As soon as people decide to confront a problem, they realize that they are far more capable than they thought they were.
- Paulo Coelho
Koa made it out of the Counselor's Office, and she was beyond furious. CatNap had captured DogDay. He was a hostage. Though Koa knew getting angry would get her nowhere. She was smarter than that. She had to collect herself and figure out how to get DogDay back without CatNap spotting her. Just then, her phone rang again. She answered it without hesitation. If it was CatNap again, she was ready this time.
Instead Ollie spoke up, worry in his voice, "something's gone wrong! Grab the cord from the Counselor's Office and plug it in underneath the statue! We need to reach 100%!"
With that Ollie disconnected the call. Koa was at a loss. She wanted to find DogDay, but at the same time she needed to divert that gas. Then it clicked. CatNap had to have figured out the plan. He's the one who killed the power in the first place. He knew the whole time! He knew she was trying to divert the gas.
'The Gas Production Zone!' She thought with realization. 'That's where he has DogDay! If not in the Gas Production Zone, then somewhere within that area. He's going to guard that machine at all costs.'
With that, Koa decided to follow Ollie's orders and grabbed the power cable on the porch of the Counselor's Office, and ran for the power room under the dome's statue. Once she was inside, she plugged in the cord to its designated receptacle. However, upon looking at the screen, Koa gave a disappointed sigh as the charge wad only at 96%. Suddenly, she heard something slide down the pipe where she had received previous keys from Ollie. It was another key.
After inspecting the key, Koa immediately noticed a poppy pendent on the key. Remembering spotting a graffiti poppy flower on the dome, she realized she had to plug in a cord from the dome itself. Running out of the power room, it did not take Koa long to find the panel for the power cord. After she unlocked the panel, she wasted no time in grabbing the cord and racing back to the power room. Once she returned and plugged in the cord, a chime rang and a large battery fell from the pipe. Koa's phone rang again and she answered it before it could ring a second time.
"Okay, that should be enough power! Now take that huge battery to the Gas Production Zone so we can get out of here! It's the door by the cable car you arrived on! Good luck!" Ollie instructed with unrestrained desperation and fear in his voice, disconnecting the call once he finished.
After putting away the phone, Koa knew that she had to be cautious. CatNap was already in the Gas Production Zone. She just knew it. And no doubt he had DogDay with him. Koa needed to approach this carefully. Picking up the battery. She made her way back to the Gas Production Zone.
Once she made it to the door, Koa decided to hide the battery in the hall before the room with the large machine that produced the Red Smoke. She didn't need CatNap finding and destroying it. Once the battery was hidden, she slowly approached the doorway for the Gas Production Zone, and paused upon making it inside.
The floor was flooded with the Red Smoke. But something seemed… different with this level of the Red Smoke.
Remembering a few breathing techniques from when she was taught how to swim, she realized she could use it to take in less of the smoke, and conserve oxygen without passing out. She backed up, slowed her breathing for a moment to release the anxiety, and prepared for what was to come. She drew in a steady breath, held it and braved the Red Smoke.
Koa moved slowly. After turning a corner, she saw no one around. Though Koa did not drop her guard. Looking to her left, she saw a control panel with a large button. Right beside it, there was a gated elevator. Looking to her right, she saw the receptacle to where the large battery had to go, and next to it was a gated door. She cautiously went to the right, releasing a bit of air from her nose to release the tension. Once she was about halfway to the battery's receptacle, something made her stop in her tracks.
Something caught onto her foot.
She slowly placed her foot down and backed up slightly. Squatting down, she waved her hand through the Red Smoke, the smoke dissipating as she did. That was when she saw it: a tight cord.
Standing up slightly, she followed the cord to the wall. The cord then ran up the wall and Koa saw a broken catwalk platform. She pursed her lips together in thought. CatNap must have taken them from the caverns and set up the traps while she was still sedated. Glancing forward, Koa noticed another wire. Carefully stepping over the first wire, Koa inspected the second wire and saw it was rigged the same way as the first one. It must have been as a back up incase Koa missed the first one.
