"Gibson to Antauri, do you read me?"
"I read you Gibson. How are you getting on?"
"Fine Antauri. We are just about to shuttle the last of the humans down to their evacuation trucks. You should fall back too, there's been announcements about some planted explosives."
"Do not worry Gibson, Otto this minute has disarmed the device safely. We have no time to lose though, we've got to go after the thief before he finds a way to escape from us. He is after something of importance though, if he wished to get permanently rid all traces of his time down here. We need to know what it is and why."
"You say you've already disarmed the bomb? That is good news! So what's next Antauri? Do you want us to come and meet you inside the complex?"
"It is indeed good news, but do not worry about meeting us. It may be of more use if you three can keep patrolling the outside regions of the facility. If we miss him, or do not cross paths, you three could catch him."
"If you say so Antauri." Gibson replied closing off his communicator, as he began to relay the plan to Jinmay and Sprx.
As Chiro descended down the steps towards the underground laboratory, a chill went up his spine. The creepy surroundings and dim, breaking lights did little to settle the boy's nerves. Sub-consciously picking up his pace, Chiro raced down the creaky old metal stairs that seemed ready to give way from underneath him.
As Chiro successfully reached the bottom of the stairway, he looked ahead as he caught sight of a severely rusted door; the entrance to an old monstrosity.
"So this was your laboratory Professor?" Chiro asked, as he cautiously approached. Reaching out he lightly pressed the palm of his hand against the small, dust covered window that was in the centre of the metal door.
"Yes Chiro this is what remains of my laboratory, the new science complex was built on top of my lab and this was expanded onto all the surrounding area. It is so disrespectful of them! My greatness began here, so please take care Chiro. This is a special place to me."
"Oh sure doc." Chiro said as a sly grin danced across his lips. He could feel his hand tingle from the power building in his palm. "I'll be real careful in there." Chiro spoke into the communicator as moments later he released at he released his monkey fu attack at the rusted door.
The door gave a rusted whine before it disintegrated into none-existence. The powerful blast continuing further into the room and beyond. The sound of glass shattering started soon after, as the corridor filled with thick grey smoke. The walls, ceiling and floor began to crumble, as large cracks formed and emerged around Chiro and his blast.
"Chiro!" Maezono yelled in a venomous fury.
Smirking at the result of his outburst, Chiro eventually stopped. Pleased with his handiwork the smoke began to dissipate around him. His hand still placed out in front of him, where the door once stood. "Oops. It appears my hand slipped Professor, but look on the bright side, at least there's no door to worry about now."
"I'll show you my hand slipping; you insubordinate, baboon powered, low life scum." Maezono growled as the communicator and goggles Chiro wore, sparked furiously. "Don't you dare try to disrespect boy!" Maezono yelled, as a vicious electric shock was released through the gear into the boy's face.
Chiro's screams of agony ripped into the area around him. Collapsing to his knees he attempted to claw at the devices on his face, before gripping the ground as the pain completely paralysed him. Blood eventually beginning to trickle from behind his goggles and ear piece.
"Do you understand boy?" Maezono asked as the shock finally finished.
Chiro collapsed onto the floor in a heap in his own tiny puddle of blood. His breathing was raspy as he desperately tried to keep himself composed. Shakily, Chiro pulled himself off the floor as he made it to his hands and knees.
Maezono, who was content with Chiro now on the floor in crippling agony, merely repeated his question. "I want an answer Chiro. Or do I have to remind you yet again?"
As the disorientated boy lifted his head up, he knew better then to tempt fate in this awful state. Maezono's threatening tone was enough to make him avoid another horrific stunt. As he stumbled to his feet he grasped what remained of the door frame, as he spat out a regretful "yes." Into the communicator. Clinging to the door frame for support he looked ahead, as he eventually felt stable enough to walk.
