A while later, they reached Veloci's HQ. They turned back into themselves, and crept closer. With a few random gestures from Artemis, they bolted into the building; expecting to find guards. It was empty. They cautiously walked and looked around, unable to find any. Artemis turned around.

"Sam, I think that--" She was cut off by him holding his hand over her mouth, she grunted in confusion and he put his finger to his lips: a universal sign for be quiet. She stopped and listened closely. She heard the marching of guards and decided that it was good that Sam was by her side. With a nod and the release of her face, they were on their way to the cells were they hand spent most of their time when they were younger. When they had done something bad or messed up, the group was locked up. She felt Sam stiffen behind her, and reached out for his hand. Grabbing it, she squeezed, signaling that everything was alright. With an approving nod from Sam, they bursted into the room, only to find Lizzy huddled in a little ball. Sam let go of Artemis' hand and rushed over to her. Lizzy looked up and smiled, tears in her eyes. Artemis smiled at Lizzy, and then her expression fell.

"Lizzy, where is Kris?" Artemis asked, her stomach dropping. Lizzy sobbed as Sam unlocked and lifted her out of the cell. She was set against the wall to help support her sobbing self. Lizzy looked at Artemis and began to cry again, putting her hands up to her face. Artemis grabbed her wrists and gently pulled them off of Lizzy's face, looking at her with sincerity and urgency. "Lizzy." She said, gaining the little girl's attention. "Where. Is. Kris?"

"He... H-he took h-him...!" She sobbed. Artemis' felt her stomach drop. Oh god. Lizzy began to explain everything immediately.

~&~

Kris had wrapped himself protectively around Lizzy, shielding her from the sharp pain of electricity the men prodded him with. She felt his muscles clench and tense. The small Troodon had already started to cry and sob. As the van neared Veloci's HQ and farther from Artemis and Sam, they both grew uneasy. When they arrived, they had been forced out of their dinosaur forms by long spikes pressed to their flesh. Lizzy felt arms wrap around her, tugging her away from Kris.

"K-Kris!" She cried out, reaching for him. His face grew fearful as he tried to go after her but was tugged back by the men. Lizzy watched in horror as the men repeatedly shocked him with the long poles. She felt rage in her stomach grow. She kicked and screamed and tried to fight her way out of their grasp, all to no avail. She was locked up in the cage that Sam and Artemis had found her in. But, before the men left, she heard that they were going to do something to Kris.

~&~

Lizzy finished her story in time to see Artemis punch the wall, denting it. Cursing under her breath, she bolted for the door and ran through it. "Sam, stay with Lizzy and get out of here!" She shouted as she left. Sam and Lizzy already knew what her impulsive plan was. They also knew that it would be a good idea to leave, and quickly. If Artemis was truly angry, no one would survive her wrath.

Artemis ran down the maze-like corridors, seemingly infinite hallways that twisted and turned. Each corner she came to she turned so abruptly that she almost ran into the opposing wall. Her thoughts went rapidly in circles, mostly revealing that she was extremely worried and scared for the unknown... And Kris' well being (although she'd never admit it). She forced herself not to cry, not yet. Finally, she came upon the door to the genetics lab.

Artemis took a deep breath and opened the door. The room was dark, with the only lights, being a weird red, illuminating the testing cylinders. She walked through the room and into a doorway that red 'Staff Only' to keep visitors out. The room she arrived in was spacious, with four cylinders lining the far wall and the other walls being encased by computers and equipment. In the farthest one, was a familiar figure. She let out a small gasp, and ran to his prison. Pressing her nose and fingers up to the glass, she saw that Kris was alright. Bruised and burnt, but alright. She typed a code she had seen the scientists put many times into it, remembering it only by stark memory. The ooze emptied slowly, letting his body slump naturally and no longer be held in suspension. When it opened, his body slumped forward. Artemis was already there, ready to catch him. His body fell into her arms and she collapsed to the ground, his chin on her shoulder. She was stroking his hair, biting her lip and trying not to sob. She had been so, so, very scared. He finally stirred at the touch of her fingers. Confused, he tried to open his eyes, only to feel a soft feathery like material on the side of his face. When his eyes were successfully opened, he looked and saw familiar golden blonde hair. He smiled a bit and hugged her back. She froze, unsure of what was happening. Artemis then gave in, gripping him and sobbing into his shoulder. It was then that Kris realized how fragile and frail this strong girl was.

