.Return to Maine
This is the "climax" from my first year story. Aldin confronts his arch-nemesis, FlopEar, and fights it out while trying to prevent the devilbunny from unleashing an Omega-style Weapon, an airborne variation of the Bunnyvirus™. Like the rest of my first year storyline, it may not completely comply with the FAQ's now or then.
This story continues immediately after Aldin's Visit with Teral
© 1995-2002 by Scott Bernier
First HTML-ized 3 March, 1998
Return to Moxie's Stories homepage.
The elder grey buck with a bent right ear read the comm tech's report. The hacker's coordinates had been narrowed to one state, Ohio. This left him little choice, but to speed-up his plans. He depressed his pager button.
"Yes, sir?" (attentionfluff) The comm tech asked.
"We have to proceed with plans a little quickly. I want symp Agents, Thomas and Bournelli on the plane to Atlanta tonight. Tell the lab techs that I want them ready for our 'guest' by the day after tomorrow. Understood!?"
"YES SIR!" (salutefluff) The comm tech left to carry-out his orders.
FlopEar sat back and pondered the conversation on the net the night before. How in the Frith did Rabbit survive, if it was Rabbit. And if it wasn't, who else knew about that conversation? What was that IMI that momentarily appeared on the screen? Too many questions. He did not like unanswered questions.
Meanwhile, down below...
Chris was surfing the net again. He knew he would need to make his move soon. That's when he spotted the widebeam message from that squirrel, Aldin Busheytail. It was directed at some devilbunny called General LonGears. He read through it. The last line stuck-out at him:
> Oh, if you see Cubbi, tell him that Tummi will be sending him a care >package in four days.
*Cubbi? Gene called me that a few times. He said it was because I was as dangerously adventuresome as that cartoon character.*
He looked at the message propogation and his jaw nearly dropped. It was his brother's account. Gene knew he was in trouble and was on his way. He had called Gene Tummi on one occasion soon after Gene had called him Cubbi, due to Gene's voracious appetite. The message had been posted the previous day. That meant he had to hold out for two more after this one. Now that he knew when the best time would be to make his break, he began making a few plans of his own.
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Return to Maine
Upon awakening at the safe-house, Aldin found the reply to his message from SGT. Blake. It was an approval. Aldin was relieved (so wasn't Eugene). One name on the Maine contact list stuck-out. It was a man, that Gene's brother, Chris, worked for, Mike Nastowski. *Figures,* Eugene thought, *I should have known that there was more to his smashing tv's and radios with a 28 lb sledge-axe than reducing the amount of trash he'd have to haul to the dump.*
Aldin relieved control of the body to Eugene. They made good time through PA and Southeastern NY. They made it as far as Manchester, NH that evening. He was now in familiar territory. Manchester was not on the direct route to Maine, but he had friends he could trust there. So he had a safe place to spend the night.
The following day he was at the Maine border in an hour. Two hours later he was in the city (well city by Maine standards--whooping 18,000 people--oooohhhhh, aaaaahhhh) of Waterville. He was going to avoid seeing his folks in China for now. It would be easier to explain what happened after the fact and his time was running short. He decided he would look-up Mike Nastowski first and then perhaps a handful of others at most before proceeding into the Maine Wilderness. He pulled into the driveway at Mike's TV and Electronics Repair and saw Mike setting-up his camcorder for one of his weekly "smash-sessions". (Now you know what they do with that TV of yours they claim they can't fix. :) ) That was normal. What he did not expect was to find John Clouddrifter smashing a television with Mike's sledge-axe.
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Aldin recruits some help
As he walked-up, Mike yelled, "SHIELDS!". The half dozen young men in the garage all held-up stereo system dustcovers to protect their faces as John Clouddrifter sent the sledge axe sailing through the air and into the picture tube of a 32 inch console tv. A loud 'whoosh' accompanied the implosion of the picture tube. John grinned as several of the others started laughing their heads-off.
Mike cried-out, "Beautiful! That had to be a woof-factor of 10!" It was just then that he noticed Eugene walking in. He grinned even wider and approached Eugene and saluted him. Eugene seemed confused for the moment.
"Corporeal, SGT Blake said to expect your presence shortly and that you would have a mission for us. John Clouddrifter showed-up a few hours ago and we finally got him to join-in on the smashing. So what's up?"
Gene reeled for a moment....Corporeal? The sergeant had promoted him. Well he couldn't let the sergeant down, now could he? He spoke.
"At ease. This assignment will need stealth. I'll explain all in a little bit. But it can wait until you're all through with that tv." He pointed to the set that still smoked--Mike liked to jury-rig the unrepairable just enough to get them barely working, then plug them in before blowing their tube. Five minutes later, the tv was pieces parts and Mike was removing the copper for recycling and tossing the waferboard into his BBQ pile. By smashing a set down like this, he was able to cut the trash he hauled to the dump in half. Since the dump charged by the pound, this was a good idea.
While Mike was cleaning-up, he explained the situation to John. John already knew and was there to promise a small group of Micmacs in the help of rescuing Chris. John and his fellow braves would meet them the following day near Nahmakanta Lake, which he pointed out was the correct spelling of the lake and not what the buns called it by dropping out the 'h' and 'n'. With that John left.
Eugene, Mike and the other five Fudds retired to Mike's living room to discuss the situation. He told it like it was and stated that he wasn't going to force anyone to go. This was to be an entirely voluntary mission. They all volunteered anyway. They spent the rest of the afternoon and evening scheming and departed for the Wilderness the following morning in two pickups. In the back of each were three ATV's. Each Fudd had an axe, shotgun, supersoaker and a bottle of Avon SkinSoSoft™. Without that Avon, the blackflies would carry them off long before they'd see any devilbunnies. On their way out of town, they raided the local Shop 'N Save™ of all its Moxie™.
TBC--Mike does exist. He does repair tvs and electronics and he does smash unrepairable ones as described above. ........... "If I owned Maine and Heaven, I'd live in Maine and rent-out Heaven"--anonymous Don't know how to ftp the FAQ's? Then email me for help. m8sab@ttacs.ttu.edu
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Invading Namakata 1
It took 3 hours just to get to Brownsville Jct. It took another hour to drive to get to the rendezvous point about five miles from Nahmakanta Lake. All along the way, Gene/Aldin related their story to the other five Fudds and what they would be up against. The entire way he had tried to talk them out of coming. The more he insisted that they stay behind, the more they were determined to come along. They were greeted at the rendezvous by a half-dozen Micmac braves lead by John Clouddrifter and...squirrels, maybe 50 or so grey squirrels filling every possible branch in a couple trees within the small clearing in the wilderness.
Aldin recognized one of those squirrels. He hadn't seen him in eleven years and could not believe that he still lived. He approached the squirrel and addressed him in squirrel.
"Do you recognize me, old friend?"
The squirrel stared at him for a moment and flicked his tail in the affirmative. "Yes, it has been a long time. I did not believe the stories at first, but the leader of the red humans assured me you would arrive soon. Perhaps when this is all over, you and I can catch-up on what has happened over the years." [reminiscentflick]
"Puffcheeks, don't ever change. However, we must do some quick planning and attack the enemy quickly before they notice us on their doorstep."
"The council of elders, which I lead will back you on this. There are few left who remember FlopEar's tyranny first hand but the stories have been past on from generation to generation. We knew some rabbits still lived at Namakata, but we never realized that fiend still lived. Many of those who have volunteered to fight do not know what it will be like and I fear they will be slaughtered." [concernedflick] "If I was younger, I would join you, but 14 is rather old for a squirrel you know. I would just slow you down."
"I shall try to disuade some of them from going, but I will probably be no more successful than I was with the humans. Do not fret over your age, friend. I'll jab FlopEar a couple times for you."
Aldin then turned to the gathered crowd of humans and squirrels and explained what they were up against. He layed-out the map of the labs and the plan of attack. The squirrels listened carefully to this hero they had only learned of through stories, some of which seemed more legend than fact. He convinced some that no honor would be lost if they backed-out and some did. After an hour of planning, there were still 12 humans, but the number of squirrels was reduced from 50 to 24. 36 versus over 100, those odds were not too bad.
It was now early afternoon. They departed with Puffcheeks' blessing. It had been decided to approach the warren on foot and assault the south entrance. Aldin had decided to choose the 'suicide' approach and knock on the door while his troops remained hidden. He pounded loudly on the camouflaged door.
[BANG, BANG, BANG]
TBC ......... Corporeal Eugene Pomerleau and Mentat Aldin Busheytail m8sab@ttacs.ttu.edu "If I owned Maine and Heaven, I'd live in Maine and rent-out Heaven"--anonymous "...we're cute and harmless, SQUIRRELS..."--'Squirrels' by the Beastley Boys
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Invading Namakata 2
There was no movement or noise from within. Aldin kept banging away. However, inside, they knew he was there.
"Sir, there is a human at the south entrance."
[amusedfluff] "Really?" FlopEar glances at the monitor. He grinned as he recognized Tailless. "Are there any other 'visitors' out there?"
The comm tech scanned through other security cameras and [negativefluff]ed.
"Whitey, I want you to pick-up the tranq. gun and the drug I was describing to you earlier from the lab. Proceed to the junction of corridors C and Fluff and wait for our new 'guest' there. When you are in place, we'll let him in. When you are finished with him, bring him here." [commandfluff]
[salutefluff] "Yes, sir!" Whitey left. FlopEar turned to other matters.
"How is the lab coming along in preparations for our other guest." [curiosfluff]
"They said they need another 3 hours sir."
[STOMP!] "That's what they said 3 hours ago! What in Frith is going on down there?!"
"They gave some excuse about not being able to duplicate the conditions from 11 years ago safely. They say that the process performed on Aldin 11 years ago killed the 'template' and the whole procedure was improperly documented. They do not wish to risk anybun in the process until they can figure-out and correct the problem." [meekfluff]
"You tell the lab techs that I said they have three hours more, PERIOD. If they can't get positive results by then," [deviousfluff] "I'll use one of them as the 'template'. Make sure they understand that last part very clearly. We can't exactly wait much longer to attempt to convert Chris the hard way with his 'brother' at the door."
"Yes, sir....Whitey signals that he's in place and ready for our new 'guest'."
"Very well, open the door."
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Invading Namakata 3
Aldin didn't just get FlopEar's attention. Chris knew also. The moskimus were foolish to allow him to tinker with almost every system at the warren. Now he could control what various cameras saw among other things. He saw the small group of humans and squirrels (?) approaching the south entrance also and he immediately programmed the security cameras to look elsewhere. He was now waiting for the moskimus to open the door. Chris would take care of the rest with a 'neat' little program he hard-wired into most of the equipment he had 'repaired' over the past few months. A blip appeared on his screen giving him the signal he needed. He initiated his program.
