CHAPTER 2

"Shadow. Shadow."

A voice, not Sonic's, roused Shadow back into conciousness. He grunted and opened his eyes. A bat Jedi Padawan leaned over him.

"Good," she said when she saw him staring at her. "You're concious."

"Rouge?" he said staring at her white face for a moment. "What are you doing here?"

"I was flying by when I saw what happened," she explained.

Shadow sat up. He instantly grabbed his head as it began to throb. "Oh... my head!" he moaned. "So what did happen?"

"A sniper shot at Sonic," she replied looking around the canyon. "I'm surprise you swung your precious speeder in front of him. I thought you hated Sonic."

"I do," he said. "But you know even though we hate each other we were trained to protect each other at the Temple."

"Yeah, I know," she said sitting down beside him. "That's why I flew you out of the way when that sniper shot at you."

"You did?" he asked.

She nodded.

"Thank you... Rouge."

"No problem," she smiled and added. "And you're my favorite male Jedi!"

Shadow felt his cheeks turning red at the compliment. He pushed down on the ground with his hands and started to stand. "By the way; where is Sonic?"

"Probably back at the Temple," she replied helping him stand up.

"Why?"

"To tell the others about your 'knoble parting'," she said staring at the sky.

"Why? Does he think I'm dead?"

"Well for one thing he didn't see me fly in and save you and for another your speeder exploded," she told him. "He probably thinks your ashes are spread out all over the bottom of the canyon. How romantic." she sighed.

"Shut up!" Shadow growled. "He'll probably gloat about my death! That stupid blue hedgehog never liked me anyway!" he brushed the rest of the dust off his robes. "Let's get back to the Temple before the start arranging my memorial service."

Rouge folded her arms and looked at him. "I was hoping you would say that," she said smiling and causing him to blush again. "Now, should we fly back?"

"Uh..."

"If you're thinking of using your speeder it's nothing but spare parts," she reminded him.

"All right," he gave in. "You can fly us back to the Temple."

"Now we're talking," she said She walked up to him and grabbed him around the waist. "Here we go!" unfurling her wings she rose into the air.

"Whoa!" Shadow exclaimed as his feet left the ground.

"Hold on tight," she instructed as they flew back to Station Square and the Temple.

Espio Rio, ninja Jedi Padawan of the Temple was in the mediation room, moving his body slowly and gracefully. He'd often come to the room to reflect as he did his stretches. Today was no different.

Lately he'd been coming there to reflect more often. He'd been having nightmares recently and this was the only thing he could think of to calm his nerves. Though his nerves were calmed his mind wasn't. The only thing in his mind was chaos, violence, and pain, lots of pain in his own body. He wouldn't admit it to anyone but it frightened him.

I should not be having those dreams, he thought as his breathing became more regular. I'm not ready for this kind of thing. Kuramasu and Yukimako might be but I'm not. Why did Sensai and Saphire get chosen for this as well? Sensai is against violence and Saphire can't stop taking things that don't belong to her... He senced someone come into the room, just then, but didn't turn or chose to speak to them yet. I wonder why they chose five of us to go? And why are they making Guardian leave his post to take us? What do they know that we don't?
"Thinking about our mission, Rio?" a soft peaceful voice behind him asked.

Espio still did not turn. He knew who owned that voice just by hearing it. Only one person talked that peacefully and softly. Tikal Sensai.

"I wish you wouldn't read my mind, Tikal," he said, still refusing to turn around. "It ruins my consentration. But to your question. Yes, I am."

"Why are you so worried about it?" she wanted to know.

"Who said I was worried about it?" he inquired.

"I can sense it," she replied, feeling his emotions in the Force. "You are scared. But you won't admit it. You never do."

Espio breathed deeply to keep himself calm. She's doing it again. "Why don't you go speak with Guardian again? You knowhow much he enjoys your presence when he's working."

Tikal didn't even flinch. She already knew how much Knuckles Guardian liked her. She wasn't here to talk about him though. She wanted to talk to Espio whether he wanted to talk to her or not. "You don't have to be afraid of this. We'll be fine."

The chameleon closed his eyes. "But you don't know about my dreams," he said quietly.

She heard him anyway. "Dreams?" se wasked staring at the back of his head. "What dreams?"

He stopped what he was doing and turned to her. "Dreams of Chaos. Chaos and pain," he replied. "And death. My death."

"Your death?"

He nodded and clenched his fists. "That is why I am afraid of going. I am afraid I am going to die."

Tikal's gentle eyes gave him a look of utter sympathy. "Oh... Espio," she began. "I didn't realize..."

"It's all right," he said, no longer in the mood for mediation. "It's not your fault. I'm going to have to face this eventually. Maybe I'm wrong. Maybe I won't die."

She smiled at him. "Like someone once said. "The future is always changing. It's hard to read. Things you think will happen probably never will." Dont worry, Espio, it will be okay."

"I hope so," he said looking away from her and out the window at the city skyline. "I hope so." then he rememberd something. "Hey, has Yukimakop returned yet?"

A/N

Sorry this took so long to update. I hope it was okay. I'll try to update sooner next time. Just to let you know Knuckles and Tikal have no relation bloodlines in this story because they never did.