"Please," she whispered into his shoulder, "don't do something as reckless as this again." He smiled and scoffed.

"You know me," he said, her grip tightening in anticipation. "No promises." She sniffed and chuckled, hitting him playfully on the chest.

"Not funny," she giggled, hiding her face. "Let's go," she turned to leave, but Kris grabbed her wrist, wanting to see her face. He put his hands on her shoulders, forcing her to look up at him. He smirked.

"You are the ugliest crier ever," he teased. Artemis laughed and then hit him again.

"Don't be so mean," she pouted. "You go make sure it's clear, I'll destroy the lab." Artemis said, motioning to him to come back once he was done. He nodded and strolled out, looking each way to make sure that it was clear. He waited for the sounds of destroyed equipment to draw guards, but the sounds never came. With a lump forming in his throat, he opened the door to the room again. He was met with smirk of the most hated man.

Victor Veloci had a raptor claw around Artemis' neck, making her unable to move or speak. She was struggling against his dino-strength, her eyes were a bloody red, making her look pissed. Kris felt rage rush through his veins like lightning. A low growl erupt from his throat as he took a step forward them.

"Nuh-uh-uh," Veloci mocked, revealing his other hand. It has holding an empty vial. Kris felt his rage turn to stone cold fear as he looked at Artemis, whose eyelids were droopy. She fought to stay awake for as long as possible; sadly not lasting more than a few minutes. She fell unconscious. "If you want her to stay alive," he sneered, "then watch quietly."

Kris was unable to do anything while the men in black suits came, strapping him to a chair. He was helpless as he watched Veloci put Artemis in the glowing cylinder, and booted it up. It filled with liquid, making her float in it. When it reached the top, the liquid hardened into ooze, suspending her in it. Kris remembered the first time he had seen the oozing process happen to her, to all of them. He was put on the side because he was already infested with the ooze, unneeding of more.

~&~

"Don't worry," Artemis said, trying to comfort him. She smiled, pulling him along to the lab. "It will be over soon."

"How soon?" He groaned, not wanting to be separated. She smiled and laughed.

"Not long," she promised. When they arrived, Kris and Artemis were separated. She stepped into the large cylinder and shut her eyes. Kris noticed that she seemed a bit antsy and nervous. He brushed it off, not wanting to feel nervous himself.

Young Kris sat on the side, swinging his legs in boredom. He was allowed the ability to watch Artemis, Sam, and the small girl, named Lizzy, go into the glowing red cylinders to get worked on. He watched the liquid fill up and then harden into ooze. He watched Artemis' body be suspended in air, her eyes closed. With a few more taps on the keyboard by a scientist, the ooze changed color from a yellow to an orange-red color. The color changed started at the bottom and continued up the tube. When the color change finally hit Artemis, her face contorted in pain. Kris stood up quickly, realizing that something wasn't right.

He looked to the others, who weren't reacting at all to the ooze. His gaze went back to the girl's cylinder. Inside, her body contorted and thrashed out randomly. Her eyes opened, her face frozen in a silent scream. It unnerved the young boy. He ran up to her tube, smashing his hands against it.

"Artemis! Listen to me!" He called out, being dragged away from her thrashing form. "Bare through it! Please! I'll fix it for you!" He was locked away in their common room, where they usually were put. He screamed and hit the door with all of his might, not being able to reach the guards' sympathy. He eventually wore tired, going to sleep. Kris awoke a few hours later to the sound of sobbing. Looking up, he saw Lizzy crying and Sam trying to comfort her. "How is she?" Kris asked, worry lining his voice. Lizzy looked up at him, and then sobbed harder.

Sam looked at Kris' hopeful eyes. Sam's silence and worried expression told Kris everything he needed to know. Artemis wasn't okay. They had kept her because something went wrong. Fear gripped his tiny frame, making him collapse to the ground in helplessness.

~&~

Kris watched the ooze fill up with the same color as before, knowing what was coming. The ooze reacted with her O negative blood, dousing her in pain. Fear gripped his heart: he was going to watch it happen again. And, again, he was going to be useless. Veloci sneered in delight at the sight of Kris' crisis. Oh, this was going to be fun.