“Sea serpents. Because that’s just how lucky we always are.” We reached a set of bunnies. “Everybody, follow us and let us pick you up if we can!”
The bunnies complied, in no small part because SuperBun told them to. We grabbed as many as we could and headed for the platform they’d been going for, but at a faster rate than the bunnies were managing on their own, hyperspeed remaining the best thing ever.
Reached the platform, dumped the bunnies, ran back, got more, did the same, while those who were still booking it on their paws alone leaped onto the platform. Platform filled with bunnies, it went up and we went for the next.
“Why does it seem like we have to do this on every planet we accidentally visit?” Jeff asked as we dropped the next set off on the new platform.
“Good question. I point back to just lucky, I guess.”
“Yeah, this is pretty average for our luck. Do we try to save the horrific-looking elephants, horses, and squirrels? If that’s what those really are.”
“I don’t know that we can, honestly. They’ve been so altered—the rabbits call them monster animals. And they aren’t reacting like normal animals in any way, other than being terrified right now.”
Christopher had done three platforms full of bunnies in the time we’d done one. Someone else had as well, because I spotted six platforms full of fluff and floppy ears heading upward.
Butler joined us, identifying himself as the other Savior of Easter. “I think we have them all, other than these last three sets. Christopher says he can handle the last two and that he appreciates seeing what’s really here because it’s making him go even faster. So, I’m helping you get these last ones done so we can all get out of here.”
“Thanks for helping. The rabbits are on our side.”
“Maybe. I think they took me because I could see the planet as it really is without assistance.”
“It’s not all grass?”
“No,” he said gravely, “it’s not.”
We reached rabbits, we grabbed rabbits, we ran back. Lather, rinse, repeat.
“I cannot wait to see it,” I said as we raced back and forth. “And by ‘cannot’ I mean ‘don’t want to but know I’ll have to’ and all that jazz. Oh, and the rabbits took you so you wouldn’t get hit with the water, which apparently kills machinery and such.”
“Well, I was in an airless chamber, so I’m not so sure about that.”
“Did it hurt you?”
He smiled. “No, it didn’t. So, perhaps you’re correct.”
SuperBun said that he couldn’t talk to Butler’s mind, so I’d have to express that he had absolutely done that to protect the android.
“Per my mental link with SuperBun, they did it to protect you. He’s the one who told Ginger where you were and I trust him.”
Butler laughed. “And I trust your judgment, Kitty. In all things. Anyway, Ginger was leading the way and there’s no way she could have smelled me, based on where I was, so I’m willing to believe it. Mister Joel Oliver had just gotten the lock picked when Jeff and Charles arrived. It was a tough lock and it took a lot of time.”
“We found them right when things started rocking,” Jeff added.
“We need to get these last ones and get out of here,” Butler said as we grabbed the last rabbits we could see. “Also, none of the horses, elephants, or squirrels would come with us.”
“Leave them,” Jeff said regretfully. “They’re not real animals anymore, and we have to save ourselves and those that are.”
My music changed to “Fix You” by Coldplay. While we were racing around loading on these last rabbits, thought about what Algar was telling me. “Did Siler and Wruck make it down here?”
“They did,” Butler confirmed. He nodded toward the laser cannon.
Dopey was back on his feet—well, foot—fiddling with something on the cannon. Assumed he was aiming the thing or worse. While I watched, Siler and Wruck appeared, Wruck shifted into something I’d never seen before—he looked blurry and gauzy and like he wasn’t actually there, even though I could see him. He wrapped around Dopey, Siler grabbed him, and they both disappeared again.
The cannon sat there. It didn’t fire and it didn’t move. Hoped this was a good sign, but just knew it wasn’t. “John, get the rest of the rabbits and get up on top. Get all the shuttles down here to get everyone loaded in. Get all our team, and all the rabbits, off this planet and into the ship.” Reached into my purse and handed Peter to him. “Take good care of Peter Rabbit for me, just in case.”
Peter didn’t want to go—he wanted to stay with me.
Patted his head. “No. You need to go with John. In case . . . just in case Jeff and I don’t make it back to the ship. Someone has to tell our kids that it’s going to be okay. That’s your job.” Kissed his fluffy head, then nodded to Butler.
“I want to argue, and say that this should go to me, as I’m the most expendable, but I can already see both of you about to argue and I can tell that Jeff agrees with you. Hurry, and don’t sacrifice yourselves for nothing.”
“We aren’t,” Jeff said calmly. “We’re potentially sacrificing ourselves for the galaxy.”
“But I’m voting on us saving the day spectacularly.”
“Let’s hope your vote’s the one that counts, then, Kitty.” Butler scooped up a few of the last rabbits.
“Find Grumpy,” I called to him as we all took off. “We need her.” My music changed to “Invaders Must Die” by The Prodigy. Really hoped this wasn’t Algar telling me we were goners.
“I’m afraid to ask,” Jeff said, as we raced for the cannon, “but I’m going to. We need another one of these things around why?”
“Because I think we can fix Dopey and Grumpy. Maybe. And if we can fix them, maybe we can fix the monster animals, and this world, too. But first we have to make sure that cannon doesn’t fire at the sun.”
“Oh, is that all?” Jeff laughed as we ran down a tube that was, shockingly, empty.
“What’s so funny?” We hit a T-intersection in the Habitrail, but SuperBun told us to go left, so we did, dodging around a whole mess of freaky and freaked out squirrels.
“This is still better than being the President or the King Regent.”
Up some actual stairs, which I hadn’t seen before, but chose not to whine or comment about, proving my focus on the situation at hand. “Oh my God, I hear you on that one. This beats FLOTUSing any day.” Caught movement out of the side of my eye—a sea serpent was tracking us. “Though, not necessarily in terms of the avoidance of terrifying monsters.”
Jeff squeezed my hand. “I won’t let any of them hurt you, baby. You know that.” Down some stairs, leaping over panicking monster animals.
“I do, and right back atcha, Jeff.” Through an empty tube. On the inside. Outside of it, sea monsters tracked us on every side, so to speak. Did our best to ignore them.
“I’m not letting us die here, either,” Jeff said. “Sea monsters, insane superconsciousnesses, and monster animals or no. Because a rabbit isn’t the same as parents.”