'Well played, CatNap. Well played,' she thought to herself.
Looking around the room, she dared to take a small breath through her nose. She felt lightheaded, but it was nowhere near as bad as when she breathed it in both times she was sedated.
'CatNap must be able to control how potent the smoke is,' she thought to herself.
Feeling safe enough to breathe, but she still kept it slow but stable to keep from breathing too much of Red Smoke incase it became a sedative, she looked back to CatNap's traps. The wires were gone. Carefully reaching out to where she last saw the wire, she felt it brush her fingertips.
Suddenly, Ollie's warning ran through her head: 'when you're at your most vulnerable… he'll kill you. When you're at your most vulnerable,' Koa thought again.
"Most vulnerable."
That's when it clicked. If Koa had breathed in the smoke upon entering the room, she would not have noticed the wires as the smoke would have caused her to hallucinate and lose her focus, and she would've fallen for the trap. But now that she has seen them, she knew they were there.
Koa smiled slightly. "You like to play 'hunter,' CatNap? Well," she said quietly to herself as she pulled out her knife, "two can play at this game."
….
In the safe room up on the upper floor, CatNap paced impatiently. Behind him, DogDay was on the floor, restrained. His feet were bound with belts, and his hands where tied behind his back with belts. His mouth was stuffed with cloths and held in with another belt to gag him, muffling his whimpers. He had woken up not thirty minutes ago from being sedated along with the human. CatNap had told him that he wasn't going to kill him, yet. He was a hostage against the human.
DogDay was worried. He knew Angel was smart, and he had seen her do seemingly impossible things in his eyes, but he didn't know what she could do this time. He prayed for her safety as well as his. His prayers were answered before, surely they would be answered again.
CatNap growled in frustrated impatience. It had been quite while and there was still no sign of the human. He was beginning to think she had actually left Playcare. This disappointed him. CatNap was actually hoping she would ignore his warnings and come for the heretic. He craved a good hunt. He wanted to kill them both in front of each other. He had set a trap for that false prophet upon his god's instructions, intending to either grievously injure or kill her. Then he would drag her to DogDay, then, if she wasn't already dead, he would kill her in front of the heretic. Then he would kill him for the pain and humiliation the mongrel caused him.
While he was brooding, a loud crashing of metal surprised him and DogDay. A faint pained scream echoed not long after. The screaming continued. Then the screaming turned into calls for help. CatNap recognized the voice as the human's. He chuckled sadistically and turned to DogDay.
"Looks like your 'angel' has fallen, DogDay." CatNap whispered with pleasure.
DogDay began to whimper louder. He could hear Angel's cries of pain and for help. Tears welled in his eyes as CatNap walked away. Once CatNap disappeared, DogDay squeezed his eyes shut and cried.
Once the elevator brought him down to the main floor of the Gas Production Zone, he walked over to where he had his trap set, the human's screams had gotten louder and more pained. The sound of groaning metal echoed in the room. He saw the fallen catwalk platforms on the floor, but paused before he reached it at what he saw. Or more accurately, what he didn't see. There was no blood. No human. The screaming had even stopped. He stepped over the first wire to get a better look.
"Looking for me?"
CatNap looked in the direction the human spoke. There she was, hiding under random debris on the floor near the first wire. She came out of her hiding spot like a predator circling it's prey, her knife in her hand.
Before CatNap could react, she swung her knife and cut the wire. The sound of groaning metal grew louder as the broken platform collapsed on top of CatNap with a loud crash, who screamed in surprise and pain. The broken platforms pinned him down at the waist. CatNap roared in pain and anger, but then lost consciousness from the pain.
As CatNap was crushed by his own trap, Koa turned and ran for the elevator CatNap came from. She used her Grab-Pack's blue hand to push the large button on the control panel and entered the elevator, pressing another button once she was inside.
