The ship rumbled low as it touched down, its landing skids crunching against the soft earth of a wild, humid jungle. Vines dangled from twisted trees, leaves as broad as rooftops swayed in the thick air, and the ground was littered with what seemed like... bananas. Dozens. Hundreds. Maybe thousands. BJ stepped down the ramp, his boots sinking slightly into the mossy earth. He bent down, picked up a bruised banana, and peeled it without hesitation. "Well, well. Guess it's snack time, huh? Finally, a world that respects me."
Serena pinched her nose at the overpowering fruity scent. "BJ, don't eat random bananas lying on the ground! For all we know, they could be cursed, poisoned, or... I don't know... monkey property." As if summoned by her words, a sharp whistle cut through the trees. From the branches above, pairs of glowing eyes blinked open. Serena froze. BJ kept chewing. Then, with a sudden rustle, a swarm of armored monkeys dropped down from the canopy, their gear clanking together like soldiers on parade. Each carried a crude spear or staff, their helmets fashioned from hollowed-out gourds. Serena raised her hands quickly. "Okay, okay, easy, we're just passing through!"
One monkey stepped forward, clearly the leader, with a jagged scar across his cheek and a crown of banana leaves on his head. He jabbed his spear toward Serena, then chattered angrily in a language of shrieks and barks. BJ tossed his banana peel aside. "Oh great. Jungle cops. Let me handle this." He puffed up his chest, pointed at himself, and spoke loudly and slowly, as if that would help. "We. Are. Just. Tourists. Sight-seeing. No harm!"
The monkeys all stared at him blankly. Then the leader screeched, and in an instant, two of the guards grabbed BJ by the arms, another hooked Serena with his staff, and both of them were dragged forward. "BJ!" Serena hissed, trying to pull away. "Smooth. Real smooth. You just got us arrested by banana soldiers!"
BJ struggled against his captors, scowling. "Oh, please. I could take these chimps blindfolded." He yelped as one jabbed him in the ribs with a spear. "Okay, ow, fine, maybe not right now, but you get the point!"
The monkeys tightened their grip, chattering victoriously, and began to march the two intruders deeper into the jungle. Above, more bananas shook loose from the canopy, falling in a comedic rain around them, as if the entire forest itself were laughing at their failure to sneak through. Serena sighed heavily, dragging her boots against the dirt as they were led away. "All I wanted was to grab a gear. But noooo, we're about to be executed by banana court."
BJ smirked despite the spears at his back. "Hey, if I go out, at least I'll go out potassium-rich." The monkey leader screeched again, and the guards shoved them forward toward an unknown fate in the heart of the jungle kingdom.

The march through the jungle wasteland ended at a clearing unlike anything Serena had seen before. In the center stood a massive wooden throne, cobbled together from broken crates, steel pipes, and banana crates stacked high like a fortress. Around it burned torches that crackled in the muggy air, throwing flickering shadows across dozens, no, hundreds of monkey guards perched in a circle. Their chittering quieted as the prisoners were dragged forward. On the throne sat a figure larger than life: a gorilla with muscles carved like boulders and fur as black as midnight. A tattered cape hung over one shoulder, and strapped across his chest gleamed a weapon far more terrifying than any spear or staff, a massive, gleaming gun, its barrel casually resting against the throne's arm. His red eyes narrowed as he studied the newcomers. The guards all dropped to one knee, bowing their heads. In unison, their voices screeched: "MAX ASSASSIN!"
Serena swallowed hard, her heart pounding. "...That's a cheerful name."
BJ, ever the idiot, leaned toward her and muttered, "What do you think he's compensating for, lugging that giant gun around?"
Serena elbowed him sharply. "Shut up before he hears you!"
Max Assassin rose slowly from his throne, towering over them, his gun now gripped tightly in one massive hand. His voice, low and booming, rolled through the clearing like thunder. "Humans." He spat the word like it was venom. "There are never humans in my realm. My jungle is closed to your kind. And yet here you stand, breathing my air, touching my soil, eating..." His crimson gaze flicked to the discarded banana peel on the ground. "...my food."
BJ shifted uneasily but still managed a crooked grin. "Hey, in my defense, it was already on the ground. Technically free sample."
Max Assassin's nostrils flared, and the crowd of monkeys erupted in angry shrieks. The gorilla king silenced them with one raised hand. "You trespassers must prove your worth. You do not leave my kingdom unless I decide it. The question is..." His lips curled into something that wasn't quite a smile. "...should I destroy you here, or test you first?"
