CHAPTER 9

It was another beautiful sunny morning in Sydney. Even though some certain parts of Sydney didn't seem like a welcoming place, but was still decent city to live in.

Over at a old looking pub or bar, outside were occupied by a couple of crazed hobos with little yappy dogs just standing there. The hobos talking in some kind of nonsense gibberish as their dogs continued to bark and yap non-stop. Some of the people who see these hobos just call them 'Crazy Dog Hobos' for obvious reasons cause the hobos were somewhat a little crazy when people go near them, and that of their little dogs never stop their yapping at people. Often times people would've call them walking seagulls as they are annoying as seagulls.

The Hobos kept chatting to eachother in their gibberish language while their dogs continued to bark, annoying many people who happened to be walking by, as well as inside the pub that the annoying noise carried through the building.

Meanwhile, inside there seemed to be some sort of commotion happening. The doors swung open to reveal Nigel, grabbing hold of a man "And you think you can just cheat me out at a card game last night, I don't think so bud!" he glared and argued at the man. Seemed that the man did something in a card game, whether he cheated or not, he and Nigel were playing and was refusing to pay Nigel the winning money he bet.

The Hobos' dogs perked at the sound, turned their attention to the pilot and barked and yipped at him. "OH WOULD YOU JUST SHUT UP!" Nigel yelled, the hobos backed away from the man pulling their dogs close. "Bloody yapping rats! They couldn't been 'Crazy Cat Ladies', but no! Had to be annoying dogs!" Nigel gave frustrated huff, before turning his attention back to the scared man he was holding in his grip.

Meanwhile, inside the pub near the bar a couple of Nigel's pilot buddies were just sitting enjoying a rather early morning drink, or coffee for some depending. The bartender Seamus, was near by as he was being told of an amazing story. "Hey Nigel, you're missing out of this amazing gossip going around!" he told the pilot "Yeah, well I'm kind busy at the moment!" Nigel replied yelling back, not paying attention to his buddies but more so of the scared man that was trying to weasel off with his winning card money.

The bartender rolled his eyes and turned to the rest of his favorite customers "So who was this guy?" "You got me Seamus? But the whole reason behind this bloke's tale is that he's looking for his little boy " one of the pilots answered "Yeah, I believe his boy was named Nemo" the other pilot added, before taking a swig of his drink.

"Nemo?" Nigel perked up hearing that familiar name, turning back to his buddies.

"Now listen Nigel I can pay you-!" "Never mind!" Nigel silenced the man before throwing him out. "Here Boys, your dogs have a new chew toy to play with!" Nigel shouted to the Crazy Dog Hobos, their dogs yapping and barking as they ran towards the man. Once the man got back up on his feet, he had to run away from those crazed man and their equally crazed dogs.

"Say that again! You said something about Nemo. What was it?" Nigel ran back in and sat by the bar. "Oh, this whole story is what everyone's talking about Nigel" one of his buddies told him "Yeah. So get this; this man he..." and so his other buddy began to tell Nigel the whole story from start to end.

Outside the man ran into the corner as the hobos and their dogs surround them "Wait!" the man stopped them, making both dogs and their hobo owners looked at him with curious and confused looks. "Uh...look! Over there!" the man pointed, making the Crazy Dog Hobos and their dogs turned to the direction. The man couldn't believe it worked and gave a released breath and made a run for it without a second of looking back or stopping. One of the dogs turned back and made a sound when tilting his head to the side, wondering what happened to the man.

Back in the pub, Nigel sat in his seat and nodding along as his buddies told him the whole adventure of Nemo's Dad. "And that's pretty much it Mate" "Yeah, last we heard of him. He's still on the highway heading straight here to Sydney as we speak" his buddies finished. "That's brilliant!" Nigel sat straight up from his seat and cheered. He payed his tab before running off, leaving his buddies and the bartender looking confused. "Hold it Nigel, where you going?" Seamus shouted "There's a kid out there that needs to know about this!" was all Nigel replied yelling back.

Nigel didn't care if he would be out of breath by the time he'd get there, he just knew there was one person that will be ecstatic to hear of this wonderful adventure gossip going around.


Meanwhile back at the hospital.

Nemo was curled up on one of the cots, as he looked so downhearted. Still blaming himself that the escape plan had failed. He thought he would be able to do it, but he just couldn't. And now because of his mess up, he will surely had to go through up coming 'operation' in a few days.

