Richard's Animorphs Forum
Animorphs Section => Animorphs Role Playing => Topic started by: Luke Skywalker (Ossanlin) on March 20, 2010, 05:18:30 AM
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((This is an offshoot thread for a storyline originating in the GESB. If you want to join, please join in the regular GESB thread, thanks! :) ))
Post Merged: March 20, 2010, 05:23:02 AM
Ossanlin watches the Warrior pilot his ship out and into the white blankness of z-space. <Well done Claxter, thank you.>
Ossanlin checks all the readouts and locks the course in. <Not much to do now but wait.> He glances over at Myitt and Alic. <Any enjoyable passtimes either of you can think of?>
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<Thank you for the opportunity, my Prince.> Claxter said.
*********************
Sukohn had managed to find a homeless person and identified him as a regular Human because he didn't understand galard. He was around the same age as Sukohn's host, but weaker due to malnutrition. His host, whose name was Cody, held the guy down while his Yeerk infested the guy. He was so shocked and scared that he really didn't know what to do with the situation, and after realising his struggling was futile he just watched in fear as Sukohn and Cody went to the nearest gas station.
"I can't believe none of the names are in here." Sukohn said after rifling through the pages of a phonebook inj the far corner of the store. "They are from this area, aren't they?"
"Maybe they're too young to own homes?"
"Now why would they be that yung? Well, assuming the blue child gave them thier "gift", I guess using kids would be easier for him to control. But how do we find them?"
"I don't know, but I'm using your money to grab some eats."
Sukohn thought things over while Cody ate in front of him.
<...May...may I ...have some?> A meek voice asked Sukohn. It seemed his new host was hungry too. Sukohn swiped Cody's honeybun and took a bite. His new host appreciated it.
"Hey, rude much?"
"The little guy is hungry."
"Yeah, but did you have to take what's mine?"
"Dude, I own you. Remember?"
"Fine." Cody said, irritated.
"I guess we could ask Vice Principle Chapman."
"Okay. I'll get another on the way out. For MYSELF."
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"Well, uh, let me see what I have," Myitt says once the woozy jump feeling has worn off. She kneels down and rummages through her black backpack, pulling out a small metal transponder, a black rectangular container, a couple of thermal detonators, a piece of lidded plastic tupperware, a switchblade and a box of Wheaties. She peers inside the bag and rummages a bit more.
"I haven't used this bag in a while, but it looks like Tara's old standbys are still in here," Myitt says thoughtfully, pulling out a couple of battered plastic DVD cases. "It looks like it's a coin toss between Jurassic Park and Star Wars. There's a portable DVD player. These sorts of things are essential on long space voyages, I'm telling you." She sets the DVDs down and starts putting things away again. "Other than that, I guess we'll have to actually talk to each other." Myitt grins.
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<Jurassic Park. I think I get enough war in my regular life without watching the events of another one.> Claxter said, not knowing that was about a fictional war. However, he also didn't know JP was a horror movie.
(should I keep posting about Sukohn if Oss and crew are going to spend a few posts in mid-flight? I don't want to go too fast. Then again, he has had a substantial headstart.)
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((I think I'm going to rp Zorish over here while he's on/around Earth. If he goes to the bar then I'll do a thread-jump. Does that make sense? That way Tara can rp the rebel guy within this same thread as well. If you think this would go better in the main GESB thread let me know and I'll just move it))
The room that was assigned to Zorish 358 was fairly roomy, as far as Blade Ship quarters go. Roomy, but noisy. He had been assigned quarters close to the bridge, should he be needed for any tactical reasons and as a result he endured the constant sound of foot traffic outside.
There was a full-sized bed pushed against one wall with plain red covers. holodisplay was against the opposite corner, currently turned off. One door led outside to the hallway, and another to a small closet that housed a small sampling of Earth fashions. The only other piece of furniture in the room was a small desk, which Zorish sat at now, staring intently at the small holographic display of her computer. Every once in awhile she would tap at the display and mumble something in irritation. The desk was otherwise empty, except a slightly out of place looking Wendy's bag. Every few seconds Zorish reached a well-manicured hand into the bag and popped a fry into his hosts mouth.
((for reference, Zorish's host Tammy looks like Terenia's human morph, except with short hair. So....average height and weight, short-cropped blond hair, blue eyes, freckles. Typical off duty outfit is jeans and a t-shirt, on duty is a typical gray jumpsuit with a yellow band around the right arm to indicate that Zorish's specialty is intelligence. Also a holster with two Dracon Beams and several small pouches containing an assortment of items is usually around Tammy's waist.))
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((Been busy posting tonight ))
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((Sry guys, I'm wiped out here...I'll try to post tomorrow sometime...))
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(Meant to post.. Works been extra busy. Laid off about 30 reps and 10 supervisors. Its just been crazy. Tomorrow will be calm and ill be in a better mood for posting.)
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((Tara, I'm basically waiting for your rebel guy to come alert Zorish of the Escafil Device and set the plan into motion. :D Just fyi.))
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(I am also hesitant to post for Sukohn again, and am waiting for the JP movie to come on so Claxter can get scared by it.)
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((I'm sort of waiting on Tara and Patty...))
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((Ooh. Sorry, guys! I thought I was waiting for someone, myself! XD Going to get lunch with Jess and Frank...and later on we're going to try and meet Laura (L&L)! (An old friend from Kimmeree's)...I'll try to post later or tomorrow!))
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((Tsk tsk Tara. Holding up a whole rp side-story like that. You should be ashamed of yourself.))
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((I knooow, shame on me...x3 And Chad, do you really think Claxter would be frightened by a movie, after seeing battle? x3 Just food for thought, I guess...he is your character :P ))
Myitt shrugs. "Who am I kidding, movies were invented for the express purpose of escapism, and preventing human couples from having to speak to one another."
<Since when did you take film history?> Tara asks snidely.
<What? Can you tell me a better reason they were invented?>
<To make money.>
She peers under the control panel, holding the portable DVD player and the DVD of Jurassic Park. "Ossanlin, I assume that the optical audio-visual lines run parallel to the power feeds for the holotransmitters? Or have our technologies diverged far too much?" She grins at her little attempt to dig at her friend.
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Hadrin coughs nervously, standing before the door to Zorish's quarters. He puts away the small holocomputer that he keeps with him almost constantly, and takes a deep breath.
<Just keep it cool,> says his host, Justin, a young African-Canadian man. <She's not going to catch on to us. She trusts you.>
<Yes, so far she does,> says Hadrin worriedly, and he knocks on the door. "Sub-visser? It's Hadrin, sir."
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The sound of someone rapping on his door brings Zorish out of his concentration. He glances at the time display, then to the door.
"Who is disrupting me while I am off duty?" he mutters, pushing the chair back and standing. The visitor announces himself as Hadrin and Zorish presses his lips together tightly. Turning off the holo-display he rests one hand almost casually on his dracon beam.
"Computer, open door," Zorish orders. The door slides open, revealing the visitor. Zorish fixes him with his hosts most disdainful look before addressing him, "I certainly hope that this interruption is worth my while. For your sake."
He rubs a finger along the Dracon holster to punctuate his meaning and waits to hear Hadrin's response.
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Hadrin steps into the room and bows his head slightly. He looks up. "Sub-visser, I've discovered an interesting piece of intelligence. An Andalite Escafil device has been retrieved by a human in the southwestern United States. The human has been attempting to sell the device in a town that is known as a human tourist attraction devoted to extraterrestrials. Roswell, New Mexico." He smiles blandly at the idea. "As your lieutenant I thought I should bring this information to you, first."
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(Well, I won't make him run screaming from the room. Just that he thinks it's about a park. Parks are pleasant, and the movie actually starts pleasantly. Then you get to the part where the T-Rex comes out.)
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(("You have a T-Rex?" "We have a T-Rex."))
Zorish's expression flickers as Hadrin delivers his report. For a moment a look of eager greed flashes across his face before it is replaced with suspicion and disbelief.
"You have not told Visser Three?" Zorish asks, then; "computer, close door." The door closes behind Hadrin with a gentle whoosh.
"I would prefer to speak in private," Zorish explains, moving forward to close the gap. His female host is shorter than Hadrin, and he must look up to see him clearly, but their size difference does not seem to intimidate him. "How do I know that this is not a trick of some sort, lieutenant?"
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(Sorry. Been slackin I know. Post on break. Pinky promise.)
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(Don't break our hearts Patty. :()
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Hadrin glances at the floor briefly, then meets Zorish's gaze again.
"Forgive me, sir, but I felt it would be more prudent to take this information directly to you. I am, after all, your direct report. Visser Three will surely find out about it from you, if you deem it necessary." He straightens his posture, and adds with quiet confidence, "I am loyal to my superiors, sir. If you prefer I can show you the report I received. I indirectly accessed the human website known as eBay, and I ensured that I had made the winning bid." He brings out his holocube and accesses the saved data, showing the website and the corresponding data to Zorish. "I have run a thorough check on this human, 'zoso_spock45'. His true name is Gerald Kosmowski, age 19, from Roswell, New Mexico. He isn't in any Imperial records, sir, as you can see."
<Whatever you do, don't start sweating.>
<You're the one who would be sweating,> Hadrin snaps irritably.
<Yeah, because of you!>
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"Ah," says Myitt, blatantly going ahead and taking off the underpanel to the controls, hooking and unhooking a few harmless-looking wires. She sets the DVD player on the floor and hooks a couple of rigged RadioShack AV cables into the stripped wiring of a couple of optic wires. "There we are." She pops the DVD into the player and stands up, looking at the mostly control-free control panel, nonplussed.
"Um," she says meekly, "can you tell it to turn on the holoscreens?"
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<Activate holoscreen and play movie.> Claxter said. <What is the movie about, anyway?>
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"It's a fictional adventure story in which human scientists recreate extinct reptilian Earth creatures called dinosaurs," Myitt says pedantically.
<Only the best movie of all time,> Tara adds silently.
"Tara would like me to tell you that she believes it's the greatest human movie of all time," the Yeerk adds flatly. "Personally, I've seen better."
<Come on. Better with dinosaurs?>
"Perhaps there's nothing better with dinosaurs," Myitt continues, sounding increasingly annoyed. The beginning of the movie is relatively dull, just a few human soldiers and some sort of hungry dinosaur in a box. A few scenes in which ancient Earth animal fossils are unearthed.
Myitt sits down on the floor, cross-legged. "Now all we need is some popcorn," she says, holding onto her host's gurgling stomach.
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"No, you were right to come to me," Zorish says quickly. He inspects the holoscreen with a critical eye, looking for any obvious flaws or errors. He does not see anything immediately suspicious and straightens up.
"This is valuable information, indeed," Zorish runs a hand through his hosts short cropped hair. He peers at Hadrin closely, inspecting him even more meticulously than the holoscreen, as though he can see the lieutenants intentions merely by looking at him.
<If you are the Yeerk who presents the Escafil Device to the Council, you'll be a full Visser,> Tamora says, speaking for the first time since Hadrin's entrance.
<Do you think I do not know that?> Zorish responds irritably, <but Visser Three will surely want to control a device so powerful. He would want full control over the distribution of the morphing power.>
<So take the power before you deliver the device,> Tamora suggests.
<I would need an Andalite,> Zorish reminds her, <there are limited options.>
Tamora falls silent, absorbing the meaning of his statement. While she processes the information, Zorish fixes Hadrin with a small, cold smile.
"It would appear that you have stumbled upon quite the discovery," he says, "this could benefit the entire Empire. In fact, this could mean a promotion for both of us. Would you be able to take me to Roswell and this...Gerald Kosmowski? I do believe your assistance would be helpful."
<Well?> Zorish asks Tamora, <shall I contact your dear sister?>
<You already know what I think,> Tamora responds, <do what you have to, I don't care. And why are you bringing this guy along? He might be setting you up.>
<That is precisely why I want to keep him close,> Zorish says, <if your idiot sibling decides to behave rashly, as we both know she will, he is there to help restrain her. If something should go wrong, he is disposable.>
<You're going to kill him?> Tamora winces mentally at the thought.
<If it becomes necessary,> Zorish says, smiling at Hadrin as he awaits a response, <he is expendable.>
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"Of course, Sub-visser," says Hadrin calmly. "I live to serve you and the Empire. The meeting time is set for 10 AM, Earth Mountain Standard Time, tomorrow morning. We can certainly make it there in good time, if we leave soon." He watches Zorish fall into an unnerving, grinning silence, and Hadrin swallows, trying to push back his anxiety.
<Myitt, I hope your man Matthew holds up his end of this little bargain,> Hadrin thinks aloud.
<Well, hey, so do I! You think I trust this psycho any more than you do?>
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(I don't want to get too far ahead with Sukohn, but I do really want to continue with his story, so I'm going to post for him again.)
Sukohn and Cody reached Chapman's and knocked on the door.
"Ok, you'll be doing the talking because Iniss will recognize you. Just don't tell him why we want the adresses. I wrote the Human names on another paper and ommited the Andalite one, so you just have to get at least one address. I'll be standing to the side out of the way."
"Okay, I got it. I won't screw it up."
They heard someone approaching the door to answer it.
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Alic smiled and set her belongings aside. <Passtimes? None that I could do here. But watching a movie would be great. This is a classic.> Yeah. Popcorn sounded good. Maybe after they take care of the issues on Earth they could take a day off to... Just relax.
Alic morphed to human and grabbed her bottle of Jager. "I hate long trips. Movie and a drink." She took a swig and held it out. "Anyone want some?"
((Didn't get a break... Sorry so late))
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Myitt...or is it her host?...recoils in revulsion. "No, thank you," Tara says pointedly. "Licorice sucks, man."
She pulls her backpack over and digs through it, taking out a box of chocolate granola bars.
"It ain't popcorn, but it's not bad," says Tara, unwrapping a bar and munching on it. "Help yourselves."
John Williams' score flourishes bombastically as the movie characters arrive on the island filled with dinosaurs.
<It really doesn't take much to make you happy.>
<Lucky you,> Tara says, stuffing the granola wrapper into the backpack.
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"Tomorrow?" Zorish snaps, nostrils flaring slightly as he realizes that such an early schedule will not allow him much time to plan. He forces his body to relax somewhat, "I suppose we should move quickly, before anyone else sees that such a valuable item has been placed in human hands. I wonder how it got there..." he shrugs, "No matter. We will leave this evening, but we must make a rendezvous first. If the Visser confronts you for any reason defer him to me and I will take care of it."
He pauses, then glares, "Well, what are you waiting for? Go away."
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"Yes, Sub-visser," Hadrin says obediently, muttering the opening command to the door and hurrying out.
He heads down the busy hallway and exhales deeply.
<This is insane,> he says miserably.
<I think we're all a little crazy, going up against these jerks. Don't you?>
<More than crazy. Perhaps suicidal is the proper term.>
<I'm so glad you're keeping optimistic,> Justin sneers.
The pair of undercover rebels head toward their quarters to pack a few supplies and move on to the docking bay, but not before pausing to send a message to Myitt's personal comm link.
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Tara has begun working on her second granola bar, watching as the Brachiosaurus rears up to grab some leafy greens, when Myitt's comm link goes off.
BEE-BEEP!
Myitt assumes control and pats at her jacket, fishing out the link while keeping her gaze mostly fixed on the movie on the holoscreen. She hesitantly glances down at the link screen.
"Message communicated," reads Hadrin's message. "ETA 10AM MST, 88201 NM. CR-51."
Myitt reads it again, then nods. "Looks like Hadrin managed to convince Zorish to take a little road trip," she says to everyone. "Hook, line and sinker. Now we'll just have to hope Matthew and Terenia show up, as well." She sends Matthew a brief message confirming their plans. They would have to deliver the trick Escafil to him early that morning, but so far the Apix Mirage was making good time.
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BEE-BEEP!
Matthew Mulcahey, the real 'Gerald Kosmowski', wakes with a start, pulling on his glasses and reaching into his sock drawer. The little blackish-green cube is glowing a pulsing, dirty lime color, indicating an incoming communication. Even though he knows Myitt and her band fairly well, it's hard for him to forget that he's communicating with aliens, using alien technology. Breathlessly he reads the translated message, and puts the Yeerkish computer back into its hiding place.
Matthew stares up at the ceiling, even while the birds start chirping outside. Terrified of oversleeping, and even more afraid that he might not live to see another sunrise.
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Claxter found the movie rather strange. Parts of the early movie were pleasant, but other parts were rather dark and unsettling. Surely humans did not create something with the prupose to entertain that would also frighten them. There was a scene with a large creature called a T-Rex, followed by a more tranquil scene with a Bronchosaurus.
He had not morphed to enjoy the food or drink yet.
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As soon as Hadrin left, Zorish ordered the doors to lock securely and returned to his desk. His fingers moved at lightning speed as he pulled the holo-display back up on the computer and examined various read-outs.
"It says here that Terenia left over a week ago on a reconnaissance mission for Visser Three."
<Translation: he sent her to find traitors. Takes one to know one, after all,> Tamora says.
"That must be why we haven't seen her sniffing around lately," Zorish says, curling his lip in disgust, "I suppose for once I am glad that Visser Three has not destroyed the rat. She will serve our purposes."
He picks up his com link and enters in a coded message to Terenia. It is a simple access code, with directions to contact him for further instructions. He sends the message and waits, staring at Terenia's file.
"She was supposed to return three days ago. I wonder why she was delayed," Zorish wonders.
<Perhaps she was killed,> Tamora's voice is slightly hopeful.
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Myitt puts away the link and sighs, twisting the empty granola wrapper in her hands.
"Now all we have to do is wait," she says idly, staring up out one of the main windows. "Matthew is still in Reno, so we'll have to meet him at his mother's house in the early hours of the morning to hand him the cube. Come to think of it, perhaps we can pick him up and simply transport him to the meeting site...but it might appear strange that he arrived without a car."
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((Sorry guys, I've been in a bit of a funk lately.))
Ossanlin zones out for a moment as Myitt pulls equipment from her pack and then asks a quesiton. He blinks after a few moments and looks down at Myitt with his main eyes. <Ah...well there isn't exactly an interface for human technology....> He falls silent as Myitt peels up one of the seemless-appearing floor tiles. Apparently the technology hadn't diverged that much, because Myitt found a visual relay quite readily. He begins to command the holo-displays online, but again falls silent as Claxter beats him to the punch. <Set standard flight-room lighting...twenty percent.> The lighting dims and the holo-projectors begin emitting a somewhat low-quality image.
<Pop-corn...I believe I saw someone consuming that in the Bar not long ago. So many odd things that humans put in their mouths...> Ossanlin chuckles a bit to himself and looks down at Alic sitting on the deck. He longs to join her but laying down is rather awkward for Andalites and sitting doesn't happen at all. <I might try some Aliciania, but I left that Imperial uniform in a random ship back at the bar. I know that humans are rather self-conscious about their bodies...I believe it would make everyone uncomfortable if I morphed human and...sat here unclothed.>
He watches bits of the movie, but continues to monitor the main control display, checking to make sure all ship operations are within standard operating parameters. He looks back as Myitt's communicator chirps. He waits and listens as Myitt speaks. <Two missions at once, I could wish I had two separate platoons, it will be nigh impossible for us to carry out both of these operations simultaneously, but we must. That reminds me...I still have to rig that false Escafil device...if you'll excuse me.>
Ossanlin trots out of the flight-room, the area again flooding with clean white light as the door opens, and plunging back to dimness as it closes. He takes the device with him and goes to the munitions area, placing the box on a workbench. He goes to one of the munitions lockers and commands it open, taking out a pulse mine. Of course it would have to be modified. Pulse mines were nasty little devices, bursting in a wave of harmonic energy that caused the cells of most carbon-based life-forms to lyse. A nasty death to be sure. Not all andalite technology was noble. He sets the pulse-mine on the work-bench as well and quickly inerts it, beginning work to modify the energy output of the mine to one that would disrupt the electrical signals in a human brain just enough to cause unconsciousness.
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((No worries Luke, hope things are okay!))
"Correcting the torn fabric of space-time and saving a Yeerk-Andalite-human nothlit's Controller sister who may not want to come with us at all? Nah, of course that's not impossible," Myitt says with a sly grin as Ossanlin steps back into the aft parts of the ship. "Not nearly as impossible as a Yeerk sitting amongst a bunch of Andalite friends, watching Jurassic Park. Alic, get that bottle of jager away from me."
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<I would actually rather he didn't dim the lights.> Claxter said quietly as he watched the kitchen scene. At one point it seemed like a velociraptor was about to eat a child trying to hide in a cabnet, but he rammed into a reflection. Claxter didn't know whether it was appropriate to chuckle at that or not.
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"Ah, these creatures are Tara's favorite," Myitt says with a wry smile. The smile suddenly fades and her face takes on a look of scrutiny. "But they don't have feathers, they're two feet taller than they should be, and they don't even show a smidgeon of semi-lunate carpal posture!" Tara crosses her arms in a huff. "Hardly worth being called Velociraptor."
<But this is still your favorite scene,> Myitt adds with a laugh.
"I know it's still my favorite scene," Tara hisses quietly.
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There was a soft beeping noise, indicating a request to open transmission. Zorish, glanced at the viewscreen and verified that it came from the Bug Fighter that Terenia had taken on her mission. His hosts lips curl into a mirthful smile as he opens the transmission. A moment later Terenia's face appears on-screen, looking pained.
"Well, hey there big sister," Zorish says, using Tammy's old nickname for her sister mockingly, "having fun running errands for the head honcho?"
<What do you want?> Terenia asks, her ever-present scowl somewhat disrupted by obvious emotional distress.
"I have a job for you," Zorish says casually, grabbing a plastic Wendy's cub from her desk and sipping from it. Her eyes remained steady on the hologram of her hosts sister, watching her every move. Terenia seemed to be suffering from some sort of an internal debate.
<No,> Terenia says at last, <I'm not going to help you.>
"You do not even know what I am going to ask," Zorish says, leaning forward with a leer, "perhaps I want to help you."
<I don't care what it is, I'm not helping you,> Terenia says quickly. Perhaps a bit too quickly. Zorish frowns, setting the cup down and glaring at the holographic read-out.
"You should probably start caring," Zorish says, voice becoming a dangerous growl, "or else I will find myself a host more suited to my needs and leave this -" he gestures to his current body "-to the Taxxons before you even have a chance to save her. It would be regrettable, but I have prospects now that transcend this form."
<I cannot leave,> Terenia says, changing tactics abruptly, <I am evidentally being 'watched' by a small band of Andalites. I would surely die before I reached you.>
"Andalites, you say?" Zorish's upper lip curls vehemently, "well, we wouldn't want you to catch the wrong side of a tail blade, that's for sure. You would be quite useless to me then," she heaves a dramatic sigh, her eyes twinkling as she continues, "I suppose that means we will just have to pick you up."
<What?> Terenia's eyes widen, <No, I've already spoken to Visser Three and->
"And whatever orders he has given you are to be disregarded at the moment," Zorish says lazily, "you are working for me right now. Do not leave your current location. Do not let the Andalite scum know that you are expecting me. When I arrive, you will depart with me immediately and I will give you further details."
<I told you, I am not->
"And no funny business, Teresa," Zorish says with a bright smile, "the Taxxons are hungry."
Zorish cut the transmission with a satisfied expression and immediately brought up a new message, this one solely text based, instructing Hadrin to meet her in the docking bay immediately.
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Hadrin starts when his link goes off. He hastily zips up his black duffel bag and takes out his link.
<Well, my friend, here goes nothin',> says Justin.
<It's a pity Reven allowed this little suicidal mission,> says Hadrin sadly. <I was beginning to rather enjoy the whole 'living' thing.>
<Come on, man. Get it together. We've got a ****ing job to do, and I'd rather go out fighting for-->
<For what?> Hadrin snaps. <For the freedom of some foolish human nothlit?>
<We started this whole covert operation for freedom, didn't we?>
Hadrin doesn't answer, replying to Zorish with a simple, formal acknowledgment.
<Well?>
Hadrin lifts the duffel bag and casts a last glance around his quarters.
"Yeah, I guess we did, didn't we?" Hadrin says softly, shrugging the bag around his shoulder and heading for the docking bay.
<But you still don't want to die for it.>
<Do you?> Hadrin replies testily, walking along the corridor. <I know that you say you do. But you're just as scared as I am.>
<Hell yeah, I'm scared. But let me put it this way, if it comes down to all that? We aren't going down without a fight.>
<If we have the chance to fight back,> Hadrin says dully.
<Mr. ****in' Optimism again.>
They reach the docking bay and Hadrin stands impatiently near the entrance, looking around for Zorish, or any of his shuttles.
"State your reason for departure?" a gruff but well-spoken Hork-Bajir demands, holding up a holo-clipboard.
"Classified," Hadrin states coolly. "I'm waiting for Sub-visser Seventeen."
The Hork-Bajir checks his clipboard, glances at Hadrin with narrowed eyes, and allows him to pass.
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Zorish hastily packed a backpack with a few essentials and, slinging it over his shoulder, exited his quarters, locking them securely behind him. He was met with no resistence as he made his way to the docking bay, and when he reached the entrance the Hork-Bajir on guard stepped aside without a word.
"Ah, Hadrin," Zorish said with a smile, "we are going to be leaving a little ahead of schedule. I trust that you have the information leading to the seller's residence?"
Zorish, not waiting for an answer, heads past the regular-issue Bug Fighters and stops in front of a much larger ship. It resembles a Bug Fighter, but is much more stream-lined, with smaller less bulky Z-space engines and two extra Dracon Cannon. It appears to be large enough to accomodate at least one or two cabins for overnight trips. Zorish commands the hatch to open and gestures that Hadrin should enter first.
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"Of course, sir," says Hadrin, following Zorish. "The human Gerald wishes to meet us outside of town, on a rural county road. He suspects, given the amount of money I've offered to pay him, that the device he has is quite valuable. He would only agree to meeting out of the way of your average busybody human onlookers. I can easily upload the coordinates."
Hadrin climbs aboard and looks around the ship, setting his duffel in storage and heading to secondary navigation, taking a seat and beginning the engine startup sequence.
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"No," Zorish says, following him onto the ship and closing the hatch, "we do not have time to wait for his arrival. You said this person was selling the device on ebay, correct? Such an account is required to be linked to a bank account. Find his personal address. We are going to be making a home visit."
Zorish pulls up the navigational display and enters in a general trajectory for the southwest United States. He then begins going through the typical pre-flight routine.
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Hadrin hesitates. "Yes, sir." He uploads the holocube's data into the ship's main computer, and begins running a scan on the IP address and bank account traced through the eBay transaction.
<Oh, by the Kandrona itself, Myitt, if you didn't cover your tracks...>
He sits back and stares at the information readout coming back to him. "Sir, it...it appears Mr. Gerald Kosmowski...actuall y lives at the end of County Road 51 in Roswell, New Mexico. The address on the account is 6295 Old Clovis Highway, which is the eastern terminus of the county road."
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((Here's a half-assed post while I'm trying to sleep))
Alic shrugged and sat cross-legged on the floor. She took another drink and set the bottle between her legs. "Ya know.. I kind of miss just being able to relax." She wondered where she would be right now if she just decided to stay human.. It would be such an easy life.
Alic glanced at Claxter and smiled. "Do you know much about Earth?"
-
<It is the homeworld of the Humans, whose population ranges in the billions, as well as a extremely wide array of other life. It's a small planet in a far corner off on its own. Just basic stuff, really. You seem to be well accustomed to your Human morph, if I may say so.>
<alic, do you think I have a skewed moral code? I know this question may seem strange, but Prince Ossanlin seems to have noticably higher moral standards than I do.> He asked Alic, but he was also kind of interested in Myitt's opinion. Though he wouldn't admit it, for fear of being laughed at for asking a Yeerk about moral standards.
-
Myitt smiles, interested in the conversation. "Moral codes are all a matter of perspective, Claxter," she replies quietly. "Are you concerned about your morality because you have run from battle? Or because you're sharing company with a Yeerk? Your government and mine would frown upon either of us experiencing cowardice in battle or friendship with an enemy race, but I don't think either of us have skewed moral codes. We simply don't quite fit the outdated and racist mold of our systems. And frankly, anyone who isn't frightened in battle probably has something seriously wrong with them."
-
"Hmm. Yeah. I am comfortable as human." Sometimes too comfortable. Alic took a drink, not moving her eyes from the movie now.
Before she could give an answer, Myitt gave hers. "Yep. What she said." Although she wouldn't mind telling Claxter he was a coward. He would have been killed if Alic didn't 'come to the rescue'. That situation still annoyed her, but she tried not to think about it. Claxter wasn't SO bad to be around now.
-
<Isn't racism supposed to just be bias against members of the same species that happen to have slightly different anatomical structure and skin tone? You and Corliss use the word racist, but Andalites and Yeerks aren't even from the same planet. I think my cowardice has more to do with honor than morals. It's mostly that Prince Ossanlin holds every species at the same value, and even individuals. I wasn't sure if it was because my morals need adjusting, or if his were just rare.>
-
"Ah, you're right about Andalites and Yeerks and humans not being from the same planet. That is the meaning of the word 'race' in its truest form. Humans themselves are not divided into races, though some of them may like to think they are. Even Yeerks are different to other Yeerks, yet we aren't nearly as differentiated or 'racist'--" She makes finger quotes. "--against each individual pool as humans are toward their respective countries or physical differences. In the end, they are all the human race. 'Racism' is just a convenient English word to describe fear of those who are different, whether they are Afghani or Yeerk or Hork-Bajir."
Myitt sighs, returning her gaze to the end of the movie but not really paying attention to it. "Each people I've come across in this crazy galaxy has their own definition of the moral status quo, but if you're asking my opinion, I'd say that I wish there were more people like Ossanlin and Aliciania. You need to decide for yourself whether your sense of honor and morality is what you really believe, or whether it's just what you've been told for so long that you blindly believe it."
-
Ossanlin dials back the power level slowly on the pulse mine and brings up data on human brain-wave activity. He uses the information in the computer banks to home in on the correct electro-magnetic amplitude, and locks the level in. Then he tinkers with the ignition mechanism, taking out the proximity switch and installing a remote igniter instead, setting the frequency to one of the emergency signals. Next he takes a small controlled-beam torch from the work bench and carefully draws a line around the seam of one of the six square panels, separating the careful welds Myitt had made. He has the computer measure the inside of the box and designs a framework to drop into the box to hold the mine in place. He goes to work fabricating the schematic from what the computer has drawn up.
Time seems to blur as he works...this kind of work, it was so simple, so wholesome...working with tool and metal. If only life were this simple, but the complexities made life what it was. You had to make do and do what you thought was best. That was all Ossanlin had ever done. He finally finishes the small frame, having built the pulse-mine into the framework itself. This was meant for one use only. He places the frame inside the box and seams it in. He places six scramble relays into the mounts he'd built on the frame, one for each side, and activates them. The batteries would last for months. Lastly he arms the pulse-mine, synching a remote unit, before replacing the removed side and seaming it back into place with the beam-torch. He holds up his and Myitt's handiwork and hefts it from hand to hand. Lighter than an Escafil, but not by much. He sets it back on the workbench and braces his arms against the bench, preparing to transform again. This would take supreme effort due to his lack of energy.
He closes his eyes and his fur ripples silver and blue a couple of times before settling on silver, his hooves and blade following suit. His legs almost give way but he manages to keep himself erect. He places one hand on the surface of the cube and concentrates. The thing almost seems to flow as Ossanlin rearranges the molecular structure of the steel casing. He removes his hand and immediately reverts. He sighs heavily, getting his legs back under himself fully again, and looks down at the steel box. Instead of dull silver it was now a deep blue, the cube seeming to glow with an inner light. The surface was impossibly smooth for steel, feeling somewhat like oil-slicked graphite. The light even pulsed from time to time. It looked supremely convincing, and only someone overly familiar with an Escafil would be able to see anything amiss, and they probably woud notice only the slight difference in weight. Ossanlin smiles despite himself. The scramble relays would divert any short or long-range scans, the very same relays were used in true Escafils. This was a supreme replica...hopefully it would perform its job perfectly.
-
Zorish nods, seemingly satisfied, "Very well," he said, "take us to this human's home. We should arrive there-" she checks the navigational readings, "-in less than an hour, a good deal earlier than this Gerald fellow expects us." A grin of anticipation spreads across Zorish's human face, blue eyes shining with a mixture of excitement and pure Yeerk greed.
"I do love surprises, don't you?" She asks Hadrin rhetorically.
-
<I will try to think of you as more of a person, than a Yeerk ally. Maybe if I can train myself to think of sentient life as just people instead of this species or that species, I can learn to think like prince Ossanlin.> Claxter said.
<Oh, this looks to end badly.> He said when they got near the end of the movie when the two velociraptors showed up. But then the T-Rex came in and attacked the other dinos. <That was fortunate. I think they may live. You know in hindsight, I'm unsure what the point of the poisoned triceratops was.>
*****************************
Iniss 226, otherwise known as Chapman, answered the door. "Yes? oh, it's you. what brings you around here Cody?"
"Hello Chapman. I am here on a special mission." Cody said quietly. "I need any and all addresses of the people on this paper. I believe they are teenagers."
"Well I recognise three of these as students. Jake is living in a house with one of ours, and Marco lives with someone of interest to us. Why do you need these addresses?"
"It's a classified mission, but I assure you it won't hinder your own efforts. Please give me the information, and I'll be on my way." Cody supplied a pen, and Chapman wrote down the info. When that was done, he and Sukohn left the house.
"Two addresses. Excellent. I can't believe one of them lives with one of us. He probably belongs to the peace Movement. It's the only explanation. We'll go after this Marco kid." Sukohn said, and they made their way down the road.
-
Hadrin's stomach sinks and he pauses a moment before hazarding a reply.
"And if the human isn't home, sir? Do you suggest that we lie in wait for him? He certainly won't see us coming, not at such an early hour." He tries his best scathing chuckle and shakes his head. Then, with his Imperial superior not twenty feet away, he looks down at his personal holoscreen--not connected to the shipboard systems--and sends a brief automated message to Myitt with a tap of the screen.
---
Myitt shrugs. "It can be difficult to unlearn so many years of rigidity. But I think you've done quite nicely so far. Many Andalites have refused to cooperate with our militia, or even speak with us, simply on the principle that we are what we are."
She watches the end of the movie with a small smile. "Humans are so very creative with their various methods of entertainment, aren't they? Hmm. I believe the Triceratops scene was included as a reference to the--"
Her comm link beeps and she pauses, fishing through her jacket. "--To the book. It was a different animal, though." She reads the automated message from Hadrin.
It says simply: "Be cautious. ETA 1 standard."
"Oh, god," she murmurs. "They're going to be there much, much earlier than expected. Zorish and Hadrin will arrive in Roswell in an hour's time. They won't find Matthew or much of anything other than an abandoned shack out there!"
She hastily starts writing out a message to Matthew.
((Wasn't Zorish supposed to go pick up Terenia first? I can modify this if you want :P))
-
((There's no time to get all the way to the bar then back to Earth before the set meet up, so he changed his mind. Right now Zorish's idea is to grab the Escafil Device then go to the bar and get Terenia and activate the device and then bring both the Device and Terenia to Visser Three.))
Zorish's smile shifted into a slight sneer at Hadrin's concerns as the ship smoothly lifted from the launch pad and slipped out into open space.
"If the human is not present then it will be that much easier for us. We will locate the device ourselves and eliminate the dwelling. We won't have to worry about making the human one of ours, or killing him," he glances at Hadrin, who seems to be preoccupied with something Zorish cannot fully see, "Are you worried, lieutenant?"
-
<Prince Ossanlin! the Yeerk Zorish is heading to the randevous point faster than expected. Shall I increase flight speed?> Claxter said in response to Myitt.
<I know this will take time, Myitt. I probably won't be able to do it immediately, but it's a goal.>
He walked to the pilot station and waited for his Prince's orders.
-
"No, no of course not, Sub-visser," says Hadrin, looking up at the main screens. "I have the utmost confidence in our mission. If the human is not home then breaking into his dwelling would absolutely be to our advantage." He smiles thinly. "One less pest to crush."
-
Ossanlin hears Claxter's thought-speech and sighs. This was not going well, better than it should have been, all things considered, but still...
<That will not be necessary Claxter. The current configuration of Z-Space has set our arrival time, we cannot go any 'faster'. We could try jumping to real-space and re-entering but that could set us back hours as easily as gaining time. Maintain current heading. We will arrive when we arrive, there is nothing else to do.>
Ossanlin hefts the blue box again and turns, re-entering the flight-deck. He hands the device to Myitt. <What do you think?>
-
Zorish's lips curl into a self-satisfied smile as he maneuvers the ship through open space and into Earth's gravitational field.
"Very good, Hadrin," he says approvingly, "you may have the makings of a Sub-Visser in you yet. Rest assured, after this mission I will speak highly of you to the Council."
-
Hadrin forces a pleased smile. "Thank you, Sub-visser," he says gratefully, gazing out the main viewscreens as Earth comes into view. "Time for an unpleasant wake-up call, Mr. Kosmowski." He grins in anticipation, aiding in manipulating the rear engine thruster controls during their descent toward Earth.
---
Myitt takes the cube and inspects it, turning it over. "You know, I've never seen a real Escafil device before." She smiles and hands it back to Ossanlin. "If it looks good to you, it's fine by me. How will Zorish activate the stun device? As soon as he attempts to use it to acquire the morphing technology?"
On the main viewscreens, the movie credits have almost ended.
-
Claxter didn't know or remember that you can't speed up in Z-Space. Maybe he should have known that, but he guessed it didn't matter. It was good that he spoke to his Prince before trying anything and risking losing even more time.
<Maybe there is a bright side to this, though. If we do get there in time, it will be all the quicker that we can deal with our other objective. I wonder if the Peace Movement has received the message from Myitt and will contact us soon. Sukohn may have accomplished his goal in finding the bandits by the time we get to him. We just have to stop him from capturing one of them.
********************************************
Sukohn and Cody found Marco's house and had been watching it for a while. "we need to proceed cautiously, but I really don't know how much time we have before we are found." Sukohn said.
"It's just the kid and his dad. Two on two, and we have surprise on our side. Let's just shoot the door down and take them already."
"Idiot! There's no telling what kind of morphs this Marco person has. His father may even be able to morph. who knows? We need to wait until he is alone. We can cut the phone lines to prevent him from calling someone. We do things my way."
-
Zorish maneuvered his ship into the atmosphere, turning the shields up to maximum to resist the friction that was created. The ship was quite good at balancing the thrusters, and there was barely a jerk as it lowered itself over the North American continent.
Once Zorish was at about twenty-thousand feet or so, average human airplane height, he slowed the ship to a lazy drift, circling down towards the point Hadrin had entered into the computer. So far, all he could see in any direction was desert.
"Who would choose to live in such a place?" Zorish said with a bit of a sneer, "there is nothing of worth here."
-
"Humans are so numerous they drive themselves to live in such extremes," Hadrin says, shaking his head. "Such a terribly dry place." He references his navigational holoscreens. "There is a wooden shack at Gerald's address. At this early hour he could be asleep, but I suggest we stay on our guard, sir. As you may already know, humans often arm themselves with projectile weapons in this part of the country."
---
A county away, Matthew Mulcahey is sipping a Mountain Dew from a 24-hour McDonald's, speeding along the dark desert highways that lead from Albuquerque to Roswell.
He wipes his sweaty hands on his jeans, glancing at his silver Cherokee's green digital clock. 3 AM. Matthew had received an urgent communication from Myitt alerting him that the people he was supposed to be meeting would be in Roswell early. Much too early.
At this rate he still wouldn't be there for at least three hours. What would he do if he got there before Myitt could give him the stupid cube? What if Myitt got there before he could? All she had said was to trust her.
"Stupid, this is insane," he mutters, pushing up his dark glasses. He cranks the air conditioning and pushes back his greasy mop of black hair. "Matthew, cool it, man. You're not going to die. So not going to die. Mom would be so pissed." Nervously, he takes another sip of the Mountain Dew, but it sits badly in his tossing stomach.
---
Myitt takes out the Jurassic Park DVD and puts it back into her backpack. "I know we can't speed up our arrival time, not like this," she says, turning to Ossanlin and Alic, "but we're going to need to be quick about things. Matthew will arrive after Zorish and Hadrin get to the rendezvous point outside of Roswell, but we need to get the cube to Matthew, first."
She sighs, shaking her head. "It's going to be very close, but if we can push the engines to maximum burn once we emerge into real space, we might be able to intercept Matt's car before he arrives. You see, he has a holocube. It's a long story, but we trust him, and he's very closely monitored. I can track his computer's position from my own database, but if he shows up empty-handed to face a Sub-visser and the undercover rebel who instigated this whole thing...yeah. It won't end well."
-
<Coming out of Z-Space and going to maximum burn in the same orbit as major Yeerk ships. Not exactly the stealthy approach, but if we don't get there in time people will die and we'll lose Tamora. Sukohn may have even informed Visser three that we're coming, and he'll be expecting us. We just don't know.> Claxter said while pawing the ground in irritation.
-
"My people will die. What if they're captured?" Myitt sighs in frustration, tossing the backpack aside. "I'm not risking the entire rebel operation for a human girl. As for Sukohn...well. We'll have to deal with him when we find his ugly mug. We can make it through the barrier quickly. We'll just have to take a roundabout approach." She looks over at Ossanlin. "There shouldn't be many orbit patrols at the poles of the planet. Especially the north pole."
-
Ossanlin takes the cube back and sets it safely on the ground. He smiles a bit to himself. <Unless you've passed on some of your tech to the Empire Myitt, there will be no problem getting planetside.> He grins at Claxter. <Normally you would be correct Claxter, but this ship is a bit more advanced than most technology we have. You see, this ship has a camoflage generator...one that disguises not only visual data, but all energy signals. Meaning they can't see us, they can't hear us, and above all, they can't scan us. For all intents and purposes, we won't be there, we won't even put out so much as a temperature signal. As long as we don't ram them, we'll be fine.>
Ossanlin looks back at Myitt. <You're right about the speed though. We will need to be very quick. I would've liked the opportunity to scout the terrain beforehand, we'll just have to hope the stun mine is enough. Oh, and to answer your previous question, I removed the proximity trigger from the mine and replaced it with a remote trigger.> He pulls a small handheld controller. <I can arm and detonate the device with this as long as I'm in range. Active range is several human miles.>
Ossanlin looks at the displays. <Perhaps fifteen standard minutes before we exit z-space. We got rather lucky, usually it takes far longer to get to Earth from the bar. This is rather a mess...I would be angry with Terenia, except that's what she'd want from me.> He chuckles to himself. <Nothing like flying by your stalk-eyes.>
-
<That's very nice.> Claxter said in awe of the ship. He knew some Princes and higher ups had their own personal custom craft, and apparently his new Prince was no exception. Maybe when Claxter became a Prince he would get something very nice too.
<I suppose if we do capture Zorish we'll just put him in a room here, run off to stop Sukohn, and tend to him later. Maybe put him under biostasis.> He said, just as casual chat. Not much else to talk about until they got there and went over a game plan.
-
"Hm, yes," Zorish says, squinting at the viewfinding. They are spiraling down towards the location in question, and the shack is coming into view. It is in quite a state of dilapidation thanks to the searing desert sun, but more or less still standing, although it is hardly anything one would consider 'homey'.
"Scan for life forms," Zorish orders, checking to make sure that both shields and cloaking are on full power, "I don't want to put her down until we have verification that the area is clear."
-
"We're making excellent time," Myitt muses, looking around the ship's cabin with admiration. "We've managed to modify our technology to render our ships invisible to most forms of detection, but we're not immune to scans and there is always the risk of our energy wake giving off an unusual reading that a skilled tech may know to pursue. I don't suppose the Andalite electorate would cut the rebellion a little slack and allow us to use such technology?" The expression on her face is the epitome of 'when pigs fly'.
---
"Scanning," Hadrin replies tersely, going over the readouts as soon as they appear. "No human life within the structure, only a few native pests. No human life within a one standard mile radius. Human life forms appear within a two mile radius, only a few isolated dwellings. This area is quite out of the way from the human city of Roswell." He puts on his best anticipatory grin as he eyes the scans. "Looks like our human friend isn't available." The grin falters a bit. "But sir, I'm not detecting any alien technology readouts, either. Would this human really take the device with him, wherever he is, in the middle of the night?"
-
<Very doubtful.> Claxter said simply. Soon the ship reached the end of Z-Space, and was about to enter normal space.
<Boost compensators. Prepare for maximum burn to orbit.> Claxter said after reentering normal space. The main engines revved up. <Shift power to atmospheric shields to reduce the burn. Set waypoint to the southern pole of the planet. Scan for enemy ships.> Like Myitt said, there were no patrols at the poles, and it would make a good entry point. He didn't know Australia was actually closer to the south pole of the planet, but there was a fifty/fifty chance of him choosing the south pole. The ship shot forward, though there wasn't much lurch for the occupants. Claxter kept an eye on the shields upon entering atmosphere, just in case the shield energy depleted too quickly. <What are the exact planetary coordinates, Myitt?>
********************************************
Sukohn and Cody waited until Marco was alone in the house with his father gone. "Okay. I'll go inside to stun and infest Marco. You stay out here in case he makes it outside. We can't let him escape."
"Fine."
Sukohn went to the back door, and used the dracon on the knob with the setting low. It didn't make much sound, and Marco wouldn't hear it over the TV. Once he was able to open the door, he made his way through the rooms. Marco was on the couch, but he noticed Sukohn enter the room with dracon beam in hand. He stood up, but tried to play it cool.
"Hey man. Take all the money you want, but just don't shoot me with the funny looking gun."
"I'm not here for money, my little bandit."
Marco's eyes widened with the realization that Sukoh n knew who he was. Sukohn aimed and fired the weapon on stun, but Marco kicked the coffee table up to block the shot. He ducked down and ran to another room with Sukohn hot on his heals. He slammed the door, and wedged something under it to block Sukohn, but he began shooting the bottom of the door to get rid of it. By the time he was inside, marco was mostly out the nearby window. Sukohn stuck his head out to aim and fire, but Marco threw dirt in his eyes and ran. Cody saw him and ran after while Sukohn recovered and began running out of the house.
-
"A normal human?" Zorish says skeptically, "no. The only human that would leave and make sure that the Escafil Device left with him is a human that is not a human at all. One of ours, perhaps. Or..." Zorish hesitates, not willing to commit to his suspicions out loud yet. Instead, he maneuvers the ship to a spot about a hundred yards from the ship.
"This is Andalite technology we are dealing with, Hadrin," Zorish says seriously as he checks his Dracon's to ensure that the fuel cells are all present and accounted for, "they could very well have cloaked the energy signals somehow. Now, give me your Dracon Beams."
-
((Posting tonight))
-
Hadrin taps at his holoscreens to complete his part of the landing and stands as the ship touches the ground, turning to Zorish.
"Sir?" he asks skeptically, taking out his Dracon.
---
Myitt sends Claxter the coordinates for the county road outside of Roswell through the computer.
"Why are we heading for the south pole?" she says irritably. "The north is a much safer bet, there is an Imperial outpost in Antarctica." She eyes Ossanlin briefly. "Let's hope your ship's technology really is top notch."
-
(If you're talking about the book where they morph polar bears, that's the arctic.)
<I just picked one, really. If we're going to be spotted, we will have already been seen. Besides, this is closer to the location we need to be, and time is of the essence.> Claxter said as they neared the continent. He begins to slow his decent as they near the spot while keeping an eye on cloaking mechanisms and the radar.
-
((Let's just say there's one in Antarctica, too....xD))
-
Zorish takes the Dracon and opens it, pulling out the fuel cells before returning the weapon to Hadrin. He places the unused fuel cells in one of the pouches of his holster.
"As I said," Zorish says calmly, "this is Andalite technology. Very sophisticated, possibly dangerous, and most certainly worth a hefty prize with the Council. I wouldn't want you going rogue on me and picking up the little morphing cube yourself after shooting me in the back."
Zorish opens the hatch and pulls his own, fully charged Dracon, gesturing with it towards the door as he turns up the setting to kill, "you first, lieutenant. I'll be right behind you. And don't worry, I trust you to listen to me, so you're safe." He chuckles a bit, "so long as I don't change my mind, at least."
-
Hadrin looks down at his useless weapon and holsters it.
"Of course, Sub-visser," he says quietly, stepping past Zorish and walking down the ramp into the chilly New Mexico night air.
<Oh, Jesus, man,> says Justin, <he really is going to kill us.>
<Only if we can't find that damned device,> says Hadrin flatly, strolling toward the rundown shack. There are tire tracks and a few spools of rusted barbed wire next to one of the wooden, paint-flaked sides. There is very little light, besides starlight and the dim glow of the cloaked ship's landing sphere. Nothing that would be detectable as alien.
Hadrin takes out a small human flashlight and shines it around the shack's perimeter, walking around it, then he brings up his personal holoscreen. "Life signs still read nothing but local insect and mammal life. No change in human count within a one mile radius."
He pushes the creaky door to the shack, finding it open. The flashlight catches the light of some animal's beady red eyes, and Hadrin steps back, in spite of himself. He irritably waves the holoscreen off and shines the flashlight around the single, cobwebbed room, as the prairie dog digs itself underneath the far wall.
"Nothing but an old mattress and a barely used kitchen, sir," Hadrin calls, peering up above the shack's exterior. "There is electricity."
He flips on the shack's single lightbulb, which comes to life hesitantly. "Either our friend Gerald is extraordinary poor, or he hasn't been living here in quite some time. It may not be his home at all, just a sort of way station. This part of the country is known for abandoned, destitute homes. Sir, perhaps I should contact him?"
-
(I want to let Oss post before Claxter lands the ship.)
-
"I hope we get there soon. This flying in space thing really isn't my favorite thing to do. I prefer to be on the ground." Alic stood up and put what was left of her bottle away and within a couple minutes demorphed.
<Hopefully this will be quick and easy.> Alic sighed. Her hearts ached for the planet she had known as home, and if it weren't for Ossanlin, she probably wouldn't even leave the planet again. She turned her stalk eyes to Claxter. <How long until we land?>
((sorry it took so long.. they fired more supes at work.. so.. yah we've been really busy. i do have a 4 day weekend now though!!))
-
Ossanlin quickly activates the active camouflage as the nav-com brings the ship out of Z-Space at the correct location within Earth's solar system.
<Well, Myitt, technically this technology isn't even...how is it humans put it...? "off the drawing board" yet. I'm not even supposed to have it, it isn't fully tested, but I have my own connections that the Electorate kindly ignores. There is a small possibility that we could all be receiving lethal doses of several select types of radiation right now, though the possibility is extremely small.> Ossanlin grins at Myitt.
