VOICE CAST:
Dakota Kennedy Cosgrove (German Shepherd) - Sylvester Stallone
Noelle Wright Sr (Lynx) - Angela Bassett
Pascal St. Clair (Black goat) - Jean Reno
Carmen Santiago (Black leopard) - Penelope Cruz
Ivan Desinov (White tiger) - Jason Isaacs
Carol Ann 'Karen' Zelle - Unknown (IF SOMEONE COULD GET ME HER VOICE ACTRESS? She's the receptionist from Crystal Tower)
I Knew You Were a Weirdo
00000
XVIII - City on Fire, Part One
Noodleman Townhouse - Manhattan
Johnny had thought he was alright, that he might've been over it by now.
But he wasn't and he knew it.
Everyone knew it too. They could see it in his eyes, hear it in his voice.
Johnny was hurting, terribly.
He tossed and turned in bed, trying to quiet the invasive thoughts in his mind.
Thoughts of blood and death.
Johnny grit his teeth, whimpering as the images and sounds continued to plague his mind.
He saw his hands in front of him. They were wet with blood.
Johnny...I'm so sorry.
"...no…"
He saw the cruel face of Sean DiMarco, smiling down at him.
His face just inches from his, a pain in his stomach as he looked down to see a knife, stuck in him, to the hilt.
Johnny's tossing and turning became violent as though he were having a seizure.
"...no!" he moaned as though he were in great pain.
And he was.
He was falling.
And DiMarco was falling with him.
And then he saw his father before lying dead in a pool of his own blood.
I'm so proud of you, his father had said.
Johnny screamed until his throat was raw.
"DAAAAAAD!"
He was sitting up in his bed, dazed, in a cold sweat, and his eyes hazy, blurred with tears as they ran down his face.
He scanned his body, feeling himself over. Aside from the presence of cold sweat, Johnny found that he still had bandages wrapped around his middle. And just below the bandages, the familiar stitching.
It wasn't a nightmare. It was real. All of it.
And at that moment, the terrible truth occurred to him.
The truth that his father was dead and never coming back.
Johnny buried his face in his knees, his whole body shaking as he sobbed uncontrollably.
The door to his room opened, light seeping into the room.
Johnny did not look up, both ashamed and embarrassed for letting himself go to pieces like this in front of whoever it was that came into the room.
"Johnny."
He knew that deep growling voice.
Clay Calloway.
Johnny slowly looked up and he saw the old lion standing above him, adorned in a simple t-shirt and slacks for sleepwear, his face lined and worn, his brow furrowed with concern.
As embarrassed as Johnny was, he did not feel as vulnerable now as he thought he might've been. After all, he had broken down in front of the old lion before.
Johnny bowed his head. "Sorry for waking you."
Clay scoffed. "You didn't wake me, Johnny. And don't apologize. It's ok, son."
Putting a massive hand on Johnny's shoulder, Clay pulled the shaking young man into his arms.
Johnny did not resist but he had no more strength to cry, exhausted as he was from the trauma of the past several days and the surgery which saved his life.
He leaned his face against the chest of the aged rockstar, breathing steadily as though he were sleeping and yet not sleeping at all.
"Johnny?"
Johnny winced at the voice.
Looking up and turning his head from where it laid, he saw Nooshy, still adorned in her blue fleece pajamas, hands folded against her chest. Her ears were down and her rich amber eyes glistened sadly.
Ashamed, Johnny buried his face back into Clay's chest, this time returning the hug and holding on.
Nooshy stepped into the room and approached the bed. She placed a hand on Johnny's cheek and caressed it.
Johnny jumped with a start at the touch, gasping, whimpering and mumbling frightfully, sounding less the confident young man who triumphed over Klaus Kickenklober and more a terrified little boy that had been left alone.
Nooshy put a hand to her mouth, utterly aghast by how broken Johnny looked.
She barely touched him and he practically jumped out of his skin.
And now here he was, having a mild panic attack.
It shattered her heart.
Feeling how terribly the boy was shaking, his irregular heart rate and breathing, Clay scrunched his eyes, tears beginning to well up.
This is so much worse than when he broke down after almost getting killed at the hospital. His own father died in front of him. The trauma that's been instilled in him must be almost unbearable.
Nooshy was at loss. Her heart was breaking all over again.
Johnny was scarred for life. Would he ever be ok after this?
No! He will be ok! I'll make sure of it! Whatever it takes!
Nooshy very gently reached out and placed a hand on Johnny's cheek and then her other hand on his other cheek. He flinched but as Nooshy caressed both his cheeks, his trembling began to wane.
But he still wouldn't look at her.
Nooshy looked at Clay as though hoping for some kind of explanation.
The old lion looked at her sadly, then motioned towards Johnny intently.
Nooshy stared in confusion for a moment before she understood his thought.
It's all you Nooshy.
Clay patted Johnny's back to get his attention. The young gorilla lifted his head to look at him with his raw, wet eyes.
Clay looked to the young lady standing off to the side, silently telling Johnny to do the same. Johnny hesitantly looked at Nooshy, who looked disturbed that he could hardly look at her.
"Johnny...are you afraid of me?" she asked.
Johnny sniffled. "No...but I'm afraid that I might hurt you."
Nooshy gasped incredulously. "What?! Johnny! Are you crazy?! Why would you think something like that?!"
"Because I think I am going crazy!" Johnny cried, his voice thick with fearful despair. "Everything that's happened to me, it's...it's too much. I don't think I can handle it. My mum...my dad...they're both gone. GONE! I can't stand it. I think I'm cracking up. I...what if I go crazy? What if I end up hurting someone? Like you?"
Clay sighed deeply as he pinched the bridge of his nose.
Being a soldier in the Royal Marines, PTSD was no mystery to him. He had seen it so many times from his fellow marines. He had seen them become bitter, go crazy, even end their own lives.
He had often had many nightmares of his days on the battlefield. The screams from both sides. The blood and the missing limbs.
Clay thought that he might go mad. It had been his Ruby's immeasurable love that anchored his mind and helped him find the strength to live life to the fullest.
And Johnny, little Johnny, who was not even twenty years old yet, had seen his own father get murdered in cold blood, him and his mother too. And the very same killer who did them both nearly did the same to him.
The memory of his father's death he had retained but what followed after, DiMarco challenging him, using Nooshy as leverage but remembering nothing else after. He must've repressed all of it.
It must've been truly horrible.
Clay felt rage at his own helplessness bubble up inside him. If only he had gotten there sooner. It took everything in him to keep from growling, to keep his body from tensing and his heart from racing. Johnny would feel it and getting angry would not help.
Nooshy slipped onto the bed and encircled Johnny's face with both hands.
Johnny's breathing started to even out upon feeling his girlfriend's small, soft and dainty hands on his face, lovingly tracing circles over his cheeks.
And then she leaned in and planted a gentle, loving kiss on his lips.
Johnny stiffened and then began to relax at the sensation of her sweet, soft lips.
As the blissful kiss ended, Johnny buried his face into Nooshy's shoulder.
And then he wept.