He didn't want to think of that.

Nemo sighed saddly and turned away, still wearing the Gil's blazer he gave him as it was warm and somehow had comfort for him. However he still refused to see or talk to anyone.

The Lab Gang stood by watching the poor boy, they all wanted to cheer him up but they didn't know how and still believed he deserved to have his space. "Do you think he's doing okay?" Deb asked in a hushed voice "I don't know?" Bloat and Bubbles shrugged, still looking at the boy. Gurgle came beside them, leaning in so the boy couldn't hear "But whatever you all do, don't mention D-A-R..." "It's okay. I know who're talking about" Nemo glumly said, getting up from the cot and walking away from the group.

Gurgle stopped before shifting towards the others, they all gave him frowns and glares. Bloat even gave him a smack upside the head, clearly Gurgle wasn't helping at all.

Nemo walked away, having a quick look at the vent above him before picking up his pace, clearly he didn't want to see the reminder of his failed attempt escape plan.

Nemo looked to see that Peach wasn't seating near the small tv device. Instead he looked to one of the darker corners of the room, and there she stood. Nemo could tell that Peach was trying to get Gil to come out and talk, but he was too guilty and distraught to even move from his cot. "Gil please, don't blame yourself. We didn't know what the outcome would've been" Peach softy spoke to him, hoping to make him feel better or even try to talk to her. "Peach..." Nemo walked up slowly to the pink haired woman.

Peach turned to see Nemo looking up at her, she gave a sad smile to the boy. She figured maybe this will help the man. "Gil...Gil Honey, there's someone here that want's to talk to you" she said before turning away. "I'll...give you two some room. I'll just be back, seeing Sherman and his men are at work operating again..." Peach slowly backed away, giving the man and boy some space before going back to her usual spot.

Nemo looked a little nervous but walked over to the cot where Gil layed.

"Gil?...Gil?" "Hey Sharkbait" Gil responded to the boy quietly, still refusing to look at the boy. Nemo took off the blazer and handed it back to the man. Nemo fidgeted and played with the hem of his shirt "Gil, I'm sorry I couldn't stop the-" "No Kid" Nemo looked up as Gil interrupted him.

Gil managed to turn on his back, still refusing to look at the boy "I'm the one who should be sorry. I was so ready to get out, so ready to breath that fresh air. I was willing to put you in harm's way to get there." Gil looked up at the ceiling, but he can feel the young boy's gaze on him. "Nothing should be worth that." Gil told him and shut his eyes, still feeling so ashamed for what he did.

Nemo stared at the man, seeing Gil look so down and guilty. Nemo knew what do to, he did something that shocked the man. Nemo got onto the cot, sitting in the man's lap and wrapped his little arms around the man, giving him a hug. Gil was surprised by this that he too wrapped his arms around the little boy and returned the hug "I'm sorry I couldn't get you back to your father, Kid" Gil quietly apologized, still having his arms around the boy.

Hearing this Nemo tighten the hug, shutting his eyes as new fresh tears began to form.

Meanwhile, Nigel had finally made it to the building, he got extremely lucky that he wasn't caught bursting through the building. He knew that if he was caught again, well Sherman was a man of his word and what he would do to him wasn't something pretty.

But he didn't care about Sherman's threat at that moment, he knew he had to get to Nemo and tell him the exciting news.

Just then Nigel tripped over something sending him to the ground that made a rather noticeable impact.

"What the?!" the impact of the fall startled Sherman. "What was that!?" he turned to his men "Must've been some equipment that fell over" Dr. Hunter told him, having a check what it was. "God almighty! Didn't I order you to make sure everything was away properly before operating!" Sherman slapped one of his colleagues "Wouldn't matter now, his body part is gonna be shipped off the black market anyway, now he won't worry about Kidney Stones" Sherman stated, looking at the operating patient and laughed a bit at his joke. His other colleagues laughed with him, except Dr. Hunter didn't join in.

Luckily Nigel managed to get back on his feet and sneak his way to the room where his Lab Gang friends were. Remembering the code key and entered into the room before releasing a relief sigh and trying to catch his breath from all the running he did.

