Baa-Ram-Ewe!

by Darkonshadows

119. Hero's Call.

-New York Hotel, the next morning, Dewey-

“So then we spent a few hours picking up wet rats and mice to stuff into a crate.” I told Webby as Smolder and Ocellus were preparing to leave for Calisota.

“Wait, wait, wait, did you just say that Georgette showed up after the rangers were already caught, how did she end up there then?” Pausing at Webby’s question, I felt just as confused.

“Uh… that’s something for the Rescue Rangers to figure out I guess.” I rubbed at my head looked to everyone else, they all shrugged. “It’s like how we don’t need to know where the Coo-Coo Cola ninja mice and Rat Mafia that we boxed up are going to. So where do you think Pom and Dolly got off to after Africa?”

“I don’t know, but anyone who can take out three helicopters and outrun a dangerous assassin is good in my book. I will beat up dangerous people like that for breakfast, I’d even do it for my friends too!” Webby turned to Smolder and Ocellus who seemed to be in a chipper mood. “I’m including you two in that of course!”

The latest news on Leap Lamb had her on the run from a large number of mercenaries, there was no way anyone could cover up the news about what Ocellus and Smolder’s caretaker was doing. Nobody knew where she was currently was, but Mopsy could confuse the issue by looking like Pom’s twin sister.

“Thanks friend of this dimension!” Ocellus said brightly.

“Love you friends from another dimension, literally since one of you needs it!” Webby shouted back excitedly, spooking Ocellus and making her lean back. “So you told me your story, let me tell you mine and all the stuff that happened! So Violet…”

She was cut off when Scrooge walked in.

“Pack it up kids, we’re leaving as soon as Launchpad finally gets clearance from the entire country to fly.” Stated Scrooge as he entered the room and propped himself up on his cane. “They want to clear the airways of anyone possibly flying within three miles of him, can’t say that I exactly blame them for that caution.”

“Ugh, do we really have to go through another Launchpad landing?” Smolder clutched at her head and I carefully made my way over to her to pat her on the back gently, she really didn’t like me and I had been using the pun a bit much lately.

“Wait, his landings are always that bad?” Oh you poor sweet summer child Ocellus, I’m sure you’re going to realize that he’s kept that plane together with duck-tape, staples, gum and dreams.

Wonderful, horrible, horrifying dreams of vehicles breaking apart all around us in various ways, yet we survived them all.

-????, Pom-

The sound of an erratic heart monitor that didn’t have steady beats made me almost sit up, only for a pair of blurry paws to prop themselves on my chest.

“It’s alright, you’re going to be alright, just calm down.” Blinking blearily, I felt the strange familiar bond between Dolly, Dormarch and me. “Lay back and rest Pom, you’re not in Zootopia and you’re not going to be shot at anymore… hopefully. Also, don’t move too much, the doctors don’t want you exerting yourself.”

“Pom shouldn’t even be awake with the way her vitals are going.” Dormarch whined to me on a screen being laid against the wall to my left, Dolly was on my right.

I heard some squeaking? I looked further off to both sides of me and saw… blurry figures of rodents, and lots of them.

One was a Squirrel that hopped up and patted me on the forehead while chittering softly. From what I could make out she was wearing a nurse’s uniform. It was a fairly calming gesture at least… I wasn’t feeling particularly calm by the way the heart monitor sounded like it was playing music from a rock concert.

“Huh? Oh! Bernard, Bianca, you really didn’t have to stick with me this long, but I really appreciate it! This is Pom by the way. Say doctor, can she drink some water? Okay, thanks!” Who was Dolly talking to and why did I hear a lot more squeaking? Dolly moved into sight holding my canteen in her spread out paw digits. I still thought that was a weird evolution for normal dogs on this world to be able to hold things with their paws like that. “Here drink this.”

I lifted my head slightly and took a few careful sips and tried to send a feeling to Dolly to pull back, she slowly pulled it away with weak smile.

“Okay, so I managed to get you to subconsciously release your wool so you they can properly stitch up and patch your wound and I also got Dormarch free from your stomach so they can check you after the sniper bullet impact… it really messed you up Pom. Right now they are trying to sooth your heavy bruising, they cleaned the wool around the wound.” Dolly propped her paws up on the mattress and stared at me sadly. “You’re in the trauma ward for the rest of the day until they can agree on how to help you.”

