THE BUNNY WHO KNEW TOO MUCH
CHAPTER 07: INTO THE PRESS OF DOOM

For the benefit of those who missed the earlier episodes, here is the story to date: Jack Bunny, an internationally famous journalist, was investigating the unexpected death of a reclusive billionaire, Dr. Baron Von Zarkov when he accidentally discovered a secret laboratory within the mansion. It was here that Jack discovered the mysterious Purcell Papers. Now on the run with a sinister organization just one step behind him, Jack is determined to uncover the truth of the papers and stop Evil Organization X from world domination.

In the Previous Cliffhanger- CHAPTER 06: A SOUND OF THUNDER! We witnessed Jack meeting with an expert to decipher the Papers. Unknowingly, right as all was about to be revealed Jack heard a sound of thunder and the Cryptologist was dead. There Jack got his first confrontation with the menacing and evil, Dr. Agon X! Now Prey in the paws of the silhouetted Villain, how will Jack escape this time? Stay tuned and find out in the new thrilling installment of; THE BUNNY WHO KNEW TOO MUCH

(As always, the final minute will be replayed for the Audience’s benefit)

“Well, Mr. Cryptus? What do the Papers say!?” The Sloth took his sweet time before he finally turned to face Jack.

“It’s not looking good, Son. I’m afraid what we have here-” *BANG!* And before Jack’s eyes the Sloth fell dead taking the tantalizing secrets with him. Spinning around Jack found the mysterious and menacing Dr. Agon X before him, obscured in the shadows of the dim room. Jack could only make out his silhouette.

“You were warned not to interfere,” sneered the cruel voice, “now you’ve left us with little choice but to deal with you too!” The gun leveled on Jack. He saw from the briefest glimpse a scaly, red paw holding a revolver. “Any last words?”

“No need to get mad. Can’t we just chill?” But there was a blinding flash of light and Jack hit the ground.

(We continue into the new episode)

“Now with that fool finally out of the way I may continue with my plans for world domination. Bwhahaha!” The slithering voice laughed. Jack heard him thump across the room and begin to ruffle the Papers that were on the table. “At last! Victory shall be mine!”

Jack’s heart sank. It meant Dr. Agon X finally had his hands on the Purcell Papers and he was powerless to stop him… unless he wished to get shot again. Jack heard the feet thump on the floor as he went out the office door and listened as it faded away. Feeling safe, Jack got up.

Despite the setback he counted himself lucky. Taking the steel lighter out of his shirt pocket (the bullet lodged into the center of it) he was thankful that he was a pack a day smoker or else he would have been dead! He put the lighter back into the pocket.

While Dr. Agon X might now have the Papers Jack realized he now had surprise on his side. As long as Evil organization X thought him dead he could still pursue his investigation, this time hopefully unhindered.

Going to the window Jack peeked outside. For the briefest moments he caught the silhouetted figure of Dr. Agon X vanishe like a phantom into the night. He hit the window sill in frustration. There wasn't any way to follow him now. Annoyed, Jack began pacing the room.

Who knew what sinister horror may lurk on those pieces of Paper. Jack dreaded what may happen to the world if Dr. Agon X unlocks its secrets.*Crunch.* Abruptly he stood on something! Bending over he found some strange metal shavings. This seemed to be in the same spot that Dr. Agon X stood? Careful, Jack scooped up the contents into a nearby mug. It might not be much but it was something to go on.

There was only one person he could trust with this!

Venturing outside, the empty streets swirling with a nightly mist, Jack jumped into his car hidden in one of the side alleys and drove away at a furious speed. He needed this analyzed tonight. Sure enough he pulled up to an old building that stood ominous in the night.

With a brave heart Jack ventured inside. His only companion was the coffee cup that he cradled in his paw.

The inside had the same foreboding feeling as the out as he made his way down the deserted hallways, venturing up six flights of stairs before he stood outside room 607. Jack rhythmically knocked on the door, waited then continued again in a similar pattern. It wasn't long till he heard the door unlatching, then it creaked ever so slowly open.

Crescent eyes stared at Jack in the dim light. They seemed searching for a moment before they went wide with surprise. “JACK!” An exacerbated voice said. It flung open the door the rest of the way. There a white owl stood in the frame with a look of concern upon its features. “I thought you’d be dead!” Its talons grasped Jack and yanked him inside.

“Not quite.” Jack replied. “But it wasn't for lack of trying on their part.” He pointed to the bullet hole in his shirt.

“It’s not like Evil Organization X to make such a blunder. They're all about closing loose ends!” The owl replied.

“Yes! That's why I need you to analyze something before they realize I’m still alive.” Handing over the mug. She stared at it for a few moments, binocular eyes looking deep within the cup.

“What is it?” She asked. Jack just shrugged.

“Something but could also be nothing.” He answered with a grimace. “But I’m hopeful that it came from Dr. Agon X’s shoes.” This time the Owl inspected it a lot closer. “I’m hoping that you can tell me where it's from- if it’s unique enough.”

“Don't be hopeful…” She answered. Still, she took the mug over to the equipment and got to work analyzing it. While she did that Jack paced the room nervously.

What if she couldn't get anything from it! What then? Whatever secret that was held in those Papers was now in the hands of those evil doers, for whatever sinister purpose they had in mind and he was helpless to stop it. Jack stopped and banged his paws on the wall in frustration.

He’d have to start from square one all over again. Maybe reinvestigate Dr. Baron Von Zarkov home for more secrets- But he then ed how it burnt down with him inside three cliffhangers ago. Jack sighed. It had been a long night and something told him this story was only halfway done with many other death-defying things ahead.

Jack was about to lie down before the Owl gave a loud hoot.

“I’VE GOT SOMETHING!” She announced. She grasped Jack's paws and dragged him over to the microscope. “Look inside!” She ordered.

