11. The Wabbit and the Masked Creatures

They hopped along a gas-mask lined corridor, glancing from right to left. The Wabbit stopped and pulled a video tape box from his fur. He tucked it under his paw and gritting his 28 teeth, rounded the corner. "That's as far as you go, rabbit." The voice went with the gas-masked figure. It spoke with a heavy rhythmic hiss accompanied by a whoosh, click and flutter. Lapinette pointed her weapon. "Stand down, robotic figure." The figure snarled. "I stand down for no-one." Lapinette stood her ground. Pointed her weapon. "Suit yourself. It will be the worse for you." It was the first time the Wabbit noticed the French accent that came with her growl. "You will give me the box!" The Wabbit smiled in a way that everyone found annoying. "I cannot." "Why not?" The Wabbit paused and touched the grey case. "Did you ever hear the story of the old empty box?" The figure tensed, stem jetting from the mask. "No, I did not." The Wabbit shrugged. "There was nothing in it." The figure lunged forward. "Give me it anyway." Silence hung, broken only by the mask's respirated hiss. "I think I'll keep it," said the Wabbit. He tucked it back in his fur. The figure wheezed, turned, grabbed for it. Lapinette's snaser spat. The figure's suit collapsed, an empty shell on the ground. Rows of vacant masks watched from the shelves. "They're brainstorming," grinned the Wabbit.

10. The Wabbit and the Top-Secret Area

The operations room was huge. The sign said it all. This was a top-secret bunker. He could hear noises and he hoped Wabsworth was on his way. He could detect the squeal from an old U-Matic recorder. He shook his head. A figure stood at a desk, but it had turned out to be a dummy - the Wabbit felt foolish for threatening him. Anyway, he got behind a cabinet for cover and scrunched down. The stairway would have creaked had it not been concrete. A figure approached. "Who goes there?" The Wabbit decided to be bold. "Wabsworth, Commander!" The tip of a snazer came round the corner followed by the Wabbit's android double. "I nearly shot you." The Wabbit's head swung as he heard another figure approaching. "Are you all right Wabbit?" Lapinette's voice cut through the gloom. She was armed with a snazer too. "We have company of persons unknown," said the Wabbit. "They're playing a funny game." Lapinette snorted. "I heard your old documentary playing somewhere. Sounded like a bad dream." The Wabbit decided to ignore that for the moment. "Is this the fail-deadly location?" Wabsworth, as always, had cut to the chase. "Probably," shrugged the Wabbit. "This is quite a place," commented Lapinette. "Planning a move?" smiled the Wabbit. "I hear they're going to carpet bomb it!" stated Wabsworth. They laughed at his deadpan humour. "Good place for a drinks reception," added Lapinette. "Bring anything with you?" smirked the Wabbit.
 

9. The Wabbit in the Tunnel of the Past

The Wabbit hopped with caution down the gloomy cavern. It was in a poor state, or it had never been finished. The cavern was silent except for water dribbling down the walls. The Wabbit knew that outside, noise levels were grim. In his head he could hear car alarms, ambulance sirens, leaf blowers, revving mopeds. A flickering on the roof was composed of his old documentary. "They're trying to torment me with my ancient film," thought the Wabbit, "they'll have to do better than that." Scenes changed. Barcelona gave way to Amsterdam to Dublin to London to Athens to Porto. The Wabbit shrugged. "That's all in the past." He hopped on. His glasses glowed a deep blue in the gloom. His head groaned. His feet were wet. His hands clammy. The voice returned, whispering. "Where is it? Where is it? Where is it?" The Wabbit knew that they were serious. His radio was under his paw, but he murmured into it. "Come in, come in" This time there was a signal. It must have been the metal rods. "Wabbit to base, come in," A soft crackle gave way to a familiar voice. "I know where you are, Commander. I've got a fix." The Wabbit hissed. "I could use some help here." Wabsworth was self-assured as always. "Shall I bring an excavator?" The Wabbit shrugged. "And explosives." There was a long silence. "Don't worry, we're on our way." He cut off. "Do what you like," hummed the Wabbit, "but don't keep me waiting." 