"He killed my mum," Johnny rasped, beginning to sound like a wounded animal. "And now he's taken away my dad too."
Nooshy's pursed her lip as tears ran down her cheeks. She cradled Johnny, rocking him back and forth. "I know Johnny, I know," she cooed. "But we're here. I'm here, we're not going anywhere. And you can't hurt me."
"But...what if-?"
"No!" Nooshy snapped. "No what if's! Do you want to hurt me, Johnny?"
"No! Never!"
"Then why are you worried about doing so?"
Johnny held Nooshy tighter. "What if I can't help it? DiMarco-"
"DiMarco knows full well what he was doing, Johnny," Nooshy said firmly. "He's hurt people and enjoyed every moment of it. You Johnny, you don't hurt people, you never want to hurt people." She lifted Johnny's chin so she could look him in the eye, those beautiful chestnut brown eyes she loved so much.
It broke her heart, shattered her heart to see the pain and anguish in those eyes that held so much compassion and love for life.
"Johnny, you are the sweetest, kindest, most extraordinary man I have ever known. I know in my heart of hearts that you would never hurt me or anyone else."
Johnny, remembering how he put his own life at risk, attempted to protest. "But I did...I was-!"
"Doing what you always do when someone is in trouble. Jimmy. Your dad. Me. You help people, Johnny. You always have. I may have been scared but I don't blame you for any of that."
"R-really? You mean it?"
Nooshy chuckled lightly. "I'm not the lying type Johnny." She looked remorseful and ashamed. "I'm sorry for how I acted when you came back. I hope I didn't hurt you."
Johnny chuckled. "Not really but you can be pretty scary when you want to be."
Nooshy smirked. "I know."
"I mean...ha! An Italian Vogue?"
"My first idea was a phone book."
Johnny went pale. "A phone book?"
Nooshy frowned guiltily. "Not a very nice idea but I was angry." She sighed. "I'm sorry."
"Don't be."
"Johnny?"
The young gorilla and his girlfriend turned to see a few heads poking into the room.
It was Rosita, Meena, Porsha and Ash, all adorned in nightgowns and wearing worried looks on their faces.
"Oh you guys," Johnny said, stricken. "I'm sorry for waking you."
"Actually you didn't," Ash said. "We couldn't really sleep either."
"We were so worried about you," Meena squeaked meekly.
"And don't try to tell us you're fine, dude," Porsha said a tad crossly.
Johnny clenched his jaw. "I don't want you guys to worry about me."
"But we are worried, Johnny," Rosita argued, her green eyes glistening. "We just got you back...but even at a glance we knew you were hurting...so much."
Johnny closed his eyes. "I'm sorry for making you guys worry."
"Johnny…" Clay said with a stern look. "...you really need to stop saying you're sorry."
"Sor-"
"Ahem!" Nooshy said, bristling. "What did he just say?"
Johnny shrank under the lynx's bristling look. "Never mind."
Nooshy smiled triumphantly before giving Johnny's head an affectionate squeeze.
She laughed as his face reddened madly.
Despite his feelings of embarrassment, Johnny couldn't fight the smile stretching on his face.
Despite the immensity of his loss, he felt safe.
He felt at peace.
Nooshy felt Johnny relax in his arms and she leaned her head into his, feeling his hitched breaths return to normal as he fell back to sleep.
The stress and trauma of the past week had utterly exhausted Johnny and before he knew it, he was fast asleep.
Nooshy kissed him gently on the forehead before setting him back on his bed, gently tucking him in.
"Night love," she said with a loving smile.
00000
Next Morning…
Johnny's tired eyes opened.
He was not just tired, he was exhausted and very sore.
He may have slept all night but he was worn out and felt beat down.
Johnny rubbed his sore eyes with his right hand.
When he attempted to lift his left hand, he found that he couldn't.
Looking down, he saw that his hand and forearm were in the clutches of a sleeping Nooshy, who was kneeling off the side of the bed.
Her head was laid just on top of his arm.
He hadn't forgotten how beautiful she looked when she slept.
Turning his head further, he could see Clay Calloway just off the side room, asleep in an armchair.
Turning his attention back on the woman he loves, Johnny gently caressed her cheek, rubbed her ears, and smiled.
Nooshy stirred slightly and then she too opened her eyes.
"Hi," Johnny said softly with a smile.
Nooshy returned the smile. "Hi yourself."
"Better get up then."
Nooshy slowly closed her eyes and nestled into Johnny's long arm before letting go. "Yeah."
Johnny sat up and stretched.
"Are you ok now?" Nooshy asked, voice filled with concern.
Johnny looked down. His heart ached but as badly as last night. Healing would take time.
Much time.
But with friends like these and with the most extraordinary girl he ever met, he knew he'd be ok.
Johnny smiled weakly. "In time, Noosh, in time."
00000
Breakfast was quiet but the tension had lessened greatly.
The return of Johnny seemed to have lifted the spirits of everyone in the house.
Come morning, one of the first to be up were the piglets.
How full of joy they were when they saw Johnny.
"JOHNNYYYYY!" they all cried.
He was prepared when the pink tide came in. Caspar was the first to reach him. Not unlike a missile, he launched himself into Johnny's arms, causing him to fall into a chair that was conveniently placed behind him.
Vida and Ada crawled into Johnny's lap, big smiles on their faces.
"Go easy," Nurse Sue said with an amused smile. "I still need to have a look at him."
"Johnny, we missed you so much!" Caspar cried, as he gave the young gorilla a hug that rivaled the one he had given Nooshy when he saw after she was 'released' from the hospital.
Johnny was crestfallen. "I missed ya too, little mate."
Tess and Julianne gave Johnny wet kisses on both of his cheeks, much to his mild embarrassment and slight disgust.
All present chuckled and aww'd at the touching scene.
A grinning Porsha had her phone out, filming the entire thing.
Whilst stifling giggles, Ash was doing the same on her phone.
Meena gawked at them both. "You two are terrible," she said, trying but miserably failing to hold back her laughter.
Alfonso held his stomach, also trying to hold back laughter. "Oh man, this is so great!"
Rosita was sitting in a chair, covering her face abashed but laughing as well. "I'm so sorry Johnny, but they've really missed you."
"No kidding," Norman guffawed as he threw his head back.
Buster anxiously scratched the back of his head, remembering all the times he had been swarmed by the pink tide.
Gunter smiled but he too was slightly irked, remembering the first time he had babysat Rosita's children. No candy at bedtime, he told himself. No candy at bedtime.
Ms Crawly had folded her hands as she watched the endearing scene. "So sweet," she cooed.
"Um...help?" Johnny said, shrouded by squirming piglets, as she eyed a hysterical Nooshy.
"Nope, you're on your own Johnny boy." Nooshy wiped a tear from her eye. "Besides, you weren't exactly quick to come to my rescue when I was at their mercy the last time. What was it you said? 'That's all they need, more confidence.'"
"Ooooh," Porsha said.
Johnny chuckled nervously. "Would it help if I said sorry?"
Nooshy looked upward in thought. "Mmmm, nope."
