Part 10 (1/2)
Even Delores had to admit that she felt sorry for Doctor Dread, if only for an instant. It was basic Cineverse theory that everyone had his own planet of peril, a place where he or she would fit in all too well. Who knew Dr. Dread's perfect fit would be in Bunnyland? But there was no time for misplaced sympathy. They had a job to do.
”Look, men,” she said decisively. ”We've neutralized Dread. Now all we have to do is find Captain Crusader.”
She hesitated. She wished she felt as forceful as she sounded. There was still a part of her that wanted to search for Roger. How were they going to find Captain Crusader, anyway?
Big Louie, as usual, asked her question for her. ”How are we going to find Captain Crusader, anyway?”
”No problem there, boyo,” Officer O'Clanrahan a.s.sured him. ”Dwight the Wonder Dog can find anyone.”
”Yip bark arf arf!” Dwight agreed.
”Well, it's been awfully nice talking to you,” Bigears began cheerfully.
”And meeting Dwight the Wonder Dog!” Pinknose enthused.
”But, now that Malevelo is back, we have things to do,” Bigears explained.
”I have to bake some cream pies,” Fluffytail agreed.
”The kind that are good for throwing!” Bigears elucidated.
”I'll have to write up some 'This Way to Bunnies' signs,” Pinknose volunteered.
”Yeah,” Bigears agreed, ”he always falls for that one.”
”You know what you have to do, Bouncer,” Pinknose prompted.
The big rabbit rocked with mirth. ”Yeah”-snicker, snicker-”da exploding carrots!”
All the bunnies had a good laugh.
Doc had sidled over to Delores as the rabbits relayed their plans.
”Missy?” he whispered in her ear. ”Are you sure we shouldn't save him?”
Delores shook her head. ”Sometimes, I'm afraid, we have to be pragmatic rather than heroic. It's a part of the Change.”
Doc nodded solemnly. ”Now I remember why I took to drink.”
The bunnies waved a final time as they hopped back into the forest. Delores turned back to the benevolently smiling Officer O'Clanrahan.”So you want to find Captain Crusader, do you?” he chortled. ”Well, all we need to do is take Dwight to the last place you saw that Captain-to get the scent, don't you know. After that, the Wonder Dog will track him anywhere in the Cineverse!”
Delores decided that sounded simple enough. The last place they had seen Captain Crusader was on that island paradise where they were to be sacrificed to the Volcano G.o.d. But the Captain, in his guise as the Secret Samoan, had helped to foil that sacrifice before he disappeared.
Then, the island paradise was where they had to go. Delores imagined it would be safe enough there, now that Doctor Dread was no longer present to incite the islanders. She would have to gather the others around her and use the ring at once.
That's when they were surrounded by blue smoke, not to mention diabolical laughter.
”Ah hahahaha! Ah hahahaha!”
Delores would recognize that laugh anywhere. Even without looking at his bald head, pencil-thin mustache, or signature silver s.p.a.ce robes, she would have known instantly it was Menge the Merciless!
Dwight growled menacingly as Doc drew his six-guns and Zabana beat his chest in a clear jungle challenge. Louie cleared his throat.
”Uh, don't you think it's time we got out of here?”
”Not so fast, mortals,” Menge gloated. ”Doctor Dread has put out a distress signal.
Soon, every cutthroat in his employ will be converging upon this very spot. You wouldn't want to leave and miss the party? Ah hahahaha! Ah hahahaha!”
Even as he spoke, there was another pair of blue smoke explosions. The larger one was to the left, and-as the cartoon smoke drifted away on the cartoon wind- revealed Big Bertha and her many minions! Delores didn't recognize the short, stocky fellow at the center of the other dissipating cloud, although the robot and gorilla he had brought along certainly looked menacing.
”Say!” the newest villain called out as he pointed to Delores' canine companion. ”Isn't that Dwight the Wonder Dog?”
”Ah hahahaha! Ah hahahaha!” was Menge's answer. ”Even Dwight the Wonder Dog can't save them now! Heroic fools-there is only one thing in your future! Death!”
And with that, the entire a.s.sembled might of Cineverse villainy rushed forward.
^ ^ 9 ^ ^
”BOMBS AWAY!”.
”Hey, what did we tell you!” Brian said to the Motorcycle Mob. ”Roger's back, and we've still got eight hours before the Cowabunga-munga!”
Only eight hours? Roger became even more upset. When they'd escaped this place, hadn't there been more than a day? It was a forceful reminder that Cineverse time was different, and somewhat more treacherous, than time on Earth.
”Oh, yeah?” Sneer taunted. ”How's he gonna surf if he's tied to that thing?”
The surfers were silent for a second.
”I know what to do!” Frankie shouted. ”It's time for a surfing song!”
A surfing song? Roger was still strapped to the rocket s.h.i.+p by the heavy metal cables.
There was no way he could escape. What could he do?
”Well, you've got to give Roger this,” Brian admitted admiringly. ”Whenever he shows up, he sure brings some funky stuff along.”
”Yeah?” Sneer jeered. ”But is it funky enough to surf?” Bix Bale and the Belltones took that as their cue. Guitars and drums took up a merry surfing beat. Frankie started to sing: ”Roger's strapped to a rocket s.h.i.+p.
Fella knows how to take a trip!
He'll go free, now we can't go wrong; He brought his salvation along!”
”Hey!” the crowd shouted in unison.
Boom be boom be boom be boom boom boom, the drums replied.