FlopEar watched on his screen as the door began to open, then all the lights went-out.
[STOMP!] "Frith-damn it what's going on!" he yelled as the emergency system kicked-in.
"Sir, all systems have crashed. I can't close the south entrance. All elevators are off-line. I have no motion sensors or security cameras. Only emergency lighting is working. The only rooms where equipment is still functional is here in command....and room 24."
[STOMP!] "Never trust a human! I want a full security detail to room 24. Execute the human! Where's Tailless?!"
"Sir, communications are down, I can't contact anybun outside this room."
FlopEar leaped over the console and grabbed the frightened comm tech by the neck. He spoke in a calm, but very menacing voice, "Then you are going to run messages back and forth. Get a security detail down to 24 immediately. Get a second one down to the south entrance. We wouldn't want our guests to leave without permission. Also get all repair crews working overtime. I want this place secured quickly. GET GOING!" [STOMP]
The comm tech scurried off and followed his orders. FlopEar began tapping into a keyboard.
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Invading Namakata 4
Aldin was growing impatient. He'd been pounding on the door now for five minutes. He knew FlopEar was in there and his gut feeling said that somebun down there knew he was out there. Perhaps it was the security camera staring him in the face. He was about to start making faces at the camera when the entrance doors began to open. When they were about half-way open, smoke began to pour forth from the edges of the doors and the security camera. The doors ground to a halt in the half-open position.
Aldin chuckled and signaled his men (and squirrels). They entered the warren cautiously. Inside everything was aglow with emergency lighting. Not a bun was in sight.
"Looks like Chris may have been busy," commented Mike Nahtowski.
"You could say that." Aldin replied as they passed a less fortunate bun who had been trapped in a closing door. They reached a crossway and split into four groups--3 men and 6 squirrels in each and spread-out.
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Invading Namakata 5
Net-Censors note: The following has been rated [pig-13]. It contains violence and gore that may not be suitable for young children or kits. Parental Discretion is advised.
The 'program' had worked as planned. Well, all he did was install cheap semi-faulty resistors in all the equipment the moskimus had brought to him. One 'little' power surge and presto most of the equipment he 'repaired' was now smoking ruins. Unfortunately, Chris was still trapped in his room and he didn't expect any more friendliness from his 'hosts'.
Corporeal Cranberry cautiously rounded the corner with three other buns. The human's door was in sight and it looked secure. Everything was still in a pink glow. If they were going to get to the human and execute him as ordered, they'd have to open the door. Cranberry motioned one of the regular bunnies with him to open the door while the other three stood back. The door opened. Nothing happened. The regular bun peaked in cautiously. He saw nothing. Cranberry motioned for them to enter cautiously.
Chris heard the door opening and grabbed his stuff and stood back and to the side, killing the lights. He saw a lapin head peak in and then duck back out. He then saw four lapin forms enter the room. One attempted to turn the lights on, but they wouldn't come on. Chris had also taken the liberty to short-out the emergency light earlier also, cannibalizing parts for some of his equipment. The four spread-out and began groping about the room. That's when Chris made his move, smashing down on the nearest bun with a broom handle. The motion was accompanied by a sickening [SMACKCRUNCH] as the bun collapsed. Wasting no time, Chris flipped one of his ultra-sound emitters on. Two of the remaining buns began writhing in spasmatic pain on the floor.
[WHAM] Chris was slammed in the side by Cranberry, the only bun in the group with bunarmor. They rolled on the floor, Cranberry coming-out on top.
[SNARL] "Foolish human. We were going to make it quick and painless. But since you insist on struggling..." Cranberry slowly drew one talon along Chris' chest and blood beaded-up. Chris cried-out in pain and Cranberry grinned. He didn't notice that Chris was moving his right hand slowly towards a jumper cable lying in the corner on the floor near were they lay.
[disappointfluff] "I'm surprised, human. Where has all the fight gone in you..." Cranberry didn't finish his sentence as Chris suddenly lashed-out with his right hand, holding the jumper cable clamp in the open position and clamping on to the bun's paw, pushing down hard on the clamp, nearly severing the paw. The bun fell-off Chris screaming in pain and rage. Chris scooped the bun up before it could regain itself and dropped-kicked it out the door. It slammed into the far wall with a crack, slid down and breathed no more.
Chris was a bit shaken-up, but he forced himself to regain composure quickly, for he could hear more footfalls in the corridor. He scooped-up his equipment/weapons and made a run for it turning right down the corridor, opposite the direction from the footfalls. He found a stairwell and started climbing as quietly as he could. He wasn't bleeding to badly, but he was leaving a trail behind him.
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Invading Namakata 6
*Strange what one thinks in the middle of battle,* Aldin thought to Eugene as they did battle with FlopEar's forces. They had gone maybe 300 feet down the corridor from the junction they had all split-up from when the first group attacked. Aldin had relinquished control to Eugene since, Eugene was the one with experience in fighting buns in human form. Eugene/Aldin where quickly separated from the rest of their group in the melee, but not before he saw one of the squirrels die and one of the humans go down. *All my fault. I should have never informed Blake of what I was doing and attempted this on my own. To the right GENE!*
Eugene deflected the bun coming at him on the right with his scout axe in one hand and fired-off the shotgun with the other, sending two buns to 'Frith' or whatever deity the Evil Fluffers believed in. He dropped the gun and grasped the axe with both hands to deal with the original bun, cleaving it in twain in mid-leap. Everything was quiet. There was no further attack at the moment. He could hear other fighting back down the corridor he had come from, but it was quite a ways back. The few 'scratches' he received were healing quickly.
*Well, all we can do is press on,* he thought to Aldin. Gene picked-up the shotgun and reloaded it. He placed it in its holster on his back and proceeded cautiously down the corridor, still bathed in pink lighting.
Gene rounded the corner and was hit in the chest by a dart and fell backwards landing on his side. Whitey cackled with glee and approached his prey.
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Invading Namakata 7
Whitey stood over Gene. Gene could not move his legs. He had no control of his arms as they shook uselessly at his sides. Whitey [assuredfluff]ed at Gene.
"You been real sick, but FlopEar will make you all better. Just like he did me. quit struggling, it will be a lot easier." He took aim at point blank and put a second dart into Gene's abdomen, followed by one in each of his legs. Whitey radioed in to FlopEar as Gene began to vomit.
"Sir, [salutefluff], I've got Tailless and will be finished with him shortly."
"Excellent, bring his body to me ASAP." was the reply over the headset.
Chris reached the top landing and could hear the [poof] sound of an air gun nearby. He peered around the corner and saw a large white moskimus, the one he knew was called Whitey, standing over what looked like the prone body of his brother. He heard part of Whitey's report: "...be finished with him shortly." Chris lost all control and charged-out into the corridor, flipping on his ultrasound device. Whitey dropped the dart gun and grabbed his ears. Chris wasted no time smacking the bun in the side with the broom stick and scooping-up Gene's scout axe and throwing it at the writhing bun, putting it out of its misery. He turned to Gene who was still dry heaving and convulsing.
"Chans, Gene, what did the moskimus inject in you?" He pulled the darts out of Gene's body and noted that there was inflammation around each wound.
[cough] "Some sort of poison," another dry heave, "and fast acting. There is nothing you can do for me, Chris. Just get-out of here. There are others who will help you" [coughchokerasp] "escape." Gene let-off another round of dry heaving and choking. "The Spirits warned me of what would happen if I came after FlopEar, but I had no choice." He coughed some more and continued in a whisper. "I never meant for you to get caught in this, Chesimus." Gene tried to grin, but instead grimaced in pain, his eyes rolling into his head and stopped breathing. His body went limp.
"NNNNOOOO!" Tears welled-up in Chris' eyes. He fell to his knees and whimpered for a moment and then looked upward and cried-out in rage.
"I shall avenge you, Chans! I swear this before the Spirits. The moskimus shall pay dearly for taking you from me this day." He scooped-up Gene's axe, gun, and supersoaker and the bun's headset and proceeded down the corridor, shear rage flared in his eyes.
TBC--Chans-Elder brother, Chesimus (short i)--younger brother. Translation provided by the Fluffyteacher directive of '94.
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Invading Namakata 8
The fighting was fierce, and FlopEar's troops (what was left of them) were slowly repelling the invaders back. They were having an easy time with the Fudds and squirrels. It was the Indians who were giving them the most problem. They were only falling back to protect their comrades.
John Clouddrifter was the rear guard, trying to cover the retreat of his fellows. There were just too many moskimus for him to fend them all off. He had a long gash in his left arm and was fighting only with his right. Three moskimus on his left made ready to leap at him simultaneously. They leaped...
Shotgun blast upon shotgun blast filled the corridor intersection, accompanied by load war cries of rage as Chris charged in from the right. The shotgun full of Bunnyshot™ produced a swath of death in the ranks of the Evil that Fluffs™, mowing down the three in mid-leap and many others. Chris didn't stop yelling until after the gun was empty. He dropped the gun and threw Gene's axe at two more, crippling them. The remainder retreated down one of the corridors. Chris would have followed if John had not stopped him by grabbing his arm.
"Our only reason for being here was to rescue you, Chris. Where's Gene?"
Chris looked at John. Grief welled-up in his eyes. "The moskimus killed him. They poisoned him. His body lies back that way about 500 yards. They shall pay for the death of my brother."
"We are not equipped to flush-out an entire warren of demonspawn. The wise thing to do is retreat, regroup and get more braves. However, we must not allow the enemy to disgrace the body of a Micmac." John let-out a war cry. Two braves came out of the shadows from their escape route. He pointed to one and motioned for him to stay while the other followed him and Chris.
They saw nobun down the corridor, except for the occasional corpse. They arrived at Gene's resting place, but only Gene's clothing and some sort of sticky residue was all that remained of Gene. Chris carefully inspected the dart gun Whitey had used. It was empty.
"Demons' work," John exclaimed and performed a quick purification ceremony before they bundled-up the clothing, careful not to touch the residue and proceeded back to the corridor intersection. From there they slowly made their way back towards the entrance. They didn't know until almost too late that the remaining moskimus forces were lying in wait for them there.
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Invading Namakata 9
When he came too, all he could smell was the stench of human. Everything was dark. It felt like he was in some sort of sack. Struggling, he got loose of the 'sack'. It was a human's chamois shirt. *How in the Spirit did I end-up here?* He flicked his tail up and down quickly once [curiousflick]. He had a splitting headache and he was covered in some sort of sticky stuff that stank of human as much as the clothes.
