I was on the couch thinking about the recent thefts when Trixie bursts in. “She stole my camera!” She yelled. “Dana will pay!”

“Isn’t she the one who put the Shadow Talker on?” I asked.

Eli nodded. “What happened?”

“She stole my camera and I shot at her but then she pulled an Alex.” Trixie said.

“A what?” I asked.

“When you disappeared.” Eli explained. “Usually when we’re not looking.”

“So you called it an Alex?”  I asked. “It’s called Shadow Travel.” I explained.

“Oh.” Eli said.

The next day we were at the museum, waiting for Dana to arrive. “Dana ain’t getting through that.” Kord said, gesturing at all the security lasers.

“If she does, she’ll find us waiting.” Eli said.

“Yes well, let us hope she doesn’t keep us waiting for long.” Pronto said. He was sitting next to Kord. “Pronto needs a snack.”

Kord looked bored. “We don’t even know for sure she’s gonna try and rob the Cavern Museum.”

“She will.” I said. “She’s hit every other high security target in Slugterra.”

“And pulled Alexes at every one.” Trixie said.

“Shadow Travel.” I corrected. “And she’s not a Shadow Changer.” I had even returned home to check.

“And she’s posted enough clues on the net using my camera!” Trixie continued.

“Well,” Kord said. “While we wait I’m gonna dive into this week’s crossword and win me some loot.” He pulled out a newspaper and a pen.

Pronto’s stomach growled. “Sorry, still hungry. Pronto still needs a snack.”

“And I need a nine-letter word for flim flam.” Kord said. “That’s starts with a B.”

“Try,” I heard a women say.  “Bamboozle.”

I looked at the corner where the pink haired girl hung like Spiderman. “Dana!” Eli said. “But how could she have gotten in?”

“Less talking more slugging that camera-stealer!” Trixie opened fire and Dana used an Arachne slug to swing away. She landed on a statue of an armashelt.

“Careful, Trixie.” She warned. “You don’t want to set off the alarm system.” She grinned. “But I do,” She stuck her hand in a laser beam and automated slug blasters fell from the ceiling and opened fire.

“Scatter!” Eli yelled.

I followed the thief with Pronto but he launched himself through the beams only to lodge in a painting. I heard him cry out as Dana stole his eyebrow. I hissed and jumped through the beams. Kord was right behind me and he lunged for the girl.

He missed and Dana fired a slug and pulled a statue of a thresher slug over causing Kord to bounce around trying to not get crushed.

“Give me back my camera!” Trixie yelled, firing a Jellyish. The slime landed next to some abstract art and Dana paused. She looked at the slime and the painting.

“I think I like yours better.” She said. “Let me take a picture.” She pulled out the stolen camera and Trixe charged. Dana jumped out of the way and Trixie was trapped in her own ‘art’.

Dana was on the wall. “That’s enough, Dana.” Eli said. I stood next to him. “When we first met, I thought maybe we could be friends. We gave you every chance to do the right thing. But your just a no good thief.”

“Yup.” Dana agreed. “And there’s noting you can do about it.” She swung past the gift shop and grabbed a shirt.

Eli fired Spinner and attempted to replicate the move.  He slammed into the wall. The thief was gone.

“No way.” I said. “She’s not like me. It’s impossible.”

“It’s like she just disappeared into the Shadow.” Eli agreed.

“Give me a second.” I said. I shifted and scaled the wall to where she had disappeared. I sniffed the air. The faint smell of my home found me. I jumped down and shifted back. I refused to look at the Gang, angry at the misuse of Shadow Clan technology. 

“Alex.” Eli said.

I stopped. “We have to get it back.” I said without turning. “If it’s the last thing we do.”

“Get what back?” Eli asked.

I sighed. “I gave my word not to speak of it unless imperative and even then I need permission.” The Clan took oaths and honour very seriously and that had worn off on me without resistance due to my respect of the Shadow honour code.

We went home and I was silent as I watched the slugs play. Suds was blowing bubbles and the others were either popping them or hitching rides.

“It may not have been our best night.” Eli said. “But it wasn’t a total disaster.”

“And I got Bamboozle.” Kord agreed. “I never would have gotten that.” A slug floated past him on a bubble.

