"They say Chen questions everyone nowadays... there are few he really trusts. He's gotten paranoid. Thinks even his most loyal subjects are out to get him..."

"Do you think he's starting to lose it?"

"It's too early to tell... but it's not out of the question..."

Ronin did his best to ignore the two cultists' conversation, but he couldn't suppress the shiver that ran down his spine. He knew they were right- Chen had indeed grown suspicious, and anyone who gave him reason to suspect them was playing a dangerous game. Nowadays, everyone tried to lay low- but for Ronin, it was proving harder than it would for most...

It wasn't that he was unused to being unobtrusive- many times, his very survival had depended on that skill. No, it ran deeper than that. Chen might have been his current employer, but he was by no means the first- nor, Ronin guessed, would he be the last. Ronin was working for him for the time being, but that allegiance was easily subject to change- something that both he and Chen knew all too well... if something ever did happen, regardless of whether he'd actually had anything to do with it, Ronin knew he'd be a prime suspect...

It was one of the downsides of being a mercenary, he thought with a sigh. You were more easily blamed for... incidences...

Chen's suspicion had definitely risen beyond normal levels lately, though, Ronin thought. Perhaps the guards were right, and he was finally losing it. Not that Chen had ever been 'normal', persay- he'd always been an... interesting man- but now his quirks were beginning to look more like actual madness... and if that was what it really was... Ronin shuddered inwardly.

Some said that Chen had even grown suspicious of his own wife. That he thought she was plotting against him. True, Chen and his wife were almost as different as day was from night, but... Ronin didn't believe she'd ever actually betray Chen... would she?

He shook his head. That was none of his business. He wasn't even really one of Chen's servants in the first place. He had chosen to work with Chen for the time being, but if he was accused, he could split out of there the instant he got the chance. His allegience was to himself, and himself alone.

A sudden tap on his shoulder roused him from his thoughts, and he turned to see one of the burly cultists standing behind him. The man seemed agitated, even nervous. "Sir?"

Ronin eyed him. "What is it? I'm a busy man, you know..."

The cultist swallowed. "Sir, someone's asked to see you... you're to come with me at once."

His eyes narrowed sharply. "Did Chen send you?"

The man shook his head. "Not Chen," he murmured, "But... please, Sir, come with me..."

Ronin turned away again. "If you weren't sent by Chen, you've got no authority over me."

"But Sir... please, just come with me. It... it's quite important..."

Ronin frowned, but kept his expression hidden from the other man. There was something strange in the cultist's tone- a sort of hesitance, very unlike the usual brash, crass manners of the rest of Chen's rabble. There was more to this man than met the eye, and perhaps more to the one who'd sent him, too...

Who had sent him? If not Chen... then who could it be? He narrowed his eyes thoughtfully. Yes, there was definitely much more to the situation that what met the eye...

His curiosity was piqued. Perhaps Chen's fears weren't so unfounded... in any case, he thought, he should like to find out what was going on here. Slowly he turned back to the cultist. "Very well... take me to the one who sent you..."

***

"Ronin? Ronin, what is it?" Zane's blue eyes were fixed worriedly on him.

He shook his head, as if to clear it- he hadn't felt such a strong premonition of danger in years- not since his time working on Chen's island... and even then, he had not been wrong...

"I don't know," he murmured, "But something is very wrong... I can feel it..."

A strange sense of unease seemed to have come over all of them now, a premonition of danger yet unseen. Something was coming. Something big.

A shadow seemed to pass over the street outside, blocking the scorching sunlight. Skylor's eyes narrowed as she noticed this, and she went tense.

Kai saw this immediately. "Sky?"

For several seconds she didn't answer. "There haven't been clouds out here in days..." she murmured, eyes growing wide as she leapt up and raced for the door.

The others followed her in moments, racing out onto the street. There they stared up at the sky in horrified amazement, unable to believe what they were seeing.

A thick, oily smoke blotted out the sun, hanging amidst the highest buildings. Sirens wailed in the distance. White particles of ash filtered out of the haze, settling on the ground around them like strange, otherwordly snow.

Ninjago City was burning.

Skylor was the first to snap out of her trance. "We have to evacuate the city," she breathed, "It's so dry out here that the whole city could burn within hours! We need to get the people to safety!"

"Right," Kai said, snapping to attention, "How can we help?"

"Kai, Jay, you two head west and start helping the people get out. Cole, you and I will go east and do the same. Nya, Zane, you guys head north, toward the fires. Make sure all the people are out, and then give the firefighters a hand! Skylor, Ronin, spread the word through the southern part of the city and then rendezvous with the rest of us here!"

"Sounds like a plan," Skylor said, "Ronin, let's go!" She took off at a run, but then stopped when he didn't follow. "Ronin?"

He shook his head quickly, coming out of his thoughts. "R-right," he murmured, forcing down the wave of memories that had risen unbidden to his mind. "Right- let's go!"

***

The citizens of the city were already on high alert from the smoke, so it was really only a matter of getting them moving in the right direction. It wasn't long before most of the city was moving safely away from the blaze.

