Star Wars: Heroes of Another Kind

[Ankh-Morpork Guard]

While I'm thinking about it, I'd like to pimp a couple Story Hours to you guys. Why? Because I'm ALWAYS happy to see more Star Wars SHs here on the front page, and these two are good. Both of them are fairly new, so there's not much catching up to do. Besides, reading this one you're at least slightly predisposed to enjoy Star Wars, so give these two a chance if you've got the time:

Star Wars: Chasing the Stars!

Star Wars: A New Power

Alright, so I'm biased on the second one...but c'mon, as a player in that game, I'm duty bound to pimp it. Go and read about the only non-Force User in A New Power, the wonderful Kel Dor, Aasan! No, I don't know it is with me and 'A' names either.

 

[Ankh-Morpork Guard]

Chapter 217: Until I Can No Longer Tell You To Stay...

Just as they made it into the largest part of the Kanyak’s cabin, where nearly all of the Alraxians onboard the ship had gathered, a large holographic image of shimmered into existence up on the wall where everyone could see. At first, it was impossible to make out what was actually being seen. Just a blur of colour and odd shapes that didn’t seem to form anything. And then the image pulled back, and it was obvious what was being seen.

It was an Alraxian. Seated in a chair, with an odd, slightly shimmering visor over his...no, her face. Her ears could still be seen over it, but her mouth, eyes, and nose were completely covered. Jyren didn’t need to see her face to know it was Shadow. He didn’t even need to see the black striped, white hair...or the slightly torn and beat up clothes she wore. He could feel it through the link. Distant, though she was, somehow seeing her seemed to strengthen it, though that was about the only thing good to come from it.

He also knew the visor right away. It was of the same design that the Mrrakesh had used on him. Which meant she was...or rather, should have been unconscious. However, she was moving and struggling against some kind of bonds holding her to the chair. She wasn’t struggling very hard, though, so the visor still had some effect at least.

Throughout the room, as people began to realize who it was in the image, gasps and hushed words could be heard. Also, many eyes slowly glanced back at Jyren. Yes, he noticed...but for once, he didn’t care. His focus, as was the focus of the Empress and Cole, was still on the image.

It stayed the way it was, just Shadow feebly struggling, for a few moments before another figure stepped into view behind her. Even though Jyren had only seen him once, he could pick Ket Halpak out in a second. Not only did the lack of a tail give him away, but the way he carried himself and the smug expression were also dead giveaways. Smiling, Ket leaned one arm on Shadow’s shoulder and looked straight towards...Jyren could swear Ket was staring into his eyes as the Alraxian spoke in a casual manner.

“Good morning, Ferror,” Ket said with a smile, and the Empress simply stared back with a glare. He couldn’t see her...but the other Alraxians could, “I hope you enjoyed my little show. You wouldn’t believe how long I’ve had to wait to actually do that! But bragging can be left for a different time. I believe that you and I have some business...”

He couldn’t see her...but he could hear her. So, still maintaining her strong image for the others around, the Empress said sternly, “I will not play your games, Halpak.”

Before she could say anything else, he laughed, “Oh, of course not! You’ll send one of your little mindless assassins to deal with me! Just like you used to do for me! Maybe your weapon will actually succeed, even! But you know what, Ferror? It won’t matter. This will happen again.”

“Don’t try to sound so self-righteous,” she snapped, “You’re no liberator. You’re only looking for an excuse for your petty revenge.”

“Perhaps,” Ket shrugged, but then leaned down to look at Shadow. He stood up again and walked around her, still looking towards them all, “But the why doesn’t really matter, now does it? I am here...and you know I’ll get that petty revenge no matter what. Otherwise...what would your tiny little Empire do without its heir? You know that we can’t have that!”

A short second of silence. It was long enough for Ket to speak up again as the Empress had been caught up in making a critical decision. He smiled and removed a small, oddly shaped device from a pocket before looking to Shadow and speaking over his shoulder, “We can keep going around in circles, but you know as well as I do where we’re going to end up. So, I’ll just cut straight to it, and make things simple. You will return to the Capital in one hour, alone, and we shall decide things honorably.”

Silence. Jyren didn’t know exactly what that meant, but he had a been feeling about it. The Empress nodded, and spoke in a calm voice, “Very well, then, I accept your challenge.”

A victorious smile found its way onto Ket’s features, and he shifted his gaze to almost exactly where Jyren stood, “I know the boy is there somewhere. Truly, I apologize for you getting caught up in all of this, but it was your own choice. This will hurt very much.”

The image went dead. And then, suddenly, a sharp pain shot through Jyren’s shoulder. But no...no, it was more like a phantom pain that wasn’t really his. Something that he’d understood long ago was through the link. It was like a deep burning right under the skin, and considering how intense it was, he was amazed Shadow wasn’t killed by it. But he didn’t make any noise beyond a surprised grunt...though he did stumble back in a slight shock.

The Redstar quickly stabled him as best as possible, and for the next ten minutes all eyes and attention was on him...for multiple reasons. Then...slowly, the pain faded. Or maybe he just got used to it. Either way, his vision cleared enough to see the Empress and Emperor standing in front of him looking both concerned and sad.

