Author's Note: This chapter is rather long so forgive its length! Thank you for reading and tell me how you feel about what's happening!
Chapter 6: The First Round
"Here are your orders kiddos, if you need anything else just ask" The waitress smiled while serving our orders. From a far we all would've looked normal, well I guess a bit above average given Macey even though she's shoe-less. The thing is there were a lot of things going on under the table. For one, there has been a lot of holding hands and touching! Okay, it's not what you're thinking; it's more of Morse code. Given the square couch setting of our table and the 3-meter distance of the plaid girls, Zach and I had the best vantage point. On the other hand, everyone else aside from Preston had to turn his or her back to see. So why not communicate, real important stuff by tapping on each other.
I tried acting normal "Hey pass me the syrup I said" then I saw a girl with long straight auburn hair say, "So what now, those guys were practically useless? His tactical battle plan was to jump towards the pond?" The other girls laughed while one continued "Seriously, he could've fought you know? He totally forgot that he had the cube" They stopped laughing and sighed.
I'm saying its more of seeing them say it rather than hearing them. Since they kept pretty much their laughing silent, we had no choice but to keep on lip-reading. Zach got the idea of switching every now and then when it comes to lip-reading, just in case they suddenly get this urge to look. The others seemed confident that we were nobodies, but the little girl they had with then was much freakier than the rest, it was like she had bionic senses.
I continued to eat my pancakes while Bex continued harassing Grant under the excuse of not being allowed to hit a girl back. Grant was trying to keep his shaking down but Bex sometimes just has this evil side to her. It was Zach's turn to look, while I pretended to look otherwise and joke around with everyone.
I started laughing as Grant motioned for Bex "I am totally splitting up with you, you maniac" He looked like a baby toy for some amused woman "Really now? Don't come running back when you start missing this" we all know this was pretend but Grant suddenly lost words and panicked "Me? Ugh why would I? You? It's no-oot like…Gaaaah why would I even need to explain myself" He looked away, clearly red as tomato and we all just laughed at him.
"That's more like it, you really embarrass us sometimes" Jonas did a face palm and started munching on his food when I suddenly felt Zach tap me harder than before. I had no idea how to look the same direction as he's looking without appearing to be staring. "Oh hey! We haven't taken a photo yet!" I got my smartphone out and placed it before me "It's on multiple bursts so hold your weirdo face together" As the shots went by I looked at the girl taking out something from a sealed container. It looked like a key, similar to the engraving that's in our key but is shaped differently. Then she started talking "This key is practically useless now, that blasted moron got the cube wet". Huh, wait are we supposed to have both the cube and the key, TOGETHER? I looked at Zach who was completely looking at me as well.
The shots continued going and Preston kept on tapping. "Well then, we're just gonna have to get us a new cube AND key" the girl with a pixie cut told a dark-haired girl "Great, now we have to look for two things! I can't imagine wasting time, I have to change my nail polish soon!" She looked at her nails and looked quite sad, and for a moment there I saw Macey lose it a bit.
"Yeah, yeah! If only those nail things actually did their work, then we shouldn't be wasting extra time tracking down people!" The little girl sounded like a grown-up, I did not expect that voice to come out from that body! Wait, what nail things? All the girls had a puzzled face. I think I've seen this before, then the girl continued "HEY! They did work!" Then the little girl scowled "Yeah well that was if you got to run it longer! It got squashed by that umbrella thing 2 seconds after your turned it on!" the dark-haired girl couldn't muster anything to say back. It seemed like they were arguing intently now since we don't even have look to lip-read, they were shouting at the top of their voices. "Then give me back the info I gave you!" She really did seem like a grown-up to me, but she was even more childish than the little girl! "Oh yeah? That one with a pretty girl? That's not even information! Do you really think a girl as pretty as that would walk around here looking like that?" She crossed her arms and the dark-haired girl just pouted and turned side-ways.
Zach was grinning at me, "I don't like that face of yours, fix it" I told him. I think he realized that they were talking about me. As I told him that the dark-haired girl shouted "AAAH I HATE YOU ALL" and stormed out of the diner. Everyone else followed suit and we got the diner free to ourselves.
"It's those blasted girls! I knew it!" Bex hit the table and Liz looked at her "B-but I thought you said the guys did it!" She stuttered when Bex replied, "Well…I didn't really say that!"
