At Tikal's apartment, Espio was entering the living area where Shadow was waiting "Captain Remington has more than enough men downstairs. They won't try that way. Anything up here?". "No, Master. Quite as a tomb, ironically", Espio looked at him concerned "Something bothering you?". Shadow nodded "I don't like just waiting for something to happen to her". Espio then realised the cameras where off "Do you want to explain this?", Shadow looked nervous "It was her; she didn't like being watched, can't blame her really. Don't worry she programmed Emerl to warn us if anything happens". Espio crossed his arms "Are you using her as bait?" "It was her idea. She knows I can sense danger", Espio looked at the room door "It's too risky. Besides your senses aren't that attuned, my young apprentice" he said dismissively. Shadow tried to hide his irritation "And yours are?" "Possibly". Little did either of them know that not far away Zeena was loading the centipedes into the stinger of a buzz bomber.


A bit later Shadow was standing at the balcony while Espio was watching him from inside "You look tired" Espio said. Shadow leaned against the balcony "I haven't been sleeping well" Shadow could see genuine concern on Espio's face "Because of your Mother?". Shadow nodded "I've been dreaming about her a lot over the last few days... I don't why" "They'll pass in time" Espio said reassuringly. Shadow walked back inside "I should be focusing, Tikal needs us" Espio looked disapprovingly at him "Be mindful of your thoughts Shadow. You've made a commitment to the Shinobi, a commitment not easily broken. And don't forget she's a politician, they're not to be trusted". Tikal was sleeping in her room but outside the window the buzz bomber arrived, it pierced its stinger through the window and the centipedes crawled out onto the floor. They made their way to her bed but Emerl then beeped. The creatures got out of sight as Emerl eyes lit up and he started to scan the room, he couldn't see anything, so he eventually powered back down. The creatures began moving again and were only feet away from Tikal.

Espio and Shadow where continuing their conversation "Besides, you're generalizing. The Chancellor isn't corrupt" "Solaris is a politician" "He's also a good man. I-". Shadow quickly turned his head to the door "I sense it to" Espio said as they both ran inside. Just before the creature could poison her Shadow activated his blue lightsaber and jumped on the bed and he cut them in half. Tikal woke up and Espio saw the buzz bomber begin to leave. He ran and jumped out the window and grabbed onto it as it flew away. "Stay here!" Shadow said to Tikal as he ran back out the room. Espio was holding on for dear life as the buzz bomber flew him across the city. Shadow ran into the apartment buildings hanger, jumped into a speeder, and took off to follow Espio. As he's holding on Espio sees the green zeti watching him from the balcony, he sees her taking something out of her speeder which she points at him and suddenly the buzz bomber exploded. Zeena jumped into her speeder and took off as Espio started falling. Shadow sees him and he pushes his speeder down, so it matches Espio's speed and he catches him.

Espio climbs into the passenger seat as Shadow straightens the speeder "What took you so long?". Shadow grinned "Well you know, I couldn't find a speeder I liked" "There she is" Espio pointed to Zeena's speeder and Shadow started the chase. She dived straight down causing Shadow to do the same, they were heading straight for the roof of a building. Espio was looking worried "Pull up, Shadow. PULL UP!", Shadow laughed as he did so. Espio breathed heavily "You know I don't like it when you do that" "Sorry, Master. I forgot you don't like flying" Shadow said with a grin. The chase continues through the city "I don't mind flying, but what you're doing is suicide". Zeena entered a tunnel but instead of following Shadow went past it confusing Espio "Where are you going? She went that way" "We can't keep this chase up to long or she's gonna end up killing herself. We still need to find out who she's working for. I know a shortcut, I think". They continued for a while before Shadow stopped the speeder "Well you've lost her" Espio said with his arms folded. Shadow rolled his eyes as he kept looking over the side, Espio continued "That wasn't much of a shortcut, Shadow. She went completely the other way. Once again you've proved-". "If you'll excuse me" Shadow jumped out of the speeder and started falling to the ground "I hate it when he does that" Espio said.

As he was falling Shadow suddenly landed on Zeena's speeder, he held on as Zeena manoeuvred to try and shake him off. He climbed to towards the pilot seat and pulled out his lightsaber. He pierced it through the cockpit window but Zeena pulled out a blaster and started firing at him. He dropped his lightsaber and it fell off the speeder but luckily Espio was following close behind and caught it. Shadow grabbed Zeena's hand and in the confusion, she accidently shot her control console causing the speeder to fall and crash onto one of the streets. Shadow fell off right before it hit the ground, he stood up and saw Zeena climb out of the speeder wreckage and make a run for it and he gave chase. Espio lands and follows them, Shadow sees her run into a club but before he can enter "Shadow!" Espio ran towards him. "She went into the club, Master", Espio stood in front of him "Patience. Use the force. Think. She went in there to hide not to run", Shadow anxiously nodded "I'm sorry, Master". Espio took out Shadow's lightsaber "Try not to lose it. This weapon is your life", Shadow took it "I try, Master".

They entered the club "Why do I get the feeling you're going to be the death of me?" "Don't say that, Master. You're the closest thing I have to a father". They looked around as they talked "Then why don't you listen to me?" "I try". They look around the crowd of people in the club, some were drinking and others where watching different sports on TV's. "Can you see her?" Espio asked, "No". Espio started to walk to the bar "Go find her", Shadow looked confused "Where are you going, Master?" "For a drink". Espio sat at the bar when a plumber in blue overalls next to him offered something "You wanna buy some mushrooms". Espio waved his hand "You don't want to sell me mushrooms" "I don't want to sell you mushrooms". "You want to go home and rethink your life" "I want to home and rethink my life" the plumber walked away and Espio took a sip of his drink. Shadow was walking around the bar, some of the people were looking at him but he didn't care. He felt danger but not for him, he made his way back to Espio and he saw Zeena behind him ready to shoot him in the back.

Shadow was about to do something but before he could Espio in a split second ignited his lightsaber, turned around and cut off the hand she was holding the blaster with. She cried in pain and fell over but Espio picked her up, Shadow came forward and looked at the crowd "Easy. Shinobi business. Go back to your drinks". They both carried her outside into an ally and put her down "Do you know who you were trying to kill?" Espio asked. Zeena grunted in pain as she answered, "A senator from Albion" "And who hired you?". Zeena had a blank face "It was just a job", Shadow looked angry "Who hired you? Tell us" she didn't answer "Tell us now!". She looked scared "It was a bounty hunter called-" a dart then suddenly hit her in the throat causing her to gag. They both turned to see the shooter in the distance fly away with a green glow above him. Espio turned back and Zeena's head fell to the ground, she was dead. He pulled the object out of her neck "Toxic dart".