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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Ankh-Morpork Guard" data-source="post: 2106900" data-attributes="member: 10079">Chapter 175: Welcome HomeThey had escaped to go explore the gigantic ship for a little while, but didn’t get far. Realizing that they were nearly gone an hour already, they raced back(with Akan taking about three wrong turns and taking up more time) and just managed to slip into the room before the Needai did. And the second the large group of attendants appeared in the room, both Akan and Shadow were assaulted with brushes, combs, and the like.    After a few minutes, Akan carefully opened his eyes to find himself wearing a somewhat loose fitting black tunic with a very shiny silver lining. For the size of the thing, it was strangely light, though he couldn’t help but miss the weight a lightsaber and blaster would add to the hip. Somehow, though, he doubted those would be a good idea to carry, and even if he’d wanted to, it was unlikely he could get past all of these...people. He was trying to ignore them as they were fussing about his hair for the seventh or eight time. Threatening to cut it because it was too long, too messy, and made him look scruffy. Each time they ‘fixed’ it, he ‘fixed’ it back, which got him a lot of glares until they finally gave up on trying.    And then, a half hour after the madness had started, he was out in the hallway standing there and looking lost. Shadow had been pushed off to another room and he suddenly felt very alone without having her to hide behind. At least two of the Needai had attempted conversation with him, but he didn’t know enough Alraxian and they didn’t know enough Basic. It was probably a good thing though, considering the way they were all smiling.    Just as he turned to ask, the door across the corridor slid open silently and Shadow was almost literally shoved out. She took a big, forced step out to stop herself from lurching and falling over, and immediately went a soft shade of red. Shy?! That wasn’t the Shadow he knew...of course, the Shadow he knew wouldn’t have been caught dead in what she was wearing. It was a long, flowing white dress with golden thread etched alone the edges. The bright white fabric was draped off of her, tight across the chest and then long and flowing at the feet. She wore some kind of golden headband, along with a necklace of the same gold colour, and if that wasn’t enough, seeing her hair actually neat, tidy, and in some odd style was shocking on its own.    Akan couldn’t help looking a bit surprised. She looked...well... “Good.”    “What?” she snapped and turned suddenly to give him a sharp look.    “Ah...nothing,” he trailed off just as one of the Needai stood in front of them to give them both critical looks. A few other adjustments were made to the both of them, and then their arms were linked. The woman made a soft purring noise and then motioned for them to lead the way.    Shadow tried to unlink her arm twice before giving up. That woman was dangerous enough without being provoked. This wasn’t fair. Akan’s brain sounded like it had melted and now she was stuck in some dress doing the damned royal thing.    As they walked down the long corridors to who knew where, Akan asked very quietly, even though he ‘spoke’ through their link. [Where exactly are we going...?]    Not turning her head, Shadow responded fairly quickly. [Food...well, eventually food.]    [Eventually?] Akan didn’t like the sound of that.    This time, she nodded just slightly. [That thing you’ve been putting off. It’s a pretty big deal, too. Not often a new Human swears loyalty to the Empire...even less often that Human happens to be a Jedi.]    [I’m not a Jedi.]    [To everyone else you are.] Shadow said simply as they rounded a corner down another long corridor that they still couldn’t see the end of. [I hope you know what you’re doing by now. Loyalty and honour are paramount among our people, Akan. Promises are not made unless they are held. You’re making a promise here, a serious one. You are going to be swearing to protect any of your clan mates if they are wronged, just as they will do for you.]    There was a pause as Akan thought about that. But really, what other choice was there? None. He sighed slightly just as they entered a gigantic, open chamber. It was filled with Alraxians, hundreds of them...no, thousands at least. A short path was made leading around a larger group and up to a circular pad raised about five meters up. As they walked towards it, all of the Alraxian’s eyes watched them. There were smiles, pointing, talking, and for once, Akan was glad he couldn’t understand Alraxian. Considering that Shadow had gone even more red, it was probably a very, very good thing.    