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Chapter Twenty Five

"Check mate"

By

Furry Sith Lord

Merrik arrived at the summer home of Lou and Leggo and looked around at how beautiful it was. It had a tropical look to it and even though it was a few miles from the city it made you feel like you had flown to the tropics. The only thing lacking was security but since they rarely visited here he guessed there was no need. Of course he was about to prove them wrong and the slip up would give him the chance to get back at the deer for all the trouble he caused the C.I.Z.A.

He walked around the perimeter and saw two white cubs next to the swimming pool. One was sitting with his legs curled under him like a cushion and he was writing something on paper. The other cub was sleeping with a pillow and blanket covering him. Merrik was surprised the cub was wrapped up like that in this heat.

It was nearly the end of summer and this time of year it was the hottest and most species had fans or air conditioners blowing on them to cool them off but the cub was wrapped up as if he were cold. Maybe the cub had a low tolerance to cold and liked to be extra warm. He knew of people that found air conditioners to be too cold for them and would wrap themselves up as if it were winter.

He stood there wondering where their parents were and wondered if he grabbed the cubs would it be easier to get the adults to cooperate. He spent enough time with Leggo to know how protective he was of them so as long as he caused them no harm but had them in a position that they were under his control he stood a better chance of getting their cooperation.

Merrik casually approached the cubs and he looked down at the white lion as he used his paw to shield his eyes from the sun and saw Merrik standing over him.

"Hi," Merrik said and the cub tried to scramble away from him by moving backwards.

"Don't! You wouldn't want anything to happen to your sleeping brother do you?" Merrik asked and the cub turned to look at his brother then stopped moving and surrendered. Merrik walked over to Tyger and removed the blanket and moved him to sit on his lap. Tyger slowly woke and rubbed his eyes.

"What's going on?" Tyger asked as he looked at the white fox that was holding him. He then turned and saw the nervousness on Lyon's face.

"Nothing much, I came by to visit my friend Leggo and I understand you're his cubs so I thought I'd like to meet you." Merrik smiled but Tyger looked at him suspiciously.

"My brother is sick! Put him down so he can rest and I'll sit on your lap." Lyon pleaded. Tyger yawned and was now fully awake and listening carefully to analyze the situation.

"Don't worry I'll take good care of your brother until your parents arrive. So tell me, Leggo is your father?" Merrik asked.

"He's our dad." Tyger replied. Tyger made a chafing noise that sounded like he was coughing. The white lion got close and coughed back at him, then Tyger growled at his brother.

"Are you guys fighting?" Merrik asked, then Tyger coughed again.

"Our father took him to the vet and he has a cold. The vet said I should try and help him breathe when he starts coughing, but every time I try, he gets mad and growls at me." Lyon replied and looked down at his feet. Merrik shifted Tyger and brought him closer.

"That's not nice, your brother is only trying to help you." Merrik replied and Tyger hissed and then fell silent.

"What time is it?" Lyon asked and Merrik looked at his watch then told him the time.

"It's time for his pills, can I go get his medicine?" Lyon asked Merrik.

"As long as you're gonna be a good boy because if you try something then something bad may happen to your brother, do you understand?" Merrik asked him.

"I promise I'll be good, I just want to get his medicine so he'll feel better." Lyon replied.

"OK be quick then come right back here and no telling your parents I'm here, I want it to be a surprise." Merrik warned then gave the fake smile of his again.

"Lyon, do me a favor when you get my pills. Can you get the bar of treats our father bought us and bring me a piece and you can have a piece of mine too." Tyger faced Merrik and explained. "I hate pills so if it's mixed in with treats it's yummier."

"A bar of treats?" Merrik asked, confused.

"There's a new treat by Fancy Food that mixes beef and crab meat in these little squares that looks like chocolate but it's actually more like beef jerky. It's really yummy." Lyon replied.

"Our father bought us each our own bar so we each have one." Tyger explained.

"I already ate mine so it's not fair I eat some of yours, bro." Lyon replied.

"It's me saying thanks for getting my pills, go on, bring back two pieces, please." Tyger pleased and Lyon looked down at his feet again. He slowly made his way inside looking around carefully as Merrik watched him. Tyger sat quietly on Merrik's lap and coughed occasionally.

"So where are your parents?" Merrik finally asked Tyger.

"In their bedroom."

"Are they sleeping already?" Merrik asked.

"No, my dad has been bad and we think father is punishing him." Tyger said and Merrik began to laugh.

