Chapter 10: Vegetable Melee
It felt great for the Commandos, not only did they get their comrade Private Pizza back, but they were back to scoring victories again, even learning a few lessons from getting Private Pizza captured to formulating new plans and backup plans. But the war was raging on, even after recovering from a defeat that turned into a victory, both sides needed to come up with new plans one for invasion the other for defense. Both sides had a vehicle, and the score was Kitchen Commandos: 7, Refrigerator Rejects: 2, in terms of main combat, now both sides were thinking of what area of battle that should be tackled next, but for now they had to rest for the night. Meanwhile the boys were still dreaming of what just happened, Gordon was smiling in his sleep, while Bobby grumbled at a plan that backfired.
The morning came, and the boys kept their dreams to themselves throughout the day, not knowing what to expect, and the fact came that for dinner tonight, part of it was going to be a nice vegetable medley, though the boys had different tastes on each. While Gordon preferred peas, carrots, and broccoli, the stuff rich in nutrients, Bobby preferred green beans, small potatoes, and corn kernels, smaller yet enjoyable. The dinner which also included some chicken and a special rice dish went the traditional way, just chatting about day to day things including school, work, friends, play, and so on. Some of the vegetable medley was uneaten since there was so much made by the parents, it was placed in the refrigerator.
Around bedtime, the boys were secretly contemplating what was going to happen next for tonight's kitchen clash, with the vegetable medley no doubt being used for something. At around midnight, when everyone was tucked into their beds after hours, the clashing sides rose from their slumber, ready for another scuffle. For the Kitchen Commandos being refreshed after a capture and rescue they were ready to brainstorm some new ideas for defense. For the Refrigerator Rejects, they'd have to create a trap for the Commandos, just to beat them, as the attempted capture ultimately backfired as their captive would not give any secrets to their success. The Rejects spotted the bowl of the vegetable medley, and Mean Wiener got an idea in his wicked mind.
"For all the methods we've been using against the Commandos the one thing we haven't really considered is using all the vegetables around here!" he barked with an evil grin.
"Yeah! A good melee scuffle with these vegetables should do us good!" added Fat Frenchy, his shades were gleaming.
"Why don't we trick them into considering a "fair" fight when they got the lame vegs?" added Short Stack.
"That sounds like a good idea Short Stack!" replied Mean Wiener. "We'll leave a few scrawnys and impractical weapons for the commandos!"
"How about we leave behind the peas, carrots, and broccoli, while we take the green beans, small potatoes, and corn kernels?" asked Taco Terror.
"Hmm, that sounds like a plan!" Mean Wiener liked the idea grinning.
"With our stash we'll be grinding up the Commandos like a Sunday lunch!" added Chip the Ripper.
"Alright you junkies! Let's get to work!" barked Mean Wiener. With that the Refrigerator Rejects secretly took some vegetables from the medley some on either side, and then awaited their opponents.
At the same time, the Kitchen Commandos, refreshed from their plights, were ready for another patrol around the kitchen, awoken by General Burgerdier. This time they would be more on their guard taking into consideration what happened with Private Pizza getting caught and then eventually rescued by his fellow soldiers.
"Alright men!" he barked with his stern, yet fair tone of voice like a father to his children. "Tonight is another patrol, and this time we'll stay sharp and alert, try not to let your own weaknesses control you!"
"Yes sir!" his soldiers said in unison.
"Don't forget what happened last time men, we got defeated when we got lured into a trap and you Private Pizza…." he turned to the recovered private. "Try not to let yourself get captured again"
"Yes sir!" Private Pizza saluted. With that, the Kitchen Commandos began their patrol around the kitchen. The Kitchen Commandos searched past familiar territory, thinking there would be an ambush where they would least expect it. No luck, even in areas such as the snack bin, the bread basket, the outside vegetable baskets, and around the compost bin. Seeing that there was no trouble there, the Commandos decided to head on over to the refrigerator, thinking that was exactly what the enemy was expecting.
Slowly the Commandos opened the refrigerator door, and there the Rejects were gathered around the vegetable medley with some pieces they took, while grinning evilly anticipating their next move. Mean Wiener himself was holding a small potato and had some at his side, Short Stack was holding a bunch of corn kernels, same as Taco Terror, Fat Frenchy was holding a few green beans as staves, while Chip the Ripper held a green bean and a few small potato. There were some broccoli, peas, carrots left in the bowl.
"What are you waiting for General? Go ahead let your boys grab what you can and then we'll have our little vegetable melee!" Mean Wiener chuckled evilly. Staring at the bowl, the Commandos felt themselves a little gypped at what was offered, but since it was their duty to protect the kitchen from the Rejects, they had to accept the challenge, no matter the cost. Without any further hesitation, the Commandos grabbed what they could, General Burgerdier grabbed a broccoli and some peas, Lieutenant Legg grabbed some carrot discs, Major Munch grabbed some peas, Sergeant Scoop grabbed both peas and carrots, and Private Pizza grabbed some broccoli, enough for each hand.