Standing in the hallway were Johnny's uncle Ivan and his partner Carmen, both with amused smirks on their faces.
Nana Noodleman, her butler Douglas Hobbs, Suki Lane, and Clay Calloway stood by them, similar looks on their faces as well.
With the exception of Douglas, who had the same stern, servile look on his face.
"So…" Suki said, turning to look at the fairly new additions to Cosgrove's group. "Ivan, is it?"
"Da."
"I take you're the ones who saved Johnny's life?"
"Vell...it was Carmen who caught little Johnny vhen he vent over the falls at the vater plant."
Carmen cleared her throat, slightly abashed.
"Wait…" Rosita said from inside the living room, as she slipped off her seat.
The mother of 25 approached the black she-leopard. "You saved Johnny? If it wasn't for you, Johnny would've been dead?"
Carmen averted her eyes sheepishly, her black curtain of stringy hair mercilessly shielding the look in them. "It was nothing really."
"Are you kidding?!" Ash exclaimed. "Our friend would be dead if it wasn't for you!"
Putting a hand on her hip and the other behind her neck while bowing her head, Carmen bit her tongue, not used to this kind of attention.
Ivan put an arm around her shoulders, grinning. "My fiancé is very shy."
"FIANCÉ?!" Johnny cried, almost causing the piglets to fall off him, but instinctively catching them in his long arms before they could.
"IVAN?!" Carmen shouted, her face starting to turn red under her smooth black spotted fur. She slapped Ivan on his broad chest.
Ivan looked caught. "Oops, that vas supposed to be a surprise."
"Hmm," Douglas said with a lopsided grin. "That would explain the earlier hostility."
Before Carmen could chastise her betrothed further, she was interrupted when a young lynx mammalite wrapped her thin arms around her middle.
"Wha-?!"
Nooshy wept happily as she held the horribly abashed leopard. "You saved him, thank you! Thank you so much!"
A tearful Meena joined in the hug, encircling both felines in her massive arms, making Carmen even more uncomfortable.
Rosita, Ash and Miss Crawly of course hugged the she-leopard around both her legs.
She was like a steaming statue at this point, her head craning slightly, her mouth a thin line, her brain turning off temporarily at this affectionate assault.
What really did her in was when Caspar split off to hug Carmen's tail like it was a sweet, sweet teddy bear.
Ivan could hold his laughter back no longer at the comical scene.
His laughter was loud and powerful.
But was quickly silenced when a pair of furious azure blue eyes stared him down.
Ivan flinched and shrank back.
The Russian white tiger turned his attention to Clay. "Do you have the ring?"
Clay looked at the half blind tiger suspiciously. "Excuse me?"
"Johnny's ring," Ivan whispered. "My Ivanka's. You vill give it back to him, yes?"
Clay frowned. "I wasn't going to keep it if that's what you're suggesting."
"No no," Ivan said, dismissing the idea. "Just vant to know you vill return without letting her see it," he said, motioning to the young lynx still tearfully embracing a stricken Carmen.
Clay still frowned at the scarred tiger's frowardness but he nodded. "I will see to it he gets without incident."
Ivan bowed his head in thanks. "Obliged, comrade."
"Uh hey?" Johnny called out from under the pink tide. "Where are Ryan and the others?"
"Oh," Buster said, twiddling his fingers. "They left yesterday to intercept Klaus and the rest of the dance troupe. They were coming here by bus to pay their respects."
Johnny looked shocked. "They are?! But I'm alive!"
"Yes," Buster said. "But they don't know that. The message didn't reach them before they left. And we can't call them to tell them. Too risky. If Khan finds out you're still alive…"
Johnny closed his eyes. "Oh man."
00000
Once the relentless loving and affectionate assault of the piggy pile had ended, Johnny was shown to a private room where Nurse Sue would finally have a look at Johnny's wound.
The wound that was inflicted upon him by Sean DiMarco on the night his father was murdered.
The only people that would be sitting in while Sue checked Johnny out was Nooshy, Clay and Ivan.
Johnny gulped nervously.
"I'm gonna need you to take your shirt off Johnny."
"Uh...you're sure?"
Nurse Sue nodded firmly. "I am. Just in case this Dr Straham missed anything."
Ivan bristled. "Straham is very capable doctor."
"I'm sure he is but all the same, I need to check him out."
Johnny gripped the bottom of his shirt, preparing to take it off, but he hesitated, not because he was afraid to go shirtless but because he was afraid to look at the damage that had been done to him.
Feeling a small hand on his knee, Johnny looked to see Nooshy looking up at him with that warm smile and those bright amber eyes, filled with the promise that she'd be there for him.
Without a word needed saying, Johnny proceeded to remove his long-sleeve shirt, exposing the bandages that wrapped around his midsection and for additional security, was tied up and over his shoulder.
The bandages were heaviest just above his navel with a vertical gauze that no doubt covered where the puncture wound was located.
Upon seeing Johnny's marvelous physique, her cheeks burned but after a split second, once she saw those bandages, this made her heart skip a beat and a pit grew in her stomach.
Clay grimaced grimly.
Ivan's face did not change.
"Alright," Nurse Sue said, taking out her medical bag and she opened it.
She began by cutting away the bandages, a process which caused Johnny some pain, both physical and emotional.
Nooshy took his right hand and squeezed it.
That seemed to help.
With whatever bottles of ointment and disinfectant she needed to clean up the healing wound, Sue prepared to very gently remove the gauze.
What she saw underneath made her eyes grow huge.
Johnny saw this and began to panic. "What? What is it?!"
"This doesn't make any sense," Sue said gravely.
"What doesn't make any sense?!" Nooshy cried in alarm. "What's wrong?"
"This wound...it's supposed to be almost four days old."
"Yeah?" Clay said, a twinge of anxiety in his own voice at the Nurse's alarm.
"But this...it looks as though the wound had been inflicted two weeks ago."
Johnny cocked an eyebrow. "You what?"
"See for yourself." Nurse Sue pulled out a mirror and angled it so Johnny could see the cut.
Looking into the mirror, Johnny gasped.
A jagged red line, almost diagonal, almost four lines long, just above his navel, stitched closed by thick black cords.
It was horrible enough to look at but what really got Johnny's attention was that the cut didn't look three days old, not even a week, but more just as Nurse Sue suggested.
Nooshy stared wide-eyed at the cut. She might've started crying if the condition of the wound hadn't rendered her dumbfounded.
Clay was awestruck as well. "That's not possible," he gasped.
"Hmm," Ivan said, gandering at the wound. "This is Straham's doing."
Sue looked at the half-blind tiger suspiciously. "How's that?"
Ivan did not answer. He pulled out a cellphone and speed dialed. Then handed the phone over to Nurse Sue.
"Straham vas expecting a call anyway."
Frowning, Sue took the phone.
"Hello? Hello!" Sue made the displeasure in her voice quite clear. "Yes...I'd like to know why Johnny's cut looks to have taken two weeks to heal rather than four days…" Sue's look of indignation became horrified. "You...you gave him what?! You didn't think to…?!" Sue looked defeated. "I see. But he will recover? What are the side effects?" She became angry again. "You iron out the details to me personally. Good." Sue hung up the phone.