"He's been really bad huh," Merrik replied after he calmed himself. Tyger shrugged in response.

"What did he do?" Merrik asked. Lyon returned and walked over and gave the pills to Tyger. Lyon stepped back and started to eat a small square of what was in the shape of a small chocolate bar but it was clearly made of dried meat.

"Do you have my piece?" Tyger asked after he cleared his throat. Lyon looked shocked and reached into the pocket of his swim trunks and handed the small piece to his brother. Lyon wiped his paw on his swim trunks.

After they both dressed they went to check on Tyger but his bed was empty so they started searching to see where he had run off to. Lou heard some voices coming from the pool area and they went outside to see what the cubs were up to.

Lou wanted to scream as he saw a large white fox holding Tyger sitting on his lap and Lyon stood nearby talking to the fox. Lou recognized him as the White Fox from the news. Leggo began to growl as soon as he saw them.

"Oh hey guys, we were waiting for you." Merrik said keeping his voice friendly as Lou used his hooves to keep Leggo from charging in to attack.

"I'm sorry father, please don't be mad but Tyger said I could." Lyon said as he was beginning to tear up.

"He said you could do what? Lyon." Lou asked calmly.

"The treats you bought us, Tyger wanted me to get his and his medicine and he said I could have some. I already ate mine and I'd never touch his, but he said I could... so I took a little piece. Are you mad?"

"No son, if he said it was OK then no one is mad." Lou replied but he kept his eyes locked on Merrik.

"You know guys that your daddy and I will be working together so I want you guys to think of me as Uncle Merrik. I'll buy you each a treat bar of your own just tell me the flavors you like.

"Like hell!" Leggo shouted but Lou used his hoof to tap Leggo's chest and he spoke soothingly to him.

"Now, now, we have a guest so let's not be rude." Lou said then turned to look at Merrik and forced himself to smile pleasantly. He took one of the patio chairs and moved it close and sat opposite of Merrik and crossed his legs then folded his hooves on them.

"So how can we help you, Merrik?" Lou asked, trying to keep himself polite.

"How about you get your filthy paws off my son?!" Leggo growled with his heckles standing on end. He bared his fangs and spit was dripping from his mouth.

"NO!" Tyger shouted, then turned towards Lyon. "Come sit next to me." Lyon looked at his parents then walked over and sat next to his brother as he was still being propped up on Merrik's lap.

"What are you saying?" Leggo said as he stared at Tyger wondering if Merrik had said or done something that made them afraid to leave his side. Even Merrik seemed surprised by the cub's response and he was forced to smile.

"That's right we're all friends here. It's such a beautiful day, why not enjoy it." Merrik responded. Lou suddenly noticed that Tyger was fidgeting with his hand in his pocket and he tried to not draw attention to it but he was wondering if his son was pawing off. Was the cub getting off by sitting on the stranger's lap? Tyger then withdrew his paw and turned to Lyon.

"NOW!" Tyger shouted. He swiveled to face Merrik and Lyon rushed at him and punched Merrik in his balls. Merrik yowled in pain but as he opened his maw Tyger used his paw to wipe some brown goo onto Merrik's tongue, then used his arms to muzzle him.

"Swallow, swallow!" Tyger ordered as Merrik tried to struggle. When he did not obey, Tyger yelled at his brother again.

"AGAIN!!!" he shouted and Lyon again punched Merrik in his balls and he tried to scream but Tyger kept him muzzled.

"Swallow!" He again ordered and Merrik fearing being hit a third time obeyed and swallowed then Tyger released him and jumped off him.

Tyger and Lyon slapped each other five and Tyger seemed to position himself taking center stage as everyone looked at him wondering what was going on.

"Listen to me fox, you just swallowed baker's chocolate. As we all know chocolate is poison so if you don't want to die then you'll put on a red collar and become my slave." Tyger stated.

"Son of a bitch," Lou replied and Merrik began coughing. "Quick, Leggo, get the poison kit I keep in the closet." Lou shouted and Leggo ran to get it while Lou ran up to Merrik and stuck his hoof down the wolf's throat trying to get him to vomit. Merrik threw up all over and Leggo returned and an antidote was administered.

Tyger stood by, annoyed that they had administered the cure before Merrik agreed to be his slave. Once he was better they turned their attention back on the cubs.

"Sorry Tyger, but I don't think you know this but baker's chocolate is 100 times more deadly than regular chocolate. I couldn't wait for your plan to finish because it may be too late by then." Lou replied.

