[Current Location: in an alleyway of Enig, Sweden at around four in the afternoon ascending the ladder to a large spaceship.]

Aliens calling him up six times to hurry up and climb up to their spaceship, the hyena held in the urge to laugh at the last message he received. Seriously, he needs to help sixty eight of them across the span of three days? Lovely, amazing, Mr. Kakapo had better pay him quintuple for this job. Huff, puff. Knocking on the door, those pesky bug eyes were waiting for him.

{Welcome, [SPORK!] As you know, today, you are helping us [FIND OUR SOULCRITTERS IN ICELAND.] The twenty of us believe if [YOU SKI WITH US IN THE DEEPEST DARKEST DEPTHS OF ICELAND OUR MAGICAL PENGUINS WILL COME AND DEMAND WE DO BETTER AND WE WILL GET OUR SOULCRITTERS.] Also, make sure [THAT CAT OF YOURS SKIS WITH US.] Got it?}

Ridiculous job brought to his attention, the hyena shrugged. Does it look like they have a choice in the matter? Also, do they seriously think they'll find penguins in Iceland? They're dead wrong about that, first of all. They want their frozen pals? Go to Antarctica. But, there's no way he can say that, they'll eat Mr. Tux.

[Fine, I'll teach you all how to ski.] An electronic voice said through his smartwatch.

{Excellent, also [TAKE OFF THAT GAS MASK.] We will be in [ICELAND SHORTLY.] So take a seat.}

Gas mask removed, the chimera crossed his fingers. Please, have a hoard of penguins just waiting in the icy terrains of Iceland, so he can go home as early as possible. Munching away on stale saltines he laid down on the floor beneath him. Dear King, Let this go by quick, he'll even pay quadruple the dirty home tax if he has to!

[Current Location: a large ski slope hill in the dead zone of Leti, Iceland. Penguin population: three thousand, six hundred fifty two. Penguins present in the dead zone today: forty five. Magical ones present: possibly thirty. Temperature, minus four degrees celcius.]

{Gleep glorp, chimera, [WEAR THIS.] If you catch a [CHYLL] we [WON'T BE TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR IT.] Now, teach the [TWENTY OF US HOW TO SKI SO WE CAN IMPRESS THE PENGUINS!] And rule out the ones that [AREN'T DEMANDING!] Here's skis for [HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS, TOO!}

"Mrow, mrow, mrow!" Mr. Tux shouted.

[Greetings, ya'll. Your, yawn, fellow, yawn, SoulCritter Translator here. Man, being in Iceland just makes you feel so lazy doesn't it. What is this place, a lazy town? It's right in the name, listen! Ah, well. What did Mr. Tux say? "I can ski better than every single one of you!" Ooh, them fighting words, better try and back that up! Kay, peacers.]

Plopped down into a pile of snow, the hyena slipped the skis on. Penguins of every single color of the rainbow racing on their bellies, he swore he could see some of them shining. Guess he needs to have those be impressed specifically. Fine, whatever, he'll try his best. How long does it take to reach the bottom of the mountain here? Oh, six hours. Excuse him, six hours?! Ugh, his head's spinning again. Focus, come on, he's got some skiing to do here.

Penguins waddling towards him, the fixer upper's tail stuck up behind him. Uh, wow, these things are a lot taller than he thought. Do they want to ski with them? Sure, he guessed, but don't hit the aliens with their bellies, or else they're going to be eaten, or something! Mr. Tux racing down the hill doing a flip, his jaw dropped. Slow down there, kitty wonder, he's not done thinking yet!

"You, black kitty, how dare you race down my turf without asking!" a red penguin cried. "Boys, catch him!"

{I like [THE RED ONE!] Spork, [MAKE SURE YOU GET ON RED'S GOOD SIDE. HE'S THE ONE FOR ME, I JUST KNOW IT!}

{You sure? You [SURE, GLEEPEN?}

{I'm [SURE, THAT'S MY BABY!] I knew the moment he stood next to Spork!}

{Sparks [FLYING.] Okay, Spork, [IT'S SHOWTIME.] Show us how to ski, now!}

Demands coming his way, the young adult reached for the ski poles. Uh, whatever, just thrust down, or something and go down the hill? Skis off to the races, he tried to gain momentum. Quick, try and identify shining penguins. That's what he has to do here, right? Huh, the pink one has a green looking aura, better save a note for that one. Pink one chasing after him, his back had soon been rammed.

"Oi, who said you can be here, homo sapien?" the pink penguin cried.

"He's got a cat tail, he's a chimera," the cyan penguin cried.

"Huh, I see," the pink penguin said. "Weird, why am I feel this warm and fuzzy feeling looking that alien over there?"

{Gleep glorp, [STEPHANIE, HI, LOOK AT ME, STEPHANIE, I LOVE YOU, PLEASE JOIN ME IN PUNISHING HORRIBLE HUMANS!}

"I like your tone, alien!" the pink penguin cried. "Now, do a trick and bow your head!"

