Further down in the shaft, Dot had arrived in a large area of the mine. Other tunnels leading away from the hub lined the walls. This was Diane's main base of command. She kept herself hidden as she saw the three villains walking by and arguing with the Aqua Gem in hand. She could hear everything they were saying.

"I don't get it boss, if he's not gonna talk no matter what we do, why can't we just kill him already?" Asked Boris. "Yeah, c'mon boss." Added Allen. "Because he's still valuable, you knuckleheads. He knows what we want. I'm just gonna keep scaring him till he breaks. Every person I've interrogated has broken and I won't let some fifth grader stop me from getting what I want!" Replied Diane, pointing at the tarp hiding her hostage.

Dot smiled. Now she knew where her friend was! As soon the villains were out of sight, Dot ran to the covered shaft and pushed through the tarp. And there, to her relief, was Lincoln.

"Dot!" Whispered Lincoln excitedly. "Boy, I'm I glad to see you! See if you can get the key!" Lincoln pointed to a key ring hanging on a nail across from the cage. By standing on her hind legs and using her snout, Dot nudged the key of the nail and into her mouth. She passed it to Lincoln, who put his hands through the bars to unlock the padlock on the cage door.

Lincoln quietly opened the cage and walked out.

"Man, it feels good to be out of there." Said Lincoln happily. Dot gave Lincoln a lick on his face as he hugged her. "Thanks Dot. I missed you so much. Are my sisters and Abby ok?" He asked. Dot nodded. "Did you happen to see the gem too?" Dot replied with another nod.

Lincoln smiled. "It's time to put Operation: Get The Aqua Gem Back And Find My Sisters And Abby And Save Michigan And Also Think Of A Shorter Name For This Operation, into action!"

Lincoln knew getting the Aqua Gem back was now more important than ever. Now that he knew Diane's intentions, Lincoln knew the future of the entire state of Michigan rested in his hands. "No pressure there." He thought nervously. Dot led Lincoln down a different shaft where she had seen the villains go with the gem.

At another archway leading into a blocked tunnel. Lincoln peeked in to find the tunnel had been converted into a type of workshop. He didn't see Diane, but Allen and Boris were there. They were guarding the gem while Diane was resting. "I'd like a nap. I've been working my butt off." Said Boris. "Pinch yourself Bozo, it'll all be worth it once freakazoid gives us the clue. I'm not wasting my eyesight looking at the thing." Grumbled Allen.

Lincoln thought hard. He knew running in a grabbing the Aqua Gem wasn't going to work. They'd have him before he could even turn around.

Just then, Lincoln noticed an old barrel near the examination table. He looked at Dot and immediately realized they both had the same idea.

Lincoln quietly inched into the workshop and hid behind the barrel. He signaled to Dot, and she jumped in and started jumping around to get their attention! As they turned around, Lincoln grabbed the barrel and used a rock to jump onto the table.

"What the?! Where did th-CLUNK!!" Lincoln shoved the barrel over Boris' head! Dot then kicked Boris into Allen and the two fell into a box of tools! Lincoln grabbed the Aqua Gem and he and Dot ran out and headed further down the tunnel! "See you next fall!" Laughed Lincoln. Diane woke from the noise and ran in from the opposite way. Her eyes went wide with shock to find Allen and Boris on the ground and the Aqua Gem was gone!

"What are you two doing?! Where's the gem?!" Screamed Diane.

She looked down at the floor and saw small tennis shoe prints in the dirt. She then ran to Lincoln's cage to find the door wide open and the key sitting on the ground. "YOU IDIOTS!!!!!"

Stay tuned for chapter 30!