After a few minutes, CatNap awoke. Groaning, he tried to push himself up, but the heavy platform kept him pinned. Growling in frustrated pain, he struggled again to lift the platform off of him. Once he was able to twist his body enough under the platform, he pushed the platform off himself completely. After he was able to stand up straight again, he moved to give chase, but excruciating pain in his side stopped him in his tracks. Instinctively, he brought his left paw to his side and he flinched in pain. Looking at his paw, he saw blood. He looked at his side and saw a long, deep gash in his side. He roared in anger again and ran after the human.
….
DogDay lay on his side, crying. Angel was probably dying and he was unable to go and help her. He heard another crash and he heard CatNap roar in pain, but not long after, he heard the elevator being activated.
CatNap must have caught Angel and was bringing her here right now. DogDay cried harder and louder through the gag. He was so caught up in his grief and fear that didn't hear footsteps approaching. It was only after feeling soft hands on his shoulder and bicep that he dared open his eyes. He was shocked at what he saw. There was his angel, alive and well. At least as well as he last saw her.
He tried to speak her name but the gag muffled any attempts to speak. Angle used her knife to cut through the belts wrapped around his legs first, then she cut his arms free. Once his hands were free, he ripped the gag off of him and hugged Angel tight, crying in relief. Angel wasted no time in returning the hug as tightly as she could.
"Angel," DogDay sobbed. He tried to say something else, but instead, all he could say was her name.
Koa did her best to comfort DogDay. She could only imagine the fear he felt at being taken hostage. She rubbed his back in comfort, holding him tight.
Just then, they heard a loud roar echo the halls. DogDay whimpered in fear, releasing his hold on Angel.
"DogDay, look at me," she pleaded. DogDay did his best to focus on Angel, but his fear took complete hold on him. He began to hyperventilate.
"DogDay, please! Breathe! Breathe!" Angel pleaded again. Unable to think of what else to do, she hugged DogDay's head gently, rubbing his head and shushing him gently.
At first, it had no effect, but then Koa noticed DogDay's breathing began to even out. After calming down, DogDay returned the hug gently, but still fearful of their lives.
"DogDay, it is going to be okay. I'm right here, and I will protect you," Angel said softly.
Suddenly, the elevator was heard being activated. CatNap was coming. DogDay whimpered again.
"DogDay, I need you to focus. You can't let fear take hold. Not this time," Angel pleaded. DogDay took control of his breathing again and nodded. "Good boy. I need you to hide. I need you to stay hidden. I'll take care of that heathen feline."
DogDay got worried. "Angel, please. Let's just go. It's not worth it-"
"DogDay," she interrupted. "CatNap is not going to stop. Not unless we stop him. We can do this! Do you trust me?"
DogDay looked into her green eyes. Pleading and determined. Feeling confidence growing within him, he knew Angel was right. This had to end now. He took a deep breath, released it and nodded.
"Okay," he said with slight confidence, but then pleaded, "please be careful, Angel."
She nodded and stood up, readying her Grab-Pack. DogDay stood up too and ran deeper into the safe room to hide.
Koa ventured the safe room, wondering where CatNap was. She knew she was his primary target. He doesn't know she freed DogDay, yet. She made it to a large room that was closer to the elevator than the area where she freed DogDay. Glancing over, she saw a black VHS tape on the floor. The TV and player was literally right next to the tape. Feeling she could spare a minute or two, she placed the VHS tape in the player and stepped back, watching the TV. On the screen appeared the hand of The Prototype. Koa flinched. Then a masculine voice with a British accent Koa did not recognize spoke up.
"Log-code 24459. In relation, Experiment 1006, the Prototype. Stubborn as he is, and always silent with each passing session, I'm still uncovering fresh data nonetheless. Today's discovery?—"
He was cut off when garbled noises sounded.
"Hmph. End of log. Hmmm. Ready to talk now, are you?"
"I… possess… a question," an amalgamation of voices spoke up.
"Go ahead…" the scientist said, intrigue in his voice.
