It always comes down to speed.

Especially the speed of your reflexes when you find yourself face to face with a hungry Robo-Shark. I don't I could've avoided its giant metal snapping jaws that were INCHES away from my face if I were any slower.

I immediately drop to my stomach and do a barrel roll under the Robo-Shark, because, despite its obvious enthusiasm to taste me, I don't wanna be fish food today. I see the shark's glowing eyes as it bends its head down to try and snap at me, but, as it turns out… it's hard to reach something when the only thing you have to reach it with is your nonexistent neck.

"Cool." I think, while taking the chance to remember how to breathe. "Now, where did I park, again?"

If I can just get to the Twin Mill, I can probably redirect Robo-Shark's attention elsewhere. You know, a juke-it-out-of-having-me-for-lunch sorta deal.

Usually, I keep my Twin Mill in my pocket. You know, the most obvious place to keep any motor vehicle. Further proof that speed is everything though, because the whole reason it isn't there right now is because of my lack of speed from yesterday.

I was moving kinda slow after a mission, which made me SUPER late for dinner. Didn't really have time to refill the Twin Mill's Shrink-Tank (despite the fact that I definitely told Wheelie otherwise to get her to chill and stop nagging me), so I just left my car in my usual parking spot, by the Imagi-fuel tanks.

Speaking of which, I should probably do that after we're done here. That is, IF I manage not to get eaten alive…

I squint through the dark and try to see if I can spot the tanks from where I am. The shark, however, decides to make that VERY difficult. It's still trying to eat me, so I have to scootch back and forth to stay under its belly.

C'mon, man! I can't be THAT good, can I? Half of my diet is just Hot Cheetos and Gatorade (the green one, of course). I don't think that'd be very appetizing to a giant mechanical sea creature, but hey, what do I know?

I suddenly remember the thing has buzzsaw fins as I shimmy around, which is good, because I just manage to pull my foot in before I hear something violently go "ZZZZZZZZZZ" right behind me.

Great.

I might actually die here.

-and don't think I'm panicking, cuz, frankly, this isn't an uncommon event anymore. Ever since the start of this Team, I get a good look at Death's face at least once a month. This would actually be the second time in a week! One more and it'll be a new record, which is… not exactly something I can brag about to my parents…so, eh.

Well, time to do the thing I always do when I'm in mortal danger: Let my adrenaline do its thing and stop thinking! (It's a Gage Ricardo Green specialty!)

I hold my breath and (while listening for where the deadly buzzing in my ears is NOT) roll out from under my hungry attacker and immediately make a mad dash for the Imagi-fuel tanks. It's still incredibly dark, but I can make out some things happening around me. First off, the biggest source of light, which is coming from the ceiling, like a flashlight.

"Must be Wheelie." I think as I continue to sprint through the dark.

I can't see her up there, just the light. As much as I'd like to try and stop to spot her, I can hear the angry snarling presumably coming from an angry metal beast right behind me, so I don't really have time to slow down.

Second, out of the corner of my eye, I spot more light, on the ground to my right. The tanks! I can make it, but -

Nope, no thinking. Just act fast.

I lean into a slide and flatten myself onto the ground. I feel a forceful breeze as a really big thing goes over my head, followed by a big

"CRASH!"

My muscles twitch, and I get up without really meaning to. My legs start running and suddenly - I'm there.

"The Imagi-tanks!" I almost yell, relieved.

I lean up against one, trying to catch my breath.

These tanks are filled with Liquid Imagination. OUR Liquid Imagination, for use in emergencies (...kinda like this one). At least, that's what they're supposed to be filled with. I stand up, finally letting adrenaline dial down so I can use my brain again.

Something's wrong here. They're all purple. …like Larry's-Liquimagination-type purple. After the incident, we're not even allowed to LOOK at this stuff. How did it get in our tanks?

I look around.

Better question actually, where's my car?

"That's odd." I mutter. "...was sure I parked it here."

"GAGE, BEHIND YOU!"