"Wait what are we talking about here?" Jonas placed his hand in front of Bex' face and Macey replied, "Somebody bugged our Cammie here using rhinestones in her nail polish."
"Nope, I don't think that's us!" Preston paused and added "Sorry to say this but we still got our pride, I'd rather die first that going for nail polish"
"Then explain to me how you've got information about us? And don't kid with us, we saw the folders" I looked at Zach and he gave me a wave.
"Okay, okay! I did it." Zach said and Jonas followed too surprised to avoid slightly standing up "YOU DID THE NAIL POLISH THINGY?" "You dolt, I bugged them, but not through that!" Zach drank his juice and continued, "I had it done through their own bug supplies"
"You're telling us, that YOU" Macey was pointing at Zach with disbelief "bugged our bugs?"
"Yes ma'am! I figured that if there were really other spies, high probability that they would be using the same gadgets as us, so I just hacked into the main frame of the manufacturer and viola I got the information leading to your bugs" He looked so proud of himself that I wanted to hide of embarrassment.
"How could I have not noticed that!" Liz asked herself and Jonas followed "You did it and didn't even tell me?" He's not really mad, actually he's more of amazed
Grant added "Yeah, why didn't you tell us, Zach?" then he answered "One. I think bugs ain't your specialty Grant" He looked at Grant and found him fiddling with his hands, and then he continued "Two. I didn't want to bother you Jonas for such a trivial thing. I could handle it anyway so why bother?"
Everyone, well not really everyone but yeah you get the point. All the girls looked at him at awe, I know I did? Who are these people and how come they react like it's so normal for this to happen! "You look surprised Cammie?" He was smirking at me and I felt the immense need to throw a pancake at him!
"And why would I look surprised? I was just contemplating on how stupid they could get for bugging my nails!" Okay, that was it. I can die now, Cameron, of all other smart answers, you had to come out with the lamest thing. Just burn me nooooooow!
I was waiting for the blow of embarrassment and humiliation to hit me but it never came. We heard a click and looked around. Preston held his arms high and showed us the unlocked chains. Yes! Just the savior that I needed! As if my friends could read my mind, Bex shouted "Cammie suspend the victory dance later! Now jump!" Everyone had the same idea, we all jumped out of the table, well but Jonas had a nicer mind, he remembered to actually put money for the food that we ate.
"Jonas, I'd pay ya later!" Preston shouted while remaining on guard. "So I guess back to reality huh? That was a quick way to react wasn't it?" Zach shook his head and looked at us. It's not really a nice scene but we stood in a circle, it was more of crouching though, just to make sure that we can see each other. No blind spots, uh ah, not gonna be fooled again!
"Sorry to break it to you but no way in hell are we handing that key to you guys" Macey looked at Jonas whom we all know had the cube "Hey white flag over here! I don't want to be ganged up by girls! How on earth am I supposed to kick you, it's unfair!" Jonas really seems to be a nice guy but tell me again how he's a spy? Not gonna hit girls? That's new, Mr. Solomon seemed fine smacking us and all that.
Bex looked at Grant saying, "Jonas is a total compensation for this" she paused "this thing here, who doesn't even have a drop of gentleman-ness in him" Grant raged replying "Oh I'm sorry, how would you react if you're being attacked by she-hulk?" And the intense gritting of teeth started.
"Oh quit it you two!" Liz looked scared but she's right, we need to be serious here for once! As much as I'd like to jump in there and scramble over the cube, it would be useless with Zach standing right around the corner, he'd just punch my lights out and we go back to being dog and psychotic owner.
"Dammit! Any language we use would be ineffective with these 4 here! So just go there and grab it! Sorry Jonas but if we have to rip your underpants apart, we are so ripping it" Macey looked at Bex who was as fired up as a volcano.
"Yo boys homerun formation!" Zach signaled and they all understood "It's unfair how they get to call shots just by playing around, but who cares just go for Jonas" I shouted as I heard Liz mumble "Sorry Jonas". Sorry Liz but he's the one holding onto the cube, we'll give you what's left of him if ever there's any.
"NOW!" Bex called and we all jumped for Jonas, this is so totally un-spy like with the setting and normal people around, but I guess we just look like teen-agers ganging on Jonas for cheating on a friend. We leapt for him but got side-stepped and squished by a swift Preston who threw Jonas over to Grant, who made their way straight out of the diner. We all tried running after them but Macey stopped us. "Come back here you cowards!" I called out and Zach stopped at his tracks.