He looked around himself. The corridors did not look like Namakata Labs to him, yet something in him told him that this was indeed Namakata Labs. He must have taken an awful hit to the head. Everything was bathed in the pink emergency lighting he had only seen in drill-runs. Then he saw the dead bunny. He didn't recognize the bun, but he recognized the tell-tale signs of an axe wound. He reached for his radio, but it wasn't there. His side arm was also missing. *Great,* he thought to himself. [taildroop]
He found a wall comm unit just up the corridor and depressed the switch. "This is Captain Busheytail. Command do you read?" he spoke in bunny. Static...."Command, this is Captain Aldin Busheytail. We have a possible Fudd invasion in progress. Is anybun there?" He hit the General Alert button next to the comm unit. Nothing happened.
*Great, a dead bunny, a possible Fudd invasion, and communications are out. This is not your day Aldin.* Then it dawned on him. None of this was possible. They were too far in the wilderness for the Fudds to successfully launch an attack. Perhaps Rabbit was testing his skills for emergency situations. He couldn't let Rabbit down. He headed for the stairwell he somehow knew was around the corner, even though these corridors still didn't quite look right and began the three flight decent to the central command complex. He didn't hear the footsteps of the humans behind him as he proceeded down the stairs using a hand railing. *Strange, he didn't recall the stairwell being this large before.* And the squirrel 'walk', a large wooden pole that ran up and down the entire length of the stairwell to provide quick movement access for the squirrels and their climbing abilities, was missing. *This has to be some sort of test. This is not Namakata Labs.* He proceeded downwards.
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Invading Namakata 10
It was like a bad drug trip, except he had never done drugs before. One minute he was floating...just floating nowhere. Next thing he came crashing back to earth.
> When he came too, all he could smell was the stench of human. >Everything was dark. It felt like he was in some sort of sack. Struggling, >he got loose of the 'sack'. It was a human's chamois shirt. *How in the Spirit >did I end-up here?* He flicked his tail up and down quickly once >[curiousflick]. He had a splitting headache and he was covered in some >sort of sticky stuff that stank of human as much as the clothes.
*Flick? We have a tail? That could only mean....our body has reverted to squirrelform. That poison, wasn't poison. It was some sort of drug, perhaps? The bottom line is....ALDIN WE'RE ALIVE!!*
Aldin didn't answer him. That's when he noticed that what he saw and felt seemed very distant. *Awck. Does my race really reak that badly to other species?* He could hear Aldin clearly, but it was like Aldin didn't know Gene was there.
> He looked around himself. The corridors did not look like Namakata >Labs to him, yet something in him told him that this was indeed Namakata >Labs.
*YES THIS IS NAMAKATA LABS, ALDIN! CAN'T YOU HEAR ME! THIS IS NEW NAMAKATA. THE ONE FLOPEAR BUILT AFTER DESTROYING THE OLD ONE! THAT BUN OVER THERE...*
>He must have taken an awful hit to the head. Everything was bathed >in the pink emergency lighting he had only seen in drill-runs. Then he saw >the dead bunny. He didn't recognize the bun, but he recognized the tell-tale
*...SHOT US WITH SOME SORT OF DRUGGED DARTS. GODDAMN IT ALDIN, LISTEN TO ME!!!!*
>signs of an axe wound. He reached for his radio, but it wasn't there. His >side arm was also missing. *Great,* he thought to himself. [taildroop] > > He found a wall comm unit just up the corridor and depressed the switch. >"This is Captain Busheytail. Command do you read?" he spoke in bunny.
*Captain Busheytail? But you've never referred to yourself as that except when ridiculing....* Gene trailed off as he put things together and realized that he was in trouble, for Aldin was experiencing some form of amnesia. The damn squirrel would probably get them both killed now. Why didn't Aldin respond?
>Static...."Command, this is Captain Aldin Busheytail. We have a possible Fudd >invasion in progress. Is anybun there?" He hit the General Alert button >next to the comm unit. Nothing happened.
Then it occurred to Gene. Perhaps this is what happened to Aldin those first ten years he was trapped inside Gene's mind. He fought-off a twinge of guilt....to be imprisoned like that for so long....if he didn't figure something out, he might end-up in the same situation, given they lived that long. He started trying to think of ways to get Aldin's attention while Aldin proceeded down the stairwell.
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Invading Namakata 11
Aldin had descended two levels of stairs. He knew, somehow, that he had one more flight before he'd reach the level the command room was on. He stopped here though, due to a puddle of blood on the landing that either led onto or from this floor. The scent told him that it was human.
He carefully peered around the corner of the landing into the hallway. The blood trail led-off to the left. He cautiously followed it. The corridor and blood trail turned to the left again. He peered around the second corner and saw an open doorway and a bunny slumped on the ground. He inspected the bun...broken neck, dead maybe 20 minutes at most.
Aldin, next cautiously inspected the open room. The place reeked of human. The lights were non-functioning. Carefully groping around, he found no human, but he found three more dead buns, one with a bashed-in skull and two with excessive amounts of blood pooled around their heads. *Perhaps a sonic weapon of some sort.* His tail raised into a mock of a question mark and flicked out slowly. [puzzledflick]
He heard noise in the corridor and hid himself at first, but he recognized the voices as bunny. He was relieved. At least he wasn't alone. He stepped into the corridor right in front of a patrol of four devilbunnies. They stopped and stared a moment, [dumbfoundedfluff]s on all of them.
"What the Frith are you staring at!" Aldin barked at them in bunny. "What are you suppose to do when confronted by a superior officer! Answer me!" [STOMP!--well not very load, squirrels don't have the body weight to make it sound quite right. More of a poomp than a stomp] Aldin was slightly annoyed at their failure to come to attention. "Or are you still a bunch of kits!"
The buns, all regular, had never seen a squirrel in the warren before, but they recognized the authority behind the voice and all [attentionfluff]ed and [salutefluff]ed the squirrel.
"That's better. Who's in charge of this group?"
A grey and brown buck wearing a headset hopped forward. "I am."
Aldin was all over the bun. "'I am', what!!!???" [STOMP!]
The bun was slightly shakened. "I am, SIR!" [salutefluff]
"Better. Is that headset working?"
[meekfluff] "No it isn't...SIR!"
[taildroop] "That's alright. Now here is the situation, boys. Power is out, communications is apparently down, at least one human specimen has escaped and killed 4 buns in the process. And there is at least one Fudd on the loose...." He filled them in on what he knew. When he finished, the one with the headset spoke-up.
"Permission to speak, SIR?"
"Permission granted, Private..."
"Private Hopp, sir. None of us have ever seen a squirrel here before. What division are you with sir?"
Aldin fought down a [dumbfoundedfluff], and looked into the eyes of all four at once and spoke. "You don't know who I am?" [quizicallyflick--just like a puzzleflick, but faster]. "I am Captain Aldin Busheytail, Mentat and 2nd in Command of Namakata Labs."
The four almost fell-out of attention at that last part. Pvt Hopp spoke again. "Forgive me, sir....but you are not 2nd in Command here at Namakata. Commander FlopEar's rightpaw bun is Captain Whitey, sir."
Aldin failed to fight-off the [dumbfoundedfluff] the second time around. "Who in the Frith is Cmdr FlopEar? What happened to Cmdr Rabbit?"
"Rabbit, sir?" Hopp thought real hard. "I've heard that name, I think. He was in charge long ago. Before any in our group were born." An evil grin fell across his face. "He was a trait..." Hopp leaped at Aldin. "..or."
........... Capt. Aldin Busheytail, Mentat and 2nd in Command of Namakata Research Laboratories--today's research for a fluffier tomorrow.
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Invading Namakata 12
WARNING: The net-censors have rated the following PIG-13. The following contains blood and gore that may not be suitable for all children and kits. Adult discretion is advised.
Unfortunately for Pvt Hopp, Aldin had read the body language of the bun and braced himself for the leap. As the bun came towards him, Aldin fell backwards onto his back. He caught the bun with his hind paws and propelled him forward. As the bun sailed over his head, Aldin raked his claws along the bun's belly, ripping it open. Blood splattered upon his face. Hopp landed in a heap a few feet beyond Aldin. The other buns stared in total shock and fear.
Aldin felt strange. He had never harmed anybun or squirrel before, yet he felt no remorse. He looked to the other three. "WELL??!!!" They looked at him and [fearfluf]ed. "Don't just stand there. Give him first aid and get him down to the infirmary. If he lives I'll have him court-martialed." They still stood there. "Didn't you hear me!" [STOMP!] "Get going!"
That got them moving. They bandaged Hopp up using a torn bedsheet from the open room and they then proceeded to carry him off down the corridor, leaving the squirrel behind. Each one glanced back towards Aldin now and then until they were around the corner.
Aldin sat-down a moment. *What the Spirit is happening! Nobun knows me. Buns attack me. I fight back in self-defense and nearly kill a bun. That's not what The Rabbit taught me.* He leaned back against the wall and allowed the adrenaline to drain away to be replaced by grief.
*...aldin...*
He suddenly got a splitting headache and thought he heard his name. He looked around teary-eyed and saw nobun, except the corpse that he found before his encounter with Hopp and his entourage.
*...aldin...*
Aldin's tail went straight-out with just the tip flicking slightly [pleadflick] without him willing it to do so. *What in the Spirit?* [puzzledflick] He stared at his tail and concentrated on keeping it from flicking. It [pleadflick]ed again despite his efforts otherwise. Aldin grew slightly fearful.
TBC ........... Capt. Aldin Busheytail, Mentat and 2nd in Command of Namakata Research Laboratories--today's research for a fluffier tomorrow.
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Invading Namakata 13
Eugene could only watch in fear as the bun jumped at him/Aldin. It was over before the bun landed in a heap, bleeding. Eugene couldn't believe it and was somewhat dumbfounded as Aldin barked orders to the remaining buns, who obeyed and carted the injured, unconscious bun down the corridor.
> Aldin sat-down a moment. *What the Spirit is happening! Nobun knows me. >Buns attack me. I fight back in self-defense and nearly kill a bun. That's not what >The Rabbit taught me.* He leaned back against the wall and allowed the adrenaline >to drain away to be replaced by grief.
Eugene concentrated real hard and cried-out, *ALDIN!*
> *...aldin...* > > He suddenly got a splitting another splitting headache and thought he heard >his name. He looked around teary-eyed and saw nobun, except the corpse that he >found before his encounter with Hopp and his entourage.*BLASTED IT ALL. LISTEN TO ME, ALDIN!* [PLEADFLICK]
> *...aldin...* > > Aldin's tail went straight-out with just the tip flicking slightly [pleadflick] without >him willing it to do so. *What in the Spirit?* [puzzledflick]*YYYEEESSS!!!!! COME ON ALDIN, GET A HOLD OF YOURSELF AND OPEN UP!* [PLEADFLICK]
>He stared at his tail and concentrated on keeping it from flicking. It [pleadflick]ed >again despite his efforts otherwise. Aldin grew slightly fearful.*YES, THAT'S IT ALDIN, KEEP PAYING ATTENTION!* Eugene started dot/datting in morse code using tail flicks.