Finding his voice, Jyren spoke hoarsely, “I’ll go. Tell me where my X-Wing is...and I’ll go and finish this...”

The Empress shook her head and said softly, “I cannot let you do that.”

“You have to,” he responded before she’d even finished the last word, “This is my fight...that’s my...that’s...that is Shadow. This wouldn’t be like this if not for us...let me.”

“No,” this time, the Empress’ words were much more stern, though Jyren could still detect a strong sadness in them. He opened his mouth again to start cursing and began to push past them to find a ship to find his own X-Wing to find Shadow, but this time, the Empress grabbed him and looked him dead in the eyes, “Jyren. You cannot go.”

They stared eye to eye for a long time. He tried to read her...but couldn’t for some reason. She, on the other hand, looked to be reading him perfectly. And then, almost suddenly, she drew him into a very tight hug, whispering into his ear, “Listen to me...do not do anything until I can no longer tell you other wise. Until I can’t tell you not to. Do you understand? Until I can’t tell you to stay, you must remain here.”

She was sounding desperate...something Jyren had never seen or heard in the Empress. It was...worrying, to say the least. But before she could continue repeating it, and just as he noticed a hint of tears in her eyes, Cole pulled her back and spoke quietly, “Calm...if he doesn’t understand now then there’s nothing you can do about it.”

The older Alraxian then put an strong hand on Jyren’s shoulder and smiled as best he could, “Keep my daughter safe, son.”

As Cole began to pull the Empress away, it all dawned on Jyren suddenly. His eyes widened, and he reached out to grab her arm. Catching her wrist and stopping her, Jyren stepped forward and whispered sharply, “You don’t have to do this!”

An odd, haunting smile formed on the Empress’ features, and her hand twisted around to squeeze his arm gently, “It is my duty. When all is done...you will understand. But you must trust me until then. And after...love my daughter, stay at her side, and protect our people.”

And then, without realizing it, Jyren released his grip on the Empress. She nodded, held the soft smile, and then exited the cabin with her mate. Jyren just stared as they left. He couldn’t say anything else. There was nothing he could do. He wasn’t in control of anything at all...

Then, he felt a hand rest on his shoulder and also help to keep him standing straight. The only other in the cabin to have heard the quick conversation had been the Redstar, and she was keeping that well hidden as she spoke quietly, “Come and lay down...you need rest now.”

Jyren didn’t fight her as she helped him away from all the staring eyes. They knew the same thing he did...or at least part of it. They knew that their Empress was going to face Ket Halpak alone. They knew she had to. They didn’t know that Ket was more than match for her. They didn’t know that it was the last time any of them were ever going to see her face. They really know how much things were about to change.

Jyren did.

 

[Ankh-Morpork Guard]

Chapter 218: My Son...Part II

There was a very odd silence in the ship’s cabin after the Empress had left. After a few minutes, the silence and general staring in Jyren’s direction faded into hushed conversations. It provided an opportunity for Jyren to step out to a smaller, more out of the way place. With the help of the Redstar, he was able to find a quarters that was currently unoccupied. After some convincing, Jyren managed to convince her that he would be fine with a little rest. She nodded and left, but mentioned that she would come and get him if anything new happened.

And then, finally, Jyren was left alone in a small, generally nondescript bedroom. He sighed and collapsed back onto the bed, staring blankly up at the ceiling. Through the link, he could still feel phantom pains...not nearly as strong as before, but they were still there, all over. Shadow wasn’t exactly getting the royal treatment. Or maybe she was...it probably could have been worse.

So was this it, then? Take Shadow to lure the Empress out and deprive the Empire of its leader? It would seem that way but...why take the Capital? He didn’t have to do that if Shadow was the target. And why was Shadow still alive? Bait, obviously, but the challenge had been accepted and she wasn’t even necessary anymore...was she? Whatever Ket was up to, Jyren couldn’t make sense of it. It seemed like the Alraxian was leaving himself open...maybe that was it.

But no, Jyren knew well enough that he and Shadow were the real threats to Ket and Nine. And, with Shadow in his possession, Ket could simply kill them both and end the threats right there. So it couldn’t be a trap to lure Jyren in. That wasn’t even necessary.

Sitting up, he glanced over to the pack he’d been lugging around since leaving the palace. Why his thoughts suddenly drew him to it, Jyren didn’t know. But he picked it up, opened it, and dug through the clothes and other material he’d managed to stash within until finding the small cube and pulling it out.

Palm sized...slight translucent with a slight, bluish tint to it. There were a few lines along the surface, but they didn’t seem to be any kind of writing or anything beyond little designs. So what in the name of the Force was it?! Jyren stared at it for a few minutes.

Staring at it, however, did him no good. It looked exactly the same as it had for the last day and a half(or however long it had been). It felt odd, though...strangely light for its size. Sure, it was small, but the thing seemed to weigh less than a solid object of its size. Maybe it wasn’t solid? He could see through it to a point...but no, there looked to be some kind of inner workings in there. Something. It had to be something.

