CHAPTER 4

THE LOOK ALIKE

Vector sat in the Chaotix office staring out the window, a worried expression on his face. It was almost midnight and Espio still hadn't returned from his walk.

Where is he? the crocodile thought, he should have been back by now.

He heard a knock on the front door.

Finally!

Vector got up to answer it.

The instant he opened the door Charmy zipped in looking totally terrified.

"Whoa!" Vector exclaimed as the bee slammed into the crocodile's belly knocking him flat on his back. (Vector's not Charmy's)

"What's wrong with you?" Vector demanded.

Charmy, instead of explained or apologizing, slammed the front door shut, then leaned against it, panting.

"What's the matter?" the crocodile asked again.

The bee stared at him wild eyed. "Something went after me!" he nearly screeched.

"What was it?"

"I don't know. It was too dark."

Charmy's teeth began chattering loudly.

"Now, calm down," Vector said soothingly, "whatever went after you can't get in here and if it does it will have to get past me."

Charmy didn't feel comforted by these words at all. He began whimpering.

"Cut that out!" Vector ordered, beginning to lose his temper.

Charmy stopped.

"Thank you. Now. Why were you outside anyway?"

"I was out in the woods playing and didn't realize what time it was until it got dark," Charmy said.

"So you were in the woods," Vector implured, "did you see Espio while you were out there?"

Charmy shook his head. "I didn't see anyone."

At that moment there was a knock on the door.

"That must be him now," Vector said starting toward it.

"DON'T!" Charmy exclaimed buzzing in front of his boss's face.

"Why not?" the crocodile demanded, putting his hands on his hips and cocking his head at the bee.

"It might be the thing that went after me!"

"I doubt it," Vector said stepping around the bee, "now, if you'll excuse me."

Charmy got in his way again! "Since when does Espio knock?" the bee demanded, "he usually just barges in."

"He probably forgot his key," Vector said, rationally.

"But... but!" Charmy stuttered, "you don't KNOW!"

Vector swatted the bee away. "Move!"

Charmy moved.

Vector stepped up to the door and turned the knob. The instant he did the door burst open and about twenty creatures wearing black came storming in.

"Hey!" the crocodile exclaimed as the door hit him in the face.

He heard Charmy yell and slammed the door shut. He turned around and saw the dark clothed creatures chasing after the little bee.

"Hey, leave him alone!" Vector shouted rushing at them.

One of the creatures slid under the crocodile knocking him to the floor. As he tried to get back up another one threw a throwing star at him.

"Whoa!" he exclaimed dodging it.

He jumped to his feet and dodged some more. These things are freakin' ninjas! he thought.

He punched one in the face when it came at him. The force of the impact caused it to be lifted off the ground. It flew backwards and knocked over two more.

"Vector, there's alot of them!" Charmy exclaimed buzzing just out of the ninja's reach.

"Leave them to me!" the crocodile shouted bowling four more over.

Just then another ninja landed right in front of him. It reacted first.

"HIYAH!" it screamed spinning in the air and landing a hard kick in his stomach.

Vector flew backwards at the force and slammed into a stack of file cabinets behind him. They hit the floor with a loud CLANG!

"Vector!" Chamry screamed.

He started stinging the ninjas. "That this, you bad guys!" he yelled.

Vector stood up holding his head. He shook away colorful stars and his vision cleared just in time to see someone sneaking up on Charmy.

"LOOK OUT!" he shrieked.

Too late.

The ninja threw a sack over the bee and tied it shut.

"Let me out!" Charmy yelled, trying to get out of the bag.

"Leave him alone!" Vector shouted.

He took a step forward but was grabbed from behind.

"Let me GO!" the crocodile shouted trying to break free.

Someone stomped down on his spine and he fell to the floor in pain.

"All right, that's enough!" bellowed a voice.

Vector looked up and saw another dark clothed figure step into the office.

"You!" Vector shouted, trying to break free from the two restraining him, "Who are you? and what do you think you're doing barging in here and scaring little kids!?"

The thing walked up to him with an air of authority. "Who I am is none of your concern, crocodile," it said in a quiet type voice that sounded familiar, "why we are here I think I'll tell you. We know a certain chameleon ninja (he said ninja in a sarcastic tone) works here. We also know he has something we want somewhere around here."

"You mean Espio?" Vector inquired.

The ninja nodded.

"What do you want with Espio?" the crocodile demanded, "he hasn't done anything. Unlike you and your band of punks, he's straight."

"You really think you know him, don't you?" the ninja said.

"Ye, I do."

The ninja chuckled.

"What's so funny?"

"You have no idea what your precious Espio is really like," the ninja answered maliciously.

"What is that supposed to mean?"

"That I won't tell you," he said removing the cloth from his face.

Vector stared at the ninja in disbelief. Aside from a scar on the left eye, the ninja looked just like Espio!

"You look just like him!" Vector exclaimed, not sure he believed what he saw.

The ninja smiled self confidently then turned to the other ninjas. "Search the place then burn it," he looked at Vector again, "We'll take these two with us. To ensure that if we don't find it, Espio will be forced to bring it to us-" He grabbed Vector's face "- or he'll be saying good bye to his friends."

"Why you!" Vector snarled struggling to get free. He wanted so bad to rip the ninja's face off.

"Let's go!" the look alike ordered.

The ninjas drug Vector and the bagged Charmy out of the building. It didn't take long to search it and find out the thing they were looking for wasn't there. The leader nodded his head. Two ninjas lit the place on fire.

The ninja leader stood with his arms folded, watching the flames. Only a matter of time now, he thought, a smirk growing on his face, soon I'll have what I want.

He turned and slowly followed his minions as they drug their prisoners deep into the forest, the glare of the fire illuminating his back.


The two chameleons had talked about various things for the past two hours. Ayame did most of the talking though. Espio didn't really want to talk. For one thing the girl liked to talk and for another he didn't feel comfortable talking about himself. Besides he had another thing on his mind. I have to get back! he thought, but how am I going to tell her to shut up politely? He was getting edgy and the female chameleon finally asked. "What is wrong?"

"I have to get back," he replied.

"Where?"

"To the place where I work," he answered, slowly getting to his feet. His back still hurt but he could take it, "I have to let Vector know I'm okay. I'm sure he's worried."

The chameleon turned to go. The girl grabbed his shoulder. He stopped and glanced at her over his shoulder. "May I go with you?" she asked.

He shrugged. "I don't care."

The two began to climb back up the ravine.

When they reached the top they started walking. As they got closer to the place Espio sensed something was wrong. He stopped and listened. He heard the sound of wood cracking and broke into a run. Ayame , not having any idea why he'd done that, ran after him totally clueless.

He exploded out of the trees and stared in horror at what was in front of him. "OH MY GOD!" he yelled as he watched the Chaotix building go up in flames.

Ayame had caught up with him by then. She stared at the burning building and said nothing.

"VECTOR! CHARMY!" he screamed trying to rush forward.

"Don't be a fool!" Ayame exclaimed, grabbing him.

The male chameleon struggled against her. "Let me GO!" he shouted, practicely mad with panic, "I have to save my friends!"

"Espio, if they were in there when the fire broke out they would have escaped it before it got this bad!" she screamed in his ear.

He didn't seem to hear her. Instead he tried to kick her.

Ayame put an arm around his neck and held him in a strangle hold. He grabbed her arm, gasping. "It pains me to do this, Espio," she said raising her fist, " but I'm afraid you leave me no choice."

She smashed her fist against his skull and he fell to the ground unconcious. "I'm sorry," she said looking down at him, "but I couldn't have you killing yourself. Not after all the time it took me to find you."