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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Ankh-Morpork Guard" data-source="post: 2914907" data-attributes="member: 10079">Chapter 328Darkwings did not seem to experience surprise...or anything similar to that. However, there was at least a moment’s hesitation from the huge creature when its powerful, clawed hand was force back with relative ease by the now-metallic Alraxian that was its prey...or...was supposed to be. But the mind of a Darkwing never considered running or even backing down. The only option was to fight harder until brute force and, if necessary, the Force itself, tore their prey apart. And while Darkwings had fought and easily destroyed droids before, this...Shadow was different.    Somehow, she seemed faster now...and horribly more aggressive. And this edge was all she needed. Two quick blocks and she stepped right into the Darkwing, not even using the Force to help her already heavy fist to strike the creature right under its jaw. There was a crack of bones and a growl before the monster snapped its jaws at her, but Shadow was still fast enough to easily bend and slide to inside the Darkwing’s defenses.    And as she slipped between its jaws and its right arm(that was about to catch her across the back of the head), an idea came into her...mind...if it was really anything like a ‘mind’ anymore. Shadow had never tried it before...hell, she’d spent so little time like this that there hadn’t even been time to imagine it. But why not? It should work...    The Darkwing’s claws came down for the back of the metal skull, but never reached their mark. Shadow quickly spun around to face the attack, reached up with her left arm...just as the metal changed shape to form a very large, very sharp looking point...that cut straight through the center of the Darkwing’s hand and forced the most alien of yells out of the creature.    It jerked it injured hand away, which caused even more pain to fuel its anger as the metal was removed, then took a step back to reorient itself before simply pouncing on its prey. But it never had the chance. Shadow was moving again, right into it a second time, but this time with a confidence that this idea really was working and that it was perfect. With a simple step forward, she sent the long spike straight up and through the Darkwing’s skull. The bones of the skull provided little resistance and it took barely any effort to simply skewer the horrible thing.    The second that the point of her ‘arm’ extended out of the top of the Darkwing’s skull, something happened in the Force. It...calmed. The weight lifted and the room felt normal again. Shadow easily removed her arm and let the massive form of the Darkwing drop to the deck with a heavy thud...and it didn’t move again.    As her arm returned to its ‘normal’ shape, Shadow looked down at the dead monster in front of her. It had been so easy...so very easy. She had always known why the Empire had attempted this, and why Faban Sunrunner had wanted control over her for it...but never really seen the reasons. Shadow really was the pinnacle of what the Tam’Day’U had always been there to achieve: the perfect weapon. No emotion to cloud judgment, unbelievable strength to end a conflict before it had started, and above all else, adaptable to any situation. This metal made her...unstoppable.    Shadow could feel no happiness or even sadness because of this, which was exactly why a terrified feeling creeping into her ‘mind’ surprised her. Real, true terror. But it couldn’t be hers...it wasn’t possible. Then how...?    Jyren.    The single thought jolted through her entire body and the mind-numbing effects of both the metal form and the control that Shadow had over it faded...into Marix. Again. And as this happened, the metal, too faded...and it wasn’t long before Marix BlueIce once again stood there instead of that metal...thing. But, despite the connection to a more normal person that Marix was, she was still a straight-to-business type...and didn’t dwell even for a second on just what had happened. It had. It was over. She needed to move on.    And she did.    [Are you okay?] she asked through the link, pivoting around and heading straight for the ruined turbolift tube that the Darkwing had come from.    Jyren’s voice returned to her head and it was surprisingly soothing to hear. It almost had a way of grounding her back into the reality that was instead of what could have been had she stayed in that metal form...[Are you?!] there was a pause, then in her mind he added. [Oh, and no!]    [I’m fine and I’m on my way.] Shadow(not even noticing that, while Marix was definitely in control, she still thought of herself as Shadow) reached out in the Force, finding that while this room had eased its oppressing feeling, much of the ship was still bathed in Darkness. But she forced through it anyway and found him. Down.    Her eyes looked down the long turbolift tube and she simply shrugged to herself. Why not? Climbing was going to take far too long and it wasn’t like she didn’t have ways to stop herself. Besides, it would get the blood flowing again.    A grin actually found its way onto Shadow’s face before she jumped.</blockquote>

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