I didn't even have time to recognize who that screaming voice belonged to before the world went dark.

The ONE time he decides to slow down! GAGE! Why, oh, why do I love you?

No. This isn't his fault. I shouldn't have been on the ceiling. If I had been on the ground when disaster struck, maybe he'd still be here…

When the lights went out, I was still hanging there, listening for signs of life.

"Wha- uh, d-did the power go out?"

"Okay, that's Brandon." I thought.

"Boss? Guys!? I can't see!"

"Ah, there's Rhett." I also noted.

At the time… my head was killing me. Probably due to the whole, 'hanging-upside-down-20-feet-off-the-ground' thing.

"Alrighty then, did the room just go dark, or did the blood rushing to my head finally get to me?" I asked the dark.

"HANG TIGHT, WILLY! I'll come git ya!" a voice yelled back, loud as ever.

Good Lord, Wyatt.

I found my eyes rolling again without my permission, which only served to make my headache worse. I shut my eyes and rub my temples, more out of frustration than pain.

"Why can't he ever just treat me like a normal person?" I griped in my head. "I'm not a baby anymore, he doesn't need to rescue me every fifteen minutes."

"Alright now, who's been messin' with my power grid?!"

I opened my eyes again at the Boss' words to see a flashlight in the distance, and took the chance to swing myself back into an upward position. I even got a chance to sellotape my own flashlight from the toolbox hitched to my belt to the ceiling light. Figured it might be helpful.

Not helpful enough, apparently.

tink

CRASH!

That's all heard before complete chaos erupted beneath me.

Purple eyes everywhere. The harsh sound of buzzing. I even heard Rhett scream before it was cut off into silence. Despite the terror flowing through my veins, I knew I had to get down. I quickly grabbed hold to the light I was on and began to swing from it (sort of like an acrobat does from a trapeze). I only had the flashlight to light my way to a landing spot, but it was enough. I kicked my legs, back and forth, back and forth, until I gained enough momentum to jump.

In retrospect, I probably should've stayed where I was.

The impact hit me HARD. Even as I somersaulted to the ground, the pain I encountered is something I can describe in a few different ways. A tetanus shot to the rear, your foot getting run over by a speeding vehicle, AND getting stabbed in the back by your best friend. All things I've experienced, all equally painful.

By the time I was able to recover, I couldn't see anybody. No teammates, no Robo-Sharks. What was more? It was completely silent… eerily so.

I slowly got up to look around, even though everything in my body was angry at me for my stupid superhero stunt. I'd hate to think I learned how to be that reckless from you-guess-who, but the truth doesn't care what I hate, now does it?

I was tempted to call out for someone, but I wasn't completely sure I was alone. So I listened…

"The Imagi-tanks!"

My heart jumped. It was Gage!

I'll never admit this to anyone, but… I don't know what I'd do without him in my life.

Mio cugino, I hate you so much for making me care about you.

I would've ran over to him, but uh, my body and I were currently going through it, so I briskly hobbled, like Mrs. Gammy Gram does when she's trying to hurry along somewhere.

Unfortunately, I only got there fast enough to witness the worst.

Cousin Gage, standing near the Imagi-Tanks, not noticing the big Robo-Shark looming behind him. I find my voice too late.

"GAGE, BEHIND YOU!" I yell, with my aching ribs protesting.

He looks up in my direction, but I can tell he doesn't see me. It doesn't matter anyway. I blink and he's gone. In one full swallow and the blink of an eye, my only cousin is gone.

I don't even get the chance to mourn. The shark has heard me.

I have to run.

Made you wait, didn't I?

Apologies, this one took longer than expected, but it's delay more or less had to do with my personal life. I'm going and I'm growing is all I can say, and I'm glad God is here, because if not for Him, I would NOT be.

How was it anyway? I felt better about Gage's writing in this chapter, which is good because uh, welp. (Uh oh, spagettio~)

I'm not stopping with the drama anytime soon, so be prepared next chapter.

The fun is only beginning...