Ossanlin quickly modulates the shield matrix to absorb some of the heat energy as the Mirage starts cutting through the upper atmosphere. The effect is that instead of a glowing orange beacon emanating huge heat signatures, only the ship's leading edge causes a small glow and a much smaller temperature reading, the rest remaining completely invisible. Ossanlin glances from Myitt to Claxter. <I believe, Warrior, that our destination is on the northern hemisphere of the planet...Myitt will correct me if I'm wrong.> He looks back to Myitt.
-
((Quick question: Are you guys going to take care of Sukohn or Zorish first?))
"Do it," Zorish orders, keeping his weapon trained on Hadrin the entire time. He wrinkles his nose in disgust against the dry, uninhabited smell of the shack. Hadrin is right - this place looks far from lived in, and that immediately raises alarm bells in Zorish's mind. For the moment, though, he ignores the itch to return to his ship.
"Search every corner of the building," Zorish says tersely, "I don't want anything to be overlooked."
-
((Zorish first, then Sukohn, I guess? If they don't reach Matthew quickly then the rebellion and Terenia are screwed, but if they don't reach Sukohn quickly the Animorphs are screwed...high stakes, anyone? xD ))
"Yes, the northern hemisphere also had an Imperial base, but it was shut down for some unknown reason," says Myitt. "We need to follow the tracking signal from Matthew's holocube computer, because it won't do him much good to show up in Roswell empty-handed. Here."
She sends Ossanlin's computer system the signal for the Yeerkish computer sitting on Matthew's passenger seat as he continues to drive through the dusty New Mexico dawn.
"It figures," she adds dramatically, stepping close to the control panel and holding on tightly as the ship descends. "I can't even get my Andalite friend to fork over technology. Not even when it's potentially mutating our own cells."
---
Hadrin nods and contacts Matthew's holocube with his own, using a preset hack that makes the call look like it's being placed to "Gerald Kosmowski"'s cell phone number.
"Gerald? This is Justin. I've arrived early, just wondering where you are. Call me back, thanks," says Hadrin, ending the call. He looks at Zorish. "There's nothing much we can do but wait, sir."
<And hope we survive until Matthew gets here,> he adds silently, going back inside to search the interior of the shack.
---
Matthew speeds down the dusty road, slowing only when he sees the glow of Roswell coming up ahead. No sense in getting pulled over when the fate of...of what?....
He had to wonder. Matthew trusted Myitt and for crying out loud, her little band were a bunch of real goddamned aliens, and instead of infesting him they'd allowed him to help them. Every nerd's dream, right?
What am I doing? he thinks sourly to himself, sipping the last of the melted ice in his Mountain Dew cup. The rebel group, some fugitive alien, the fate of the planet...I can't deal with this crap, I have a job and a life and math homework...I haven't even had a girlfriend, I can't die!
He jumps and nearly swerves as the holocube beeps. Calming himself down, he taps at it and tries to focus on the road. Hadrin's voice plays.
"Ha-...Justin! Justin, I'm..."
Just a recording. "Damnit, hang on, I'm almost there," Matthew says aloud, tapping his fingers nervously on the steering wheel as he sits at a red light in downtown Roswell.
"Myitt, where the hell are you guys?" he whispers, glancing up at the sky.
-
(We're going after Zorish first, but I have an idea for Marco to get partially in morph so he isn't infested, which will give the team a two hour timeframe to rescue him.)
<According to the coordinates, we should be landing quite soon.> Claxter said to both Alic and Oss. They were already below the cloud cover, and he could see New Mexico zooming in as he decended. More and more details of the desert became visible until he was able to find a suitable spot to land. He did a scan of the area, and found no Yeerk readouts, so he extended the landing gear and activated the short thrusters to slow down to a stop. <We are now on the planet's surface. I believe it's time to find the Human, and it would probably be best if the people with Human morphs see him. I doubt he's accustomed to Andalites. Though perhaps if I went along and aquired him and Tara, I could have myself a viable morph.>
*******************************
Cody ran after Marco and he ducked around whatever he could to prevent being shot. He started morphing as soon as possible, but Cody managed to catch up to him. He was half morphed into a fly when Sukohn finally caught up.
"I got him."
"That's good, but now he's in half morph. I can't infest him."
Cody hit Marco in the face hard enough to knock him to the ground. "Demorph unless you want some more!"
"No, I'd rather be punched in the face. Thanks." Marco said as he reeled from the blow. Cody moved to kick him.
"Will you calm down? I want him in good condition! I'll call the bugfighter to pick us up."
"How did you find out my identity?" Marco demanded.
"It's a long and hard to believe story."
"You know my friends are going to come and kick your butts, right?"
"Your friends are already taken." Sukohn said. It was a lie, but he didn't have to let Marco know. That was the first moment marco started showing fear. They carried him to a point and entered the cloaked bug.
"Just let me pound him until he demorphs. It will be fun."
"We don't have to do that. Marco will demorph on his own and become my voluntary host."
"When pigs fly." Marco said.
"If he doesn't, and decided to trap himself and die as a half bug, I could just take out my rage on his father."
"Don't you dare! You leave my dad out of this!"
"On the other hand, I could keep him safe and relatively happy on whatever ship or base they give me. I can be generous, or I can be cruel. You have two hours to decide which it's going to be." Sukohn said and left the compartment they had put Marco in. Dracons were trained at him, and hooked to morph detection devices.
"Give me one good reason why I can't just beat it out of him. We don't have two hours to spare."
"Because I said so." Sukohn said. Truthfully he just didn't like torture. He probably wouldn't even make good on his threat to harm Marco's dad. But as long as marco didn't know that, Sukoh could have a voluntary morph capable host. Even better, this one wouldn't be a sociopath.
-
((Chad, we're landing near Roswell, New Mexico, not Australia...and Matthew knows what Andalites are, though he's never seen one. It would be best if the ship landed near the highway leading out of town that Matthew will be driving along, but before the spot where Zorish and Hadrin are.))
-
(Why did I think we were going to Australia? Brain fart. I had it stuck in my mind we were going to Australia.)
-
((No worries :P))
"No need," says Myitt, looking down at her personal holoscreen. "Matthew should be coming along this road in about five minutes, give or take. You can check the Mirage's tracking systems, as well, if you'd like. He won't be too shocked by Andalites, he knows you exist, after all. Ossanlin, do you have the cube?"
-
Zorish nods as he squints through the gloom. The single overhead light does little to illuminate the shack, although he does notice a few of Earth's creepy crawlies making their homes in the corners.
"You're probably right," Zorish consents, "let's wait in the ship, then. This place reeks."
<Almost as much as this whole thing reeks of a trap,> Tammy comments mildly.
<Yes. If a human found the Escafil Device and did not know what they had, why go to so much trouble to sell it in such an out of the way place? And if the human did know what they had, they could very well be working for the Andalite Bandits. Or this elusive Peace Movement we keep hearing rumors about.>
Zorish uses his Dracon Beam to gesture that once again, Hadrin should lead the way. The night is just beginning to fade, and the desert is beginning to take form. He can see just how expansive and desolate this place truly is. The perfect place for someone to disappear.
"Go," he orders, snarling a bit, his sense of urgency expressing itself through impatience.
-
Ossanlin nods and steps over to pick up the cube from the deck. He checks and rechecks that the device is operational and the remote detonator is set correctly. <Yes, everything is good to go as the humans would say.> Ossanlin commands the ramp to extend, thankfully Claxter had landed the ship between a couple of small rock formations, so the camouflage generator combined with the terrain made the ship invisible and unlikely to be stumbled across. <I suppose you I might find myself able to part with perhaps a schematic of the generator cell Myitt...it might take your scientists some time to extrapolate and reproduce it. The Electorate would have my hide if they found out.> Ossanlin chuckles. <No matter that I'm their so-called poster-boy.>
Ossanlin makes his way to the ramp carrying the cube and steps out into the chill night air of the desert, his hooves sending up small puffs of dust. Such a strange and extreme climatic zone...both baking and freezing in such short intervals. <You may want to tell him to stop near this rock-formation if we're to give him the device, Myitt.>
-
<I really don't think it wise to give such technology away. Even if the rebellion is an ally.> Claxter said. Making friends with a few yeerks was one thing, but giving state of the art technology to someone was just not a good idea.
-
Myitt follows them off the ship and smiles demurely. "We can talk about it later, Ozzy," she says, with a brief glance at Claxter. "I wouldn't want anyone going after your hide." She pulls her jacket around her torso, crossing her arms. "Jesus, it's cold out here."
After jumping around in place a little she leans against the cold rock formation and takes out her computer, hailing Matthew.
---
Matthew drives through the east end of the city of Roswell, still asleep except for the few early morning workers starting their short commutes.
As he leaves the lights of civilization behind him, driving toward the pale pink desert dawn, Myitt suddenly appears next to him.
At least, an image of her face.
"Hi, Matthew," she says, waving.
"Ahhhhh!" Matthew cries, nearly swerving again, clutching at his chest. "Jesus, don't do that!"
"Sorry, I couldn't risk you missing this message," Myitt replies, glancing down at her fingernails. "Up ahead there's going to be a rather large rock formation. Your computer should register mine and alert you. We'll be waiting there."
"Oh, good," Matthew replies snidely. "Because there's only one rock formation in the whole desert, Myitt!"
"Don't worry, it's extremely accurate. Down to around a centimeter or so. You'll be fine. See you in a few minutes." She ends the transmission.
Myitt's image flickers off and Matthew focuses on the empty road, passing lots of black shadows of rock.
---
Hadrin nods and steps aboard Zorish's fighter, walking over to the secondary navigational panel and idly checking data. He can't help but glance back at Zorish, who certainly doesn't appear pleased at having to wait.
<Good. Watch him,> says Justin. <I don't want that **** shooting us in the back.>
-
Zorish follows Hadrin onto the fighter and closes the hatch. Immediately he returns to the primary navigational array and boots up the computer.
"I'm putting our shields and cloaking on full," Zorish says tersely, "we wouldn't want to scare our little human friend. If he saw a space ship on his way in, he might just turn right around again."
Zorish works with one hand, keeping his primary hand gripped around his weapon. As the time for the transaction inches closer he is becoming more and more edgy. He is clearly breaching protocol by investigating the situation himself instead of alerting Visser Three. In addition to that, everything seems just a little off. There is something inherently ominous about the setting, and it leaves Zorish with a sense of foreboding.
Discreetly, Zorish punches in an autopilot route for Terenia's location and orders the ship to depart for the pre-set coordinates on his verbal command only. At this point, he wants to get the Escafil Device and get out, and the autopilot will expedite the process.
<Then we get to attend to your dear sibling,> Zorish comments with a chuckle. Tammy does not respond, ignoring the jibe.
-
Claxter figured Myitt meant talk about it later in private, where she might better convince his Prince it would be a good idea. He let it slide, though. He wanted to trust Myitt, but he definitely didn't trust her that much. And even if she was completely on the level, she helped run an organization that could have potential traitors or spies. If not her, then someone else.
He stepped out of the ship into the cool night. His fure protected him a bit from the cold, but it was still chilly. He said nothing about it, though. As always his stalk eyes scanned the area while his main eyes stared ahead where the Human would likely appear.
-
Ossanlin takes a couple of steps, his tail waving. <This is an unpleasant place, how in the homeworld is one supposed feed?> One hand holds the cube, the other rests on the handle of one of his shredders, his katana swaying as he steps. <Yes, later. Will he be arriving soon Myitt?>
-
"He should be here any minute," says Myitt, peering down the dark desert road. "Ah, you see over there? Those headlights." She looks down at her computer and brings up a holoscreen. It lights up the rocks with a dim green glow. "That's him."
---
Matthew glances sideways at the holoscreen hovering above his SUV's passenger seat. They should be somewhere close by...but where?
Then he saw something reflect in his headlights, up ahead. Something that would give most people driving out here at this early hour more than a pause--probably a heart attack.
Light glinted off of something that looked very much like a sword. And around it, a faint greenish glow that would've been at home in some orc dwelling in Mordor.
Matthew sighs in relief and pulls up alongside the rock formation, stepping out of the car. He hastily zips up his jacket and almost forgets to grab the keys to his Cherokee, his heart is hammering so badly. Pushing up his glasses, he walks over to Ossanlin, Myitt, Claxter and Alic, trying very hard not to be surprised by what are all obviously aliens. Even an alien he already knows.
"Hiya, Matty," Myitt says with a grin, grabbing Matthew's hand and shaking it briskly with both of hers. "Glad you could join us. We were just about to make s'mores."
Matthew smiles uneasily and glances at Ossanlin, then the others. "Hi, Myitt," he says, his breath fogging in the pre-dawn chill. He sniffles. "Uh. So you've got the cube?"
Myitt nods and looks at Ossanlin. "We made a few modifications to it. I'm sure the woman you're going to meet won't even know what hit her. The other one is with us, a young man, dark complexion. I don't think there are any more people with Tamora, but be careful."
Matthew nods again, even more quickly, and swallows, looking at the Andalites again. "Sorry. Um. My name's Matthew. Matthew Mulcahey. Please to um...pleased to meet you all." He can't help but feel surrounded by sharp, pointy, deadly-looking things. "You're Andalites, right?"
---
Hadrin nods. "Excellent idea, sir." He double checks one of his nav screens. "Sub-visser, it appears there is additional human activity within a two mile radius of our current position. Just a vehicle, but I'm picking up something that could be non-human tech. I'll isolate the signal."
He taps at a second screen, taking his sweet time doing anything that would even remotely reveal the position of their little sting.
-
Alic took a deep breath of the Arizona air. <I think it's lovely out here.>
She couldn't help but smile at the human Matthew. A regular, about as normal as you can be, human. She hoped that someday he wouldn't have to be in the middle of an alien war, he was risking a lot helping them out. <Yes, we are.> Alic took a step forward and offered her hand. <My name is Aliciania. My friends call me Alic.>
-
Matthew shakes Alic's thin, too-many-fingered hand gingerly, forcing a smile. "Pleased to meet you Alici-...Alic. I wasn't expecting so many of you." He blanches a little, suddenly fearing that he might've insulted them. "Not that I mind. I think it's...I mean it's...I've never met an Andalite before." He steps back and rubs the back of his neck, glancing down at the dusty ground.
Myitt smiles at him. She reaches over and claps him on the back. "Don't worry, kid. You get used to it, eventually. I don't think we can thank you enough for doing this for us."
<Getting him out of this alive will be enough for me,> Tara murmurs silently, speaking up for the first time in a long while.
-
<Hello Matthew.> Claxter said, extrnding his hand the was he saw Myitt and alic doing. He was tempted to just acquire matthew when they shook hands, but perhaps he should try the honest approach. <Our Andalite bodies musty be strange. Fortunately we have the ability to change our shape through the process of painlessly aquiring DNA through touch. Not that your DNA gets acquired every time you touch and Andalite, but if you will allow I can take a sample. It won't inconvenience you at all.> He actually felt a little awkward saying that. He had never morphed a sentient being, so he'd never had to ask for it before. He was debating whether he should have just done it anyway, even if it could be considered rude if matthew found out.
-
Ossanlin glances over at Claxter and hides his grimace. The Warrior was rather blunt...obviously he had never asked to acquire before. The poor human was laying eyes on his species for the first time and they were already asking for his DNA. Ossanlin lays a hand on Claxter's wrist and sends a private thought. <<If he says no, just give him a bit...you must understand that the humans barely even believe in extra-terrestrial life.>>
Ossanlin takes his hand from Claxter's wrist and nods at Matthew. <Greetings Matthew. I am War-Prince Ossanlin-Rethin-Sephirel, Captain of the Dome Ship Tyrennian. Indeed, as Aliciania said, we're Andalites. And as my Warrior said, we have the ability to morph and acquire DNA to do so. As yet Claxter does not have a human morph and desires one for our mission. You do not need to acquiesce to his request, but should you wish to it would be much appreciated.>
<As far as other matters go...> Ossanlin glances down at the box he's holding in one hand. <...this is the device that the Yeerks will be looking for.> Ossanlin returns his main eyes to Matthews', his tail swishing lazily over his back glinting in the moonlight.
-
"Could you be more specific?" Zorish asks with mock politeness. She narrows her eyes at Hadrin's screen, waiting for him to bring up more useful stats, "how many humans? If he did not come alone, we may have to take a different approach."
Zorish tightens his grip on the Dracon almost subconsciously. His eyes veer back to his own screen and then to the viewscreen that shows the barren outside landscape.
"We are effectively cloaked from any humans, or any Andalites if this is a Bandit trap," Zorish says softly, "we would not want to give away our position by suddenly appearing, though. Hadrin, give me a full report on the human activity and then get out. Go stand near the shack and act as though you have been waiting. You will handle the transaction." He surveys the land with a sour look on his face, "you will have to create your own lies as to why there is no vehicle marking your arrival."
Zorish's eyes fall on Hadrin's unusable Dracon Beam, "take that with you. The human does not know that it is useless. And if I see anything I don't like..." Hadrin smiles at the ship-board weapons, "I will incinerate you."
-
"I, uh, pleased I'm sure," Matthew stammers, hastily shaking Claxter's hand. He barely realizes that he's shaking all over. "Claxter. Ossanlin. Okay. Um." He glances at Myitt and runs a hand through his greasy black hair.
"The acquiring process won't hurt you," she explains patiently. "It will allow Claxter to turn into a copy of yourself."
"And this copy of me is just going to run around town?" Matthew asks skeptically. "Aren't I already in enough ****?"
Myitt shrugs. "It's possible he could acquire another human, even Tara." She lightly taps her shoulder. "Two genetic patterns can be mixed together, if the acquirer is skilled enough at the morphing process." She glances at Ossanlin. "Isn't that right?"
"Um. Well," Matthew says hesitantly, "if you can do that, then yeah. Yeah, okay. You can do the morph, DNA, acquiring thing." He takes the cube gingerly from Ossanlin's hands and turns it around. "This is it? And I'm just supposed to give this thing to whoever's there? What if there's an army of people waiting for me, or what if it doesn't reach everyone it's supposed to? And you're really sure it's not going to explode and kill me?"
Myitt nods vigorously. "Absolutely sure. And we'll be waiting nearby if anything goes wrong."
<Where did you learn to lie through your teeth? Hmm? They teach you that in training, too?> Tara quips.
<Shh, I can't hear what they're saying...>
---
"As you can see, Sub-visser, there is only one human. The car model matches the one Gerald was supposed to meet me in." He starts for the hatchway, pausing for a moment when Zorish threatens him. He stops and turns to Zorish, bowing his head subserviently.
"You have my absolute subservience, sir," he says, looking up, and he steps down the ramp, walking toward the shack. The car is too far off to really see beyond the scanners, even in this empty dark expanse, but he knows that Matthew is out there somewhere.
In a few minutes they'd either be dead, or Hadrin would effectively be an exile, an aide to destroying his own superior.
<Not to mention all those correspondences with the rebellion, by the way,> Justin adds. <Just in case you've forgotten that you're, you know, already a traitor.>
<You're not helping!> Hadrin snaps.
-
<Thank you very much.> Claxter said. Obviously the Human was uncomfortable, so Claxter decided to lower his tail blade. He doubted he was in immediate danger, so he didn't need his blade at the ready position. He touched Matthew's shoulder and began the aquiring process, then he walked to Myitt and acquired Tara. It occured to him that he'd never performed the frolis maneuver either. This mission was full of new things. <I think I'll wait until later to morph. It is not a visually pleasing process.>
*******************************
Elsewhere Sukohn monitors the clock and scanner as he waits for Marco to crumble. They hadn't told him about the dracons that sense morph changes, and Marco eventually found out the hard way when he tried to finish the morph.
"You know it's the polite thing to do for a villain to explain the death trap he puts the hero in!"
"The first degree burns will help quicken your decision." Sukohn said.
"I hate you..."
-
Zorish watches Hadrin depart from the ship and seals the hatch behind him. Making a few adjustments to the shielding he ensures that the ship is fully cloaked and shielded - virtually invisible. He then turns to the viewscreen and zooms in on Hadrin and the shack, awaiting the human's arrival with increasing tension.
-
Matthew comes out of his brief daze and shakes his head. "Whoa," he says, "is it supposed to make you feel really calm, or have I just become at peace with the fact that I'm going on a suicidal mission to help one group of aliens from outer space destroy another?"
Myitt blinks and comes out of the acquiring daze a few seconds after Claxter removes his Andalite hand. "It's normal, Matthew," she says quietly, glancing down along the dark line of the county road. "I'm afraid we don't have much time, since Zorish decided to arrive early. She may suspect a trap, so be on your guard."
"Like somehow I wasn't going to be," Matthew mutters.
Myitt steps over to him and pats him firmly on the shoulder. "You'll do alright. Just hand our guy Hadrin the box, we'll be watching and we'll do the rest."
Matthew nods, and looks at the Andalites surrounding him. "Okay," he exhales. "I guess I'd better go, then."
---
Hadrin looks down at his holoscreen impatiently. Something scrabbles through the rocks inside the forgotten old shack, and in the dim electric light he spots a gila monster crawling along one of the floorboards near a broken piece of foundation.
<Where are you, Matthew?> Hadrin whispers silently, turning to peer back out at the horizon. <Come on, come on...if you're not here soon, Zorish won't have the patience to...>
<To what? Let us live?> Justin scoffs.
<I don't know. Let's not think about it.>
<Some grand, honorable death. Killed because of eBay.>
-
Ossanlin nods at Myitt. <Yes, it is possible to recombine DNA from several examples of a given species to create an amalgamation, a somewhat random DNA sequence.>
He uses the hand now freed due to Matthew's taking of the box to pull out the small remote detonator. <This is the detonator for the device. It is a pulse-mine that has been recalibrated to a wavelength which will cause instant uncsciousness in humans.> He continues looking at Matthew with his main eyes, his tail still swaying above his back. <The signal is transmitted through z-space, and its effective transmission distance can be made almost unlimited with a transponder. As it is now, I can detonate the device from several clicks away. The device will create a harmonized electro-magnetic wave with an effective distance of some seventy human feet. If you are caught by the energy wave it will induce unconsciousness but should cause no damage to your nervous system. It is imperative that you do not act like you know that this device will...explode. We will be monitoring you from safe sensor distance. As long as they don't try to infest you, there should be no problems.> Ossanlin nods as he tucks the detonator away again.
He glances at Myitt. <Will they be able to detect that cube computer? If they can, it might be best to keep it here.>
-
<<Would it have been too deceptive to just not tell him about the detonator, if it's imperitive that he acts like there isn't one? It is one thing to ask permision for DNA, but we don't want him to blow his cover too quickly. Though I suppose the point is moot now, sir.>> Claxter said privately to Ossanlin.
<If something goes wrong, we will do everything in our power to get you out. Just do your best to get the cube within radius of the female Human controller.>
-
Myitt nods vigorously. "Yes, it's a good idea to keep your computer here with us. They shouldn't be able to detect whatever we keep on the ship we have cloaked here."
Matthew nods, still a bit shocked from what Ossanlin had just told him. "Right, I'll go get it," he says faintly, and he retrieves the holocube with mechanical slowness, returning it to Myitt. He then holds up the faux Escafil device. "You're positive this thing won't explode and kill everyone?"
Myitt turns Matthew's cube computer around in her hand, anxiously. "Yes. It's designed only to render those in its range unconscious."
Matthew glances at Claxter, then back at Myitt. "What if this Zorish chick wakes up before I do?"
"Don't worry, we'll retrieve you and Hadrin as soon as the detonator goes off. We can't risk losing you or Hadrin, and the whole point of this thing is to capture Zorish. We'll make sure she's subdued." Myitt smiles reassuringly.
<I'm telling you, they must have classically trained you bunch of slugs as actors,> Tara says with a mixture of concern and admiration.
<Well, it's the truth. We really are going to make sure they're all accounted for. I can't risk anything disrupting our operations just for Terenia's sake.>
<Yeah, but Myitt, what if Zorish decides to let Hadrin do the talking and watch from orbit?>
<I know, I've considered that. We just have to hope that they stay where they are.>
"Myitt?" Matthew asks hesitantly.
Myitt blinks and looks up at him. "Right. You'd better get moving. We'll be watching, okay?" She hastily gives Matthew an arm's length hug and leads Matthew to his SUV.
Matthew climbs in and starts up the car, rolling down the driver's side window. "Here goes nothing," he calls, setting the mock Escafil on the passenger's seat and driving off down the county road.
Myitt watches him drive off. "Let's just hope that ship is still on the ground," she murmurs.
---
Hadrin notices a flash of light down the road and spots the dark shape of a Jeep SUV driving towards the shack. He steps out from the doorway and waves his arms.
Matthew pulls off the road and parks the Jeep, climbing out with the Escafil device in his hands.
"Gerald, I'm Justin," Hadrin says, walking over and extending a hand. "Thanks for meeting me. I feel like this is something out of a cheesy mob movie, from the location." He glances back at the shack. "Do you live here?"
Matthew shakes Hadrin's hand. "Hi, Justin. Yeah, well, I just don't trust anyone seeing us. This thing drew quite a bit of money on that auction."
"Of course," says Hadrin, reaching into his uniform pocket. Everything he said was being transmitted instantaneously to Zorish's ship nearby. "And here is your money." He holds up a large folded bunch of cash. "Five-thousand. You can count it if you want. Now give me the device."
Matthew, playing the part, looks skeptically at Justin. He takes the money and flips through it, not really counting. "It's all here. But what's with that outfit, man? You look like you've been watching too many episodes of Deep Space Nine. You're not from the government, are you?"
Hadrin smiles blandly. "You won't be followed, if that's what you mean." He holds out a hand. "The device. Now."
Matthew hands him the fake Escafil. "Fine. Take it."
Hadrin quickly turns and starts walking away, toward the cloaked ship, behind the shack. In his free hand he holds up his comm link. "Sub-visser," he whispers, "I've got the device. Open the exterior hatch."
Matthew takes a few steps back, opening the driver's side door to his car. "Oh Jesus," he whispers, bracing for some kind of impact. He stands there, hiding behind the open door.
-
Alic gives a slight wave as Matthew walks away. She turned a stalk eye towards Myitt once he had disappeared. <How long until we move in? We need to be prepared, we don't know what's waiting for us.> She genuinely worried for the human. Yes, his planet was at risk. But how many of them would risk their lives for a single stranger? The boy had some courage. She hoped that everything would go smoothly for him.
-
Ossanlin watches as Matthew drives away, and sends a private thought-speech to Claxter without taking his main eyes from the human's vehicle. <<Indeed that is a tactically sound strategy, Claxter. It was my intention to withhold the nature of the device from the human, but he spoke of it exploding before I revealed the device's nature, demonstrating that he already knew the device was an explosive. I believe Myitt had already told him of the purpose of the device. My intent in describing the nature of the device was to allay any fears he might have, since he already knew it was an explosive.>>
Ossanlin's tail flicks as he turns and trots back up the ramp, activating the main viewscreen and magnifying the image to watch the situation. He didn't want to risk the Yeerks detecting even a low-level sensor-sweep. <Myitt, please come in here, I will need your assistance in determining the correct time to detonate the device.>
-
Claxter followed his Prince up the ramp. It was very close to the deciding point of this mission. If they could rescue Tamora, it shouldn't be hard to get Efaen away from Terenia. She would do anything to ensure her sister's safety. Even endure senseless torture.
<I wonder if Zorish is not such an evil Yeerk. If Tamora is voluntary, I assume Zorish is kind to her. Or at least not cruel. Though he could still be a complete loyalist, as even Sukohn seems somewhat civil and is obviously a loyalist. I suppose we should give Zorish a chance to change sides or something.>
-
Myitt watches Matthew drive off for a moment more, and then nods at Alic. "We'll have to monitor them. I hope he'll be okay."
She bites her lip and follows Ossanlin into the Mirage, pocketing Matthew's holocube. "We can track his position and Hadrin's using Hadrin's computer, and the fake Escafil, but Zorish is going to be a bit trickier. Hadrin was only able to send the position of Zorish's ship, not Zorish's personal computer or communicator. That's going to be the real trick, here. Making sure we knock down the one person we really want to knock down." She watches the screens anxiously.
-
((Ok, this RPG looks very interesting as I REALLY don't want to read 537 pages of the GESB thread, is there any way I can learn what the hell is happening?
-
((Sorry about the absence, guys. Work trip took over my life briefly, but I am back. :) ))
Zorish watches the transaction take place through the ships viewfinder. He adjusts the controls at one point and the image zooms in - the audio is projected over the shipboard communicator.
When Hadrin announces that he has the device a small, wicked smile crosses Zorish's face. He zooms back out on the viewscreen and pulls up the navigational controls.
"Perfect," Zorish says quietly under his breath to Tammy, "now we just have to go pick up that dapsen of a sister of yours."
Zorish brings back up the preset destinations on the computer, selecting the last known location of Terenia - some insignificant planetoid light years away. He clears his throat and speaks to the computer in a louder voice.
"Automatic sequence to preset destination oh-five-one. Engage sequence in two minutes," Zorish turns his attention back to the viewscreen as the computer beeps in compliance. Hadrin was making his way across the morning sand, just now gaining its golden tinge back, and towards the ship. With a quick command, Zorish opened the hatch.
-
<This is it. Once Hadrin gets inside the ship, and we have confirmation of Zorish being in the room, we can set the detonator. Things are going as planned, right? In fact since zorish came sooner, that means we have additional time to complete the other end of our mission. Zorish's move actually works in our favor.>
-
"Yeah, the only thing is, we have no idea exactly where Zorish is," Myitt repeats irritably. "Only his ship. Ah, it looks like Hadrin's on the move. He'll try and signal us if he can, but it could very well be up to us to decide." She leans over the control panel, eyeing the holoscreens intently.
---
Hadrin steps aboard the ship, holding the Escafil device in his hand. "Here you are, Sub-visser," he says, reaching his other hand into his pocket and squeezing two sides of his holocube to send the Apex Mirage an alert. "I'd say that went rather smoothly, wouldn't you?"
---
"Okay, that's him," says Myitt tersely, barely remembering to breathe. "Ossanlin, we have to act, now!"
-
"It went perfectly," Zorish says, taking the cube as a grin of victory spreads across Tammy's face. He reaches out and takes the faux Escafil Device from Hadrin.
"Computer, close hatch," Zorish orders.
The computer replies with a ding of assent as the hatch shuts. A moment later it announces in a clear, monotone Yeerkish voice, "One minute until preset navigational route is engaged. Please ensure that you are properly restrained."
"Yeah, yeah..." Zorish mutters, taking a seat and keeping the cube on his lap as he straps himself in.
-
<The hatch closed. Is that a problem? I guess we can blast it open after setting the detonator. Do it, sir! I'm excited!>
-
<There is no problem, the signal is transmitted through z-space as with all transponder messages.> Ossanlin nods to Myitt and pulls the detonator. He presses one button to arm the device. After receiving a confirming chirp back, he holds down a trigger on the side of the pad and presses the green button.
*In Zorish's ship*
Without making a sound, a spherical wave of energy bursts outward from the device, causing superficial arcing to occur along any exposed metallic components in the ship, the wave sweeping over the entire interior and out to a good 50 foot radius around the ship, dissipating to nothingness.
*Back in the Mirage*
In the viewscreen, a strange shimmer accompanied by absorbed electrical arcs appear where the cloaked Yeerk vessel sits. <It has detonated. Any humans within the effective radius should be completely unconscious.> Ossanlin commands the computer to spin-up the engines which Claxter had correctly left warm, and pilots the ship over to the shack near where the cloaked vessel sits. <I hope you know how to bypass that hatch Myitt, sensors show the ship is spinning up. Zorish must've started the take-off sequence before I detonated the device.> Ossanlin quickly re-lowers the ramp from the Mirage and darts down the ramp, galloping toward the Yeerk vessel.
-
((Question: in the books when a host is knocked unconscious the Yeerk is still conscious, just paralyzed and unable to do anything with their host. With the EM blast knock Zorish out too, since he is protected by Tammy's skull, or would both be knocked out? Not that it makes much difference to what they can do. :) ))
Zorish is staring intently at the viewscreen, eager for the desert to be left behind. He has been completely ignoring Hadrin since he delivered the blue box, lost in his own visions of his future as a powerful Visser.
When the blast goes off the ship was only a few feet off the ground. Zorish has no time to react, or even to know that something has gone wrong, with the device in such close range. As the cloaked ship gains altitude, everything in Zorish's world goes black.
-
<It's already lifting off! Where is it heading? He needs Terenia, who is back at the bar, so is that where he's going? Blast it! If only she had been here, this wouldn't happen.> Ossanlin had already left the ship, so Claxter couldn't take off after it. And even if he did, could they leave for the bar without dealing with Sukohn? <If that ship gets to terenia, and she hides Tamora away, she'll just leave the bar and we may never see the three of them again.>
Then the obvious hit him. Fire on the engines! His hands flew across the controls as he angled the ship's weapons towards the engines of Zorish's ship. <Sir, I'm preparing to fire on the enemy ship. Permission to fire?>
-
Without further word, Alic gallops to keep in pace with Ossanlin towards the ship. She wasted no time following him, at moments almost racing ahead, tail arched and ready for some kind of battle. It couldn't be this easy... <I do hope this worked according to plan!> All four eyes aimed at their destination.
((If I remember correctly the yeerk is conscious but the host is.. Obviously.. Not.. Like you said it wouldn't matter much.. But I don't remember))
-
((I think the Yeerk is conscious, at least enough to watch dreams and be able to wait while their host is asleep or knocked unconscious.))
Aboard Zorish's ship, Hadrin just barely has time to strap himself into his secondary navigational restraints before the inevitable. Justin falls unconscious and all Hadrin can do is wait, hoping they both survive, as the ship rises into the air.
---
A few yards away, Matthew is knocked back onto the desert floor behind the open Jeep door he had been hiding behind. His head hits a rock, gashing his forehead. The driver's side door swings back and forth with the repercussions of the energy blast before coming to rest once more.
---
"I can open the hatch if we get the bloody ship on the ground!" Myitt yells, heading toward the hatch but pausing while Claxter maneuvers the shredder cannon toward Zorish's ship. "I hope you order your cadet to fire!"
-
Ossanlin grimaces as the arcing electrical impluses rise into the sky. <Yes Claxter, fire now! There are three main shredder banks in the Mirage, use them!> Ossanlin skids to a halt looking one way and then the other at Myitt and Alic. <Bring them down!>
-
((Okay, turning point time. I'd like to know your preferences. Would you like Hadrin and Zorish to escape and end up at the bar as two new characters there, or would you like them to be captured with probably only Tammy ending up as a new character there. I'm good with either way, and I've sort of planned for both, so let me know what you think!))
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(I'd rather Tammy be in custody of Oss so Terenia won't be tempted to just take off with her before the others return.)
<Activate shields. power all three shredder banks. Fire on engines!> Claxter yelled. The blast tore through the rocky outcropping that the Mirage was hiding behind, but the shields took the blow. The beams lanced towards the main engines to sever the ship's escape. <You aren't going anywhere.>
-
((It's your call, Jessi! :P But I guess I'd vote for having them deal with Zorish, and so Hadrin won't get attacked by his superior when they wake up x3))
Myitt hurries back into the ship as the shields take the impact of falling rock. She watches the viewscreens anxiously.
-
((Alright, as you wish :) ))
The electromagnetic blast that left Tammy unconscious gave Zorish a front row seat to the trap unfolding. Tammy's eyes were still open, but no matter how hard Zorish tried he could not focus them, could not turn his hosts head.
<Damn it all, Tamara, wake up,> Zorish hisses, <we've been betrayed!>
At that moment Shredder fire lances from seemingly nowhere, a point blank shot at the ships engines. The shields take the brunt of the blast, but with neither Zorish or Hadrin able to utilize the navigational controls the ship begins to spin in sickening circles, knocked off course by the blast.
"Shields at 30%," the computer announces in an unfazed voice. Just then a loud crunching sound fills the morning air as the ship collides with one of the tall rock faces that looms several dozen feet above the desert floor. The shields and engines fail all at once, and the ship plummets back to the ground, landing nose first next to the rock face. There is a flicker as the power goes out and the computers fail, leaving the ship uncloaked.
-
<Excellent! Excellent! The mission has truly succeeded!> Claxter yelled as he struck a tail fighting pose for victory. He left the ship with his own shredder, and galloped towards Zorish's ship.
-
Myitt runs out of the ship, drawing her Dracon. She skids to a stop some distance away from Zorish's crashed fighter, kneeling down next to Matthew, who is sprawled next to his parked Jeep.
"Matthew? Can you hear me?" she says, gently shaking his shoulder, then checking his pulse. She winces at the blood dripping down his forehead, and gingerly pulls up one of his eyelids. "I'm so sorry, kid," she whispers to her unconscious human friend. "You're gonna be okay. Just hold on, okay?"
She hastily unlocks the Jeep and searches the hatchback for a blanket, finding an old faded Diamondbacks jacket. Closing the trunk, she walks back over to Matthew and covers his torso with the jacket. Even in the early morning light, the desert is still chilly.
Then she steps back, gazing down at him for another few seconds.
<We don't have much time, Myitt!> Tara warns.
This gets her feet moving, and she runs off toward the crashed fighter, Dracon still in hand.
-
Ossanlin watches from almost underneath the Yeerk fighter as the superior shredders on his Mirage tear into the bug's shields. <Good shot Warrior.> He watches as the bug spins lazily and crashes into a rock formation of some sort.
<Aliciania, watch out!> Ossanlin throws his weight sideways into Alic, trying to push her out of the way as a large portion of rock debris falls from the sky, impacting almost on top of them. He looks towards the young female with his main eyes. <Are you alright?>
The crunching, screeching noise draws his main eyes again as the bug plummets down the rock face to impact nearby, clouds of dust swirling up, obscuring his vision. He takes Alic's hand for a moment and squeezes it before trotting to the ship, pulling one of his shredders. <Myitt! We should try to secure Zorish as quickly as possible! We need to get your man out to safety. I would appreciate your assistance with this portal...>
Post Merged: April 20, 2010, 04:51:29 AM
((Oh, and BTW Canada, if you wanna join the GESB then welcome! You'll want to join the regular thread though, this mission/side-shoot thread is filled up with ppl from the regular GESB (written on the first page of this thread). Anyway, the GESB is just a bar out in some nowhere place in space with aliens in it. So all you gotta do is make a char (prefferably an original one), and have him/her walk into the main thread however you want. :) ))
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Myitt skids to a stop again near the crashed Bug, approaching it more slowly. Smoke sizzles from the engines, and she covers her mouth with the crook of her elbow, coughing. The acrid stuff makes her blink back tears, and some part of her mind wonders...just how long before the human authorities come to investigate...whate ver this is?
Finally she sucks in a breath. "Computer, open exterior hatch," she calls in Yeerkish, coughing.
No response.
"Computer, this is an emergency override protocol. Open exterior hatch already!" Still nothing.
"Em-er-gen-cy override protocol. Open. Exterior hatch. **** it," she murmurs, standing back some distance away. "Everyone stand back. I hope no one's up against the ****ing wall." She raises her Dracon and fires at the side of the ship, attempting to melt away an opening. The heat is enormously blistering in the cool desert morning.
-
Claxter comes up to the ship and starts firing his Shredder where Myitt is aiming. <How is Matthew doing? I don't see him emerging from the vehicle's spot.>
-
"He's alive!" Myitt yells curtly over the jarring electric hum of the weapons.
-
(Sorry guys! Posting as soon I get home from work)
Post Merged: April 21, 2010, 02:14:39 AM
Alic's eyes shined with excitement as Claxter successfully hit the yeerks ship. <Yes!> Seconds later Ossanlin had pushed her, she was too distracted to move herself. She stumbled over herself, but managed not to completely fall over and immediately corrected her stance.
<I'm fine.> Alic squeezed his hand gently as she tried to see through the thick cloud of dust. <We're not where we're going to draw too much attention right now, are we? We should clear out as soon as possible.>
Ready for the blast and any other debris that may come her way again, Alic stayed where she was until it was clear to move in. She held her tail high just in case she needed to use it.
-
Ossanlin raises an eyebrow at Myitt. <Hmm...I had expected something a bit more...creative. Like re-wiring a panel to over-ride the hatch or some such. If this is how you're used to opening doors, please at least knock before opening a door that I'm behind.> Ossanlin grins with his eyes as he pulls his secondary shredder and dials the settings on both of them to constant burn on maximum. He steps back a bit as the heat washes over him, and adds his two shredder beams to Myitt's and Claxter's. <This is hull-plating Myitt, do you really think we can get through it with handhelds? I can feel the heat dissipating off the plating, it's remarkably good at syncing the heat elsewhere.>
-
Myitt stops firing and waves her hand around.
"Gah, this thing's going to explode before that door melts," she admits, moving the Dracon from hand to hand. "But it's the highest setting, it's supposed to punch a hole through ten feet of titanium alloy. This plating is stronger than what I'm used to, even my own ship would've split open under that pressure, without shielding." She sighs, seeing their combined forces are doing not a whole heck of a lot. "Okay, stop, stop." She walks up to the scalding hot side of the ship, tucking her sweat-plastered hair up over her jacket. Only the outer living metal skin has cracked and peeled back, exposing sheets of half-melted slag underneath.
<Brilliant. Now let's see if the hatch can even open,> Tara says frustratedly. <It's hotter than hell and I wouldn't be surprised if all this racket either cooked them alive or woke them up!>
<No, no, the panels on these newer models are recessed into the cooling system,> Myitt murmurs, kneeling down under the body of the ship and looking up at its precarious angle.
<And now it's going to crash on us. Great, thank you,> Tara adds. <Don't burn my hands off, please.>
"Not going to burn your hands off," Myitt sighs, prying back one of the panels a few feet away and underneath the superheated metal hatch. "My hatch has seen worse than this and survived. The living metal will...ngh!" She falls back against the desert floor, the black metal panel hanging down in front of her. The ship protests with an ugly creaking noise, propped between two large pieces of rock. Myitt freezes there for a moment, then hops up to her feet, putting the Dracon under her belt and disappearing halfway into the panel.
There's a loud whine and the engines light up briefly, then die down again.
"****!" Myitt curses, muffled from having half her body inside the ship's guts. White sparks trickle out of the panel opening.
An unhealthy sizzling sound starts coming from...somewhere... and the melted skin of the ship yawns and oozes open into a normal hatchway, although it is dripping hot black liquid from the threshold.
Myitt crawls back out and stands up, rubbing her eye with a hand that looks like it's been covered in charcoal. But, her other hand is dripping something that looks like tar.
"See?" she croaks, pulling out her Dracon with the stickiest hand and blinking her eyes, one of which is watery and red. "No problem."
She steps toward the hatch, Dracon ready, and climbs inside.
-
Claxter stops firing when Myitt says too, and watches as she manages to get the hatch open through other means. <I suppose trying to blast it just made a mess more than anything, but now we are inside.>
He walked inside and found both Zorish and hadrin. He began morphing his ape-like morph in order to carry Tamora's body. After making sure Zorish was stripped of any weapons after morphing, he lifted the body up and began walking out. <I will take these two to the Mirage. Shall we take everyone to the medbay to check for injuries?>
-
Myitt checks to make sure Hadrin is still breathing. Luckily he's still alive, slumped over the control panels but strapped into his seat, with what look like only a few minor cuts and bruises. She pats him on the shoulder. <You saved our tails, my friend,> she murmurs silently.
"Yes, I think it would be best if we took them to the Mirage's medbay," says Myitt quietly, turning to the dead controls and tapping at them futilely. "We're going to need to get Matthew there, as well. But look, we've got a crashed Bug fighter and a human car out here. How long do you think it's going to take for someone to notice, and call the cops? We should at least try to make sure this thing is cloaked." She rubs the back of her neck in frustration. "Damnit, the auxiliary power is fried, it might not be enough to run basic life support, let alone a cloak."
-
<I am unsure how to solve that problem. Would it take a lot of energy to completely vaporize the craft? Perhaps you can operate the ground vehicle and get it away from here.>
-
"It would take the Apex Mirage, maybe more, and what do you think that would do to the humans?" Myitt says, as screens flicker up and then die again in front of her. "In the UFO capitol of the bloody world, no less," she adds bitterly. She glances at Claxter. "What are you waiting for, we need to get them out of here! I'll be able to help you in a moment."
-
<Uh-yes! I'm going!> Claxter said and hurried to the ship. He entered the medbay and placed Tamora on the table as well as restraining her arms and legs. Then he hurried back outside to matthew. He was still unconscious by his vehicle, so Claxter picked him up gently and took him to the ship as well. He placed the Human on another bed, but didn't restrain him.
<If you can understand me, Matthew, I have brought you to the medbay of our ship. do not be alarmed, and do not move around. Computer. Examine patients for any and all injuried they have sustained.>
He then left the ship to help Myitt with Hadrien. <I suppose I can try out my Human morph afterwards.> He said after entering the ship.
-
When the ship crashed into the desert floor Tamara was thrown forward against her restraints. Luckily she had strapped herself in fully, and she had not suffered more than whiplash and a few abrasions where the straps had cut against her skin.
The slightly more unfortunate bit was the fact that Zorish had to watch helplessly as his ship was invaded and some strange alien lifted him from the restraints. As he was being carried out of his ship he caught sight of two creatures he certainly had not expected to see: Andalites.
<The bandits!> he hissed silently, <they must have set a trap for Visser Three after all.>
As he is carried into a clearly Andalite ship Zorish focuses all of his energy on waking his host up.
-
"It's no use, they're lucky to be alive, this ship is dead in the water," Myitt says finally, stepping back from the controls. She helps Claxter carry Hadrin over to the Mirage.
"Ugh, Justin, what have you been eating," she grunts as she tries to lift the weight of a full grown man. She's grateful to have Claxter to help carry the weight.
When they reach the Mirage Myitt helps Claxter move Hadrin to the med bay, and she sits back against a wall, sliding to the floor.
"Break time," she exhales, looking up at the medical tables wearily.
<We don't have time for a break, dude. Hey. Hellooo? Why are my hands shaking?>
<When was the last time you've eaten?> Myitt asks.
<When was the last time you've eaten?>
Myitt clears her throat. "Claxter, make sure Zorish is restrained. Her host's eyes are open, she might be able to see us, depending on her state of awareness."
-
<I restrained her. She will not be able to move from the table.> Claxter said. He went over and rechecked the restraints to make sure he was right. He noticed that Tamora's eyes were open, and moved his hand over her face to see if her eyes would track.
<Are you conscious? If you are, I will tell you that you are a prisoner of war now. Cooperation would be in your best interest. Defection to the Yeerk rebels is your best option for survival at this point.>
-
((how did those weak andalite arms carry a human? :P ))
Alic stayed back as the humans were removed and taken back to the Mirage. <Do we need to move the vehicle? You know if any authorities come this way and it's suspicious the yeerks will be the first to show. We don't need to tie Matthew to this. I can drive.> Without waiting for a response Alic was morphing human. She wasn't able to drive in awhile and thought she would take advantage of it. Besides, Myitt was the only other one here who could, and she was needed more than her inside the Mirage.
Within about a minute, Alic was barefoot on the cool desert ground, a small smile on her face. "Please be automatic." She sprinted to the Jeep. "Where should I take it?"
-
((Oi, you guys suddenly decided to start moving fast... :p Oooh, I went out and bought Avatar tonight a little after midnight and watched it again...I am SO in love with that movie it's unhealthy. Oh, and I think Chad morphed, Patty. :) ))
Ossanlin ceases fire and watches Myitt toss her Dracon back and forth in a comical fashion. He spins his shredders around his index fingers and holsters them, the barrels already nice and cool thanks to their heat-syncs. He watches as Myitt digs around in the panel and smiles to himself as it opens. <That's the tech we know and love.> He takes a look inside the Bug, there was quite a bit of twisted metal. Half the holo-screens were shattered and sparks flew from the main console. <Yes, we need to move them without delay.> Ossanlin spots the little energy-mine which had clattered to the floor. He picks it up and carries it back to the Mirage as Claxter carries the two human hosts. He speaks quickly to Myitt. <I believe Aliciania wants to know where to hide Matthew's vehicle.>
He places the spent mine on a work-bench and heads into the medical compartment, quite cramped. There were only two med-bays designed with andalites in mind, so poor Hadrin was slumped up against the back wall. He quickly activates the med-bay suspension fields to hold the humans up off of the sterile adjustable "gurneys". He leaves the restraints on Zorish even though they should not be an issue with the suspension field in place. It never hurt to be careful. Stranger things than a power failure had happened. <Myitt, in humans, the olfactory sense bypasses the sensory relay center does it not?> Ossanlin spoke in loud thought-speech as he quickly placed cerebral stimulators on Matthew's forehead, dialing them in for use on a human. The computer scans said he had no abnormal swelling or bleeding in the cranial cavity. Ossanlin quickly disinfects the cut on his forehead and applies a small compress bandage as he waits on Myitt's response. The cut was not severe enough to require the surgical laser.
-
(Claxter morphed something that looks similar to a Gorilla. So think about a rubber forehead version of Marco's morph carrying people.)
-
((I must have missed that whoops! I've been half asleep aalll week. Worked 12 hours yesterday got 4 hrs of sleep and now I'm up again booo.. At the docs.. Reply later..))
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Myitt climbs shakily to her feet. "Tell Alic to bring the Jeep into town, anywhere inconspicuous. We'll need to pick her up quickly, because we're going to need to vaporize that Bug fighter. Do you think the Mirage can handle it?"
She walks over to the sterile gurneys and watches, interestedly. At least Hadrin and Matthew were alive, and not in terrible shape. They had been very lucky so far.
"And yes, the olfactory cortex is a very primitive system in terms of general Earth evolution," says Myitt with a small smile. "Turns out it does most of its own processing and bypasses the...the...belem, what the hell is it..."
<Thalamus,> Tara sighs. <Please, let's not relive that year, already.>
"The thalamus. Right. Humans call it the thalamus." Myitt leans close to Matthew's head, squinting. "It's not very deep, right? The wound? I just feel...really bad, putting him into this whole mess. I should've been the one out there."
<Okay! Sacrifice my head, why don't you?>
-
<I'm under the impression that your host is rather noticable around these parts. I'm certain Matthew's injuries are only mild, as are the other's.> Claxter said as he stopped waving his hand in front of tamora's face and demorphed.
