Sabrina: eMenagerie? That guy must have dropped this.

Astral: [pops up in a small panel] Heh.. doubt me will she?!

Sabrina:[pushes the panel back off screen] What the heck was that?! Anyway, hmmm.

Sabrina goes to her computer and does a search on eMenagerie. Only one result pops up. She double clicks on it and up pops the on-line comic.

Sabrina:[reads from the site] Welcome to what some would call serious issues?[makes a face] Great.. another guy with an on-line comic.

Sabrina continues to look over the site she reads about Miguel, his promise to his mentor and teacher, and the comics themselves. After a bit she takes a breather. She removes her glasses and rubs her eyes. She then lays her head on her hands and sighs.

Sabrina: Well then Miguel, I can see why you don't get out much, you seem to put a lot into this site. Hmmm I wonder… why you ran off. Did you feel bad? Oh well.[shuts off her computer as the scene goes black]

The following day Sabrina stands in front of the eMenagerie building. She looks at an address on the piece of paper. She remembers the ordeal she went through getting here. She flashes back to her search. Sabrina is walking down a lane in the park holding the piece of paper. She takes out her tarot card and looks at it.

Sabrina: [glares at it] And what were you suppose to do for me again? Stupid thing.

Suddenly the wind picks up and the card takes flight. Sabrina chases after it , flies and leaders her through the park and then it lands on the floor with the Sun picture face up. Sabrina picks up the card and dusts it off. She looks up and sees a street sign. She then reaches into her pocket and pulls out the paper and sees she is on the right street. She follows it and arrives at the building. She stands in front of it watching the building.

Sabrina: Well this is it. So.. I wonder why it looks so quiet. And lonely. Doesn't look like it even belongs here.[looks over and sees the patch of clover where she first encountered Miguel and smiles.. then her faces changes] What the heck am I doing here?!

Xiaoyu:[pops up next to her] I wondered the same thing.

Sabrina leaps back and looks over a bunny girl. She stands there eyeing back, dressed in Chinese garb.

Sabrina: Um.. hello?

Xiaoyu: Backatcha. Now what are you doing here? Or did you sneak out like me? But I must say I don't remember you.

Sabrina: Wait.. you're.. um.. that bunny girl.. um.. you're suppose to be an empress right? What am I saying.. you're not real.. you must.. you must be an actor.. right?

Xiaoyu: If you say so. Excuse me will you?[opens the door and walks in]

Sabrina: Um well.. here goes.

Sabrina knocks on the door and.. nothing happens. She knocks again and Groovy pops out of a small door above her.

Groovy: Go away.. the wizard doesn't see anyone!!

Sabrina: Huh?

Groovy:[whaps herself on the head] Oopsie, my goof. Um may I help you?

Sabrina: Um I'm here to see..

Groovy:[looks at her] GREAT MOTHER OF PEARL!! You're.. HER!!![pops back into the door]

Sabrina: Um hey!!! I wonder if she's going to open the door?

Groovy:[pops up next to her suddenly] Well yes but in a bit.

Sabrina; GAAAAH!![hops back] Where.. where did you come from?

Groovy: Didn't your parents teach you about the birds and bees?

Sabrina: No.. I don't mean.. hooo boy.[keeps her cool] Is Miguel in?

Groovy: Always.

Sabrina: May I see him?

Groovy; Sure.

Sabrina: May I see him now?

Groovy: Um.. no.

Sabrina: Why not? You said he was in.

Groovy: That I did but.. I kinda just locked myself out.[makes a goofy face] Sorry.

Sabrina:[slams her head against the wall] If I didn't know better.. I'd say you're the real Feline Groovy.

Groovy: You mean I'm not?

Sabrina: Is anyone else inside?

Groovy: Yeah.. there are lots of us inside. [knocks]

A bit of time passes and Groovy knocks again. Sabrina leans against the door with a rather tired look on her face. Suddenly the door opens and Sabrina falls in. Funky comes out a bit soaked, wrapped in a towel.

Funky: Locked out again I see? Man.. a gal can't even..[looks down] Excuse me.. you know it's quite rude to look up a gal's towel.

