Disclaimer
Danger Mouse isn't something I can take credit for… SOB… SOB… CHOKE… but belongs to Cosgrove Hall. This is my LATEST story with Lori and Bagel, joining the White Wonder and his thouroughly inadequate but cute assistant Penfold. I want to thank Sabertooth Kitty for helping me with the idea development on this one. Hugs and thanks sis. And also hugs to Ellie too. I see you gals have been holding up the DM fort with your great stories. Sorry this one is so long in coming… but I can't stay away for long… so I bring you….
Summer Vacation
Part 1
By Trynia Merin
Narrator:
London, England, Mother of Parliament and bastion of freedom, to which America owes much of its history, till they dumped our tea into their harbor… naughty colonists…
Home also of the secret, secret agent upon whose shoulders rests the fate of the free world, and who in his Baker Street Flat in Mayfair, is facing yet another monumental decision which could affect fate itself.
Penfold grabbed his favorite tapes and put them in the last available corner of his suitcase. They were wedged next to his spare shirts and vacation clothes. As for his teddy bear he had a special place of honor carefully nestled next to the tins of Turkish delight and Darjeeling Penfold was sure Bagel's mother would love.
But there was something missing amongst the neatly packed items, and he started to panic as he lifted up clothes and almost dumped the contents of the floor.
"Chief, where's me best tie… I've got t' find it… oh Crumbs, oh heck!" he cried as he rushed out the door toward the laundry room.
"Now Penfold, I know you're nervous about this, old chap," DM said as Penfold anxiously darted out of his bedroom. "It's right where you last hung it… near your second best suit…"
"Cor thanks DM," he breathed a sigh of relief as DM pointed the location out. "I was thinkin I'd left it with my bicycle clips in the third drawer from the top…"
Just then Penfold took a second look in surprise, and forgot momentarily how nervous he was. Danger Mouse rose from the center sofa and calmly put down his issue of the Daily Mirror. While he could get his news off the Internet, Penfold knew that his Chief still loved the feel of newsprint between his fingers. There were certain things that DM figured were best left unchanged, such as his morning 'cuppa' Darjeeling, and his newspaper neatly folded with the kippers and toast he often ate before a hard day's saving the world.
However DM was different. It happened every year about this time of early May. DM was dressed in a very different outfit. Gone were the usual threads of shining white Teraline. Instead he wore comfortable tan slacks and a polo shirt with red and white vertical stripes. Penfold did a double take as he carefully folded his best tie.
"Cor, looking very sharp DM. I'm certain Miss Fifi would approve…"
"Seeing as I'm due to meet her in Paris for our vacation together, I wouldn't appear any less than my leisurely best," DM nodded. "I do thank you for your usual excellent job with the ironing, but I do think the starch is a bit much…"
"DM, you're not going to go in vacation like that are you?" joked Lori as she walked out and down the stairs in a pair of very comfortable loose bluejeans, a T shirt, and her matching bluejean jacket. "This isn't the 18th hole!"
"On the contrary, this IS my vacation attire," DM said as he glanced at her choice in wardrobe with a raised eyebrow. "And not to criticize you, m'dear, but I'd say you Americans are OBSESSED far too much with denim…"
"Casual is casual," she laughed. "And I'm going home, not to a banquet…"
"Still, there is nothing wrong with wearing clothes that show what an attractive young lady you are. I did promise Fifi that I would take good care of you…" DM teased.
"Now stop being such a big brother," she shoed his hand off as he straightened her jacket collar.
"Lori, where's the jelly babies? Did you eat them?" came Bagel's voice as she tromped out in a casual pair of shorts and a button up blouse with pink flowers on it. The sandals had a slight heel, and she chuckled as she looked at DM and Lori standing together in their vastly different vacation attire.
"What, did I wrinkle it or something?" DM chuckled as his assistant began to shake his head.
"DM don't you think you could wear something a bit less… formal?" Bagel ventured. "I mean after all, it IS a vacation, isn't it?"
"The pair of you are hopeless… I shudder to think what you ladies would do without my sterling example," DM sighed as he looked at them. "Honestly, what IS this world coming to…"
"Now don't go on being Mr. 32 going on 54," Lori groaned. "Penfold, can you do ANYTHING to show this guy how to have fun, or are we going to have to get the big guns out…"
"A pair of Bermuda shorts may work," Penfold muttered mischievously.
"Now off with all of you… don't you have somewhere to go?" DM shoed them away. "This IS a vacation, not a fashion critique!"
"Touchy, aren't we?" Bagel clicked her tongue. "I think he's overdue for this vacation…"
"He's always like this," Penfold whispered as he moved close to her. "And I think you look very nice…"
"So do you," she nodded as she saw he was wearing more casual clothes, somewhat like DM's except his shirt was blue and yellow striped, much like his favorite ties, and his trousers were a darker tan then DM's. They looked like adopted brothers, Bagel thought with amusement.
"Some of us ARE trying to set a good example to relatives aren't we?" Lori smiled. "Or soon to be relatives…"
"Now I should ask you about Mr. Stann?" DM raised an eyebrow as Lori flushed bright red.