Walking into the laboratory, Chiro was surprised at the size of the room. Much of the lab still remained intact, despite his earlier fun and games. A large black gully, had formed through the centre of the room from the blast, as Chiro merely stepped up onto the main tiled floor.
"Before I moved to the planet Kabiri Katara Chiro, I worked here on all of my projects, prototypes and experiments. It was how I met the two colleagues that later teamed up with me to make the Super Robot series. All three of us originated from Shugazoom. So it was no real surprise to hear the Prototype had been smuggled back here. My colleague had always had a devious streak in him.
"A bit like you then?" Chiro retorted a low lying anger fuelling his reply.
"We both received a share of money from him. A mere donation when compared to the results of my brain's intelligence. I believe once he made it back to Shugazoom, he adapted the Prototype for his commission's needs, allowing the monkeys and you to pilot the robot. My colleague was friendly with an alchemist who had showed interest in the possible results of our work before we left. He most likely struck up a deal with him on the quiet, to spite us." Maezono continued obliviously.
As Chiro began to ignore the ramblings, his own curiosities took priority. A series of pods rested against the wall, as he placed his hand against their cold metal fronts. Chiro noticed the dust had been disturbed recently on most of the containers, except for one. The odd one was wide open, but the dust had resettled for some time.
"Maezono, what was in these metal containers?" Chiro questioned, his face throbbing with pain now. The two largest pods on the end caught his eye in particular. The smaller ones at the side, seemed different too.
"What?"
"Maezono, what was in these large metal containers? Most of them have been moved recently, the dust has fallen off them completely in places." Chiro repeated.
"What? No! No one should have been down here for years, they should still be here."
"Well someone has." Chiro said as he rolled his eyes. Walking past the pods he knelt down as he removed the panel in front of the secret safe. Turning the dial to unlock the safe, he soon heard the click of the mechanisms opening. Pulling the handle down in one swift motion, the safe opened revealing its contents.
Inside the safe was a large black leather briefcase, just as it had been foretold. As Chiro unclipped the clasps on the case, he was soon confronted with bundles of different papers. Documents, reports and blue prints, all stacked neatly inside. As Chiro quickly checked the zipped pocket that was also inside, he found the last remaining item Maezono wanted, the data stick.
"Your experiments are long gone Maezono, but I've got everything else."
"I don't believe it!" Maezono stated in shock. "When? How?"
"I haven't got a clue." Chiro said as he went to replace the papers he had taken out. As he went to put the last of the blue prints back inside something caught his eyes.
His eyes widened in shock at the figure on the sheet in front of him. "It's…" Chiro stuttered.
"Now where?" Otto questioned, as they reached the end of the corridor. It appeared to be a dead end to the monkey trio. As they jumped back to the floor, they carefully began to look around.
After sometime, Nova let out a sigh. "He's good alright. But he surely cannot have given us the slip again." Nova asked in a half defeated tone.
"I believe he is close by." Antauri interrupted almost immediately taking the lead again.
"Antauri are you sure? Are you really sure you sensed his energy going down this corridor?"
"I am quite positive Nova, I think I can sense his trail." Antauri said as he moved towards the wall at the end. "See here also, there is another tiny drop of blood halfway under the wall. It has to lead further on, the trail will not go cold here. He's wounded, and so far this blood trail has followed an energy signal trail. This wall must be false or a secret door. It's the only way to explain it." Antauri stated, noting the gold monkey's sudden grin.
"Then I'll just have to remove it for them." Nova said as she readied her fists in order to deal some damage. She just loved the mini workouts from tasks like this.
As Otto watched on, he leaned back against the opposite wall. His back suddenly going further then it should. As Otto stumbled backwards, a loud click echoed through the corridor. The secret door had emerged, as it began to retract back into its slot.
Sitting up on the floor Otto rubbed his head. "Umm what just happened?"
"I'm not sure but you did it again Otto!" Nova said excitedly as she deactivated her fists, and leapt ahead. Antauri and Otto following behind closely.