Hawk's Soul: Thanks. Heh, yeah; Espio's heart does seem to live in his wallet :P As for who to do next...well, I think I made my decision ;) Every episode of AoStH...check out Until it's released on DVD, looks like I'll have to make do with these ;)

Parslie: (bows) Your wish is my command :P

Shadow-spawn180: (happy sigh) Thanks. If I have confused just one person with Vector's voice on the phone, then the last chapter was not in vain :P Actually, since I get to bring Espio into the story in a major way, it wasn't in vain anyway, but still...

Maverick87: Heh, thanks :D I was kinda worried I'd overdone the Sick-Tails-voice...guess not :)

D.C.111: Yeah (pats Tails on shoulder and hands mug of chicken soup then retreats wearing respirator) And never fear; you shall see Knuckles and Espio very soon ;)

Private somebody: (grins broadly) Espio, antisocial? Why, whatever gave you that idea:P

Princess Sally Acorn: (blushes) Thanks :D I try my best. Tails and Knuckles partnership...heh, it's a plot I find fascinating to work with (witness the main reason for my writing Secrets of the Emeralds ;)) I don't know about rewriting Espio's character, to be honest...I'm not sure anyone really knows what he's like :P When I started this series, the only Sonic thing I had to base characters off was Sonic Heroes, and Espio's kinda shady...there's something almost sinister about him in that game. Then again, maybe that's just me :P

Bumbleboxer: Thanks ;) And you're not the only one who might reread that conversation; I need to refresh my memory :P I plan to bring out some of Espio's backstory in this as well...

Owl: YEAH! I confused a second person with Vector's voice's cameo! (wipes forehead) My work here is done ;)

Matt Lans: (Knuckles: I do what works) Yeah...I think when it comes to protecting Tails, he'll do just about anything except admit it ;)

PiKA of DEWM: Ooh, I like that quote :D (makes note) Tails' exploits...hmm. Stand-alone exploits usually go in The Facts of Life (must update that soon) Any particular exploits you have in mind?

Milette Tails Prower: Thanks :D Love the name, btw ;)

TC Chan: (Knuckles: Look, I didn't know the kid wasn't faking!) And thanks :D Mario…(ducks hail of flying bricks) Not sure I'd dare put a Nintendo character into the Sega universe…even I'm not that evil :P

Matri90: You bet he does (Knew it wasn't just me!)

My Memoirs by Me

I don't know who I expected to see, but it wasn't this guy! I don't think I'm happy seeing him either; last time we met he threw me off a casino platform! He's as fast as I am.

Well, maybe almost as fast.

Alright. Three questions. One, what happened to Raker and Robotnik? Two, how do we get back? Three, how on Mobius are we supposed to get this Shadow to help? Because I don't think we can get back without his help, or at least someone's help and he seems to be pretty important.

That's something else I hadn't thought of; Robotnik mentioned we might have been sucked into a parallel dimension. Does that mean that this Shadow isn't the same Shadow that threw me off that platform in Casino Night Zone?

--Sonic the Hedgehog

Bait's Jurnal

Temprachur keeps chaynging. Dont wanna be here; wanna go home with Sonic. Met anuther hedjhog called Shaddoe.

--Bait the Jakkel

"Shadow, huh?" Sonic echoed. "Okay. I'm—"

"I know who you are. Who's your friend? You had a two-tailed fox the last time I saw you."

Sonic hesitated before saying warily, "Which time was that?" in an effort to work out if the Shadow was the same Shadow he'd met on Mobius.

"Forgotten already? I'm talking about the time we fought and I threw you off that table in the Casino Night Zone." Shadow shook his head. "Picking a fight is hardly the best way to greet someone."

"Neither's trying to dropkick them off a casino table!" Sonic retorted. "I mean, just because I didn't want to hand over my Chaos Emeralds to your girlfriend Rouge—"

"That was a mistake, Sonic."

"Your tryin' to dropkick him off a casino table or his callin' this Rouge your girlfriend?" Bait said.

"The first one, of course. Although I wouldn't give a dried up cratt shell for your chances if you tried the second again."

"Mistake, huh?" Sonic snorted. "Well, in that case, I'd hate to see what you do on purpose!"

"Yes, you would."

Bait sidled away slightly; if the two hedgehogs were about to explode into combat, he didn't want to be too near. Shadow didn't comment, didn't even react to this action other than to give Bait a sweeping glance, appraising and dismissing him in the one motion.

