CoCo

Chapter 20

When the planes landed at the SHC base, Sneeker took CoCo inside to the hospital ward. She allowed CoCo to take a shower and found her something to eat. Once CoCo had gotten washed up and fed, Sneeker gave her some new clothes to wear. It was only an SHC soldier uniform, but Sneeker felt that CoCo might be more comfortable wearing that than her bustier. CoCo got dressed. Sneeker then gave her sister a huge, rib-crushing hug.

"I thought that I would never see you again!" Sneeker sobbed. "I'm so glad to see that you're alive!" She squeezed CoCo's body tighter.

"I didn't know that you were in the war, too!" CoCo said with a big smile.

"It's no suprise, right? I've always had a love for handling weapons. I guess I just needed to put my skills to good use," Sneeker said, stifling her tears. "Hey! I have a great idea!" Sneeker grabbed CoCo's shoulders. "I need to take you to the king's chambers! Oh, he'll be so happy to see you! C'mon!" She took her sister's hand and led her to the king's throne.

The two arrived in the king's throne room. "My king," Sneeker said, bowing to show respect. CoCo stood right behind her. She could not see the king's face for Sneeker was blocking her view. "You'll never guess who we found at the Tediz Base!" Sneeker scooted to the side to reveal CoCo. Conker the King gasped with pure shock.

"Well, well, well! CoCo, you're alive?!" Conker chuckled. CoCo looked up at Conker sitting on his throne.

"Wow! Conker! You're the king?" CoCo said with awe. "That is so cool!" She ran up to his throne to get a closer look.

Conker grinned. "Yes, I'm the king! Wow, I can't believe you're actually alive! We all thought you were dead! It is so good to see you again, my old friend!"

CoCo shook his hand. "I'm so happy to see you, too!" she beamed. Looking around, she asked, "Hey, where's Berri? I haven't seen that girl in ages! You're still together, right?" Conker's face immediately turned solemn when CoCo mentioned Berri's name.

"Well, uh, Berri is not here. She's not with us anymore," Conker sighed.

"Where is she?" CoCo asked.

Conker didn't say anything for a moment. He looked down at the floor. A teardrop hit the cold, hard cement. "She's dead," he replied, gravely.

CoCo put her hands over her mouth. "Oh, Conker! That's terrible! I'm so sorry! I had no idea!"

Conker put his hand up in the air. "It's okay, I know you didn't know. She was shot by this bastard when we were, uh, robbing a bank together. A bastard named Don Weaso...I'm gonna kill that sucker if it's the last thing I ever do!"

The room went silent. Sneeker walked up and took CoCo's hand.

Tears jerked their way out of Conker's eyes. He wiped them away angrily.

"Forgive me," Conker said. "I didn't mean to darken the mood."

"It's okay, Conker," CoCo whispered. "You don't have to apologize for crying. You love her very much and you miss her. I'm truly sorry for your loss."

Conker sniffled. "Yeah, I loved Berri so much. And it's my fault she's dead. How could I be so fucking blind? No amount of money could ever replace Berri. She was the greatest fortune of all." Conker sobs and can barely finish his sentence.

CoCo grabs his paw and gives it a squeeze. "You know," she said. "This reminds me of something Mother used to tell me. She said that 'Life was like a box of chocolates. It is easy to indulge yourself in life's simple pleasures. But you never really know how sweet something is, until you've eaten it all up."

Those words really hit Conker in the heart. He knew just how true they were. He was silent.

"Uh, I think it might be a good idea if we left now," Sneeker said to Conker. Conker managed to smile.

"Oh, I didn't mean to get all depressing. I just get all mopey and vengeful when I get reminded of Berri. It was good to see you again, CoCo. You take now." he waved as they left the room.

"I'm gonna take you back to the hospital ward, CoCo," Sneeker said once they left the throne room. "I don't mean to leave you so suddenly, but I have to get back to the ambush attack. They need me out there. You can help the doctors with the injured, okay? Just stay out of trouble." CoCo nodded and Sneeker took her to the hospital ward. The doctors were pleased to get help. Sneeker hugged CoCo one last time before she left.