<If the Yeerks find this first they'll just cover it up and be done. If free Humans find it first, they will be killed or infested.>
-
"Yeah, well, I'm not exactly on the nightly news," Myitt murmurs. "But the people who would know to look for me know this mug, that's for sure. As for the humans finding the Bug, yes, they'd be putting themselves at risk, but the Empire as well. Who knows how much of a thing like that would be carted off to some museum, or government facility, before it was cleaned up and the humans involved were silenced?" She shakes her head. "No, we need to destroy it."
-
Alic climbed into the Jeep and shut the door. Thankfully the keys were still in the ignition and, even better, automatic. Not that it would be a problem otherwise, it had just been awhile. She turned the key and started the engine, waiting for direction. She knew that staying here would be bad and drove off, trying to obey the speed limit and hopefully going the right way.
-
Ossanlin nods and pulls a small tube-like vessel from one of the cabinets in the med-bay. He activates the cerebral stimulator which hums faintly, giving Matthew's brain a mild stimulation as he slides the top of the tube open and passes it under Matthew's slightly flexing nostrils as he inhales. The tube contains a substance which emits pheromones meant to stimulate consciousness. <This should bring him around, after he's steady we can get Hadrin in the field and do the same for him. The cut on his forehead is superficial and there is not significant trauma to the cranial cavity. There is no encephalopathy according to the computer.> He smiles at Myitt a moment and then passes the tube under Matthew's nostrils again.
Ossanlin sends out a wideband thought-speech for Alic, though he doesn't know she has driven off. <Myitt says to take the vehicle to town and put it somewhere inconspicuous.>
Ossanlin shuts off the cerebral stimulator and removes it from Matthew's forehead, waiting to see if he'll come around as expected. As he waits, he addresses Myitt's other concern. <As far as vaporization of the Bug, the Mirage is certainly capable. I have pulse-missiles onboard after all, though that may be a bit...heavy-handed. One of those would leave a rather sizable crater. The shredders have been modified and the Mirage carries a second power-source besides its small central reactor in case auxilliary power is needed. A concentration of all three beams with auxilliary power would be more than enough to melt the bug into slag...whether they could vaporize the bug or not would really depend on the hull-plating's flash-point...and upon how well the plating is still able to dissipate heat.>
-
Myitt nods, biting her lip and watching Ossanlin work on Matthew.
"Good," she says in response to the Mirage's capabilities. "We're going to have to act quickly, vaporize as much of it as we can, grab Alic and run to find Sukohn." She looks over at Terenia's sister. "And I suppose we'll have to deal with Zorish," she says unhappily.
Matthew stirs and grimaces. "Ughhh...five more minutes," he murmurs. Then he seems to realize where he is, hovering above the sterile gurney on an alien spaceship. His eyes open wide and he looks around. "Hey, what's going on? Ow...my head. Oh, man..."
"Try and relax, Matthew, you're safe," says Myitt. "Just lie back, you got knocked on the head. Just a little battle scar." She smiles.
"Ohhh...I don't even remember," Matthew says weakly, lying back and staring at the ceiling. "I was behind the car door, and then everything went black."
"Shh," says Myitt quietly. "You did real well, Matthew. We couldn't have done this without you."
Matthew nods and closes his eyes tightly.
Myitt looks at Ossanlin. "Will he be able to move for Hadrin?"
-
Zorish watches uselessly as the Andalites and humans converse above him. The young Andalite had mentioned defection to a rebel group, and it quickly becomes apparent that the humans are not entirely so.
<So, the rumors about the peace movement are true as well,> Zorish murmurs to himself out of habit. He finds it strange that his host cannot currently respond. While they were hardly friends they did have a fairly congenial relationship and he could usually count on Tamara to add her input. As it was, Zorish was receiving nothing from her but basic survival commands from her brain. He continued talking anyways, working through the situation.
<Yeerk rebels and Andalites working together,> he snorted mentally, <what a disgrace to our -> at that moment, Myitt mentions Zorish by name, distracting him, <the rebel knows who I am? This isn't some ruse to capture Visser Three? What in the name of Kandrona could this filth want from me?>
-
Ossanlin looks to Matthew. <He should be fine, there's no significant damage, he may be a bit drowsy and possibly dizzy, but other than that...> Ossanlin places a hand on Matthew's arm. <Matthew, are you able to stand? At least long enough to sit? We have another injured party that requires treatment.>
He looks over to Zorish as Myitt speaks about him. <Yes, well. For now I think it would be best to leave his host unconscious. He shouldn't be able to circumvent the field or the restraints, but no reason to give him more mobility than necessary. I hope that he can provide us with some useful tactical information about the Earth invasion. He is supposed to be one of the top intelligence officers in the invasion force.>
He looks back to Myitt. <Once we get Matthew up and into a restraint and get Hadrin into the field, we can take off and concentrate enough fire on the bug as possible. If the shredders aren't enough, we'll just blast a crater in the Earth. Perhaps they will think it a meteorite impact. Then we must get after Sukohn and preserve the timeline. This part of the mission has gone exceedingly well, considering, but we've used a lot of time.>
-
Matthew nods again. "Yeah...I think so." He starts to sit himself up, and Myitt helps him off the floating gurney. "Ugh. Remind me never to do this again."
Myitt smiles. "Don't ever do this again, you lunatic." She guides him over to the wall where she had been sitting, near the exit, and helps him sit himself down.
"I think keeping Zorish restrained is very wise, especially if he wakes up anytime soon," she replies to Ossanlin. "We should also make sure he is fully unconscious, we don't need even more of a security liability. You're right, we don't have much time, in spite of our good fortune. I do wonder how Elayne and the others are doing..." A shadow passes over her expression as she remembers everyone back at the bar.
Then she walks across the room to Hadrin, kneeling by his side and placing a hand on his shoulder. "Hadrin? Justin? Can you hear me?"
One of them murmurs something unintelligible and he stirs a bit. Myitt gingerly passes a thumb near the large bruise on Justin's dark skin, on his forehead.
"I'm going to need help getting them up there," she says idly.
-
<Perhaps I should not have demorphed quite yet, then.> Claxter said. Personally he would have liked to talk to Zorish and tamora about Terenia, but apparently that idea was already voted out.
The thought occured to him that since they were in the safety of the ship, now may be as good a time as any to try his Human morph. <Excuse me.> He said, as he walked into another room to morph. This way Matthew wouldn't freak out. He focused on the images of both Humans as he tried to make a mix of both.
The body shape was Matthew's, but the hair color and skin tone was different. Also some facial features, as well as a weight and height difference. After he was done he opened the door again.
"I have completed the frolis maneuver. Compalete. Commmmpleeetuhh. Hmm! That's fun. Funuh. Funnnn. Though I have no artificial artititifilceeeaal skin. I will need neeeduh some for public."
-
Myitt stands up to get a better look at Claxter's mix of both Tara and Matthew, then realizes he's unclothed.
Tara takes control and blinks a few times. "Oh, this is too weird," she says.
"You're telling me," Matthew says from his spot on the floor near Claxter, averting his eyes. "Uh. Hey, Andalite dude? There might be some extra clothes in the back of my Jeep. Jeans, at least. Hey, where is my car, anyway?"
"Aliciania, one of our Andalite friends, drove it to Roswell," says Myitt, back in control and far less disturbed by the mixed morph Claxter has taken. At Matthew's surprised look, she adds, "Alic has been on Earth before, she knows how to operate a car. It's a long story." She looks at Ossanlin. "Unless you still have that Imperial uniform hanging around somewhere. That might be useful. In the meantime, a little help here?"
She gestures down to Hadrin.
-
<I do not plan to wear a Yeerk uniform.> Claxter said, choosing thoughtspeech this time. He gave Oss a sort of hopeful pleading look that said "please don't make me wear a Yeerk uniform.". He moved to help Hadrin up, as that was part of the reason he morphed.
-
Alic picked up speed, she didn't like being by herself in the middle of nowhere. The gas pedal was uncomfortable under her bare foot, and she wished she had some shoes.
((I don't know what this town is like or how big it is... What might I see entering the city? Is it big n busy? Simple streets with typical gas stations and stores?))
-
Ossanlin nods and looks over at Claxter. <No I left the uniform back at the...location.> Ossanlin darts a look at Zorish wondering if he could still hear or see. The comment Myitt had made about complete unconsciousness had reminded him of the possibility. He reaches down, wrapping one of his unusually strong arms around Hadrin/Justin and brings his tail around to help with the lift as well, trying to maneuver the rebel onto the freed gurney.
<Warrior, please bring the ship to a suitable height for free weapons on the Bug fighter wreckage.> Ossanlin avoided saying Claxter's name, though it shouldn't really matter. Perhaps he'd said it already...he should've been more careful with Zorish possibly hearing things. At least no one had mentioned Terenia yet...Ossanlin hoped to hold that from the Yeerk and Tamara until they reached the bar and confronted each other.
-
<Yes sir.> Claxter said. Since he wasn't really needed, he started making his way towards the piloting station. As hard as he tried, he still couldn't keep from wobbling around like a drunk on his two feet. He would try to practice that. Once he made it to the station, he performed takeoff procedure and made it into the air. At a safe altitude, he aimed all shredders at the ship.<Computer, constant fire on the enemy ship.>
The weapons began firing, causing the ship to begin desintegrating. They would soon see if he could cplete the job.
-
((this wouldn't look too odd to anyone walking in. An unconscious girl and boy on gurney's, a man with a gash in his head, another young woman who keeps switching who is in control, and an alien all in a ship being piloted by a naked man who looks like a mix of two of the other people.))
-
(we have entered the twilight zone. sorry you don't have much to type about, since they decided not to wake Zorish up. Oh well.)
-
((it's all good :) ))
-
((Hahaha guys...my explanation to my pals here as to why the man was naked was that he performed a frolis maneuver and didn't have any spandex. I can't believe I just said that sentence, hahaha..nerdy. But these guys already knew that...lols.
Anywho, Roswell is a mid sized city, no big skyscrapers but maybe 45,000 people...main street USA))
Myitt gives Claxter a sour look as he leaves the room. "He's not real big on the whole slug-in-the-head thing, is he?" she says dryly, helping Ossanlin lift Hadrin onto the gurney. "I guess I'm not surprised."
-
Alic made sure to get into town a couple miles and parked at an older motel, just happy that no one found any reason to pull her over. She didn't have her license. Alic smiled to herself. "I'm worried about the cops right now, yeah." She shook her head and turned off the Jeep, wondering how her friends were going to find her in town.
-
Ossanlin nods at Myitt, directing a private thought-speech at her. <<He's definitely a bit rough around the edges, a bit young-minded, but he's coming around rather well considering. Most graduated warriors would remove their own head with their tail before admitting that Yeerks aren't the absolute embodiment of evil that must be cleansed from the Universe in a righteous flame of arrogant justice.>>
He helps Myitt maneuver the rebel onto the gurney and reactivates the stasis field. He tweaks the cerebral stimulator to allow it to pass through the Yeerk wrapped around the human's brain and activates it, passing the same vial under Justin's nostrils several times.
-
"Yes, I think he'll do all right, under your command," says Myitt quietly, watching Justin.
After a few seconds under the vial's influence, Justin coughs and his eyes open to slits. He blinks and tries to rub his eyes, but he can't move.
At this point Hadrin realizes there's an Andalite standing over him. And they are in a definitively Andalite ship.
"What...where am I?" he demands.
"It's okay, they're friends," Myitt adds quickly. "It's me, Hadrin. We're okay."
"Friends?" Hadrin repeats. "There's more than one? But he's an...an...."
"Yeah, I know, pretty cool, huh?" Myitt says with a broad grin.
"You never told me there would be Andalites involved in this mission!" Hadrin snaps, more out of fear than anything else. "I thought the Sub-visser would--"
"Shh, shut up, she might be able to hear us," Myitt hisses.
"Well, I'd be able to tell if she were here if I wasn't in a stasis field!" Hadrin glares at Ossanlin, a mixture of revulsion and anger and terror.
<Weren't we just discussing how we were all going to try to hold hands and cooperate?> Tara wonders silently.
-
Zorish's anger flares up as the hears Hadrin's voice, speaking to one of the traitors conversationally. I was harboring a traitor myself, he realizes in astonishment, they have managed to wrap their tentacles around the inner facets of the Empire. Visser Three will not be pleased.
Zorish stops fighting for consciousness, realizing that Tamora's absence may be to his advantage. His captors are more likely to slip up if they see a seemingly unlistening body.
-
Claxter couldn't help chuckling a bit when he heard Hadrin. After he was done roasting the enemy ship, he stopped the cannons. "Objective completed. Completedededuh." He said, trying out speaking vocally again. "The ship is destroyed. The. Thee. Shipupuh. Ready to pick up our other ootheeer companion now. Now. Oww."
-
Pulling the keys out of the ignition, Alic sighed. She was bored and hoping everything had gone well. Not to mention time would be running short, and she would need to demorph.
Alic scanned the small parking lot, spotting a dumpster to one side with a solid fence behind it. Or she could ask to use the office bathroom, but those were usually pretty small.
Waiting seemed like the best idea for now.
-
Ossanlin looks down at Hadrin slightly taken aback. Hadrin didn't know that there were a few andalites that supported the rebellion? It was a bit strange to be on the other side of the coin, Ossanlin had assumed that all rebellion Yeerks shared the same attitude as Myitt. He darts a slightly exasperated look at Myitt before smoothing his face and returning his main eyes to Justin's face.
Ossanlin replaces the vial in the cabinet it had come from and calmly removes the cerebral stimulator from Justin's forehead. He lays a hand against Justin's forhead to make sure his reflexes are working correctly, and then removes it. <You are in a stasis field because it is the best way to work on any patient in a medical facility. My name is Ossanlin-Rethin-Sephirel, War-Prince and Captain of the Dome Ship Tyrennian.> Ossanlin grimaces a bit as he realizes that he again has projected information that might best have been kept from Zorish whom could possibly be listening. Nothing for it now. He swishes his tail in a slightly agitated manner, the Yeerk had apparently scattered his wits somewhat. <I thank you for your instrumental assistance with this mission. Zorish should be able to provide a great deal of useful information regarding the Earth invasion. Now, if you'll promise to behave yourself...> Ossanlin deactivates the stasis field, lowering Justin's body back to the sterile "gurney."
Ossanlin looks out towards the ****pit. <Good work Warrior.> He switces to private thought-speech. <<Follow the roadway that Aliciania drove the vehicle down. Once we reach the populated area start scanning for bio-signs with the short-range bio-scanner. Use the DNA profile stored by the computer to search out her position. And make sure the camouflage is active...the last thing we need are a bunch of humans gawking at a spacecraft.>>
-
Claxter did as instructed and double checked the cloaking system before following the road. soon enough they made it to town, and bio scans picked up various lifeforms. He also checked the viewscreen for sogns of the truck that Alic drove off in.
-
Hadrin flinches at Ossanlin's touch. He tries very hard to listen to what Ossanlin is saying, but the very idea of being in the presence of an Andalite, unarmed and partially frozen, makes him sick with fear.
"Yes, and I'm Hadrin Five-Six-One," he says, swallowing, his eyes never leaving Ossanlin's tail. He relaxes a hair when his body is lowered back to the gurney, exhaling in relief. He slowly sits up, wincing. "My host's name is Justin. Yes, Myitt has told us about you, but I wasn't aware you'd be helping us. We appreciate your assistance, I...please forgive my behavior, when I'm conducting an illegal mission and my host is knocked unconscious, the second-to-last place I'd want to wake up, unable to move, is in an Andalite ship." He shuts his eyes tightly against the mild pain from his bruised body. "No offense," he adds quietly.
Myitt helps Hadrin to his feet. "Thank you, Hadrin. I can't thank you enough. We'll take you home."
"Hello?" Matthew says from the floor, waving. "Yeah, I'm still here."
Myitt looks over at Matthew. "Oh, Hadrin, Justin...I take it you've met Matthew."
Hadrin nods. "You're very brave, Matthew. I'm sorry you've been injured."
"Nah, this? It's nothing," says Matthew. "Just a battle scar in your little intergalactic war." He grins, the nerd part of him totally geeking out.
Hadrin looks at Ossanlin briefly and then glances at Myitt, switching to Yeerkish. "The ship is moving. Where are we going, and what are we going to do with Zorish?" he says quietly.
"There is another Andalite in Roswell, we need to retrieve this friend. There are other matters we must deal with, as well. An Imperial operative is hunting down the Andalite bandits. As for the Sub-visser..." She shrugs and leaves it up in the air.
Hadrin grabs Myitt's jacket collar lightly. "The Andalite said the Sub-visser would provide information. Do you think Reven would approve?"
Myitt sighs and switches back to English. "What else are we going to do, ask her to tea?" she hisses quietly. "I don't like it any more than you do." Back to Yeerkish, "would the Sub-visser treat us any differently if we were in the Sub-visser's situation?" She pulls away from Hadrin's grasp and readjusts her jacket, looking disconcerted.
She walks over to Matthew's wall and sits down, exhausted from lack of sleep and weak from mutually growing hunger. "Ossanlin, why hasn't she awoken, yet? Are there any major injuries?"
-
Zorish listens intently to the conversations, putting together the pieces bit by bit. There is a Yeerk by the name of Myitt, which seems to ring a bell somewhere in the dregs of his mind. Perhaps the name had been on some long-forgotten memo regarding rebels? Then there was Hadrin, the traitor. And the Andalite...one was a mere warrior, a lemming, but the other had provided his name and rank with a boldness that surprised Zorish.
<So, Captain Ossanlin wants information,> Zorish murmurs, <Interesting, although this seems like a long way to come for a war the Andalites scarcely care about.>
Zorish is pondering the deeper meaning of this when he feels the first stirrings from Tamora's mind. She is far from entering complete consciousness, but has lapsed from total blackness into a sort of dreamy REM sleep. Zorish ignores the vivid images that her mind produces, allowing her to play out her fantasies in hopes that he can bide his time and gather more information of his own.
-
While awaiting an answer from Ossanlin she steps into the main cabin and grabs her backpack. She glances at Claxter and gives him a grin and a thumbs up.
"Nice shooting," she says. Then she coughs and steps back into the other room.
<Wow, that was smooth,> says Tara. <Can I eat these granola bars now, please?>
Myitt sighs and sits back down next to Matthew, putting the backpack down and unwrapping a granola bar. Tara turns to Matthew with a fistful of them.
"You want some?" she says in between inhaling the stuff.
<Damnit. What wretched timing. I thought I would have more time to feed in transit, and now I'm faced with interrogating a Sub-visser on an empty tank,> Myitt says irritably.
Tara giggles in the middle of biting a second bar open. <Didn't know you liked that phrase.>
<Well, it suits the feeling. Until it becomes a hellbent, twisting agony tank.>
<Don't let it get to the agony tank.>
<I won't,> Myitt snaps.
<You're going to give me indigestion,> Tara grumbles.
<You're going to be the death of me.>
<Ooh, hope it's not the death of me, too,> Tara chimes.
"Uh...Myitt?" Matthew says, still waving his hand in front of Tara's mechanically eating face. "I said, 'yes, please'."
"Oh. Sorry," says Tara, looking down at her fist full of granola bars and handing all of them to him.
Matthew picks one up, looking back at her worriedly, and unwraps the bar.
-
(So what's with the Kit Myitt and Kit Terenia?)
"I believe I have found her. <<Aliciania. The ship is overhead. I will try to find a place to land.>> "I don't suppose landing in the paved area with partially rectangular designs would be viable? Viaablee. Viiiablllle."
-
"That's a parking lot," Matthew calls. "I hope this ship is cloaked, and even if it is, a roof might be safer. I can take my car from here...right?" He looks over at Myitt.
"Sure, Matthew. We're just going to have to erase your memories," says Myitt.
Matthew stares at her.
Myitt grins. "I'm only kidding." She slaps him on the shoulder. "Anyway, you know we're watching you every second of the day, right?"
"I..." Matthew stammers.
"Sure you do. So go and get your car and drive home. Tell your mom you've started...I don't know...a Fight Club in Roswell."
"Somehow I don't think she'll believe that," Matthew murmurs.
-
Ossanlin softens his expression a bit at Hadrin. <None taken. Most of my kind aren't exactly...tolerant. ..of other beings, especially Yeerks. The propaganda works both ways. There's a good reason we aren't in her ship.> Ossanlin tilts his head in Myitt's direction. <That's actually related to the second part of our mission, which is extremely important.>
Ossanlin turns his main eyes to Myitt. <She hasn't awoken yet because I've done nothing to speed her convalescence. The host's brain will eventually reorganize itself and consciousness will come. It simply takes a bit longer without external stimulation.> Ossanlin switches to private thought-speech directed at Myitt. <<I can only assume that you're talking about our plans for Zorish. I can understand a few words...I think it best to stick with the cover story, I don't want anyone to know what our true purpose here is until we actually reunite the sisters. The cover-story's ruthless but if it can be believed of anyone, it can be believed of an andalite. Rebel affiliations make it much more believable. I don't know why I feel that it's important to keep this quiet, but I've learned to trust my intuition on matters like this.>>
-
Hadrin nods at Ossanlin, glancing at Claxter, who is...a naked human. Or an Andalite in morph. Strange. "I assume the Sub-visser's ship has been destroyed. I don't know about this second mission, but I'll be glad to help, if I can. As for propaganda, I for one have had quite enough of that in this awful war." He smiles faintly.
<My God, you're actually talking to an Andalite,> Justin marvels.
<Calm yourself, I'm not about to hug him,> Hadrin retorts.
<I never thought I'd see the day.>
Myitt looks up at Ossanlin from across the room. She sighs and climbs to her feet, placing the empty granola wrappers in her backpack.
"Good, then there aren't any injuries that would make it difficult for Zorish to cooperate," she says pointedly, walking over to Ossanlin. She takes him aside, away from Zorish, and adds in a whisper, "yes, that works well for now, but how do you think this is going to end? I doubt we're sending the Sub-visser back to the Empire, and there are only a few ways to remove a Yeerk from its host against its will--none of them are very pleasant."
-
Ossanlin trots with Myitt. <<Yes, there probably isn't a happy ending for Zorish. Maybe not for Tamara either although I can't see why one would not wish to be removed from Imperial control. At the very least this should resolve things for Terenia. Either Tamara will suffer a change of heart, or she'll go back which will definitively prove that she does not wish to be free and wishes to have nothing to do with Terenia. Of course if she does decide to go back...well it won't be with Zorish at the least. As for him...well if the rebellion does not wish to keep him in custody to extract information, I will, though it is my opinion that Yeerks would do an infintely better job at caring for a Yeerk. But that is up to you and Reven. I know you didn't want to get involved in the first place and were simply acting upon a favor for me, I appreciate it and I certainly won't ask for any more.>> Ossanlin smiles down at Myitt and then looks up again at Hadrin.
<I don't know that we really have a plan for the other part of our mission yet, only that we know it must be accomplished successfully. Because of our usual...meeting place...this Yeerk has come across some information that could possibly alter the course of the timeline, which must be avoided at all costs.>
-
Myitt sighs again, rubbing at her irritated eye. "That's just it," she whispers. "Tamora cannot be allowed to return to the Empire. She's just as much of a security risk as Zorish, with what she will know upon waking. That raises the question: Where will Tamora and...you know...where will they go, when this is over? To us? That's not very likely, given the rebellion's current situation. You're right, Ossanlin, we simply don't have the time or the resources to hold a sub-visser captive and interrogate him, or to harbor two uncooperative misfits. Not after a full base relocation. No matter how valuable a resource the sub-visser might be." Myitt glances at Tamara's sleeping form. "Whatever information we gain will have to be obtained while...hrm...extracting Zorish. Have I mentioned how awful I feel about this?" She looks away, glaring at the floor. "Deadly enemy or not."
Hadrin waits for the presumed conversation he cannot fully hear between Myitt and Ossanlin to reach its lull. "Yes, well. I don't know much about altering timelines, War-Prince Ossanlin, but if there is a risk to those who fight against the Empire, we will help as best as we both can."
-
Claxter had reentered the room with the others until further orders, and noticed Myitt whispering to his Prince. Being barefoot, it wasn't hard to walk quietly over and hear what Myitt was saying.
<<All we have to do is wipe Tamora's memory and put her somewhere away from Visser Three, and everything should be fine. As for the other person, I can't motivate myself to care much what happens. I doubt Visser Three would care to hunt Tamora down, though I'm not positive where she could be happiest.>> He said, using private speech that Myitt and Oss could hear.
-
((On my way home post when I get there))
Alic looked up, as if she actually expected to see the Mirage just hovering above a beat down motel in the morning light. She could hear Claxter, and really didn't like sitting around waiting in the Jeep. But where the hell were they supposed to land? Sighing, Alic climbed out of the Jeep and shrugged. Maybe she should have picked a more secluded place to wait for her "ride."
-
((Chad, I thought Claxter was in the other room, flying the ship? Would he really be able to hear Myitt whispering in another room? She was trying to make it so even Zorish, who is right there in the room, couldn't hear her. But, maybe make Claxter come in the room and stick his Andalite nose into their private conversation? >.> That certainly seems in character for him and his naivete.))
-
(I forgot that Myitt was supposed to be whispering to Oss. I edited.)
-
((Thanks Chad :) ))
Myitt glares at Claxter for interrupting their conversation. This little aristh is really getting to be an annoyance, she tells herself, but he does prove a point.
"Claxter," she whispers, "if this human, Tamora, becomes a security risk to my organization, then I will consider the possibility of a memory wipe. But for how many years of her life has she been conditioned to serve the Empire? It will be a difficult task, and while the lives of my people come well before anyone else, would...her sister...really want her around with permanent amnesia? Visser Three has a hair trigger temper, everyone on both sides of the war knows this. If we kill his officer and steal both of his human prizes, he may very well come after whoever is harboring them. It certainly won't be the rebellion, that's for damned sure." She narrows her eyes at the Andalite, still keeping her voice low, but it is full of smoldering anger. "As for the other person, if you can't motivate yourself to care about torturing someone to death, then you have a lot to learn about war, my friend."
Matthew, still sitting by the door to the main cabin, covers his eyes, oblivious to their conversation. "Whoa, dude, can someone please just get that guy some clothes already?"
-
Claxter decides to demorph. <<She only gets tortued because she allows herself to be. Terenia put herself in that situation. You know what? I don't know what to do with Tamora. I don't even know what to do with Efaen. I just know that this is wrong, and a large part of it is Terenia's fault. So no, I don't sympathize with her.>>
Just then, Claxter came to a realization. <<Wait a minute. The Humans are reported to win the war in this timeline. What happens to Visser Three? How long does the war go on after right now?>>
-
Myitt blinks, watching Claxter. Then she snorts laughter and quickly covers her mouth, trying to keep quiet.
"Oh," she whispers hoarsely, trying not to laugh, "you meant Terenia. Well, yes, frankly I don't care what happens to her, but here I am helping her fool of a sister. I'd like to make sure all of this business wasn't for nothing." Then she shakes her head, wiping laughter tears from an already irritated eye, and continues in a low tone of voice. "I don't know nor do I want to know what happens in the future."
Hadrin steps back, watching Claxter demorph with a sense of awe and unease. Once Claxter is fully back in Andalite form, Hadrin clears his throat.
"Hello, I'm Hadrin Five-Six-One," he says, stepping forward and mustering a great deal of courage to offer Claxter Justin's dark skinned hand in the typical human greeting. He forces a hopeful smile. "And you are?"
-
<<Oh. Yes, I meant Terenia. Not Tamora.>>
<You may call me Claxter.> He said openly to Hadrin. Myitt is a good friend of my current Prince, so any friend of hers should be a friend of mine. My last Prince...to put it mildly would be opposed to interacting with Yeerks.> Understatement of the year. Prince Fasool was like what Yeerks thought all Andalites were like. Almost to the point of being the poster child of the Yeerk view of Andalites.
-
Hadrin winces and shakes Claxter's thin Andalite hand. "Well, Claxter, the feeling is mutual, I hope we can work together. My host's name is Justin, he would like to offer his thanks as well for your assistance."
Myitt shoots Claxter a scathing look. "Actually, the person I was referring to was Zorish," she hisses lowly. "Does no one else quite understand the gravity of the situation? And just how much I despise torturing people? Especially...like this." She sighs, exasperated. "I suppose it is a necessary evil...as I told my friend Hadrin, any of us would be treated no differently in the custody of the Empire. I'm afraid things would be even worse than death, for you Andalites."
<Have I told you today just how much of a bucket of sunshine you are?> says Tara.
<Alright, you interrogate him while he starves. I'll just go hang out in what passes for a pool these days, and pretend not to think about it.>
<That might not be a bad idea.>
<And if he starts speaking something other than English?>
<I know more than a few words!>
<Uh huh. You're frighteningly eager,> Myitt teases.
<No, I'm not. Just stop complaining, will you?>
<Make me.>
-
(I think I got lost there.)
Claxter gave Myitt a slightly confused look. He wasn't axactly sure what they were talking about now, but he let it go. <It is nice to meet you too, Justin.>
-
Justin smiles nervously and steps back, pausing to listen to the conversation.
Myitt isn't sure how to interpret Claxter's look, but she spells out what she means, since he still doesn't seem to get it.
"We. Are going. To starve. A person. To death," she says slowly, making little hand gestures. "Not fun. Do not want. Have to do it anyway. Understand?"
<That's right, patronize him. He's just a kid,> says Tara sourly.
<He needs to do a lot of growing up, really fast. It's called the military.>
-
<Why can't you just see if he'll switch sides? Surely we don't need to kill him.> Claxter said. He hadn't thought that Zorish would wind up dead. He looked at Hadrin. Maybe he would have something to say. <Maybe he'll come around, given enough time?>
-
"Some people don't change, and most people say they'll change when their life is at stake," Myitt interrupts.
Hadrin shrugs. "I've worked for the Sub-Visser for quite some time now. I seriously doubt she'll cooperate with traitors by becoming one of them."
-
Claxter looked from Hadrin to Myitt to Zorish, but couldn't think of anything to say. So he just went back to the pilot station. <I will try to land the ship on a rooftop and pick up our friend so we can tend to our other problem.>
******************************
"You're getting close to the halfway point on morph time, Marco. Sure you won't just end this now?" Sukohn asked.
"I'd rather not."
"No one is coming to save you."
"Well, except for-OWW!!" Cody said before Sukohn nailed him in the stomach.
"Shut up."
"So you're on a time limit too? You know, I wonder why you're keeping me in here instead of taking me to Visser Three. Who are you working for? And if you already have my friends, why don't you parade them in here to mock me?"
"You don't need to know."
-
(( I'm going to have Tamora wake up in a few rounds. :)
EDIT: Or....maybe now if everything is at a stand-still?))
-
((I'm just waiting to be picked up))
-
((Ah. *pokes the pilot* Hey Chad, you with us? :P ))
-
(I think he was tring to find a place to land, I dunno how Alic is going to climb onto a rooftop.)
-
(I was thinking someone else would post.)
Claxter managed to find a spot large enough to land the ship, and gently set it down. <Hopefully this will hold the ship. Is there a way to hold some of the ship's weight? Aliciania. If you have a morph capable of coming to the nearest rooftop, make your way up here. Try to find a quick way here.>
-
Matthew stands up and walks over to the bridge, staring out at the rooftop the ship had landed on. "How am I supposed to get down from my car?" he asks. "I know the whole 'jumping into a dumpster' thing is real popular, but I'm tired and I've had enough near death experiences for one day."
-
<Perhaps there is a roof access path you could take down. I just don't want to land in the lot and have a vehicle drive through and run into us.>
-
Alic looked at the building where the Mirage had landed. Single story, not bad. How Matthew would get down she was not sure. "Ya know. This sucks. I miss just being able to drive." It was mroe said to herself than anyone else, not that they could hear her anyway. She wrinkled her nose at the smelly dumpster and walked behind it. There was just enough room for her to demorph and morph again. Hopefully no one was around to witness it, especially yeerks.
"Ugh, this is disgusting." Not only did it smell horribly, but Alic had to watch her step. Barefoot behind a dumpster wasn't ideal. As quickly as she could, she demorphed and without pausing morphed into a pidgeon. She had a few Earth bird morphs, mainly harmless birds you would see outside your home everyday. A few minutes later she was flying to the rooftop.
-
Claxter opened the exterior hatch of the ship to let in whatever Alic had turned into.
-
"Well, I guess this is it, huh?" Matthew says with a shrug.
"Yeah, I guess it is, now, isn't it?" says Myitt, smiling. She drags him into an uncharacteristic hug and slaps him hard on the back. "You did real good, kid." She holds him out at arm's length. "See you around, okay?"
"Drive safely, Matthew," says Hadrin. Such an oddly innocuous thing to hear in an alien spaceship.
Matthew nods, looking at Hadrin, Ossanlin and Claxter. He even pauses to give a last glance at Tamora and Zorish, still unconscious and unmoving. He tried to push out of his mind the thought of his outcast alien acquaintances taking hostages, but it was something that kept nagging at him. But these were the good guys. Right?
"First, I gotta find a can of Red Bull. Then, I need to drive back home so I can have the best night's sleep ever, and think of something good to tell my mom when I roll in at noon."
Myitt grins and helps him out the hatchway. "Oh, wait!" she cries. "I almost forgot your computer. You'll need it for...security purposes."
Matthew watches as Myitt fishes his cube from where she had stored it earlier in her backpack. She hands it back to him and they head outside while he stuffs the small cube into his jeans pocket.
They manage to find a creaky old roof access ladder, and Matthew makes his way down, Myitt watching anxiously.
<Don't tell me my fear of heights has grown on you?> Tara says, faux-mockingly.
<Of course not. I'm just worried about the boy, he's done a lot for us and he still has a long drive, bandaged up.>
<I'm sure our little band of lackeys will look after him.>
<Yeah...I hope so.>
Matthew glances up at the roof as a pigeon flutters up towards the ship, but pays it no further mind, heading to his car and driving back off into the desert morning.
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((Hey guys, sry about the slow posts...Finals this week...I'll try to post sometime tomorrow, but we'll see how it goes. If you guys need to Yeerk the ship...well Claxter's already piloting it anyway. Hopefully I'll be able to post soon.))
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((aww, it's okay Ossie. Good luck on your exams!))
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((Thanks T. :D One done, three to go.))
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((Good luck Luke my man! Take your time :) ))
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Ossanlin looks around the med-bay. <<I'm sorry Myitt, I hope to be able to reason with Zorish somewhat, but if he'll not listen, I'll do what I must. I don't like killing, we've both seen enough of it for ten lifetimes, but this is still a war and death, unfortunately, can be a necessity. There isn't an easy answer to this problem, we'll just have to hope for the best. This could all end up failing horribly. In the mean time, I think we should try to formulate a plan for locating and dealing with the main reason for this trip.>> Ossanlin lays a hand on Tara's shoulder for a second and smiles a bit before turning and trotting to the bridge.
Ossanlin broadcasts a wideband thought. <Thank you for your assistance Matthew. Aliciania, please hurry, we must intercept our other...problem.>
Post Merged: May 06, 2010, 03:55:32 PM
((Thanks Tara, I've still got a couple left tomorrow, but looking forward to the summer. :D And you're gonna visit this summer! You promised! I'm holding you to it.))
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Zorish finally feels his hosts conscious mind begin to stir, and he realizes that the time for reconnaissance is over. Tamora's thoughts are a blurred mess of the final moments before the faux Escafil Device detonated, punctuated with a lengthy emptiness.
<What happened?> Tamora demands as soon as she has gotten her bearings slightly.
<We seem to be in a predicament of sorts,> Zorish says calmly.
<Predicament? What predicament? I thought you had a plan?>
<I did.> Zorish states, <It obviously failed. We are currently aboard an Andalite ship, which means that we are deep in enemy territory. I suggest that you keep your thoughts to yourself for the time being and allow me to focus.>
<But->
<Not now, Tamora,> Zorish snaps. He refocuses on the world around him. So far he has not let on to the fact that his host is awake, but there is no way to hide that for an extended period of time. Inhaling deeply, Zorish opens his eyes, otherwise remaining perfectly still.
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Myitt nods, smiling grimly at Ossanlin, walking over to Zorish and looking down at Tamora's body.
Her eyes are open.
"Ossanlin, I think you'd better come in here," Hadrin calls, noticing as well.
Myitt looks down at Tamora, meeting her gaze. "Good morning, Sub-visser," she says. "How long have you been listening?"
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Alic had demorphed as soon as she had landed in the Mirage. <Did I miss anything good?> It seemed as she hadn't, because that was when someone asked for Ossanlin. Alic stepped into where the voice came from, and looked down at the human <<I don't think she was worth all the trouble, personally.>> Alic spoke in private to her fellow andalites, and Myitt.
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<<Rescuing this gril will help my conscious when I remove Terenia from efaen's life. When we return I would like to speak to Elayne about Visser Three's fate when the Humans win Earth. That may help me protect Terenia.>> Claxter said privately to Alic.
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Hadrin turns and watches Alic demorph, wide-eyed. "I...I...I'm Hadrin," he stammers, every instinct in his mind screaming that he was outnumbered, surrounded by yet another Andalite. He shakes his head and reminds himself that they had more serious matters to attend to than his own recurring alarm. "My host's name is Justin. I'm a friend. And well...look." He gestures at Zorish.
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It just occured to Claxter that since Alic was inside, they should get out of there. He closed the hatch. <Beginning takeoff procedures.> He said. The ship came to life once more and lifted off the roof. <Heading to...where are we going now? Myitt? Which way should we go?>
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Myitt was too far away, in the other room, and too involved in waiting for Zorish's response to answer.
Hadrin looks through the door to the cabin at Claxter and shrugs helplessly.
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<Aliciania, do you know where the Yeerk's main forces are? You seem like you've been to Earth before a time or two.>
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<Hi.. Hadrin... and Justin.>
<Not around here.> Alic looked away. That was the truth, of course. But she rarely went out searching for ways to destroy the yeerks on her own. She had tried to leave as normal a life as she could on Earth. <Myitt? We need to know where to go.>
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"Why don't you trace the ship, as before?" Myitt says tersely, keeping her attention on Zorish. "If that fails, I would head towards my favorite place on Earth. Southern California."
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<Hm. I agree. Southern California. It's beautiful there.> Alic smiled with her eyes.
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"Yeah. Real great," Myitt says dully.
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Zorish focuses on the one that spoke to him, one of the humans of the group. He is surprised to see and hear a new Andalite - a female this time - and wonders how many of them are lurking around. The others in the room are a seemingly human girl, the rebel Yeerk no doubt, and his own personal traitor, Hadrin.
"Not long," Zorish lies smoothly to Myitt. His gaze trails over to Hadrin and he fights to keep anger from warping his facial expression as he speaks lightly, "it seems that we have landed ourselves in a bit of a predicament, lieutenant."
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Hadrin turns to Zorish in surprise. He walks closer. "It seems that you have, sir," he says quietly.
"Do you know where you are?" Myitt asks. "You're on an Andalite ship. You're a prisoner of the civil rebellion. It's not very wise to start lying to us."
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<So, he isn't even going to pretend to be loyal,> Zorish says silently, noting Hardin's use of 'you' instead of 'we'. He turns his focus back to Myitt, pressing his lips together into a thin line.
"My location is fairly obvious," Zorish says, "this craft is clearly not Yeerk, and there are a number of Andalite vermin wandering around. So yes, I know where I am. I suppose the matter in question then is why I am here."
((is Zorish in restraints of any kind?))
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"You are here because we organized for you to be here," says Myitt. "We need information on the Empire's most recent offensives. You can cooperate with me, Zorish, or you can choose not to. You and your friend Hadrin have been underlings of Visser Three for quite some time, so you know that he won't likely send a rescue team after someone he considers expendible. Besides, he does not know where you are."
She leans close, her expression cold. "I can perform a memory dump on you, and we can discuss the terms of your release. But make no mistake, Sub-Visser, I will get the information I want from you."
((Yeah, I think the gurney has a stasis field that prevents everything but your eyes/head from moving?))
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"Ah," Zorish says with a bit of a disdainful sigh, "yes, I thought that might be what you were after. Well, I'm sure you will not be too surprised if I decline handing over the Empire's secrets. You understand, of course. In fact, I am sure you would do the same if the roles were reversed."
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Myitt smiles mirthlessly. "Naturally." She walks around the gurney. "Well. In any case, you can't move. I can simply perform a memory dump on you regardless of how keen you are on the idea." She rocks back and forth on her heels. "How long do you have until you will need to feed? No, I don't expect you to answer truthfully. But I ask because it will allow us to even think about releasing you alive. Gives us a timeline, shall we say."
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Zorish smirks right back, an equal lack of mirth in his expression, "Two days, actually. A little less, I suppose, depending on how long I was unconscious. I don't recommend a memory dump, by the way. I have heard that conducting one on someone who is resisting such measures poses quite a few risks. The most obvious being the death of the subject; namely, me. It would be very difficult for you to gather your information on a dead captive now, wouldn't it?"
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Myitt smiles at the floor. "As I said, Sub-Visser, I will extract the information I need, one way or another. I can wait two days. I understand it's difficult to focus on anything, much less resisting, when you are starving."
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Zorish nods, his face remaining expressionless, "I work for Visser Three. This is not the first time I have been threatened with Kandrona starvation, so I do not bend to such coercion easily. Although," Zorish allows a sneer to spread across his face, "I am surprised that a noble freedom fighter such as yourself would stoop to the same levels as the Visser."
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"I never claimed I was noble," says Myitt, pulling her backpack over and pulling out the small black box she had placed inside it. She walks back over to the gurney and sets the box down on a small hovering table. "I just don't like the government. I don't want to inhabit other creatures without their cooperation, or without mutual respect." Myitt carefully pries open the box and scrapes around inside it, the contents unseen. "But in this war, Sub-Visser, is it really surprising any of us have fallen to such disgraceful levels of misconduct?"
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"Interesting," Zorish says, nodding, "perhaps we are not too different. I also decline from infesting involuntary hosts. It's much more preferable to work with someone who wishes to share their body than one who fights constantly. As for the government," Zorish attempts to shrug, but when he is held back by the restraining force field he settles for a wry grin, "give me a government that is perfect and I will be happy to jump ship."
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Myitt pauses, glancing at Zorish, hands still digging in the box. "Is any government perfect? People are easily coerced into following a group of leaders, and that kind of power and influence? I have yet to find a race it hasn't corrupted." She purses her lips, amused. "Now, as for your eagerness to leave the confining beliefs of the Empire, I suppose that's meant to make me feel sympathetic. Like, maybe you'll come over to our side, support our little civil war." Myitt lifts out two glowing wires, and energy crackles between the two invisible nodes a the ends. "I'm sorry, Sub-Visser, but of course you'd be too much of a security risk. We can attempt to extract what we need, wipe your memories, and keep you under permanent confinement. Unless, of course, you'd accept stasis and ejection into space. Or returning to your boss." She shrugs. "It's your choice."
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Ossanlin trots back to the door to the med-bay and watches as Myitt works on the sub-visser. He raises his eyebrows a bit in surprise. He didn't know this side of Myitt. He found it somewhat calming to find out that he was not the only one who knew how to put aside morals if necessary, however unfortunate it was. He trots in after Myitt pulls out the device and walks up to the other side of the gurney and looks down at Tamora's suspended form.
<Greetings sub-visser. Pleasure to make your aquaintance I'm sure.> He looks up at Myitt. <I didn't know you brought a portable device with you, that's extremely fortuitous.> He smiles at Myitt. Privately to Myitt... <<I hope this works, I'd rather not resort to...other tactics.>>
<I believe you at least are owed an explanation of your location. You are onboard the Apix Mirage, my personal ship. Technically it is the Captain's Yacht of the Dome Ship Tyrennian, but I've made some rather large modifications. My name is Ossanlin-Rethin-Sephirel Captain of the Dome Ship Tyrennian and Commander of the Marin Isquin Armada.> Ossanlin almost never used his Commander title as he was hardly ever with the Armada, but he thought a little extra garnish might help his cause.
<As for your purpose here, I believe Myitt has illustrated that quite well. I do hope you'll cooperate eventually, I don't like to have to resort to certain...tactics.> Ossanlin stares down at Zorish with an indifferent expression.
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Zorish laughs softly, "You misunderstand me, rebel. I have no intentions of leaving the Empire or of assisting you. I am merely pointing out that while we are on opposite sides of the war we are not entirely unlike one another. The Yeerk Empire is far from perfect, in fact with a dapsen like Visser Three rising to the rank he has I'd say it has more flaws than I would like to admit, but the Empire works well for me."
When Ossanlin introduces himself Zorish betrays a sneer of disgust for only a moment before smoothing his expression back to neutral, "I would say that I am pleased to make your acquaintance, Captain, but I am afraid that would be a lie. Now, idle threats do not work very well unless I know what I am being threatened for. So tell me, what is it you want, exactly?"
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<Oh, there are many reasons, sub-visser. Removing a sub-visser from power, inhibiting the Earth invasion, loss of a superior officer for the Abomination...but the main one as Myitt has already discussed with you, is intelligence. From what we know, you are in charge of a great deal of logistics involving the Earth invasion. You know a great deal of things that will be very useful when we come to stop this travesty. Pool locations, front organizations, which human leaders have been...replaced. What's inside that fine, membranous neural network of yours will allow us to end the war here quickly and effectively. Synchronous strikes against every pool location at once, destruction of orbital platforms, the "loss" of infested human leaders. Your years of infiltration work will come to a very abrupt and fatalistic halt. I believe that covers most of it.> Ossanlin smiles a bit as he watches the sub-visser.
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Claxter made his way towards South California, making sure the cloaks were on and everything was optimal for gettoing there unseen. Myitt was acting a bit coldly, which kind of disappointed him. He thought she was nice, but apparently she was just nicer than most Yeerks. Her brother wasn't perfect either, seeing as he tried to infest Efaen against his will. It would have worked, but Claxter stopped it. Then she went and let Terenia back inside her head, also because of him.
He tracked the path of Zorish's ship, and made his way until he was over the town that the ship detected Yeerk technology over. <<I believe we have made it to the right area. Now we just need to find Sukohn.>> He said privately to everyone but Zorish.
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Zorish's eyebrows shoot up at Ossanlin's little speech. For a moment he remains otherwise expressionless, but then a small smile spreads on his face.
"You are correct in saying that you would be successfully removing a Sub-Visser from power, yes," he says slowly, "although from personal experience it is not wise to remove those in authoritative positions at random. Tactically speaking, is it not more important to remove those who pose the most threat? I hardly pose a threat to the mighty Andalite fleet."
Zorish's smile widens slightly, "as for the information you seek, I'm afraid you may have been misinformed as to my purpose. Yes, I am in charge of intelligence on Earth, but not the intelligence which you seek. As we all know, Visser Three is an Andalite-obsessed buffoon who would rather die than take a human host. My job is not to procure Yeerk pools or Earth leaders. In fact, I have no direct influence over the invasion force. My assignment is to gather intelligence on human culture, which is then reported to my superior" Zorish sneers at the word 'superior', but quickly settles his expression back to neutral.
"So, Andalite, I cannot help you. Not unless you want to know about human religious celebrations or sporting events. Did you know that these creatures actually consider punching one another in the face a sport?" he snorts, "Barbarians."
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"Well, then," Myitt says cheerfully, although she is not smiling, "you won't mind if we find out for ourselves." She carefully places the wires next to Tamora's ears, stepping back and letting the microscopic fibrils snake their way into Tamora's head. The usual holoscreen flickers into view above the small black box.
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((I'm not actually sure if resisting a memory dump is dangerous, but I'm assuming so because this is the first time I've seen it being used as an investigative procedure other than Visser, and Edriss was voluntarily accepting it in Visser. I think that if it were that useful/safe of a technique it would have been used more often.))
"Get away from me you traitor!" Zorish hisses, twisting his head as far as he can under the restraints, "Just because I have nothing of worth for you does not mean I want you treating me like a medical experiment. If I resist I might die, and my host with me and perhaps even whichever of you dapsens is linked up with me. Is it really worth that risk?"
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"If you have nothing to hide, why resist? And if you have something of worth to us, the computer will record it. So, yes," says Myitt calmly, sitting on the opposite gurney and placing the other ends of the wires up against her own host's ears.
((Not sure if it would actually cause damage just from resisting, but I figured it wasn't used as often because the Empire just preferred to get their information from traitors the hard way -_-; ))
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Alic kept her distance and decided to keep her thoughts to herself. She took a few steps out of the way of Myitt and Ossanlin. Alic couldn't help but smile at the comment about punching people for sport, since that was what she did while on Earth anyway. Hopefully this process would be over soon and they could finish their mission.
Deciding to leave this to those who knew what they were doing, Alic joined Claxter. <How long?>
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Zorish gritted his teeth and fixed Myitt with a defiant glare, "why resist? Why wouldn't I resist someone who is on the opposite side of the battle lines?"
Inhaling deeply as the wires affix themselves to his Yeerk body Zorish's grimace smooths out into a cold smile, "fine, you wish to know my secrets? I promise you that there is little you will find interesting. You have either been given very poor information or are seeking for more than what it is you claim."
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Ossanlin's expression remains impassive. He'd hoped to gain some useful information from Zorish, but of course that would only be a bonus. The true goal was Tamora, and ultimately, Efaen's freedom. <Hmm, well all living creatures are barbarians on some level. We shall see what you know, my friend. Myitt is very experienced with this sort of thing. You say you know nothing of interest, but I highly doubt that is the truth. I'm sure enough about human culture could be garnered for your purposes simply by infesting humans and compiling information from their memories. Why place a senior officer in charge of such mind-numbing work? Certainly you're not trying to co-exist with humans, that would be against the nature of most if not all Imperials, yes? If what you say is true, you will not be missed and will be easily replaced. And even if this is the case, you will have at least some useful information. Even the simplest information such as the internal schematic of a Blade Ship, which you certainly know, will be useful. So do please relax and enjoy having your thoughts read.>
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Myitt doesn't reply to Zorish, already homing in on Zorish's memories. Tara's eyes are closed as she sits on the gurney in a sort of dazed state, but they are moving behind her eyelids. As she had done only a few days ago with Terenia, she could now flip through Zorish's memories as easily as her own, or her host's.
In Zorish's mind, Myitt appears dressed much as she is now, in Tara's body--rags and all. She crosses her arms, standing on the bustling bridge of a Blade Ship. The image flashes, the scene melts. Myitt is a co-pilot on a Bug fighter, standing next to Zorish. She looks over at her, in this memory-realm, which is also being recorded and displayed by Myitt's portable device.
"So, Sub-Visser," she says, leaning on the fighter's control panel. "Where shall we begin? Hmm? Perhaps with the interesting bits?"