Sabrina:[pops back up with her face scarlet] I wasn't looking up your towel!!!

Funky: Right.

Groovy: Funky!! It's her!!! Sabrina!!

Funky: Eh? [looks at her] WOW!! It is you!! Quick come inside!![grabs her by the arm and pulls her in]

Sabrina finds herself on the floor as she opens her eyes. She gets up and dusts herself off. She adjusts her glasses and looks around. All she sees a long ,narrow hallway. She walks one way a bit, her footsteps echoing down the hall. Suddenly from no where Funky walks in adjust her skirt.

Funky: K. Sorry for leaving you like that but I went to go slip into something more.. well you know. Hi, I'm [spot light hits her as loud bass and techno beats blare ] DJ FELINE FUNKY!!![strikes a sexy pose. Then the spotlight fades as does the music] But you can call me Funky.

Sabrina: In more ways than one. Listen.. um is Miguel here?

Funky: He rarely leaves, kinda worried about him. But don't worry chica once he sees you.. thinks will change for the better.[pushes her down the hall]

Sabrina: Um.. where did Groovy go?

Funky: Oh.. she must have seen a bright shiny object and was attracted to it. She does that you know.

Sabrina: Not to bright huh?

Funky: You kidding? She's my chance to win at Jeopardy and retire to Miami.. early.

Sabrina: Then why does she act the way she does?

Funky: Most geniuses, sometimes are a bit awkward doing everyday things.. but Groovy's.. just that way 24/7.

Sabrina: I see. [looks around] Boy this place is kinda freaky.

Funky: Kinda feel like Charlie in Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory huh? [Sabrina nods] Well don't worry you won't find small people walking around here. [then a small catgirl in a royal kimono and her hair tied back in a red ribbon walks by and waves]

Pai: Hiya.[continues on her way]

Funky:[both girls watch her walks out of sight then look at each other] Um.. okay maybe a few. Oh well we're here.

Sabrina: Please tell me nothing crazy will happen.

Just then Miguel comes running out as a tiny little girl with red hair and curls chases him with a comb in one hand and a wicked pair of shears in the other.

Ashura: Hey come back!!

Miguel: NO!!! I lost my ponytail last time we played barber!!

Miguel sees Sabrina and stops in his tracks, Ashura runs right into him. Ashura looks up and sees Sabrina.

Ashura: EEEEEEKKKK! It's her!!![runs off]

Funky:[chases after her] HEY, you can't run with scissors young lady!!

Sabrina and Miguel stand silent for a bit not quite sure what to say. Sabrina fidgets and Miguel shifts his weight from one foot to another.

Miguel: Ms. Sabrina, what.. what are you doing here?

Sabrina: Um. well.. [stops and thinks].. I'm not quite sure myself.

Miguel: Um.. can I get you something?

Sabrina: Oh no.. [shakes her hands] I'm fine.

Miguel: How did you find me?

Sabrina: Oh well..um [takes out the letter] this mostly and I asked around. Most people think this building is haunted.

Miguel: Well you met some of the residents… can you blame them?

Sabrina: Guess not.

Both stand silent again. Sabrina scratches her arm and looks at Miguel for a bit. Miguel looks at her then looks up at the ceiling.

Sabrina: I guess I came.. to um.. see if you got home alright.

Miguel: I haven't been home in days.

Sabrina: Oh? Do you have a home?

Miguel: Yes.. but I only go home to check my mail.. and maybe get some rare but much needed sleep.

Sabrina: Rare?

Miguel: Well I don't sleep much.. 4 hours at a time if I'm lucky.. it wastes time.. I can be working on my site or something else instead. Um will you come in and have a seat Ms. Sabrina?

Sabrina; Um okay.

Sabrina walks into his office and looks around, she sees 5 trashcans over flowing with crumbled up balls of paper. She looks over and sees a scanner, she sees something on top that catches her eye.

Sabrina; Reflector?[picks up a small camera]

Miguel: Oh.. I see you know you're decepticons? Be careful.. those 3 robots never stay together for very long. Been that way since I bought it years ago.

