This chapter is very special to me in the fact that its the first time i have borrowed a character to use in precisely the same way as its original creator.

Welcome Chacron's sinister creation and my personal favourite character of his...Takeo Sekaro.

Chapter 4: A Free Passport

Dyne Sambula had been waiting for the inevitable phonecall he knew he was going to receive from a very stressed Riptos Calavera. Must have been a stressful experience watching his own mother die.

Not only that, Dyne had just found out that Figaro had slaughtered most of The Order government, things were going much better than planned. If this war goes ahead which was all but assured now, it wouldnt take long for the Sand Warriors to take over the planet.

Despite having anticipated the phone call, the ringing of his cellphone caught him off guard, almost falling off of his chair in the process. Quickly he picked his phone up and hit the answer button "Dyne Sambula here."

"Dyne, its uh Riptos, I found your card near my home,well what was my home, I didnt know where else to turn, where can I find you?" trying to maintain a calm in his voice he never knew he had he continued talking before Dyne could answer "Why did they do it Dyne, I dont understand."

Dyne grinned at how easily deceived the young hedgehog was "They obviously known of your power and wanted to silence you before you could become a threat to them."

Riptos sighed audibly "Well where can I find you, I need to go to that planet to be trained, there is nothing here for me anymore."

Dyne seemed surprised that the hedgehog wasnt thinking of his father when he asked that when he came to the realisation that he must WANT to leave the planet. "I'm not far away, i'll come and get you, just wait right there."

Riptos nodded even though he knew Dyne couldnt see it "ok , i'll be right here."

Riptos hung up the phone and sat down on the dusty patch of sand that was next to the phone box nearest his former home, some things werent fair he thought, this could only happen to me. He suddenly resented having been brought up in a family with such high regard among the common populace, after all had he been in a 'normal' family, he would still be in a family and at a school somewhere by now.

Dyne hung up the phone and put his coat on "Sir i'm going out to get our 'hero'."

The shaded figure gave a hand gesture "Go get him, we will make the preparations while you are gone."

Stepping into his hovercar, Dyne stuck the keys in the ignition and made his way to the impact site where Riptos was bound to still be. Even Dyne knew this was dangerous, he had seen too many movies where the bad guys always got their comeuppance in the end and he knew that he was one of them. Fighting with the demons inside his head, at least he had been the sole reason Riptos was still alive, thing is he would probably never know whether that would be enough to save him or not should the worst happen and Riptos discovers that it wasnt The Order at all that had destroyed his home and his mother.

Five or ten minutes of driving along quiet roads as day broke, he saw the small black figure sitting under the phone box cuddling his knees, probably deep in thought, thinking was dangerous...especially for someone in the young child's position.

"Need a ride." Dyne said jokingly as he opened the door.

"Well yeah I guess." Riptos said nonchalantly, he stepped in the car and slammed the door shut behind him.

"Hey mind the paintwork."

"Wow i'm sorry I might knock some of thew dust off of it."

"You cheeky shit!"

"You better believe it!"

Dyne smiled, happy that someone so young could possess such a cynical tongue, least the conversation could always be kept humourous if they wanted to, though he knew this wouldnt be the case when he didnt see Riptos return his smile.

"Dyne...?"

"Yeah?"

"Where are you going to send me?"

"We have strong ties with many planets, some close, some far away, this one happens to be pretty far away."

"How far away is far away?" Riptos quiverred with anticipation.

"It'll take you three years to get there in a stasis capsule."

"Wow!, uhm where is it exactly?"

Dyne looked at the kid and didnt want to destroy his excitement but knew he would hate the answer "Its a monastery, we have some friends there that know how to refine the art that you have recurring naturally within you, it will be tough when you are there, but i'm sure you will find a reason to thank us when you go there."

Riptos looked at the floor of the car "great i'm gonna be stuck with some religious coops."

Dyne pulled into the driveway of the Sand Warrior HQ for the region "Trust me, it will all be worth it, one day you will believe this to be true."

"Thanks Dyne, i'm just glad someone is looking out for me."

Opening the door to the complex, Dyne ushered the young hedgehog inside "Dont worry about it kid."

Shortly after being shown around , Riptos was presented to the General of the Sand Warriors.

"Here is the child sir." Dyne said obediantly.

"Very good Dyne, how are you my child?" the figure replied.

"About as good as can be expected for a kid who has lost everything in the space of a day" Riptos stared into the darkness, "Can I at least see who I am talking to?"

"Very well" The figure stood up and moved into the light, he appeared to be in his late forties and had a scar over his left eye, however he maintained a certain distinction about him.

"Do you have a name?" Riptos said quisically.

"My name is Takeo Sekaro, I lead the Sand Warriors though truth be told I havent been here long, the people here lacked leadership qualities and I was more than happy to fill in for them"

Riptos eyed the fox but found no reason to be afraid of him. "Can I cut straight to the point Takeo?"

"Of course."

"Get me offa this rock!"

Takeo laughed heartily and placed a hand on the young hedgehog's shoulder "But of course, we can send you now if you like."

"Yeah the sooner the better, I have nothing to live for here."

"Then follow me." Takeo said keeping his hand on Riptos's shoulder.

Takeo and Riptos walked into a chamber where a small single seater space craft was in the process of being fuelled. "If you want to go and be able to sleep for the trip take this blue pill."

Riptos took the pill in his hand "Looks kinda like a blue jelly bean."

Takeo raised an eye brow and grinned a little "Maybe it is but if you want to be able to sleep for the journey I suggest you take it, else you will starve."

Placing the pill under his tongue, he gulped down some water Takeo had graciously given him and swallowed the pill with it. Riptos felt a mindrush like water being rinsed through his head, the experience was not entirely uncomfortable but he suddenly felt himself disappear into sweet unconsciousness.

Takeo held the child and placed him inside the stasis tube "Sweet dreams Riptos Calavera."

Takeo left the room and watched from the window as the spacecraft took off on its course. "Its in your hands now Sarko"