Sportacus hung helplessly in his bonds. He knew he couldn't free himself. He was still weak and tired.

Suddenly, there was a strange noise. It sounded like Miss Busybody's vacuum cleaner.

At first, Sportacus didn't feel anything. Then the air began to change.

Breathing became more difficult.

Sportacus told himself to stay calm. Secret didn't want to kill him. He had to play his little sick game. Or better said: Pass another test. He tried to breathe slowly. He thought of LazyTown; all the times, he had played with the kids. He thought of the park with the huge trees and the scented flowers.

He thought of his parents, who had always been very proud of him.

He thought of the ocean. He loved to swim and dive.

He was pretty good at diving. "You can hold your breath for a long time," he told himself.

He had learned how to slow his heartbeat. His father had often made fun of him: "One day, you'll grow yourself a fishtail."

Sportacus closed his eyes. He felt the cold waves of the sea wash over him. He was in the water now.

Relax.

He imagined seeing colourful fish. They were following him, as he tried to reach the bottom of the sea. It was peaceful and quiet down there.

The darkness tried to grab him with its long fingers. Sportacus panicked. He tried to swim back to the surface, but he couldn't reach it. His heart began to race, as he stared at the surface, which still was too far away.

Sportacus began to shiver. His whole body convulsed, as he desperately tried to suck in more air.

"Don't worry," Secret had said. "Don't worry, Sportacus."

His eyes flew open. The blue orbs filled with panic. Sportacus panted, and wheezed, as he once more tried to break the chains that held him.

The collar was too tight. It was choking him.

How much time had passed? Ten seconds? One minute? Five minutes? He didn't know.

His vision blurred. His breath was coming in short, raspy gasps. Each sounded like a painful moan, a cry for help.

He wanted to scream, but it turned into a violent cough. His lips were tinted blue, his skin ashen.

Sportacus' body was jerking madly. He didn't want to die. Stephanie. He didn't want to die. What would happen to Stephanie? If only he could get away... get...

Suddenly, he went stiff. He opened his mouth in a last attempt to breathe.

His eyes rolled back, as the darkness engulfed him.

His body sagged, only being held upright by the metal handcuffs that bit into his skin.

As his head lolled against the wall, Secret opened the door, and rushed into the room.

"Marvelous!" he exclaimed, already typing into his little computer. "He lasted ten minutes. Ten minutes! Quick, take another blood sample!"

The doctor, who was right behind him, raised his eyebrows. "First I need to check on him. You know that lack of oxygen can cause brain damage and organ failure." He took his stethoscope, and listened to Sportacus' heartbeat, while Secret eyed him impatiently.

"Seems strong and steady," he said after a while.

Secret clapped his hands. "The President will be delighted. Think of all the money, he will pay us!"

The doctor shook his head, before he reached into the pocket of his coat, and grabbed a syringe.

He plunged into the already bruised arm. Sportacus didn't stir, as he filled the syringe with his blood.

"Unlock the cuffs, Sebastian," the doctor demanded. "We need to put that oxygen mask on him."

Secret glared at him. "Stop being a sissy. He is an alien. He needs to be tested."

"I'm a doctor, for God's sake. It's my duty to save people."

"Whatever." Secret shrugged his shoulders, before he beckoned his two bodyguards to unlock the cuffs. Sportacus tumbled to the floor.

The doctor hovered over him, pressing the oxygen mask onto his mouth and nose. Sportacus took a deep, shuddering breath, and began to cough.

Quickly, the doctor took away the mask, and listened to his heartbeat once more, before he looked up. "I think he will be all right."

"Leave him here, until he wakes up. I want him to restore some of his energy, before we continue," he told the doctor.

Before he could bark any orders at his bodyguards, another man stormed into the room.

"We found the airship, but we can't reach it. It's floating in the air, and there are no ropes or ladders," the man breathlessly said.

"Mhm...bring me Robbie Rotten. Maybe he knows what to do," Secret spat, glancing at Sportacus, who hadn't moved, but was breathing loudly.

The man bowed at him, and vanished.

Barely two minutes later, he came back, dragging Robbie Rotten behind him.

"What do you want from me? I've already told you everything I know. I've given you Sportakook," the villain ranted, but stopped dead in his tracks, as he saw Sportacus lying on the floor.

"Is he...dead?"

"No, you fool. He told us about his airship. I need it. How can I get in there?" Secret asked Robbie, who couldn't take his eyes off the unconscious superhero.

"The airship?" Robbie repeated. "I don't...well, I may have visited it once...or twice, but..." he stammered, unsure what to say.

He had been excited, when Sebastian Secret had sent him the letter, in which he had explained Robbie that he needed Sportacus for some important tests.

