Chapter Text
It was an ordinary day in Toontown. What a day, what a day, the sun was shining, the fishing ponds as blue as ever, toons laughing and joking. A perfectly average day. However, there was one thing different about today. There were no cogs in the streets, not a single one, no new buildings or no managers running about. For it was the yearly day for cogs to get their repairs, so every cog from every department was locked up in their HQ tightly under lock and key.
The day where everyone got their one company paid for tune up. These repairs were nothing major, it was majorly software updates, mending dented casing, or getting rid of that one weird sound a cog's insides were making that simply would NOT go away. Both cogs and toons looked forward to this day every year. Cogs did because hey! Free repairs by people who actually know what they're doing! Do you even know how expensive cog care is these days? And toons look forward to it because of two reasons 1. No cogs, just… how it used to be. And No. 2 How many pranks they could set up before the cogs inevitably came back and began the same old song and dance they've been in for years.
And here Rain was, smiling smugly helping the resistance prepare for the biggest prank yet! She, in her oh so whimsical-ness, skipped to the Central's mayor building. In her hand she held a small pouch, the things in the pouch made small jingling sounds as she skipped. Rain practically kicked down the door for Mayor Flippy's office. In stood other officers from other HQs with similar pouches.
“SELLBOT CHIPS OBTAINED!!!”
She boasted as she proudly presented her pouch.
There were other officers there too, of course. There were four from Central's own HQ and one from Mezzo Melodyland, another came from The Brrrgh, one was Acorn Acres, and the last one was the Drowsy Dreamland HQ rep. They all held their own similar pouches, full of most likely similar chips, and looked somewhat miffed that Rain had come in loud, proud, and behind schedule. Flippy just seemed relieved she came out of Sellbot HQ while locked down like that and NOT get captured.
“That's great to see!”
Flippy says with a smile. He gestures to the desk for the officers’ to lay down their pouches. They all did so in a neat manner.
“Now I bet you're all wondering why I've called for such… a dangerous task from you all-”
He begins before being interrupted by the green pig, Good Ol’ Gil Giggles of Central.
“Why WOULDN'T we? You sent us to go in these HQs on the day where they are the most locked down and secured-not to mention DANGEROUS-than they are all year! And for what? Computer chips?”
Well, Rain thought he was a little bit rude about it, but their annoyance did make sense. Rain didn't even know why Flippy had asked for these chips or what they even did beyond a promise of ‘It'll be funny’. Which… which was enough for Rain.
Flippy just kept his smile as he'd begin to explain, “You see through all of our research on these cogs we have discovered something peculiar. That they keep all their personality coding on one itsy bitsy computer chip!” Flippy pulled one out of the Cashbot pouch to emphasize their size, it was truly a tiny chip for such big personalities, “So for this year for our annual joke on the newly repaired cogs, I have come up with switching these chips in the managers! Just THINK of the amount of laff toons will get just by WATCHING these cogs try and wrap their heads around the shift!”
Rain's tail began to wag, Okay, yeah, this was something she could get on board with.
“So we're gonna have to SNEAK BACK INTO these HQs??? Flippy.” Said the ranger from Dreamland.
“You can always send a different ranger. I never said YOU had to do it again.” Flippy explains with a smile.
The Dreamland ranger looks at him dumbfounded before deciding they were too tired to argue about it and they had already gotten this far.
Flippy continued to explain, “And with the chip switch we have planned, we have also planned costume updates to match their new chips.” He seemed so happy about this information.
“How long… have you had this prepared?” Inquired the ranger from The Brrrgh.
“For a good minute! Just leave the chips here, I'll get other Rangers to do the reinstallation after the mix up! I thank you for your service.” Flippy waves as he shared his gratitude.
Rain wasn't sure how she quite felt. Sure, it'll be funny to see William frustrated to figure out what was wrong with him, but it might not be the same funny frustration he has when he loses at Toono. She walked out with the other officers after it was over. She quickly caught up to Lowden Clear.
She leaned over to the red dog, “So… do we know who's getting mixed up?”
Lowden Clear gave her a simple shrug, “Not quite sure, Flippy didn't tell us much before he sent us for the chips. Ought to be an interesting day tomorrow.” He says just as simply. He walks off to regroup with his quartet.
Rain simply nodded as she felt a slight smidgen of guilt, what if William got saddled with a truly AWFUL chip? It'd be her fault! She couldn't help but feel guilty for the cog she was friends(?) With. Yet, she felt like it was too late to go back and ask for William's chip back. Flippy and other toons need not know of their friendship, simply just to avoid questions from both sides.
Rain walked home and went to bed. Lowden Clear was right, tomorrow had ought to be interesting.