"So why'd you bring us up here?" Sonic demanded, after a few seconds had passed.

"Your abilities intrigue me. You're not on a par with me, Sonic, not even close, but for all that you're the best I've seen so far."

"Hey, thanks." Sonic snorted. "Let me point a little something out to you. You think you're capable of doing everything I can? That goes both ways, Shadow; I can do everything you can. I figured that out on that casino table, even though we didn't fight for long. Barring attitudes, I'm pretty much the same as you."

Shadow's lip curled scornfully. "Don't be so vain, Sonic."

"What happened to the other guys I was with?" Sonic demanded, in an effort to divert the conversation. "The guys in the other two pods?"

Something that might have been interest flickered in Shadow's eyes. "There are other pods?"

"Yeah, two of 'em. The pilots are both jerks but they're Mobian jerks, so we're kinda looking to take them back when we go." Sonic shook his head. "Look, we can discuss this all you want later—"

"We'll discuss it now," Shadow cut across. "Who are these people?"

Sonic narrowed his eyes. "Was it you who shot us down?"

There was a brief pause, during which Bait edged away further.

"Perhaps you fail to understand the reality of your situation," Shadow said, eyes now narrowed. "Let's get one thing clear, Sonic; I'm asking the questions."

"Yeah? You and what army?"

"Me and the army currently standing around doing nothing. I imagine they'll be only too pleased to acquire some new targets if you refuse to cooperate. Of course, I could just let Omega have you; he's been getting a little bored lately, if you can call it that."

Sonic stared at him. "I'll cooperate, but only after you answer my questions! What the hell is this place, Shadow?"

"A facility built by the humans. They were trying to colonise this planet. They failed, miserably."

"Humans?" Sonic echoed, unsure of the word.

"Yes, Sonic, humans. Bald monkeys with no tails and fuzzy heads. Their society is extremely primitive and barbaric, but they have made some good technological advances." Something flickered in Shadow's eyes, something that was gone so quickly Sonic thought he must have imagined it.

"Yeah?" Bait frowned perplexedly. "How'd a buncha monkeys get here?"

Shadow curled his lip. "With a space shuttle, of course. They contracted some kind of disease and by some cruel twist of fate, the medics were the ones who died first. There are still some humans here, who were tough enough to fight it off. They tried to find ways to transport more medics up from their own world, but it went drastically wrong."

"Transport…" Sonic stared, jaw dangling. "The Void thing that's been zipping all around Mobius?"

"If that's what you call it, yes. They tried to reach Earth. As it is, they seemed to get everywhere but; Mobius wasn't the only world affected." Shadow shrugged. "There's nothing can be done."

Sonic shook his head. "So why didn't we die? Why didn't you die, when it sucked you in?"

"It can't penetrate metal. I took precautions and so, it seems, did you. If you have a metal shield of some kind, you'll survive the initial suction. After that, it's like riding water currents." The hedgehog folded his arms. "Enough of this inane babble—"

"Hey, you started it."

"—tell me who else is with you," Shadow finished, ignoring Sonic with an amazing effort.

Sonic wondered whether or not to demand more answers, then decided against it. There'd be time enough to deal with Shadow later, when there was no risk of Bait getting hurt.

"Bait's brother Raker and a large alien creature who goes by the name Dr Ivo Robotnik," he said succinctly.

Shadow's eyes flared mometarily. "Robotnik?"

Sonic blinked. "You know him?"

Stupid question, really, he thought wryly; everyone on Mobius knew Robotnik's name.

"Perhaps." Now the eyes were narrowed. "This puts a different complexion on things."

"Meaning…?"

"Meaning that I'm going to wait until your friends turn up – alive or dead – before I decide what to do with you," Shadow said curtly, in a way which suggested the audience was at an end.

Bridling at this abrupt dismissal, Sonic said, "What about a hospital?"

"What about a hospital?"

Sonic indicated Bait. "Look at him, Shadow! The kid needs medical attention!"

Shadow looked distinctly bored. "He should have thought of that before coming here. We don't have medical facilities and even if we did I see no reason to let you use them."

"Yeah? Who died and made you king of the world?"

The black hedgehog shrugged. "His name was Cage. I never bothered finding out the rest of it; he wanted to put me in some kind of freak show so I dealt with him."

