Disclaimer: I own nothing of Sigma 6, which is owned by Hasbro. Only the plot is mine.

(-)

Tunnel Rat pinched the bridge of his nose, "You're not kidding, are you?"

Hi-Tech shook his head, idly waving the info packet held in his right hand, "Unfortunately no, I'm not."

As one, they looked down at the faded and scuffed journal that lay on the table between them. The journal had belonged to a self-claimed 'spell master' and apparently he'd filled it with all his own spells and ritual instructions. All of which would need to be cataloged by Hi-Tech before the journal went into the Vault. Unfortunately it was locked but oddly, there was no actual lock, just a metal circle instead. The circle glimmered with the magic of a spell lock.

The shape-shifter grumbled, "And I'm here why again?"

Hi-Tech coughed, his face guilty as he said, "Well...you see, the guy had a favorite cat and um..."

Tunnel Rat gritted his teeth, "You want me to find the cat right? It's got the key on its collar or something?"

The blond looked guiltier, "The cat is the key and uh..."

Tunnel Rat felt his eye twitch, "The cat's dead, isn't it?"

"Yeah."

The shape-shifter took a breath, "So, you want me to shift into it?"

Hi-Tech nodded, looking a little hopeful, "Yeah. Could you?"

Tunnel Rat told him outright, "No."

Tech blinked, "Why not?"

Rat explained, "Well for one, I bet that lock is spelled to that specific cat. Just because I go into its shape doesn't mean I am the cat. My DNA will still arguably be mine, not the cat's. So, you're out of luck there."

Hi-Tech opened his mouth to say something else, but Tunnel Rat gave him a look that promised if not actual endless sorrow and pain, then the closest he could get to it before the week was through. The blond knew he was pushing it as it was and wisely decided not to go any further, "Well, do you know anything about it that might help me unlock it?"

Tunnel Rat thought on that, then said, "See if you can't get some of its fur. Putting that on the circle could trick it into opening."

Hi-Tech nodded, "I'll do that. Thank Tunnel Rat."

The redhead just shrugged and left the lab, mood clearly sour. Hi-Tech sighed and got to work.

One of these days, he'd have a conversation with his teammate without somehow irritating the guy.