((So...  I don't know where to begin with the apologies, I pretty much abandoned this place for the better part of a month, but I'm back at least long enough to make some worthwhile posts.))<br/><br/>The surroundings are an enormous change from the cramped confines of the elevator.  There are mossy trees to every side and a damp, leaf covered ground beneath Tasu's scales, Delilah scrambles to help the newborn out of the womb.  A female with some minor anthropomorphic cat features.  Her torso practically ejects from the womb with wet pieces of leathery shell still sticking to her.  Her scales are a bright iridescent blue with subtle green markings.  After her torso is out, however, she stalls a bit, laying down on the damp ground and catching her breath in loud, fluid filled gasps.  From the other end of the now exposed platform, Feign manages to get a handhold on the corners of Tasu's tailmouth, pulling himself to the freedom of fresh forest air.<br/><br/>"Is he breathing?" It seems like the first breath Feign had taken the whole trip, and he used it on that.  He scrambles over to where Delilah is checking on Tasu's unconscious body.  In the process, he ends up just about covered up to the waist in dead leaves and dirt.<br/><br/>"I...  Well, I think he's okay, just passed out." She finishes checking his pulse, her nerves calming down vastly as her logical mind kicks in, "I think our bigger concern is our little newborn.  I think I recognize her as one of the imprinted clones...  Err, like the tigress you saw in the reclamation... oh nevermind...  Point is, she's programmed, and she's probably still loyal to the Project."  She looks to the newborn, who's slowly starting to gain consciousness as she coughs up some fluid.<br/><br/>---<br/><br/>As Serene digs Lex out of the wall, what she said is definitely apparent.  The slime<span style="font-style: italic">has</span>gotten a lot bigger, and the scientist looks very obviously pregnant.  From the pose she was stuck in while in the wall, by the time the digging got to that point, she could get herself out if necessary.  "Well, Hell." She looks down at her gravid body in something like numb disbelief.  "Okay, we need to get to a junction.  From there I can open a door, You get back to your quarters and I get put in containment before this thing gets out of me."<br/><br/>She knocks on the wall again, three times just like before, "Alexis Dean. Authorization 558A42 Requesting configuration panel."  This time a flat section of the wall lights up, showing a map of the maze.  There is a blue circle and several red circles on it.  "Okay, that's where we are... and those are exit junctions."  She points out the blue and red dots respectively.  "About time something worked.  It's just around the corner there."<br/><br/>---<br/><br/>Slowly, the tigress opens her eyes, looking at lance drowsily, but not moving, "Are you a doct-  Oh, I saw you.  I'm TAM#204-18, but they call me Kitten." She grins cheerfully for someone who's in as bad a shape as she is, "Since you're out, I guess you passed the maze puzzle.  Did you have fun?  I remember the maze, but it was a long time ago."<br/><br/>She carefully attempts moving but winces a bit, "Ah!  I think some ribs-Ah! Yeah, they're broken."  She carelessly moves an arm to cover her ribs, but her forearm limply hangs unnaturally, she looks at the broken bone with shock on her face, apparently something cut the nerves there, preventing her from feeling the injury.  She looks like she's about to scream for a moment, but suddenly calms down.  Her eyes go blank as her programming kicks in and she speaks in a calm monotone.  "I am in need of medical assistance, please contact the nearest doctor."<br/><br/>---<br/><br/>Kine freezes, seeing Wil turn to face him unexpectedly quickly.  He suddenly goes into a defensive stance as well, ready for a showdown.  The fact that Mac was even able to hit the creature is impressive, but Kine can't exactly see him, due to the big warrior standing between them, "Mac, buddy, you okay?"  His eyes never leave Wil's, "If you are, I think calling in some back up is a good idea..."  He steps slightly to the side to make sure he's ready for any kind of charge, "I would myself, but I'm a taaad occupied right now."<br/><br/>Thistle looks up at Wil, the look on her face would speak for itself if seen, but she can tell the warrior isn't taking eyes off his opponent, "I'm completely spent right now, but if you can keep them busy for a minute, two at most, I'll be back to fighting strength."  The calm in her voice, as well as the implication that she can recover magic that quickly...  She sounds herself like she has been in more desperate situations than this.  More than that, she sounds less like the stereotypical carefree fairy, more like a hardened soldier.