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2

Metal Sonic's escape pod had reached the far end of the galaxy, settling into a world called "Utapu." He hurried out of it, making his way to a private console where he uploaded a hologram of his master.

The hooded figure's face was completely obscured, but his mustache protruded out of it.

"Yes, Lord Egg-Man?"
"General Metal, I suggest you move the separatist leaders to Mustafar."

"It will be done."

"The end of the war is near, general."

"But…the loss of Count Espio!"

"His death was a necessary loss. I will soon have a new apprentice. One far younger and more powerful."

On the Republic capital, Corusuant, Shadow watched his lovely wife grooming her hair on a balcony.

"Shady, I want to have our baby back home, on Naboo. We can move to the lake country where no one will ever know. Where we can be safe." She turned to him, smiling, "I can go early and fix up the baby's room."

They held each other's gaze for a moment, and Shadow said, "You are so…beautiful."

"That's only because I'm so in love."

"No, It's only because I'm so in love with you."

"Amy turned to him, said with worry, "So love has blinded you?"

Shadow chuckled and said, "No, no that's not what I meant."

Later, though hazy fog, as Amy was giving birth, as she was crying in pain, her life gave out, and she ceased to exist.

Shadow woke up in bed, panting, covered in sweat. He climbed out of bed, put on a robe, and headed to the living room.

Amy woke up, and looked after him.

She found him next to a fountain, stood beside him and said, "What's bothering you?"

He turned to her and said, "Nothing, nothing." He looked at her necklace, held it up. "I remember when I gave this to you."

Amy ignored his attempt to avoid the subject, and asked, "How long is it going to take for us to be honest with each other?"

Shadow looked away from her, and said ,"It was a dream."

"Bad?"

"Like the ones I used to have about Maria, just before she died."

Amy looked at him, eyebrows knit. "And…?"
"And it was about you."

"Tell me."

Shadow looked at her and said, "…You died in Childbirth."

Amy looked taken aback. "…And the baby?"

"I don't know."

Amy moved to him. "It was only a dream."

Shadow put his hands on her shoulders. "I won't let this one become real."

"Listen…this baby will change our lives. I doubt the queen will continue to let me serve in the senate and if the council finds out you're the father then…"

"I know, I know."
"Do you think Sonic will be able to help us?"

"We don't need his help." Shadow looked into her eyes and said, "Our baby is a blessing."

The next day, Shadow visited master Knuckles in a private meditation room.

"Premonitions…premonitions. These visions you have…"

"They're of pain, of death."

"You speak of yourself, or someone you know?"

"…someone."

"Someone close?"

Shadow hung his head. "Yes."

"Be careful when sensing the future Shadow. The fear of loss is a path to the dark side."

"I won't let these visions come true, master Kunckles."
"Death is a natural part of life. Rejoice for those around you who transform into the force. Do not mourn them, do not miss them. Attachment will lead to Jealousy, and that is the shadow of greed."

Shadow looked at him, and asked, "What must I do, master Knuckles?"

"Train yourself to let go of everything you fear to lose."

Shadow met Sonic in the war room, where his master was overlooking a hologram.

"You've missed the reports on the outer rim sieges."

"I'm sorry; I was held up. I have no excuse."

"Silviana has fallen, and general Voss had moved his troops to Quantive IV."

Shadow looked at him. "What's wrong then?"

"The senate is expected to vote more executive powers to the chancellor today."

"Well, that can only mean less deliberating and more action. Is that bad?" Shadow paused a moment. "It'll make it easier for us to end this war."

Sonic began to go up the staircase, whispering to Shadow, "Be careful of your friend, Robotnik."

Shadow followed him. "Be careful of what?"

"He's requested your presence."

"What for?" "

"He would not say."

"He didn't inform the council? That's unusual." They stopped at the top of the staircase.

"All of this is unusual. It's making me feel uneasy."

Shadow arrived at the chancellor's private quarters, where he noted he was growing back his mustache.

They began walking around; where Robotnik commented "I hope you trust me, Shadow."

"Of course."

The chancellor said in a pained voice: "I need your help son."

"For what?"

"I'm depending on you to be the Eyes, Ears, and voice of the republic."

