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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Ankh-Morpork Guard" data-source="post: 2126815" data-attributes="member: 10079">Chapter 182: BlackmailKyren had only been asleep for about ten minutes before Hermes decided to speak up a concern. [I detect metal...]    At first, Akan looked over to Kyren, half expecting the other Alraxian to wake up and say something. When he didn’t, and with a mental pressing from Hermes continued, Akan just said simply, “Don’t worry about it.”    The only answer to that was a mental equivalent of a nod, which even Akan didn’t completely understand. It was one of the many things he’d learned to just not think about to hard and accept. The Force had been the first, and it seemed like the galaxy was full of such things. Hermes, though, was taking great interest in this newcomer. He had noticed Kyren’s reactions to this other male, and while every so often it was favorable, there was a definite bent towards competition. Kyren’s pheromones seemed to indicate he felt this other male was some kind of threat...and whether he knew it or not, so did Akan’s.    [Would you like to talk?] Hermes asked in an oddly polite tone, then went on to add. [There is little else to do while we search. You know Loki, my brother, do you not?]    That brought a smile to Akan’s face, “You’re Loki’s brother? Of course, I know him. Good little...um...big ship. Wish I could have gotten to know him better...]    The light shut off suddenly, and a few of the smaller buttons blinked out for a second as Hermes suddenly panicked. [Something has happened to Loki?! Is he alright?!]    Akan realized he’d spoken as if Loki was dead, and quickly cut in, waving his hands but not even knowing if the ship could see him doing that, “No! No, Loki’s alright...he’s fine...its just...just complicated. That’s why we have to find Shadow...then things should stop being complicated.”    Slowly, the lights came bac on as Hermes calmed down and regained his concentration. [Shadow? I do not understand...what is Shadow?]    “Marix,” Akan answered quickly, trying not to sound annoyed. He wasn’t, of course, it was just becoming tedious to have to constantly restate things like that    [Ah, I see!] Hermes sounded oddly proud of the understanding, and it brought a smile to Akan’s face. It really reminded him of Loki...and even the Palace to an extent. Happy to learn anything new and only able to show it through their ‘voice’. [The Empress to be...yes, she and my brother were paired at birth. He is destined to be one of the greatest! Tell me of him! I have not seen him in so very long...]    “I honestly don’t know enough about your kind to say much that’s useful,” Akan said weakly with a shrug, still smiling and also trying to keep his attention on watching out the viewport, “He’s just Loki.”    Akan was surprised when he heard a mental noise equal to a nod, and then Hermes said happily. [Chaos is indeed memorable and unique.] the ship paused and check on Kyren, noting that the Alraxian was deep asleep, though his ear twitched just slightly. Satisfied with Kyren’s curren condition, Hermes’ ‘voice’ changed slightly in its tone. [I hope that you and he get along well. It would be difficult is the Empress to be’s ship and her mate did not get along. May I ask how you and she met? How many litters do the two of you plan to have? I would greatly like to hear it firsthand from you instead of over the Network once its been exaggerated.]    Akan just froze. After a moment, his ear twitched very noticeably, and no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t ignore the invisible gaze of Hermes. It took at least a minute before he mumbled very slowly and quietly, “...y...yes...Loki and I get along fine, yes. So where is this place? We could miss it with all of this talking.”    [You did not answer my question. Why will you not? Are you ashamed? Or afraid? Come now, at least tell me how you met.]    “...we met working together for a mercenary group...” Akan grumbled quietly, obviously seeing he was cornered and trying to find some way to not speak anymore, “Happy, now? Good.”    Hermes laughed in his mind, which echoed through Akan’s skull annoyingly. [Yes, yes...love does grow in odd places, does it not? But I am glad. The Empire will be strong.]    Before Akan could find a way to hide, Hermes ‘accidently’ tipped back Akan’s chair and one of the arms extended and wrapped over his chest to prevent him from getting up. [You seem nervous. I would gladly share your troubles if you wish to talk. I would not even tell Kyren. But you must understand, as Loki’s brother, I wish to know more about his Pilot’s mate.]    At that moment, Akan made a mental note to kill Hermes. Or at least find out if neutering a Kanyak was possible. Either way, he would find a way to get revenge on this evil ship, Jedi way be damned. Through gritted teeth and glaring up at the ceiling, Akan spoke, “Stop calling me that! I’m not her...! I never...! I mean we never...!! What is with you damn people?!”    [Hush, you’ll wake Kyren and he will hear you.] Hermes commented softly, though he was very obviously amused. [Perhaps I could tell him more than I understand if you do not share more with me. Though I am not sure you know, a lifebond means nothing if it is not...ah...reinforced. My Pilot would then stand a chance to be the father of the Empress to be’s cubs. I know from your pheromones that you do not want this. So, I am...] Hermes paused for a half second, then his voice went on sounding smug. [I am...blackmailing you. I believe that is the word. So, you tell me about you and the Empress to be, and I will not inform Kyren that he still has a chance. Oh, and in case you have any ideas in involving violence or that weapon of yours, I have prepared it in a message to send to the herd so that word will spread...and Kyren will hear of it within minutes.]    Silence. Slowly, Akan forced a defeated smile on his face, speaking slowly through gritted teeth, “Hermes...I’m going to kill you one day.”    [That is all well...now, will you talk or shall I wake Kyren?]    “You win...” Akan whimpered, giving up on any kind of resistance and wondering how Hermes got to be so cruel, “We just...travel to together. Have for the past year or so now. I don’t know how long its been. I don’t understand why all you people keep jumping to conclusions! She’s just a good friend!” he paused a moment to calm his voice, hyper-aware of Kyren right next to him, “She’s saved my life more times than I can count and I know I’ve kept her alive at least twice. We trust each other and work well together. Its that simple...I’m not keeping anything from anyone, it’s the truth. There’s nothing...I just don’t want her getting hurt.”    He trailed off, then suddenly realized where he’d ended than and quickly added, “...be...ah...because I don’t want to get hurt.”    Akan had never claimed to be any good at recoveries, and if he had, it would likely have been just as bad of a lie. He was even worse about it when cornered, and Akan was sure as hell cornered at the moment. Hermes, though, was obviously still curious. [You are telling me that you do not realize you and she are mates? Yet, I am sure you understand the link the two of you share. Curious. Surely you and she...for you to have gone from outsider to Alraxian...you must have...] slowly, the hold on Akan was loosened as Hermes tried to think and understand. [Bringing you into her species. It is what an Alraxian does should they choose a mate of a species not their own. Though through morphing they are compatible with any other species, it is...dangerous. There are a few rare cases with no trouble, but on a whole, the half breeds are a disturbingly horrifying mix. So...to have offspring, either the Alraxian or their mate must give up their species. Obviously, the Empress to be cannot give up her species, and so you agreed and partook of the ceremony. Yet you have not even touched her? You are very protective of her, not only from harm but from other males...yet you cry that it is nothing more than friendship. You avoid details about the both of you...]    Hermes gave Akan the equivalent of a grin, though it was a toothy, Shadow-like grin if Akan had ever felt one. [You will tell me again about how you met. In detail. And of how you became Alraxian. I swear to you, I will tell no one. That is...of course, unless you do not share it with me.]    Akan sighed a defeated sigh, slumping back against the chair, “We just ended up with the same group somehow...worked together, worked well...we didn’t exactly get along too well, though. And then, just sparring, she...it was an accident. A little slip up and she nearly killed me. So she just...did this...and...and now I have this body. She was just keeping me alive...”    [And you feel nothing at all towards her? So you would not mind if Kyren were to give himself to her, then? You must understand, he has loved her since they were young. She saved his life, too. He has cared for no one else since the day she pulled him from his wrecked house. Now that he has grown, he loves her in a different way. As you insist that you and she are only friends, you would not stand in his way?”    “Of course I would stand in the way!!” Akan suddenly blurted out before his brain had even thought about an answer. Suddenly realizing he’d said that, Akan closed his eyes and tried to not exist, mumbling, “He doesn’t know her...none of you do. She’s not the person that everyone things she is. She’s nothing at all like she used to be. I knew she shouldn’t have come back here. Its all going wrong everywhere and...and there’s not a damned thing I can do about it!” he growled and nearly kicked at a console, but heard Kyren grumble in his sleep.    Akan stayed silent a moment, making sure that the other stayed asleep. Hermes, still sounding somewhat amused, cut into the silence. [She is a soldier, yes. After years of a RedStar as Empress, a soldier will be a change but she will be a good leader for us all. If she were not here, who would stop these killings?]    “She’s not stopping a thing a the moment,” Akan grumbled, though he was slightly relieved at the very tiny change in direction of the conversation, “But once we get her back we’ll deal with this and we’ll get your brother back.”    [The thing we are looking for is...is a myth, truthfully.] Hermes admitted. [It could very well be anywhere in the Empire, we have only rumors and speculation to go on. You should get some rest. You will need it.]    Laughing shortly, Akan managed a real smile, “I should do a lot of things. There’s not time, though...someone’s messing with my link to her again. I can’t feel her right. Someone’s...someone’s trying to get her back to the way she was before she left here. We have to get to her before its too late.”    [You could get out and look yourself.] grumbled Hermes, annoyed for a moment. [I doubt you’d have anymore luck than—...wait, I think I may have something. Wake Kyren quickly, I must cloak.]    Akan nodded as his chair was sat up and things moved straight into business mode finally. He reached over and roughly tapped Kyren on the head, letting out some earlier annoyance by annoying Kyren. Cruel? Yes. Un-Jedi like? Of course. But he’d been blackmailed and if kicking a puppy was all he could do right now, it sure made Akan feel better. Kyren grumbled something, shifted then sat up, glaring at Akan, “Oh...you.”    His attention then went to Hermes, and the ship quickly informed Kyren of the possible findings. It was confirmed, and though nothing could be seen physically anywhere near, Akan could definitely feel something. After a moment, Kyren turned to Akan, “We’re going to have to use an illegal device. You cannot tell anyone that it is installed aboard Hermes.”    “Not a word,” Akan said with a nod. And then, the ship slowly faded out of normal sight. Ahead of them, Akan saw at least a slight shimmer. The shimmer grew into a large blackness, and in another few moments he found that Hermes had set down in a small, all black landing bay much like on Thor.    Kyren grinned, pointing off towards a small grey door at the other end of the bay, “Hermes, stay alert. Akan, keep your eyes open and lets go for a walk.”</blockquote>

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