A bright August sun in the middle of the sky shines down on the lake, and once again, many tourists are attracted to this particular area for one reason; To see the Loch Ness Monster. Many American, French, and German, all coming from great countries around the world. And there, to keep an eye on the tourist behavior are none other than our favorite trio, Danger Mouse, his assistant Penfold, and his comrade agent Laura Maydren.

"You didn't forget the sun tan lotion, did you?" Laura asked, laying on a towel with her bathing suit on.

"Laura. We're not here on holiday. We're supposed to make sure trouble doesn't start with all these people." Danger Mouse said, still standing and watching around and across the lake.

Laura lowered her sunglasses and looked at DM,"I can't see why we can't enjoy ourselves while we're here on this warm and bright, sunny day!"

"We're supposed to keep an eye on the tourists."

"Penfold and I will keep two eyes on them, y'think that would be a little more effective?"

"Laura."

"Sorry," She smiled in a bright and cheerful way and pushed her glasses back up, "I get in the habbit of over doing it sometimes."

"Yes! Quite!"

"You've been quite rude yourself too, Danger Mouse!"

"How is that?!"

"You didn't say anything about this cute blue bathing suit I got in Edinburgh!"

"Oh....well, okay.......it's cute." DM mummbled, annoyed by Laura's rambling.

"How can you wear that turtle neck! It's ninety degrees out!"
DM didn't answer. He sighed and walked away down the hill, still annoyed by her constant gabbing and teasing. Laura shook her head and layed back down on the towel. "Tell me something, Penfold."

"Yes."

"What is wrong with DM? He's like, so ill-humored."

"He hasn't always been like this. He used to laugh, but something is bothering him for about a half a year. He never tells me what's going on."

"That's too bad. If only we knew what it was, we could help. Y'think?"

"I dunno."

Danger Mouse stood at the bank near the lake, staring out into the water and the land across from it. Laura and Penfold could only try to imagine all that was on him mind.
Just then he looked just a tad to the right to see something rising from the water.

"What in BLAZES??" DM suddenly snapped.

"What is it DM!?" Laura exclaimed, jumping to her feet. Out of the water, a gigantic creature rises up from the water with a loud roar. It startles everyone on shore and they begin to run in a frantic. Brave souls dive into their bags for their cameras to get a shot of the once believed-to-be myth.

"Danger Mouse! It's him!! It's the legendary Loch Ness monster!" Penfold cried.

"I don't beleive this."

"We can't just sit here, we gotta do something. He looks like he's about ready to eat everyone!!" Penfold yelled, jumping around.

It didn't appear the monster was going to harm anyone, the way it just waded there in the water roaring up in what sounded like pain. DM didn't want to take any risks and went ahead to capture the great animal. The creature didn't notice DM running towards it. It bobbed it's head low and began to swim towards the shore, moaning and roaring in what seemed to be pain. It didn't even shift its eyes over to the left when the vision of the white mouse was caught in the corner of its eye. When the shore was clear of people, the beast walked onto the surface with it's webbed feet through the soft dirt. It's body swayed and arched forward, the tail swung around to keep the body balanced, but it plummited anyway into the ground with thud, sand bursting in it's landing. It Groaned with a rolling, rumbling sound and closed its eyes. Danger Mouse drew his sword from it's sling and readied the attack.

"DM!!!! STOP!!" DM came to a halt when he heard the loud voice of Laura pierce through his large ears.

"What, Laura!"

"Don't kill it!"

"Why not!"

Laura ran to catch up with him, "Don't you see. He wasn't going to hurt anyone. He's just laying here..." Laura clenched DM's right arm that which belonged to the hand that held the sword. He slowly relaxed it and it lowered down to his waist. Then put it back into the sling.

"Then what do you think we should do about this."

"Try to get him back in the water, perhaps."

"We can't put that thing back in the water! Think of the danger it could pose to everyone here."

"It never hurt anyone before!"

"Doesn't mean it won't."

"DM! This is an animal, just like you and me. It belongs in it's home."

"Hey you there!" Someone called from the top of the hill. The three turned around and saw a man with a badge on his vest with a whole dozen squad teams. "Danger Mouse! We're much in graditude for capturing this here creature!"

