Splendont stared through the small window into the torture room.
The room reminded Splendont of a castle because of its stone walls, damp atmosphere and constant leaks. In fact the whole place did.
The General was very fond of History. It apparently made him feel like a King.
Splendont didn't really care about those conversations he only half listened to. He was more interested in the small bear inside that room.
Flippy was tied to a metal table with cuffs wrapping around his waist, wrists, chest, feet and knees. He was covered in various torture marks and was shivering from the cold table pressed against his whip marks that were covering most of his back.
Splendont couldn't help but notice that when Flippy first arrived he was confident that Evil would save him. He preached it every day as if trying to make us believe too.
But lately his voice was going hoarse from screaming and his determined look was more of a dreaming look now. Sometimes at night Splendont could see Flippy's far off look turn to a broken look but only for a second.
Splendont knew the bear wouldn't last long. The General wasn't keeping Flippy for fun. Flippy was here to make another thing. Flippy was just a thing to the General. Some sort of Weapon that shot deadly bullets and only needed to be reloaded to fire again.
Splendont didn't think that. Sure he knew Flippy can-WOULD make another thing but Flippy wasn't a weapon.
This was the bear that was scared of a goddamn pineapple when that thing was in his head.
Splendont held him for hours on end feeling Flippy breathe and blink and shake.
Flippy was a person who could make extraordinary things... when pushed.
Splendont stared as Flippy's table glowed and the bear cried out in pain, twisting in his restraints to get away from the torture, screaming bloody murder as if to relieve some of the pain.
Splendont knew that Flippy would be in pain for a while and honestly all the villains he'd faced would have said that was enough.
But the General was different. He would turn it off for a second until Flippy took a breath in and then turn it up higher that before listening to the shrieks of pain. After he would send Flippy to another torture room, watching in great satisfaction as Flippy cried at the end.
Splendont might not be the good guy here. But he knew this was too much. That was the reason why he held Flippy at times as if trying to help and protect the bear. He felt he needed to after all, he was a hero before. Sometimes when Flippy was screaming Splendont would flinch because for a second he thought he was a hero and he had to save Flippy but then he would remember that he wasn't a hero anymore.
Nor will he ever be.
...
"How are we going to get to the base?" Lifty asked.
"Well, you could use the helicopter" Sniffles suggested, he was under a big machine tinkering with something.
"Umm... Great idea but no one knows how to fly it!" Splendid added.
"I know!" Lifty said waving his hand. "I taught Shifty how to fly!"
"GRRRRREAT! You are somewhat useful!" Splendid glared.
Evil rolled his eyes. Lifty had been in a lot of robberies with his brother so he kinda expected this tension.
"Leave the kid alone! We need to save Flippy!" Evil growled.
"Ok ok fine!" Splendid snapped walking towards the helicopter.
Evil glared at the Squirrel before turning to Lifty who was glaring as well.
"Meanie" Lifty muttered. He was snapped out of his glare by Evil's laugh. "What?"
"Y-you sound lik-ke a CHILD!" Evil laughed.
Lifty smiled; at least someone would look out for him now that Shifty's gone.
Shifty
Shifty had been his Brother! How could he have done this! How could he have watched Lifty roll down that hill to his death!
Sighing Lifty couldn't deal with the fact that Shifty had tried to Kill him! Or that he was torturing someone!
Why?
Shifty was into money sure but he liked the whole excitement. Maybe that was it?
Lifty walked past Evil and towards the Helicopter. He knew Evil was putting on the act of laughing and being happy around Lifty because he wanted to cheer him up.
But Lifty knew that Evil was in turmoil. He lost the love of his life to that sick man, he was severely outnumbered and he was not in the right health to be fighting.
Even Splendid was trying to avoid fighting with the bear knowing Evil wouldn't be able to take any more than he had to.
Lifty wished this never happened. He wished that Flippy and Evil were together and Splendid wasn't obsessed with Flippy. He wished Shifty and he were pulling robberies and Splendont left and never came back.
"Guys I'm serious when I tell you this. Do not die. You will be going out of the Zone and there is no telling what could happen" Sniffles explained as the three strapped themselves in.
"I thought you said that the barrier could be widened and it wouldn't matter?" Splendid asked.
"Well, I'm not sure if I can now but I will try my best. But even if I do still try to avoid death, I don't know if it will work properly. I can't exactly test it can I?" Sniffles explained before looking at all of us individually. "Be careful. Be safe and Bring Flippy Home"
"We will" Splendid answered placing a hand on Evil's shoulder as if trying to convince the bear. "We will get him back safely"
"Good" Sniffles smiled "Good luck" he wished before closing the door to the helicopter.
Evil stared out the massive windows of the copter wondering if would get Flippy back because if he did die Flippy wouldn't just be heartbroken he would forever be in The General's clutches.
One thing is for sure, Evil will fight to the death for Flippy.