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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Ankh-Morpork Guard" data-source="post: 1895328" data-attributes="member: 10079">Chapter 85: Only Halfway ThereLandau looked to the setting sun. The day was finally ending, and Haladin had finally been deemed safe. He was standing up on top of one of the buildings, finding that it was the only place to get some peace. Trker-Hon had sent a wired report that three of the five tribes he’d gone to were all dead. He had found them all slaughtered. This worried Landau, as he knew the ferocity of Topsiders. The Topsiders had angered someone. Or just been in the way. Or both. But Trker-Hon would be back in a few days, hopefully with better news.    Running a hand through his hair, Landau wondered what there was to do. They didn’t even know what Sadrak was capable of. They didn’t know his defenses. Nothing. Yet, they planned an attack. Without any information at all. He found himself rethinking the previous plan. A noise behind him turned his attention from the thoughts. It only took a short glance over his shoulder to see Light. She was standing back and looking sheepish. Obviously, she’d been trying not to be seen. Or heard. Lowering her head, Light started to back off and climb back down from the roof.    Hearing a mumbled apology, Landau couldn’t help a smile, “You weren’t disturbing anything.”    Light stopped and shuffled her feet. When Landau made a motion for her to sit, she carefully walked over and had a seat next to him. He gave her a sideways look, asking, “Thought you were going to sleep.”    “Akan couldn’t sleep,” Light answered. In most cases, that wouldn’t have been an answer to the same question, but Landau had gotten used to that kind of answer. He also noticed that Light’s tail was twitching very slightly. Though he wasn’t an expert on Alraxians, Landau knew that such an action wasn’t usually a positive one in felines.    “Something’s bothering you,” he said, not completely sure if it was correct.    Light nodded, then turned to give him a very serious look, “I...Akan...we...” she paused, bit her lip and looked to have given up.    Smiling, Landau said, “Start it slowly and try again.”    After a short sigh, Light tried starting over, “I don’t like it...but...but the Darks have to be dealt with. I don’t want to be part of her again, though.”    “Is there any other way?” asked Landau, not completely following her but doing his best to not slow down her train of thought.    Closing her eyes, Light spoke quietly, “There isn’t.”    Landau only nodded. He looked at the Alraxian and thought on this. Perhaps this wasn’t time for things like that. There were more important things at hand. Carefully, Landau attempted to change the subject, “There’s something I need you to talk to Akan about.”    “Hm?” Light tilted her head and her ears turned more towards him.    “We need to get information on Sadrak’s defenses,” Landau said, looking out towards the sun that was now nearly gone. After allowing the idea to sink into Light’s mind, he continued, “Akan can get in there and get out without drawing attention. Yes?”    Light nodded, “He could. But he...”    When she trailed off and looked down to the ground, Landau turned back to give her a confused look. Perhaps that was not a good point to push. There was something important she wasn’t mentioning, though. He put a hand on her shoulder and stood up. Without another word, Landau left Light to her thoughts. It was time to organize an intelligence gathering effort. This was far more important than anything else at the moment.    It only took an hour to organize a meeting, and the same group gathered in the main briefing room. Akan looked like he’d seen a ghost, with his face looking pale. Though he was trying obviously trying to hide this. Jen and Voort looked to be in relatively good moods. Hansen seemed tired, but one couldn’t blame her. She’d been helping with the clean up efforts in the city that tracking her down to get her to the meeting was a pain all by itself. Light did wander in, though it was a little later than the others and she didn’t look to be paying all that much attention. Probably was going to just listen as she usually did.    Landau explained his thoughts on what needed to be done, and it didn’t take long before all of them were in agreement that some kind of reconnaissance was necessary. Akan had even volunteered to go before any mention of his name. It was almost too quick, really. But Landau didn’t think on this for the time being. Instead, he simply nodded and tossed Akan a small datapad, “That’s got a map with the approximate location of where Sadrak’s facility is.”    As Akan looked it over, the others seemed to be looking to Landau to say something else. All of them except for Light. After feeling a bit uncomfortable from all of the looks, Landau was relieved and at the same time surprised when Light spoke up. It wasn’t just that she did speak up, but it was also what she said that had him surprised, “I’m going, too.”    Even Akan gave her a sideways glance. She returned the look, and said honestly, “You need someone to watch your back.”    There was more than that. Or rather, there were many layers of meaning to her words. Both Akan and Jen had understood all of those levels. And this got a second surprise, as Jen was the next one to speak, “I’ll go with you.”    Everyone stared at her. Even Light. No one said anything. Voort opened his mouth to object, but could see a look in her eyes that he knew not to fight with. Whatever reason she had for wanting to go, it was obviously a good one. The silence continued for too long, and Landau finally said, “Alright. Well, I’d suggest you all get some sleep before leaving.”    And then, they all went their separate ways. Akan had been the only one to stay seated, studying the datapad and looking distracted. As the Alraxian got to his feet and started to leave, Landau caught up and said, “Akan, hold on a moment.”    “Yeah?” he turned around and took a few steps back into the room. For both of them, it was like old times. For Landau, here he was giving orders to a young kid. Orders that could easily get Akan killed. For Akan...he was back on the other side of it. Receiving orders on a situation that he didn’t like, but knew he had no choice. This former Imperial was so much different than anyone he’d ever met. Landau was so much like the commander Akan had served under during his short time in Spec Force. It was hard for him to accept that he respected this man, yet he did.    Allowing the nostalgic moment to pass, Landau said, “You’ll be alright out there?”    Akan seemed caught off guard by this question, and eventually managed a nod, “Of course. Why wouldn’t I be?”    Pausing only a moment, Landau decided it was something that needed to be mentioned. This was just too important to send Akan out and leave this kept in the quiet. So, Landau tried to put it carefully, “Light is worried about you. You should know better than anyone that you can’t be distracted when you go into something like this.”    Sighing, Akan managed a nod, “I know. I’ll be alright.”    Landau allowed himself a smile and patted the Alraxian on the shoulder, “Good. Just make sure to take care of those two. I know Voort wouldn’t be too happy if anything happened to Jen.”    “Jen wouldn’t be too happy either,” Akan replied with a grin on his face. He nodded and started to leave, but stopped before exiting the room. He turned and looked back over to Landau, “Thank you.”    “That’s what friends do,” Landau said, watching the boy leave. As Akan walked through the halls to get some more rest, he couldn’t help but think about that. A friend. Landau didn’t think of him as a Rebel or any label like that. Friend. Akan wondered why he couldn’t dispense with negative labels. Or if they were even negative. Clearing his mind, Akan decided that relaxing would be the best thing to do until they were ready to leave. No going in with extra baggage. Especially not with Jen’s life on the line, too. It was already normal for him to risk two lives with his own, but adding a third into that forced him to focus more and not allow his thoughts to get in the way. Or at least, that was the theory.</blockquote>

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