Chapter Six

"The darkness within you? What is that supposed to mean?" Amy exclaimed as Shadow told her of his meeting with HexShadow. The group had set back on the road after the much-needed break. Of course, Shadow didn't seem to enjoy it too much.

"You remember when we first encountered each other?" Shadow asked her.

"Yes…you wanted revenge for Maria? I thought you did away with that side of yourself!"

"I thought I did too, but now that he's come back…who knows what he'd try. What's worse…now he just wants to hurt innocents for the sheer pleasure...how could I have kept such a monster in my soul!"

"And you're saying he's still connected?"

"Not only that…he can see and hear everything I'm doing, and sense everything I'm thinking…he's probably looking at you like some sort of sexual predator would. But I can't see through his eyes."

"So that means…"

"He can notify Geddon of our progress. He'll always be one step ahead of us, and it's my fault."

"Don't blame yourself. How could anyone have anticipated that he could use the evil within us for such an end?"

"No one, I guess."

The bus suddenly screeched to a halt.

"What's going on?" Trenk exclaimed. "The bus isn't due for its nap for hours!"

"We've got a bunch of ninjas outside…" Renoplax answered from the other room.

"Espio…that two-timing…" Shadow growled. He got up from his seat and burst out into the open. Indeed, there were ten ninjas, all equipped to survive in the desert wasteland. Most of them were demons of varying natures, but there were two chameleons, one slightly smaller and younger than the other. One of them was indeed Espio. His mouth was covered by a black shawl, but no other additions to his attire had been added. The younger chameleon, about 13 or 14 years old, was an indigo color, and had a shorter horn.

"We meet again, Shadow the Hedgehog," Espio said emotionlessly.

"Espio…how could you do that to us!" Shadow replied angrily, his fists clenched. You sold out the entire planet to save your damn hide! And now you're some sort of high-brow assassin, I bet!"

"I did not come here to kill you, or any of your friends."

"Yeah right…how can I trust you? You've got eight bloodthirsty demons right behind you just waiting to slit the throat of everyone on this bus!"

Espio's tone became angrier. "Listen to me, Shadow! I went over to Vector's side for a reason…a good reason."

"Go ahead…just try not to lie too much…"

"Sensei…he's obviously not going to believe you," the young chameleon said.

Shadow smirked sardonically at the younger chameleon. "Your student makes a good point. Just get out that sword of yours and fight me one on one!"

"Nahj...and the rest of you…drop your weapons." The demon ninjas, surprised at their leader's order, did so with a great deal of apprehension.

Shadow guffawed at this. "Espio? Nahj? That's rich! What a pun!"

"This is no time for jokes. Are you going to hear me out?"

"Go ahead…"

"I have sought you for one reason…to help Nahj fulfill his destiny."

"Huh? Are you saying…"

"As you and Amy are bound to the Cipher, so is Nahj bound to the Air Diamond."

"But…don't you serve Vector?"

"I do…but not faithfully." The demon ninjas gasped at these statements, and picked up their weapons…they were told to slay any traitor in their midst, even if it was their own master.

Espio closed his eyes, and formed a barrier of darkness around the bus, blocking out the ninjas.

"Espio…how did you…"

"As the Head Ninja in Geddon's forces, I can manipulate darkness. But I suspect that he will know of my treachery. That is why I bid you…no, I beg you to take Nahj with you! I have taught him everything I could…"

"Sensei…I don't want to leave you yet!" Nahj protested.

Espio turned to his student, bent down and looked him straight in the eyes."You have to…I am beyond saving…but you are young yet, and Geddon's grip cannot reach those who have not fully come of age…"

"What about the others, Espio? Tsuko, Cadmus and Miko…where are they?"

"Tsuko is not far from here, but I fear he has lost control of his power…he grieves much for a lost loved one."

"Yumi…was she killed?"

"By echidnas that did Geddon's bidding. Tsuko is now under the influence of a devious and powerful fire demon, who also serves the World Eater."

"Cadmus?"

"He saw Tsuko's destructive ways, and now he has fortified his home with stone and plants…and he keeps his wife imprisoned with him. An earth demon wishes to keep them locked away forever…"

"I suppose Miko is under the control of a water demon…"

"No. He is in the land to the east…in the Kingdom of Ragozine, leading a rebellion there. The kings of that realm have served Geddon for centuries."

"Thanks…but why did you join Vector in the first place?"

