Hod gazed down the hallway walking towards the one place he didn't expect to be anytime soon of his own free will.
“So what are you going to say to him?” Memo asked.
A few rats noticed them as they walked but didn't seem to concerned with their presence.
“I'm just going to ask some questions and see if there's some way we can come to an agreement.” Hod replied.
Memo nodded, “And what's the plan if he won't talk to us or if things escalate?”
Hod swallowed, “Let's hope it doesn't come to that.”
Memo sighed, “That's not a very good plan, Hod.”
The little rat shrugged, “I know, but I just want to stay calm and try and fix this without violence or fighting.”
Memo huffed in annoyance but didn't argue.
They approached the door and the scent of stale cigarettes wafted from behind it.
Hod trembled now, the memories of Lord Smork dancing before his mental vision.
Maybe this wasn't a good idea after all...
Memo touched his paw and he met her steady gaze.
“It's going to be okay. We're a team now.” she said and the way her expression didn't waver had Hod believing her.
“Get in here Skittles, I can hear your cowardly knees knocking from in here.” called the gruff voice of Smork.
Hod panicked and threw the door open with a bang.
“I'm here!” He cried and Memo groaned behind him.
“What the fuck do you want, deserter?” He chided.
Hod felt his composure slipping, he was on the precipice of free-fall.
The scent of this office along with the harsh voice of Smork came crashing down.
Hod snapped.
“Razr is dead; his neck is broken in a trap and you're next if you don't shut the fuck up and listen to what we have to say.” Hod felt the words tumbling from his mouth without restraint.
He heard Memo gasp, “So much for non-violent talk” she said and it was pride that laced her tone.
But it was the look on Lord Smork's face that would never leave his memory.
It was a wave of shock that turned into barely disguised fear but Smork quickly masked it with a smirk.
“Well, well, look who finally grew a pair,” He said, “Took you long enough.”
Hod glared back, “Why are you trying to hurt us? Why would you plant traps and poison for the patrols?”
Smork glanced at Memo then back to Hod,
“You don't even know what you're talking about.” He said.
“We caught Razr and another patrol rat spreading poison,” Memo spoke; her voice clear and steady, “Razr died in a trap that had been placed there by your orders, too. The exterminators can't get that far into the shelves.”
The guards in the room exchanged glances but Smork laughed, “Razr always was a bumbling bully, he probably deserved that.”
The guards frowned; a gesture that didn't go unnoticed by Memo.
“So you don't deny you left traps and poison on purpose?” Hod demanded.
Smork rolled his eyes, “I don't owe you an explanation but seeing as how I'm in charge here and have this whole pack at my command I could tell you everything and it wouldn't matter because you'll never leave here alive.”
Memo and Hod froze in place, their plan for peace seeming to go astray quickly.
“No one needs to die!” Hod cried, “All I want is to protect the pack! Why are you trying to hurt us?”
Smork coughed, “Resources don't last forever, you idiot. These walls are crowded and every day we risk extermination.” he grinned menacingly, “everything I do is for the good of the pack.”
“You mean for the good of yourself!” Hod yelled, “How could you?”
Memo was shaking, “You'd poison your own people before looking for any other solution?”
Lord Smork leapt to his feet; his bent spoon and cardboard chair crashing to the ground, “Do not presume to understand anything I've done!”
He met Memos gaze, “It's a shame to lose an Elite. I'm disappointed you chose a spineless fool like Hod instead of fighting for what's right.”
Memo hissed and Hod took her paw.
“Guards, take them!” He roared.
The two guards didn't move.
“I said kill them!” Smork screamed.
The two guards scoffed and one removed his aluminum foil helmet,
“Do you think we are stupid?” He said.
“I have a family!” the other cried.
Smork fumed, his beady eyes blazing like hot coals.
Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.
“Fuck you!” He raged, “Fuck all of you!”
He turned to Hod, “Get the hell out of my office! Get out of my pack!”
Memo grabbed his arm and tried to pull him away but Hod stopped her,
“I'm taking the pack with me,” he said, “Anyone and everyone willing to take a risk.”
Lord Smork screamed and threw a thimble at Hod; ash, debris, and whatever else was inside flying around wildly,
“I don't care! Just get out of my sight!”
Hod glanced at the guards as Smork threw a tantrum; flinging everything on his desk to the floor.
“Come with us?” he asked.
The guards nodded.
“Let's get the word out.” they agreed and started the process of slipping away to gather their families.
Hod and Memo ran into the halls.
“What are we going to do?” she cried.
Hod took her paw as they fled, “I don't know but we have to get as many of the rats as we can out of here.”
Memo nodded, “We should be quick before Smork recovers and retaliates. I doubt he's truly planning to let us go without a fight.”
“Good point” Hod agreed.
“Let's split up and get our families!” Memo said, “What sector does yours live in?”
Hod went still, “Oh. Um.” he shrugged, “I don't really have a family.”
Memo blinked, “I'm so sorry. I didn't realize...”
Hod waved her off, “It's okay. Can I just come with you?”
Her gaze softened, “Of course.”
The two raced off, spreading the word as they ran.
Whether or not anyone heard or believed them they just had to hope because they didn't have the luxury of time.
Hod and Memo chatted and brainstormed the whole way, trying to figure out the next steps.
They arrived at a small box apartment and Memo sighed, “My parents live here with my younger siblings.”
It wasn't easy but Memo pulled rank to get her family to come along telling them she'd explain more along the way.