"Oh..... you're welcome," DM shaded his eyes from the sun and saw great cargo trucks backing up, along with many men in uniforms running around, "What's the goings on around here?!"

"We're here to get the monster."

"Your not going to kill him, are you?!" Laura asked, running to it's head and embracing the neck, and then looking back up.

"The Legend of Ness?!?! No way! We're taking him to London where he could be placed in the zoo. He'll be the biggest attraction there!"

"How'd you find out about this?"

The man came forward to the trio and continued his explination, "I just got a call from one of the vacationers down here. Nice to come here and find you wrapped the creature up for us." DM just smerked, knowing he didn't really do anything.

"Do you think this is wise, sir?" Laura questioned.

"Well, Lass, what makes you think it isn't?"

"Speaking as the animal that I am, I can very well assure you that taking a creature out of its natural habbitat is not a smart thing to do."

"It's called 'Profit', my dear. This animal is worth too much money in London than it is to let it wade pleasurably around this little pond."

"I say, officer," DM argued.

"Say, what, Agent? You have no authority in this matter."

"Oh," DM crossed his arms and frowned, "and who does?!"

"Blimey! What country are you from!? The Queen of England, of course."

"Huh," Penfold uttered, "The Queen allowed this?"

"She is in much interest to see this great animal," The man paused and looked at the truck, "Keep it steady Lads! One last strap will do it good!"

"You have no idea--" Laura almost charged, but DM blocked her with his left arm.

"Laura! There's nothing we can do."

"But this can't be right!"

"Come on, dear. We better be going now. There is no sense in us staying here."

With a bitter snort, Laura took one last glare at the men down below by the bank, spat on the ground, and then turned around towards the car. When inside, all ready, DM turned on the ignition and headed to the skies. "That didn't seem very lady-like back there."

"To argue?"

"No. To snort and spit."

"You've never been to America, have you."

"A few times."

Laura paused for a moment, and then grummbled, "I'm in no mood to act like a lady! And I have a good reason for it! Those............GRR!"

"I don't like the idea either, Laura. But we can't get cross over that anymore, because like I said--"

"'There's nothing we can do'!! I KNOW!" DM shut his mouth and didn't carry on any further, knowing Laura should might as well be left alone for a moment in her hostile additude.

"Well, as long as the creature won't be hurting anyone, it's fine with me."

Laura took one snappy glare in her eyes down at Penfold. He looked back in fear, wondering what Laura was going to do. But she just closed her eyes, and rested her head on the edge of the car. "Wake me when we get home." Her final words for that moment were.

45 minutes later, they arrived, finally safe and sound at home. Laura was slightly woken up when the lift broght them back into the house. Half asleep, she grummbled, "I want to go on that ride again, Mommy."

"What? Laura, wake up, we're home now."

"Does that mean I get to watch cartoons now?" DM shook her gently to snap out of her daze. "EARTHQUAKE!" She exclaimed, jumping out of her limp stance.

"No, Laura. I was just waking you up." Laura then just stomped into her room without a word, shutting the door for the night.

"What in the world is wrong with that girl?!?" Penfold asked, scratching the top of his head, "Laura. What happened?"

"Just leave her be, Penfold," DM demanded, "It's been a difficult day today."

"It's just not like her to be so moody. She's usually really lofty."

"It can happen to even the most cheerful types, Ernest," He finally looked down from the door at Penfold, "Well, kid, you better get your pajamas on..... we need some sleep for tomorrow."

"What are we doing tomorrow, DM?"

"I was informed on the way here that we are going to guard the pen of the Loch Ness Monster," DM loudly spoke, "And I'm sure Laura would like that!" Only silance from her room.

"She's ignoring you. Wish I were that brave."

"Shush, Penfold."

The next day, the three were all ready to go on a days work once again. However, Laura was still utterly impudent towards DM and Penfold. Crossing her arms and looking off to the side, she uttered not a word all the way to the zoo.

"Laura! It's not my fault that the Queen insisted the monster should be put in the zoo. If I had authority I would've said 'ABSOLUTELY NOT' to those men. But I couldn't. We're agents of the Queen, and we must obey every order, and respect orders given to other people by her."

