When Violet recovered consciousness, she discovered that she was bound by metal spheres around her hands and feet, and she was suspended in midair by some sort of electromagnetic field. Dash was beside her, also just waking up. Both had been dressed in smaller versions of Syndrome's black-and-white costume. Violet could see their red costumes had been thrown into a heap in the corner.
"You've been very naughty sidekicks, keeping secrets from me," said Syndrome, walking into view in front of them. Gloating was in his voice. "When I went to check on you last night I found you had broken out of the room, Violet. Naturally I had to knock your two brothers out and set a trap for your return. I suppose I'm partly to blame for being a bit - standoffish."
"You haven't been standoffish, you've been vicious!" said Violet.
"Silence!" said Syndrome. "I can give painful electrical shocks through those manacles, so shut up and listen. I'm giving you a chance to redeem yourselves today. An out-of-control military robot is about to attack the city. Work with me on this mission and all is forgiven."
"We're not co-operating with you!" said Dash. "Where's our brother Jack-Jack? We demand you let him go!"
"Oh dear, where could Jack-Jack be? Let's see..." Count Buddy pressed a button on a control panel, and the whole framework that was holding them rotated to the right. They could see Jack-Jack was suspended out the window in a cage. The hook-handed guard stood beside the window.
"If you really want me to let him go, I will," said Syndrome. "But we're in my tower, thirty feet above the ground. The poor little monkey may not survive the fall, even in a cage. But if you insist-"
"No!" said Dash, "Don't!"
"Please," said Violet. "We'll do anything!"
"Anything?" said Count Buddy. "Even perhaps be my sidekicks in today's performance, er, mission?"
"All right," said Violet through gritted teeth, "We'll do it."
"I knew you'd see things my way," said Syndrome with a chuckle. He pulled a lever on the control panel and released them from the manacles. Instantly, rocket boots on their feet fired up, keeping them hovering with their feet off the ground.
"I control every move on this mission," said Syndrome. "I control your jet boots. Dash, you can't pull any running stunts with your feet off the ground. Violet, you can't make that costume invisible. And if you do anything to disrupt this mission, or say anything but 'Yes sir, Syndrome sir', I'll push this button on my left gauntlet; it will signal my guard here and it's bye-bye Jack-Jack."
The sound of a distant rocket explosion came though the window.
"That's our cue! Syndrome, SynGirl, and SynBoy to the rescue! Up, up, and away!" the villain shouted.
As the three flew through the air toward downtown, Violet racked her brains for an answer. Syndrome seemed to have thought of everything. How could they spoil his plans and save Jack-Jack?
