"Here it is." Homer said shifting his car into park.
Knuckles sat beside him although he wasn't tall enough to look over dash, even if the box of donuts wasn't there. Even moreso he felt ridiculous in his seat.
"This wasn't necessary." He said unstrapping himself from Maggie's booster seat.
"Safety first." Homer said matter of factly." That's what Marge always says."
"Then why weren't you wearing one?!" Homer let out. Simpsons blew on his tongue in response.
"That's just for babies and midgets." His eyes became distracted as he turned to view the time." Now time for my parking lot snack!" He wasted no time in reaching into the donut and grabbing as many as he could.
Knuckles turned away from his eating and instead turned his head up and looked out the window. Across the parking lot was a tall glass building. And behind that like two giant grey cigarettes were the cooling towards blowing smoke into the air.
Knuckles grumbled his annoyance as he sat back down. Then he turned his mind to the task at hand.
"Alright. We're in. Now where's this Burns guy?" Homer turned and pointed. He stuck his arm out and ran it across Knuckles' nose. Annoying the Echidna further and causing him to shift back in his seat.
"There." Homer said. Knuckles followed where he was pointing to see it was the very top of the glass building.
"I should have figured." Knuckles said. But it was now or never." Well thanks for the ride. But I'll take it from here." He pushed the car door open with one big hand and prepared to step outside.
"Wait! No!" Homer reached out and grabbed him pulling him back inside.
"What gives?!" Knuckles let out as he was tossed back into the car seat.
"You can't just walk into the power plant like that. Mr. Burns will know something's wrong as soon as he sees you."
"He has my EMERALD!" Knuckles stressed.
"We'll get it back. "Homer said." We've just got to be careful." Knuckles breathed in an angry breath before relaxing into a sigh. Whatever he was, Homer knew this place better then he did. So like it or not he had to take his advice.
"Alright Homer." He said." What do we do then?" Simpsons put his hand to his chin and though real hard.
"This looks like a job for-" As he spoke he began to open his plain white shirt to show the symbol of a Pie there. Knuckles quickly reached up and slapped a hand over his chest.
"NO DISGUISES!"
"D'OH!" Homer let out.
"Hey Homer!" Lenny greeted him. "How about a breakfast Churro?"
"Oh!" Homer squealed in delight." Don't mind if I do!" He greedily took the churro and began snacking away. All the while his Co-Workers and friends looked at him confused.
"Hey Homer." Carl said." You look alittle different."
"New Haircut?" Lenny asked.
"New shoes?" Carl said instead. What they were referring to was the great big brown trench coat he was wearing. And it wasn't even raining out.
"Well actually" Homer said as he began to reach for the trench coat to open it." It's-DOH!" He groaned as a sharp pain shot up his stomach.
"Oh I get it." Lenny said." Your a nudist now."
"No it's-DOH!" Homer let out feeling another pain.
"Oh you don't look so hot Homer." Carl said." Maybe that breakfast Churro is coming up on you already." Homer agreed as he turned, groaning into his office. The sliding doors opened for him, then slid behind him.
Once inside Homer opened his trench coat. And Knuckles who had been holding onto Homer's girth feel flat to the floor. Grumbling he picked himself up and viewed their surroundings.
"Where are we?" Knuckles asked." This isn't Burns' office."
"This is sector 7-G." Homer said delighted." This is where I work."
"But what about Burns?" Knuckles asked turning to him." And the Emerald?" Homer blinked at him in response.
"Churro?" Homer offered. Knuckles turned down his head and grumbled.
"I don't have time for this." He said as he turned for the door.
"WAIT!" Homer let out with a mouthful of food. He grabbed Knuckles again. The Echidna turned and looked at him annoyed but then saw Homer pointing to something again. Once more he followed his finger. Homer was pointing to a camera in the corner of the room." Burns can see everything from there."
"Watching from his office?" Knuckles asked. Homer nodded." What's the quickest way to his office?"
