Chapter 7: A Fresh Start

Even though it was 4:30 in the morning, all of the minions were hard at work. Many were lugging suitcases throughout the halls of the new Headquarters, moving their belongings to the new living quarters. Other minions were running papers from one meeting room to another. Still more were setting down salvaged busts of meerkats and hanging portraits of Tiggerpaka on the crisp, green walls. Amid all the chaos, Wolfward and Major Anonsi darted in and out of the bustling crowd, only slowing down when they were outside the new office of Tiggerpaka. Wolfward stretched out a paw and knocked. "Enter!" came a loud voice from inside the room. The door swung open, and Anonsi and Wolfward tiptoed inside the room. The door banged shut loudly, echoing in the silence inside the office. All noise from the outside halls vanished. The new office looked exactly like the original one. A large, wooden desk with clawed feet dominated the room. Behind the desk was a magnificent marble fireplace, and between the two, a large, swiveling winged chair. The chair was facing the fire, but the moment the door had slammed shut, the chair swiveled around to face the two minions. In it was Tiggerpaka, with his long fingers pressed together. "Minions," he said. Wolfward and Anonsi saluted, and then fell back into relaxed positions. Tiggerpaka nodded his approval. "As you have probably noticed, the adjustment to the new Headquarters has gone well. Relatively well," he amended. Even through the walls, the two minions could hear Cookie sobbing over her lost, precious frying pan, which had apparently been passed down from her grandfather.

"So, the next step is to take revenge on Tiredblade," Tiggerpaka continued, and the temperature of the room dropped slightly. "It seems we have wasted months, years even, of useless planning. From now on..." Tiggerpaka paused for dramatic effect. "...we start anew. We must make the best of the fresh start to take Tiredblade by surprise."
"And how exactly will we manage to do that, Tiggerpaka sir?" asked Anonsi. Wolfward nodded, apparently thinking the same thing.
Tiggerpaka smiled. "First, we must infiltrate his forces. Wolfward! Send one of the minions to rally all of the small-ish type minions, and tell them to start on a scouting mission. We must map out every inch of Tiredblade's territory, and what it is used for." Wolfward nodded, and Tiggerpaka turned to Anonsi.
"You, my dear Major Anonsi, must speak with Nutello. We need to build up the weapon stock again. The armory, I am sad to say, is depressingly empty. Fill it up with any weapon that will cause Tiredblade and his forces to recoil, shiver in fear, retreat, and, most importantly, break out in nervous hives. Tiredblade's minions will never scratch the same again," Tiggerpaka finished, a maniacal gleam in his eyes. Both minions nodded, and exited the room to do what Tiggerpaka asked.

"So we begin again, Tiredblade," Tiggerpaka breathed, "so we begin again."