Author's note.

Yep, Boxy-Boo's a good guy here. Thought I'd give you guys a nice surprise. So, did you like it? Now, let's continue our adventures with Ben and Dogday as they head off to rescue Max and Gwen. So, leave a review, sit back, relax and enjoy the show.

Chapter 15

Catnap's interrogation and Dogday's assistance.

Max and Gwen opened their eyes and saw them chained up.

"Where? Are we?" Groaned Max.

"Welcome". Max and Gwen then saw Catnap, standing there, just looking at them.

Meanwhile, outside of the Playcare dome.

Dogday was still walking across the scaffolding with Ben on his shoulders and a duffle bag containing the battery on his back.

"According to the Pad Pal," said Dogday. "There are no traps up ahead".

"Uh, Dogday," said Ben. "If you don't mind me asking, do we have any other allies up here?". Dogday sighed.

"There, used to be," said Dogday. "At first, we just played along with the Prototype, but, it got worse, and worse, and worse. So, a lot banded together. But, the Prototype had resources. One time, when we did try to raid one of the storage rooms, we got in over our heads".

1999.

A green robot with a speaker for a chest, a screen for a face, clawed hands and treads in place of legs was rushing down the abandoned halls of an unknown part of the factory, his treads going as fast as they could. He was carrying a few large duffle bags in one hand and a circuit board in the other. He constantly looked behind him to see if he was being followed. He was, by an army of mini-Huggies and Ruined Critters. He launched his hand off like a a grappling hook and swung around a corner. He was starting to gain distance, when an oil barrel landed a few feet in front of him, spilling it's contents on the floor. He slipped on it and crashed into a wall. The Mini-Huggies and Ruined Critters were getting closer. However, Kissy Missy jumped down and threw an acid cocktail bottle at them, making them scatter. A few stayed and tried to attack, but they were getting stomped by a giant, red and yellow brontosaurus with blue eyes. The Mini-Huggies and Ruined Critters then started to scatter.

"Yeah! That's right! You don't wanna me with Bron!" Shouted the brontosaurus, now known as Bron. Kissy Missy then ran up to the green robot and helped him up.

"You okay?" Asked Kissy Missy.

"Yeah, I'm fine" said the robot in an electronic voice. Then, Dogday and a cat-bumblebee hybrid ran up to them.

"Dogday. Cat-Bee," said Bron. "How'd it go?".

"A light success," said the Cat-Bumblebee hybrid known as Cat-Bee. "We managed to get the medical stuff. Hoppy and Bobbie are already on their way back to Playcare. But, what's going on here?".

"More Mini-Huggies and Ruined Critters are coming," said Bron. "Catnap must've seen us. I doubt we can stay here for long". Dogday's face fell as he rubbed his arm.

"Do we have what we came for?" Asked Cat-Bee. The Green Robot picked up the duffle bags and the circuit board.

"You need to take these," said the Green Robot. "Get them back to the others".

"But Boogie Bot," said Dogday. "We can't just leave you here".

"No," said Boogie Bot, handing the duffle bags and the circuit board to Dogday. "Go! Get back to the others!".

"What about you?" Asked Dogday.

"I'll hold him off," said Boogie Bot, facing the hallway. "Buy you some time". Dogday then grabbed into Boogie Bot's shoulder.

"Then I'm staying with you" said Dogday.

"Listen," said Boogie Bot. "You need to get those supplies back up to the others. They need you, Dogday. They need their leader". Dogday said nothing, he only nodded before he, Cat-Bee, Kissy Missy and Bron ran off. As Dogday looked back, he saw silhouette of Boogie Bot fighting Catnap. Only for Catnap to cut Boogie Bot's head off.

Present day.

"Oh man," said Ben. "I'm….I'm sorry, Dogday".

"Then we started to lose others," said Dogday. "Bron….Cat-Bee…Candy Cat…Daisy…All gone". Ben's grip on Dogday's ears tightened.

"Hey, careful, those are my ears" said Dogday.