A chill crawled up Nooshy's spine as she observed the solemn look on Sue's face. "W-What did he say?" she asked.
Nurse Sue sighed. "Johnny's wound was so...extensive that Straham had to perform surgery. The stress of the surgery nearly put Johnny into a coma. Straham introduced an experimental serum which supposedly boosts the healing process. Straham claims it was the only way to give Johnny the best chance for survival. Otherwise, it would've been too dangerous to move him. And quite honestly, seeing that…"'Sue motioned to Johnny's healing cut. "...I'd have to say it's possible. After all, what else could explain how his wound healed so quickly?"
"But he is ok, right?" Nooshy asked insistently.
Nurse Sue smiled. "A-ok."
Nooshy placed a hand over her chest as she let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding.
"But to be on the safe side, I will need to clean up that cut."
"Do what ya got to do, Sue," Johnny said. "By the way, where's Jimmy? I haven't seen him since last night and he hasn't said a word."
Sue clenched her jaw as she replaced her elastic gloves. "He's still...upset about the events on the pier."
"Oh," Johnny said, both sad and exasperated. "I'll go to talk to him later."
"Thank you," Sue said, taking Johnny's hand.
With that, Nurse Sue returned to her medical kit.
Nooshy took another hard look at Johnny's stab wound.
Seeing how badly he had been hurt, the very wound that nearly killed him, it felt as though it might kill her instead but not so quickly, as though the knife was being slipped in between her still healing ribs and was slowly plunging into her towards her racing heart.
Nooshy covered her whimpering mouth with one hand while the other gingerly ran down the red, stitched line on her love's stomach.
Johnny took that dainty hand in both of his and kissed it. "It's ok Noosh, I'm ok."
Nooshy wept softly but smiled. "You better be. Or next time, I won't use an Italian Vogue."
Johnny laughed. "I'll keep that in mind."
00000
Jimmy laid on his bed in a slightly depressed stupor.
Johnny was home.
He should be happy about that.
He was but Johnny's dad was dead.
Jimmy understood that he couldn't blame himself. There was no way he could've known about the tracking device in his upper arm.
Just thinking about it...it makes my arm itch.
But still, he couldn't help but think of the tragedy and think the thoughts he had.
Jimmy heard a knock at his door.
"Jimmy, you in there?"
It was Johnny.
The teenage golden retriever turned on his bed, his back to the door.
The door opened.
"Hey bud, how's it going?"
Jimmy didn't answer.
"Look...I know what this about, mate." Johnny sat on the bed. "I don't blame and I never have. What happened wasn't your fault. You understand that don't ya?"
"Yeah…" Jimmy said weakly. "...but it still hurts that I had a role in it, whether I knew it or not."
"I understand." Johnny placed a hand on Jimmy's shoulder. "I really do. But we'll get through this, Jimmy. I promise. You're my mate."
Jimmy stirred slightly.
And then he sat up.
Johnny put an arm around him.
"I'm glad you're back," Jimmy said, his voice barely above a whisper.
"Thanks little mate, me too."
00000
Three Days Later…
The Moon troupe's time at the townhouse was exemplary.
Johnny mourned his father. Would continue to mourn for him. Unfortunately there was still no word from Johnny's other uncles.
Karen Zelle, after giving a courtesy call, promised she'd find them.
Apparently she had been the federal officer who contacted the senior members of the Moon troupe at the Citadel Tower several weeks ago via the security laptop, provided by Eddie Noodleman, who had served as Miss Zelle's middleman for the operation, much to her displeasure.
Aside from the emotional and mental scarring, Johnny's wound had been healing quite nicely.
The experimental serum he had received, though fundamentally untested, had worked like magic. Johnny was right as rain in almost no time at all.
But as always, the physical wounds are always the first to heal.
In the private lounge of the Noodleman Townhouse, sitting at a round table were Buster Moon, Clay Calloway, Nana Noodleman, Suki Lane, Nooshy Wright, Johnny Egerton and his uncle, Ivan Desinov.
As a courtesy, Cosgrove gave the approval to Ivan to fill in the Moon troupe on an update on information concerning all of them and the situation at hand.
What was divulged thus far was a tad difficult to swallow.
Buster shakily lifted his coffee mug to his lips, a most anxious look on his face.
"Y-you don't say," he stammered. "You're quite sure?"
Johnny nodded. "I know it must be a lot to take in, Mr Moon, but yes. It's all true. Cosgrove provided documented and video evidence which was pretty conclusive."
"Hmm," Nooshy said, arms tightly crossed, a sour look on her face. "Is there more?"
"Well…" Johnny looked at his uncle Ivan, who nodded assuringly. "...Cosgrove told me some things concerning you...and your mum."
Nooshy's eyes widened with surprise. "My mum?" She quickly stood up. "Is she ok?"
"She's fine," Johnny said, placing a hand on her shoulder.
Nooshy stared at him, as though reading his thoughts. "How do you know?"
Johnny closed his eyes and breathed out anxiously. He had planned this out better in his head.
"Because I saw her."
Nooshy recoiled as though she were struck. She gaped in shock. "You what?! You saw her?! You saw my mum?!"
Buster, Eddie, Suki and Clay also looked rather shocked and surprised.
Suki simply shrugged as she thought better of it. Cosgrove, you sly dog.
Johnny looked at his uncle Ivan, whose face was neutral. No objection from him. But I wouldn't keep this from her anyway.
Johnny looked back at his girlfriend. "I saw your mum, Nooshy, yes. She's working with the people who saved my life, who are after the ones who did this to us."
Nooshy narrowed her eyes. "Mum is supposed to be in jail."
"Well she isn't, Noosh. And she never belonged in jail in the first place."
Nooshy furrowed her brow. "What are you talking about?"
Before Johnny could answer, Ivan removed a folder from his jacket and handed it to Nooshy.
"What is that?" she asked.
"Read and you vill see."
Nooshy took it and opened the file folder. As she read the contents, surprise and growing horror began to show in her eyes. This file contained the history, the medical report and the forged legal documents, all concerning her mother, how the pharmaceuticals had fouled up her prescribed medication, that they were actually abortion pills and not painkillers, how they not only killed her unborn baby, Nooshy's brother, but that it also left her sterile and how the owner of said medication pulled strings to cover it up.
Nooshy's eyes widened with horror at the total revelation of how this man, this Antony Faust had all but destroyed her family, ruined her mother's life and negligently killed the brother she would never know while living.
Hands trembling, Nooshy dropped the file. She fell to her knees, beginning to hyperventilate.
"Nooshy!" Johnny cried, rushing to her side in no time at all.
Nooshy, her shaking hands in front of her face, eyes wide, started gasping.
"I...I said to mum…" she whispered. "...that she was dead to me."
Johnny took her hands in his. "You thought she was responsible for your brother's death."
"But...why didn't she tell me the truth?"