"It was to save you and the others. If I had stood my ground that day, over a year ago…we would have all perished, and then there would be no hope whatsoever."

"Espio…"

"Go, and tell everyone that Espio bids them goodbye…forever. Go!"

"Come on, Nahj…"

Shadow led the young chameleon onto the bus.

"Get the engine going!" he yelled.

"Huh? Who's the chameleon?" Trenk inquired.

"I'll explain later…GO!"

When the shadow barrier dispersed, the bus lurched into high gear and drove away as fast as it could, leaving Espio to deal with his own students.

-- -- -- -- --

"I have news for you, Lord Vector…it regards the Head Ninja," HexShadow announced as he strode into Vector's throne room/office. "He has turned traitor."

"What? News of Espio? Do go on!" the crocodile replied, leaning back in his chair, and bade HexShadow to get down on one knee.

HexShadow got down on one knee, and continued."He has sent his student, Nahj, to join the group. No doubt he has lied to you about it."

"He said he was going to have Nahj infiltrate the group, then kill them all when he got the chance…"

"…but in reality, Nahj is going to find the Diamond of Air, which, as you know, is stored within one of the four Black Pyramids."

"Is that so?" Vector said, stroking his scaly chin. "I thank you for this information, HexShadow. As a reward, I'll give you the pleasure of eliminating him."

HexShadow stood up and cracked his knuckles. "You are most generous, Lord Vector…I eagerly await his return." As he started out, Vector stopped him.

"Make it a good show…because I'll be watching on the security cameras."

HexShadow turned back to Vector. "The showier the kill, the better, I say."

"I like the way you think, HexShadow…but tell me…how do you know all this?"

"The overlord would be best to reveal that to you. I bid you adieu, Lord Vector." HexShadow warped out of the room, as was his style. Vector lay back in his plush chair and smiled.

"One by one, the heroes shall fall…that leaves only two…"

-- -- -- -- --

"So…you're Espio's student, huh?" commented Raiden as the group gathered to ascertain the newcomer. "I dunno if we should trust you…"

"Besides…HexShadow probably knows…and this kid could be leading us into a trap." Amy added.

"HexShadow? Who's he? Is he one of Vector's minions?" Nahj asked. "Will he harm Sensei Espio?"

Shadow bowed his head. "He probably will…but I think your sensei would rather die fighting the enemy he hates rather than serving them."

"So be it, then," Nahj replied, bowing his head in reverence to his sensei. "I shall not grieve for a master who is going to die in the way he wishes to do so."

"The ninjahas a good heart," Blaze said, nodding in approval."He only wishes to help."

"And the first I'm going to do for you will be to tell you the location of the four Elemental Gems."

"Elemental Gems?" Yakujo said. "And they are…"

"Each one controls one of the four elements of the ancient times: Air, Earth, Fire and Water," Crimsa immediately said. "Tsuko, Miko and Cadmus are keyed to each gem. As Espio said…you've got the Diamond of Air to find."

"Tsuko? I thought I heard a voice say that I was to wield its power…" Blaze said.

Crimsa nodded her head a little. "Perhaps there is hope for Tsuko, after all. Go on, Nahj."

"Each of the gems is being held in one of four Black Pyramids, to ensure that they can never be used against Geddon. Since evil must exist for there to be good, there are four Prime Elemental Fiends. They can be destroyed though, but only by the one keyed to the respective gem."

"We didn't encounter any fiends when we found them first in that temple…" Shadow said. "How did the fiends appear?"

"When Geddon took over the world, great swarms of demons came out of the planet," Amy answered."They were probably released as well."

"So then it's settled…"Raiden said decisively, "…we find our friends, get the Elemental Gems, destroy the Prime Fiends, and after we do all that we head after the big fish himself!"

"Sounds like a plan,"Shadow agreed.

Nahj nodded in agreement. "The nearest one I can sense is Miko. Just keep heading west, and you'll see snowy ground. That's the border of the Ragozine Kingdom. But if Shadow is correct, that HexShadow has notified Vector, we should expect some company as we get closer to the capital. The Prime Water Fiend is there too, and he has left the kingdom in a permanent winter."

"We're off then!" Trenk yipped. "I just hope you don't mind sleeping on the floor. We're out of places to sleep."

"I can sleep anywhere…" Nahj replied. "But I think we can reach the capital by sundown if we pick up the pace a little…"