8. The Wabbit and the Dank Tunnel

The Wabbit said this was a job for him and he'd go alone. No-one was happy, but the Wabbit was adamant. With the digital coordinates memorised, he travelled far. He didn't know what he was looking for but he said he'd know when he found it. He was deep in the mountains. It was cold and dank. Water dripped down the walls. An old sign said that he should keep his mouth shut. He shrugged and looked around. No sign of any enemy, Euls or otherwise, He thought he's better call in and he stabbed his walkie talkie. He only got a faint crackle. "I think the walls must be too thick," he grumbled. "I wonder why the Department put its fail-deadly system in this god forsaken place. There are only ghosts here." At that point he heard murmurings. They became clearer. These were cold recorded voices. "We are the Ghosts of the Department," they said. "We can see you Wabbit." The Wabbit fumbled in the dark for his automatic. "Show yourselves," he called. Silence fell, then the cold voices again. "We are but auditory holograms. We knew you would come. Did you bring the tape?" The Wabbit was coy. He couldn't be sure this wasn't a trap. "The tape is in safe hands. I am instructed to reveal its whereabouts to no-one." Silence again. "We are someone!" The Wabbit froze. He'd heard that before and at that moment he knew it was a trap. He wished he'd brought reinforcements. He looked up and down the tunnel. In the distance he could see an escape route of sorts and he thought he'd better use it ... 
 

7. The Wabbit and a Ghost in the Machine

Every time the Wabbit visited, Hardhack has a new configuration. Where the cash for all this came from was a mystery and few dared ask. The air smelled of electricity and plastic. A multitude of fans whirred. Hardhack came scampering out from a back room and he was excited. "Is that it?" he yelled. "It's a long time since I've seen one." Lapinette wrinkled her nose. "I think it's 1992." Hardhack sniffed it long and hard. "No vinegar, no mouldy socks. No cow on the ice." Lapinette pointed. "Kin you play it?" Hardhack looked at the label. "PAL or SEECAM?" "Both," smiled the Wabbit. Hardhack took hold of the tape. "Careful," said the Wabbit, "Politis protocols are active." Hardhack fingered it gently and hummed to himself. "Can you extract and make safe the encoded information?" asked the Wabbit. "If I can't, no-one can." Hardhack smirked. "I have to bake it in a furnace." He disappeared into a back room. Lapinette knew all about this. "Essential," she said. "He can make us a flan at the same time," said the Wabbit. "No-one thinks you're funny," snapped Lapinette. They waited. Hardhack re-appeared. "Into the Light, a film by Kenneth Shanks?" Hardhack strolled up and down. "There's digital encoding. Finicky." The Wabbit nodded. Lapinette scowled. "A flickering chequerboard on the very edge of the video tape. I'm downloading it to my computer array's binary buffer." Hardhack waited for applause but didn't get any. "Now give me the digital coordinates," snapped the Wabbit. 

6. The Wabbit and the Secret in the Box

"I thought the tape was mislaid, Commander!" Wabsworth kept his voice low but it carried nonetheless. The Wabbit groaned. He'd crept into the Department in the early hours to rake through old files. He came across the box quite quickly. It was at the back of his filing cabinet, tucked where no cleaner ever ventured. "Shhh, Wabsworth!" he hissed. Wabsworth hopped down until he was nearly level with the Wabbit. "Is it in there, because the Politis protocols determine certain handling measures?" The Wabbit scowled. "Wabsworth, this is an old and dusty box left by the plumbers. And yes, the tape is in the box. I placed it here so no-one could possible find it." Wabsworth groaned. "With all due respect, Wabbit, your security measures leave a lot to be desired." The Wabbit looked over his shoulder. "No-one knew it was here and if they did it would have exploded on opening." Wabsworth doubted this was true. He hopped down another step. "Where are you taking it?" The Wabbit decided to let Wabsworth in on the secret. "To a place with security measures." "Hardhack Rat?" queried Wabsworth, slapping a paw on his forehead. The Wabbit tapped the box. "He knows stuff. Enough to determine the encoded information." Wabsworth was horrified. "He's not on our staff." "I'm going to take precautions," said the Wabbit. "Get the information then push him out of the window?" laughed Wabsworth. The Wabbit paused. "Not a bad idea." Wabsworth groaned. "You can't go around pushing people out of windows." "Of course not," grinned the Wabbit, "but it's in the protocols."