Now prepared, the Commandos and Rejects eyed one another cautiously awaiting who would start the melee, this time without regular weapons to back them up. Private Pizza felt a little antsy and threw up one of his broccoli bits thus triggering the food fight. Smaller vegetables were thrown whereas some other ones like potatoes, green beans, and broccoli were used as melee weapons, it was an all-out scuffle, many were hit but could keep going whereas some were knocked down from the assault. The Commandos holding broccoli the General and the Private, discovered that what they were holding could also be used as a shield as well as a mace, and soon the odds were once again in the Commandos favor.
"This isn't over yet General!" sneered Mean Wiener in disgust. "Time to take out your base! Rejects! To the BBQ Bomber!" His remaining soldiers saluted and followed him.
"He doesn't know when to quit!" General Burgerdier exclaimed, and then turned to his soldiers. "To the Combat Carton men! Let's move move move!" The other Commandos saluted and followed him to the Combat Carton. The Rejects got to their vehicle first and then started ramming the door of the sink cabinet a few times. As soon as the Commandos got to their vehicle, the first thing they did was have Lieutenant Legg fire a tomato slice at the BBQ Bomber which thwarted another attempt to ram the sink door. Being now alerted Mean Wiener directed his Rejects to change their attack to the Combat Carton. It launched a pepper at the Carton, hitting it to one side but then rolled to the side while Lieutenant Legg fired a pepperoni shot at the Bomber. The Bomber then flung slab of meat at the Combat Carton but this time it missed, and then the Carton fired another tomato shot which knocked over Bomber. The Rejects fell out as the Bomber was knocked over, as soon as that happened the lights went one, surprising both sides.
Looking up, they noticed the Cook parents were standing in the doorway of the kitchen observing the action having been awoken from all the racket at last after several nights, the silence was awkward. Both Mom and Dad peered down at the alive figurines not sure what to make of the scenario they had seen in front of them. Eventually after a few seconds they squatted down to have a chat with the factions.
"What in the world is all this?" the mother asked. "Could you guys be the reason my boys have been bickering about some little war going on?". General Burgerdier stepped forward and bowed.
"Greetings citizen! We're the Kitchen Commandos, we've been defending your kitchen for several nights. I'm General Burgerdier" He shouted proudly, and then began to introduce his fellow soldiers who had to bow out of respect. "This is Lieutenant Legg, Major Munch, Sergeant Scoop, and Private Pizza!"
"And we're the Refrigerator Rejects! We've been trying to dominate your kitchen!" barked Mean Weiner evilly. "I'm Mean Wiener and these are my comrades, Taco Terror, Fat Frenchy, Short Stack, and Chip the Ripper!"
"So you're like opposing armies clashing in the night?" the mother asked.
"Yes Ma'am! And for the most part we've been doing a good job keeping these Rejects in line!" General Burgerdier exclaimed proudly, saluting. The mother couldn't help but smile at that.
"I believe it or not served in the National Guard for a few years both in combat and in culinary! I was a pretty good shot…" The mother said proudly recalling her glory days, while the father looked at the Rejects with a more cheeky smile.
"My daddy served the Marines so I relate to you guys!" The father said, the Rejects couldn't help but smile in return. "I do hope you boys aren't causing too much of a mess!"
"Well sir, after every clash, we clean up!" General Burgerdier said, though still covered with some vegetable bits.
"Where have you boys been clashing this time?" The mother asked.
"In the fridge Ma'am, though we tried to keep it contained….." The General said solemnly. The two parents decided to peek in and sure enough there was a small bit of a mess, which the mother smiled a bit amused.
"Well you know what you have to do soldiers, and when you're all done be sure to go to sleep!"
"Hey Mom….what's going….on?" Gordon asked accompanied by his brother who were then astonished with what they were seeing. "Are we dreaming?!" he continued.
"Oh no son!" General Burgerdier said proudly, "Your dreams gave us life!"
"And us life!" added Mean Wiener.
"Okay that's enough boys, you know what to do time to clean up!" The mother said to both factions, who for once agreed, while the Parents put the vehicles to one area out of tripping range.
"Mom can we keep them?" asked Gordon.
"We'll talk about this in the morning!" The mother replied sending the boys off to bed, while both factions did clean up the mess the way they had it before in the fridge. "Just one thing Commandos….where do you sleep?"
"Under the sink Ma'am!" General Burgerdier replied.
"Well how about you sleep in the fridge togther though on different levels?"
"Sounds like a good plan Ma'am!"