MiST of Trapped (Part 1)

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Disclaimer: I don't own MST3K, whose format I will be using. I do, however, own my character, Nyperold the Meerkat, Sue, and the robots he makes. If you wish to use any of them in your own work, ask me so I can help them stay in character, and credit me. It's the nice thing to do. :) The concept of Someone... ask about it on NR's Messageboards. I'm sure they'll be glad to tell you. :) Also, I don't own the fic below. I'm MiSTing it with permission from Dr. Sipp. All works referenced are the property of their respective owners. No money is being made from this work. Enjoy!

(Nyperold, Sue, and the Bots are standing back and admiring the newly-built edifice.)

Tiff: This is one nice place!
Nyperold: Yeah, good thing I know somebody with a place like this.
Sue: So what do we do now?
Box: I guess we look around.

(They enter the lobby. To the left is the theater, straight ahead is the hall, and to the right is the rec room.)

Sue: Let's check out the rec room!

(They do. To the immediate left is a home theater system for watching movies or TV. Farther down the wall is a bookshelf. In the corner is a video game area. In the other corner is a place for board games and other games. Back toward the door on the right is a pool.)

Nyperold: Lots to do in here! But let's see where everything else is.

(They leave the rec room and enter the hall. To the left is the snack area, to the right are restrooms, male and female. Sue darts in through the restroom door for females, and exits after a few minutes.)

Nyperold: You washed your hands, right?
Sue: (smiles) Of course, Nyper.

(They cross the hall to the snack room.)

Nyperold: Better get whatever snacks your gonna get now; next stop's the theater, and I've got something to put in the machine.

(Nyperold gets a bag of corn chips and a medium orange juice. Sue gets a bag of gummi worms made with real fruit juice and a Vanilla Coke. They then exit and head to the theater.)

Box: So whatcha got for us today?
Nyperold: It's a fic by Dr. Sipp. It's called Trapped.
Tiff: Sounds ominous.
Sue: Yeah, especially since she sent it to us to MiST. (eats a gummi worm)
Nyperold: How are the gummi worms, Sue?
Sue: (swallows it) Slimy, yet satisfying.
The Bots: (groan)

(Nyperold puts the fic disc into the machine and sits down. He picks up Sue and sets her in his lap, holding her. The bots manuever to positions on opposite sides. The fic starts.)

Sonic the Hedgehog, Knuckles the Echidna, Miles

Box: ...to go before I sleep...

"Tails" Prower, Amy

Tiff: ...Grant...

Rose, Robo-Knux, Ray the Flying Squirrel,

Nyperold: Egon the Sugar Glider...

Nyperold: As Outcasts would say, "The puns! THE PUNS!"

Eliza the Echidna, etc are (c) to me.

Box: I didn't know that online Rogerian psychologist was an echidna.
Nyperold: This is definitely not that Eliza.

Eliza is pronounced e-lee-za, and I'll continue to say this in every fic I write.

Tiff: (singing) I'll be pronouncing you...

Okay, peoples, this is the only fic of mine that will be rated over 'G' (Or 'U', in some cases)

Sue: (singing) It's "U", I like...

It's PG, because I'm graphic about Eliza's condition,

Nyperold: Think you'll be able to handle it?
Sue: Yeah. But thanks for thinking of me. (she slides off his lap to the side, and hugs him)
Nyperold: (smiles and hugs back)

and because Knuxie utters one tiny little swear word (which in fact, isn't a swear word at all.) I couldn't weasel my way out of it. I had to have him swear.

Nyperold: So is it or isn't it?

His sister is dieing..

Robotnik paced around one of his chambers, hands behind his back.
"What to do to get back at that accursed hedgehog?"

A crooked grin crept up his face.

Sue: (singing) There was a crooked man...
Nyperold: Lots of opportunities to sing this time, huh?

"I'll just sic my newest Mecha-Bot on him."

Box: Mecha-Mu--
Nyperold: Box! Shh! Arcadia's Sonic might be reading this!

He chuckled darkly as he walked over to a set of metal doors.

Tiff: Robotic copies of John Densmore, Robby Krieger, Ray Manzarek and Jim Morrison?

"Computer, open the doors."

>Access disallowed<

Tiff: (same voice) In fact, all MS Office applications are disallowed.

"WHAT?!" He nearly bellowed. "Open the doors."

>Access disallowed<

"I AM YOUR LORD AND MASTER! NOW OPEN THESE DOORS BEFORE I REDUCE YOU TO A CALCULATOR!" Spit flung from his gaping jaws.

Nyperold: Short-circuiting his computer, and more permanently disallowing access.

>Access disallowed<

"Ah.. just the person I was looking for."

Robotnik whirled around at the sound of a voice.

Box: Oh, don't tell me this is the first time he's heard voices.

It was Robo-Knux. He was bright crimson all over, and he quite resembled

Sue: A strawberry.
Box: A red- and green-striped golfing umbrella.
Tiff: Clifford.
Nyperold: Enchanted Forest man. (everyone stares) What?

Knuckles, the Guardian of the Floating Island. A white V was marked on his chest, in mockery of Knuckles's Guardian birthmark. His digital eyes were a creepy green. His knuc-claws, were sharp, and

Box: The subject, is not to be separated from its verb by a comma, unless a phrase and another comma follow it.

at least eight inches long. His figure was quite intimidating.

Nyperold: He, like Robotnik, would benefit from a weight-loss program.

Robotnik was uneasy in the presence of the robot. He had been built as a replacement to Metal-Sonic. (A/N: Mecha was destroyed back in Eliza's Birthday Bash, so yeah..) Unlike Mecha, he had a more defined personality,

Tiff: Cause you’ve got Smile,
Others: Personality
Tiff: Charm,
Others: Personality
Tiff: Walk,
Others: Personality
Tiff: Talk,
Others: Personality...

and even a sense of humour.

Nyperold: (as Leo McKern as Number 2) I really must update your file.

He was fairly strong-willed, which was what bothered the evil doctor. And Ivo had a strong feeling that the Mecha Bot was linked to the computer's disobedience.

"What is the meaning of this, Robo-Knux?"

Box: (as RK) This. Demonstrative pronoun and adjective. Denoting a person or thing near at hand, just mentioned, or about to be mentioned. Of Old English origin. Why?

It was the robot's turn to smile.

"I say, it's about time for a revolution."

Box: So he went to the arcade and played Revolution X.

