Song of the Siren

**"Song of the Siren"**is the tenth episode of *Contact* and the 45th episode overall.

The episode was published on February 16, 2020.

In the episode, As the tides recede, and Toontown faces a new dawn, the Toon Council brainstorms the best way to reward the peoples' efforts. Meanwhile, the Toon Resistance rangers question their future roles in society.

## The Episode

---Toon Resistance Lounge---

--Toontown Central--

-Five Days After The Deluge-

When the Toon Resistance first formed and the government allocated funds to place Toons like Piggy Pie, Doctor, Tori, and Horace on its payroll, they also set aside a space in each Toon HQ for Resistance members to stop by for major announcements or gatherings. As it transpired, these lounges were hardly used. Toons were more likely to meet in larger spaces that could hold more Toons, or out in the Playgrounds or streets.

But Piggy Pie found herself in the Toontown Central one now with Doctor, Tori, Horace, and several other members of the Resistance. In the five fast days since the Deluge, the Toons had worked tirelessly to pump the excessive amount of water off the streets and to the Docks.

For the moment, the widespread belief was that the Cogs were finally and officially and irrevocably defeated. Clarabelle Cow, their only known accomplice, was dead. And Cog Nation had finally crumbled.

But that meant that Piggy Pie would soon be out of a job. Her position was created as a direct opposition to the Cogs. Her daily livelihood was centered around Cog fights, taking over Cog buildings, and occasionally going after the biggest and baddest Cogs on the block.

“I suppose,” Tori said to the group, “we’ll have to dust off our resumes.”

Horace sighed.

“I’m sure my construction firm will be glad to have me back.”

“I don’t know if my old shop will want me,” Tori muttered. “I may have quit a tad dramatically.”

Piggy smirked.

“I just don’t want to go back to the pet shop,” she shared. “It was fun at the time…but now…”

Doctor nodded understandingly.

“We’ve played critical roles in Toontown’s present,” he explained. “It’s difficult to imagine an ‘ordinary’ life in a mundane role.”

Piggy chewed her lip. She should be thrilled the Cog threat was eliminated for good, but inside she desired a way for her somehow to continue to hold a fulfilling position in Toontown.

---Toon Council Chamber---

In the five days since the Deluge, the Toon Council had not officially met. The cleanup effort took immediate precedence, and each Councillor had returned to their own neighborhood to coordinate. Barnacle Barbara had it easiest, as the water naturally drained from the streets to the Bay.

With Toontown nearly dry again, and with much still to do, the Toon Council convened in Toon Hall. Eileen Irenic, however, was notably absent.

Besides the Council itself, only Aleck Harding was present. He sat next to Constance.

“I hope you all had time to read over the agenda,” Constance said, placing hers in front of her. “I wanted to begin by positioning three proposals. First, that former Mayor Flippy Flopper be given a second memorial to commemorate the sacrifice he gave as a Cog.”

The Council nodded, but Vidalia immediately countered.

“Maybe instead of a specific memorial to *him*, we conduct a candlelit vigil aimed at remembering all of those lost during our fight against the Cogs. We could open with a special commendation of Flippy.”

“I like that idea,” Barbara said with a smile. “A candlelight vigil in Toontown Central.”

“Or every Playground,” Slate said. “To avoid large crowds.”

Constance wrote their suggestions down.

“Well,” Doe Clark said, “before we can commend Flippy for anything, Eileen has to tell the public about him. We’ve known he’s a Tog…or a Cog, I suppose…for some time. But it’ll come as a huge shock to everyone else. She also hasn’t told anyone how he died.”

“Do we know when Eileen intended to go public with that information?” Mulaney asked, and everyone knew fully well that Eileen had been very specific that it was her that would share the news with Toontown.

“We don’t know,” Constance sighed. “Eileen has been…distant. Ever since Clarabelle attacked her on the roof during the Deluge.”

Eileen was Constance’s closest friend, and it pained her to see Eileen in such emotional and physical agony. The attacks had been brutal, and several bones had been seriously damaged. It was a miracle that Clarabelle hadn’t punctured major organs or outright killed her. Though the wounds *would* heal in time, the emotional scars ran much deeper. Eileen barely spoke in the last week, and spent her days alone in her house. She refused visitors, and she did not speak about the attack. All Constance, or anyone, knew was that Eileen had gone to the roof, Clarabelle had attacked her, and Blair Fawkes pushed Clarabelle to her death. Blair had given a full statement to Aleck, but no one knew why Clarabelle had gone to the roof, or what she had hoped to accomplish by killing Eileen. Constance assumed it was nothing more than petty revenge spurred by petty rage.

Clarabelle Cow’s body was moved from the plaza after the rain let up, and she was taken to the morgue for an autopsy. Constance had personally informed Vidalia, since the two had once been close. Vidalia was entirely indifferent, and may have even been silently pleased. After the death certificate was written and filed, her body was cremated and the ashes scattered deep in the Bay of Toontown. Though such a burial would have been considered honorable in Cartonia, it was an insult in Toontown. Almost every Toon in history was cremated and buried in the Toontown Cemetery. She was one of the exceptions.

Clarabelle was a wealthy woman, but she had no next of kin to pass her estate. Her last will and testament was invalidated by her treason, and so the entirety of the Cattlelog empire was bequeathed to the government, and Constance was thrilled to know Clarabelle’s fortune would pay off Toontown’s debts that stemmed from the war against the Cogs, especially in lost productivity due to coordinated attacks and infrastructure damage. The Cattlelog would continue, at first as a public part of the government, and later as a private organization whenever someone decided to buy it.