Sabrina: Heh.. you collect Transformers too?

Miguel: I don't DO Autobots.. [looks away] or that travesty called Beast Wars or Machines.

Sabrina: Huh? Why not?

Miguel: Granted I do have a 3 Megatrons from Beast Wars, and to a lesser extend ONE Jetstorm.. but I'm an old school collector. I like Decpticons better than Autobots. Much cooler symbol, better incarnations, and let's face it they seem tougher to kill than the Autobots.

Sabrina: Hey Optimus is cool.

Miguel: Well that's just Prime. [Sabrina looks at him] Okay so I watch Beast Wars, sue me. I only did cause Starscream popped up, as did Ravage and the OG Megatron's lifeless body. And I was kinda into the Tripredicus Council for a while, wish they had done more on them.

Sabrina: Ever hear of Silverbolt?

Miguel:[thinks] Yeah.. Aerialbot.. their leader.. had Acrophobia I believe.

Sabrina: Um no.. the other one.

Miguel:[thinks] Oh right the birddog.Yeah I have.

Sabrina: You seem to know you're old school Transformers.

Miguel; Who me? No.. I can only remember clips and phrases, there's a guy up north that knows more than me. [sits down and places Reflector back on his scanner] He's my god… well used to be..not as much anymore..but I guess that's just the way things go nowadays.. nothing lasts.. to quote Matthew Sweet.

Sabrina: I see.

Miguel: Um.. I'm really sorry about.. [shift in his seat] leaving like I did yesterday Ms. Sabrina. I just… I..[looks down and scratches the back of his head] I felt like a huge embarrassment.. felt it would have been better to leave before I made things worse.

Sabrina: Oh you weren't that bad.

Miguel: I was worse.[winces]

Sabrina: No look you…[looks past him] um.. is that a Headmaster?[points to the tiny robot atop his monitor]

Miguel: Huh? Yeah…. He belongs to Mindwipe… Reiko borrowed him a while back and has yet to return it.

Sabrina: Why would she borrow Mindwipe without his head?

Miguel: I kept it so that she wouldn't lose it.. kind of a small figure.. easy to misplace you know. One of the last few I bought. I quit buying after the Action Masters came out.. kinda went to pot after that. I mean they didn't even transform anymore. Kinda hard to call them TRANSFORMERS. If they don't do just that.

Sabrina: Did you get any of the generation 2?

Miguel: I'd ask you never to mention that again.. there IS no Generation 2 as far as I'm concerned.

Sabrina: What?

Miguel: It was the same stuff only painted up different, geez even the Machine Wars line was better than that. And I don't think you came to talk about Hasbro's fatal flaws.. unless you want me to start in on G.I. Joe.

Sabrina: Um.

Miguel:[looks down] I'm.. I'm sorry Miss Sabrina. I.. I don't have much company.. with the exception of the usual menagerie that lurks around here.

Sabrina: You know.. lack of sleep maybe why you're so high strung?

Miguel: I can't sleep if I wanted to Ms. Sabrina, I just lack that part of my body I guess. It started back in high school..[stops] um yeah.. you didn't come here to listen to me go on about my problems.

Sabrina;[looks around] Um.. so you do an on-line comic?

Miguel: Yeah.

Sabrina: Who is Gale Horn?

Miguel: You saw my site I take it? [she nods playing with her hair nervously] He. he was my English teach in high school and in college. He kinda got me into writing, a while back I found out he got cancer like many of the teachers at my old high school, due to asbestos. I do this site for him.. in hopes that he'll see it and see that he made a difference by being responsible for creating me and what I do. Kinda lame huh?

Sabrina: [leans on the side of the chair] No.. not at all. Kinda sweet actually. Wish I had drive like that.

Miguel: No you don't.. you forget that someone I respect and care for is suffering.. you don't want that weighting on you.

Sabrina; No.. I didn't mean that. Just.. [lays her arms on her lap with her hands clasped] I wish I had something I could work on.. for a noble purpose. Heck I'd settle for just a plain old job right now.

Miguel:[eyebrow raises] Out of work?

