ALVINNN! and The Chipmunks:
Tamian Mysteries
Season 2, Episode 1 of 12:
The Search for Charlene
On a well moonlit night, Harry and Digbee returned to Chipmunk Island, having successfully stolen the Tamian language book from Vinny's kids on the mainland. They landed on the shore, where Orwell, a chipmunk who is only a year older than the Seville brothers, was waiting for them.
"It's about time you returned.", Orwell impatiently told Harry.
"That time will all be worth it my dear boy.", Harry said cheerfully.
"Don't call me 'dear boy'. I'm not your son.", Orwell said in aggravation.
"We finally have it. The secrets of our ancestors will soon be answered.", Harry proclaimed.
"You promised me more precious metals and gemstones. My associates will be very disappointed if I can't deliver on their order.", Digbee said to Harry.
"The ruins we've visited before contained only a small fraction of what you desire. There are bound to be temples we will soon find that will satisfy your associates for a long time.", Harry reassured.
"Harry? A word?", Orwell requested, still frustrated.
Harry put his arm around Orwell's shoulder and they walked a short distance away.
"Yes, I know, you still don't trust Digbee. But now that we're on the verge of finding the Tamian civilization, you won't have to put up with him for much longer.", Harry said.
"He'll betray us. I know it.", Orwell replied.
"He knows his place. I'll make sure that only the most significant relics remain with us, and not those human markets he works for.", Harry reminded Orwell.
Harry walked back over to Digbee.
"So your 'dear boy' just can't stop being grumpy whenever I'm around?", Digbee asked.
"Nevermind that. I will contact you back once we have our pages deciphered. And we can set out on our next expedition.", Harry detailed.
Hidden amongst the evergreen trees, far up on a ledge of the island's mountain, another male chipmunk was looking down upon the shore with a telescope, spying on Harry, Orwell, and Digbee. He was wearing an orange outfit, in a similar style of clothing to that of the chipmunks in Vinny's village, and the other residents of the island. He collapse his telescope and walked away from the ledge.
Back in Santa Barbara the next morning, the boys woke up in their beds. But Alvin appeared to be slightly anxious. It had only been two nights since they had gotten back from Eagle's Peak State Park. And despite what he had learned, something did not sit right with him.
"Good morning, guys.", Theodore said as he stretched.
"Alvin, what's the matter?", Simon asked, noticing his brother's unease.
"I didn't sleep so well again.", Alvin responded.
"Second night in a row.", Simon noted. "Did it have to do with mom again?", he asked.
"Not exactly. I can't shake the thought that Harry could be out looking for the Tamian civilization right now.", Alvin voiced his concerns.
"Alvin, mom told us not to worry about it. She wants us to grow up with Dave like normal kids.", Theodore reminded Alvin.
"You said it yourself, Theodore. Mom is out there with the responsibility to protect the world from Harry's revolution.", Alvin said. "Can you imagine the pressure of that?", he asked.
"I didn't mean it literally when I said mom was like a superhero.", Theodore replied.
"I know. But we can do so much to help her.", Alvin lamented.
"Don't you remember? It's not just her. She has the rest of the Tamian secret order to help her.", Simon reminded.
"Is that even going to be enough?", Alvin asked. "It doesn't seem like they made much progress before in retaking Chipmunk Island.", he said in rebuttal.
"Let's not dwell on this, Alvin. Let's just try to have a normal rest of the summer.", Simon responded.
Just then, The Chipettes zipwired into the room.
"Guys. We got bad news.", Brittany announced.
"What is it?", Simon asked.
"We called the museum. Digbee's not there.", Jeanette said.
"See, Simon? At least some of us are making progress.", Alvin subtly scolded.
"Did you call his office or the front desk?", Simon asked.
"Front desk. The lady on the phone said he just abruptly retired.", Jeanette answered.
"Retired? He didn't look that old.", Theodore commented.
"That's what I find suspicious.", Eleanor said.
"Our mom said we couldn't help her with Harry and the Tamians anymore. But she didn't say anything about Digbee.", Alvin stated.
"If this is another one of your weak justifications for a mystery crime-thriller, just let it go, Alvin.", Simon said.
"'Weak'?!", Alvin questioned out of offense. "We have knowledge about someone who could potentially be a criminal. We've done this sort of thing before and it's the right thing. You're the one with a weak justification for wanting to stay out of it.", he ranted.
"I agree with Alvin.", Brittany said.
"Same. Digbee essentially aided in the theft of the Tamian book. It must have some benefit to him in their alliance for him to retire so abruptly.", Jeanette added.
