Down In The Underground, You'll Find Someone True...

[Dr Tanner]

((*cough* Please excuse the awful title. I watched Labyrinth earlier and the song seemed vaguely relevant. ))

*Deep beneath the placid, perfect streets of Dojopolis, a huge, dark figure groans, the mighty animal voice echoing and rebounding off the walls of the circular tunnel. The ground shakes and dust falls from the ceiling with the massive creature's laboured footsteps as it heaves its heavy load through the pitch blackness. A much quieter, much more human voice hisses in a harsh whisper.*

"Hush, Brawn! This place may be abandoned but I do not wish for us to be discovered! Now move!"

*A loud, sharp 'THWACK!' noise is heard as the huge creature is struck by its mistress with some kind of switch or whip. VW nods in approval as Brawn slams its shoulders against the rough yoke around its neck and continues to pull some kind of huge machine through the tunnels, barely a few inches of room between its back and the ceiling. Eddie, ever eager to assist, is pushing the weighty device from behind.*

*Having come to this place in the last few days, the first item on VW's agenda had been to find a location for her laboratory, her base of operations. It hadn't taken her long, with Eddie's assistance, to find an abandoned subway station large enough to accomodate her needs. The whole line seemed to be completely disused now. She'd monitored the station and its surrounding area for some time, and hadn't seen any trains passing through or even coming near. The tracks and facilities also seemed somewhat dated compared to the rest of the network, so it was probably a safe bet that she wouldn't be disturbed or discovered.*

*With a mighty shove, Eddie pushes the machine upright, Brawn having finally managed to drag it along the old train tracks to the new lab. VW's features form a smile, ever so briefly, as she connects it to the station's old power supply and the rest of the equipment she's bought here. Standing up straight, she dusts off her gloved hands.*

"Excellent. Now this is more like it. I think we're finished, boys. Welcome home."

*She places her hand against Eddie's snout and pets the end of his nose before helping him lift the yoke from around Brawn's neck. Brawn huffs, and finds a corner to lay down in to take a well-earned rest.*

"... Now, then... For the moment of truth."

*VW approaches a huge switch on the device she has just connected up to the rest of the laboratory. She grasps it firmly with both hands, and hesitates for a moment, taking a deep breath. Eddie looks on - it's unclear whether or not he understands the significance of VW's actions - as his mistress tenses...*

"..."

*... And pulls the switch down.*

*A loud hum fills the tunnels and corridors and the darkness is suddenly lit up like day as all the lights turn on and all the machines and computers power up. A wry smile graces VW's face as she looks around at her achievement.*

"... Excellent."

[Netdroid9]

*Meanwhile, somewhere close but out of sight...*

Stupid headmaster, sending me to find out where we are... It's not like I pushed the big red button, I didn't overload the inertial capacitatorajiggers, and I sure as hell didn't tell that damned Battle-Donkey-Kong to thwat our plans to steal his Banna Horde...

*Net picks up a rock and pegs it into the surrounding darkness, inadvertently aiming for VW's machine. Net blinks as light reveals VW and her machine, which by now probably had a large dent in it.*

0.0 Oh crap.

[Dr Tanner]

*Suddenly, a dozen yellow eyes flash in the darkness, and another pair, somewhat higher up than the others, turn to look towards the offending rock. With a loud bang, all the lights turn on, blinding Net for a few moments, but when he regains his vision, he finds himself surrounded by Eddie and six of his smaller, lesser siblings. VW herself stands at the light switch, scowling hard.*

"State your purpose here."

*The alligator creatures close in, snapping their jaws loudly. VW's scowl doesn't flinch as she speaks.*

"Don't worry. They only eat when I tell them to."

[Jent]

*A dark figure watches Net get surrounded by VW and her pets. The dark stranger hold a black cloak over himself, concealing his identity. A human behind him didn't hide himself, the human wearing some normal city clothes and smiling. The two face each over and begun to whisper.*

"Ssso, what iss your call missster Max?"

"Repcoil, we could watch and wait. Or we can introduce ourselves to the others."

"Max, we don't know if they are friendly or not. By the looksss of the rock offender, he looksss look like one of thossse EC."

"I go in first and help him. If it gets to crazy, come in as backup."

*Max coves out from the corner, to greet the newcomers.*

[Netdroid9]

*Net gulps. He didn't like the looks of those aligators, not one bit.*

I.. I... Damn, what was I supposed to say? Ah screw it, I'll improvise. I'm delivering Pizza. Do you know where I am? I'm looking for a... A... Damn... OK, initials, initials... Random letters... V... W? VW? Ah, screw it, it'll do. I'm looking for a 'V.W.'. I sorta got lost, you see, and... Well, here I am.

[Dr Tanner]

*The white-clad scientist's eyebrows twitch a little at this.*

You know me? Who are you!?

*Just then, Eddie lifts his head, growling with a strange clicking noise at Max. VW's gaze snaps onto him as Eddie approaches him.*

"More intruders!? Damn it, I've barely been here a day and already I'll have to relocate... IDENTIFY YOURSELF OR DIE, TRESPASSER!"

[Netdroid9]

*Net sighs, figuring he'd have to tell her the truth.*

I work for ACME Pizzas, delivering a pizza near you.

*Or not.*

Unfortunately, I have a little trouble reading maps... And, well, I'm sure you get the picture. Any idea where I am?

[Swix]

"Why are we down here again?"

A woman's voice asked, barely audible due to the distance they were.

"We're looking for any remnants or clues about who attacked Dojopolis, remember? Us, Kiba and Alakin were the only ones around who got a good look at them"

A second voice answered, though this one was more guttural, more reptilian.

Two figures walked along the abandoned area, one being a five foot tall human female and the other, a six foot tall draconic creature. They both stop when they see the light, then cautiously edge forwards to see what they could.

The human female had short brown hair, and yellow tinted brown eyes. She wore silver clothes, which matched her companions silver scales. The companion was a Sivak Draconian, outfitted in full platemail armor except her wings. The top of her helmet was up, revealing her bright red eyes. Twin katanas rested on the Draconians back in their sheathes, and the tail armour was covered in metal spikes.

On the draconians shoulder perched what looked to be a tiny gold dragon, three foot long from nose to tail tip. It's eyes though looked more like a cut gem, the colours swirling from calm blue to anxious amber.

At seeing the reptilian creatures, the tiny dragon emitted a very loud squeak.

[Dr Tanner]

*Before VW can answer any of the people suddenly arriving in her laboratory, the dragon's squeak catches her attention. She turns around, barking a command to some huge shadowy form in the corner.*

"ENOUGH! Brawn! Here, now!"

*Slowly but steadily, Brawn heaves its massive bulk off the floor and gets to its feet before moving to VW's side. The massive creature's footsteps shake the floor, and its low, rumbling roar echoes through the tunnels.*

"We are leaving!"

*VW turns to Eddie and his siblings.*

"Make sure we are not followed."