"DM, come on, it was a simple question…"
"Since you said he is accompanying you on this excursion to New York City, I do hope I have your assurance he will be a gentleman…"
"DM," Lori groaned as she rolled her eyes. "He IS from New York City, and he IS going to stay with the Zingerwitz family. In separate rooms from Bagel and me…"
"I think I'll go get the luggage," Bagel excused herself, and tugged Penfold's sleeve.
"Oh... right," he nodded, seeing that DM was about to go into his big brother mode again. Granted he wasn't related to Lori by blood, but since his lady friend was Lori's cousin… he felt a certain obligation to be protective of her.
"I'm only thinking of what's best. He IS a rock star…" DM said as he regarded her with concern. "And they do tend to be rather… riotous. And since you ARE introducing him to your 'family' that shows your intention in this relationship is toward a more permanent relationship? And as such, I have every right to be worried… and I would hope he has not pressured you into doing anything you SHOULDN'T be doing at this stage…"
"DM I'm 25," Lori sighed. "And you're so sweet to worry about me like that, but I don't do that kind of thing. He isn't putting any such pressure. If anything he's been very much the gentleman…"
"I should hope so, for his sake," DM said with a gleam of protectiveness in his eyes. Lori sighed as she grabbed her suitcase and plunked it by the door. There came a buzzing and Bagel and Penfold almost toppled over one another with surprise at the sound.
"Saved by the bell," Bagel whispered as the two hamsters picked themselves up, and lugged the heavy suitcases down as DM punched the intercom button.
"Password?" DM asked as he glanced through the door.
"Open sesame!" came the reply.
"I beg your pardon," DM sniffed as he glanced at his watch.
"DM, stop playing games," Lori sighed. "You KNOW they're coming!"
"Oh for crying out loud!" muttered a heavily accented voice, with a Brooklyn twang.
"That's not it, and you know it!" DM said as he tapped his foot.
"Gila, chill," said another accented voice. "Is it Lord Horatio Nelson?"
"You may enter," DM said as he pressed the button, and the door slid open to reveal several guys in leather jackets carrying everything from luggage to guitar cases.
"Sheesh, top secret they said," Gila muttered as he stood next to Saul.
"Hi how's it going, DM?" asked Saul as he waved to the agent. "Agent Stann… reporting for vacation."
"What are they doing here?" asked DM as he glanced at the other three guys standing there, minus their facepaint and costumes. Instead it was a Gila lizard, a sheep, and a black and white ally cat who were wearing shades, blue jeans, and leather jackets and shirts of the very expensive type that stars and rich celebrities wear.
"Can I bring this in NOW?" asked Petey as he almost fell over a large set of several round cases. Tommy glanced around and waved with a sheepish grin as he lugged his guitar cases.
"Cor what's this?" Penfold asked as he saw the new agents lugging in as much baggage as he, DM, Lori and Bagel were taking out.
"You big boss man Colonel K's orders?" Gila asked as he lifted his sunglasses. "We're your relief…"
"I'm not sure if I quite follow," DM said sternly as they all filed in, and Stan handed an envelope to the dubious agent. "No, you CAN'T bring that in here…"
"But I need to keep in practice," Tommy said as he tugged at several large amplifiers. "How can we be undercover if we don't keep our music up…"
"Step aside shorty," Gila joked as he moved past Penfold with a heavy suitcase, and a guitar case in his other hand. "How's it going dollface?"
"Hi," Lori said as she looked at him lifting his sunglasses to check her out. "Um… what's all this?"
"This is most irregular…" DM protested as the foursome brought in several other piles of cases and tossed them around his HQ. "I demand an explanation…"
"Which room is mine?" Petey asked as he looked around the apartment. "Nice digs, Danger dude… do you have satellite TV?"
"Um, can I order a pizza from here, if it's a secret HQ?" asked Tommy as he picked up the red phone and landed on the central sofa.
"Now I just dusted… here now!" Penfold protested as Gila glanced around the apartment.
"Not bad… not as big as our place in Beverly, but hey…"
"Now you can't just…" DM shook his head in disbelief.
"Ready to go?" Saul asked Lori as he picked up her suitcases with his own. "You all ready, Bagel?"
"I am, but I don't think DM is…" said Bagel as Penfold rushed forward to grab the brick a brack that fell from the shelf as Petey started to rifle through the CD's and tapes in the entertainment center near the stereo.
"Man, this is the squarest music I've seen," he mumbled. "If we're gonna fill in for the DM dude we need better tunes…"
"I'm sure I have some CD's in my room you could listen to," Lori said. "Now wait a minute… your fill in?"
"Fill in… what fill in?" DM demanded. "Put that DOWN now!"