Constance shifted her agenda to read the next item.

“Second,” she said, “I propose we establish a permanent defense group to prevent threats like the Cogs from ever rising again. This will also work to ensure that no more Cartonians breach the border again. The natural barriers in the Kinnar Mountains and the Bay of Toontown no longer provide the protection we inherently believed they yielded.”

Barnacle Barbara stood, her face resolute.

“I second this proposal and ask that I be put in charge of its implementation. I have already begun drafting a Harbor Defense Stratagem to bolster security to the Harbor. No more foxes.”

“Shall we vote?” Slate asked.

“All in favor?” Constance said. It was a unanimous vote in favor.

“Excellent,” Barbara grinned. “I wonder if I may hire former Toon Resistance rangers to help with this taskforce? Since they no longer have Cogs to fight, I see no reason why not to put their talents to new use.”

Doe snapped her paws.

“That’s a wonderful idea! I’ll second that.”

Constance made a note, and held another vote. The result was once again unanimous.

“My last proposal is that we do something for the general public. A party of sorts, to thank everyone for all their contributions to the cause.”

Aleck’s mouth fell open in happy surprise. Mulaney Chortle nodded enthusiastically.

“Why does that sound like the most fun ever?” Aleck asked eagerly. Vidalia squealed.

“I *love* parties!”

“So we’re all in agreement then?” Constance asked.

“Yes,” the six members of the Toon Council said in unison.

“Great,” Constance said, “then let’s start brainstorming some ideas of what we can do.”

---Alice Carver & Bradley Wolfe’s Estate---

Slate Oldman, together with Evelyn Quin and Cale Metfin, rang the doorbell. Evelyn looked around the vast VaVoom-owned estate in awe. The look dropped from her beak when Bradley welcomed them inside. Blair Fawkes was in the living room with Alice. A board game was spread over the coffee table. After Blair’s acts of heroism in Toontown Central, she was not returned to prison but was instead placed in the home of Bradley Wolfe and Alice Carver, with the pair serving as her sponsor.

“Blair!” Evelyn squealed in delight, hugging her friend. “How’s Toon life?”

“It’s good!” Blair said with a smile. “Alice and Bradley are teaching me how to play Balderdash.”

Cale furrowed her eyebrows.

“Balderdash?”

Slate stepped away from the Cartonians as they caught up. Even though they saw each other all the time now, they still had so much to say to one another. Slate imagined that the sponsorship program would have to end soon, and that the Cartonians would seek an estate to inhabit together.

“Have you thought about careers?” Cale asked Blair. The fox smiled and nodded.

“A little. I think I want to go to the university here and see what I’m good at. Things are so different here. Alice said she’ll take me the bursar’s office to inquire about tuition and financial aid.”

Slate turned to Alice and Bradley.

“So,” he said. “Any fun plans for the weekend with Blair?”

Alice and Bradley exchanged sly glances.

“Not with Blair, no,” Bradley said coyly.

Slate cocked his head, his ears flopping to one side.

“Bradley and I are getting married,” Alice whispered. Slate clapped his paws together.

“Joy!” he cried. “Congratulations!”

The Cartonians glanced over but were too deep in their discussion to stop.

“It’ll be a private ceremony,” Bradley muttered. “But it’s finally time.”

---Kilo and Hyla’s Estate---

As Hyla’s pregnancy neared its final days, Kilo stopped spending so much time in the lab. His priority was his partner and unborn triplets.

But one thing lingered on their minds: salaries. Raising children was expensive, and the plan was to keep all three and not give any up for adoption. Three was the ideal amount in their minds. But without the Cogs, Toontown’s government no longer needed full-time Cog counterattack technology support. In other words, Hyla and Kilo would soon find themselves out of a job.

Before the Exodus and the Cogs, Kilo had been finishing a master’s degree at the university, with the plan of going into computer software development. The demand for that was not necessarily that high, but he was confident he could find something. The Cogs, however, had ruined public sentiment toward technology.

Hyla had once rented out a shop on Punchline Place as tech support. During the Cogs’ nascent days when they were perceived as harmless and were quite renowned, she even serviced some of the machines.

Hyla was resting in bed, reading a list of job adverts.

“Toontown is already so different without the Cogs,” Hyla sighed, showing Kilo an advertisement for a cosmetic nail technician, full time. During the era of the Cogs, such positions were superfluous. The town was more or less in a state of total war, though it was never officially sanctioned.

“No one has fired us yet,” Kilo said hopefully. Hyla just sighed.

---Sellbot Headquarters---

Eileen wanted to be alone. In most regards, she already was. The scars that Clarabelle left on her body would fade with time, but the trauma was fresh in mind. She was nearly killed by the one Toon almost as deranged as Dr. Adam Molecule. Or more so, given that Clarabelle did not suffer from a laff deficiency. They checked.

Toontown’s streets were inundated with volunteers pumping the excess water out of the town. Her apartment’s location was well-known, and not even friends were welcome company these past five days. Eileen wanted complete solitude to reflect on everything that had transpired. Sellbot Headquarters fit the bill.

It wasn’t dark here anymore. The sun was obscured by clouds, but the gray ash and smog had dissipated. Sellbot Towers were in ruin, but greenery was rising through the coal shards. Toons on Oak Street were already beginning to draw up plans to convert the former HQ into a new neighborhood called the Marshes. Oak Street would elongate to connect, and a road between Dreamland and the Marshes would be constructed. Though the idea at first rattled Eileen, to think that Toons would live over the site of a former haven for sadness, she was beginning to warm to it. They would be reclaiming what was theirs, and establishing more space for Toontown to expand.