5. The Wabbit steps Into the Light

The viewing theatre was as scruffy as always. Just the way the Wabbit liked it. He'd invited Lapinette and Wabsworth to his special screening of a documentary called Into the Light. They'd never heard of it. "They'll be prosecco," he said, so they went along for the drinks. The Wabbit waited to introduce the movie. "This will be news to you, but it explains why the Euls appeared and why they were so violent." Lapinette put her paw up. "Who's Kenneth Shanks?" The Wabbit's smile was enormous. "He's our author. He made this film." Wabsworth wanted to be diplomatic, but he felt his power unit drain. "What's so special about it." The Wabbit hopped up and down. "In the original master tape ..." Wabsworth shrugged. "What kind?" "... U-matic," said the Wabbit. "That went out with wind up clocks," laughed Wabsworth. "Pay attention!" yelled the Wabbit. "When the tape was created, certain information was encoded therein." Lapinette giggled. The Wabbit ignored her. "The information concerns the exact parameters of the Department's fail-deadly defence system." Lapinette gasped. Not even a high-ranking Marchesa knew. Nor did an android with memory banks the size of a planet. "Have I got your attention?" asked the Wabbit. They nodded. "The Euls got wind of this?" asked Lapinette. The Wabbit looked grave. "That's why they wanted to capture me." Wabsworth was a step ahead. "Where's the tape, Wabbit?" "That's just it," groaned the Wabbit. "It's mislaid!"

4. The Wabbit recovers at San Saba

Lapinette encouraged the Wabbit to take some time out. Although he was a bit miffed to be set about by Euls, his bruises were fading. He was a little worried about the appearance of old enemies and said so. Lapinette shrugged. "They're probably looking for something to do. Where did you leave them?" The Wabbit laughed. I think it was a cold and distant planet on the edge of the Sombrero galaxy. Haven't seen them in ten years." Lapinette considered the matter. "Time for them to have made their way home." The Wabbit shook his head. "Maybe we should ask the Alien Pilot. He usually knows stuff about inter-Galactic goings and comings." "Where is he?" asked Lapinette. "Lord knows," said the Wabbit. "No, I think he was going to Trappist 1E. Something about an eye reduction." Lapinette grinned. "Down to two?" "Three I think," said the Wabbit. "You can't be too careful where eyes are concerned." Lapinette spoke in a considered way that the Wabbit found delightful. "He'll be a sight for sore eyes." Lapinette groaned. "You're not very funny, Wabbit." The Wabbit knew that already. "I'll get the Department to book a long-distance call." Lapinette mused. "Get Ledger to do it. He's a smooth operator." The Wabbit sang, "His eyes are like angels but his heart is cold." They started to hop down the hill. "Restaurant?" asked Lapinette. "Let's push the boat out," grinned the Wabbit. "Fish then," replied Lapinette.

3. The Wabbit, the Worse for Wear

The Wabbit was dragged across the road by two Euls. He was as surprised to see them as Lapinette. He wasn't hurt but the Euls thought he was. His coat was made of stronger stuff than that. He'd see what they were up to. The Eul smacked him on the face. "Take that, Wabbit! We remember where you sent us. But we're back." The Wabbit had a job remembering where it was he'd sent them. "I know where I sent you and it was better than here." He pretended his voice was weak. The Euls looked at him, puzzled. They were anything but bright. "You're a nobody," said one. "But we're somebodies." The Wabbit pretended to be dazed. "Everyone needs somebody to love," he sang, "Hold, squeeze and please that person." A Eul gave him a shove. The Wabbit bounced from a car. "A gentle caress?" He sagged and folded over. A Eul pulled him up. "No folding!" "Like a bad poker hand?" slurred the Wabbit. He stood on his heels and rocked. "No rocking either," said the other Eul. "Don't knock the rock." He wheeled around and brought his paw up under the first Eul's chin. His other paw squeezed the other in a soft spot. They dropped like stones. But the Wabbit's best assets were his legs. He stomped on both Euls where it hurt. Then he bounded on a car and jumped off onto them. They were silent. He saw Lapinette running from the building and called her. "Do you need a helping paw?" she asked. The Wabbit grinned. "Remember that first aid course I did?" Lapinette snorted. "You hit the instructor." 