"Oh, sorry" said Ben. Dogday continued to walk across the scaffolding. However, they then saw that the scaffolding ahead of them had a large gap in between two sections.

"Great, now what?" Said Ben.

"There's the back door entrance to Home Sweet Home," said Dogday. "We can go through there and get to the other side".

Meanwhile, with Catnap.

"Long time no see, Max" said Catnap.

"I would say it's good to see you," said Max. "But, I can tell that the feeling's not mutual".

"Brilliant observation" quipped Catnap.

"Let us down, you overgrown, purple, house cat!" Shouted Gwen, struggling against the chains.

"Not the healthiest idea" said Catnap. Gwen soon felt an electric shock and screamed in pain.

"Try to break free," said Catnap, getting in Gwen's face. "You'll get an electric shock".

"Leave her alone, Catnap!" Shouted Max. Catnap then turned his attention to Max.

"Oh, I'll get you, Mr. Plumber" said Catnap. THAT caught Max off guard.

"What?," asked Max. "How do-". If Catnap's face wasn't forced into a permanent smile, he'd be smirking.

Outside of Playcare.

Dogday opened the back door to Home Sweet Home. Ben walked in while Dogday had to crawl due to his size.

"We go through here and we should be able to reach the other side of that gap" said Dogday.

"What, exactly did they do here?" Asked Ben, almost dreading the answer.

"They would, watch the kids to see how the poppy gas would affect them" answered Dogday.

"They, They watched the kids?" Asked Ben.

"Unfortunately," said Dogday. "And there was one kid in particular".

"Let me guess, Theodore Grambell?" Asked Ben.

"Yeah, him," answered Dogday. "How did you know?".

"We saw his file in Playcare" said Ben.

With Catnap.

"I know a lot of things, Max," said Catnap. "Especially when I snuck around".

"How can you sneak around?," asked Gwen. "You're huge".

"Max should know," answered Catnap. "He's known me since I arrived".

In Home Sweet Home.

"So, uh, what happened to Theo?" Asked Ben. Dogday then looked nervous, before sighing.

"You know how there are 8 Smiling Critters?" Asked Dogday.

"Yeah," answered Ben. "You, Catnap, Bobbie Bearhug, Bubba Bubbaphant, Kickin' Chicken, Picky Piggy, Craftycorn and Hoppy Hopscotch".

"Well, each of them were made into Bigger Bodies," said Dogday. "I'm experiment 1180. Bubba is 1181. Kickin' is 1182. Piggy is 1183. Craftycorn is 1184. Hoppy is 1185. Bobbie is 1186. And Catnap is 1188".

"What about 1187?" Asked Ben.

"It was a failure," said Dogday. "And it took a long time to find a kid for Catnap".

With Catnap.

"How the hell could I've known you since you arrived?," asked Max. "You weren't brought into Playcare until 1991".

"You know me, in a different form" said Catnap.

In Home Sweet Home.

"However, there was a child who was breaking into offices and similar things," said Dogday. "He was apparently being influenced by an imaginary friend".

"I take it this 'imaginary friend' was this 'Prototype'?" Asked Ben.

"Exactly" said Dogday.

With Catnap.

"The Prototype saved me," said Catnap.

In Home Sweet Home.

"Saved him?" Asked Ben.

"Yeah, Theo stole two Grab Packs and tried to escape" said Dogday.

With Catnap.

"How did you steal a Grab Pack?," Asked Max. "They wouldn't fit you".

"They did," said Catnap. "And it still would've if it wasn't for the accident".

In Home Sweet Home.

"Accident?" Asked Ben.

"Yeah, a bad accident" answered Dogday.

With Catnap.

"What kind of accident?" Asked Max.

"Where I was electrocuted and sent to the hospital" answered Catnap, almost smuggly. That was when the bomb dropped.

"Wait, Catnap is," said Ben.

With Catnap.

"You're" said Max.

Both.

"Theodore Grambell?!".