"You mean you killed him?" Bait said hoarsely.

"No, little cub. I merely got two of his pets on my side and ordered him thrown out of the facility. The external conditions were what killed him."

"Pets?" Sonic echoed derisively.

"Lackeys, then. Both humans and both crawling little sycophants who want nothing more from life than someone to worship. When I leave this place, they'll forget all about me and start licking the feet of whoever replaces me." Shadow didn't sound exactly heartbroken at the prospect. "Pathetic, but easy enough to manipulate. I didn't even have to threaten to shoot them to make them do what I wanted." He turned away and pushed a button, producing a buzzing sound. Almost immediately the door behind opened to reveal two of the same creatures/people that had brought Sonic and Bait to the room.

Gesturing to the Mobians, Shadow said dismissively, "Take them to secure quarters and make sure they don't go anywhere. I'll want to speak with them again later."

---

Half a mile away in another part of the complex, Robotnik wished Sonic was around. Not for company, but because the hedgehog had proven time and again to be a genius at escaping, and Robotnik could have used his help right about now. Hell, even Knuckles would have done…anyone, in fact, except for Raker.

"They have no right to keep us locked up here!"

Robotnik sighed. "I imagine that since this is their facility, they would say they have every right. Much as you seem to believe you have every right to bore me with your petty complaints and I have every right to ignore them."

Raker's eyes glittered dangerously. "Go on then. Ignore me."

"I wish I could. Unfortunately your voice isn't an easy one to tune out." Robotnik sighed again and briefly entertained an immature but very satisfying idea involving Raker's head and the bowl of soup that the jackal had refused to touch.

Raker prowled around the small cell like a lion, the overall effect only spoiled when he had to keep hopping over Robotnik's legs (currently stretched out in front of the doctor with ankles crossed; Robotnik believed in being as comfortable as possible wherever he went).

"How are we going to get out of here?" Raker demanded, giving up on the prowling.

"Sonic will come," Robotnik said simply. "He'll save me even if he leaves you here to rot."

The jackal snorted. "Can we say, wishful thinking to the point of utter delusion?"

Robotnik picked up his spoon and turned it around in his fingers pensively.

"I don't know. Can we say, I'm going to ram this thing bowl-end first right up under your tail if you don't shut that mouth of yours?"

Raker curled his lip. "Come on then, if you want to fight. Or are you too scared to take me on without your robots?"

"Killing me won't accomplish anything," Robotnik pointed out coolly.

"Yeah it will. It'll stop you ramming that spoon bowl-end first up my—"

"Yes, alright, alright," the doctor interrupted. "But if you think killing me is going to put you in Sonic's good graces, you'd better think again."

The jackal snorted. "Since when have I cared what that interfering little turd thinks of me? And besides, killing you might well earn me the thanks of the entire planet." He smirked. "Just think; I could name my own reward. You're hardly the most popular guy on Mobius, are you?"

"I don't care about things like that," Robotnik informed him. "You can be a ruthless world dictator or you can be popular, but very few people ever manage both."

Raker's eyes glittered. "Fine by me. I'll take the power any day of the week."

The doctor stared hard at him with a certain predatory interest, the same kind as might be used by an alpha wolf watching a rival enter its territory.

"Really?"

"Yes, really. Are you deaf as well as fat?" Raker strode around the cell, kicked the bowl into the wall where it shattered and then slammed his body against the door, which didn't even quiver.

"Where did you go, anyway?" Robotnik asked idly.

"That's none of your damn business!"

"It is if you sabotaged my home. I assume you wound up in this cell the same way I did?" In fact Robotnik was certain the jackal hadn't gone as willingly as he himself had; the doctor had been more than happy to go where his captors took him, rationalising that if they'd wanted him dead they would have shot him straightaway, and also that if they believed he was compliant and no threat, they were likely to be less vigilant around him. Robotnik could play the civilised game as well as anyone, and he'd smiled and thanked the black-clad people when they'd brought him food. It hadn't been bad, either; he'd stored a small amount containing all the ingredients he could find in a glass container to be programmed into the dispenser.

The only fly in this ointment was Raker, who had been complaining, threatening and sulking until the doctor was sorely tempted to drop his passive act and knock him out…in fact, it was only the thought of the likely retribution that stopped him. Even Robotnik wouldn't attack someone like Raker in a one-on-one fight without a very, very good reason, and preferably a claw hammer or baseball bat for a weapon as well.