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<The city is coming up on the viewscreens. Although this is really the easy part. finding the enemy will be the hard part, and he may have already taken one of the bandits by now.>
(You know, Tobias might see the burn marks on Marco's house door during one of his patrols. Does anyone want to do that? Or have a message come in from the peace movement?)
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((how detailed do you guys want the memory dump to be? I don't want to hold up the progress of the Sukohn storyline))
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((Doesn't hafta be too detailed...and no offense or anything Chad but I really don't much like playing or interacting with the Animorphs...I guess I'm not great at reproducing K.A. Peace Movement can contact the Mirage, though...will post laterish, Iron Man 2 time. :P))
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(I kind of got that idea. Which is why I decided to not have Sukohn infest Marco. I don't want to step on any toes.)
<I suppose if Sukohn is working independently, and that's a big if, then his ship may be cloaked above ground. I can try to run a sensor sweep of any ship, but that may alert the enemy to our presence.>
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Ossanlin glances at Hadrin before commanding the computer to watch the vitals of both Zorish and Myitt. <I know you're uncomfortable here, but please watch them. If Myitt appears to be experiencing any difficulties, if any alarms sound, or if anything seems to be abnormal, please call for me immediately. I must go to the bridge.>
Ossanlin trots out of the med-lab without further ado and trots the short distance to the bridge. <Looks like everything's nominal. We don't have any time to waste, the Imperial already knows we're after him, we don't need to worry about alerting him. We simply need to ascertain his location as quickly as possible and take him into custody. Run a broad-band sensor-sweep over the city Claxter. This may be...difficult. I do wish we had asked Matthew for some of his 'clothing'.>
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<Yes my Prince.> Claxter started a sweep over the city for any ships sitting out in the open. It was a large place, but he tried to be methodical and start in the housing area assuming one of the bandits would be taken from their home.
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Zorish grimaces, steeling himself against the memory dump program that is now ingrained in his own brain. The images that flash on the holoscreen are messy and indistinct at first, snippets from both Tamora and Zorish's life that form a sort of fast-motion nonsensical movie. After awhile the information begins to sort itself out into coherent data, beginning with Zorish's appointment as the Director of Human Affairs, a position that was agreed upon as a sort of tenuous compromise between the Council, Visser One and Visser Three.
The images flash forward to Zorish working undercover, on earth, for several years. First in the body of a middle-aged corporate guru and then, in an attempt to gather data about youth culture and the ease of human manipulation at a young age, in Tamora.
There is only one Yeerk Pool that Zorish frequented, the heavily populated Southern California pool that has become large enough to be read on Andalite sensors. Zorish seems to be aware of another pool of equal size somewhere in the Manhattan area, but details are sketchy.
Further investigation reveals basic schematics of the areas Zorish frequents on the Blade Ship: bridge, mess halls, Yeerk Pool, quarters and docking bay. The names of a few other high ranking Yeerks also appear, along with the name of Zorish's "superior", a human-controlled Yeerk of the rank Sub-Visser Fifty-One who, despite having a lower rank and a somewhat worrisome companionship with her host Taylor, was put in control of the major tactical decisions over Zorish.
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((i dont even know what we're doing now.... lol))
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((Kinda waiting on Tara to dictate what happens with the memory dump i think...))
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((yup, that's what I'm waiting for))
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After some time scanning the area, claxter finally found something. <<I believe we've found what we're looking for.>> Claxter said privately to Oss, Alic, and Hadrin. <<I can set us down within walking distance so Prince Ossanlin and Aliciania can come at them from ground level while I remain in the ship to make sure Sukohn doesn't take off and either get away or fire from atmosphere. If that sounds fine to you, my Prince.>>
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((Ahh! Sorry guys! :P))
Myitt dwells at length on the new information, and particularly focuses on Zorish and Tamora's semi-mutual relationship.
<Interesting,> she muses. <It appears you aren't so different, after all.>
Of course Myitt already knew this, but she was curious to feel how Zorish felt about his interesting situation with his host.
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"We have an agreement," Zorish says out loud. The holoscreen flickers, bringing forth the memories that are associated with his words. Scattered conversations flicker across the screen, an internal dialogue between Yeerk and host, occassionally strained but always moving in a common direction. It is clear from the images that Tamora has little to no regard for humanity or the fate of Earth. Instead, her only goal is to stay as far away from humans as possible, a goal that seems easiest achieved through her mutual relationship with Zorish.
Zorish, on the other hand, originally only wanted a voluntary host for simplicity purposes. As memories continue to flash across the screen, though, it becomes evident that their relationship has grown from Yeerk-host to a sort of cautious friendship. Zorish has been offered more powerful, influential human hosts but turned them all down to remain with Tamora.
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<<If you can find a convenient low-density area to land the ship near the Yeerk's location, that shoul work. As for ground attack, well Aliciania has clothing for her human morph but I do not, nor do you Claxter, and my other morphs would be rather obvious in a human city.>>
Ossanlin turns towards Alic a moment. <<We're short on time Aliciania, you know more about Earth than anyone here except perhaps Tara, is there any way you can acquire clothing for my human morph quickly and discretely? We need to move on this Imperial as soon as possible, but we mustn't draw human attention...that could be nearly as disastrous...>>
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Alic nodded slowly, thinking. <<Yes. I don't have my credit cards... Guess I'm stealing.. I can do that.>> She knew she should be close on the sizes for them, and she really needed something herself. She would be going in in skin tight clothing and no shoes, so definately needed extra.
<<This city has a lot to it.. Claxter look for a building where you see people coming in and out a lot. They should be coming out with bags full of items. We want somewhere kind of busy so the gaurds inside don't notice me stealing.>> That would turn out just great.
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Myitt nods, standing next to Zorish in Tara's body, watching as they flicker through different scenes and conversations from Zorish's life.
"What you're doing is illegal, you know," she says, glancing at Zorish inside his own memories, arms crossed. "Host sympathy. There is such a fine line between being voluntary and being something more." She smiles, shaking her head. "You poor kid."
Externally, Myitt opens her eyes. "I've seen enough," she tells Hadrin, who helps unhook them both from the memory probes.
After a few moments of recovery Myitt hops off the gurney and looks down at Zorish. "So, Zorish," she says with a sigh. "I think we have what we needed from you."
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Zorish opens Tamora's eyes, the bright lights momentarily blinding him after so long in the darkness of his memories. He squints until the spots begin to clear and, when they do, glares at Myitt. He does not like that she accused him of something illegal. In his mind it was never a question of legality, merely of simplicity. He doubted that he would be faulted for his relationship with Tamora.
"Well if you've got what you came for," he says tersely, "may I leave then? Or would you like to abuse your power even more, despite my willingness to cooperate?"
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Myitt looks down at Zorish, considering. "Zorish, do you know who I am? My name is Myitt One-Nine-Five, formerly Two-Eight-Two, of the Taion Yerralash pool. There are a lot of people who would pay to know that I'm here, and for Ossanlin's name and affiliations with the Yeerkish civil rebellion." She glances at Hadrin, who is busily saving the computer files. "Not to mention your friend, who of course isn't planning to resume his Imperial career. Do you really think we can just let you walk back into Imperial society, and not say a word?"
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Claxter found a large building that looked like it was made up of multiple shops. There was a back area where there weren't many people that he found a spot to land safely. <<This should be a suitable place to acquire some clothing.>>
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Alic had morphed and was now human. "Give me a few minutes... They don't like shoppers who dont wear shoes who also have no money." She looked at the shops. "This will do." As soon as the hatch was open, Alic had exited the ship and walked into one of the clothing shops. This one had quite a few people inside so the employees would pay less attention to her, but the people who did see her couldn't help but stare at the clothing she was wearing.. or wasn't.
Browsing through racks as quickly as she could without looking even more suspicious, Alic did have her arms full. Getting shorts and a t-shirt for her was the first thing she did, the easiest. She also had a pair of flip-flops on top of that. She managed a couple shirts for Claxter and Ossanlin but didn't have enough arms to add the pants or shoes.
She set her items down and when no one was looking grabbed a couple of shopping bags. Within a couple minutes she had 2 pairs of shoes - hopefully ones that fit - and two pairs of pants. Shortly after, all the items were shoved into the bags, and Alic walked calmy out the door.
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Claxter saw Alic coming out of the door, and hopefully wouldn't be followed out shortly by any officials. The hatch remained open, and as soon as she came close enough she would seem to disappear behind the stealth field.
Elsewhere, Sukohn had given his temporary host a bath and fresh change of clothes so he wouldn't look so ragged. Also a meal to get his stomach to stop rumbling.
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Ossanlin wasn't terribly comfortable with placing Alic in any danger, he was also not terrbily comfortable with the blatent disregard of human laws in taking the clothing, but the timestream was worth far worse. Outwardly Ossanlin appeared calm and collected, but inside he couldn't keep a worm of fear from wriggling up for Alic.
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Alic didn't look back once and walked straight where she knew the ship was waiting. If someone had seen her they would have said something by now, so she was in the clear. She had easily made it back and met her friends inside. "You know. We've been real lucky our trip here so far. That was WAY too easy." She smiled, almost hoping someone had challenged her.
She set down the bags and went through them, setting the clothing items in front of Ossanlin and Claxter. "I do hope these fit." Alic slipped the t-shirt over her head, deciding to leave her other clothing on underneath. The shorts were on soon after.
"Your turn. I can look away."
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Claxter began morphing Human again, and examined the clothes. He managed to get all the clothes on without them being backwards or anything silly, and was soon ready for public. Afterwards he lifted off and made for a position closer to Sukohn's ship.
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Ossanlin smiles a bit wryly at at Alic and begins the morphing process himself. <<Why would we ask that you look away Aliciania? It is only humans that wish to hide their external reproductive anatomy. Simply because I am taking the genetic frame of a human does not mean I have begun to act upon some of their sillier foibles.>>
Ossanlin finishes his morph and looks down. His build is fairly athletic but a little stocky due to the Helghast DNA. His skin is borderline pale, but not sickly white by any means. His face is just a tad bit pretty for a male, with high, light cheek bones and a small chin. Something around his eyes is reminiscent of Tara while his hair color and texture as well as his mouth structure are reminiscent of Michael. "Humans have such...unusual customs, besides, I'm not exactly certain about how all this works..." Ossanlin gestures at the clothing and whispers under his breath... "ssserrtannnn exxact-t-tely ssserrrtan...tanuh." He shuts his mouth and stop playing with human syllables. Now was not the time.
Ossanlin glances over at Claxter and uses private thought-speech instead of vocalizations. <<I really need someone onboard the Mirage I can trust Claxter. Aliciania and Myitt have to come along because of their knowledge on humans. Hadrin will come as well, as long as Myitt trusts him. I don't particularly want him on my ship without being present myself. I have some sense of the timestream and I hope I'll be able to feel when it is righted. You're the only other being here who knows enough about Andalite technology to efficiently run the Mirage. And I certainly don't wish to leave Zorish here on his own either. When Myitt is done with the memory procedure, I'm going to lock down the med-bay. It will open only on your command...or mine. I need you to track the location of Yeerk tech to help us follow the Imperial, and if he tries to take off, I need you to disable or destroy his ship. It will be a mess if it comes to that, but he can't get away. He simply can't. You're our last line of defense, if he gets by you....well we just won't think about that.>>
-
<Prince Ossanlin has a point, Aliciania. I see no reason for you to leave the room, though you don't have to stay.> Claxter said.
<<You can trust me, my Prince. I will not let them escape.>> He was happy to be the one to stay on the ship. There would surely be battle, and he didn't want to screw anything up on something so important. Though he also kind of wanted to ask the human prisoner some questions as well.
-
Hadrin, noting that Myitt is still busy with Zorish, steps over to Ossanlin.
Quietly he says, "Not to mean any offense, Ossanlin, but things have become rather difficult for several members of our organization to step foot onto Earth, especially in an area of bristling Empire activity such as southern California. As far as the Empire knows, I should still be under the Sub-Visser's stewardship. I haven't officially become a traitor to anyone except Zorish...at least, I hope not, at any rate. So I will accompany you, and though I cannot speak for Myitt, I believe her presence could increase our security risk. She may agree."
-
Ossanlin glances at Hadrin a moment and sends a private thought his way as well. <<I understand your plight Hadrin, you are in a precarious position, and the rebels have given up quite a lot to capture Zorish since you may not be able to operate on the good Visser's Blade sihp any more with your previous boss gone under suspicious circumstances. But your face would not be all that familiar would it? As far as I understood it, you and the sub-visser mainly kept to the Blade Ship. And Tara will be recognizable anywhere, but the fact is she has a lot more knowledge on humans and their culture than myself. I need her out there, and her Dracon arm too. Once we find the Imperial we may need to split into two groups to cut off escape routes so we need as many Dracons and Shredders as we can spare.>>
-
Hadrin nods, glancing back at Zorish. "Very well, you should ask her, and I will help if I can. Then who will stay here with the Sub-Visser? Your young cadet can fly the ship, but I doubt he could handle both the ship and keeping track of the Sub-Visser's vitals. You do know that it is possible for a Yeerk to kill its host, if it is in dire need? Knowing Zorish, I doubt she would take such a drastic measure...but I don't think we should leave the young aristh alone."
-
"I was actually not aware of that." Claxter said in response to Hadrin. "Aktooalllly. Ual. Ual."
-
"You wish to know what I think?" Zorish asks tersely, "I think that you engaged on a mission with limited details and endangered yourself and your comrades for information that could have easily been accessed by someone with a Gedd's knowledge of computer skills. I think that you have been misinformed and you have backed yourself into a corner. You've betrayed Hadrin's cover and you have made your presence on Earth known. Blunder after blunder, and you are going to make me suffer for your foolishness. That is what I think."
Zorish attempts to stretch, but fails as a result of the force field restraints. He lets out a low growl of discontent, "If you are going to kill me, would you at least give me the privilege of moving about my prison for my final moments. Or do you plan on slitting my throat while I lie here paralyzed?"
-
Myitt narrows her eyes. "I doubt a Gedd would have the knowledge of an officer of Visser Three," she says blandly. "I've seen your memories, Zorish, and I know what my mission is supposed to accomplish. But I won't kill you. Not yet."
Without another word she walks out, onto the bridge, and up to Ossanlin and Hadrin. She stops short for a moment, noticing that Ossanlin is human and strangely similar to both Tara and Michael, but she recognizes it must be him. "We need to deal with Sukohn and get back to the bar," she hisses. "I have to feed, now I hope that the situation will be under control for a couple of hours?"
Hadrin looks chagrined. "Well...Ossanlin was hoping you and I would be able to accompany him on Earth."
Myitt glances at Ossanlin. "Really. I'm afraid I can't, personally, because this whole thing is becoming rather pressing. It's exhausting enough performing memory dumps and playing the nasty bad cop without..." She sighs, waving a hand halfheartedly. "I'd say Tara could accompany you--"
<I'm in,> Tara says bluntly.
Myitt clears her throat. "Which she will agree to, but it's an awful risk for her to be seen in this place. I didn't exactly bring a pair of sunglasses." She looks over at Alic, then back at Ossanlin, then at Claxter, seeming to realize for the first time that two of them are clothed. "Did you go on a raid at Sears while my back was turned?" Myitt chews her lip. "No sunglasses, huh?"
-
<Alright. The hatch is open and Sukohn's ship has not moved. As far as I know, he is unaware of our presence, so perhaps he believes it would have been more difficult for us to find him. You may all leave when ready, and I will lift off to prepare for any kind of escape. As far as the chances of Zorish taking his host with him, I am unsure. Perhaps simply inject him with sedatives.>
-
((Oss isn't actually clothed yet Tara, the clothes are laying in a pile on the floor. I'm kinda waiting for Patty to post on that.))
Ossanlin looks over at Myitt. "Finished with the memory dump? Good. I didn't know it was your time to feed Myitt, we could really use you, but Tara has the knowledge about humans and human culture as well. As long as she can fire a Dracon, it should work out." Ossanlin worked his human jaw after so many words.
-
((Sorry. Thanks for the patience. I had the worst/scariest day of my life today. Ill be posting as soon as jacks done eating)
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(What happened? Are you ok?)
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(it involved jack making a run for it when we were on a walk. disappearing. neighbors and cops trying to find him for an hour. he was playing basketball in the clubhouse.)
"Habit.. "Alic muttered. Ossanlin being naked didn't really bother her, but it was wrong to stare. Not that she minded looking, either. She looked down at the pile of clothing to distract herself. "You can't go out like this, Oss. I think you should get the clothing on. I would appreciate it if you came, Tara. And yes, I managed to bag my own items and leave without anyone looking twice." She smiled. "I can get you some sunglasses somewhere if you really needed them..."
-
I was outside with the nieces recently, and one of them decided to run up the backyard hill towards the road. Imagine my frustration having to chase down two kids. They both got trouble for that. It didn't take very long to round them up, though. I'm glad you found Jack.)
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I was outside with the nieces recently, and one of them decided to run up the backyard hill towards the road. Imagine my frustration having to chase down two kids. They both got trouble for that. It didn't take very long to round them up, though. I'm glad you found Jack.)
((yeah ive been.. just. out of it today. dealin with jack's dad makin me feel like the most horrible mother and jack doesnt understand yet abot strangers and stuff, it was aweful. im glad he was safe the whole time but i've never had something emotional affect me so physically. i could barely move.. blah. anyway..))
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((Oh no, Patty! I'm just glad Jack's okay and don't beat yourself up...at least he's safe, and you are a GREAT mom, man, when I was a little kid I used to hide in those circular clothes racks when my mom took me to department stores...Heart Attack City for her, I'm sure. *hugs* Don't worry, and don't let Jack's dad get you down...))
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((Yeah Patty. I can't speak from personal experience, but I think every parent has an "oh crap where did my kid go?" moment at some point. It must've been terrible. *also hugs* But everything worked out and your #1 boy's safe and sound. :) ))
Post Merged: May 17, 2010, 04:16:36 AM
Ossanlin glances back at Alic and bends down to pick up a black shirt with some sort of logo on the top right. He had a bit of experience because of the Imperial uniform from earlier, but this clothing didn't seem to be as function-fitting as the uniform. He could see the basic shape of a human torso. The only feasible way to get it on his body would be to somehow....drop it from above. He places the shirt over his head and wriggles around trying to find the holes. He ends up with his head coned in a shirt sleeve, then re-adjusts and pokes an arm through the neck hole. He finally writhes around into the correct position and the shirt settles properly onto his body, looking around slightly bewildered. He looks up at Alic, his lower half still completely and utterly naked and lifts his arms up. "Honestly I don't know why humans bother with this silliness. Is this on correctly?"
-
((oh noes Patty! I'm glad that Jack is safe. Don't be too hard on yourself, Ossie is right....every parent has that happen to them. When I was two my dad left me at a Red Lobster and didn't realize it until he was on his way home.))
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(thanks you guys.. i am feeling better about it today. espeically knowing i havent left him anywhere yet... :p lol))
Alic tried not to laugh but it was obvious how amusing Ossanlin was to her right now. "They may seem silly.. but humans do tend to feel akward if they're not covering their skin." She shrugged. "Besides, the authorities would be involved if you ran around.. like.. that. So. The pants." She pointed to the shorts she was wearing. "The zipper goes in the front."
-
((I'm glad things are a bit better today Patty! *hugs*))
Tara nods, taking control. "Hey, it's Tara. Sure, guys. I'll come with you. I just don't know how great I feel about leaving Myitt here alone." She looks over at the aristh. "You're sure you'll keep an eye on her, too, Claxter?"
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<I will do my best, Tara.> Claxter said. He was beginning to think his own job might be as complicated as the ground operation. <Do not worry about this end, and just concentrate on your end.>
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Tara nods again. "Alright. Okay then." She points at Claxter. "I'm counting on you, you know." She walks toward the med bay and starts sneaking by the door, hoping to grab her backpack without Zorish seeing her.
-
Ossanlin shrugs and shakes his head as he bends down to pick up a pair of jean-shorts from the pile. He places them on the floor, waist-up, and steps into the leg-holes, he then bends awkwardly to pull them up. He can't seem to get them up over his posterior, then realizes that he can undo the button and unzip the metal teeth to make the opening into the top wider. He does so and pulls them up all the way. He then re-does the button to hold the shorts up, the fly still open. "There, am I...'acceptable?'"
-
Alic was happy at her ability to get the sizes right on Ossanlin and Claxter. Of all the things she could do well at..
"Er.. You need to pull up the zipper. Humans don't like seeing that very often." She clapped her hands and grinned. "Shoes! Need those. Hey, where exactly are we heading anyway?"
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"Sukohn's ship is currently one hundred and fifty Earth yards away to the northeast. According to the scans, it should still be there. Hundred. Hundereeed."
-
((I actually had a dream that I was mixing chemicals together to make a portable Yeerk pool... >.> Could have to do with those years working in a chem lab, too, but whatever! It was a GESB dream, huzzah! XD))
Tara slowly pulls the backpack out of the room and brings it onto the bridge. Myitt assumes control and looks around, leaning over to Ossanlin as he battles with his shorts.
"Ossanlin, where would be the most secure place to set up a pool in an Andalite ship, piloted by an aristh, harboring an Imperial prisoner we intend on destroying?" she asks with some trepidation, slinging the backpack onto one shoulder.
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<I am a Warrior. Barely a Warrior, but still a Warrior. The safest place would probably be in the same room with me, or inside a holding cell. You know, completely at my mercy.> He said, jokingly. It was true, though that probably wouldn't make her comfortable.
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Myitt smiles brightly. "Fine then, Warrior, I'd rather be at your mercy than our guest's." She jerks a thumb at the doorway to the medical bay. "Tara may be counting on you to make sure I'm not flushed down an Andalite toilet, Claxter, but I'm depending on all of you to bring my human friend here back in one piece." She looks from Ossanlin to Alic. "Watch your backs out there, okay? I want you guys coming back in one piece, too."
She lugs the backpack over to a small piece of wall sticking out, almost like a table with no chairs, and starts pulling out various items. Plastic rectangular tupperware, little silver packets of powder, a small nearly-spherical dull grey metal device, a small black wand-like thing connected to white wires that disappear back into the backpack, and four plastic bottles of water labeled 'Adirondack'. She dumps the water into the tupperware and sets the wand device under the surface, switching something on inside the Eastpak. She looks over at Claxter.
"Is this a good spot?" she asks, flicking one of the silver packets back and forth so it can settle, like it's filled with hot cocoa mix or oatmeal.
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"That is fine. I will keep an eye on it." Claxter said. He made sure he had his shredder, just in case, and turned to monitor the viewscreen.
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"Don't worry, Myitt. You know we'll be ok. Everything will go smoothly on both ends." But she was worried about Claxter being up here alone. He was so you g nad inexperienced.. But if Myitt was willing to stay behind, then she knew she would trust her decision.
"Let's go guys! I've already been in morph for 20 minutes. Times a wastin'!"
-
Cody was watching the viewscreen on the ship when suddenly a blip came up on the sensors.
"Hey boss, what are the odds of these guys actually finding us?"
"Pretty small, I guess. There are a lot of bugfighters in this general vicinity, and besides little Marco is almost out of time. Why?"
"Because they found us?"
"What!?" Sukohn yelled, and fell out of the chair he was in.
"Well, we are probably one of the only ships actually parked in the open here. Just saying."
"Fie time to think of that. Oh man, this is bad. We can't fire the engines and run. They're too close. Grab the dracons."
"How many do you think there might be?"
"The Prince, his Warrior, and the rebel girl at least. Maybe more tagalongs."
"At least we have a hostage."
-
Ossanlin looks down and sighs. He uses his fingers to make sure everything is packed safely inside before zipping up the fly on the shorts. He wriggles his toes. "Shoes? Oh yes, the artificial hooves. Such soft, vulnerable...feet.. .humans have. I can see the value of those at least." He looks around. "I don't see any." Ossanlin shrugs and then goes over to his battle harness which he had removed before morphing, and pulls the two custom-made handheld shredders. He walks back to Aliciania and holds one out for her. "I know you enjoy physical confrontation, but our enemies aren't fighting with tails alone."
He looks over at Myitt. "On the flight-deck is probably the most secure. Zorish should be safely restrained, but Claxter can seal the blast-doors to the flight-deck under desperate conditions." He smiles a bit, the human mouth feeling awkward with that expression. "And he is a Warrior, fully-so if a bit new to the position. Tara will come back safe, I'll see to it."
((That's awesome Tara! I had a weird dream the other night where I was chosen in some ancient civilization to become like a demi-god or something. Like there was this whole ceremony I went through in this golden palace and I had to go through the ceremony nude, but it didn't bother me because I was so excited because I was becoming a god-like being. It was very strange, but yet it was enjoyable. :p Not RAF related at all, I'm just tired and on a rant and thought I'd share. XD I like the fact that you had a GESB dream though. :D Even in REM you're a Human/Yeerk rebel. :D ))
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((Haha that's crazy Luke, dreams are so weird...I've been having very cinematic dreams lately, like one about Titanic and another one about World War II/Vietnam...yet somehow my family makes their way into them and I get this feeling that it's just not real...like, Mom, quit showing up in the middle of Normandy, I'll empty the dishwasher later! XD Yeah, I guess I do occasionally have alien rebeltasticness on the brain, lol...I wonder why??))
Myitt finishes preparing the pool and tosses the empty packets into her backpack, which is quickly becoming filled with trash. Little bits of greyish sand scatter here and there on the pale cabin table. She uses the wand device to mix the solution into a greyish sludge, and turns on one of the tiny portable Kandrona generators, setting it inside. The cabin is suddenly alive with static and a strange electrical odor, not unpleasant.
She exhales deeply and nods, wiping her hand off on her black jacket. "You're right. This isn't completely crazy, and we're all going to be fine." She flexes and unflexes her fingers. "Completely and totally...fine."
<Don't worry, man. We've got it covered,> says Tara.
<I hope so, I don't want you to come back dead. What use would you be to me, then?>
<Aww. You're so sweet.>
<Just don't get shot, please. I mean it.>
She leans her head over the little pool and disengages from her host, slithering into the water like a strange, tentacled grey-green amoeba before splashing under the surface and reforming into the natural sluglike Yeerk shape. The whole process takes a few minutes, but finally Tara looks up and idly dries her ear with a sleeve.
"So," says Tara, looking at the Andalites and grinning exactly like Myitt. She pulls out her Dracon and checks it. "Let's get this show on the road."
-
<Yes. It's time. I will handle things here. It's just one enemy, so he shouldn't be difficult to take down.> Claxter said. He was trying to remain calm, but there was an air of anxiousness about him. He was ready to have this over and get back to Efaen, as well as dispose of Terenia.
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Alic wrinkled her nose but took the shredder anyway. She wasn't happy to use any weapons.. It just wasn't as fun, and there were going to be more of the good guys anyway. But if it makes Ossanlin feel more at ease, she would carry it with her. She put an arm around Tara's shoulders and grins. "Let's go get em!"
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((Gotta go to work really soon guys, sry. I'll try to post after I get home.))
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((No worries Luke :P))
Tara grins at Alic, patting her on the back with her free hand. "Man, it's fun to be in charge of this kinda stuff again," she says genially. "I just promised Myitt I wouldn't get shot. No one is allowed to get shot, or she'll be very upset." She points at Ossanlin, then turns awkwardly and waves a finger at Alic for good measure.
-
Sukohn and Cody leave the ship armed with two dracons each, and position themselves in the surrounding bush. A holographic image of Cody sits in the bug, and the stealth hologram keeps them from being visually spotted by the Mirage's sensors. With luck, they may ambush the enemy, but in a last ditch effort may resort to using Marco as a hostage.
<Please don't do this.> Sukohn;s new host pleaded. <Don't use my body to bring pain and death to people.>
<Quiet. I need to concentrate.>
<Why me? What did I do to deserve this? Dear Lord, what have I done to deserve this kind of end?>
-
Ossanlin raises his hands defensively and looks around his body trying to find a place to stow the Shredder. He finally decides to tuck it under the waist-band of the jean-shorts, though it is terribly uncomfortable against his soft human skin. He rearranges his shirt so that it covers the butt of the weapon that sticks up into the small of his back. "I suppose we need to go. We have very little intelligence so it's a shot in the dark. Everyone expect everything and we might be okay." Ossanlin tries out another human grin and has an easier time with it this time.
He sends a quick private thought to Claxter. <<If that bug leaves the ground, hit it with pulse missile...that'll put on quite a show for the humans, but the Imperial cannot escape. And don't hesitate, bring the ship down if it so much as lifts off.>>
Ossanlin walks out of the flight-deck and commands the ramp open. He walks out onto grass with his bare feet. It seems awkward not to be able to taste anything, but he simply continues forward a few feet, waiting for the others to join him.
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<<Yes my Prince.>> Claxter said, and keyed in the command to arm the pulse missile.
-
Hadrin steps into the cabin and walks up to the hatchway. "Zorish is secure. I'm about to risk my life for strangers again in one day, with Andalites no less, and attempt to prevent an Imperial officer from killing morph-capable humans." He nods faintly, glancing at Tara. "Is this what every day is like, once you're officially a traitor?"
Tara grins. "Pretty much," she says, grabbing Hadrin's hand and shaking it vigorously. "Name's Tara, I guess we haven't officially met, so to speak."
Hadrin blinks in surprise. He looks around the cabin and notices the little tupperware pool in which Myitt is swimming. "And I am officially the only Yeerk on this mission. Excellent."
"Don't worry, buddy," says Tara. "We'll get through it okay. We're not allowed to get shot." She bounces up and down on her heels and looks at Alic with another grin. "Let's go then. Time's a-wastin'. Geronimo!" She hops outside of the ship and follows Ossanlin.
Hadrin swallows and steps down the ramp, drawing his Dracon and following them as well.
-
((i have to go to work. ill reply tonight promise.)
Alic had mimicked Ossanlin and tucked the shredder, uncomfortably, into the top of her shorts. It would have to do. She joined her friends and walked down the ramp out of the Mirage.
"Might not want to carry that out in public," she said looking at Hadrin. "It's just a little obvious."
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Hadrin coughs and looks down at the Dracon, putting it back into its holster. "Well, I'm also dressed up like some sort of Star Trek fan, so let's hope whoever sees us goes with the general idea. And isn't a Controller."
Tara looks back and giggles, putting her own gun away. "Yeah, good luck with that in this town."
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<<Claxter in which direction and how far away does the Imperial's ship lie as related to our current position?>>
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Tara looks around irritably. "Hey, Ozzy, do we have any clue where we're headed?" she asks.
Hadrin rolls up his uniform's sleeves. "I'd forgotten how hot it could get here, even in February," he murmurs.
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<<I believe I said it was 150 yards to the north, my Prince. A short trip. Although maybe that is considered more ground in Human form. Though obviously I couldn't just land the ship right next to Sukohn. He could blast our undersides.>>
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"I think the weather is nice actually." Alic kept glancing around as if expecting an ambush. Although the yeerk wouldn't recognize them, except maybe Myitt.
"Hopefully they don't know we're here. I like to surprise." She grinned.
-
Zorish listens as the crew of the ship discusses their plans. He cannot make out the spoken voices, but the occasional thought-speech enters his head. Eventually, though, that too falls silent. Zorish is, as far as he can tell, alone. Alone and stuck within the confines of a force field.
<Well....this is promising,> he says wryly.
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"We cannot afford to gamble on that. The Imperial knew we were after him, he may be expecting us. The ship is approximately 150 human yards to the North. We should split into two groups...if Aliciania goes with you Tara, and you come with me Hadrin, we should be able to private-thought each other to communicate. I will circle around to the West, Tara and Aliciania, please circle to the East. We should try to keep a good distance from the ship itself. Aliciania and I can also send and receive private thoughts from Claxter who should be able to update us on our positions relative to the Imperial's ship." Ossanlin nods to Hadrin and begins to circle to the West trying to keep quiet.
<<Thank you Claxter, I had not heard your original thought on the position of the Imperial's ship. Please monitor the situation closely, I will check in with you regularly to determine my position as well as Aliciania's in reference to the cloaked bug.>>
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<<Yes my Prince.>> claxter took a close look at the monitor to see the area. "Why am I in Human form again?" he asked himself quietly.
<<I do not see them in the shrubery outside the ship. They are either inside, or hidden by the hologram surrounding the sip.>>
-
Tara nods, having no real idea which direction East is, but she moves in the direction opposite from Ossanlin.
"They could be hiding out here in the open," she whispers to Alic. "I wouldn't put that past that sonuva****."
Hadrin moves along next to Ossanlin, looking around warily and trying to keep quiet, himself. He draws his Dracon again, not wanting to be unarmed.
-
Sukohn and Cody had communicators so they didn't have to talk loudly.
"Do you see them?" Sukohn asked.
"Not yet. They parked a fair distance from us."
"Well keep an eye out for anything suspicious. They probably won't rush in as Andalites."
"Sure."
-
Alic nodded and gave a small wave to the other group. "I'm not so good with direction either. This works." She tried to look casual walking down the street, but her fists were closed tight, as if someone might jump out in front on them.
-
"Look, Hadrin drew his Dracon," Tara whispers. "I really don't like having it holstered. My palms are itching." She glances at Alic. "Great, I look like a homeless Hot Topic reject, and you look like an overworked Sears sales manager. Please, tell me we aren't going to die."
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(You want to wait until they get to the ship and see the Sukohn hologram, or just get this started and over with?)
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((Let's just get this started and over with >:D ))
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(Okie dokies)
"I see Myitt. I can get her and her friend!" Cody said.
"Wait until they walk into the-"
TSEEEWWW
"trap. Darn it." Sukohn said.
Cody fired his dracon from the tree he was hiding behind. The setting was too low to be fatal, though he only had it set that way because he liked to cause pain. Since everyone would hopefully think Sukohn was in Cody's body instead of his new host, he stayed hidden to use cody as a distraction.
-
Tara's eyes widen at the sound and she pushes Alic out of the way, taking a hit in the left side of her torso.
"Aaaarghhh!" she cries as she hits the ground, half-paralyzed and convulsing in pain. One burning thought, to draw that goddamned Dracon, runs screaming through her mind; no use, her hands feel like they're on fire.
-
"Oh, God!" Alic almost fell herself, unprepared for Tara to take the hit. Now she was in the open and the enemy was behind cover.
She grabbed her shredder out of the waist of her shorts and flipped the setting high. If she couldn't get the damn yeerk she"d get the tree in her way first.
With decent aim she fired at the tree the enemy fired started from. <Ossanlin! Claxter! They found us. Use the two legs you've got and get over here!>
"Tara, you ok? Get your ass up or crawl behind something, I'll take care of the filth." She stood in front of Tara, shredder aimed, ready to fire at any movement. Right now she didn't care it was daytime and there were probably humans watching.
-
<We're going to die,> Tamora says, breaking the relative silence of the med bay. Zorish chooses not to answer her; he is far too busy sifting through their shared consciousness to find some sort of escape.
<Did you hear me?> Tamora demands, <We're going to die!>
<I heard you,> Zorish snaps, <we are not going to die.>
<Yes we are, they're going to kill us! They're going to ->
<Tamora,> Zorish says tersely, <stop yammering on like a fool. I cannot concentrate.>
Zorish waits for Tamora to protest, but only silence and a vague sense of resentment comes from his host. Satisfied, Zorish returns to his ponderings. They must have left at least one person behind, he thinks to himself, running through a mental list of those who he knew of on board, Not any of the Yeerks. No Andalite would leave a Yeerk free to walk around on his ship. The Andalites then. The girl, perhaps. Yes, that made the most sense. Captain Ossanlin would want to protect the defenseless Andalite girl, to keep her out of harms way.
Alright, Zorish thinks, may as well get her attention.
"Oi!" Zorish cries, surprised by how loud his voice sounds in the bare room, "is someone going to come get me or not!?"
-
Okay, no problem, was what Tara wanted to say, but all that came out of her mouth was a gritted growl of pain. Sweat from the heat of the burn trickled down into her eyes. She couldn't move any more than flopping around on the grass, her limbs uncooperative and spasmodic. Helpless! She'd been shot like this before, but her friends were in danger and she could only watch. It was as infuriating as it was terrifying.
-
Alic winced at Tara's response. Her moving was not an option right now. She hoped she vaporized the disgusting slug with her shots at the tree. With the free hand she grabbed one of Tara's arms and started dragging her away from where she fell. She kept her shredder aimed towards the bushes and was walking backwards slowly and awkwardly.
-
Tara winces as Alic pulls her along, yanking her arm. She wishes bitterly that she could tell her to just leave her there. The pain is starting to recede a bit, but her entire left side is still useless. Even her mouth isn't cooperating fully. Don't start drooling, she says to herself, and fights back the urge to laugh wildly at their insane situation. Weakly she tries to help Alic along by digging into the grass with her right leg, and it seems to help, a little.
-
((Okay, I'm completely confused, are on the outskirts in a tiny wooded area or are we in the middle of town or a park or what?))
Ossanlin hears shots fire out and both red and blue beams lance across the clearing. "She..." Alic's thought comes from across the way. <<We will assist Aliciania.>>
Ossanlin looks up as another shot fires from behind a tree out in front of his and Hadrin's position, it was the Imperial's host. Ossanlin dials his Shredder to a high enough setting to immobilize but not kill the Yeerk. He raises it straight at the Imperial's host's back and fires two shots. Right after the shots ring out from his Shredder, the tree the Imperial's host is hiding behind explodes in shrapnel and splinters, white-hot blue beams ripping into the wood, a huge fireball erupting in the tree's foliage. <<Aliciania my shredders are modified, the highest setting puts out almost as much energy as a fighter's shipboard missile defense shredder...>> Ossanlin falls silent as the expanding heat radiation from Alic's shots washes over him, causing his human skin to tingle painfully.
-
Hadrin winces as the heat backwash hits him, singing his eyebrows. He rubs at his eyes, blinking away tears, and raises his own Dracon. "Where the hell are they?" he yells over the sound of crackling wood and flame. He trains his Dracon on the splintered and broken tree.
((I'm not sure--grass, trees and pavement have been mentioned. Let's just say it's an out of the way path through the woods?))
-
Claxter had been watching the viewscreen, but was distracted by Zorish calling out and didn't see the shot fired. He left his post to make sure Zorish wasn't trying anything, and walked into the room in Human form. "Zorish. Do you want something?" He asked while doing his best not to play with words in front of the captive.
Meanwhile Cody tried to avoid the shots Alic aimed at him, though the shots were rather close. He came out and pointed both Dracons at Alic with maniacal glee, but was shot from behind. He fell down motionless.
Sukohn watched as two more enemies came by. He would wait until they were gathered in one spot before firing.
(Not sure where we are. I suppose kind of a clearing with trees that borders a road.)
-
(i was thinking kind of right off the road.. guess we all had different ideas lol))
Alic didn't have to move Tara far to be behind a few extra trees for cover. "When you can move again, join us. I think there's one guy left standing." She dropped her arm and turned towards what was left of the tree where Sukohn would hopefully be near. <<Good.>> She replied to Ossanlin. <<I don't want him to live, quick and painless.>>
She took her steps slowly, making sure to watch for movement. She was determined to pay back for the pain they caused Tara. Not to mention they would all hear it from Myitt when they returned.
"You're outnumbered, Yeerk. Don't make me blast all these trees apart to find you. I'll do it too."
-
"Yes," Zorish says, trying to hide his disappointment that it is not the female who enters the room. Zorish does not remember meeting this human, and he finds it surprising that Ossanlin would allow a human to remain at all. Oh well, he thinks, I'll make do
"I would like to go to the bathroom," he says stiffly, "but that is kind of difficult when I am being held by a force field."
-
Tara nods weakly, waiting frustratedly for the numbness to recede.
Hadrin notes the human fall unconscious near the tree. He couldn't tell who it was from here, only that he looked male and was dressed in an Imperial uniform.
He switches his train rapidly from spot to spot through the unassuming trees, but there is still no sign of a fighter, or any other targets.
-
(Why does Alic think there's someone else? They shoudln't know Sukohn changed hosts, and Cody is Sukohn's normal host. Did she see tyhe communicator and put two and two together or something?)
"Oh...um, perhaps you could hold it for a few minutes. My Prince and allies will return soon."
-
((im half awake. no sleep today... i thought they knew there were at least 2 of them and they know 1 is down?? i just put the name in for the sake of what i was typing.. alic doesnt know nor care what their names are.))
-
"Yeah, that's not an option," Zorish says, "my host has a weak bladder as it is, so unless you want this entire ship to smell like urine, I suggest you release me for long enough to relieve myself. I won't be more than a minute. Don't worry, I'll be a good little prisoner."
-
"Fine." Claxter said. He drew his shredder and ordered the restraints off. "The relieving area is that way." He said, pointing the way.
(Oldest trick in the book, but then Claxter wouldn't be trained for that.)
-
((Alic is going to kill you. By the way. Just saying. Should have told her to pee herself.))
-
(Sure. have the Warrior tell his Prince that the medbay smells like piss now because Claxter wouldn't let the prisoner go to the bathroom instead of peeing on the bed.)
-
(( :dull: Great, now my unhosted Yeerk character is more vulnerable than a potato chip on a beach of seagulls. Have the Warrior tell his Prince that his prisoner escaped, just so he wouldn't have to use a little Lysol. ))
Tara slowly starts to feel prickling in her hands and feet, and she slowly moves herself into a sitting position, her back against the tree.
"Ughh," she grumbles, wincing at the pain in her side, and she takes out her Dracon. With a shaky hand she wipes the sweat from her eyes.
"Where is the ****er?" she calls hoarsely, trying to turn her head. "Alic, are you all right?" Sparks fly in front of her eyes and she closes them, swallowing down nausea.
-
(( :) ))
"Great, thanks," Zorish pulls himself into a sitting position and stretches, wincing slightly as his muscles ache from the previous fighter crash.
"That way you say?" he asks, pointing in the general direction that Claxter had indicated. He does not wait for an answer, instead beginning to make his way towards the Andalite bathroom.
<Here's hoping our Andalite friend isn't that comfortable in that human body,> Zorish says to Tamora. As he passes Claxter he makes his move; a quick, forceful thrust with the back of Tamora's elbow, aimed directly for Claxter's human nose.
-
Alic was tempted to just start firing. Likely, though, that some human somewhere heard or saw something.. and they couldn't stay for long. "I'm fine, Tara. You're not. I'll find the creepy crawly."
-
Claxter was on guard, and jumped backwards when Zorish tried to elbow him. If he was good at anything, it was combat. As long as nothing startled him too badly like getting his tail chopped off. Unfortunately there was nothing keeping him from landing on his butt, and he fell down. He didn't drop his shredder, but it wasn't pointing at her anymore either.
-
"Did we get Sukohn?" she peers out from behind the tree, her side protesting like a very bad sunburn that's had a day to sink in. Her Dracon is drawn almost up to her chin, and although her hands are still shaky there's a chance she could get a shot out if she needed to.
-
Zorish cursed as his blow missed, but his moment of failure quickly righted itself as Claxter fell.
"Thanks, man, you're a lifesaver," Zorish says with a grin. Not waiting for Claxter to get to his two feet, or to re-aim the Shredder, Zorish bolts from the room. His first intent is to go to the computer and find out where they are, but he immediately realizes that the hatch is still open, a warm breeze blowing in. Hardly believing his luck, Zorish breaks into a sprint, pausing only when he notices a small, portable Kandrona pool.
"Dapsen traitor" he grumbles. He smacks the pool off of the table, "not worth my time rescuing you."
Spitting at the sodden mess on the floor, Zorish runs for the exit.
((yeah, just went back and checked. There was never a post indicating that the hatch was closed))
-
Claxter leaped up with horror as he saw Zorish run out of the door. <I'm in trouble.> He said.
Quickly demorphing and ripping his clothing apart in the process, he rushed out. <<Zorish escaped!>> He said, leaving out HOW he escaped. With the process of demorphing slowing him down, Claxter wasn't sure if he would make it before Zorish found adequate cover.
from the bushes, Sukohn saw someone running from the ship. He wasn't sure why, or who it was, but he couldn't afford to give away his cover yet. Hopefully everyone would turn back towards the ship, leaving their backs to him.
-
((Chad, check the post where Zorish escapes. I edited it slightly.))
Zorish streaks out into the hot, desert sunlight, not pausing to catch his bearings. He knows that he has limited time and that at the moment his salvation lies within the crowds. He appears to be in a wooded area - a park of some sort. He ducks in among the trees, weaving so that his trail is hard to follow, and heads in the direction that he thinks is most likely to lead to the main part of town.
-
<<Are you ****ING KIDDING ME WHAT THE ****?!>> She knew someone must go back.. and someone must stay here. Tara was in no conditon to go anywhere yet. <<I'm heading back. Find the jerk and blow him up, I'll find Zorish. Tara, you'll be okay. Keep ya posted!> Alic kept her shredder drawn and ran the same path she took back to the Mirage. She was too far to tell, but swore she saw something flashing through a couple trees. She took her chances and ran in the same direction she saw movement, hoping it didn't just happen to be someone innocent.
-
"Uh huh," Tara replies to Alic, facing the opposite direction behind the tree. She watches with some shock that Zorish is sprinting by some distance away, running through the trees like her life depended on it. Which, upon consideration, Tara figures it probably did.
She sucks in a steadying breath and raises her Dracon, hoping she's doing the right thing.
TSEEEEEEEWWWWW! The red beam lances in Zorish's direction, but Tara curses...the distance and the angle...it might've been too late.
---
Myitt begins to sense something is very wrong when she feels a good deal of vibration, usually the sort that meant someone bipedal was walking very close to the pool.
Are they back, already? is all she has time to wonder, before her entire universe is thrown upside-down. Fear stabs through her as she feels a rush of air, and the impact of the cold metal floor. She lies in what little is left of the pool water, writhing helplessly on the ground.
-
Claxter knew Myitt's pool had been upset, and she was probably lying on the floor, but he couldn't stop to help. <<You had better hope I don't find you, Yeerk. I'm tired of playing nice Andalite because my new Prince is more tolerant to your kind. You want to play this way? Just keep running and hope I don't find you!>> He said privately to Zorish.
-
<Run! Runrunrunrunrunrunr uuun!> Tamora's internal dialogue, combined with the adrenaline coursing through her body pushes Zorish forward. He catapults himself through the trees, ignoring as branches smack his face and twigs entwine themselves in his hair.
He can hear the sound of pursuit, whether it is actual or imagined, and that pushes him forward, arms pumping as sweat begins to bead on his forehead. Suddenly, from nowhere, a searing light blasts near him, missing him entirely but slicing through a nearby tree branch and knocking it to the ground. Zorish stumbles slightly as he attempts to leap over the fallen branch, losing precious seconds as he regains his balance.
-
Claxter keeps running, now with full speed from his Andalite form. He cuts down whatever branches are in his way, and leaps over any logs or large stones. He also fires a few shots, thouygh he doesn't see Zorish clearly yet.
Sukohn listens to the spectacle, and wonders if it's safe yet to come out and take a few shots. If he doesn't, the prisoner might not escape. He looks around the bush he's hiding behind to see if anyone is looking away from him.
-
Alic was suddenly worried for her friend. How did the yeerk get away? Myitt had been completely helpless. <<Claxter where is Myitt? Is she okay?>>
-
<<Zorish tipped over the container, but didn't actually do anything to Myitt. So yes, she's fine. I'm sorry I let Zorish go, but I will catch her! Just bring Sukohn aboard and I will return with Zorish.>>
-
((You know that a Yeerk will die if it is left out of liquid for too long. It'll dry up))
Zorish is tiring now, his steps are becoming more staggered, but up ahead he can hear voices and movement. He hopes that means that he is nearing a crowd of innocents. Even a bunch of power-hungry Andalites and Yeerk traitors wouldn't shoot into a crowd of helpless humans.
---
Far above Earth, on the Blade Ship of Visser Three, a private communications channel begins to beep an incoming message.
-
(Not that Claxter knows that.)
<<Think you can trick me, huh? Well I may have fell for that, but there's one thing my first Prince drilled me on until I passed out from exhaustion. and that's hunting down and wasting Yeerks!>> He taunted. He could see her in the distance, and fired some shots. They were low power because he wanted to keep Tamora alive.
-
((Yup...uh...being on the ground is pretty bad.))
Tara staggers to her feet, clutching her side. "Oh, Jesus," she mutters, feeling nausea rise up in her throat again. She clutches her Dracon and looks back and forth before deciding to head toward the ship. If Zorish had escaped...oh, she could only hope Myitt was okay...
She starts to half-run, half-limp. "Hey!" she calls out. "She's getting away!" She stops by the ship's hull and catches her breath, her side stinging terribly.
---
No, no, no... Myitt dismally tries to flip around into what's left of the fast drying sludgy water. Don't think about being stepped on. Don't think about it.
-
Zorish continues weaving through the forest, using the trees for cover. Quite abruptly he bursts out from a group of trees. Looking expectantly for someone...anyone... his face falls when he realizes that he is nowhere near the city. Instead, he seems to have doubled back without realizing it. There is an unknown Bug Fighter nearby, which seems to have at least one passenger silhouetted in the window. Nearby is an unconscious man. The girl who had shot at him was nowhere to be seen, but in the distance he could make out a glint of The Mirage.
"****," Zorish hisses. With no other options he heads straight for the Bug Fighter, yelling as he does so.
"Hey! Is anyone in there? Open up, damn you! The Andalite's are coming!"
----
On the Blade Ship the frantic beeping of an incoming message comes to an abrupt halt. Terenia's quick, nervous thought-speak fills the room, delivering a warning.
-
Sukohn hears something behind him. "Christ." he said, and ran back to the bug. Upon seeing the woman closely, she reminded him of the Human morph of Terenia. "It's a hologram. Get in. Hopefully whoever ran after you is the only person left on the ship. Now move!"
When he started moving into the ship, he noticed the dracons in Marco's cell were going off. Then the door to the room broke open, and a burnt Gorilla came out.
"My, your tolerance for pain is bigger than I thought it would be."
<Let's see how good your tolerance for pain is.>
-
Zorish is about to run aboard the ship when all of a sudden his pathway is blocked by a rather large animal. A rather large animal that Zorish has most definitely seen before on the holo-feeds.
"Andalite!" He hisses, staggering backwards. With no Dracon Beam he is utterly helpless against the beast. Zorish glances at Sukohn, then back to the gorilla, backing away further.
"Yeah, good luck with that," he says, "which way is civilization? I don't have time to fight a damned Andalite bandit right now!"