His hand shifted slightly around it, bringing his thumb across a slight, almost impossible to detect, indentation. He’d barely felt it, but the second he did, something happened. A holographic image was suddenly projected out of the top of the cube. It was the torso of a human woman...about half life size. Immediately, Jyren recognized the long, dark brown hair and the deep blue eyes.

It was the woman from his father’s holos. It was his mother.

The holo of Jyren’s mother blinked, then looked up to look him in the eyes. In a voice he couldn’t describe that sent feelings through him that were equally lost to words, she spoke, “I am Andrea Tavos, Gatekeeper of this holocron. Who seeks the knowledge held within?”

Jyren stared in shock, gaping slightly. Tavos?! That didn’t make sense! He’d made up that name!...hadn’t he? Yes. Yes, of course he had!! Then why did his...his mother have the same name?! That didn’t...didn’t make any sense at all!!

While his mind whirled through confusion, his mouth, having realizing there was a question presented, took the initiative and answered without the consent of the brain, “...mom?”

Alright, so the mouth didn’t come up with the best response. Truthfully, though, that was the brain’s job.

After the words were spoken, the holo flickered slightly, and the neutral expression changed. Now, there was a soft smile on her face. Again, his mother’s image spoke, but the tone of her voice had changed also, now like something he’d only heard from Shadow’s mother before, “Jyren...yes, I was your mother.”

Again, he just stared at the small image of the human woman. A holorecording was...talking to him. No, no not talking to him. That was normal. This one was conversing with him! Responding!! So, quickly, a question had to be asked. However, it didn’t come out all that well, “H-h-how?”

This time, the image didn’t suddenly jump into a change. Instead, it flowed like real movement...even blinking and other subtle movements as she spoke, “I have programmed the AI Gatekeeper within with my personality and knowledge...as the other Gatekeepers within have done. However, the Jendari have altered and updated the AI to the current time period...it has been a long time since my death.”

What an odd statement to hear...but that didn’t matter. Why would it?! Nodding without actually realizing it, Jyren decided to ask the next most obvious question, “What...what is this thing?”

His mother tilted her head to the side slightly as she looked straight into his eyes, “This is an ancient Jedi Holocron...a library of information on everything from the Jedi, to the Force, and even, if you are judged ready, the Sith. Even in my time, the knowledge of how to create these artifacts was long lost...I discovered this Holocron in one of the ancient Jedi Temples on Alraxia. After learning as much as I could, I programmed myself as a Gatekeeper for you.”

“For me...?” alright, so Jyren wasn’t doing a very good job with conversations at the moment. Really, though, it would be hard for anyone to in the same situation. This woman...his mother who he’d never known, was dead. Dead, and talking to him.

The holo did not pick up on his thoughts(since, thankfully, there were limits to holos, even), and nodded as she answered the question, “I sensed that you...would require my assistance one day.”

“You knew you were going to die...?” that question just came out as Jyren tried to make sense of everything.

But his mother shook her head, “No one can ever know that, Jyren. But if you listen to the Force, things have a way of working out just as they should...” she paused, obviously giving him a good look over for the first time, before saying quietly, “Something is troubling you...please, Jyren, tell me what is wrong. Tell me what has happened all of these years...I missed you growing up, and the Jendari’s information is nothing compared to hearing it from my son.”

Jyren blinked in surprise at the words of the holo. It was still a holo!! But it was speaking like a human! Like it had real emotions and feelings! And...it...she had actually looked at him! Not only that, but she’d read his emotions!!

“I don’t understand...” he mumbled, “How is any of this possible? How are you...you’re looking at me! Holos can’t do that! Not recordings!”

A warm smile formed on his mother’s features, and she even laughed softly, “Perhaps it would do you better to think of this as a droid, and not a recording. Does that make sense to you?”

He nodded...slowly. It did. Droids could think and react...and even read emotions from time to time. So she was a droid...no. No, she was not a droid. This was his mother. Not in the flesh, no, but it was her. It was her. Everything about her except for her physical body. He could...feel it. And despite that, it still completely stunned him that any of this was possible.

When he didn’t say anything else, her feature’s became a slightly concerned look, and as she spoke again, he could see actual pain on the transparent, holographic features, “Please talk with me...if something is urgent, I can attempt to provide you with guidance now, but I wish to know about my son. I want to know where you grew up...how you grew up...who you were with through it...I want to know if you followed our family’s path and learned the ways of the Force. I want to know everything I was not able to be there for...” and then, a very soft hint of a smile crept onto her face, “...and I want to know why my son looks to be an Alraxian.”

 

[Ankh-Morpork Guard]

Chapter 219: The Face of the Enemy

Ket sat in the empty, colorless room directly across from Shadow. She was bound to the chair, drugged, and the visor was still over her face. And yet still, she struggled in a childlike way. No, she wasn’t going to succeed at breaking free, and she probably knew it...if, in fact, she could think through all of the drugs and the visor. But it was amazing that she still fought.

