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Max stirred. He could hear someone calling his name. He tried to call out, but all that came out was a faint mewling noise. His eyelids flickered open, then closed, confused. Why couldn't he move? Where was he?

Tyson flung himself against the wall again, bruising his arm badly. Taking no notice, he prepared to run at the wall again. A hiss distracted him and he tripped over, landing flat on his face. The others ran over.

"Tyson, Tyson, are you okay?"

"I'm fine. Now, get out of my way!" he snapped, standing up unsteadily.

"Now now, Tyson! Don't be so headstrong!" a voice said silkily. Everyone spun around. A face swam fuzzily into view on the wall.

"What the f-"

"Relax, Tyson. You'll all be fine if you just do what I say. Now, then. Ray, I suppose you have your blade with you? Yes? Good. Put it in the middle of the floor. You too, Tyson."

"And what if I don't?" snarled Tyson. The face sighed.

"I really didn't want to resort to this. Very well, if you don't do as I say," the voice continued. "then I will have to resort to more…drastic methods. Look at your friend." Everyone turned to face Max. "This is what I will do." A long wire snaked out of a slot in the wall. It twisted across to Max, then clicked. A knife slid out of the end, nicking Max's arm. Max moaned softly and tried to move away from the prickling pain. "So, then, Tyson. How far will you go? A centimetre in? More? Or will you choose the easy option? Hand over your bit beasts now and no-one gets hurt." There was silence as the Bladebreakers realised what this would mean.

"You're sick. You're seriously sick!" Hilary whispered disbelievingly.

"All this…for our bit beasts!" The man looked at Ray, wondering why he was laughing. Stopping before he became hysterical, Ray took a couple of steps forward. "We've had so many attempts on our bit beasts, they can pretty much defend themselves. Mind you," he started laughing again. "I don't think any of them went quite this wrong for the planners. You've only got one blader here who can fight, and the other three are pretty much off limits! Still," He paused. Hilary and Tyson saw his eyes narrow. "We're not completely defenceless, anyway." He slowly drew a kitchen knife from his pocket. Hilary whimpered. None of them doubted for a second that Ray could use it. The man on the screen seemed shaken for a minute, then composed himself.

"Who are you going to use it on, Ray? Your team-mates? Yourself? Going to try and cut yourself out of here?"

"No." Ray said quietly, eyes hard. "No, I think I'm going to use it on Thomas." Without looking, he threw the knife at a dark corner of the room.

A figure jumped out of the way, just in time. Another second, and the knife would have buried itself in an artery. Ray gestured for Tyson to come closer. His hissed out the corner of his mouth. "In the corner of the room. There's a door. I think it leads to Max. I'll keep them…occupied. Go!" he shouted suddenly, spinning round. Tyson raced in the direction Ray had pointed, vaguely hearing Ray's scornful voice echoing behind him. "Ha! The day I need a knife to take down worthless, greedy snakes like you is the day I give up blading! Oh, think you've got what it takes? Come on then, you stinking, slimy…" His voice faded as Tyson reached the door Ray's sharp eyes had spotted. He glanced backwards for a minute. Ray had Thomas in a headlock and was punching him repeatedly. Nodding his head in satisfaction, Tyson dived through the doorway.

"Kai! Kai! Up wake!" Kai shook himself awake. Sarah was standing over him, scowling fiercely.

"Huh? Sarah? Whazzit?"

"Me hungry an' you been asleep for long time!" Kai jerked upright, then blinked as the room spun crazily. Okay, he thought, what on earth is going on?

"How long?" he asked, once the room had stopped spinning. Sarah shrugged.

"Me dunno. Me hungry!" she repeated angrily. Kai sighed. He got up unsteadily and walked into the kitchen to make Sarah a sandwich. Three minutes later, he was reading the fine print on the pill-bottle while Sarah attacked her sandwich with a ferocity that made him remember she was Tyson's cousin.

"Warning." the label read. "Excessive consumption can cause extreme tiredness and disorientation. If consumption exceeds the limit, it is advisable to rest until said effects have worn off." Yeah, now they tell me! Kai thought, irritated. He stood up, testing himself for any more dizziness. None, nothing except a lingering tiredness that could be attributed to his heavy sleep. Good, he appeared to have slept the effects off. He absentmindedly looked at the clock. His eyes widened. They'd been gone for over three hours! Something had to be up, someone would've phoned him by now… Right! Kai strode over to the phone. He dialled a number.

"Hello, can I speak to Mrs Tate, please? Hello, Judy, it's Kai. Yes, I'm fine thanks. Listen, if it is at all possible, I need you here, quickly. I don't have time to explain, but it's got something to do with Max and the others. Tyson's dropped his three year old cousin on us, and I need to go and look for them, so - yes I know I just came out of hospital today, trust me, I'm fine - Listen Judy," Kai paused, before playing his trump card. "Max could be in danger if I don't go now. Okay? It's the hotel next to the BBA headquarters. Bye."

Kai put the phone down and let out a long breath. Thanks heavens for maternal instincts. He knelt down in front of Sarah, quickly taking a chunk of her hair out of her mouth before she ate it, thinking it was part of the sandwich. "Okay, Sarah, I'm going to go and look for Max now. Max's mum will be arriving soon to keep you company, alright?" Sarah abruptly started crying. She ran at him, clutching him tightly around the legs, screaming loudly.

"NO! No no no no! Kai not go! Everyone else go! It not fair, it not, it not!" Kai bent down to try and prise her off his legs, but she wouldn't be budged. Every nerve screaming at him to get away and find the team, Kai slowly sat down on the floor next to the screaming child. Oh, for heavens sake! He would have to wait until Judy got here. He just hoped that whatever was happening would hold out until he got there…

Aw, Kai's got a soft spot for Sara! (Mind you, so have I, and I created her!) More reviews, please!