The Rescuing

"No Marcel, Just... NO!" Lena Marr said with a pretty pout on her determined chalk white face, her sky blue eyes with a hard tint, "Train, plane or automobile, I'm going with you! Live or die, I'm going with you Pooh Bear because quite frankly, life would be too drekking boring without you!"

Lena folded her arms tightly across her ample bosom and her blue eyes narrowed making it perfectly obvious that this particular situation was non-negotiable.

"Buridan's ass," muttered Marcel.

"What about his ass?" asked Lena who's Curriculum Vitae did not include the course of non practical Earth philosophy. Same applied to Marcel himself, who despite of being a practising cynic did not usually bother himself with the problems of philosophy, but due to his shady past, which included spending hours in different hideouts or ambush positions, he obtained a habit to read anything he got his hands on, including educational literature, to spend long hours of waiting so he was able to answer to Lena's question. 

"Buridan was a philosopher and his ass refers to a situation where a donkey who is both hungry and thirsty is placed precisely midway between hay stack and a bucket of water. The assumption is that since the ass will always go to whichever is closer, it dies of both hunger and thirst since it cannot make any rational decision between the hay and water. Monsieur Batman described my situation in same terms but in somewhat different form, except he left out the fact that I always choose you, my wonderful Honey Pot, so I am not an ass after all," said Marcel right before putting his arm around Lena and leading her to the pilot seat (and not forgetting to give her an affectionate butt squeeze on their way).

"You are an excellent pilot, Honey Pot, so while I am disabling that bomb, you keep us steadily in air. I know that you can do it," he told to his beloved Lena with confidence after their elegant take off. Marcel knew that Lena begun to practice flying because it was exciting and after some time she became one of the best pilots in the western coast of the former USA. She simply could not get enough of flying and Marcel could not get enough of her... 

"Thank you all for your cooperation, my friends! Once again we proved that we are able to work together in unusual circumstances. I also have a great pleasure to announce that the cause of this sudden Conga movement and the game of Simon Says, gracefully led by our younger generation, has been handled and we can all return to our daily duties. After visiting the canteen, if you like, because refreshments are on me. You completely deserved it."

After a small ovation the crowd left. Wolfram von Eschen and Lady Tupper-Ware stepped closer to Volodja and the latter inhaled deeply, showing every sign that her intention was to to let that air out in the company of another philippicae, condemning Volodja's deeds and his sorry existence in general. Wolfram von Eschen noticed that and stepped heroically between Volodja and an approaching storm and grabbing Volodja by his sleeve, towed him away from Aunt Agatha's path, asking something of Volodja in official manner (and a wink of an eye which Aunt Agatha could not see behind his back).

WHile the crowd haad started disipating and Volo was busy with Wolfram and Aunt Agatha, Attika asked her brother and Jalina, "Where'd Micfi go?! The Commander trusted me to watch her and will kill me if something happened to her!"

Attila responded with, "I know she was here. I even saw Kaj talking to her, perhaps he knows."

Atika responded with, "Til are you really saying Kaj would take her somewhere wheithout telling her guardian?!"

Jalina stepped in and said, "Calm Down Atika. I doubt that's what he is saying at all."

Attila responded with, "Of course it isn't! I know Kaj wouldn't just leave with her! I am just saying that perhaps her disappearance has something to do with what they were talking about!"

Atika rolled her eyes and responded with, "Perhaps or perhaps we could follow her footprints which Kelina (Atika's EGO) says came from the Batman Bunker and are following Kaj's back there."

Atila grinned and responded with, "Good then we check there."

Atika responded with, "Well...normally I'd said we shouldn't without permision but as I am supposed to be watching Micfi and the Commander did put my code into his bunker's door so Micfi and I could come and go together as needed, perhaps you are right."

With that the twins and Jalina walked over to the bunker. However their codes aren't active (Due to Atticus disabling all but Batman family codes). So Atika snapped, "Craptastic! It is saying code invalid. Only Batman Family codes are valid! Sooooo........how2 the heck do we get in to see if Micfi is really in there since the Commander has a jamming shield active around the bunker according to Kellina. So a call wouldn't get through! I am so dead! so so so dead! The Commander and Lady will NEVER trust me with Micfi again let alone the twins!"

Attila responded with, "Well since I was in Command of the War Room earlier perhaps Sandy or whoever is curerently in charge there would have an active code and be willing to give it to me!"