Johnny rubbed the back of his neck. "Well…"
Ivan decided to put his two cents in. "Your mother did not know exactly. She only suspected and vhen she was confronted by a lawyer representing Faust Pharmaceuticals, she knew at once that she vas set up. If she had voiced her suspicions to you, your life vould've been in greater danger."
Nooshy looked ready to cry. "Where is she?"
"Back at the...their base," Johnny said.
"Why isn't mum here with you?"
"Well…" Johnny said, rubbing the back of his neck again.
00000
"Miss Wright, are you sure?"
Noelle Sr nodded grimly. "I am, Johnny. I can't leave, as much as I want to and I really want to."
"Then why-?"
"Because there are still some loose ends I need to make sure are tied." Noelle Sr sighed. "I can't show myself until then. I'd put my little firefly in harm's way." She looked sad now. "Besides, I'm not sure if she wants to see me anyway."
"That's not true!" Johnny protested. "Whatever was said, she never meant it."
Noelle Sr shrugged. "You keep saying that. I still took drugs while I was with child. Whether I knew it or not, prescribed or not, I still had a role in my little boy's death."
Johnny frowned sadly. "You were grieving. You-"
"Doesn't matter. I should've known better, period!"
"Miss Wright-!"
Noelle Sr held up a hand to stop Johnny. "But...but I will ponder it. Now...before anything else…" She looked Johnny hard in the eye. "I'd like to know what designs you have on my daughter?"
Johnny flinched back at the mother's searing stare. "Um...sorry?"
"For what? For that bum proposal you pulled back in New Jersey?"
Johnny stepped back so suddenly and quickly, he almost tripped and fell.
"How do you know about that?! Wait…" Johnny's eyes narrowed. "Did Suki tell you?"
Noelle Sr shook her head. "No, we bugged the safehouse just before you arrived."
"We?" Coal said, from off the side, having tea. The black wolf scoffed. "You mean you."
Johnny gawked, looking about the room, to all those present. "You…you what?!"
Cosgrove stood up from his armchair. "It was for your protection. You and your friends were being hunted. We only bugged the main areas of the safehouse, none whatsoever were planted in your rooms or any private areas."
"Did Suki know?"
Cosgrove shook his head. "No. Knowing her and her knowing how I operate, she probably guessed."
"Meanwhile…" Noelle Sr said sharply. "...regarding the matter concerning my daughter's relationship."
"Whoa whoa," Johnny said, holding a hand up. "Definitely not trying to change the subject."
"Suki mentioned a ring with a sapphire stone which was found in your leather jacket."
That got the attention of everyone in the room.
Coal put his tea down to watch the heated exchange with growing interest.
Cosgrove cocked an eyebrow.
Pascal grinned cheekily.
Karen Zelle simply continued tapping at a computer at her desk.
Johnny was trembling now. "Did...Did Suki look through the pockets of my jacket? Did Nooshy see it?"
"No, that Clay Calloway pocketed it. Suki merely saw him with it and when she described the ring to us, Ivan knew where it came from. It was your mother's. Calloway took it for safekeeping I imagine. And my daughter did not see it, no. Now...what were your plans with that ring if I may ask?"
Johnny blushed terribly. "I...it's not what you think."
"Oh?" Noelle Sr crossed her arms. "You mean you didn't plan on asking for my daughter's hand?"
Johnny gulped. "Well...not yet."
Noelle Sr narrowed her eyes dangerously, causing Johnny to shrink back, terrified.
But then Noelle Sr did something that Johnny did not expect.
She snickered.
And Cosgrove, Coal and Pascal all roared with laughter.
Karen did not turn her head but an amused smile grew on her face.
Johnny looked confused. "What?"
"She's just messing with you Johnny," Coal chortled. "Where's your sense of humor?"
Johnny looked incredulous before looking back at Noelle, who had an fiercely amused look on her face. "You should've seen the look on your face!" she said, pointing at Johnny.
The young gorilla crossed his arms, annoyed. "That's not funny."
"It was SO funny!" Noelle Sr exclaimed, cackling as she held her stomach.
Johnny looked away, tightening his crossed arms, trying to fight the smile coming on his face.
She's definitely Nooshy's mother, he thought to himself.
Grinning, Noelle Sr pointed at Johnny's face. "I can see you trying not to smile, m'son!"
Johnny, his head still turned away, covered his mouth to stifle a laugh.
Noelle Sr laughed with him. "Well, there ya go!"
"Alright, alright."
Carmen and Ivan stepped out of the elevator which was the only conventional way in and out of the top floor of the Chrysler Building.
"If you payasos are through, the transport is ready." Carmen looked at Johnny, who was starting to settle down from his hysterics. "Are you ready?"
Wiping his eyes, Johnny nodded.
"Then let's be off," Ivan said, patting his nephew's shoulder, causing him to cry out.
Johnny winced painfully. "A little hard, uncle."
"Hold it," Noelle Sr said, grabbing Johnny's arm. "Johnny."
"Um...yes?"
Noelle Sr, for the first time since Johnny met her, gave him a genuine smile, one of approval and kindness.
"Thank you for protecting my daughter, for being there for her, and whatever your plans are, you have my blessing and my love."
She sealed her words with a tight hug around a startled Johnny's middle.
Now he really was blushing.
"Um...thanks?"
Cosgrove groaned. "I'm getting too old for this."
Pascal scoffed. "You are never too old for the miracle that is amour, le Colonel."
Coal shook his head as he sipped his tea. "I'm gonna throw up."
00000
Nooshy blushed. "Mum really said and done those things?"
Johnny blushed as well, averting his eyes. "Mmhm."
He of course left out certain details of his account of the event in question, mainly the ring that his father had given him before he died, the engagement ring that was given to his mother.
"So...even though I said that she was dead to me...she still wants to see me?"
Johnny nodded. "She never not wanted to see you ever since she was put away, Nooshy."
Nooshy covered her mouth with both hands, sharp whimpers escaping her lips.
Johnny hugged her tightly.
Nana sipped from her ever-present cup of tea, a look of intense anticipation on her face. "How soon can we make our acquaintance with the rest of Cosgrove's people?"
"Tonight," Ivan said simply. "Under cover of darkness and in secret place."
Suki almost laughed. "Sooner than expected. I suppose that means we have him?"
Ivan nodded. "Sorrows' people are scrambling, comrades. Running scared. He vill try to make run for it."
Nana smirked. "If the number of shady CEO's resigning and fleeing the country is any indication…"
Buster took another sip of coffee. "Does that mean we can come out of hiding? Go back to our lives?"
Suki adjusted her glasses. "Soon, very soon." She rubbed her temples. "I know this past month was almost unbearable."
Buster chuckled anxiously. "Is this why you didn't want me to come to Redshore City?"
Suki shook her head mournfully. "I suspected that Jimmy was up to some shady dealings. But I never imagined how deep it went." She shuddered dreadfully. "And to think that Khan had been the one to extort him personally."
Buster looked grave. "And he was using Porsha as leverage."
"That's right." Suki gripped the arm rests of her chair until her knuckles whitened, his nails digging into the fine wood. "Cowardly animal."