SWATbots advanced on the doctor. Robo-Knux was still smiling.

"I've always wanted to do this, doc." He went on to imitate Robotnik's voice.

"SWATbots! Seize him!"

Nyperold: The Robotnik was seized!
Box: It's a good thing we don't have an O-O-M here, Nyp...

The mindless minions obeyed, cornering Robotnik, and restraining him. Robotnik didn't put up much of a fight. His power lay in his machines. They forced him into a containment cell, and RK watched it all with a silent, yet amused effect.

"Ah.. Snively."

Sure enough, the under-sized human scuttled into view. RK took him by the arm.

"Come, Snively, we have a few issues to discuss."

Box: (as RK) As you may know, the Archie comics are--
Nyperold: Box, I haven't read them, so you know little about them.

Snively, let himself be dragged by the powerful robot, while avoiding the piercing glare his uncle shot him.

Sue: Which was good, for him. Those status attacks can get you, over time.
Nyperold: Don't tell me you played Battlepets...
Sue: Okay, I won't.

Once the two had reached their destination, Robo-Knux spoke,

"Snively, I am planning on attacking the Floating Island."

"I-I d-don't t-th-ink t-that's a g-good idea, s-sir." Snively cowered before the Mecha bot. It was in fact he, who came up with most components of RK's design. He wanted RK to destroy Robotnik, and Knuckles for him. Of course, the whole thing had blown up in his face,

Box: And yet, the 'bot was still amazingly intact.

when he saw that he had made Robo-Knux _too_ powerful. The robot was incredibly strong-willed. he had to be, to fight off his obedient programming. In fact, Robo-Knux terrified Snively.

"T-the Island h-has incredible d-defenses, s-sir."

"Oh?"

Snively scampered over to a cabinet, and pulled out some files. He handed one to Robo-Knux.

Box: (as RK) Snively, I do not think your saved game files are relevant information.

The robot scanned it.

"Th-that's Knuckles, t-the Guardian of the Floating Island."

"Ah," RK noted, the smirk never leaving his face, "My friend."

Snively blinked in surprise. RK was showing no particular hate for his organic counterpart.

"Guardian, bla bla bla. Former ally of Dr. Robotnik, bla bla bla. Abilities: gliding, bla, bla."

He tossed the file back to Snively. Snively fiddled around in the cabinet, then produced another one.

Sue: Another fiddle?

"This one's the most dangerous. He's about as dangerous as Sonic himself, if not more. This armadillo has destroyed thousands, and perhaps even a few millions dollars of equipment."

Tiff: This guy sounds really mighty.
Nyperold: You've got it.

"Lessee here. Bla bla bla, Taken to slave labour camp. Escaped. Was harassed by evil scientist Imak, who wanted to

Nyperold: Put him in Imak's movies.
Others: (groan)

use his strength for world domination, bla. When he refused, Imak murdered his in-laws. Ran away from home. Was captured, and brought into Overlander lab, where he was tested on. The experiment was to mix chameleon DNA with his own. He escaped before the ray could get higher than his ankles, bla bla. This guys been through everything.

Tiff: Is that "These guys have" or "This guy's"?

Abilities: 'Kicking off'. Feet able to stick onto surfaces for a short amount of time, bla bla. Jumping span irregularly high. Can run up to speeds of nearly Mach 1. Can lift 300 times his size, bla bla.

Nyperold: Why is lifting strength measured in relative size of object lifted? I could lift 300 times my size, if the object in question was styrofoam.

(A/N: Friends 'Till the End, Part 3. The story I will never finish)

Tiff: Looks like we've got an optiMiST here.
Others: (groan)

Spindash.. and it goes on."

Snively received the file, and placed it back in it's place.

"Hello! Who's this?" RK was looking over another file.

"The Guardian's little sister, s-sir."

"Cool. Removed from home at the age of 1 by the Dark Legion. Was supposed to be killed, but somehow survived. Lived on Mobius Prime..

Box: With Samus Aran.
Nyperold: That would be Metroid Prime.

bla bla, in a small village, Elmridge, yadda yadda yadda. Beaten up daily, bla bla bla. Head of a resistance against a group of dogs, yadda yadda. Abilities: energy transfer, gliding, bla bla bla. Interesting little squirt we got here..."

Nyperold: You'll probably get hit with a Blastoise for that.

He wafted through the other files, then dropped them back into the file cabinet. He then closed his hand around Snively's arm.

"Thank you for your assistance,"

He muscled him over to Robotnik's cell.

"Thanks to Snively here, who supplied me with some information, I will spare you two.

Box: Even if it is a 7-10 split.

You will be taken to one of your own emergency bases, and contained, by your own SWATbots."

He waved his arm in dismissal, as the bulky robots dragged away the former dictator, and his nephew.

"I'll deal with Robotropolis later... but right now, I have an island to take."

He exited through the roof, leaping into a glide.

"Floating Island... ready or not, here I come..."

Sue: (as the Floating Island) OLLY OLLY OXEN FREE!
Nyperold: ... Ow.

Trapped

Ray threw down his cards.

"Flush."

Box: (speaker noise)
Nyperold: You aren't about to make that noise, are you?
Box: ... No.

Eliza supplied him with a grin, then dropped her own cards.

"Royal flush."
"You are too good at this game... What do you want me to do?"

"Handstand!"

"Fine, fine."

He did as he was bid, but fell over. Eliza was seized with a desperate urge to laugh.

Nyperold: Eliza--
Box: You already did that joke...

"Let's play."

The squirrel shuffled the deck, and lay out the cards. After another 5 minutes of playing, Eliza dropped her cars, rather sheepishly.

Sue: (as Eliza) 2 Model-Ts, a Lambroghini, a Rabbit, and a Pinto.

"Two sixes."

"Full house,"

All: (singing) Everywhere you look, (everywhere you look...)

Ray announced proudly. He had taken it upon himself to stay with her while Mighty was not around. Ray came to the Hidden Palace with the Eliza

Box: "Eliza" is a proper noun. It does not take an article.

on her shifts, to keep her company, and to make sure she was okay. She still wasn't at full strength. Although he would never admit his true intentions to her, he was glad to stay with her during her shifts.

Tiff: Ooh, he has secret intentions...

"Now.. plug your nose, and hop around on one leg."

Eliza obeyed, and the spectacle was hilarious. Ray fell over, clutching his sides. Even Eliza laughed, still hopping.