Sabrina: Sort of, I'm looking right now.

Miguel: Do you usually look for jobs by readings books in the park?

Sabrina: [nervous smiles comes over her face] Um no.. I was.. trying to get my mind off of what I'm dreading. If I don't get a job soon.. I'll have to move back in with my parents.

Miguel: I feel your pain. I moved as far as I could from them..

Sabrina; And they ended up being closer to you than before?

Both laugh, well Sabrina does as Miguel catches himself and stops. Sabrina sees this and stops. She looks at him with concern.

Sabrina: You okay?

Miguel: Yeah.. just.. not used to laughing.

Sabrina: Boy you do live a hum drum life.

Miguel: Yeah.. but what can I do, it's my life.. gotta take what I can.

Sabrina: Well I should thank you, lately I haven't laughed much.. this job thing has be worried. Not much a person with a degree art can do.

Miguel: You sound like my dad.

Sabrina; I sound like my mom too. I don't suppose you have an opening here?

Miguel: [eyes open wide a bit taken back by her query] You'd like to work here? I mean.. you've seen the other girls? Don't they put you off?

Sabrina: I've met unusual people most of my life.. but I think about either them or my folks. And I find them being not so bad in comparison to living at home with my folks again.

Miguel: Now you sound like me. Well.. can work with web sites?

Sabrina; Are you kidding?

Miguel: Most people who know me will tell you I rarely kid.[makes a goofy face] But what do they know.

Sabrina: Yeah I can. Most of the work is on-line stuff right?

Miguel: I wish.. no it's done the old fashion way then made digital, but my worries and hassles would be less if I had someone doing the digital part for me so I can concentrate on the old fashion stuff.

Sabrina: How much would I earn?

Miguel: You mean I we get paid to do this? Heh aw man they are right.. I can't kid.[shakes his head] I'll draw you a picture.

Sabrina watches as he takes a paper and writes a figure on it. She passes it to her and see reads it. He puts his pencil back the EXACT same way it was when he got it.

Sabrina: Hmm pretty much what I got before.. is this every two weeks?

Miguel: No… [smiles] You'd earn that weekly.

Sabrina;[rips the paper in half as her eyes bug out] WHAT?! [calms down a bit] Oh.. that's nice too.

Miguel: Indeed. Would you excuse me a bit?[Sabrina nods as he walks out into the hall. Once outside he exhales deeply and grabs his chest] man.. having Sabrina here close to me is my dream come true. Oh she'll be in my office for real.. so close I have[voice changes to a lower my serious tone] but to clasp my hands to posses her. YEEEEEESSSSS, this should prove most interesting I think. But for now I will act content and not show any sign of obsession. That way she won't be none the wiser. This should prove to be.. very interesting Yeessssss.

Groovy:[pops up next to him] I love it when you do Megatron boss, you sound so debonair.

Miguel'[thwaks her on the forehead with his finger] Off with you. [walks back in his office] Okay let me show you around.

Sabrina: [gets up out of the chair] Do I get to meet the rest of the staff?

Miguel: Sure.[points to a mirror to her left and has his reflection wave at her] Hey there Sabrina , welcome aboard. Yup that's about it. Well except my inker has off this week, and my lazy bum of a colorist is never around anyway.

Sabrina; Um.. then what are all those people outside for?

Miguel: You got me, I've been trying to get rid of them for years.[sees Groovy standing at the doorway tears pouring down her face and biting on a napkin] I'm joking Groovy. Really I am!!

Groovy: No you're not.. you NEVER joke!!!

Miguel: Hoooooboy.. am I always that serious? [hugs Groovy] Come on now, I'd never get rid of any of you.. well except maybe a certain few. Don't worry.

Groovy: Okay (sniff) Well let me introduce myself the proper way.

Miguel; Hoooboy.

Groovy: My name is..[spot light hits her as the song "Groovy is My Name" by Pizzicato 5 plays in the back] Feline Groovy.

Sabrina:[sweating a bit] Um.. do they all do intros like this?

Miguel: [shoulders droop] Sigh I'm afraid so.

End of Chapter 2