The "Low-Stakes" meter was currently emitting a sound like a panicked cricket. Usually, I could track every "Possible" asset through the Infinite Realms with a flick of my wrist, but today, the "Pets" roster was a wall of red "Offline" notifications.
["Danny, we have a 'Domestication-Disaster' in the Infinite Realms,"] Sheila reported, her avatar wearing a tactical safari hat. ["It started with Frosty (the Ghost-Pup) catching a 'High-Frequency' scent from a new rift. He was followed by Goddard, Waddles, Rufus, and Scooby-Doo. They've bypassed the 'Possible' firewall and are currently 'Touring' the Multiverse at a speed that suggests they're looking for the 'Ultimate Pet-Store.'"]
"A Pet-Store in the Infinite Realms?" I groaned, the Crown of Fire flickering as I stood up. "Sheila, if Goddard and Frosty combine their tech and spectral logic, they can open doors to shows we haven't even 'Standardized' yet. We need to fetch them before they 'Recruit' an entire zoo."
"Protocol, gear up!" I commanded. "This is a Beast-Retrieval mission. Jenny, use your 'Animal-Frequency' scan. Kim, Ron—we need your 'Pet-Parent' intuition. We're going through the N-Rift."
Stop 1: The Cul-de-Sac (Ed, Edd n Eddy Universe)
We landed in a suburban cul-de-sac that looked like it was drawn with a vibrating pencil. We found Scooby-Doo and Rufus in a backyard, currently being 'Consulted' by three boys who were trying to build a 'Spooky-Pet' attraction.
"Like, Scoob! These guys have 'Jawbreakers' the size of bowling balls!" Shaggy yelled, running out from behind a fence.
"Aha! The 'Possible' boy!" Eddy shouted, looking at my vest. "Is the dog for sale? We can give you a 10% stake in 'Ed's Ecto-Zoo'!"
"The dog is a 'Neutral-Party,' Eddy," I said, snapping my fingers as Pips 'Un-Wrote' their scam-booth. "Scooby, Rufus—back to the van. Now."
Stop 2: The Town of Endsville (The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy)
In a dark, neon-lit alleyway, we found Frosty playing fetch with a skeletal cat. Goddard was currently 'Interfacing' with a tall, cloaked figure holding a scythe.
"Your robotic canine has a very efficient 'Death-Algorithm,' boy," Grim said, looking at Jimmy's dog. "He's been trying to 'Upgrade' my scythe to include a laser-pointer."
"Goddard! No 'Death-Upgrades'!" Jimmy Neutron yelled, grabbing his dog.
We also found a new recruit here: a small, chaotic kid with a giant nose named Billy, who was currently trying to eat a 'Ghost-Treat.'
"He's coming with us," Mandy said, stepping out of the shadows with a look of pure, unadulterated boredom. "He's a 'Low-Stakes' liability that needs to be your problem now."
Stop 3: The Reef (SpongeBob Universe - Deep Trench)
The final stop took us to a glowing, underwater cavern where Waddles was currently being 'Venerated' as a God of the Sea by a group of jellyfish. Sandy Cheeks was there, trying to keep a tiny, pink-starfish named Patrick from eating the supply-cooler.
"Waddles has the 'Spirit of the Pig'!" Mabel cheered, hugging her pig.
"And we have a new member!" Patrick announced, holding up a 'Possible' sticker he'd found. "I'm the 'Safety-Starfish'!"
As we returned to Middleton, the 'Possible' Menagerie was back at full strength, but with a few 'Extra' additions. Grim (as a 'Spectral-Legal Consultant'), Billy and Mandy (as 'Chaos-Monitors'), and Patrick Star (as... well, Patrick).
I looked at the 'Low-Stakes' meter. 15%. The 'Pet-Adventure' was over, the "Infinite Realms" were stable, and the "Possible Protocol" had officially become a cross-species coalition.
But the romance sub-plots were currently 'Animal-Magnetic' in the evening light as well.
Jenny walked up to me, her eyes a soft, pulsing violet. She was holding Frosty, who was currently 'Barking' in a binary frequency that matched Jenny's internal hum. "Danny? My 'Care-Giver' database has been updated. Seeing you chase a 'Ghost-Pup' through three universes has increased my 'Partner-Devotion' by 12.5%. You're a good 'Pack-Leader'."
"I'm just a guy trying to keep the pets from rewriting history, Jenny," I whispered, taking her metal hand.
Jenny's cooling fans whirred in a happy, rhythmic pulse. She leaned her head against my shoulder, the cool metal a comforting anchor as Patrick tried to 'Eat' the lab's holographic projector.
Meanwhile, Mandy was currently staring down Principal Barkin. "You have a very 'Aggressive' educational aura," she said, her voice flat. "I like it. We shall 'Collaborate' on a new 'Discipline-Protocol'."
Barkin looked at the blonde girl, then at the scythe-wielding skeleton, and let out a long, weary sigh. "Possible... what have you done?"
"Low-stakes, sir," I said, smiling. "Low-stakes."
["Danny,"] Sheila's voice rang in my ear. ["I've updated the dossier. The 'Menagerie-Manifest': Role: Total Chaos. Also, Grim just asked if he can have a 'Possible' cloak made of 'Spectral-Silk'. I've already sent the order to Leni. She says she can 'Literally' make it work for the afterlife."]
"Good girl, Sheila. Let's go get some pizza. For humans and pets."