"Yes, yes. Very amusing." An unknown voice remarked, accompanied by a dark chuckle.

Tiff: So, as he chuckled, the light was obscured.

Eliza fell over, alarmed, and Ray instinctively crawled backwards, directly into the Chaos Chamber. The Master Emerald was his first priority.

"What are you doing here?!"

"Actually, " the stranger commented, "I was planning to steal the Master Emerald. But I just got my dose of entertainment."

He was a robot. Most of his body was bright red, and Eliza could immediately tell it was Knuckles he was built to look like. His dreadlocks were squared.

Nyperold: While Knuckles's dreadlocks had roots.

they branded each one white stripe at the ends. And his knuc-claws, were long enough to stab through her torso completely through, and still have some room. They gleamed like diamonds. He was smoother than Mecha, and even had a sense of humour.

Box: Lest we had forgotten this important piece of information.

"I, am Mecha Bot 4. But you can call me Robo-Knux." He held out his hand to her,

"Nice to meet you."

Eliza didn't accept the hand. Those knuc-claws made her nervous, and his digital eyes were a piercing green.

Tiff: And creepy. Don't forget creepy!

"..Or not."

"Get out. Before I hurt you," she growled.

Robo-Knux laughed.

"You're cute."

Wrong answer.

Nyperold: Sooooo... she's not cute?

Eliza curled her body into a ball, and launched it at RK.

RK kept his smile, and slashed the incoming ball. The force of the attacked sent Eliza back, reeling into the wall. She impacted back on, and was forced to uncurl, sliding down. There was a long gash on her back.
She scampered to the Chaos Chamber.

"Ray, we have to get the Master Emerald out of here. He's too strong."

"But how?"

Eliza put her hand to the surface of the powerful gem. It began to glow with a green aura, then shrank to the size of a pencil case.

"Cool."

"LET'S GO!"

Sue: (singing) Vamonos...

As she said this, Robo-Knux was before them. They took off, RK following at a leisurely pace. Once outside, they took the air.

Nyperold: And I thought Carmen Sandiego villains took hard-to-take stuff...

Robo-Knux appeared in between them.

An idea hit Eliza.

Sue: So they were in Nightopia?
Nyperold: That's "ideya".

"Ray!"

The squirrel tilted his head towards Eliza.

"Yeah?"

"Catch!"

She threw the Emerald over to him, just as Robo-Knux veered her way. Ray caught it, and grinned.

"Robot in the middle!"

RK turned towards Ray, and charged. Ray hurtled it over to Eliza.
This game went on for a bit. Robo-Knux became bored with it. Just as Eliza had finished passing to Ray, the robot swiveled into her, knocking her out of the air. Eliza tumbled down, but landed on three limbs.

Box: Arms and legs, or tree limbs?

RK hovered to the ground, as Eliza took off. He shot after her, and eerie smile on his face.

"He hasn't realized that I don't have the ME," she contemplated.

Box: The XP is much better.

The air began to get warmer, and a desert appeared before her. That gave her an idea.

"I'll lose him in the Sandopolis pyramids!"

Nyperold: Dude, POG flashback.

She pushed her legs harder, whisking off in the direction of the ever-growing pyramids.

Tiff: The pyramids are organic?

RK was close behind her, and Eliza didn't even look back.

"Almost there.. IN!" She zipped through the door.

There was little light. She blinked as her eyes adjusted to the dimness, and gazed around.

Robo-Knux was nowhere to be seen, or heard, but Eliza knew he was nearby.

She darted her eyes around, sliding cautiously. Her arms were outstretched. She knew all the pyramids by heart, Knuckles and Mighty had shown her.

Robo-Knux watched her, secured up in the roof.

He dropped to the floor.

Eliza jolted,

Tiff: She certainly has moxie.

and zipped into the next room, tripping over a loose slate in the process. The moving of the slate triggered a hidden switch, and the floor under her feet shifted, allowing her to plunge into the unknown.

She fell for about 130 mill

Tiff: ennia!
Nyperold: Hmmm... is it fair to riff in midword?
Tiff: I... dunno.
Nyperold: Best play it safe, then.

iseconds, then encountered liquid of some kind, causing a splash. She surfaced, and swam to land.

"A pool..."

Nyperold: ...table, like the one in Star Trek V.

She looked up, examined her surroundings, then concluded,

"This must be a hidden pyramid.."

Box: You entered a pyramid which you knew about. How do you know this isn't just another part of the same pyramid? Would a 30-or-so-foot fall take you into another pyramid?

Knux had never shown her this one, and from the looks of it, it had probably been unexplored for hundreds of years.

"It must be really important if it's hidden," Eliza noted.

RK hopped through the opening, plummeted for a bit, then hovered, directly over the water.

Clank.

The little trap door shut, blocking out a few rays,

Box: Ray Romano, Sugar Ray Leonard, and Rayman.
Tiff: Not to mention Ray the Flying Squirrel.

and Eliza scampered out of RK's view.

He chuckled.

"I wasn't expecting this much fun..."

"Good thing I have great night vision," Eliza thought, concentrating.

Box: (as Shadow Man) Have your eyes adjusted to the darkness yet?
Nyperold: (as Mega Man) Almost, why?
Box: (sound of a light switch being flipped on, then, a couple of seconds later, the same sound)
Nyperold: (as Mega Man) Ah! My eyes! You... (thinks) ...rascal!
Box: (as Shadow Man) Mee hee hee...
Tiff: Bob & George: The Comic Strip, ladies and gentlemen.

She had no idea where she could go.

"Guess I'll just have to improvise."

She could make out walls, and an open doorway.

The echidna risked a glance behind her. She was half-expecting to see Robo-Knux looming over her, big hands outstretched in a lunge. Nothing of the sort. More darkness and empty space greeted her.

Nyperold: Hello, there! I'm darkness, and this is my good friend, empty space!
Sue: Nice to meet you. I'm Eliza!

She had a strong feeling that Mecha Bot 4 was nearby.

Nyperold: I had a good feeling!

Eliza walked soundlessly through the door, straining her ears for any sign of the robot.
RK was in the lofts, looking gleefully down at his prey.
The young Guardian advanced, through the doorway, then paused. There was some kind of inscription near the frame.

She brought her face close to it, and squinted.

All: Hi-yo! Hi-yo! The High Plains Squinter! Hi-yo! Hi-yo! The High Plains Squinter!

There were no words, but little pictures engraved instead.