Atika responded with, "Til you know I love you completely but don't be an arrogant ass! You know that even with your little Command experience we do not rank high enough for the actual Command team to even consider giving us those codes...well actually perhaps they might, since it kind of is an emergency and does involve the Prime Commander's family."

Hearing that Jalina interupted the Constantines' heated discussion of the 'emergency' and said, "Or instead of bothering my Mother in the War Room, you can ask somebody here. However while Father and Uncle Wolfram may be able to get you such code they are busy. Not only that but wouldn't it make the most sense to Just ask Lady Christianna since she is here with her cute babies? Although it does look like they are about to head into the Fortress. So perhaps you better go ask her now."

Atika, replied with, "Again I say, 'Craptastic!' However you are right. Besides it would be best for me to inform Lady that I screwed up and may have lost her niece, before soemebody else tells her or she comes looking for Micfi. Dang I hope she is alright and really is just in the bunker with Kaj for some reason!"

After taking aa deep breath, Atika grabbed Attila's and Jalina's hands and pulled them along with her to Lady before she and her children could leave the courtyard. Once in front of Lady, Atika took another deep breath. Then she squeezed both Attila's and Jalina's hands for support as she said a little nervously, "Excuse me Lady but I umm... I kind of lost track of Micfi while I was leading Simon Says to help Commander Volo keep eveeryone from panicking because of whatever reason the holo-suites were evacuated. The good news is that her footprints lead back to your home bunker and look like they followed Captain Kaj's so perhaps she was just curious about why he was investigating her new home. Either way, I think they are both in your home bunker but the Prime Commander's shielding is still active so I can't contact Captain Kaj to check with him and when I tried entering my code to get in, your computer informed me that my code and Til's code aren't active and that only Batman Family codes are. Soooo...is there any chance that Til, Jalina and I, could go in your home bunkeer with you and your little cuties so that we can all check to make sure that Micfi and Captain Kaj are indeed in there and alright?......

........ And I am really really sorry that I lost Micfi and promise if you ever allow me to spend time with her again that I will do better next time. Besides I know all three of us girls enjoyed hanging out, so I really hope I didn't ruin any possiblitiy of you ever allowing it again because of this one slipup. Especially if she really is safe in your home...So perhaps...she was just sooo excited about getting her own room that she couldn't wait any longer to start planning how she wants to decorate it! I know I felt that way when Til and I got our own room here."

Lady Christianna frowned at Atika's request, merely saying, "Bunker's compromised." Still she pointed to Jalina and then the twins, making it known that she wanted Jalina to babysit them. Jalina shook her head in agreement whereupon Lady gestured to Atika and Attila to follow her to the bunker and within.

At that time the feline Synth-sister crawls through the vent system in the dark, her infra-red vision allowing her to navigate and her built-in stealth tech allowing her to bypass Atticus' security systems. Although instead of going sideways to the workshops where Ruby was located, she went up to where Micfi was playing with Bonzo. Watching her through the vent's grate, Brooke's golden cat-like eyes watched her every move, measuring her as a potential hostage.

In the Batman twins' nursery while Micfi was playing with Bonzo, Kaj was still in the room dutifully watching her as he looked over the crib to decide whether it could just be put back together or not. However soon Caraid the lizard stopped laying nearby and scurried over to the vent as she started hissing at it.

Meanwhile Lady and the Constantines had just entered the bunker and saw that Chief Lebeau is sitting in Atticus' chair with the small security team still by his side checking on his conditions.

Lebeau of course saying, "I bein alright. We need to be gettin back to securin de bunker before de Commandant be returnin."

Attila (who had retrieved his security jumpsuit, sidearm and shotgun) replied with, "Speaking of which have any of you seen Kaj Oenfer oe Micfi?"

Lebeau said, "Not since I be entering."

The active security team leader replied with, "We secured this floor and nobody is here. We are about to check the basement now since that is where the commotion was reported. However that leaves the upper floor unchecked."

As Attila glanced between Lady, Atika, and the squad leader, he daid simply, "Alright we will check up there for them."

As the 3 headed upstairs they heard Caraid's very noticable alarmed hissing. So Attila quietly said to his two companions, "Well it sounds like we start wherever Atticus' cranky guard-lizard is."