"Do you… feel… anything?" More voices spoke.
The scientist gave an exasperated sigh before asking, "this question referring to what, exactly?"
"You stick us. Beat us. Tear at flesh. Do you feel it?" More voices elaborated.
Koa immediately put two and two together: the amalgamation of voices belonged to the Prototype itself. It's a mimic!
"There is a secret inside you, 1006. Valuable beyond all measure. I cut and prod and burn at it, and I get closer with each session…" The scientist said with sadistic pleasure. "So speak, or don't. Fight, or give in. Regardless, I learn something new about you every day…" He laughed with pleasure, "it excites me!"
"Thank you," the Prototype said with a deep, garbled voice. This surprised Koa, and she could tell the scientist was surprised as well through what he said next:
"You… thank me?"
"Absolutely!" The Prototype said, but then he snarled back in the scientist's voice, "I learn something new about you... every day."
The screen went black. This video concerned Koa beyond all measure. The toys were suffering in this factory worse than she initially thought. No wonder they turned on the workers of the factory. A sudden crash caught her attention. Remembering CatNap was hunting her and DogDay down, she turned her attention back to the task at hand.
She rounded a corner and saw a large terminal with four receptacles for batteries. Along the floor, several batteries were scattered along the floor. Koa could tell that this charger would charge and deliver a large voltage of electricity. Enough to kill an adult human. This was perfect. The terminal's screen instructed her to use the batteries and the flare gun to defend herself from the approaching CatNap. Looking around she saw another terminal and a few receivers for electricity for the green hand. She tested one of them, figuring out the receivers activated steam pipes, and after plugging in the scattered batteries into the receptacles on the opposite wall, it activated more steam pipes and kept them going. She then figured out she could use this to fend off CatNap. Once she was ready, she braced herself for the upcoming fight, and plugged in the first battery into the large terminal. Once the battery was in, a countdown clock began.
'THREE MINUTES!?' Koa saw as the countdown clock started at 180 seconds. Koa shook her head to refocus.
Red Smoke started to surround her and the terminal. CatNap had found her. When she saw him approaching through the smoke, she flinched at the malformed version of him. He looked like a decaying corpse! Koa immediately activated the steam pipe to get him to back off, but then something unexpected happened: he evaporated into smoke! Just then, he started approaching on the other side of the terminal.
"What the-!" Koa scrambled to activate the other steam pipe, barely making it in time. The steam sprayed CatNap right onto his head. This time, he squealed in pain. Panting in relief, Koa tried to process what was going on. Suddenly, a hatch in the ceiling opened up above her, revealing CatNap smiling down at her. Using her Grab-Pack, she closed the hatch on CatNap. Not even a minute later, CatNap approached again in front of her. Pausing for the briefest moment, instead of activating the steam pipe, she fired her flare gun right at him, and it went right through him. That was when it hit her. CatNap was toying with her! Now she knew what she had to do in order to keep herself from tiring out too quickly, but it was not going to be easy.
Koa was constantly moving, firing flares whenever she saw CatNap, trying her best to keep him at bay until the terminal finished charging. The flares went right through the hallucinations, but smacked off the real CatNap, and she used the steam pipes to get him to back off. Whenever an alarm rang from the terminal, she had to sacrifice one of her defenses to plug in another battery. It was getting harder to keep up with the new openings for CatNap to come through, and all the fast movements and the humidity in the room from the steam pipes were starting to tire her out.
Suddenly, a familiar pain shot through her back, making her collapse to the floor with a pained yell. "No, not now! Please, not now!"
To her right, she could hear loud footsteps coming her way. She looked over and saw CatNap approaching, his large grin sending a shiver down her spine. She knew she wouldn't be able to activate the steam pipe above CatNap's head, so she pulled out her knife. Just then, CatNap roared and pounced toward her.
