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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Ankh-Morpork Guard" data-source="post: 2063672" data-attributes="member: 10079">Chapter 161: Between HellsIt was only two and a half hours before the already familiar wailing sound echoed through the starship. Shadow yawned and gave the chrono one last look before wandering back to the room. Seventeen more hours in hyperspace and then they’d have to make about five more short, very careful jumps. But that was Akan’s side of things. She knew the coordinates...he could actually do the work. For once.    Another four hours passed before Shadow emerged from the room, covered in scratches, bruises, and at least a few bite marks. Surprisingly, though, there was a happy look on her face and a small black and blue furred thing curled up in the crook of her arm. Finding Akan, she handed him the small bundle and smiled proudly.    “You know,” she said off hand, “He’s a lot like you. Tried to morph. Very slow and not very good at it.”    “Is that a hint...?” Akan raised an eyebrow, carefully holding the purring Alraxian in his arms.    Shadow grinned, “You’re quick,” she then turned to wander off and meditate before catching a thought through the link. That got her grin to grow, “And no, I’m not telling you what happened. That’s between me and him. But he won’t be attacking me anymore, so don’t worry about it. Now, if you don’t mind babysitting, I’m going to go remorph and clean up.”    Without even letting him respond, Shadow escaped to the ‘fresher, smiling to herself again in the process. That was one thing down, now if only Akan would pick up on that other hint and ask for her help. He should know by now that they had a short amount of time to prepare before insanity hit...now she could only hope he’d take advantage of that.    After Shadow had gone, Akan idly scratch Tobias’ ear, walking the other direction down the central corridor in the transport. He’d gotten used to its set up now, and actually liked it...to a point. A thought struck him, and Akan spun around to go check on his X-Wing. As he walked, the purring noise slowly stopped, giving way to a long, but small yawn. The two big eyes slowly opened, blinking a few times before Akan noticed the silver in them now. Interesting...    And then the eyes noticed him. The half asleep look quickly disappeared and suddenly gave way to insane happiness. Tobias purred loudly again, before suddenly bounding up and pouncing Akan as best as was possible. The little Alraxian latched onto Akan’s shoulder and surprised him enough to cause him to loose his balance. In a loud yelp, thud, and playful laugh, Akan found himself in the middle of the corridor on his back. Toby was perched up on his chest, leaning over to look down into Akan’s eyes with a grin on his face. Crawling up just a little more, Toby reached down and poked Akan’s nose, “Akan alive?”    He couldn’t help laughing at that, “Yes, Toby, Akan is alive. Making yourself comfortable?”    The little Alraxian nodded a few thousand times in a matter of seconds before padding in circles across Akan’s chest and finally curling up. Akan managed to tilt his head to look down to the now purring Tobias, “I assume I’m not allowed to move?”    “Uh-uh,” Tobias said, shaking his head. Or something. Probably his head. It was hard to tell with him curled up like that. Before Akan could protest at all, a door opened and Shadow nearly stepped on him. She was now more normal looking and even her morphsuit showed no signs of damage.     She rolled her eyes and gave Akan a look, “You do have a quarters to sleep in...” she prodded Akan with her foot, “You’re blocking the whole corridor.”    Tobias and Akan exchanged innocent looks with each other. Shadow could see them plotting something and gave Akan a good kick for it, “You two can play later, too.”    Both Akan and Tobias made eerily similar, “Awwwwww...” sounds.    As they sat back up, Shadow went back to brushing her hair and not clipping her ear in the process. She stepped over Akan and walked back to the cargo bay quietly, mentally poking Akan anyway. Still wondering if he’d figure out what he needed to do. She went off to finish brushing her hair and then tail fur straight(which was challenging to reach at times) then meditated. Calmed herself...trying to forget the fact that they were going to a place that had every right to kill her the second she appeared.    Another few hours passed, and Tobias was asleep again. He and Akan had played for the entire time, and even Akan was exhausted. The little Alraxian had far too much energy. Looking over at the small form curled up on the bed a moment, Akan turned and wandered back to the cargo hold. He found Shadow sitting cross-legged in front of his X-Wing. Her eyes were closed and she didn’t seem to take notice of him at all.    Well, until he got within two meters of her. Then, an ear turned towards him and her tail twitched. Soon, an eye also opened and gave him a curious look, though she stayed silent. Akan sighed, almost feeling like he was being forced into this even though it was something that needed to be asked. After having a seat, he said quietly to the floor, “I need your help.”    That got Shadow’s other eye opened, though her expression didn’t change at all, “Oh?”    Again, Akan sighed, “Don’t act like you have no idea what I’m talking about. We’re in between hells and I can’t keep up with you. You know as well, in fact, probably better, than I do. I can’t afford to make any mistakes anymore...not after...”    He trailed off, not needing to say the last part. Not after Jen. Not after Voort. Not after Nar Shaddaa. Shadow nodded to that, saying truthfully, “Yes, but I can’t help you if you don’t tell me what to help you with.”    “Everything,” Akan said quickly, “Anything. I can fight. I can fly. I can shoot...but it isn’t good enough.”    “You have more than just the ability to fight, fly, and shoot,” Shadow pointed out, “And I guess that’s what your hinting at. You’re slow and you morph with the skill of a child. We can start with fixing that. From there, it should make other things easier for you.”</blockquote>

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