"Follow me." Homer said. He yanked at Knuckles arm and dragged him away too... the Elevator.
Homer casually standing there eating his breakfast churro, Knuckles standing arms crossed beside him. While Homer chomped away Knuckles casually looked around the elevator.
"There's no cameras in here?" He questioned.
"No." Homer said popping the last bit of Churro in his mouth. Then sucking on one finger after the other." Too expensive. If he sees an accident in the elevator he could be legally liable. So he took the cameras out so he'd save some money." Knuckles raised an eyebrow at him.
"Real tight purse is he?" The Elevator dinged and the door opened.
"Here we are. "Homer said. He stepped out first and Knuckles followed. The hallway went from the tiled flooring of he plant to a bright red carpet. The hallways lined with artwork. It looked more like the lobby of an expensive hotel rather then a place of work." That's Burns' door." Homer pointed.
Two big brown doors at the end of the hall. The Place the two were walking towards. Knuckles put his hand on one of the doors while Homer put his hand on the other. Together they pushed and opened the doors.
All the way across the room was the huntched over old gargoyle himself.
"Come for my Emerald have you?" Burns said.
"YOUR Emerald?!" Knuckles growled." You mean MY Emerald!" His anger caused him to stomp into the room." Give it back to me!" He slammed a fist into his open palm.
"Yea!" Homer added." Give it back or else!" Knuckles turned up to see Homer also slam his fist into an open palm.
"Oh you've got me frightened all right." Mr. Burns said from his seat. "I am shaking in my chair." One of his old thin arms disappeared under the desk and unknown to Homer and Knuckles he had pressed a button.
As soon as he had the doors behind Homer and Knuckles opened. The duo turned around to see another duo enter the room. Two burly, rough looking characters. Joey Crusher and Lowblow.
"I think you'll find these two roustabouts more your speed." Burns commented as the two continued into the room, standing opposite and over Homer and Knuckles." Throw these two out!"
"Here we go." Knuckles said as the two goons closed in on them. The Echidna jumped to the side while Crusher grabbed at him.
Joey Crusher moved and followed Knuckles back towards the door.
"Come here you little-" He grunted as he dived towards Knuckles. But once more the Echidna jumped to the side avoiding him. Then when he was close enough he swung up and punched Crusher in the face sending him flying into the wall. Once done he turned towards the other.
"Hey Homer you alr-WHOA!" He let out. He turned to see Homer on his back with Lowblow hunched over him.
"D'OH! D'OH!" Homer grunted with each punch he took. Knuckles quickly jumped across the room and next to them. By the time Lowblow knew he was there a fist flew out and sent him flying into the fireplace.
"Well..." Burns let out. "I didn't expect that." Knuckles reached down and grabbed Homer by his wrists, pulling him to his feet.
"You alright?" Knuckles asked.
"Jeeghosobooo." Homer let out. He looked up to see Knuckles overhead. Then he stuck his thumb between his index and middle finger and poked Knuckles in the nose." Look Maggie, I got your nose. Hehe."
"Just stay here and take it slow." Knuckles told. He turned with a frown to Mr. Burns still sitting behind his desk." I'll deal with this."
"Well this has all been a very impressive display." The old man said." I tell you what, let's make a deal."
"A deal?" Knuckles questioned as he stopped right before the desk. Homer had sat himself upright and was holding onto his head.
"Yesss." Burns hissed." You are the proprietor of the Emerald you say. I'm not ungenerous, so what you say tooooooo 3%? That's a fair offer and-"
"Not interested." Knuckles stressed.
"Is that so?" Burns asked. And as he spoke he pressed another button under his desk.
At that time Homer managed to stand himself up. But as soon as he did something happened. Suddenly Homer felt the ground shaking under his feet. He turned down to see the floor doing just that before it opened into a long, dark hole.
"AH!" Homer screamed as he disappeared into the door. His scream echoing all around it.
"HOMER!" Knuckles yelled. He quickly forgot about Mr. Burns and the Master Emerald as he dived for the shaft after him.