“At least no one else saw us flailing around like…” Trixie froze, her finger on the mouse as she searched the net. “…A bunch of Floppers!”  I looked at the screen to see a video of Kord struggling with the Thresher statue. “She posted it on the slugnet! Using my camera!”

I have expected her to yell “I swear vengeance!” But I was disappointed when she only growled.

Pronto ate a sandwich as Kord talked. “I still don’t get what Dana thinks she’s doing. The only thing she took from the museum was a t-shirt from the gift shop.”

A slug fell into his lap when its ride popped. “Besides making us look bad, I’d say she’s doing it for the fun of busting into anyplace.” Eli said.

“There’s nowhere harder to get into than that museum!” Kord said hopefully.

“No.” Eli said. “There is one place. Dr. Blakk’s.”

We were coming home from a stakeout. “What a waste. Ten hours and nothing.” Kord said.

“Maybe she had another way in” Eli suggested.

“If a tracker as keen-eyes and sharp-nosed as Pronto cannot find her...” Pronto said as he unlocked the door. “Dana Por cannot be found.” He yelped in surprise.  “Ah ha, you see? Apparently I am even better than I thought!”

I walked in to see Dana sitting on the couch. “Yeah, yeah. You caught me. Now hurry up and close the door.”

“You had us chasing our tails like a bunch of floppers!” Trixie yelled.

“Now I’m turning myself in.” Dana said, tossing Trixie her camera.

“I don’t get it.” I said. “Why now?”

The sirens when off and I looked at the security cameras. A man on a red and white horse mecha was riding into our cavern. He fired at the camera and the screen went dark.

He found us! Dana’s slug yelped.

“Calls himself the gentleman. He’s working for Dr.Blakk.” Dana explained.

“So you did steal from him.” I asked.

Dana nodded and held up a blaster with the V on it. “And now, Blakk wants payback.”

The horse stopped in front of the hideout where the Gentleman was confronted by Eli, Kord and I. “Allow me to introduce myself.” The gentleman said in the Slugterran version of a British accent. He had black hair and a neatly tailored black and red suit but it wasn’t the Blakk uniform. It was more of a suit. “I am…”

“Dana told me about you.” Eli interrupted.  “And the blaster. It’s inside. You’re welcome to it.”

“Unfortunately, I will have to decline your offer.” The gentleman said. “Unless the girl comes with it.”

Eli crossed his arms. “Can’t do that. I gave her my word.”

“That I can certainly appreciate. So it appears we will have to find another way out of this impasse.”

“Impasse.” Kord repeated. He whipped out the crossword. “23 across. Thanks.”

Then the bounty hunter saw Trixie and Dana escaping. “Not very polite to leave without saying goodbye.” He fired an armashelt.

I returned fire. Yin shot out but was knocked aside along with Kord’s Tazerling. Eli’s phospero got through and it blinded him. I suspected it also messed up the eye plate he wore.

The fire a hot rock and went after Dana. “I thought it wasn’t polite to leave without saying goodbye!” I yelled.  I grabbed the boys’ shoulders. “Run at the wall.” I said. “Don’t stop.”

They ran with me into the shadow, giving me the booster I needed to teleport them both.  We reappeared in the valley where we had led the gentleman. Eli and Kord took their positions. I had warned them that teleporting them would wear me out. I collapsed against a rock and slid down.  I heard a blaster fire and Eli’s blaster was knocked out of his hands. He was the only one I could see.

“A mere distraction.” The heard the gentlemen say.

“Exactly.” Kord yelled. I heard the mecha hit the rock floor as Kord tackled the hunter.

Eli helped me down, my strength returning faster now that I was walking. I saw the man on a rock where Kord had hit him.

“I guess Dana bolted.” Trixie said. She was dressed in Dana’s clothes, a hat to hide her hair in hand.

“Guess again.” Dana said. She came around the corner, a hair band mimicking ponytails. She was wearing Trixie’s shirts and pants.

“So what do we do with her now?” Kord asked.

“I got some ideas.” Trixie and I said as one making us look at each other in surprise.

“If I could take back all the stuff I did, trust me—I would.”

“And we should just take your word for it?” Trixie asked.

Eli looked at Burpy. Do it.

“No.” Eli said. “You should take mine. I trust her.”

“Thanks, Eli.” Dana said. “For everything.”

“Don’t thank me. Prove me right.”

