A great escape! Fleabyte and his notorious
crew of bounty hunters liberated Mike the
Ox from a Republic prison after holding
the Galactic Senate hostage.
The Shinobi Council has assigned Espio the
Chameleon to retrieve Mike with the
help of Shinobi Knight Shift the Wolf. Unknown
to the Shinobi, we find Mike in the clutches
of the five Ox families on the distant
world of Ox Hutta….
Mike was standing before the leaders of the Iron Dominion including Jun Kun. Mike didn't seem nervous "Gentlemen, I see no need for resentment in light of the is joyous occasion of my freedom" "The freedom we are responsible for" a female human in a red and black dress said, Regina Ferrum. Mike gave a slight sinister smile "Of course, I do appreciate the help. But I also know why I got it. I possess highly sensitive knowledge, however if you think I don't take precautions then you're wrong". He took a drink from a glass before continuing "I have a holo-diary hidden somewhere. It details everything the Iron Dominion has been behind. Kill me and it winds up on the door of the Senate". Jun glared angrily don at him "Take him away". Mike nodded "Yes, take me to my room. I do hope there satisfactory".
Outside the Shinobi Temple Espio was waiting by a shuttle with Armand. The cayote noticed that Espio didn't look right "Sir, you seem troubled" "Shift the Wolf has that affect". Realization hit Armand "Ah, yes. That Shinobi has quite a reputation" "That's an understatement. A better description would be crazy". A gunship flew above them, and Shift the Wolf jumped out and landed in front of them. He had brown fur, was wearing a black jacket and a chain around his neck and part of his left ear was missing. "Hey, Commander, looking good. Espio, you look worse for wear. How's temple life" he said in a laid-back tone. Espio just stared at him disapprovingly, "Nice to see you to" Shift said. "Yes well, if you could tell time half as well as you can stick a landing, you wouldn't be behind schedule, would we?" Espio responded, "Well that's your opinion, man".
Espio sighed "Let's get down to business. I suspect Jun Kun is behind Mike being broken out. He still has it out for Mike since the kidnapping of his son". This interested Shift "That would also line up with my information that Mike has information on the Iron Dominion hidden somewhere. My guess he was taken back to the home planet Ox Hutta". They headed towards the shuttle "As for the bounty hunter, Fleabyte, I suggest caution. He has experience facing Shinobi. It is imperative that he and Mike are captured and handed to the courts. I trust you and i can keep our eyes forward in this common goal?" "No problem. I've wanted a shot at Fleabyte anyway. I'll fly us there. You're my co-pilot" he ran to the shuttle before Espio could answer "I was afraid he'd say that" he told Armand before boarding the shuttle.
A brown female goat wearing a straw hat and a green dress walked up to the prison doors where two guards were. She smiled "Jun has a request. He wants to know which of you is stronger". The two guards immediately started fighting allowing the goat to walk past and she went to a cell holding Mike "Mike, honey. My love, what happened to you?. I thought you were coming back for me. I waited so long but you never did. I thought you didn't love me anymore" she asked sympathetically. Mike looked slightly confused but played along "Uh, yes. Our separation was a bit abrupt… But you can blame Jun for that. He's the one that forced you to leave Mobotropolis. Shattering the happiest time of my life" he pretended to be sad as he was getting close to remembering her name. "Oh, Mike, honey. Being you was the happiest time of my life too" "Yes, it's a shame this cell is preventing us from going back to the old days… Belinda" the fact that she didn't get mad made him think that was probably right although he didn't notice her eye twitch slightly. She looked worried "What do they want with you. Why would they do this to you?" "Well, as hard as it is to believe I'm not a perfect ox". He turned away from her, "I don't care what you've done. I just want us to be together forever", he smiled at turned back around "You really mean that" "From the bottom of my heart". Mike sighed "Well, sadly I'm this cell" "I have my ways" the two kissed through the cell.
The two Shinobi landed at the Iron Dominion base and were escorted inside where they stood before the Iron Dominion leaders. "How goes the war, gentlemen?" Regina asked them mockingly. Espio ignored the question and bowed his head "Great leaders of the Iron Dominion, we bring you grave news. Mike the Ox has escaped our custody with the aid of the bounty hunter Fleabyte" "We already know this, Shinobi" the elder Ox said dismissively. Shift stepped forward smirking "And we believe you broke him out" he said surprising Espio. The leaders all glared down at him "And why would the Iron Dominion do such a thing?" "That's what I'd like to know". Espio stepped forward and grabbed his shoulder "Shift, the Iron Dominion are our allies", Regina nodded "If you weren't with a wise Shinobi like Espio you might not be allowed to leave here alive, wolf". Shift continued t smirk "Maybe next time I'll come alone" "We only came to deliver the message. We'll be leaving now" Espio said before they both left the room. "Mike was here. Standing exactly where we were" Shift said as they walked. Espio nodded "Good job. I sensed there thoughts were focused on the cells on the lower level. I can feel a great deal of anger coming from there" "Well let's go see if it's our escaped ox". Once they left the room Fleabyte walked out staring t the door. Shift and Espio sneaked down to the jail where they found two guards unconscious and the cell lying open.