Serena took a cautious step forward, her hands raised in peace. "We didn't mean to intrude. We're looking for something, an artifact, a piece of metal, it doesn't belong here. We just need it back, and we'll leave."
Max Assassin's eye twitched. He leaned down, so close Serena could see the reflection of the torches in his one scarred pupil. "You will earn it. Or you will be buried beneath this jungle."
The monkeys around them cheered, beating their spears against the ground, the sound like war drums echoing through the clearing. BJ muttered under his breath, "Well, guess banana court just upgraded to banana death match."
Max Assassin raised his gun, the barrel glinting as it pointed squarely between them. "Prove yourselves... or perish."
BJ's grin cracked just a little wider, the kind of smirk that always got them in trouble. He folded his arms, tilted his head, and said just loud enough for the gorilla king to hear: "Big speech, big gun, big bananas, yeah, we get it. But if you're the king, why do you look like you're one missed protein shake away from retirement?"
The clearing went dead silent. Even the wind seemed to stop. Max Assassin's red eyes flared. "Take. Them. Away."
The guards descended like a swarm, screeching and dragging Serena and BJ through the dirt, throwing them into a bamboo-and-stone cell deep inside the fortress. The heavy door slammed, locking with an iron clang. Serena grabbed BJ by the collar, shaking him. "Are you TRYING to get us killed!?"
BJ's cocky façade slipped; he shuddered, hugging himself as the jungle sounds outside turned menacing. "Okay, okay, maybe I overshot that one. Just a little. He had it coming, though!"
"Shut. Up." Serena hissed, sinking to the damp floor, her head in her hands.
Then... a voice purred from the shadows. Smooth. Calm. Chilling. "Well, well. What do we have here? Fresh meat tossed into the king's pantry?" A figure stepped forward, thin and wiry, with pale fur, slitted eyes, and a permanent, sly grin. He adjusted his bow tie with elegant precision, his red fur catching what little torchlight seeped through the cracks. "Oh, don't look so tense," he said, tail swishing lazily. "I'm merely another... guest of His Majesty."
Serena stiffened. "Who the hell are you?"
The cat gave a shallow bow. "Name's Katz. Businessman. Opportunist. Survivor." His eyes flicked between them with predatory amusement. "And you, my unfortunate friends, look very lost."
BJ narrowed his eyes, hugging his arms tighter. "What's your deal, whiskers? You're way too calm for someone locked up."
"Oh, I've been here awhile." Katz's grin widened, showing just a bit too much fang. "And unlike the rest of these monkeys, I know something useful. Something you want."
Serena's heart skipped. "...What do you mean?"
Katz leaned in close, his voice dropping to a whisper. "One of your precious Raymond's eyes. I know exactly where it is."
Serena and BJ exchanged a wide-eyed glance. They didn't know this cat, didn't know if he could be trusted, but if he was telling the truth, this could be their only way forward. BJ muttered under his breath, "Great. First bananas, now cats. What's next, talking furniture?"
Katz just chuckled darkly, curling his tail around himself as he sat comfortably in the corner. "Oh, you'll find I'm much more interesting than furniture."

The three crept through the palace's shadowy halls, the torches flickering low. Monkey guards patrolled in pairs, their chatter echoing faintly. Serena kept her eyes sharp, while BJ grumbled under his breath every time his sneakers squeaked against the stone floor. BJ whispered, "This place is a dump. Bet the king spends all the budget on bullets and bananas." "Shhh!" Serena hissed.
But before either of them could make another move, the floor groaned. With a sudden crack, the tiles beneath their feet gave way. "What?! NOOO!!" BJ flailed, and they all plummeted into darkness. They landed with a thud in a chamber far below the palace. Dust swirled in the air, glittering faintly against torch sconces that seemed to have lit themselves. The room was long, lined with murals of gorillas bowing to a giant golden fruit. BJ groaned, rubbing his head. "Great. Another hole. Another dungeon. Love it here."
Serena stood slowly, her gaze caught by a faint golden glow at the end of the chamber. A narrow stone path, lined with broken vines and cracked monkey idols, stretched forward. And there it was, resting on a pedestal, bathed in a halo of light. A banana. A massive one. Shimmering like gold. Serena blinked. "...Is that...?"
"The Golden Banana," Katz purred, his voice echoing. He was standing calmly, brushing dust off his fur as if the fall hadn't fazed him at all. His eyes glowed red in the dim light.