"Ancient echidna hieroglyphics. Wonderful,"

Nyperold: (singing) 'S marvelous, that you should care... for me...

she breathed.

She studied them. Eliza knew a small amount of the old echidna language, but before she could continue,

Box: The timer ran out, and she had to start the game all over.
Sue: (as Eliza) Aw, man! I couldn't find a quarter in time!

she felt something scraping down her back. There was a slight ripping noise, and she jumped, cried out, and dashed to the next room.

Robo-Knux suppressed a snicker, and stood, smiling.

Eliza, heart pounding, felt her back, then examined her hand.

Blood.

"He's toying with me.."

Nyperold: (as Jaffar from Aladdin) Don't toy with me!
Box: (makes the sound of a wind-up cymbal playing monkey)
Tiff: Hey, no Disney!
Nyperold: Tiff, we've got pretty open rules here.
Tiff: Oh... sorry, I must've been accessing the section of my databank regarding Ashura Hedgehog.

she whispered to nobody in particular.

Eliza hated being toyed with.

The silence, and darkness that enveloped her was maddening, she gazed around constantly, jerked upright at the slightest sound, and her heart was going a mile a minute.

Robo-Knux was always close behind, watching his prey intently.

"You want to play cat and mouse? Fine with me."

Nyperold: I prefer Cats-levania, though.
Others: (groan)

This game went on for a while, but it seemed like hours, to Eliza.

Little by little, terror overtook the little echidna, and she, indeed, became like a mouse, trapped, and hunted by the predator, Robo-Knux.
Just the sight of his brilliant green eyes, illuminating the darkness, staring at her, was enough to send her into a small panic attack. But the worst thing about him were, those eight inch knuc-claws, lit up by his eyes, gleaming like diamonds.

Finally, she mustered up her courage, turned to the darkness, and called out,

"Enough of this! Show yourself, RK! I know you're there."

There was a faint rustling, and, surprisingly, enough, RK appeared before her, at the other end of the room.

Box: He slashed at the comma before the adverb "enough".

"Aww... but I was having fun."

"What is that you want?!"

Nyperold: (as RK) Information.

Robo-Knux said nothing, but advanced, smirking.

"I know it's not the Master Emerald."

This time, Robo-Knux replied.

"A cookie to the little echidna."

Sue: (as Eliza) Oh boy! A cookie! ... Hey, this is an internet cookie!

She stepped back.

"What do you want with me?!"

"Just hold still."

Eliza stumbled back, just as RK lunged at her. His knuc-claws flashed, and pierced the piece of floor where her mid-side had been, just a second before.

She threw herself backwards, and the spikes on the robot's hands came down again. Another narrow miss. She shoved herself to her feet, and darted out, Robo-Knux close behind.

She wasn't even paying attention to where she was going.

Nyperold: That's a very good way to get...
All: TRAPPED.

Without warning, the little echidna collided into cold stone.

Instead of crashing, Eliza actually pushed the stone, and the wall before her slid apart with a creak, showing an opening.

Box: A small river in a pyramid?
Nyperold: Stranger things have happened, but you're thinking of a creek.

"I must've hit a switch,"

She staggered through the opening, rubbing her mid-side, as the door slowly closed, with shudders.

Ka-Chunk.

Robo-Knux thrust himself through the opening, but got caught. He pushed out with all his strength, but the mechanism won their little war.

Nyperold: The War of the Mechanism. Let us build a monument.
Box: The mechanism... their. Ow.

There was a grinding, as stone encountered his hull. RK cursed inaudibly, and brandished his blaster. He aimed it at the wall, and let loose a small flurry of blasts. The door halted it's movement, and RK shoved himself through.

Eliza, meanwhile, had reached another dead end. She squinted at the wall, noticing an inscription.

It was written in English, this time.

"Look to where builders roam."

All: Can we fix it? Yes, we can!
Nyperold: How did we know about that?
Box: You saw it on the news.
Nyperold: Oh yeah...

She glanced around her.

Sue: A futile move, as there were no Battlepets anywhere around.
Nyperold: (smiles and rolls his eyes)

"Builders roam.. what kind of builders?" she turned her eyes to all the walls, and the ceiling.

"Um.." She looked down in contemplation, but snapped her fingers.

"That's it!"

On the floor, was a picture of ants.

"Ants! Of course.."

Nyperold: Ant-oine?

She dropped to her knees, and inspected the floor.

There were two small pictures, yet very detailed, each 3 inches apart.

One had a picture of gold, and assorted jewels, while the other was an island. The Floating Island, to be precise. And, also, miniscule people, no doubt echidnas.

"Um.." She could hear Robo-Knux's clanking footsteps, getting louder. He wasn't bothering to keep himself concealed any more.

"Er.."

She ran her fingers over the second image, the island. To her surprise, the floor under her opened, and she plunged down, again.

Nyperold: You fall down a chute! [ Plummet ]

This time it was a very short fall, maybe about 6 feet.

The ground closed up again.

"Atleast I'm safe from RK.."

Box: (as Calvin) I'm safe! (ZAP)
Nyperold: Heh. And Calvin turns into a safe.

Robo-Knux, who had seen Eliza's descent, positioned himself over the spot, and rammed his knuc-claws into it. Eliza saw the patch shudder, and a few rocks dropped onto her. She crawled backwards, as the Mecha Bot slammed his spikes into it once more. A small crack appeared, and more rocks fell. She slid back, but fell on her back.

"A passage!" she whispered happily, whisking through it. Another room greeted her, and she soon found herself at another wall. There was more writing, hieroglyphics again, and a carving. It was in the shape of a hand. The little echidna attempted to read it, and she recognized one word. "Matoyu"

It meant Guardian.

She then diverted her attention to the hand. It was obviously there,

Nyperold: As opposed to a figment of her imagination.

as a sort of password. The hand was much bigger than her own, and it was even larger than Knux's.

She heard a crashing sound, and removed her glove. She placed her own hand in the slot. It fit, despite the size difference, and pushed into wall.

Tiff: Ahem. It fit, despite the size difference. She pushed into the wall.

"Of course! All Guardians have the same shape of hand!"

The ceiling opened, admitting light, and heat. Eliza blinked, beside herself with joy. The light hurt her eyes, but she welcomed it with open arms. She replaced her glove.

Box: With a Glove of Spee... Aw MAN, Nyperold, now you've got ME doin' it!
All except Box: (snicker)
Box: 'S'not funny!

