Two days later, shortly before sunrise; the Shang Tu submarine surfaces ten miles from Tenshijima. Four one-man craft shoot from the bow, heading directly for the island; once they're safely clear, the submarine descends back into the deep to return home.

At the top of the Kakusareta Kyuden's tallest lookout tower, Aquila watches the compact craft approach. So, you decided to come after me; I commend your courage. They say that 'Fortune favours the brave'; today I'll prove them all wrong. For fortune favours not the brave, but the powerful. And with the Elemental Crystals, I am the most powerful person on this nauseatingly pathetic excuse for a planet. Not that I'll need to deal with them; the low-power clones I gave the Grand Masters should be enough to crush the Scarves' worthless hides.

Aquila zooms in on one of the craft. It seems that Fortune is two-timing me; she should be a corpse. Not that it matters; she and her friends won't be leaving this island alive.

Aquila lowers his scope. "Attention Grand Masters," he addresses over the radio. "The so-called 'Elemental Protectors' are on their way. Use the powers I have given you, and show no mercy."

Without waiting for a reply, Aquila shuts off the radio and heads to the dungeons.

Hanna stirs at the sound of Aquila opening the door to her cell; she raises her head, fixing him with a defiant look as he pushes a compact trolley with a small monitor on it in front of him. It takes all the strength she can muster; her health is slowly failing through illness and malnourishment.

"I see you still have some spunk left in you," Aquila compliments. "Normally my prisoners have broken after this long in my possession." Aquila sets down the chair he's carrying. "Your friends show real tenacity too; they're on their way to rescue you," he continues as he sits. "Not that they'll succeed of course; my Grand Masters will see to that."

Hanna continues her defiant stare.

"An interesting question, young one," Aquila continues. "I think you'll like the answer. After all, theft is one of your special skills, is it not? Along with murder. I still don't understand why you think you're morally better than me; we both have a lot of blood on our hands. It is a vexing concern. Still, it's academic now that I have these."

Aquila opens the small hemp sack he's carrying and empties its contents onto the floor in front of him; Hanna's eyes widen in fear at the sight of the five Elemental Crystals.

"Don't be afraid little girl, I'm not going to hurt you," Aquila soothes mockingly, returning the Crystals to the sack. "I want you to watch your friends die first," he adds, activating the monitor and flicking through a handful of channels. "Here we are!" he exclaims when he finds the channel showing the four craft landing at a small beach. "And don't worry about changing the channel; I can do that remotely for you," he finishes, leaving Hanna to watch her friends. "After all, I'll be watching too."

Rob and Danny are first to land on the beach, Maria and Xander right behind them; they waste no time stowing the jet-skis and their wetsuits in a small cave nearby. The boys are dressed and kitted as normal; Maria however has modified her dress so it's now a two-piece top-and-skirt ensemble, exposing her midriff. She has also armed herself with twin nunchaku in addition to her usual ninjato and tanto, and all four are wearing special belt buckles designed to hold a crystal the size of a deck of playing cards.

"When the blast of war blows in our ears, then imitate the action of the dragon. Stiffen the sinews, summon up the blood, and disguise fair nature with hard-favoured rage," Maria growls as she leads the boys into the trees, her ninjato drawn.

"Please Maria, be serious about this," Rob requests.

"I am serious," Maria insists.

"It sounds like you're quoting a movie or something," Danny opines.

"Then you give the inspiring speech," Maria snaps.

The boys remain silent.

"Thought so," Maria smiles.

Danny holds Rob back slightly to talk in private. "Is it just me, or is something about Maria's personality a little… off?"

"I know what you mean," Rob agrees. "I spotted it in Shang Tu, if I'm honest; she's lost that childlike quality."

"Maybe she should have stayed behind," Danny sighs.

"We need her here," Rob reminds. "The chances of success are better with four of us. Plus, there's no way she'd stay behind."

"That's not as reassuring as it should be," Danny admits.