"These jerks grabbed me and tossed me in here!" Raker's snarl brought the doctor back to himself with a jerk; he'd forgotten the question he'd asked. "And no. I haven't been near your damn fortress. If you must know, I went to try and get something to eat."

"From where?" Robotnik said incredulously. "The local fast food joint? From what I've seen, this is the only civilised area on the entire planet! And besides, the people here did feed you."

Raker lifted his still full bowl and drop-kicked it into the wall, shattering it and splashing gravy everywhere.

"You call that food?"

"Not anymore," Robotnik retorted, an acid bite to his tones. He'd had plans for that food, plans which involved his stomach, mouth and alimentary canal, not necessarily in that order.

"They have no right to do this to me!"

"So you keep saying." Robotnik shook his head. He knew Raker, knew that the jackal's frustration was capable of exploding into extreme brutality and violence, and with Raker's usual target for such things – namely Bait – gone, the doctor had a nasty suspicion that Raker would turn on him before too long.

Folding his hands across his belly, he stared at the door as though he could will it to open.

Come on Sonic, where on earth are you?

---

Curled up in an armchair in the so-called secure quarters and oblivious to all this, Sonic finished his magazine and tossed it carelessly onto the table. He and Bait had been here for almost two full days now. The place they'd been taken to was small, with two canvas sheets stretched over frames and hung from the wall to serve as beds, a small table with two stools and a fridge-freezer in one corner, currently stocked with nothing but various drinks. Food was brought at regular intervals and Sonic took that as a hopeful sign; at least Shadow didn't want them dead...at least, probably not yet. There were also a few books and magazines on a wall-mounted shelf – Sonic had already started one of the books and Bait had propped another on his knees and was using it as a table – two armchairs and a big screen TV with a pile of DVDs. Sonic had glanced through them and found they all seemed to be from Robotnik's world. Certainly they all – with a couple of exceptions by some guy or girl called Disney (man, Robotnik's species sure had weird names, Sonic mused) – seemed to feature Robotnik's species to the exclusion of all else.

Pushing a button, he turned on the TV just in time to catch the local news. That was also strange, to see a newsreader, weather guy…just about everything on TV was the same race as the doctor (and just what is that race, anyway? Sonic wondered).

He listened for about ten minutes before getting depressed and turning it off again; it was all about some war back on Earth, then some murders, then a rape, then half a dozen burglaries and a road traffic accident to break up the monotony.

Sonic shook his head. If the statistics were even half accurate, he was amazed that there were enough people left after one war to wage the next one.

"No wonder the doc's like he is," he said aloud.

Bait didn't respond. Half suspecting the jackal had fallen asleep, Sonic glanced over to see him frowning in concentration as he worked on whatever he was doing.

Sonic was half intrigued, half amused; it was rare to see Bait focus for so long on one single activity. Getting to his feet, he walked silently to stand behind the jackal and peer over his shoulder.

It was a drawing. More specifically, a drawing of Sonic himself as he'd been sitting in the armchair, legs over the side, reading a magazine. Although it was obvious that Bait was no child prodigy like Tails, the basic art was above average for his age and the shading was pretty good.

Particularly when you consider he's doing it with his left hand, Sonic thought wryly. Aloud he said, "Hey, that's—"

Bait's reaction both surprised and silenced him; the jackal yelped as though he'd been kicked, flattened his ears and promptly tore the paper into shreds.

"I dint mean to!"

Taken aback, Sonic blinked. "Didn't mean to what? Draw me?" He shrugged. "You wanna draw me, you go right ahead. I didn't mean to make you jump."

Bait shook his head. "Nuh uh, 'sokay, I'm done."

The hedgehog hesitated, then shrugged again. "Okay, if you say so." Kneeling, he gathered up the torn pieces and carried them over to the table. "You know where the sellotape is?"

Bait shook his head violently, then his curiosity got the better of him. "Why d'you want it?"

"Why do you think? I want to stick this back together."

"You're kiddin', right?"

"No, I'm not kidding; I think it's good. I'm just sorry I disturbed you, kiddo, that's all. Why'd you rip it up, anyway?" Sonic searched the cabinet, the kitchen drawers and the dresser before finally locating the sellotape where it was hanging on a branch of the mug tree.

Bait shrugged, not looking at Sonic. "It were crap."