Aldin stared for a moment at his possessed tail before he figured-out what was going on. The head-ache got worse, but he started speaking out the letters his tail flicked anyway. "a-r-e-n-o-t-a-l-o-n-e-f-i-n-d-s-o-m-e-p-l-a-c-e-s-a-f-e-t-o-h-i-d-e-a-n-d-t-o-t-a-l-l-y-r-e-l-a-x-a-n- d-y-o-u-w-i-l-l-u-n-d-e-r-s-t-a-n-d-a-l-l."
Eugene stopped flicking the tail in exhaustion. *Come on, Aldin, puzzle it out.*
Aldin stared at his tail a little longer, wondering if it would flick any more while also trying to understand the message. *are not a lone...alone find some place..or perhaps someplace safe to hide and total...totally relax and you will understand all.* The head-ache was gone as suddenly as it had come. *What have I got to loose...I already seem to be losing my sanity.* [flick]
*YES!* Eugene thought in response.
Aldin open a cabinet in the room that smelled of human, got in, and closed it behind him. He suddenly got the notion he was very sleepy and went to sleep.
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Invading Namakata 14> "Demons' work," John exclaimed and performed a quick purification ceremony >before they bundled-up the clothing, careful not to touch the residue and proceeded >back to the corridor intersection. From there they slowly made their way back towards >the entrance. They didn't know until almost too late that the remaining moskimus >forces were lying in wait for them there.They got to that first intersection and found the others (what was left of them) waiting there. In total there were only 6 humans, 10 squirrels and John and Chris left. 3 of the humans and two of the squirrels were seriously injured. The squirrels looked quizzically at John and Chris and flicked their tails.
Chris seemed to understand their unasked question. "He's dead." Their tails drooped simultaneously and tears came to their eyes.
"Come we must leave," John said and led the way up the corridor, stopping just inside the entrance staring out at the 3 score buns awaiting outside in the clearing, holding the others back just a moment before charging out letting-out a war cry. The others followed, with Chris and the only surviving Fudd, Mike Nahtowski, emptying their shotguns into the Evil that Fluffs™ killing 10 or so apiece.
John hacked down 5 or 6 buns with his tomahawk before he was overwhelmed and disappeared under a fluffy blanket of death. The two braves in fighting condition met the same fate. Five of the squirrels were quickly dispatched, each taking a bun with them to the next world. The three remaining squirrels could have easily made a run for the trees, but they refused to abandon their injured comrades. Humans and squirrels fell back to the warren entrance and formed a solid line and braced themselves for the final battle.
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Invading Namakata 15"We have partial communications restored, but by headsets only, sir."
Just then Whitey radioed in:> "Sir, [salutefluff], I've got Tailless and will be finished with him shortly."FlopEar grinned evilly and replied.
> "Excellent, bring his body to me ASAP."In the next instant, there was a [CRUNCH] from the speakers followed by an ultrasonic burst that caused everybun in the control room to fall to their knees. It stopped as quickly as it had started to be replaced by static.
FlopEar was the first up on his paws again. *Guess there is a blessing to being partially deaf.* He called-out into the headset. "Whitey, what's going on. Are you alright? Whitey answer me." All he got was static.
He switched to another line and got a report of several humans and squirrels infiltrating the warren.
"How long before main power is restored?" The comm tech on another line replied two hours.
FlopEar thought things over he received a casualty list over the headset. *Frith be damned they'll pay.* "LT Snowshoe, I want you to gather every able bun you can and commence Operation Failsafe at the south entrance."
"Excuse me, sir?"
"YOU HEARD ME! No non-buns are to be allowed to leave alive. UNDERSTOOD?"
"YES, SIR!" [salutefluff]
FlopEar turned to the few remaining buns in the command room. "Secure those doors. I want nobun coming in without radioing for permission first. Tell those buns down near the reactor I need power restored, NOW and not in hour. They have 30 minutes."
"Yes, sir." Buns scrambled to follow his orders. Fifteen minutes went by when one of the comm techs looked-up at FlopEar. "Sir, I think you should hear this." He switched frequencies so FlopEar could hear on his headset.
"This is Medicbun ShortEar. I just lost a regular bun down here. Nothing new considering what's happening right now. The three regular bunnies who brought him in said he was attacked by a delusional squirrel who claimed he was 2nd in Command here. After some work with them, I was able to get them to come up with a name...Captain Busheytail."
FlopEar stood in thought for a moment. *This could work better than I thought...how in the Frith did you overpower Whitey while pumped full of that drug, Tailless? It should have left you unconscious for several hours.*
"Tell those buns that they are to seek-out and find 'Capt. Busheytail' and bring him to me. Tell them that if they don't fail me, there will be a big promotion for all three of them. FlopEar out."
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Invading Namakata 16"SSSCCCRRREEEE CHITTER CHITTER CHIRP!"
The buns stopped momentarily and stared out into the forest. The remaining squirrels perked-up their ears and answered the call, "SSSCCCRRREEEE CHITTER CHITTER CHIRP!"
An elderly grey squirrel bounded down to a lower branch in a white pine tree close to the warren entrance. He called-out in bun, "Who is the leader of this group?" [quizicalflick]
An all-white snowshoe hare hopped forward. "I, LT Snowshoe, am, old squirrel. Do you wish to join the fate of those over there?" he pointed to the remaining squirrels and humans in the warren entrance. "If not, leave us be!"
"Snowshoe? My, how you've grown into such a handsome buck. I remember when you were a kit smaller than my tail." Snowshoe stared at him dumbfounded. "tsktsk...it's me, Puffcheeks." Still no sign of recognition. [sighflick] "The young forget so soon. I can't let you harm my friends over their, especially when one of them is my daughter. You'll have to get through me first."
Snowshoe nearly fell-over laughing. "Pardon the clich‚, old squirrel, but you and who's army?"
[sighflick] "I was hoping it wouldn't come to this but....SSSCCCRRREEEE CHITTER CHIRP CHITTER!!!!" 40 squirrels charged out of the underbrush as Puffcheeks leaped out of the tree at Snowshoe. With the fresh reinforcements, it didn't take long for humans and squirrels to finish-off the enemy.
That's when the alarms started going off and the warren doors began to close.
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Invading Namakata 17> Aldin opened a cabinet in the room that smelled of human, got in, and >closed it behind him. He suddenly got the notion he was very sleepy and >went to sleep.He was in his favorite white oak down below Namakata Labs on the lake. There was a cool and refreshing breeze coming off the lake and the tree he was in swayed gently. He felt totally at peace and relaxed. He began to doze-off when he heard a voice calling to him from below.
"Aldin? Aldin I know you are up there. What's wrong with you? Aldin?"
[sighflick] "I can't get away from the lab for half an hour," Aldin mumbled. He looked down over the branch and was about to reply when he froze at what he saw...a human....almost recognition popped into his mind, but not quite. He ducked back on the branch. *I must warn the others.* He went to send off a warning screech, but for some reason he couldn't do it.
"Aldin, I know you're up there." Eugene switched to squirrel, "For Spirit's sake, answer me."
That really messed with Aldin's mind. Not only is this human calling him by name, but he's conversing fluently in squirrel. "Let me be," he replied in squirrel.
"Well, that's a start. Aldin, I know everything seems real confusing to you at the moment. What I have to tell you would take to long to explain. In short form, this is 1995, not 1984. You and I have been friends for several years. We have fought the devilbunnies together...."
"1995 my tail! You're fallen out of one too many trees, human. [flick] I don't fight against the devilbunnies. I work with them to prevent your race from destroying Mother Earth."
"No Aldin, 11 years ago you worked for the devilbunnies, before they turned on you, executing The Rabbit at the same time. They put you through a series of terrible experiments, eventually turning you into a human. That's where I step in. We've been trapped together in one body now for almost 11 years. We were trying to stop FlopEar from releasing an unstable air-borne bunnyvirus.....
"You've definitely fallen out of several too many trees. The Rabbit is live and well. I'm in charge of the laboratories and I don't see any changes coming anytime soon. Be gone." Aldin's tail lashed out quickly once [demandflick].
Eugene sighed and decided a new approach. "Fine, don't believe me. I'll just go back now and take over our body while you rest here. Who do you think was flicking that morse code message with your tail? How about those headaches you have been experiencing since struggling out of my shirt? Why else would Pvt Hopp attack you declaring The Rabbit as a traitor. By the way, that was a nifty little move you used against him." Eugene turned to head back up the hill.
That last bit got Aldin's attention. "Wait, how would you know about that incident? Wasn't it a dream?"
Eugene stopped a moment and turned to the squirrel. "No Aldin, that was real. THIS..." he slowly turned around with his arms outstretched, " is a dream of sorts. Some call it the dreamlands, while others, like myself, consider this the spiritworld. I'm going back now to the world of the living and shall try to stop FlopEar on my own. You can stay here for all I care. I told you all would be explained here. Unfortunately, we don't have much time. Come back with me now and it'll be cleared-up." He started up the hill again.
Aldin never trusted humans. Two had killed his parents. He had sent a few to their deaths in his labs in the past. But none of them were like this one. He seemed familiar in someway. *Never trust a human...heck, we're so close to the labs that if he tries anything, he won't get far.* Aldin [sighflick]ed and scampered from tree branch to tree branch, catching up with the human and leaping onto his shoulder. The human didn't tense at all.
"Tell me more," Aldin [demandflick]ed.
"Well, it's too long a story. But it will all be clear to you shortly." The human opened a doorway. One that wasn't there before and stepped through with Aldin still on his shoulder.
Everything went black and Aldin panicked for a moment. There was light. He was on a log in a rapidly moving river, but the log was somehow moving upstream, towards the bottom of a waterfall. Aldin couldn't jump off the log, for the current was too swift to swim in. He couldn't jump off if he tried, for his claws were glued to the log in fear. The bottom of the falls grew closer and closer.
Aldin looked up the 90 foot falls and saw the human who had recently talked to him start plummeting down the falls. They were going to collide! Aldin screamed out in terror only to have his tiny lungs filled with water as the power of the falls dragged him under. The human crashed down on top of him and vanished. Aldin was surrounded by water.
He couldn't breath, yet he was conscious. That's when the memories of the past 11 years came back to him in rapid succession as he approached the surface of the water....the experiments, growing up as Gene's replacement...the discovery of Moxie as a weapon against the devilbunnies...finally being freed from the mental prison in Gene's/his head...Teral Acorn...FlopEar lived...the attack on New Namakata to free Gene's brother and stop FlopEar...the darts...Gene's point of view on the events since then...and finally his. He broke through the surface of the water and awoke in the cabinet in Room 24, the room Chris had been held in, of New Namakata gasping for air.
*I'm sorry, Gene.* Aldin thought between gasps. He flicked his tail joyfully *I have a tail again.*
*It's alright, Aldin. I'm just glad to help you regain your senses before you got us killed.* [mentalgrin]
*Well, let's see if we can find FlopEar.* Aldin opened the cabinet and was jumped by three bunnies.
