CHAPTER 16

Shadow, Rouge, Sonic, Tikal, and Shira dashed through the city streets back to the Temple cruiser. They had to get there before Espio did something to Knuckles and took the ship back to Mobius.

"What do you think Espio will do to Knuckles?" Shadow asked Shira as they ran.

"Rafar is one of the most ruthless dark souls," the cat replied, looking at him. "He's most likely going to do more than just kill your friend. I think he'll do something worse before he does."

Shadow didn't bother asking what that was. He didn't want to know.

Knuckles had wipped out his lightsaber just in time to avoid being impaled by Espio's bade. As he stared into his friends eyes he saw anger and hate in them as well as a deep dark void.

"Espio?" he said.

The chameloan kicked the echinda into the control board. Knuckled grunted in pain then slid down it. His hands moved by themselved and again blocked that yellow blade.

What's wrong with him? Knuckled wondered jumping to avoid another thrust. This isn't like him at all. Why's he attacking me?

"Espio!" he shouted, jumping away from another slash. "What the hell is wrong with you?!"

"Hold still, Jedi!" Espio snarled, coming at Knuckled with murder in his eyes.

The echidna wasn't about to obey. Not while Espio had a weapon. He would have to think of a way to get rid of it. Then he'd be able to sedate Espio or something and find out what was the flippin' matter with him.

He could only think of one thing to deal with this. Use the force.

Well that's what he did. The echinda raised his hand and used the Force to shoved the chameleon back against the wall. Espio grunted in pain and dropped his weapon as he fell to the floor. Knuckled was him in an instant. He bragged the chameleon's wrists and pinned him down by sitting on him. Espio struggled and bared his teeth.

"Let me go, welp!" he screamed.

Knuckles had had about enough of that. "Shut up!" he shouted, punching Espio square in the face.

Espios grunted in pain as his head jerked back and thumped painfull against a metal seat. Then his eys closed and he went limp as he lost conciousness. Knuckles sighed in relief and let the chameleon go. His purple eyes searched around him for something to tie the chameleon up with. He spotted the wire to the ship's coffee maker which no one used anyway. It would do nicely. He raised his hand and brought the cord over and used it to tie the chameleon's wrists behind his back. When he was done he lifted his friend up and threw him over his shoulder and headed toward the back room. He opened the door, stepped inside, then sat Espio on the floor before he stepped back out and closed the door and locked it. When he was finished he rested against the door and sighed with relief.

That should hold him for awhile...

Just then the other door burst open and Sonic, Shadow, Rouge, Tikal, and a blue and white cat girl he didn't recognize rushed in, looking worried asnd scared. Shadow was the first to spot Knuckles. "Knuckles!" he exclaimed.

"Are you all right?" Tikal asked, stepping toward the echidna.

"I'm fine," he replied.

Shadow looked around. "Was Espio here?" he asked.

Knuckles nodded. "I tied him up and locked him in the back room," he replied, still leaning against the door. "What happened to him anyway? He tried to kill me!"

His friend looked at each other worriedly then glanced at Shira. They gave her the floor. She started to explain...

Jonas Irad's head rested on his chest, unconcious. The mecha hadn't killed him. He had only knocked him out with a blow to the head. He'd been ordered not to kill and he always followed orders, even when he didn't want to.

The mecha stood in the shadows, glaring hatefully at the sensless hedgehog. How he wished he could just kill that wretched creature. He longed to. Why did his master want him alive anyway? He walked over to the hedgehog and touched his face lightly with a fingertip. The hedgehog's face twitched slightly but he didn't open his eyes. The mecha felt something strange in Jonas. Like force power.

The Force.

It was coming to the surface more than before. It was becoming more powerful.

What in the world? the mecha thought staring at the hedgehog's face.

Siuddenly Jona's eyes snapped open and utter darkness filled his puples. He glared at the mecha. "You're end is coming,' he said in a low voice. "Robotnick might think he has won but the Doom will overthrow his desires to control."

The mecha stared at him. "What do you mean?" he demande. "What is the Doom?'

Jonas smiled a sinister smile. "You'll find out," he replied.

Knuckles was knocked forward when a force bashed against the door to the back room.

"It looks like Espio's awake," Shadow said calmly.

"What are we going to do about him?" Tikal asked, casting a worried glance at the door.

"We can't do anything now," Sonic said.

They all glanced back at Shira.

"I don't know," she replied, looking helpless. "Right now we can't do anything so maybe you should focus on something else."

"Like what?" Rouge questioned.

"Finding the Sith," the cat replied heading toward the door. "And I know just how to do it."

Before the Padawans could ask her what that was she was gone.

"Great!" Sonci groaned, looking at the door to the back room. "What are we going to do about him now?"

"We can't do anything about him," Tikal said. "Not this instant anyway. I guess we'll just have to contact the Jedi Temple and find out what it was that they wanted to tell us."

The others agreed it was a good idea and Knuckles sat down at the controls and activated the communication to the Temple. Master Prower's hologram appeared.

"Master Prower," Knuckles said.

"Padawans," the fox said.

"What did you need to tell us?" Rouge asked, leaning over the echidna's shoulder.

"It's about the Sith," Prower replied. "I think we know where they are located."

The Padawans looked at one another. "You do?" Shadow questioned.

Master Prower nodded. A map appeared on the screen. His voice narrated at the map moved showed the location. "We think the Sith are hiding here. We need you to find this place as soon as possible." the map diappeared and Tails appeared again. "We're counting on you. " then he disappeared and the link ended.

Everyone stared moving. "Okay," Sonic said as they headed for the door. "We're going to need a guide, someone who knows that mountain range, and speeders."

"Hey wait!" Knuckles called after them.

The others stopped and looked at him.

"What about Espio?" he asked.

Sonic gave him a thumbs up. "We're counting on ya, pal!" he said.

"Hey!" Knuckles shouted but they weren't listening anymore. The hatch shut and he was left alone with the psycho Espio. "HEY!"

A/N

Aww poor Knuckles always left with the short end of the stick.