The Ones You Call When Everyone Else is Busy (15)

“Okay kids,” Captain Pancake turned to Ian and Nick, “now that you know all of us, let’s see this master plan that you two have concocted.” Nick unfurled the paper with a dramatic flair. First Ian explained all about Rube Goldberg Machines. Then Nick explained the plan. The team listened politely but none of them really believed it would work. Nothing had yet. It was then that a skittering sound was heard in the sink. Captain Pancake went to look and found Neville sitting under the water looking quite happy. He had turned a bright green and was not blending in at all. Ian told CP that chameleons turned their brightest when happy and darkest when angry. Neville’s return gave CP the courage to try the mission and think that maybe, just maybe, it would be a success. It would all take place on the next day.  Ian slept over Nick’s house that night and they stayed up late talking and hoping their plan would really work.

As they set out the next morning, Nick looked wistfully at the street where Kate lived. “Call her,” Ian said. “Nah, she’s not talking to me.” “Don’t be an idiot, call her. She’ll come if she knows you need her.”  Nick picked up his phone and called Kate. He told her that they had found Chewy and that he really needed her help. Kate said loudly, “Nicholas this better not be another trick!” and then more softly, “But yes, I’ll come.” So that is how Kate, Ian and Nick set off on Saturday morning. When the Cheese bus pulled up and opened the doors, Kate stood there with her mouth open wide, pinching her arm again and again, because she didn’t believe what she was seeing. She looked at Nick and Ian, “They ARE real.” Nick and Ian just laughed and with each boy pulling an arm, they helped her onto the Cheese Bus to meet their friends. “But how, but why…but…” Kate said in disbelief.  Ian laughed, “We’ll tell you all about it later. Right now, we must rescue Chewy!”

They parked the cheese bus two blocks away from the abandoned factory. Bob handed CP two bags, one contained walkie-talkies which every one of the heroes would attach to their standard issue utility belts. The kids would keep those in their pockets. The other bag contained noise reduction headphones, a few large nets, and dozens of leashes, which they would need when they got to the factory.  Bob was going to stand at the top of the street and make sure that no curious onlookers came by. They gathered around the front of the factory and stared at each other nervously. “Okay The Ones You Call When Everyone Else is Busy, all hands in. Here we go. Everyone remember their jobs? Good luck!” Captain Pancake said. “What kind of name is that?  They need to do something about that.” Kate said, and everyone laughed. It was exactly what they needed to break the tension.

All  the superheroes and the kids put on their headphones. Bounce knew just what to do to scare Missy. He snuck up behind her and showed her a picture of an evil clown. Missy Fit screamed like she had never screamed before. Sure enough the windows at the top of the building shattered. Buzz transformed into a fly and flew inside. Once there, he turned back to human form and opened the door. Ian had said that the walls inside the factory were going to be very thick, because factories are generally noisy, and the villains would not hear them break in. They were right. The room was dark but Torch took care of that. His glow lit up the entire room. The heroes all made it safely to the other side of the room and stood on either side of the door. Captain Pancake walked up and knocked. Matt and Malcolm were startled. They had been rolling on the floor playing with some of the puppies and didn’t expect any visitors. “Who’s there?” Matt called out. “Free pizza delivery courtesy of Nuts About Pizza,” said Captain Pancake in his deep booming voice. He stepped aside and Morph took his place, holding an empty pizza box. Malcolm came to the door and opened it. Nick whistled and Chewy came charging as fast as he could. All the dogs got excited at the chance for freedom and started to run. Morph turned into a cube and blocked Matt and Malcolm from leaving the room for a moment. Missy, Buzz, Ian and Kate gathered up the dogs on the leashes Bob had provided. It took a few minutes for Matt and Malcolm to realize what had happened. They jumped over Morph and started to run. Sixty Second Flight Girl grabbed Matt under his arms and held him high above the ground long enough for Captain Pancake to get under her and open the net, which she promptly dropped him in. Captain Pancake made sure that he was secure before he turned to look for Malcolm. Blumsy was chasing Malcolm all over the room and heading him in the direction of the front door. Bounce quickly laid on his side and stretched himself in front of the door. “Watch out, coming through!” Malcolm screamed. “I don’t think so,” Bounce said, and then yelled, “Jack, get ready!” Matt slammed into Bounce and went sailing backwards. Jack took one long jump to where he landed and captured him in a net. He was quickly tied up. The Principal called Mildred Mullins and filled her in on the misdeeds of her criminal sons.  Mildred asked to speak to Malcolm and Matt. The Principal put the phone on speaker. Mildred could be heard yelling blocks away. Days after the rescue operation and before the whole truth was made public, kids from around the neighborhood wondered which ones had gotten into that kind of trouble. Most of it sounded like screeching but they were able to make out, “Wait till I get my hands on you two of all the lame brained, stupid ideas, when the police get done with you, you are going to wish they kept you in jail!” Blumsy left to tell Bob to call the police and the rest of the team had the chaos all under control when they heard Bob’s voice on the radio. “Watch out!” he said, “A car just pulled up out front.”  “You’re all in trouble now,” Matt said. “That’s our boss and he ain’t gonna be happy!”