TBC Aldin Busheytail, mentat and research scientist at LuFI and Cpl Eugene Pomerleau
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Invading Namakata 18
[attentionfluff] "Sir, the techs down to the power plant report that partial main power should be back on in five sec..." The lights came back on.
"Thank you, comm tech," FlopEar replied. "What do we have?"
The three remaining comm techs in the room began to scan through the read-outs and reported:
"...communications other than head-sets are still down...all elevators are still non-functional...75% of surveillance cameras are down...the main south entrance doors are still jammed-open, but secondary systems are on-line. The doors can be closed..."
"Get me an outside camera." [commandfluff]
A monitor flickered to life and showed the perspective of the south entrance from a tree, about 10 feet off the ground. Two humans, Chris and someone else and five squirrels were standing in attack formation at the warren entrance. They were surrounded by LT Snowshoe and 20 or so other buns. There were many carcasses around them, bunny, human, and squirrel.
"Can we get audio with this?"
One of the comm techs fiddled with some bare wires, shocking himself enough to cause his fur to stand-out like the quills of a porcupine and smoke to pour from his ears, but he got the audio working.
> "SSSCCCRRREEEE CHITTER CHITTER CHIRP!" >"What in the Frith," FlopEar exclaimed as the squirrels at the warren entrance returned the call. FlopEar watched as an elder grey squirrel came into view on the edge of the camera's periphery in a tree branch near the entrance.
> He called-out in bun, "Who is the leader of this group?" [quizicalflick]Snowshoe hopped forward.
> "I, LT Snowshoe, am, old squirrel. Do you wish to join the fate of those >over there?" he pointed to the remaining squirrels and humans in the warren >entrance. "If not, leave us be!" > > "Snowshoe? My, how you've grown into such a handsome buck. I remember >when you were a kit smaller than my tail." Snowshoe stared at him dumbfounded. >"tsktsk...it's me, Puffcheeks." Still no sign of recognition. [sighflick] "The young >forget so soon. I can't let you harm my friends over their, especially when one of >them is my daughter. You'll have to get through me first." > > Snowshoe nearly fell-over laughing. "Pardon the clich‚, old squirrel, but you >and who's army?"FlopEar snickered.
> [sighflick] "I was hoping it wouldn't come to this but....SSSCCCRRREEEE >CHITTER CHIRP CHITTER!!!!" 40 squirrels charged out of the underbrush >as Puffcheeks leaped out of the tree at Snowshoe.
FlopEar stopped snickering and [pailfluff]ed as he watched the remaining buns get slaughtered. "Close that entrance! Close it now!" He started yelling before the last bun, Snowshoe, went down. The comm techs scrambled to comply.
"Sir, something is wrong. The doors are closing, but something is jamming and slowing their progress. The entrance will be secure in 60 seconds.
> That's when the alarms started going off and the warren doors began to close.Puffcheeks had just finished with Snowshoe when he heard the alarms and saw the doors closing. "You aren't going to get away that easily!" he screeched and raced for the closing doors.
"Father, no! Enough have died this day." His daughter cried-out, blocking his path.
Puffcheeks curled his tail around his daughter. "Ash, I must do this. Yes, many have died this day. But if FlopEar lives on, many more will die." He leaped over his daughter and through the doors just before they closed. A tear formed in Ash's eye.
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Invading Namakata 19> Aldin opened the cabinet and was jumped by three bunnies.Aldin struggled, but they had a firm hold on him. He recognized them as those that had been in Hopp's little security detail. "WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THIS!" He tried to [STOMP] but he was being held to well.
"The commander wants to see you and asked us to escort you." [fluffle] One of them replied.
"Unpaw me at once! I doubt the commander said to carry me to him." [flick]
*flick? Aldin, as long as the tail is free, we've got something to work with. Cooperate with them, I'll come up with a distraction.* Gene thought.
[nervousfluff] "We can't do that sir, you don't seem to be feeling well. AaannDd IiiiIIi'mmmm aaa" [stutterfluff] "afraid you might try to hurt us or even kill us like you did to poor Hopp if we don't restrain you, sir."
[sighflick] "Then you'll have to carry me. Unlike you bunnies, squirrels can only walk very short distances on just their hindpaws."
The three fluffsigned to themselves. Aldin could read the confusion in them and smell their fear. The one who seemed to be spokesbunny spoke-up again.
[nervousfluff] "Then we'll have to carry you along. We've already got a firm grip on you. Dddoonnn'tt ttryyy...." [stutterfluff] the bun took in a deep breath of air and continued. "anything."
The talker led the way out into the corridor as the other two dragged their prisoner along. Aldin noted that the hallway lighting was now working. They rounded the corner and the corridor widened a little.
*Here goes nothing,* Gene thought and brought his/Aldin's tail around tickled the nose of his guard on the right. The bun sneezed, loosing his grip on Aldin. Aldin didn't waste time and threw himself against his other captor, sending them both sprawling to the floor. Aldin rolled-out and was up before either of his two captors could recover, only to be broadsided by the third.
[snarlfluffsupresswimper] "I told you not to try anything," mr. talkative said as the two of them rolled around on the floor, clawing at each other, drawing blood. Aldin finally threw his opponent off him.
"It'll take a little more than a few scratches to stop me, little kit....." [flick] Aldin watched as the bun's wounds healed rapidly, much like those on his own body. "I should have expected FlopEar deciphered my coding by now."
The sight of Aldin's wounds healing caused the other two to stop themselves from leaping as they stared at Aldin. "He's just like the rest of us!" one of them shrieked. "Good, that means he'll survive long enough for us to get him to the commander," [replyfluff]ed the other. The one Aldin had just thrown off himself, leaped at Aldin again. Aldin stepped aside and [sighflick]ed.
"Don't you get it yet? I was trained by your own kind in battle techniques long before any of you were born. By obeying FlopEar, you're just going to commit suicide. Didn't you learn Hopp's lesson?" Mr. persistent leaped again and Aldin sidestepped. "Why do you really obey FlopEar?"
"He's our commander..." one replied.
"...and..." Aldin prompted.
"...if we fail him, he'll send us to the laboratories." [shiverfluff] Persistent leaped again. Aldin was sick of sidestepping the bun, and knocked the breath out of him in mid-leap. The bun slumped to the ground. *Spirit, they're barely older than kits.* *They're still devilbunnies.* Eugene retorted. The other two backed-off from Aldin a little more as they watched their companion fall.
"You're friend is alright. I only knocked the wind out of him. I only kill when I have too. Let me be and I assure you that FlopEar won't send any more bunnies to the labs." He flicked his tail slowly from left-to-right-to-left-to-right... [calmreasuringflick].
"How are we suppose to trust you, a squirrel. Squirrels can't be trusted."
"I suppose that FlopEar taught you that also?" [curiousflick]
"He's just like teacher had taught us," one mumbled to the other. "Tricky and able to twist your words in his favor."
"IiiIii dddoonnnn't kknowww, Muz. There's something different about him," the other replied. He then turned to Aldin. "How do you intend to prevent FlopEar from doing so?" [nervous/curiousfluff]
*They're stalling for reinforcements, Aldin.* *I doubt it, Gene. If FlopEar had more able buns available, they would have been here rather than these kits.*
[sighflick] "Very well. There is an old Nibble Notice out on FlopEar. I'm going to fulfill that Nibble Notice. FlopEar will not be able to do anything mean to anybunny anymore."
[doubtfulfluff] "Prove it," Muz replied as Persistent stirred.
Aldin's tail flicked straightup [whatsitgoingtotakefluff] "I don't suppose you have a working computer terminal handy?" He waited a moment. "I thought not. Look, I haven't got time to debate this. Stay out of my way, or else." Aldin scurried off back the way they had come.
Persistent got up and pursued Aldin with his two companions.
TBC Aldin Busheytail, mentat and research scientist at LuFI and Cpl Eugene PomerleauReturn to the
Invading Namakata 20Aldin rounded a corner with the three hot on his tail. *Aldin, we're going to have to kill'em,* Gene thought. *No, there are other ways. Those three have been mislead.,* Aldin snapped back. *Well, we aren't exactly shaking them off either. Why not knock them-out, Aldin?* Aldin glanced back. They were awfully close. Rather than turn the next corner, Aldin partially ran-up the wall and used his momentum to somersault backwards over the first two who collided with the wall knocking themselves out in the process. Aldin landed upon the third ('Mr. Persistent'), knocking the wind out of him again. He held the bun down.
[chatterspit] "If you value your life, you'll make for the North Entrance with your buddies when you come too." (harshwhisper) "Do I make myself clear?"
The bun [fearfullnodagreementfluff]ed. Aldin smacked the bun's head against the floor. After checking to make sure all three were still breathing, he quickly left the area.
*Where too? Command and confront FlopEar there?* Gene inquired.
*No, FlopEar wanted us to come here,* Aldin replied. *However, we shall fight him where I wish to fight him. We're going down to the computer core.*
Aldin rounded a corner, found a stairwell and started descending further into the depths of New Namakata.
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Invading Namakata 21They descended another three flights of stairs and entered another corridor. Aldin was praying that the map he had studied the last few evenings was still accurate. If so, then the computer core should be just around the next corner. He carefully peered around the corner. There was no guard posted. He slipped into the room, startling the lone comm tech long enough for Aldin to knock him out. He dragged him outside, reentered the room and locked the door. He began typing at a keyboard, accessing the system using The Rabbit's backdoor again.
"Sir, full damage reports coming in....our former human 'guest' apparently sabotaged everything we sent to him to be fixed. We are currently at 50% power and it won't get any better without replacing all damaged systems and we don't have the parts." [meekfluff] "Only 30 buns outside of this room have called in."
FlopEar looked up from his desk. "Thirty you said....only 30?" *Frith, we grew soft in our isolation. That attack killed-off four-fifths of the warren.* "Where are they?"
"Twelve are in the infirmary, 8 of which are patients. 1 in the computer core, 4 in the power plant, 3 are pursuing the Busheytail, and the other 10 are attempting repairs, sir."
"What about unwanted visitors?" [sighfluff]
"Just the Busheytail and that squirrel we saw on the camera leaping into the south entrance just before it closed. There has been no sign of the latter, and the team pursuing the former has not checked in for 10 minutes."
FlopEar only [sighfluff]ed. He closed his eyes a moment. "We only need 20 more minutes," he mumbled.
Just then every computer console went dead and a voice came-on over the loud speaker.
"I'm sure you remember me, FlopEar. Thanks for reversing what you did to me, but if you think I'll come work for you again just because of that, you're nuttier than my winter supply. If you wanted me here that badly, all you had to do was send me a tightbeam. I have taken over all the command codes for the warren. I thank you for transferring the computer systems over from Old Namakata. The very same system that Rabbit had hard wired a backdoor into over 12 years ago."