Laura still pouted, but looked back at DM, realizing that it was pointless to ignore them since it wasn't their fault in any of the matter. "It isn't fair."

"What is? I know how you like to be right and expect others to see it that way. And in this case, you are, but there are so many dolt people in this world you have to expect denial."

"I feel mostly bitter towards the Queen. I never expected her to make an order like this."

"If the chief were here, he'd give you a mouthfull for saying that about her, or even what Her Majesty herself would do if she too heard that."

"I'm not afriad of anyone! And I can care less!"

DM narrowed his eyes, "You can't be an agent of the Queen with that additude. How you got into this department, it's beyond me."

Laura grit her teath and clenched her fists tightly. Her arm shook, tempting to slap, but also trying to hold back. She finally took a deep breath through her teath and glared bitterly off to the side.

Later, they reached the zoo and to the Loch Ness Monsters pen. DM and Penfold walked out, with Laura staggering behind, slouching and still frowning. The arguement repeated in her mind and it began to bring tears: "How you got into this department is beyond me"
DM heard her growling behind him, even if she tried to mask it. He started to regret what he had said.

Behind large curtain was the gigantic cage that held the creature inside. Laura stopped steaming for a moment, puzzled. "What's he doing in a CAGE?!? Isn't he supposed to be in a tank where there's water?"

"This the best thing we can provide for now," The zoo keeper said, approaching them from the side, "Thanks for coming. It's an honor to have you here to guard this pen, Mr. Mouse."

"You're very much welcome, Sir."

"What are you feeding it?" Laura asked.

"Fish. Big King Salmon. But she doesn't eat a bite of it."

"SHE? You mean it's a female?"

"Yep."

"She might not be eating because she's sick. Let me see her."

"Afraid I can't let you do that. Although you're agents, you're not allowed inside the pen."

"I don't see how we can volunteer for this attraction if we can't help this animal."

"Those are the rules, Laura. Stop argueing!" DM scorned.

"Gosh Laura. You are getting pretty fiesty lately." Penfold uttered.

"I got a good reason for it." As the zoo keeper turned around, Laura spat on the flap part of the back of his suit. He didn't notice a thing.

"LAURA MAYDREN!" DM shouted.

"Hee hee......that felt good."

"Your are just PUSHING it aren't you?!" DM hollared. He was on his last nerve.

"I'd be glad to push. That idiot right into a tub of fertilizer!"

"That's it! You go and flame off somewhere else! And come back when you behave more properly!"

Laura snorted again and staggered away, sticking her toungue out. Before she walked too far, she stopped in her tracks when she had a sudden idea. She zipped away in a corner of the pen, and when no one was looking, she dodged under the curtain. When brushing the hair out of her face, she looked inside the pen to see the creature still laying on the ground, just as she was when they found her.

"You poor dear." Laura said in a low voice. But it still picked up in the monster's sensative ear and her head began to come up. Laura froze in her spot and stared at her, as she cooed in a low tone and searched around the room for the source of Laura's voice. When the monster saw Laura behind the bars, a fearful sound entered her cooing.

"Don't worry. I won't hurt you. I've come to help. Do you understand what I say?"

The monster smiled and nodded.

"I just want to see what's wrong with you. Please don't hurt me if I come in there."

The monster had gentle, black, and shiny eyes that looked calm. Its head motioned for her to come in. Laura squeezed through the bars and hesitantly came fourth to the beast that just layed there. "So you're the famous Loch Ness Monster," Laura began to pet her on the forehead, "Your prettier than most people theorized. And your not vicious either. But I don't understand, you've been a mystery all this time, and finally you show up willingly to a crowd of tourists. What ever happened?"

"I needed help...."

Laura gasped and looked down. "Wow! You can talk... I mean, you can speak our language."

"Yes......."

"Why didn't you say so before."

"Too much in pain............."

"Pain? What from??"

"My mouth got caught on a sharp hook......... I can't open my mouth without it hurting....... difficult to eat......"

"Let me see that......" Laura put her hand on the rubbery lip of the creature and saw an ugly wound with a hook lodged in good. "Oh..... when did this happen?"

