A terrorist threat! Zor, mastermind

of a Separatist plot to kidnap Chancellor

Solaris, has been captured by Republic

forces. But even with the criminal behind

bars, rumours swirl in the underworld of

Mobotropolis that Zor's plot has already

been set in motion.

With precious time running out, the Shinobi

Council hatches their own plot to keep

the Chancellor safe...

Espio, Shadow and Amy were heading to a shuttle that was waiting near a few buildings "So what's the big rush?" Shadow asked. "The Shinobi Council has called an emergency meeting" Espio answered, Shadow sighed "I can see it now. Another long, boring debate". Amy sniggered "Would you rather they call you in to train younglings?" a sniper shot suddenly hit the ground in front of them. They quickly rushed for cover and saw the shooter was on the roof of the building. Espio turned to Shadow and Amy "Alright, here's the plan. Shadow, you flank him on the right. Amy, you cover the lower streets. I'm going after him". They all ignited their lightsabers and did their parts, Espio and Shadow climbed up different buildings and chased after the sniper. They eventually lost tack of him "Espio, do you see him?" Shadow said over the commlink. Espio then suddenly stopped, closed his eyes, and walked out into the open. A sniper shot hit him in the shoulder knocking him off the roof. "Espio!" Shadow yelled, "I got him. Go!" Amy told him as she ran to where Espio landed. Shadow jumped over to the other building, but the Sniper escaped on an Extreme Gear board. He ran back down to the street and saw Amy holding Espio "How is he?", Amy looked up to him with tears in her eyes. Shadow shook his head in denial "No. Espio" he kneeled down and shook his body "Espio? Espio!".

At the Shinobi Temple, Espio's body was on a slab in the middle of the room. The Shinobi Council were on one side, Chancellor Solaris and a group of Senators were on the other. Shadow stood in front of the slab with an unreadable expression. Liza was crying, Tikal was standing next to her and had her eyes closed respectfully, Razor had his right arm to his chest with his head lowered. Amy stood next to Rob "I'm worried about Shadow. He hasn't said a word since it happened". They all watched the slab be lowered into the floor, doors closed over it and yellow beam was shot out of the middle. Shadow closed his eyes to hide the anger he was feeling.

The next day Blaze and Merlin were walking through the halls of the temple "Having second thoughts, Master Blaze?" "Hm. We're heading down a dark path" she said regretfully. "We talked about this. Killing a Shinobi was the best move we had". They entered an almost empty medical bay where a completely healthy Espio sat on a bed "So how was my funeral?". Blaze smiled "Your corpse gave a better performance that you" "Whatever do you mean? I fell from the top of a building. I could have killed myself. It was very convincing". "I think the vital suppressor had something do with it" Merlin said, "Even with all that, Shadow will sense something isn't right" Blaze said. Espio looked guilty "Keeping Shadow on the outside was critical. Everyone knows how close we are. His reaction is what sold the sniper. I'm sure of it". Merlin nodded "Good. We need to get your transformation under way" "Very well".

A robot went up to Espio and dripped a liquid into his eyes turning them green "Tell me about my target". Merlin showed a hologram of a male white Zeti with purple hair "His name is Zor. Works directly for Dimitri. Rumour is their plot will be hatched in three rotations at the festival on Albion. We tried to make a deal with Zor for more details, but he was… uncooperative". Espio nodded "Any details that might help me gain his trust while in prison?" "Zor killed his mother when he was only a boy. Told the authorities he did it because he was bored" "Hmm, I'll try not to bore him". Blaze shook his head "This is not a game, Espio. The risks are great". The robot then cut off Espio's horn making him sigh "Yes and so are the sacrifices. You better be able to reattach this" he joked. The robot moved over to a console "Facial transformation uploaded". Espio laid back "I take it there's no way to have the Chancellor pull out of the festival?". Blaze shook her head "No. He would see it as a sign of weakness". Espio sighed "Sign of weakness. Wouldn't want that". The robot injected something into Espio's neck, and his head suddenly started to transform. Espio started to groan in pain forcing Merlin to restrain him. He finally stopped and Espio removed his hands from his face revealing it to now be green with no sign of a horn.

A chameleon looking identical to Espio's new face and wearing a black and white striped shirt was sitting at a bar. A small robot came up to him "Loot?". Loot turned to it "Hm. Who wants to know?" "Your employer has your payment. Please follow me". Loot stood up and placed a handful of rings down "Round for the house!". The bar cheered as Loot followed the robot out of the bar and he entered a dark room where the silhouette of someone was sitting at a desk. Loot sat opposite him as he spoke "Well done, Mr Loot. We have your rings right here. But first we need one more thing". The man stood up into the light revealing it to be the disguised Espio "Your clothes" "What the?". Loot stepped back but Merlin was behind him.

