"Why keep up the facade this long?" Sid asked as he ripped the chair up our of the floor.

The bolts that held it in snapped and bent as he violently pulled them away. Underneath was nothing but a flat, metal floor.

Though, it didn't deter Sid.

SKREEEEEE

The metal floor whined as Sid thrust his skeletal hand down through it, and then slowly peeled it up.

"You do understand that you will not like the answers you find here, correct?" The young girl's voice asked.

Sid nodded. "My awareness of it does not change what it is. The truth will not be less painful if I simply ignore it. I will just be missing important information."

As he continued to tear up the floor, the female voice quieted down.

WHAM!

The robot was sent flying back into the wall as its sword finally split in two.

"Curse you." The scientist snarled. "Dumb dog. You think you really can make a difference on your own? Hah! You're even more pathetic than the chicken. Not to mention much weaker."

The wolf looked like he wanted to snarl, but the ice around his jaw prevented it. But as he leaped forward to finish off the machine, he was thwarted.

He was thwarted by an old trick he had already seen, and the angry aura that surrounded him seemed to multiply. As all the robot did to stop him, was to return to a ball. To wind up all it's metal in one massive protective coating.

Sure, his attacks would get through a little bit, but they only let shallow cuts when the core of the machine was so much further down.

This time he didn't have the advantage of Nugget clearing the way for him. Not to mention that it showed no signs of the melted layers it had suffered before.

So, uh...should we... Death tried to ask.

"Uh...maybe we should...let them figure this out?" Og'drimun suggested in a questioning tone.

The tiny demon was still inside Death's ribcage and the two of them just watched as the wolf sliced at a giant metal ball that had once been a robot.

Death stroked his chin mindfully as he said. I think...I think we should take a closer look.

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"Wait, you're not going to..."

Then, *poof* and he was gone.

"Oof!" Og'drimun fell to the ground with a thud as the skeleton support disappeared from around and under him.

Oops, Death said as he suddenly appeared behind Og'drimun. Didn't mean to ditch you there bro.

"Ugh," Og'drimun groaned. "Yeah, no. I get it. You thought I could come with you since we were a giant robot and a pilot. Since we shared one soul, one bond, a manly passion that'd drive us through any obstacle that might dare cross our path!"

I mean, not really my dude. Death admitted as he picked up Og'drimun and stuffed the demon back inside his ribcage. I just kinda forgot I just appeared places. Feels like I've been walking for forever. I mean, I know I can't just bring people with me, yeah?

"Wait, but you were teleporting in the last room?" The fuzzy demon pointed out as he made himself comfortable. "With the blood water, or whatever it was. You totally zipped around in there."

Sure, I guess so. But after that, I walked around everywhere until just now! Death pointed out.

"But we were being moved around in a small room?" Og'drimun pointed out.

Exactly Death cheered. See, you get it.

"So uh," Lulu said, "looks like our bold protectors are confused, and the wolf's chewtoy has been put away. Feels like we're the easy mark now."

"Can't be helped," Narissa said through her teeth.

"Is talking still off the table since fighting is obviously a bad idea?" Ted asked.

"Ted dear, really?" Narissa sighed. "Must I explain basic self-preservation to you now?"

"I'm just saying." Ted said defensively as his eyes fell to the ground. "If every idea is dumb anyway, why not try for the longshot? If it worked, that would be huge for us."

Ted knew it'd be difficult, but it was difficult to get through to a bunch of them. He glanced over at Lulu, and thought about the carnival, and the huge danger Pockets had presented. He closed his eyes, as it felt like something was pressing down hard on his chest.

But in the end it was clear in his mind. What greater advantage than to take an enemy and make them an ally. It doesn't just get rid of something opposing you; it also makes your side stronger.

BANG!

"Step away from the girl."

Sentenza held his gun out threatingly at the back of the glowing woman's head. As she slowly turned around, he seemed to get impatient, and he fired again.

"Now, now. Calm down. We were only having a friendly chat." She explained. "Care to join us?"

As she asked the question, a third chair appeared next to the other two.

Sentenza eyed her carefully. He kept his gun trained on her along with his eyes as he said, "I don't think so...and she won't be making any sort of deal with you either. Bakade. Come over by me. I've got a way out of here."

Bakade hesitated.

"No need for such hostility. After all, you bring so much more than just a way out here with you." Her voice was as sweet as honey. Like a chorus of birds chirping in absolute harmony.

But, it only seemed to irritate Sentenza more and more with every word that came out of her mouth.

"I overheard enough of your deals. Now we're both going to leave back the way I came from, and you'll be going a different direction." He threatened as he carefully holsters his ivory pistol. Sentenza's other hand reached down and brushed against the rough metal of his magical gun.

She smiled gently and opened her arms towards Sentenza as she said, "Come now, you're being unreasonable. We can all help each other. If you'll just..."

He frowned before he turned his head to the side and spit out his unlit cigarillo onto the ground. He kept his hand just above his pistol as he narrowed his gaze at the woman. "I meant what I said. Now, I'm not asking Bakade. And I'm definitely not asking you." He said as he motioned to the strange woman. "I'll give you five seconds to start moving where you should. If you don't, I'm going to blow you wide open."

"You can't be serious. There's no harm being done here," she cooed. "This is simply a misunderstanding."

"Five" he spat on the ground in front of him.

The woman turned towards Bakade. "Is he always this melodramatic?"

"Four," his fingers twitched just above his gun.

Bakade seemed torn, but after he said four, she stood up.

"No dear, don't respond to his idle threats." She giggled.

"Three," his gaze narrowed as he set his palm against the butt of his gun.

"Ttthhheeeyyy'rrreee rrreeaaalll ttthhhrrreeaaatttsss," Bakade sighed as she started to walk towards Sentenza with Nugget still tucked under her arm. "Yyyoouuu sshhhoouuullddd gggooo."

"Come now," she said calmly as her arms were out at her sides. "I'm sure I can help you as well. All you have to do is..."

"Two."

BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG!

In one quick move, Sentenza emptied the gun at the woman. When the first bullet blew open her shoulder, her smile immediately turned to a shocked frown. But, before the second bullet could hit her in the skull, she suddenly disappeared.

With his barrel still smoking, Sentenza expertly reloaded his gun. All while his eyes darted around.

"Crossroads...must be crossroads around here," he murmured under his breath.