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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Ankh-Morpork Guard" data-source="post: 3576950" data-attributes="member: 10079">Chapter 470: Alraxian ReunionThere had been a ship for Venda at the Gateway. However, Marix wasn’t going to let that particular ship go. It was a Kanyak and, more specifically, it was Hermes. Years ago, he was Kyren’s ship. Arrogant, hotheaded, and an expert at blackmail from what she was told. After Kyren had died, Hermes had been at a loss and simply sat at the Palace keeping to himself.    A solution had been found to that...though it was by accident.    About a year after the twins were born, Jyren had found himself without a ship(the X-Wing was being repaired by Jendari rather than terrified Alraxians) and a need to get to the rebuilt Capital world. Marix didn’t remember why, exactly, but he’d told her that he’d found Hermes and the ship seemed to perk up after that. The two had gotten on fairly well the first time they’d met, though it was a rather infuriating experience for Jyren, she was told, and this second trip together seemed to solidify a friendship between the two.    And now Hermes had lost another friend and pilot. He was not sitting around at the Gateway moping, though, but as one of the fastest Kanyak’s in the Empire, which was not a boast, he served as a quick warning ship in case of another attack. Messages could be sent, yes, but it was more reliable for Hermes to do it himself, just in case communications were cut.    That wasn’t why Marix didn’t let Venda borrow Hermes.    The reason she didn’t was because she just didn’t trust this Jedi enough. The ironic part was that she was now taking Venda to Alraxia, the Palace, and her children. There was a reason, though. She trusted the woman while keeping an eye on her. Marix knew that Venda couldn’t do too much looking around when she was being watched, and sending that Jedi off with Hermes, alone, just didn’t seem like a good idea.    “Keep your mouth shut and follow me,” Marix said as Alraxia grew in the viewport, “If you make any sudden moves, the Knights will kill you, so be careful. If you have any question, I don’t care. There is something very urgent I have to deal with and you just need to shut up and pretend that you aren’t seeing new things.”    Venda looked to Marix and there was a definite confusion on her face, “Isn’t that a bit...”    “No, its not,” Marix didn’t let her finish, “You are alive right now because of me. This is not arrogance, this is the truth. When there is time, I will find a way to get you back to Yavin, but there isn’t right now. There also isn’t time for you to argue this. If you don’t like it, Loki will have no trouble locking you in a room so no one can hear you until there is time.”    If Venda said anything, Marix neither heard it nor did she care. The point had been made. The flight down to the Palace was quiet, and it seemed like Venda at least had understood, as she said nothing at all as they passed through the shield around the city. Marix could clearly remember coming to Alraxia with Jyren for the first time and all the questions he’d asked.     Technically, Venda shouldn’t have been even allowed on the planet. But Marix didn’t really care. She had no knowledge of the planet’s actual location and couldn’t compromise that, nor did Venda even really know who to give that information to. So the reasons for the “Swear Allegiance to the Empress” ritual before setting foot on the planet didn’t really apply. Okay, they did, but Marix just didn’t care. She was the Empress, anyway, and no one would argue.    Loki set down in his usual spot next to one of the larger courtyards and Marix inwardly groaned at seeing the Knights that were assembled. Of course they would be. Didn’t mean she had to like it or couldn’t hope that just once she’d sneak in before they could. Marix did catch sight of another figure approaching the pad and knew exactly who it was...and there was a familiar feeling in the Force there, too...one that she very badly wanted to see.    At that sight, she decided to let Loki do the rest of the work, got up, motioned for Venda to follow, and headed for the hatch at a pace that would have been a run if she was human. The hatch irised open just as she got to it and Marix was greeted with the sight she’d seen from above. She heard Venda a few steps behind, but ignore the woman and headed out of the ship and into the familiar warm, comfortable air of Alraxia.    The Knights did their usual thing and just stood there, but Navik Keros approached her with a smile on his face. Considering the message he’d sent her not long ago, that should have been surprising. But, considering the child in his arms, it wasn’t.    Saaran’s eyes lit up at seeing Marix and she couldn’t help a smile. When she was within a meter, the little child who looked so much like Tobias had escaped his grandfather’s arms and leapt at her with a giggle. Marix caught him and immediately went to scratching his ear while he clung to her shoulder and purred loudly. In that moment, nothing else mattered. Nothing. It was amazing how that happened.    “Andrea’s still asleep,” Navik’s voice floated in through the haze that Saaran carried with him, “Its been so hard to get her to sleep lately that I couldn’t bring myself to wake her.”    Marix nodded as she busied herself paying attention to Saaran who was busy being...clingy...which she didn’t mind one bit. Behind her, Marix heard footsteps behind her and knew it was Venda. The Knights knew ahead of time about her, vaguely at least, and so didn’t react beyond a slight feeling of surprise that came through the Force. Marix hadn’t mention she was a human or a Jedi...just that she had someone with her.    After a few moments, Marix glanced over her shoulder to see the woman looking around curiously, obviously taking in the unique sights around them, then looked back to Navik, “Where’s Kato?”    “In her room under guard as always,” Navik waited for Marix to start in that direction then fell into step next to her. Venda stayed a few paces behind, keeping up but taking in...well...everything. The Knights would be right behind her and making sure she didn’t stray...but she wouldn’t.    They were soon navigating the near endless corridors of the Palace, heading for the well guarded room that Kato still occupied. Marix had some direct questions for her cousin. After that she was heading to Faban, who had been, at her orders, removed from his home on the other side of the planet and brought to the Palace. He was locked away in a small, boring room on a different level. Alone.    And then Marix stopped.    She realized that Saaran had clung to her tightly, claws digging in, for no good reason. Then she felt it. A strong feeling in the Force. He had felt it first...amazing.    “I feel strong, focused, malevolence all around us,” it was Venda. She was speaking softly and more to herself, it seemed. But she was right, Marix could feel the same thing.    But she felt something familiar about it. Something terrifying familiar about it.    Marix detached Saaran from her, ignoring the pain of the claws and then thrust the child into Navik’s arms and spoke firmly, “Go to Loki. Now. Tell him to leave the Palace and find someplace safe.”    Out of reflex, Navik took the surprised child, and started to ask a question before Marix gave him a dead serious look that showed there wasn’t any time. He understood, and started back the way they’d come at a swift pace. Marix then shifted to speaking Alraxian and said to the guards, “You two. Follow him and keep him safe. Protect the Jedi, also. The rest of you get in contact with the rest of the Knights and set up a defense immediately. There are Mrrakesh coming.”    And then, as the Knights immediately went to their jobs without a question, she looked to Venda and switched back to speaking Trade, “Head back to the ship with those two Knights, that man, and my son.”    “What’s going on?!” Venda asked as the two Knights started to drag her away, not caring if she didn’t want to go.    Marix decided at least some explanation was in order, “What you feel is an attack. Protect my son and Jyren’s father. Make sure they get to Loki and you all get off this planet alive.”    At that, Venda stopped her struggling against the two Knights. She was now facing the same direction as them and running with them to catch up with the two others who hadn’t gotten very far ahead.    Marix then turned, adjusted herself to where she was in the Palace, and started at a run for her large room near the top of the Palace. The Mrrakesh were already on Alraxia. They were on the ground. They were coming. They were ready. And Marix finally put the pieces together. Faban didn’t want her to be Empress...and that meant he had to do more than just get rid of her. He had to make sure her children were out of the picture also, and then he could maneuver someone he could have influence over into power.    And Andrea was alone, asleep, and unprotected.    Marix ran faster.</blockquote>

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