{AS YOU WISH, [STEPHANIE!] You're the best [SOULCRITTER EVER.] I'll even bark for you!}

Continuing down the slope for hours on end, almost every single alien soon had their penguin. Ziggy, Pixel, Trixie, Stingy, Busybody, Robbie and Sportacus doing penguin dances, the hyena's eyes wandered. Uh, why do all those names sound like some super popular puppet live action show he might have watched once as a kid? That's weird. But, it has to be a coincidence, surely.

Further penguins acquired, the chimera rose an eyebrow at their names. Mitchell, really? Why that one? Other names impossible to spell, he shrugged. He hoped they had fun getting to know their penguin pals, but, would they be able to live inside their spaceship without any problems? Dragged back, a new demand had soon come his way.

"Hey, you, build us a snowglobe in the empty room, got it?" Trixie the penguin demanded.

"And, you, new peasant, make sure the temperature here is low during the day and high at night!" Pixel cried. "Tch, to think the twenty of us are your SoulCritters, you pathetic lot had better take good care of us!"

{Please, order us around [MORE, MORE I SAY!] Uh, [SPORK, GO BUILD THE SNOWGLOBE, THEN WE'LL TAKE YOU HOME. EXPECT TWENTY EIGHT OF US TOMORROW!}

Large terrarium built, the hyena dropped down onto the ground. Why does he feel so hot all of a sudden? No, Siorc, focus on building this thing so he can go back home. And, a little adjustment here, a little adjustment there, and boom, solid. Huff, puff. It's solid, right? Or is he seeing double? He doesn't know anymore, yay! Returning home at around eleven at night, he dropped down onto bed with a loud thud.

[Current Location: The deepest pits of a mountain in Seqineq, Greenland in the uninhabitable zone at around four in the afternoon on Tuesday.]

Workday dragging on rather slowly that morning, the hyena's palms shook at the cave entrance in front of him. What does he have to look for this time? Oh, right, rodents, he forgot. Peeking at the list, his cheeks grew even hotter. A blonde haired mole rat?! Now, that is something no one will ever find, it's time to turn the ship around and go home! Aliens pushing him towards a hole, demands had come his way.

{Remember, [WE KNOW ALL OUR SOULCRITTERS ARE IN THIS SECRET CAVE WE'RE NOT EVEN SUPPOSED TO BE ABLE TO SEE.] So, make sure you [INVITE OUR SPECIAL NOT PETS INTO THE FRUIT BASKET, OKAY?] We'll join you in a bit. Also, [SPORK], you okay? [YOU ARE BREATHING VERY HEAVILY.] Fix that!}

Mask slipped on, the young adult gave the aliens a glare. There, now they can't hear it, happy? Jumping down the hole, everything grew fuzzy. Uh, what is he looking for again? Rats? No. Snakes? Uh no, not that one either, he thinks, uh, mole rats, yeah, that's the one, he's got it in the bag this time, mayhaps. Mayhaps? He uses that word, right? Huff, puff.

Strange game board looking down at him, the cat tailed individual had been handed a hammer. Uh, excuse him, what is this? Glowing board screaming at him with the text Whack a Critter, he prepared himself for action. Oh, he'll whack a critter, alright, he'll whack them good! Blonde mole rat sticking their head out, the mallet was ready. Bam, bam, bam!"

"Owie!" blonde cried.

"Oofie!" the red haired mole rat cried.

"Owchie!" blue haired mole rat cried. "Woah, woah, alien my bondee! Shiny, shiny!"

"Reawwy?!" the black haired mole rat cried.

"Yes!" Clap, clap.

"Yay!" Clap, clap.

First row throwing themselves out of the device, the game kept going. Uh, do they really find this game fun, or are they just pretending it is for the sake of it? He'd better keep swinging for now, and get this over with. Next set of them knocked down, the onslaught, sorry, game continued. He didn't hurt them, did he? Please, tell him he didn't.

Mr. Tux playing a few rounds, too, the chimera gave his royal highness a glare. Watch it with that hammer, or he's taking it away! Huff, puff, on second thought? He can keep it, ha ha. Weeeh, six more to knock out, and he's out of here. Bam, bam, bam, bam, bam, bam, sparks about ready to fly, the aliens let out their usual dumb chants.

{These [FUNNY MOLE RATS ARE PERFECT FOR US. WHY ARE YOU THE ONLY PERSON ON THIS PLANET WHO CAN HELP US GET OUR SOULCRITTERS?] This is a [MYSTERY] to us!}

{We'll take you [HOME] for today since you did such an [AWESOME JOB.] But, [THE NEXT GROUP MIGHT SWOOP YOU UP AT AROUND MIDNIGHT TONIGHT, SO PREPARE YOURSELF.] Kay? Now, start the speed travel now!}

Back home, the hyena could feel himself ready to fall over in the flowerbeds. Please, can the aliens forget to come at midnight? He was to finish cleaning up radioactive waste in the afternoon! No? Ha ha ha, of course not, why would they ever cancel? He'll be helping aliens for life, baby! No, perhaps, even in the afterlife, too! Here's to forever eternity, yay!

