On the warehouse floor Claudia wasn't sure that she was winning the fight. The vines were slow, but the sharp feeder tubes were faster. They managed to nick her quite a few times and ripped her clothes quite a bit. She swung and caught a vine in mid air as it was reaching for her. She didn't wait to watch this one turn brown, but turned and axed another one slinking on the floor. She swung but missed one and struck a crate box. As she struggled to free it a tube stabbed her shoulder. She screamed in shock and pain. Her hand automatically went to her belt and she swiped the knife upwards slicing the tube in half. She quickly freed the ax and backtracked to re-evaluate.

A long length of brown vine fell to the floor.

Claudia took that as a sign. Then she heard another one. It was Artie's voice. It screamed "SAM!"

Claudia risked a look up. Her face broke out into a grin. He was still alive! Then she saw what looked like a long snake span the space between the row behind her to where the vines seemed to be coming from.

Maybe it's a plant eating snake she hoped.

Whatever was happening up there, she was going to take care of business down here. She wielded the ax again and headed back to the vines.

(Top again)

Artie tried to calm himself as much as possible so as not to alarm the artifact. For the time being it seemed distracted and only held him loosely. He had to wait long seconds before his yell paid off. Behind him, the rope, Saamp, came as called. Artie was never so grateful to see an artifact before. He grabbed the rope and began twisting its length around the Jaguar.

Just then another vine turned brown and died for some unknown reason that he didn't have time to figure out. Artie snapped that one off the figurine and wrapped the rope in it's place. He knew that he needed a gigantic pull to rip the artifact from the grip it had on the vines. He could think of only one way to get it. He gave himself some slack in the rope and got a good grip on both ends, letting the remainder fall loose. Artie took a deep breath and flung himself over the edge.

(Down below)

Another vine turned brown after being nicked by the artifact ax. The sweaty junior agent was holding her own against the vines, but she was tiring quickly. She caught movement and looked up. She saw Artie falling from the top shelf.

"NO!" she heard herself scream.