A speeder carrying Amy and Shadow was traveling through the city streets "I still don't understand. Did Master Blaze say how they found the sniper?" "Who cares? All that matters is they did" Shadow said bluntly.

Merlin was sitting in front of Loot who was retrained to a chair "So I took off in the Extreme Gear, and then I got a ride here. That's it" "Keep talking into this" Merlin held up a small metal ball. Loot grunted in frustration "This is stupid. Confessing to a murder I didn't even do!". Espio then walked in wearing Loot's clothes "Oh, but you did. For all intents and purposes, Espio the Chameleon is dead and that certainly was your intention. How do I look". Merlin shrugged "Like a criminal. Should buy you all the credibility you need in prison". Loot struggled "Look, I don't know what you guys are up to, but-" "Do we have enough recording?" Espio asked. Merlin nodded "Which means you can go to sleep now". He waved his hand and Loot's head fell forward unconscious. Espio took the device "So how does this vocal emulator work?" the device suddenly grew legs, "Well, you swallow it". "I was afraid you'd say that" he put the device in his mouth, and he felt it crawls down his throat "What an odd sensation. It'll take some getting used to" his voice got slightly higher pitched and gravelly. Merlin smirked "That's a luxury you don't have".

Shadow and Amy entered the bar with serious looks on their faces. Everyone turned to them as Shadow ignited his lightsaber "Where is Loot the Chameleon?" "Back room" the bartender said very quickly. They went through to the back and saw Loot lying on a table with his back to them "Is he dead?" Amy asked staring at the assassin with disgust, "He's about to be". Shadow stepped towards him with rage in his eyes, he turned Loot over who woke up and glanced at him "A Shinobi? Uh… already killed one today. Let me sleep" he turned back around. Shadow began to shake "He's drunk. Get up!" he grabbed him and pinned him against the wall "If it was up to me, I would kill you right here! But lucky for you, the man you murdered would rather see you rot in jail". He pushed him to the door "Move. Before I change my mind".

They arrived outside the prison and Shadow pushed Loot to Commander Geoffrey "You should be expecting him" "Yes, sir" "Let me know if he's any trouble. I'd be happy to straighten him out". He and Amy gave Loot death stares as Geoffrey took him inside.

Loot was now in an orange prison suit; he was walking across the cafeteria with the other prisoners staring at him "That's him" "Espio's killer" "Loot" "He doesn't look so tough". One of the prisoners watched Loot as he sat alone at a table. A green lizard creature went up to him "That's him? That's the Shinobi killer? He doesn't look so tough". Loot ignored him as the lizard took his drink "He doesn't look so tough" he pushed him. Loot examined his fork "This food tastes terrible" he then pressed it into the lizard's hand who roared. Loot then grabbed him "Maybe you'd taste better". "Hey, what's going on down there?" they heard a guard up in the walkway say. Loot glanced at him "Sorry, just playing with my food". He released the lizard who pulled the fork out of his hand "You're crazy!" he quickly ran away. Loot went back to his food when Zor sat in front of him "Loot the Chameleon, your reputation precedes you". Loot ignored him so Zor continued "I'm curious, when you killed that Shinobi, was it for money or revenge" "I don't know. I guess I was bored". Zor chuckled "I can relate. I'll be seeing you again, Mr Loot".

Later Loot was on a hovering platform with two guards being taken around the cell block until stopping "Here you go, Loot. Home, sweet home". Loot entered and saw two people inside. One was sleeping with his back to Loot while the other was Zor who was staring at Loot who raised his eyebrow "Hmm, what a coincidence". Zor smirked "No coincidence. I am Zor, and I have great influence here" "What do you want from me?" "A man like you, there's bigger game than Shinobi, if you've got the guts". Loot sat opposite him "I'm listening" "It's a brilliant plan if I do say so and it involves the Chancellor". The other prisoner cleared his throat and turned around revealing it to be Fleabyte "If I'm breaking out this goon along with us, it'll cost you extra. Double my rate". Zor sighed "Uh… Loot, meet Fleabyte" "Who you calling a goon?" Loot asked. Fleabyte chuckled "Any imbecile can kill a Shinobi with a lousy sniper blast. You want my respect? You do it face-to-face". The two stood up "Who said I want your respect?". Fleabyte stared at him before looking to Zor "Make that triple my rate". Zor chuckled "Oh, what a shame. Seems the cell isn't big enough for the three of us. Guard!". He led Loot to the shield door "It's been a pleasure chatting with you, Loot. But you will forget everything you heard in here, or Zor will have you slaughtered". The guards arrived on the platform and took Loot away.