Yeah, I was finding it rather hard to breathe and my chest burned a bit, as in it felt like I was breathing in a powerful acidic gas. Might have pushed my Dancing Flame style too hard.

“We were assisted by the Rescue Aid Society after I got you off the plane.” The… what Dolly? Oh right… my plan. It worked and we got out of Africa without being chased to… wherever we were now.

Things were coming more into focus now.

I lifted my head and looked at my chest, the wound from that projectile was stitched up and I had several mice on my belly rubbing gently through my wool in a ticklish manner. I laid my head back down on the pillow and my breathing was getting pretty shallow.

“Oh and here’s the bullet they pried out of Dor!” Looking at the hunk of metal Dolly held up, I shivered at how large it was and looked at the handle to see that it had left a decent hole in the metal of the device.

“Maybe if that had hit me in the screen…” Commented Dormarch looking at the chunk of metal Dolly held. He wasn’t paying attention to all the chittering going on because he likely couldn’t understand any of the animals.

“Don’t blame… yourself Dor.” Tilting my head towards him, he looked up at me sadly on the screen from where he was curled up. He looked away and whimpered. “How long have… I been out Dolly?”

“Eighteen hours at least, they are going to try and help you with… medical terms that fly entirely over my head. Anyway, the Rescue Aid Society is doing a supply run to get medication for you.” Dolly rubbed at her head and looked a bit sheepish. “Sorry I’m not bright enough to be a nurse dog like mom.”

“Don’t sell yourself short… you got me here.” Despite my difficulties with breathing, I moved my right hoof and started to pet Dolly. She leaned into it and smiled a little while wagging her tail happily. “This is... the third time you... got help for me.”

“Yeah… please, don’t let there be even more.” Dolly still looked down as I pulled my hoof away and rested it on the mattress.

“What is... the Rescue... Aid Society?” I asked and tried not to think about the mice checking over my body, my shallow breathes or the fact that my whole body was aching.

Trying to relax with a near chronic anxiety problem was fairly difficult, but I did not want to be prescribed medication for anxiety like the rest of lambkin kind. I still wanted to be above that, to be stronger than at least that. If it came to it, then I would just accept the anxiety medication.

“Yeah, Pom can understand and speak dog, she talks to foxes too! I have a friend name Fergus that got a chance to cuddle with her.” Yeah, he was a very nice fox Dolly, one of your best friends from Camden Town’s canal if I recall right. “She doesn’t actually speak animal though.”

Dolly turned back to me with a smile as one of the two mice, male judging by his appearance started talking and Dolly translated.

“They’re a worldwide organization that was made to help those in dire need. No matter who they are, we will try to come help if a call for it is heard and the situation warrants a deeper investigation. Yours did, by a lot! They're on par with Britain’s oldest known organization the Bark Brigade which was started by dogs after the second world war.” The mouse stated as he tipped his hat to me, Dolly continued translating. “This is Bernard and his lovely wife Bianca. Anyway, the Rescue Aid Society wasn’t formally created until a few years back after the Rescue Rangers had far too many cases to deal with. He's sure we’ll hear about them if we stick around New York long enough. Before it was formally created, there is a history of rats, mice and other rodents doing big things to help others in need. Their society just brought those who wanted to help together and thus the Rescue Aid Society was born. They are well known members and have been in some really sticky situations when it comes to helping people.”

The lovely Bianca snuggled up against Bernard while squeaking something in a pleasant sounding tone.

“Do I want to know about that mission to Brazil was about?” Dolly asked and the two mice blushed, but didn’t move away from one another. They did look a bit shy for a moment before Bernard said something to Dolly. “Yeah, dropping it. Say, what can you tell me about the Bark Brigade? I’m sure you’re organizations have run into each other, they are the ones that got Pom to the airport so we could get out of Africa.”

Bernard started to squeak something and he seemed like a pleasant guy, if a bit shy in his actions.

“Wait… hold up… Pongo Pongo and Perdita Pongo? I know their descendants personally, because they are from my step-mothers side of the family.” It sounded like a surprised to the two mice that Dolly knew something about the Bark Brigade. They both made a comment to Dolly. “So how does that tie into the Bark Brigade?”

