A/N: Thanks everyone, for your reveiws on my last story, Locked. As you guys wanted, here's the start of the sequel. ^^ I'd also like to give a special thanks to Go-Go Spiders for the fabulous idea she gave me. I decided to sort of build the story around it. Also as requested, I'm going to try and make the chapters a little longer. Tell me what you think.

Running

Chapter 1: Missing You

I'd hoped it would get easier over time, but it seems I have no such luck. It's been two months since Susan's departure, and with each day, our hopes of seeing her again has slowly dwindled away. And as our hope faded, the pain grew. There hasn't been so much as a phone call. Not that I'm surprised. Even if there was one, I doubt Monger would let it go threw. He knew what could happen if there's even a little slip-up. Global panic. It's quite a delicate balance.

I've tried to maintain my usual routine, as does Link, both of us too proud to let on how much of an effect she had on our days here. BOB, well, let's face it, he'll never have the intelligence or social capibility to pretend that nothing happened. Still, when BOB or Insectosaurus mention how much they miss her, it makes me feel a little better myself, knowing I'm not alone. I'm sure it's the same for Link, even if he'd never admit it, even to himself.

It just seems like the days around here have gotten longer, dragging out and heading no where. I find myself missing the little things. Susan hovering over me, watching me work on my latest experiment to keep herself entertained. I miss her asking questions, being able to explain to someone. The others had long ago gotten bored of my inventions. Not that I blame them, what with seeing them year after year. Susan was always curious, though, always fascinated. Sighing heavily, I pull a pair of goggles over my eyes, carefully molding together to pieces of metal with the welder I made out of a lighter and a condensed air duster. Needless to say, this one is kept far away from BOB.

"Ugh!" I'm momentarily distracted as Link flips over the table, effectively knocking the dominoes onto the ground. "I've had it with this!"

Setting my thinks aside, I raise a calm eyebrow. "There's no need to over-react, Link. If you're bored, play another game." I'm a little sick of it too.

"Not that!" Link snapped, crossing his arms and leaning back in his chair. "This! I mean, c'mon! We're the saviors of the planet! And this is what we get?"

This again? I sigh in exasperation, removing my goggles. "Unless you have any new points to make, Link, I don't believe any of us are interested in hearing this little rant of yours once again."

"I do!" He responded, sending me a dirty look. "We don't even get to have contact with Ginormica? C'mon, it's not like she's just going to forget we're here!"

My antennae droop a little at the reminder, turning my eyes back down to my work. "General Monger has his reasons, I'm sure."

"Has his reasons?" Link laughed bitterly, standing up from his seat. "Yeah. Has his reasons. The whole world has its reasons."

I can hear Link storming off to his cell to go work off the frustration. Taking my welder, I start off to my own cell, not wanting the others to see how even that little conversation bothered me. He was right, though. Susan wasn't going to forget. I'm sure of it. Even with her life back in Modesto... or... Hawaii, or wherever she was going, I knew she wouldn't forget about us, I doubt the world would even let her. She's probably still getting interviews.

Sitting at the edge of my bed, I toss aside my things. It was a little ridiculous... we did a lot for the world. We should at least have some privileges. And just like that, Link's words got me thinking. How much harm could a little visit do? We weren't going to hurt anyone, just pop in, say hello to a friend.

I brush my fingers over my cheek, still remembering Susan's goodbye.

Suddenly I find myself digging into my toybox, pulling things out one after the other. The cogs of my mind are turning with ideas and scenarios. What would we have to face after getting out of the prison? What defenses would General Monger have ready?

I prepare for all of it.

-

"Link!" I'm knocking on the glass of his tank to get his attention.

He blinked, glancing over his shoulder and tossing the weight aside. There's a clear grimace on his face as he swims to the top of the tank, climbing out and dropping down next to me. I don't even have it in me to send him a dirty look for splashing me right now. "Don't tap on the glass," he complained, "I hate that."

"It won't be easy, but we can do it!"

He's looking at me as if I'm crazy, which... I am, a little bit, hence the 'mad scientist' title. "What?"

"We can get out of here," I drop my voice, just making sure that no one will hear, my antennae twitching in my excitement.

He stared at me a moment, seeming stunned before lowering his voice, "Doc, what are you talking about?"

"If we use the quantonium-"

"Wait," he cuts me off, "I thought Monger confiscated the quantonium?"

"He did," I confirmed, straightening myself. "But I saved myself a sample. Just in case. But if we use the quantonium, if I can get some of its properties into one of my experiments, we could get out of here!" And we could go visit Susan.

Link is staring at me again. He's silent for a long time before a slow smile spreads across his face. "Let's do it, Doc. Just tell me what I need to do."

"We'll no in time," I promised. "Right now, we just need to make sure the General doesn't figure out what we're doing." I paused for a moment before, "That means we don't tell BOB until the absolute last second."

"Got it."

Taking a deep breath, I smile. "Like I said, this won't be easy. And if they catch us escaping, they'll probably know where to look for us. But if we can pull this off..."

"We can," Link nodded. "We all want to get out of here."

"Right." I'm hoping that's enough. If we're caught, well... Monger won't go easy on us.

-

I wait until all the lights are out before I get to work. They cover my 'window' with metal at night to make sure I don't try and cut through it. Their mistake, of course. It only allows me to work secretly. At the very bottom of my toybox is a thermos. Strangely enough, it has enough strength to hold a small amount of quantonium. I can feel heat radiating off of it, created by the energy inside.

Harnessing the power from it will be easy. It's being sneaky that'll be hard, but I'm sure I can do it.