Jack stared into the lens but shook his head. It meant nothing to him.

Before he could respond he felt a pinch on his neck. Jack turned around and found her holding a needle. She looked ashamed about it and turned away. He raised his paw in anticipation to say something but suddenly the room began to spin. “Oh, no!” He spluttered. Jack began to move away but only got a few feet before collapsing on his knees.

His head spun as he crashed to the ground.

There, a drooling mess, he watched paralyzed as the owl timidly walked over to the phone and dialed someone. As Jack struggled to keep his eyelids open he caught ashamed glances his way. When she finished she then knelt beside him.

“I am so sorry!” She pleaded. Then everything went dark for the Bun.

When he next regained consciousness it was pitch black. He tried to cry out but he realized in horror that his mouth was stuffed with something. Any attempt to move was also met with equal resistance as his limbs were seemingly tied together.

“He's waking up.” Said an alert voice.

“Well stop standing there and help me get him in.” Replied another.

“We should just shoot him.”

“That's now how this works!” Ending the conversation.

Jack felt himself being lifted off the ground. Due to their clumsiness the blindfold that obscured his vision was knocked from its place allowing Jack to partially see.

He seemed to be in a junkyard of some sort. Piles of old cars and metal lay strewn everywhere in massive piles, like great cathedral steeples. Jack struggled again but the binds held him firm. “MMPPPHH!?” He cried, but his babble went ignored.

He heard the opening of a car down before he saw the banged up Chevrolet. Roughly, the two goons threw him into the back seat and slammed the enger door closed. This is when Jack really began struggling like a hyperactive bunny. He saw one of the Goons begin to laugh outside the window as Jack kicked it with his powerful paws but to no avail.

In his thrashing there was a *BANG* on the roof of the car. Jack paused in curiosity, then the vehicle suddenly began to rise into the sky with him inside. At first he was puzzled then he realized the car was being hoisted by a strong magnet that was attached to the roof as he saw the crane operating it.

“MPPH!”

More thrashing followed as he was desperate to shed the restraints but the ropes held strong. Eventually the rising stopped and the car started to swing into a leftmost direction throwing Jack. He gave a muffled mumble and continued his escape attempt. Then the turning came to an abrupt halt leaving the car swinging in mid air.

It just hovered there for a while before it started being lowered. Curious, Jack pressed his face to the enger window- his heart sank.

Below was a car press primed and ready for him. The fruitless struggle for the restraints began again. He managed to get the bandanna and rag out of his mouth in time to cry out;

“HELP! HELP!” But it was useless.

That's when he noticed from the broken dashboard was a jagged piece of metal sticking out. With nothing to lose Jack wiggled his way to the front and began grinding himself against it. Wasn't long before there was a hard thud as the car's wheels touched back down to the earth.

“Oh, Boy!” Jack uttered, rubbing faster.

A shadow began to slowly creep over the car as all the light began to be enveloped by the closing lid of the press. If Jack could sweat now would have been the time. “Must go faster.” He told himself.

That's when the presses engines began to start and the crushing began!

“EEP!” He cried.

TO BE CONTINUED NEXT WEEK IN ANOTHER EXCITING ADVENTURE OF, THE BUNNY WHO KNEW TOO MUCH!
CHAPTER 08: A WING AND A PRAYER


Thoughts

A fun little fact about me is that I'm a huge fan of old film Serials - or Cliffhangers, as their sometimes referred to as (or if you want to get more anal, Chapter-Plays) - so it's a concept I've always wanted to play around with. Although the idea of a Serial is still very much alive today in today's entertainment, albeit in a different form, I've always wanted to harken back to the pure golden era in how they were specifically played out; from its larger-than-life heroes and villains, to its thrilling action and adventure, fast paced stories, right down to its cliffhangers that are usually resolved with a cheat/cope out. Not to mention it's period in time (from the early 1920s, to its death in the 50s). Yet I procrastinated on the idea.

Thats not to say I wasn't doing my homework. For the last few years I've been reading a lot of old pulp fiction - essentially the forbears to the film serial - to get an idea how to translate the rapid pacing of Serials to the written form. For those curious I've been reading a lot of; The Spider, Jungle Stories, Operator 5, G-8 and his Battle Aces, ect. I find it amazing how they can rapidly tell a story and not get bogged down in the details, but still have it make sense and leave a clear picture in one's mind. Personally, I feel as if some professional authors out there can learn a thing or two in pacing from these.

Despite all that I never really took the plunge. I jotted a fair few idea's down; most were just homages to The Spider but with my Sona's war on crime. Basically, it was going to be the furry version. I even planned out several novels to write but never did mostly due to time and wanting to work on other things. Wasn't till I basically got this meme commission (more info below) I finally found a good excuse to write a quick homage that begins in the middle of the action.

And to how it turned out? Well... pretty bad to be honest. My heart is in the right place with this piece but it's mostly a total failure across the board. I just couldn't get the pacing or the tone right. Reading just feels weirdly disted. My quest to keep the language simplified just winds up handicapping it. Not to mention it just isn't very good. Oh well, better luck next time, I suppose.

This piece was commissioned from Secretblack6 and mostly originated from a joke between me and him. You wouldn't get it. Deep lore server stuff. Anway. When he announced he was briefly open to commissions naturally I couldn't help myself and paid him to have me shoot him. Ah, as an Adult I'm great with money XD

I must say the way Jack did the scales has always been my favorite depiction of them. Unfortunately having such scales is very costly to get art with so I avoided it when it came to my reference sheet, and also for practicalities sake for the poor artist but- FUCK THEY LOOK GOOD!

Jack, for all your faults being French I forgive you because of this piece. XD

Artwork ©
Jack ©