"How did you guys plan this out?" Leggo asked as his tail was wagging rapidly.

"How?..." Merrik asked as he was breathing heavily.

"When he first abducted us I gave Lyon instructions in feline speak. It was easy to pretend it was something else. I told Lyon to insist I needed my pills so he could get the chocolate I knew about from the kitchen. I told him to get himself a piece of candy to fool the fox," Tyger said.

"I'm actually a wolf just like your dad is. I just look like a fox when I shave off my fur." Merrik interrupted.

"Lyon was told to eat the candy then when I asked him for my piece he was to give me the chocolate. I kept the chocolate in my pocket to help it melt in my paw and when it was ready we made the bad fur here eat it and we won."

"Oh my paws," Leggo exclaimed.

"This is why I don't play chess with him, he's a sneaky little bastard. He's a better planner than I am and he's quick on his paws too." Lou remarked.

"Oh, Check Mate by the way," Tyger said to Merrik and he grunted, then he pet Tyger on his head.

"Is that why you were upset about the treat you ate?" Lou asked Lyon.

"I feel bad because it was Tyger's and I already ate mine. I promise I'll save up my allowance and buy him a new one." Lyon replied.

"Oh sorry father, I think I ruined my pocket. Are you mad?" Tyger asked, trying to change the subject.

"I'm actually proud that you were able to beat the bad fur, as you say. However we now have vomit all over the patio so you can make up for ruining your clothes by cleaning up this mess." Lou replied.

"Yes sir," Tyger replied glumly.

"So wait, is he our slave now?" Lyon asked.

"That depends," Leggo replied.

"Indeed. Will you leave our family alone forever or must we collar you?" Lou asked.

"Wait, I'm not here to cause problems! Our boss is gone now and I'm in charge. I want to move forward and get past this nonsense that rare white fur species are a threat. We are starting to see it in the next generations that they are more tolerant and not following the stories in an old book.

However the White Citadel is the real threat because their leader was a former agent and he is bent on destroying the world. They have made contact with me and I want Lego to team up with me to help infiltrate their base of operations. We both shave so that we look like twin white foxes. With Lou helping on the planning we can bring the White Citadel down and keep everyone safe." Merrik replied.

"How can we trust you?" Lou asked skeptically.

"I'll prove my sincerity," he replied and smiled then took out his cell phone and placed a call that rang once and was immediately picked up but whoever answered remained silent.

"Slave! Bring the drinks to the pool." Merrik ordered. A few minutes later Jon entered wearing a purple collar and a loincloth. His fur looked dirty and he looked as if he was beaten on numerous occasions.

"Uncle Jon!" The cubs exclaimed and Leggo looked at his once friend with indifference.

"The doberman had him sold because he betrayed us but once your plan worked and the doberman was gotten rid of I made my new secretary,"

"Sectry," Leggo interrupted.

"Secretary."

"Sectry!" Leggo countered.

"So which one is it?" Tyger asked.

"Stenographer." Lou replied.

"Anyway, I had her track down the slavers I sold him to and rescued him just in time. He was sold as a cubophile and they had been torturing him mercilessly. I picked him up on the way over here and I'm willing to release him to you, if you consider working for us." Merrik continued and he smiled again as he looked at them.

"What about my children? What are your plans for them?" Lou asked sternly.

"Yeah." Leggo echoed.

"Like I said, we have no interest in hunting rare white furs anymore. They are completely safe providing they don't break the law in any way. The White Citadel is the real threat and after that you guys are free to do whatever it is that you guys do." Merrik replied he went over to Jon and quickly opened and resealed his collar.

"A moment please." Lou replied and he took Leggo aside to talk to him privately. The cubs were busy talking to their uncle about what happened and why he left them. He knelt and hugged them with tears rolling down his cheeks. Merrik stood on the side observing everything with a look of indifference on his face.

"What do you think?" Lou asked as he used his hoof to rub his chin.

"I wouldn't trust him as far as I could pick up the mansion and throw it." Leggo replied.

"See the way he smiles? He is definitely up to something. He'll betray us as soon as the White Citadel is destroyed." Lou remarked.

"So do we refuse?"

"Just the opposite. We agree and play nice so that I can get on the inside and little by little I set things up to destroy both the C.I.Z.A. and the White Citadel."

"What about him?" Leggo asked, referring to Jon and Lou pulled his head to rest against his chest.