"Alright, give us a few minutes to brush our teeth, get dressed, and have breakfast.", Alvin told The Chipettes.
"You guys can have breakfast with us while we discuss the plan. Meet us back at the treehouse whenever you're ready.", Brittany said.
The Chipettes then left on the zipwire.
A little bit later, in The Chipettes' treehouse, the C-Team were all seated at the table eating pancakes. Theodore's stack was four pancakes high while everyone else just had two.
"I just have no idea how we're going to carry out this Digbee mission without Dave knowing.", Alvin said.
"Maybe the girls can disguise themselves as us again.", Theodore suggested.
"That would leave us out of the mission. Besides, you boys blew your cover with Dave at Eagle's Peak, so I don't think that'll work anymore.", Eleanor responded.
"You guys think we should tell Officer Dangus?", Jeanette asked. "I'm sure he could do a lot more to track down Digbee than we can.", she added.
"I don't think he'd be willing to take on such a case when we lack any evidence of a crime Digbee committed. Aside from anything to do with the Tamians.", Simon replied.
"Why wouldn't that be evidence?", Alvin asked.
"Because the Tamian stuff is our problem, and it has nothing to do with Officer Dangus' duties as a police officer to uphold the law and protect the people. Digbee committing a civil crime absolutely would.", Simon detailed.
"And a civil crime is what we're trying to prove, with or without involvement from Harry.", Eleanor commented.
"What kind of law would he be breaking that makes his retirement so suspicious?", Brittany asked.
"He did help steal a book of historical significance.", Jeanette said.
"That our mom said could be used to find ancient relics and places. Maybe Harry's splitting the reward with him. If they find something really valuable, boom, Digbee's set for life.", Alvin replied.
"Yeah, but why would Tamian relics be of any interest to Digbee?", Eleanor asked.
"Maybe they're worth a lot of money.", Theodore said.
"Money is only a concept, Theodore. The value of something is only based upon what we feel it's worth in society.", Simon explained.
"And why did you feel the need to drift the conversation to that?", Eleanor asked Simon.
"Because I'm not sure if a chipmunk relic would even be worth anything to a human.", Simon answered.
"Well, that would be a first if it did. When was the last time anyone not named 'David Seville' had an interest in the fact that we're chipmunks, let alone relics of our ancestors?", Alvin rhetorically asked.
"So, it's all come back to us and the Tamians.", Jeanette said.
"I hate to say it, but nothing Dave or our mom can say will put down the fact that Harry is going to be a much bigger problem if he has Digbee's help. Whatever purpose Digbee has for anything to do with the Tamians needs to be put to an end.", Simon said.
"I couldn't have said it better myself, Simon. Those relics and the Tamian civilization belong to our kind.", Alvin added.
"Yeah, but we don't even know where to start looking for Digbee. He may not even be in Santa Barbara anymore.", Theodore said.
Brittany's cPhone began to ring. She pulled it out of her pocket and looked at the screen. The profile picture was of her friend, Amber. Brittany tapped the green answering button and held the phone up to her ear.
"What's up, Amber?", Brittany asked.
"Hey Brittany, I just saw you in the park. Where'd you go?", Amber asked.
"What? I'm not at the park right now. I'm at home.", Brittany responded.
"Oh, well sorry to bother you then. By the way, I think you would look really good in red.", Amber said.
"Wait, red? You thought you saw me in the park just now wearing red?", Brittany asked in surprise.
"Uh, yeah. What're you so-"
"Give me a couple minutes! I'll be right there!", Brittany cut Amber off before hanging up. "Guys! I think Amber just spotted Charlene!", she said.
"In the park? Why would Charlene be there?", Eleanor questioned.
"Maybe she got lost after she escaped.", Jeanette suggested.
"She's been roaming the city for several days now. We need to find her in case Leanne is still trying to get her back.", Simon said.
"We've got no time to lose. C-Team, to the park!", Alvin announced.
The C-Team left everything on the kitchen table and rushed out the door. All except for Theodore, who was trying to cram as many slices of his pancakes into his mouth as fast as he could.
"Theodore! Let's move it!", Eleanor commanded.
"Coming.", Theodore said with his mouth full before running and catching up with the rest of the team.
A couple of minutes later, the C-Team made it to the park and found Amber sitting on a bench talking to Annie.
"I'm here.", Brittany said, sweating and out of breath.
"Brittany, I'm so glad you came.", Amber said.
"What's goin' on, girl?", Annie asked.
"I'd love to stay and chat, but we're in a hurry.", Brittany said with urgency. "Whoever you saw who looked like me wearing red, where did she go?", she asked.