Later Jun and Regina were staring at the cell "How could he have gotten out?" "It must have been the Shinobi" "I disagree". They turned and saw Fleabyte at the door "The Shinobi aren't the ones that did this. Mike was gone before they arrived. It looks like you're right back where you started". Regina glared at him "I'm getting tired of paying you for the same job" "So am I. But now that tired. If you're not interested in making this problem go away I can take a hint". He was about to leave but "Wait". Fleabyte stopped and turned to them "So, we doing business or not?".
Later the two of them were running through the swamp of the planet "I understand your tracking talent. But why would Mike still be on the planet? Why not just leave?" Espio asked. "Something tells me he's still here" Shift answered. Espio shook his head "It doesn't make sense, he knows he's being looked for. Probably by everyone on the planet by now" "Something's keeping him here" "If we brought a robot this would go faster". Shift kneeled down and placed his hand on the ground and concentrated "I've got him".
A boat being driven by Belinda took Mike to a small hut in the swamp "Why are we stopping here?" "This is the one place none of the Iron Dominion would go. Even Regina" Mike answered. They entered the hut and there was a giant female Ox sitting in the middle of the room "Son, who invited you? Shoulda figured after all these years of never calling you'd show up at dinner time". Mike who was just about to eat a piece of food from a table stopped. His mother stared down at him "So, Sonny, what you been doing these past few years anyway?" "Oh a bit of this a bit of that. Using all my facilities for the betterment of the Iron Dominion". She stared down sceptically at him "What is you want, son?" " Can't a loving son just want to visit his mother on occasion?" "When the fleas leave my fur". Mike shrugged "Well, now that you mention it I wouldn't mind swapping our boat for a starship". She sighed "That's what I thought. Who's chasing you this time" "…The entire Iron Dominion". She rolled her eyes "Take it. But you better bring it back fully charged" "Thanks momma. I just have some important business on Badgerville".
Later Espio and Shift arrived at the same hut "We must be cautious" the former said but Shift then cut the door open with his lightsaber. "Shift, somebody lives here!" he ignored him and walked in with Espio following. Shift stopped when he saw Regina "Oh, god" "I see no one's taught you manners, smart guy". Espio came in and remained calm "Forgive him, Madam. He hasn't mastered the concept of knocking. For that I apologies, We mean you no harm". She scoffed "That would be a first for tonight" "Meaning?" Espio asked. "Meaning first my deadbeat son and his girlfriend come in here and takes my starship. Then some feline bounty hunter breaks in and forces me to tell him where he's going", "Big hat?" Shift asked. "Yeah" she said, Espio sighed "Fleabyte". "Are you after my boy to?" she asked angrily, "No, Madame, but if we don't find Mike before Fleabyte does he might not survive". She thought for a second "Badgerville. Mike's heading for Badgerville". They ran out and heard "Hey! Who's gonna pay for my door!?".
On Badgerville Mike and Belinda were on top of a cliff looking at a gravestone "My papa's grave" he pressed a button which opened the grave revealing a dead ox's body. "I never had the heart to tell Mama he ran away. So I killed him and told her he died in an accident" he said rather casually. Belinda went over to the body and took out a data pad "The Iron Dominion records?" "All of it. Every dirty deed those criminals have slithered through. Worth a fortune. Enough to retire". Her face dropped "Aw, that's too bad. I still have work to do" she took out a pistol surprising Mike "Belinda, what're you doing?". She turned very angry "My names not Belinda, you idiot! You never even dated Belinda! Belinda's married!". His eyes opened wide and he froze "Oh. Well…um" "Lady" she told him angrily. "Lady. Yes, Lady. You see I was-" she shot him multiple times in the chest.
Later Fleabyte arrived at the same area and found Mike's body "Uh, I hate it one someone does my job". He then heard a ship landing "Shinobi" he hid behind a large rock just before Espio and Shift jumped down. "Who could have done this?" Espio said on seeing Mike's body. Fleabyte then walked out and the two Shinobi saw him "Fleabyte". He shrugged "Looks like we're both late for the party" "So this isn't your handy work?" Espio asked him. "No. I wouldn't have made such a sloppy kill. I don't see a need for any trouble between us" "Are you forgetting how you held the Senate hostage. I may not be capturing Mike, but you are going to prison". Fleabyte didn't seem concerned "Well now that you mention it. The Separatists are paying a million rings a head for a Shinobi". He activated his rocket boots and fired own at them. They chased after him on the different rocks of the cliff. He fired down at the rock Shift was standing on causing it to collapse. He dropped his lightsaber and Fleabyte quickly flew over to him and grabbed it. He then landed on the same rock platform as Espio and charged at him and the two duelled. Espio managed to hit the lightsaber out of his hands but Fleabyte then grabbed his arm and shocked him causing him to scream in pain. He fell to the ground, but Shift managed to get back to the top of the rocks and ran towards them. Fleabyte flew up but Shift jumped and punched his face throwing them both to another rock. Espio got back up and jumped on the same platform but Fleabyte used a flame thrower on his wrist to push them back. Using the distraction, he flew up to a platform his ship was on and quickly took off before the Shinobi caught up.
Lady was back on Ox Hutta standing before Jun Kun alone without the other leaders. She handed a laughing Jun the data pad "Well done" he gave are a handful of rings. She laughed "No one would ever suspect me to do a bounty hunters job". She walked out and went into the bar and met with a similar looking goat who was sitting next to a male blue desert rat wearing glasses.