He raised his hand and showed us the cube, his back was turned against us but I am willing to bet my dignity, okay may just my stuff that the creep is smirking again. He really irritates me! Then he turned "Till next time ladies", he bowed and ran towards the corner.
Bex ran after him but "They're gone!" I stared and added "Again."
"What is with them? They're outsmarting us, to the point that it's not funny anymore! And to think we were about to go for Jonas who didn't even HAVE the cube!" Liz looked at us and drove the point. "It's because they're getting the best of us! Admit it, they're as irritating as a zit!" Macey was dead serious and I think I understand. "Yeah I'm totally irritated to the point of wanting to go to a psychiatrist!" I scowled.
"This was totally not part of my plan! I was thinking that male spies would be totally cool and all but the hell was that all about?" Bex was flinging her hands. "This is as hard as swallowing muriatic acid, or Barney, but we all know they were cool" I had to muster up all my energy to be able to puke that out. "They were so cool that we underestimated them and ended up bombing ourselves." Liz said with a sigh.
"But all hope isn't gone yet you know" We all looked at Macey who looked as happy as when she's buying Prada. "Spill it, what did you do?" Bex asked smugly. "Not much really" Then she pulled out her phone and it started buzzing.
It beeped out then cleared "Guess we're alone again, huh?" That sounds too familiar I think I'm getting sick. "Hey that's Jonas!" "Hey Liz! Hide the joy a bit okay?" Macey looked at her and she blushed. "Aren't you happy? There's peace and quiet! And no risk of getting hit in the balls at any point in the day!" Grant stretched his arms while inhaling the fresh air. Bex flared up while watching "Why this little…I am so going to make him regret the day he learned how to open his mouth!" She was making a fist and randomly tearing apart imaginary paper. Yikes, somebody's not gonna have offspring in the future!
"You can drop it now Grant, it's not like she didn't catch your wave. Didn't expect to have your butt kicked by a girl did ya?" Preston didn't sound like he's mocking Grant, that's a first for today! "Are we seriously hearing them have their guy talk now?" I asked Macey who seemed to feel like she was watching a TV show.
"Goddamn that girl, every part of my body hurts like hell! I thought she'd be like all prim and proper but the she started going ballistic! She went kachaaaaaa! Then booom! BAAAAAM!" Grant started out acting a children's fight scene and Bex looked at us asking if she was stupid enough to actually look like that. "Are you nuts? The only one who looked as gay as that was you! She was like a cat, admit it! While you were like a possessed Patrick Star with abs!" Jonas said while examining the cube.
"Seriously guys? Was I too disgusting that she'd think I'm weak…or...or worse GAY!" He looked so worried and we couldn't keep ourselves from laughing. Bad choice to get reassurance from Zach you know. "What am I supposed to answer that as your friend? Or should I give the one that won't slap you in the face?" Zach scratched his eye while looking at the whining Grant.
"I see we've got something brewing over here" Macey looked at Bex who was under complete denial "Yeah sure Ms. In Denial" I chuckled.
"By the way, give it here. How many bugs did you implant on them? I'm sure I'm not the only one" Macey raised an eyebrow at us anticipating a series of denials and lies. "Hey I did it for practical purposes, kay? And I only hid like 3. Zach kept on moving around and he's too near to plant more!" I spilled. "And Bex?" She asked "Not much, just a little bit more than Cammie. Who knows what they're gonna be up to if we don't watch them" Clearly that a little bit more implies bugging almost everything Grant owned. "Oh and Liz I don't think I need to ask just exactly how many you put in there" Liz giggled at Macey while averting her eyes. This girl can really be such a monster when she wants to be!
"And you Mr. cocky ol' bastard, you got yourself a treat didn't you?" Preston addressed Zach who was almost on the same slacking position as he usually is. "As if you didn't get yourself in a game with the devil?" Zach replied. "But at least I didn't need to use as much special skills as you did" Preston added. Wait what? He used special skills?
"But that Cameron Morgan is really something, I never knew you'd use so much moves for a girl Zach? And she's still in one piece to top it all off" Jonas was saying it in an as-a-matter-of-fact way that all of us turned to look at me. I had the sudden urge to actually check if I had all my body parts in tact! Who knows if he could've suddenly sabotaged my little toe or something!
