Soon after the purple laboratory dog began taking them down to the Training Facility, their Unites were requested.
"Okay, you all are set. One Toon-Up, Throw Restock, and Toon-Up Restock for all of you. Use them wisely," Dimm said, handing them each three cards.
Once they reached the Training Facility, the doors were locked and bolted shut several times.
"This is classified training. This is not to be spoken of, and anyone who interrupts or steps inside besides the qualified scientists will be deported to the Cog HQ and dealt with there," Flippy said, his expression suddenly serious, "this isn't Toon Scouts. You have to work here. Put some effort into practicing your pie-throwing, seltzer-spraying, and wedding cake-tossing skills."
"You will practice your form, and agility, as well as movement skills," Dimm continued, motioning to a few moving Cog dummies on the far side of the Training Facility room.
"Please go with your partner to the separate rooms that align the wall. There, you will practice your cooperation skills and practice working together on fighting cooperatively."
Smirky beckoned to Poppy, and she followed him quickly into a room. Above the door, the plaque read, "ROOM G. COOPERATIVE SKILL AND AGILITY TESTING. DO NOT ENTER. FLYING PIES IN PROGRESS."
"Well, I suppose we start here," Smirky said, closing the door behind him. A shelf lined with all the gags you could ever be equipped with stood in the corner of the room, a full stack of ten of each, except for the Level Seven gags, which there were one of each.
A voice came over the speaker, "HELLO. WELCOME TO ROOM G COOPERATIVE SKILL AND AGILITY TESTING. IN THIS TESTING SESSION, YOU WILL WORK TOGETHER TO COMPLETE THE CHALLENGES. YOU WILL ALSO DEVELOP SKILLS IN ORDER TO FIGHT TOGETHER AND DEVELOP TECHNIQUES. I AM BETHANY BRIGHT, YOUR ACCOMPANYING GUIDE. YOUR ACTIONS ARE OBSERVED THROUGH HIDDEN CAMERAS THROUGHOUT THIS TESTING SESSION. PLEASE DO NOT DESTRY VITAL TESTING APPARATUS SUCH AS THE CAMERAS, IF YOU MANAGE TO SPOT THEM. THE ONLY THINGS YOU'RE ALLOWED TO DESTROY ARE THE GAGS ON THAT SHELF. PLEASE SELECT YOUR CHOICE OF GAGS AND THE FIRST TEST WILL ENSUE."
"I'll grab a few pies, cakes, and a few hoses and storm clouds," Smirky said to Poppy, turning to reach the items on the shelf.
"Grab whatever you can carry, that's what I'm doing," Poppy responded, scooping pie after pie, hose after hose, Toon-Up after Toon-Up into her pockets. The gags were small, and she somehow managed to fit several lure items into her top hat.
"Ready?" Smirky said, turning to her.
Just as he said that one word, Bethany Bright's voice echoed again through the speaker, "IF YOU ARE POSITIVE YOU HAVE EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO COMPLETE THE TESTING SESSION, PLEASE GO DOWN THE STEPS THAT APPEAR BEFORE YOU."
Suddenly, a full set of tiles on the floor drew back to reveal a hidden staircase. Smirky turned to her, "Are you ready?"
Poppy nodded. Smirky took a hold of her hand, and they descended down the steps together.
Poppy was surprised at the gesture, but accepted it as they moved on through the first door.
A large obstacle course stood before them. Poppy and Smirky exchanged glances, each taking a step forward.
"Keep your view of me up," Smirky said. "I'm going left, you stay right."
Poppy nodded, letting go and racing into the right side. She said his name and his screen popped up before her.
The voice on the intercom began, "THE OBSTACLE COURSE WILL START IN TEN SECONDS."
Poppy waited until the countdown ended, and she raced off through the maze, that was very familiar to Bossbot HQ.
She stopped when a Cog dummy approached her and she reached into her pocket, pulling out a cream pie. She tossed it quickly at the dummy and skidded to the left as it exploded, and raced on.
Eventually, after defeating several controlled Cog dummies, she reached a large room with several doors.
"CONGRATULATIONS. YOU HAVE REACHED THE NEAR-END OF THE TESTING SESSION. YOUR PARTNER IS BEING HELD HOSTAGE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF ONE DOOR. YOU MUST CHOOSE THE CORRECT DOOR BY COMMUNICATING THROUGH YOUR SCREENS. IMAGINE TYPING A WHISPER TO YOUR PARTNER NOW. IF YOU CHOOSE THE INCORRECT DOOR, YOU WILL BE EXTRACTED FROM THE TESTING SESSION AND FORCED TO START OVER AGAIN."
Poppy halted quickly at the doors. She tipped one ear to the side, beginning to think. Smirky was being held hostage? What in the name of Cold Callers did that mean?
"You're not hurting him are you?" Poppy shouted.
"THAT IS CLASSIFIED INFORMATION," the speaker continued…