3

"Save your Energy!"

"I can't…"

"Don't give up Amy!"

Shadow woke from a dose on the couch, and watched Amy walk into the room. "Sonic's been by here, hasn't he?"

"Yeah, he came by here this morning."

He got up and followed her. "What did he want?"

"He's worried about you. He says you've been under a lot of stress."

Shadow stood there a moment. "I feel lost."

"Lost? What do you mean?"

Shadow walked to a window. "Sonic and the council don't trust me."

"They trust you with their lives."

"Something's happening. I'm not the Jedi I should be." Amy looked at him strangely. "I want more, and I know I shouldn't."

She walked over; put her hand on his shoulder. "You expect too much of yourself."

Shadow looked at her. "I found a way to save you."

"Save me?"

"From my nightmares."

"Is that what's bothering you?"

"I won't lose you Amy."

"I'm going to die in Childbirth Shady, I promise you."

"No; I promise you."

Sonic arrived at Utapu, and landed under the skeleton of a giant face hugger. He stepped out and was met by a man in desperate need of a retainer. "Greetings, young Jedi. What brings you to our remote sanctuary?"

"Unfortunately the war."
"Well, there's mo war here. Unless you've brought it with you."

"With your kind permission I would like some fuel, and to use this city as a base as I search nearby systems for Metal Sonic."

The man motioned for some maintence guys to tend to his ship. He leaned close to Sonic. "He is here. We are being Held hostage."

"I understand."

"Tenth level. Thousands of battle droids."

"Tell your people to take shelter. If you have warriors, now is the time."

The bowed to each other, and went away. Sonic spoke to his R2 unit, said "Take the fighter back to the ship. Tell Cody I've made contact.

One of Metal Sonic's guards watched as the ship flew away, as did Sonic, camped out beneath a small alcove.

Sonic snuck his way through several vents, coming out to several walkways above Metal Sonic and the separatist leaders. He peered down at them as Metal Sonic was giving a speech.

"I'm moving you to the Mustafar system. It is a Volcnic planet. You will be safe there."

"Safe?!" One of the leaders stood. "Chancellor Robotnik managed to escape your grip General. Without Count Esspio, I doubt your ability to keep us safe."

Metal Sonic leaned forward to him, making a fist as he said, "Be glad you're not in my grip, Vicroy." They got up to leave. "Your ship is waiting."

Once they were all Gone, Sonc shackled off his robe, and leaped down behind Metal Sonic. "Hello there," He said.

"Ah, General Sonic. You are a bold one." Four of his guards stepped forward. "Kill him."

Sonic ignited his Lightsaber, but crushed a ceiling vent down on them. Heh, Shadow teaches me some things, he thought as he beheaded one droid that had survived.

The army of droids that had crowded around them raised their weapons, but Metal waved them back.

"Your move," Sonic said.

"You fool!" Metal said as he unwrapped his robe. "I've been trained in your Jedi arts by Count Espio!" He pulled out two lightsabers, and used magnetic arms to hold two others, igniting all four of them, hold them at the proper pose. Sonic struck a pose too. Metal laughed, and spinning his upper lightsabers in circles, forcing Sonic to step back.

Finally, Sonic Struck, catching two Lightsabers, and sliding under him to avoid to more coming his way. He came out the other side, and slashed, catching two, and continued to slash, spinning and turning as he did, quickly avoiding many of Metal's blows.

They continued in this stalemate-like fight, until Sonic managed to overpower all four lightsabers, and strike at Metal's abdomen, shorting out the two magnetic arms, sending the lightsabers flying. Metal kicked, but Sonic recovered, and grinned. Metal looked perplexed a moment, but turned his head when an eruption of fire started up behind him. An army of clones had arrived, attacking and destroying his droid army.

Metal looked at him, and said "Army or not, you must realize: YOU ARE DOOMED!"

"Oh, I don't think so," and struck. Metal caught the Lightsaber, but fired up his engine and blasted out of there. Sonic turned to chase, but had to stop as Metal jumped over the edge of a platform.

He looked down, and saw Metal was making his way down to a ship. Sonic turned left and sped on the road, cutting down Battle droids that got in his way. He took the route going down; hoping his speed (Enhanced by the force) would get him there in time. He went several loops, and even found a spring which sped him up. But could he beat him down there?

