Chapter 8

Jedi Padawan Cream Yuki had almost always been considered a strange Padawan. For one thing her mother was a master, something that hardly ever happened, and secondly she was more against fighting than Tikal. She was so against fighting she refused to practivc it with her lightsaber, therefore she was the only one at the Temple who didn't know how. The only moves she knew were for defence.

Right then she was in the garden picking flowers and singing to herself. She suddenly heard a sound like an engine roaring and looked up. She saw a black speeder bike heading toward the landing area of the Temple. A thing in black robes and a black hood that shadowed its face was sittinging in the drivers seat.

Who's that? she wondered, dropping her flowers and running toward the bike. "Hello?"

Whoever was on the bkike parked it crookely and quickly jumped off. He ran toward the doors of the Temple, his robes blowing behind him as he went. He hadn't heard her.

Why is he running so fast? she ran after him to find out. "Mister!" she called. "Hello? Can I help you?"

He still ignored her. Instead of answering he came to a stop, waited for the entrance door to open, then ran inside it like he was on fire.

Is something wrong? she wondered, stopping in her tracks as the doors closed behimd him.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Padawan Amy Rose was leaving the kitchen area of the Temple about that time. She had finished helping the cooks prepare the afternoon meal and now she had nothing else to do besides obsess over her absent love, Sonic Kurmasu.

I wonder what he's doing now? she thought as she walked down the hall. She smiled and closed her eyes. I wonder if he'll bring me something back from-

Somebody ran into her, knocking her over. She opened her eyes and shouted from where she'd landed on the floor. "Hey, what's the big idea!" Then she saw she'd knocked over the person who'd knocked over her. He was staring at her urgently or she thought he was since she could only see a little of his face, the rest was shadowed by his hood.

"Hey!" she exclaimed. "Who are you?"

"I need to speak with the Masters," he told her urgently as he stood up. He offered her his hand. "Here. Let me help you up."

She took it. "What's the rush?" she wanted to know as he helped her to her feet.

"I have some important information for the Masters," he replied, the shadow of his cloak covering his face once more. "Where are they?"
"In the Council Chamber," she replied. "I think they're discussing something right now."
Without a thank you the speeder driver dashed down the hall and never once looked back.

Well that was rude! Amy thought, watching him go. I wonder what's so important anyway?

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The speeder driver covered his features as much as he could with his dark cloak and hood. Being in the sun too long had taken its toll and he was beginning to feel the effects. With his weapon he'd broken the lighting fixtures in the elevator he was in and had stopped the machine with his powers. He now lay crouched on the floor of the lift, his head down and his arms over his stomach as he slowly began to regain energy from the darkness.

That was close, he thought, his head bowed and his eyes closed. Almost too close.

Bright glowing orbes appeared in the lift, illuminating it with a pale white glow. The orbs were absorbed into his body and renewed him. Any injury he'd sustained when he'd come against the shadow was healed, though it still left scars.

They're getting closer now, he realized. I should just tell what I know and return to the other planet before they find me and deal with me properly.

He opened his eyes and lifted his hand. One of the glowing orbes rested in it. He stared at it a moment. Then I will be nothing more than one of these, he realized, the light from the orb reflecting off his eyes. A wandering soul with no place to go. Accepted nowhere and left to spend the rest of my existamce floating aimlessly through time and space...

The orb was absorbed into his hand. He sighed and stood, brushing off his robes and pushing his hood back for just an instant before he replaced it, so once again his features were hidden within its abyssmal shadow.

The door opened and he stepped into the cool gray lit hall. His ebony boots clumped loudly on the stone floor as he walked down the corridor to the Council Chamber. He could sense them there. They would soon know all he knew and he could take his leave from there and never return to the Temple again.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Excuse me," a voice said from behind one of the statues in Queen Blaze's garden.

The five Padawans turned toward the sound. They saw the blue and white cat from before peeking out from behind the statue.

"Miss Shira!" Shadow said, facing the cat girl. "What are you doing?"

"Hiding," she replied. She looked around to make sure no one was watching. "I need to speek with you." she beckoned with her hand. "Please come with me before Rinzo sees us."

She ducked behind the statue. Shadow looked at the others. "Should we?" he asked.

"I'm not sure," Tikal said carefully. "We don't even know what she wants."

"It could be about the Sith," Espio suggested, folding his arms. "I think we should find out what she knows."

"I do too," Rouge spoke up.

The others looked at Sonic. They waited for his vote.

He shrugged and shook his head. "I don't care what we do," he said giving a helpless gesture. "Just as long as we find something out."

With that Shadow and the others quickly followed the cat girl down the path. She led them to a small greenhouse. Once everyone was inside she turned to them and said. "I need to tell all of you about something Captian Rinzo has been hiding from the Queen."

"What is it?" Espio asked.

"It's information about the Sith," she replied, looking out the glass building toward the castle a short distance away.

The Padawans looked at each other. So there were Sith on this planet!

"What information had Rinzo been hiding from Queen Blaze?" Shadow asked, looking back at the cat girl.

"He knows the Sith are here," she replied.

"Why hasn't he told Queen Blaze?" Tikal wanetd to know.

"Because he doesn't want her to know about it," Shira answered, looking at them all. "He's hiding the knowledge of the Sith because he works for them."

Everyone except Shadow looked shocked at this.

"You mean that egoist is a a bad guy?" Rouge asked.

Shira nodded.

"Why?" Sonic asked.

The cat shook her head. "I'm not sure," she replied. "Maybe he's being bribed or maybe he wants to overthrow the queen and take over the kingdom..."

"What should we do?" Sonic questioned. "We can't go back and tell her. She won't believe us."

Shira handed Shadow a piece of paper. "Here," she said. "Go to this address. There is someone there who might be able to give you the proof you need."

"Why can't you give it to Queen Blaze?" Tikal questioned Shira.

"If I do I will be exposing myself." was the answer she got.

"What is that suppost to mean?" Shadow demanded.

"I can't tell you," the cat replied. "But you'll find out in due time." she turned away from them and headed toward the back exit. "Just be sure it's you who gives Queen Blaze the information. We're- I'm- Counting on you!"

A/N

That's it for now. Please leave a review and I'll be your friend forever.