Then as he knew Atticus was bound to have guns securely hidden all over the bunker with Lady knowing their locations, he handed his sidearm to Atika. Then with his shotgun at the ready he took lead and followed the hissing to the nursery where they saw the broken crib, Micfi still happily playing with Bonzo and Caraid and Kaj (with weapon now in hand) kneeling to look into the vent to see (with his genetically enhanced and further occular-implant-boosted vision) what may be in the vents that caught Caraid's attention.

So as Lady and Atika walked over to Micfi, Attila walked over to assist Kaj and Caraid however he could.

---

Only Moments later, Security Chief Lebeau and the small team are in the basement. While checking Ruby she mentions that the Count was left in the armory guarding her sister. So Lebeau leaves the main security team to guard Ruby. Then he takes one member with him to check the basement armory.


Upon entering, they see shredded restraining devices and a seemingly unconscious Count. So after making sure the armory is clear, Lebeau knelt to rouse the Count (if needed) and make sure he is alright before asking what happened.

And Casannuendo made another decisive step towards the door but since he obviously had double vision due to the effect of the poison, he walked decisively against the wall and fell to his bottom, apologizing once more but he was soon back on his feet and this time he managed to leave the room safely.

After the Count had fallen on his ass, Security Chief Lebeau helped him to his feet. Then as he watched the Count safely leaving the room, Lebeau followed as he said, "Ruby be safe in de o'ter room wit my men. You sayin cat girl? Mus' mean Brooke be aroun. Probly the sneaky devil dat knocked me out, dough I know not where she be. She didn't pass us. So she musta taken to de airducts, means iffin she got pass de Prime Commandant's security measures, she can be lurkin anywhere in de bunker or already outside and hightailed ta safety. How'ver ya be lookin very determined. So perhaps I better be accompanying ya to aid in yer search."

Then as Attila knew Atticus was bound to have guns securely hidden all over the bunker with Lady knowing their locations, he handed his sidearm to Atika. Then with his shotgun at the ready he took lead and followed the hissing to the nursery where they saw the broken crib, Micfi still happily playing with Bonzo and Caraid and Kaj (with weapon now in hand) kneeling to look into the vent to see (with his genetically enhanced and further occular-implant-boosted vision) what may be in the vents that caught Caraid's attention.

So as Lady and Atika walked over to Micfi, Attila walked over to assist Kaj and Caraid however he could.

As Micfi and Bonzo played, forging a long term friendship, Attila carefully removed the vent grating.

As Kaj peaked in, he saw the unmistakable scratches inside. So he had Attila examine them. Looking closer at the various different scratch marks, Attila said, "Well these slightly older marks are clearly reptilian and looking at her feet they are obviously Caraid's. These fresh ones are....well I would say feline. So either a wild cat was stalking the vents or Brooke was in here preparing to remove the grate when Caraid heard her. Based on the dust disruptions and the few scratches she left I would say she headed to the roof but can't say for sure without following them. Of course the problem there is that Kaj and I are both too big to do so."

As Caraid hissed at, then pushed past, Attila and entered the vent, Atika (still in just her bikini 👙) rolled her eyes and replied, "I agree with you Caraid! Darn boys let some of us women handle this!"

With that Atika took the flashlight from her brother's security jumpsuit. Then she laid on the floor and followed Caraid heard into the vent system. Eventually the two got to the vacant roof. After looking around the roof, Atika looked over the edge and eventually spotted Brooke's footprints from where she landed after somersaulting off the roof.

So Atika asked her EGO, "Kell since we are on the roof are we outside of the Prime Commander's communications shield?"

Kellina replied with, "Yes but remember Kaj, Lady, and your brother are still inside it. So who do you want to contact?"

Atika responded with, "open a private EGO channel with Sandy Bell-Uljanov."

Once the channel was open with Sandy, Atika said, "Commander...sorry I forgot you still prefer Captain....so Captain I followed the intruder in the Batman bunker onto the roof. It appears Brooke lept to the ground behind the bunker.

So perhaps the security cameras around the southern perimeter will show you wether she left the area or is still lurking in the base somewhere. However if you need to, I will down and investigate closer after I go back in the bunker and update Lady and the others. So as the Prime Commander's communication shield is still active and there is no ladder leading down out here, I will stay up here until you tell me wether you want me to investigate further or not."

After Sandy gave Atika her decision, the young girl checked the roof hatch but it was still locked, so Atika followed Caraid back through the vents and towards the nursery to fill the others in on what she discovered.