One thing that Eileen kept replaying in her mind was the final moment of Clarabelle’s life, when two paws pressed against her back sent her tumbling to her death. Eileen Irenic had been saved by Blair Fawkes, a fox from the Kingdom of Vulpus.

How could that be? How could she have so harshly misjudged someone’s character? Constance told her the night of the Deluge that Blair had also been responsible for saving Alice from being kidnapped *again* and ensured the District Attorney did not fly away. Blair had done more for Toontown in that short period of time than some Toons had in the last five years.

It was chiefly for those reasons that Blair was not rearrested. Eileen also felt monstrously guilty for assuming that Blair was automatically evil purely based on who her ancestors were, or who Eileen’s ancestors had warned they were. The Cartonians had been here for nearly half a year, and they were remarkable citizens. There had not been a single issue with any of them since their arrival.

But that didn’t mean Eileen trusted them. 321 years of Toon history could easily get a few facts wrong, but the Diary was widely believed to be authentic.

Eileen knew though, in her heart, that she would have to issue a formal apology to Blair. And of course, a huge bout of gratitude. Eileen was alive because of her, and the Cogs were dead due in part to her.

The rocks cracked behind her, but Eileen did not turn. Her legs were dangling off the edge of the cliff, where many Vice Presidents had fallen to their deaths. Part of her suspected it would be a still-alive Clarabelle coming to push her off.

But instead, two purple horse legs flopped over the precipice.

“Hey,” Vidalia VaVoom said gently.

Eileen took a deep breath. The sea breeze felt good on her fur.

“Is everyone looking for me?”

“Yes,” Vidalia answered simply. “Someone on Oak Street saw you enter the tunnel. She called Mulaney so that someone could see if you’re alright.”

Eileen cast a glance over her shoulder, expecting the see the whole Toon Council, but they were alone.

“Where’s Mulaney?”

“She thought I’d better go.”

Somehow, Eileen felt that was a right choice. There was something about Vidalia that Eileen found admirable, and easy to confide to. Constance was a wonderful friend, but she was always quick to action, and their relationship was so heavily rooted in the battle against the Cogs. At least with Vidalia there was more of a chance for genuine friendship. And they both hated Clarabelle Cow, as a bonus.

“Are you alright?” Vidalia asked.

Eileen felt her injuries throb at once.

“I’m fine.”

Vidalia wasn’t buying it, but she didn’t say anything else. And then even though Eileen had spent the greater part of a week in isolation, and all of that time in silence, the quietude that accompanied sitting next to Vidalia caused Eileen to outpour her emotions. She broke down in tears as she told Vidalia about the fear that gripped her atop Toon Hall, and the relief that was shattered by Clarabelle’s attack. She confided in Vidalia about Flippy, and how she had to be the one to kill him. She told her about how she never got closure for her family’s deaths, even though they had seen the bodies of hundreds stacked in Bossbot Headquarters’ sinister ballroom.

Vidalia listened, and never interrupted. She was just there for Eileen, and that was what she really needed. She gasped when she heard about Flippy’s death.

“I need to tell the public about Flippy,” Eileen murmured, rubbing her forehead. “I don’t want to, but I have to.”

“No one knows he was a Cog,” Vidalia said. “Or how he died. I just assumed he was exploded in the rain.”

“I haven’t told anyone else,” Eileen muttered. “It’s hard to talk about.”

Vidalia thought for a moment. “How do you want to tell the public?”

Eileen groaned.

“I’ll have to do an interview with Declan probably. As much as it’ll suck.”

Vidalia cracked a smile.

“I’ll stand beside you if you want me.”

Eileen gazed out at the horizon, where the crags surrounding the Bay of Toontown curved toward the Kinnar Mountains.

“Even after all we’ve been through,” she said to Vidalia, “Toontown will never be the same as it was before the Cogs. I don’t know what we do now.”

Vidalia shrugged.

“We move on.”

If only it were that simple, Eileen thought.

---Beyond the Brrrgh---

-Two Days Later-

At the base of the Kinnar Mountains, in a secluded little grove of trees bitten by frost, Alice Carver and Bradley Wolfe linked paws and smiled at each other. To their left, standing on a tree stump, Pete Ingalls recited the passage of marriage. Off to the side, Ash Ingalls was watching as their witness.

“Do you know your oaths?” Pete asked after finishing reading.

“We do,” Bradley and Alice said together.

“Together,” Pete ordered.

Bradley and Alice had practiced, and this part was of equal importance to each of them.

“I swear,” they chanted, “to love and hold dear you at your best, or at your worst. I promise to cherish every moment, and never take any of this for granted. And we swear to uphold the integrity and legacy of the ones who came before us. This is our oath.”

Pete grinned.

“Bradley Wolfe, do you take Alice Carver as your spouse?”

“I do.”

“Alice Carver, do you take Bradley Wolfe as your spouse?”

“I do.”

“Then,” Pete beamed, “with the power vested in me by the Toontown Marital Act, I pronounce you married.”

With the weight of the Cogs finally lifted from their shoulders, this was the best moment of their lives.

---Eileen Irenic’s House---

While Alice and Bradley were getting married, Eileen agreed to take Blair for the afternoon. She knew they had to talk anyway. Slate Oldman dropped her off. Even though the Cartonians were undeniably in the Toons’ good graces, they were still technically under house arrest and had to be with a chaperone at all times. They did not have access to the transport grid, and so they either had to hold on for dear life or walk. They generally preferred to walk.

