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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Ankh-Morpork Guard" data-source="post: 1882054" data-attributes="member: 10079">Chapter 71: Questions and MirrorsThe movement that Akan had seen faded into nothing, and he paid it no more attention. This was his first mistake, but not one to become apparent yet. Instead, he turned his attention to Light. There was something else bothering him. She knew much more about what was going on that she was saying, or even allowing to be hinted at. Yet he could feel it. Continuing the slow march over another dune, Akan grabbed her arm so she couldn’t drop back like she’d done so many other times, “What is going on here?”    Light tried doing the same thing from before. She shuffled her feet and stared intently at the sand, but because of his grip on her arm, was nearly pulled down onto her face. Stumbling to keep up on her feet, Light looked to Akan with a confused expression, wondering why he was trying to fight with her. At least, that’s how she saw it.    Akan stopped, turned and looked her straight in the eyes, “Tell me what’s happened, or I leave you here.”    For a quick second, Akan could tell that she was going to attempt her usual dodging of the subject, but with that glare he was giving her it was near impossible to not melt and hide. He’d learned it from Shadow. He’d learned it well. Quietly, Light said, “I...its...she...”    Sighing, Akan lessened the glare, “Slow down, and just explain it. I know it won’t make sense, but I need to know what’s happened here beyond what I think.”    She nodded slowly, trying again, “She...Shadow, was not balanced. Or...she was too balanced. Or..no! No she wasn’t balanced! This wouldn’t have happened otherwise!” pausing, Light realized that Akan had no idea what she was talking about. Biting her lip, Light tried a third time from a different angle, “The Force. Light and Dark...yes?”    Akan nodded.    “They balance each other,” she went on, “You can’t have one without the other. When one becomes to strong, things go wrong. But two things like that can’t balance themselves on their own. They’re too much at odds...wanting more power over the other. So there’s a third that holds the balance. Keeps them together whether they like it or not. Light...Dark...and the Shadow between.”    Part of Akan wanted to argue this, knowing how much against the teachings of the Jedi these words were. She had essentially said that the Force could not exist without the Dark Side, while Jedi all had a strong belief that the Dark Side was evil and should be destroyed. But if Light was correct, then destroying the Dark Side would in turn destroy the Light Side. No Jedi would ever believe this...but somehow, Akan found it to be true.    Seeing he wasn’t going to say anything, Light continued, “It’s the same with living beings. Light...Dark...and a little in between. Imbalance is different in living beings, though, as it does not result in the same kind of destruction. But...with...her...um...me...sort of...the training that Alraxian Tam-Day-U receive blended with whatever the Imperials did to...Marix. It...it did something. Maybe its more a side effect of the cloning technique. But she was always...I mean, I was always. We...were always at odds within one. And something. I don’t know...something happened. Split it.”    “But why me, too?!” Akan threw up his hands and glared in the general direction of the sky above. Amazingly enough, that all made sense to him, except for the fact of himself. If he’d thought about it for only a second, he’d have known, but Akan was angry at the universe.    So, Light explained it, “You’re part of her...me...us.”    Akan couldn’t help a growl at that, “I really got myself into more than I bargained for...” he sighed and tried to calm himself, “But why am I me? Why not split like you?”    She shrugged, “Bodies are the same, minds are close but still different. Maybe that’s it?”    “But then what is that other me?” Akan asked, suddenly noticing that movement off on the horizon again. He watched it over her shoulder but did his best to look like he was still paying attention to what she was saying. Which he was...distractedly.    Light shrugged again, but at least tried suggesting, “He could still be Dark...but likely more balanced and sane.”    Akan had started to think of a response to that. It was going to be sarcastic, flat, and generally out of place in the serious conversation. However, his mind clicked with the movement and he made another comment, equally bad but much more serious, “We can ask me...here I come.”    Turning around to see, Light only got a quick glance at the black object streaking just above the sand towards them. Her eyes weren’t able to focus because Akan forced her to the side, knowing she wasn’t going to be any good in a fight. And this didn’t like a friendly hello. Didn’t feel like it either.    Akan had time to also dive to the side just as his Dark shot past where he’d stood, claws extended and slashing at thin air. Hopping to his feet, Akan looked to the back of his Dark, grinning, “I always thought I’d look good with wings. The black leather is a little too stylish, though. You think about changing that?”    His Dark just spun around and growled a curse, diving at him again. Akan had no trouble spinning to the side out of the way of the Dark’s strike. Two more strikes aimed at him were again easily dodged. Akan was understanding why it was easy. He was fighting himself. He knew his actions...he knew his weaknesses. And the interesting part was that his Dark seemed to be showing these weaknesses very strongly. Not thinking before its next attack, giving time to tell where it would be placed, and then two slow on the recovery.  But Akan was getting arrogant, a trait that everyone had and always came back to bite one in the tail.    In Akan’s case, it didn’t bite him, or reach his tail. Instead, it took the form of his Dark’s fist, and impacted hard with the left side of his face. Sprawling back onto the sand below, Akan was surprised that he wasn’t having to dodge another attack while he was on his feet. In fact, his Dark wasn’t even there. A yelp was heard from Light. Damn! By the time Akan made it to his feet, his Dark had grabbed Light and was starting to take to the sky. Akan ran. He ran as fast as he could to reach his Dark before he was out of reach.    And he made it. A hand grabbed onto his Dark’s ankle, and Akan was able to yank the flying Alraxian down onto the sand. This also got a second yelp from Light, who’d been fallen on and was panicked. His Dark growled and kicked back at Akan, forcing him back and having to let go of the ankle. Quickly getting back to his feet, and dragging Light up with him, Akan’s Dark attempted to run forward again before taking to the sky again.    “You’ve already got one of her, you don’t need two!” Akan called out and charged forward again. This time, though, he didn’t reach his Dark in time. The winged Akan was in the sky, well out of reach and flying at an amazing speed. Damn...Akan ran. Again. Thinking all the while. Well, not thinking as much as his mind was racing insanely for anything that might stop his Dark. He was nearly to the point of throwing sand...but not yet. There was another option.    Continuing to run and watching as his Dark was quickly pulling away, Akan drew his blaster from its holster and fired. The bolt was too slow. A first, most likely. It flew off behind hid Dark, and before Akan could fire again, his Dark was just too far away. Fatigue suddenly washed over him, and Akan dropped to his knees. Tiredly, he holstered the weapon and looked to the figure disappearing far off on the horizon. No choice but to follow. Again. But this time speed truly was important. Who knew what the Darks were planning. But why just her? Why leave Akan? That’s what worried him.    Slowly, he got up to his feet and started in the direction his Dark had gone. This planet was really starting to annoy him. Not one good rest. Not one. Being unconscious did not count. He’d been running too much. And here he was, running again. Chasing the horizon. One day, he was going to stop trying to be such a hero all the time. One day, he’d stop trying to help anyone at his own expense. One day, he’d die. Akan truly hoped it wouldn’t be today. He was only twenty two, and there were far too many questions about his life that had already happened. Before he died, he wanted those answered. And Shadow could. Not Light. Not Dark. Shadow. So he put more strength into his run to get her back and put his mind at ease.</blockquote>

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