No. Actually it wasn’t. He would have been disappointed otherwise. She was trained as his replacement. As good as he was, and technically, supposed to be better. They had only participated in two missions together. In both, she had followed his orders and done the job they were given. But that didn’t matter to Ket then...he had already reached a point where his mental training had been broken.

It wasn’t something anyone else had done...he was simply too much of a freethinker to follow orders so blindly. And so, he had done what any young Alraxian in his situation would have done. But it was foolish, and because of his actions, the Mrrakesh captured him. She was not caught, however, and didn’t even attempt to free him. Not that she would. She was a perfect Tam-Day-U. She followed her orders, and did not deviate from them. Saving him from the Mrrakesh was an unnecessary risk.

Yet, despite knowing this, Ket was still bitter. He had not been able to understand why she could simply ignore everything and give up her free will. It was the first steps to his decision that the Alraxian Empire had to be dealt with for the way they treated him. But it was only the first. What the Mrrakesh did to him solidified it...torture was not an accurate description of the pain he experience at their hands.

Ket was broken. Destroyed. Killed, in a sense. Even he knew that the shell of a body he walked in now was not inhabited by the same person who had occupied it all those years ago. He was still Ket Halpak...but twisted and ruined by the Mrrakesh. His mind nothing like it once was. His entire life nothing like it should have been. The Mrrakesh enjoyed it so much...

“And its all your fault!” he suddenly screamed at her, lashing out with his claws across her torso angrily. The moment of rage passed, though, and he sat staring at her again.

His mind was destroyed and twisted by the Mrrakesh due to her inability to see what should be done...and his body, his tail disgraced and taken from him by her. Three times, she had the chance to kill him. Twice, she’d taken a piece of his tail and simply let him live. That was worse than leaving him to the Mrrakesh. At least then it was before she had broken from her training as he had. She had acted out of emotion...anger. It was revenge to leave him alive.

But for what? What had he ever done to her?! Again and again this damned woman scarred him and left for dead, but never once had he harmed her! Never! Never until it had been too much for him to bear! This really was all her fault! Without her, none of this would have ever happened to him!

Again, he reached over to rake his claws across her in anger. But this time, he stopped himself. Stopped himself...and reached over to press the switch on the visor near her ear. It disappeared, revealing a defeated, but still very defiant face that he knew all too well. She blinked in a very groggy fashion, but upon realizing where she was, growling dangerously and started struggling much more violently.

Ket simply looked into her eyes. There was the usual defiance there...as with the other things he’d come to recognize over the years. But there was something else. He could feel it, too. Narrowing his eyes, he said simply, “You don’t even know why you fight with me anymore, do you?”

Her struggling stopped, and she glared right back into his eyes. She didn’t say anything, however. Perhaps it was because of the drugs...perhaps it was due to something else. Or perhaps, she simply had nothing to say. It didn’t matter. Leaning forward(but still out of her reach just in case), Ket finished his prying into her mind, “You’re even more twisted than I am! Isn’t it interesting? The Mrrakesh did it to me...but your own people did it to you. Ruined you and made you into less than you were...just because of the colour of your eyes.”

Shadow growled at him again and suddenly lashed out by sending a wave of the Force at him. Thankfully, Ket had been expecting this, and was also strong enough to resist the powerful attack, “Silent, as usual, I see. Just like when you the Mrrakesh have me. Or do you even remember that? I doubt you do. I doubt you even know anything about the Empire you fight for!”

He was just working himself up again, and becoming and more angry in the process. And so, before she could respond, he reached over and hit the switch on the visor again. In a moment, she was drowned back into nothingness. Yet she still sat tall in the same strong position. Ket sighed.

There was something very different about her than there ever had been. Something that Ket couldn’t pinpoint, and when he almost did, couldn’t make sense of it. But it didn’t matter. In less than an hour...the Empress would arrive and he would kill her. Then, he would have to kill Marix. Somehow, he had a feeling it was going to be much harder to do. Perhaps have Nine do it...no. No, this was not some faceless tool. This was Marix. He would show her respect even if she showed him none.

And then...and then he could finally leave this place. Go with Nine somewhere quiet and safe from the Mrrakesh and the Alraxians and actually live. But before that, he would have to find his son again. That boy did not deserve the pain he would experience in the Empire...and despite everything, he was Ket’s son. Maybe then things would finally be alright, and he could silence the savage voices in his mind.

Maybe.

 

[Ankh-Morpork Guard]

Chapter 220: Of Destiny

It took a surprisingly short amount of time to bring the...the holocron up to speed on the current events and Jyren’s past activities. It...she...whatever, seemed to catch onto things quickly enough that repeating or explaining again wasn’t required. Sure, he skimmed over things, but he knew he was working in a time limit. The Empress would be confronting Ket in a matter of minutes...

But at the same time, it was enthralling to be speaking with his mother...even if it wasn’t really her. It was damn close enough. He had quickly found that she was very much like himself in the way she spoke and the general attitude that the ‘recording’ displayed. Still amazed at how real the holo seemed to be, Jyren sighed and answered the question that had been presented to him, “Its not that I haven’t tried my best! But I’ve had nothing to go on except some old texts I found. And even those got lost...I just did what I felt was right. Probably not the best Jedi, but I tried to at least do the right thing.”

