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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Ankh-Morpork Guard" data-source="post: 1915449" data-attributes="member: 10079">((Bit of a late update...at parent's house for the holidays, but should be able to keep up daily updates except for this Monday-Thursday. Will still try, of course, but no promises. <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)"  data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" />))Chapter 99: Calm Before the StormAs the troops were organized and readied to head out on that long trek out to the facility across the sands, Shadow and Jen also prepared to leave. Obviously, it didn’t take the two of them nearly as long to prepare, and it was soon time for them to leave. Voort and Jen had embraced, kissed, then exchanged some quiet words. Neither Akan nor Shadow could hear, but then again they weren’t particularly trying. Instead, Akan was getting lectured. Mostly being told to not do anything stupid, and being given a few pointless reminders.    They had performed some kind of battle preparation ritual only half an hour earlier. Though Akan wasn’t against this, he still didn’t feel all to comfortable with such things. But Shadow was dangerously insistent that he do those things. She’d also said something in Alraxian, but it was quiet and something was odd. No matter how much he pressed it, she wouldn’t explain what she’d said. That worried Akan, but then again, maybe this wasn’t the time to deal with such things.    “Good luck,” he said finally, patting Shadow on the shoulder.    She just raised an eyebrow, but eventually nodded slowly, “You too.”    And then Shadow stepped over to Jen, indicating that it was time to go. Jen nodded and they walked out to the sand, with Jen wondering exactly what they planned to do. They obviously weren’t taking an airspeeder, and Shadow was thinking of something. The solution to the transportation problems became apparent, as Shadow’s body changed. A few seconds later, Jen was standing next to a large, winged...thing. The first word she wanted to use to describe the creature that was three times her size was flying lizard. But then Shadow’s head spun around and gave Jen a toothy grin. Alright, there was another word for it. The creature Shadow had become looked very similar to the larger Krayt Dragons, except with wings and a more reddish color.    Leaning in, Shadow nudged Jen gently with a snout that was bigger than the largest humans. She then motioned up towards the scaled back, and Jen finally got the idea. Though it took a little work, Jen finally managed to climb up onto Shadow’s back. A few more moments passed, and they were in the air and flying off.    “Flashy,” Voort commented. Hansen just grinned, but turned and walked off to finish getting ready.    Akan shrugged, “She said it was fun. Is fun...whatever. But I don’t think she’s crazy enough to fly in too close.”    “I’d hope not,” grumbled Voort before following Hansen. Akan watched as Shadow slowly faded away into the distance. Sighing, he stepped off to follow the other two. Something was still bothering him. That dream was still there...and it was more than a dream. He knew it. Felt it. Even if Shadow didn’t believe him. But no. This wasn’t the time.    After everything was organized and ready, Voort gave Akan a last set of ‘advice’, as he called it. Akan felt like it was more of a lecture, but there was at least a good reason for it. As Akan had never really been involved in any kind of large ground operation like this, it was good to have advice from someone with experience. Especially considering that Voort was going to be shooting right over Akan’s head. Amazingly enough, this didn’t worry Akan. Previous experience had shown that Voort was a good shot. Voort was mostly making sure that Akan wouldn’t get caught up in a fight. Like it or not, the kid was the only one who could get inside to catch up with Jen and Shadow. Voort would be needed outside, as would Hansen and Trker-Hon.    Thankfully, it didn’t take long before they all left. Akan met with the troops he was meant to lead, and then they were off. The traveling was slow, and it was impossible to wonder if they’d be too late.* * * *So what if she’d picked a Dragon? It’d been so long since Shadow had seen Falla and Jara that she was finding herself missing them more and more. What better to way to remember her two friends than being like them? It was fun, too...she felt so strong and fast. This nearly became a problem, as Shadow almost flew in too close. A Dragon would have been such an easy thing to spot in the empty skies of Arranis. Setting down a good distance away from the facility, Shadow flexed her large wings to indicate that Jen should get off. This took a few minutes, as Jen was windswept and slightly dazed from the quick flight.    Once Jen was down, though, Shadow changed again. This time, though, she didn’t return to her Alraxian form. It worried Jen when she saw that there was now a slightly disturbing creature standing next to her. It was one of those four-armed humanoids, relatively Shadow looking. Mostly in the black hair. Shadow managed a weak grin and shrugged, “Don’t ask. Just...c’mon, I don’t like this.”    “Neither do I,” Jen admitted. That’s when two of Shadow’s hand grabbed onto Jen in a not-so-gentle way. Alright, no more playing around. Though the details of the plan weren’t explained, Jen had a good idea of it now. Just play the captive and let Shadow do the talking...though hopefully talking wouldn’t be required all that much. It was no trouble at all as they passed through the defenses that had been placed. Those strange creatures walked here and there but took no notice of either of them. Jen just hoped it stayed that way...though there was a growing worry that was impossible to shake off. What if this was the wrong choice?     ‘Be strong.’    Somehow, that was enough. She didn’t understand the source of that, but it was right. She had to be strong. It was too late to turn back now. Hopefully, Voort and Akan would get here soon. The sooner Sadrak was gone, the sooner they could go home. She smiled...and the sooner she could go through with that promise to Titus.</blockquote>

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