[The thing shrieked again, straining to turn itself and grab at the two. Pots shattered in the wake of its legs. Virgil continued to run, panicked, as the two closed in.]

[Virgil hit the floor unceremoniously, not bothering to hold back a strangled shout of pain. The cobbled-together leg had finally given out, a gasket had blown and the scientist was left writhing on the grating.]

Ralph! Ralph- Ralph! Ralph, help!

[Come on, pal, you'll take him back right? It's not like he tried to kill you.]