"What?"

"Shadow, I'm appointing you to be my personnel representative on the Jedi counsel."

"Me? A master?" Shadow stared in astonishment. "I'm overwhelmed sir." He had stopped, but now he walked over to him. "But the counsel electes its own members; they'll never accept this."

"Oh, I think they will. They need you." They came to an exit. "More than you know."

Once at the Jedi Counsel, Knuckles said, "The counsel does not allow this appointment lightly. This move by Robotnik is disturbing."

Shadow said, "I understand."

Master Tails spoke up: "You are on this counsel, but we do not grant you the rank of master."

Shadow looked at him perplexed. "What? How can you do this? It's outrageous, and Unfair! How can you be on the counsel, and not be a master?"

Tails gestured with his hand, and said with frustration: "Take a seat, young hedgehog."

Shadow bowed. "Forgive me, master." And took his seat.

A holographic projection of Master Big spoke up "We have searched most systems; Metal Sonic is nowhere to be found."

Knuckles replied, "Then search the Outer Rim."

Sonic put in, "We have only a few ships to spare."

"And what about the situation with the wookies on Kasshyyk?"

Knuckles said, "I have friends there. I'll go to Kasshyyk, with a battalion of Clones."

Later, Sonic and Shadow were walking down a grand Hall. "What kind of nonsense is this? Put me on the council and not make me a master! It's never been done in the history of the Jedi and is an insult-"

"Calm down Shadow, you've been given a great honor. To be on the council at your age; It's never happened before!

"But the fact of the matter is that you're too close to the chancellor; the council doesn't like it when he interferes with Jedi affairs."

Shadow leaned close to him. "I swear to you, I didn't ask to be put on the council."

"But it's what you wanted. Your friendship with chancellor Robotnik has seemed to have paid off."

"It has nothing to do with this."

"The only reason the council has permitted this appointment is because the chancellor trusts you."

"And…"

"Shadow, I'm on your side I didn't want to put you in this situation."

"What situation?"

Sonic hung his head, and looked at him. "The council wants you to report on the chancellor and all of his dealings."

"They want me to spy on the chancellor? That's treason!"

"We are at war, Shadow."

Shadow thought about it for a moment. "Why didn't the council give me this assignment when we were in session?"

"This assignment isn't to be on record."

"The chancellor is not a bad man, Sonic. He befriended me, he has watched over me ever since I arrived here."
"That is why you must help us.

"Shadow, our allegiance is the senate; not to its leader, who has managed to stay in office long after his term has expired."

"The senate wanted him to stay longer."

"Yes, but use your feelings Shadow, something it out of place."

Shadow turned his back to him looking out a window. "You're asking me to do something against the Jedi code, against the republic, against a mentor, and a friend, that's what's out of place here.

"Why are you asking this of me?"

Sonic looked at him, and said, "The council is asking you."

Later, Sonic was on a republic gunship, in conference with Masters Knuckles and Tails. "Shadow didn't take to his new assignment all too well."

Tails commented "It's very dangerous putting those two together. I don't think the boy can handle it."

"With all due respect master, is he not the chosen one? Is he not to destroy the Sith and bring balance to the force?"

"So the prophecy says."

Knuckles added, "A prophecy that could have been misread."

Sonic looked at him. "He won't let me down. He never has."

"I hope you are right."

They landed, and Knuckles got out, to huge battalion of Clone troopers.

At Shadow and Amy's apartment, they sat talking.

"This disturbs me…It's against the republic and everything it stands for."

"Have you ever considered that maybe we've been fighting on the wrong side?"

"What do you mean?"

"That all this time the democracy we've been fighting to save no longer exists, and the republic we've been serving as become the very evil we want to destroy."

"I don't believe that. And you're sounding like a separatist."

"This war represents a failure to listen. And now you're closer to the chancellor than anyone. Please, ask him to stop the fighting and let diplomacy resume."

"Don't ask me to do that!" He stood up. "Make a motion in the senate where that kind of request belongs."

"Don't this, don't shut me out let me help you." She came to him, and looked up at him. "Hold me…Like you did by the lake on Naboo."

