A/N okay, okay, I get it. This isn't interesting enough, is it? Is it because there hasn't been enough action? Or is it the fact that I tend to update about once in a blue moon? Is that why there weren't any reviews for chapter eight? sigh I'm not whining or anything, really, but hearing what everyone thinks is pretty much the only reason I write. No reviews is like being ignored when you hula through English class. Where is everybody?

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314 sat slumped at the computer, her claws lazily tapping at the keys. She was looking at a layout of the lab and comparing it to the tiny images supplied by the security cameras. She could see the other experiments as they left in small groups, she scowled a little at the sight. She knew what was going on of course, Jumba had been with her when Istari Astrawyn had come to warn him. He hurried off to get everyone out and told her not to follow. Instead he had opened the program she was now rifling through. With careful instructions on what to do should he not return within the hour she was left to wait.

But 314 wanted to leave. She desperately wanted to go with the others. And why not? It was obviously important to get out as soon as possible so why shouldn't she? The truth was...she was frightened. Last time she had ventured out, the lab had seemed like such a vast, bustling place. She wasn't sure if she could handle the rest of the world, at least not alone. Not without 625.

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The 297th floor was in utter chaos. The last of the experiments, a mere hundred or so, had been making their way to the elevators and stairs (A/N I know, somebody would spot them, but how else could that many experiments get out?). the foremost group had been waiting expectantly as the elevator doors hissed open. Shouts rang through the room and a torrent of plasma bolts rained upon them. Federation soldiers seemed to leap into the crowd as more poured out of the stairwells. The experiments scattered, making use of their individual abilities as best they could. Balls of ice, electricity, and nearly every other force of nature swept through the room, but it wasn't enough. They were outnumbered and the experiments were falling.

Somewhere amidst the fighting 692 was clutching an unconscience 386.

"Holy crap...holy crap..." 597 struggled out from underneath a fallen experiment. 602 yelled and clutched his friend closer. "Man, I-I thought you were—"

"I'm not, so don't worry." He looked around at the others sprawled around them and those still resisting. No wonder Jumba wanted them all to leave. He turned back to 602, who was looking worriedly over 386. "He should be fine, let me take him." Being the largest of the three, 597 easily took 386 into his arms. 602 circled behind him, taking hold of his shoulders and hoisting himself onto his back.

"This is weird..."

"Hang on tight, okay? It's about time I put this noggin of mine to use."

"Oh great." 597 ran a paw over his horn, turning toward the elevator. Its doors were open, but soldiers kept crossing their path. He hunkered down, bracing himself to spring. Almost as if shot out of a cannon the trio flew forward. With a jolt they collided with a soldier. Once he had bounced out of the way, 597 crouched and sprang again, ramming yet another. The others soon began to scramble out of the way as he picked up speed, at last pitching headlong into the elevator. 602 kicked another fallen experiment away from the door (they seemed to be everywhere). The doors hissed closed as a grieved voice wailed through the room.

"NOOOOO!!!!! YOU WEREN'T SUPPOSED TO KILL THEM! YOU IDIOTS!!"

597 and 602 sat in stunned silence. Eventually 602 turned to his friend. "Did that mean that we're..."

He sighed. "Yes, I'm afraid it does."

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"They're here! They're here! THEY'RE HERE!!" 625 found himself on the receiving end of a smack to the back of the head. "That hurt..."

"I'm sorry, but if you don't cut it out they'll hear us." 314 swiped a few dead flies and bits of fluff out of her way and continued along the ventilation shaft, whispering back to 625 as she went. "You know, I'm glad you showed up. I thought you'd left."

625 chuckled a bit nervously. "Well...something was stopping me..." she stopped and looked back at him. "The truth is...I just couldn't bring myself to leave without you."

"Really?"

"Yep. I don't care if Jumba kills me for it, I don't care if I'm stuck here forever, I'm getting you out of here. You are my best friend, after all."

"Oh, that's so sweet of you." He tried to give 314 a hug, but only managed to wrap his arms around her rear. She shook him off with a giggle. "Don't cross the line, buddy."

"Sorry...so how much farther?"

"Actually, we should be ther--ACK!" she fell and land with a thump, rolling away in time to avoid breaking 625's fall. "Wow, it's really dark in here."

"Really? I hadn't noticed." The room was so dark they could've been on the surface of the sun and not known it. "Let's find a light switch."

"Don't bother, 625, we won't be able to reach it." They climbed to their feet and found each other. Linking arms, they shuffled forward into the darkness, waving their free arms blindly in front of them.

"Y'know, if I were hiding a ship, this would definitely be where I'd put it." 625 muttered, feeling 314 shake her head next to him. "By the way, once we get into this thing, how do we know where we're going?"

"Jumba said he already programmed a destination into the hyperdrive. He said it seemed like a safe place since they don't really have any contact with the rest of the galaxy."

"Oh. Does this mystery place have a name?"

"Not that I know of."

"I'm glad you're telling me all this, 314. It's so comforting." He rolled his eyes. "So basically, we're looking for a ship that might as well be invisible so that we can run away and hide on some supposedly safe planet. A planet that we've probably never even heard of..." clink "...sorry about that."

"No, we've found the ship!" 314 ran her paws across the smooth metal searchingly. "Come on." She edged along, feeling for a doorway. They continued in silence for several minutes, though it seemed much longer.

Suddenly 314 gasped and pulled out of 625's grasp. All at once the room seemed to spring to life. Hatch (which is what 314 had fallen through) slid closed with a hiss, separating her from 625. Lights flared on all around the room and the ship's engines roared to life.

"Wha...huh?" 625 staggered back and charged at the hatch, hoping his weight would knock it open, but he bounced harmlessly to the floor. Staggering to his feet, he ran to the front. 314's face was pressed against the glass, her eyes wide as she stared out at him. She said something, but the noise of the ship and the glass between them muffled it. Placing his paws against the ship's side, 625 hoisted himself up and began to climb to her (seeing as he hadn't done it in quite some time he had a hard time of it).

"Turn it off!" he shouted through to her. She shook her head.

"I tried, it's locked into auto-pilot and the door won't open. I can't get out!" 625 frowned. This wasn't good, not at all. There was no way he could get to her...the ship began to move as the wall ahead of it split in two and slid out of sight. There was nothing but clear skies ahead. "Get off, 625! Get off and run!"

"But—"

"Just go, you can't stay out there!" he put a paw to the glass and she did the same. It looked almost as if they were touching. This was the closest he could get to her now...

"314, I..."

"Don't say it." She smiled at him through the glass, her eyes welling with tears. He didn't want her to cry, but he couldn't help doing it himself. She continued to smile at him. "I already know. And I feel it too."

"You...do?"

"Yes. I'll come back for you." 625 hesitated, but she had turned away from him. Silently he dropped from the ship and ran for cover in the vent. With a roar of thunder she was gone.