Notes: With thanks to Shiny for use of her charrie and "Mr Snooky"


Part 4

Maxie sent Tabitha and M43 off to bed and watched the vase until it was time for the grunts to get up. Throughout the day, Maxie made sure that there was always somebody responsible guarding the vase. M4 (one of the most sensible grunts) watched it from 7 until 11 and then Courtney took another turn.

"We just have to go until 17:40", Maxie said to Courtney. "If the vase survives until then, we win the bet".

"Yes and you don't have to date that awful, disgusting pirate", said Courtney happily. "Don't worry Maxie. The vase is safe under my watch!"

Just after 12, Kat and Blaise returned from a scouting trip. Maxie had sent them out because there had been sightings of Team Aqua grunts around Mount Chimney and Maxie didn't want them finding the entrance to Team Magma's Secret Base. Luckily, Kat and Blaise hadn't seen any rogue grunts so all was fine outside. When Maxie told them about the bet, Kat agreed to take over Courtney's watch (so Courtney could have a break).

"It would be funny if it broke though", said Kat, starting to laugh. "Imagine you having to go out with Archie!"

Maxie winced. "No thank you, I'd rather not imagine it at all".

Kat went off to the Main Chamber, still laughing. Maxie shrugged and then went back to his office. No matter how funny Kat thought his bet was, he knew he could trust her to do her job properly.

Maxie logged onto his computer and checked the temperature gauge for the volcano, the main reactor core temperature and then he inputted the information from Tabitha's report into the database. As Maxie was typing, he heard a knock at the door.

"Yes, come in", he said.

The door opened and M5 walked in, wearing just his boxers and dripping with what looked like gravy. Maxies' eyes widened.

"Oh Boss, sorry to bug you but I went to have a shower and gravy came out instead of water", said M5.

"Gravy?" Maxie blinked. "Um, OK, that's not good. It sounds like somebody put gravy granules' into the water tank".

"Yeah and that somebody is in BIG trouble", said M5 crossly.

"Calm down M5. I'll go and check the tank and turn off the stopcock for now". Maxie got up form his desk and M5 began to giggle.

"Uh, what's funny?"

"Hahahaha, you said a rude word after stop", said M5.

Maxie sighed. "I swear I'm running a kindergarten here. Ok, let's go and get that tank sorted". He and M5 left the office and M5 walked alongside Maxie, suggesting many interesting punishments for the saboteur

"No M5, I can't hang them up by their toes naked and draw a Team Aqua symbol on their backside with a permanent marker", Maxie said patiently. "Team Magma don't do things like that; we are nice!" They walked past the Main Chamber and Maxie peeped round the doorway, to make sure that Kat was guarding the vase. It appeared that Blaise had snuck in at some point, however because she was sitting on his lap, kissing him passionately.

"Ahem", Maxie said loudly. Kat blinked and looked round.

"Oops!" she said. "Uh, sorry Dad".

"I should think so! Kat, you shouldn't get distracted...grunts could sneak in and accidentally break that vase", said Maxie.

"Not likely", said M5, making a revolted face. "Who wants to come in here when them two are being all gross and mushy".

Kat got up off Blaise's lap and reached for Mr Snooky, her lucky (?) snooker cue.

"Uh oh", said M5, backing away.

"Kat, don't hurt him", Maxie began but Kat was already gone, racing after the grunt. Maxie shook his head.

"Blaise, go after her and calm her down. I must go and turn off the stopcock to the water tank".

"Sure Maxie", said Blaise. He hurried out of the Main Chamber after them. Maxie stood there a moment, realising that if he left too, the case would be unguarded. He took his phone out of his pocket and called Courtney.


Courtney was outside the Base, investigating a new lava trickle that had appeared. She was just photographing it when her phone rang.

"Yes? Oh hi Maxie! Is everything OK?"

Courtney listened to Maxie's hurried explanation of the various problems he was facing. She frowned and nodded.

"Yes of course I'll come and watch the vase. I'll be there in 2 minutes. You go and fix the water tank, quickly".

Maxie thanked Courtney and ended the call. Courtney headed back inside, jogging along. As she was making her way down the Main Stairs, she received another phone call.

"Hello, yes? Hi Tabitha, are you alright?"

Courtney slowed down a little so she could listen to what Tabitha was saying and reply to him properly.

"Uh huh? Maxie phoned M43 to tell you that you needed to phone me to tell me that I don't have to guard the vase because M4 is guarding it again".

"Yeah, that's right", Tabitha said on the other end. Maxie did phone me first but my phone was turned off because M43 was helping me in my office and..."

"Wait a minute? Does that mean you two were making out again?"

"Well, maybe just a little", Tabitha admitted.

Courtney rolled her eyes. "Oh boy! Well at least M43 isn't by the vase. OK, so I can get back to... hang on..."

M4 came running up the steps; when she saw Courtney, she hailed her.

"Oh, Courtney, help! M3 sent me to tell you that somebody has sabotaged the girls' showers. M3 tried to have a shower and cherryade came out instead of water!"

"Oh dear!" said Courtney. "Hang on M4, I'll come along with you and sort it out. Tabitha, I'm going to have to call you back".

"Sure thing", said Tabitha in a tone that suggested he was being distracted by an amorous M43.

"Ok, bye Tabitha". Courtney ended the call and turned to M4. Then she gasped.

"What's wrong, Courtney?" M4 asked.

Courtney put her hand to her forehead.

"M4...if you're HERE and Tabitha just phoned to tell me that you were guarding the vase..."

"Was I supposed to be guarding it?" M4 asked puzzled.

Courtney blinked and then came to her senses.

"M4, QUICK!" she exclaimed. The two of them raced down the stairs, hot footing it to the Main Chamber. They charged inside, almost falling over in their speed. But they were too late.

The vase lay on the floor, smashed into a hundred pieces!