On Corsuant, Shadow and Tails were filled in on the situation.

"Thank you Commander. Shadow, give this report to the chancellor. His reaction may give us a clue to his intentions."

"Yes master."

Once Shadow left, Tails looked at the remaining people in the hologram. "I sense a plot to destroy the Jedi. The dark side of the force surrounds the Chancellor."

"If he does not give up his emergency prowess after the destruction of Metal than he should be removed from office."

"The Jedi council will have to take control of the senate in order to secure a peaceful transition."

"This line of thinking will carry us to a dark place," Knuckles put in. "We must take great care."

Shadow arrived at the Chancellor's office. "Master Sonic has engaged Hyper Metal Sonic."

"Good."

Shadow hung his head. "I should be there."

"And why are you not? Because the Jedi council wouldn't put you there! Have you ever wondered at why they wouldn't do such a thing?"

"I don't know…I feel more and more I'm being excluded from the council. I know there are things about the force they are not telling me."

"They don't trust you Shadow." He got up. "They see your future. They know your power will be to strong to control." They walked on down the hall. "You must breach the fog of lies the Jedi have created around you. Let me help you to know the subtleties of the force."

"What do you know of the force?"

"My mentor taught me everything about the force. Even the nature of the dark side."

Shadow looked at him with his eyebrows knitted. "You know of the dark side?"

"Shadow…if one is to know the great mystery, one must study all its aspects, not just the dogmatic view of the Jedi.

"If you wish to become a great and wise leader you must embrace a wider view of the force." They had begun circling each other. "Be careful Shadow: Only through me can you achieve a power greater than any Jedi. Learn the dark side of the force, and you will be able to save your wife, from certain death." Robotnik grinned.

"What did you say?"

"Use my knowledge, I beg you!"

Shadow pulled out his lightsaber. "You're the Sith Lord! You're the one they're hunting!"

"I know what's been troubling you, listen to me! Don't continue to be a pawn of the Jedi council!" They stopped circling, and just stared at each other, the tip of Robotnik's nose almost to the tip of Shadow's lightsaber. "Ever since I've known you, you've been looking for more than the life of an ordinary Jedi, a life of significance." Shadow put his blade near Robotnik's neck. "Are you going to kill me?"

"I would certainly like to."

"I know you would… I can feel your anger. It gives you focus, makes you stronger."

Shadow put up his lightsaber. "I'm going to turn you over to the Jedi council."

"Yes, you should."

"Then I'll know the truth of all this."

Robotnik leaned closer. "Use your wisdom Shadow. Use the dark side, to save Amy.

On Utapu, the battle raged. Sonic had caught up to Metal, and they were racing at blinding speed past droids and Clones fighting. Sonic tried to fight him off with his Lightsaber, but that had proved unsuccseful. Metal kicked him, jumped in front of him, and fired his jet in his face, knocking him back. Sonic recovered quickly, chasing Metal almost to the edge of the platform, but jumped on a rail just as he reached it. He balanced on the rail, sliding down its odd curve, jumping off at the precise moment to land on a flying droid, smashing it with his foot. He propelled himself from droid to the next, homing in on them using the force. As he was about to jump on one though, another shot him, causing him to drop his lightsaber, and worse, fall off the droid. He quickly grabbed onto the bottom of it though, and swung himself up, landing on it, and homing in on the one that shot him. Finally, he reached the platform Metal was on.

He kicked him as he landed on it, knocking him over. Metal grabbed his leg, and slammed him onto the hard steel that the platform was made of. Sonic tried to get away, but Metal grabbed him and threw him into the ship he was attempting to get escape into. Metal walked over, and threw his fist at Sonic's head, but Sonic managed to duck, leaving Metal to make a large indentation in his own ship. Metal kicked Sonic, sending him back on the ship, but Sonic managed to run off. Metal lashed out with his arm, catching Sonic's back and sending him to the edge of the platform. Sonic barely managed to grab on, and noticed a blaster sitting on the ground. He summoned it with the force. Metal was upon him, and Sonic fired into Metal's abdomen. Metal staggered back, and Sonic shot him several more times, eventually blowing him apart.