"Two days ago."

"Well it's no wonder your so ill..... you haven't eaten for a long time...... I'll help get that hook out...." Laura took a small needle-point pick from her compartment belt, "This may hurt a little....." She tweeked inside the wound. She heard the creature moan in a low growl, and closing her eyes tightly. But with all Laura's efforts, she finally managed to take the hook out, "Here we go! Sorry about the pain, but it's out now."

"Thank you so much!!"

"No problem, miss." Laura took a cotten swab and alchohol and dabbed it on the wound.

"I must go home...... Liddy needs me." The creature spoke again.

"Liddy.....who is that."

"My baby."

"You're a mother........... you mean there's more of your kind?"

"We're all over the place....... so I'm not THE Loch Ness Monster, I'm one of many."

"I want to get you out of here. I don't care about the queen's orders. It's only moral that I help a fellow animal."

"I could break free from these shackles if I could. But since I haven't eaten anything for so long, I feel so weak."

"You need to eat your fish." Laura demanded.

"I can't. I smell man on it."

"Yeah. I smell the stink of man on it too. It does stink, but it has good vitamins to strengthen you. Please."

"If you insist." Laura placed five salmon into her large mouth from the bowl. She began to chew and swallow slowly.

"By the way. What's your name."

"Nessa."

"Well. That's a perfect name for you, Nessa. My name's Laura. As a kid, I've always kinda admired the mystery of the Loch Ness Monster."

Nessa smiled, "I'm flattered."

"I feel so mad they did this to you, Girl," Laura patted her on the head, "You should be with your family. Not here in this small cage for a bunch of ugly humans to snap pictures and talk loudly at you. This isn't right. I don't know how, but I'm going to try to get you out of here."

"How? These bars are made of strong titaniam. And these shackles are everywhere on my body. I can hardly move."

"In the show, they're going to bring down the bars as a part of the entertainment. And as for the shackles.........." Laura took out a bar of soap from her purse.

"What is that for?"

"I planned this last night. This soap is for slipping through the shackles." Laura grinned.

"Ma'am. I don't want you getting in trouble on the account of me!"

"It's my job to put aside my self for others," Laura wet the soap and rubbed around the wrists, ankles, tail, and neck, "So don't you worry about me."

"And now the moment you've all been waiting for--" A voice boomed behind the curtain.

"OH NO!" Laura gasped, "I better get out of here before I'm caught. Your remember what to do and when to do it, right?"

"Yes. After the bars go down, I get out."

"Yes! Good!"

"Thank you, dear Lady!"

"Much welcome!" With that, Laura dodged back through the bars and under the curtain. She ran around the corner to meet with DM. "Hey there, babe. I'm back!"

DM turned around and saw her smile, "Well, I see you've cooled off. Good show."

"Yes, it is a good show isn't it."

"That creature is safely behind the bars, right?" Penfold asked, scared.

DM chuckled, "Of course she is. They provided the strongest substance for the barrier."

"That's good."

"--here she is!! The LOCH NESS MONSTER!!" The curtain fell and there in the pen layed the animal, still shackled and on the ground. Everyone gasped and began taking pictures. Flashes lit up the whole crowd like lightning, people yelling and yacking loudly in awe. Nessa squinted from the pain of all the flashes. She grew angry to the sounds of the clicking noise on and on. She couldn't stand it anymore. Rising her body furiously, she tore through the shackles and stomped around in the cage, roaring madly at the visitors. They screemed and began to run away. Nessa stood on her back legs and began pushing the bars with her front legs, and lashing her tail at the other side.

"NESSA!! No!"

"I can't stand it anymore, Laura!!" She replied furiously, "I want to go home! I want to go back to Ness! Liddy needs me! I can get out of these bars! I know I can!"

DM began to run, but Laura caught him by the arms and yelled, "NO DM! Let her go! She needs to be set free!"

Finally, with her large muscular body, she was able to successfully bend the bars and break free from the pen. Everyone ran about the grounds, screeming and trampling other people who have fallen. Laura ran to Nessa. "You're in grave danger of the army coming to shoot and kill you, Nessa!"

