CHAPTER 19

Sonic and Robotnick fought crazily. Ivo was having a hard time even hitting Sonic because the hedgehog was so fast. "Hold still, you spiky rat!" the fat Sith commanded angrily, swinging at Sonic but only cutting air.

"No way!" Sonic said, avoiding the blade and grinning cockily as he swung his own at the Sith's body. The blue blade scored a hit, cutting off one of the handles on Ivo's mustache.

"How dare you!" Ivo shouted, inscenced. He started attacking the hedgehog with firry.

Soon Sonic wasn't smiling anymore. He was too busy avoiding that blade. He's fast for an old man, the hedgehog thought, jumping back to avoid that blade that seemed to multiply. Who trained this tub of lard anyway? Sonic started running around Ivo in a circle as he tried to figure out away to beat the man.

"Stop that this instant!" Ivo commanded, unable to keep up with the hedgehog's movements. "You're making me dizzy!"

Sonic grinned, suddenly inspired. He ran even faster.

"STOP IT!" the fat Sith commanded but Sonic didn't comply.

After a few minutes Ivo became real dizzy. His eyes became swirls and he fell to the floor. Sonic stopped running and stood over him, grinning. That was easy, he thought then turned his attention away from the man. Now to find out what these guys are up to. He walked over to the computer and started typing. A few minutes later he stopped what he was doing and stared at the screen in shock. He couldn't beleive what he was reading. Oh my god! he thought. This can't be!

Shadow stared at the alien. "Black Doom," he said, holding his lightsaber infront of him. "I know you! You're the one who keeps getting into my mind!"

Black Doom nodded. "That is correct," he confirmed.

"Why? What do you want?" the black hedgehog demanded, eyeing the alien warily.

"I want you to return to how you once were," the alien replied.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean; I am the reason you even exist."

"What?"

"Over a thousand years ago a scientists named Gerald Robotnick created a creature known as the ultimate lifeform," Black Doom explained. "A mility group called GUN decided this creature was dangerous and sealed it away. Fifty years later, Ivo, the grandson of Gerald Robotnick, woke the creature. After a chain of events, including the rise and fall of the Eggman Empire, the ultimate lifeform was once again returned to it's comatose state. During that time his mind and body returned to that of a small child's and when the Jedi reawakened him he had the size and capacity of a two year old. The Jedi trained him and he learned new skills as well as required a last name," Black Doom paused then said. "Yukimako."

Shadow stared at him in horror. "Wh-What are you saying?" he asked, dreading the answer but also expecting it.

"You, Shadow Yukimako, are the ultimate lifeform," the alien replied.

All light seemed to leave Shadow's eyes at the reply. "Ultimate lifeform?" he said in a voice that sounded almost dead.

"Yes," the alien replied. "And a part of me as well."

"What do you mean?" Shadow asked in that dead voice again.

"In a way I am your father."

The world seemed to shatter into meaningless pieces around the black hegehog. All rational thoughts became irrational. His life seemed to end at that moment.

"Black Doom?" Rouge asked as she and Jonas Irad ran down the hall. "Shadow mentioned him once. Who is he?"

"In a way," Jonas began, not looking at her. "He's Shadow's father."

Rouge hadn't expected that for an answer. "What?" she gasped, shocked at this piece of news.

"Shadow Yukimako is the ultimate lifeform," Jonas replied. "I know this because I was created from what was left after he was."

"You were?" This was totally confusing her.

"Yes," he replied, not looking proud of it. "But I'll explain everything later. Right now we must find your friends. Especially Shadow."

Tikal was crying as she fought with Espio. She coudn't believe this was happening. She couldn't believe how weak Espio had proven to be, how easily manipulated he was. It wasn't right or logical. She had to get the real Espio back.

I know you're still in there, she thought, locking blades with the chameleon. I'm going to bring you back, no matter what it takes!