"I'm free!"

The panel would close as she exited, trapping Robo-Knux, and she'd go for help.

She scampered up the wall, feeling the soft sand underneath her fingers. She pulled herself up, gleefully.

Something cold clamped onto her leg.

"Going somewhere, Mizu?"

She was yanked down, and the panel closed.

"No!" her mind raced, trying to get up.

Tiff: (as Eliza) No, I'm not going anywhere. Whatever gave you that idea?

But Robo-Knux was upon her in a flash, pinning her to the ground, like a big cat.

His hands closed around her upper-arms, keeping her down.

"Don't struggle. It would be a shame if I were forced to tighten my grip."

He paused.

Nyperold: Then he hit rewind.

"Actually, it wouldn't. I'm just saying that."

Eliza let out an inaudible squeak, and the Mecha bot beamed, their eyes meeting.

RK's vibrant green ones rippled.

Box: Creepy, piercing and vibrant.

Eliza blinked in awe.

"How'd they do that?"

She was so absorbed, that she almost didn't feel the blow to the back of her head. She gave a small shiver, and slumped forward in his arms.

Robo-Knux, still joyful, stood up, the unconscious echidna in his arms.

"..And now, the fun begins."

Nyperold: He wasn't already having fun?

Meanwhile...

Ray was getting agitated.
Why hadn't Robo-Knux come after him?
He must've realized, at some point, that Eliza didn't have the Master Emerald.
Ray almost choked on his own spit when realization hit him.

Box: Realization hits hard... and doesn't wear gloves!

"Eliza.....!"

He flew off, in the direction of the Sandopolis pyramids.
He had seen Eliza lead RK there. He dove, and entered.

"Oh man.. if anything happened to her, I'll never forgive myself."

He rushed through the unfamiliar surroundings, but stopped short.

"I'm lost.." he admitted sheepishly.

Nyperold: Wool, what did you expect? You rushed in, not bothering to get your bearings!
All except Nyperold: (groan)

Knux and Mighty had never gotten to show him the pyramids.>
His thoughts turned to Eliza.

"Please let her be okay..."

*******

Box: A row of ASCII character 42.
Nyperold: Is that your final answer?
Box: ... Yeesh.

Amy stalked through Lava Reef, hands on hips.

"Where is that squirrel?!"

He was supposed to meet her near the entrance to Lava Reef, half an hour ago.

"Ooooh... if I ever get my hands on Ray..." she murmured, her fists clenched.

It wasn't like Ray to keep people waiting, and the blistering heat of Lava Reef was getting on Amy's nerves. Her boots slid on something, and she lifted it.

Sue: EWWWWW!
Nyperold: (chuckles) No, Sue, not that.

"What the-"

She froze.

Box: Quite a trick, that, freezing so near lava.

Blood.

Shakily, the young hedgehog risked a peek down, and was horrified but what she saw.

(A/N: WARNING: If you have a weak stomach, or don't like gore, then skip this part.

All: (start to get up)
Nyperold: Hey wait... It's "blood-and-guts" gore, not the former Vice President. Besides, if we all leave, we'll never finish this MiST!
All except Sue: (sit down)
Sue: I think... I'll sit it out, anyway. I'll be in the rec room. Come get me when the bloody bit is over.
Nyperold and Sue: (give each other a big hug)
Nyperold: Okay, kiddo.
Sue: (leaves for the rec room)

It's a graphic explanation of Eliza's condition. If this is the case.. then all you need to know that Eliza is _really_ badly injured.)

It was Eliza. She was laying in a pool of her own blood, body mutilated. Every inch of her was covered with an injury of some sort, most of them being slashes. Her flesh was ripped apart, and her torso was open. You could have probably seen her hear, if you looked closely.

Nyperold: At least she could still hear, apparently. But how would someone be able to tell that from looking?

Her lungs were untouched, but splattered with blood. Her intestines weren't even in her body. Some of her less important organs were laying near her body, and her muscles were exposed, smeared on her feet.

Amy, took a step back, shaking violently, and let out a shrill, piercing scream.

"MR. GUARDIAN! MR. GUARDIAN!"

"What is it?" inquired an irate Knuckles.

"There's been an attacking, sir."

Nyperold: Wow, this is the first time I've seen a Sonic fic treat Knuckles so... formally.

"What?! Who?!"

"Your sister, sir."

This got Knux's undivided attention.

"Say what? Eliza?" he asked dubiously.

Tiff: (as Amy) No, Ray the flying squirrel. Yes, Eliza!

"Yes, sir."

"KNUX!"

Knux tilted his head in time to see a pink blur, rushing at him.

"Amy.. I-"

She threw herself into his arms, sobbing like mad.

"What happened?" he inquired softly.

It took a minute for Amy to collect herself to talk.

"I found.. Eliza.. she was..." she hiccupped.,

Nyperold: Take a deep breath, drink something, and burp.
The bots: (stare at him)
Nyperold: Hey, it works for me.

Mighty arrived at the scene.

"Where's Eliza?"

The echidna that had informed Knuckles of her attack spoke up.

Box: What? Amy's an echidna, now? Or did we miss a scene change, and someone else is telling him?

"She's in Emergency care.."

Mighty noticed Amy.

"Ames! What happened? Are you okay?"

Amy burst into tears anew, and Knuckles gently thrust her into Mighty's arms.

"Shh.. It's okay, Amy, it's okay." He rubbed her back soothingly, and she sobbed into his chest.

"IT'S NOT OKAY!" She screeched, "You go look at her, and tell me it's okay!"

"Amy, you need to get home."

Knuckles and Mighty exchanged quizzical looks, and the armadillo guided the hysterical girl to the Com Room, a small hut near Echidnaopolis.

Tiff: What on Mobius is so difficult to understand? Eliza was attacked, and is in Emergency care, for goodness's sake... is she known for overreacting?

He turned the Com link on, and signaled Knothole.

"Yeah?" A very familiar blue hedgehog greeted him.

"We're sending Amy back. Something dire has happened on the Floating Island."

"What happened?"

"An attacking."

"Oh."

Box: Uh, how is he saying that? It looks like, "Pfft, is that all?", but I could be wrong.

"Turn your transporter on."

Sonic did as he was bid, and Mighty ushered Amy in.

Mighty clicked some buttons, flicked on a switch, and there was a bright flash on light.

Nyperold: Looks like those busy prepositions are getting mixed up.