Bernard started squeaking what sounded like quite a story, it took a bit of time.

“Whoa… so that’s how the World Wide Woof became a thing, also a cat saved them? My brother Dylan would be surprised, he’s allergic to cats and he’s a direct descendant. So at least I now know how the Bark Brigade knows my family, the were friends to the original one-oh-one. I’m part of the second one oh one to happen… which is at one hundred right now, because I’m not there.” The drooping form of Dolly spoke about how homesick she was. Not that crying in her sleep was a sign I ignored either. She didn’t seem to know much about the Bark Brigade aside from what she was hearing. “It’s nice to know that my family has viable friends everywhere.”

Bianca started squeaking something as she placed a paw on top of Dolly’s and seemed to be trying to comfort Dolly.

“I could actually contact them, but I’m wary about the biped mercenaries that shot Pom.” All too aware that we were currently in a hospital, Dolly is just trying to make sure nobody will get hurt.

“Do it.” If there was one thing I wanted Dolly to do, it was stay in contact with her family. I was going to pull the familiar bond hard and get her to talk with her family, not only because I wanted her to do it… but she wants to as well. “Dormarch is… safe.”

“Do what? I currently don’t feel safe, I would be more concerned for your safety.” Ignoring Dor, I looked to the ceiling as Dolly made her way around the bed and over to Dor. “Huh? Okay, contacting number… who is Dolly getting into contact with?”

A second later I heard Dylan’s voice.

“No wait, don’t… wha… Dolly?!” Seeing Dylan’s face on the screen after tilting my head, I smiled. Several other puppies gathering around the screen and Dor seemed curious about the Dalmatians on the other end. The puppies were Dizzy, Dee Dee and little Dorothy, Dante also walked into sight a second later with a curious gaze and stuck to the shadows. “Where are you? Are you okay? Do you need help?!”

“Bro, chill, I’m fine… mostly. Pom is the one in that’s currently in a hospital bed.” Given the way Dolly wilted in on herself and tried to placate Dylan, she probably shouldn’t have said that.

“She’s what?!” Dylan moved his head and looked around Dolly to see me. “What’s with all of that, what’s going on Dolly?”

“Yeah, couldn’t exactly take Pom to a normal biped or animalistic hospital so… she’s in the care of an animal run hospital.” Dolly rubbed both her paws at her right ear and looked uneasy. “I just want you to know I really miss you guys. Also have you ever heard of the Bark Brigade or the Rescue Aid Society?”

“Uh, yeah, we’ve heard of the Bark Brigade, in fact some of the pups are training to be cadets now since an old Bark Brigade member came around to help out the family. She’s only accepting volunteers and is not forcing anyone to do anything they don’t want to if you are worried about that.” Shaking his head Dylan suddenly made a gesture towards me. “Wait, that’s not important, we have really good news for Pom! Hey, Da Vinci, can we show your artwork off?!”

“Who do you want to show off my artwork to Dylan? Oh! Hey Dolly, are you okay?” It seems Da Vinci, like anyone else from the Dalmatian family, were absolutely worried about Dolly.

I wasn’t going to complain, even though I was the one with the questionable health here.

“Da Vinci, get the portraits you made of them, we'll prove that we’ve seen them since they’ve left.” After Dylan said this, Da Vinci hurried out of sight.

In the background I could see Dante approach with a fluffy looking toy version of Dolly.

“We wish you well Dolly, this is kind of something we want to do with you.” They started hugging the toy, even Dante was squeezing it just as tight as Dizzy, Dee Dee and Dorothy. Dylan soon joined them resting his head on Dizzy and Dee Dee. “Just know that this toy can never replace our favorite big sister."

“Aw, you guys…” Dolly said weakly with a blush, it wasn’t long before three portraits were put in front of the screen. Dolly’s tail started wagging and I smiled a bit at the sight of three specific individuals. “No way, you found them!”

Shanty with a pirate flag drawn behind her, her head held high with a grin and her hoof on top of an upside down mug which probably had rum in it at some point.

Ocellus encompassed in a friendly heart and curled up cutely in a blanket sleeping among a bunch of snuggling puppies.

Smolder looking both adorable and strong with her combat ribbon twirling upwards.

Three portraits of individuals Da Vinci couldn’t have possibly done unless she’s seen them personally.