"Yeah, I did say before that she's going to be something didn't I?" I guess I totally look like a dork now but I would've never guessed that he actually took me seriously! I thought he was playing the entire time and that I had turned stupid somewhere between our landing and inhaling their air.
"Congrats though, didn't think you be able to finally find someone worthy to fight" Jonas said while encoding. "Gee, thanks. It's just that I think it's better like this. I get to enjoy more and we get to see less blood" Zach replied "You know what, I gotta admire the Chameleon for staying sane long enough to withstand your existence." Preston commented "Same here, I admire that McHenry for having the patience not to rip your arm apart after that stunt of yours." Preston went wild and replied "Oh shut it! That was intentional!" After much whining and ignorance, Grant was back to the world "Yeah right. You and her? Chained together? I thought you were gonna commit suicide!" Grant looked legit honest.
"Hahaha I think I perfectly understand what he's saying" I looked at Macey who gave me a big shrug but somehow agreed.
Preston straightened his back and said, "She wasn't so bad, and it's not like I couldn't handle her". Jonas looked at him, then at the others and nodded back sympathetically. "If you say so Pres. You really were able to handle her, much condolence and greetings to your accelerated hair loss though" They all chuckled while Preston tries to deliberately tug on his hair to ensure that it was still there.
"When I see them like this, they look like normal boys under the influence of puberty. Who could've known that they were otherwise?" Liz looked intently at the display. Too intently that she started going so near it made us worry.
"Hey Liz? Don't tell me you've gotten so in love with Jonas you're actually kissing my phone?" Macey nearly pulled her phone back but Liz reacted "Don't be silly! Look!" She pointed at the ledge and it certainly wasn't Jonas. "Hey isn't that the girl from the diner? I know she changed clothes but that built and face totally puts her off!" I barked. I have this urgency to warn them, but how will I do that and why would I want to do that? I mean won't eliminating this group actually give us an advantage?
I saw Bex being restless, and Liz panicking like a rat. Then I heard him "Hate to break this to you boys but I guess nap time is over." Grant sighed and reached for his toes "Do we really have to do this now? Can't a guy have a break?" So they did notice! I'm wary of the fact that I actually felt relieved and all that from knowing that they actually realized that they were being tailed.
"Sorry to be useless for the time being but seeing as I have no super computer with me or a girl who's more used to doing this manually, I'm gonna have to take my sweet time in decoding this. It's triple level you know?" Jonas continued typing away while Preston stood up to shrug out the dirt. "You know you should've started earlier if you're gonna take that long, four-eyed" Grant crawled up. "And what, risk them seeing the encoding and language?" Jonas looked at Grant skeptically but he replied "Why are you worried that Liz would beat you to it? I bet she won't match up to you anyway."
"Heeeeey! What the hell is he saying!" Bex got furious again but this time was stopped by Jonas' comeback "Heck she's good. Maybe even better! I don't think you understand what type of brain we're dealing with here you dolt. Here's an illustration, Liz is a perfectly normal human of human intelligence. Given the scenario, you are…let me see…" He went on snapping around as if thinking "Ah yes, an amoeba. Oh but that would be a total insult to amoebas. Oh I got it. You're a rock!" Jonas seemed satisfied that he went on typing away when Grant replied "Huh? A rock, aren't you stupid? Rocks don't even have brains!" There was a pause, and then everyone replied "Exactly".
"Ouch! Hahahaha!" Liz really got a smart guy didn't she? I guess no wonder she's smiling like crazy.
"There, there let's get down to business now. Preston, take the one on the left, Grant you get the one on the right while I take the 3 up front. Just come when you're done." Zach dusted his hands and everything ended up like a blizzard. The girls went out one by one, attempting to force out kicks and punches. "You can't really do much against testosterone" Bex mumbled. It was very very clear that they had power. They all went sweeping the enemies like they were stoic dolls. I mean the girls weren't that bad, it's just that they're not good enough!
"At this rate, they won't last much longer. They're just throwing random attacks. That'll tire them out." I said, then everyone looked at each other. We burst into laughter upon hearing ourselves. "Look at us talking! As if we didn't go all haywire and flung random attacks at them! If only Mr. Solomon could see us, we'd be tried for epic stupidity!" Bex did realize how similar we were to the plaid girls now.