His mother’s image flickered slightly as it did every few minutes, “It is not an easy path to walk, Jyren, but doing the right thing is the core to it.”

“It can’t just be that simple,” he grumbled under his breath slightly, “The majority of the galaxy works on that principle.”

“No, it isn’t that simple, but it’s the start,” she said with a soft nod, “The Jedi teachings and ways evolved much in thousands of years. There is no one true path to being a Jedi. This holocron contains knowledge of a time that is long gone...its teachings are a kind that I never experienced in my own training. However, I feel that what you will find contained within here will provide you a much more accurate guide along the path.”

Jyren was silent for a moment, wondering if he should actually speak the thought that had come to mind. Would it hurt her? Could she be hurt? Surely it would be disappointing for a mother to hear after their long conversation up to this point...but would it be the same for this holocron? Why that worried him didn’t really make anymore sense.

So, very quietly, he said, “I don’t know if that path is for me. I’ve...told myself all my life I should. I wave around this...your lightsaber pretending to be a Jedi like I’ve done for the last however many years. But its never been more than a game in the end...and...and I don’t want to keep fighting.”

“No one wants to keep fighting,” the response was very quick, but not so much that it felt wrong or odd, “No one can tell you what path to follow. I can’t do that either. I can guide you, teach you, and help you...but the choice has to be yours, Jyren. It is not wrong to chose a new path. Look inward and think very carefully on it.”

He nodded. That made sense. It was the first time he’d even admitted to himself that he might not be on the right path. But he...he didn’t know. He would have to take time for that and not make some rash decision. But Jyren found himself shaking his head, “I don’t have any other choice...I...I need these skills. Especially here and...and especially now. I just wish I didn’t have to sit around all the time. I wish I could actually do something for once instead of always reacting.”

Again, the holo flickered, but this time Jyren had the feeling it was due to a change in its information, “Jyren. The Force works in ways that we cannot always understand. Sometimes all we can do is react to the situation presented to us. Life is little beyond how we react to it. Some beings convince themselves that they are in control, but they are at the mercy of the Force as much as the rest of us. That does not meant, however, that we do not have a choice. The Alraxians have had a very interesting concept of the Force that shaped the Jedi who found this place...and myself. They believe that the Force is what it is...and that our own individual choices make us dark or light or in between. But the Force itself is neither.”

“It makes sense,” Jyren shrugged.

The image nodded, “Yes, it does...but it is still a single point of view on something that even the greatest Jedi Masters have only barely been able to comprehend. Perhaps the Alraxians are right...but what if they aren’t? A great deal depends on the answer to that question.”

“You know you’re changing the subject on me?” Jyren asked with a slight grin tugging at his face.

His mother’s image smiled, “You would be amazed to know how well this holocron contains my personality...even my tendency to ramble on and on endlessly.”

Jyren couldn’t help a short laugh and shook his head, “I won’t complain. Not about that, at least...but if I complain about anything else that’s happened because of following Shadow out to this crazy place, you’re just going to have to live with it.”

There was a pause. This was odd, because usually the holo was very quick to respond. Before he could ask what it was, she spoke again, “Have you put any thought into why you are here?”

The question surprised him, so he stuttered slightly, “Ah...um...not really...I mean, I just...just followed Shadow here because I didn’t want her running off on her own and...other reasons...”

Another pause. Then, after obviously taking in the information, the holo said, “Everything you have told me and the Jendari have given to me tells me that you have done some very important things in this Empire. You have already strongly affected the people of these worlds...and I expect much more is about to change in the coming days.”

Jyren managed a nod. She was right. He had changed things...but so had Shadow. And things would continue to change. But that was the way of things! It was how the universe worked. Things changed. So, quietly and almost hesitantly, he mumbled, “Change happens...it would have happened anyway...”

“How can you be so sure of that?” the holo snapped back quickly and, almost, harshly, “In everything you have told me about yourself, you have minimized everything you have done to the work of others. You have managed to turn your own achievements into failures in your mind, and you seem to be incapable of any kind of confidence in your own actions. You have done the things to get you here. And now that you’re here and changing an entire culture...you put it on someone else as if you’re ashamed of it.”

He stared blankly at the image of his mother. She actually looked angry! And she sounded it, too! And...and...a small part of him could admit she was right. A very small part, and it wasn’t speaking up. When he was silent for a considerable amount of time, the image asked one simple question of him, “Have you ever thought it was the will of the Force that brought you here? That it is your destiny to do these things?”

There was no chance to answer. Instead, there was a knock on the door just before it irised open. The Redstar stuck her head in, and, completely ignoring the holocron and the holo image floating above it, looked straight to Jyren and said quickly, “Come! Its time.”

He knew what that meant. The entire Empire knew what that meant. Jyren nodded, looked to the image of his mother and she simply nodded, obviously knowing what was meant also. So, he didn’t feel bad finding the switch and turning it off. Jyren then put the item back in the pack and ran off to catch up with the Redstar in the main cabin. Everyone in the Empire was going to see this. But only a handful already knew what was going to happen.