FlopEar tried several commands into his system. Nothing happened. [STOMP!]
"If it's me you want, I think you can figure out where I am. There's no need to drag anybun more into this. Send the others to the North Entrance, which I shall leave open for another 8 minutes, unless I see you try to take the coward's route and escape yourself. It's over FlopEar. Your virus won't be infecting this planet."
FlopEar was furious. "Clear the room!" The three comm techs looked at him and [hesitantfluff]ed. "I SAID," [STOMP!] "CLEAR THE FRITHEN ROOM!"
FlopEar depressed the microphone switch. "I'll be down shortly, TAILLESS. I wasn't quite done with the process yet. However, you are wrong about the virus. It is not only safe, but already on it's way to being released in..." he checked his pink bunnywatch, "about 15 minutes. AND THERE IS NOTHING YOU CAN DO TO STOP IT, TAILLESS. Why don't you tune into BNN™, while I make my way down to you, we can watch the beginning of the end of humankind as the Center for Disease Control in Atlanta blows-up, releasing the virus and then I'll decide whether or not to kill you." [evilsnickerfluff]
There was silence from the other end.
TBC--BNN-Bunny News Network™Return to the
Invading Namakata 22Aldin slumped against the chair he had been sitting in. *Is it possible? Are we too late?* He remained silent and Gene had nothing to add.
"Are you still there, Tailless?"
[chatterspit] "The name is Aldin Busheytail, FlopEar. Not Tailless." Aldin's tail stuck straight out with the upper half flicking up and down rapidly [defiantflick].
"Just wanted to make sure you were still listening. As I was saying, you're too late. My agents have already planted the explosives and the vials containing the virus. They shall go off during the daily news conference at the CDC, which have been occurring daily since that Ebola outbreak in Africa." [deviousfluff] "After the explosion, the vials will shatter releasing their contents into the atmosphere, infecting humans all over Atlanta. Thanks to the major air hub in Atlanta and the virus' long incubation period, it will be spread around the world before its first victims begin to fluff. By then it will be too late for humankind and the virus will have run its course world wide in 3 to 4 days." [cackle...cackle...] "BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA" [snickerfluff]
[flick] "You forgot something in the equation, FlopEar. The Fudds will see this as an Omega Treaty Violation and retaliate appropriately. So, no one or bun will win."
FlopEar stopped giggling and cackling at his victory long enough to answer Aldin. "Well, Tailless, you met Whitey, I'm sure. You know, the bun who shot you full of darts before I assume he met his demise. He use to be human. A human pumped-up on anti-bunnies, I might add. As my test subject with the airborne version of the virus, the anti-bunnies didn't exactly protect him, did they?" FlopEar let off another round of laughing as he headed for the corridor to confront Aldin down to the computer core.
Aldin sat back in dismay. The bun was totally off his rocker. "Bast^H^H^H^H [pig-13]" he mumbled. *He's doomed the whole world.* [taildrop] he thought. *Only one thing left to do. I may not be able to stop the end of the world, but I can punish those at fault.*
Aldin got up and went over to the mainframe interface. He typed in The Rabbit's access code.
: code [acceptfluff].He ordered the Code Level Five Emergency Seal-off to be activated.
:[warningfluff] Code Level Five Emergency Seal-off will destroy the :warren [shiverfluff] and all within. Are you sure you want this uncute :order to be executed? [curiousfluff]Aldin typed in '[affirmativefluff]'.
:Please enter your code again to confirm.Aldin typed 'Checkerboard'.
:Code [acceptfluff]. Does the Executive Warren Officer concure? [curiousfluff]*Executive Warren Officer? A rather uncute title in a devilbunny facility. Wait, the second in command. I have never heard it referred to in that way. Well, Rabbit, let's see how hard wired this back door is...*
'[affirmativefluff]. Executive Warren Officer Captain Busheytail concurs.'
:Enter your code, Captain Busheytail.*It worked? Spirit, it's been 11 years, what was my code back then...oh, yea.* Aldin entered the code: 'SotW:2,humans(&*(%*(&$%'.
*What the hell are you doing, Aldin! I'm not interested in committing suicide!*
:Code [unacceptfluff]. Order aborted....*Sorry, Gene, but there is no other way for us to stop FlopEar.* [sadflick]
*Yes, there is! Think for a moment, Aldin. You have total reign of the computer system thanks to Rabbit's code. Let's think of a way to put that system to use in our advantage. Meanwhile, let's turn on BNN as FlopEar says, just in case. The CDC is a Federal facility and I doubt security is loose, especially after the Oklahoma incident. There is also the chance he's bluffing.*
[sighflick] *FlopEar doesn't bluff, but you are correct, we should wait. OK, let's see what we can do with this system. Spirit, ....* [shiverfluff]
*Hey, watch those bunny-like fluffs!*
*Sorry, Gene, old habit. As I was trying to say, I can't believe now that there was a time when I actually thought these SuperMac™ main frames were the best computer systems available.* [flick]
*I know what you mean, Aldin.*
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Invading Namakata 23Ten minutes went by. Aldin was getting frustrated with the computer system. It was amazing that control of the outside doors was still possible. Whatever it was Chris had done to the system, it messed the computer system severely. If Aldin had activated the warren self-destruct, it would not have worked. Furthermore, few of the corridor security cameras were functional. One of the few happened to be the North Entrance camera. He entered the command to seal that door as the last buns, those he had knocked-out, exited. It would now just be he and FlopEar.
There was a rap at the door. The hallway camera was out, no chance on double-checking, but it had to be FlopEar. Aldin entered the command for the door to open and close, and ducked out of the way. FlopEar entered unarmed. Aldin came-out in the clear, but kept his distance.
"Ah, just in time I see." FlopEar [gesturefluffed] We can settle our 'differences' afterward."
On the screen:
"Welcome, to the exclusive BNN daily Center for Disease Control newsbrief. Today's briefing has been delayed for an unknown reason.....wait, here's the spokesbun now. Let's listen in...." "Ladies and gentlebuns of the press. Earlier today, two terrorists, possibly Fudd-backed, attempted to gain access to the CDC. They were apprehended with one of the terrorists being killed in the process. The surviving terrorist is in custody and is being interrogated as we speak. Several pounds of a C-4-like explosive along with detonators were found on the two terrorists. We will have more information later after the surviving terrorist has been interrogated. It is not believed that this incident is connected in anyway to Oklahoma City. This information is not to be shared with any non-symp humans. [commandfluff] Thank you." The spokesbun left, despite the cries of questions from several reporters. in the briefing room.Back in Namakata's computer center:
FlopEar shut-off the monitor by throwing a keyboard at it. "Fools!" [STOMP!] "Couldn't they get one covert operation correct?!"
[thankfulflick] "For once, I'm glad the devilbunnies control so much of the government. So, FlopEar, ready to give it up? It's only a matter of time, before they make your agent sing."
FlopEar continued to rant and rave for a few moments before acknowledging Aldin. [STOMP!] "Give up!?" [gigglefluff] "Nay, I'll just have to go to plan B. Not as pretty, but it'll work just the same. But first, time I take care of your annoying presence once and for all. To bad you're a squirrel. You were a good mentat despite your species." He turned towards the squirrel, with a pawgun drawn. "Really, Aldin, you should have taken care of the loose weapons in here before I got here."
Aldin froze. FlopEar aimed and pulled the trigger.
[CLICK...CLICK...CLICK...]
[amusedflick] "FlopEar, you should know your mentats by now. Who needs a gun without ammo."
[CLICK...CLICK...CLICK...] FlopEar threw the weapon aside in disgust and leaped at Aldin, snarling.
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Invading Namakata 24WARNING: The net-censors have declared the following to be rated [PIG-13]. It contains graphic violence that may not be suitable for all audiences. Parental discretion is advised.
Aldin fell back and using the same move he used on Private Hopp earlier, used his hind paws and FlopEar's momentum to propel FlopEar over his head, ripping his chest and belly open as he flew over Aldin. FlopEar landed in a bloody heap 4 feet beyond Aldin.
Aldin quickly rolled-over back onto his hind paws. FlopEar got-up, the wound closing as he got to his feet.
[sinister cackle] "I must say, Tailless, that was quite the research you did back then. I commend you. With my bigger body mass, I should be able to outlast you, making your slow death that much more enjoyable to me." He broke-out into laughter while approaching Aldin: Bwahahahaha hahahahaha.
Aldin took a defensive posture. FlopEar stuck-out with both front paws, claws extended in rapid succession. Aldin fought-off the first and second wave, but FlopEar was too energetic, despite his age, and struck home on the third wave, ripping flesh from Aldin's left cheek and right shoulder. Aldin fell-back fighting the pain. FlopEar kept-up his assault.
[cackle] "What's the matter, Tailless? Wabbit's fighting techniques don't work in this sitwation?" He continued to bat at Aldin like a cat's play toy.
Aldin felt strange all of a sudden. He could feel himself getting knocked around by FlopEar, but the pain was suddenly dampened significantly. *We must be getting battered into numbness, Gene.*
*No, Aldin, I'm taking the brunt of it. [wince] But I can't hold this out for long. If you've got any more nifty moves, now's the time to use them.*
He was getting weak fast, but he summed-up the energy for one more hit. It wasn't something The Rabbit taught him, nor was it something any one with normal morals do, but this was a desperate situation. FlopEar opened himself up between blows and Aldin struck upward with a rear paw, clawing up between FlopEar's legs, and raking downward after making contact. FlopEar doubled over on the floor singing soprano, clutching the now bloody area between his legs. Aldin collapsed in exhaustion.
*What the hell are you doing, Aldin! He'll be up in a minute. If we don't finish him now, he'll finish us for sure.*
*Sorry, Gene, it's that alteration in our genetic code I performed long ago. Yes, it enables us to heal quickly, but it also greatly speeds-up our metabolism during healing. The body is out of energy. If we don't refuel soon, the healing process will actually kill us through starvation.*
*Then move! There was a lunch box over by that console that belonged to the bunny we kicked-out of here. Pray it's still there. The other option is stuck to our hindpaw, and I'm not interested in that option.*
[weakshiverflick] *Yuck.* Aldin slowly dragged himself towards the indicated console. There was a lunch box there. He didn't care what was in it. He simply needed to eat. He quickly consumed a bag of dried carrot chips and was half-way through the Spamwich™ when FlopEar dragged himself to his feet.
*I would recommend running for now, Aldin.*
Aldin didn't need any encouragement. He quickly entered a couple of commands in the console, opening the room door and locking down the system, and fled (with renewed energy), with the remains of the Spamwich™ in his mouth.
