On the surface, Espio and the others were standing at the holo-unit when a hologram of Blaze appeared "Master Espio, I'm glad Amy found you". Espio looked very serious "Master Blaze, we are trapped here, and vastly outnumbered. We're in no position to go anywhere or do anything. All our support ships have been destroyed". "We will send reinforcements to-" the transmission cut off "Master Blaze?". A hologram of the tiger officer appeared "We've lost the transmission, sir. We have to leave orbit immediately. More enemy ships have just arrived. We'll be back as soon as we can". Shadow crossed his arms "I guess we'll have to hold out a little longer". Amy began to feel like she was being ignored but Espio smiled at her "My apologies, young one. It's time for proper introductions". Amy nodded "I'm the new learner. I'm Amy Rose" "I'm Espio the Chameleon, your new master". Amy looked slightly confused "I'm at your service, Master Espio, but I'm afraid I've been assigned to Master Shadow". Shadow backed away slightly in surprise "What? No, no, no. There's been a mistake. He's the one who wanted an apprentice" "No, Master Blaze was very specific. I'm assigned to Shadow the Hedgehog and he is to supervise my Shinobi training". Espio smirked and looked at Shadow who clearly didn't like this new development "But that doesn't make any sense". Espio put his hands up "We'll have to sort this out later. It won't be long before those badniks figure out a way around our cannons" "Alright, I'll talk to Fang at the lookout post". He started walking away but "You'd better take her with you", Shadow stopped but then continued without looking back and Amy happily followed him.
On a distant planet inside a mountain top castle Lien-Da was speaking to a hologram of Dimitri "I have brought the Jun Kun's son to the abandoned monastery. He will be safe here". Dimitri seemed happy with this "Very good. Everything is going as planned" "Yes, my lord". Lien-Da smiled but it quickly disappeared when a hologram of Mephiles appeared, she bowed as he spoke "Soon the Shinobi will not only be at war with you, Enerjak, but the Iron Dominion as well".
Back on Spagonia, Fang is one the roof of a building, he sees a signal through his binoculars from one of his lookouts. He turns around and see's Shadow and Amy "What's the situation, Fang?" the former asked him. "Quiet for now, sir. They're probably gearing up for another assault. Who's the youngling?" he asked curiously. Amy seemed defensive at being called that "I'm Master Shadow's apprentice. The name's Amy Rose". The confused Fang looked to Shadow "Sir, I thought you said you'd never have an apprentice". Shadow looked irritated "There's been a mix-up. The youngling isn't with me" "Stop calling me that! You're stuck with me, Shads". Fang sniggered as Shadow angrily turned to Amy "What did you just call me? Don't get snippy with me, little one. You know, I don't even think you're old enough to be an apprentice". "Well, maybe I'm not, but Master Blaze thinks I am" she smiled. "Well, you're not with Master Blaze now. So, if you're ready, you better start proving it. Captain Fang will you show you how a little respect can go a long way". Fang didn't look happy about this "Um… right. Come on, youngling" he said reluctantly. Amy followed him "Apprentice" she corrected.
On the streets Fang and Amy were walking past a line of cannons which seemed to interest her "Have you thought about moving that line back, Captain? They'd have more cover that way". "Thanks for the suggestion, but General Shadow thinks they're fine where they are". Amy's face lit up suddenly "So, if you're a captain and I'm a Shinobi, then technically, I outrank you, right?". Fang looked at her "In my book, experience outranks everything" "Well, I guess I better start getting some… What's that?". Fang looked down the street towards the separatist base and saw a red shield advancing in all directions. "Not good. They've got an energy shield. If you wanted experience, little one, you're about to get plenty". Fang takes out his binoculars and sees Egg Pawns and beetle tanks right behind the shield advancing. The two of them run to the forward command centre where Shadow and Espio are looking at a holographic map of the area. "The shield generator somewhere in this area. They're slowly increasing the diameter and keeping it just ahead of their troops" Espio said. Fang stepped forward "The heavy cannons are gonna be useless against that". Espio pondered "We could try and draw them into the buildings. That might level the playing field a bit". Amy confidently spoke up "If that shield's gonna be such a problem, why don't we just take it out?" "Easier said than done" Fang told her. "Well, I, for one, agree with her" Shadow said like it was a struggle. Everyone looked at him as he continued "Someone has to get to that shield generator and destroy it. That's the key". Espio nodded "Right, then. Maybe you two can tiptoe through the enemy lines and solve this particular problem together. If Fang and I engage them here" he points to part of the street on the map. "You two might have a chance to get through their lines undetected" Espio continued. Fang looked sceptical "They won't have much time. The Badniks far outnumber us, we won't last in a straight fight without the cannons. If they reach the cannons and destroy them then it's all over". Amy looked confident "We'll figure out a way. Come on, Master, let's go". They both walk away, and Shadow is clearly annoyed "If we survive this. Snips, you and I are gonna have a talk". Espio and Fang watched them leave "They make quite a pair, don't they, sir? You think they have a chance?" Fang asked. "They better. If they can't turn off that shield generator before it reaches the heavy cannons, there'll be no escape for any of us".
Two clones are on the ground looking up at the monastery where Jun's son is being held. "What's the status?" "It looks like those bounty hunters went up there". The first clone examined the monastery with his binoculars "Contact General Merlin. Tell him we found the Ox".
In the Shinobi temple war room Blaze and Merlin are standing in front of a holo-unit which projects the clone. "Yes, commander" Merlin said, "We've discovered that Jun Kun has also hired bounty hunters to track down his son and we followed them to a monastery on Little Planet. We think it's where Jun's son is being held, but it's to heavily fortified for us to do anything about, sir". Merlin nodded "Stay out of sight and await further orders" the hologram turned off. Blaze looked to Merlin "I've received word from Spagonia, Espio is having trouble subduing the badnik army". Merlin changed the frequency on the unit and a snake clone officer appeared "Get me Admiral Wurts. I need three of his star cruisers" "Yes, General" it turned off again. Blaze looked concerned "This mystery may be greater than we think. I will go with the fleet to aid Master Espio".