Once the light had assimilated, Amy stood, near Sonic, who immediately was by her side.

"Amy? What happened?"

"Later days, blue."

"Ciao."

Mighty flicked the communicator off, and sprinted back to the ER.

Box: So it was Mighty who said, "Later days, blue"?

"Knux? How is she?"

Knuckles was looking pale.
Mighty didn't even wait for him to reply. He took a peek at Eliza, and immediately paled.

"I think I'm going to be sick..."

"Go right ahead... I think I'll join you."

Tiff: Right place for it...

"Who.. what.."

"KNUX! MIGHTY!"

Ray collapsed in front of them, panting heavily.

Vector came behind him.

Nyperold: Hey, look, an approaching Vector!
Box: Times of Chaos MiST?
Nyperold: ... yeah...

"Ray.. weren't you supposed to be with Eliza?"

Ray nodded, and let Mighty pull him to his feet.

"What happened, Ray?"

The squirrel was about to go on, but stopped short when he saw Eliza's condition.

"OH MY GOD!" the squirrel almost fell backwards, his face a sick shade of green.

Knuckles clamped his hands on the squirrel's shoulders.

"What happened?!"

It took a few minutes for Ray to collect himself, and continue.
Knux shook him violently.

"WHAT HAPPENED?!"

Nyperold: Dude, he can't continue if you keep doing that!

Mighty whacked Knuckles upside the head, and Knux, out of surprise, let go of Ray.

"Oww!" the Guardian rubbed his head gingerly.

"Knux, you'll kill him before he can say anything if you go on like that. Two minutes of waiting won't make a difference."

Knuckles grumbled, but stayed quiet.

"No," Ray breathed, "Sorry, it's my fault."

"Ray, what did that to Eliza?"

"Not what, it's who."

Nyperold: He's on first, of course.

Echidna and armadillo exchanged uneasy glances.

"A Mecha bot."

"Metal-Sonic?!"

Ray shook his head.

"You mean there's more than one?!" Knux's eyes went as wide as saucers.

"Well," Mighty put in, "Let's not forget about Silver Sonic."

Nyperold: Let's not Ag-gravate things.
The bots: (groan)

Knux snorted.

"It was neither of them. I think he called himself Robo-Knux."

Knuckles dropped whatever he was holding. His mouth gaped, and he just stared, not able to produce any coherent words.

"What did he look like?" Mighty pressed.

Box: (as Ray) He looked like Sally Acorn, Mighty.
Nyperold: Like in that SatAM episode! (as Tails) She doesn't know how to do the funny kiss!

"He looked like Knux. He was your height, Knux, maybe a tiny bit shorter. I don't know.. I didn't see him much. He was scarlet, like you, and had a white V painted on his chest. His arms were massive, and he used them to glide. They were flat. He had square dreadlocks, that's where some of his engines."

Tiff: Where some of his engines... what?

"Engines?"

"Yeah... I think he had four."

"Four?"

"Yeah. Anyway, he had big hands, and knuc-claws, this long."

Ray clenched a fist, and held the other one about eight inches away."

Both listeners swallowed, wincing.

"That's enough to impale Eliza on." A shudder went through the group.

"And... well, he had vibrant green eyes.. Oh man..."

Box: Need we say creepy and piercing?

Mighty rubbed his back reassuringly.

"It's not your fault, Ray. There was nothing you could have done."

"Yeah.." came the soft, incredulous response.

"Robo-Knux, eh?"

"Espio," Mighty sent a glance in the chameleon's direction, just as he de-cloaked, "Where've you been?"

Box: I've been to London to visit the Queen.

"Right here, the whole time."

"Why didn't you show yourself?"

Espio shrugged, and Mighty frowned.

"..And you wonder why people don't trust you."

"Nah," the chameleon grinned.

"Chaotix," Knuckles raised his voice, cutting short the rest of the conversation.

They all tilted their heads in his direction, "Look for any traces of R.K."

"Will do, Knuxie-poo"

Nyperold: Okay, now that merits an "EWWWWWW!"

Knuckles glared daggers at the giggling chameleon as he left.

Hours later, they returned, with no results.

Knuckles was still out.

Mighty sighed, and plopped down in a chair. They were in the emergency waiting room. Vector and Espio were beside him, arguing about something, as usual.

"I can so!" Vector protested.

"As if," Espio snorted, "You couldn't beat a moth."

Nyperold (as Vector) I could so! Uh... if it were a moth larva!

Vector growled, revealing an impressive row of pointy teeth.

"I could beat you no problem."

"Keep dreaming, twinkletoes."

Vector barely restrained himself from lunging at the cocky chameleon.
Espio saw that he had hit gold, and continued to egg Vector on, laughing.
Before they could fight, however, a fist came at their mid-sides, and both reptiles were sent flying, in separate direction. Good thing they were alone in the waiting room.

"Look," came the growl that was Mighty's voice, "I have no patience for your idiotic bickering right now. Can't you two, for once in your lives, both shut up, and sit quietly?"

He stalked off.

Box: To find some celery.

Vector shrugged.

"What's eating him?"

Nyperold: (as... well, you know) Nothing -- he's at the top of the food chain! (chuckles) The food chain...
Tiff: Interesting that it's the meerkat that says that...

Mighty knelt beside Eliza's bed, and took her hand in his.

"How is she?" he questioned the doctor.

The doctor shook his head, sadly.

"It doesn't look good. I'm sorry, Mighty."

Mighty felt a lump in his throat, and rubbed her motionless hand softly.

"Please, Eliza. Make it through."

Nyperold: (singing) Prove it to you... Fol--
Box: I call no more SA2 - City Escape!
Nyperold: Awwww...

His desperate request fell on deaf ears.

Tiff: But... you could see her hear! How is she deaf?
Nyperold: Okay, I call no more making fun of that particular typo.

The doctor sighed, looking ruefully at the duo.

All (except the absent Sue): (rue very hard)

"There must be something we can do.."

Eliza was hooked up to machinery, pumping blood, and medicine. Tubes were coming out of her body.

"I swear, Eliza, if I ever get my hands on the punk that did this to you...."

"Mighty! Visiting hours are over.."

"Alright," he answered quietly,

Box: Dr. Quietly?

placing Eliza's hand back on the sheets.

"And please," the doctor turned to look at him, "Try to get some sleep."

"I'll try." His voice was hollow.

He cast a regretful look at the little echidna as he left.