-
((Chad, I have a suggestion to make. I get the feeling that you're trying to move the plot along much faster than necessary. Your last post is an attempt to wrap up two story lines in one fell swoop, and the way it's written pretty much gives Zorish no choice but to take the hit, and you've already decided that Sukohn will be surrendering. Since no one else has had a chance to post in a few rounds it might serve the plot better to let both the Sukohn and the Zorish storylines go on a tad longer (be a little less linear, if you know what I mean).
Like I said, you don't have to. Just a suggestion. :) ))
-
(yeah, I kind of wish this chase scene didn't happen at all and we could get back to the bar. I'll change the post, though.)
Sukohn started aiming one of his two Dracons at Marco when he arrived. Claxter finally caught up and aimed his shredder, but Sukohn trained the other on him. "I can't believe how much my plan has gone to pot."
<Drop the weapons and surrender. Both of you are coming with me.>
"I don't know your name, or why you were captured, but I'll try to hold these two off. The town is back behind the bugfighter. Just go."
Marco was trapped in the doorway, and Claxter couldn't afford to take his shredder off Sukohn. They were in a standoff.
-
((Thanks, Chad. I appreciate it. :) Maybe it would help if you viewed this not as a 'we have to get back to the bar as soon as possible' type of thing. We all (mostly) have characters in the bar already, so it isn't as though there's a massive urgency to fly through the storyline. Remember, the destination isn't the important part - it's how you get there. That's what writing is all about, and all rping is is writing.
Anyhow, that's my soap box. Thanks for modifying. I'm off to bed after this post. See y'all in the a.m.))
Zorish freezes in surprise as Claxter emerges from the trees. Andalite in front, Andalite behind. The situation was rapidly deteriorating.
"Sub-Visser Fifty-One," Zorish grunts to Sukohn as he backs away from the stand-off, "call on me if you get out of this alive. I'll make sure you are rewarded for your help."
With that, Zorish turns and runs, making his way behind the Bug Fighter so that it could serve as cover while he made his escape.
-
<<I have found the real Sukohn! Zorish is getting away, and I am in a standoff. I require assistance!>> Claxter yelled.
<You didn't tell your subvisser what you knew about me?> Marco asked.
"She would just take the credit. For what it's worth, I lied about taking your friends."
<And I'm supposed to believe you?>
"I can't prove it."
-
Ossanlin curses under his breath and sends out several personal thoughts to get control of the situation back. The first one goes to Tara. <<Tara, get into the Mirage and make sure Myitt is okay. Get her back in your head and man the Mirage controls, I need someone ready to blow this bug to bits if it lifts off, I would also appreciate it if you kept an eye on Zorish's position.>>
The next one he sends to Alic. <<Aliciania, Zorish has just fled towards the city. You're in your human form, you know the culture, and you can contact me with thought-speech. Please chase Zorish and apprehend him. I do not know how he escaped, but it's not important at the moment, we need to get him back into custody. I need to deal with this Imperial. And take care of yourself, you better be alive when we come to back you up. I'm sending Hadrin after him as well.>>
<<Hadrin, please chase that Yeerk, you know him better than anyone else here. Perhaps you can anticipate his movements. Aliciania is also chasing him, meet up with her if you can, she's our communications line. I need to go take care of this Imperial.>>
The final one is to Claxter. <<I'll be joining you Claxter.>> That was all he said as he quickly ran into the clearing, Shredder aimed levelly at Sukohn, setting on stun. "Give up Imperial, you're outgunned and outnumbered. You will not be upsetting the timeline today."
-
Hadrin hears the silent thought-speech directed towards him, and nods, although no one can really see it.
"Alright, here goes nothing," he whispers aloud to his host, Justin. They start off in the direction of Zorish's trail, having seen and heard her run through the woods.
Tara steps on board the Mirage, her heart in her throat. She glances at the med bay, noting that of course it is empty. Her gaze next falls upon Myitt, squirming on the floor and drying up next to the discarded and empty tupperware container.
She rushes forward, holding her side, and gently picks up the Yeerk slug, stroking her back. "Shh, it's okay, old buddy," she says, wincing as she holds Myitt up to her ear. The pain in her ear canal, in her head, is fleeting, numbed.
In a few moments Myitt begins to feel the dull ache of pain in Tara's side, and then the full force of the pain hits her. She staggers to her feet, hitting the console as she regains control of her host, and is barraged by the active memories of the last hour or so.
For what seems like a long time Myitt stands there, staring blankly at the controls, before she looks up and taps at the few feeble manual controls.
"Weapons," she whispers, grimacing as another stab of pain hits her side. "Okay. Okay." The rush of Yeerkish fear hormones from flying across the room is still surging through her body, and Tara's tensed up state isn't helping. Her breath comes in short gasps, and desperately she thinks, Weapons, access weapons. Eventually the basic controls appear and she is able to manipulate them, although the Andalite characters are familiar yet alien, much like Japanese versus ancient Chinese. She starts to panic again, trying desperately to read through the control options, and keep track of Zorish. How? She manages to perform a broad scan of technology, the controls weren't too different for that sort of thing, but her human heart was still pounding in her throat. She kept forgetting to breathe.
-
"That's it, I guess." Sukohn said as the standoff ended with Oss showing up. He dropped his weapons and raised his arms in surrender while his host screamed in his head pleading in silence not to die.
Cody began regaining consciousness, but was in no position to run or fight. "Oww. My back!"
<I feel like I'm missing chunks of the story here, but you guys seem to have things covered. I'm going to go make sure all my friends aren't controllers now.> Marco said and began leaving.
<I am sorry Prince Ossanlin. Zorish said his host needed to relieve himself, but I was in an unfamiliar body. The hatch was still open, and I was trying to be nice, but now I'd just like to fry him! No more nice Warrior!>
"Not even sure why you guys are nice in the first place. what's in it for you anyway?" Sukohn asked.
-
Myitt manages to lock in on Sukohn's Bug fighter, but there's no visual of Zorish outside. She curses at the convoluted computer system.
"Why can't you cooperate like a normal computer?" she hisses, hastily pushing a strand of frizzy hair behind her ear. "Silprek ne oto ****ing thought speech commands...heat signals, yes, very good, you wretched machine!" She manipulates the holoscreens in a huff.
"What the hell is that?" she whispers, picking up Marco's hulking heat signal as he retreats from Sukohn's ship.
---
Hadrin steps out into the clearing where Claxter had been in the middle of his standoff. He trains his Dracon on Sukohn's now visible form, his new host. It must be him...
He glances at Ossanlin and Claxter. "Let's get moving," he says tersely, sneering at Sukohn, "before my finger starts itching."
-
"This is not the time or place to speak of this Claxter. We must deal with the matter at hand." Ossanlin squinted suspectly at Sukohn. "Just like that, with all that precious information, you're giving up? I didn't think there were any Imperial loyalists that were that intelligent."
Ossanlin gestured at Sukohn with his shredder. "Step away from those. Claxter, get your tail on him now and walk him back to the Mirage. There are energy binders in one of the open lockers. The poor host he's infested is probably involuntary, so try not to hurt him if possible. And please make sure Myitt and Tara are unharmed...well...a live at least. Once you have him bound and secured, come back and we'll take his true host back as well. It's obvious that he's either voluntary or mentally unstable since he willingly helped Sukohn."
-
<Yes my Prince.> Claxter said. He began escorting Sukohn by the tail who came willingly. Once back to the ship, they noticed Tara, and Claxter noted that Myitt was no longer on the floor. <It;s this way. And don't try anything!>
"But I have to go to the bathroom." Sukohn said with a smirk against all common sense. Claxter hit him in the back with the side of his tail blade and they made their way to lock him up.
<Are you all right, Myitt?> Claxter asked before leaving the ship.
-
"Huh?" Myitt said distractedly, still eyeing the controls. "Yes, yes, we're fine, no thanks to you. I thought you were supposed to make sure the prisoner didn't escape. My human friend is hurt, not to mention I took a lovely dive across the room...ah! What is that? The heat signal's modifying." She squints at the screen. "Like it's...morphing." She looks over at Claxter, then past him. "Did you just bring someone else in here?"
-
<Yes, Sukohn. And he won't be going anywhere. I was fooled because I tried being nice, but I will be nice no longer. I must go help get Zorish. Sukohn's other host is still out there too.> He said, then left the ship. <Computer, close hatch.> He said. The hatch closed so Sukohn couldn't get out.
Cody was on the ground trying to crawl away. He was in pain, and wasn't really sure what to do, but he tried to crawl somewhere he could hide.
-
Myitt sneers in disgust at the young Andalite warrior. "Well, I'm glad you've learned there's no room for niceties in war," she says angrily as Claxter steps out, closing her inside. "Nearly got me killed, the little..."
She gives the screens a cursory glance, then steps over to the med bay, opening the sealed bay hatchway. It melts away with the hydraulic hiss of living metal and oxygen, and she walks over to Sukohn.
"Look who we have here," she says blandly, inspecting his energy binders. "Have you had a nice vacation, trying to destroy the human race?"
-
In response to Myitt, Sukohn gave a Nazi salute. "Heil Emporer!"
"I guess if I'm going to die, I might as well make an ass of myself beforehand. You talked to that girl from the future, didn't you? You think it would be better to have her future, or mine?"
((Chad, Sukohn is unable to move in the restraints, just like Zorish.))
-
(Oh yeah.)
"You talked to that girl from the future, didn't you? You think it would be better to have her future, or mine?"
-
((Oh my GOD you guys went nuts and I missed all the fun! My schedule sucks! I'm replying when I get home ))
-
(It was so active! I loved it!)
-
Myitt's expression is blank. "What girl from the future?"
-
"Oh, you don't know. I figured you would, since you were there before me. Nevermind, then. So what's my sentence going to be, oh Rebellious One?"
-
"Wait, wait," Myitt says, waving a hand. "You mean Elayne?" She laughs suddenly. "Oh, man, if that's what you're talking about...I don't know what the future holds, but I'd rather not have yours, considering it's not going to last much longer!"
She shakes her head, still trying not to laugh, and seems to realize he's not going to be very much fun. "Think about that for a bit, I'm sure we'll be back to check on you." Myitt steps out of the room and sealing the med bay behind her. She returns to the holoscreens and looks them over with a sigh.
<I told you not to get shot,> Myitt says, a slow grin spreading across her human face.
<Hey, I saved Alic's tail back there, and this is the thanks I get?>
<Thrown across a room, only to have you return to me damaged,> Myitt says good-naturedly.
<Hope you didn't bruise yourself,> Tara spits.
<Can't bruise, no circulatory system,> Myitt sniffs. <Everything seems to be in working order.>
<You're a jackass, you know that?>
Myitt just taps at the screens, her face still plastered with a grin. She brings up the communications array. <Is anyone alive out there?> she calls broad band to her comrades outside, using the ship's thought speech communications link. <I think we've made enough of a mess, I'm surprised the cops haven't shown up yet, really.>
She steps back looking at the controls. "Did I do it correctly?" she wonders aloud.
-
With Myitt gone, Sukohn couldn't do a whole lot. So he just started whistling to himself to pass the time.
Claxter made it back to Oss, and Marco was gone. <Should we do anything about the bugfighter? we can't blast it like the other one since it's too close to civilization.>
Cody kept crawling as the feeling continued coming back to his body. "I'm going to kick the ass of whoever blasted me. Then I'll take them all down. Yeah. That will be fun. I'll show Sukohn up and everything. Making me have to stumble around like a drunk..."
-
((i was so confused.. i had to read the last 2 pages.. like.. twice.. and call Myitt.. >.< ))
Alic was already doing what Ossanlin had told her to do and headed towards town where she thought Zorish had gone. She didn't know he had circled back around and was back at the ships. She had her shredder in hand and paused, listening for any movement and became frustrated. <<Ugh! I can't FIND him! How've you guys got it back there? Have you seen Zorish?>>
-
Myitt speaks audibly into the comm link, which translates to thought speech via computer. <I have Sukohn here with me, and I've got your heat signals on scan, but you're all human signals,> Myitt replies. <I can't tell which one of you is Zorish!>
-
(i am going to assume Alic can hear you too.)
<<How did he get back there? Myitt, fry that guy. I'm tired of running.>> Alic felt her time was close in morph and decided it was time to demorph. She would also be able to return to the mirage faster. She removed the shorts and tank top and slipped off her sandals so she could save it for another needed time. Just a couple minutes later she had demorphed and was running back with the shredder in one hand and the clothing in another.
-
<Claxter brought him back here,> Myitt says into the comm system. At least he's good for something, she thinks to herself.
-
<I see.> Alic had to avoid a couple of humans at one point and had to take a small detour. <<Are you okay?>> She was asking Myitt/Tara privately. She was going to really give it to Claxter when they were back on the Mirage. Maybe she would just like to leave him[/i helpless somewhere.
-
Privately Myitt replied, <<Tara's side is going to sting for a while, but I'm not injured, myself.>> She sighs. <<Only my pride...>>
-
<<She decided her life was more important that mine and took a hit for me.. of course.. You already knew this.>> Alic left it as that because she had now entered the clearing with the bug fighter where apparently Zorish was hanging around as well.
<Alright, scum. Seriously? You're not going to be getting away.> Alic set her clothing on the ground.
-
Tara smiles inwardly. <See?> she says to Myitt. <I knew she'd appreciate it, at least.>
<Yes, I'm glad you helped her...just don't go doing stupid things like that again, either of you,> Myitt berates worriedly.
-
As the conversation and capture of Sukohn unfolded Zorish slunk backwards, melting into the shadows of the trees that surrounded the clearing. He moved steadily in the direction that Sukohn had pointed out, knowing that his survival depended on reaching civilization before anyone found him. As it was, everyone seemed distracted for the moment, but that would not last long.
As soon as Zorish feels that he is far enough from the clearing to no longer be heard he turns and begins to jog away, hoping that no one has spotted him.
-
Myitt watches the holoscreens intently. <Wait a second, guys,> she says into the link converter, <I see a heat signature moving away from you, mmmm, due East, it looks like. Aw, goddamnit, she's off the screens! Hang on, I'll try and broaden the scans...no promises...this is like dyslexic Greek over here...>
She taps at the screens, increasingly frustrated by the unfamiliarity of the Andalite codes.
-
"Why are you so concerned with the Sub Visser anyway?" Sukohn asked loudly from the other room. "I thought you guys were after me, but I guess you took a side trip."
<Don't we have more important things to worry about?>
<Nah. You'll live and they're likely going to kill me.>
(By the way, I will allow you to kill Sukohn and Cody if you want. Doesn't matter. Just don't kill the other guy, because he's meant to be a woobie, and you'd be douches for killing him.)
-
Myitt hears Sukohn speaking in the other room, the sound muffled, and she chooses to ignore him. <Hello?> she calls outside. <Is that her or just one of you guys? Help me out here!>
-
Alic knew it wasn't any of them and charged into a run behind the ship. <Wasn't us, Myitt. I'm on it.> I'm also faster, she thought. She knew that as much as she had just come to dislike this yeerk, that they were to be taken alive. As she was running at full speed and dodging trees, she also adjusted the shredder to a lower level. It kind of disappointed her. She thought she saw a flash of something just ahead.
-
<I am coming with you, Aliciania!> Claxter called and started running that way. It was his mistake, and he should be trying to get Zorish back.
Sukohn waited a bit, but apparently Myitt was ignoring him.
-
"****," Zorish mutters, hearing the crash of underbrush from somewhere behind him. He picks up speed, moving from a jog to an all-out run, but he knows that he cannot outrun an Andalite. If he does not emerge into town soon he will be captured for sure.
"Filthy Andalites," Zorish grunts, pumping his arms as he runs.
----
On the Blade Ship, three Bug Fighters exit the docking bay and begin a course towards the North American continent on Earth.
-
Alic heard him just ahead, and knew she could have him in a minute. Her legs were starting to tire but she pushed on. Hoping to slow him or stun him she shot in Zorish's general direction. Her aim was never great but maybe she'd get lucky and a tree would fall on him ending the problem for good. Alic smiled at the thought and fired again.
-
Claxter continued towards the sounds, but didn't have a visual yet. He continued running, and tried to come around to flank Zorish from the side.
-
Zorish throws his hands over his head instinctively as he hears Shredders shots, ducking to make himself a smaller target. The movement somewhat throws off his balance and he staggers, skips a step, and nearly falls. One hand clutches at the air, finding the branch of a nearby sapling. He pulls himself back to his feet, cursing his hosts lack of grace, and awkwardly barrels forward, knowing he has lost precious time.
-
((I didn't know if you were WANTING Zorish to end up being caught or not.. So I'm not sure if I should lose em or what))
-
((Nah, he's gonna end up caught again. Feel free to go in for the capture at any time. :) ))
-
(Ok)
Finally Claxter caught up with him. figuring he would be in all kinds of trouble for letting Zorish escape, he decided to vent a bit by aiming to knock Zorish out hard with his tail blade. He chanrged at the Yeerk, ignoring his own signs of getting tired.
(I know no one is actually watching Cody, but he's too mad to want to escape. He wants revenge, but he's unarmed and stupid.)
-
Alic was close enough to see Zorish stumble and took advantage of it. Using almost the remainder of her energy, she was able to catch up and was right behind him.
There seemed to be voices not too far off and she knew if she didn't take him down now she would lose her chance. Alic leaped over a log, and when she landed she swung her tail forward at lightning speed. At the last second she flipped her tail blade, flat end aiming at Zorish's back.
-
Myitt watches the holoscreens anxiously, bouncing on her heels in one of her host's nervous habits. It was hard to tell exactly who was catching up to whom.
Something else catches her eye, and she pulls the tech scan back. There are plenty of well disguised Bug fighters in the area, but three in particular are in the typical intercept formation.
"No," she whispers, "too far away to tell for sure." Something nags at her nonetheless, and she sends out another thought speech call.
<Uh, guys, I really think we should get out of here,> she says, her eyes glued to those three red dots. To herself she adds, "I have a very bad feeling about this..."
<Hah, this is the first time you've had a feeling that this was, I don't know...crazy?> Tara laughs.
-
Ossanlin closes his eyes for a moment and grits his human teeth. Claxter had disobeyed a direct order, taking off after Zorish, now he was stuck in a fairly unfamiliar morph that wasn't designed for fighting, and he had to try and apprehend an actual human who might be armed all by himself. He was beginning to see why Claxter's previous Prince had become...agitated. He took a couple deep breaths and walked calmly over to where this human voluntary was crawling along the ground, apparently thinking he was forgotten.
"I hope you can walk, I'd prefer not to carry you." He keeps his shredder level on the uninfested human. "But if you try anything, I will not hesitate to use as much force as is necessary."
-
A sudden blow to Zorish's back knocks the wind out of him. He staggers, stomach dropping as he realizes that he has been caught. Falling to his knees, Zorish coughs violently as he tries to refill his lungs, fingers clutching at the dirt and twigs on the ground. When he finally catches a breath it stings Tamora's lungs so fiercely that he falls to his side, clutching at his chest.
"Argh" he coughs, blinking through his tears to get a view of his attacker.
-
(I forgot Oss had said something earlier. Can I just edit and say he stayed with Oss?)
-
((It's yours and Ossie's call, Chad, but I think Claxter running off is pretty IC considering some of the other stuff he's done))
-
(Yeah it probably would be IC, especially since he's trying to right his wrong, but I did forget Oss told him to do something else. I'm accidentally making him out to be incompetent, but then again maybe I should just go with it. The character is running itsself!)
-
Alic glared down at the human and pointed her shredder. She really did hate to use the thing, but it was her best bet right now. <That's right. You're done. Nice try though. Get up, we don't have time.> Myitt's request sounded urgent. If Alic had to knock the yeerk unconcious she would, and then morph human and carry him. She was small but strong for her size and would be able to do so for a short distance.
Kicking at the dirt, Alic aimed the shredder at his head. <Get up, and come with me.>
-
Zorish tries to respond to the Andalites, but begins coughing again. After a moment or two more of hacking and wheezing he finally manages to utter a few coherent words.
"Like -" Cough. "-hell" Cough. He struggled to pull himself to his feet, but stumbled and fell again, "Damn this dapsen body!" he cries vehemently.
-
((Eh, it already played out Chad. Oss will be having a little...'heart-to-heart'...with Claxter though.))
Ossanlin gestures again with his shredder. "Come on human, I don't have time to play games with you."
<<I'm stuck out here at the moment Myitt, glad to hear you're okay. This human is being uncooperative and I'm hardly able to deal with him while in morph. I will return as soon as I'm able to get him moving.>>
-
Myitt glances at the heat signal readouts, but her eyes keep darting back to the local tech scans.
"No, they want us to see them," she murmurs, watching as they zero in...southwestern United States...southern California...into the comm device she yells, <Guys, we have a situation here! I don't care what that human has seen, get your asses over here, NOW!> Reluctantly she looks back at the tech scans. Oh yes, they were locked on to the impeccably hidden Andalite ship. The only Andalite ship left in southern California. <We've got Bugs incoming fast! Move it!>
-
(Yeah, let's just play this out. It would be funny now if his other Prince made contact saying Claxter's good, but you have to get in his face and put tail into him to keep him in line.)
"Fine. Whatever." Cody said as he recovered from the pain. "Bloody grass eaters."
Claxter was a little disappointed that Alic got to Zorish first, but also happy he didn't get away. <You can accomplished nothing but wasting our time, Zorish. the end result is the same.>
-
<Fine. You know what? Stay down.> Alic made sure the setting on her shredder was on stun and shot at Zorish. <Claxter.. I have this. Myitt sounded like there may be something going on back at the Mirage, you should go back there.>
-
"No way," Myitt says incredulously, watching the screens. Her hands are shaking with tension and anger. "It's like they know exactly where we landed. Someone tipped them off. Goddamnit!" She curses loudly, slamming her fists down onto the controls.
-
Zorish sees the Andalite raise her weapon and makes a desperate attempt to scramble to his feet, but he is no match for the energy beam. It hits him between the shoulder blades and he falls to the ground once more, rolling onto his back. His eyes stare blankly as Tamora falls unconscious.
<Dammit, not again!> Zorish hisses, <Tamora wake up!>
---
The Bug Fighters zero in on a spot outside of Roswell first, hovering over the desert like so many mosquitoes. Suddenly, almost like living beings, they seem to pick up the scent and tear off in the direction of Roswell proper.
-
Claxter left Alic to report back to his Prince. Sukohn's former host was there looking rather annoyed, but Oss seemed to have things under control. <Aliciania has Zorish. We all should make our way into the ship, yes?> He said.
-
Alic set down her shredder and morphed back to human. She was tired but her andalite arms could not carry him. "Where am I gonna put this damn gun?" She couldn't just leave it, she didn't bring her clothes, so she put it down her top. It would be uncomfortable.
Alic realized she left she sandals back near the bug fighter and hoped someone had grabbed them. She then picked up Zorish. The easiest way to carry was to cradle him in her arms. She started walking a path back. <<Ok. I have the piece of crap. I'm on my way. Slowly, but I'm coming.>> She was starting to think Claxter may have been useful.
-
Ossanlin favors Claxter with an unreadable stare before speaking. "Take him to the Mirage, Warrior. We need to hurry." Ossanlin looks back towards the Bug and notices Aliciania's sandals, he picks them up with his free hand, continuing to train his Shredder on the human, and walks back to the Mirage as Claxter takes possession of the prisoner.
He sends out a private thought-speech. <<We're on our way Myitt, if there's trouble, you might want to start cycling the engines.>> Perhaps their presence hadn't gone completely unnoticed...
-
It was a good thing the "human" she was carrying wasn't any bigger than her. The load didn't get any heavier. It did take Alic awhile to return to the Mirage. She forced herself up the ramp and dropped Zorish on the ground. "There."
-
<Yes my Prince.> Claxter got Cody into the ship as well, with Cody grumbling to himself but more or less complying. He was glad his Prince wasn't too angry with him. Or at least he didn't look angry. Claxter didn't dare actually ask. Once Cody was restrained he went to the pilot station to check things. <We have bugfighter activity. I'll get everything started so we can leave.> He said and began the same takeoff procedure as last time. <Is everyone inside that needs to be inside?>
-
"I'd start the engines if I knew how, I can barely operate these scans," Myitt grumbles uselessly to herself. When Claxter steps up to the controls she bites back a few scathing remarks, grateful for once that he is here and able to operate the Andalite system. She steps back a bit and realizes her boots are splashing through a thin layer of the grey liquid that was once her pool.
She sighs and scoops up the overturned plastic container, and the sputtering Kandrona generator, which will unfortunately run out without taking advantage of its full use. Myitt sets them on the small white "table" jutting out of the wall and looks down at the water.
"I don't suppose you have a mop?" she mutters to Claxter. "No matter. We're going to have much worse problems if they don't get their tails back here, right now."
As soon as the words are out of her mouth, Alic comes huffing up the ramp and deposits Zorish. Myitt realizes Zorish is unconscious and walks over, looking up at Alic. "It looks like we're going to have a pretty crowded med bay," she grunts as she helps lift Zorish the rest of the way, into the med bay and into the energy restraints once more. She stands back against the med bay cabinets, catching her breath. "Where is Ossanlin?" she breathes. "We don't have time to waste."
-
Ossanlin enters behind Claxter and looks at Aliciania and then Zorish lying on the floor. "Thank you Aliciania." He holds up her sandals and smiles a bit, handing them over to her. "You forgot these."
He quickly walks up to the ****pit and looks over at Claxter. "Go help Aliciania secure Zorish and make sure the others are secure. And please do not de-activate the support fields." Ossanlin quickly strips nude and piles his human clothes in a corner out of the way. He quickly demorphs so he can have all of his fingers available to operate the Mirage's controls. Claxter had begun the engine cycles and they were almost warmed up.
<How did they find us? They must've noticed the weapons discharge that destroyed Zorish's fighter. They're already on their way...that bug might contain the information Sukohn was acting upon. As soon as we have some altitude we need to hit it with a pulse-missile. At this point we'll let the Yeerks deal with the fallout...> Ossanlin didn't like that solution, the Yeerks would probably infest those who saw anything suspect, but he wasn't here to stop the invasion, not yet anyway.
Ossanlin quickly commands the ship to lift off, making sure all exterior hatces are secure. <I know you know your way around the weapons console Myitt, please do me the kindness of lighting that ground-bound bug up. The pulse missiles should already be primed...one should be more than enough.>
-
Myitt steps back into the cabin. "Zorish is already restrained," she replies, stepping through the liquid again to get to the weapons console. As she peers through the activating holoscreen and waits for it to allow her access to the pulse missiles, she adds stiffly, "Sorry about the mess."
-
<Yes my Prince.> Claxter said. <Move it, Human.> He told Cody.
"Go take an acid bath." He replied, but made his way grudgingly into the medbay. There were only two beds, so he didn't really know what to do with Cody. <Where do I restrain this one?>
-
((Chad, did you read my last post? :huh: ))
-
(No. Did I get ninja'd?)
(Fixed)
-
(No. Did I get ninja'd?)
((Myitt had already moved Zorish onto one of the med bay gurneys two posts ago, and she reiterated it to Ossanlin in the last post.))
-
(I seem to have a memory problem.)
-
Ossanlin gets the ship off the ground and gains a bit of altitude. <As I mentioned awhile ago, Warrior, there are energy binders in one of the lockers. Use them, the med-bay isn't meant to be a brig anyway. Connect him to one of the support girders if you have to.>
-
Claxter retrieved the energy binders and made sure they were secure around Cody's hands and feet, and put him in a corner out of the way.
<It is done, my Prince. Do we have anything to clean up the spill?>
-
"I have a lock," Myitt says once they reach an appropriate height, watching the weapons display intently. "Deploying pulse missile. Hang on."
The Mirage launches the powerful missile, which connects with Sukohn's Bug fighter in a flash of heat and light. The shockwave rocks the Mirage, even at their great height.
-
Alic smiled at Ossanlin and took her flipflops. She put them aside where she could easily get them again. She did realize that even though she had the sandals that her shorts and shirt had been left behind. She could always get more later. Someone will just think there's a naked girl running around the woods when they found them.
She suddenly turned her attention to Claxter, and her face reddened. "YOU."
Alic's face was twisted angrily and she put herself just inches from Claxter's face. Her right hand was clenched in a fist and she was pointing at him with her left. "You really messed up, boy. Your stupidity almost lost us Zorish AND killed Myitt! Do you know how lucky you are I'm not KILLING you right now?!"
-
<I don't think my mistake warrants the death penalty, especially from a female.>
"Yeah, bring sexism into this. Someone get me some popcorn." Cody said, suddenly very interested.
"Shut up Cody." Sukohn said.
<I do owe my Prince and Myitt an apology. I am sorry I endangered you and the mission. I'm really not trained to handle prisoners, and I was told that Zorish could harm his host if he wanted to.>
-
Alic put her finger down and laughed sarcastically. "Ohh ohh a FEMALE? Really? Hey Myitt!" Alic turned her head, she was smiling. It wasn't a happy smile. "He's sorry he left you helpless on the ground. Oops."
She turned back around and swung her fist to catch Claxter under his jaw. He shouldn't be expecting a move like it since andalites didn't fight this way.
-
Claxter dodged it just like he dodged Zorish's attempt at an attack, except this time he didn't fall down. <Seen it before.> He said casually, but didn't counterattack. He was already in enough trouble.
-
She wasn't going to feel better unless she got a hit it. C'mon Alic, she thought to herself. You've had training in human and andalite combat. Give him something to think about.
Alic turned and kicked with her foot aimed to hit Claxter in the center of his chest, just wanting to make it hard for him to breathe for a few minutes. She was even more angry that she missed the first time.
-
<Oww!> He said, surprised that a Human could kick. Especially without falling down. He was more shocked than in pain, but he backed up a few steps nonetheless. <Why are you angry at me, instead of Zorish? He's the one who tricked me. Or do you really think I'd never hit back?>
-
"I'm ANNOYED with Zorish. I don't expect anything less than what he did, we're holding him CAPTIVE. Of course he's going to try to escape!" She was now glaring, but the red in her face had faded. "HOW did he escape, though? It was fool proof! How could you let him go and risk everything? You're stupider than an adolescent hork-bajir and you can't be trusted to take simple orders."
-
Claxter was embarrased. He wasn't sure what was wrong with him. Maybe he really wasn't a true Warrior. Maybe he was only promoted because they needed him on the field, and weren't allowed to bring Arisths out.
<I just don't have any experience outside basic training simulations. I lack real experience.>
-
"Children," Myitt grates, "we are under imminent attack by Imperial forces. Alic, you and I can deal with him later, right now I just want us out of here in one piece. Ossanlin, how's our altitude?" She was too busy focusing on the weapons array to check.
-
"Well on the job training really isn't working for you. Maybe you should have entered a field that involved less thinking." Alic turned around and took a deep breath. She was mumbling to herself, it wasn't quite recognizable. But the words "Claxter" and "moron" may have slipped out.
"Sorry, Myitt. So now we're under attack?" She shot a glare at Claxter, thinking maybe he let something slip that would give away their position.
-
<Sorry about that too. We could have been out of here five minutes ago otherwise and not had to bother with bugfighters.>
"Maybe we won't die quite yet Zorish." Sukohn said, though Zorish's host was still unconscious.
-
"Well, we have an attack formation of Bug fighters, looks like they made a little detour to a small town called Roswell, New Mexico, and now they're heading in our direction," Myitt calls back distractedly as she checks a second screen. Her hands are still gripped tight around the bare white manual controls at the weapons station, and she takes them away, wiping the sweat from her palms onto her black jacket. "Not to mention if we weren't getting any attention earlier, turning the woods into Swiss cheese, I'm sure that little explosion probably set off a few alarms. An Andalite pulse mine? That should alert every Imperial tech readout for a hundred miles around."
-
Tamora's body remains fully unconscious as Alic carries it back to the Mirage and dumps it on the floor. Internally, Zorish winces, knowing that his host will wake up to more than a few bruises. Not that it matters, Zorish thinks to himself, I imagine they will destroy me for sure, now. Probably Tamora as well. He clamped down mentally on that thought, pushing it far from the forefront of his mind and concentrating, instead, on waking his host.
------
The three Bug Fighters had begun to hesitate, fanning out to search a larger area, when a sudden blaze of energy lights up their screens. Aboard one of the vessels a Taxxon analyzes the data quickly, realizing immediately that it must be alien, and non-Yeerk, technology. He hisses his deduction to the Hork-Bajir beside him who, in turn, opens ship-to-ship communications, and relays the Taxxon's message to the other two Bugs.
As one, the three Bug Fighters close rank, adjusting their course to the location of the energy spike.
-
"Speak of the Devil," Myitt murmurs, watching the screens. "Oh, they most definitely paid attention to us, now. Unless you want the Empire to gain two more Andalite-Controllers and a nice pile of traitors and ranking hostages, we need to breach atmo and get into z-space, maximum burn. Now. Right now!"
-
Alic groaned. "Aww, bug fighters? Really? This sucks. This is not getting better." She glared at Sukohn. "They get US, I'm blasting you to pieces first. I promise you that."
She then decided to ignore the hostages for now. Alic was in a horrible mood and didn't feel like taking it out on anyone yet.
Alic walked to where Myitt stood and watched the screen. " Yeah let's get the hell out of here before they set the forest on fire trying to get us."
-
"I wouldn't think they'd want any more attention drawn to them," Myitt says, tension constricting her throat. She glances at one of the main viewscreens, showing the ground far below. "As it stands they'll be cloaked, but who knows how many humans heard all our noise down there?"
-
"Hey, uh, Claxter. why don't you put me back in my host before this girl gets trigger happy? If I'm gonna die, I might as well give this guy a chance to live."
<And who's to say I won't crush you in my palm once you're out?>
"Nothing."
<Why do you care either way, if you're going to die?>
"Unlike the Andalite girl, I don't take any of this personally. So I don't get angry or spiteful or anything like that."
After a few hesitant moments, claxter approached Sukohn's bed, where he exited his current host, and Claxter placed him into Cody who did little more than roll his eyes at the prospect of Sukohn being returned to him.
The unnamed Human lay there in a kind of shock, not knowing what to do.
<The involuntary has been freed. Shall I let him out, my Prince?>
-
((Sorry guys, was at work.))
Ossanlin closes his mind against the onslaught between Claxter and Alic. He thought he might love Aliciania but this little interchange showed how immature she could be. Hitting Claxter wouldn't solve anything. Right after Myitt speaks of human "children", Ossanlin speaks up. <STOP! The both of you stop, this is not productive in any way. Claxter made a mistake, it's in the past and hitting him won't make any difference. Can we not just be happy that we have accomplished our objectives? Aliciania, Claxter, please take your conversation off the flight deck, Myitt and I are not in need of pointless or witless distractions, understood?!> Ossanlin's thought is firm and brooks no nonsense. <Off the bridge, both of you...now!>
Ossanlin seals off the flight deck after the two leave. He sends a private thought-speech to Myitt. <<When exactly did this turn from a calculated mission with battle-ready warriors to a family trip with us having to discipline the children?>> Ossanlin shakes his head as he engages the thrusters to maximum, throwing off waves of heat. <<I suppose there's no point in hiding when they know we're already here...I think you may have to sanitize our tail blade Myitt.>>
The sleek sting-ray like ship glides up through the atmosphere, visible only to infrared scanners as the cloak continues to bend light around its surface. Ossanlin commands the attitude thrusters to adjust their angle and begins plotting their z-space jump with the nav-com. <<Altitude at 35,000 human feet. Three signatures registering behind us...they might catch us before the z-space jump is plotted...So far I show a clear scope to the front.>>
-
((No worries, Luke...heh...you could probably tell that I wasn't. ::) By August I'll be back to the grindstone, though I'm really kinda ready for the change of pace, y'know?))
Myitt winces as Ossanlin's thought speech rings loudly through her head, but she is glad that for now the fighting can be put aside for more important things.
Namely, the Bug fighters in hot pursuit, and the wall of cloaked Yeerkish ships ahead of them.
"Ossanlin," says Myitt casually as they rocket through the atmosphere, "I believe it's safe to say this would be the strangest family trip ever to exist in this galaxy." She warms up the Mirage's shredder cannon and smiles wryly at the holoscreens. "Now let's please not have it end in any more torture and death than it has to, alright? I've also got clear scopes ahead, but remember there's a Pool Ship and a fully armed Blade Ship out there, and this time we don't have the luxury of sneaking around them. Hope your cloak's as good as mine, my friend." Once the shredders are primed she peers at the screens. "What does this say, here? How do you make it fire behind us?" she asks, urgency creeping into her voice. "They're gaining on us."
Far too distracted, she doesn't notice her personal comm link when it chirps a few incessant alerts.
-
<<There's a rear battery.>> Ossanlin glances over at the console. <<That's the proprietary control interface, you don't have to worry about it. On your display it's asking if you wish to target the ship that the curser is locked onto...more or less.>>
((I'll be heading back to work at 7:00 PM and I'm gonna watch as much of Avatar as I can before I head out so I probably won't check back again until about midnight (central). ))
-
Myitt nods quickly, lining up the cursor with the leading of the three Bugs. She is relieved to find that this part of the controls isn't too different from those on Yeerkish ships, but unfortunately the fighters seem to have noticed their cannon priming for attack. The two on either side flank away, and the center ship banks downward.
"Come back here, you bastards," Myitt says, sucking in a breath through her teeth. She realigns the cursor with the right flanking ship, the angle awkward, and fires the shredder cannon at its engines.
TSSSSSAAAAAAAAAAAAA PPP! TSSSSAAAAAAAAAAAAAA PPP! The twin beams collide with the engine, and it sinks out of the sky. Unable to correct its position or regain power, as the Bug falls to Earth it vaporizes itself, effectively deleting any of its surviving occupants and any remaining evidence.
Far below, it would appear that a sudden, noiseless lightning storm is breaking out.
"One down, two to go, keep us moving Ossanlin," Myitt calls, just as the center Bug fires its Dracon cannon upward at the underside of the Mirage.
((No worries Luke, take your time and have fun ^^ Jessi had mentioned I could Yeerk her Bug fighters until she gets back, hope this works for you guys :P))
-
((looks bueno. Thanks!))
Tamora is quicker to come around this time, not that it does Zorish much good. As soon as his eyes are functional once more he is stuck staring at the same Andalite ceiling as before, the energy ropes binding him in place.
"Wonderful..." he sighs.
---
One of the surviving Bug Fighters jettisons out from underneath the Mirage after taking a shot at its underbelly. The two Bugs separate and then double back, each fighter taking a separate engine and firing their Dracons.
-
"Hey there Subvisser." Sukohn said, though he was speaking from his other host now. "Sukohn again. I'm in my old body now, for what it's worth. Which isn't much. I feel it's kind of odd that they captured you, when I figured they came chasing me because I found out who the Andalite Bandits really are. You know, you remind me of someone, but you'll never believe me if I tell you what place I found."
Claxter stood idly in the medbay, keeping an eye on the prisoners. He didn't want to do anything else without order, so the scared Human still lay on the bed restrained.
-
"Stop babbling, you dapsen fool," Zorish mutters, "So. You discovered the identity of the Andalite bandits, did you? And I suppose you were trying to capture them on your own rather than tell Visser Three? Take the glory for yourself? How...quaint."
-
((Yay! ^__^ Just going to go ahead and post for the Mirage to move the action a bit, sorry Luke!))
The twin Dracon beams from the first ship impact the shielding under the Mirage, rocking the cabin sickeningly and sounding the alert for a decrease in ventral shielding level.
Myitt is nearly knocked to her feet by the jolt, and until the inertial dampeners can compensate she clings to the shredder cannon manual controls. The cursor, in response, darts wildly around the aiming holoscreen.
"No, no, come back!" she snarls, struggling to regain her footing on a ship designed to dampen inertia for the four-legged. Just as the screen stops hovering side to side in front of her she spies first one Bug, then the other, circling around--the little red blips denoting they've begun cannon priming. "Ossanlin! Somebody, evasive maneuvers, they're heating up!"
-
"Well first off I actually work for Visser Two. I'm not obligated to tell Visser Three anything. Secondly of course he'd take all the credit for himself and probably kill me for good measure. Even Yeerks who have never been to Earth would know that. But if you're going to call me a dapsen fool, then just lie there quietly. I don't have to talk to you. Sir."
-
Ossanlin's fingers fly over the console with practiced ease as he simultaneously gives thought-speech commands to the computer to adjust the flight path. He quickly re-forges the shield matrix drawing extra energy from the ship's two small but powerful matter/antimatter reactors. The nav-com works through the routing for z-space as the Mirage lances through the remainder of the planet's stratosphere and into its mesosphere. It would be mere minutes before they burst through the thermosphere into the ionosphere where z-space became possible, but the bugs were dogged, and worse, Ossanlin looks at the monitor and sees the heat-signature of a Blade Ship moving in on their position.
Ossanlin banks the Mirage hard to the left, sleek curves slicing through the thinning atmosphere. <Just a few more minutes Myitt and we should be able to jump.>
-
"You also hardly have the authority to instruct me to do anything," Zorish says in a dangerous voice, "unless you possess a rank higher than mine, which I sincerely doubt since your plan for glory failed, you should show me a little more respect."
Zorish pauses, giving a moment for that information to sink into Sukohn's mind, then continues, "Now, you said that you have seen me before, and yet you also say that you work for Visser Two. That brings up two issues. Firstly, why are you on Earth? Secondly, how could you have seen me before, as I am almost always stationed aboard Visser Three's Blade Ship?"
-
"Sorry SubVisser. I shouldn't get snotty with you. Anyway, there's an Andalite-"
<Quiet Sukohn!> Claxter said, just remembering Ossanlin wanted there to be a cover story about exactly why they had Zorish. If he allowed Sukohn to keep talking, Zorish might figure out why they really took him.
"What?" Sukohn said incredulously.
<Nothing. Just shut up.>
"What's your reason for taking Zorish anyway, especially before me?"
<Shut. Up.>
-
((Woke up. Posting. Back to sleep now. I think I'm sleep typing right now so I hope its ok))
Alic's face had turned another shade of red, this time out of embarrassment. She had no intentions to upset Ossanlin, and was actually confused as to why he hadn't tried to take Claxter himself. That young andalite made mistakes everywhere and should have been put in his place a long time ago. Alic was just the only one who would do it.
She had followed Claxter into the medbay and leaned against the wall with her arms crossed, trying to ignore their prisoners and Claxter.
She turned her head away, lost in thought.
-
"Aahh!" Myitt cries as the ship banks hard left. The four red beams aimed at the Mirage's engines lance by the main viewscreens, missing just barely. "Okay," she exhales weakly, shaken, "okay, let's just make sure we survive the next few minutes!" She swallows and focuses on the weapons array once more, gripping the manual controls like this was the world's most life-threatening level of Duck Hunt. "Tell me you're seeing this," Myitt says, staring at the large red icon that clearly denotes the faint energy signal of an Imperial Blade Ship. She doesn't dare to look up at the viewscreens or the windows, although the imposing spacecraft is cloaked.
For Zorish, their little ship is so close to salvation, full circle from where he had come. For most of the others, what loomed in front of them was worse than death.
-
Ossanlin veers again, taking on an uncharacteristic flight path. <Yes I see it. They're in the outer ionosphere, we can jump as soon as we get through the planet's thremosphere, it will take a lot of energy and the backlash wave will be intense, but it shouldn't harm the planet's atmosphere that high up. They assume we have to completely escape the gravity well before we can jump...thankfully the Mirage has quite a few surprises in store.>
Ossanlin begins to prime the pulse-missles. If the Blade ship decided to open fire, the hyper-magnetic wave that was generated as a side-effect of the pulse explosion would throw off tracking and eliminate line-of sight for a few seconds. <I don't know if you know this Myitt, but the pulse-missiles I have stocked on here create a momentary gravity-vaccuum after explosion. If we line our trajectory up with the explosion and time our jump to execute a nano-second after the explosion, we'll be able to enter z-space. The only reason I'm waiting until we hit the ionosphere is that the resultant shockwave from opening a z-space rupture inside a body's gravity-well is incredibly significant. The greater the gravity, the greater the shockwave. Down in the troposphere it would eliminate buildings and citizens as well, in the stratosphere and mesosphere it would destroy the planet's natural weather patterns for years. It's a tad...risky...what with flying through a pulse-missile explosion with slightly compromised shielding and timing the jump precisely so that we don't get caught and twisted like a granek in the gravity-collapse or get sliced in half by the unstable z-space rupture...> Ossanlin falls silent thinking perhaps that was a bit too much information.
-
Myitt allows herself a few seconds of shock to absorb this information.
<We're going to what?> Tara demands.
"You're going to try and make a z-space jump in low orbit?" Myitt yells aloud, almost as indignantly. "But that's...you're going to get us all killed, and even if it doesn't harm the planet, it's going to be..." She wrestles with what she's trying to say, her hands trembling on the controls. The Blade Ship is closing in, ever closer, and the Bug fighters are still hot on their back...
"Just tell me when to deploy the pulses," she says finally. "Yeah. Okay. There's a chance we can do this. By the Kandrona itself, I just hope we can pull it off before the Blade Ship can activate its tractor beam."
-
<Making a Z-Space jump in low orbit?> Claxter said. He felt guilty about them having to do this. Those minutes chasing Zorish could have caused them to fail the mission after all. They were on a time limit, and now they were taking risks because of his blunder. He felt guilty, and it likely showed on his face. He did not know how he would reconcile with his Prince.
-
((Sorry for the delayed/crappy post guys. I don't know why, but I had a really hard time responding this time around. Brain fart or something. :P ))
Zorish falls silent, letting Sukohn's words and Claxter's sudden, violent reaction sink in. He hesitates for a few moments, absorbing the information, and when he speaks again he is now addressing the Andalite Warrior, his voice thick with contempt.
"What is it you want to hide from me, little Andalite?" He sneers, "Something I should know?"
He turns his attention back to Sukohn, "Sukohn, whatever it is the Andalite wishes for you to abstain from saying, I demand you tell me immediately. Do not let this filth silence you."
--------
The two Bug Fighters pull behind the Mirage, loosing a little ground but managing to, for the most part, keep pace with the Andalite craft. The closer of the two ships lines itself up with the Mirage's Zero-Space thrusters and, moments later, a beam of red energy explodes from the weapons. Meanwhile, the other Bug Fighter zips along, preparing to line up the next shot.
Further out in space, fully beyond the Earth's atmosphere, the Blade Ship of Visser Three is rapidly closing an intercept course. The Blade Ship has its visual cloaking up, but it is not even attempting to block the energy signals from its powering Dracon Cannons.
-
<We have imprisoned you to acquire information. That is all you need to know.> Claxter said.
"Either your priorities are strange, or that's a load of bull. What would he have that's more important than stopping me? Or did you just not think I could do it? I had the little Human morpher in my bug, afterall. Of course you're kind of a strange lot in a strange place. Although what's-her-name having been on the blade ship and acquired the Subvisser's host might not be related to this. That's just something I noticed.
<Must you be so talkative!?> Claxter said, walking towards Sukohn menacingly.
"I'm a curious person, and this has been the most interesting thing I've been through in my life.
-
((Hey Jessi, is it cool if I call you Jessi? Umm..anyway, the bridge is sealed off from the rest of the ship, it's pretty unlikely that Oss would hear you through the door since there's some distance between the med-bay and the flight-deck. I mean, you don't have to change your post or anything, but I'm not gonna have Oss respond since he wouldn't be able to hear you, I just didn't want you to think I was ignoring you. ))
Ossanlin winces a bit... <Well, not exactly low orbit...more like mid-orbit....sort of.> The ship rocks a bit as the bug's beams impact the shields and are mostly absorbed and dispersed. <If it helps any...I've pulled this off dozens of times, and simulations are 97.5 percent accurate to real Universe conditions.> Ossanlin watches as the nav-com finishes plotting their route and the ship rockets up out of the mesosphere. <Z-space route plotted. A good thing too...the Mirage has powerful shields but a direct hit from a Blade Ship dracon...well we don't really want that to happen. We might live through one shot. Prime the pulse missiles, I need a volley of two to explode at one precise spot approximately 1.894 Kilometers directly in front of the ship. Let me know when you have them ready, we should be into the Ionosphere in the very near future.>
Ossanlin closes his eyes a moment, his fur shifting from deep blue to silver, his eyes glowing their soft sky-blue hue. His senses expand rapidly and he can suddenly feel the interchange of energy around the ship and outside of it as well. Timing the jump would be a 50% gamble at best without his Silver Blade senses, with them...well he's confident to say the least.
-
((Oh, Zorish was talking to Claxter, not Ossanlin. I meant to say 'warrior', not 'prince'. My bad. Fixed it. :P And yes, you can call me Jessi))
-
((Oh cool. NP Jessi. :) I'm Luke BTW if you haven't heard Tara and Patty say it a million times already. :p I'll post after Tara again. ))
-
((Wow, pretty decent timing, I've been offline all day XD mostly because I was up until 5 and woke up not too long ago...oops ::) RAF party.))
Myitt primes the second pulse missile as soon as Ossanlin gives the direction to do so. She watches the screen intently and then nods.
"Alright, both missiles primed," she calls out, double-checking the calculations and trying to block out the fact that Tara's heart is hammering away in her throat. "Checking conversion...yes, they're set to deploy 1.8941 kilometers in front of the ship." Myitt adjusts her grip on the manual controls. "Just tell me when."
-
Ossanlin draws more power into the front shields, leaving just enough rear shielding to deflect a stray dracon, and leaving just enough power in the ship to crack open the z-drive. The lighting dims to a very deep red as the main overheads go offline, and the air starts to get just a bit stuffy as the life-support slows down in order to feed energy to the front shields. <Thermosphere is almost clear, stay ready Myitt.> Ossanlin reaches out wiht his mind, feeling the twist and flux of the Earth's magnetic fields, and the gravity well as well. He keys up the z-drive.
<We're ready, Ionosphere immersion only. Myitt, deploy in 3...2...1...MARK!>
-
Myitt squeezes the manual triggers at Ossanlin's word and hopes, desperately, that the missiles hit their mark.
Please, please, please God, Tara finds herself thinking.
-
<You should be worried about us killing you than being curious about why we grabbed Zorish first. Aren't you afraid of death? You're not a rebel, yet you don't act like we're your enemies.>
"I'm good at keeping control of my emotions. I own a host that's a lunatic who believes Visser Three is the most awesome person in the galaxy."
<That's because he is.> Cody said.
"If I acted like your typical emperial, I'd widn up too much like my host. Don't get me wrong. I don't like you people, and I would kill you if I needed to, but I don't get all emotional about it. I can't afford to."