"Right next to the forest.", Amber replied, pointing towards the treeline at the edge of the park.
"Is she someone y'all know?", Annie asked.
"You could say that.", Jeanette stated vaguely.
"Thanks a lot. I'll catch up with you girls some other time.", Brittany told Amber and Annie.
The C-Team ran toward the treeline and stopped just short of it to look into the dimly lit forest. There were three pathways distinguishable by the arching of small branches that were roughly the height of a full-grown human.
"Charlene could be anywhere in that forest.", Jeanette said.
"It extends for six hundred feet. There should be another city block straight through here.", Simon added.
"That's a lot of walking for us.", Theodore said.
"Munk up, Theodore. You've walked much farther than that at Eagle's Peak. Twice.", Alvin reminded him.
"How about we split up and cover more ground?", Eleanor suggested.
"Good idea, Eleanor. You and Theodore take the left side of the forest. Simon, you and I will go straight. Brittany and Jeanette, you take the right. We'll meet back at the straight path once we've covered enough ground.", Alvin instructed.
"Got it.", Brittany acknowledged.
The C-Team split up to survey their sections of the forest. Theodore stuck close to Eleanor, nervous about the dark shadows being cast by the densely packed trees.
"I don't know why Charlene would go through here. Wouldn't she be scared too?", Theodore said and asked nervously.
"I don't know if she would, Theodore. But I think she may still be trying to hide.", Eleanor replied.
"I thought Leanne would have given up by now.", Theodore added.
"I'd be very surprised if she did. Hopefully she and that other guy aren't in this forest.", Eleanor said.
Several minutes later, Brittany and Jeanette were patrolling their section of the forest and came across some broken twigs on branches close to the ground.
"These twigs look like they were broken recently.", Jeanette pointed out.
"Is there a trail?", Brittany asked.
Jeanette noticed a few more broken twigs. "Yes. Let's see how far it goes.", she said.
The pair followed the path of fallen twigs on the ground, while also weaving their way through the dangling branches of the forest undergrowth. Eventually Jeanette noticed a larger twig, but there were no low hanging branches on the trees next to her. She picked up the twig, examined the width of the broken end, then stared upward. Above her, at the approximate height of an adult human's sternum, was another branch with a broken stub.
"This couldn't have been Charlene. There must be a human in this forest.", Jeanette deduced.
"Are you sure?", Brittany asked. "Maybe Charlene decided to climb.", she proposed.
"No, these twigs aren't broken at such an angle that would suggest-"
Before Jeanette could finish her sentence, Brittany heard a small twig snap close by. Brittany grabbed Jeanette and hid behind a concave section at the base of a tree. She covered her sister's mouth and quietly shushed her. The being who made the twig snap came within a few yards of the tree they were hiding behind. It was Roger, who was carrying a handheld device that beeped like a radar. The beeping stopped, so he gently tapped the device on the side to get it working again, but to no avail.
"Come on. Work, darn it.", Roger complained to himself.
Roger groaned and walked off. Once he was far enough away, Brittany took her hand off of Jeanette's mouth and talked to her quietly.
"That was Roger. We gotta get back on the main path and find the others, quickly.", Brittany urged.
Meanwhile, Alvin and Simon made it to the other end of the forest, which overlooked a city block. There was also an inlet to a one-and-a-half-foot diameter culvert off to the side of where they were standing. They spotted a small footprint which pointed in the direction of the culvert. Simon kneeled down for a closer look.
"Hmm, it looks just like the tread of Brittany's shoe. And it's fresh.", Simon analyzed.
"Yeah, that looks like a size six alright. Unless Brittany beat us to the end, I think Charlene had to have been here.", Alvin remarked.
"This print looks like it was made very quickly.", Simon added.
"So, she was running?", Alvin asked.
"Indeed.", Simon confirmed.
Just then, Theodore and Eleanor arrived.
"We're here.", Theodore said.
"What did you find?", Eleanor asked.
"A shoe print from Charlene, possibly.", Simon informed.
"I'm still confused.", Alvin said. "Why would she be in such a hurry? And why go back towards the city instead of staying hidden in the forest?", Alvin questioned.
"Probably because she was afraid of the forest, like I was.", Theodore suggested.
"Why the sudden fear of forests, Theodore? Are you afraid Breaktusk is gonna jump out and getcha?", Alvin jokingly asked.
"N-no." Theodore nervously said. "…Yes.", he confessed.
"He's not in this forest, Theodore. You're safe. Besides, Alvin taught that boar a lesson.", Eleanor said, putting her hand on Theodore's shoulder.