 

[Aranel]

You messed up the Mrrakesh.
They're bigger therfore slower than 'Raxians.
Not too bad a retelling, though you skipped a load of the probably more pointless stuff that happened-it was kinda funny though.
Also, some of the bits you missed strengthened Shadow's character-oh well.

People, the 'Raxians and their galaxy are my own personal creation- the actual stories for them shouldn't take too much longer to finish, tough having seen a bit about them, could I have some feedback about them and the small portion of their 'verse you've seen left....Here

 

[dpdx]

Perhaps you could tell some vignettes about Shadow and her character then, Aranel?

This is in my top three of favorite SHs, and I'm finding that my personal tolerance of Alraxians has increased with every update.

I for one would love to hear some extra from your point of view, not that AMG doesn't already give us plenty of content to chew on, but I'd still like to hear more, especially now that it appears that Shadow's demise is near.

 

[Ankh-Morpork Guard]

Chapter 221: One More Step Along the Path...

The holoscreen in the ship’s main cabin was active by the time Jyren made it back. It was also packed full of Alraxians...many of them, he noticed, looked at least slightly injured from the attack. But some things were more important. Next to him, the Redstar stood, looking up at the screen with an oddly calm expression on her face. Odd, because Jyren could feel the tension that permeated the room. There were a few small spots of calm here and there, but it was not the norm.

The screen itself showed a fairly boring landscape for the moment. It was definitely a part of the Capital, though Jyren had seen so little of it that he couldn’t pinpoint the spot. But it looked similar to the flower-like landing platforms. The holorecorder, or whatever its Alraxian equivalent was...it was close enough that Jyren wasn’t making a distinction, was placed far enough back that it was easy to see most of the area.

And off to the left, standing tall and alone was the regal figure of the Empress. She no longer wore the flowing robes from only an hour earlier, but was now dressed in a tunic very similar to what Jyren had last seen Shadow in. Shadow...it’d still been less than a day and even thinking the name hurt. Not only did it somehow strengthen the phantom pain through the link...but it caused a pain in his chest that didn’t make any sense to him.

He closed his eyes and tried to focus through it, attempting a calming technique that rarely worked. Rarely because he didn’t put much faith in it in the first place. But it did enough, bringing his focus back into the moment where it needed to be, and not off dwelling somewhere else. Jyren then noticed that at the Empress’ side was a slightly shining thing. At first, he assumed it was a small bladed weapon like Shadow had...but when the Empress shifted her weight slightly, it was easily noticeable that this blade was about the size of a lightsaber. And metal.

It was like looking at Shadow however many years into the future. The way she carried herself...her hair...the tunic with the soft gold lining. Like mother like daughter. Amazingly so. That made it all the more difficult to look at...and she was just standing there.

That didn’t last for long, of course. Her attention suddenly was up a little higher, and a familiar figure stepped into view. Ket Halpak had a very interesting profile. The stub of a tail coupled with very angular features made it hard to recognize him as Alraxian at first glance. He stood tall, with a simple cloak draped over his shoulders. Jyren then realized that something was off...as Ket was opening his mouth and speaking but there was no sound. Odd. Wouldn’t this be a better moment for Ket if everyone could hear his gloating?

Or perhaps this wasn’t just him showing off. That was too simple. Jyren had learned by now that there was much more to Ket Halpak and his actions than would normally be expected. This confrontation with the Empress was a necessary event for whatever his goal was. Obviously, though, showing off to the entire Empire was not. They would see it...and that would likely still be more than enough. But Jyren found himself wanting to know what was being said. Maybe that was the point...deprive them all of sound and you grab their attention even more so.

And then, after what was most definitely a short conversation, the real events began. Ket was the one to move forward, brandishing a much smaller blade in his quick steps. The Empress had little problem in parrying his thrust and stepping to the side, and even ducking a claw slash from Ket’s off hand. She moved like Shadow...though noticeably slower to Jyren’s eye. And Ket was moving slow. Too slow.

Though it was impossible to hear the crash of the two blades together again and again, every single Alraxian could hear it in their minds. High...low...left...right...both Ket and the Empress seemed to be evenly matched, with the two of them trading attacks. They both moved with perfectly timed precision, so much so that it almost looked staged. At first. But then, as the moments passed and the slashes from Ket’s shorter blade became faster, Jyren picked up on the real reason.

Ket was toying with her. He had to be. With every one of his strikes, it was slow enough that she was given enough time to deflect or move out of the way or parry the blade each time. At the same time, they were obvious attacks. No surprises or attempts to misdirect the Empress’ attention. It was blatantly obvious to even an amateur swordsman where each of Ket’s strikes would be. And with the Empress’ strikes and slashes, Ket always move out of the way or parried them just at the last moment. It was too perfect for him to be really trying.

But she was. Jyren could see it in the way she moved. Hard, forceful, and strong. Each step, the Empress planted her foot and swung the sword like it would be the last. Each time, he could see a fire in her eyes so much like her daughter. And yet...she knew. Jyren could see that in her eyes, too. And yet she fought on with all of her strength. She was being treated like a plaything and she knew it...yet she still didn’t give in. It was a strength that Jyren had only seen in those old holodramas. Nothing he’d actually witnessed before. It was both depressing and awe inspiring at the same time.