“Can I get you anything to drink?” Eileen asked, as she herself prepared a cup of tea.

“I’m fine, thanks,” Blair said. She looked uncomfortable in Eileen’s living room, and Eileen felt the same way. She had once had a crocodile in her home, and now a fox. Her children would have thought she was crazy if she had told them what was happening now.

The pair sat on the sofa, and Eileen turned her body to look at Blair.

“So,” she began, “how do you like living with Bradley and Alice?”

“I like it a lot,” Blair said at once. “They’re wonderful people. They…well…they seem to know what it is to be treated unkindly and they wouldn’t ever want to afflict that on someone else.”

Eileen cocked an eyebrow. She wasn’t wrong.

“Can I ask…” Blair started, but stopped herself. Eileen gestured at her to go ahead. “Why are they…disfigured?”

“Disfigured?” Eileen repeated, even though she knew what she meant.

“Bradley’s fur is splotchy,” Blair said. “Alice has scars. But they’re not BioFreaks, right?”

“No,” Eileen said, the simple answer. “They’ve seen more than just unkindness. They’ve seen evil incarnate. Those are the permanent wounds from that torment.”

Blair dropped the subject.

“I wanted to ask,” Eileen said, “how you came to be on the roof of Toon Hall during the Deluge.”

Blair nodded, as if anticipating that question.

“Me and my friends were seeking shelter from the rain. Blind me, it was everywhere. We were under the awning of Toon Hall and we saw you enter. Then came Clarabelle, through the rain. She looked determined. I pointed her out to Evelyn, and together we went into Toon Hall to stop her. She was with those Cogs, and I knew she was not to be trusted. Evelyn assumed you would head to the roof…”

“Why?”

Blair blinked.

“Well, honestly, that’s the only part of Toon Hall that we know. Evelyn led the way to the roof, and we couldn’t see anything. The rain was so thick, but we heard voices. Evelyn parted the rain with her powers, and we saw Clarabelle…knife in hand. I acted.”

She swallowed hard and looked down. “I didn’t know the edge was right there…I didn’t mean to kill her.”

Eileen held up a paw.

“We’re not going to charge you with any crime. As far as everyone in this town is concerned, you did us a favor.”

Blair nodded, but she still looked wracked with guilt. Eileen patted her knee.

“Thank you. I mean that. Thank you for saving me. I was convinced I would die on that roof. When the rain stopped for a second, I thought…that the heavens were opening up to receive me. As silly as that sounds.”

Blair shook her head. “Not at all.”

Eileen sighed.

“Do you hold any ill will toward us for keeping you in prison?”

Blair took a breath.

“No. I don’t. You did what you thought was best for the town, and that was admirable. I’m grateful to be out, and I beg you not to worry about it.”

Eileen moved over on the couch and gave the fox a hug.

---Pajama Place---

Mickey Elias pushed open the door to Counting Sheep - So You Don’t Have To!, an accounting firm in Dreamland. The firm’s owner, Cornelia Caligari, looked up in pleasant surprise.

“Mister Mayor!” she exclaimed. “What can I do for you?”

Mickey lingered over her desk, and checked twice to make sure they were alone.

“Countess Caligari,” he said. Cornelia leaned back.

“I’ve never been referred to by that title.”

“But it is your title?”

Cornelia shrugged.

“I suppose. My family is descended from Calinia Caligari, who was Countess of Yardley on Equine Isle. The title is hereditary, but it's useless here. And I put no stock into it.”

Mickey sat in front of her, and placed a single sheet of paper on the desk. It was a handwritten copy of the letter from the Mayoral Vault, but he had left out seven lines.

“Read this.”

---Elm Street---

The Toon Council reserved the private dining room at the Peas and Q’s Restaurant for a special dinner. One of the more upscale restaurants in Toontown—and the meal funded not by the town but by Vidalia herself—the Council was hosting the Cartonians for dinner. Eileen and Aleck were also invited, and it was an agreed-upon effort to show the Cartonians that Toontown bore them no ill will.

Paula Peapod, the owner of the esteemed establishment, met the Council and guests at the door. She enthusiastically walked them to the private dining room. The entirety of the room was ensconced in a hollowed-out redwood tree trunk. The tree had fallen long before Toontown was settled, but the trunk was enormous. A wooden chandelier hung over the central table, another tree stump. Constance saw Tick Hunter glance at the chandelier with distaste, as it was designed to look like deer antlers. He subconsciously rubbed his own, probably reminding himself that no real deer were harmed in the forging of the piece.

“We’ll take the prix fixe menu,” Vidalia said to Paula, who bowed and scurried to place the orders. Once the door was closed, and they were alone, Constance welcomed everyone to dinner. She raised her glass to the Cartonians, and to Toontown.

“To Toontown!”

Once the food came, everyone devolved into their own conversations. Constance was seated between Aleck and Rook James. She tried to refrain from asking Rook incessant questions about Eusuchia and the fallen crocodile kingdom. Before long, most were talking about the Deluge. Eileen was visibly uncomfortable, and Blair was deftly trying to shift the subject.

“I hear you’re planning a celebration for the Toons?” she asked loudly to the Council. Ichabod stopped air-stabbing with his knife to look up.

“We are!” he said excitedly. “A party, or something. We’re conflicted.”

“Conflicted?” Rook asked, slicing his potatoes. “You’re not sure you want a party?”

Vidalia shook her head.