He rushed over to stop Tommy from dialing on the ultra secret red phone. The sheep apologetically put the phone down and backed away when Danger Mouse shoed him back. "Um we were told to um make ourselves at home…"
"I asked for agents 25, 57, and 33, not you!" DM groaned. "I can't believe this… you're just NOVICES…"
"Not according to your boss Special K Cornflake," Gila said as he flopped down on the sofa and propped his feet up. "All the others are being sent to cover for the other major agents taking off. And since we've got super powers, we're a few pegs up the totem pole…"
"But you're just second class…" DM got out, looking in horror as Tommy wandered into the Kitchen, and Petey turned on the stereo. Bagel dragged a crate of Lori's rock and roll CDs out and he was loading the changer with some rather loud music that DM would have a stroke if he heard outside Lori's room, with cotton wool shoved into his ears.
"It's pretty serious out there… Colonel K said we passed the tests with flying colors, don't you remember?" Saul asked as he stopped DM from clobbering Gila with a pillow as the Gila monster picked up a few magazines that DM liked and started to thumb through them. He picked up the remote control and started flipping channels on the wide screen TV.
"This is not happening," DM groaned. "I demand to speak to colonel K…"
The videophone blared into life, making Penfold leap up in fear, and land in Petey's arms as the cat whirled around in surprise. "Mellow out, little guy… you're WAAAY too jumpy… better lay off the mellow yellow man…"
"Cor heck…" he gasped. "I'll NEVER get used to that thing!"
"Agent Dangermouse… Colonel K to agent Danger Mouse…" the Colonel's voice crackled over and DM pushed past Tommy who was waling out with a tray loaded with sandwiches that would do Scooby Doo proud.
"Danger mouse here sir, thank HEAVEAN… these… these… bunglers have taken over my HQ!" DM shouted.
"Hi there boss," Gila said as he leapt off the sofa and stood near DM as Lori and Stan moved over to stop a possible fracas. DM was turning bright red, and steam was starting to come out his ears.
"Ah, Agent D-1, you're in position… very good…" Colonel K said.
"Um agent C-3 here," Petey called as he glanced over his shoulder.
"And um… agent S-4," Tommy saluted as he spoke through a mouthful of sandwich. "Reporting sir!"
"Very good. DM, I'm hoping you're all packed, what?" the Colonel said as he glanced at DM. "What are you still doing sitting around man, it's your VACATION…"
"I… I…" Danger Mouse got out as he stared blankly at the Colonel.
"He's not been himself lately," said Lori. "And um… he wasn't expecting these guys as his relief…"
"You look pretty stressed… you'd better get going soon," Petey said as DM started to stammer and look up in shock.
"Sorry I forgot to tell you when they were arriving… didn't you get the note?" the Colonel asked as he glanced at the red faced white wonder.
"A nn… nnnote?" DM asked, still stammering.
"Oh heck, I forgot…" Penfold groaned as he picked up the envelope that had been pushed under the door and was subsequently trampled.
"You don't look so good, DM," Gila said as he stood next to DM, and shook him. DM flushed from red to white in three seconds, standing still with his eye staring in shock while making noises that sounded like a skipping CD.
"A nuh… nuh… note… my r.. Relief?" DM stuttered.
"You're starting to sound like Duckula," Stann said. "Maybe one of you guys should drive him over to the airport to make sure he gets on the right plane…"
"Oh heck…" Penfold groaned as he looked at DM. "E's not good at all..."
"Don't worry… we'll take care of everything, won't we boys?" Gila said as he patted DM on the back. "Tommy... Petey, why don't you take DM to the airport? He's really out of it…"
"DM it will be ok," Saul said reassuringly as DM groaned and collapsed, feeling rather faint.
"Chief!" Penfold cried as he rushed over. Gila caught DM as he topped back, still pointing to the screen and making incoherent noises that were a dead on impression of Count Duckula.
"He'll be ok… I've seen this happen before," said Petey as he helped Gila set the agent between them. "Now where's your wheels?"
"It's down that horrible lift!" Penfold said as he saw both of them sit on the right places, and the sofa suddenly plummeted.
"ALL RIGHT!" came Petey's voice as they slipped down.
"Don't forget your bags!" Tommy called as he tossed them down after them.
"OW, that was my HEAD!" Gila's voice came. "Oh GREAT it's a stick shift!"
"Lemmie try it… oh MAN it's backwards… get in THIS Side. I'm driving…" came Petey's voice.
"Oh crumbs…" Penfold ground. "I can't look…"
"Will he be ok?" Lori asked as she glanced from the Colonel, to Saul.
"I'm sure he'll be fine," said Saul.
"Poor DM… I haven't seen him in such a horrible state since…" Penfold groaned.
Saul patted the little guy on the shoulder. "Gila and my buds won't let him down. He'll get on the right flight…"
"I don't think it's the Chief I'm worried about… it's the flat," Penfold gasped.
"We'll clean up… don't worry," Tommy said as he finished his last sandwich. "Go and have some FUN!"
"Carry on…" Colonel K said. "And do mind the furniture. IF there is any damage to the flat it will come out of your salary…"
"Oh bummer…" said Tommy as Saul and the girls waved goodbye, and Bagel tugged Penfold out with her by the hand.