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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Ankh-Morpork Guard" data-source="post: 2276445" data-attributes="member: 10079">Chapter 222: PromisesIn hindsight, Jyren knew that asking the Redstar for help wasn’t going to get him anywhere. But she was the closest, and the only one who he actually felt at least slightly comfortable speaking with. In only a few minutes, the entire ship(and likely the entire Alraxian Empire) had erupted into a panicked chaos. Thankfully, there were Redstars and guards to attempt calming people, though they were just as lost as to what was to be done.    The Empress was dead. The Empress-to-be was in the hands of the Empress’ killer. The common bond that held their entire species together had been severed, and no one knew how to deal with it. For all their lives, the Alraxians lived in an almost hive mind like existence. Thoughts, feelings, and news was transmitted through the natural Network, which was held together and maintained by the Empress. It was never disrupted. It couldn’t be. Or rather...shouldn’t be. This moment proved that it could happen. But as it was something none of them had ever even imagined, the reactions of panic and the chaos weren’t surprising.    So when Jyren recieved no response beyond a blank, lost look from the Redstar, he wasn’t too surprised. Taking a deep breath, and trying to get more of her attention, he asked more calmly, “Do you have any idea where the ship I came in is being kept?”    She blinked a few times before mumbling in a very distracted, hollow voice, “I...I don’t know...”    “It was metal,” Jyren attempted to elaborate while knowing that, with the Empress out of the way, every second was going to count, “It was all metal. Where would something like that be kept?”    “I...” she paused, finally really thinking on it. But she slowly shook her head, “I’m not sure...but it would not be anywhere near a city or groups of people.”    That was amazingly unhelpful. But again, it was doubtful she really knew anything about it in the first place. He wasn’t going to take a Kanyak, or any other living being with him to get Shadow. He wasn’t going to risk any other life. His was already on the line, as much as Shadow’s was...but enough had died because of his own mistakes, and he couldn’t help but feel responsible for what had happened to the Empress. So he would have to take his ship...where it was.    But before he could say anything else, an Alraxian that had pushed her way through the crowd stepped over to him and bowed. She looked older than the other, but the markings on her robes were similar enough that he identified her as another Redstar. Her tone of voice was softer, and much more controlled than anything he’d heard in the main cabin of the ship for the last few minutes, “My lord, I—“    Jyren cut her off with a wave of his hand, grumbling under his breath, “Don’t call me that.”    She paused, nodded slightly, “Your...your son is conscious. He wants to see you.”    Toby? Jyren sighed. There wasn’t time for this. There wasn’t time for anything. But then again...there never was. And so, almost against his better judgement, he followed her through the crowd of Alraxians. All of whom immediately turned to stare at him as he walked by. Yet another little hint at what he really didn’t want to be dealing with. He was no leader. These people wanted him to be...their eyes were begging for it, but he wasn’t one, and didn’t plan to be one.    Two short corridors and he was taken to a small bedroom that had obviously been converted into a makeshift infirmary. Though there were three beds in the room, only one was occupied. Closest to the door, laying back and attached to some kind of medical equipment that Jyren, unsurprisingly, didn’t recognize, was Tobias. The child’s eyes were half open, and he looked both tired and dazed. A couple of black marks could be seen along his face and much of his fur was singed, but the general feeling through the Force was that the child was doing much better than he looked.    Upon seeing Jyren step into the room, however, Tobias’ eyes opened up completely and a smile quickly formed on his small face, “Aka—“ he stopped, a look of serious concentration passed over him, then Toby tried again, “Jyren!”    Jyren grinned. He couldn’t help it. He walked over and sat on the bed next to Toby, “Hey, little guy. You doing alright?”    A little slower than normally, Tobias nodded. Jyren also noticed that the child’s voice was a bit softer and weaker, “Uh-huh,” he then pointed over Jyren’s shoulder to one of the Redstars, “She say I strongest jai in Empire.”    “Oh, she does?” Jyren looked over to her a moment but then back to Tobias, “I wouldn’t doubt it. She tells me you wanted to see me.”    “Uh-huh,” Tobias nodded again, his large eyes looking up at Jyren, “Everyone running around and...and scared...and...and no want you go away.”    “What do you mean?”    “You going away...” Tobias said, gently reaching out and poking Jyren’s leg.    “I’m not going anywhere, Toby.”    But the child shook his head, “Yes you are...you gonna go back to place where I get hurt.”    Jyren stared somewhat blankly at the little child. He hadn’t heard that from anyone. He couldn’t have. Tobias could only have known that if the Redstar he’d been with had told him...but she was still behind Jyren and hadn’t said a word since leaving the main cabin. Which left one option. Tobias had picked up on it with the Force.    No use hiding it then. Jyren sighed and put his hand on Toby’s shoulder, “I have to go back...but I won’t be gone long.”    Tobias regarded him for a very long minute, then asked, “Promise?”    “Of course, little guy.”    When Tobias seemed at least close to satisfied Jyren squeezed his shoulder gently before getting back to his feet. He made it three steps before Tobias suddenly spoke up again, “Daddy, wait!”    Jyren froze in place. He opened his mouth, but no words came out. Jyren wanted to tell Tobias he wasn’t his father. He wanted to tell him anything along those lines. But what would he say? Could he really tell this child that his father was the person who could be about to kill Shadow, and, due to the link, Jyren, too? Could he tell Tobias that his real father was probably going to be dead by the end of this if Jyren wasn’t? What would be the point? What good would it do?    None. Nothing that wouldn’t simply make things worse for the kid.    Sighing heavily, Jyren ran a hand through his hair and looked over his shoulder, “What is it, little guy?”    Tobias sat up a little more and looked straight across the room into Jyren’s eyes. There was something in that which Jyren couldn’t even interpret. He didn’t know children well enough to translate things like that. Quietly, Tobias said, “Bring momma back, too...”    Jyren took a deep breath. Was there really more than one answer to that? Of course not. So, Jyren nodded and said in a calm voice, “I will, Toby. I promise.”    And then, without another word, Jyren stepped out of the room and past the Redstars. They wouldn’t be able to help. He was off to find the ship’s hangar(or at least something close) on his own. He was going to have to do all of this on his own. But he didn’t make promises he couldn’t keep.</blockquote>

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