Serra stopped sniffing around at a small two story house. She got up from her hunched over state and stated, "That house! I'm sure of it!" Colm nodded and released the lease around her neck. She carefully charged and opened the wooden door making sure not to get pierced by the particular familiar lances sticking out of it.

"Oh, Erky-poooooooo!" Serra called out.

She entered followed by Colm and Neimi. RICK was on the couch flipping through the channels rapidly on the t.v. while Seth, Cormag, and Tana were a foot away from it obviously very interested. Erk was no where to be found and probably took cover at the mere feeling of Serra Aura, dragging the handcuffed Raven with him.

Serra wandered around clueless rambling, "Where's Erk? Where's MY Erk?"

RICK stopped at Mtv's top 20 count down.

"Ah, well RICK, just the person I wanted to see!" said Colm. He waited for a response and received none.

Colm took this as a sign to keep talking so naturally, he kept talking, "So… We were looking for a hammerane or warp staff the other day and… We decided to look in some 'malls' according to a paper, and then we noticed that there was a mall called 'Richardson's Square Bellybutton'"

RICK cocked his head and said, "What the hell?"

Colm who was now happy that RICK was showing signs of interest, said, "I know! But that's what the paper said so I'm sorry but we're going to have to check your bellybutton!"

RICK yelled over to Seth, Tana, and Cormag, "Those great-great- I don't care how great-grandkids of Tana's evil possessor (he took a breath) should have been here by now! I guess evil prankster protégées mean 2 hours when they say I'll be over in five. "

Those three didn't reply as they were too interested with the t.v. screen.

Colm, who was now going just about crazy, began shaking RICK by the shoulders screaming, "WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU!"

RICK's headphones were slowly shooken off and RICK started laughing.

"HAVEN'T YOU BEEN LISTENING TO A WORD I'VE SAID!" said Colm

RICK had a hard time looking at Colm with a straight face "Nope." He said flatly.

Colm screamed out fiercely, "JUST SHUT UP AND HOLD STILL WHILE I CHECK YOUR BELLYBUTTON!" and tackled RICK before he could say, "Over my dead body!"

Meanwhile, at some mall

Jaffar looked around as Nino, Knoll, and himself entered the shopping fortress known as North Park Mall.

"Well, as long as we're here we might as well look for a warp or hammerane staff." He said. Nino however, was already on it.

Nino flew into the pet store faster than Jaffar could ask, "Where's Nino?" She ran over to the puppy section with a large grin on her face.

"Oh, Jaaaaffffaaarrr! Look at this pwecious-fuggly-face!" She held up a baby Doberman, "It's almost as cute as those demon dogs that we saw before.

Jaffar flinched as he remembered those dogs…

Flashback-

Nino," Hey lil' puppy! Whose a cute widdle puppy? You are! You are!

Jaffar," NINO! LOOK OUT! –dog launches, Nino is pushed out of the way by Jaffar-

Nino," Jaffar? Are you okay?

Jaffar," Argh…

End of Flashback-

Knoll looked concerned and almost laughing, "Ouch, did it hurt?" he asked

Jaffar nodded and showed a "part of his body" "I've still got the scar for it."

Nino came forward still with the puppy, "Can I get the puppy? Pleeeessssse! Just one!"

Jaffar nodded, "Okay, but, JUST ONE. Okay?"

Nino agreed, "I promise."

LATER

"Oo! Oo! Jaffar, this one too!" Nino grabbed a golden retriever puppy and tossed it onto the pile of twenty to thirty puppies.

Knoll whispered to Jaffar, "Thank goodness there's no more. She's not a cat person right?"

Jaffar didn't reply. He wasn't sure himself. Then, he thought to himself that he should learn to just say no. Before he could try that out, Nino moved on to the bunnies.

"OH! Look-look-look at this FAT BOY! Oh, Mommy Nino's taking you home!" Nino said.

Knoll Fainted.

END OF CHAPTER 9

Erk pondered, "Ya know RICK… Where AM I hiding? Serra's got to have torn the place up by now!"

RICK, whose writing in a spiral, "I'm not sure, but wherever it is, Serra doesn't know about it."

Erk put on a dirty look, "Yea, I know that much, but where?"

RICK sighed, "Fine, you're hiding under the couch in the guest room with Raven."

Erk looked back at RICK, "You're not going to tell Serra are you?"

RICK didn't hesitate and answered, "Nope. I have to. Colm's now a level 20 assassin, it's not like I have I choice. I'm a weakling!"

Erk started laughing, "So, I bet you're going to loose the fight with Colm?"

RICK answered, "Duh."

Erk and RICK both said simultaneously, "Enjoy your last moments with the living."

And then they both screamed.