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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Ankh-Morpork Guard" data-source="post: 2982592" data-attributes="member: 10079">Chapter 387: OldThey had taken a relatively long detour...twelve standard hours to the nearest New Republic planet where Jyren, Tobias, and the Duros caught a transport back to Ithor, where the fleet remained. And that left Marix and Loki to head across the galaxy...back home.    Sighing, Marix wondered why it seemed like every time she and Jyren could use some time to themselves, they only had a matter of hours. Not that she was complaining about any time at all, but it was annoying, to say the least. She shook her head and looked to the chrono, displaying the Alraxian characters instead of the Trade ones that Loki used for Jyren’s sake. Another three hours to the gate.    [Just like old times.] Loki cut into her thoughts. He’d been distracted with a few smaller things for most of the hyperspace jump but, apparently, they were dealt with enough that he could be his usual, annoying self.    Marix’s eyes tilted up a moment before going back down to look to the chrono, “Sounds like your getting sentimental in your old age.”    [One of us has to.]    “I’m not old, thank you,” she rolled her eyes and glanced out to the swirling blue. She could see her reflection there, too, and was glad to see an Alraxian face looking back at her again. It got unnerving to see a human face looking back after a while. And she wasn’t old, especially for an Alraxian. Though her face had changed slightly over the years, it wasn’t much...and probably the only people who would notice it were herself, Jyren, and Loki.    “And its not like old times,” Marix said under her breath after a little while.    There was the feeling of being watched, but Loki said nothing. Obviously he was waiting for her to explain that.    She shook her head, “How is anything like old times beyond it just being you and me?”    There was a continued silence from Loki after that, but she could tell he was working that out. [At least that’s something that hasn’t changed.]    Why that brought a smile to her face was beyond Marix. The very fact that it came so easily was just more evidence of how much had changed, “I know you wanted to go with them back to help in the fight.”    [I want to go where I’m needed...just like Jyren. Just like you.] That was a surprisingly rational response from a ship that had proven over the years to have an ego greater than even Jyren’s. [And no one can get you home faster than I can.]    “At least old age hasn’t hurt your ego,” the smile didn’t fade as she idly patted the chair. She idly look over to the empty seat next to her, and found herself saying her thoughts before she could stop herself, “I shouldn’t have let the two of them go off like that.”    [You didn’t let them.] Loki correct her, catching the tone and remembering the days when the only person she’d ever speak her doubts to was him. Because of that, the ship knew how to respond much better than Jyren did. [They made their own choices.]    “Mother wouldn’t have let me go like that.”    So that was it.    It wasn’t the first time, and Loki also knew that it wasn’t something Marix had ever said to Jyren. The ship couldn’t sigh, but he would have if it was possible. [You are not your mother.]    “I know that, Loki,” Marix actually sounded insulted at his tone...and she probably was, knowing how she usually reacted to such obvious statements. Subtleties and other non-literal meanings still had a way of slipping past her despite her constant use of them.    [Every time you’ve had to make a difficult choice for the Empire, you’ve come in here and hidden yourself from everyone.] Loki was trying another angle at this, hoping that a softer approach might get the desired effect.    The seat was leaned back so that Marix was in a more rested position and, also, looking up at the ceiling, “You know that our people are not prepared for war. They can barely handle border skirmishes. That is why my mother was such a good Empress. She was a healer, a protector...I’m a fighter. A killer, even. I’m nothing like the people who I’m supposed to be making decisions for. I want to protect them, but I can’t shield them from this war like my mother would have been able to.”    [You don’t know that.] Loki’s ‘voice’ became stern suddenly, adopting the cold tone that she usually did when yelling at Jyren. [This war is spreading like a fire...anyone can see that. Our home has already been found by these Vong, and its only a matter of time before it reaches us. A healer couldn’t stop that. A fighter can.]    Marix did not respond. By now, she had closed her eyes and was trying to keep her thoughts under control. After a few more minutes of this, Loki decided it was about time to add the last little bit in. [It hurt us all when your mother was killed...you hid it well, but you know I could tell how hard it was on you. But nothing happens by chance. It was your mother’s time...and yours. You and Jyren came home to protect it, and you did...but I believe it was not mere chance that caused the events of those weeks to happen. And they made us all stronger...] he paused a moment, then finally said. [Perhaps all of that happened to prepare us for this.]    Nothing was said for a long half hour. They both simply ‘sat’ in the silence and were left to their own thoughts. But finally, and very quietly as Marix sat up straight in her chair again, she said, “Sometimes I wonder if you’re really Loki.”    [What’s that supposed to mean?]    “You’re making far too much sense lately,” Marix mumbled, holding a perfectly neutral expression on her face, “Whatever happened to that egotistical little airhead Kanyak that would challenge a planet to a race if he could have?”    To that, Loki could only find one response. [He got old.]</blockquote>

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