"What's so special about a banana?" BJ scoffed, rolling his eyes. "What, it doesn't bruise when you drop it?"
Katz smirked, stepping forward with an almost reverent grace. His voice dropped into a low, storytelling tone, smooth and deliberate. "You children really don't know, do you? The Golden Banana isn't just a fruit. It's a relic. Forged long ago, when the first monkeys wrested control of this jungle from the gods themselves."
Serena's brow furrowed. "The gods?"
Katz nodded, his grin widening. "Yes. Legends say the jungle was once ruled by a celestial beast, a gorilla draped in stars. The beast's strength was unmatched, his hunger unending. The other animals suffered under him, until one cunning monkey stole fire from the heavens and shaped it into a bullet." He lifted a claw dramatically, tracing the murals on the wall with his eyes. They showed gorillas warring with strange shapes of light, a massive celestial figure falling, and monkeys lifting the golden fruit above their heads in victory. "They say that when the beast fell, his heart crystallized into gold. The monkeys... remade it. Molded it into this banana, the symbol of their eternal rule."
Serena shivered. "So it's... a heart?"
"Perhaps," Katz mused. "Perhaps not. Legends always... stretch the truth." He chuckled darkly, his tail curling behind him. "But one thing is certain, the Golden Banana gives the king his power. His throne. His control over this land."
BJ tilted his head, finally looking impressed. "...So if we swipe it, we've basically dethroned King Banana Bullets?"
Katz's grin sharpened. "Precisely."
Serena crossed her arms, suspicious. "You seem a little too eager to tell us all this. What's in it for you?"
"Oh, darling," Katz purred, stepping closer, his voice low and silky. "I'm simply... invested in seeing balance restored. The gorillas have grown greedy, violent. It's time for a... change in management."
BJ gave Serena a look. "Translation: Cat wants the banana for himself."
Katz just chuckled, not denying it. His gaze flicked to the glowing fruit again, hunger flashing in his eye. "Regardless... the path forward is clear. The question is, do we have the courage to take it?" The golden glow reflected in their eyes, pulling them forward. The air seemed heavier now, the pedestal looming closer, vines twitching faintly as if alive. With that, they got it!

They crept closer, the glowing banana almost within reach. The air shimmered with a strange heat, and BJ licked his lips nervously. BJ muttered, "Alright, grab the fruit, dethrone the banana tyrant, go home. Easy peasy."
Serena rolled her eyes. "Nothing about this has been easy."
Katz was walking just ahead, his tail swaying like a pendulum. He glanced back with his smooth grin. "Just a few more steps, children. Our king awaits his... audience."
The massive golden doors to the throne chamber loomed before them. Light seeped out from the cracks, music, chanting, the thrum of a ritual. Serena's grip on BJ's sleeve tightened. "This is it. Stay sharp."
But as they stepped toward the doors, Katz's expression shifted, his smile never leaving, but his eyes gleaming red in the torchlight. "Sharp advice, my dear," Katz purred. "But sometimes, sharpness cuts both ways."
Before they could react, Katz lunged forward with startling speed. His paw slammed a hidden switch in the floor. With a SNAP! a massive net shot down from above, ropes tangling around Serena and BJ, yanking them off their feet. BJ thrashed wildly. "HEY! WHAT THE?! This is NOT cool, Whiskers!"
Serena's eyes widened in fury. "KATZ!"
The cat just stood back, admiring his handiwork as they struggled like fish in a net. His silky laugh echoed through the chamber. "Tut, tut. You didn't really think I'd share the prize, did you?" His claws gleamed as he reached for the pedestal. "The Golden Banana belongs to me. Always has, always will. I simply needed a bit of... extra muscle to clear the way."
BJ growled, jerking against the ropes. "You conniving, flea-ridden SON OF A BITCH!"
Katz silenced him with a wag of a claw. "Temper, temper. You should be thanking me. At least you'll be alive when the king discovers your little break-in. That is, if he doesn't peel you first." With a graceful leap, Katz snatched the Golden Banana from its pedestal. The glow reflected off his sharp grin as he held it high. "Ah... glorious. Power, sweetness, eternity... all in the palm of my paw."
Serena's glare could've cut through stone. "This isn't over, Katz!"