“No, that’s not what he means. Doe, Aleck, Barbara and myself want a large party. Right in the middle of Toontown Central. Or in every Playground. Loud music, lots of food and drink, seemingly endless merriment.”

“But,” Mulaney Chortle cut in, “for those of us who aren’t party animals, that sort of celebration does not appeal to us. Ichabod, Slate, Constance, and I think there should be a more intimate celebration. Not as loud.”

“Like what?” Eileen asked.

“A gala,” Ichabod suggested. “Something where Toons can go at their own pace. Dancing in one room, mingling in another.”

“There’s no venue large enough for that though,” Slate sighed. “The Speedway can comfortably house all the Toons, but it’s under renovation. And outdoors.”

“The Cashbot Vault is large enough,” Barbara muttered, “but that’s depressing.”

Constance threw her paws up.

“Any suggestions?”

The question was directed at the Cartonians. They all looked at each other. Cale shook her head.

“A dinner cruise?” Rook offered.

Evelyn lifted a flipper to her heart.

“Oh!” she said. “That takes me back. My husband and I were married on a dinner cruise.”

“What…is that?” Barbara asked, confused.

Rook shrugged.

“It’s essentially a dinner party but on a ship. It’s peaceful and quiet but a proper ship would have a dance floor. Great food. Views from the sea.”

Blair chuckled.

“There won’t be any views from the sea. The fog is so thick on the Bay.”

“Not anymore, actually,” Barnacle Barbara sighed. “Ever since the Deluge, the fog hasn’t been rolling in anymore. I’m having it looked into, but I suppose we don’t truly *need* to be blinded each night.”

Doe folded her paws over the table.

“Okay,” she said, “I really like that idea. Do any of our boats have the facilities necessary to have a dinner cruise?”

“No,” Barbara said at once. “They’re fishing boats. Not for leisure.”

Tick raised a finger.

“The ship we came on has what you’ll need. A ballroom, a kitchen. It doesn’t look like much, but it was once a ship in the royal Scuridian fleet. The insides just need a bit of refurbishing.”

Constance waved her paws.

“Whoa whoa, before we go further, does everyone like this idea?”

Slate and Mulaney nodded.

“Well,” Vidalia said, “I think we should do both. We can do these cute intimate dinner cruises but at the end we should have a nightlong bash so we can let loose.”

“How many can even fit on that ship?” Eileen asked. The Cartonians looked at Blair, who tabulated in her head.

“Maybe 200. You’d have to do it over multiple nights.”

Doe nodded.

“We could have Toons sign up for morning, afternoon, or dinner cruises. To make it go by faster.”

“I would just like to voice,” Aleck said, “my own agreement for Vidalia’s suggestion that we do both. The Toons deserve every kind of celebration and thank you.”

Blair stood and whispered in Cale and Evelyn’s ears. They nodded excitedly. They passed on the message to Rook and Tick, and together all six stood.

“We’d like to offer our services on these dinner cruises,” Blair said. “We’ll serve the meals and even pilot the ship. We’re not chefs, so we’ll need help there. But then everyone can enjoy the cruise, and no one has to worry about working it.”

Constance gaped.

“Well, that’s really generous of you. Are you sure you’d want to do that for all those cruises? We have a lot of citizens.”

Blair smiled.

“We want to do something nice for you all. This is only a small piece of the gratitude we share for you. We only need a couple of weeks to refurbish the ship. We’ll do all the work.”

The rest of the dinner was spent hammering out the details for the dinner cruises, before Vidalia turned everyone’s attention to her rager. The first cruise was planned to begin two weeks from that night, and the large party would round out the last.

Excitement rippled through the room like vibrant bolts of electricity.

---Toontown Central---

-Three Days Later-

The Playground was packed with Toons as the sun set. Everyone was holding a candle, and flames around the perimeter were making their ways to the center. Doctor and Jerockle Padraic went together, and stood closer to the Gag Shop. With gags no longer in high demand, the buildings were slowly reverting back to the Trolley Depots they once were. But even before Exodus, the Depots were in decline. No one was sure what would become of them now.

“I’ve heard from the Librarian,” Doctor said, “that you enjoyed your first solo visit to the Library.”

“I did,” Jerockle said, grateful that Doctor let him go. He didn’t know that once Doctor dropped him off, he waited outside until the Librarian told him Jerockle was prepared to leave. “I read about the Mayor who founded the current records department.”

“Alex Bailey!” Doctor exclaimed. “Good fellow. He’s the one who put the genealogy room in the Library.”

Jerockle held out his candle so it could be lit, and then helped light Doctor’s.

“About that room. Why is Mickey Elias always there?”

Doctor shrugged.

“I don’t know. He’s probably just researching his family.”

But Doctor was now more than just curious about that. He only realized now that he had still not returned Mickey’s notepad. The one that had “truth will out” written at the top. He made a mental note to return the pad to Mickey, and ask about his research. After all, maybe he could help.

As the vigil got underway, Eileen Irenic began with opening remarks about the results of the Deluge, and how it did appear that the Cogs were gone for good. She told the crowd how she decided to speak to the people directly, and forgo an interview with Declan Antlin. Then, in a twist Banker Bob Barker did not see coming, Eileen revealed that Mayor Flippy Flopper had been converted into a Cog and was the driving force to bring down Cog Nation from within.

Bob, and all those around him, were enraptured by the details that Eileen painfully delivered. How Flippy was the Clerk of the Lawbots that allowed Toons on the jury against Clarabelle Cow, how he had served on the jury and was the deciding vote for her guilty conviction, how he destroyed the Chief Executive Officer of the Bossbots and led the charge against the Chairman. He commanded the Cashbots after the loss of the Bossbots, and facilitated the Deluge.

