To Run Away...

Chapter 6

BAM!

  "Madame Doofenshmirtz!" An officer wearing a black overcoat and service cap cried after slamming the door open.

  "Yes, Commander Wesley?' Vanessa irritatingly replied as she sat on her lab chair.

  "Divers were sent into the water to-"

   She interrupted. "Never mind that! Did you send the chopper pilot back to base?"

  "You mean the pilot that fired the missile?"

   She nodded, her serious demeanor showing.

  "Uh, yes Madame, why?"

   She let out a sigh before getting up from her seat and separating herself from her chrome desk. She then walked up to the window, with the sun beaming down on her pale face.

  "Commence a surprise inspection of our pilots. Looks like another resistance bloke just infiltrated our military."

  "Oh... But Madame, what about the infiltra-"

  "Comrade Helene just announced it to the public, and General Eckler is rallying his troops into downtown.

  "So you think they're still alive."

   She looked at him with disgust.

  "Oh, right."

   Another sigh escaped from her mouth. "Just do as I say."

  "Yes, Madame." He closed the door, leaving her alone.

   Vanessa in the meantime, stood where she was; Growing pensive as she looked at the city below.

                                                                                        *   *   *

   "So that's why the chopper blew our ride off the bridge." Ivan said as Davey drove up to an intersection, stopping once the light turned red.

  "Yep. Consider yourselves lucky."

  "Mmm Hmm." Ivan said, appreciated at the news, as well as Haystack. "Thanks sir."

  "Your welcome. The name's Troy, by the way."

  "Nice to meet you sir."

  "Anyways, there's a reason why we did so."

  "What is it then?" His mind quickly returned to the subject matter.

  *Static*

  "Damn it." Ivan muttered as he slammed the walkie talkie onto his now dried lap. "Again?'

  "Ah, don't mind that." Davey said, trying to ease Ivan's frustration. "Vanessa Doofenshmirtz controls every communication device in Dan- I mean Doofania."

  "Ugh, that explains it. And since when was Danville called Doofania?"

  "Since Roger's brother Heinz took over, of course. Haven't you learned a little History? After a coup, the country's name always changes."

   Ivan shrugged at that, trying to remember every country that did so.

   Then the light turned green, signaling Davey to go on. And in order to not create an awkward silence, Ivan asked. "So how long have you and your daughter been living here?"

  "Since we were born, my friend."

  "And when was that?" Ivan looked out the window to find people entering into their homes and businesses.

  "You mean me or Maribelle?"

  "Uh, you sir."

  "Two thousand and six. My parents immigrated here from Michigan a year before that. They heard about Roger's ideals for a better life, that's why they went there. But Utopia's change for the worse. Like they say, 'There's no such place, as paradise. Even if you search to the ends of the Earth, there's nothing there.' "

   The streets were now empty as they drove into an alley.

  "Isn't that the truth? Oh, and your parents?"

  "Dead." He sighed with grief. "Executed in twenty fifteen for protesting against Heinz's new labor laws. And they did it in front of my face."

  "Oh, I'm sorry about that." Ivan said, his heart going out to him.

  "It's alright, time rots everything."

  "Agree."

   Davey pushed the brakes, stopping the car.

  "We're here." He announced.

  "Uh, Exactly where?" Ivan asked, with Haystack paying attention.

  "Where Troy wanted me to take you. Let's go."

   And so the four of them exited the vehicle before entering the building in front of them through a backdoor. After Davey unlocked it, he opened the door to reveal a short corridor inside. Then, at the end of the corridor was another door. Fortunately, it wasn't locked, so Davey opened it without a problem. On the other side, was a vast empty room, with a counter near the far right corner.

  "Odd. I was expecting this place to have more people in it." said Ivan, unsurprised at the room's vacantness.

  "That's because there isn't supposed to be." He said.

  "Oh. Well can you explain why?"

  "Later." He stepped forward, holding onto Maribelle's hand as he walked towards the counter. "But first I want to give you the following."

   He got down on one knee and began to grab what was on the shelves behind the counter.