*****

Tiff: I wonder what a one-star hotel is like...
Box: Let me put it to you this way: there is no such thing as a no-star hotel.

"Tsk, tsk. Poor little Michael. He's all upset about his sidekick." A pair of luminous green eyes traced the armadillo, with malicious intentions.

"I should put him out of his misery."

Mighty gave a sigh, and plopped down on the couch.

12:07am

Unable to sleep, he stared at the ceiling, hands behind his head.
The armadillo closed his eyes, but flickered them open after 30 seconds.
Brilliant half-crescents burned into his site.

Nyperold: Robo Knuckles had struck again, taking over his webspace!

"Hello... Mighty," came the purr.

"Rob-Robo Knux.."

"Indeed."

Mighty found he could not tear himself away from RK's gaze. His eyes rippled, and diluted. He could feel his eyelids getting heavier. They drooped.

WHAM!

Robo-Knux delivered a hard blow to Mighty's head, and he was out like a light.

The robot smiled, evidently proud of himself, and crouched over his prize, raising his knuc-claws.

Box: Yeah, that must've been difficult, to knock out an already reclining Mobian.

*****

Nyperold: Oh my! It's full of stars!

Knuckles slammed the phone down violently.

Why wasn't Mighty responding?

Mighty hadn't shown up to the doctor's appointment. It wasn't like Mighty to miss such an important doctor's appointment, especially one about Eliza.
He made his way to Mighty's house, and rang the door bell.

Nothing.

Box: NOTHING? Nothing, tra la la?

Frustrated, he kicked the door, smashing it down.

"I'll get it repaired later."

He marched in, but stopped dead in his tracks.

"No..!" he choked.

Mighty, was lying, face down on the floor.

Box: An odd position for telling falsehoods, but to each his own...

Fearing the worst, Knuckles crept towards him. Shakily, he turned his friend over. Long gashes greeted him.

The bots: (as long gashes) Hi, Knux!
Nyperold: (as Knux) Hi there!

Not to mention bruises. He wasn't nearly as bad Eliza had been, but still bad.

Tiff: Proofread carefully to make sure you haven't any words out.

Blood was still gushing from a chest wound.

Sue: (peeking in, looking directly at Nyperold) Is it safe to come in?
Nyperold: Probably not yet, Sue.
Sue: Okay. Back to the rec room...

Desperately, Knuckles snatched a blanket, wrapped his friend in it, and whisked to the hospital, as fast as his legs would carry him.

"Where've you been?" the doctor demanded of a panting Knux.

"And why is there blood smeared on your gloves?"

Box: (as Knux) Oh, I just attacked Mighty. ... What're you all looking at me like that for?

What was left of the Chaotix was standing, arms folded.

"I.. found Mighty.. He got attacked."

An uneasy silence.
Mighty was the best fighter the island had. If Robo-Knux could attack him so easily, then there wasn't much hope for the rest of them.

"In any case.. there is a way to cure Eliza."

Box: Ask her if she'd like you to be negative.
Nyperold: Box... the psychologist again? Yeesh.

Knux's heart leapt.

"We're having blood transfusions going on.. but, in order for the blood to get circulating fast enough, there's a new-found medicine we have. But.. her body is rejecting it."

A knot formed in the Guardian's gut.

Tiff: Hmm... looks like two half-hitches.

"What... why not?"

Box: I think the question you want is "Why?"
Nyperold: (as Number 6) It's insoluable, for man or machine: W-H-Y, question mark.

"Ask her, not us. At this rate, it's the only way.. the wounds can be, and have been, stitched up."

Nobody said anything for the next few minutes.

"Thank you, doctor," Knuckles said quietly, exiting the room.

"I'm sorry, Guardian."

He trudged, dragging his large feet, leaving the rest behind.

Box: Hey doc! You left the rest of your body!

"This is all my fault..." Ray mumbled, too low for anyone else to register.

Before the Guardian could even react to the news he had just received, he was interrupted, by a brown echidna, probably Ray's height.

"Mr. Guardian, sir!"

"What?" his tone wasn't snappish, but it wasn't friendly either.

"More attacks, I'm afraid."

Knuckles looked up, his expression unreadable.

Nyperold: Heh. He probably got practice from that game Ray and Eliza were playing earlier.

"How many?"

"16, sir."

"16?!"

R.K. was working quickly!

Box: Robo Knuckles works more quickly than any other leading brand!

"Mr. Guardian!"

Knux let out a sigh, then reverted his attention to the doctor, nearby.

"The patient is stirring."

Knux, zipped towards the room, but the doctor blocked his way.

"Listen, it's very likely that this will be the last time she awakens. Be sure to tell her everything she needs to know."

Knuckles nodded solemnly, and opened the door, sliding through. His face was grim.

Tiff: The floor had been waxed recently.

He sat down on the bed, and took her hand in his. It seemed so small. He mentally blocked out that equipment that separated her from him. Her eyelids fluttered open, and she managed a faint smile.

"Shi." Her voice was weak.

"Eliza.. what did Robo-Knux do to you?"

"Hunted," she managed with difficulty. Her breathing was laboured.

"You lost a lot of blood."

Knuckles informed her of the lighter events of the Island.

Box: Bic had sponsored a carnival, and Zippo had sponsored a concert.
Tiff: Hey, no pl... oh, right... open rules.

He omitted the subject of Mighty's attacking, he knew it wouldn't be wise to tell her. She wouldn't be able to take it, the poor soul.

"Eliza... there's a medicine that can help you. But your body is rejecting it."

Eliza gave no answer for this, but looked at him, with big eyes.

"You're going to be okay," he said slowly, in a forced voice.

"I.. love.. you, Nashi."

"NO! Don't talk like that!You're not going to die!"

Nyperold: What, does it take her dying for her to say that?

Eliza continued to smile.

"Accept... it."

"NO!" his voice was raising, "You can't die!"

But Eliza was no longer listening. Her eyes were closed again. The smile was still hovering about her lips.

Tiff: (making a smile hover about her lips)
Nyperold: Good to see your holographic projection unit is working...

Knux, overcome by his emotions, did not hesitate to march outside. Once he exited the hospital, and sprinted the rest of the way. Nobody bothered him.

Once he made it home, he collapsed on the wall, and hammered his fist against it.

"She knew! She knew she was gonna die!"

"Why, damnit?! Why now?! Why her?! She just came.. a few months ago. And she just got back from Shay-lu a few months ago?!"