“About that… they were here looking for Pom. Shanty is heading to China, she’s with a group of friendly guys and someone who looks a lot like Pom. She’s going to come back here after she’s done helping her friends.” Dylan poked his paws together, he seemed unsure about Shanty’s safety. At least I know she had help and was healthy. “There are reasons, really good ones, why Shanty’s friends couldn’t leave any contact information with us. It involves plausible deniability and we really don’t want another panic attack with Animal Control around here. However, we can get in contact with Ocellus and Smolder… wait, how are you calling us?”

-Dolly-

Why were my guts twisting so badly into knots? Maybe it was because I wasn’t going to tell them I couldn’t come home yet… or maybe even at all if it’s going to get Pom killed. Why were things always so hard?

“Uh yeah, Pom got a really interesting device, um… hold on a second and let me show him to you.” Flicking the screen, I put my claw under Dor’s belly and dragged him out onto the screen. I then typed out something.

“Er… hello… I’m Dormarch or you can call me Dor, first commercially created Personal Exploration Terminal unit given to one Pom Lambchop." Dor just slunk back off the screen with his three tails between his legs. "I really don’t know what to say more than that aside from the fact that it is nice to meet you… I guess?”

“Yeah, he’s a bit shy, but he's really dork like Dylan.” Okay, so how do I have this conversation with them, what do I tell them? “Okay, things have been like this…”

-Five minutes later-

“I’ve never seen, experienced or felt so much weird stuff in so little time like this before!” At least I put a brave smile on for Dizzy, Dee Dee and Dorothy’s bright faces. My little sisters really missed me, as did all my brothers. “So how have you guys been?”

“There’s been a lot less energy without you around, but our new friend has been helping with cleaning up and watching the pups. She’s honestly been great and giving me more free time.” Dylan seemed happy, did he actually have get a girlfriend?

“Do you actually have a girlfriend Dylan?” This sounded way too interesting to let go.

“What, no! Spot is old, old enough to have met our ancestors personally.” I was about to question him on this when I saw the new guest in our house.

“There’s also the fact that I’m a chicken. Excuse me, I’m working here, be with you in second Dimitri Three!” I saw them turn to the chicken that was working the vacuum cleaner. “Names Spot, sent out the word for the Bark Brigade to help you where they can. Heard they assisted you in getting out of Africa.”

“Uh, yeah.” A chicken, that was who was taking my spot in our home with helping out with the chores? She also looked and sounded way too young. “How could she know our ancestors?”

“I'm older than I look, magic has something to do with it. If you’ll excuse me, all you’re brothers and sisters leave huge messes.” Spot then made her way off the screen with the vacuum cleaner. “Just like old times.”

“Spot is some kind of revenant zombie chicken thing, it’s really fascinating that magic has been a part of our family even before Pom showed up.” Dylan stated with a smile.

“Yeah, like that’s going to make me get into Poodle Wolf at this rate.” Not that the video game was bad, I actually had some fun with Dormarch on the way over to New York. I was never telling Dylan that! “Look can you get into contact with Pom’s friends and tell them we’ll meet up with them somewhere and then call us back?”

Something started drawing my attention away from Dylan, it seemed like something was going on behind us and a number rodents were panicking.

“What’s going on?” I asked and I heard one of the mice come into the room to inform us of the situation.

“Rescue Aid Society scouts say that Professor Norton Nimnul is on a rampage in a machine and is heading to attack a nearby power station. If he knocks out the power then not only does our hospital lose power, but so does the animalistic and biped one running next door to us!” The doctor mouse stated as he motioned at us. “We’re preparing all patients for a possible emergency power drop, but some people will die if the power station is hit before we’re ready!”

“Dolly…/Dolly, what’s going on?” I was asked that by both Pom and Dylan.

“There's some guy named 'Numb-nuts' that is about to attack a nearby power station and is about to cause some power outages around here.” I looked at Pom as she was trying to get up and she flopped backwards and the heart monitor flat lines for a few seconds. After a few seconds her heart returned to beating after she violently shook. “Holy… ?! Pom are you okay?”

Quite a few mice looked horror struck, even the squirrel Nurse Tammy was panicking for a few second until Pom’s heart started beating again on its own.

