The duo entered a small area and looked around. As Katelynn stepped forward, she looked down. "Woah, it's the barracks..." she said, lowly. "I've never been here before..." When Michelle was close to Katelynn, she saw multiple small houses on the other side.
Michelle looked down and saw a large machine in the center and multiple mining equipment. "There's some sort of mining pit down below," she said. "Just what was this company doing?"
Michelle turned her head to the left and saw a ramp. "We'll take that ramp," she continued. Katelynn nodded as she picked Michelle up and placed her on the ramp. Michelle looked at the bounce pad before twisting the knob, switching from the red hand to the purple hand.
When Michelle was close to the bounce pad, she aimed and pulled the right trigger, launching herself in the air before landing on another bounce pad. Katelynn followed Michelle as she launched herself onto a rocky platform.
Michelle looked at the handle before aiming and pulling the left trigger, launching the blue hand and grabbing it. Michelle swung herself to the other side before landing on the ground; Katelynn grabbed the handle before swinging herself to the other side.
After Katelynn landed on the ground, the duo approached the opening before entering it. When the duo reached the top of the ramp, they saw a bounce pad with electrified water before it.
Michelle gritted her teeth. "Well, that's just great..." she said, lowly. Katelynn was concerned. "What now?" she asked. Michelle took a deep breath and exhaled. "We don't have a choice," she said before sprinting toward the bounce pad and pulling the right trigger.
As Michelle launched herself over the electrified water, the purple hand started malfunctioning. The Doctor laughed as Michelle landed on the ground, which made her grit her teeth. "He's so dead..." she said.
Katelynn clung to the walls before leaping to the other side and approaching Michelle. "Oh no..." she said. Michelle sighed. "It's fine..." she said before smiling at Katelynn. "I got you by my side in case some enemies get close by."
Katelynn stared at Michelle before smiling and nodding. "You can count on me, Big Sister," she said. Michelle nodded before looking forward. "Now then, let's find a way to get into the Doctor's lair," she said.
Katelynn nodded as Michelle walked forward; she looked around. "I'm not seeing anything so far..." she said, lowly.
Michelle looked at the roof and spotted a handle before aiming and pulling the left trigger, launching the blue hand and grabbing the handle before the gate opened.
Michelle stared at the gate. "Katie... I need you to get to the lower floor," she said. Katelynn looked at Michelle, concerned. "Big Sister?" she asked. Michelle turned her head to Katelynn. "Something tells me we're getting out of the frying pan and into the fire," she said.
Katelynn stared at Michelle before nodding and jumping to the lower floor. Michelle looked forward before stepping back; soon after, she sprinted forward and jumped.
Halfway through the swing, the handle electrocuted Michelle, which made her scream and retract the blue hand before falling. "Just like them; a blind, scurrying little rat," the Doctor said.
Katelynn caught Michelle before she hit the ground; the door on their left side closed, and the gate to the lift closed, which made them look around. "You think 1166 and Cat-Bee were my only pets?" the Doctor asked.
Michelle turned her head to the back and saw a shutter open. Soon after, Michelle saw a big Baba Chops enter the area, which made her eyes widen. "You know far less than you believe," the Doctor said.
Baba Chops bleated before charging toward the duo and leaping toward them. Katelynn moved out of the way before Baba Chops got too close and bit a part of a metal pole before letting go.
When the duo looked at Baba Chops, they noticed the bite mark on the pole was melting a bit. "That Baba Chops has some kind of acid bite," Michelle said. Katelynn placed Michelle on the ground, which made her look at her.
Katelynn glared at Baba Chops. "You find the way out of this place for us," she said as her fingertips turned into claws, and her blue teeth extended. "Baba is mine."
Michelle looked at Katelynn, shocked. "Hang on, isn't acid and slime—" she sprinted toward Baba Chops. "Don't worry; I'll make sure it doesn't bite me!"
Baba Chops moved out of the way before Katelynn slashed them. Michelle looked at Katelynn, concerned, as she continuously slashed at Baba Chops while they dodged. "Katie..." she said, lowly.
Michelle shook her head and slapped her cheeks. "She's counting on me to get us out of here," she continued before looking forward, determined. "So I should count on her to take care of Baba."
As Michelle sprinted around the room, she spotted batteries inside the cages. "There are cables all around this area, so there's more than likely buttons like in No Man's Land... so let's find the one with the blue lit cables," she said before sprinting toward the right side.
Baba Chops bleated before charging toward Katelynn and leaping toward her; she slid out of the way before they got close.
Baba Chops leaped toward Katelynn, but she dodged with a grin. "I may not be as strong as my Big Brother or Doey, but when it comes to speed, I'm much faster since I can slide on the ground," she said before jumping.
Katelynn stretched her arm and slashed Baba Chops's back, which made them bleat. "I'm also just as agile as he is!" she shouted. Baba Chops growled at Katelynn as she landed on the ground, which made her grin. "That's it, focus on me," she said.
Katelynn was determined. I'll do whatever it takes to keep Big Sister safe, she thought. When Michelle was close to the button with a blue lit cable, she aimed and pulled the left trigger.