  "Ahv'an?" Haystack called.

  "Yes Haystack?" Ivan responded.

   Davey found it surprising that the Equine finally spoke, but he had to focus at the task at hand.

  "Do ya know what 'Bl'ahth st'ahle is?" He asked as he looked at the faded logo in front of him.

  "Uh, no." Ivan said, unfamiliar with it either. "Must be another Danville exclusive."

  "It is." Davey said as he placed the items on the counter. "Sadly, thanks to the coup. Her career quickly crashed shortly after takeoff. Anyways, this is what Troy wanted me to give you."

   They then walked up to the counter, but not without Haystack grabbing what was sitting underneath the logo. On the counter, were two SIG pro pistols and fifteen magazines for each of them. Along with that, were four water bottles, filled up and potable.

  "Huh." said Ivan. "Why give us this?"

  "Act of Generosity."

  "Oh." Then something crossed his mind. "Thanks, because the weapons we did have are now underwater."

  "Your welcome." Davey clearly ignored that, and was pleased that he was able to provide his new comrades some weapons. "Oh, and take the guns and water now. We're heading upstairs."

  "How?" Ivan looked at the boarded window to hear troops patrolling the streets, their boots providing him the evidence. "Didn't you notice that we're on the run?"

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM...

"Come out, you foreign rats!"

   Ivan looked back at Davey as the ground shook. "Especially by that robot?"

  "Ugh." He rolled his eyes. "You'll see. C'mon Maribelle!"

  "Huh?" She squealed after looking away from the window.

  "Let's go." He said with a gentle smile.

  "Oh, ok." She held onto his hand before they walked to a door across from the counter.

  "We'll be waiting for you inside. Just come on over when you're ready."

  "Yes sir.'

   And so, Davey opened the door, and they went inside.

  "Have you noticed that the girl is awfully quiet?" said Haystack, who has been observing the girl since they came in.

  "And..." Ivan said with annoyance to his obvious findings. "... You have a problem with that?"

  "Uh, no, I-"

   He handed him one of the pistols. "Just let her be. You don't know what that poor girl went through, nor do I."

  "I'm not saying that-"

  "I know. so don't make it worse."

  "Ok Ah'van." He nodded in obedience and regret.

  After grabbing the ammunition, and the bottles of water, they went into the room, (which was as empty as the store) and met up with the father and daughter.

  "So how do you expect us to get out of here, then?" He asked.

  "Look at what's in front of us." said Davey as he showed them a small door that was planted on the wall.

   Meanwhile, Haystack took a brief glance at the girl, who quickly shied away at the sight. And that made his heart sink.

  "Oh, There's a dumbwaiter in there, am I right?"

  "There was." He opened the small door, revealing nothing but a brick wall. "That means we're going to have to climb our way up there."

  "Great." Ivan groaned.

   And so, they proceeded up the narrow chute. It didn't take long, fortunately, for they were able to climb up with ease, regardless of their situations. Once up there, they found themselves in a grey colored bedroom, with nothing but a small bed in it. It made Haystack struggle to hide his discomfort.

  "Welcome to my daughter's room." Davey proclaimed once the quartet was up on their feet/hooves.

  "Really? I'd expect it to be more... girly." Ivan was dumbstruck by the aesthetics to the empty room.

  "Well, that's not what Doofenshmirtz wants." He admitted.

  "Oh?" Once again, the revelation shocked him.

   Then a few moments later, there was a yawn from the little girl. "Daddy, can I go to sleep now?"

  "Sure sweetie." Davey answered kindly.

   With that, she walked up to the bed and climbed up, before resting her pretty little head on the fluffy white pillow.

  "Huh, that was quick." Ivan thought as he and the others began to hear soft snoring come out from the little girl's mouth.

  "Ok then, let's go." Davey suggested, insisting that she'd be left alone. "Are you both hungry?"

                                                                                        *   *   *

  "And so, if you see one man and one pony together, call our comrades to that location." The radio announcer reminded, "These foreign rats are extremely dangerous to our society and must be stopped. And with your help, we can exterminate them from our promise land. Now, back to the music."

