A long, silent moment goes by before the Dofinikes step off their evibolas and into the opposite end of the corridor. There are two at first. Then four, then six and suddenly, a giant queasy pit grows in my stomach. Can we do this? Even as ready as we are, are we strong enough for this? I hold my breath as the eight of them stop, glaring at us through yellow slits of fury.
The first two race toward Sampson, dropping to all fours in a full-on run. Sampson, calm as ever, holds his pose until they are mere feet away. Just when the first one claws at him, Sampson effortlessly scoops two babeebs from Rooney's head, tossing the golden spheres in each of the Vermix's faces. It all happens so quickly that I almost don't see the babeebs wake up. I nearly miss their eyes opening all over their bodies with stinger-like teeth emerging between. The babeebs land on the Vermix who screech and scream at the contact.