The blue hand pressed the button, which switched the cable's power and opened the red cage door. When Michelle was close to the red cage door, she crouched and saw a large Poe with a battery next to it.
Michelle aimed and pulled the left trigger, launching the blue hand and grabbing the battery before retracting. "I remember seeing a battery socket on the left side; that's where I'll go," she said before standing up, sprinting toward the back, and turning left.
When Michelle was close to the socket, she plugged the battery inside, which powered the button and opened a green cage door. Michelle turned her head to Katelynn as she swiftly dodged Baba Chops. Please be careful, Katie, she thought before sprinting forward.
When Michelle was close to the open green cage, she crouched and saw a battery inside before aiming and pulling the left trigger. The blue hand grabbed the battery before retracting. "There's my second one," she said before standing up and sprinting to the right.
Katelynn tried catching her breath as Baba Chops panted; soon after, they bleated and leaped toward her. Katelynn growled with her blue teeth showing. "I've had just about enough of you!" she shouted as she swung her tail.
Katelynn's tail hit Baba Chops hard, which made it yell before it hit the wall hard. After Michelle plugged the battery into the socket, she aimed at the button before pulling the left trigger, launching the blue hand, and pressing the button, which rerouted the cables.
Baba Chops bleated before biting Katelynn's tail, which made her flinch. After Michelle retracted the blue hand, she heard Katelynn's scream, which made her eyes widen and turn to her. "Katie?!" she shouted.
As Baba Chops kept biting Katelynn's tail, she grinned a bit. "You think you won just because you bit my tail?" she asked rhetorically. "Once I knew you had an acidic bite, I had the advantage even if you bit me..."
Katelynn remembered looking at vials in the Infirmary as Suzy. "Back when I was Suzy, someone from Safe Haven found different kinds of vials filled with acid," she said.
Katelynn sweatdropped. "After messing with one of the bottles, I got scolded by Big Brother, but we also discovered a strong acid makes my slime extra sticky," she continued.
The slime on Katelynn's tail started sticking to Baba Chops. "Therefore..." she continued before lifting it and throwing it to the other wall. Baba Chops hit the wall hard; they tried moving, but the slime on their body kept them in place.
Katelynn smiled as Baba Chops bleated. "It might not be a permanent solution, but that should hold you in place," she said. Michelle sprinted toward Katelynn. "Katie!" she shouted.
When Katelynn turned to Michelle, she hugged her, which shocked her. Michelle trembled. "When you screamed, I thought something horrible happened to you," she said. "I..."
Katelynn frowned a bit before wrapping her arms around Michelle and petting her head. "Sorry if I scared you, Big Sister," she said. "But don't worry, I'm fine." Michelle looked at Katelynn's tail, concerned. "But your tail," she said.
Katelynn smiled. "It's all good," she said; her tail quickly repaired on its own, which shocked Michelle. "My body repairs itself like an actual axolotl," she continued.
Michelle sighed before looking at Katelynn. "While I'm glad about that, it would've been nice to know about it in the first place," she said. Katelynn giggled and gently placed her fist against her head. "Sorry," she said.
Michelle looked at the battery near the shutter. "I managed to place one of the batteries near the shutter," she said. "If I can grab the battery and rewrite the power to make that shutter open again, I should be able to get whatever is inside it."
Katelynn nodded before looking at Baba Chops as it kept biting at the slime. "If Baba frees itself from my slime, I'll keep them in place," she said. "Get that shutter open." Michelle nodded before sprinting toward the other battery.
When Michelle was close to the battery, she aimed and pulled the left trigger, launching the blue hand and grabbing it. After the blue hand retracted with the battery in hand, Michelle sprinted toward the other battery socket.
When Michelle was close to the battery socket, she aimed and pulled the left trigger, launching the blue hand and plugging the battery inside, which opened the shutter.
Michelle sprinted toward the shutter and entered; she spotted a blue keycard before approaching it and grabbing it. "Please see that he doesn't eat ALL of you," the Doctor said. "I'd like there to be SOMETHING I can still use."
Michelle glared at the intercoms. "You fucker..." she said, lowly. As Baba Chops freed himself, Katelynn wrapped her hand around his neck. Before Baba Chops could do anything, Katelynn roared before slamming him to the ground hard, which made him bleat in pain.
Michelle looked at Katelynn, shocked, as she kept slamming Baba Chops on the ground until the ground under him formed a crater.
Katelynn tried catching her breath as she let go of Baba Chops as he twitched on the ground. "I don't think he'll be getting up for a while..." she said.
Michelle stared at Katelynn as she looked at her with a sweatdrop. "Hey... think you can keep this between us and not tell Big Brother?" she asked.
Michelle chuckled a bit. "He'll probably find out eventually, but yeah... I'll keep it between us," she said before walking forward. "Now I need to rewrite the power cables and put the keycard into the machine."
When the duo was close to the other side, Michelle aimed at the right button before pulling the trigger, launching the blue hand and pressing it, while Katelynn stretched her arm and pressed the left button.
After the cables were rerouted to the room, Michelle put the keycard into the machine, which opened the door.