"Indeed," Ivan said.
Clay Calloway scowled. "I seem to recall it being mentioned that you retired from the CIA and became a talent agent. And then you somehow ended up in Redshore City where this major conspiracy was taking place. You sure you weren't just undercover?"
"Not at first," Suki said sharply, not caring for the old rockstar's accusing tone. "I was asked for personally by Estelle. She wanted me to work for her and her husband personally."
Nooshy scratched an ear thoughtfully. "Strange coincidence."
"It wasn't a coincidence," Johnny said.
"No?" Nooshy replied intriguingly.
"No." Johnny looked to his uncle. "You want me to tell them?"
Ivan smiled. "The floor is yours, little Johnny."
00000
Chrysler Building - Manhattan
Just in the street outside the Chrysler building, Coal nursed his black eye.
The black wolf winced. That kid has a nasty right hook.
Noelle Sr put a toothpick in her mouth. "Can't really blame him, can ya mate?"
Coal leered at the smirking lynx, arms crossed and leaning up against a dark, unmarked van parked at the curb.
Coal shrugged. "Guess not, whiskers."
Noelle Sr narrowed her eyes. "Bad time to get uppish, and don't call me whiskers."
Coal grumbled. "How much longer?"
"Half a moment," Noelle said as she lightly tapped the truck from where she was leaning. "Here, Zelle, ya nearly done?"
"Yes," said an impatient voice from inside the truck. "Just need to data crunch a few minor details."
"Right."
Noelle Sr leaned back into the van, a grim look on her face.
There was a trace of sadness in her eyes.
My daughter has been fending for herself for almost a decade. What kind of mother am I?
"You thinking about your kid?"
Noelle Sr looked up to see Coal leaning up against the van as well, two styrofoam cups filled with hot tea.
"Here," the wolf said, handing Noelle a cup.
"Much appreciated." Noelle took a drink. "Mmm. This from the new place?"
"Yup."
Noelle cleared her throat. "An answer to your question, yes. I can't stop thinking about her."
Coal looked down into his cup's contents as though searching for answers. "I'm sure she'll be happy to see you. Johnny sounded pretty sincere."
Noelle looked skeptical. "We'll see."
"And...got it," Zelle said, just before she opened the van's side door ajar. "We're a go."
Noelle spat out her toothpick. "Finally."
00000
East Coast- Manhattan
"H-here we are," said a shaking driver of an unmarked limousine, a male donkey mammalite dressed in fine apparel.
"Good," Cosgrove said, lowering his Colt .45 revolver from the man's head. "Sleep well."
Pascal slammed a gloved fist into the side of the driver's head, rendering him unconscious.
Cosgrove and Pascal stepped out of the backseat of the limo, which was parked outside an old abandoned warehouse just off an abandoned pier on the East River.
Very quietly, after picking the lock, they slipped through the backdoor.
Once inside, they were met by a wall of cargo containers, which were stacked to the ceiling.
They slipped in through a gap and tiptoed to the edge of the other side, staying in the shadows.
Cosgrove sniffed the air. "Do you smell that?"
Pascal frowned as he too inhaled the air. "Oui, it smells like…"
"Explosives."
Once they reached the opening on the other end of the cargo containers, Cosgrove and Pascal saw what looked like several crates, stacks of crates and two warehouse workers loading them into a large B-class truck.
The crates were stamped with block letters in black ink in a language that was not American.
"Pascal?
The black goat took out a scope from his jacket pocket and zoomed in on the writing of the crate.
"Hmm, definitely military ordnance, not C4, not local, it's Ukrainian."
"Hmh," Cosgrove said thoughtfully. "This is not good."
"Non, mon brave, it is not."
Cosgrove's lips peeled off his teeth and he almost snarled in rage. "That lunatic is planting explosives in the city. We've got less time than I thought."
Pascal nodded. "Not trying to cover his tracks, Sorrows is making diversion so he can escape the country."
"That just leaves one thing," Cosgrove said gravely. "Who has the trigger?" The Colonel turned to the Frenchman. "Leg it."
And very quietly, they fled the warehouse.
00000
Noodleman Townhouse
Checking her watch, Suki Lane noticed a beeping green light, just below the clock's centerpiece.
Suki frowned. She turned to Nana Noodleman, who, also noticing the green light as well, understood at once.
"Hobbs."
"Yes madam?"
"Gather everyone to my chambers at once. Tell them it's an emergency meeting."
Douglas Hobbs nodded obediently. "At once, madam."
00000
"Nana, what is this all about?" Buster asked.
"What this is all about Mr Moon, is that it's time you and your people know the truth, the whole truth."
"Meaning?" Ash asked, slightly annoyed.
"Cosgrove and his people are coming here tonight, to meet all of you."
Everyone was silent.
Nooshy spoke up first. "My mum…?"
Nana smiled tightly. "Yes child, she is among them."
"Is it safe for them to meet with us?" Rosita asked, sounding very worried. "I mean if we're hunted people, wouldn't they making contact with us put us in even greater danger?"
"Cosgrove has resolved that the level of danger that all of us are in cannot be determined, so he has decided that he and his people will accompany you until our enemies are either arrested or destroyed."
"Destroyed?" Meena said aghast.
Rosita soothingly patted the trembling elephant on her arm.
Nana sheepishly cleared her throat. "Some of you should stay here, watch the children."
"I'll stay," Norman said strongly. "I'm their father."
"I'll stick around too," Alfonso said before turning to his girlfriend. "Will you be ok babe?"
"S-Sure," Meena squeaked.
"I'll stay too," Suki said. "Just in case."
"In case of what?" Rosita asked, slightly alarmed. "This place is safe isn't it? Really safe?"
"It is," Nana assured. "But that's what I thought of the Citadel. That is why Mr Cosgrove doesn't wish to take any more chances. Miss Zelle and two others will be coming here. They should be here soon. And Mr Cosgrove and his N.C.O. will follow soon after."
"His what?" Ash asked with quirked eyebrow.
"An N.C.O., a Non Commissioned Officer and his right hand man."
"So we're finally going to learn what's going on?"
"Yes Ash, everything," Johnny said in a somber, serious tone. "So where are we going?"
Nana looked Johnny dead in the eye. "Down."
00000
The Moon troupe gathered in the private bed chambers of Nana Noodleman.
All present were Buster Moon, Edward Noodleman, Miss Betty Crawley, Ash, Rosita, Meena, Porsha, Gunter, Clay, Johnny and Nooshy.
Suki Lane, along with Norman, Nurse Sue, her nephew Jimmy, Ivan and Carmen stood at the doorway.
And Rosita and Norman's children all stood in the hall, anxious and twitching.
Once all were assembled, Nana Noodleman, who was dressed in her Ivy League travel garb, who was flanked by her butler Douglas, turned to one of the large walls, which held an immaculate design of flowering blossoms. She pressed hard on a particular blooming blossom design on the fine plaster and the flower design popped out to reveal it as a turning knob.
All those in the room gasped in wonder.
"Whoa," Nooshy exclaimed, sounding impressed.