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Invading Namakata 25FlopEar was still in too much pain to follow the squirrel and collapsed again. The area that Fudd-damned^H^H^H^H^H^H[PIG-13] squirrel had struck, had healed, but he would never be able to fully call himself a buck again. The squirrel would pay. He could give chase, but this was the best place to confront the squirrel. There would be no more food to refuel his system here. FlopEar struggled to his feet again and crawled over, painfully, to a small glassed-in box on the wall on the side of the main console.
"You may run for now, Tailless, but you'll be back." He broke the glass, revealing a pink button and a keyhole. He removed a pink key from a small necklace around his neck, inserted it, and turned it to the left. The button lit-up. He pawed the button. The warren alarm system sounded: THUMP, THUMP, THUMP....WARNING, MANUAL WARREN SELF-DESTRUCT OVERRIDE ACTIVATED. Warren will be destroyed in ten minutes.
"Say your prayers, Tailless." FlopEar finished off the contents of the lunch box that Aldin had abandoned.
Any ventilation shafts or entrances not yet sealed, sealed themselves. 30 miles to the southwest, the ceiling of a one mile section of the unused bunnymover system collapsed, allowing the waters of Moosehead Lake above to come flooding in, blocking-off a three mile section of the tunnel. The half-inch drop in lake level (it's a big lake) goes unnoticed by the locals.
Aldin had finished the Spamwich off and made his way to the mess hall, where he consumed whatever he could get his paws on when the alarm went-off.
*I thought you locked the system down, Aldin!*
*Apparently, not everything here is computer run.*
As if on cue, FlopEar's voice came-over the speakers. "Give it up, Tailless. You can't hide forever, and there's no escaping with your life now. You know where to find me....sound familiar? FlopEar out."
*Doesn't sound like much in the way of options, Aldin.*
*Well at least we'll die taking him with us.* Aldin gobbled down one more serving of mystery meat. And headed out the door into the corridor and back towards the computer control room.
Aldin wasn't the only squirrel to hear the message. Puffcheeks was semi-lost in the complex of corridors, similar to old Namakata, but lacking the squirrel walkways of the one he remembered. Up until he heard the voice of FlopEar, he had seen nothing but death. Dead squirrels that he weeped over, dead humans, and many dead devilbunnies. He came upon one white buck separate from all the others. His head had been cleaved in two, probably by an axe wielded by one of the humans. He only stopped, for the scents in this area was different. There was human and bun, but one of the more recent was that of squirrel and it lead down the corridor. He followed it to a stairwell and began to descend. He had reached the first landing when he heard FlopEar's voice.
*Who's Tailless? Could it be Aldin?* He continued to follow the faint scent down the stairs.
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Invading Namakata 26*****BUNIX WIDEBEAM (11 year old encryption) ACTIVATED***** From: The Rabbit, commander, Namakata Research Laboratory To: All devilbunnies [sadfluff] If you are receiving this automated message, then I fear [fearfulfluff] that the worse has happened. Something has gone wrong at Namakata Labs, forcing us to initiate containment of all personal and the destruction of this warren in order to protect all others who fight against the unky00t. All files on our computer systems are being downloaded in compressed form via the fastest protocols to SFU Warren and P.A.W. May you figure out our errors and not repeat them. I pray that the battle goes well with those of you who live on beyond this tragedy. Frith be with you. Retired Colonel, The Rabbit, commander and mentat, Namakata Labs *****END BUNIX WIDEBEAM*****The message repeats itself five minutes later and goes silent. The promised downloads of ALL information on the computer systems is downloaded as promised in a (super) compressed format in 7 minutes. Any acknowledgments of this message by other warrens is ignored by the automated system.
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Invading Namakata 27WARNING: The net censors have rated the following [PIG-13] due to graphic violence that may not be suitable for all children and kits. Adult discretion is advised.
*Here goes nothing, Gene,* Aldin thought-commented as he leaped into the computer center, somersaulting through the air.
He came to a landing on a console some ten feet from FlopEar.
"Quite the flourishing display of acrobatics, Tailless..." FlopEar snarled as he leaped onto the squirrel, before Aldin could react. The two of them rolled onto the floor, with FlopEar coming-up first, holding Aldin off the ground by the tail. Aldin thrashed around, but could not make contact.
"You know, Tailless," [deviousfluff] "I never thought I would learn anything from a human. But I remember one time back when I was a kit when I watched this human catch a red squirrel in a snare trap by the tail. And you know what that human did to him?" [curiousfluff]
Aldin [chitterspit] in reply.
[gigglefluff] "Glad you've got a little spunk left in you. Well, that human cut the rope holding the snare in place while holding onto it. He began to twirl that rope with the squirrel still attached by the tail..."
FlopEar began twirling Aldin around by the tail over his head.
"...and the human walked towards this big oak tree..."
FlopEar starts to move towards a support column near the center of the room.
"...and do you know what he did then?" [deviousfluff] "He did this!"
FlopEar let go of Aldin's tail, sending the squirrel sailing through the air. Aldin screeched as he flew through the air. Aldin became silent as he slammed against the column accompanied by several sickening crunches as his spinal column shattered in multiple spots. Aldin's body fell to the floor in an unnatural heap at the base of the column and lay still.
FlopEar fell over laughing his fur off at the end of his foe. He didn't here the war cry until it was too late.....SSSCCCRRREEEEE!!!!
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Invading Namakata 28WARNING: The net censors have rated the following [PIG-13] due to graphic violence that may not be suitable for all children and kits. Adult discretion is advised.
Puffcheeks got to the computer center to witness the end of a fellow squirrel.
> FlopEar let go of Aldin's tail, sending the squirrel sailing through the >air. Aldin screeched as he flew through the air. Aldin became silent as >he slammed against the column accompanied by several sicking crunches >as his spinal column shattered in multiple spots. Aldin's body fell to the >floor in a sicking, unnatural heap at the base of the column and lay still.Anger and adrenaline took over and Puffcheeks leaped at the devilbunny, screaming.
> FlopEar fell over laughing his fur off at the end of his foe. He didn't >here the war cry until it was too late.....SSSCCCRRREEEEE!!!!Puffcheeks landed soundly on top of FlopEar and bit into his bent ear, severing it three-quarters of the way down. FlopEar let out a scream of pain and anger and lashed out at his foe, dislodging him. Puffcheeks rolled as he landed and quickly got into a fighting posture. Blood trickled into FlopEar's right eye from the wound.
[snarl] "So another squirrel chooses to commit suicide..." The bun eyed his foe through his good left eye. "Puffcheeks, I believe. If I had known you were going to join us so soon, I would have only injured Tailless so he could watch the death of his friend before I finished him off."
Puffcheeks gave a quick glance at the crumpled form on the floor and saw the tell-tale tail.
[angryflick] "Aldin? You changed him back and then killed him?!"
[proudfluff] "A rather disappointing contest. Then again if the drug I shot him full of had worked properly, he'd be sleeping in the labs right now while the techs took the next step, conversion to devilbunny." [sighfluff] "But Tailless had to bring some friends along and ruin everything. No matter, they will pay shortly." [deviousfluff] "Starting with you!"
FlopEar leaped at the squirrel. Puffcheeks dodged and counter attacked. Each dished-out wounds upon the other which healed rapidly.
"I see that you were one of those who volunteered for Aldin's experiment." [deviousfluff] "That will make your death that much more pleasurable."
FlopEar cackled with glee as he dished-out blow upon blow at Puffcheeks. Puffcheeks pulled away after five minutes. FlopEar leaped at him snarling. Puffcheeks fell onto his back and using his hindlegs and the bun's momentum, propelled FlopEar forward. Puffcheeks would have dug-into the bun's torso and belly with his claws, ripping the bun open (A standard defense move taught back under The Rabbit.) had FlopEar not been ready for him.
FlopEar was expecting the move and knew he would be injured, but he had a counter move of his own. As he sailed over the squirrel, he lashed-out with his front claws, ripping the squirrel's body open. In his painful reaction, Puffcheeks did not follow-through with his move and screamed in pain instead as blood gushed from his vivisected body. Puffcheek's scream became a rasp and he breathed no more.
FlopEar didn't have time to cackle at his apparent victory. He had failed to note which way he had leaped and had been sent flying. He slammed into the same column he threw Aldin against and slid to the floor on top of Aldin's body. The wind was knocked out of him.
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Invading Namakata 29(Backtracking a little...)
> Puffcheeks curled his tail around his daughter. "Ash, I must do this. >Yes, many have died this day. But if FlopEar lives on, many more will die." >He leaped over his daughter and through the doors just before they closed. >A tear formed in Ash's eye.Ash didn't stop at one tear. She shed many tears over the next half-hour or so as she and the other survivors, both human and squirrel, piled the dead into three groups: squirrel, human, and devilbunny. It had been agreed upon that too many squirrels had died to just let them lie where they may as was the normal rule in the wilderness. Instead, they would be burned alongside the human and bunny dead along the southern shore of Nahmakanta Lake.
One of the more tragic moments was the uncovering of the body of the red human once called John Clouddrifter. His body was badly mutilated and toeless, buried under many dead bunnies. His left hand still gripped a bunny scalp. The two humans (the only remaining uninjured humans) who uncovered the body, jumped back in surprise as the Micmac's eyes opened and he spoke in raspy whisper.
"....moski...."
Chris regained his senses first and bent down close to John's head. "They are all dead, John. We won."
[gasp] "...no....I....mean....you.....Chris....you....are.....Moski....others....will....explain....when....the....tim e....comes....." [gasp-choke] "my....time....comes....the....spirits....call.." John closed his eyes and left the world of the living.
Chris spent the rest of the grim time of piling bodies contemplating John's last words. It didn't make much sense to him. He recalled the old legend of the battle between the devilbunnies on one side and the Abenaki and squirrels on the otherside. Soon after the conclusion of the battle, the medicine man of the Micmacs predicted that another battle would someday occur. One Micmac descendant with mixed blood, Micmac, white and anicus (squirrel) would rise-up to lead the Micmac to victory once again. That warrior would be known as Moski.
How could he be this Moski? Didn't they just go through a battle with the moskimus (devilbunnies), fighting alongside the squirrels? He wasn't the leader, his brother, Gene had been. Matter of fact, it made more sense to think of Gene as Moski. He had been called Moxie for many years, the anglicization of moski. Chris continued contemplating these questions until all the bodies had been piled upon the pyres. He and Mike then set blaze to the three pyres, just as new alarms began to sound from the devilbunny warren they had recently escaped.
THUMP, THUMP, THUMP....WARNING, MANUAL WARREN SELF-DESTRUCT OVERRIDE ACTIVATED. Warren will be destroyed in ten minutes.
Mike looked to Chris. "You know what that means?"
"Yes, we run like hell!"
They start running towards the clearing a half-mile south of the lake where Gene and company had gathered before the battle. The squirrels were ahead of them scurrying through the trees at top speed and left the humans behind quickly.
