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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Ankh-Morpork Guard" data-source="post: 1960277" data-attributes="member: 10079">Chapter 124: Old Bets, New Hunters, and Strange PartnersApparently, the voice on the other end of the comm channel had been truthful. There was no security team to meet Akan once he set down on the landing platform. He had half expected to encounter twice the normal number security personnel, all with blaster rifles aimed right at the access ramp and firing off shots all around him just to show they meant business. Sure, Akan trusted in the Force and even in his use of it, but what he’d pulled was really pushing it. As he stepped down the ramp and then followed the single short pathway to the small, stark white building at the end, Akan couldn’t help feeling an odd sense of deja vu. Halfway down the walkway, he found himself looking up to the sky. A soft blue. Odd for such a polluted and industrial world. But that wasn’t what he was looking for.    Akan stopped himself. What was he looking for? Everything was normal. Ships and airspeeders littered the sky above, the distant star was shining softly, and even a few of the other buildings still rose up out of view. Coruscant. A normal view. Why did he expect it not to be? Shaking his head, Akan looked back forward and picked up a little speed this time. The longer he took to get lost in the city’s crowds, the more likely it was that a security force would appear, angry and probably confused. Reaching the large, white door, Akan was surprised that he nearly walked into it. The thing had a sensor like most every door did, but it didn’t open until he was so close that it worried him. Odd. Or was he shorter than he last remember? Why did that even matter?!    Getting control of his thoughts again, and at the same time trying to ignore the part of him wondering what was wrong, Akan stepped into the small room, heading straight for a young looking human woman behind the usual reception desk. He’d often wondered what these docking officers did when no one was there for them to question. He never saw any kind of viewscreen or anything that could provide them with entertainment. Maybe they just really were as boring as they came off as being. Boring people would tend towards boring jobs. Or, that was what they always joked about in the mess back on the Intrepid a lifetime ago. No, it wasn’t a lifetime ago anymore. Especially when talking with this docking officer who was just opening her mouth to ask the usual question.    “Can I see your papers, please?” she asked. Ha! It was that same voice. He’d sworn it years ago, in that mess on the Mon Calamari cruiser. Even put down money on it. Mare had bet against him on simple principle. Annoyingly enough, it seemed like the next few missions they’d been sent on were very much devoid of any docking officers. And the ones on the Intrepid didn’t count since half of them were in on the bets, too.     Akan’s mind caught up with the events and he realized he was getting a little too lost in memory. This wasn’t the time for them. So, trying to sound at least a little different than his normal voice, he said calmly, “You already saw them.”    The woman paused a moment, staring blankly at him. That blank look had been part of the bet, too. And then her face got a little confused, the voice changing from the usual flat, boring tones to a more ‘normal’ one, “I’m sorry, sir...I...um...what was you name again?”    Whew. Sure, that would have lost him the bet because it was normal, but at least she’d bought it. He’d have to actually thank Shadow for forcing a little more training on him in the less direct uses of the Force. Smiling politely, he nodded and said, “Captain Raan Maxwell.”    “Oh, of course!” she smiled(another thing that would have cost him twice the credits he’d put down in that pot), and motioned towards the right where the exit to the ‘real world’ was, “General Taran sent word for you to see him immediately. He said you know the way.”    “Yes, thank you,” Akan nodded and started to leave. Then he stopped. Something was still wrong. He had to check. If he didn’t, he’d never let himself live it down. Biting his lip a moment, Akan turned back around and said in a more friendly manner, “Excuse me, ah...ah...miss...miss...um...”    “Janna. Eleth Janna,” she finished without missing a beat. Akan nearly failed in his fight not to grin. The oldest trick in the book, and it had worked. Even on this docking officer. But now came the trouble of him having to make up a reason for mentioning anything else.    After quick thinking, Akan asked, “Do you happen to know where I can find a good place to eat somewhere near?”    Alright, so it was another old trick, but at least he wasn’t trying to use it as some cheap pick up line. Who in their right mind would ever use one of those on a docking officer, anyway?! But he’d at least confirmed that these people do, in fact, have names. That was actually one of the bigger questions among them all, and the one that all the guys in the ship’s hangar would laugh quietly to themselves about. It had made all the pilots feel like there was some kind of conspiracy or something among them. Of course, Akan wasn’t sure if he’d just confirmed or denied that with this new information.    He realized that she’d said something and he’d thought through it. Akan managed a polite nod and a short ‘thankyou’ before following the short corridor around the corner and off into the city. Time to focus and not toy with docking officers anymore. Putting those other thoughts out of his mind, especially the ones that brought that horrible pain every time he thought of the old squadron, Akan stepped out into the world and readied himself for a search for...for what? They the hell was he on this planet, anyway? A pull. A pull for what, though? You don’t just run off to the hub of the galaxy where both of your identities are likely to be hunted down and when you should be back making sure someone’s training didn’t go wrong on a whim.    