On the other side of the safe room, DogDay hid in a large hole in the wall. The Red Smoke flooded the area, though DogDay could tell that at this potency, the Red Smoke was only a hallucinogenic, not a sedative. All of a sudden, DogDay heard CatNap's familiar roar, followed by Angel screaming in surprise and fear. This was surprising. Angel had always held strong with CatNap. But then, he remembered what he told her about her old injuries. They act up if she overworks herself. Feeling Angel was in danger, he went to search for her to help her.
He slowed down as he approached a corner. Peaking his head slowly around the bend, he saw CatNap on top of Angel. He had her pinned down with his right paw, and Angel struggled under his grasp trying to reach her knife, which was just out of her reach. All of a sudden, Angel screamed in pain, grasping CatNap's paw that had her pinned down. DogDay then saw blood seeping through Angel's shirt. CatNap's claws were tearing into her left shoulder. At this, the memories of his friends' tragic deaths flashed before DogDay's eyes. DogDay felt a new emotion boiling inside him. One he had never really felt before: Rage. The sight of his angel in pain sent rage though DogDay. He was unable to save his friends from CatNap, but he could save Angel.
Letting out a furious roar, DogDay pounced on top of CatNap, who gave a surprised and painful scream as he felt intense pain in his still healing right shoulder. As CatNap flailed his arms to dislodge DogDay, DogDay's left knee made impact with the large, deep wound to CatNap's side, earning another squeal and CatNap partially collapsed from the pain. CatNap then managed to grab a hold of DogDay and ripped him off his back. DogDay landed hard against the wall, but he recovered immediately and rolled over onto his hands and knees, revealing a smiling, snarling mouth full of razor sharp teeth. DogDay was no longer afraid. He wasn't going to run. Not this time. He growled loudly, but that didn't faze CatNap, and they stared each other down, like two gunslingers waiting for their opponent to flinch.
Before either of them made a move, CatNap noticed movement behind him out of the corner of his eye: the human had managed to stager to her feet and with her knife in her hands. He could tell she was struggling, but she still made her way towards him, her knife aimed at his ribs. He turned around fast and swung his paw, striking Koa hard across the face, his large paw making impact with her old wounds from Huggy Wuggy. She yelled in pain as she felt something crack around her eye as she was knocked down, her legs giving out completely. As she fell sideways, the Grab-Pack's canons angled, and she landed hard on the Grab-Pack's left canon. Loud cracks echoed the room as she landed right on her ribs on the canon, and Koa released a pained scream.
DogDay growled in fury and pounced at CatNap's face, a loud crunch echoed in the room as DogDay clasped his jaws down on CatNap's left eye. CatNap squealed in pain, pushing DogDay off of him and clasped his now missing eye. DogDay growled, blood dripping from his teeth and chin, and pounced on CatNap again, this time landing on his back. CatNap yelled in surprise as DogDay clamped onto the back of his neck, his hands wrapped around his chest. As CatNap struggled to dislodge DogDay, DogDay's claws dug into and scratched his chest, leaving behind deep cuts. DogDay then released his grip from CatNap's neck and clamped his jaws on his right ear, ripping it off in a fraction of a second, earning another pained squeal from CatNap.
Koa struggled to push herself up. Her injuries to her shoulder, ribs, and her back protested in agony. She shifted to sit on her left leg as she saw the fight unfold. Despite her right eye being swollen shut, she saw bright sparks coming from the charger. She looked over and knew this was her chance.
DogDay circled around CatNap fast, hoping to disorient him. When CatNap tripped over his own tail, DogDay stopped at CatNap's left side. His blinded side. He growled again and pounced for CatNap's throat. Unfortunately, CatNap turned and swung his left paw up, catching DogDay under his jaw. DogDay yelped as he landed hard on his back. CatNap then grabbed DogDay's ankle and threw him towards the wall, earning another pained yelp as the blow stunned him. He tried to push himself up, but CatNap pinned him down by his head, his claws digging into his scalp.
"You filthy mongrel! Did you really think you could take me on? Did you think you could stop the Prototype?"
DogDay couldn't help but flinch, but he held strong. He was not going to give CatNap the satisfaction of seeing him scared. Not anymore.
