They were all gathered around the kitchen table. Well, Howard, Vince, Naboo, and a very grumpy Bollo were gathered, at least. Lilly had begged off their planning session, claiming that, if she wasn't going to be staying at the hotel anymore, she needed to go collect her things and sign out. Howard begged her to take someone along but she'd refused, calling him a 'worrywart' – whatever that was – and telling him she'd be fine seven times.

"Bollo think Jazz man overreacting."

"Yeah, Bollo. I think you're right. You're letting your feelings in the way again, Howard."

"Maybe they're right, Howard. I mean, it's not as if Bainbridge has any problem with us."

Howard was aghast, "What are you talking about?!"

Naboo took a biscuit from Vince's package at the center of the table, "We're saying that we don't want to stick our noses where they don't belong. No use risking ourselves in someone else's business."

"But – but…" Howard couldn't formulate his thoughts correctly, "Bainbridge is a bad man!"

Vince snatched his biscuits back and then turned to Howard, "Well, yeah! But, we hardly know Lilly. Should we be risking our lives for her?"

"Yes!" Howard slammed his hands down on the table, "Yes we should – because that's what we're supposed to do. We're supposed to help the people we care about!"

"The people you care about, you mean." Naboo looked at Howard skeptically.

Howard started to panic, "Vince cares about her too!"

"Oi! Don't bring me in on this! I'm not all rainbows and flowers for her like you."

Howard pushed away from the table, "Fine," he stood up, "I'll do it by myself."

Vince stood up too, "Howard…"

Naboo and Bollo just shrugged.

Howard threw his hands into the air and stormed out of the room. He wasn't going to let a big monkey, a tiny shaman, and an electro berk sap his confidence. He was going to go help Lilly.

"Howard, come on. Don't be like that." Vince followed him into the living room.

Howard turned on Vince, still angry, "Be like what, Vince? Angry because the people who I thought were my friends are going to let me risk life and limb to save a girl? Annoyed because everyone thinks Lilly is just another girl that will leave me? Like what?"

Vince took a step back, "We are your friends, Howard."

Howard grabbed his coat off the rack near the stairs and yanked it on, his back to Vince, "I don't know who you are anymore."

He stomped down the stairs, leaving a flabbergasted Vince in his wake.

It was a short walk to the hotel where Lilly had been staying. Howard made it in half the time, as he was practically running. He was angry and upset at his friends for abandoning him. Normally, they'd all be in this together, but since Lilly was new to the group, the others didn't want to risk it for her. Howard knew she was worth it though.

"Can I help you, sir?"

Howard stepped up to the desk and tried to look calm, "Yes, I'm looking for Lilly Emerson. She came to collect her things and sign out."

"Oh yes, she signed out a couple of minutes ago. She left with a man. They looked like they were in a hurry to get somewhere."

Howard's heart jumped into his throat, "A man?"

"Yes," The hotel attendant looked over Howard's shoulder and into space dreamily, "A tall, broad man with a magnificent must –"

Howard was out the door before the attendant could finish his sentence. Bainbridge had beaten him. Even worse, he had no idea where to look. Where would Bainbridge go?

'Come on, Moon! Think!' He berated himself internally, 'You can do this! You don't need Vince or Naboo. You're a maverick. You can do this on your own – you idiot!'

Howard stood on the sidewalk and wracked his brain, but nothing came to him. Turned out, he did need Vince and Naboo.

The walk back to the Nabootique took no time at all. In fact, Howard was momentarily surprised at how quickly he'd gotten back. Then again, he'd sprinted the whole way.

"Vince!" Howard took the stairs two at a time, "Vince!"

Vince poked his head out of his room, "What?! I'm making a new collage, can this wait?"

"What?! No! No, it can't wait." Howard looked around frantically, "Where's Naboo?!"

"I don't know. In his room, I expect." Vince went and knocked on Naboo's bedroom door, "Naboo, you'd better get out here, Howard's having another meltdown."

Naboo came out, rolling his eyes, "Oh lord, not another one."

"Lilly's been kidnapped!" Howard was talking twice as fast as normal but he couldn't seem to slow himself down.

Vince looked confused, "Lucy's got a wet nap?"

"No! Lilly's been kidnapped!" Howard tried to slow it down, to no avail.

"Luna's high on Schnapps? Howard, you can't get high on Schnapps. You get drunk on Schnapps."

"Lilly. Has. Been. Kidnapped." Howard made sure to take a breath between each word this time.

Realization dawned on Naboo and Vince, "Oh! Why didn't you say so?"

Howard glared at Vince, "Bainbridge got there before I could. He probably took her while I was in here arguing with you!"

Naboo finally stepped in, "Calm down, Howard. We'll figure it out."

"Oh, now you want to help!" Howard's voice was getting steadily louder, "Maybe I don't want your help!"

"Don't be silly, Howard." Vince was laughing at him. It wasn't helping.

Naboo thought for a moment, "I think I have an idea on how to find her, but you'll have to give me a few minutes." He paused and looked at Howard, "A few minutes of peace."

Howard nodded as Vince pushed him towards the couch, "We'll be quiet, Naboo. We'll just sit down here and watch cartoons." Vince pushed Howard down onto the couch, forcing him to sit. He let Vince turn on cartoons but he didn't watch them. He was too busy worrying about Lilly.

Ten minutes came and went fairly quickly for Howard. He thought time would crawl, given the situation, but it flew by. Two minutes later, Naboo stepped out of his bedroom, where he'd been with Bollo for the last twelve minutes or so.

"She's at the Zoo." Naboo announced.

"Cool! How'd you find that out Naboo? Use some special Shaman power?" Vince stood up and turned around, expecting some great answer.

Naboo shook his head, "Bollo found this note in the shop."

Howard jumped up and grabbed the note out of Naboo's hand. It read:

Time for a reunion, boys. If you want her back, you'll come.

Howard looked back at Naboo, confused, "How do you know this means they're at the Zoo?"

"Look at the bottom."

At the bottom of the note, in smaller print, it said:

The Zooniverse, you berk!

"Oh, right."