Sonic climbed up, and looked at the shattered remains of Metal Sonic, and at the blaster he was holding. "I think Shadow likes these," he muttered to himself, and walked on.

Shadow met up with Tails. "Master, I wish to speak with you."

"Good, we've just received word that Sonic has destroyed Metal Sonic. Now, the Chancellor can give up emergencey power to the senate."

"He won't give it up. I believe that Chancellor Robotnik is a Sith Lord?"

"A Sith lord?"

"Yes, the one we've been looking for."
'Then our worst fears have come true."

"Please, allow me to accompany you when we arrest him."

"No; you're too young for this. It would be best if you stayed out of it."

"But master, trust me-"

"If what you've told me is true, then You'll have gained my trust." Tails looked over, and saw a crazy black man. "Oh, not him again!"

"I'M SAMUEL L. JACKSON!!!"

At sunset, Shadow sat brooding in the Jedi temple. If the Jedi destroy me, any chance of saving her will be lost… He stood and went to the window staring out at the blazing city, and strangely, across several hundred miles, Amy stared back.

A hangar opened, and Shadow hopped into a ship, and took off.

Four Jedi, led by Tails, entered the Chancellor's office. "Ahh, master Tails, I take it Hyper Metal Sonic has been destroyed then?"
"Yes; and you are under arrest.."

"What? Are you threanting me?"

"The senate will decide your fate."

"I am the senate."

"Not yet."

Eggman flipped out a lightsaber. "It's treason then." He ignited it, and despite his fat bulk, flipped up and cut down two Jedi instantly. He traded blows with Tails and the other one, quickly despacthing him as well. He traded blows with Tails, leading him down the hall, and coming to a large window, which they simultaneously destroyed.

Shadow arrived, and hurried up to the chancellor's office.

They fought in the hollow space of the window, continually slashing and lunging at each other, until Tails kicked Eggman's red lightsaber out of his hand, and led him forward with his own yellow one.

Shadow arrived just then, and saw what was happening.

"You are under arrest, my lord," Tails grumbled.

"Shadow, look! I was right! The Jedi are taking over!"

"The oppression of the Sith will never return! You have lost!"

"No…No… No! You have!" Eggman launched lightning from his fingers at him, but Tails, managed to catch it on his light saber. They held it for a moment, the lightning bouncing around, scarring Eggman's face, burning off what little hair he had (And raping his mustache)

"I have the power to save the ones you love! Ahhh! Don't let him kill me!"

"I'm going to finish this, once and for all!"

"You can't! He's got stand Trail!"
"I can't hold it any longer!" He stopped the force lightning.

"He's got control of the senate and the courts! He's too dangerous to be left alive!"

"It's not the Jedi way!"

Tails raised his lightsaber.

"I need him!" As Tails struck, Shadow pulled out his own lightsaber and severed his hand. Eggman grinned, and shouted "UNLIMITED POWER!" firing his force lightning, and flinging Tails out the window.

Shadow dropped to his knees as Eggman arose. "What have I done?"

"You're fulfilling your destiny, Shadow. Become my apprentice, learn to use the dark side of the force."

"I will do anything you ask. Just help me save Amy's life. I can't live without her."

Eggman grinned, and twisted his voice: "To cheat death, is the power only one has achieved, but if we work together, we can find the secrete."

"I pledge myself to your teachings."

"Good, Good. The Force is strong with you. Henceforth, you shall be known as Darth…VADER."

"Thank you…my master."

"Rise."

Vader rose. Eggman looked at himself in the mirror, and used a sick perversion of the force to twist his mustache, and grow it to enormous proportions. His eyes looked damaged, so he flipped on some black glasses. He flipped his hood up, and looked at his new apprentice.

"When the Jedi discover what has been done, they will attempt to kill us. If they survive, there will be civil war without end.

"Every Jedi alive is now an enemy of the republic. They must all be killed. Even your friend, Sonic the Hedgehog.

"Go to the Jedi temple, and eradicate them all, Lord Vader."

"What of the other Jedi scattered around the Galaxy?"

"They will be dealt with. Once you are done with the temple, travel to the Mustafar system, and kill Viceroy Gunray and his accomplices.

"Once More the Sith shall rule the Galaxy! And we shall have peace."