Authors Note: Woo, I've been busy! Forking ArchLinux, writing a project manager, and designing Koko (a pastebin you can use from a terminal). As well as working on SiCLI and a Chipmunk fansite! Busy busy busy! Anyway, enough techspeak, time for Chipmunks!

"That door isn't going to last much longer..." said Alvin as they heard a loud thumping noise from the other side of the door.

"Hmm..." replied Simon, lost in thought, and then suddenly he cried "Oh, I'm an idiot!"

"Huh?"

"I've been wasting time trying to think a way of getting out via the way we came in. But we don't have to go back the way we came!"

"What do you mean?"

"The ventilation shafts!" said Simon, climbing up on to the top of a table.

"Damn, I didn't realise we were going to do this Die Hard style."

"Die Hard is an 18. How do you know what happens?"

"How do you know what I said is true?"

"I... Age ratings... are... are just another form... form of censorship..."

"Yep, sure. And your meant to be the goody goody."

"Please don't tell Dave."

"Sure, just remember you owe me."

"OK, OK... Ah, got it!" Simon said as mesh covering the shaft fell off with a clang.

"I'll follow behind. Just in case those things follow us in."

"Any chance I can... can borrow a... a weapon?"

"Simon, asking to borrow a weapon? Damn, since when did you become bad ass?" Alvin joked handing over a gun.

"Since I'm about to be slowly and painfully killed by some kind of weird government experiment."

"Fair enough."

Simon started climbing into the shaft when he turned back round and asked "Uh, how do I use this thing?"

"Pull the catch on the back until it clicks. Then just point and pull the trigger. Just remember that all the time that catch is back, it's dangerous. Sure you'll get the hang of it."

"No wonder the world is going to shit if it's that easy to kill someone." he said climbing up into the shaft.

"At least we're not dealing with Nazi zombies."

"I'm just not going to ask..."

"Heheh. Am I making little Si Si nervous?"

"You? You make everyone nervous Alvin. Mostly for their own safety."

"I do try. So, any idea where this leads?"

"Probably the Moon, maybe Mars."

"I'll take that as a no."

"Well done Sherlock, however we have a more immediate problem." said Simon, stopping at a dead end.

"Dead end?" asked Alvin

"A ventilation shaft with a dead end? That wouldn't even make sense. No, it carries on, just vertically upwards."

"So, climb!"

"Me? I do mathematics and chemistry, not gymnastics. In case you didn't notice, I can't even climb trees."

Alvin groaned before banging his head against the metal side of the shaft.

"Better?" said Simon sarcastically.

"Much. How high is it?"

"About three times the height of me."

"Awesome. Stand up and squeeze in to give me enough room."

"OK..." said Simon, letting Alvin worm his way into the small space remaining, "this... this is uncomfortably close."

"Oh, then your not going to like my next instruction. Take your clothes off."

"I... what?!"

"Trust me with this. You'll see what I'm trying to do in a bit." said Alvin

"I... uh... this is..." Simon saw a glint in Alvin's blue eyes, the same glint that he always saw when Alvin had an idea.

"OK..." he said, pulling off his jumper and handing it to Alvin. Alvin quickly tied it to the end of his jumper, "OK, now give me a leg up. I'm going to climb up and lower this down to you."

"Oh god, this is so awkward." said Simon, helping Alvin up.

"Try to just remember I'm your brother."

"How is that meant to help?"

"Well, I could give you a hug if you'd prefer."

"No... I'm fine, thanks."

"Thought so. OK, I'm lowering it down to you now. Grab hold and try to climb up."

Simon got a third of the way up before his leg erupted in blood as one of the creatures shoved one of it's spike tipped arm into it. Simon screamed in pain as he lost his footing and knocked the creature to the bottom. He dangled in the air while Alvin shot past him at the creature below.

"Simon, calm down. I've got you." he said, pulling him up, "and I've got rid of that... thing."

"My... my leg..."

"Taking care of it." said Alvin, wrapping his jumper around Simon's leg and pulling it tight.

"I...they...hurts..."

"It's OK. Your safe now." said Alvin, pulling Simon into his arms.

"No...more...following..."

"It's OK, we're almost back." he said, kicking the mesh at the end off and climbing out.

"See?" he added, pulling Simon out.

"Radio..."

"Yeah, I know." said Alvin, pulling out his radio.

"Theo, Jean, any chance of a doorman? And step on it, Simon's hurt and we're being follow..." he was cut off as Jeanette shoved him aside, grabbing hold of Simon.

"Are you going to stand there all day or going to help me?" she said

"I... Sure." said Alvin, shaking his head and helping Jeanette get Simon into their safe haven while Theodore sealed them back in.