Suddenly Tikal used the ancient powers of her long dead tribe. Espio blade flew out of his hands and his body hit the floor. When he tried to get up he found he couldn't because of Captive Light. Tikal, glowing a white color, said a little prayer then grabbed Espio by the arms and helped hold him down. "I'm sorry," she said to him. "But there is no other way." I'm sure Knuckles will understand, she thought, realizing what she had to do. She leaned forward and kissed Espio, a tear running down her cheek. Forgive me...

She opened her eyes in Espio's mind. She saw the chameleon sitting on misty ground with his head down, looking defeated. She could feel it was the real Espio. She had to speak with him. She took a step forward. "Espio-"

Suddenly a black creature appeared infront of her. She gasped and took a step back. The monster moved toward her. She started to take another step back when she glanced at Espio and remembered why she was there. She faced the black monster, barring her way.

"Who are you?" she demanded, her courage coming back. "Why are you here?"

The Thing laughed. "I am Rafar," it replied. "I was invited in."

"No you weren't," she protested, her lightsaber turning on and creating an errie orange effect on everything.

The monster was unfazed. "Yes I was," it insisted. He pointed at Espio. "He invited me in."

Tikal didn't want to believe it. "You're lying," she said.

"No I'm not," Rafar said cockily. He moved out of her way. "You can ask him yourself." when she hesitated he said. "Go ahead. You'll see I'm not lying."

She gave the monster a cautious look then walked over to her friend. "Espio?"

He looked up at her with dead eyes. "Tikal Sensei," he said in monotone. "What are you doing here?"

"I came to see you," she replied. "Why did you let that thing in? What were you thinking?"

"It's not that bad, Tik," he said with apathy.

"Not that bad?!" she demanded. "That thing is taking over you! It's making you try to kill us! It's going to get you killed!"

"No," he said, shaking his head in denial. "He's going to save me."

"What?" she pointed at the montser. "Did that thing tell you that?" she demanded. "It's not going to save you. It's going to kill you!"

"No, it isn't."

"Yes it is," she insisted, grabbing him and shaking him. "What's the matter with you?"

The thing laughed behind her. "You see?" it said.

Tikal turned to glare at the dark spirit. "I don't know what kind of lies you told him," she said, staking over to him, her lightsaber glowing brightly. "But I'm not going to let you get away with it!"

The thing pulled out it's own ligthsaber and met her. "I'd like to see you try it," Rafar said.

The battle had begun.

All the while as the two fought Tikal shouted words to Espio with every free breath she had. "This isn't like you! You're stronger than this! You always told me strength comes from within! I've always admired you for that, but..." her voice trailed off as she dodged a blow from Rafar and Espio looked up, listening intently. "I know you're weak! That's all you are! Weak!"

"I'm not weak!" he yelled at her, angrily getting to his feet.

Tikal was struck by a blow from Rafar's blade. She cried out in pain and jumped back, holding her bleeding arm. She glared at Espio like it was his fault. "Yes you are!" she shouted angrily. "You let this thing take over you! Only the weak give in! Only the weak become like you!":

Espio faultered. He couldn't say anything. He knew right then that she was right. He was weak. He'd always been. That's why he'd given in so easily.

"You're right," he said to her, not meeting her eyes. "I am weak but..." he activated his own lightsaber and it yellow light colored the mist around him. "It won't keep me from helping my friends!" he lunged at the blck monster that was coming at Tikal.

The thing stopped in mid dash when Espio appeared infront of it and ran his blade through it's chest. It looked at him with surprised eyes then looked at Tikal. Then, with a gurgling scream, it disappeared in a cloud of red smoke.

Tikal blinked and her eyes came back into focus. She moved her mouth away from Espio's as light returned to his eyes. He sat up and stared at her. After a few minutes he smiled. "You were right," he said, his voice back to its normal pitch. "Thank you."

She smiled then gave him a hug. "Glad to have you back!" she said.

A/N

I seem to have lost both my reviewers. They must have read something they didn't like. All well. I'm almost done with the story anyway. Just to point out, no, Tikal and Espio aren't in love. If they were that would be the weirdest pairing I've ever seen.