I heard the gentleman wake up and Trixie and I aimed Frostcrawlers at him.  “I believe I know what happens next.”

“I don’t think you do.” Eli knelt next to him. “We’re letting you go.”

“We are?” Kord asked, shocked. “This guy’s the bad guy.”

“You just want him around because he’s good with words.” I said.

“That too.” Kord admitted.

“Even if we return his blaster,” Eli said. “Blakk is still gonna hunt her down. This is what we have to do to protect her.” He looked at the gentleman. “Your gonna go to Blakk and tell him to meet me in Chillbore Cavern—Alone. And this is exactly how it’s gonna go down.  We’re gonna convince Blakk that she’s taken care of. Even with the blaster back, Blakk won’t let this end without drawing blood.  So you’re gonna use that eye of yours to hit Dana in just the right spot to make it look like she’s finished.”

Dana cringed.

“Without, you know, actually hurting her.” Eli continued. “We got a deal?”

I pumped my blaster.  It looks as if I have no choice but to agree. But I am a man of my word. I promised Dr.Blakk the blaster and the girl…”

“And your gonna do exactly that. And then you’re gonna keep your word to me!”

The gentleman grinned.

I waited by the under river shore for Eli and Dana to surface.  The water broke and Suds pulled Eli and the paralyzed Dana from the river. He shrank and the two splashed back in. I held out a stick and Eli grabbed it. Kord helped me tow them on shore as Pronto scoped up the slugs in a bucket.

Kord laid her on the ground. Everything but her face was covered in glowing Geoshard crystal. “If he crystalized her heart or brain…” I didn’t want to finish.

“He didn’t.” Eli promised. He was wrapped up in a towel. He nodded at me and I fired Muse, my Slyren into the air. She sang her song and the Geoshard disintegrated. Dana sat up, coughing.

“What happened?” She asked.

“Exactly what we planned.” Eli said proudly.  We went home and told Dana the rules.

“So now Blakk thinks I’m at the bottom of the river… That’s it? I’m in the clear?” Dana asked.

The slugs cheered.

“As long as you lay low.” Eli said. “Which means no more stealing.”

“Which means you can return my Shadow Walker.” I said. “About this big, striped green and black. Shadowinsh runes. Sound Familiar?”

“I will prove you right.” Dana said. She pulled the stolen technology out and squeezed. She shadow traveled.

“Floppers!” I screamed.

“She bamboozled us!” Kord said.

“I thought I could trust her.” Eli said.

I whirled when I heard her behind me. “You can.” Dana said, handing the orb to Eli.

“My people’s tech.” I said. I held my hand but Eli didn’t hand it over. I growled.

“Your people?” Dana asked.

“I was in the Forgesmelter cave after you put on the Shadow Talker.” I said. “I’m a liaison between the Shadows and the humans.” I looked at the orb. “I have to return this to the grotto. Where did you get it?”

“It was in the crate with the Shadow Talker. It lets me walk through the shadows.  Just like the Shadow Clan. I just took it. But I’m giving everything back. Starting with that.”

“Alex, wait.” I heard Eli say. “It might be a powerful tool.”

“It is!” I yelled. “I have to return it. It’s my duty as a member.”

“Why are yo0u talking like you’re in the Shadow clan?” Dana asked. “I thought you were just insane.”

“No. I’m a full member. And this is a device that if Blakk got his hands on it, he could destroy us.” I warned. “Let me return it.”

“No.” Eli said. “You teleported two people and nearly passed out. We might need it someday.”

“And when that day comes I will loan it to you.” I said. My frustration was making me slip into Shadowinsh.

“Fine.” Eli relented.

“That’s settled then.” Kord said. “Just one problem. I need a four letter word. S-L-blank-g.”

“Slug.” Everyone said.

“That fits! Thanks, Guys.”

The slugs burst out laughing.

I grabbed the orb. “I’ll take you home, Dana.” I said. I grabbed her wrist and teleported.

She looked startled. “How did you do that without the orb?”

I looked at her. “When you wore the Shadow Talker I could have spoken to you in either of my forms. And if you tell anyone what you see here now, I will find you. The slugs themselves can tell me.” I said. I shifted before she could answer and ran at the wall. The only way to Shadow travel to my home was if you had and escort or you were a shadow clan member. I laughed as I imagined Dana’s face when I shifted and my body was racked with laughter.