THE RESCUER

Angelica looks at the "superhero", who is starting to stand up. Even if he doesn't looks like a big deal, she is concerned because of the hit he just received.

"Are you okay?", she asks. Chuckie dusts himself off, and tries to keep his cool.

"Of course I'm okay. I did that on purpose to check the floor's integrity. All my movements are coldly calculated." He tries to cover his mistake... and misses terribly. Angelica sighs, and repeats to herself that he might be the only one that can help her, but, being her, can't resist the temptation of teasing him a little.

"Anyway, good thing you appeared, ColoRed Chuck. I had heard a lot about you." She says in a happy tone. Chuckie inflates his chest a little, and gives her a nice smile.

"I know you are clumsy, a scaredy-cat, accident prone..." Angelica starts listing, while counting with her fingers. Chuckie scowls at her, but, before he can talk again, Angelica concludes "... and that you are a very brave hero; I truly believe the last part." Chuckie returns to a trusting smile.

"Because you have to be very brave to become a hero when you are clumsy, a scaredy-cat, accident prone..." Angelica continues.

"She takes advantage of my nobleness." Chuckie talks to himself, and sighs. He then directs to Angelica. "You summoned me for help, or just wanted to have a cheap laugh at my expenses?" Angelica sighs as well, and returns to her worried expression. Enough laughing for the moment.

"Do you know Timothy McNulty?" she asks him.

"The one who is nicknamed "Tim Thug"?" Chuckie asks.

"Yes." Angelica nods.

"Public Enemy Number One?" Chuckie continues.

"Yeah." Angelica says, a little more animated.

"Wanted for robbery, assault, blackmailing, not respecting the red light, counterfeiting money, and chewing gum in his forth grade classroom?" Chuckie concludes.

"Yes darling! Yes honey! Yes sweetheart!" Angelica exclaims.

"Nope, I don't know him." Chuckie shrugs. Angelica groans, but, before she can say another thing, Chuckie continues. "I mean, not personally, but I had heard about him a lot. The Union had been behind him for some time now."

"What Union?" Angelica asks.

"The Union of Heroes, Paladins, and Similar, of course. All the superheroes are members, you know. Last night I played poker with the Crimson Chin, Catman, InvisoBill, XJ-9, Monkeyman... of course, we play with bananas instead of money." Chuckie explains. Then he goes back to business. "Let me guess. He is the one that locked you in this place, right?"

"Yes. I used to date him, but just discovered he is the famous criminal everyone is trying to catch, so I decided to turn him to the authorities. Unfortunately, he caught me first, and locked me in here yesterday." Angelica explains, and lowers her head. "I didn't wanted to believe he was that villain, but he usually was very kind with me... yes, a little tough, but kind. I thought he really liked me." Chuckie places a hand on her shoulder, and tries to cheer her up.

"Well, you know the old and known proverb. Not everything that glows for its cover." He says. Angelica gives him a puzzled look, and Chuckie makes one as well, realizing what he just said. "No, wait... ah, yes. Don't judge a book is gold!" He smiles and crosses his arms. He notices Angie's look, and then he starts rubbing his chin, realizing his mistake again.

"No, wait... you can't judge a book made of gold... or read it, by the way... because you might not be able to open it... unless only the cover is made of gold... and then, you don't judge it, because is already a very expensive thing..." He thinks for a few more seconds, and then shrugs and talks to Angie. "Well, you got the idea."

"Actually, I didn't got a thing." Angelica shakes her head. "Except maybe a migraine, and the lost of a couple of neurons. Anyway, can you save me, or what?" she snaps at him. Chuckie starts looking around for a way out.

"Why don't we leave by the same way you entered, Einstein?". She tells him, matter-of-factly, but he just shakes his head.

"We can't. When someone summons my help, I get the message with my antennae, and then get transported to the place. But, from there, I must move on my own." Chuckie explains to her. Then he sees a little window on top of the room, very high to reach it even standing on each other's shoulders, but he gets an idea. "Got it. I'll place the barrel and some crates, and make a tower to climb to that window."

"That wouldn't work. The crates are empty, so they'll not be able to stand our weight." Angelica points.

"Suspected that from the beginning." Chuckie tries his expert-like tone again. He starts checking the room again, and looks at the door. "I got it! We'll pass under the door!"

"Keep giving dumb plans, and I'll make you pass!" Angelica shoves her fist in front of his face. Obviously, this so-called hero isn't as useful as she expected. He gulps, and moves his hands in front of him for defense.

"No, you don't get it. Look, we'll use one of my tricks." Chuckie then takes a little jar out from his pants. "These are Shrinktolin pills. Just swallow one, and you'll be small enough to slid down the door." Angelica gives him a "you must be crazy" scowl. Chuck notices she is not believing him, and decides to show her. He takes 2 pills out of the jar, and places it back inside his pants. He then gives one to Angelica.

"Look at this. I'll do it first to show you it's for real." Chuckie swallows his pill, and moves near the door. Then, he gets a blank look, and, 2 seconds later, shrinks in the blink of an eye! Angelica can't believe it.

"Chanfle!" she says, stunned, while leaning to look at him. Chuck is now slightly smaller than a regular mouse. "Now I had seen everything!"

"Didn't count with my cleverness, right?" he screams to be audible, while adopting an heroic pose. "Just swallow your pill, and we'll be out in a moment. The pills' effect last a few minutes... I never know exactly how many, but is always less than twelve. And don't worry, Shriktolin has no side effects, and your stuff is always shrunk with you, so you'll not be naked or something!" Angelica actually liked the explanation, but was hesitant to take the pill.

"I don't know... being so little sounds a little risky." Angelica admitted. Chuckie tries to encourage her.

"I know. I was scared too the first time, but remember the old and known proverb...Finest things come at the given horse's mouth!" Angie rolls her eyes. Chuckie realizes the mistake, and tries again.

"No, wait... Never look in small packages!" Chuckie says in his expert tone, but then realizes he just mixed the proverbs again. "No, it wasn't like that... never look in a small package, because you can find better things in a horse's mouth... of course, this only works if you are a veterinarian dentist... in that case, teeth so large are the finest things, and, if you want to keep them you use a small package... Well, you got the idea!" Chuckie exclaims, willing to kick himself.

Angelica sighs, and, deciding the pill is her best option, swallows it. A few seconds later, she is as small as Chuck. However, since this is the first time she shrinks, she gets overwhelmed by the size's change, and actually gets a little dizzy. Chuckie notices it, and grabs her hand.

"Don't worry. You'll be fine in a moment. Come on, I'll lead you out." He talks to her, and starts leading her to the door. Angelica actually feels okay while holding his hand. They finally crawl under the door, and appear in the next room. Is actually a really big one; it would take a few seconds to go through it, but, at their size, is like a stadium.

"Why don't we wait until the effect of the pill is gone, and then walk to the door?" Angelica asks, not willing to walk so much. Chuckie shakes his head.

"I don't think that's a good idea. If your ex-boyfriend appears before we're full sized, he might crush us. Plus, it would be good to reach next door while we are still this size, so we don't need to take another to get out." Chuck points to Angelica. She sighs, and they start walking.