A single tear rolled down his cheek, but he brushed it away, angrily.

Good thing the wall was thick. But even so, there was a sizeable dent already, almost a hole.

Nyperold: Also good that he wasn't wearing his Iron Gloves.
Tiff: The reader may note that somewhere before this point, the author purchased Sonic Adventure 2: Battle.

"IT'S NOT FAIR!" he shouted to the sky, shaking his fist. "She didn't do anything!"

He thrashed about, like a toddler having a tantrum.

Ray watched this, sadly.

"He's going through the first stage of accepting death. Anger. He hates everything now." He informed his two companions, Espio and Vector, who watched wordlessly.

*****

Box: The stars streaming from Knuckles's fists.
Nyperold: Naw, Knuckles can take punching walls. (pauses, walks over to the computer) Scanning for future gore... Ah, nothing. I'll be right back.

(Nyperold leaves the room. A few minutes pass, and he returns, carrying Sue. He sits, with Sue sitting in his lap, facing the screen.)

Nyperold: Okay, sis, ready for more?
Sue: Yeah! So, what'd I miss?
Nyperold: Well, Eliza and Mighty had both been attacked pretty badly, Eliza worse than Mighty. She may die... and there have been other attacks...
Sue: (solemnly) Ohhhhhh...

In Knothole, Sally was making sure the dinner was joyful. There was mourning amidst the Freedom Fighters, but they all had to put on a cheery face, for the two youngest of the village, Miles "Tails" Prower, and Amy Rose, knew nothing about Eliza's approaching death.

Tails was moody, however. All sat down, and feasted, on a roast.

"Aww.. come on, shugah," Bunnie prodded the desolate fox. "The food's great."

"It would be better if Eliza were here."

Silence overtook the table.

Realization hit Tails.

Nyperold: (as Tails) My power's failing! (running around)
Box: (making ring collection sounds)

Eliza wasn't coming back. Eliza was going to die.

"She's dieing.. isn't she?" his voice was barely above a whisper, but everyone could hear him clearly.

"Miles-"

"Why didn't you tell me?" he demanded, his voice rising.

"Why don't you ever tell me anything?! I'm not a baby!"

"Miles, honey-"

Sue: I'd rather have orange blossom honey.

"NO! Eliza is one of the closest friends I've ever had! HOW COULD YOU KEEP THIS FROM ME?!"

Sonic remained speechless. Sally opened her mouth to say something, but closed it.

"I can't stand this anymore!" He stood up, the chair scraping against the ground.

"Miles, SIT DOWN!"

"NO! I'm leaving!" he scurried out, slamming the door behind him.

Nyperold: Miles strolled down Main Street where he met a drummer named Bert. (making drum sounds with his mouth) Up Swamp Lane where...
Tiff: Uh, Nyp, Mama Don't Allow is a good story, and you're really good at making drum sounds, but... we're in the middle of something...

Sally glared expectantly at Sonic.

"Well?"

"He's right.. we should have told him."

"We were trying to protect him!" Sally shrieked in outrage.

Tails ran, and hopped into the Tornado. (A/N Cyclone? I don't really care)

Nyperold: Eh, yeah, they're pretty much all the same when you're swirling around inside them.
Box: Tornado... Transformation!

"Tails!"

It was Amy.

"I'm running away. And don't you try to stop me."

Amy hold up her hands, in resignation.

Box: (as one of the Number 2s) Why did you resign?

"I don't want to stop you, I want to come with you."

"Oh."

Amy took a seat in his biplane, and he started it up.

"Don't feel bad, Tails. They didn't tell me, either."

"Then how'd you know?"

"I asked Knux directly."

Box: Two questions.
Nyperold: Fire away.
Box: When? Right after Tails left? The author said Amy knew nothing about it.
Nyperold: And the other?
Box: Is it not still telling when one is answering a question?

"Why didn't you tell me?!"

"I'm sorry," was the sheepish response, "I thought you knew."

"That's okay."

The plane took off, the engines revving.

"Where are we going?"

"To the Floating Island," Tails answered, flipping some switches, "I want to see Eliza before she dies."

Box: (as Lance Boyle) Robots like to come and see it before they die.

"I knew, Tails."

He blinked at her.

"I knew..." she went on, "That Eliza wouldn't make it, from the first moment I saw her?"

For 2 minutes, all that was heard was the engines.

"How bad was she?" he queried.

Computer: Warning. Gory bit approaching.
Nyperold: Aw man, it didn't catch it until now? (covers Sue's eyes) I've gotta work on that...

"Bad... really bad.. let's just put it this way, some of her less vital organs weren't even in her body. She could have drowned in her own blood."

Tails winced. After another brief lack of speech, he voiced his thoughts.

"D'you know how Eliza and I first met, Amy?"

"No... how did you meet?"

"It was five years ago. She stumbled, from nowhere, into my hiding place. The other kids picked on me for my mutation, and there was even a gang that beat me up. I was surprised to see her, but it turns out she was also hiding. We got to know each other, and became good friends. We were both freaks.. and the gang attacked. We managed to fend them off, but stumbled into a cave. The cave of the Silent Bear, that furry thing we faced off against.. on the way back form Mecha-Sonic's base.

Box: Who formed Mecha-Sonic's base?
Nyperold: (watching the gory bit scroll off the top of the screen) A little more... a little more... there. (uncovers Sue's eyes)
Sue: (blinks a few times)

(A/N: I just gave a spoiler for Friends 'Till the End, Part 2. I doubt it'll be written, but now you know. Feel special.) We defeated him.. but just as we were celebrating.. you know what happened?"

"No..." Amy supplied.

"She fainted. And was rushed to the Emergency Room. I didn't get to find out what was wrong with her, they told me her chances for survival were very small, and that the only hope was to have her transported to another hospital, far away from the village, and even then, the doctor doubted it. They told me they'd give me news of her.. they never did. And there I was, thinking she was dead, for five years, right until she and Sonic busted me 'n Knux out... right after Metal kidnapped them. (A/N: Spoiler age! That was for Duty Calls, part 2)

Box: After the Space Age comes... the Spoiler Age!

And now, she's going again.." he trailed off, his voice cracking.

"I'm sorry, Tails."

Sue: And I'm Parcheesi. Nice to meet ya!

"It's okay, Ames."

Nyperold: Whew, I need a break. (pushes the Pause button)
Tiff: Yeah, let's recharge.

(All leave)