Hod greeted the elderly rats with a blushing face. He didn't know meeting the parents would be like this.
He'd imagined getting to spend more time with Memo and maybe one day she'd take him home and he'd finally feel wanted. Finally have a family that loved him just as he was.
The fantasy was cut short as Memo handed Hod a tiny baby rat.
“This is my baby brother Stamp. Let's go.” she said and lifted the tinier rat onto his shoulders as the family scurried away.
They paused to pick up Parcel by the outpost and to take a look around for others.
Just Memo's family alone was a squad.
The guards returned, their own families tucked safely under their arms.
“Everyone stay here for a minute,” Hod said, “Let me check with Clark to see if he can help!”
Hod really hoped Clark had some ideas, otherwise this could get messy with all these rats hoping to find safety.
He slipped out, racing quietly to the counter.
Customers were in the store and Hod was careful not to be seen as the last shopper left; a handsome, tired-eyed man with his hands full of Red Bulls.
“Clark!” Hod whispered, “Psst! Clark!”
The wavy haired cashier startled and turned to Hod.
“Yo my dude! Where have you been?” He cried.
Hod stepped out from the shadows, “It's a long story but basically I have a couple of rat families that need somewhere safe to live and to be honest I don't know what to do or where to go.”
Clark whistled, “Yikes, that sounds like a lot and a way more exciting tale I'd love to hear!”
Hod smiled, “Maybe another day, we don't really have much time. Things could get ugly if my, uh, boss decides to retaliate instead of letting us go.”
Clark shifted his expression, “Oh shit, so it's serious. Let me think...sorry I wasn't here sooner, my boss was being annoying and sent me to the other store to pick up some product. Speaking of that, here's a Swiss Roll for you.”
Hod lit up, “Wait, other store?”
Clark nodded, “Yeah there are Get-Go's all over the city...oh! I'm picking up what you're putting down little dude!”
Hod took a bite of the chocolate and cream treat and said through a mouthful, “That's perfect! We can go there! Is it far?”
Clark cringed, “Well it would certainly be a trek for some rats. Probably not a good plan to walk...however!” He added when he saw Hods disappointed face, “I do have a car and I could give you a ride. You guys would have to wait 'til I get off though.”
Hod started the wheels of his brain turning.
“I think we can do that. We can hide under the shelves until you close.”
Clark nodded, “Sounds good. I'll be here if you need anything else.”
“You're really the best, Clark. Thank you” Hod folded his paws in a gesture of humility.
The clerk shrugged, “It's no problem dude. This whole thing has been pretty wild and none of my roommates think I'm serious so it's been fun to mess with them. They just think I'm, like, super high at work.”
Hod laughed, “I'm sure this would make most people freak out.”
Clark glanced towards the entrance to the walls,
“How many you got back there?” He asked.
Hod shrugged, “Memo's family and a few others. Kids too.”
Clark frowned, “I'm sorry you're being displaced. I'll help you as much as I can.”
Hod returned to the group and let them know the plan.
“So we just have to leave all this behind?” one of the rats asked, cradling her baby close.
Hod felt bad for her, for all of them really. This whole situation was less than desirable.
“I'm sorry, I know this is hard but Lord Smork is trying to kill off members of the pack in order to save himself. It's frightening but the truth and the exterminators aren't making this easier.” Hod continued, “Clark is willing to help us but we have to wait a while. Follow me if you want to and I'll do my best to keep everyone safe.”
A few rats spoke to each other with soft voices but they all chose to follow Memo and Hod.
The renegade rats found themselves under the register shelf, some feeling lost and confused, others just processing it all.
“Hey I got some stuff for you!” Clark whispered and the rats stirred with surprise except for the two that were accustomed to human speech.
“Thank you!” Hod whispered back as Clark slid a stack of tissues, a microfiber cloth, and some snacks under the shelf.
Soon the little ones were fed and snug in their microfiber bed while the adults cozied up on tissue paper picnic blankets munching on pistachios and dry roasted peanuts.
“You did a brave thing,” The voice of Memo's mother startled Hod out of a deep thought.
He blushed, “Oh, um, thank you.”
She patted his shoulder, “Don't worry about the pack. We'll survive. Us rats are smart and resourceful, so even the ones that stay behind will find a way.”
Hod nodded and looked around, 16 rats had come along. It wasn't very many in the grand scheme of things but Hod hoped with 16 less mouths to feed that Smork would stop trying to sabotage the pack at least for a while.
“I believe that, and I think we are doing the right thing. I just want everyone safe.”
Memo's mom, Mettler, nodded in agreement, “Thank you and thank you for protecting Memo.”
Hod chuckled, “I don't think she has ever needed anyone's protection. She's a bad-ass.”
Mettler joined in laughing but said, “Well, I mean protecting her from herself. She doesn't make friends easily and tends to fight everyone she comes across so it's nice to see her doing something from the heart.”
Hod smiled, “I'm glad she's here with us, I couldn't have done it without her.”
A few hours passed uneventfully before the silence under the shelf was interrupted by the urgent voice of Clark calling for Hod.
“What's going on?” Hod asked, racing to the shelf opening.
“I have bad news!” Clark cried.
Oh no.
Memo scurried up next to him, her face stern.
“What?” Hod asked, his heart racing.
“The exterminators are coming tonight and they're closing the store to do a gas bomb! This is really bad, dude!”
Hod met Memos matching horrified look.
“What are we going to do?” she cried.
Hod tried to think.
Tried to plan.
Tried to breathe.
But he stammered, “I don't know.”