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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Ankh-Morpork Guard" data-source="post: 2388520" data-attributes="member: 10079">Chapter 241: Never a BreakThere had been a long tense moment when the chrono for the hyperspace jump was reaching zero. So far, they hadn’t crashed through a star, planet, etc, but that was still a distinct possibility. So when it was under ten seconds, Jyren couldn’t help but wonder if it was worth pulling back the levers. But what other choice was there? Make it this far and then let fear finally take over? That was definitely not a good course of actions...besides, if he didn’t, Shadow would kill him for ‘not trusting her judgement’ or something similar.    So when the chrono hit zero, Jyren pulled the hyperspace levers back. The swirling blue suddenly disappeared, fading into the familiar bleak nothingness of space. The bleak nothingness of space which was currently occupied by at least one nearby planet and so many ships the sensor readings were impossible to decipher where one ended and another began.    That was a good sign at least.    “There’s Thor,” Shadow said, adding to it with an arm reaching over the seat and pointing...almost into Jyren’s eye.    He tilted his head slightly to avoid losing his sight, “Yes, um...thank you, I see it...err, him. Him?”    Shadow didn’t dignify that with an answer. Not that it really needed one all that much. Sometimes Jyren just needed to figure things out for himself. Most of the time, actually, but she usually just got frustrated and explained things to him anyway.    There was a long silence as Jyren adjusted their course for the very large ship that was literally impossible to miss, even against the planet which it orbited. In fact, the silence generally stayed until they were set down in one of the Kanyak’s hangers. That had been an ordeal in its own...convincing the ship it was alright to have the metal starfighter dock took nearly ten minutes, but eventually Shadow managed to win with her usual authoritatively dangerous voice.    When they finally were able to climb out of the cramped cockpit of the X-Wing, they were met by a large group of guards, Redstars, and Jyren’s father. The last was less surprising that it could have been, considering the circumstances. Not that it bothered either of them all that much. In all this chaos, it was nice to see at least one really familiar face...especially one that was family...    Immediately setting foot down on the creamy white deck, the two of them were mobbed. A cadre of Redstars had first gone for Jyren, but when he waved them off(and, of course, at Shadow) they change course. Not that this got Jyren off the hook. A second later, his father stepped over and embraced him in that dangerous fashion where the son couldn’t help but wonder if he father was trying to kill him or not.    “You’re even more reckless than your mother,” the older Alraxian growled with a chuckle into Jyren’s ear.    “I’m alive, aren’t I?” was the best Jyren could come up with when drained of his ability to breathe correctly.    At this, his father relinquished the vice grip and instead rested his hands on Jyren’s shoulders, “Yes, you are. Next time you do something like that, though, please let your old man know. I just got you back and I’m not losing you again.”    Jyren managed a sheepish look before nodding, “I will.”    “Good,” Navik Keros nodded proudly before motioning over his son’s shoulder towards where Shadow was, “Now its probably a good idea for you to go save her again.”    When Jyren glanced over his shoulder, he saw Shadow surrounded by five Redstars who were almost literally combing every inch of her for even slight injuries. The guards were doing their best to...well...guard, but had given up and just stood back watching in a form of stoic amusement.    Just when Jyren made it over, however, Shadow threw up her hands, “Dammit, leave me alone!!”    They did.    In fact, they even took a step back, with one of them backing into Jyren and jumping with a slight surprise. It wasn’t the words Shadow had used, but the force with which she’d spoke. It was the voice of someone on the edge of blatant murder, which wasn’t actually all that far from the truth of the moment, either. One of the older Redstars in the center of the formation managed a bow, “My lady, we were simply worried after...after...”    “I know!” Shadow yelled, angry at none of them in particular, “And I’m fine now! Now go and do whatever it is you people are supposed to be doing!”    There was a pause.    It ended when the same Redstar pointed out, “The, ah...situation is already under control here, my lady. This is what we are supposed to be doing.”    Shadow looked over the Redstars and straight to Jyren. [Typical.]    He shrugged, now completely out of his element again and doing his best to stand there and look like he almost knew what he was doing. The tension, though, slowly faded from the air, and one of the younger Redstars, who Jyren recognized as the woman who had been helping him the day...or two? However long it had been....carefully, she said, “Word has already been spread through the Network that you are alive...however, it would do some good if you ah...spoke openly so that everyone could see you.”    “We don’t have time for that,” Jyren suddenly cut in, though it was the exact same thing Shadow was about to say. Either way it was technically just an excuse to escape the formal necessities, but it did also have some hint of truth. When everyone turned to look at him, he suddenly realized it would have been better for Shadow to say it so he wouldn’t have to deal with all the critical eyes...especially from the guards. But it was too late for that, and when he got confirmation from Shadow to go ahead, he said it, “The army is moving. They’ve left the Capital...all of them.”    “Where would they go?” that was his father from behind, though the question was in all of their eyes. Except for the guards, of course, but they were still remaining silent, simply watching with calm eyes.    Jyren sighed. He kept forgetting these people hadn’t experience real war for thousands of years. They didn’t have the tactical minds to pick Ket’s plans apart...well, Jyren didn’t either, but at least he had some vague ideas, which was more than most Alraxians, “He’s going to Alraxia.”    The words seemed to echo through the hangar for far too long. None of them had expected to hear that...it was unimaginable. This whole everything was. And to top that off with an attack on their home planet by one of their own...that was nearly too much. Before anything could be said, however, a door irised open on the other side of the hangar and a guard ran in at full speed.    He ran straight to Shadow before kneeling and bowing his head. Then, without even waiting for her to say anything, spoke quickly, “My lady, we have recieved an incoming transmission.”    But he was shaking. The guard was shaking. Jyren and Shadow once again exchanged looks, but this time it was her turn to talk, “From who?”    “From...ah...” the guard paused, not completely believing it himself, “From you.”    Nine.    Without saying a thing, Shadow ran for the main section of the ship. Jyren followed, feeling the same deep set fear of what was to come. The two of them could only think of one reason why Nine would contact them. The same reason Ket had contacted Shadow’s mother the day or two before. She was going to issue a challenge. A challenge to the Empress.    Even though they’d just escaped it, the need for Shadow to confront her clone had just risen is head again. This time, though, the entire Empire would know about it. Considering the last time this had happened barely over a day before, it was definitely going to cause panic. Never a break, it seemed.</blockquote>

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