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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Ankh-Morpork Guard" data-source="post: 2401258" data-attributes="member: 10079">Chapter 243: Parting WordsThough there was immediate rush to get both Shadow and Jyren moving, one small break was taken while a ship was arranged for Shadow. The two of them went to check on Toby, who’d been moved to the larger Thor not longer after Jyren had first left. It was amazing, though, that they found the little jai deep asleep. Apparently, it was the first real sleep he’d gotten in the past couple of days, as he’d attempted to stay up and wait on Jyren and Shadow to get back.    So the choice was made to let him sleep...it would be easier anyway. So after being given fresh clothes(simple, black jumpsuits with gold lining for Shadow and silver for Jyren) and getting back into the old morphsuits, they were ready to leave.    Even though they could only see the cadre of guards, Redstars, and Jyren’s father in the hangar with them, it was plainly obvious the entire Empire was watching in some form or another. The two of them stood in front of Jyren’s X-Wing in silence for a long few minutes.    It was Jyren who broke the silence, attempting a half smile and a little humour, “Here we go again, eh?”    The humour was lost on Shadow, though she did nod. The silence came back quickly, and it became immediately apparent to Jyren that she was wanting to say something but either didn’t like having people watching, didn’t know how to say it, or just wanted to wait as long as she could.    So, for a second time, Jyren tried to initiate a small conversation, “How are you getting to that...wherever it is?”    Shadow sighed at that, but answered at least, “I’ll be taking Hermes.”    Kyren’s ship.    Perhaps that was a problem. But he was a good ship...and Jyren knew Shadow would be safe with Hermes. It was Hermes who needed to be the one to worry. But again, that awkward silence fell over the two of them. Shadow was looking at him with a neutral expression, though Jyren could feel she was masking everything she could to retain a calm outward appearance. The fact that Shadow was seeming to have some trouble with this spoke loudly.    And then the silence was broken by Shadow as she took a deep breath. Her hand, which Jyren suddenly noticed had been held behind her back the entire time, withdrew and she reached out to extend something to him, “Take this with you.”    Jyren looked down to see her holding the metallic cylinder which he recognized right away to be ‘her’ lightsaber. The small Alraxian symbol at the bottom of the hilt was as much a dead giveaway as the sleek and almost organic design. But he shook his head, “I’ve already got one.”    Typically, Shadow also shook her head and thrust the object into his chest rather roughly, “And I don’t need one.”    He knew she was right about that, but still didn’t particularly like it. After her eyes slowly formed a stern, stubborn look that proved she’d made up her mind and would not be changing it within the next few thousand years, Jyren sighed, nodded, and took it from her hand.    Or tried to. When he grabbed it, her other hand reached up and held his. Quietly, she said, “It will keep you safe until I get to you.”    So that was the plan. They’d both thought about it, but neither had taken the time to actually say anything. The first one of them to finish their task would immediately head to the other. Considering that Shadow was only going to be dealing with Nine(and possibly Kyren, but that was put aside in thoughts) and Jyren was going after Ket and the army that would no doubt be protecting him...it was only logical to assume that, if she didn’t die of course, she’d be done first.    When he nodded, she let go and allowed him to hook the lightsaber on his belt next to the other. As a pair, the two weapons were nearly identical. Jyren couldn’t help but wonder if his mother had built hers after seeing the Alraxians’ design. It was too close to be any other way. But that wasn’t important right now.    After another of those long, awkward silences, Shadow took a step forward and embraced Jyren tightly. He, of course, returned the gesture and they both did their absolute best to ignore the sheer number of people that were undoubtedly watching.    Into her ear, he whispered, “Stay focused out there and be safe.”    He felt her nod into his shoulder before a muffled voice replied, “Same goes for you.”However long passed in that moment, neither of them knew...it probably wasn’t long, though it felt like it was much, much shorter. But slowly they both came to accept that this was a necessary thing to do. They both had their jobs to do...and then things would be safe. That was the plan. It wouldn’t work perfectly, of course, but thankfully it was broad enough to take a good beating.    Then, after lifting her head up so her voice wasn’t muffled, Shadow said softly, “I love you.”    Jyren nearly said ‘I know’. Nearly, because, the second the thought came to mind, Shadow picked up on it and actually felt insulted. Or something like that...even if he’d been wrong, the plan was changed and his angle of attack took a more traditional turn, “I love you, too.”    And then, somewhat forcefully, they pulled apart. Shadow took a deep breath, managed a smile for him, and then turned to head for Hermes on the other side of Thor’s large, main hangar. Jyren stood next to his X-Wing an watched her go, not wanting to turn the other way but knowing he had to. Finally he did though, but instead of heading to his X-Wing, Jyren looked to the group a good distance away and to his father.    Father and son locked eyes. Conversation, be it through physical words or a mental link, was no needed. They both were right on the same page. Jyren wasn’t about to lose a father after all these years...and Navik Keros wasn’t about to lose his son, either.    With a smile of his own forming on his face, Jyren nodded to his father and then finally turned to climb into his X-Wing and head back to a familiar planet...wondering the whole time just how familiar it would be when he arrived.</blockquote>

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