The boys looked like they were playing scripted parts in the movie while the girls just give of a damsel in distress feel. In the end, they did get caught. "If these perverts try anything weird, I'd be the first one to knock them all out!" Bex made a fist and was really ready to burst in there and declare war. "Oh come on, you're just jealous that they'd act the same way they did with us" Macey read Bex like an open book but didn't show it. We're worried about the welfare and sanity of the girls but it pisses us off to see these bastards enjoy themselves.
"And yep that's about it!" Grant clapped his hands and looked around for other possible beatings. "Don't need your help Grant, so don't even think about it" Preston nudged while tying the girl's foot.
"He really likes to tie people up, doesn't he?" I looked at Macey who just stared into the display. I couldn't read her expression but she seemed amused to the fact the Preston FINALLY learned to tie the FOOT and not the arms, its useless when the enemy can actually walk around you know.
"Ha! What's that a fetish of your?" Grant was mocking Preston when Zach shouted over from a far, "No Grant, that's what you do to avoid things such as that" Then he pointed at the girl who Grant beat up earlier on. The girl was running to Grant's surprise and had to chase her like a kid chasing a dragon.
"That was rather fast?" Liz looked amazed at how they were able to tie up everyone in less than 17 minutes without even breaking a sweat. I mean sure Zach had to beat up 3 girls, but when you've got 2 Barbie dolls and 1 actual girl, it won't even be that hard.
"So what brings you guys here?" Zach slouched while interrogating the 5 tied up girls.
It was awkward since no one wanted to speak. It was like they had all the time in the world. "Grant get some scissors" Called Zach. "What are you cutting up their clothes" Grant asked. The fact that he sounded honest with that question made us look at each other. "The hell is he gonna do?" I retorted.
"Doofus! I'm going for the hair! Why would I want to damage my eyes by seeing unsightly things!" Zach threw a tetra pack at Grant. He reacted but quickly got the scissors.
"Then let's start with you! The longer the hair, the more time you have to silence yourselves!" Zach looked like a maniac, he seemed to excited cut some hair that I actually pity those girls. "Is he serious?" Bex asked me "Who knows, how should I know how a madman thinks like?" I answered.
Just as Zach lowered the scissors the longhaired girl spouted "!" She spoke too fast that we had to take it again. "The what?" Zach asked and Grant answered "She said we're after the cube since ours got wet by a stupid guy."
"How did you understand that?" Asked Jonas who took time out to look at Grant's new talent. "What? Couldn't you?" He raised his arms and looked at everyone when Preston spoke "What a weirdo."
"You take that back!" Grant was mad. AGAIN. They really know how to piss him off. We pity him but he just looks so funny when he's mad.
"Okay, okay! So back to business! And why would you need the cube?" Zach looked like he was trying to just verify something. "Duh, don't you know? The key would be useless without the map, and the map without the key!" The nail-girl answered, damn I hate that mean girl attitude.
"You were trying to rob the other group of their cube?" Asked Jonas from a far. "No you moron! We were trying to partner with them when Einstein thought of jumping into the water to evade our "attack" and got the friggin cube wet!" The little girl said.
"Partnership, huh? And why would you need to partner up with them?" Preston added. "Hellooooooo! Are you seriously asking those questions? Are you spies or what? The rule for the first round says, get into the room. And that partnerships or competition would arise!" The guys looked at each other. "And since the cube that matches our key got wet, we've got to get a new set!" I guess the nail-girl said too much since the pixie haired girl head-butted her to shut up.
"Oh so you're planning to get our cube and find the partner key huh?" Grant crossed his arm while walking towards Jonas to guard him and the cube.
"Well sorry, but no thanks. We're keeping our cube, ciao!" Zach stood up and waved his hands. The others followed suit. Jonas would look like a total nerd crunching out codes while walking, but who cares! "Hey wait! You're just gonna leave? Leave us like this?" The little girl shouted "And what are you proposing we do? Kill you? Sorry that'd be wasting our time. Bye!" Preston turned and started to walk.
"Sometimes Preston can be such an ass." I was shaking my head sideways and looking for re-affirmation from Macey, but she looked too happily engrossed with the scene. Oh boy, Preston really seems to amuse Macey. I mean she actually got furious at him and all that; it's a good thing you see. Other boys would only get as much as being ignored, as if they never existed! But Preston got her all crazy as if we had made a mistake to wear a cocktail dress with slippers.