"And I did so epically.", Alvin confidently added.
"I wasn't trying to stroke your ego, you narcissistic nutcase.", Eleanor told Alvin.
Just then, Brittany and Jeanette arrived.
"Guys, we have a problem.", Jeanette said.
"What is it?", Alvin asked.
"It's Roger. We just saw him in these woods.", Brittany explained.
"Did he see you?", Alvin asked.
"No, but we should probably head back to the park a different way. Just to be safe.", Brittany advised.
"Brittany, could you come over here for a second?", Simon requested.
Brittany went up to Simon and the shoeprint. "What do you need, Simon?", she asked.
"Could you please step in this track for me?", Simon asked.
Brittany put her right foot into the track and the shape of the shoe tread lined up perfectly.
"It's an exact match. You were right, Alvin, this must be from Charlene.", Simon said.
"Those robots are so accurate to the real thing, it's scary.", Alvin commented.
"The track points to that culvert.", Simon pointed out.
"You think she went in there?", Jeanette questioned.
"I don't know. It seems kind of random.", Simon said with skepticism.
"Charlene sure does have a survivalist instinct if she would want to hide in there.", Eleanor remarked.
The C-Team walked over to the entrance of the culvert. Theodore pointed towards some chemistry symbols painted on the wall next to the entrance.
"Look, Simon. It's your graffiti.", Theodore said.
"There are still copycat artists doing this?", Simon asked with both exasperation and surprise. He then sighed. "Remind me to come back here with my stain remover.", he said to the others.
"Are we really going in there?", Brittany asked. "It's cold, dark, and unsanitary.", she added.
"Sorry, Britt, getting dirty was in the job description when you became a member of the C-Team.", Alvin said.
"What? No it wasn't.", Brittany argued.
"Did anyone bring a flashlight?", Eleanor asked.
"I have a small one.", Simon responded. He pulled out a keychain flashlight from his pocket and turned it on. He shined it down into the culvert, revealing a junction a short way down that split in two directions.
"Woah. It could be a maze down there.", Jeanette said.
"Please tell me we're not going to split up again.", Theodore said with worry.
"No, we're not, Theodore. We only have one flashlight. And I don't wanna waste my phone battery.", Alvin answered.
"Oh, that's good.", Theodore said in relief.
"Which tunnel should we take first?", Jeanette asked.
"Let's go right.", Alvin said.
The C-Team entered the culvert with Simon leading the way with his flashlight. They turned right at the junction and continued through the tunnel.
"Dave would not be happy if he found out he were doing this.", Theodore commented.
"He would probably just give us the usual spiel about how this is dangerous, and we could get lost. But kids our age do this all the time in larger tunnels. Just ask Derek.", Alvin casually explained.
"I don't care how many times Derek is successful at it. There are always news stories about kids who get lost or stuck in these drainage areas.", Brittany warned.
Soon they exited the side of a much larger rectangular tunnel with a wide, shallow groove running down the center where runoff water was flowing. Small round tunnels like the one they just exited lined the walls on both sides.
"Woah. This place is huge.", Theodore said in awe.
Eleanor pulls out her cPhone. The screen showed no bars, causing her to become frustrated and groan. "No reception down here.", she said.
"There must be a fair amount of ground above us. It's blocking the signal.", Simon explained.
"Charlene?", Alvin shouted. His voice echoed through the network of tunnels.
"Charlene?", Brittany did the same as Alvin.
"It's us, The Chipmunks.", Alvin shouted.
"And The Chipettes.", Brittany added, also still shouting.
After their voices stopped echoing, Brittany felt doubtful. "Oh, it's no use. These tunnels probably extend for miles. She could be anywhere under the city by now.", she said.
"We can't give up hope guys. Charlene needs us.", Alvin stated.
"But we don't even know where to start looking from here.", Theodore chimed in.
Suddenly, amongst the ambient sound of flowing water, The C-Team heard a metallic clinking sound farther down the main tunnel.
"What was that?", Eleanor asked with alertness.
"It sounds like it came from down there.", Alvin said pointing in the direction the water was flowing.
"Charlene? Are you there?", Alvin asked loudly. His voice once again echoed as he started walking in the direction of the sound.
"Alvin, wait.", Simon said.
Alvin ignored and continued. As the rest of the team followed him, Jeanette counted the tunnel openings along the wall next to them.
"One… two… three…", Jeanette counted.
"Why are you counting, Jeanette?", Eleanor asked.
"I'm keeping track of which tunnel we came out of so we can find our way back.", Jeanette answered.
