Chapter 3

Rouge touched down on the landing platform projecting out of the Temple that was usually used for landing starships. "Okay," she said looking down at Shadow. "Here we are."

The bat let him go. Shadow rubbed his arms and cracked his back. "Finally," he said, relieved. "For awhile I thought you were going to drop me back there."

Rouge folded her arms and gave him a look. "If I had, it wouldn't have been my fault," she said. "You're not exactly the lightest feathur in the pillow you know."

"Are you saying I'm fat?" he demanded.

"No, just heavy."

"Thanks a lot!"

Rouge laughed. "Boy and I thought only girls were self consious about their weight." Something came to her. "By the way; the Masters wanted us to see them in the Council Chamber as soon as possible."

He looked at her curiously. "Why?"

The bat shrugged. "They didn't say," she admitted. "But if we head there we're sure to find out."

"I told you I don't believe it," Knuckles Guardian said as he and Sonic walked down the hall. "A little explosion like that couldn't have been enough to kill him."

"Hey, I saw what I saw," Sonic insisted. "His speeder got hit with a blast from a sniper rifle and exploded."

"What about his body?"

"I didn't see one," Sonic admitted.

"Hmmm," Knuckles mused thinking it over. "Not even one tiny fragment?"

"No."

"Then he's alive."

"How would you know?"

"Haven't you heard about his power?"

"What power?" This was all news to Sonic. He'd always considered Shadow his rival and also very annoying.

"He can use the Force to warp himself anywhere he wants," Knuckles replied. "That and if he comes close to the Chaos Emeralds."

"There are no more Chaso Emeralds," the blue hedgehog pointed out. "They were destroyed, remember?"

"The Master Emerald wasn't," Knuckles replied. "The Master Emerald is what powers this Temple. That's why the Temple was built here. To keep it safe and hidden incase the Eggman Empire tries to rise again."

"I know that," Sonic informed him. "But I still say Shadow is dead."

Knuckles stopped at the door to the Council Chamber. "Let's just get our briefing and drop this whole thing," he said, getting sick of Sonic's suggestions of Shadow's demise.

"Fine."

Knuckles pressed the button that opened the door then he and Sonic stepped inside. When they saw who else was in the room Knuckles said. "Looks like you were wrong."

Shadow stood in the room with Rouge, Espio, and Tikal.

"Shadow!" Sonic gasped, surprised. "I thought you were dead!"

Shadow gave him an annoyed look. "No I'm not," he said, folding his arms and scowling. "Rouge saved my life no thanks to you."

Sonic stuttered something but it wasn't understood.

"Aprentisses," a voice cut in before they could argue as they usually did.

The two hedgehogs, remembering where they were, turned to the Masters. "Yes, master Prower," they both said at once.

Jedi Master Miles (Tails) Prower leaned forward in his seat and addressed the five Padawans. "You weren't summoned here to bicker," he pointed out. "You were all asked here for a very important reason."

"What is it, Master Prower?" Tikal Sensai asked.

The older echidna Master leaned forward on his staff and said. "We have recieved a message from a questionable sourse that there has been Sith activity on the planet of Macoo (Think Naboo because I don't know that planet Blaze comes from)."

"What kind of activity?" Shadow wanted to know.

The echidna shook his head. "We're not sure," he replied. "That's why we're sending you to the planet. To check up on this information to verify it."

A female human with long blond hair and bright blue eyes went on. "Especially since we've been told that this "Sith" might have one of the legendary Chaos Emeralds."

"Chaos Emeralds?" Shadow gasped. "I thought they were destoyed at the end of the Eggman Empire!"

"That is what we thought too," the blond Master replied. "But Master Robotnick (Gerald) did some research and found that they weren't."

"So we have to go to Macoo and check on this?" Rouge asked. "Don't we need to get permission from the queen?"

There was a silence. Everyone knew Queen Blaze Anabala was actually quite easy to reason with, but if she discovered what they were after she might not be willing to help.

"I'm sure she'll let us," the crocodile assured.

"But what if she won't?" Tikal wanted to know.

"I'm sure she will," he insisted. "If she hears about a Sith on her planet she might be more than willing to let you. Just to get rid of him."

"So when are we leaving to go to this planet?" Rouge asked.

"As soon as you are ready," Master Prower replied. He waved his hand. "You are dismissed."

As the group left the Council Chamber Shadow cornered Sonic in the hall. "Look, Kuramasu," he growled. "I don't like you constantly making up lies about me."

"What do you mean?" Sonic asked cluelessly.

"You know what I mean," Shadow shot back. "You told everyone I was dead!"

"I thought you were!" Sonic gave him an annoyed look. "Geeze, you don't have to get so bent out of shape about it!"

Shadow clamped a hand over Sonic's throat. "I have a reason to be," he snarled. "And if I ever find out you did this again I will personally wring that smart aleck litte neck of yours!"

A/N

Well I updated again. Sorry it took so long. No, Shadow is not a Sith in disguise, he just hates Sonic's guts.