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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Ankh-Morpork Guard" data-source="post: 2518663" data-attributes="member: 10079">Chapter 270: The Greatest FearThe day was not spent simply cleaning up and returning to life as normal. That would have been expected, and, truthfully, Jyren really felt it looked that way. But that was because he spent most of the day entertaining Toby(and, by default, the other children who joined into a swarm). It meant that he only saw a few Alraxians moving back and forth across the courtyards as they had before any of the chaos had erupted. But Shadow knew what was going on...she knew because it was at least partially her fault, which was why she hid in Loki for most of the day even though the Kanyak seemed to be acting far more sarcastic than ever. It was good to have him back, at least. She couldn’t have stood losing someone else.    But, as a single mind, the Alraxians of the Palace were making the necessary preparations for that night. It was truly amazing how quickly people could work when they were trying to get their minds off of things. Not that many of them had encountered any direct loss due to the attacks, but with the way the Network worked amongst them, losing the Empress was like losing a part of oneself. And their new Empress was not filling that void. There were even rumors that she never would, but those were batted down in favor of a more positive attitude towards the night ahead of them.    The Alraxian star was slowly sinking below the distant forest when Jyren first came to realize that something was most definitely up. He was on his back and the children of endless energy where pouncing all over him, trying to hold down any limb that moved to attack them when three of the nannies arrived to round them all up. At first, Jyren didn’t think anything of it, and was actually relieved for the rescue...but then he caught sight of that Redstar again.    She was standing off near one of the trees and watching him with a neutral expression. After the horde of young Alraxians were herded off, Jyren walked over to the Redstar and raised an eyebrow, “What are you doing out here?”    “I speak Trade,” she answered with a shrug, “And you recognize me. It makes things easier.”    Jyren really didn’t like the sound of that, “Makes things...easier?”    She looked at him as if he was an idiot before nodding behind her to the Palace, “Come with me.”    Somehow, there was no arguing with that tone. And so he followed the Redstar through the corridors of the Palace, noting suddenly that they were very empty considering that everyone should have been back already. That, and Shadow was completely silent through the link. Before, she had at least felt angry and annoyed, but now...nothing. When they reached one of the hundreds of identical looking doors, Jyren couldn’t help but notice the two guards flanking it.    They both looked at him through the corner of their eyes, but the Redstar simply pushed him through the door and past them. The room was filled with Alraxians. At least ten of them, and they were all staring at him. Biting his lip, Jyren very carefully asked, “What’s this about...?”    The part of him that was still the kid on the streets in Corellia wanted to bolt and run. Well, no...all of him wanted to bolt and run. Something about this just felt dangerous. Very, very dangerous.  A couple of the Alraxians gave him confused looks, but no one answered him. In a second, he was swarmed by the group and found himself having his clothes changed.    This had only occurred twice before. [Shadow! Dammit, what are they planning?!]    It wasn’t until a very interesting looking ‘suit’ of sorts was being put onto him that there was a response. [You know as well as I do what’s going on! And don’t you dare complain at me! You thought about it before I ever even mentioned it!]    [That doesn’t count!] he ‘screamed’ back over the link as the collar was tightened far too much.    [It damn well does with our link!] Shadow’s response snapped back.    The collar was adjusted, and the entire thing got smoothed out and ‘fixed’ all over. [You’re the Empress, dammit! You can stop this!]    No response. That, in itself, was terrifying. When his fear had shot through the link long enough, Shadow finally sent back a response...though it was more like a hushed whisper than the previous yelling. [...they need this...]    [They need?!] Jyren, however, was still yelling, though now the terror was starting to sink into the mental voice. [What does this have to do with anyone else?!]    [Everything...] came a mumbled-like response. [I’m the Empress, remember? So...yeah...everything.]    Jyren sighed outwardly, which got him pushed roughly around for moving too much when everything was being put just right. One of them tried to go for his hair, but he glared at them enough that at least that was left alone. [Why are you so diplomatic all of a sudden?!] he paused, then realization slowly dawned on him as an interesting type of shoes were put on. [...Marix, right?]    There was a mental shrug. [You could...say that. But she...I...we...are not so separate anymore.]    [...but there’s no way Shadow would ever, ever give into anything like this so calmly.] Jyren said flatly.    A mental nod. [Yes, but...I’ll be honest. Ever since ah...ever since we grew up and um...especially since that night a few days back she has um...well...] there was then a mental sigh and a long pause that unnerved Jyren some more. He half expected to be told that Shadow was actually Kato, or something equally insane. Instead, he got. [Shadow will always be a child. That can never be changed. So I...um...Marix...is more dominate now as she...I...would have grown up anyway.]    Jyren blinked. Not a normal blink, but the kind when one is trying to put pieces together from completely different puzzles. By now, though, a good amount of time had passed and he was being escorted out of the room. Jyren deliberately avoided glancing over to a mirror. [So you’ve been...Marix...the entire time?]    [No!] Shadow’s response was almost too quick. [Er...yes! I mean. No, but...yes...and...] the sigh could be felt through the link. [It is complicated.]    [So I gathered.] Jyren sighed back as he rounded a corner, now with the two guards flanking him along with the Redstar and one of the other attendants.    As a large doorway came into view at the end of the hall, a voice came through the link that sounded as if it was trying to be comforting without really knowing how to. [I um...even though I’m...Marix...or...however you think of it I still um...lo...still...yeah...]    The words didn’t make it through, but the feeling did. It was something, at least, and got a smile on Jyren’s face that was probably misinterpreted by those around him. As the large door irised open to reveal a gigantic chamber with thousands a large, open walkway down the center and hundreds of Alraxians flanking it and looking at him, Jyren sent the same feeling back over the link. [I know. And thank you...I...love you, too.]    With a glance to the two guards and a deep breath, Jyren started in.</blockquote>

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