"No it were—wasn't," Sonic corrected himself as he sorted out the straight-edged pieces from the rough ones. "And besides, if you wanna draw, you go ahead and draw. You're a better artist than me at any rate."

This was true, albeit not much of a compliment. Sonic's art skills were only slightly better than Tails'; everything he drew was recognisable, but that was about all you could say for it.

"Raker hated me drawin'. Or writin'. Or readin', or doin' anythin' beyond what he tole me. Last time I tried drawin' I were six. I kinda thought it'd be a good way to make him happy. Y'know, 'cause I seen other kids doin' it for their parents." Bait looked away. "'S the last time I tried somethin' as dumb as that."

"What happened?" Sonic asked.

A shrug. "I spent ev'ry day for a week tryin' to get it perfect, y'know? I dint wann'im to have nothin' to complain 'bout. Finally it was done an' I gave it to him. He jus' laughed, ripped it up an' kicked me out the room. Ev'ry time he come in an' saw me doin' somethin' similar he'd jus' make me rip it up."

Sonic stared at the jackal for a long time, then said softly, "Bait?"

Bait glanced at him and Sonic pushed the newly repaired drawing towards him.

"I want you to finish this."

The jackal looked away, ears slightly flattened. "Mebbe later. I'm gonna read for a while." Turning his book the right way up, he opened it at random and buried himself in it.

Half an hour passed in relative peace and quiet – Bait enjoyed reading, though he was so slow it was painful to watch and Sonic occupied himself with a puzzle book. The crossword contained so many Earth references it was impossible for the Mobian to even attempt, but the logic puzzles weren't so hard.

Sonic groaned slightly. Sitting at a table doing word puzzles! Man, I can't believe I've been reduced to this! Damn that Shadow!

Thinking about Shadow reminded him; he'd been meaning to ask what Bait had thought of the hedgehog. The kid's instincts about a person were rarely wrong.

"Hey Bait?" The jackal was too engrossed in his book to answer and Sonic tried again. "Bait!"

Bait jerked reflexively, ears flat. "I dint do it!"

"Do what?"

"Whatever you're talkin' about."

Sonic rolled his eyes. "I'm not talking about anything, Bait, not in that way. I just wanted to know what you thought of Shadow."

Bait shivered. "He's like a cross between you an' Raker. He ain't psycho like Raker, but he'll do anythin' to get what he wants an' if summun gets hurt then that's just too bad. I dunt think he'd enjoy hurtin' 'em, he'd jus' see it as somethin' he had to do."

"Ruthless," Sonic said quietly.

"Yeah, that. An' I seen plenty a people who made death threats, but on'y a few who oughta be taken seriously an' he's one of 'em." Bait looked away. "He ain't an idle boaster, Sonic. I think he means ev'rythin' he says. We can't leave until he chooses to let us go."

"Then he'll kick us into the bitter wind and through the cold cruel snow," Sonic murmured.

Bait eyed him warily. "You what?"

The hedgehog glanced at him. "Sorry. You just gave me the first line of the chorus to a rude song I learned on Green Island. I couldn't resist filling in the rest."

Bait's eyes lit up. "You got rude songs on Green Island?"

"Everywhere has rude songs, kiddo."

"Teach me!"

Sonic blinked. "What?"

"Teach me…please?" Bait fixed the hedgehog with an appealing look. "C'mon, at least you gotta teach me that one you're always singin' in the shower!"

A slight gleam appeared in the hedgehog's eyes. "The Cherry Pip Song?"

"Dunno. That the one where you whine about never kissin' a girl an' then findin' out the girl you're with is actually another guy?"

There was a brief pause as Sonic ran through the verses in his mind until he reached number four, when he said, "Yeah, that's the one. I picked it up in Jungle Zone."

"Teach me! C'mon Sonic, please?"

The gleam in Sonic's eyes was now positively wicked as he replied, "Yeah, I'll teach you, Bait…if you finish that drawing."

The jackal looked away, scuffing one toe on the floor. "Dunno why you want it so bad. 'S jus' a dumb picture."

Sonic's eyes never left Bait's face as he replied, "Maybe so. But I think you need to finish it because you still need some kinda proof that I'm not gonna react in the same way as Raker."

Bait paced agitatedly, making two full (and limping) circuits of the room before coming back to wriggle into the armchair, squirming up next to Sonic and putting on a pleading expression.