“No… but… I…” Pom tried to sit up again and a number of rodents forced her to stay down, as did I when I made my way over to her.

“Pom, do you realize that you just flat-lined for a few seconds there!” I yelled in her face, feeling a panic about how our bond wobbled before her heart started beating again. “Also, you are in no condition to fight. So please, leave this all to me.”

“Okay…” Pom stated quietly and inhaled sharply, her heart beat almost returned to normal, but went back to being erratic a few second later.

Quite a few mice were on alert around Pom now and Tammy was calling for them to hurry up with those supplies.

“Does Pom have a big owie?” Dee Dee asked and I returned back to Dormarch's screen.

“Yes, a number of them, but she’ll be fine. Right Dylan?” I grit my teeth in a fake smile as I looked to Dylan who nodded.

“Yeah, Pom is in good paws and she’ll be alright.” Dylan agreed with me a second later, but the pups surrounding him looked unsure.

Dante and Da Vinci looked to each other and winced, we were not being very convincing.

“I’m pretty sure you’re about to see me on the news bro…” I don’t why I was going to tell him this.

“Huh, why Dolly, what are you going to… don’t do anything too rash!” It didn’t take Dylan long to figure it out.

“Sorry, but someone needs to get on this and Caper Canine is still healthy enough to fight where Leap Lamb can’t!” I can’t believe I just called myself that. Ugh, I was starting to accept the name like Pom said. “Watch the news and you might see me pull something amazing! Sorry, got to go, love you all!”

I typed out to Dormarch to stop the call.

“Dolly!” Dylan stated with a worried look as the connection cut.

I typed out that that was my family and told Dormarch what I was about to do.

“Good luck big sis.” Dormarch stated quietly.

I slapped my battered and damaged skateboard helmet on my head, then took up my skateboard and strapped it to my back.

“Can someone give me directions to that power station?!” If Pom were to flat-line hard and the power was out...

-Near the power station, Professor Norton Nimnul-

“They all called me a loony, well no animals are going to stop me this time!” Not when I've electrified my machine. All it needed was a little more power and then nothing would stop me, NOT EVEN THOSE BLASTED RODENTS AND THAT FLY! “What the… a dog on a skateboard and two mice?”

-Dolly-

A large metal ball with legs and arms, with two electrical things moving up and down in its back… it... didn’t look so tough.

Author's Note:

Page title brought to you by 'Poker Terms', we already know where this is going.

RB-79 Ball from Gundam with legs.

A Tie Fighter in the form of a ground based battle mecha.

The Bubble Fighter from Lost in Space, along the lines of the above.

A combination of the those three or something in the form of a round walking escape pod with arms and legs.

Comments

[Shadowshame]

“What is... the Rescue... Aid Society?” I asked and tried not to think about the mice checking over my body, my shallow breathes or the fact that my whole body was aching.

The rescuers was one of my favourite movies when I was little and I’m glad to see other people remember it or maybe you watched it somewhere in the last few years also I remembered that there was a sequel but I didn’t realise until now that it was set in Australia which is where I live though what is it with the obsession with the out back that other countries seem to have we do have areas that are more than a living desert.

RB-79 Ball from Gundam with legs.

A Tie Fighter in the form of a ground based battle mecha.

The Bubble Fighter from Lost in Space, along the lines of the above.

A combination of the those three or something in the form of a round walking escape pod with arms and legs.

You forgot eggman’s pilot pod thing that he uses for all his personal use mechs

[Darkonshadows]

10947002

I will also accept Dr. Wily's Capsule in the form of a mecha, a pilotable version of Atlas from Portal, Subnautica Moth with arms and legs as the PRAWN is too oblong though just about as fitting, a mech version of Bioshock's Mr. Bubbles and any other robotic ball shaped things with legs and arms as a descriptor of Professor Nimnul's machine that I can't think of at this moment.

I know way too many things that can actually fit the description, possibly even something from Ghost In The Shell or Cowboy Beebop.

I haven't actually seen 'The Rescuers' recently, but I really did like 'The Rescuers Down Under'. What Disney was, was not the corporate money hungry cesspool that it is now. There are a lot of movies with great animated mice that weren't simply Mickey, 'The Great Mouse Detective', 'An American Tail' and 'The Secret of Nihm' to name a few.