Nana began turning the flower knob, and on the third turn, a door handle popped out of the wall in the form of a flower vine design.
Nana took hold of the handle and pulled very hard.
And the wall opened to reveal a flight of stairs going downward into a deep, dark corridor.
Clay smirked. "Well...I'm impressed."
Meena shook a bit as she looked down the dark stairwell. "W-We...w-we gotta go down there?"
"I'm afraid so dear," Nana said.
Rosita turned to Norman and kissed him. "I won't be long, dear. I love you."
"I love you too."
"Right then," Johnny said, a tad nervous. He turned to his uncle and his soon-to-be aunt by marriage. "You will follow close behind, eh?"
"Of course," Ivan said with a sharp nod.
"Mmm," Carmen said.
Nooshy elbowed Johnny in the ribs, causing him to squeak in discomfort. "You're not afraid of the dark, are ya?"
Johnny gulped. "N-Not really, just don't know what we'll find down there."
Nooshy crossed her arms. "Well...we want answers and you're not going to get them standing here."
"She's right Jonathan," Nana said. "Another thing, Porsha dear?"
The young wolf girl lifted her head. "Um, yeah?"
"You stay with Miss Lane."
Porsha's face fell. "What?!"
"The corridors are very old and are quite easy to get lost in," Nana said with a stern eye locked on Porsha. "I do not wish to put you in a position where you might get abducted again."
"But-!"
Nana raised a hand. "No arguments Porsha, you're staying here."
Porsha frowned angrily but she relaxed when Suki put a gentle hand on her goddaughter's shoulder.
"Hobbs, if you'd be so kind as to lead the way?"
The penguin butler nodded. "Of course madam."
00000
Underground - Manhattan
Carrying an electric lantern, Douglas Hobbs led the Moon troupe through the underground corridors beneath the Noodleman Townhouse.
"How much further?" Ash asked, growing impatient and rather scared.
"Not much further Ms Johansson."
"Actually Hobbs…" Nana said simply. "...I believe this is it right here."
The old sheep stepped forward into the dark hall of the ancient underground catacombs of New York City and stood alone just a few feet away from the group.
"Uh...Nana?" Buster said, bewildered.
"Liberty or death," Nana said flatly but just loud enough to be heard.
Out of the darkness stepped out four figures in shadow and they approached the Moon troupe's position.
Fear gripped the group, mostly the younger generation.
Clay Calloway stepped in front, arms raised as though preparing to ward off an assault or at least make it clear that he was not to be trifled with.
And then a light shown among the newcomers.
The one in front, a bespectacled gazelle in fine attire smiled wryly. "Hello everyone."
The faces of Ash and Meena were awash with confusion and shock. "What the-?!" Ash cried.
"Oh," Karen Zelle said, eyeing Buster Moon with a raised eyebrow. "That's right, they don't know about me being a federal officer as of yet. I see you kept your word of keeping it yourself when I made contact with you back at the Citadel. Well done Mr Moon."
"Um...you're not Special Agent Cosgrove, are you?" Meena asked nervously.
Karen shook her head. "No, my name is Carol Ann Zelle and I'm a federal officer working under Mr Cosgrove."
"We like to call her Karen," chortled the middle-aged lynx flanking the gazelle's right.
Karen frowned in annoyance.
Before she could retort however, the rest of the group stared wide eyed at the lynx, who was a dead ringer for Nooshy.
With a few obvious differences, such as the clear age difference and the icy blue eyes as opposed to Nooshy's rich amber color.
"Mum?"
Noelle Sr gasped and her knees started to buckle when she saw the face of the one thing that had haunted her dreams for almost ten long years.
The face she had thought she'd never see again.
"Mum?!" Nooshy cried, covering her mouth as tears streamed down her face. She expected this but it did not keep the intense emotion from flowing from her heart like a spring.
A weak smile came upon Noelle Sr's lips as tears started to well in her own eyes as well. "Firefly?"
Nooshy bolted from the group, arms outstretched. "MUM!" she cried as tears flew in bullets from her face.
Walking on weak legs, Noelle Sr trudged towards her daughter, opening her arms to her.
Nooshy leapt and wrapped her arms around the neck and shoulders of her mother, the one she had scorned, hated, and yet missed so much.
They cried out loud as they fell to their knees, holding each other, making up for lost time, almost ten years of neither seeing an inch of each other.
The Moon troupe stared in shock, awe and heartfelt emotion at this beautiful and unexpected reunion.
Cosgrove's people watched with light smiles.
Even Coal smiled, albeit it was a sad one.
Buster, his arms crossed, smiled as he wiped a tear from his right eye.
Rosita, smiling and in tears, covered her mouth with both hands.
Gunter tried to hold back his tears but as always failed miserably.
Meena watched with folded hands, smiling tearfully.
Ms Crawly blew into a handkerchief.
Ash simply stared in shock.
Johnny grinned, his heart swelling at seeing his lady love and her estranged mother together once more.
Both Nooshy and her mother pulled apart so they could look into each other's tearful eyes.
"Oh Noelle," Noelle Sr said, her words coming through happy sobs. "Look at ya, look at ya! You're so beautiful!"
Nooshy laughed. She thought she'd hate being called by that name but now, she didn't mind in the least. "So are you. You aged well." Her tearful smile fell. "Oh mum, I'm so sorry! I...I didn't know-!"
"Shh!" Noelle Sr said, placing a hand on her daughter's mouth. "Shhh, don't apologize darling, it's alright. It's alright now."
"How can ya say that?" Nooshy hiccuped miserably. "I said horrible things to you."
"None of that matters anymore Noelle," Noelle Sr said with a warm smile. "And I don't blame ya. You done what I would've done if I were in your shoes. It's ok darling."
"Oh mum." Nooshy laid her head into her mother's shoulder, holding on tight. "I missed you so much."
"I missed you too," Noelle Sr said, holding her daughter close and tight.
But the embrace came to an end when Noelle Sr's ears twitched when she heard something.
Ivan and Carmen lifted their heads sharply, hearing the sound as well.
"What? What is it?!" Nooshy cried.
Carmen split off from the group and stepped into the dark hall where they just had just come from.
After a moment, there was a sharp cry of alarm.
"Well well well," Carmen said, much like a parent catching a naughty child in the middle of an equally naughty action. "What have we here?"
An unimpressed Carmen came back, dragging a sheepish Porsha along by the arm.
"Porsha?!" Buster cried in surprise and displeasure. "You were supposed to stay behind!"
Coal growled in annoyance. "How did the rest of you not know you were being followed?"
Ivan was dumbfounded. "That's vhat I vant to know. Not just anyone can sneak up on me and Carm."
Nana crossed her arms, an unimpressed look on her face. "Porsha…" she said sternly. "I told you to stay uptop didn't I?"
Porsha smiled nervously. "Maybe."
Ash covered her face, both exasperated and embarrassed. "Oh Porsha!"
"What?! Like I was going to miss out on a top secret meeting, especially when I'm in the middle of all of this!"
Karen Zelle shook her head disapprovingly. "You seem to have a knack for including sneaky sorts in your group, Moon."