"We forgive him. He was the one that warned us about the C.I.Z.A. in the first place. If he hadn't then we might not have our boys right now. Plus look at him as he hugs them, crying like a puppy. He had more than atoned for any sins he committed. He was your best friend and sometimes furs make mistakes. We all do, so don't ruin your friendship when he tried to do the right thing." Lou counseled.

"So when do you guys call me Uncle Merrik?" he asked the cubs and they looked at him suspiciously.

"Well I gotta clean this up," Tyger remarked and started to venture towards a closet.

"Wait a minute... master... maybe if I help you; you'll consider freeing me." Merrik mocked and Tyger rolled his eyes but said nothing as Merrik followed him. Lyon began telling Jon everything that had happened since they last saw each other.

"So we never got a chance to meet the Power Fur Rangers even after we aced the test. The maid told us what our last names were because we didn't know, so I guess it makes sense we didn't go to the Con because the only reason we aced it was because she helped us cheat." Lyon said the disappointment was obvious.

"You didn't need to know your last names, you don't learn that until after you learn to read better because that's tough. You just needed your first names." Jon replied.

"So why didn't we go to the Con?"

"It was my fault, I'm so sorry." Jon said. Tyger and Merrik returned and Tyger was grumbling as Merrik was continuing to talk to him and it was obvious he was annoying the cub.

Tyger used a mop and began to wipe up the vomit then Merrik started to spread a powdered cleaner over it to make it easier to clean. Lyon tried helping but Tyger hissed at him and sent him back to Jon. Jon kept the lion entertained while Merrik annoyed Tyger as he cleaned.

Merrik stood by and kept giving orders to Tyger on how best to clean the mess while Tyger tried to ignore him. Soon Tyger was pushed to the point that he started yelling at Merrik to leave him alone.

"Hey, I'm just trying to be a good uncle." Merrik replied.

"You are not our uncle!" Tyger shouted back then his parents returned.

"Merrik, a word with you." Leggo said and Tyger let out a sigh of relief.

"I was getting ready to feed him more chocolate." Tyger grumbled and Lyon chuckled as Jon pet Tyger. Lou walked over and removed the collar from Jon's next then joined Merrik and Leggo.

"So we have a deal then?" Merrik asked as he raised an eyebrow but the look of satisfaction was on his face.

"Once I've finished negotiating the terms I think we can bang out a deal that will be mutually exclusive to both parties." Lou replied Leggo walked away and he began to help Tyger finish up. The two of them separated from the others as they began to negotiate. Tyger looked in their direction occasionally and saw the look of annoyance on Merrik's face. One thing his father was good at negotiating and he was sticking it to Merrik just as Merrik had been sticking it to him as they were getting the cleaning supplies.

"Hey, are you mad at me?" Leggo asked as he began to help Tyger clean. The comment caught him by surprise.

"No, dad, why would you think that?" Tyger asked in confusion.

"We haven't spoken in a few days."

"Well I've been sick and the pills the vet gave me keeps knocking me out." Tyger replied and Leggo got close and licked his face. Tyger used his paw to wipe the slobber from his fur.

"Dad, don't be a puppy." Tyger replied half laughing.

"Hey, only your father gets to call me that!" Leggo said and Tyger heard Merrik shouting at Lou but the deer calmly looked at him and when he stopped shouting Lou asked if he was finished then doubled down on the negotiation.

Leggo suddenly grabbed Tyger and as the cub struggled in his paws he began to tickle him and Tyger was at his mercy.

"Ut oh," Lyon replied and Jon looked at him.

"What?"

"Dad uses tickles as weapons. Tyger is gonna be helpless against him." Lyon replied and Tyger tried to escape his dad's clutches but was powerless to do so. As Tyger surrendered to his fate Leggo turned his gaze to look at Lyon as the cub was hiding behind Uncle Jon.

"You know what to do." Leggo said and Jon suddenly grabbed Lyon and began to tickle him as he was brought over to join his brother in his dad's clutches. Leggo mercilessly tickled his sons with the occasional help from Jon to make sure no cub escaped.

"Right now we're gonna play nice with Merrik and let him think he's on our good side. I promise you I'm gonna destroy the C.I.Z.A. for all they've done! But first we lull them into a false sense of security, get close, and then we destroy them and the White Citadel." Lou told Leggo before they rejoined the group.

To Be Continued...

In The Next Series

Shadow Of The White Citadel