They kept on walking in silence. Well not really since Grant kept on making awkward sounds. "Is he bird calling or what?" Bex looked disgustedly amused at what he's doing. The other guys seem to not mind, it's like it's a normal scene for such a big guy to be doing that.
"So what do you suppose we do now? Preston asked Zach, but before he could reply Jonas stopped on his tracks "We've got a problem guys. To put it simply, if a DNA has an ending codon to run the entire thing, we don't. It's missing!" Jonas looked at all of them then Zach sighed "So I guess it's time to find out where it is" Grant raised his eyebrows at Zach and asked "And how you suppose we're gonna do THAT?"
"We're just gonna have to pay someone a little visit. Preston come here!" Zach motioned for Preston who pointed at himself for confirmation." As he moved closer, Zach cleared his throat and moved closer, to the point that he's filling up our entire display "Why hello ladies, missed us already?" And there goes the billion-dollar smirk.
"Bloody hell! Is he serious?" Bex moved back startled at his hello. "He found it!" Liz added looking at us for the next possible action.
"Oh no he didn't, he's been aware the entire time!" I said, nearly shouting and going for a karate chopped display. Then we heard a commotion at the background, everyone seems to be trying to go for the bug.
"Wait what? The fuck are you doing Zach?" Grant asked pulling Zach's head out to see. "You mean to say, you know about this?" Preston was shaking, I don't know if its because he's happy or because he's terrorized as hell. "Can you see it now Preston? Your life passing through your eyes?" Jonas joked while looking at the catatonic Preston and the horrified Grant.
"Hahahaha can you shut those hanging mouths of yours guys? It's impolite, right Jonas?" Zach looked at the smug Jonas who seems to know what exactly was happening. I looked at the girls and got almost the same reaction. They were staring at the display but it almost felt like they weren't there. I guess it's a surprise to everyone that Satan has been keeping it there precisely for this purpose!
"Hey Zach! Say hi for me!" Jonas said "Hear that guys?" asked Zach, it was like he knew exactly what we were doing coz he was laughing like the ass-wipe that he is! "What is he laughing at? I don't like it!" I asked rhetorically but to my surprise he said "Sorry Cammie, its just that you all sound so surprised. I hate to say this but Bex just looks funny with that demented look on her face!" He tried stifling his laughter but it just sounded more annoying by the second. In an instant Macey went around looking for Zach's bugs.
"Look for it guys! Don't just stand there looking idiotic! It has got to be somewhere near here since the demon's child can see us!" Macey went on throwing about everything we owned until Liz stopped us "He's doing it again! It's the mobile phone!" Liz pointed at Macey's phone and we all rushed towards it.
"Congratulations Ms. Sutton, you're getting the hang of it! And don't go pushing there's enough space for all of you, you know?" He chuckled again and I was burning up in anger! How is it that it's all like a game to him!
"What do you need Goode?" Macey looked pissed that her phone was being used to spy on us.
"Nothing much, we've missed you so we're asking if you're up for a visit" As Zach said this, Preston stiffened like Zach just proposed a plan to set a nuclear attack on Earth. I could see Grant waving his hands as if to say NO! I guess they'd realize that we've heard everything from before.
"Miss us my ass" I said "What do you REALLY want Zach" I said it with much sarcasm that I've used up my quota for the week. "Fine, fine since you asked for it, we're proposing a truce for this round. I guess you've heard what those birds were saying and got that you need us as much as we need you." He continued and as much as I wanted to slap him hard, I know he's got a point.
"And how are we supposed to know you've got the right map?" Macey asked in a serious tone, it could freeze the ocean.
"Yeah you're right, but how are we supposed to confirm that if we won't even try right?" Again he's got a point. Sometimes I just hate the fact that he's effortlessly smart. We all looked at each other and sighed. "I guess we have no choice…" Liz trailed off.
I opened my mouth, but before I could even muster up an answer, I saw Zach flinch and I turned.
"Lord what did we ever do to deserve this!" I heard Bex grumble as she struggled under the shredded metal net. "I think someone's cursing us" said Macey, right before she was knocked out by a handkerchief with chemicals. I struggled to avoid what was happening. I heard the guys shouting over the display, and just before I got knocked out I heard an unfamiliar voice say "Sorry dude, but we've got to borrow them for a while!"
There was a grumble and I'm out. Just great.