"Hey Nigel, got here just in time!" Nigel finally caught his breah and turned towards Peach "You almost missed a 'Kidney Stone' extraction." she told him "Really? Which side were they planning to- what am I talking about!?" Nigel shook his head, almost forgetting why he was here in the first place. "Nemo! Where's Nemo! I gotta speak to him!" Nigel looked around the room.

Gil and Nemo heard Nigel and headed towards the man "Nigel, take deep breaths" Gil told him, seeing the man getting all worked up over something. Nemo walked over to Nigel as he heard he was looking for him "What is it?" "Nemo, your Dad's been fighting the entire world looking for you!" Nigel told the young boy.

"My father? Really?" Nemo looked up all surprised "Really?" "Is it true Nigel?" both Gil and Peach turned to the man. Nigel replied nodding "Oh yeah it's real! My buddies told me everything he's done!" everyone gathered to hear as Nigel went on "He's been battling gangsters, feral cats, and-" "Gangsters? No...that can't be him" Nemo shook his head in denial turning away, there was no way that could've been his father.

"Really?" Nigel eyed him before turning away in thought. "What was his name again? It started with an 'M'...Murphy? No...Melman?" Nigel began listing out loud. He shook his head again, as the Lab Gang just stared at him blankly, some even turning to eachother and gave a shrug. Nemo hearing Nigel perked up a bit "Wait, it is an 'M' name, he's named after a sport fish like-" "Marlin?" Nemo turned to the man hearing this. "That's it! Marlin! Marlin Clowfisch from Ocean City, of the little suburban Barrier Reef" Nigel exclaimed.

"It's my Dad! He took on a gangster!" Nemo smiled and cheered, couldn't believe what his dad had done. Nigel chuckled "I heard he took on 3" holding up 3 fingers "3!?" everyone gasped "And not just any gangsters, it was the Shark Gang!" Nigel added, making the Lab Gang gasped once again. "No way! The Shark Gang?" "They're like the toughest gang anyone has ever heard!" Gil and Bloat were more shocked and surprised to hear. Not everyone can take on the Shark Gang, but it seemed Nemo's Dad did.

Nigel smiled down to the kid "Ya see Kid, after you were taken by Mad Doc Sherman, your dad followed the truck you were on like a maniac" "Really?" Nemo looked up to him all surprised.

"He's running and he's running and he's giving it all he's got and then the Shark Gang capture him and he blows up their hideout! And then he goes deep into this dark alleyway and gets chased by this monster dog! He managed to escape said demon dog and what does he get for a reward? He gets to battle an entire pack of feral cats down in a subway!..."

Nemo stood hearing the whole tale from Nigel. Listening to every word. Nemo's eyes and smiled beamed through every detail Nigel was telling him.

He couldn't believe it, but he did!

His Dad was looking for him and he went through and did all this to find him!

He just knew that somewhere deep down that his father was brave and strong. Just as he saw him truly to be. He had battled gangsters, a monstrous dog, and a pack of feral cats. And no matter what, he kept on going just to find him.

That's my Dad! He really is looking for me! And if he can do all that, than maybe I can...

"...And now he's riding with a bunch of surfers, said to be the remaining caravan of the Sea Romani, on the East Australian Current Highway and the word is he's headed this way right now, to Sydney!" Nigel finished telling the gang the whole story.

"Wow!" "Alright!" Bloat and Bubbles smiled at this "Oh what a good daddy!" Deb gushed just hearing this. "I better get going, don't want Sherman to see me" Nigel told them before sneaking away "Thanks for everything Nigel" Peach waved goodbye to him and watched him leave.

Gil stood laughing "Looks like your dad was looking for you all along, Sharkbait" Gil turned to see Nemo wasn't standing beside him.

Instead he turned to see Nemo was gathering some objects and piling them up, making it look like some ladder or tower. Nemo then ran to a corner and grabbed a metal pipe before turning back and started to climb up the makeshift tower.

"Sacré blue!" Jacques cried out "He's going back into the vents!" Gurgle panicked.

Seeing this Gil began to panic "Sharkbait!" Gil quickly ran "Not again!" Bloat exclaimed, following behind.

Gil ran but the makeshift tower tumbled down before he could reach him. This worried and frightened Gil even more about the boy's safety, afraid that Nemo would get hurt once again.