CoCo proved to be very helpful in the hospital ward. The doctors really appreciated her being there. And so did the wounded soldiers. She told jokes and sang to them. The entertainment she provided made their misery less miserable. She continued to help with the injured as she waited for Sneeker's return. Sneeker was gone quite a long time. It had been a week since she left. CoCo was starting to worry about her. She worried that something bad must have happened. But, alas, Sneeker did return. The ambush was successful. The Squirrels managed to steal some of the Tediz new weaponry. The war was now turning towards the Squirrels' favour.

Sneeker collected CoCo from the hospital ward so she could boast about the success of her mission. It was late, so the two sisters prepared to go to sleep. Sneeker told CoCo all about the exciting adventure she had creeping around the Tediz Base. She told of the fascinating new weapons that they had retrieved. CoCo recognized some of the weapons that Sneeker described. She smiled softly and lay down in her bed.

"Did you see him?" CoCo asked.

"See who?" Sneeker repiled, climbing into her own bed.

"Von Kriplespac," CoCo whispered. "You know, the leader of the Tediz? Did you see him at all while you were at the Tediz Base?"

"Good heavens, no!" Sneeker gasped, baffled." This was a secret mission. If he would have seen us, then we would be dead for sure!"

CoCo looked at her sister, confused. "Secret? So you stole those weapons? Couldn't you have just asked to borrow them? And why would he kill you? He's a nice guy."

"What are you talking about?" Sneeker asked, concerned. "Borrow them? CoCo, it's not that simple! This is the Tediz we're talking about here. They are vicious, muderous creatures, and they hate us! They are our enemies, CoCo. We're at war with them. I thought you knew all that."

"No, no! It is a lie!" CoCo shook her head in disbelief. "That's not what he told me! He said the enemy were hideous vermin that wanted to dominate the world! I thought the Squirrels and the Tediz were allies or something! Why are you lying to me, Sneeker?!"

Sneeker jumped out of her bed and hurried over to CoCo. "I'm not lying to you, CoCo," Sneeker said. "He's the one who lied to you. He was talking about us when he told you that. We're vermin. We're his enemy. And he is our enemy."

Tears started to trickle down CoCo's cheeks. She wiped them away in frustration. "No, he wouldn't lie to me! He loves me! Why would he lie to me!"

Sneeker put her hand over her mouth. "Oh my gawd, what kind of sick experiments did they do to you? They've brainwashed you! Those bastards!"

CoCo could not hold back her tears any longer. She let them gush out of her eyes. Sneeker ripped the blankets off of CoCo's bed. She searched her body, trying to find some proof of the Tediz influence on her sister. She saw the tattoos on CoCo's legs. She slid her fingers across one of them, examining the symbols closely.

"They've branded her," Sneeker whispered. "Shit, I wonder if maybe they are using CoCo to spy on us! What am I gonna do?" She looked around, thinking. "I can't risk telling anyone about this, they might kill her! I don't wanna lose my sister again. But if the Tediz somehow use CoCo to infiltrate us, then it would be all my fault! Wait...I could keep her somewhere locked up...Like in our dungeons! She won't be able to cause any harm there! And she won't have to die!" Sneeker grabbed her sister's wrist and pulled her out of bed. CoCo fell to the floor with a loud thud. She was still crying. Sneeker kneeled down and forced CoCo to look in her eyes.

"CoCo, listen to me," Sneeker whispered, sweetly. "I need you to stop crying now. I'm gonna take you somewhere, but you must be quiet, okay? C'mon, give me your hand, and I'll help you up." CoCo snifled and took her sister's hand. The two of them then tiptoed out of their barracks and made their way to the dungeons. The dungeons were empty. The SHC never really used them. Sneeker put CoCo in a cell and locked her in.

"What's going on?" CoCo asked. She looked around and noticed that she was in a cell. "Hey, why are you locking me up?"

"Shhh," Sneeker hushed CoCo. "This is for your own good. Trust me on this one. I'll share my rations with you. I'll come down here often to check up on you. I'm sorry it has to be this way. I can't take any chances. Good night."

With that, Sneeker left CoCo alone in her dark cell. CoCo reached out her hand and tried to say something, but Sneeker was already gone. Brokenhearted, CoCo sat donw on the cell bed and cried.

"Why does nobody love me anymore?" She weeped. "What the hell did I do wrong?"