Finally, they walked up to the raised section to see twelve guards around it. In the center, was a large, glowing circle and the Empress and Emperor. Both of them were dressed in clothes hauntingly similar to what Shadow and Akan wore, which somehow was unsurprising. At the edge, Shadow was held back at sword point, another thing that surprised Akan. Those looked metal...sharp, too. If those were so dangerous to Alraxians, why in the name of the Force did each of the guards have them?!    The Empress’ voice snapped him back to the moment as she asked him to morph Human. He did so, not noticing the fact that his clothes still fit perfectly. Instead, he realized just how much taller all of the Alraxians were. Shadow was probably back there grinning, too. It’d been so long...    All around, he could see large smiles forming on the faces of all of the Alraxians. Upon seeing him as a Human, the nearest guard nodded slightly and stepped to the side. Taking the cue, Akan very slowly stepped into the circle opposite of the Empress. Cole withdrew a small dagger with an elegantly carved hilt and a deep set rune and handed it to the Empress. She took it and then looked to Akan with a smile before stepping forward and placing the very sharp metal blade against his neck, “It is better to throw yourself onto this blade than to enter this sacred place without the intent to keep your word. How do you enter?”    A hushed silence literally swept across the room. All eyes were on Akan...Akan’s eyes were down on the hilt of the blade that was at his neck. For a moment, he’d actually expected Shadow to tell him what to say. There had to be a formal, correct answer to that question. Quickly, his mind ran through unfamiliar territory until he found something that might just be right, even if it wasn’t the expected answer.    “With serenity of mind and peace of heart,” he said slowly, not raising his voice but having a feeling the entire ship could hear him just fine. It was a slight alteration of the Jedi Code, and felt oddly appropriate, though he couldn’t help but wonder why he was back to the whole Jedi thing yet again.    The circle glowed slightly around them as he spoke, and the Empress held a neutral expression as she spoke again, “You will swear to stand by your Enai, whoever she may be, in times of sickness and health?”    “I will.”    There wasn’t another slight glow from the circle at that, but the Empress continued, “In times of prosperity and in times of war, you will stand by her and abide by her laws?”    “I will.”    “By your mind and your heart, you will keep this promise for as long as you live?”    “Yes, I will.”    A smile crept onto the Empress’ face, “Your promise is set, and your loyalty now lies with the Enai.”    The blade was pulled back and Akan had a feeling there was probably something else he needed to do. A quick half second later, he figured it out and bowed as best he could manage. He’d joined the military because it was easier to salute than bow...and besides, there was a right way to salute. With bowing, you might get it wrong and then what? Off with the head if you were lucky. But then again, Akan didn’t really know much about royalty beyond the old holodramas, so that skewed his opinion a good bit.    As he rose, the Empress held out her hand. Akan took it and she smiled warmly, “Welcome to the clan. Please, return to your true form.”    Akan did so before he’d even realized it, and suddenly figured out that he’d been answering the same way. The Force. She was using the Force to get answers out of him...but it was invasive or forceful, instead, simply looking inside him and making sure he answered truthfully. And now as it faded away, Akan felt suddenly drained. His mind had been opened for the Empress and others to see, and that wasn’t something that was easy on anyone.    He swayed slightly, disoriented and for some reason unable to stand up straight anymore. Shadow noticed this and was allowed through by the guards. After having rushed over to steady him, she hugged him slightly and smiled until the realization that all of those people were watching...no, eyeing them. The emotion faded from her face and she instead pointed over Akan’s shoulder to the open window there, “Look...”    Hanging there in the viewport was a large, blue and green planet with wisps of clouds here and there. Circling the planet were three brightly coloured moons, two of which almost looked like miniature versions of the planet while the third was a reddish colour. Shadow couldn’t help a smile again at that, “Welcome home...”    “Yeah...home...” Akan smiled weakly, his voice quieter than usual and sounding as drained as he looked, “Um...where is it?”    “Open your eyes,” Shadow whispered, grinning suddenly and trying not to laugh.</blockquote>

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