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Invading Namakata 30Darkness....shear, utter darkness. Gene felt nothing. He heard nothing. There was a pinpoint of light somewhere in the distance. He made for that pinpoint.
"Aldin???"
"It is not yet your time..."
The voice wasn't Aldin's, but it was authoritative. The pinpoint faded. Gene felt sensation and pain as something landed upon his body.
> FlopEar didn't have time to cackle at his apparent victory. He had failed >to note which way he had leaped and had been sent flying. He slammed >into the same column he threw Aldin against and slid to the floor on top >of Aldin's body. The wind was knocked out of him.The force of that something forced Gene to gasp for breath. He could not feel a thing below his forepaws. *Aldin?* There was no reply. Where Aldin should have been, was a void in his mind. Gene opened an eye and saw FlopEar lying on top of his body, which wasn't suppose to bend in the way it was bent. *Well, that explains the lack of sensation.* He attempted to move a forepaw. It moved. Gene wasted no time.
FlopEar lay there a moment gasping for breath. The Aldin's body stirred below him. *Impossible...* [impossiblefluff] Before he could gather the strength to move, the squirrel's two forepaws connected and interlocked around the devilbunny's neck. FlopEar struggled, but could not break free of the death-like grip. He started dragging the crippled squirrel's body, trying to shake loose, to no avail.
"Stop squirming, fluffer, it'll make it that much more painful." The voice was deeper than it should have been.
FlopEar looked down at the squirrel and froze as human eyes stared back.
"Remember me, fluffer? Perhaps this will help. You once said to me, 'We'll probably chop you up into vienna sausage.' To which I replied, 'You're kidding, right?' To which you said, 'Yah, we wouldn't chop you up into vienna sausage, we'll just chop you into spam or maybe treat depending on your behavior.'"
FlopEar's eyes narrowed in recognition. "Impossible. You died soon after the experiment."
"Wrong again, fluffer. My soulless body died. My soul was somehow transferred over to Aldin's body, where the two of us have had to put-up with each other for the last 11 or so years. I believe Aldin also said something to you: 'I swear, I'll be your death.'"
Gene twisted his paws. *POP!* FlopEar's head flew across the room. "Aldin wasn't too far off on his statement, was he?" Gene collapsed in exhaustion with the headless bun's body rolling off his mutilated body and surrendered to oblivion. He never heard the computer droning in the background: Ten, Nine, Eight,....
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Invading Namakata 31>THUMP, THUMP, THUMP....WARNING, MANUAL WARREN SELF-DESTRUCT >OVERRIDE ACTIVATED. Warren will be destroyed in ten minutes. > > Mike looked to Chris. "You know what that means?" > > "Yes, we run like hell!" > > They start running towards the clearing a half-mile south of the lake >where Gene and company had gathered before the battle. The squirrels >were ahead of them scurrying through the trees at top speed and left the >humans behind quickly.The two humans were beginning to get winded.
"Time?" Chris asked as they approached the clearing.
"Hit the deck!" Mike replied.
The two dove to the ground. Everything shook, followed by the distant roar of an explosion behind them. The roar grew louder as the shock-wave approached them, uprooting several trees. Some less sure-footed squirrels fell from the heights, some of which did not survive the fall. Less than a minute later, everything was quiet.
"Chris? Are we still alive?"
"I think so." Chris got up cautiously and peered back the way they had run from. Some black smoke wafted up into the sky in the distance. "What now?"
"Well, it's too late to try to head back tonight. I'll radio in with my superiors and give them a preliminary report."
"You mean the Fudds, right."
"Yes, care to join?"
"No thanks. My calling is elsewhere." Chris helped Mike up. "I'm going back there in the morning. I have to make sure."
"Nothing could have survived that explosion."
Chris looked sternly at his friend of many years and his boss. "Mike, I have too. Those demons kept me captive for months and killed my brother. I must make sure none of them survived."
Mike grasped Chris' arm. "I understand. I'll join you in the morning."
Mike headed towards one of the pick-ups to access the lap-top. Chris looked-up and spied a squirrel watching them. While most of the others had already left and gone their own ways, back into the wilderness, this one stayed behind. Upon being noticed by the human, the squirrel spoke.
"You must be the one, Aldin called Chris." [curiousflick] "I am Ash. Until his return to us yesterday, Aldin wasn't much more than a legend."
Chris took the squirrel speaking English in stride--why not, if rabbits could speak, why not some squirrels? He heard that elder one speak earlier, why not more? He replied to the squirrel, "Who is Aldin?"
Ash scurried down the tree and perched herself upon a rock. Chris sat nearby to listen to this squirrel.
"You knew Aldin as your brother, Eugene. The real Eugene was murdered by the devilbunnies....." She spent an hour filling the human in on the legends behind Aldin Busheytail/Eugene Pomerleau. "....We had hoped he would have been able to fill us in what his life was like as a human. That will not happen now." [taildroop]
The squirrel's story helped solve some of the questions in Chris' mind. If Eugene was really this change squirrel, it would explain how he could have squirrel blood running through his veins. Gene/Aldin had donated blood for him after he had been in an accident. He wanted to learn more, so he told the squirrel about human life and about Aldin as Gene.
Ash, in kind, exchange stories about the squirrels, especially about the days working under the devilbunnies: How her ancestors' minds had been enhanced to the point of sentience through some technology the devilbunnies called nanites. How a mess-up in the experiments had not just changed their minds, but altered their entire genetic code, so that enhancement could be passed-on from one generation to the next. Aldin was one of the last to undergo the treatment, before the devilbunnies discovered their mistake.
The human and squirrel talked well into the evening, with the later falling asleep on the former's lap as he leaned against a tree.
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Invading Namakata 32*****Tightbeam Bunnystumper Deluxe™ Activated*****
FROM: Mike Nahtowski
TO: SGT Steve Blake, acting commander of LUFI
SUBJECT: Devilbunny incursion in the Maine WildernessSir,
We have engaged and neutralized the bunny threat. However, we have suffered heavy losses. Chris Pomerleau and myself are the only human survivors. We only survived due to some unexpected aid from some squirrels. Corporeal Eugene Pomerleau perished in the line of duty. According to Chris, Eugene was killed by a fast acting poisonous agent. There was little left of his body to recover, once the agent was finished with it.
Soon after our escape from the warren, alarms announcing it's imminent self-destruct. We ran and dove for cover as an explosion shook the ground and toppled trees around us. We are going to wait until morning to let things settle before we inspect the site to ensure that nobunny survived.
I will submit a second report once the inspection of that site is completed. I will also notify Eugene Pomerleau's parents of his death.
Mike Nahtowski, Maine Fudd Volunteers
*****End tightbeam and encryption*****Sgt. Blake read over the report and passed a copy on to Col. Oullette, who was still busy helping rebuild NoCO. He would lead a wake in the morning. But for now he would grieve in private.
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Invading Namakata 33On news stations across the northeast that evening and a quick mention on national news the following evening:
Welcome to the Eleven O'clock report here on WMTW TV. Topping the news; Earthquake! Most of Maine was rocked by an earthquake this afternoon at around 4:30pm. The epicenter is believed to be located 20 miles west of Millinocket, near Nahman...(the spokeswoman trips over the word and tries again, grinning hugely at the camera) Nahmakanta Lake. The U.S. Geological Service give a preliminary Richter Scale rating of 5.1 for this quake. Damage reports are not available at this time. The quake was felt from Quebec City to Fredericton (New Brunswick) to as far south as Boston. In other news....
Meanwhile down to the National Center for Disease Control in Atlanta:
"Tech Hopper, take this containment unit down to Bio-Safety Level Four. Get into a bio-hazard suit, and place the viles within into cold storage."
[curiousfluff] "What's in'em?"
"Don't really know. They were found on the two human terrorists. If you believe the survivor, they contain an altered BunnyVirus™, an airborne version." [gigglefluff] We'll save them to show Daphnie Mentat during her upcoming visit and let her determine what they are."
[shiverfluff] "She's coming here? When?" [nervousfluff]
[shrugfluff] "Don't know, but I was told she would pay an unannounced visit sometime this summer."
Deep within the collapsed remains of Namakata Labs, deep within a gutted collapsed lab, two sealed viles sat in storage marked, 'AB'.
END
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Author's AfterthoughtsWell that was intended to be my "one shot fame" on the newsgroup. At the time, I was preparing to defend my Master Degree Thesis (Blowing Dust across West Texas with Triggering Mechanisms--it was a dirty topic, but someone had to do it). I knew I would be without access to the net indefinitely as Maine was just starting to get 'wired' at that time. Ironically, Maine became the first state in the nation to have Internet access at every one of its public schools.
So my intentions as shown were to kill-off Eugene/Aldin. I figured I could start again if I ever came back. Up through that time, I felt like I was being ignored or disliked by all but a few on the group. There had been some hostilities between me and some of the 'veterans', mostly stemming from a "Thou shalt not violate the FAQ's though we do, because we were here before you!" attitude But I won't go further into airing dirty laundry here, nor will I point fingers to who I felt was against me. That's all in the past. So I went through with my plan and killed my characters off and ended the story with Ash in Chris' lap and the news tidbits.
By the way, I had planned-out this entire plotline back in Sept/Oct '94 with the added promise to John "Iago" Hollingworth that he would get to destroy Lubbock. (That storyline wouldn't take place until '96 as The Battle of Lubbock.) It blew my mind when the Federal Building in Oklahoma blew just a few weeks before I had planned to post the segment in which FlopEar reveals he planned to blow-up the CDC. This Real Life event made me make slight alterations in the story as you've just read it. Originally, the CDC would have been bombed, but the virus would have been destroyed in the blast as I had originally outlined in my head and on scratch paper the previous fall, long before the Real Life incident forced me to make changes.
During the entire story, the only positive responses I received were from those who had worked with me: Thanks to LonGears, Iago (if and when you ever get net access back John) and Teral (Aaron/Chit). So I had assumed at that time that few would really miss me as the story wound-down as I posted the final few segments.
Then the fan email started to arrive, praising the story and begging me not to kill-off Eugene/Aldin. Alas, where were those 'fans' before I killed-off my characters? This left me in a difficult situation. I had already killed them off. Or did I? After a little thought on it, I came-up with a way to "raise them from the dead" and separate them without violating the FAQ's too badly. Then again, at that point, I figured if there was an uproar I could have asked those who complained: Well I was asked to bring them back, do you have a better proposal on how to do it?
So I brought them back, using the Spirit of the Wilderness one last time. If asked about the affair Eugene and Aldin will simply state divine intervention was what kept them alive. That story is under separate title as: Take one day at a time and Rendezvous at Will's Place, posted to alt.devilbunnies in June, 1995.
Scott Bernier, 3 March, 1998