Tom was still chatting with his reptilian friends, unaware of his sisters disappearance. Suddenly all of the Chameleons started changing colours rapidly, and Tom's jaw dropped, and he moved to his left. Savio smacked into the glass and hissed angrily. Tom panicked and ran for the small light at the end of the corridor, hoping it was the door. Sinistra stopped him at the last minute and the little penguin tripped over her tail. As he stumbled to his feet, Savio tried to grab him again, just missing him. Tom jumped over Sinistra's tail, and burst out of the door, sliding faster than he thought was possible. He ran back to the HQ, and locked himself in the lab, panting as he did. As the fog of panic lifted from his mind, thoughts began to return to him.

"What do I do?" He asked himself desperately, his head against the silver door. His friends and family had been eaten, and the Chameleons were in the reptile house where the snakes were. He was all alone, young and helpless in a dark world. The young penguin sat on the floor and stared around the lab for inspiration. He still had the shrink ray in his flippers, but he couldn't gather up the courage to go back to the reptile house.

You have to go, or everyone you care about in the zoo could be gone forever. He told himself sternly. But I just can't do it. If they eat me too, then no one can help and we'll all be doomed. He argued. He looked over at the spare shrink ray and a little idea came to mind. He unlocked the lab door and opened it a little, then waddled over to it and shrank the first shrink ray with it. He then pointed the spare shrink ray at himself and shrunk down to about a twelfth of Mort's normal size. He picked up the tiny shrink ray, feeling pretty pleased with himself. So now the snakes shouldn't be able to see me so good, and I can sneak up on them. He thought triumphantly. He slipped out of the lab, and stared up at the ladder leading towards the fishbowl.

"This is gonna take a while." He remarked in a high pitched voice.

Meanwhile Emma opened her eyes uncertainly and glanced around her. She was in what looked like a compact, dark tunnel. She could just about make out 4 other shapes in this tunnel. 3 Penguin shapes, and one lemur shape. As her eyes became more accustomed to the dark, she made out a flat head opposite her.

"Skipper? Is that you?" She whispered.

"Yes sis." He replied gravely.

"Who... who else is down here?" Emma asked, realising where she actually was.

"Well in here, there is Me, the Private, Mort and Ashley." He answered. "I think the others are in Savio. Do you know where Tom is?"

"Last time I saw him, he was asking the Chameleons how the snakes were getting out." Emma told him.

"Hopefully he hasn't been eaten yet, maybe he can save us." Ashley pointed out, a trace of worry in his voice.

"Hopefully." Private remarked, trembling a little.

"I'm just glad you guys haven't been digested yet." Emma said, hugging Mort, who was making a little frightened noise.

"It shouldn't be too long now though." Skipper told her sadly.

"We still have about 4 or 5 hours don't we?" Emma asked feeling puzzled.

"The snakes said that they were going to wait till about 8pm then they would digest us." Private piped up. Emma's eyes widened with horror and she instinctively looked around for a time. Luckily Ashley was wearing a watch, and he showed it to her. The time read 7:30pm. Emma gulped and she tried to climb up the slimy snake's body.

"No use sis, we've already tried." Skipper informed her, watching her pityingly. Emma stopped and she sat down burying her face in her flippers.

"Hey we still have some hope, Tom might save us." Ashley pointed out, patting Emma on the back.

"If he hasn't been eaten by Savio." Emma replied not looking up. Ashley was lost for words, so he just hugged Emma comfortingly.

Tom had just got out of the HQ and he started to slide along the floor, towards the reptile house, still holding the tiny shrink ray in his flippers.

I hope I get there in time. He thought, worriedly.