All copyright info in chapter 1
The 3 Shadows, Episode 4 - Hunters
Chapter 3 - The Initiation
Joz entered a vast chamber that suddenly lit up as he approached it. He took a good look at the room and wondered what was so tough about it. He noticed a single bridge made out of connecting wood logs above a set of spikes. Obviously falling off the bridge meant death. He also noticed 4 gems, a Sapphire, a Ruby, an Emerald and a Diamond, scattered around the room.
"I take it I'm meant to get all 4 gems and reach the other side right?" asked Joz in a loud voice.
"You learn quickly. Each GASH member must pass this course to finish their training. We have simulations for this sort of thing at our headquarters, but for someone with your reputation we thought a real test was in order", said Sapphire over the tannoy.
"And I take it all the traps are hidden", said Joz.
"Of course. You should have no problem passing this. If you fail this though we will be so angry that death would be too light a punishment", said Sapphire.
Joz walked onto the bridge and as his foot left the first log it began to drop.
"Oh did I forget to mention that. Once a log has been stepped on it will drop the moment you leave it. And before I forget, you can only fly 3 times. Flying a 4th time means disqualification. In other words you can't just fly to each gem and then to the end", said Sapphire.
"What's next? The lights going out making me have to do this in the dark?" asked Joz sarcastically.
"We wouldn't want it to be too easy for you", said Sapphire. Joz sighed and looked ahead. If I just walk over the logs they'll fall, but I can jump over them and save them for later if I need them.
Joz took one big jump and landed with both feet on the same log. Suddenly a large axe started swinging just in front of him. He stepped back one log and let the other one drop. He looked to his left and saw the diamond sticking out of the wall. He jumped over to it and climbed the wall. Grasping the Diamond he jumped back onto the bridge with it.
"One down, three to go", said Joz.
Meanwhile Shadow and Miles had been escorted to the rest room. Within the hills there was a base similar to GUN's and Gerald's. Cold sterile metal filled the corridors. There were lots of security cameras and doors that needed special keys to open. Inside the room were several TV's and three beds. On one of the TV's was Joz jumping across a bridge avoiding Giant axes. On one of the beds was Miles wrist shooters. He put them on and continued to watch Joz.
"Hey where's my Emerald?" Asked Shadow in a loud voice. A Green Chameleon walked through the door and handed the Green Chaos Emerald back to Shadow.
"Here you go Shadow. Sorry about that, but it is a Chaos emerald is it not?" asked the chameleon
"Yes, but who are you anyway?" asked Shadow.
"I'm Emerald the Chameleon. One of the Deadly Gems. I'm looking forward to fighting Master hunter. He might just prove to be the greatest challenge any of us has ever had", said the Chameleon.
"Joz isn't in any danger is he?" asked Miles.
"No, unless he fails the initiation. He seems to be doing quite well. 2 gems down and he hasn't used a flight credit yet", said Emerald, "We just want to prove ourselves against him. We've worked hard to get our status yet he has done nothing to get his".
"Hey lay off Joz. If it wasn't for him we'd have been dead by now", said Shadow, "I can say without a doubt that he deserves his title"
"How would you know, you haven't seen any of us in action", said Emerald, "We have a few tricks of our own you know. Well enjoy your stay here. I'm off to prepare if he makes it"
"Oh he'll make it alright", said Miles.
Meanwhile Joz had just grasped the Emerald, and put it beside the Diamond and the Ruby in his pocket. The Sapphire was right at the end at the opposite side of the room. He jumped back towards the wind but was blown back by a fan that appeared on the opposite wall. Joz fell towards the spikes. No, I'm done for. Wait a minute, I still have 3 oppurtunities to fly.
Joz used the Jet wing to fly past the wind the fan was producing and got back to the bridge.
"Phew that was close", he said, "Well one more to go".
He jumped towards the Sapphire and grabbed it. He saw the end of the bridge from there and decided just to fly to it. It was a good thing too cause several axes blocked the path to the end of the bridge along the bridge. He walked over to the wall and saw four holes for the gems. He placed each of them in the holes and another doorway appeared.
"Well done Master hunter. But now the fun really begins", said Sapphire.