Of course, Robbie had agreed to help him. He could get rid of Sportacus without doing anything but talking to that pink girl.

But now that Sportacus was out cold on the floor, he had doubts. They wouldn't kill that annoying elf, would they?

"How can I get in there?" Secret let out a growl, and bared his teeth.

Surprised, Robbie winced. "I think he's the only one, who can control the airship. I don't know how he does it, though."

Secret clenched his fists. "I don't like that. Well," he ushered his bodyguards and the doctor out, "I will think of something. Meanwhile, you can stay with him. You can ask him about his airship, when he comes to."

"Hey," Robbie exclaimed, "I want to go home. I've done everything you wanted me to do."

"Robbie," Secret said with a grin, "you're not a visitor anymore. You're part of this project now. You cannot just leave. Take that apple. Sportacus might need it." He tossed the apple to Robbie, who immediately let it fall, his face full of disgust.

Secret shook his head, and placed a bottle of water on the shelf. Maybe he feared, Robbie would drop that, too. Then he turned to his ever-present bodyguards: "You two stay right next to that door. If Rotten gives you any trouble, call me."

Robbie glared at him, as they left the room. "Screw you," he yelled furiously.

Slowly, he turned around and studied Sportacus' still form. He looked so different not wearing his costume. His blond curls hung in his face, covering his eyes. Sweat glistened on his bare chest. He seemed to be unharmed, except for the red streaks circling his wrists, and his neck.

Why did he wear a collar? Robbie glanced at the chains and handcuffs. They had treated him as if he was a monster. Robbie sighed.

And Sportacus smelled like a candy shop. Wait...sugar did make him sick.

"Oh no...I've told Secret that. What have they done to you?"

Sportacus moaned softly, and struggled to sit up. He started to cough again, his eyes fluttering open.

"Wait..." Robbie said, fetched the bottle, unscrew it, and gave it to Sportacus. "Drink."

With trembling hands, Sportacus grabbed the bottle, and took a small sip. Sportacus blinked. "Ro..bbie? What are you doing here?" he croaked. His voice sounded as if he had a sore throat. But then he remembered what Stephanie had told him. Robbie Rotten was responsible for her abduction and his capture.

"You...you are one of them," he rasped.

Surprised, Robbie opened his mouth. "No...that's not true."

Sportacus leaned his head against the wall, and closed his eyes. "Why, Robbie? Why?"

Robbie sat down, too, and narrowed his eyes. "I'm..." No, he was not sorry. It wasn't his fault that Sportacus was a hyperactive elf with more muscles than he could count.

Robbie cleared his throat. "You know me, Sportakook. I want you to leave LazyTown forever. I received a letter from Sebastian Secret, in which he asked me, if I could help him. He said he needed you, and that it was important. Very important. I thought he would take you away, and I could finally rest. I didn't know he would...what has he done anyway? And why are you wearing this collar?"

Sportacus cringed, as Robbie reminded him of the collar that was still secured tightly around his neck. He took another sip of the bottle, before he answered: "It's made out of sugar. Secret has a remote control, and he can...he can... oppress me. They tested my strength, reflexes, and senses. Secret said they need me to create some sort of army to fight against terrorists..." His voice broke, as he was racked by a fit of coughing.

"Terrorists?" Robbie repeated, astonished. "Look, Sportacus, I didn't want you to get hurt. Once they're done, they will let you and that pink girl go."

Breathing heavily, Sportacus shook his head. "They will kill me, Robbie."

"No...no, no, no," Robbie objected. "You just have to play along nicely." The villain licked his lips. "Why don't you tell me how your airship works. How can you get in?"

"What?" Confused, Sportacus looked up. He found it difficult to concentrate.

"Your airship. Secret wants to know how he can get in."

Sportacus forced a smile on his lips. "He can't. It will only respond to my voice."

Robbie slowly sat down. "But that's a good thing, isn't it? He can't kill you, because he needs you, Sportakook."

Tiredly, Sportacus shrugged his shoulders. "I don't know, Robbie. And I don't care. Please...can you rescue Stephanie? I want her to be safe."

Robbie bit his bottom lip. "I don't...I'm not...but I can try." He was really irritated. Sportacus seemed always so optimistic. He never was sad. And now he sounded, as if he had lost any hope.

"Are you hungry? Here's an apple," Robbie said, pointing at the red apple that he had dropped earlier.

Sportacus nodded. "Thank you, Robbie." He leaned forward, grasped the apple, and took a huge bite. This was delicious. He could feel the energy returning to his body. His breathing eased, and the dizziness passed.

He felt almost normal again, if it hadn't been for the collar, and the fact that he was locked up together with Robbie.