Saerien cursed under his breath, and sliced the collar off with Crystal. Suddenly, he could use magic again. He pointed at the locks, and they unlatched. He pointed at the collars, and they shorted out and fell off.

Suddenly, the room glowed blue and everyone was shocked badly. The collars went back and repeared themselves, and Black became agitated.

A door opened, and a smart looking woman in a lab coat, along with a lot of men with guns, walked in. The woman smirked. *now, now. Calm. Is that how you would treat your host?*

Cole looked at the woman with sadness and love, but mostly fury.

Saerien resisted the urge to throw Crystal at the lady, but decided to wait and see what she wanted.

She smiled sweetly. *there we go. Now, heres how this will work. You will fight in the arena. Survive, to and your freinds get to eat and drink. Lose, you die and your freinds starve for the day. Clear?*

Coles spines were glowing now, and he looked pissed. The guards raised their guns in warning.

"I have eggs!" Saria shouted at the lady, ready to call Emerald and Forest if need be.

She frowned. *you will get a nest you cant share, and food everyday, along with spring water. Neither will be filling, but enough for you to survive. And until everyone here dies, you shall not fight.*

Cole finnaly snapped. *MOTHER! Why you do this? If it me you want, I give myself! Let them go!*

The woman laughed. *we dont want just you, Experiment 3. We want all your freinds. All of their abilities. And magic. And until you give them up, you will stay here.*

Having heard enough, Saerien flung Crystal at the lady, aiming for her heart.

She grabbed Crystal our of the air and stabbed it into the rock. *now, enough.*

Sunset shot from Cole's belt, and slashed the lady across the arm. The edges of the wound turned black, and the black spread. the edges turned grey, and crumbled. Sunset darted back to Cole, and whispered in his ear, "The wound is burning slowly. Eventually, she'll loose the arm."

HE shook his head. *no. Happen before. She make antidote. Inject in bloodstream. She immune to most magic.*

The arm shook, then healed, looking like normal. The woman frowned. *ok, thats enough. Attack me again, and my guards will open fire. And they wont use knockout darts.*