"Visser Three, I presume," Visser One said, her contempt of the other obvious.
(Well now, I see youve made a mess of things, Visser One. Our old friends the Andalite bandits seem to be annihilating most of your troops.)
"Id have more troops, but for your interference!" Visser One snarled. "And if you werent incompetent and a traitor to the empire youd have cleaned these vermin up before now!"
(No doubt the Council of Thirteen will enjoy hearing your excuses for failure,) Visser Three purred, his snakes head grinning evilly down at her.
"What the Council will hear is how you have allowed a handful of morphing Andalites to ravage our forces unchecked!" Visser One shouted back up at him, either unaware or uncaring of the potential danger.
(Youll lose Leera for us yet, you half-human fool!) Visser Three sneered.
"Like youve already lost Earth?" Visser One needled. "Despite the fact that I handed it over to you in perfect shape?"
(What are they doing?) Shara asked, staring at the two bickering Vissers in stunned incomprehension.
(I think theyre politicking,) Marco said, fighting a sudden urge to laugh.
(Oh,) she said, sounding amused herself. (I think we might be able to jump Visser Three while hes blathering, if youre up for it.)
(You know, I think you might be right,) he said, actually starting to consider the idea.
Before they could begin to finalize their nascent plan, a loud, harsh, extremely grating alarm went off. Accompanying the strident wailing of the klaxons and the flashing of the lights was an electronic voice, bellowing updates to the facility through the various speakers:
"Warning. Warning. Containment fields will shut down in three minutes. Extreme hazard. Countdown beginning. Countdown will be in intervals of ten seconds. Thank you and have a nice day!"
(That wasnt what I was expecting,) Shara said, looking up at the nearest bunch of speakers.
(That was just weird,) Marco said, then he shook himself. (Cmon. we need to get to the others.)
(Right.)
"Containment failure in two minutes and fifty seconds. Have a nice day!"
(Water rushing in, and youre stuck in that weak human body, Visser One,) Visser Three crowed, laughing gleefully. (Is that my promotion I see coming?)
Visser One was clearly seething, red with fury, but she turned and ran for the computer room that theyd just come out of not so long ago.
(Yes, youd better go and turn off your computer,) Visser Three mocked. (If you are able! These Andalites are clever devils with computers, you know,) he said, laughing with depraved glee.