"We must leave this place quickly then."

"It's too far to travel from here to Ness!"

"I'm not planning to go to Ness that way."

"What?! But how--"

"I don't have time to explain it all.......which way is the closest to the sea!?"

"Thames River isn't too far away! Here! I'll lead you too it." Nessa let Laura climb on top of her head. "Head to the right through those two buildings!"

"Got it!"

Trying not to step on anyone along the way, Nessa briskly made her way through the city, alarming many people along the way and causing many car collisions. A bum in a corner saw the dinosaur-like animal running by, and stared at it with wide eyes. He looked at his bottle and threw it in the air.
At a theater, a crowd of people had just come out of seeing Jurrassic Park. They saw Nessa running by and screemed bloody murder. Some Japanese people yelled, "GODZILLA!"
The kids just jumped up happily. "MOMMY!! It's Little Foot's Mom! She's alive!!"

Moments later, they found Thames River and Nessa lowered her head down to the ground and let Laura slide off her head.

"Much thanks to you, my friend. Stop by the Loch sometime again, okay."

"You're welcome Nessa. And I'll be sure and do so..... now hurry, I hear sirens!"

"Right." Nessa dived into the river and was never seen after that. As Laura looked out onto the water, she was reluctant to go back after disobeying the orders of DM and even the Queen. As if she wasn't already considered a disgrace the way she talked about the queen, rebelling against her demands was even more taboo. She saw Danger Mouse running by. Her immediete reaction was to hide in shame from him. But she thought it only proper to face the music, so she sat down on the edge over the river and hunched down. She rested her head on her hands and her elbows on her knees, waiting for DM to look her way and come.

It was only a short time after she felt a shadow behind her and heard DM's voice. "Laura......."

"I'm so sorry, chief," Laura sobbed, "I thought it was the right thing to do."

"I was looking all over the city for you, y'know!" He began to talk loudly.

"Yes."

"Are you alright?"

"What?"

"I asked if you were alright."

"I'm just fine," Laura turned around to see DM had a pitty formed face, "You're not mad at me?"

"Honestly, Laura. If you hadn't done that, I certainly would have myself. I was planning on doing the same."

Laura smiled, "Oh DM," Laura got up and gave him a big hug, "I'm so glad............ but what are we going to tell the colonel? And the QUEEN?"

"It was falsified."

"Huh?"

"That guy didn't have any order from the Queen to keep the monster in the zoo. He's placed under arrest at this moment."

"Awesome!"

Penfold came running from the Mach III and joined them, "I thought you were cool too, Laura!" He exclaimed.

"Oh, really Penfold? Thank you." Laura picked the little hamster from the ground and hugged him like a stuffed bear.

"EEEK! Aw! Le'me go!"

"Sorry."

"We better go home now and give the Colonel the report."

Two days later, Laura suggested that they would take a trip to Ness. When they arrived, she led them to a place near the loch. She gave one quick whistle, and it didn't take long for Nessa to appear. "Laura! You did come!" Nessa smiled.

"I sure did. And I hope you don't mind I brought my friends. You can trust them. Their agents like me."

"Nice to meet you guys. Is that your boyfriend, Laura." She asked with a wink.

The two blushed, "Hee hee.... no, I'm just his assistant..." Laura chuckled.

"Everyone, I'd like you to meet Liddy." A little creature stuck its head out of the water. Its eyes looked from the three to Nessa. "It's alright Liddy. They're friends." Nessa's head dove under and brough Liddy up from the water and to the surface, right in front of the three visitors.

"Hi Liddy." Laura said in a small voice.

Liddy smiled, "Hi.......... what's your name."

"I'm Laura......and these are my friends Danger Mouse and Penfold......." The day grew on as they all played at the lake and shore. It was a great moment to see DM had cracked a laugh as they ran about. Laura climbed on Nessa's head and dove off into the water with a swan dive, purpously splashing poor Penfold. But then it grew dark and cold, and so it came time for them to head back to London.

"Thanks for coming, you guys."

"Any time, Nessa. And don't worry. If Ness and your kind are in need, we'll be here!" She assured Laura cuddled Nessa's Son gently. The End
Edited: 5/11/02