2. Lapinette in the Maxxi Museum

Lapinette reached the museum long before the Wabbit. But was she hopped past a window she noticed him approaching on the street. As he turned into the complex, she waved and shouted. "Up here! Join me up here!" She saw him wave back and then make an incomprehensible sign. She waved again. Then he used morse code. "Coming by back way." Lapinette shrugged. The Wabbit has all sorts of deals with museums which usually involved a lot of time. She signalled back. "I wait here." The Wabbit nodded and disappeared. Lapinette went to look at the photos on the wall. After a while she got bored. "Where is he?" She went back to the window and saw what looked like the Wabbit being dragged into a side entrance by a Eul. She hadn't seen a Eul for some time and had assumed they'd died out or were marooned on an inhospitable planet in the Sombrero galaxy. She searched in her frock for a radio but found she's left it on charge in her apartment. She cursed silently and went to look for an attendant. They knew the Wabbit and were generally quite congenial as long as he let them stroke his ears. She shuddered. But she found the door locked. She was stuck on the first floor. She waved through the window again. There was no one in sight. "I can't even get to the restaurant from here." The windows were sheer and unbreakable. "Maybe I can find a way," she muttered. She disappeared into a long dark corridor ...

1. The Wabbit and the Quantum Museum

The Wabbit strolled over the bridge feeling light and easy. He knew the bridge well, if only from above - usually falling. It was a fine day, and he adjusted his fur air conditioning, to a mild 3.5. He was on his way to the Maxxi museum of twenty first century art to meet Lapinette and there he would have a glass of prosecco and a salad sandwich before beginning a quick troll round. The Museum of Enemies flashed across his mind. "These were the days," he thought and smiled to himself. Mounted by the Department, his enemies had gathered to join him in promoting the show. "I haven't seen them for a while," he voiced aloud. For a moment he thought he heard a skuttle. "Just my imagination," he reassured himself. The Tiber flowed peacefully under the bridge and a pleasant breeze ruffled his fur. But there it was again. He thought he heard the squeal of an Ice Mouse and grinned. "They weren't so bad." He knew he was congenial at the expense of time. "Time minds its own damn business," he exclaimed and giggled. Someone had said that - but he couldn't remember who and he didn't care. He hopped his way to the other side. He thought he heard something hopping beside him but there was nothing there, He shrugged. "Just a rabbit on a bridge with nothing on his mind." He thought of his prosecco, laughed and pursued his path to Maxxi. 

The Wabbit's Adventure Caffè

It was a new venue for the Adventure Caffè. The Via di Boccea was a vibrant, if busy street, which offered a number of Caffè establishments. It wasn't a typical place to stay long, so Wabsworth got the drinks in with super speed. Skratch was late and looked at the vacant seat and drink. "What was that for a sort of adventure you just had?" he muttered. "Sit down Skratch," said Lapinette, "and I'll tell you. It was a fast paced action thriller that didn't make any sense." Wabsworth was speeding towards the table. "That's true. Bitcoin must be transferred into real currency. Criminals don't covertly trade in cryptocurrency." Lapinette smiled. "We portrayed Bitcoin in a simplistic matter, but that's not to deny the real nitty gritty of all the implications." Skratch gave a long meaow. "Just decoration in my opinion. It reinforced stereotypes." The Wabbit nodded. "Will a cryptocurrency get me a prosecco at this establishment?" A voice came from inside the Caffè. "Not on your life! Bring us hard cash or use a card." Wabsworth shook his head. "The entanglement of NFTs with the social and economic aspects of capitalism threaten the art world. It's the ultimate commodification of art." Lapinette slapped a palm on the table. "That's why we played with the ramifications of EFTs," she commented. "What was the bill, Wabsworth?" asked the Wabbit. Wabsworth shrugged. "Four pictures of Lapinette in a revealing costume." Then everyone laughed and laughed.