"It's not worth it!" "You've got your whole life ahead of you!" Bubbles and Gurgle yelled into the vents, hoping to stop the boy. "We'll help you kid!" Gil yelled, turning to the Lab Gang and nodded. "Get him out of there!" "Give me those sheets!" Bloat and Deb quickly stripped the sheets off the cots and began to tie them back up to make the sheet rope once again.

Nemo crawled through the vents with a determined look on his face, he crawled and turned to where the fan was. He held out the pipe and stared at the whirling fan, waiting for the right time.

"Get him out of there!" Deb cried, already finished tying the sheets. The Lab Gang quickly pushed the sheets into the vent "Come on Kid! Grab on the end!" Gurgle cried out, continuing to push the sheet rope in.

All of a sudden the Lab Gang heard a sound, a sound of something being jammed. Making the fan stop working.

The Lab Gang grew silent, afraid that the fan was jammed and stopped by something. Something they didn't want to comprehend saying or think about.

"Sharkbait!" the Lab Gang turned towards the vents. They all tried calling out to him, but they didn't hear any sound. "Come on Sharkbait, you okay!" "No, this is horrible!" Bloat and Gurgle cried out. Deb began to cry into her hands as Bubbles stood sniffling. "Gil...!" Peach turned into Gil, afraid of what they might think happened.

Gil shook his head, he didn't want to believe it. "Can you hear me! Nemo! Can you hear me?!" Gil kept crying out to Nemo.

"Yeah I can hear you" the Lab Gang stood silent, all were shocked to hear that familiar voice.

They all turned to see Nemo had managed to crawl and climb out of the vents. Nemo stood there smiling up at them, covered in dust as he tried to brush some of it off his clothes.

"Sharkbait you did it!" Gil cried running over to the boy, he kneeled down and gave the boy a hug. Nemo hugged the man back.

The Lab Gang ran over and praised the young boy, they were all just glad that Nemo was okay. But most importantly, he managed to succeeded in part of the escape plan.

Gurgle couldn't help but hug the boy "Oh Sharkbait, you're okay! And you're...covered with GERMS!" he pushed the boy away, running away screaming. Everyone stood there laughing and rolling their eyes at the germophobic man. Jacques sighed and walked over to him, knowing he will have to give Gurgle another scrub yet again.

Gil and Nemo continued to laugh "That took a lot of guts Kid" Gil playfully nudged the boy's shoulder "Just...promise me to never scare me like that again" he added "I promise!" Nemo nodded and smiled at the man.

Gil smiled down at the boy, before clearing his throat and turned to the Lab Gang. Knowing that look, the Lab Gang gathered around, including Gurgle as he was now clean and germ free once more.

"Alright gang, we still have a few days until Darla gets here for the operation. This room'll get all dusty and dirty in that time, but we have to help it along any way we can." Gil told them the next stage of their escape plan. "Jacques" Gil turned to the French man "Oui!" "No cleaning!" "I shall resist!" Jacques saluted, knowing that it'll be a difficult task for him, but he was will to see it through.

Gil saluted back and turned to the rest "Everybody else, if we want this room to get all dirty and dusty, be as gross as possible. Think dirty thoughts." he instructed the gang. Gurgle stood feeling slightly grossed out about this part of the plan, but he will try. Deb and Bubbles both shared determined smiles. Peach stood looking serious but had a determined smile on her face, and nodded to Gil, knowing she was still all in of this plan.

"Now I know that during so, we may not have clean air to breath, but it'll all be worth it in the end. We're gonna make this room so filthy, that Sherman and his men'll have to clean it themselves!" Gil eyed each of them. Knowing that the next stage of the plan will work, if they all work together like they always do.

After Gil's speech, Bloat responded with a burp, getting start of the next step "Good work." Gil responded, seeing Bloat already getting them a head start. And so the Lab Gang decided to get started right away and moved out.

Nemo chuckled at the Lab Gang. However he turned his attention back to the window. He looked up and had a determined smile on his face. He knew he already played his part in the escape plan, now they just need to do the rest. And soon once they escape, Nemo will finally be rid of this nightmarish place and be back to his Dad.

His Dad!

Oh Nemo still couldn't believe that his Dad was out there looking for him! And he was on his way!

"Dad...I can't wait to see you again! I hope you're still okay out there!" Nemo silently prayed to himself as he stared up at the bared window.

However he wasn't worried, he already knew from the whole story that his father was brave, strong, determined, and most of all, he was on his way!

To Be Continued...