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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Ankh-Morpork Guard" data-source="post: 1932818" data-attributes="member: 10079">Chapter 110: A New TeacherNot long after, Shadow had left to be alone. The stars were out, as was one of the planet’s moons. The soft greenish glow of the moon reminded her of home. She’d never been homesick before, but now...for some reason, she just wanted to go home. But that wasn’t possible. Even if they didn’t already know she was a clone, it would be easy to discover that and then she would be killed. Akan wouldn’t die, as there were ways to transfer his connection to her to another. He would never actually live a life alone anymore, but he could still live. Shadow stopped her thoughts there. Why even consider that? It wasn’t something that was going to happen.    Shouldn’t she feel better now that Sadrak was gone? But no...with Halpak somewhere out there, there wasn’t any reason to feel better. And Landau was dead. By her hand. No. Not by her hand. Shadow looked down at her hand a moment, studying it. The claws extended, and she looked closer. No. Something else killed Landau. For a moment, just after the claws retracted again, she could see that metallic sheen from the skin. A trick of the eye. It had to be, as before she had felt the metal. Yes, she could bring that back. Could feel it there within her. An alien presence. No. Not it wasn’t alien. It was her.    The ability to morph metal was not some fluke of randomness. It was another of Sadrak’s little toys. Playing on the ancient myths of the Alraxian people, he helped to create their greatest fears. First, the Darkwings. Second...metal. Though the Darkwing Wars were a true part of Alraxian history and never thought of as myth, the ability to morph metal was unclear. It could easily have been made up...but the distinction didn’t matter. The fear was there from childhood. Every Alraxian knew the danger of metal, and most Alraxians never actually harnessed their innate ability to morph. Morphing was seen as a talent that few had, and one that was no longer necessary in the times of peace. Combine the almost mystic idea of morphing among the general population of the Alraxian Empire with the fears of metal and there was a story nearly as terrifying as the Darkwings. An Alraxian that was essentially invulnerable. One individual with such power in a strongly pluralistic society truly was the worst thing that could ever happen. And the stories simply grew.    And here Shadow was, a true outsider among her species. She was the clone of the Empress’ daughter. The daughter a Tam-Day-U, the disgraceful group of assassins that were hidden away from their kind and usually died before reaching adulthood. The black mark on the Empire. And now...now she was even more than that. A Darkwing. Only for a moment, maybe, but that part of her would always be a separate entity, buried deep within and waiting for any possible chance to ‘live’ again. Only months after that incident, she now knew that the ability to morph metal was not a myth. And she had it. Another outcast. Another reason for her people to fear her. Another reason she could never go home.    Suddenly, Shadow found herself wondering why she even cared about Halpak or the real Marix. But the real Marix. That was something Shadow had to deal with. She was a clone. And perhaps it was just something that clones did, yearning to meet the original and discover how similar they were. Was Shadow really just that? A shadow of Marix? Almost the Empress’ daughter, but not. Would the real Marix have made the same choices in life? Would she have lived among smugglers for so many years? And after Max died...would Marix have found another life? Would she have given Akan his life back? Shadow also couldn’t help but wonder why that thought kept coming up. Okay, so it wasn’t that hard to figure out. Having one’s life suddenly depend on another in all the literal meanings of the word was a defining experience that one couldn’t just ignore. So yes...there were reasons to find Marix. Even if she had to kill Shadow, it was something that had to be done.    But there was still Halpak. He was only a threat to the Alraxian Empire, not this part of the galaxy. If she knew him well enough(and Shadow had a good idea that she did), he wouldn’t care about the workings of these worlds. Sure, he’d know what was going on, but it would only be to further whatever his own goals were. And those goals would definitely be one of two things. Revenge on the Empire who had banished him...or simply returning to it. The latter was wishful thinking. But wait...why? The Empire wouldn’t care about her. Yet in the end, no matter what Shadow tried. Even if she was a clone. Even if she was everything that her people feared...she was still an Alraxian, and she simply couldn’t ignore that and allow her people to be killed.    A smile found its way onto her face. Eventually, Akan was going to have to accept the same things. It would be harder for him, and he would have plenty of time. But eventually. Of course, there were probably a hundred or so other things that Akan would have to accept one way or another. The smile faded away when she had to think about what some of those consequences would be for herself. But then again, pretty much all of those wouldn’t be anything to worry about unless they went to the Hidden Worlds...or her ‘mother’ found her again. Shadow refused to think of the odds of either of those happening, as both were likely to be very high numbers considering their luck in the last months.    “Shadow...” Voort’s voice said from behind her. It didn’t make Shadow jump, but her ears did twist around slightly. Though she didn’t respond in any other way, Voort figure that the ear-shift was enough of an acknowledgment, so he spoke up again, “I’d like to...to ask you something.”    That did get Shadow’s interest. Perhaps part of it was the connection Voort had with Marix. Speaking with him was almost like getting a small view into who Marix was...turning around and raising an eyebrow slightly, Shadow spoke quietly, “Hmm?”    Alright, so it wasn’t a real word, but Voort couldn’t help a grin at that. So much like Marix. He’d never thought the clones could ever be so much like the original...or maybe it was just Shadow. Either way, it was comforting to hear her speak in such a similar tone to his old friend. He took a few steps over to her, idly looking up to the moon above. Instead of trying to avoid the point, Voort just spoke directly. He expected that Shadow would be like Marix in hating it when people avoiding the subject, “Would you be willing to teach Jen about the Force?”    Shadow was silent a moment. Thinking about it. Sure, she was clone, but now Shadow was truly an individual. This choice was proof of it. Marix wasn’t here to decide what to do. Shadow was. But she didn’t answer right away. Instead, she asked an obvious question, “Why not you?”    Voort turned down from the sky and looked to the young Alraxian, “You should know that without asking. And don’t even try the second question. Akan isn’t old enough, and he’s got far too much else on his mind to ever attempt something so important.”    Shadow half grinned at that, giving Voort a sideways glance. Of course, she didn’t mention the fact that she likely had even more on her mind that Akan did. Voort had a point, though. Obviously, he wanted Jen to learn the basics, and at least some rudimentary knowledge of the light side. The Force as the Jedi and Sith of the galaxy knew it...not as the Alraxians did. But thankfully, Shadow knew a little of both, and could do what was asked. The grin faded into a more neutral expression, and she nodded, “I guess I’ll have to do it, then,” so, the grin returned at that, her tail swishing slightly in an odd gesture, “I will do my best.”    Smiling warmly, Voort rested an arm on the Alraxian’s shoulder, “I know you will. That’s why I came to you.”</blockquote>

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