Chiro turned his head as the red monkey entered the medical bay. "Dream on monkey!" the boy teased. "My kind takes no orders." Chiro mocked, as a smile danced across his lips.

"They will once I've finished with them kid, they'll see something you don't, sense!" Sprx challenged the young teen back as he walked boldly into the room to join the others.

"Sprx!" the yellow monkey exclaimed.

"What? Can't a monkey say what's really on his mind?"

"This is not the way forward!" Nova continued to argue back with the red monkey.

"Indeed." Antauri said intervening between the two squabbling monkeys. Nova had not resorted to violence yet, so it was best to stop the situation before it escalated.

"But Antauri," chorused both Sprx and Nova at the same time, completely oblivious to what was happening behind them.

Chiro had seen his opportunity; with the red monkey crossing wires with the yellow monkey, the black monkey had to intervene. The blue monkey was definitely distracted by the outburst, and the green one was yet to make an appearance – "and they called him lazy?!"

Carefully scooting to the end of the bed, he decided to test his foot first. He would need to ensure he could walk on it; he could suffer the consequences later! Placing the injured foot down, he bared some weight onto it. "Yes, that definitely hurts!" Chiro thought silently, but he was made of tougher stuff. If he could plough through the pain, and find his way back home, his real home. His troubles would be over for good. It was then he silently decided on his plan of action.

With a few tentative steps in between, he carefully edged his way over to the open door. Even with all the commotion, he was surprised to the monkeys' lack of attention. Fine details they always seemed to miss, he observed.

However all was going smoothly; he had travelled the majority of the room, completely unnoticed. In hindsight, this was an achievement in itself. He was merely a couple of metres away from impending freedom, the open door; until a strong British accented voice caught everyone's attention and shattered Chiro's escape attempt.

"And where do you think you're going young man?" Gibson asked as he had taken a double take, when he had seen the empty bed.

This in turn caught the black monkeys attention, as well as the fiery tempered, golden monkey.

"Sprx!" Nova exclaimed once more.

"How is this, my fault?" he countered before realising this was indeed the wrong answer. A giant, yellow fist soon went flying into his face. Nova had made it quite clear earlier that Sprx was going to be having an intimate encounter with the opposite wall if he continued. But warning or no warning, as the case maybe - the red monkey was soon hurtling towards the far wall, leaving a monkey shaped imprint upon landing. Sounds of the monkey groaning and falling down to the floor in a heap filled the background as Antauri soon spoke.

"Chiro, I'm sure you know better than this." the wise monkey spoke as he used his telekinesis to get a hold of and then carry the child back to the bed.

"Yes what did I tell you last night? No walking on that ankle! You've already expanded on the original damage. It will not take much more!" Gibson asserted gently pushing the boy to lie back down on the bed.

"Gah, I'm fine, I don't need your help! I've said this before." Chiro grumbled feeling himself being shoved back.

"Well tough you're staying in here until your ankle has fully healed." Nova chipped in, she had that look in her eye. When you knew she meant every single word she said. Otherwise you would be suffering the consequences.

"Fine, I'll stay right here" Chiro said with a sigh. The yellow monkey seemed the most dangerous, and even he knew better than to argue with her.

Nova, who smiled triumphantly at the fact the boy, was listening to her! Turned when she heard a voice mutter in the background, mechanical limbs moved forward. As she saw Sprx finally pull himself back together.
"Oh well this is lovely; but wait a sec. Why in the name of Shuggazoom, kid, are you choosing to listen to her and completely ignoring the rest of us?" Sprx piped in crossing his arms, he was not impressed.

Chiro just gave a cheeky grin at this, "Why what's wrong with listening to Nova? Maybe I see something you don't see, sense!" Chiro countered, with a grin using Sprx's own words against him. "You might also want to look beside you." Chiro warned as he cringed, just as Sprx went flying into the wall again.

Nova who was now changing her fists back to her usual hands, rubbed them together as she had finally finished using them. She smiled to the boy. "Good answer." She complimented as even Gibson and Antauri were surprised at how the events had panned out.

Antauri coughed, to regain the assembled beings' attentions. He turned to Chiro as he spoke. "Well, quite. However the reason we are doing this is for your own best interests. It would be irresponsible of us otherwise." He concluded.

Chiro took a deep breath. He could see that winning this debate was going to be futile. With everything going on, he was now wide awake too. His options were diminishing before him! "It's just going to be quite boring in here though waiting for my foot to heal."

"Fear not, I did promise to test your mental capacity or your I.Q with a science and mathematics exam." Gibson said as he produced some papers from a drawer in his desk. "I'm sure these will keep you entertained for a long while," he said as he laid it out ready at his desk.

Chiro felt the colour drain from his already pale skin. His ears could not believe what they were hearing! But the more he heard, the worst it got! He looked like a deer caught in headlights as the shock of the situation began to set in, he just managed to pick his jaw off the ground in time to offer Gibson a sheepish grin, when he turned around. This situation was not good! But as soon as Gibson's back was turned again, he had to hold back the fiery glare he wanted to give. If looks could kill, Gibson would be toast and the test would be burnt to ash! Chiro turned his head to Nova in an attempt to gain some support, catching her eye successfully, the pair exchanged glances. "Oh um, yeah. That sounds um… well... umm... great." Chiro said unenthusiastically, as Nova let out a little giggle.

"I have put together a range of questions from a range of topics. These include all sorts of mathematics and scientific equations, with some differentiation between the level of difficulty too, of course." Gibson continued.

Chiro rolled his eyes, when the primate next turned his back. "Whoop-de-doo," Chiro said sarcastically. He had noted the the science officer was so in 'the zone' he had failed to notice the back handed comments Chiro had said so far. This situation was bleak!

"I will time you for this test, I will allow you an hour to answer the questions, then you can eat breakfast whilst I mark your work. That way I can critically analyse your way of thinking and your current intelligence level, and compare that to expectations for a child of your age. I can map your progress, then I will know where to start, for when I tutor you in these subjects."

Chiro nearly gawped. This monkey was unbelievable! With Nova so close by trying to contain her laugh at the boy's reaction, he looked to Antauri with a questionable glance. "He can't be serious!" Chiro whispered.
"Chiro," Antauri said calmly but sternly.

"He needs putting down!" Chiro whispered, making the yellow primate burst into a laugh.

"Chiro!" Antauri said in a stern voice. Antauri was quick to reprimand the boy for this comment.

"So are we ready?" Gibson asked finally turning to face the gathered group, completely oblivious to the comments.