Later that night, Shadow hurried to meet the Chancellor at the Space Opera.

"Ahh, Shadow its good to see you. Our clone intelligence reports have located Metal Sonic. He's hiding the Utapu system."

"It's about time. We'll be able to capture That monster and end this war."

"Please, sit down.

"I would begin to doubt the wisdom of the council if they did not pick you to hunt him down; you're the best choice.

"But I've grown to where I cannot trust the council. If they haven't included you in their plot, they soon will."

"I'm not sure I understand."

"You might have sensed what I've come to suspect. The Jedi council wants control of the republic. They're planning to betray me."

Shadow shook his head. "I don't think that-"

"Shadow, search your feelings. You know, Don't you?"

"I know they don't trust you."

"Or the Senate. Or the republic. Or Democracey for that matter."

"I have to admit…My trust in them has been shaken."

"Why?" Robotnik looked at him. "They asked you to do something dishonest, didn't they? They asked you to spy on me, didn't they?"

"I…I don't know what to say."

"Remember back to your early teachings: All who gain power are afraid to lose it. Even the Jedi."

"The Jedi use their power for good."

"Good is a relative point, Shadow. The Jedi and the Sith are Similar in almost everyway; including their quest for greater power."

Shadow thought about this for a moment. "The Sith rely on their passion for their strength. They think Inwards; only about themselves."

"And the Jedi Don't?"
"The Jedi are selfless, they only care about others."

They watched the opera for a bit, and then Robotnik said, "Have ever heard the tragedy of Darth Plagus, the wise?"

"No."

"It's not a story the Jedi would tell you. It's a Sith Legend.

"Darth Plagus was a Sith Lord, so powerful and so Wise, he could influence the Midiclohrines to create life. He had such a knowledge of the Dark side, he could even keep the ones he cared about from Dying."

Shadow looked at him. "He could actually save people from Death?"

"The Dark side of the Force is a pathway to many abilities some consider to be unnatural."

"Well…What happened to him?"

"He became so powerful, that the only thing he was afraid of was losing his power, which eventually of course he did. Unfortunately, he taught his apprentice everything he knew, and then his apprentice killed him in his sleep.

"Ironic. He could save others from death, but not himself."

Shadow looked at him. "Is it possible to learn this power?"

"Not from a Jedi."

On Kasshyyk, the army of Clones was organizing a defense on a small Beach, with Knuckles, who was in holographic conference with the Jedi Council.

"…We have tracked Metal Sonic to the Utapu system," Shadow was informing them, "The Chancelllor had requested that I lead the campaign against him."

Tails spoke up. "The Council will make up its own mind on who will go."

Big said, "I feel a master should go. Send Master Sonic."

"I agree.

"I."

"Then it's settled. I must get back." With that, Knuckles deactivated the Hologram, and looked at the war machines mobilizing.

"Sir, the droids have powered up their main generator."

"Then the time is upon us."

An Army of wookies bellowed war cries, and charged onto the beach that was being stormed by Droids. Groups of supporting clones overhead fired into the fray, taking out several droids with each volley.

From the beach droids and droid ships were being cut down, shot up and blown apart. However, Droids were returning fire, killing wookies and clone troopers, blowing up cover they had established.

A flyer came in overhead and behind a Droid transport, and landed two wookies on it. One slapped a bomb on it as the other ripped a battle droid apart with his bare hands. They both jumped off as the transport exploded.

On Corusant, Sonic and Shadow were walking to the transport ship. "You're going to need me on this one master."

"Oh I agree, but it may just turn out to be a wild Bantha chase."

They stopped, and Shadow looked at him. "Master, I've disappointed you. I haven't been very appreciative of your training. I've been Arrogant, and I apologize. I've just been so frustrated with the council."

Sonic smiled and put his hand on his shoulder. "You're young and wise Shadow and I'm very proud. I have trained you since you were a small boy, I have taught you everything I know, and you have become a far greater Jedi than I could ever hope to be.

"But be patient Shadow, it will not be long before the council makes you a Jedi master." Sonic walked off.

Shadow called after him, "Sonic!" He turned around, "May the force be with you."

"Goodbye old friend. May the force be with you."

TO BE CONTINUED!