10. The Wabbit and the End of the Trail

"Where are my sweet treats?" moaned the figure. It was a strange night, and the moon picked out the highlights and lit them Hampden Park. Lapinette and the Wabbit knew it was there and they advanced on it. "You gotta problem, Spectre?" The Spectre looked up. "I followed the Digital Trail and all I have now is these worthless tokens. I'm ruined, ruined I tell you." Lapinette turned up her nose. "You should have been more cunning. Less greedy." The Wabbit chimed in. "You thought you'd take a gamble and now you got a shambles." Lapinette snorted. "You're not funny, Wabbit. What are we going to do with this poor ruined spectre?" The Wabbit fumbled in his fur for a crumpled fiver. "Get yourself a sandwich and a coffee." The Spectre wept long and hard. He made to put the crumpled EFTs in the trash. "I could have been a contender instead of a spectre." Lapinette felt sorry for the spectre. "Uncrumple these EFTs and put them together for an exhibition. You could be an honest artist." The Spectre fished the EFTs from the bin. "At MAXXI?" The Wabbit laughed "Your art belongs to Dada!" The Spectre didn't get the joke and neither did anyone else. But he uncrumpled the EFTs and stuck them together at random. A passer-by threw a few coins down and passed on his way. "You've started," smiled Lapinette. "I've enough for a Prosecco!" grinned the spectre. "We'll join you," said the Wabbit.

9. The Wabbit and the Bitcoin Machine

The Wabbit changed the plan and with a smile on his face, he and Lapinette made their way to the Bitcoin machine in the supermarket car park. The Wabbit noticed the machine some time ago but he'd never seen anyone use it. He wanted to change all that. Leaving Wabsworth and Hardhack in charge of the rest he pursued a plan of his own. Lapinette ran her fingers across the touchpad. A spectral message flashed on the screen. "They've taken the bait!" she was delighted. "OK Wabbit, these are the Dinosaur Fund's electronic assets." The Wabbit grinned. "They're bait. Just wait." Lapinette frowned. She scanned the touchpad again. Bitcoins came tumbling from the machine. "How did that happen?" The Wabbit smirked. "Magic. Grab them." He produced a magic wand and waved it for effect. Lapinette grabbed the coins and tucked them under her skirt. "Now we have the laundered funds. Or the originals. Or our extremely fungible tokens. Or do we?" He smirked again. "Wabsworth devised a little plan of our own to bolster the Dinosaur Fund." Lapinette looked doubtful. "But where are the Spectres?" "All in good time," replied the Wabbit, "Well, they're attached to the Bitcoins under your frock." Lapinette looked appalled "Eeeek," she yelled. "Along with the breadcrumbs," added the Wabbit. "Yuk," shouted Lapinette. "Do you want to detach them here or somewhere else?" The Wabbit smirked with the annoying smirk that Lapinette hated. She yelled! "Here, now now now!" The Wabbit waved his wand. "It'll all come out in the wash ..."

8. The Wabbit at the HIDDA Office

The team hadn't expected Hardhack's Office to be light and bright, especially given the dingy surroundings. "Welcome to HIDDA. Just moving in," said Hardhack, "Is this the kind of thing you're looking for?"  He extended a claw bearing a token. He seemed aware of Wabsworth's plans. "Word on the scene - you're planning a double-trouble deal. How about this?" The Wabbit shrugged and smiled. "Perhaps something sombre?" Hardhack grinned ear to ear. "Boring. These are all the rage. I think Honey tokening is the answer. They'll appear legal to your fraudster but have no real value." The Wabbit's head was spinning. So was Lapinette's. Only Wabsworth had a clear idea of what was going on. "Bait them with a leaked seed phrase and sweet treats?" Hardhack nodded. "That's just the start. They'll follow the digital breadcrumbs. Right into our trap." The Wabbit grinned. "Set up a trace when they hit the brick wall. We'll pingedy-pong 'em then vaporise the lot." Lapinette took notes. "I'll get the Department to set up a Virtual Private Server and an isolated VLAN.  But they'll try to bite us." Wabsworth chipped in. "When they're negotiating with our confused bot, we'll hit em." The Wabbit put on his serious face. "The trap is set. Let's see if our spectres are hungry for breadcrumbs." Lapinette laughed. "All this technical talk made me hungry. And thirsty." Hardhack was on top of things. "I know a low-tech caffè." The Wabbit grinned. "Then let's get four glasses of high-tech Franciacorta." "And drink 'em!" said Lapinette.