Author's note: A little detour to focus on N. Gin's possible thoughts on his colleague, Tropy.

Chapter V: The Other Nefarious

"N. Gin?" A gentle whisper interrupted my sleep. I felt long fingers running through my hair, and I opened my eyes.

Nefarious was sitting beside me. I was covered up with one of the warm, cozy blankets.

"Good morning. Did you sleep well, little one?"

"Yes," I lied. The truth was, my sleep had been plagued by nightmares.

"I'm ... ah ... going out for breakfast. I'll make you some hot cakes when I return. You can sleep in for now, though."

"Thank you," I replied.

"Mmhmm. I'll be back shortly." He stood up to leave. When he was at the doorway, I spoke up.

"Nefarious?"

"Hmm?"

I hesitated. "About last night ... um ... I ..."

He turned to look at me, "Yes?"

"I just wanted to say thank you for the blanket."

"T'was my pleasure," he smiled, "I'll return shortly. Tata!" he gave a little wave, which I returned, and he was off. I heard his quiet, graceful footsteps at first, then large heavy ones, and -- after their pace quickened -- wings flapping. Then he was gone.

What I had really wanted to say was "Sorry for inviting myself into your bed". But I had decided that it was too early for that discussion, so it would have to wait.

It was still early, and I was still sleepy, but I really didn't want to go back to sleep. I feared the nightmares would return once again.

So I slipped my pants and jacket on and took a little walk around the cave.

I heard the soft rhythm of the clocks ticking, and chose to revisit the study. It had a more depressing, almost foreboding, atmosphere ever since I had found those pages, but this time it was the clocks I was interested in.

I admired a small wooden one, engraved with intricate patterns. There was a golden pendulum inside that glided a silent metronome.

I ran a finger over the polished surface, and suddenly I was able to replay my dreams from the beginning.

"Why, you clumsy little bastard! You broke one of my precious clocks!" N. Tropy scolded.

"I ... I'm sorry, Doctor! I didn't mean to!" I cowered in the pile of gears, springs, and shattered glass, totally helpless as the taller man approached me. He grabbed me by the arm and hissed into my face. "Well, it's TIME to pay the price, young man! You broke something of mine, so perhaps I'll just break a few of your little bones in return."

He threw me on the floor and began to chase me, zapping me with his giant tuning fork. When I tripped and fell over, he beat me mercilessly with his instrument, flipping me over with his boot from time to time, bruising me front and back. I heard him cackling sadistically as I cried out in anguish.

I shivered. In reality, Nefarious was never that cruel to me or anyone else. I thought.

And it was true. My fellow colleague, although arrogant and easily frustrated, was not the type to harass someone so furiously and senselessly. As Cortex, Brio, and I had observed over the years, Tropy was prone to quick exhaustion from any physical or emotional stress.

But why was I so upset over it? It was just a dream. Besides, would N. Tropy really attack one of his allies? We all went to school together for years. We had known each other since we were children.

But he probably never really thought much of me.

Neo was the popular one, Nitrus was the teacher's pet, and Nefarious was the tall, handsome one. And who was I? Just the short, ugly, fat boy who had a strange accent and an obsession for physics and rocketry.

But then again, he probably looked down on us all. Sure, he took Brio in to be his own assistant after I replaced him as Cortex's right hand man, but why? Even if he was living in Cortex's shadow, then why on earth would he enlist N. Brio -- someone who looked disdainfully upon the concept of world domination -- to assist him?

Maybe he didn't want to be alone. Perhaps he, too, desired a partnership all his own, just for partnership's sake.

I snorted at the thought of N. Tropy actually feeling "alone", but then another thought occurred to me.

I am, and always have been, loyal to Dr. Cortex. But will there be a day when he throws me away? Everyone knows that I am useful to him, but what if one day I am no longer good enough? Who would be my master?

I frowned.

I need no master to feel whole, I told myself. Why, I'm more brilliant than all three of their minds put together.

But I didn't want to be alone.

"Cuckoo! Cuckoo! Cuckoo!"

In unison, the clocks chimed 9 times. But it only took one hearty Gong! to startle me. The clock I was holding the whole time that I was lost in thought flew out of my hands. In a horrid slow-motion, I watched it sail to the stone floor and impact with a nerve-wracking shatter.

"Oh, mein Gott," I whispered shakily.

Even as the chimes subsided, I was still standing there. Then I began to panic when I heard the wingbeats outside.

Oh, my God, he's back! my mind yelled. Hide, or he'll probably eat you!

It was a ridiculous thought, but my body did as my mind said, and I ran to the parlor, searching for a place to hide. Clearly, the horror from my nightmare was replaying itself in my own head -- but this time, the pursuer was a 20 foot long reptile.

"N. Gin, I've returned! Are you hungry yet? I'll have some delicious pancakes for you soon," he called cheerily, peering into his den.

"N. Gin? Where are you?" and thus the dragon's search for me had begun.

If he gets as mad as I'm afraid he will, then I'll likely be looking like a delicious pancake to him.

+End of Chapter V+