-AUTHOR NOTE- I have finally accessed the story and here is the next chapter for you! Please know that this chapter wasn't finished, it was only a little ways completed. So, starting from about 1/4 of the way through this chapter, it's new writing. I assume my writing style has changed, and matured a bit from when I wrote the first couple chapters, so if you notice a slight difference: that's why. Thanks for sticking with the story through my hiatus, and please read an review!

She wasn't sure where they were. The planet Clutch and Peg had landed on was the hottest area she had ever been in. Peg felt as if her face was about to melt, and that actually might happen since she was made of plastic.

"Remind me why we landed here again?" she complained for the third time. Unfortunately, her complaints landed on deaf ears. Clutch had busied himself on trying to repair their damaged escape pods communication system, which had apparently been damaged during their landing. Peg sighed, looking up at the red trees surrounding them, fire leaping from their branches. It looked like the trees were on fire, except that they never burnt. Peg had read the account of one explorer who had described something like this on his travels.

As Peg studied their surroundings more carefully, the name of the planet came to her mind. "Clutch, I think I know where we are," she exclaimed, coming over to stand next to him.

"That's great," Clutch replied, tightening a bolt with his pliers, "I could have figured it out if I wasn't so busy with this piece of junk."

Peg smiled, "What was that you said about working as a team? Does that not apply to you?"

"Alright, alright. Point taken," Clutch admitted, bumping his head as he stood up. "So," he gazed around at the fiery landscape, "Where are we?"

"Moltera. I remember it from reading the journal of Dave Piece-Büilder. He's an explorer who went into the-"

"I know who he is," Clutch interrupted.

"Then I guess you also know about how he went missing, here, on this very planet."

"Um..." Clutch sighed, "Lemme hear it."

Peg told him the story of how the once-famous explorer had met his fate. "Piece-Büilder was on an expedition to chart unknown planets," Peg explained. "He landed here, on this extremely hot planet, which he named 'Moltera'. Soon after he arrived, Piece-Büilder discovered the planet was inhabited by thousands of tiny creatures, who were slaves to the ruler of Moltera, a fire giant called 'The Fire Giant'."

"Did Piece-Büilder come up with that name himself?" Clutch asked, trying to keep a straight face.

"No, the giant called itself that."

"Well if its name is any indication of its intelligence, I think it's safe to assume this giants pretty dumb," Clutch chuckled. Peg gave him a look that said 'Shut up and let me finish the story'. Clutch quieted his laughter, and motioned for her to continue.

"This fire giant used the tiny creatures to work the fire pits. There were huge amounts of fire stone in the pits, which the giant craved."

"Wait a second," Clutch exclaimed, "This is where fire stone comes from?"

"One of the places, yes. It's very rare, as I'm sure you know. Anyway, Piece-Büilder sent a call for help back to his command center. He felt sorry for the little creatures, and he wanted to lead a revolution to free them from the Fire Giants evil rule. We know this because he wrote it in a journal he kept. It was found inside his abandoned ship when his reinforcements arrived. They searched basically the entire surface of the planet, but he was nowhere to be found. There was no sign of any other intelligent life either, so up until now, people have assumed Piece-Büilder had gone crazy, and gotten himself lost somewhere on Moltera."

"Is it just me, or do all us explorers have really bad luck," Clutch commented. "I mean, we're always getting lost, or stuck, or kidnapped, or-"

"Be that as it may," Peg said, "But I don't think Piece-Büilder got lost."

"I'm assuming you have another theory then, am I right?" Clutch said, grinning.

"I jolly well do," Peg responded with a short laugh. "He was a well-known and renowned explorer; he wouldn't have gone out into the unknown parts of the planet without proper supplies and a way to find his path back. I believe he was kidnapped by the Fire Giant, or some of his minions, at least."

"Hey, and that's another thing," Clutch jumped in, "Why do evil rulers always have minions? Are they just to lazy to do things themselves? Or is it psychological, maybe they need people to boss around!"

"Sounds like you," Peg said under her breath.

"Uh, did you say something?"