Buster smiled sheepishly.
Coal crossed his arms and turned his face away, more out of caution rather than out of displeasure for the unexpected arrival.
Another sound echoed in the corridors.
All was quiet as Cosgrove's people and the Moon troupe remained silent to listen for the sound of an intruder.
The sound came again, the sound of footfalls in the distance.
"Is...is that Mr Cosgrove?" Meena whispered.
Karen frowned. "No."
"Hmm," Ivan said unconcerned. "Seems that some have got through after all."
"What?!" Johnny said. "What does that mean?!"
"It means…" Noelle Sr said gravely as she stood up, helping Nooshy to her feet. "...that we have an intruder." Her ears twitched. "Sorry, intruders."
"Were you followed?" Carmen asked, sounding very unimpressed.
"No," Noelle Sr said gravely. "But Sorrows' people are fast and efficient. They may have found these catacombs and may be closing in, but they can't find us unless they know the way."
"Does this mean we have to move again?" Nooshy asked.
Karen almost chuckled at what almost sounded like a quip. "You're in one of the most secure parts of Manhattan, Miss Wright. So I should say not."
Nooshy scoffed. "That's what we were told about the Citadel."
Karen cleared her throat. "Y-Yes...well Mr Cosgrove is taking no more chances which is precisely why we're here."
"Enough chit chat," Noelle Sr said, cracking her knuckles. "Can't risk the way back being compromised."
"Da," Ivan said, twisting his neck causing it to pop.
"Wait wait!" Johnny said frantically. "You're going to fight?"
"No choice little Johnny."
"Wouldn't it be better to leave them be?" Johnny asked. "If the guy who sent them doesn't hear from them back-!"
"They may already have an idea of where we are, Johnny," Carmen said, meshing her fingers together and cracking them. "But whoever's down there, they're too close and we can't risk them compromising our location."
With that, Carmen separated from the Moon group and joined Noelle Sr and Coal as they slinked back into the dark corridor where they came.
Karen and Ivan stayed behind.
"Wait! Mum!" Nooshy cried in distress.
"It's ok firefly, mummy's got this," Noelle Sr said reassuringly, waving a dismissive hand.
Once they were gone, Johnny turned to Ivan. "You're not going with them?" he asked.
"Nyet, better one of us stays vith you and comrades. Carmen is better vith doings things quiet."
"Will they be ok?" Meena asked wearily.
Karen smiled wryly. "You should be more concerned about those Black Cemetery operatives."
Rosita looked at the receptionist/federal officer. "Black Cemetery?"
"Sorrows' private military contract."
"Mercenaries more like," Ivan said with a growl. "Been chasing us for years."
00000
Seven large figures in black tactical gear and face masks strode along the dark underground corridors.
They were armed with automatic rifles fitted with silencers.
One carried a large case which undoubtedly carried special ordnance.
"Set the charges," one of them said flatly.
The one carrying the case set it down, opened it and took out a few metallic disks with red nodes in the center.
"Get to work."
Before the demolitionist could follow his orders however, out of nowhere, two metallic cables shot out of the darkness, snagged two mercs around their ankles, causing them to fall, and they were pulled away screaming, out of view.
"What was that?!"
The sound of bodies hitting the floor echoed in the corridor, causing the leading mercenary and two others to practically jump out of their skins.
Two more mercs were taken down by an unseen foe. No action was seen. All that was seen were the two arching their backs before going limp and dropping to the floor.
They trained their weapons for any movements in the dark.
"I can't see anything!" one of the mercs said on the verge of panicking. "What do we do?!"
"I think we should regroup!"
"Shut your mouth!" The merc leader snarled, grabbing one of his men by the throat. "We've been given specific orders and we will perform them without question!"
"That might be easier said than done," said a clipped British accent, edged with menace. "Know what I mean, chief?"
The last three looked around frantically but couldn't see the source of the voice.
Nothing but dark shadowy corners.
"Do you see anyone?!" one of the mercs asked in a panic.
"Lights, put the lights on!"
The three mercs attempted to switch on the lamp attachments to their rifles but they shorted out as though the bulbs just suddenly burned out.
"What the-?!"
Before the leader could give another order, the soldier flanking his right cried out in terror.
Both the leader and the soldier flanking his left turned to see the soldier that cried out in a most peculiar state.
A thin metal cable was wrapped around him like a lasso and before the soldier could act, he shot up into the drain pipe above him, disappearing with a terrified, high-pitched shriek.
"Forget this! I'm outta here!"
The remaining soldier took to his heels, abandoning his commanding officer.
"HEY! GET BACK HERE!"
As soon as the fleeing soldier disappeared, more screams echoed in the cavern.
"No no no no! AAHHHHH!"
The merc leader shrank back, trembling terribly.
"Where are you?! Show yourself!"
"Hello."
The merc leader turned quickly only to be kneed hard in the groin, causing him to bend over in pain. He only had enough time to see an eager, devilish smile before being kneed hard in the face.
The merc leader fell to the floor, out cold.
"Nighty night," Noelle Sr said with a mischievous smirk.
00000
The Moon troupe waited anxiously.
They saw nothing, heard nothing but the horrified screams of whomever was lurking in the corridors.
It was unsettling to say the least.
Porsha leaned towards Nooshy. "Your mom is awesome," she whispered.
Nooshy chuckled nervously. "Y-yeah," she said a bit shakily.
"Before you ask," Karen Zelle said, not breaking her professional air. "Cosgrove has a strict 'last resort only' concerning lethal force, so you needn't worry about those brutes."
"Just who are you referring to as 'brutes'?" Ash asked, a tad sarcastically.
Before Karen could retort, Noelle, Carmen and Coal had already returned.
Coal was rubbing the back of his neck.
"Are you ok?" Ms Crawly asked.
"I'm fine," Coal said, waving a hand. "One of those bozos got lucky."
Porsha raised an eyebrow. Bozo?
Nooshy approached her mother, quivering for her well-being. "Are you ok?"
Noelle Sr smiled sweetly. "Don't fuss dear, they didn't even constitute as a joke."
"So what now?" Johnny said. "Are you just going to leave them there? Their boss will come looking for them."
"Good call Johnny," Noelle Sr said, impressed by the young man's forethought. "Zelle?"
Karen nodded, pressing a few keys on her tablet. "We have people who'll pick up those thugs for us. They usually pick up the garbage in an hour anyway."
Coal coughed, adjusting the collar of his turtleneck, not realizing he had just shaken something loose.
"Well, that was a mess," he said, in a voice that should've not been his. "It won't take long for them to close in on us."
This time, his voice was smoother, not so booming and strangely familiar.
No one seemed to notice at first.
Except for one.
As she was shaking off the momentary shock, Porsha blinked disbelievingly as she stared wide-eyed at the black wolf, who was dusting himself off with his back turned to her.
She craned her head just past Ivan, who was checking Carmen over, who was shooing him away, and then Porsha spoke.
"Daddy?"
At that, the chamber became deathly quiet as a grave.
…..
Coal (Black wolf) - Bobby Cannavale