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Gaius watched the snake's movement nervously - that is, until he disabled the camera. An eyebrow shot up with a note of understanding. He recalled his last encounter with Seth, and the sense of bonded secrecy that seemed similar to this gathering. And if Lucas was against the labs as well...

"Yeah, that raises a whole load of questions," he agreed, looking back at Lucas. "Maybe that's why he's such a lab-pet? But... still, how'd he attack a doctor? I thought that's what the chips were supposed to stop!" He ran a hand back through his mane, brushing the matted hair between the gap in his fingers. "Wonder which one it was? I can't imagine him attacking that precious," he grumbled the word, "Duvert."

"So Zach's playin' Duvert's lapdog because he knows he's on Moreau's bad list... An' Moreau'll off him if he slips up." Thom couldn't decide whether this news pleased him or not. It did, to some extent. If they could, say, set Zach up, frame him for another 'accident, that might be the end of the dragon. Or, they could always... "I wonder if Zachary could be persuaded t' go against Moreau?" he questioned aloud, more to himself than to either of the others. "Scarin' 'im made 'im switch sides once, per'aps it could again."

"'Ow's that one-eye thing been goin', by th' way?" he asked, carelessly switching subjects and turning his attention to Lucas. "Emelyn told me it was yours, I told 'er Zach 'ad it. You wouldn't 'appen to've seen Emelyn lately, at that?" His casual attitude faltered somewhat, a hint of apprehension showing through. He really was worried about the hedgehog woman. No one seemed to have seen her since she'd sliced out his chip.

"No kidding about being spineless. He was whimpering into his drink. I don't think he'd go against Moreau. He was frightened enough just thinking about the possibility of facing Moreau again. Death frightened him even more." A furry eyebrow lifted "...what do you mean 'again'? Zach actually switched sides once?"

He looked to Gaius. "Think about it. Duvert would no doubt favor Zach over anyone else, especially if that other was a person who disliked the labs. I doubt Moreau hears about everything that goes on down in the Village. I bet so long as Zach doesn't make it completely obvious, Duvert can bend the situation to put Zach in a good light. Pro-labs or whatever, and Zach being innocent. I wouldn't put it past Duvert to do that if Zach really is in a precarious position with Moreau. Honestly, I'm sure that short of horribly maiming or killing one of us, Zach could get away with quite a bit. They only want us alive and healthy enough for experimentation."

Lucas frowned at the first question from Thom. "It's going poorly. And having Zach holding on to my eye, showing it off to people and now hearing he might get his back is just..." He trailed off and gritted his teeth, unable to even articulate how he felt about everything now. But it was clear by his expression it was infuriating for him.

When Emelyn was mentioned his angry look faded and he looked up at Thom. "Emelyn is in the labs. She told me she was going out for a walk, but never came back. When I called the labs about her they said she was with them, unharmed, but wouldn't tell me more than that. I've been watching Reuben since she's been gone." He gestured to the dog that was playing alongside the other dog's.

Gaius's ears folded back as he pulled a displeased face. The idea of having Zach on their side was a less than pleasant thought for the pegasus. "He'd as soon turn us over, knowing him. He's a weasel. One look from Sabin and he'd spill everything about us. Besides, I'm not siding with him, anti-labs or no." With that, he folded his arms and took a squatting position near the tree. Vixen, listening to all the goings-on, moved over to sit beside him, leaving the other dogs.

"Besides, it wouldn't be right to just use him and lose him... even if it's against the labs," Gaius said, his morals nettling him. A look of intrigue lit his eyes. "There's other ways we can reach them... Get at them behind the fence. It would just take time, but I know there's talk, plans being made..."

He snorted at Thom's promise, grimacing. "Good luck getting it... I tried. Didn't end up so well. But..." His words faded away as the other discussed Emelyn. Gaius's expression grew worried. "Emelyn? The nice, spikey girl, right? Why was she taken in?"

"We could make it work." Thom shrugged. "Don't tell him th' full plan, don't give him a say in th' matter. Give him a task an' make sure he accomplishes it. If we threaten 'im an' make sure he doesn't 'ave the opportunity t' say no, 'e won't." He laughed. "Zachary's a spineless coward. If he thinks workin' with us will save his life, 'e'll do it."

"You wouldn't be able to keep it in the duplex," Thom continued, peering at Lucas as if it were common sense. "If you don't want them takin' it back, you hide it. It's better than knowin' Zach's walkin' around with it, isn't it? For example, I took a laptop from Jordan a while back. Can't do a damn thing with it, it's got some sort of lock on it, but at least I know he doesn't have it. We'll find a way to get the eye back, an' you can hide it somewhere safe. For your own comfort."

He laughed once more, though the sound soon faded with the dhole's question. He spared a glance towards the ruined camera, as if expecting it to sprout legs and reconnect itself, then lifted a hand to tap the back of his neck, which he'd only recently cleared of its bandage. "I assumed she was there. Emelyn cut my chip out. Th' guards showed up, carted her off. I escaped. I 'aven't seen 'er since. Been tryin' t' get in touch with her."

"Have you thought of what would happen to you once Zach spills to the labs what happened? You'd be in just as much, if not more, than him. You ready for that? Hell, you can't be threatening Zach forever. The minute he's out of your sight, he'd go crying to Duvert, begging for his protection."

Where on earth would he hide it? Lucas wasn't very happy with the idea of burying his eye somewhere, but he had to admit it was better than letting it stay in Zach's possession.

The revelation that Thom was chipless made Lucas' ears sit upright. "You're serious? You got your chip out?" Surprise then gave way to concern again. "God...I hope Emelyn is okay." At least her disappearance had not been in anyway Lucas' fault, but hearing she'd done this made Lucas more worried for her. Cutting out a chip... what kind of punishment could she get for that? "What if they do something bad to her?" He looked at Thom.

A muscle in Gaius's cheek twitched as Thom gave him an easily-read look, and he lowered his head. It was true... how could he, a big black-and-tan thing with wings and hooves ever hide out in the wilds? Sure, he could survive, but he couldn't avoid the labs. Not with their cameras.

"So, that's how it is, then..." he said and sighed. Appearing to accept that fact, he looked back up, expression firm. "Emelyn... will be okay, I hope. You're right, she seems to have stayed in the clear. Like Nita. Still, the labs can be harsh even on a first strike. We don't know if they want to dissuade others from helping dechip friends."

"But, we have an opportunity here," he continued, looking at Thom. "Now, I don't have any ideas myself, but the three of us seem to be on the same side as far as going against the labs, right?" He glanced between the snake and dhole quickly. "And... none of us really likes Zach. I don't like using him, but if we could even just keep him away with fear..." he shrugged. "Was there anything else he told you, Lucas?"