It only took four steps out the door before Akan stopped. The literal reason he stopped was the small railing that was directly in front of him. The pathway went left, leaving him at a stopping point to look over the city below. And then he knew why he was here. Looking out, he saw the expansive Imperial Plaza. It was littered with thousands of people to the point where it looked like one huge mass of little things. Directly across from where he stood, was the Imperial Palace, lights even shining in the daylight. His eyes traveled right...and then up. They locked on a single building. It towered over the two next to it, and had a small platform connected to it. The latest dream suddenly shot right back into his mind. He had stood right here. Looked right there...and needed to go there. The why still didn’t make sense, but he also felt that need now. The need to know...more than just the new whys, but the need to know the old whys. The one’s he’d run from for far too long.    Shadow had told him he was going to have to confront his demons one day...he’d not thought it was going to be so literal. Tearing his eyes away from the view, Akan turned and headed down the walkway. Time to blend in with the crowd and disappear the old fashioned way. The way he still couldn’t get Shadow to understand with her ‘just morph, its easier’ attitude. But then again, when you’re a walking feline you tend to attract more attention than other races in this portion of the galaxy. It would probably take a while to reach that building. No matter how close it seemed to be from view, the streets and levels and people and everything of Coruscant just made walking from place to place near impossible. Yet, it was a good way to hide. So Akan decided taking his time was worth it, and started on that long maze to a building he only had a ‘feeling’ about. It was a normal day...and that was probably what worried him the most.* * * *A figure sniffed the air carefully. The heavy robe and hood were causing trouble with the sense of smell, yet not so much as the crowds. All of these people distorted the smells and it was near impossible to pinpoint just one. But no...there it was. Distinct and new. It was strong. Easy to follow. This one obviously wasn’t too intelligent. It had been assumed that the Enai’la would have been much more cautious. Under the hood, the figure grinned, sharp and toothy, but hidden from the view of all the humans around. So easy...maybe too easy. Maybe a test.    The grin under the hood grew a little, becoming more dangerous. A test within a test, then? Such an interesting thing this was becoming. Faban had been right. It would be easy to find the prey here on this world. The most populated planet out here. Starting to carefully walk through the heavy crowds, following the strong scent, the figure couldn’t help but be very glad for wearing the heavy clothes. To walk on metal like this...to have it all around. This truly was a test of more than just skills in tracking. No matter what it was, the figure would be finished soon, and would return to Faban with exactly what was wanted. And then this task would be completed. Much honor would be gained by exposing the truth about the Enai and the Enai’la. * * * *Sitting alone in that huge chamber at the top of his tower, Ket Halpak watched a figure approaching. Nine looked annoyed. The way her tail flicked violently back and forth as she walked gave that away. He couldn’t help but wonder why. No matter. She was going to tell him, even if he hadn’t wanted to know. So much like Marix, she was...    “Something is wrong?” he asked in a playful tone, leaning back in the chair and letting it bounce back. The wheels had gotten boring, so he’d found other ways to entertain himself. Currently, trying not to fall over had done quite well at that.    Nine didn’t say anything until she reached the single desk and stopped. She took a moment to just glare at him. Sadly, like Marix, Nine never really understood his fascination with ‘fun’. Marix had almost figured it out...but then...then...Ket ignored it and just looked to Nine. Her hard features and generally angry manner were the same as usual as she said sharply, “It is gone.”    “Oooh,” Ket smiled and leaned back in the chair again, “That was what we wanted, though. Why do you sound so...” he grinned, “...annoyed? Did you actually like the little brat?”    That got a dangerous glare and an almost growl from the two meter tall murderess. Calmly, coldly, and slowly, Nine spoke, “I nearly killed the brat,” she then motioned to a long, yet small, series of claw marks across her arms and the right side of her face.    Ket couldn’t help but laugh, leaning back just a little more and clapping his hands, “Perfect! He’ll do just fine! Hopefully he’ll find himself a ship and find our little friend! It will be such a wonderful family reunion!”    Nine just stood there glaring at him. And then, almost on cue, Ket leaned back too far. The chair toppled backwards, and the loud crash of him hitting the floor echoed through the empty chamber at least five times. And then there was another sound. A sound very foreign to Ket’s ears. Once he’d pulled the chair back up and sat down again, he saw the source. Nine was...laughing. Actually laughing! Sure, it was at him, but still! Obviously, these clones became something of their own. The real Marix would have probably stabbed him in that opening. He managed a growl and a sharp glare.    That only made Nine laugh more, and she slowly slipped around the desk. After a moment, she had a seat in his lap and looked down at him with the old predatory Marix expression. Her voice returned to ‘normal’, and she said, “This had better work, Halpak.”    “Oh, it will,” he said, idly wrapping his arms around her waist, “And you’ll get as much out of it as I will.”    So close to real, yet so different this clone was. Ket grinned. This is what the real Marix should have been. Would have been. If not for her damned idealistic streak that had come out of no where, everything would have been perfect. This clone was only so good. Every time he got close to her, he couldn’t help but wish for the real thing. But that didn’t matter anymore. The real Marix would never have cooperated this far. And she’d never betray the Empire. She had proven that when she’d taken his tail from him. Her family would pay for that. All of those damned close minded Alraxians would pay. And he would profit, as would Nine. So perfect. And really...if he just closed his eyes, Ket could easily convince himself that this Nine was really Marix...it wouldn’t be the first, and definitely not the last...</blockquote>

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