Chapter 40
It didn't take the large group very long to take the elevator to get to the second floor. Once they were there, they immediately went to Dr. Milldred's lab and grabbed as many vials and syringes of Deet's medicine as they could. With all that they grabbed, they had enough to last for three months.
"Alright, we have the medicine, and we have everybody." Dr. Milldred nodded. "Now for the final step. Leaving the building."
"Dr. Milldred," Dr. Rose interrupted. "I think I may have a better plan than setting the fire alarm off."
"And what's that?"
"What if I distract the people in the lobby myself? I could tell them that I have made an interesting discovery about Ms. Brea, and I can get them to follow me to my lab."
"That's perfect!" Penelope agreed. "And it won't look suspicious on you either, because the tank is broken! They'll think that Ms. Brea escape on her own! And then got everybody else out as well!"
"At least until Dr. Leeroy wakes up again." Dr. Milldred nodded. "That may just work, Rose."
"Alright, I'll take the elevator to the first floor and distract them. You guys take the other elevator. Wait five seconds after I've gotten on and the doors have closed behind me before you do. That should give me enough time to get everybody in the lobby into the elevator with me before you guys arrive."
"Sounds perfect, go for it."
Dr. Rose nodded and got on the elevator, pressing the button to the first floor. The doors closed behind her, and the group waited for five seconds before they got on the other elevator. Once they did, Dr. Milldred pressed the button for the first floor, and down they went.
"What are we going to do about these collars?" Rian reminded Dr. Milldred.
"Don't worry, I have a friend that can help us get them off." She nodded. "You see Rian, our research facility did not put those collars on you. We were just given the buttons and the information to them. The ones that put them on you, was my father and the people that work with him. They thought that it may keep you in check while we were gathering information about you and your planet."
"He didn't think that his own daughter would go behind his back to help you escape." Penelope giggled. "And to be fair, neither did I."
"Personal morals can change after a bit of thought." Dr. Milldred nodded.
At that moment, the elevator doors opened and she peeked outside, watching as the elevator doors next to theirs closed. "She did it, let's go. Quickly now."
The group left the elevator and ran through the lobby, making their way to the front door as fast as they possibly could. At that moment, the alarms went off.
"They must've saw Brea's broken tank." Deet said.
"Yes, hurry, it won't be long until they come back down here." Dr. Milldred nodded.
They ran as fast as they could and got outside.
"Where did you park the van?" Penelope asked frantically.
"This way! Hurry!"
They followed Dr. Milldred through the parking lot to the Subaru. Just as they were about halfway there, the Gelflings collapsed.
"AAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!" They all screamed out in pain, convulsing on the ground as their shock collars sent wave after wave of electricity through their small bodies.
"They're being shocked!" Penelope gasped. She went to grab the collars to try and pull them off, but her sister stopped her.
"No Penelope! Don't touch those collars! If you do, you'll be shocked too!" She looked from the Gelflings to the van. "We gotta get them in the van. We can touch their bodies, but not the collars."
"Carry them?" Penelope guessed.
"Carry them." Dr. Milldred nodded.
Penelope nodded and went up to Rian. "Come on Mr. Rian. I know it hurts but we gotta go. Take my hand, I'll carry you to the car."
Shaking with pain, Rian weakly reached his arm up to Penelope, who quickly grabbed it and helped him stand up. She wrapped his arm over her shoulder and started to help him walk to the car. Dr. Milldred went up to Brea and Seladon and picked them up, carrying them over to the car. She opened the door and she and Penelope placed the Gelflings inside, just as the shocking went down.
The Gelflings all groaned in pain as the human girls laid them down in the back of the Subaru. Dr. Milldred ran back to Deet and helped her get up, carefully carrying her over to the van and laying her down with the others. Baffi barked and quickly hopped up into the vehicle, snuggling up against Seladon, who gently wrapped her arms around the Fizzgig and cuddled him.
Fritz, who had been waiting in the car the whole time, whimpered as he went up to Rian and started licking at his face.
"Ugh!" Rian groaned good-naturedly. "That's disgusting, Fritz!"
The girls giggled before Penelope climbed in and closed the door, buckling herself in. Dr. Milldred nodded and got into the front, starting the car up and quickly driving out of the parking lot, escaping just as a bunch of her co-workers came running out of the building and waving at her car.