“Flippy,” Eileen continued, her voice cracking, “did not want to die with the rest in the Deluge. He asked me to…end his life, once we knew Cog Nation was dead. I fulfilled his final wish inside Toon Hall after the rain subsided. The gears that once comprised his Cog body have been boxed and taken to the Museum of Toontown, where they will remain.”

Bob was stunned. He had never considered Mayor Flippy Flopper brave. He was the coward that brought the Cogs to Toontown. Bob may have been empathetic toward him, as he had just done what he thought was best. But he was no where to be seen when the Cog fights initially began. His one sacrifice was at Loopy Lane, when he leapt into the silo. That was the only time that Bob thought him courageous.

But now, Bob was wholeheartedly convinced of it. Flippy had twice defied the Cogs, and twice died for Toontown.

Eileen moved across the plaza to a lectern erected in front of Toon Hall. As the Toons in the crowd raised their candles to the sky, Eileen began reading the names of those killed in the fight against the Cogs.

The vigil lasted a full hour.

---Toontown Schoolhouse---

-One Week Later-

Eileen Irenic and Barnacle Barbara were at the head of the classroom, and all the members of the Toon Resistance filled the seats. Doctor sat with Piggy Pie, their friends around them. Piggy Pie knew this was the moment she’d be fired. They would be told the Toon Resistance no longer had a purpose, and their positions were no longer valid.

How could anyone blame them? The public wanted to move on from the Cogs, and the Resistance was a stark reminder of their struggle.

“Hi,” Eileen said. “We’ve been through quite a lot together, haven’t we? I never thought I’d have such a remarkable team fighting alongside me. You’ve been incredible.”

Someone began crying. Piggy tried to stay strong. Horace smirked. Eileen held up her paws.

“Don’t be upset! We haven’t brought you here to sack you.”

“What?” Tori Dorrance said outright. “You haven’t?”

“No!” Eileen emphasized. “Barbara here is beginning a taskforce known as the Harbor Defense Stratagem team, which will work to provide defenses at the southern border of Toontown to prevent more Cartonian contact. The Cogs are gone, but there are greater threats looming north. We got lucky with these six arrivals. If another ship were to get through, we cannot guarantee it won’t be the Vixen Queen.”

The room was still. No one could believe it. They weren’t being fired! Piggy Pie was nearly off her seat with eagerness. This would be a fresh challenge, and would be far from the mundane life of a pet shop employee.

“Any takers?” Barbara asked sarcastically, and every paw went up.

---The Clark Estate---

-One Night Later-

Ten of the twelve Clark children and their parents gathered around the television to watch the special program. Declan Antlin was going to announce the first 200 guests to partake in a luxurious dinner cruise. Everyone would eventually be selected, but they were breaking it down into groups.

Over the past few days, Toons submitted their preferences for morning, afternoon, or night cruises. They were also able to ask to be grouped with friends or relatives. Days they were unable to attend could be blacked out.

The Toontown Election Committee, comprised of Bree Sinct, Ballot Boxer, and headed by Pearl Ament, were onscreen with Declan. They were the ones in charge of dividing up the attendees. Widely considered by Toontown to be unbiased, impartial, and reliable, Clara Clark was alright with the decision.

Declan moved with the camera, as it panned over to the six Cartonians and a crew of chefs.

“Here we have your crew for the cruises,” Declan introduced. Leading the culinary team is Chef Cliff Cleff of the Treble Chef Cooking School on Alto Avenue. He will be joined by several other chefs from around Toontown. Of course, you know our friends from Cartonia.”

The six waved pleasantly.

“These six will be your lead waitstaff,” Declan said with a smile. The camera kept moving to show the members of the Melodyland Philharmonic Orchestra. The two Clark children not at home, Ray and Doe, were onscreen holding their instruments. Doe played trumpet, and Ray played the tuba. Kara and Cork Clark cheered when their children appeared.

Declan finished introducing everyone and smiled to the camera.

“We are going to now show you the ship that will take every Toon in Toontown over the next few weeks out over the Bay, where the views are clear and the sea serene. Months ago, six Cartonians arrived on a dilapidated ship from Scuridiae. This ship has been extensively refurbished and is here, in the Docks!”

Clara stared. The Docks? The television studio was in Melodyland…

Before their eyes, the Clarks watched as the simple studio background split apart to reveal that the broadcast was occurring on the docks themselves. The repaired ship was moored in port, and a firework launched from its deck. Constance Miller was at the bow, waving. Below her, emblazoned on the hull was the ship’s name: *Chipper*.

Declan led the orchestra, the waitstaff, and the culinary team to the gangplank. They gathered around it for optimal effect. Declan held his microphone and asked Pearl to hand him the list of the first 200 to board.

“Here we are!” Declan announced, and unfolded the list. “I’ll read out the names. Tickets will be delivered to these individuals tomorrow morning and the cruise will depart from the Docks at 6:00pm. As a side note, this will be the only live broadcast. The remaining lists will be posted at Toon Hall.”

Clara knew she wouldn’t be selected. She wanted an afternoon cruise, when the sun would be shining.

Declan began reading. Pearl, Bree, and Boxer assigned themselves to the first cruise. Clara recognized Kilo Byte and Hyla Sensitive when they were called. Billy, the friendly fisherman from Silly Street, was also named. Heidi Babel, the former Councillor from the Gardens, too.

“Bill Clark,” Declan named. “Herb Clark. Peaches Clark. Will Clark.”