CatNap's voice shifted from rage to pure malice, "you are nothing, DogDay. Nothing but a spineless waste of space! You couldn't save the others. What made you think you could save that human? I will feed both your hides to the Ruined Critters!"
DogDay growled. "I trusted you, CatNap! We all did! You were my closest friend! Closer than the others-"
CatNap hissed, "was I?! I seem to recall you letting the humans cage me like a rabid animal! You took their side! You still take their side! And you will pay dearly for that!"
"Hey!"
CatNap turned in the direction of the voice. The human woman was on her knees not ten feet from him and DogDay. The anger in her face was intense, the blood and swollen bruises on her face seemed to emphasize and enhance it. CatNap saw that her Grab-Pack's green hand had been overcharged. Electric sparks danced all over the hand. This brought back painful memories for CatNap, who flinched in fear.
"I warned you!" Koa snarled through her teeth.
Immediately, she fired the Grab-Pack's overcharged green hand at CatNap, landing a direct hit on CatNap's left shoulder. CatNap squealed in pain, clasping his left shoulder, and he collapsed right next to DogDay. DogDay crawled away from CatNap to avoid being electrocuted himself. He turned over just in time to see CatNap reach for him, exhaling his Red Smoke.
All of a sudden, CatNap's body ignited into flames. CatNap rolled onto his back and screeched in pure agony. He stood up and slammed himself against the wall in a desperate attempt to put out the flames. When that failed, he turned around and ran blindly in Koa's direction. DogDay noticed and dove for Koa.
"Angel! Look out!"
He wrapped his arm around her chest as he pulled her to safety, causing Koa to release a painful yell as DogDay accidentally made contact with her cracked ribs and the scratches on her chest. After they landed a safe distance away, Koa coughed and wheezed as the impact not only agitated her injuries, it knocked the wind out of her. CatNap once again rolled over into his back and started swatting himself in a final desperate attempt to douse the flames.
Finally, the flames does down, leaving CatNap's body smoldering. Just then, the hand of The Prototype came down from the hatch in the ceiling. The second CatNap saw him, he backed away slightly in fear. DogDay and Koa didn't dare make a sound, holding each other in fear, with DogDay holding his arm out protectively over Koa. The Prototype extended his hand to CatNap, as if offering to help him. CatNap flinched slightly, but then he shifted to his knees in front of The Prototype and raised his paws in submission. The Prototype then brought all his fingers together and aimed for CatNap's open, smiling mouth. DogDay knew what was about to happen and panicked.
"No," He said quietly in realization. Then he yelled to his friend, "CATNAP NO! PLEA-"
STAB!
His plea came too late. The Prototype drove his fingers through CatNap's head, killing him instantly. CatNap's paws fell limp beside him. DogDay gasped in shock while Koa threw her hands to her mouth in horror. Sparks and blood spewed from the back of CatNap's head as The Prototype forced his fingers deeper into CatNap's head and shifted his fingers to grip CatNap's head. The Prototype then lifted the body through the hatch, disappearing with it in seconds. All that was left were the smells of burnt flesh, singed artificial fur, and cooked blood still lingering in the air.
DogDay and Koa were silent as they watched the Prototype take CatNap away, shock, horror and grief in both their faces. DogDay began to shake violently with grief at the death of his closest friend. Koa noticed and hugged DogDay close. DogDay collapsed in her hold, holding onto her and burying his face in her uninjured right shoulder. Koa stroked his head and rubbed his back in comfort as he grieved. She understood what DogDay was going through. CatNap may have done horrible things to him, but at the end of the day, he was still DogDay's friend. He was a victim too. Not just to the scientists, but to the Prototype as well. The Prototype had taken advantage of CatNap's desperation and adherence to him, and now CatNap was truly lost to him. He was gone. He wasn't coming back.
It takes a great deal of bravery to stand up to our enemies, but just as much to stand up to our friends.
- J. K. Rowling