  "Expect Troy to be back on the airwaves in no time." Davey said as they sat together in a wooden round table. "So, let's eat."

   They pinched their forks onto the lettuce before lifting them up to their mouths. Well, except for Haystack, He just placed his muzzle directly into the bowl and chowed down. The three were dining on a salad of  lettuce, carrots, and croutons, with Apple juice as their drink. It was the only thing Davey had in the fridge. Fortunately, though, they saved some for Maribelle.

  "Uh, Davey?" Haystack asked after lifting his muzzle from the bowl.

  Davey swallowed his food. "Yes sir?"

  "Wh'ah is Maribelle qu-Umph!"

   Ivan was quick to hear that and quickly slapped his hand onto the pony's mouth. He should've known that that would happen.

  "Oh heh heh." Ivan chuckled, "Please excuse my comrade. I-"

  "You know, I would've been happy to answer that question." Davey told him.

  "Oh." He slowly lifted his hand from Haystack's mouth, giving him an awkward smile to signal his embarrassment. "Sorry."

   Haystack on the other hand, wasn't amused.

   Then Davey answered the question. "I don't know. That's how she grew up. To be honest, I'm not actually her father."

  "Well, that's new." Ivan thought, unsurprised by that as he chewed on two onion flavored croutons in his mouth.

  "I found her in the wheat fields outside the city about a year ago. And there's a reason why I took her in."

   Ivan swallowed the chewed up croutons. "Because adoptions take a long time to carry out?"

  "Not exactly, If Doofanian troops found her, they could've taken her to work in a factory in Jepsen town."

  They nearly choked due to the bombshell.

  "Well," He rubbed his chin as he thought that through. "They wouldn't actually throw her into the factory and make her work right away. They would teach her the basics and then make her work on those basics, and bump her up the ladder as the years go by. But yeah, it's still shocking."

  "Anyways, because of her, I had to quit my job."

  "Wh'ah do that?" asked Haystack, once he swallowed his own food.

  "Because you can't just tell them that she's your daughter. They'll run DNA tests on her."

  "And how did you quit your job?" Ivan questioned, predicting the next revelation.

  "By not showing up at work and be hunted down for not doing so."

  "So... how were you able to live here?"

  "Through the owner, then he died of natural causes two months ago. Now I own the home."

  "Bummer." Ivan had nothing to say, but this. "Wait, if you own it now, how do you-"

"Faking that he's still alive."

"Oh..." He was silent for a little while, but continued, "And all that led you to join the resistance?"

   He nodded.

  "Hmm, and all just to protect a little girl."

  "Yep."

  "Well, You're doing the right thing, sir." Ivan complemented. "So how were you able to evade troops?"

  "Dying my hair brown."

   Due to the man being undetected, Ivan would only say, "Clever."

  "Cool." said Haystack.

   Then the next song played on the radio. It had a very Jazzy, Rat pack-like tune to it. And the lyrics simply boasted about Heinze's benevolence. And by then, they were already finished with their meals.

  "The saddest thing about it though, is that she can't go anywhere now, only the factory."

  "Whaddaya mean?" said Ivan.

  "It means, they have her files, and they know the parents who abandoned her. If they find her, even at school, they'll easily take her away from me. That's why I keep her around. She can be a very helpful hand."

  "Can those files be burned?"

  "Maybe." He shrugged. "If you can find 'em."

  *Static*

  "Ivan? Are you there?" Troy called, prompting everyone in the dim-lighted room to pay close attention.

   Ivan then picked the walkie talkie up from his belt. "Uh, yes sir."

  "Good, so like I was saying, there's reason why we let you live."

  "And that is?"

  "The reason is that we and your boss agreed to help you find Silver fox in exchange for, certain favors."

   Ivan let out a sigh, for he knew where this was going. "What kind of favors?"

("Littlest pet shop (2012 tv series)" belongs to Julie McNally-Cahill, Tim Cahill, and Hasbro.)