"Oh, I do hope it isn't," Katz said smoothly, already slinking toward the throne doors. "Games are so much more fun when the pieces keep squirming." And with that, he vanished into the chamber beyond, the Golden Banana in his arms, leaving Serena and BJ tangled and furious in the net as the sound of drums thundered louder from behind the doors. The ropes dug into their arms as they dangled in the net, swaying helplessly. The echo of Katz's laughter still lingered in the chamber, sharp as broken glass.
BJ jerked against the ropes, face red. "This is all your fault, Serena!"
Her head snapped toward him. "My fault?! You're the one who kept running your mouth and got us thrown in a cell to begin with!"
"At least I tried to talk us out of it!" BJ shouted back, his voice cracking with frustration. "You just had to trust the creepy red cat! Oh, sure, let's believe the guy with razor claws and a voice like he eats nails for breakfast! Great judgment, Serena!"
Her eyes burned, but her voice wavered. "And what about you? You never take anything seriously! You're too busy acting like some... some wannabe tough guy, and now we're stuck here!"
BJ froze for a second, her words hit harder than the ropes. He glared at her, bitterness flashing in his eyes. "You think I'm useless, huh? Just dead weight. You'd be better off if I never came along."
Serena bit her lip, guilt flickering across her face. She opened her mouth to reply, the throne doors slammed open. Both of them jolted as the sound thundered through the chamber. Massive footsteps shook the ground, and then the shadow of King Max Assassin filled the room. His golden crown gleamed, and in his enormous hand was a black steel gun, polished to perfection. He stopped before them, tilting his massive gorilla head, eyes narrowing at the sight of the trapped intruders. His voice rumbled like distant thunder: "Humans... in my palace?" He snorted. "Pathetic. The cat brings me thieves, and now I find them squabbling like hatchlings in a net."
Serena's heart pounded in her chest, but she forced herself to meet his gaze. She swallowed, then spoke, her voice trembling but determined. "We're not thieves. Please, listen, we're here for something bigger than you realize."
Max's eyebrow twitched, his gun raising slightly. "And why should a king care for your excuses?"
Serena's voice cracked once, but she steadied herself, louder now. "Because if we don't find the pieces of Raymond, our friend, this entire world could collapse. And if that happens... it won't just be us. Your kingdom, your people, your crown everything will fall."
The king's nostrils flared. The chamber went silent, BJ staring at her, guilt flickering in his eyes for the fight just moments ago. King Max leaned closer, so close his hot breath swept over the net. His gun's barrel glinted inches from Serena's face. "...Then prove it, girl."

Serena's hands shook as she worked in the royal kitchens, every monkey guard watching her like hawks. King Max Assassin sat upon his towering throne, his golden gun resting across his lap, eyes narrowed with suspicion. BJ muttered under his breath, still sore from their fight, "If this blows up in our faces, just know I told you so."
"Shut up and pass me the whipped cream," Serena hissed, focused on her task.
She layered the ripe bananas carefully, scooped perfect mounds of creamy vanilla, strawberry, and chocolate ice cream, drizzled rivers of fudge, caramel, and strawberry sauce, and crowned it with cherries. She placed it upon a silver platter, her knees wobbling as she carried it to the king. The gorilla's nostrils flared as the scent reached him. Slowly, he leaned forward, scooping up a bite with his massive fingers. He chewed. The entire chamber fell silent, guards leaning forward, BJ holding his breath. King Max's eyes widened. Then, for the first time, he grinned, showing his sharp teeth. "This..." his booming voice echoed, "...is the perfect banana split! I proclaim it! The great SPLIT!" Gasps and murmurs erupted through the chamber. The king stood tall, gun raised to the ceiling. "The girl speaks the truth! Only one with honesty in her heart could craft such a flawless delicacy."
From the shadows, Katz hissed, tail lashing. "You fool! She's tricked you! I am your true ally!"
The king's grin vanished. His gun lowered, barrel glowing with golden fire. "No, cat... you are a liar."
One thunderous shot rang out. Katz yowled, collapsing, his schemes ending in smoke. The guards dragged his body away, executed for betraying the crown. King Max turned back to Serena and BJ, his chest heaving. Slowly, he reached behind his throne and retrieved a gleaming, mechanical eye, Raymond's piece. He held it out in his enormous palm. "Take this," he rumbled. "Your quest is real. And so is my respect. You are free to leave this palace as friends of the gorilla king."
Serena accepted the eye with trembling hands, eyes brimming with relief. BJ, still stunned, muttered, "Okay... so maybe you're not completely useless." Serena shot him a glare, but a small smile tugged at her lips as they left the palace, one step closer to saving Raymond.