Shu Kurenai and Kris stood outside the jail, looking up at it as it towered over the skyline.

"Are you sure you want to do this Shu?" Kris said looking over at Shu.

Letting out a sigh Shu's shoulders relaxed.

"No I'm not but I know we need to do this." He said walking into the prison.

Kris followed from behind trying to keep on her own poker face.

After checking in Kris and Shu were now going downstairs towards Theodore's cell.

With each step Shu wanted to turn around, leave and be anywhere but there. But instead Shu kept going reminding himself he was doing this for Valt.

Once Kris and Shu reached the bottom they kept going to the end of the hallway where Theodore sat hanging his head.

"Shu Kurenai and Kris."

"Theodore...."

Kris stood clenching her fists which only made Theodore smile. He enjoyed toying with her.

Standing up Theodore stood at the edge of his cell and his features were more clear under the small light.

"No Valt this time?"

"He couldn't make it." Kris answered looking away from him.

More like you didn't want him to be here Kris...

"Now then, down to business. I usually don't get this many visitors."

"You're lying Theodore, when we checked in this morning someone else was here the other night."

Leaning back in his cell Theodore smiled.

"Am I not allowed to have other visitors?"

"No that's not what I'm..." Kris sighed frustrated only amusing Theodore more.

Narrowing his eyes Shu pulled Kris off to the side away from Theodore.

"Theodore can be frustrating, he can take what you say and twist it into what he wants. Let me try talking to him I've had to put up with him before."

Kris nodded her head giving Shu a determined look.

Walking back over to Theodore, Shu wore a determined face.

"Shu Kurenai,"

"Theodore, what are you up to?"

Theodore started laughing but Shu wasn't. He knew Theodore's games and he wasn't going to let him get to him.

"What could I possibly be up to, being stuck here in this incursided cell that you put me in!"

His teal resonance could barely be seen but his eyes were glowing brightly with anger.

"Fine then, let's make this easier Theodore. What have you done to Valt? What did you say to him when he was here the last time?"

Theodore let out a sigh straightening up.

"You two maybe friends Shu, but maybe you don't know him as well as you think you do. It's clear already he's hiding something from you considering you came here to ask me but what isn't clear is that you can't help him Shu."

******

Meanwhile back at BC Sol, Valt had just returned from training in the forest.

The sun was starting to set and beautiful warm colors were painting the sky.

Exiting the forest, Drum stood outside about ready to burst with excitement.

"Valt!"

"Hey Drum what's up?"

"Kris gave us a quest!"

"A quest huh, what kind of quest?"

"That's the best part! Before leaving with Shu, Kris told me that someone's been sneaking around BC Sol after hours and she told me to have a stakeout with you!"

"A stakeout huh too bad Free isn't around he's great at those but I'm sure we'll have our own fun. Meet back here once the sun has gone down."

Starting out the stakeout, Valt sat on the roof with a pair of binoculars watching the sunset.

Sure stakeouts were fun, in fact Valt used to do them a lot when he was younger to try and figure out where Free would go.

Rantaro and occasionally Silas would usually join him just watching and talking but they could never figure out how Free got in and out.

But this was different, this could be Brown Eye or even someone worse.

A couple minutes later, Drum met back up again on the roof of BC Sol overlooking the forest. 

"Valt!"

Startling Valt, he almost dropped the binoculars over the edge.

"Hey Drum, what's up? Are you ready for the stakeout?"

"Yeah, I brought marshmallows, bey bread..."

Sitting down, Drum passed the bread basket down to Valt.

"So what's new with you?"

Drum shrugged his shoulders taking a bite of some bread.

"Nothing really, I've been trying to make friends with this new guy Delta, Kris seems very nice and then you have the rumors but other than that..."

"Wait what rumors?"

"Oh you haven't heard?"

Drums' smiles fell a little concerning Valt.

"There's been rumors floating around of bladers being powerless. Like their resonance has been drained out of them or something..."

"The only blader I know who can do that is Free." Valt said quietly.

Free's words echoed in his head: I never left....

If Free was always down there deep down then what if Phi's control over him never did leave...

"You don't think it could be Free doing this do you?" Drum asked quietly.

"No, it can't be Free! He wouldn't do something like this! He's not like that anymore!"

Drum was silent watching Valt. He could barely see his resonance in a mixture of blue and purple.

"Valt..."

"I'm sorry Drum...it's just..."

"Wait Valt look!"

Pointing down towards the forest a black figure emerged walking towards BC Sol.

"C'mon Drum let's go catch him!"

Taking his hand Valt lead Drum back into BC Sol down the stairs and out the door.

"We've got you!"

Drum shone his flashlight on Free who had his hands up like he was surrendering and a bored look in his eyes.

"Aww man!"

"Free what are you doing out here?"

"Training, but also to cover the night shift of guarding the mask."

"Mask what mask?"

Walking back into BC Sol Valt and Drum followed Free down into the basement.

"Where is it?" Drum asked.

The only thing in the room was Raul's stadium but nothing else.

Pulling on one of the lights a wall of bricks came down revealing a secret tunnel.

"How long has that been there?" Drum asked.

"Who knows, probably longer than I have." Free said walking into the tunnel.

Valt and Drum followed shining their flashlights on spiders, webs and stone.

"This place is pretty big so try not to get lost."

Taking a turn the basement seemed never ending, rooms came out of nowhere, and it felt very much like a maze to Valt.

"We're here."

Shining a light into the room, something shined back.

Resting on a pedestal in the back of the room surrounded by a clear box sat Red Eyes mask filled with Phi's power. In front of that was a stadium.

"I don't normally come down here a lot but ever since Kris mentioned something about someone being where they're not supposed to be she's been having me guard it in the night."

"Wait you're not the one who's been sneaking out? Then who is?" Drum asked.

Valt only shrugged his shoulders.

"I wouldn't worry about it too much besides I remember how much you and Rantaro used to spy on me." Free said cracking a small smile towards Valt.

"Hey Free, can you lead us back out? I kind of forgot the way you took us..."

Nodding his head Free lead Drum back down the tunnel. Valt watched them go, turning back to the mask he zoned out on it feeling Phi's dark power calling him.

Taking a step towards the mask he reached out his hand.

"Valt did you get lost?"

Freezing Valt realized what had almost just happened and backed away horrified.

"Coming!"

Sprinting back to Drum and Free the trio exited the tunnel back into the night.