I start making my way—as quick as I can without bringing up suspicion—back to Elise's office. Along the way I hear snatches of conversation from other workers:

"Looks they're at it again."

"This is the fourth time this year!"

"Why can't he just leave her alone?"

This makes me concerned enough to open the door to her office and fortunately for me, she's alone.

Unfortunately for me—and those at the other end of my wrist communicator—I happen to catch her just as she lets out a few choice words for O'Hare which I dare not repeat out loud. I can hear Pansy gasp lightly and another agent ask if Elise 'seriously just said that'.

"Well, then, repeat after me," Elise replies to O'Hare before picking up the phone and hanging up. Her face is red, her eyes are twitching, and I think she's about to cry.

I'm a fraction of an inch from asking her what's going on, but her eyes widen slightly. So do mine, because out her open window I can hear low rumbling. But it isn't an earthquake—nothing is shaking inside the office—it sounds more like a large animal. Elise immediately steps up on a phone book to look out and I immediately squish myself along next to her. What we BOTH see makes us scream.

"STAMPEDE!"

…

Kane Kennedy's POV

Around sunset time, in Danville Botanical Gardens

"Ow! Watch it, Pinky, your claws are still out!"

"Then keep your foot outta my butt!"

"Can you guys please keep it down in there? I have to keep an eye for Ruth and Esther and they'll totally find us if you keep fighting!"

I am currently walking along one of the pathways in Danville's Botanical Gardens (1), looking around every few steps. Technically, it's almost closing time and Ruth and Esther could start looking for stragglers any minute and if we get caught, we could lose what could perhaps be our only chance at gaining some useful information to stop L.O.V.E.M.U.F.F.I.N.'S latest plot.

But of ALL places, it has to come from KIRK, the head of Archangel—O.W.C.A.'s other worst enemy. And that's not even the half of it.

Kirk is my youngest brother and some mistake us for twins, even though he is shorter than me. Other than our hair and eye colour being the same—brown and blue respectively—and the fact that we happen to both work at secret organizations with animal agents, that's about where our similarities end as far as I'm concerned.

Why? Because Archangel and O.W.C.A. have totally different ways of recruitment.

As uncomfortable as that point was in my life, it's also where it changed; because that's the time I started to grow closer to Mavis. Most of my friends were more than a little concerned—probably because Mavis is our boss's daughter and all—but after watching her go from quiet and quite moody to being more open and less moody, they all said that it was because of me. Even her MOTHER said that about me!

Ooooh, maybe these weren't the best memories to think about either.

I'm sure I don't need to tell you this but I REALLY miss Mavis and the twins. But what I miss most of all is the four of us being together as a family. In fact…I was going to ask Mavis to marry me that day at the park, before all this happened.

I feel a jab under my heart and some more bustling in my jacket giving me the signal that Perry and Pinky are fighting again. In frustration and before I can stop myself, I open my jacket and my two fighting partners fall to the ground and land on their butts. Not that they really notice.

"Knock it off, you guys!" I snap at them, bringing their attention to me. "What is it with you two?! I expect you to be more professional than th-" I break off as I realize that both Pinky and Perry are trying—and failing—to hold back tears.

"What's up? What's UP?! BOTH our families are in the hospital! THAT'S what's up!" Pinky snaps bitterly. He wipes his nose and mutters, "L.O.V.E.M.U.F.F.I.N. has never directly attacked like this before."

"It's like they're being truly evil for the first time in their lives," Perry adds.

"I'm sorry." I get down on my knees so I can talk to them better. "I know how you feel. I'm scared too, since even Major Monogram is down too. But that's why we sent Mavis back, remember? If anyone can find the infiltrator, she can. We have to have faith in her."

I put a hand on one of their shoulders. "I know L.O.V.E.M.U.F.F.I.N. is being rather bold, even for them, but we WILL figure this out! We've done so many times before, right?"

This isn't just a pep talk, I DO believe we can solve this and Mavis WILL find out whoever restarted L.O.V.E.M.U.F.F.I.N.'S plan.

Perry sniffles but stops crying and smiles. "Yeah, you're right, Kane…"

"When did you get so smart?" Pinky giggles sarcastically.

I giggle too. Don't tell anyone this, but we seal this conversation with a group hug!

Insert car brakes TV effect here