-
Ossanlin punches the maneuvering thrusters forward, initiating full burn towards the impending explosion. Space lights up outside the ****pit viewer as the two missiles impact each other and explode violently. <BRACE FOR IMPACT!!> The thought is wide-band and easily heard throughout the ship.
Just as Ossanlin finishes speaking, the shockwave splashes against the forward shields, bolts of electricity arcing over the now-visible defensive energy field. The cloak deactivates and the hull of the silver ship is illuminated in blinding white light. Ossanlin lurches forward as the forward momentum of the ship is severly hampered by the out-blasting shockwave. The shields begin to bow in and alarm claxxons sound loudly throughout the ship as the shields wear thin. Ossanlin reaches out with his mind and opens his senses as they approach the zero-g singularity. Ossanlin diverts all power from surrounding shields, leaving only the front deflection grid online as he punches the z-drive and rams the ship forward with an overdrive burn. Space-time warps inside the blast wave and the singularity stabilizes into a z-space rift just as the Mirage reaches it, slipping through into the blank whiteness of z-space. Time seems to freeze for a moment before things outside the ship become completely quiet in the vast expanse of nothingness.
Back in real-space, the ship can be seen hurtling into a pulse-wave explosion, shields slicing into the shockwave, electricity arcing around the shields before everything grows deathly silent...a second later a massive explosion rips through the Earth's ionosphere, the shockwave easily ten times as powerful as a five pulse-missile spread. The shockwave fans out at about half the speed of light...any human ships in the North Pacific Ocean would see one heck of a lightning show as bolts of electricity leap hundreds of miles through the ionosphere within the shockwave's blast radius. The wave distorts light reaching the planet as well, compressed matter causing a strange radiating shadow to flash across the surface of the planet underneath the anti-gravity explosion.
Back in the ship Ossanlin breathes a sigh of relief as the Mirage glides through the empty whiteness of z-space. <See, I'm a decent pilot, nothing to worry about.> Ossanlin chuckles nervously as he releases his silver-blade energy and reverts to his normal deep hue of blue. The claxxons had stopped, but now another one began to sound. <Oh...what now?> Ossanlin quickly diagnoses the problem...the over-drive burn had over-loaded one of the matter/anti-matter reactors. He quickly shuts it down. <I pushed one of the reactors too hard...bored out the phase integrators. Thankfully we can run on one reactor. Hopefully we won't run into any more hostiles before I can make repairs...these advanced Hylon-matrix shields are nice, but they require a lot of energy to function at maximum. We can run on one reactor, but the Mirage is just a regular combat fighter without the second.> Ossanlin sighs again before glancing over at Myitt. <I would invite you to sit down, but I don't have any chairs onboard.> He grins nervously, his body still coming down from the adrenaline overflux.
-
((Nice to meetcha Luke :P))
Zorish falls silent, listening to Sukohn and the young Andalite warrior, storing the information away for potential use later. It is clear that the Andalite is somewhat foolish, and Zorish knows that if he is patient he may be able to gather useful information. His concentration is broken, however, when the ship thrashes violently and the life support is purposefully weakened.
"I think we very well may die, Andalite," Zorish says, smirking, "tell me, warrior, was running me down worth all the trouble?"
It seems that Zorish has spoken too soon, though. The ship lurches, and he braces himself for death, but a moment later everything seems to become smooth once more.
--
The Bug Fighters swoop back for a third round of attacks as the Mirage's shields absorb their previous shots; however, they quickly back off when they see the tell-tale signs of Z-space engines preparing for initiation. The fighters hang back, avoiding the close attacks that they had attempted within the atmosphere and instead shooting less powerful but more accurate beams from a distance.
Meanwhile, the Blade Ship's energy readouts detect that the Mirage is far enough out of the Earth's atmosphere to fire. The ship lines up their front Dracon Cannons at the bright flare of energy and fires. Two red beams of energy lance from the cloaked Bug Fighter, point blank at The Mirage. At the same instant that the beams would have made impact a massive explosion turns the sky into an inferno that absorbs the energy. When the flames clear, the target is gone.
-
"Uh huh," Myitt says tremulously, seeming to realize she is gripping the weapons array console so tightly that her host's knuckles are white. She takes a few shaky steps back.
She looks over at Ossanlin. "We're alive, right?" she whispers, eyes tracking blankly, then she clears her throat and sounds a bit stronger. She even smiles a little, part of her more exhilarated than anything else. "That was insane. Insane! I'm glad you were flying, because I don't think I could've pulled it off." Myitt exhales in relief. "You're right, I need to sit down." She staggers to the wall and sits down with her back against it, hugging Tara's knees.
A few feet away, what remains of the Yeerk pool liquid has sloshed itself against the far wall from the momentary inertia of the jump. It has the scent of mulch and oil. The rest of the floor, where the water has dried, has taken on a faint iridescent sheen.
-
Claxter fell over when the ship lurched, and Zorish's words were drowned out by the strapped in Human yelling in panic.
"Somebody get me out of here! I don't want to die! Please!"
When things calmed down somewhat, Claxter decided to let the Human out to keep him from having a heart attack. When released, he jumped up, but didn't really have anywhere to go. he ran to an empty corner like a scared cornered animal, sweating and breathing heavily with wide and fearful eyes.
<Please calm down. No one is going to hurt you.>
"I've been abducted by aliens. I know what happens to people who get abducted by aliens. You can't fool me."
"We're not those kind of aliens. You're thinking Skrit Na. We're Yeerks and Andalites." Sukohn said. "Yeerks just want your body as their vehicle. Andalites just want you to do what they tell you to and act grateful when they meddle in your personal affairs."
-
All Alic could do when Ossanlin gave the warning was put her arms out to catch her fall. If she made it to the ground... If they didn't blow up. Seconds later her she was face first on the floor, and her hands had only softened the blow to her face. "Ugh." Slowly Alic sat up and leaned against the wall, crossing her arms again.
She was still feeling bitter and doing her best to ignore the other occupants of the room.
She rolled her eyes and turned to look at the human. "Great. Now we're stuck in space with some human who can't hold it together. "He was calmer with the slug in his head, you know."
-
"Maybe you'd be calmer with him in you. Trigger happy...shoot me as well as Sukohn probably." He said, though he didn't look Alic in the eyes when he said it.
<I don't suppose you'd like some sedatives to calm yourself down?>
"What I want is to go home. We're not leaving earth, are we? I know we're being attacked, but can you guys just give the Yeerks their friends back and put me back on Earth?"
<Afraid not.>
-
Alic smiled. "Trigger happy? I dislike using weapons. I prefer physical combat, actually." Then she decided to add, "And I try my best not to have to kill innocents, but sometimes sacrifices must be made. I wouldn't mind if Sukohn was destroyed, I don't think anyone in the room cares."
She sighed and relaxed her arms, tired of feeling locked up with the prisoners. Maybe Alic had reacted poorly earlier, but she didn't deserve to be stuck with the company she was with.
Alic snorted. "Yeah. Can't bring you back right now. You're stuck."
-
Zorish sighs in annoyance at the freed human, sounding rather like a snotty young girl. Tamora's body was quite good at portraying arrogance and indignation, and Zorish was truly becoming exasperated.
"I'm afraid that we are likely a long way off from Earth now, human," Zorish says, "otherwise we would be dead at this point. No more than a few molecules floating through space. No, we are likely hurtling through Z-space headed towards...well, I'd very much like to know what we are headed towards. Where is it you Andalites are taking us? To the Captain's Dome Ship? If you are going to kill me, you may as well get it over with. I have told you everything there is to tell."
-
"Sorry. I kind of got the first impression that you liked to shoot people. My name's Derrel, by the way. What is Z-space?"
<It is the antithesis of regular space that can be used to trverse long distances quickly. It is a pure white nothingness.> Claxter said.
"Antithesis of space? But there aren't like, black dots where stars would be?"
<No. I suppose it isn't the exact opposite of space.>
"Just think wormhole or hyperdrive." Sukohn said.
"Oh. So where are we going?"
"We came from a weird place that's better understood if you've been there. probably going back there."
<Yes Sukohn, now be quiet.>
"You're so crabby for being the victorious side here. I'm willing to bet money that you wanted more from Zorish than just information. Or her host."
<Well we certainly don't need to keep you alive.>
"Hey I'm surprised I'm still alive right now."
-
"No one cares what your name is, human," Zorish snaps, frustrated, "let me make your role in all of this perfectly clear. You are a free human on an Andalite space craft that is being powered by an Andalite captain and Yeerk refugees. You have a rather limited future ahead of you. You will either be hauled off to the traitor's camp and forced to fight, taken back to Earth and eventually fall back into Yeerk hands or killed outright. You have no future."
-
Derrel didn't take Zorish's words very well. He sat with his head resting in his knees, and looked like he might start crying.
"The people at The Sharing liked me. They gave me food, and hung out with me, and said I could be a full member."
"I know this is just going to crush your morale, but the Sharing is a front organization for the Yeerks. Every full member you know is an Emperial, or Controller as we are commonly called."
Derrel definitely didn't take that well. He turned towards the wall to hide the pain on his face.
-
Ossanlin smiles a bit at Myitt as he gives the systems another once-over before leaving the auto-track to run the z-space jump. <Well, it's only a 50% success rate for a good Andalite pilot, there's just too much randomness. But I must say it helps to be able to feel the fluxes in space. Works much better than a computer. Being touched by the Ellimist can have it's uses...> Ossanlin chuckles a bit to himself.
<I suppose we should go see how the 'children' are doing.> He chuckles again and opens the flight-deck door to survey the situation. <Everything still functional out here?>
-
<Hello Prince Ossanlin.> Claxter said as Ossanlin and Myitt came back. <Sukohn has willingly left his temporary host for his regular one. The Human's name is Derrel, and he's actually quite depressed.>
"I think we broke him." Sukohn said.
<Sukohn won't remain quiet as I repeatedly instruct him to.>
"Making the most of my final moments."
-
Alic stood up and glared at Claxter and Sukohn. They had been bickering the entire time. "Thank God," she said when Ossanlin entered. Alic passed by Ossanlin, desperately wanting to leave the too-crowded room full of idiots, and smiled apologetically at Ossanlin.
-
((Likewise Jessi. :) ))
Ossanlin notes the human in the corner. <You'll not be harmed, at least not any further than you already have been...Derrel. You're an unfortunate soul to have been in the wrong place at the wrong time.>
He surveys the common area and looks back into the medbay to see Sukohn and Zorish still safely confined. He points at Claxter. <You. Bridge. Now.> He would rather not dress Claxter down in front of Alic or anyone else, but there's not much room in the ship for as many passengers as are on board. The bridge would have to do. He turns again and walks back onto the bridge.
-
She smiles a bit. "Thank goodness for that damned Ellimist. The Andalite fairytale. I think it was more your piloting skills than anything else, not to mention blind luck." Myitt waves faintly at Ossanlin, gesturing for him to go on and check on those in the med bay without her. She remains sitting on the floor, against the wall.
Once Ossanlin returns she looks up at him. "I take it they're all still restrained. Any word from Zorish? I believe I cut short my last conversation with him rather abruptly."
-
<Yes sir.> Claxter said. Here it comes. He walked behind his prince onto the bridge sullenly, knowing he was in deep trouble.
Meanwhile the fact that Alic, Ossanlin, and Claxter all left the room didn't escape Sukohn's attention. This might be the only chance he had to get out of this alive, as long as no Andalites or rebels were inside the room.
-
((I think Hadrin's still out there, but I don't remember what happened with him. :p ))
Ossanlin looks to Myitt for a moment, chuckling. <Well, I wasn't the best pilot at the academy you know. Prince Furyk, the stunt-fighter trainer was better. But trust me, feeling the flux and flow of the singularity and being able to know what tiny adjustments in direction and thrust to make and when to make them made the whole process much easier. I'm afraid I didn't speak with Zorish. I'm sure he's as caustic as usual.>
After Claxter trots onto the bridge, Ossanlin seals the bridge door again, Alic, Claxter, Myitt, and Ossanlin all sharing the not so large space. He turns around, chin held firm, tail upright, body postured in a dominant position. He looks at Claxter directly, holding the Warrior's gaze with his eyes for a few moments. <Why do you think I brought you in here Claxter?>
-
Zorish listens to the door to the bridge close and lets out a heavy sigh, "Whatever you are thinking," he says to Sukohn, "I doubt it will work. We are barreling through Z-space, where will you go? We are prisoners. Accept that fact for now, and maybe we will escape later. When we aren't in Z-space. Now, tell me, where are we going?"
-
<I have been thinking, sir. I feel like I may not have taken you as seriously as my past Prince. This was an accident, and I did not do this consciously. You were kind, and I stopped being afraid of doing something wrong. I suppose that caused me to pay less attention to what I was doing. Like releasing a prisoner when all the hatches were open. I apologize.>
"Yes sir." Sukohn said. The subvisser was right, and they couldn't do much while going through Z-Space. "After I was separated from my fleet I found this small planetoid with a bar in it. There were various aliens there, including Andalites and Yeerks. Also some other beings I don't know about. everyone on this ship came from there, and I assumed they were coming from me. I found some information about the morphers on Earth from someone who is supposed to be from the future. I don't know how dependable it is that she's actually from the future, but her information was correct."
"We are likely heading back to this bar."
(I don't know where Hadrin is either)
-
"Interesting," Zorish says softly, "that explains your part in all of this. Now, why would they require me? They have already gathered information from me. For all intents and purposes, I should be worthless to them. I have no doubts that they intend to destroy me, but they seem hesitant to kill my host."
"What I need," Zorish mutters, "is to be free of these restraints," he pauses, an idea coming to him. A small smile spreads on his face. "Derrel. Oh, human. Remember how I said that your future is pretty hopeless? Well, that's true. But I can make sure that you live longer, if you trust me. I might be able to save you."
-
"Save me? How? Can you fly an Andalite ship?" He said, assuming if they took the ship then they'd need to fly it back.
"Hmm. He's pathetic, but not stupid." Sukohn said in Galard, which Derrel wouldn't understand.
-
"Quiet," Zorish responds in Galard, "you know as well as I do that the Andalites will have no sympathy for this human. At least if he is one of ours he will be useful. He may even live longer."
Switching over to English Zorish addresses Derrel, "We may be able to get a ship, eventually. By first we need to stay alive. Those Andalites in there, they are going to kill me. They have no reason to, except for the fact that I am a Yeerk. It is prejudice in te simplest form. If you let me infest you, though, if you let me borrow your body, we may all survive."
-
((Oh jeez...-_- Last I wrote Hadrin was helping to escort Sukohn back onto the ship. Let's just say he's been back there in the med bay -___-))
Myitt nods at Ossanlin, grinning at his mention of manipulating singularities. As much as she understood it on paper, it still mystified her how her old friend had gained such immeasurable powers. She watches Claxter and Alic walk back into the cabin, Claxter looking and sounding forlorn.
Hadrin gives Sukohn and Zorish a brief glare, training his Dracon on them as he steps out into the cabin. He sloshes through the pool liquid and looks down at his feet. Then he walks over to Myitt, sitting down next to her.
"I guess we both got caught up in all this excitement, huh?" he whispers to her, watching Ossanlin berate his subordinate.
"You're telling me," Myitt mutters back, hugging her knees tighter. "I'm ready for a vacation."
Hadrin smiles faintly. "What do you think? Barbados?"
"Hawaii." Myitt slaps Hadrin playfully on the shoulder. "And don't get my hopes up." She looks over at the doorway to the med bay. "Are they alone in there?"
Hadrin follows her gaze. "Yeah, I guess they are. They're restrained, do you really think they'll try and force a coup?"
"Would you put it past them? There is a vulnerable, free human in there, too, isn't there?" Myitt stands up and walks over to Alic, tapping her on the shoulder. "Psst, hey..." She jerks a thumb at the doorway. "You think they're having a party in there, or what? Maybe you and I should go check on them. I don't like leaving them in there by themselves, it's like leaving a bunch of Taxxons in front of a piece of meat. I just...don't trust them to lie still and be good little P.O.W.'s." She watches Alic's expression. "Unless you're tired of entertaining them?" Myitt draws her Dracon and eyes the power level.
-
Ossanlin glances at Myitt with his stalk eyes and sends a private thought. <<Thank you Myitt, I should've left somebody out there to watch them.>>
He returns all of his attention to Claxter. <Partially right, but mostly wrong Claxter. Zorish tricked you, and while I should wish that you would make better decisions in that situation, such as sealing the ship, or standing out of melee range, the responsibility falls on him as well. You are inexperienced and mistakes happen...I can only hope that you learned something from that little experience.>
Ossanlin turns and walks toward the console, then turns around again, still looking at Claxter. <I may not be a harsh leader, but I'm still a leader. You have a problem with authority Claxter, you don't like to follow orders. That's why you're in here. You disobeyed a direct order, and this is not the first time.> Ossanlin points around the bridge. <Do you think I command Aliciania or Myitt or Hadrin? No. Myitt and Hadrin are both free rebels, they might follow Reven's orders, but not mine. And Aliciania is not in the military despite her parentage, so I hold no authority over her either. Yet down on the Earth's surface, they did as I said because they knew what was at stake. We each had a role to play, and it needed to be played correctly. There are too many variables in battle for individuals to run off and do whatever they want. Of course there are times when you need to make your own decisions, you have free will after all, but not at the expense of the mission.>
Ossanlin continues his dominant posture, trotting back towards the young Warrior. <Do you even realize what you did back there when you went chasing after Zorish? I had already sent Aliciania and Hadrin after Zorish, that was their part. I ordered you...ordered you to come back and assist me with getting that human onboard the Mirage. Yet you left me...in an unfamiliar, weak morph, to deal with a psychologically unstable, possibly armed human willing to do anything to escape...by myself. I could hardly push him onto the ship, his human body was bigger than mine. I couldn't demorph, he'd have been able to run off or attack me. If I'd have stunned him, I wouldn't have been able to drag or carry him very far, not in time to avoid those bug fighters.>
Ossanlin is now standing right in front of Claxter, eyes glowing their faint blue hue. <Why is it that every other person involved with the mission did exactly as I said, even though they are free to do as they wish, and the one being that I'm supposed to have direct authority over completely disobeyed me and ran off like a lorn with his neck severed?!> Ossanlin's 'voice' was still calm, yet it had taken on a somewhat more insidious tone now, threatening without anger. <Are you truly a Warrior Claxter? I don't mean your rank, a rank is only a title in your datafile. A Warrior knows the value of the chain of command, they know that their commander has taken time to consider the best plan of action and has decided upon one. They know that if they don't play their part in that plan, the whole thing could collapse in disaster. An aristh might make that type of egregious mistake, though they are punished for it. They are not expected to know any better. You have behaved as an aristh Claxter, and a poor one at that...if that's what you are, perhaps I should modify your datafile to show it.> Ossanlin lets that hang in the air for a moment, then lifts Claxter's chin with his tail-blade to meet his own eyes. <If you wish to keep your rank of Warrior, Claxter...you need to start acting like a Warrior, and you need to show me that that is the rank that is most befitting of you. If you continue to disobey orders, I will have no choice but to demote your rank and give you over to my Master of Arisths, Prince Zeom. I can assure you that he has a much...rougher...de meanor than my own.>
Ossanlin allows his tail-blade to return to its arched, dominant position over his back. <Show me that you're a Warrior Claxter, or suffer the consequences. Understood?!>
-
Alic rubbed the back of her neck and tried to smile at Myitt. "Party. Yeah." She decided to not cut her time close and demorphed. <You may go first,> Alic said, a stalk eye on the dracon. If it needed to be used she might as well be the first to find out.
She tried her best to pretend she did not hear Ossanlin or Claxter, knowing the conversation was not for her. Part of her could not help but be happy about the fact that Claxter was getting reprimanded.
-
Claxter listened to his Prince, and when he mention Claxter diobeyed a direct order, slight confusion came across his face. Then surprise as it dawned him that he really did do that. He was so focused on correcting his mistake, he did something one should never ever do in a dangerous situation. He flinched when Ossanlin brought his blade forward. <Yes sir. I'll never disobey you again my Prince.>
"No. No way. I won't let you. You're not the ones with any power You have nothing to barter with." Derrel was afraid of death, but he wasn't keen on the kind of life where he had no control over what happened to him.
"We have Earth." Sukohn said.
That seemed to get through to Derrel a little, but he was just too scared. He sat against the wall hugging his knees while wiping the tears threatening to come from his eyes.
-
Zorish sighs, knowing that his time is running short. He looks at the human best he can from his position, trying to convey as much seriousness as possible.
"You misunderstand me, Derrel" Zorish says, risking an anxious glance at the door, "I am not bartering. I am asking. I am presenting you with your best hope for survival. Trust me when I say that I have no intents on remaining inside you. Tamora is my host. I will return to her at the first opportunity. Of course you can say no. There is nothing I can do to stop you. But I promise you, Derrel, you can not trust the Andalites. They are the manipulators of the galaxy. They destroy lives and feel self-righteous doing so. They are evil."
((sorry for the short posts today. I've been posting on my phone.))
-
Derrel thought it over for a few seconds. Sukohn had released him, so maybe he wasn't completely bad. This Subvisser person might let him go too. Sine Earth was occupied by the Yeerks, siding with them might be best. He got up and walked slowly over to Zorish's bed. He kept glancing at the door, expecting someone to come in at any moment. He placed his hand near her ear so she could crawl out. His hand was sweating.
-
((Don't you dare squish Zorish :P))
"Great," Zorish says, quickly, "now be careful, alright? We'll make this quick."
<Don't leave me!> Tamora squeals suddenly, with surprising force.
<Tamora, be quiet. How in the Kandrona do you expect me to free you if we are strapped down like this? I need you to calm down, and act like me.>
<I can't!>
<You must. You have no choice. I will return to you as quickly as possible.>
"Sukohn, keep him from panicking," Zorish orders. Zorish closes Tamora's eyes and takes a deep breath. He knows that he is taking a huge risk in leaving his host, but he didn't get to the rank that he has by playing it safe. He begins to detach himself from his current host, moving quickly, but with infinite care of Tamora's neural network. A moment later a small, gray probe can be seen feeling its way from Tamora's ear canal. The probe elongates and stretches, until a full-grown slug-like Yeerk plops into Derrel's waiting hand.
-
(I was kind of hoping someone would come in before this happened. I'm not planning on Derrel crushing Zorish. He doesn't have the balls.)
-
((Well, no one has come in, so we may as well make this interesting. Don't worry, I won't let do anything to Derrel you don't want me to))
-
Derrel tried to breathe regularly while placing Zorish to the ear opposite the doorway. He wanted desperately to go home, and if Earth was controlled by the Yeerks then that was the side he needed to be on. He didn't know if the Andalites were actually evil, but they did leave the planet without dropping him off.
-
Zorish, sensing a new opening, found his way into the entrance of Derrel's ear, taking care to release toxins that would numb the pain. It was certain to feel odd and maybe even a little creepy to Derrel, but it would not hurt.
It does not take long for Zorish to wrap himself entirely around Derrel's brain. There is a moment of paralysis, where Derrel is no longer in control but Zorish has not fully seized control, but that quickly passes. Zorish gains full control over his new body with practiced ease.
<Ah...> Zorish breathes, flexing his new hands, <that's much better. Alright now, little human. Let's see what we can do about saving both of us.> He leans down to look at a now free Tamora. She is breathing heavily, her eyes staring wide. He can see her struggling against the restraints uselessly.
"Tamora, calm down," Zorish whispers, "it isn't time yet. I will save you, but you need to act the part. Or you will ruin it for all of us."
Tamora's frightened gaze locks on Zorish's and she nods almost imperceptibly, still shaking. Zorish smiles, pats her on her forehead gently, and moves over to the wall that Derrel had been resting against when Myitt and the others left.
"Your survival depends on me, as well," Zorish warns Sukohn in Galard, "don't do anything foolish."
-
"Yes sir." Sukohn said in Galard. Maybe he could reclaim his prize of capturing the Human bandits. Maybe Zorish wouldn't turn on him. In any case, there was a sliver of hope that they may yet live.
Meanwhile Derrel was silent but doubtful. Would this work? Everyone had to play their parts just so, and even then it still might not work.
-
<Don't you worry,> Zorish says to Derrel, <just remember. I'm one of the good guys.>
Zorish thumbs through Derrel's memories, not bothering to look particularly far back. He is most interested in the last few hours, the cause for all of his anguish. He needs to understand Derrel before he can imitate Derrel. Luckily no one else on this ship knows the human particularly well, so his job will not be that difficult. The difficult part lies in Tamora's as of yet untested acting skills.
---
Tamora takes deep, slow breaths, staring upwards at the ceiling and willing herself not to cry. Freedom is not new to her, but Zorish has never abandoned her in the middle of a deadly mission before. She has always trusted him to make the decision that will keep them alive. Now she is alone, the tell-tale voice in her head gone, and their survival depends on her. It is almost too much to bear, but the thought of what might happen if she fails keeps her from breaking down entirely.
-
((Will post after Tara and Patty have a chance to...they might post pre-time IDK...I would dismiss Claxter and return to piloting if they'd posted but I'll wait.))
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((I was waiting for Taras reply. :P))
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((Okay, okay, jeez guys, give a birthday girl a break ;) :P))
Myitt nods at Alic and opens the med bay doors, stepping in. After a few seconds to take in the situation she lowers her Dracon.
"I guess it really is a party in here," she says blandly. "Good evening Sukohn. Zorish. It seems the two of you have had quite a bit of fun, but now we're all right back where we started. Now my friend Alic and I are going to be your babysitters. I know we're all going to get along just fine, aren't we? Zorish and I are already old pals."
She looks across the room at Derrel. "Hey there, I'm Myitt. Sorry you've been dragged into this whole mess. It's a real ****, isn't it? What's your name, kid?"
-
((Sorry work. Reply from phone. While on the clock lol))
Alic followed behind Myitt and closed the doors behind her. An annoyed look was set on her face. She really didn't want to play "babysitter" but knew it was best to let Ossanlin and Claxter talk. She hoped their conversation would end with sending Claxter back to his old dome.
Darrel had been in hysterics since he was freed and Alic wasn't enthusiastic about dealing with a human who had no idea about what was going on. Part of her felt sympathy for him, he had every right to be afraid. But she considered him as extra baggage and he would probably just end up getting in the way.
<<This sucks.>> Alic spoke privately to Myitt.
-
Ossanlin nods. <If you should ever feel for any reason that I have made an incorrect decision and you can correct it, then you should act with your own judgement. I don't wish to rob you of your free will Claxter, you're not a slave, but I do want you to understand and appreciate the fact that I have been fighting this war for a few more years than yourself and I might possibly know a little something about what I'm doing. You need to think before you act, and I need you to follow orders, especially during a mission.>
Ossanlin relaxes his tail a bit and assumes a more casual position, his tone of thought becoming a bit warmer. <I think you are capable of meeting, and exceeding, your current rank...you have potential and I want you to reach it. I want to see you succeed, but you are the one who is ultimately responsible for that. You are dismissed.>
Ossanlin strides over to where his battle-harness is laying and dons it again, situating the swords around his midsection, the weight of the harness welcome across his humanoid torso. He scans the bridge and sees where his Shredder clattered across the deck during the pulse-missile impact. He picks it up and replaces it in his harness. Ossanlin unseals the bridge door and trots out to Alic. <<Would you still happen to have my other Shredder Aliciania?>> He smiles at her human form...her feminine andalite form was so much prettier...in fact he probably wouldn't find her human form attractive at all if he wasn't attracted to the person inside the human shell.
((Happy birthday Tara! Mid-twenties are scary aren't they? I saw some high-school girls in the Des Moines mall the other day when my friend and I went to see Prince of Persia, and I thought they were middle-school girls. I said as much to Kyle and his response was "That's because we're old." And I realized that half of my twenties are gone. >_> Kids that were born in 1992 and started kindergarten in 1997 graduating... Anyway we all know RL comes before RAF. Hope you had a good b-day! Still looking forward to seeing you towards the end of June. If you give me three weeks' notice I can ask for some days off work, which I will have to do unless you happen to come on Friday and Saturday. :p ))
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<Yes sir.> Claxter said, and left the bridge. He didn't want to go to the medbay, since the Yeerks and Alic were there. He remembered Myitt saying that she and Alic would 'deal' with him later, so going there would be uncomfortable. He decided to go to one of the sleeping quarters and wait until they returned to the bar. Rescuing Terenia's sister had been quite easy, save for a few hiccups. Now they could separate Efaen from terenia without Tamora being killed.
"I was just about to take a nap, actually." Sukohn said to Myitt, while trying to get comfortable. "Wake me when we get back to the bar."
-
Zorish takes a deep, heaving breath, as a man who is on the verge of tears might do in an effort to quell them, and looks at Myitt with distrust.
"D-Derrel," he says in a stuttering, quavering voice, maintaining his hunched position against the wall. "I want to go home."
--
Tamora winces as the door to the medbay opens, but quickly gets her expression to fall back to neutral. It isn't too hard, since she is so out of practice with controlling her own facial expressions. Neutral seems to be the default. She remains silent as Myitt speaks, listening for cues from Zorish and deciding that it is best not to speak unless spoken to.
-
Myitt sneers briefly at Sukohn but doesn't indulge him with a reply. She looks back at Derrel and nods.
"Alright, Derrel," she says earnestly. "We'll try and get you home, okay? Just sit tight, it's going to take a while." She glances back at Alic, then walks over to Tamora, smiling down at her.
"It was really quite clever, you know, fooling that Andalite child to set you free," she says conversationally. "I think we're all aware he's our weakest link. No matter. Throwing me across the room, though--was that really necessary? Honestly. I mean, I assume it was you, unless some other bipedal creature thought I should go for a roller coaster ride."
-
Tamora stares up at Myitt, her features frozen as she works through the context of what she is saying. She recalls those panicky moments when Zorish was making his escape, and those split seconds when he decided to spill the tupperware that contained Myitt.
"You're right," Tamora says at last, through cracked lips, "it may have been...unnecessary. I thought it would slow -," she pauses, faltering on Claxter's name. Her tongue feels thick and strange within her own mouth, "-the Andalite down. I thought he might stop to save a fallen comrade, even if it was a Yeerk. I guess I was wrong."
She stutters to a stop, rather proud with her performance. It wasn't perfect, but she imagined that she had delivered something roughly similar to what Zorish would have said. Over in the corner, Zorish looks at the ground, still playing the part of the cowering human.
-
Alic tilted her head just slightly as if to say "whatever." She really was just bored being stuck in this room with two yeerks and an innocent human. <<Yeah. Try.>> She rolled all four of her eyes at her response to Myitt. She decided it best not to respond to Zorish. She knew Claxter was the weakest person on their side and would have done the exact same thing in the captives' situation. Yes, definitely better to keep that part private.
(it took my forveert to reply. sorry. a lil drunk.. celebrating mt bday early since i probably wont on thuirdsyd)
-
<I can't believe he can actually sleep at a time like this. How can he be so calm?> Derrel said to Zorish. <Or maybe he's just really tired. Who knows?>
<Are you really going to go to sleep here?> Cody asked Sukohn.
<You think of anything better to do? Maybe play cards with the babysitters? Charades? Truth or Dare?>
<Fine. Whatever man.>
-
Myitt watches Tamora for an uncomfortable moment. "I was at your mercy," she says finally. "So I'm glad at least all I got was a roller coaster ride."
Without another word she paces away from the gurney. As she passes Ossanlin and Alic she lays a hand on Alic's shoulder and whispers, "Hang on, I'll be right back."
She steps briefly into the cabin to retrieve her backpack, eyeing Claxter as she does so. The bottom of the pack is soaked in pool liquid, but otherwise its contents are unharmed. She fishes around until she finds the used Kandrona generator. One side of the semi-spherical device is already flat, and it hardly resembles the neural disruption cylinders the Empire used to quickly--and sometimes publicly--dispose of troublesome hosts and their Yeerks, but it would have to do. Myitt cups the dead generator in the palm of her hand, so that only the flat end, reminiscent of the deadly silver cylinder, is visible.
She walks back into the med bay, glancing wordlessly at Ossanlin, and steps up to Tamora's gurney.
"Since you were merciful to me, I'd like to return the favor and be merciful to you," says Myitt, constricting her voice to sound both grim and resolute. "We've learned all that we can learn from your mind, and surely you realize we cannot return you to the Empire, or harbor you forever as a prisoner of war. Even your voluntary host is a security risk, as much of a pity it is to destroy an innocent human. But I won't make you suffer." She heaves a heavy sigh. "I am sorry, to both of you."
With a trembling hand, Myitt slowly moves to press the flash of silver metal against the back of Tamora's neck while Tamora hangs, suspended and immobile, in the gurney's energy field.
-
(Nah. I don't want it to feel like any of my characters know more than they should. I need to avoid anything Sue-ish, if you know what I mean.)
-
"No!" Tamora cries, her eyes wide with fear as she sees the bright flash of silver and realizes what it means. She tries desperately to worm her way out of her bonds, but the energy ropes provide no give whatsoever. Letting out a sob of fear, Tamora squeezes her eyes shut, waiting for the end.
Zorish's head snaps up at Tamora's cry, her fear pulling him from the act. As he registers the device in Myitt's hand he feels his stomach drop. This isn't right at all, he thinks, knowing that he has a decision to make. Save himself and leave Tamora to die, or reveal himself and they both might die. The smart thing to do would be to sacrifice his former host. He was the only free Imperial in a room filled with rebels and Andalites.
Zorish presses his lips into a thin line, turning his head away from the gurney and towards the wall, not wanting to watch his host perish because he did not act, but knowing that action would be useless.
<This is not how I intended events to play out,> he says internally.
-
<What's going on? What's happening?> Derrel asked as Zorish turned his head away and said things weren't going as planned. <What's not happening as intended?>
Sukohn jerked from his spot when Tamora shouted. "What now? What are you doing, Myitt? You don't strike me as that kind of Yeerk." He said, meaning a tormentor of prisoners.
-
((Hmm...okay, quick poll. I realize that having Zorish break his cover that quickly might be a little out of character for a Sub-Visser. Should I edit it so that he doesn't break his cover but Tamora still freaks out? What do you think?))
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(That probably is odd for a Sub-Visser, and I'm not sure if they're really so close that she'd lose it that fast. Seems like she'd at least try to use Derrel to object to it, especially since he is a nice guy. He'd totally be against killing prisoners. Maybe edit it so she tries that first?)
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((Hmm, I dunno if there's enough time to make a debate out of it, but I'll make a few changes to keep it more Sub-Vissery. If nothing else it could be a good basis for argument between Zorish and Tamora later. If either lasts long enough :P Give me a minute to edit))
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((Out of character for a Sub-Visser, but perhaps not for one who is reluctantly attached to his host x3 Hmmmm....I can work with either scenario, leaving Zorish in Derrel will create further tension--but I think if he doesn't act then Myitt has another trick up her sleeve. She is suspicious, otherwise she wouldn't be faking this execution :P))
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(Oh, that's what this is? Myitt's suspicious, and wants to see if Derrel is infested. I'm wearing my dense cap, and didn't see that.)
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((Edited. :) ))
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(I edited too.)
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Myitt hesitates for barely a second before pressing the cold cylinder against the back of Tamora's neck. She pauses, realizing from Tamora's frantic breathing that she is still most definitely alive.
She turns away from the gurney with a scowl, feigning rage and despair. "Goddamn second hand Skrit Na piece of ****," she snarls, her back to Tamora and the wall Zorish is sitting against, hitting the bottom of the Kandrona generator with the palm of her hand. "Work, damn you!"
In her show of anger she barely even registers Sukohn.
-
"Everything the Skrit Na have is second hand." Sukohn said, not really sure what Myitt is doing. "Bad babysitter! Bad!"
-
"Will you be quiet?" Myitt snaps at Sukohn, still tapping at the generator.
In the cabin, Hadrin looks up from his spot against the wall.
<Wonder what all the commotion's about?> his host, Justin, says silently.
<I haven't heard any shots ring out yet,> Hadrin replies. <If it's only Myitt yelling angrily about something, I'd rather not cross his path. He's a nice enough Yeerk, as you know, but occasionally-->
<Yeah. The temper.>
<Indeed. I do wish we knew more about this secondary mission, but with Zorish in there...yes. It is wise to remain where we are.>
-
"Fine. I guess I'll just wait until it's my turn." Sukohn said. He was trying to distract Myitt from Tamora. She was bound to lose it. "I'm just the secondary objective to the oh so special Sub-Visser."
-
((wait.. what IS myitt doing. im lost... damn hangover, i blame that...))
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((Myitt is suspicious of Zorish/Tamora, so she is using a Kandrona generator to make it seem like she is killing them. The generator looks similar to the long cylinder used in #8 to kill Controllers whose Yeerks were dying. At a glance both Zorish and Tamora would think that Myitt is killing Tamora, although it's really just a harmless generator.))
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(Ahhh. Okay. So. No one else knows its just a generator. Got it.))
Alic stepped aside to let Myitt exit, and was curious as to what she was doing. Her eyes widened with shock when she returned with the cylinder, knowing this was quite unlike Myitt. But hey, saves them the time to do the dirty work later. <<What are you DOING? I mean, great, glad someone is doing something... But I thought we wanted to keep the girl alive!>>
Confusion swept over Alic's face when.. well.. it didn't work. It would have been nice to just end it all now instead of dealing with them the entire way back to the bar.
-
In the midst of muttering curses at the device, Myitt looks briefly at Alic and raises her eyebrows, her gaze flickering meaningfully from Alic's face to the little device in her hand. It is all she can do without giving up the charade.
"****ing thing isn't working!" she exclaims to Alic, doing quite a decent job of appearing irritated.
-
(You think maybe Sukohn is in a better position to see the device than Zorish or Tamora?)
-
Alic gave Myitt that "What the ****" and followed her gaze down to the device. Finally, it dawned on her. <<Oh.>> She decided to let Myitt play her game, and she could even play along with her.
<If your little device isn't going to work, Myitt.. I can assist you.> She raised her tail just slightly. She was only partially pretending. If she recieved order to take their heads, she would do it without a second thought.
-
Tamora winces as the cool metal presses against the nape of her neck, a whimper escaping her lips. She squeezes her eyes tight, waiting for the device to complete its cruel job. When nothing happens after a few seconds she hesitantly opens one eye. Abruptly the metal object is removed from her neck and she can hear Myitt cursing.
"I'm alive," she sighs, realizing that the device has not worked. Her heart is just beginning to cease racing when Aliciana speaks up, volunteering the use of her tail blade. Her throat constricts and she shakes her head back and forth, as if the violent motion will be enough to tear the rest of her body free.
"No...no, let me go!" she cries, on the verge of panic. She tries to catch sight of Zorish, still huddled in the corner impersonating Derrel, but he is just out of her viewpoint. Her gaze falls back on the female Andalite and her chest tightens at the aliens unforgiving expression.
"Save me!" She cries, biting her lip at the last minute to keep herself from saying Zorish's name out loud.
In the corner Zorish puts his head in his hands. An onlooker might mistake his movements for despair with the overall situation, but in actuality he was hiding the anxiety that he could not prevent from playing across his face. He wished that he could tell Tamora to be quiet, that she would blow their cover, but for once their mind-to-mind connection was severed. Zorish could do nothing but watch it play out, or else all of their lives were at risk.
-
"I can't, Sub-Visser." Sukohn said, emphasizing the word Sub-Visser in the hopes of reminding Tamora to play her part. He struggles a bit against his bonds, but they're too tight. Since he isn't actually tied to anything, he's able to wriggle towards Myitt a bit. When he gets closer, he gets a better look at what she's holding. "Hold up. That thing looks a bit off. Myitt, is that really what I think it is?"
-
Ossanlin continues to monitor the ship's progress through z-space on the flight deck. He watches Myitt as she comes back into the room and picks up the spent kandrona generator. He gives her a slightly confused look and shakes his head when she walks back out. The commotion soon after does catch his attention however. He quickly trots out through the lounge area and into the medbay.
Ossanlin catches a glimpse of the kandrona generator in her hand. <<I assume something...strange ...has happened here. They apparently think that is something it's not since it's causing all this hysteria and you claim that it's a faulty Skrit-Na purchase...>> Ossanlin falls silent and watches some more. He listens as Tamora begs and Aliciania offers her tail. It finally dawns on him that Myitt is threatening to kill Tamara and the Sub-Visser for some reason. <<I assume you know what you're doing Myitt...>>
Ossanlin speaks up. <There's no need for blood or barbarism Aliciania...I have several things onboard that would...accomplish the same ends. For example, a concentrated, dedicated pulse charge administered directly to the cerebrum and medulla would permanently disrupt all electrical activity in both brains quite immediately and painlessly. I would simply have to dedicate one of the pulse mines and tone back it's energy level. Then it would simply be a matter of erecting a containment field around the gurney to protect the rest of us from the energy output. However I would much rather save the human girl, she's more or less innocent, her mind twisted and warped by Imperial Yeerk infestation. In time, she could be rehabilitated from their parasitic machinations.> He looks at Tamora again with his main eyes, the fear etched on her face quite genuine which seems rather out of character for the Sub-Visser. But then being confronted with one's own mortality could often be rather harrowing. <Perhaps we could make a deal of some sort? I wouldn't wish to make you starve to death Sub-Visser...perhaps we could promise you a quick and painless death if you voluntarily disengage from this poor girl. I'm sure you would desire that over starvation, yes?>
<<Threatening to kill them will hardly earn Tamora's trust for later, so I hope what you're doing is worthwhile in some way.>> The private thought again goes to Myitt before Ossanlin falls completely silent again.
-
<Why does everyone want to kill people that they've already imprisoned?> Derrel asked. <she's bound and defenseless. Just leave her alone.>
-
Myitt turns to Tamora when she cries out, begging for someone to save her life. She takes care to place the generator discreetly into her jacket pocket.
<Could be she's just asking the Yeerk to save her,> Tara says flatly. <Or for someone in the room. I'm pretty sure that's what I'd do in her situation. We can't kill her, Myitt, I still don't fully understand what you're doing. Hello?>
"Ossanlin," she says briskly, ignoring her host, Sukohn, Tamora's desperate cries and even Ossanlin himself. "Would it be possible to run a bioscan on the people in this room?" She scoffs self-deprecatingly. "Call me paranoid. Could you do that for me, please?"
-
<Oh crap. She's suspicious. If Ossanlin says yes, I guess our cover is blown.> Sukohn said. He managed to get himself back to the wall, preferring to lean against it than lie down or sit up by himself.
<Any other bright ideas?> Cody asked.
<Nope.>
<what's a bioscan?> Derrel asked. <Is that bad? Are they going to figure it out?>
-
<Shh....> Zorish hisses internally. He lifts his head from his hands, his face scrunched up with the concern that Derrel was feeling naturally. It was not difficult to imitate the man. His emotions were easy to read, and there was really very little acting involved.
"Why do you want to hurt someone who is already your prisoner?" Zorish asks, reiterating Derrel's own thoughts, "what did she do that was so bad anyways?"
<I told you they were the bad guys,> Zorish adds to Derrel privately, <they have no regard for anyone, not even their captives.>
Tamora, meanwhile, locks her jaw as Sukohn mentions 'Sub-Visser'. I have to act the part, she reminds herself, although she can't help but wonder why Zorish did not jump to her rescue. Clearly she was in peril. Would Zorish really sacrifice her? It didn't seem possible, and yet he had not stopped Myitt from trying to use the killing device. No matter, she chides herself, you need to think about yourself and staying alive.
"No," she clears her throat, doing her best to imitate Zorish's delivery, "I will not leave my host. She wants me here, and I will remain until she asks me to leave."
-
Myitt smiles over at Derrel, trying to remain ****y, although he does seem very sincere and convincing. "This creature is an officer of our government. A government that enslaves other races, including your own, and which I and my host now oppose. We cannot allow her to survive after what she has learned as our prisoner," she says. Then she tilts her head, curiously. "She may have attempted to explain this to you, or at least her side of the coin. You were alone in here with them for quite some time."
-
Derrel didn't say anything to Zorish, but he did feel there wasn't any point in doing bad to captured enemies. Not much good can come from going to your local prison and shooting up everyone in their cells. They'd already been captured and imprisoned for their crimes.
-
"She's just a girl," Zorish protests, sounding exactly like someone who is still new to the idea of a Yeerk. Someone who, even after having been infested himself, still only sees the host and not the operator of the body, "surely she won't cause you any harm. Can't you just keep her captive? There's no need to hurt anyone..."
Suddenly, a look of dawning horror crosses Derrel's face. His eyes grow wide and he bares his teeth in a frightened grimace, "You....you aren't going to kill me when you're done with her, are you?" He glances at Aliciana as though afraid that she would bring her tail down on him that instant.
-
Myitt begins to seriously doubt herself, but her resolve remains firm. "No, of course we won't kill you," she says quietly. "You haven't learned nearly enough about us, unless Sukohn over there opened his limited knowledge of our operations up to you. Even then, we have ways of allowing you to be released unharmed, and uninfested." She looks over at Tamora. "For this Yeerk and his human host, I'm afraid we have no such alternative."
-
Sukohn decided not to mention that the Human did know about Marco. If released back on Earth, and infested, then the Yeerks may also find out about him. It was some small consolation for the Emperial. Derrel didn't know much alse.
-
Alic nodded at Ossanlin. <My way is funner..> She knew at this point there really weren't any plans of killing anyone. Maybe one of them would give Myitt an excuse to do so. Maybe. Probably not, she didn't think they would really try anything too stupid.
She turned a stalk eye to the innocent human. <She's not just a girl, not anymore. She may look innocent, but she has sided with the yeerks to help destroy your planet. Less of them is better for you, believe me. And no, I won't harm you. As Myitt said, you will be released.>
-
Ossanlin furrows his brow in some confusion, then looks up at Derrel who was free to move about the cabin, then back to Tamora. He shakes his head, still feigning ignorance though finally Myitt's suspicions are illustrated. <Well...it might be possible...though I'm not sure why we would wish to do so, we already know who's on-board.> <<I see what you're driving at, I can run a complete scan without moving from this spot.>> <I'll have to go back to the cabin to interface with the manual controls to see if I can even rig the computer for a dedicated scan...what do you hope to accomplish?>
Ossanlin privately interfaces with the thought-speech command of the ship's computer and begins a dedicated Gleet bioscan that would be able to discern the species and location of all life-forms present. No outward indication is given that the computer has begun the scan.
-
Myitt glances at Sukohn, then at Tamora and Derrel. "I just want to allay my paranoia, Ossanlin," she says. "If you would, please?"
-
Ossanlin furrows his brow as if in deep thought. <Well, I'll have to figure out how to reroute the internal scanners through the med-lab bio-field...> Meanwhile the computer continues to process the information and completes its task quickly.
<<Myitt, the scan shows two male Andalites, one female Andalite, three human males, two human females, and four Yeerks. The scan further qualifies that three of the human males' brain wave patterns match that of individuals who've been infested by Yeerks, only one of the human females shows those patterns. Which means one too many males is infested, whereas one too few females is infested.>>
<Then there's the matter of actually scanning the entire ship...> Ossanlin rubs his temple with his left hand as if still thinking, but his right hand hangs apparently relaxed at his side, within easy reach of his Shredder.
-
"It's ok, Prince Ossanlin." Sukohn says, adding the title for brownie points. "We're all behaving pretty well, so you don't need the hassle. Myitt's just being paranoid. We Yeerks are like that sometimes." He was also trying to lump Myitt in with other Yeerks in the hopes that Ossanlin would further dismiss a task asked by a non Andalite.
-
"Yes, I know it's quite complicated," Myitt replies, her hand drifting toward her own Dracon. She shakes her head, disappointed, and draws her Dracon. "Hadrin left this room when we did, so I highly doubt he's involved in all of this. Now all we really have to figure out is whether Sukohn has infested Derrel and switched places with Zorish, allowing Zorish inside of Cody...improbable, but possible...or if Zorish has infested Derrel. It's an interesting question, I would've thought Zorish might have acted when I tried killing Tamora. Hmm. Could very well be a simple act of self-preservation, to the end. Am I right?" She looks up at Derrel, questioning.
-
((Sukohn gives in a little easy don't you think?))
-
Zorish bites his lip, absorbing Myitt's suspicious expression and recognizing it as potential trouble, although he isn't entirely sure of what is going on. When Myitt's hand starts to reach for the Dracon he lets out a little yelp.
"I thought you said you weren't going to kill me!" he cries, wincing back against the wall and ignoring the question that was clearly directed towards him.
<The rebel is suspicious,> Zorish says to Derrel needlessly, <this may not end well for us.>
-
<Oh man. I shouldn't have listened to you. They're going to be mad at me and not take me home. Your plan won't get anywhere.> Derrel said.
-
"Give it up, Zorish," Myitt says dully. "We know that Tamora is no longer infested, and let's face it, there aren't very many places you could've gone. We also know that there is one too many infested human males on this ship."
-
Ossanlin's hand closes around the grip of his right-side shredder, flipping the restraining-strap back. <<Yes, a conundrum indeed, though one I'm not terribly worried about at the moment.>>
<I know you're scared and confused Derrel, you got dragged into this because you were unlucky. While I'm sure whichever Imperial you're harboring has told you all sorts of nasty things about us, I would ask you to remember that they are the ones invading your planet, not us. I'm sure you've had Empires...dictators rule your lands in the past. That is what the Imperial Yeerks do, they enslave other races and conquer other peoples, obliterating those who stand in their way, regardless of the livelihood of others. My people, and the rebels, are fighting to stop them. We are at war, and atrocities happen in war on both sides. I will not tell you that the Andalites, my race, are pure. We have committed atrocities as well, much as your people have used nuclear weaponry on members of your own race to stop conflict and bring relative peace to your world. We are not going to kill you, we're not in the business of killing innocent prisoners. We will be able to let you go later, but we must deal with the true prisoners first.>
Ossanlin ****s his head a bit, easing his Shredder in its holster. <And while whichever Yeerk is infesting you is rather a good actor...they apparently do not have enough skill to outwit a Gleet bioscan, though I really can't blame them...Gleet bio-detectors are quite infallible.>
-
Derrel didn't really trust either side. Obviously both sides things that "good guys" shouldn't do. <I guess you're busted. You can go back to your host now. Maybe we won't all die, even though the big Andalite keeps saying he won't kill me. I find it hard to believe they aren't in the business of killing prisoners when they keep saying they have to kill Tamora. I guess they just consider her expendable collateral damage.>
Sukohn was obviously displeased, and let it show on his face. "Fine. whatever."
(Not sure if a homeless person should know what collateral means, but I can't easily think of a synonym for collateral to use.)