Ronin kept catching Skylor watching him when he glanced in her direction. She always looked away and pretended it was an accident, but he knew her better than that. There was something deeper in her eyes than a casual roving of her gaze- a dark, brooding thoughtfulness, and a cloudy worry lurked within. He guessed by her repetative glances in his direction that her concerns were directed at him, but she remained silent and didn't voice her thoughts.

He cleared his throat. "Is something wrong?"

For once, she hesitated. "I'm just worried," she admitted at last. "Ronin... whatever happened to the carefree rogue you used to be? You used to travel the land with scarcely a worry in the world, but ever since the battle at Stiix you've been downright jumpy... and back at lunch you kept spacing out. Don't think I don't know something's on your mind. I mean, if you don't want to say I understand, but... you just haven't been yourself lately... and with that coming from you of all people it's extremely concerning..."

That was one of the only problems with spending time with an old friend, he thought wryly. Skylor knew him all too well- she knew how to read his moods, and she could always tell when something was bothering him. Skylor may have been young- even young enough to nearly pass as his daughter- but she'd always been wise for her age, thoughtful and observant, seeing what others missed. She always took in more than she let on about, and- especially now that she'd replicated Neuro's mind powers- it was nearly impossible to hide anything from her.

He heaved a sigh. "Just thinking. And remembering. I guess now that I'm starting a life where I'm not on the run, I've had more time to recall old enemies..."

She gave a slow nod, but her eyes betrayed that she guessed at his deeper thoughts. Before she could press further, however, a blast of hot air swept over at them from the blazing north end of the city, and a roar filled the air. Flames leaped into view over the buildings, and Skylor's eyes widened. "Oh no," she whispered, catching her breath.

Ronin felt his chest tighten. The others... they're still back there!

By now the city had been safely evacuated, but the wind had picked up, whipping the inferno into a frenzy. It roared forward, plunging steadily toward them, and Ronin forced himself to snap into action. "We need to get the others out of there! This thing is turning into a firestorm- if we don't get them out of there, they won't stand a chance!"

"Then let's go!" Skylor agreed, turning and pelting back toward the blaze. Ronin took off beside her, and the twosome charged off down the street.

***

Ronin peered outside, glancing both ways before sliding a leg through the window. He'd only been here three weeks, but he couldn't stand being cooped up all the time. Someone was always telling him what to do- "Ronin, finish your vegetables." "Ronin, go take a bath." "Ronin, keep your shirt on." "Ronin, go to bed- it's nearly midnight!"

He couldn't take it anymore.

He slid his other foot out of the window and dropped to the ground below, landing with a soft thump. Even life on the streets would be better than this! At least there, no one could tell him what to do or what not to do. He'd be free! He started to slip off into the shadows, but stopped as he heard a voice.

"Ronin? Where'ya going?"

He sighed, turning. "I'm just going for a walk, Addy," he whispered, "Go back to sleep."

"A walk? But it's the middle of the night! You're gonna be in trouble if Mom and Daddy catch you..."

That's why they won't have the chance to catch me, he thought, I'll be back in town by the time they know I'm gone...

Addy blinked at him from above. "You're not running away, are you?" she asked, her big brown eyes shining in the moonlight.

He started, surprised that she'd guessed his intentions. "Of course not!" he lied, slipping back into his old habits, "I'll be back before you know it!"

Addy gave him a dubious look and moved away from the window, and Ronin seized the opportunity to slip into the woods. He knew Addy probably wouldn't wake her father, and he'd have all of the night to get a good start.

He'd realized on his first day at the house there that slipping away wouldn't be so simple as sneaking back into town. They'd find him there for sure, he knew. No, his best bet would be to go to Ninjago City. It would be the farthest he'd ever walked, but he was confident he could do it.

By the time dawn came, he was less sure of himself. Every inch of his body ached, but he dared not stop. He couldn't stand life there, and it would be best if he just faded from memory with little fuss. He could slip quietly off and be gone before they could find him.

And yet...

For the first time in his life, Ronin found himself facing a foreign emotion- guilt. These people had shown him nothing but kindness, and how had he repayed them?

He shook his head. They'd forget him, just like others had. Better if he went quietly. They might search for a little while, but they wouldn't find him. By then he'd be in Ninjago City.

The clopping of a horse's hooves startled him from his thoughts, and he looked up. A young farmer was riding past on his wagon, but slowed his horse, evidently noticing Ronin. "Whoa there. You, boy- are you lost?"

Ronin shook his head quickly. "I'm going to Ninjago City!" he said, pointing down the road.

The farmer bit his lip. "That's an awfully long way for one so young as you," he said. "Perhaps you'd like a lift?"

"I don't have any money," Ronin told him, being honest for once.

The farmer shrugged. "Consider it a favor from a friend. Climb on!"

Ronin nodded quickly and hoisted himself into the back of the cart. "Thank you." Evidently the manners he'd begun to learn at the house really had stuck.

The farmer nodded and clicked his tongue, and the horse started to walk again.

They were off.