Iceman sighed and watched his crusty white breath rise to the top of the freezer. "Stupid Wily." He spat while toying with an old pint of Ben n' Jerry's ice cream. The doctor seemed to delight in interrupting his private time with his 'Ice Queen', as he liked to call the freezer. The midget robot smiled wryly because, although Wily didn't know it, that was all about to change. It was time for the old fool to pay for his meddling. Before Wily showed up once again, Iceman switched the soy ice cream with its lactose-ridden counterpart, and just in time too.

"Hey Doc," Iceman chirped, holding up the ice cream, "this is what you're looking for, right?"

"Um...yes. Thank you, Iceman." Dr. Wily took the ice cream from his suspiciously happy robot.

Iceman pulled out the soy ice cream after Wily closed the door, took a mittenful of the stuff, and gave it a lick. He made a small noise of delight. The way Dr. Wily complained, he had been led to believe that the soy ice cream was inferior, but he found it very tasty.

----------------------------------

"Sorry little buddy," Geminiman said to Rock, "but something tells me we'd be facing instant deactivation if we led you outside the Castle grounds." He watched as our hero's face fell. "But," his twin began, "there is a loophole. We'll just take you to the roof. That way, you're not technically leaving the Skull Castle; just going somewhere you can teleport out. Follow us, we'll take a shortcut through the kitchen."

Rock furrowed his brow at the two for a moment, and then decided they were indeed trustworthy. They had yet to show him any sort of animosity and seemed to be well respected among the other Robot Masters. "Okay, you two lead the way."

Approximately three uneventful hours later, the trio finally made it to the door of the kitchen. Geminiman held open the door and motioned Rock inside. "Don't come in here," Iceman warned from his spot on the table, "right now, the kitchen is full of fruits and nuts." He cocked a thumb in the direction of Starman, Plantman, and Flameman who were all engaged in some sort of squabble in front of the stove. "Iceman, shouldn't you be bonding with the freezer now?" Geminiman did his best to ignore the commotion in the background.

The midget robot sighed and swung his legs idly off the table, "Wily unplugged it."

"Why'd he do that?"

"I got mad at him for opening the door all the time, so I gave him some Ben n' Jerry's ice cream and ate the soy stuff myself." He answered quickly. Rock shrugged. "So? What's so bad about that?"

"He's lactose-intolerant."

Rock gasped. "Oh no! No wonder the poor man went insane!"

"Hm, all this good food will go to waste." Geminiman stared forlornly at the thick, black cord that snaked around the front of the refrigerator.

"No it won't." Starman sang, "There's something I've been dying to do. I saw it on TV once." Geminiman blinked in confusion as Starman sauntered up to him. "I was just going to plug it back in-"

He was cut off by an anguished cry from the kitchen. Starman sighed, "Flameman and Plantman, will you two quit it? This is no good if either of you is dead now."

"What does it matter?" Plantman said dejectedly, "I've already died a thousand tiny deaths since you dragged me into this. AH!" He screamed as Flameman twisted one of the petals on his head. "Is time for shutting up now! We must battle!" he said in a brusque Middle Eastern accent.

"I suppose we should get started now that we have judges." Starman pointed to the Gemini twins and Rock. "NO!" Plantman screamed, "There is no way you're going to subject me to my own little version of Hell!"

Rock aimed his arm cannon at Starman, "Just what do you think you're doing to those poor robots?" Ignoring the weapon pointed in his direction, Starman raised his head so that his crown caught the incandescent glow of the overhead lights. "All of you prepare to experience the most epic battle the Skull Castle has ever seen! Our competitors- Plantman, the expert vegetarian and Flameman, master of the Middle East! Get ready for...Iron Chef!"

Plantman made a pathetic attempt to regain his composure and pointed accusingly at his tormentor, "I'm not going to hurt a plant, let alone cook one, for your sick amusement!"

"Iron Chef?" Geminiman said offhandedly, "I could've sworn we were made of titanium..."

"Okay Plantman, have it your way. The secret ingredient is fish. Now both of you get moving. You two," he looked at the Gemini twins, "can be judges of the dishes with Iceman. And you," he wrapped an arm around Rock, "you stay with me."

"Um...I think I'd rather just go home." Rock said softly while backing up toward the Gemini twins. "Nonsense cutie! You just got here." Starman knelt next to our little hero, who was blushing slightly. "What's wrong my boy? You are flaming!"

Geminiman reacted before Rock was able to so much as process the pick-up line. "You know what, Rock? Something tells me we should leave. I'd like to get out of here before Flameman tries to light the stove."