Kel and Marchus continued on into the damp dark jungle. It was eerily quiet as there was no wind rushing through the tall dark trees. The smell of the damp dirt overpowered any other smells unless they got really close. There was very little sign that this place was inside a bunker except for the strange lights that hung high above them. Kel and Marchus had just entered another area and were very carefully moving through it. Marchus held the device in his hand but no longer needed to use it for light. A new type of vine had crawled up the walls. This one had white flowers with bright neon green centers that grew from the vine every couple of inches. Making it one of the most prettiest plants Kel had seen. But after the last flower Kel had seen he decided to stay far away from them unless absolutely necessary.

Kel stepped around a patch of dirt that was just slightly darker than the surrounding area. After getting stuck in the quicksand he was doubly careful where he stepped. His coat was still caked with dirt and it was starting to itch. They had not come across any body of water which he would be surprised to find down here. But there had to be water somewhere to water all these plants.

Marchus stopped moving and motioned Kel to come forward. Kel had noticed that Marchus didn't say much but the fact that he had motioned and not said anything made Kel come forward quietly.

What Kel saw would stay with him for a long time. In front of them was a giant beetle. It had the typical six legs. It was shaped in a tear shape with the body ending in a point. Biolesencent wings glowed green in the dim light. A small head with oversized eyes peeked out from the pronotum. And two long and feathered antennae waved gently from the head.

Marchus pointed at the bug. "There, do you see it? " he whispered.

It took Kel a little searching but he finally spotted what Marchus was pointing at. Under the beetle was the telltale sign of one of the chips they were looking for. Every time the beetle moved the light would hit it and the thin metal piece on the side would flash making it rather easy to see in the gloom.

"That could be a problem. " Kel whispered. "Any suggestions on how to get the giant bug away from the chip?"

Marchus bent down and got a rock the size of his fist. He held it up so that Kel could see. "With this. "

Kel nodded. That could work. He bent down to grab his own rock when he felt Marchus touch him on the shoulder.

"No. We just need one. If we toss this on the other side of it, it might move off to investigate. " Marchus said.

"Hmm, it should work. " Kel agreed.

Marchus threw the rock as hard as he could. The rock sailed into the air and hit the bug directly on the carapace.

The response was immediate. The bug turned its many faceted eyes to the two Tsabhua and lifted into the air on its wings. It flew directly at the two causing Kel and Marchus to dive out of the way. The drone of the wings filled the air with a buzzing sound. Its mandibles clacked together as it barely missed Kel.

"Quick get the chip!" Shouted Marchus.

Kel quickly glanced at Marchus. He had another stone in his hand and was cocking it back.

The rock once again hit the bug and the beetle flew at Marchus who dodged the flying creature.

Kel dived forward and snatched the chip as it lay against the moss covered stones.

Then he ran. He ran toward where he could hear the angry sound of the beetle's wings as it tried to get to Marchus.

Kel's foot caught on something and he tripped and landed in a heap. Kel reached back and felt around for what had tripped him. It was a long thick tree branch. Kel got up and first making sure that he still was in possession of the chip he ran forward. Kel swung the branch with all his strength and had the satisfaction to see the beetle go tumbling through the air and hit the moss and vine covered wall. A sound of something crutching told Kel that the beetle would not be coming back. Then he held out his hand to Marchus. Marchus grasped it and Kel pulled him up off the ground Marchus had fallen to in the attack.

"Thank you. So did you get it?"

Kel held up the chip. " Got it. You alright?" Kel asked. He looked over the other Tsabhua but did not see any wounds. Just some dirt and a smear of mud.

"Just my pride. " Marchus said.

Kel handed over the chip to Marchus and Marchus placed the chip into the device.