“WOO!” Herb cheered. “First cruise!”

Bill and Will high-fived. Peaches hugged Herb.

No one else that was on the first cruise were Toons Clara knew well. She was jealous of Doe and Ray, who due to their membership of the Orchestra got to attend every single cruise. Declan also urged anyone who could not make it to phone in as soon as possible so that alternates could be called.

“Now,” Declan said, slyly grinning, “there will be alcohol aboard the dinner cruises and so the Toon Patrol has asked to place one deputy aboard to keep order, especially when you all hit the dance floors. Ivy Waters of the Gardens will take tomorrow’s cruise, and will be joined by Deputy Susan Fletcher to ensure things go smoothly.”

When the broadcast ended, Kara Clark raced for her camera. She lined up Herb, Peaches, Will, and Bill next to the onscreen list of their names.

Clara turned to her sister, Penny Clark.

“I put you down as my preference,” Clara said. “For an afternoon cruise.”

“Same,” Penny grinned. She thumbed at the four siblings posing for the picture. “Hope those losers don’t eat all the bread.”

---Kilo Byte and Hyla Sensitive’s Estate---

-The Next Night-

Kilo was bouncing with excitement. He was dressed in his finest tuxedo, and he even put on his contacts so that the pictures of him on board with Hyla would highlight his eyes, unmasked by glasses. Hyla was squeezing into a maternity-sized sequin gown. They knew they had to take the first cruise before Hyla went into labor.

“Hyla!” Kilo called, checking his watch. “We have one hour!”

Normally, they’d teleport. But pregnant Toons were not advised to use the grid, and so they would have to walk from Toontown Central all the way to the Docks.

“Kilo?” Hyla called from the bedroom. “Can you call Dr. Foolery?”

“Huh? Why?”

Kilo went to Hyla. She was sitting on the bed, her face red.

“It’s happening,” she muttered meekly. Kilo completely lost his cool, and sprinted for the phone. His shoulder clipped the doorframe and he fell flat on his back.

“I’m okay! I…grab…what do we need? Do you have the go-bag?!”

Hyla calmly retrieved the birthing bag from the hall. Kilo scrambled to get to the phone.

“Dr. Foolery?!” Kilo bellowed when the line connected. “Hyla’s in labor! We need to come now!”

Tom Foolery asked Kilo to calm down, which Kilo finally did, especially seeing Hyla look at him like he was overreacting.

“Okay, we’re on our way.”

“Um, Kilo,” Dr. Foolery said, “aren’t you both supposed to be on that first cruise tonight?”

Kilo swore. They’d have to cancel.

“We’re walking over now. Can you please call Toon Hall and ask them to invite two alternates?”

After hanging up, Kilo and Hyla hurried down the street to Dr. Foolery’s clinic. Before long, Kilo and Hyla would be parents.

---The Pie Estate---

Piggy threw back her head and laughed at Doctor’s answer. Muddy Pie chuckled as well. They were playing a game of Balderdash. Potbelly, the usual winner, simmered in the corner, upset that he was losing.

“Hey Piggy,” Hog Pie said, sticking his head around the kitchen doorway. “Constance is on the phone. She said Kilo and Hyla are having their babies and needed to back out of the cruise. She wants to know if you and I want to go.”

Doctor’s jaw dropped.

“*What!* Lucky! I wanted to go on the inaugural cruise.”

Piggy looked at the clock.

“We have less than a half hour to get ready. Is that enough time, Hog?”

“It sure is! Can I tell her we’ll go?”

Piggy Pie grinned.

“Absolutely.”

---Library of Toontown---

Around 7:00, while Piggy Pie, Hog, and the others were enjoying their cruise, Doctor went to the Library. He took with him Mickey Elias’s notepad. As expected, he found the black mouse in the genealogy room. When Doctor entered, perhaps unexpectedly, Mickey scrambled to turn over various sheets of paper.

“Secrets?” Doctor asked, and set the notepad on the table. “You left this a while back. I forgot to return it to you.”

Mickey glanced at it.

“What’s the truth that will out?” Doctor tried, but Mickey still wasn’t saying anything. Doctor sighed and looked around the room. “You know, I’ve been in here a lot myself. I’m beginning to think that I may be something of an amateur genealogy expert. Unless you think that sounds like an oxymoron. But is there anything that I could help you with?”

Mickey closed his eyes and rubbed his eyes.

“I know too much,” he muttered. Doctor stared. Mickey kicked a chair with his foot and pointed at it.

“Sit, please.”

Doctor did as he was told, facing the Mayor. Mickey lifted an envelope and handed it to Doctor.

**A FOX INVASION OF TOONTOWN**

*Dated: May 29, Year 17*

Doctor stared.

“A fox invasion?”

“I opened it years ago out of curiosity. I needed to know if there was protection for us.”

“Is there?” Doctor asked.

“No.”

Doctor opened the envelope and slid out its contents.

