“Do you think it’s safe?” a voice whispered.

“Shhhhhhh,” said another.

“They won’t find us,” the first protested. “They’re not even anywhere near here.”

“That’s what you think! Just wait. And shush. They’ll find us for sure with you carrying on like that.”

“Me! What about you!”

“SHHHHHHH! Now THIS IS SERIOUS!”

“Hahahaha!!! Found you!!” shrieked a third voice triumphantly. A fourth laughed.

“NOOOOOOOOOOOO!” screamed Slippy. “No fair! I’ll sue!”

“Give it up! You’re done for and you know it!”

“NOOOOO!!!!” Slippy pushed past Fox and ran down the strobe-lit hallway.

“You’re TOO LATE!” screeched Fox after him. “BWAHAHAHAHA!!!”

Then Fox shot him.

Slippy stared wide-eyed at Fox, betrayal and disbelief all over his face. Then he glared. “You know, you could have shot Falco instead.”

“Where’s Falco?” Fox looked around dumbly.

“He’s right where I--I mean, I dunno where Falco is,” the toad grinned. “But my power’s back on! Yaaah!” Slippy shot Fox right in the chest and then disappeared around the corner.

Peppy stuck out his tongue. “Heehee, your vest is all shaking around.”

“Don’t laugh,” Fox grumped. “Where is Falco?”

“BOO!” Falco popped up from behind the barricade and shot Peppy, then shot Fox, whose power had just returned. Then he, too, disappeared.

“I hate laser tag,” Fox whined.

“You didn’t hate it two seconds ago when you thought you were gonna win,” Peppy said smugly.

“Oh yeah, well.....GAAA!” Fox shot Peppy and ran off.

Then the lights came on, and a voice announced the end of the game. The brief respite from months of hellish fighting was over.

* * *

“’Signment?” wondered Slippy.

“Notchet,” Fox stuck a pin in his mouth.

“Whatcha doin’?” Falco inquired.

“Making shumfing,” Fox tried to answer.

“Whatcha makin’?” Falco asked.

“Beadsh,” Fox talked around the pins.

“For YOU?” Slippy gaped.

“S’for FaraGAAAAAHH!!!!” Fox nearly swallowed a pin.

“Eeek!” shrieked Falco and Slippy.