Things were starting to move faster, though. Slowly, Ket was increasing the pace of his attacks and his footsteps. Unlike the Empress, his were soft and constant, using his footwork much like Shadow did to almost dance around their prey. And prey was definitely the right word. And as he started to move faster, it became more and more obvious how outclassed the Empress really was. A strike to her neck was parried just away from her skin, but Ket pushed off the blade and spun to the right, the blade slashing high against instead of the expected low, where the Empress’ sword had gone.

Instead of blade catching blade, his short weapon slashed across the Empress’s shoulder. A quick look of pain could be seen, and then intense concentration as she forced her body to not attempt remorphing the metal-inflicted wound. And somehow, she rolled with it instead of giving in. Taking a step back(which was, to Jyren, the first outward sign of Ket’s advantage), the Empress lashed out with her sword in an upwards, diagonal slice. In an amazing show of skill, Ket spun over the blade, leading completely off the ground and landing off to the Empress’ now-undefended left side.

Just as his feet set down, his blade was thrusting in at her. It dug into her torso almost completely, and there was a collective gasp from the Alraxians to accent the pained look that washed over the Empress’ face. But when Ket withdrew the blade, she still held strong, turning to face him and backing up slightly...sword raised shakily in a defensive position. A few more words were said, and Jyren soon found himself getting extremely angry with Ket.

Quietly, he whispered to himself, “Stop toying with her...you’ve proved your point, get it over with.”

The Redstar heard him. She looked up to him with a somewhat shocked look on her face, but Jyren gave no response to that. She was a healer, not a fighter. Maybe she understood that Ket was just playing with the Empress...but it didn’t really matter. The outcome of this was decided before it had begun, and Jyren just wanted it to be over so he didn’t have to watch this reflection of Shadow being tortured in front of his eyes.

Then, almost suddenly, the Empress was moving again. She feinted left, and then spun the other direction, her long blade arcing out in a horizontal slash for Ket’s neck. But Ket saw through the feint. He stepped into her and ducked, the blade flashing over his head just as he forced his body into her’s and she stumbled back. In a flash, though, he was moving again. It was unlikely that many of the other Alraxians actually saw Ket’s blade thrust straight up into the Empress’ throat, as it was done with such speed that the weapon was withdraw barely a second after.

But the wide eyed look could be seen on the Empress’ face for that last moment. Her sword did not leave her hand as it would have in a holodrama...leaving her body to fall to its knees before she finally collapsed like a true leader was supposed to. This was real. The blue stain of blood covering her neck and throat, the Empress simply fell forward and hit the ground face first, though sword still in her hand off to the side. Ket looked down at the body for a long moment, then simply turned and walked off, not even acknowledging the holorecording device and leaving everyone to see the corpse of their Empress.

Inside the cabin of the ship, there was a stunned silence. No one knew what to say. No one knew what to do. Many of them felt like they couldn’t breathe. And all of them, save Jyren, felt a presence suddenly lift out of themselves. Where once the Alraxian Network had been kept calm by the emotions and will of the Empress, there was a void. A horrible void. And it wasn’t long before panic began to fill it, and soon the ship.

But Jyren was eerily calm. He stared in silence at the holoscreen for a long moment, before looking to the Redstar at his side. She was staring at him. They all were. Questioning looks in their eyes. They wanted him to do something. They wanted him to say something. Anything.

Until I can no longer tell you to stay.

The words echoed in Jyren’s mind. Nodding, he looked down to the Redstar and said firmly, “I need my ship.”

 

[Ankh-Morpork Guard]

Chapter 222: Promises

In hindsight, Jyren knew that asking the Redstar for help wasn’t going to get him anywhere. But she was the closest, and the only one who he actually felt at least slightly comfortable speaking with. In only a few minutes, the entire ship(and likely the entire Alraxian Empire) had erupted into a panicked chaos. Thankfully, there were Redstars and guards to attempt calming people, though they were just as lost as to what was to be done.

The Empress was dead. The Empress-to-be was in the hands of the Empress’ killer. The common bond that held their entire species together had been severed, and no one knew how to deal with it. For all their lives, the Alraxians lived in an almost hive mind like existence. Thoughts, feelings, and news was transmitted through the natural Network, which was held together and maintained by the Empress. It was never disrupted. It couldn’t be. Or rather...shouldn’t be. This moment proved that it could happen. But as it was something none of them had ever even imagined, the reactions of panic and the chaos weren’t surprising.

So when Jyren recieved no response beyond a blank, lost look from the Redstar, he wasn’t too surprised. Taking a deep breath, and trying to get more of her attention, he asked more calmly, “Do you have any idea where the ship I came in is being kept?”

She blinked a few times before mumbling in a very distracted, hollow voice, “I...I don’t know...”

“It was metal,” Jyren attempted to elaborate while knowing that, with the Empress out of the way, every second was going to count, “It was all metal. Where would something like that be kept?”