Loot was in the prisons gym and went over to a bench where a bear was lifting a barbell. Loot cleared his throat causing the bear to stand up "I was just leaving". Loot sat down and subtly took an earpiece hidden in the bench and put it in his ear. He lied down and started lifting the barbell "This is Valdez. I found the transmitter, but I shall have to make this short. We have a problem. I made contact with Zor. He nearly divulged his kidnap plot, but Fleabyte stopped him". He then heard Merlin's voice "Fleabyte? We had no intel they were in the league together" "It appears Zor's hired Fleabyte to break him out of prison and the way they were talking, it's imminent". He then heard Blaze "We were foolish to believe Fleabyte's capture was without purpose" "Yes. Yes, but we can make this work for us. If they do try to escape, I won't let them out of my sight. No doubt he shall lead us to some answers about the plot and possibly to his superiors" "Good idea, Espio. Just don't blow your cover. It could take a while to extract you from prison". Loot chuckled "Not to worry. I'm starting to enjoy playing the villain. Got to go". Espio sat back up and stretched, he removed his earpiece.

Loot was back in the cafeteria walking to a table when "Hey, Loot" he turned and saw Nack the Weasel, he was wearing a meta collar around his neck which kept him in his octopus form "You owe me something". Loot raised her eyebrows "Oh, do I?". Nack angrily walked towards him "You don't even remember me? That's very insulting" "Look, kid, I don't want any trouble". Nack hit the tray out of his hands "You stole a bounty from me, and I want an apology!". The other prisoners started watching and were hoping for Loot to kill him "You don't want to do this". Nack looked over to Fleabyte who nodded to him. Nack smirked "Oh, yes, I do" he tackled Loot back, but he was then thrown aside. He tried to punch Loot who easily stopped him "I warned you". Two clones ran up behind them with electric staffs "Alright, that's it. Fight's over!". He then heard a growl "No, it ain't". Loot turned around and saw Drago lift up the two guards and bash their heads together. He then looked down at Loot "You got a problem with Nack, you got a problem with me" he threw Loot across the table. Clones surrounded Drago "Alright, that's enough, big fella!". Drago punched one of them and more prisoners attacked the other three. A full riot started, Loot looked over and saw Zor and Fleabyte calmly sitting at the table. The doors opened and four clones entered with blasters and started stunning the prisoners who all charged past them and ran out to the corridors. Fleabyte and Zor ran out with Loot following "Hey, wait for me". Fleabyte stopped "No one invited you" "He killed a Shinobi. He could be helpful" Zor said. Fleabyte glared at Loot before "Fine. We're wasting time".

The three of them stayed hidden until after the end of the riot. They sneaked to the morgue and saw two clones leaving with a stretcher "This is our way out of here". Loot scoffed "The morgue? This is your brilliant plan?" "Not the first time I've broken out of this sink hole". They ran to the door and Fleabyte examined the control panel "Ah, the lock's changed" "Your plan has failed" Zor said, "Shut up! Let me think". Loot removed part of the panel "I can get us inside. I'll rewire the access port on this door. It'll take some time, so warn me if anyone comes" "Make it quick". Zor and Fleabyte ran to different ends of the hallway and watched for guards. Once looking away Espio waved his hand and the panel lock spun around and lit up green "We're in". The door opened and they all ran inside "All the riot casualties are sent to the crematorium. From there, it's an easy escape". They heard the guards coming back and they quickly climbed in three metal caskets with bodies inside. They heard voices "After what happened up there, I think I'd rather have badniks". The caskets suddenly moved and went through a chute. They eventually stopped and they heard more voices "Hey, wait. It looks like a couple of them are showing vital signs". He then heard Fleabyte's casket get opened before someone getting punched. Loot and Zor both jumped out, Fleabyte grabbed a baster and shot two clones. Loot tackled another one and took his blaster, the clone quickly ran over to the console when he stopped when Loot raised the blaster. Espio hesitated so the clone quickly activated the alarm on the console. Fleabyte turned to the clone and shot him "What's the matter with you?" "My blaster jammed" Loot answered looking away from Fleabyte. The three of them ran out onto a small hanger, Fleabyte shot the three clones before they all jumped into a speeder.

They eventually landed near a platform "Soon as we're off Mobotropolis, we're safe". They sneaked onboard a cargo ship and Zor quickly sat down in the cockpit and started the take-off sequence. Fleabyte then turned to Loot and punched him in the face "That's for hesitating during the escape" "If it wasn't for me, we'd still be stuck in there". Fleabyte went over and sat in the other pilot's seat "Yeah, funny how that worked out". They flew away and Zor turned to Loot "You did well in there, Loot. Maybe there's a place for you in my plans after all". Loot smirked "I'm listening".