"You first."

They were on their third joint rendition of the song – despite Robotnik's acerbic comments back in the pods, Sonic was a surprisingly talented vocalist when he put his mind to it – when the door crashed open.

"Don't you guys ever knock?" Sonic demanded of the black-clad duo standing there. Maybe they were the same pair as before; he didn't know how to tell them apart.

By way of an answer, one of them pointed emphatically to Sonic, then to the door.

Sonic shook his head. "Haven't you learned yet? We're a team." He stood up, supporting Bait with the other arm. "C'mon kiddo; looks like we're wanted."

He could see that this hadn't been what their guides had had in mind; there was some hushed conversation before one flung up its hands in a way that said quite clearly, Okay, fine; on your own head be it!

As Sonic had been expecting, he and Bait were marched along back to what the hedgehog was sarcastically calling Shadow's throne room.

This time when they entered, however, Shadow was looking distinctly pissed off about something, and his expression darkened further when he saw Bait. Shifting it to the two escorts, he said in a deadly tone, "I'll deal with you two later. Get out of my sight."

"Pretty unique management style you got there," Sonic quipped.

"I told them to bring you here alone," Shadow said icily.

The other hedgehog shrugged. "Yeah, well, they tried. But like I said when I first arrived; me and Bait go together or we don't go at all. Now what do you want this time, Shads? 'Cause we were just about to start the verse about the rich guy's daughter and the orgy."

Shadow regarded the blue hedgehog coolly. "You weren't entirely honest with me, Sonic."

"You didn't give me much of a chance to be," Sonic retorted.

"Your friend Robotnik—"

"He's no damn friend of mine!"

"—has some of the Chaos Emeralds," Shadow continued, ignoring this.

"Yeah. So what?"

The phone by Shadow's hand rang, startling both Sonic and Bait. Without taking his eyes off them, Shadow lifted it up, snapped, "Not now!" into the receiver and slammed it down again.

"I have been looking for a Chaos Emerald for months, Sonic. Months."

"Then go raid his fortress and take one," Sonic shot back.

"I did. Those traps he placed around the perimeter were entertaining, as were the robots guarding the Emerald." Shadow shook his head. "Did he really believe he could stop me with such flimsy defences?"

Sonic stared at him. "You…took a Chaos Emerald?"

"I would have taken the others except I thought they may be needed to keep the fortress habitable." Shadow pulled out the light blue gem. "Then again, I suspect neither you nor your friends have even the faintest idea what these things can do."

"There's nothing I don't know about Chaos Emeralds!"

"Then why didn't you take one before the Void brought you here and use Chaos Control to escape?"

"Chaos what?"

Shadow raised an eye ridge. "Oh, so there is something you don't know."

"I know one thing; I want that Chaos Emerald!"

Shadow looked bored. "You and half the planet, I imagine. Still, I retrieved it as a bargaining piece so I'll give it to you, hedgehog, but only on one condition."

Sonic spread his hands out to the side. "Name it."

The black hedgehog stared out the window at the raw landscape. "I'm tired of this facility. It was intriguing at first but now there's nothing here to hold my interest. I can't use Chaos Control to go home because for some reason – maybe because I only have one Emerald – I can't warp anywhere that isn't on this world and I need something to get me back. Give me your transport pod."

Sonic's jaw dropped. "What?"

Shadow glanced over his shoulder at him. "I'll take it anyway, Sonic. You might as well get some good out of the deal."

Sonic shook his head. "I'm not sending Bait back on his own. Raker would kill him before the Egg Carrier Three's engines were up and running."

Bait looked up at Sonic. "Mebbe I could let Shadow have mine."

"No, Bait. I'm not leaving you stranded here either."

"Okay." Trying not to look too relieved, Bait edged closer to Sonic.

Turning back, Shadow folded both arms across his chest. "Maybe I wasn't clear. I don't care whose transport I have so long as I get one to myself. You can fight out who stays and who goes among yourselves; your petty squabbles are no concern of mine. I go back, we arrive on Mobius and we part company and never see each other again, I damn well hope," he added, not quite under his breath. "Your friends have been taken to your quarters. I'll let the four of you talk it over; either three of you leave or none of you do. You have one hour to decide."

So that's it for this chapter; sorry it took so long :P Anyway, hope you enjoyed it and if you read, please review :D