*Dear Mayor,*

*If you are reading this letter, then our worst fears have been realized and the foxes of the Kingdom of Vulpus have returned to Toontown. I can only hope that these words are never seen again, and that this envelope will gather dust for centuries until the parchment disintegrates and the ink becomes lost to time. At the very least, I hope that several generations of Toons will live without vulpine contact.*

*You may wonder why the foxes have returned, and I truly hope you know who the foxes are and what fresh horrors they present. We have only one written record of the time before Toontown, of our home—Cartonia—and as of this writing have not released it in order to protect our newest generation from the atrocities of our past. We will publish it, one day. It is a diary, and it is to the author’s discretion as to when we put it in print.*

*In case that record is lost:*

*Before Toontown, there was a species known as the foxes that sought to conquer all of the land, all of Cartonia, and all of its people. The foxes of the Kingdom of Vulpus were ruthless in their pursuit, and plunged a peaceful nation into war. We escaped, at great cost. We committed unspeakable evils to reach the site that is Toontown. It isn’t much now, but we envision a mighty civilization will rise over the ashes of war.*

*The foxes, however, have returned, and you are in danger. Your town is in danger. They may be coming for revenge, or for conquest. It will not be for peace. They will kill and they will torture and they will enslave. I wish I was exaggerating, and I wish I had a solution. But our only option was escape. There is no where else you can run.*

Doctor looked up.

“Who else knows about this?”

Mickey frowned.

“Keep reading.”

*As the first Mayor and one of the leads on the expedition that brought us here, there is something you should know about this town. More specifically, about the people who live here. We decided that this truth should be erased from memory, once again to protect future generations from not only their past, but their destinies. Toontown’s founding was intended not as a refuge for all Cartonians, but for the heirs to the Kingdoms of Cartonia and those loyal to them. You must understand that the foxes may return in order to exterminate the rest of the royal families to solidify their authority. You cannot allow this to happen.*

*Find the heirs, and find a way to protect them. At the time of this writing, the below are the current heirs to nine of the Kingdoms of Cartonia.*

***Leprolia (Rabbit):** Azure Oldman*

***Mallardia (Duck):** Queen Bella Mallard; now under the assumed name **Bella Becker***

***Willie (Mouse):** Princess Anya Mus; now under the assumed name **Anna Amblerson***

***Simeone (Monkey):** Mizzie Mercury*

***Phantine (Elephant):** Tusk Card Tatum*

***Porcinia (Pig):** Lana Loudoun*

***Eusuchia (Crocodile):** Crown Prince Amin Hotep*

***Canis (Dog):** Crown Prince Thumper Connelly, now under the assumed name **Charlie Bentley Wolfe***

***Equine Isle (Horse):** Calinia Caligari, Countess of Yardley*

*I am sorry that I could not provide you with anything more than a secret. I am sorry that the foxes have come to make you pay for our sins. We, your ancestors, stand with you through this trial. We hope that Toontown will never fall.*

*Signed,*

*Mayor Maximilian Walters*

*First Mayor of Toontown*

*Former Historian to the Kingdom of Canis*

## Production

### Continuity and Story Arcs

Following the Deluge and the defeat of the Cogs, the Toon Resistance rangers struggled to find their new place in society. The Toon Council later formed a taskforce to protect Toontown’s borders from future invasions, and the Toon Resistance members were hired into this program.

Toontown held a candlelit vigil to commemorate those lost in the Deluge, including a highlight of Flippy’s role.

Clarabelle’s death turned her entire estate and net wealth over to the government, money they used to pay off their debts and restore the Toon economy.

After Blair’s heroism at the Deluge, she was officially put in the sponsorship program under the tutelage of Alice Carver and Bradley Wolfe.

Over the ruins of Sellbot Headquarters, Toons planned to build a new neighborhood called the Marshes.

Bradley Wolfe and Alice Carver  were finally married in a private ceremony.

To celebrate the defeat of Cog Nation, the Toon Council and the Cartonians planned a long series of dinner cruises and a final rager. The attendees for the first dinner cruise was announced on live television.

The Toontown Election Committee, last seen in “Trouble,” were responsible for dividing up the town’s population into cruise groups.

Kilo and Hyla were slated to be on the first cruise, but Hyla suddenly went into labor. Piggy Pie and Hog Pie took their places.

The entirety of Maximilian Walters’ letter (last seen in "Countdown") was revealed. Toontown was settled not as a refuge or ordinary Cartonians but as a haven for the heirs to the Kingdoms of Cartonia.

This episode marks the first appearance of Countess Cornelia Caligari, heiress to the Kingdom of Equine Isle.

Azure Oldman, a minor character who appeared in “The Blizzard Wizards” as one of Slate Oldman’s ancestors, was revealed as the heir to the Kingdom of Leprolia.

Card Tatum, a former Mayor often mentioned in the series, was named as the heir to the Kingdom of Phantine.

Thumper Connelly, the younger brother of Crown Prince Bentley Connelly, who was only mentioned by name in “Silent Night” was revealed as a founder of Toontown and heir to the Kingdom of Canis.

### References

Blair, Alice, and Bradley were playing Balderdash, a real-life bluffing game.

Eileen tells Blair that Alice and Bradley have seen “evil incarnate.” This is a reference to the episodes “Evil Incarnate (Part One)” and “Evil Incarnate (Part Two),” which told Dr. Molecule’s backstory.

Countess Cornelia Caligari is based on The Countess, an NPC in Toontown.

Alex Bailey, the founder of the genealogy room at the Library, is a reference to Alex Haley, the author of *Roots.* Haley’s book and subsequent miniseries sparked widespread interest in family history.

## Trivia

* The title of this episode refers to the emergency siren that played in the previous episode during the Deluge. It actually does not appear in this episode.
* Clarabelle is not buried in Toontown’s Cemetery, a stark dishonor.
* Heiress to Willie Anna Amblerson (real name Anya Mus) is named after Anna Anderson, a woman who claimed to be Grand Duchess Anastasia Romanov. A movie based on her life, *Anastasia*, named their version Anya.
* Crown Prince Amin Hotep is named after Amenhotep, a former Pharaoh of Egypt.