“I...” she paused, finally really thinking on it. But she slowly shook her head, “I’m not sure...but it would not be anywhere near a city or groups of people.”

That was amazingly unhelpful. But again, it was doubtful she really knew anything about it in the first place. He wasn’t going to take a Kanyak, or any other living being with him to get Shadow. He wasn’t going to risk any other life. His was already on the line, as much as Shadow’s was...but enough had died because of his own mistakes, and he couldn’t help but feel responsible for what had happened to the Empress. So he would have to take his ship...where it was.

But before he could say anything else, an Alraxian that had pushed her way through the crowd stepped over to him and bowed. She looked older than the other, but the markings on her robes were similar enough that he identified her as another Redstar. Her tone of voice was softer, and much more controlled than anything he’d heard in the main cabin of the ship for the last few minutes, “My lord, I—“

Jyren cut her off with a wave of his hand, grumbling under his breath, “Don’t call me that.”

She paused, nodded slightly, “Your...your son is conscious. He wants to see you.”

Toby? Jyren sighed. There wasn’t time for this. There wasn’t time for anything. But then again...there never was. And so, almost against his better judgement, he followed her through the crowd of Alraxians. All of whom immediately turned to stare at him as he walked by. Yet another little hint at what he really didn’t want to be dealing with. He was no leader. These people wanted him to be...their eyes were begging for it, but he wasn’t one, and didn’t plan to be one.

Two short corridors and he was taken to a small bedroom that had obviously been converted into a makeshift infirmary. Though there were three beds in the room, only one was occupied. Closest to the door, laying back and attached to some kind of medical equipment that Jyren, unsurprisingly, didn’t recognize, was Tobias. The child’s eyes were half open, and he looked both tired and dazed. A couple of black marks could be seen along his face and much of his fur was singed, but the general feeling through the Force was that the child was doing much better than he looked.

Upon seeing Jyren step into the room, however, Tobias’ eyes opened up completely and a smile quickly formed on his small face, “Aka—“ he stopped, a look of serious concentration passed over him, then Toby tried again, “Jyren!”

Jyren grinned. He couldn’t help it. He walked over and sat on the bed next to Toby, “Hey, little guy. You doing alright?”

A little slower than normally, Tobias nodded. Jyren also noticed that the child’s voice was a bit softer and weaker, “Uh-huh,” he then pointed over Jyren’s shoulder to one of the Redstars, “She say I strongest jai in Empire.”

“Oh, she does?” Jyren looked over to her a moment but then back to Tobias, “I wouldn’t doubt it. She tells me you wanted to see me.”

“Uh-huh,” Tobias nodded again, his large eyes looking up at Jyren, “Everyone running around and...and scared...and...and no want you go away.”

“What do you mean?”

“You going away...” Tobias said, gently reaching out and poking Jyren’s leg.

“I’m not going anywhere, Toby.”

But the child shook his head, “Yes you are...you gonna go back to place where I get hurt.”

Jyren stared somewhat blankly at the little child. He hadn’t heard that from anyone. He couldn’t have. Tobias could only have known that if the Redstar he’d been with had told him...but she was still behind Jyren and hadn’t said a word since leaving the main cabin. Which left one option. Tobias had picked up on it with the Force.

No use hiding it then. Jyren sighed and put his hand on Toby’s shoulder, “I have to go back...but I won’t be gone long.”

Tobias regarded him for a very long minute, then asked, “Promise?”

“Of course, little guy.”

When Tobias seemed at least close to satisfied Jyren squeezed his shoulder gently before getting back to his feet. He made it three steps before Tobias suddenly spoke up again, “Daddy, wait!”

Jyren froze in place. He opened his mouth, but no words came out. Jyren wanted to tell Tobias he wasn’t his father. He wanted to tell him anything along those lines. But what would he say? Could he really tell this child that his father was the person who could be about to kill Shadow, and, due to the link, Jyren, too? Could he tell Tobias that his real father was probably going to be dead by the end of this if Jyren wasn’t? What would be the point? What good would it do?

None. Nothing that wouldn’t simply make things worse for the kid.

Sighing heavily, Jyren ran a hand through his hair and looked over his shoulder, “What is it, little guy?”

Tobias sat up a little more and looked straight across the room into Jyren’s eyes. There was something in that which Jyren couldn’t even interpret. He didn’t know children well enough to translate things like that. Quietly, Tobias said, “Bring momma back, too...”

Jyren took a deep breath. Was there really more than one answer to that? Of course not. So, Jyren nodded and said in a calm voice, “I will, Toby. I promise.”

And then, without another word, Jyren stepped out of the room and past the Redstars. They wouldn’t be able to help. He was off to find the ship’s hangar(or at least something close) on his own. He was going to have to do all of this on his own. But he didn’t make promises he couldn’t keep.

 

[Angcuru]

Sad with the Empress dying, but I can't help but smile when there's a Toby scene.

And...ummm...did I miss a post or something where it was mentioned that Ket is Toby's dad? Or is that just an educated guess on Jyren's part?