When the duo entered the room, they were shocked to see Simon Smoke inside a vital chamber. "Do you believe you're taking the moral high ground? Is that what you believe?" the Doctor asked.
Michelle glared at the intercom. "Dear child, let me illuminate for you an obvious truth: survival necessitates choices. Difficult choices..." the Doctor said. When the duo turned their heads to the back, they saw multiple Nightmare Critters approaching the door.
Michelle gritted her teeth. "This one is yours," the Doctor said. "If you want to leave this room, it'll come at a cost... it's this little life, or yours. You know what you have to do."
Michelle growled a bit and looked at the chamber. "Just the slightest pull, and you snuff whatever minuscule bit of light still flickers behind those faraway eyes," the Doctor continued.
When Michelle looked at Simon Smoke, she noticed he was scared, which surprised her. "That brutish glob of clay would do it. Poppy would do it; it's YOUR mission," the Doctor said. "The door will open. Or... is maintaining the veil of your 'morality' more important? Act quickly."
The Nightmare Critters piled at the door and started breaking the glass, which made Katelynn growl a bit. "Damn those things..." she said, lowly.
Michelle stared at Simon Smoke before cracking her knuckles. "Katie," she said. Katelynn looked at Michelle as she pulled her right hand into her jacket sleeve and made a fist while holding it. "This also stays between us; no telling Kevin about this," she continued.
Katelynn stared at Michelle before nodding. "Alright..." she said, lowly. Michelle yelled before punching the glass, which shattered the canister. Simon Smoke stared at Michelle, shocked as she pulled her sleeve before grabbing him.
As Michelle held Simon Smoke in her right arm, she looked up and saw a handle. "That's my answer to all of your bullshit," she said before looking at Katelynn. "Katie!"
Katelynn nodded as she wrapped her arm around Michelle. "Right!" she shouted before stretching her other arm to the handle. When Katelynn grabbed the handle, she pulled herself up before the Nightmare Critters entered the room.
When the group looked forward, they saw a vent grate. Katelynn stretched the arm holding Michelle on the ground. After Michelle opened the vent, the group left the area. "Fine... have it your way," the Doctor said. "Come on in; the doctor will see you."
When the duo approached the door, Michelle saw a blue hand scanner before aiming and pulling the left trigger, launching the blue hand and touching the scanner.
As the scanner was activated, Simon Smoke looked at Michelle. "Why'd you do it?" he asked. The duo looked at Simon Smoke, surprised. "You can talk?" Katelynn asked.
Simon Smoke looked at the duo. "Why'd you save me? You don't even know me," he said. Michelle stared at Simon Smoke. "Why did I save you?" she said before looking forward. "Because I felt like saving you."
Simon Smoke looked shocked. "The Doctor can say whatever the hell he wants about my morals, I'd rather save someone than spill pointless bloodshed," Michelle continued. Simon Smoke stared at Michelle with awe. "So cool..." he said, lowly.
The group heard stomach growling, which made Simon Smoke flinch; Michelle turned her head to him. "You hungry?" she asked. Simon Smoke quickly looked away. "Me? Hungry? Nah, not in the slightest; I can go days without being hungry," he said.
After the scanner finished, the blue hand retracted before Michelle dug into her left jacket pocket. "Is that so?" she asked.
Soon after, Michelle pulled out a tied cookie bag. "Then I guess you aren't hungry for a peanut butter cookie," she said, which made Simon Smoke flinch. "I know I am after all that running; heck, I might even finish this entire bag."
Simon Smoke turned to Michelle in a slight panic. "Now hang on, let's not be rash; if you're offerin', I don't mind at least one," he said. Michelle grinned a bit while Katelynn covered her mouth, giggling. "What about all that talk about going without food for days?" she asked.
Simon Smoke looked away. "I... may have exaggerated a little..." he said, lowly. Michelle chuckled. "Don't worry, I'll give you one," she said before looking at Katelynn. "Katie." Katelynn nodded. "Right," she said before grabbing the bag out of Michelle's hand.
After untying the bag, Katelynn dug her fingers inside the bag before pulling out a cookie. "Here you go, Big Sister," she said. Michelle grabbed the cookie. "Thank you," she said before holding it out to Simon Smoke. "Here..."
Simon Smoke stared at the cookie before holding it with both hands, which made Michelle let go. "Thanks, I guess..." he said, lowly, before eating the cookie. Michelle smiled as Katelynn held the cookie out to her. "Here's one for you, Big Sister," she said.
Michelle grabbed the cookie. "Thank you, Katie," she said before taking a bite out of it. Katelynn grabbed a cookie out of the bag before biting into it; after the trio finished eating, she tied the bag before putting it back in Michelle's jacket.
Michelle took a deep breath and exhaled before looking forward. "This is it... this room will take us to the Doctor," she said before looking at Simon Smoke. "If you want to bail on us, that's fine."
Simon Smoke remained silent before looking at Michelle. "Nah... I'm gonna stay with you; you're a lot cooler than the geezer," he said. Michelle smiled a bit. "Well, alright then," she said before looking forward. "Let's go." The toys nodded as they walked forward.