"Yes. I said that Piece-Büilder didn't die. At least, not the way most people think he did."

Clutch rolled his eyes, "Oh, come on, Peg. I've never heard anyone question how he disappeared. People make mistakes, even smart, famous, good-looking explorers like me. Remember, Piece-Büilder is the only one who's claimed to have seen those tiny creatures."

"Uh, Clutch?"

"If they were real, how come no one else has ever come across one before?"

"Excuse me, Clutch?"

"All I'm saying, is that maybe he was crazy."

"Clutch!" This time, Peg's loud exclamation got his attention.

"Yeah? Why'd you shout? Everything okay, Peg? I know you're upset about being apart from Bernie, but-"

"Look behind you," Peg hissed, her eyes wide.

Clutch stopped talking, and turned around slowly. When he saw it, his eyes grew wide too. There it was, crouching amount the outskirts of the fire trees, about ten feet away from them: a tiny creature.

Brick and Bernie hurried onwards over the icy surface of the planet they'd crashed onto, not sure where they would end up. Brick had told Bernie they must reach shelter before nightfall. Bernie had agreed with Brick at the time, but now, he wasn't so sure. The going was tough, and both of them slid all over on the ice.

When Brick would fall, he generally would bash his fists on the ice, yelling in frustration. Then, in his haste to get up before anyone saw him in his current predicament, he would rise to his feet so fast that he would fall again, from being off balance.

Bernie, on the other hand, was cautious to the point of the extreme. When he fell, it took him almost a full five minutes to rise back to his feet. Brick would use up all his patience soon; he was already tired of falling on the ice, and tired of waiting for Bernie to get up when he fell. It was a recipe for disaster.

"How much longer do I have to put up with this?" Brick growled, as Bernie fell again. Bernie thought about pointing out that Brick had fallen just as many times as he had, but wisely decided against it.

"I might be able to get back on my feet a little faster, if you vould ever help me!" Bernie grumbled.

"Fine," Brick muttered, taking his time walking over to his downed companion. Once he finally reached Bernie, he reached down, and yanked him to his feet.

Bernie brushed the seat of his pants off, and tried to smile, "Zhanks, Brick, for-"

"Yeah yeah," Brick responded testily, "Don't mention it." The two walked-or slid-for about five more minutes, before Brick decided he had had enough.

"We'll never make it to shelter if we have to keep walking on this ice!" Brick yelled, shaking his head.

"I agree, but vhat else can ve do?" Bernie replied. "All I see is flat, boring ice. Zhere isn't any other way to go." He sighed, "I'm afraid we are out of options, Brick."

"Ha!" Brick laughed, cocky as always, "Just because you can't see the way to go, doesn't mean it isn't there! We just have to make our own path!"

Bernie wasn't so sure, "That sounds like something you vould find inside a motivational self-help book," he chuckled.

"Hey! All my sayings are one hundred percent original," Brick told him. "Now, stand back, and watch this!"

"Ah, Brick, I'm not sure that zhis is the best vay to-"

Brick raised his arms above his head, and let out a war-cry so loud, that Bernie was tempted to cover his ears, even though he didn't really have any!

"HIIIIIII-YAAAAAAAA!" Brick screamed, bringing both fists down with unnatural force. Cracks began to form, starting from the place where Brick had slammed the ice, and running out from there.

"Uh, Brick?" Bernie said, his voice fearful, "I don't zhink you should have done zhat."

"You're just jealous of my mighty strength," Brick laughed. "I broke the ice so we could walk on the ground underneath it. Now we'll definitely make it to shelter before nightfall."

"Uh, Brick?"

"And if you're worried about Peg, stop it. Once we get to civilization, you can use one of their communication units to contact her, gearhead."

"BRICK!" This unusually agitated cry from Bernie made Brick pause.

"What's your problem?"

"Brick, zhere isn't ground beneath us..." Bernie pointed, "Zhere is water!"

Brick looked where Bernie was pointing. He could see the ice breaking apart, to reveal creepy black water beneath it. And the ice kept breaking, coming slowly but surely, toward them!

"Oh, no," he grumbled. "Just my luck."