-
<They are filthy liars,> Zorish spits, <they say that they are not in the business of killing prisoners and yet they massacred an entire planet full of helpless beings rather than allow us to show them a world beyond their own. Massacred. Tens of thousands dead, more damage than we Yeerks have ever done. Do not trust them, human.>
Once Zorish has finished with his tirade he drops his arms fully and stands up, a look of disgust written across his face, "A Gleet BioFilter. Very good. Adjusted to merely scan rather than emit a deadly energy pulse. Cheaters."
He crosses his arms and glances down at Tamora, who is looking at him in disbelief for unveiling his position so quickly, and shrugs slightly as he speaks to the cabin at large, "You can hardly blame me for trying to escape. While my death may be inevitable I do not know many Yeerks who will simply accept Kandrona starvation. Besides, I was tiring of being frozen in place by those damn energy ropes." He flexes his fingers as though to emphasize his point, gaze falling on Myitt's Dracon Beam.
"I suppose you're going to shoot me now?" He asks in a bored voice.
-
Derrel didn't disbelieve Zorish. He also didn't try to convince Zorish to go back to Tamora before getting shot. Either way a Human would die. Though part of him would rather someone else die, it did make him feel guilty thinking that.
<This is all his fault.> He said, referring to Sukohn.
-
Myitt smiles snidely, keeping the Dracon trained on Derrel and moving it just a hair higher, at his chest. "It would be a lot quicker than Kandrona starvation," she mocks. "But then I'd be killing an innocent human, and I can only try to do that once in one day. It's really quite a strain."
-
<I suppose we could always memory-wipe you Zorish, and send you back to your people. I don't know that Visser three would be terribly happy about your absence however. He may not look kindly upon you when you return, especially if you return without your voluntary host. Voluntaries are quite a loss, all things considered.> Ossanlin keeps his Shredder resting barely inside his holster. <And we will NOT be killing any innocent humans...if you refuse to go into a pool now until we can decide what to do with you, we'll be forced to restrain Derrel as well so that you can't get into any more mischief...a swim in a nutrient pool or more immobilization, the choice is yours.>
-
Zorish crosses Derrel's arms, glancing down at Tamora protectively, "I have no intents to abandon my voluntary host. If you can conduct a memory wipe and release me to the Empire than you can do so without compromising my host situation. For some reason, though, you seem determined to separate us." Zorish frowns, his narrowed gaze flickering between Tamora, Ossanlin and Myitt, "I think that perhaps this entire heist may have nothing to do with me after all. You are after her, aren't you?"
-
"I wouldn't be surprised. I was thinking something was fishy earlier. I'm interested to see how this drama plays out. How long until we reach our destination, anyway?"
<I can't wait to get off this ship.> Derrel said.
-
"What we're after is no concern of yours," Myitt snaps. "You're the one who left your own damn host, and refused to save her life to protect your own, you coward."
-
"You wouldn't have killed her," Zorish scowls, although he has no way to be certain about that fact, "I left my host to save both of us. There is a difference between cowardice and self-preservation."
Tamora, who has been relatively silent during the exchange, makes a small squeaking noise, as though she is trying to get up the nerve to speak. She quickly silences herself, though, not wanting to bring any more attention to herself than necessary.
"You want her," Zorish goes on, gesturing to his immobilized host, "and I want to know why. It seems incredibly odd for you, a member of the rebellion. Isn't your entire existence based on the theory that the fault of the Empire is the enslaving of involuntaries, and that we should reach a mutual agreement with our hosts? This is no rescue effort. It is a kidnapping."
Zorish nods to Sukohn, agreeing with his inquiry, "I, too, would like to know where we are gong and how long it will be until we arrive. I have a feeling that it is a place that would not allow me to return to my home easily, no matter what you say."
-
<Pot calling the kettle black. She may be a murderer of prisoners, but at least she isn't a coward.> Derrel said sarcastically. <Though I guess she would have gotten in trouble with that Ossanlin guy is she killed Tamora, so Tamora may not have been killed anyway. I don't mean to sound difficult or anything, but could you leave my head now? If they won't let you back in tamora, then go in the pool, or whatever. I'd rather not be strapped to a bed again.>
-
"Self-preservation, for you, yes. You would've left your host to die!" Myitt cries. "You almost had me convinced that you grudgingly thought of Tamora as an equal, but I see now that you're hardly a close enough friend that you'd risk your own life for her. Is it so difficult to accept that we might have heard about you, and undertaken the dual task of extracting your knowledge and freeing your host? I am, as you say, one of those sickeningly host-happy traitors." She turns to Ossanlin in a huff. "I think we should restrain him until he decides that leaving that human, there, is his only option, if he wants to survive a bit longer."
-
"I will only leave this human if you allow me to return to Tamora," Zorish says coldly, all trace of a conversational tone gone, "I have no doubt that you intend to kill me, so go ahead and strap me down. Starve me out, if you will. Subject this innocent human to the torture that is a Yeerk undergoing Kandrona starvation. Or allow me to return to Tamora. But I will not die helpless and blind. I have done nothing to earn that disgrace."
Tamora whimpers as Zorish speaks of dying and her wide eyes land on Myitt. She tries again to speak, but her mouth is as dry as cotton and her first few attempts come out as raspy nothings. Licking her lips and clearing her throat she finally manages to force out the words: "Let him."
-
Myitt's gaze flickers from Zorish to Tamora, eyes narrowed, trying to determine just how sincere they're being. Then she turns to Ossanlin and Alic.
"We can't allow this to happen," she whispers to them, covering her mouth like a gossiping schoolgirl. "Tamora is free. What the hell are we going to do?"
-
Alic had been standing back, just watching the scene. <Nah. There's a difference between their relationship. Voluntary hosts and yeerks who work together to better the universe? Fine, I'll accept that. Human and yeerk out to destroy? No good. I say we starve him.> She turned a stalk eye to Zorish, glaring.
(sorry. im really sick. i havent been posting and its little but its all i have.)
-
Myitt nods. "At least we can wipe the human's memory, afterward," she whispers. Then she sucks in a breath. "I can make it quicker than it would normally take. Ossanlin?"
((Aw, Patty, I hope you feel better!))
-
"No!" Tamora screams suddenly, finding her voice. She struggles uselessly against her bonds, her eyes welling up with tears as she realizes the futility of it. "Let him go, he never did anything to you, you filthy Andalite-loving traitor!"
Zorish pushes away from the wall, moving Tamora's side while keeping his eyes steady on Myitt and the Andalites. He moves slowly, and when he reaches Tamora's side he uses Derrel's fingers to brush her matted, sweaty hair from her face. His expression softens somewhat, but when he speaks to her his voice is hard.
"Do not give them the pleasure of your tears," he says eyes still on Myitt, "they hope to break us. Do not allow them the luxury."
"I don't...want..." Tamora's desperate gasping words devolve into hiccuping sobs while Zorish watches his captors, his hand resting gently on Tamora's head.
-
Derrel wished he could tell tamora it would be ok, but they would just be empty words. He wished they could do something, but the Andalites and Myitt held all the cards.
<Just go into Tamora. I'll see if I can do something later. I'll help you. I don't really know how, though.>
-
Myitt turns from her Andalite friends, watching the Yeerk, in Derrel's body, comfort his human friend. She looks down at the floor, keeping her Dracon ready but aimed downward.
"Perhaps there is another way," she says carefully, looking up at them with an expression of...is it pity? Remorse? "A way we can allow you both to live. But it will require us to erase what you know about us, and in doing so, we would have to erase your memories of each other."
((Let me know if you disagree with this--but I don't see many other options?))
-
Ossanlin takes a deep breath. <You will not be reinfesting Tamora, I'm sorry but you've had time enough to bolster her beliefs that the Imperials are right in taking whatever they want and killing everything they don't. As I said, we could wipe your memory, but you'll have to find a new host situation even if you take that option. I suppose we could put you in stasis instead. Either way, you'll not be taking Tamora back to the Imperials, not until we at least have a chance to speak with her without your presence. Depending on the result, the situation may change for you.>
Ossanlin falls silent as Myitt speaks again and quirks an eyebrow at her, wondering what she has in mind.
-
Zorish removes his hand from Tamora's forehead, letting it fall to his side loosely. He squares his shoulders and tries his best to reign in his contempt as he addresses Ossanlin instead of Myitt.
"Fine, then," Zorish says, "speak to Tamora all you want. Release her from her bonds and I will take her place in this body. You can speak to her alone in one of the other rooms where I am not present. But I refuse to be unhosted while surrounded by a ship full of those who would prefer me dead."
-
Ossanlin ****s his head at Zorish. <If you really and truly refuse to leave this poor human, then so be it. Derrel, I'm sorry, but I'm going to have to restrain the both of you to restrain Zorish...and there really isn't enough room to talk to Tamora without your presence on this ship. The Mirage is large for a fighter, but that's essentially what it is, with a few amenities. We will talk with Tamora alone once we arrive at our destination. I should hope we might learn why she has chosen to be a voluntary host to a despotic government born of lust for power and revenge and fueled by tyranny and opression.>
Ossanlin glances at Myitt again. <And I'm afraid Tamora will have to remain restrained for the rest of our journey as well, there's no telling what a voluntary host will do, it's easy to understimate them.>
He then speaks privately to Myitt. <<What were you thinking...wiping their memories of each other? I must say I'm quite curious.>>
-
"It would appear that Tamora's allegiance to the Empire has been largely influenced by her relationship with Zorish," Myitt whispers back to Ossanlin, "although the only way to be sure will be to view Tamora's memories, when and if we choose to erase them. At the very least we would need to erase the last day or so, and there would still be the issue of the memories of Hadrin. He's been stationed under Visser Three for Generations to gain their trust."
-
Zorish scowls deeply, clearly unhappy with his options, and returns to the wall where he had been cowering under the guise of Derrel. He leans against it, allowing himself to slide down so that he is sitting on his butt with his knees raised and arms looped around his knees casually.
"I don't suppose that promising not to cause any trouble will keep me from the ropes?" he asks, pushing the anger from his tone and replacing it with a winning smile, "I promise to be good, so long as you don't shove any more explosives on my lap or try to rummage through my brain anymore."
-
Myitt humors Zorish with a smirk. "Nice try, Sub-Visser, I suppose it couldn't have hurt to ask," she says, rolling her eyes.
She gestures at Zorish with her Dracon, setting it to stun. "Come along then. Or do you have to piss first?"
-
Zorish chuckles, "It couldn't hurt. And just because I've got my back against the wall don't think I'm going to make it easy on you by lying down while you tie me up. Naw, go ahead and stun me. You can have fun lifting this body all by yourself as dead weight. I, for one, am quite comfortable where I am."
-
Myitt sighs. "You really aren't making all this any easier," she mutters, aiming the Dracon at Zorish's chest, just far enough to prevent a heat backlash--and she fires.
-
<No! Don't have her shoot me!> Derrel says. Then Myitt shot, and he felt some hot pain before his body went numb. <I hate...this...> He said before losing consciousness.
Sukohn looked on with little expression on his face.
-
Derrel's body slumps into unconsciousness, leaving Zorish to sigh inwardly. He has spent far more time than he would like in this limbo-like state in the past few hours. At least this last time I lost consciousness on my own terms, he thinks with satisfaction, glad to have made their lives a little more difficult.
Tamora lets out a squeak of protest just before Myitt pulls the trigger, but the sound is lost in the energy discharge of the Dracon Beam. In her current position she cannot see Zorish, and she twists her head, struggling to find an angle where he is visible, but she cannot.
-
Ossanlin watches on as poor Derrel is stunned by Myitt's dracon. <Such a winning personality that Yeerk has. Hopefully we'll be able to sort things out here soon enough. Claxter, help secure the poor human that Zorish has infested. Energy binders are fine, I'd rather have him outside of whispering distance of Tamora. I'm going back to check on our progress.>
Ossanlin trots back to the flight-deck and checks on the z-space configuration. They were still a couple standard hours away from the bar. He sighs inwardly.
-
Claxter entered the room with everyone else and took some energy cables for restraining Derrel. He strapped him to the second unused bed, and made sure he was out of easy whisp[ering distance of Tamora. After doing that, he turned to Myitt with an apologetic expression on his face.
<I don't suppose you are still angry with me for leaving you on the floor?>
-
Myitt pauses, distracted, before turning to Claxter. "Yeah, I guess I can forgive you," she says with a bit of a smile. "You've already been reamed out by your superior officer, I know how that is. Not to mention Alic gave you plenty of bruises for the both of us. Just...think before you act, okay? This isn't a game, it isn't a simulation, and people could get seriously hurt or die because of your stupidity." She gestures to her side, even though Sukohn's shot hadn't really been Claxter's fault. "That includes Yeerks who have been left to dry up on the floor, thank you very much."
-
<Yes. I will take things more seriously from now on. I had no idea Humans could kick without falling down. It should be hard enough to maintain balance as it is without using your legs in attacks. I suppose Zorish somehow tricked the human into putting Zorish in his head.>
"I don't suppose anyone has any Kandrona here or at the bar for me to use?" Sukohn asked. "I'll need to feed too."
<Or we could decide to simply execute you, as you serve little use for us alive.>
"If you guys were going to kill me, you would have done it already. If you aren't, then I'm just saying I'm starting to get hungry."
-
Alic still watched in silence, glad to have one of the yeerks to where they couldn't speak. Quiet would be nice right now. She was about to reply to Claxter with a sarcastic remark, but let Myitt answer for herself. Fine. They could all forgive him, maybe Ossanlin put him in his place, but Alic wouldn't trust him.
Important matters seemed to slip from his thoughts too often.
<Humans are actually pretty good in physical combat when trained properly. It's fun to do, and amusing to watch.>
She turned her stalk eyes at Sukohn. <Oh, really, now? No. You should be dead right now, however I don't think Ossanlin would be happy with your blood all over his floor.>
-
<I will take your word for it.> Claxter was doubtful about a Human's fighting capabilities without a firearm or something, but he wanted to try to be friendly towards Alic. <I wonder how the others have been doing in our absence. Perhaps we could contact them with the news of our mission completion.> He was tempted to contact terenia and rub it in her face, though someone would likely point out that he nearly bungled the whole thing.
-
Myitt nods, watching Claxter restrain Zorish/Derrel in the remaining gurney. Then she seems to realize that her comm link is still in her pocket.
"Oh, you're right," she says, hurriedly taking out her link and receiving the slew of backlogged messages from Corliss.
"Hmm...I suppose I should have called," says Myitt idly, tapping through the little holoscreen. She sends a text-based message back to Corliss, telling him they're okay and on their way back, with her personal encryption code. "How long until we reach the...our destination, again?" She waits impatiently for a few seconds. There is no answer on the other end of the link, so far.
-
<I am unsure.> Claxter said. <We shouldn't be too long getting there.>
"Are we close enough for me to start saying "Are we there yet?' every thirty seconds?" Sukohn asked.
<You haven't been given permission to speak for the entire duration of this trip.> Claxter said. He grabbed a spare cable, and walked over to tie it over Sukohn's mouth.
Post Merged: June 09, 2010, 05:43:28 PM
(I'm having Temrash give the mirage a call. He's back at the bar, but hasn't run into Corliss yet.)
Temrash went to his ship and composed a message. Hopefully the Mirage wouldn't actively block messages coming from unknown craft. His ship wasn't Yeerk, and shouldn't be identified as such, but Oss might not know it was coming from him.
"Temrash calling The Mirage. Anyone there? I've returned to the bar, and want to check up on you. If you're still on the mission, would you mind telling me how it's going?"
-
((It was actually Chad that was securing Zorish Tara, not I. :p Oss is on the flight-deck atm.))
Ossanlin trots back out into the main cabin area just as Myitt asks her question. <Funny you should ask, we're still at least two standard hours away from...our destination.> Ossanlin watches as Myitt punches up her comm. <Seems like we've been gone longer than we have.>
-
Sukohn would have made a remark about being bored senseless, but he had an energy cable around his mouth. Claxter looked at him smugly.
<What's that? No comments? Much better.>
"Mhfmghmff"
-
With Zorish incapacitated and Sukohn unable to speak Tamora is truly alone and surrounded by enemies. After her continued struggles to break free fail, she breaks down into noisy sobs and incoherent mumblings.
Zorish, listening from where he is restrained, sighs inwardly. As much as he and Tamora have a mutual agreement her tendency to become overly-emotional is at best irritating and at worst dangerous. Right now all he can do is hope that she gets control over herself and does not condemn them both.
-
Alic stayed in the room with their.. prisoners and was relieved when Ossanlin said it would only be a couple hours now. It would be nice to get back to the bar and have a drink. Speaking of.. she still had Jager left from the trip to begin with. She decided it would be best to wait until the return, you never know what's waiting for you there.
She focused on Tamora with her main eyes. <Ah, you are still human after-all. The yeerk hasn't destroyed who you are completely then.> She wasn't expecting a reply, but was just thinking out loud. Of course the human girl would need rehabilitation, if it was possible. Someone who worked so closely and willingly for the yeerks may just be evil and impossible to change.
-
((Sorry, fixed it! :D))
"Hrm," Myitt murmurs, still tapping at the little holoscreen. "Two hours. It does feel like it's been longer, perhaps it's because my lovely human friend here hasn't gotten more than a couple hours of sleep in the last, oh, two days or so. Why isn't he answering?" She scowls suddenly, frustrated, at the screen.
-
Tamora shows no indication of having heard Alic or anyone elses comments. She is crying openly now, huge heaving sobs that shake her restrained body and make it difficult for her to breathe. She looks awful: her short hair is askew and ornamented with various twigs and leaves from when she had been knocked unconscious in the forest, her eyes are puffy and bloodshot, snot is dripping openly from her nose and her clothing is torn and dirty. She does not seem to notice or care the condition that she is in, though, and she just continues to wail like a human child as the gravity of her situation begins to take root, infesting her mind.
-
<Will you please calm down, Tamora? We are not going to harm you.> Claxter said. <what happened to upset her so much?> He asked. We looked around the medbay for some sedatives to inject into her to calm her down.
The noise started waking Derrel up from his stunned state. He tried to move, but couldn't, and heard Tamora's crying. <What is going on now? I hate this place. I hate all of you. I want to go home and forget all these stupid aliens exist.>
-
Zorish lets out a heavy sigh with Derrel's lungs, relieved that he regained consciousness quicker than Tamora had the past two times she had been knocked unconscious.
<If you are very, very lucky, that will be what happens, Derrel,> Zorish comments, <although your ignorance will likely only last a few months, maybe a few years, until the Yeerks take over Earth in its entirety.>
Zorish then focuses his attention on the sputtering Tamora, who is struggling to breathe between her running nose and gasping sobs.
"Tamora," his voice is the sharp, authoritative voice of a Sub-Visser, and yet it holds a slight edge of softness to it, "Tamora I am fine. Calm yourself."
"But - they - are - gonna -" Tamora chokes, "kill - you." She then lets out a hopeless wail, "They're gonna kill us all!"
"No one is dying, Tamora," Zorish lies softly, "calm down and clear your head. Have I taught you nothing?"
It is with great force of will Tamora manages to slow her breathing down until Zorish cannot tell if she is crying or not. Tamora focuses on the in and out of her lungs expanding and collapsing, blocking out the clear images of destruction that had driven her into such a terror. It takes time, but after a few minutes only silent tears still flow freely down Tamora's face. Zorish's voice has allowed her to regain some semblance of control over herself.
-
Claxter found the sedatives, though Zorish talking to Tamora seemed to have calmed her down. He felt a little guilty about what they were doing to her. She obviously had feelings for her Yeerk, and would obviously be even less happy with them once she saw Terenia. He wondered if it was even the right thing to do to take Tamora instead of just leaving her at the mercy of the Yeerks after terenia was disposed of.
<I have some sedatives to give you to help during the remainder of the trip, Tamora.> He said. If he talked to her before just injecting it into her arm, it might help her impression of them.
-
Myitt glances up at Tamora and the newly conscious Zorish/Derrel with an expression of irritation, as if all the sobbing and consoling were preventing Corliss from answering her hail. Then she sighs, unfurrowing her eyebrows.
"Do you want me to wipe your nose?" she asks, half-sarcastically. "Listen to your Imperial friend, Tamora. Nothing bad is going to happen to you. It was a pretty awful trick I played, but you're safe now." She fishes in her ratty jacket pocket and holds up what is obviously a Kandrona generator between her thumb and index finger. "Okay? Can you at least trust me that much?"
-
Tamora whimpers, but otherwise makes no indication of hearing Myitt. When Claxter approaches with the syringe, however, she lets out a cry of terror, trying to pull away.
"Tamora!" Zorish snaps, "Calm down! If they were going to kill you they would have done so already."
Tamora tries to relax and stops fighting her bonds, but her muscles remain rigid and her eyes wide as she gazes up at Claxter's Andalite face.
"If you kill her," Zorish says in a softer, more sinister voice that is directed towards Claxter, "I will make you beg for death."
-
Claxter decided to put the sedative away. Obviously Tamora was capable of remaining somewhat calm on orders from Zorish, and didn't want him injecting anything into her. He ignored Zorish's empty threat, though with two known Andalite controllers around it was clearly possible he might be captured alive by one as well.
<We're not going to kill you, Tamora. I can't say the same for your ally, though.>
-
Ossanlin shares a glance with Myitt momentarily before shifting his eyes to the human. If she was reacting this poorly, and she already disliked her sister, this would probably project an even worse image into her mind. He had gone much farter than anyone else would've in his hooves, even if everything still fell apart, which was the likely outcome, he had tried everything. Efaen would be free from her slave-driving human child Yeerk controller.
<We are trying to come up with peaceful ways to resolve this dilemma for both yourself, Tamora, and for your Yeerk. We'll have more options once we reach our destination.> He turns his main eyes on Derrel. <Things would be so much easier if you were simply a rebel, Zorish. But I suppose that's too much to ask of you...devoted Imperial to the last. You must be to have been willing to serve under such an insane egomaniac. I suppose ego must be an important part of a mind in order for it to believe that it is somehow...better... than everything else. The fact is that the Yeerks are simply another sentient species that have the ability to make decsions. No better or worse than any others who possess free will. They certainly do not have the right to take over the lands and minds of other sentient species and force those that do not accept their tyranny to cooperate through butchery and brute force.>
-
"I do not need to hear a lesson in morality from an Andalite," Zorish sneers, "or are you forgetting who left an entire debrief species to perish? We, at least, do not murder entire sentient races indiscriminately merely to stop our enemy." Zorish pauses, listening to Tamora's sniffling. When he speaks to Ossanlin again his tone has softened somewhat, though his distaste for the Andalite is still plain, "You are a walking contradiction, Captain," he glances at Myitt and Hadrin, "you as well. You're sole caveat, you say, is the involuntary infestation of a sentient being. Yet here you are confronted with an entirely voluntary Yeerk-host relationship and now you balk because we are not a part of your little rebellion. Clearly my relationship with Tamora is not a true concern of yours. Neither, I think, was gathering intelligence that could have been accessed through much simpler means. What is it you truly want from us?"
-
Hadrin had stepped up to the med bay doors, tired of sitting in the cabin by himself. He leans against the wall near the doorway, and looks down when Zorish indirectly addresses him and Myitt. Even Hadrin himself doesn't quite know why they've intercepted his former superior, only that it has something to do with a friend of Myitt's. Something about that bar she was always skulking off to when she was off duty.
Myitt smiles at Zorish, putting the Kandrona generator away. "You can't be faulted for your intelligence, Sub-Visser," she says. "Of course, it isn't exactly a complicated proof, figuring there's more here than a few oddball traitors who just really, really don't like you. I'm afraid you're just going to have to wait until we land at our destination. It shouldn't be much longer." She pauses to yawn, covering her mouth with the crux of her elbow. "Which is good, because this whole charade is exhausting."
-
Ossanlin keeps his eyes level with Zorish. <There are extremists and murderers amongst all species, including the andalites. You may have forgotten that genocide was a course of action decided upon by a single andalite who possessed much different views than my own. He acted upon his own authority. Saying that he is a model for every andalite is much like saying your Visser 3 is a model for every Yeerk. Are you as idiotic and egotistical as the arrogant Visser? Perhaps I was wrong about you...> He pauses a moment. <As far as government goes, many of our government officials are corrupt as well...any government will have certain levels of corruption, it's inevitable. However imperfect our government is though, it is not trying to assert dominance over entire species of free sentient beings. If your own people don't step up and fight your own government's decisions to take over entire species, then another government will be forced to stop them. I serve the Electorate because it is the most efficient way to stop your people from forcing yourselves upon entire races of sentient beings.>
<And perhaps you might remember that it was our race, namely the venerable Prince Seerow who gave you the ability to move about the stars and see the wonder of our galaxy. In return, your leaders' lust for power and dominance led you to betray his trust, and our people demonized him for unleashing the scourge of the galaxy.> Ossanlin continues to stare at Zorish and Derrel with his main eyes. <As I said before, atrocities have been committed on both sides, we are not innocent, but neither are you. Sometimes one must choose between the lesser of two evils, and while the andalite government is somewhat corrupt and far beyond close-minded, they are definitely the lesser evil in this case.>
-
<I have heard about the quantum virus. I believe the one who released it was disgraced, and later even became a slave to our enemies. That may be fitting, I suppose. I personally don't have a problem with you, Zorish. You're just unfortunately in the way of our true objective which my Prince feels shouldn't be revealed until later.>
-
Zorish scowls at Myitt, but his look of dissatisfaction changes into a sharp, biting laugh when Ossanlin speaks, " You actually presume to tell me that Andalites, the great meddlers of the galaxy, do not presume to assert dominance over other species? That is all you do! You share nothing and your allies only remain your allies so long as they listen to Andalite law. I have no doubt that should your beloved Electorate be victorious over the Empire you will attempt to elliminate all Yeerks from existence. Once you have won, and the rebellion no longer serves a purpose, you will crush them as well. There can be no equality when confronted with Andalite arrogance."
-
Ossanlin continues his calm, assertive tone. <There are many amongst my government who would like to do just that, eradicate all Yeerks. If the Electorate should decide upon that course of action, the Andalite government will have it's own rebellion to deal with, and I will be right up with the front line of that rebellion. As I said, the lesser of two evils. I should say that the arrogance of many of my species does indeed rival that of many Yeerks, I will not dispute that. However I will dispute the charge that my species tries to assert dominance over others. There is a great difference between pursuit of diplomatic relations with other sentient species and simply landing on their planet and robbing them of all free will. You see, they have the choice of whether they wish to be our allies or not, and we don't enslave them if they choose not to be.>
<However it seems that our conversation has taken a bit of a hypothetical turn, no? We are talking about our own choices to serve our governments. You see I'm a bit of an odd bird amongst my species...my best friend and most-trusted comrade is a Yeerk, albeit not one whom infests my head. It's very difficult to lump me in with the rest of my species. At any rate, I've told you why I serve my government, but you haven't seemed to tell us why you serve yours. That's really the root of the conversation here. All you've done is insult my government and my choice to serve the Electorate, not to mention my entire species as a whole, without presenting any conscionable evidence as to why you might serve your Council of Thirteen.>
-
From the look on Zorish's face he clearly does not believe Ossanlin, bu he let's his statements pass by unopposed. When the Andalite asks about his allegiance to the Council a look of belligerent pride crosses his face.
"The Council of Thirteen is old, very old," he says, "some say they have existed since before even the first Gedd was infested. I don't know about that, but the fact remains that they are old, and wise. They also have created a clear path to success in the Empire. One that has allowed me the rank of Sub-Visser with relative ease." Zorish pauses, allowing a bit of a sneer to return to his face, "For all their greatness, though, the Council is flawed. They make poor decisions and limit the Empires success. They take slews of involuntary hosts by force when it would be much more successful to convince others to allow us in. Perhaps open war worked with the barely sentien Hork-Bajir, but even they resist, brutally at times. There is a better way for the Empire to spread," Zorish closes one of his restrained fists, as though to emphasize his point, "why waste energy, and forces, when there is no need?"
-
Myitt scoffs, breaking into the conversation. "Please. We can go around in circles here, we're not going to erase years of Empire propaganda in the span of a single conversation. I think the more relevant question is, does the Council of Thirteen expect the expansion of the Yeerk Empire to go on forever? I mean, that was what made me stop and think about just how beneficial the Council is to our people, before I even came to Earth." Her voice is flat and level as she controls her voice. "Before I accepted I couldn't pretend to support a system that enslaves creatures for our own selfish benefit. When I had killed and killed and seen enough death on the Hork-Bajir homeworld for a hundred lifetimes. When is it going to end? We were always peaceful, I'm old enough to remember that. Now in the span of a few Generations we've become a race of warmongers in a war that will just keep going and going until we've taken over all we can, or all that we need, and then what? Destroyed anyone who dared oppose us? No. No, on so many levels. What right do we have?"
Hadrin, who is much too young to remember that stage of the war, simply looks uncomfortably down at his boots.
-
Ossanlin watches Zorish as he speaks, and then watches Myitt for her part. He nods a bit. <Truly if your Empire pursued a more diplomatic means of expansion, there would be much less opposition. If you took only voluntary hosts, there would be no infraction really. A voluntary host I believe promotes a more...symbiotic... relationship. However it does stand that your government feels that they should take whatever they can and destroy the rest. It is your methods that I oppose, not what or who you are as a race. My friendship with Myitt should clearly demonstrate that. I've committed my Dome Ship to help the rebellion many times over, and without a personal gain in the matter. They are decent people whom are trying to promote a more peaceful and morally acceptable way. That is the only reason I support the Yeerk rebellion. You believe that I am...using them to accomplish goals and to hamper the Empire, while the truth is that I support the rebellion and their actions because I believe in what they fight for, and I stand and fight for my friends.>
Ossanlin nods again. <And Myitt does bring up a very valid point, especially to your mode of thinking. The Empire is finite, it cannot go on forever. Once the Council over-extends their reach, they will begin to lose what they already have, control will slip from their grasp. It is the way of all Empires.>
-
<I think it's the way Human empires have gone too.> Sukohn thought.
<Never paid attention to that stuff. It doesn't effect me.> Cody said.
Claxter gave Oss and Myitt a quizzical look when his Prince said his most trusted friend was a Yeerk. Certainly they weren't THAT close. But he didn't say anything. He just stood watch over the now crowded room.
-
Myitt smiles grimly, looking down. "I don't know if I'd exactly call our little band of traitors peaceful, Ossanlin," she murmurs. Then she laughs bitterly. "Fighting for peace. The humans have an amusing phrase regarding this hypocrisy, but it's rather impolite. No matter. It is hypocrisy, however the Peace Movement and their subversive ways have only gone so far, surrounded as they are by the very government they're trying to destroy." She shakes her head. "I wish there were another way."
-
Zorish quiets, his scowl deepening. He feels as though he has begun to tread on dangerous grounds, and perhaps discussing his political philosophy with the enemy is not the best strategy.
"I will not cast aside a position of influence and betray everyone I care about, just to appease your little rebellion," Zorish says at last, his tone holding a warning, "This debate will take us nowhere but in circles. You have your beliefs and I have mine. I think it is safe to say that none of us will be changing our positions, whether it be Yeerk loyalist, Yeerk traitor or Andalite traitor."
-
<None of it is peaceful Myitt, but that is what you're fighting for, hypocrisy or not. What recourse is there when those you are trying to influence resort to violence? Consciensous objection carries you only so far, and honestly it doesn't carry all that far in the first place. We are ruthless so that others do not have to be. We fight now so that the future may know peace.>
Ossanlin turns his main eyes back to Zorish. <If you truly advocate diplomatic and voluntary solutions over violence, why not use your position of influence to actually influence what your people are doing? You're obviously intelligent enough to think for yourself, why simply accept what the Council tells you? Your idea could be the one that ushers your people into a golden age where every Yeerk has a willing host and no one has to fight or risk their lives in order to keep their host.>
-
"No, of course you won't, Sub-Visser," Myitt sneers. "I know just how difficult that sort of thing is."
Then she shakes her head. "The Council doesn't listen to what the people tell them," she says offhandedly. "They only hear what they want to hear. I'm sorry, Ossanlin, that's a nice ideal, but it's not going to happen. Not right now, and not while the Council is in power. They need hosts, and they're going to take them as quickly and efficiently as they can." She looks away. "They'll try to, anyway."
-
<<I assumed as much Myitt. But he's already got his own ideas, if we can encourage him to work towards those, it's another person on the inside that could help, even if his overall view is shady. Perhaps we could even make him into a Rebel contact on Visser 3's ship to replace Hadrin, or to get Hadrin in place again. I know it's a long shot, but might as well try.>>
-
"Don't try to make this about you, Andalite," Zorish snarls suddenly, forced from his silence, "I do not work for you and I will never work for you. My ideas for the Empire are my own and I have spent decades planting their seeds and rising through the ranks. Do not belittle me with your morality, and do not turn my cause into your own."
-
Myitt makes no movement to give away that she's heard Ossanlin. Instead she walks over to Zorish/Derrel, leaning down close to him.
"That's too bad, Sub-Visser," she says levelly, quietly, hoping that perhaps Tamora wouldn't hear. "I was hoping I'd be able to save your pitiful life."
She stands up and walks over to her backpack, now stashed near the entrance to the med bay. Hadrin looks down at her as she rummages through what little is left in the pack.
"What are you doing?" he hisses at Myitt.
Myitt glances at him briefly. "Something I really, really wish I didn't have to do."
She pulls out a small black rectangle, opaque wires dangling from it like tentacles, and pulls out her Dracon. Carefully she pries off the coolant feed panel of the Dracon, exposing a number of wires. Myitt connects the black rectangle with meticulous care to the wires inside the Dracon, just at the right angle where the butt of the gun meets the scope.
Hadrin watches, recognizing what it is in silent fear.
-
Ossanlin watches on as Myitt connects the device...he is unfamiliar with it, but he assumes that it will somehow emit a radiation capable of killing a Yeerk while leaving the host completely unharmed.
<I'm certainly not changing any of my goals, and it appears that you are not changing yours. I'm afraid that if neither of us is willing to change his view, we'll be forced to work towards rather similar goals.>
-
"Making me a traitor to my people would not save my life," Zorish hisses, "it may lengthen it, but it will not save it. I have plans for the Empire, big plans. If they coincide with your own ideals at all that is through no fault of my own and I refuse to make it seem like the Empire's path to success was your idea."
Zorish watches Myitt move away from him, to her bag, and a sense of dread settled over him. His fear manifested itself in a slow, cold rage and he became very still, "This is a mistake," he intoned, his eyes shifting to the oblivious Tamora briefly. He was glad to note that her temper tantrum had worn her out effectively enough that she had drifted off into an uneasy sleep.
-
Myitt says nothing, snapping the black rectangle into the Dracon. It makes a small whirring noise and starts to hum.
She walks over to Zorish, looking down at the gun.
"Do you know what this is?" she asks. "It's the result of a little experiment the Empire decided to conduct. The experiment involved continuous wave-particle fields, much like those that allow the Council members to remain within their hosts for longer than the normal feeding cycle." She inspects the attachment carefully, as if it were the first time she'd really seen it. "The scientists attempted to reverse the field, to see if it could be focused in on a target and rapidly degrade the protein built up as a result of phasal cellular photosynthesis from Kandrona wave/particles, rather than support its growth. Turns out it works."
She looks down at Zorish. "Actually, the Empire tested this little breakthrough on a number of rebel soldiers whose ship they had captured during a raid. Quite a few of our friends were killed because of this device. More died, slowly, to get this prototype's design." She shrugs, as if all of this were inconsequential, but her tone is flat. "It isn't a device that I like using, but the truth is, we really don't have a neural disruption cylinder. And it would be such a pity to kill your defenseless host."
-
Derrel was quiet in his mind as Myitt explained what she was going to do. Kill a prisoner of war, just so Zorish wouldn't cause future trouble. It made him a little sick to think about. They were committing a war crime. There wasn't anything anyone could do, though.
<I'm sorry.> He said. It was all he could think to say. Did his words even matter to Zorish?
-
Zorish could feel Derrel's body react involuntarily to his own fear. His throat clenched and his muscles flexed as much as the energy ropes would allow. A sweat broke out along his brow and adrenaline gave him a wild-eyed look.
"You would kill me," he says, his voice sounding flat despite his physical reaction, "though I have done you no wrong. You would kill me for the crimes of my government, crimes I personally had no part in. You would kill me despite Tamora's desire to be with me. You would kill me while I am completely at your mercy, with no way to defend myself. What is more, the methods you plan to use will subject me to the worst sort of death imaginable for a member of our species."
He says all of this in a rather matter-of-fact fashion, his eyes never leaving Myitt's, except once, to flicker to Ossanlin and then back to the rebel Yeerk again, "Where is your morality now, traitor? Is this what you are fighting for? The death of innocents to suit your cause?"
<I am sorry as well,> Zorish adds quietly to Derrel, <This will not be pleasant for you either. Kandrona starvation is...not exactly a peaceful death.>
-
Ossanlin continues to watch on, muttering to himself...<None are without guilt...we are ruthless so that others do not have to be...we fight now for peace in the future...>
He looks to the side for a few moments and then back to Zorish and Derrel. <There are other options Zorish...other possibilities. We must get poor Derrel back to Earth, you need to leave him. We will supply you with a nutrient pool and a kandrona generator for the remainder of our trip.>
Ossanlin glances again to Myitt. <<Moving a bit quickly aren't we? What's the rush to kill him?>>
-
Myitt narrows her eyes. She wished she could respond to Ossanlin, but she doesn't break character.
"Yes, innocents who were killed because of the errors of their leaders," Myitt says smolderingly. "Errors like believing in a free democracy, in mutualism instead of slavery. How many traitors took weeks to die, their hosts used against them to torture them, while at the mercy of the Empire? Do you really expect me to consider you an innocent officer of Visser Three?"
-
"I will leave this human when I am able to return to Tamora," Zorish says, "I prefer to see my death coming, if it's all the same to you. You'll forgive me if I do not trust that you would actually keep me alive if I were hostless."
To Myitt, Zorish says tightly, "Are you accusing me of murdering your friends? Because I assure you that I had no part in it. Yes, I am an officer of Visser Three, but the role I play is fairly benign. I am not in charge of interrogations, I do not lead an army. My specialty is information and nothing more or less. If I had it my way the war on Earth would be won without a single shot fired, but that is not the way of it."
Zorish pauses, eying Myitt cautiously before adding, "If it were up to Visser Three I am certain he would kill him myself for trying to undermine him, but isn't that the way of it? Those in positions of power are always trying to undermine their superiors, because their superiors are often buffoons. Visser Three is no exception. As for your rebel losses, I am quite certain that my death will not help your cause. If anything it may hurt it."
-
"Don't be a fool, Sub-Visser," Myitt snaps. "Of course I'm not accusing you of killing my friends. I'm accusing you of being a security threat to our operation. You deal with information. I think we can both imagine what kind of information you'd be able to return to Visser Three if we let you walk out of here, alive and unaltered."
-
<I suppose Zorish knows a few things that we wouldn't want him to know.> Claxter said. <A memory wipe could probably fix that, though it isn't perfect. Though you do seem insistent that Zorish needs to die.
"Mmffmm" Sukohn said.
<Well you're just annoying, and I doubt they would even want you back.>
Sukohn made an angry face.
-
"Well that's your own damned fault for kidnapping me in the first place." Zorish hisses back, equally vehement, "And what good did it do you? You retrieved virtually no information useful to your cause and you now have the unpleasant task of disposing of an otherwise innocent Yeerk. I certainly hope you feel fulfilled."
-
"We've retrieved enough," Myitt says darkly, turning away from Zorish. "Ossanlin, what's our ETA?"
-
<I would estimate approximately one point five standard hours.> Ossanlin takes a look over at Zorish. <No one is innocent Zorish, especially one who serves the Council's destructive whims.>
-
Myitt nods. "Alright," she says softly. "That will be enough time." She looks at Zorish, then down at the modified Dracon. "You have three options, Sub-Visser. First, we can erase your memory and return you to the Empire, hostless. Although the risk of complications is high you would remain alive. Second, you leave that host of yours, we'll put you into stasis and eject you into space. It's better than starving." She shifts her weight and sighs. "Or I'll use this." Myitt looks up at Zorish again. "It doesn't take long, and the pain won't last. The point is, Sub-Visser, we really don't have many other choices, here. I wish it could be different, but it can't."
She glances at Ossanlin and Alic, trying to stall for time. Myitt had no intention of killing Zorish off if she didn't have to, but the fact was, their mission was to deliver Tamora, uninfested. They'd already learned what they could from Zorish, and at this point the Sub-Visser really was an expendable security risk.
And if faced with the security of her friends and the rebellion, Myitt really would pull the trigger.
-
"If you return me to the Empire hostless," Zorish says, his gaze steady, "I'll be doomed. What do you think the punishment is for losing a host? Death. Worse than death. Slow Kandrona starvation, and the Visser can make it last for weeks, months even. You are giving me a choice that is no choice at all."
Zorish quiets for a moment, his eyes shifting focus, looking towards where Tamora's bed is. He cannot see her, but he looks for her regardless, "She will not want to be separated from me. Whatever you do with me, you are not leading her into a happier life, I promise you that. You will destroy her."
-
<Why would they kill you just for losing a host? If most Yeerks just consider us property, then would it be that harsh?> Derrel asked, just out of curiosity.
-
Myitt glances at Tamora, who is still sound asleep. Her gaze shifts back to Zorish.
"Yes, I am aware that the options are all pretty damn awful," she grates. "But I'm trying to give you your choice of deaths. All I can tell you is that our mission involves retrieving Tamora, uninfested. Would you prefer spending your life as a prisoner of the Andalites, or the rebellion, to an honorable death? I'm trying to help you!"
She paces, clearly upset, gripping the modified Dracon in her sweaty right hand as she stalks back and forth.
<Unbelievable,> she scowls internally, <why can't she just make my life easier?>
<Would it really be easier, having another death on our consciences?> Tara says, almost boredly.
<No, no, but it's better than having an indecisive prisoner of war!> she snaps.
-
<The host body is a vessel, you fool,> Zorish snaps at Derrel, <A Yeerk Visser does not smile upon valuable property being lost to enemy hands.> His scowl, however, fades at Myitt's outburst. His eyes rip away from their search for Tamora and focus on the rebel once more. Something Myitt has said strikes a note somewhere in Zorish's memory. Somehow it is important, although he cannot remember for the life of him why. He only knows that something was said, much earlier, that would make this whole thing make sense.
"There is no honor in death," Zorish settles for saying instead, "we are not the Andalites. We do not fool ourselves into thinking pleasant thoughts simply because supposed honorable intentions preceed them." He pauses, taking a deep breath, "However, we are also aware of the circumstances under which we have been overpowered. You must let me, at the very least, explain to her, though." his eyes trail back to where Tamora lies, "Privately. You owe me - us - that."
-
Myitt pauses in the middle of her pacing. She walks over to where Zorish is restrained, looking down at him.
"I suppose you might actually care about her," she murmurs. She looks back at Ossanlin and Alic briefly before returning her gaze to Zorish. "But that doesn't mean I trust you." She sighs, considering for a moment, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Fine. You may speak to her, but we aren't leaving this room."
Myitt grudgingly bends down to help Zorish, hands and legs still bound, over to the gurney where Tamora is sleeping.
-
(It was Derrel that asked the question.)
-
((whoops, my bad. Edited))
-
<Well, punishment I could understand, but torturous death? But then your Visser comes off as kind of a nutjob anyway. She's going to kill you, and acts like you really have choices and that she's trying to help you. She's probably a different kind of nutjob.>
-
Zorish presses his lips into a thin line as he is half-dragged to Tamora's side. Her eyes are still closed, and her breathing is steady. Her bedraggled face seems almost peaceful, despite the salt tracks left behind from dried tears.
"Thank you," Zorish says through gritted teeth. He readjusts himself in his bindings as best he can, positioning his head alongside Tamora's.
<There, I let you go just like I promised,> Zorish says to Derrel, <You can't say I am not a Yeerk of my word. Thank you for your assistance, even if it didn't work.> With those words of parting, Zorish begins to detach from Derrel and re-enter the far more familiar ear canal of Tamora, taking care to use a potent amount of numbing chemicals as he progresses. He knows that this is dangerous - it would be all too easy for one of his enemies to tear him free, hostless and helpless, but he proceeds nevertheless, moving as quickly as he dares.
-
Derrel regained control of his body. He didn't show much reaction as he was freed. He didn't look at anyone in particular, or strain against the ropes.
-
Myitt watches Zorish slither back into his old host, supporting the near dead weight of Derrel's body until Derrel can stand on his feet again.
It takes a few moments, but once Derrel starts to regain control she helps remove the energy ropes.
She looks back at Tamora just in time to see the last of Zorish's tail disappear into Tamora's head.
"Are you okay, kid?" she asks Derrel, patting him gently on the chest. "Have a seat against the wall, I know it takes a lot out of you."
-
"Am I...ok?" He said incredulously. He couldn't possibly be ok. "I guess, in a matter of speaking. Is it just me, or is this trip taking forever?"
He sat down, leaning against the wall, trying not to think about what was going on. What were they really trying to accomplish? What were they going to do to Tamora once they got where they were going? Obviously he would just have to wait until they arrived.
-
Zorish wraps himself fully around Tamora's brain, half surprised that he is still alive, and quickly connects himself to her fully. The first thing he checks is her current mental status. She is sleeping, but it is a shallow, nightmare-ridden sleep. If she had not been strapped down she probably would have been thrashing about violently.
<Time to wake up, Tamora,> Zorish murmurs to her. It takes some time for his thoughts to penetrate her dreams. He could force a more pleasant scenario on her psyche, but he has learned the hard way that it is better for her if she brings herself out of her sleeping terrors. She does begin to respond, slowly, after a few minutes during which Zorish's knowledge of the world beyond her mind is muted.
<Zorish?> She asks at last, her tone reeking of fear.
<Yes,> Zorish responds, <Welcome back to the waking world.>
<Zorish, I thought...I thought you were->
<I know,> Zorish responds curtly, suddenly realizing that this will be much more difficult to explain than he originally thought. He mentally steels himself before beginning, <Tamora, I am going to be leaving you. I am going back to the Empire alone. You will be safe with the rebels and...and the Andalites.>
<What? No! What do you...what do you mean I'll be safe with them?> Tamora cries after a moment of stunned silence, <They're evil! They are...they...you can't!> Her words stutter and she loses coherency, but Zorish can see her thoughts easily enough, even if she cannot put them into words. Hurt. Betrayal. Anger. Longing. He forces himself to brush the emotions aside and lie again.
<Tamora. Listen. You are right, they are the enemy. So do not trust them. But you will be safe with them. They went through a good deal of trouble to secure you, not me. That means that they are invested in your safety. They will not kill you. They do not need you for information, although what purpose they do have I cannot say. So do not trust them, but do not fear them either.>
Tamora does not respond, is unable to respond to this blow. Zorish closes his thoughts to her and instead opens his eyes. It displeases him greatly that the first person he focuses on is Myitt, but he keeps Tamora's face smooth and emotionless.
"I have informed Tamora that I am returning to the Empire alone," he says flatly, "I have assured her that she will be safe in your hands and that my return will be swift and painless." He cannot say it out loud, not without Tamora picking up on it, but he hopes that Myitt understands that a swift and painless trip anywhere does not include a return to the Empire. He would prefer a quick, easy death at their hands to Kandrona starvation.
-
Myitt looks away from Derrell as soon as Zorish speaks.
"Don't worry, Tamora," she says quietly. "You're safe with us, and we will make sure Zorish is taken good care of." She walks over to where Tamora's head lies restrained, holding a hand under Tamora's ear.
"Are you ready, Zorish?" Myitt's voice almost betrays her conflicted emotions.
((T, is it live or let die? We can arrange another temporary host and talk in the main cabin, which might get interesting.))
-
<Be strong,> Zorish warns the near-hysterical Tamora, <do not give them anything, especially not your tears. They are the enemy. Remember that.> He does not stick around to see if she is even listening, though. He disengages from Tamora and exits her head as quickly as he possibly can, almost grateful for the blindness that his natural form brings on. Within minutes he is helpless in Myitt's palm and Tamora is shuddering violently, tears flowing freely down her face despite Zorish's final words to her.
((Well, I'm willing to write Zorish off, if nothing else for the sake of not having to control five characters back at the GESB proper. It's up to you if you want him to stick around a little longer first, though. Depends how much longer we're hanging out in this thread, I think.))
-
Myitt gently takes Zorish in her left hand, looking around at the others.
"What do we do with him?" she asks her friends, desperately. In her right hand she still holds the modified Dracon, deadly to Yeerks only, now.
((We can kill him off, but he never really got the chance to say which method of death he wanted--besides not wanting to be returned to the Empire. I guess the most painless would be stasis and getting tossed into space, although that's not really a permanent death. Then again, there is the remote (*ahem*) possibility of someone finding and recovering Zorish later on...))
-
((Very true. Let's go with stasis then. Although if you want to talk to him some more, by all means. Tamora is going to be a bit...ah...incohere nt for awhile. But Zorish can't be ejected into space until the ship is out of Z-space))
-
Ossanlin watches on with a dispassionate eye. It is difficult to know exactly were Tamora's thoughts lie. It could be an extreme example of a kidnappee sympathizing with her kidnapper so to speak...someone working in such close relation to another, they were bound to form some connections.
Ossanlin nods to Myitt and includes only her, Claxter, and Zorish in his thought. <<We still have the pool that you were using Myitt...as long as you have some more minerals and a kandrona generator, we can keep Zorish rather comfortable. Do you have a cube or some other device with leads that would allow Zorish to respond with his palps?>>
-
Myitt shakes her head. "I only have enough material for one more pool cycle, and you saw how fancy my last pool was," she says, looking down at Zorish. "Is there anything in here we can use to allow him to communicate?"
-
"I think I've had enough of someone being in my head." Derrel said. "Let it be someone else's turn."
-
(((sorry guys.. i've been.. completely unmotivated in everything right now... lately... besides, i haven't felt alic was too important right now and can just stand by and listen.. so i am very sorry... its my days off tomorrow.. so ill be around)))
-
((aww, feel better Patty!))
Tamora's shaking subsides, but her tears do not. Her eyes roll up to focus on Myitt who is discussing what to do with the small, insignificant gray lump in her hand. Seeing him there, helpless and blind, brings on a whole new wave of terror, which threatens to overwhelm her entirely.
"Give him back!" She screeches suddenly, pushing desperately against her restraints, "You said you'd let him go!"
-
Myitt looks quickly over at Tamora, startled by the sudden outburst.