"Oh, smart.", Eleanor said.
The clink happened again as the team stopped in front of a tunnel five openings down from where they came.
"It's coming from in there.", Alvin said.
"Charlene?", Jeanette shouted. Her voice echoed.
"Don't be afraid. We're coming.", Theodore shouted as he entered the tunnel along with the rest of the team.
"I don't get it. If she's in here, why wouldn't she be responding?", Eleanor asked.
"She was the nervous type when we met her. And like you said, she does have a survivalist instinct.", Jeanette hypothesized.
The C-Team reached another two-way junction when all of a sudden, the clinking happened again. This time much closer and coming from the left tunnel.
"It's just around this corner.", Alvin said.
"We better hurry. This flashlight is starting to dim.", Simon added.
As the team turned and rushed to investigate, they soon found that the tunnel was blocked off by rocks and debris a short way down. With only a small opening at the bottom of the blockage that none of them could fit through. Right in front of the blockage was the culprit of the noise. A baby raccoon with its head stuck in a soup can.
"So that's what was making that noise.", Brittany said.
"Aw, poor thing.", Eleanor commented sympathetically.
"Let's get his head out of that can.", Theodore said.
Theodore stepped forward but Simon reached out and grabbed his brother's hoodie, holding him back.
"Don't touch it.", Simon ordered.
"Simon, have you learned nothing after we met Stanley?", Alvin asked rhetorically. "Let's help that little raccoon out, it's the least we could do.", he added.
"No way. Who knows what it could be carrying.", Simon objected.
"Uh, Simon? He's carrying a can on his head. I thought that was obvious.", Theodore joked in a serious tone.
"I meant diseases, Theodore. An animal caught in a net out in the wild is one thing, but an animal that roams the streets and spends a lot of time in culverts is another.", Simon said.
The baby raccoon stumbled his way through the hole in the blockage.
"Wait, come back little raccoon.", Theodore called out.
"I think we scared him off.", Eleanor said.
"Great job, Simon.", Alvin said sarcastically.
Suddenly, a mother raccoon appeared behind the C-Team and acted aggressively. She was blocking the way that The Chipmunks and Chipettes came, leaving them trapped. They all panicked, as the raccoon slowly stepped closer.
"Why are raccoons always so mean?", Alvin asked no one in particular.
"We're standing between her and her baby.", Jeanette said.
"Leave us alone. We were just trying to help.", Theodore said to the mother raccoon as he trembled in fear.
Simon's flashlight went out. Everyone else screamed.
"Oh no!", Simon said.
"I don't wanna die in the dark!", Theodore yelled.
"It's okay, Theodore. We're all going to get out of-"
Before Eleanor could finish her sentence, Theodore screamed again. "AH! Something's got me!"
Theodore was lifted upward in the dark, and out of arm's reach from everyone else.
"Theodore! Where are you?!", Alvin called out.
"AH! I'm being pulled up!", Brittany screamed too.
"Brittany!", Jeanette and Eleanor said at the same time.
The remaining four chipmunks screamed as they were pulled up as well, with Alvin being last. The entire C-Team was now pushing with their hands and feet against the walls of a vertical tunnel right above where they just were. With Alvin being the closest to the bottom of the tunnel, he pulled out his cPhone with one hand and turned on the flashlight function.
He pointed it downward and saw the mother raccoon at the blockage. The baby raccoon emerged with his head still stuck in the can. The mother raccoon used her dexterous paws to pry the can off, and then left with her baby.
"It's okay guys. Ranger Rick Jr. got that can removed from his head.", Alvin remarked.
"Oh, what a relief.", Theodore said.
"I am relieved too, that you all are safe.", an unknown voice said that sounded similar to Brittany.
Theodore, who was the furthest up the vertical tunnel, lost his grip on the walls upon the shock of hearing the voice and fell on top of the rest of The C-Team, causing them to scream and land in a big pile on the floor of the blocked tunnel.
"Ow!", Simon said in pain.
"Theodore!", Alvin angrily said.
"Sorry.", Theodore replied.
"Is everyone okay?", Eleanor asked.
"Yeah. I'm alright.", Brittany confirmed.
"Ow. I think I landed on my funny bone.", Jeanette said.
"Chipmunks. Chipettes. I am so glad you came.", the voice said.
Alvin pointed his phone flashlight straight up and saw Charlene. Her outfit was slightly dusty, but otherwise, she looked exactly how she did when the team first encountered her.
"Charlene!", all of The Chipmunks and Chipettes said in surprise.
To be continued...