[Current Location: the so called supernatural animal sector in Transylvania, Romania at around one in the morning on Wednesday night.]

Aliens demanding he look for some creatures called Vampbunbuns the hyena rose an eyebrow. Those are what they believe their SoulCritters are? Come on now, they came all the way to Romania for this? Huff, puff. They're in Romania, right, right? Is it just him, or is everything blurry? Maybe he's been working too hard to clean up that disaster site lately. Huff, puff, huff, puff.

{So, all you need to help us with is [THE BAT SIGNAL.] We know that [OUR PRECIOUS SUPERHERO BABIES WILL COME IF YOU DO THAT.] Woah, [SPORK, YOU OKAY THERE, BUDDY?] Your face is looking [RED] again today.}

[I'm fine, alright? I took some aspirin. I'll be your SoulCritter magnet, alright?] A page from his communication log asked.

{You [SURE ABOUT THAT? THOSE HUFFED BREATHS OF YOURS ARE WHISTLING.] Isn't that [BAD?]}

{He's the only one who can attract our [SOULCRITTERS TO US.] He said he's [FINE, HE TOOK AZZPERINE OR WHATEVER.] Spork, [GET THE BAT SIGNAL READY.}

Shining the light, the chimera hummed a tune. Uh, na na na na na na na na batbun? Na na na na na na na na na, batbun? Na na na na na na na, sock, pow. Batbun, batbun, batbun. Na na na na na na na na na, batbun! Huh, uh, there they come. Rainbow creatures ready to blind him, sweat poured down his cheek. Why are their teeth so sharp?

"Bondee, if you really wish for us to be together, we must spar!" the vampbunbuns shouted.

"If you win that proves we're meant to be!" the others cried in unison.

{Gleep glorp, [YOU'RE ON.] It's [US VS THEM.] Spork, go [SIT THIS ONE OUT, WE GOT THIS.}

Shrugging, the chimera seated himself on a bench in the corner. But, what he saw next made his jaw drop. Why is Mr. Tux fighting them, too? Get back here, he didn't say he could join in! But, the pesky gremlin refused to come back. Great, if he has to pay damages to the benches here, he's so going into some Transylvania jail! Please, don't lock him up, or he'll owe millions once he's out!

Vampire bunny things dropping down one after another, the fight died a miserable death. Wow, would they look at that? The aliens won! Tch, of course they did, they probably cheated. Lagomorphs and invaders joining hands, he had soon been guided towards the ship, he thinks, probably. Aliens telling him they'll be back for him next week, he laughed. Next week, yay! Not. Ship spinning, he could hardly keep his eyes open any longer.

[Current Location: Above the Sweet Spot Apartment Complex at around four in the morning.]

Aliens dropping him off, the young adult's legs tingled. Ha ha, ha ha ha ha ha ha ha, eighty aliens have their SoulCritters now, ha ha ha ha, lovely, right? Ugh, is it just him, or is everything moving rapidly? Huff, puff, sorry, welcome mat, he's about to? He's about to? About to. Ha ha, he doesn't know, goodnight.

Finding himself in bed, the chimera grumbled. What happened? Oh, right, he? He helped the aliens find their SoulCritters again. Weird, where did all this fog come from all of a sudden? Varg looking at him with a serious look on his face, he shivered. Sorry to take him away from a late night job, please forgive him.

"Yer awake, Siorc, quit runnin' yerself inta th' ground fer the aliens, ya hear me?" Varg asked. "Yer stayin' home t'day, got it? And, I'm callin' Pira, 'an we're bringing ya t' a doctor as soon as he g'ts back from the w'k lon' summit."

[Varg, I already told you, I can't right now! Please, you have to understand! I have an emergency job all week this week! I'll be fine. I'm just tired, that's all. Don't tell Pira about this, he's going to flip! I can't take off right now. I'll watch myself, alright?] An electronic voice said through his smartwatch.

"Yer not a very good liar, ya know that?" Varg responded, shaking his head. "If our p'rents were still in Sweden, botha 'em woulda said th' same." He then sighed. "And, 'course he's gonna flip when he finds out ya've been pushin' through somethin' ya shouldn't be dealin' with alone!" His voice then lowered. "Ya can't keep doin' this to yerself. Yer only gonna make alla this worse!" He then turned back. "Halen's barking fer me t' c'me back, A gotta go. A'll let ya sleep."

Door shut from behind, the hyena tossed and turned underneath his covers. He can't keep doing what to himself? Ha ha ha, stop working a gajillion hours? It's not his fault the demons have a trillion demands for him that last days at a time! Drifting off into sleep, one last thought soon kicked in.

Eighty aliens down, twenty to go.

Please, let whatever aftermath from the fallout zones he was in leave his system quickly.