"Don't be a fool, Tamora," she says loudly. "You know quite well that returning Zorish to the Empire would be a death sentence." Myitt sighs, exasperated and at a loss. "We'll do what's best for him."
With that, she walks out of the med bay, not even looking back at Hadrin or her Andalite friends.
Hadrin follows Myitt out into the cabin.
"What can I do?" he asks quietly.
Myitt runs a hand across her unkempt brown hair, exhaling as she paces. "Set up another pool, please. The materials are in my backpack. Perhaps we can find a way to talk to Zorish before putting him into stasis."
Hadrin lays a hand on her arm. "Myitt...don't you think this is just delaying the inevitable?"
"I don't know, alright?" Myitt snaps. "Just get the pool ready."
-
Tamora allows that to sink in for a moment, knowing that what a rebel Yeerk thinks is 'best' for him is likely to be quite different from her own opinion. She chokes back a sob, trying to heed Zorish's last comment to her.
"You're going to kill him, aren't you?" she asks in a voice edged with panic.
-
"I think that's pretty well established." Derrel said. "If you're so bothered by the thought of doing it, then just don't do it. You don't have to kill Zorish for no other reason that he just happened to be in the host you decided to kidnap."
<We did not kidnap Tamora. We are rescuing her.> Claxter said.
"No, this is kidnapping. Kidnapping is taking someone away against their will."
<She may be brainwashed into being voluntary or something.>
"You're doing this because it's possible she's brainwashed? So now what? You're going to brainwash her into being on your side? Seems to me that's where this is going."
<You don't know the full story.>
"Of course not. You guys haven't explained the full story to anyone."
-
Hadrin places the last of their Kandrona wave-particle generators into the little tupperware pool, looking over at Myitt.
"Okay," he says, exasperated, gesturing at the pool. "It's all yours."
Myitt walks over to the little overhang table and places Zorish into the makeshift pool.
"There," she says with a sigh. "At least none of us has to deal with destroying another life for the next few minutes." She walks over to the med bay doors and opens them, stepping through.
"Ossanlin, isn't there any way we can allow him to communicate with us in the pool?" Her gaze shifts briefly toward Tamora, who is naturally in hysterics. It can't be helped, she thinks bitterly. Not my fault the girl is so attached to him.
-
Alic had kept quiet the entire time. She knew that removing the yeerk from the girl's head would be the right thing to do. But seeing her like this... Alic was not prepared for it. She turned away and left the room that the human was contained in. Myitt was heading back into the medbay as she was making her way out.
It was as if she was in pain. How can it be so horrible to be free? She couldn't watch any more, it made her feel sick that someone could love something so evil.
To keep herself occupied, Alic morphed human and grabbed the warm bottle of Jager. She shook the bottle slightly to check how much she had. Enough. Alic sat on the floor out of the way and opened the bottle. She glanced at the container that held the yeerk and took a few drinks of the warm liquor, welcoming the burning feeling down her throat.
-
Ossanlin looks back at Myitt. <I'm afraid I don't have any solutions to that particular problem. I'm not in the habit of interrogating natural Yeerks. The computer can put out audible language, but the only way to interface with it, aside from the physical console, is thought-speech. If there was any way to communicate with him, I suppose we'd have to find something amongst your supplies that would somehow allow Zorish to interface with the audio output systems on the Mirage...otherwise we'll have to give him another host to speak. I'm not particularly thrilled about that option.>
-
<I'll do it,> says Tara.
"What?" Myitt exclaims aloud, eyes tracking on some spot on the floor like someone listening to an important phone call.
Tara looks up. "I'll do it," she repeats calmly. "Figure we should give the guy his last words. Whatever he sees in here won't matter. He's dead either way, right?"
"You're out of your mind!" Myitt hisses schizophrenically, letting Tara walk over to the little pool.
"Hey, somebody had to make a ****in' decision," says Tara, fishing Zorish out and impatiently waiting for Myitt to leave her head. "Not like this is a bucket of fun, here," she adds with a wince.
-
<Tara...this is...risky. You would have to be bound, and there's no telling what Zorish might do to you personally, especially if he knows there's very little hope for him. Stasis provides a possibility of continued life, but the chance is so remote as to be infinitessimal. I don't know that this is a good idea.> Ossanlin watches Tara without moving from his current position.
-
Tara doesn't respond, halfway in between control of her own body while Myitt slowly slithers out of her head and onto her hand.
-
Claxter decided to follow Myitt and Ossanlin into the other room to see what was going on. <May I ask what you are doing now?>
-
Tamora, in the other room, is oblivious to this new development. Nevertheless, she continues to alternate between quiet sniffling and loud cries over the loss of Zorish.
Zorish, also oblivious, only knows that he is no longer in the Pool that he had been placed in. He can sort of feel Tara's fingers around him as a slight amount of pressure, and he can definitely feel his skin slowly drying out. Instinctively he curls in on himself, as small as he can, to protect the moisture in his body as he waits for his imminent death.
-
Cody was becoming more and more annoyed at Tamora's whining, but he couldn't do anything about it. Sukohn had control of his body, and his body was bound and gagged.
<Can someone at least block my ears so I don't have to hear that ***** whine anymore!?>
-
Tara finally places Myitt into the little makeshift pool. She takes the modified Dracon and hands it to Ossanlin.
"Yeah, it's insane," she says lowly, "but I'd rather let him choose how he wants to die. I'm sick enough of this charade without having to kill a defenseless prisoner of war for it."
She walks into the med bay and grabs a couple spare pairs of energy restraints, one for her hands and one for her legs.
Walking back out, she looks from Hadrin to the three Andalites, tossing the restraints on the ground.
Tara smiles wryly. "Someone had better tie me up quickly," she says nonchalantly, sitting down on the metal floor and holding Zorish up to her ear.
-
Alic shook her head and twisted the top back on her bottle and slowly stood up. "Tara... You don't need to do this. Do you think that if that yeerk had the chance to kill us he would be so kind to ask how we wanted to die? No." She frowned. "Do what you feel you need to do, but I disagree." She had always felt sick watching a yeerk enter or exit someone's head, and turned her head away to wait until it was done.
-
<Now this is just stupid.> Claxter said. <If you are really having so much trouble with this, I will kill Zorish. Or we could ask Aliciania to do it.> He said, moving forward to take Zorish out of Tara's hand. <what do you expect Zorish to say that he hasn't already said?>
-
Zorish, sensing an orifice is near, uncurls his body and crawls for his life. As soon as he touches the hole his entire body almost seems to sigh with relief. Yes, it is an ear. Someone is allowing him to enter. He quickly releases the chemical that will numb his new host's ear and makes his way down what seems to be a well-traveled pathway. He has little trouble making his way into the clearly human brain and wraps himself around it with practiced skill.
<Tara,> Zorish says musingly, opening her memories of the last few moments that have passed since he left Tamora. <I had neglected to consider the host of that rebellious scourge. My, you two do have a cozy relationship, don't you?>
Zorish focuses Tara's eyes, looking first at Aliciana, on the floor, nursing a bottle of jaeger, then to Corliss, the foolish warrior he had duped earlier, and finally to Ossanlin, the leader of the show. He clears Tara's throat, working the jaw once or twice before he gets used to it's unique rhythm and speaks in Tara's voice.
"I see that this human here wants me to choose my execution," he says calmly. His gaze flickers as he takes note of Tamora's sobbing in the other room, but he quickly refocuses on Ossanlin, "I suppose that will help you moralize that you have done the right thing? If I offer myself to the Vanarx without your assistance? A willing walk to death denies you the responsibilities of a murderer."
((AN: Vanarx was the 'Yeerkbane' from #2, for those of you who don't remember. :) It eats Yeerks for dinner.))
-
<Obviously it was my idea,> says Tara impatiently. <Consider yourself lucky I've got a weakness for prisoners.> But part of her is worried--no one had bound her hands and feet yet, as she'd hoped.
-
Claxter hadn't quite gotten to Zorish before she rushed into Tara's ear. He kept his tail ready just in case he made any sudden movements.
<I would kill you quickly just to get this over with so we can move on to more important and interesting things.> He said. Now that Zorish had access to Tara's memories, he may realise they had been in contact with Terenia. He wondered how the Yeerk would react.
-
"More important and interesting things?" Zorish repeats, ****ing Tara's head curiously, "My, don't you value sentient life, Andalite. I apologize if my imminent death is boring you."
Zorish pauses, taking a second to backtrack through Tara's memories. He keeps getting distracted by the insistent sniffling of Tamora in the med bay, which is apparently too loud for the girl to hear the conversation taking place. Zorish forces the sound from his mind temporarily as he goes over the past day or so of Tara's memories, searching for some explanation to his situation. When he finds it an eerie quietness settles about Tara's body as her muscles tense. When Zorish finally speaks Tara's voice is smooth, but succinct.
"So. This has nothing to do with me at all," Zorish says, "I merely happened to be in the wrong host at the wrong time and better for your purposes that I happen to be a Sub-Visser." Zorish shakes his head, almost in pity, "You fools do not have the faintest idea what you are doing, do you?"
-
<Your fate has been decided by Myitt and Prince Ossanlin. Since they have decided you must die, then we might as well kill you. It is unfortunate, but that is the way it happened.>
<We know what we want to do. We don't know how to achieve it yet exactly, but we will achieve it. No Andalite will suffer needlessly for the self serving goals of a useless creature such as Terenia.>
-
Zorish ****s his head and chuckles slightly, "Well I can hardly disagree with that imbecile's uselessness. I wonder, though. Why did you not simply kill her? That would have solved the problem well enough. Or is an Andalite life worth so much more than a Yeerk life that you can justify a trip across the galaxy?"
-
<We decided that since Visser Three would surely kill Terenia's sister after Efaen was rescued, then we should rescue her sister first. Now that we have done that, we are returning. It's unfortunate that you have to be killed, and even more unfortunate that Tamora is so attached to you.>
-
"And why in the galaxy would Visser Three kill a voluntary host such as Tamora?" Zorish asks. His tone is quickly devolving into frustration, "She is of no threat to him, no particular interest besides his infatuation with that dapsen sister of hers. If Terenia were to be killed Tamora would be only what she has always been, a willing volunteer under the Yeerk Empire. Beyond that, if he were to murder the host of a Sub-Visser it would not go unnoticed by the Council."
Zorish crosses his arms over Tara's body, looking at Claxter with unmasked contempt, "I can see from Tara's memories that you embarked on this mission believing that what you were doing was morally correct. What I cannot understand is how after everything that has occurred, you continue to think so. At least Myitt has shown some regret, some uncertainty. I suppose you Andalites truly are devoid of morality."
-
((Jessi...Corliss is Myitt's brother...Claxter is Chad's char's name...just thought I'd let u know. :p Corliss isn't on the ship currently.))
Ossanlin chuckles a bit at Zorish's comments. <You may call my morality into question as much as you'd like, it does not bother me. Morality has little place in war, much as that fact saddens me. You might want to consider why I did not simply destroy Terenia. I certainly had ample opportunity. She was hostless for quite some time, and Efaen free. The true reason for this trip is sitting in the crew deck. He was a threat to the very fabric of reality. You see, he had come across some information from the future as it were, and he was aiming to change the timeline completely. It was simply convenient to recover Tamora at the same time.>
<The simple fact is that I did not destroy Terenia out of hand because I felt sorry for her. She has been utterly demolished by every race she has had contact with, including my own. I thought it was time she was shown a bit of sympathy, though I will admit that my true interest is the recovery of Efaen. Terenia's heart's greatest desire was to see Tamora out of Visser 3's control. That is what we will give her. We will show Tamora Terenia's memories...what was done to her and why she didn't return to Earth. What happens after that is in their hands. Perhaps there will be a shining ray...a little hope that Tamora will agree to become Terenia's host...if not, so be it. Terenia will no longer have a valid excuse for holding control of Efaen either way.> Ossanlin trots closer to Tara. <You have infested Tara to allow you a mode of communication.> Ossanlin hefts the modified Dracon in his palm. <If you would rather have your memory wiped and yourself shipped off to the nearest Imperial outpost, that is still an option. There is also stasis. Or death, both quick and relatively painless. I would rather send you back to the Empire to be honest. Any dissension within the Empire is bound to weaken it after all.>
Meanwhile Ossanlin commands the ship to answer only to his command codes just in case Zorish pulls a miraculous escape again.
-
<I'm under the impression that Visser Three is a spiteful person that kills people for little reason all the time. Would he not kill Tamora or torture her just because Terenia escaped his grasp? I suppose you know him better than me, though.> Claxter said. He had practically forgotten about Sukohn. Yes, they had also come so he wouldn't be able to destroy the resistance on Earth.
-
((gah, my bad. Too many darned names floating around. Fixed it. :P ))
"Given the choice," Zorish says coldly, "I will always choose life over death. You have made a grave mistake, though. Tamora will never reconcile with her sister, and I highly doubt Terenia will abandon her host. She has spent many years among the Yeerks and it is my understanding that she identifies with our kind more than any other." He shrugs then, "No matter. I can only hope the girl does something stupid and gets herself killed. She has been far more trouble than she is worth. However..." Zorish glances towards the medbay, "she deserves to know what is awaiting her at the end of this journey."
-
<She will know soon enough. It shouldn't be too long before we reach normal space. Half a standard hour, give or take?>
-
"And Sukohn?" Zorish presses, "If you are threatening me with death after doing nothing I cannot imagine what you have in store for the Yeerk who actually went so far as to change the space-time continuum to increase the Empire's advantage."
-
"Make no mistake, sub-visser," says Hadrian coldly, speaking up. "You aren't the only prisoner of war, here. Just the most unfortunate." He can't help but add some ire into this last statement against his former faux-superior, whom Hadrian himself had only just betrayed.
-
(Claxter, you mean?)
Claxter hadn't thought much about Sukohn. he supposed the other Yeerk should get harsher treatment for what he did than Zorish.
<I am no judicial figure. I suppose we will simply wither erase his memory and release him, or kill him, just as we plan to do to you. Even though what he did was worse, he is less of a threat.>
-
Ossanlin nods. <She will give up Efaen whether she wants to or not. You see, even if Tamora does nothing more than to tell Terenia that she's a vile wretch, she will still be out from under Visser 3's proverbial thumb. That was Terenia's desire. Our goal has been accomplished regardless of whether the two decide to be friends or not. It would've been much more convenient if we'd been able to take the girl while you were feeding, but that would've been nigh impossible. You are in an unfortunate position, and quite honestly the only crucial part you played in our plan was to remove the girl from the Blade Ship chasing after a false Escafil. You were in no part our objective, sub-visser...you just know too much.>
Ossanlin hefts the modified dracon in his hand again. <Suhkon's fate is no concern of yours.> He pauses a moment. <I cannot speak for the use of Myitt's devices...we'll have to get her her host back first. Am I to assume that you are opting to have your memories wiped and be shipped off to the nearest Yeerk outpost then?>
-
((Luke, didn't we use a memory reader earlier to go through Zorish's memories?))
Zorish scowls at Ossanlin, his hands balled into fists as they hang stiffly by his side. For a long moment he stays that way, looking as though he were on the verge of attacking the Andalite. Then his shoulders slump and he relaxes.
"Yes," he mutters stiffly, unable to help glancing towards the medbay in concern. He looks as though he is about to say something else, but quiets himself, although the conflicted look on his face does not dissipate.
-
((You're right Jessi. I had forgotten Myitt brought one along. I changed it.))
-
<Interesting choice,> Tara muses, tauntingly. <Personally, I would've gone with stasis. ****ers back at the Empire are not going to be happy you allowed yourself to be captured. They're such nice folks, aren't they?>
-
<You have a misinformed view of my line of work,> Zorish says tersely to Tara, <Not everyone within the Empire is Visser Three.>
"I have a request, Andalite." Zorish says, keeping his anger contained so that it only showed in the way his eyes flashed, "I will have no way of knowing if you will keep your word, but as you Andalites value honor so highly, I ask that you pledge, on your honor, that you will do this one thing for me."
-
Claxter wasn't sure if Zorish was talking to prince Ossanlin, or both of them. He turned a stalk eye to his Prince to see what he'd say. His main eyes remained on Zorish, though.
-
<Oh, I'm well aware of that,> Tara continues conversationally, unheedingly. <But, you know, you do kinda work for the guy. Too bad he has no patience for screw-ups who let themselves get captured by both rebels and Andalites simultaneously. Oh, well.>
-
<Even Visser Three is not asinine enough to murder a Sub-Visser. How would he explain such a thing to the Council? If one of his top officers suddenly disappears?> Zorish gave the equivalent of an internal snort in Tara's direction, <He prefers not to attract the Council's attention, so no, I will not die. I will certainly be subjected to a less than pleasant punishment of some sort, but I will not die.>
Zorish turns his attention back to Ossanlin, ignoring the others on the ship, although he does favor Hadrin with an especially stony glare.
-
Hadrin glares back at Zorish, feeling confident enough among his rebel peers, but he, too is uncomfortable with the choice they have to make.
Tara falls silent, wondering just what Zorish wants from Ossanlin and the rest of them; no use, the Yeerk's thoughts are closed off to her.
Myitt, on the other hand, is perhaps the most impatient of them all, awaiting her human friend and knowledge of what has transpired. She swims in circles in the little plastic tub, wanting nothing more than to be out of it.
-
Ossanlin looks to Hadrin with his main eyes, a stalk eye staying on Tara at all times. He looks back at Tara with his main eyes. <I will not give my word to do anything unless I know what it is you want me to do first. What is it you desire?>
-
"Two requests, actually," Zorish amends, glancing towards the med bay. "The first, I presume will be easier for you to stomach than the second. I ask only that no harm become Tamora. She...she cannot get hurt, and I have no doubt that her biological sister means to harm her."
Zorish pauses, allowing this information to sink in, and then moves on, "The second favor of which I must ask is this: do not remove all of my memory of her. You may eliminate this endeavor, eliminate any knowledge of my contact with you and the Yeerk traitors. But please, do not eliminate her from my memory. It is in both of our best interests."
As Zorish speaks he keeps his face calm and expressionless, but the pain that he feels is strong enough to break down the mental barrier he has erected between himself and Tara. She, at least, can feel how it is hurting Zorish to lose his partner.
-
<<I suppose Zorish truly feels loyal to Tamora, and may hope to reunite with her some way.>> Claxter said privately to his Prince.
-
Tara feels the very real emotions hitting her from Zorish, and at first she's a bit shocked.
After a few long seconds she says, <I'm sorry. I really am. I...we wish there was another way. Myitt and I...we know how you feel about each other.> She falls silent, feeling like the words aren't fully expressing how she feels about Zorish's pain. <Why don't you free yourself from the Empire? Even your friendship with Tamora is a death sentence to them. How can you still serve what forces you to hide yourself?>
Hadrin, however, scoffs incredulously. "Don't be a fool, Sub-Visser. We can't possibly erase your memories without excising some of what you remember about your host. Even that could trigger a secondary relapse. It would be too great a risk, you know that. I didn't think you cared so much as to risk your life and ours for the human girl."
-
<The Empire is my home,> Zorish responds stiffly, <It is Tamora's home as well, and I have no desire to force her away from one of the few places she knows comfort.>
In response to Hadrin, Zorish's face flashes with fury, his own anger curling Tara's lip up into a nasty sneer, "Don't be a fool, traitor," he hisses, "I am who I am today because of that human in there. If you erase her existence from my memories than my reason for even considering sympathy of the humans will be eliminated. Use your brain, Hadrin. Why do you think that I, a Sub-Visser, has one of the most menial jobs aboard the Blade Ship? Because I requested it. Because I do not want to be among those who are inflicting casualty upon casualty on the humans. If Visser Three had his way he would begin open war upon the planet, using only the surviving dredges as hosts and moving on. He would destroy humanity, and he would destroy Earth. I do not want a part in that. I have been working tirelessly to prevent that from happening, to provide information that allows us only to advance through infiltration, something I did not care about prior to Tamora."
-
"Then why do you continue to serve them, knowing the Empire will attempt to destroy humans, destroy everything humans are, just as easily whether you ignore that fact or not?" Hadrin demands. "And if you retain your knowledge of your host, can you honestly convince us that you won't try and track her down?"
<You just don't get it,> says Tara, fuming. <The Empire isn't Tamora's home, it's Tamora's ****ing prison!>
-
"The Empire is not perfect," Zorish growls, "but no government is. By playing into the hands of the Vissers above me I can eventually change the tide of the Empire. I can bend it to my will. We are Yeerks! We need hosts, but why do we need to destroy entire worlds in the process? We revel in the beauty of alien planets and then obliterate them. I am not against the infestation of Earth. I am against the destruction of Earth. Humanity is better off our servants than bits of molecular waste, floating through space."
<If Tamora desired freedom,> Zorish hisses to Tara, <I would have made her free. I have the power, I could have hidden her away on some moon, far from the Empire, and she could have been free. She wants to be with the Emprie, and she wants to be with me.>
-
<Trying to change things from the inside.> Claxter said. <As soon as you are caught, though, you will be killed. The Yeerks have a strict policy, and those that stray the slightest bit are destroyed. Though I don't know if it would be easier for a Yeerk to work from the inside or the outside.>
-
"Do you really suffer from that much hubris, Sub-Visser?" Hadrin says coldly. "You're a pawn of a creature who will order you to exact open war! Unless you decide your allegiance is greater to Visser One, or to the humans themselves, then you cannot save the humans by taking their way of life away from them. You're a hypocrite, Sub-Visser. You want the humans to be free, but you work for those who will destroy them, and your pride is so great that you think you'll stop them. They'll destroy you, Zorish."
<Right, hidden her on some moon, alone with nothing but space rocks,> Tara says mockingly. <Would you listen to yourself? If you won't listen to him, then listen to me! You know Myitt once felt not too differently from how you feel. She had the opportunity for power and influence, but in the end it was still the same endless circle of destruction. They would have killed her, too, and for what? For what, Zorish? Because she didn't want to kid herself anymore. The Empire was going to destroy what she cared for, and her hosts, her friends. If they weren't killed outright, then everything they knew and loved would be destroyed. You will destroy Earth, whether it's a blackened cinder or an acid wasteland or not.>
-
Zorish's fists clench so hard that Tara's fingernails dig into her palms, drawing blood. He looks from Hadrin to Claxter and, finding no pity in either of their expressions, lets loose what could only be interpreted as a snarl, feral and dangerous, like a caged animal.
"What would you have me do, then?" He shouts, "Are the only two paths in this war the Empire or the rebellion? You," he looks pointedly at Hadrin, "seek to gut the Empire. You work from within and sell our secrets to our enemies, entrusting that they," he jerks his head towards Claxter, "will offer you more choice than the Empire, when in reality they would have you forced back into the pools of our Homeworld!"
Zorish pauses to catch his breath and notices that the whimpering from the medbay has fallen silent. Tamora has, evidently, overheard his shouting and is listening in. He wonders if she has yet realized that it is he and not Myitt speaking through Tara's mouth.
"I promised Tamora that I would do everything within my abilities to minimize damage on Earth," he says in a low, dangerous voice, "I did not say I would free the humans. I do not care for the freedom of the humans, and neither does Tamora. But what is the point of destroying an entire world when the same goal can be achieved without shooting a single Dracon? I am not asking you to agree with me, I am asking you to understand. Without Tamora in my life I would have gladly blown Earth into atoms. I would boil the oceans and burn the forests. It is to the advantage of your cause to prevent me from returning to that mindset."
-
<I suppose you have a point. For whatever reason, interaction with Humans seems to bring out a better side in Yeerks. Prince Ossanlin is good friends with a Yeerk that has a Human host, and Hadrin doesn't seem too put off by us either. Perhaps it is their greater intellectual and emotional capacity compared to Hork-Bajir and Taxxons.>
He looked to his Prince with both stalk eyes. <Perhaps her idea should be considered, my Prince.>
-
<Ah! Quit it, will you?> Tara yelps at the distant pain, her muscles tensed in Zorish's fury.
"I entrust that we can offer ourselves more choice than the Empire, Zorish," Hadrin snaps back. "There are so many of our people who want another way than going back to the homeworld, or this endless, endless war!"
-
"And in what universe do you think the Andalites will allow us those choices?" Zorish asks, "Even if you succeed in overthrowing the Empire, they will continue to regard our kind as a plague. You argue for the freedom of our hosts, but what of our freedom? The Andalites will use your little rebellion to gut the Empire and then turn on you." Zorish glances at Ossanlin, "Oh, maybe not all of the Andalites. Perhaps you have garnished a few true believers in your rebel cause, but as a whole the Andalite people will cry out for our blood!"
Zorish turns away, relaxing his muscles slightly and forcing his fists to unclench, "What does it matter, though? My fate in this war is, evidently, already sealed. My opinions are of no importance here. I voiced my requests, now I need only to know if they will be honored or not."
-
<God, Zorish, you know we won't let anything hurt Tamora if we can help it,> Tara insists. <As for what they can do about your memories I--> She stops, wanting to listen to Hadrin more clearly.
"We'll do the best we can, Zorish," says Hadrin firmly. "We won't let Tamora fall into harm's way. Perhaps we can leave you enough memories of Tamora to keep your convenient opinion of her people and her planet, but you know as well as I that it will be a risk." His eyes narrow. "Maybe you're right about the Andalites. Most of them won't even give our resistance the chance to speak without acting rashly against our people. Without more death and misunderstanding. But if we have the support of some of our hosts, then I guarantee you there will be humans, Hork-Bajir and free Taxxons who would rally against the Andalites for attempting to destroy an ally."
-
Zorish nods, as though what Hadrin has said satisfies him.
"And the war will rage on," he says with a wry, twisted smile.
-
"Not if more Andalites like Ossanlin can help to convince them otherwise," Hadrin sneers back. "I can't predict the future, Zorish, but I'm not going to stop fighting because it is unknown."
<Goddamnit, give him what he wants, already!> Tara yells silently, addressing the people in front of her borrowed body.
-
Zorish's sneer softens slightly as he reads Tara's thoughts. He ****s his head to one side, intrigued.
<Perhaps you should speak for me then. Clearly my own appeals are doing little. Not that I expected much,> Zorish hesitates for a moment. Relinquishing control while still within his host is not something he has ever done, not even with Tamora, but he thinks that perhaps, in this case, it may help his cause. He slowly backs away, allowing Tara to take control if she wishes, but prepared to seize it back if he must.
-
Tara doesn't realize at first that she's back in control of her own body, and she nearly collapses back against the floor.
Catching herself with her hands sprawled behind her, she looks left and right, gasping, "Oh, Christ, I didn't expect that..." She swallows and shakily brings herself to her sitting position again, wincing at the pain in her bloody palms.
"Okay, it's Tara," she says, looking at each Andalite, and at Hadrin. She casts a glance behind her, up at the little table where Myitt is swimming in the tub of sludge. "Uh..." Tara sucks in a breath and looks back at the others. "Look, you can't be sure it's me, yadda yadda, all that crap. But hear me out, either way. Zorish really cares for that chick in there. I mean, as ****ed up as they both are, they care about each other. Zorish wants to destroy human freedom, but he doesn't want to **** the whole planet over. And he thinks he's the key to doing that." She rolls her eyes. "Whatever, let him dream for a while. Let him have as much memory of Tamora as you can spare, but if there is a single iota of information left in his mind about the rebellion or the Mirage, we're all cooked. So don't mess it up, alright?" She sits back against her hands, not really caring that they're still bleeding lightly. "Now can he get out of my head, please?"
-
Ossanlin thinks for a moment, considering all that has transpired. <An idea strikes me...there's always danger of a relapse, but we could accomplish our goals without separating these two. We could allow Zorish to reinfest Tamora...yes I know we just went through alot to get them separated, but we could erase both Tamora's and Zorish's memories of the abduction and the trip to our destination. We could sedate them both, then allow them to wake up somewhere unbiased...like one of the back rooms of the establishment. Of course the meeting with Terenia would most likely not be pleasant, however we can still achieve the same ends. We can make Zorish and Tamora watch Terenia's memories. Obviously Zorish would not care about her memories, but Tamora would. Then we can go from there. You would still be there to protect Tamora, Zorish, and she would not see her sister as responsible for separating her from you. It's imperfect and dangerous, but it might work, what do you all think?>
-
"And this...danger of a relapse, it would involve Zorish recalling everything here, including your name and rank, your involvement with the rebellion, and the rebellion's location," Tara says, shaking her head. "Right. It's only a small risk."
-
<Leaving any memory of Tamora will increase the risk of a relapse...Zorish will always have a tab in his memory to pull on...why did he lose her? Where did she go? That could unzip his memory anyway. I see the risk as similar, it's dangerous any way we do this.>
-
"Yeah, you're right, it sucks either way," Tara grumbles. "I think we should--" She freezes, the words choking in her mouth.
-
"I'll do it," Tara's voice says, abruptly changing tone as Zorish interrupts her. He pushes off from the ground, returning to a standing position and looking at Ossanlin steadily, "Although wouldn't the same be achieved regardless of whether you erased my and Tamora's memory? Could you not merely erase the portions of our memory responsible for our abduction after this confrontation with Terenia? It may prevent Tamora from becoming entirely hysterical, at the very least, and from what I understand I will have no friends at this place. The event of my escape is quite slim."
-
Tara growls in frustration, partly from being interrupted, and partly because Zorish has a decent point.
-
Zorish looks around the room, feeling hopeful for the first time.
"Very well, then," he says, "so long as no one is opposed, I should like to return to Tamora then."
-
<Hang on a minute,> Tara says irritably. <We haven't gotten the chance to ask everyone. I need to talk this over with Myitt, first. Otherwise, there's no deal.>
-
Zorish scowls openly at Tara's comment. He does not want to delay his return to Tamora, and Myitt has not exactly shown him sympathy. However, if Zorish returns to Tamora without Myitt's approval he could be back to square one. If Myitt does not agree, Zorish realizes, She may very well turn Ossanlin back against me.
<You need to convince her that this is the best way,> Zorish says to Tara, half ordering her and half pleading with her, <You must.>
Zorish still looks unhappy, but he approaches the portable Yeerk pool tentatively, glancing briefly back at the Andalites and Hadrin before he tilts Tara's head to the side. He wastes no time in detaching himself from Tara, eager to return to his former host. Only a few seconds pass before Zorish's squirming form plops into the pool beside Myitt, freeing Tara.
-
<I will, don't worry,> Tara assures him as he leaves. A few moments later she leans heavily against the table, scooping up Myitt and holding the side of her head wearily.
"Ugh," she mutters, holding Myitt up to her ear. "This has got to be a record for me." She winces as Myitt starts slithering back into her head, the Yeerk numbing everything up as she moves along.
Myitt slowly regains control of her human friend, and she goes back to leaning heavily on the table, facing away from the others. Her eyes track, unseeing, as she stares down at the plastic tub that she'd been living in only a few minutes earlier. Tara's memories of the last ten minutes flood into her mind.
<Hi, nice to see you, too,> says Tara cautiously.
Myitt doesn't reply as she pores over the memories, closing her thoughts off to Tara.
<Okay, then. I'll just wait here while you finish looking at what Zorish was saying. Oh, and my sixth birthday, how nice.>
-
Ossanlin shakes his head. <You know too much Zorish. You've been in Tara's head, which means you know quite a bit about the rebellion. And you know of me...I don't believe the Empire knows that the rebels have any Andalite support whatsoever. Anyway, we can erase your memory, and Tamora's, of everything after the pulse-mine induced unconsciousness. You had set your fighter to take off...seems perhaps some damage messed with your guidance systems and you ended up at our destination instead. Who knows what sort of communications devices you and Terenia have at your disposal, we can't risk you passing anything on.>
Ossanlin looks down at Myitt in her platic tub. <I would also like to confer with Myitt on this and hear her opinion on the matter. And if we do this, you will have to relinquish control of Tamora at least once more after she views Terenia's memories so that we can hear her own unaltered words. In fact, it might be best if you relinquished your control before she views the memories. But I seem to be getting ahead of myself. The next step is to converse with Myitt and Tara...it would give us some insight into your true intentions no?>
-
"He can't hear you," Myitt says flatly, distractedly, still poring over the same few memories. A deep sense of sick dread is building in Tara's stomach, but it's not coming from Tara herself.
<Oh, talk to him, but not to me. That's great,> Tara says, exasperated.
Myitt finally blinks and focuses on the little pool. She turns back to Ossanlin, straightening her back. "Sorry about that," she calls. Myitt starts walking back over to Ossanlin, looking at the other Andalites and at Hadrin in turn. "Ossanlin, I've seen what has transpired here." She clears her throat and looks around, patting her jacket. "Could I...could I have my Dracon back, please?"
-
Ossanlin hands the modified Dracon back to Myitt. <And, what do you think of it? You're the memory-wipe expert, is it do-able? If it is, do you think it'll work...the whole thing?>
-
In the pool, Zorish stretches out slightly once Myitt has been removed. He awaits his fate, knowing that either Tamora or a memory wipe looms in his near future. Knowing that he can do nothing more for his cause. He can only swim the small length of the pool, waiting and hoping that the next time he has eyes to open they will belong to Tamora.
-
Myitt shrugs, taking the gun and pacing a bit. "It's hard to say," she says, with a look of consternation on her face. "It's very risky, Ossanlin." She looks especially at Hadrin. "It's a risk I don't know we can take." Thoughtfully, she walks back over to the little plastic tub, looking down at Zorish.
She bites her lip, wrestling with some internal turmoil, again hidden from Tara.
<Hello-oo? Myitt, what the hell is up?> Tara asks.
Myitt swallows, reaching under the surface of the pool. From behind it looks like she's taking Zorish out, but instead she has removed the little humming Kandrona wave/particle generator. With a press of her thumb she clicks it off, and the static feeling in the room slowly fades.
<I'm sorry,> says the Yeerk, aiming at Zorish inside the pool with the modified Dracon. When she pulls the trigger, there is no characteristic Dracon sound. Only a strange hum and a crackle of electricity, and then the weird static feeling returns to the room for a moment.
The red beam of light lances into the plastic pool, sizzling the water but not boiling it. The plastic remains intact, but the beam spreads out across the water's entire surface. Myitt keeps her finger on the trigger for much longer than a normal Dracon shot, and her hands are trembling.
<What the ****!> Tara screeches. <Myitt, stop!> She fights for control, only causing a bit more trembling.
-
Zorish is still waiting, still thinking of Tamora, when suddenly he realizes that something is wrong. The flow of Kandrona has ceased. He barely has time to contemplate this change of events when the familiar background vibration of the generator returns - but something is clearly wrong. The life-sustaining nutrient that keeps Zorish alive is not present. He sends out an echolocation ping, trying to determine the source of the problem, but nothing seems amiss, except that suddenly he is intensely aware of how hungry he is. How long has it been since he truly fed? One day? Two? Suddenly he is famished, feeling as though he has not fed in a full cycle. He needs the Kandrona and it is not there. His small body thrashes and squirms within the pool's sludge, seeking out Kandrona that should be present but, somehow, is not.
He was thinking of Tamora, but now all other thoughts slip away as his most base instinct for survival takes over. He condenses his body as much as possible, trying to conserve the Kandrona left in his body. Hunger is all that exists as he enters what the Yeerks call The Fugue.
From Myitt's vantage point it would look like little more than a series of angry ripplings within the water, and then a sudden stillness as The Fugue overcomes Zorish and he stops thinking of Tamora, stops thinking of hunger and, finally, stops thinking about anything at all.
-
Myitt keeps the beam firing until it sputters and the Dracon's coolant system forces it to shut off. She numbly sets the gun down with hands that are openly shaking, and she lets out a sob from her human throat, turning away from the dead Yeerk, not wanting to see or think about what she's done. Not wanting to watch him disintegrate. Not wanting to cope with the pain she's just caused him.
Tara, shocked into silence, finally starts thinking a series of confused and angry thoughts. Then, <Did you really just...oh, god, Myitt...I promised him!> She feels sick deep in her stomach.
Myitt ignores her at first, sinking to the ground and bowing her head. Silent sobs wrack through her. <I had to,> she cries miserably. <Oh, Tara, please, it was him or us!> Tears patter onto her dirty blue jeans, onto the metal floor, and she hugs her human torso with hands that still feel beyond her control.
-
Within the pool the body of Zorish slowly begins to break apart, dissolving into the pool water until there is no discernible relic of the sentient creature that had swam there moments before.
-
<You had to?> Tara demands. <You had to starve him to death? To make him die in agony?>
Myitt can't answer outwardly, her body lost in sobs. <He would've done the same to us. He would have. It was quick,> she rationalizes. <It isn't nearly as...>
<As what? As bad? Is that what you were going to say? You berated the bastard earlier for his government using the same damned thing on people like Raiker. Your own brother, Myitt!>
"I know, I know, I know," Myitt hisses through the tears. Without warning she closes herself off to her host, lost in despair.
-
Ossanlin watches as Myitt paces to the pool. Without warning she turns the beam on the pool and pulls the trigger. Ossanlin steps forward, shock not stunning him as it would most normal people. He grabs Myitt's arm. <What are you doing Myitt?! What are you doing?!> Ossanlin watches as the Yeerk in the pool begins to shrivel.
<Myitt this is a war crime! Stop! If he's going to die he should know! Myitt!!> Ossanlin raises his tone of thought uncharacteristicall y. He moves to pull Myitt's arm away from the pool but the Yeerk in the tub has already stopped moving. <What have you done?> Ossanlin allows his arm to drop, backing up a few steps. He shakes his head. <This is...war...but that was unacceptable Myitt...>
-
Claxter had stood by while it happened. He didn't relax his guard when Tara said she was in control. Eventually the Yeerks changed positions, and surprisingly Myitt killed Zorish callously and painfully. He didn't really know what to say. For some reason his Prince had grabbed her by the arm instead of using his tail, so he wasn't fast enough. Claxter himself hadn't moved either, even though he was closest to Myitt. Maybe he was just surprised, or maybe he really just didn't care about Zorish. He wasn't sure.
<Explain yourself, Myitt.>
-
Hadrin has watched the whole scene, too stunned to move. He knew Myitt as a casual acquaintance, and he'd trusted her, but he never would have expected something like this. He waits as the Andalites rush forward, almost certain that they will kill her, but instead they stand there yelling down at her while she is caught up in tears like a confused human child.
Slowly he walks over, glancing at the pool just to confirm the inevitable, but keeping well away from the Andalites in their anger.
"Myitt," he says softly, "you had no right to be trial and executioner."
Myitt looks up at the people surrounding her, her eyes red and filled with tears. "Is it unacceptable, Ossanlin?" she demands, her voice cracked, swallowing the lump in her throat. "Is it unacceptable not to take the slightest risk that would endanger everything and everyone I care for?"
<Uh...yes?> Tara says sardonically.
"Shut up, human," Myitt snarls aloud, looking away. "You wanted him to use you."
<Oh, don't blame this on me!> Tara warns. <I didn't pull the trigger, Myitt.>
After a few tremulous seconds, Myitt looks back up at the Andalites. At Hadrin.
"I did what any of you would do, if someone knew everything," she says through gritted teeth. "And that someone worked for your greatest enemy. I know the data on memory relapses with near total wipes, and the process could have killed him anyway. Would you have berated each other, then? No, it would have been a convenience. Yes, Ossanlin, this is war, and we cannot afford to lose."
-
<Everyone takes risks Myitt. It's impossible to do anything in life without taking risks from time to time. You have killed a potential ally. For a second I thought maybe there was hope for Zorish, but you have taken that hope away.> Claxter said. He left the room and went back to the medbay. He glanced pitiably at Tamora, but said nothing. Sukohn arched an eyebrow questioningly, but Claxter ignored him.
-
Myitt watches Claxter walk away. Part of her wants to spit back at him, she knew more than a thing or two about taking risks...but instead she just bows her head again, shutting her eyes tightly. She sniffles and irritably wipes her nose on the inside of her jacket collar.
Tara is silent, smoldering.
-
Tamora starts at the sound of the medbay doors opening. She looks miserable: her face is streaked with tears and a rather unattractive glob of snot is hovering just below her left nostril. She looks up at the Andalite with red, puffy eyes that are bright with terror and misery.
"Zorish?" She asks in a small, cracking voice, wanting to know what has transpired.
-
Claxter looked at Tamora again. She didn't look very well. He went to a cabnet and took out a damp cloth to wipe her face with. As he cleaned her face, he wasn't sure how to tell her. He should probably make Myitt tell her, or something.
<Don't worry about Zorish. Just try to remain calm. Are you comfortable? Would you like something to drink, or...anything?>
Sukohn rolled his eyes. Claxter was obviously avoiding the issue. Zorish was probably dead, judging from what he heard coming from the other room. He was closer to the door than Tamora was, and heard Ossanlin say something about a war crime. He couldn't say anything with the cable in his mouth, though.
Derrel was dozing off in the corner, though not deeply.
-
Alic had listened to what Zorish had to say and kept quiet. She knew an extra voice wasn't needed and they would do what they felt was right. Alic would have preferred him dead, of course, but she did not expect Myitt to agree. She stared wide-eyed at Myitt in shock of what she did, but no thoughts of stopping her had crossed her mind. Alic would have done the same thing herself, given the choice.
One less greedy slug to worry about.
She turned her head to the other two andalites and then to her sobbing friend. She went to Myitt and gently placed a hand on her arm. "I would have done the same. Myitt is right. This is war and letting him loose with memories or not was too big of a risk to take."
-
Tamora recoils from Claxter's touch, but her restraints prevent her from pulling fully away. As he wipes her face she begins to shiver, goosebumps rising on her bare arms.
"Why..." she chokes off, gasping for breath and starts again, "Why are you doing this?"
-
Myitt starts and looks up at Alic. Encouraged by her support, slowly, wearily, Myitt climbs to her feet and runs her sleeve across her wet eyes.
"Ugh. Thank you, Alic," she says, looking around blearily. "I did what I thought was best for my people. But I...I never want to do that again. I didn't want to cause him pain. It makes me sick. I'm so...so tired of it." Myitt casts a miserable glance over at the med bay doors, then she looks at Ossanlin.
"If I have committed a war crime, my friend, then I suppose I should be sentenced," she says, sniffling and regaining some of her energy, if not her spirit. "It wouldn't be the first time. But until then, let's do what we must do with the matter at hand." She avoids looking at the pool, now devoid of life, and turns to head toward the med bay.
-
<Well, we are intending to rescue you.> Claxter said. <You see, we kind of ran into your sister. I and my prince want to free the Andalite that she has enslaved, but Terenia said that Visser Three would kill you in anger if either one of them escaped his grasp. As a side mission to retrieving Sukohn, we got you away from Visser Three. We were aware that you were vluntary, but not to this extent. I don't think anyone plans to hand you ovr to your sister, and personally I'd rather just grind her under hoof and forget her existance, but we'll have to see how things play out when we get to where we're going.>
<I would have said this earlier, but my prince felt the need to keep it from Zorish.>
-
Ossanlin shakes his head again and takes a deep breath, his thoughts calming. <For once Myitt...I don't know what to say. I didn't think you were that...ruthless.> Ossanlin turns back to the console checking their arrival time. <One-half a standard hour. What else were you planning on Myitt...can I allow you in the med-bay or are you going to execute Derrel, Sukohn, and Cody too?>
-
Myitt stops and turns near the med bay doors, eyeing Ossanlin coldly. "Yes, Ossanlin, because in all the years we've known each other, I am best characterized as a mass murderer," she scowls. "If I've committed such a grave crime, then act on it. Otherwise, judge me as you will, and let me do what I have to do."
-
Tamora's shaking stops abruptly, as though her fear has been shocked directly from her body. She inhales sharply, her first widening as the pieces begin to click into place, and then narrowing sharply.
"My...sister?" she croaks. Her voice is still hoarse with tears, but for the first time it seems as though she is not in danger of crying.
-
Myitt turns back to the med bay again in a huff. She storms through the doors and glares at Sukohn, but her shoulders sink and her expression softens as she looks over at Derrel, and finally at Claxter and Tamora. She seems to remember just what she came in here for.
The words stick in the back of her throat, and she tries to meet Tamora's gaze, but says nothing, looking down at the med bay floor.
-
Tamora's narrowed gaze raises as the medbay doors open once more. She recognizes the owner of the yelling voice from earlier, the voice that may or may not have been controlled by Zorish. The body that belongs to one of the Yeerk rebels.
"Where's Zorish?" she asks Myitt. If this entire debacle points back to Terenia, she needs him to know. He will know what to do, Tamora reassures herself, he always knows what to do.
-
Alic nodded at her friend and couldn't look at Ossanlin. Sometimes he could be too accusing. Didn't he understand what some people had to do to survive? You can't find a peaceful way to fix everything. She followed Myitt into the med bay room where the human girl was being held.
-
Myitt looks sharply back at Alic, then she meets Tamora's gaze.
"He's..." She sucks in a delayed breath. "Zorish is gone, Tamora. I'm sorry."
-
Ossanlin doesn't answer Myitt as she walks back to the med-bay. He turns his attention back to the ship's main console. They're nearing the Bar. This would all come to a head there. Now that Zorish was dead, Tamora would blame Terenia for his death, she would hate her even more. He still found it hard to believe that Myitt had acted so rashly.
-
"Gone?" She repeats blankly. Slowly comprehension spreads across her face. Her narrowed eyes slacken and she stares up at the two Andalites and Yeerk who are now crowding the medbay. When she speaks again her voice is far from the hysterics she had thrown during Zorish's last hours of life. It is flat and empty, devoid of emotion.
"You killed him then," she says. Her eyes survey the occupants of the room, "Who? Which one of you? How?"
-
<Go ahead, why don't you tell her,> Tara sneers. <Tell her how you killed him, and in cold blood.>
Myitt just stares at Tamora, blinking. She's shaking again, from sheer overwhelming emotion--her host's anger, her own conflicted pain.
"I'm so sorry, Tamora," she says finally.
<Tell her you had to, it was the only choice to make him die screaming,> Tara says conversationally.
Myitt balls her hands into fists. "I..."
Tara suddenly, ruthlessly seizes control. "She starved him, isn't that--" Myitt turns away from Tamora, gripping the edge of one of the hydraulic cabinets, clamping down on everything inside her confused body.
<I didn't need your assistance!> Myitt says angrily.
<Oh, well, glad that I'm only here when you need me, which is, what, all of the rest of the time?> Tara mocks.
-
"You..." Tamora's voice trails off, her gaze becoming unfocused as she tries to wrap her brain around this new information. After almost a full minute of silence she seems to sigh slightly, caving in upon herself. She blinks slowly, once, twice, forcing herself to focus upon Myitt's backside. When she speaks again her voice contains none of the hysteria or pain that it perhaps should; it is flat and emotionless.
"How tightly does my sister have you wrapped around her fingers then? You are a Yeerk, clearly you did not enter into this mission simply on the basis of possibly freeing an Andalite."
-
Myitt looks back at Tamora, surprised that she's not wailing or calling for her, Myitt's, blood.
"No, of course not," says Myitt, still puzzled. "I am here because of this creature's former threat to the stability of our universe, if you can believe that." She nods at Sukohn. "As for your sister, I could care less what she did with her Andalite host, especially since the host is voluntary. Zorish was...an unfortunate casualty."
<And one less sub-visser out of the way,> Tara remarks.
Myitt stalls for a second before continuing, "He knew things that were vital to the survival of my friends, and probably to the survival of your planet."
<So you killed him, in the worst way,> Tara adds.
<Shut up, will you please?> Myitt yells, and her eye twitches. She looks away from Tamora.
-
"Ah," Tamora says with that same eerie flatness. She closes her eyes, staring at the inside of her eyelids while willing her muscles to relax. Her skin is chalky white, and the goose bumps have returned, but she is not convulsing and does not appear to be on the verge of a breakdown.
"I would like to be alone now," she says after a moment, not bothering to open her eyes.
-
Myitt looks back up at Tamora, troubled. She motions for Claxter and Alic to follow her, and she leaves the room.
<Wow, you've caused her to have a mental breakdown,> Tara says. <Good job.>
<Please, will you understand that I did this for you and our friends?> Myitt says, exhausted. <Don't you turn against me, too.>
Myitt watches Ossanlin manipulate the ship, though out the transparent wall there is still nothing but z-space. She thinks again about Corliss and wonders how he's doing, whether he'll misjudge her, too.
Tired and feeling very much alone, Myitt sits down on the floor against the wall across from the tupperware pool, and rests her head in her palms.
-
Tamora wanted to be alone. Claxter went over and nudged Derrel to wake him up. As his eyes focused on Claxter, he visibly flinched at their closeness.
<Hey. Would you mind coming with me?>
"Okay...?"
They left the room. Sukohn was still in there, but he had been quiet for some time and wasn't likely to do much.
Derrel rubbed his eyes and stretched after he entered the other room. Something wrong seemed to have happened, but he didn't know what.
-
Tamora's eyes remain closed as she listens to the shuffling and clopping sounds that indicate several humans and at least one Andalite removing themselves from the room. She does not bother to check if they have all left. It does not matter. She has already forgotten them.
"Zorish," she whispers aloud, as though he could hear her. Silent tears begin falling down her face, but her voice does not quaver, "Tell me what to do. Help me, I need your brains now. I need you to get me through this. I need you to get me through seeing her again."
-
<Now you refuse to acknowledge me?> Myitt asks Tara haughtily.
<Try some of your own medicine, Yeerk,> Tara shoots back.
<You know I didn't mean that,> insists Myitt. But Tara doesn't answer, she only thinks dark and angry thoughts, and Myitt hides her face in her hands.
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((Just curious, but are we going to continue the storyline in this thread since there's still Sukohn to contend with or wait for that to pan out once we're back at the bar?))
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((I vote for dealing with Sukohn at the bar, since we're almost there, and there ain't no way Myitt's doing something like that again >.<))
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(I was thinking Sukohn would make it to the bar at least. I kind of have intentions for him there, but I've found things don't always go in the direction I think they will.)
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((That's totally fine by me. :) I'm antsy to get back to the bar soon anyways.))
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((Well, we can enter regular space anytime you guys want, but I'd like an update on what state the regular GESB and the space around it is in. I've not been keeping up with it at all, but maybe one of those of you with chars still within the GESB could tell me what's going on? I'd appreciate it...I don't want to read through the last 50 pages of it. :p ))
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(Most everyone is in the bar mingling, except Terenia is in her ship sulking because Corliss found out Terenia sent the message to V3 to attack your ship. however Corliss hasn't told anyone(like Temrash) yet, so only he and Terenia(and Efaen) know. One of Parker's characters, The director is a Time Lord with a ship that no one can enter unless he gives them permission is trying to help Terenia.)
(Like I said, most everyone is at the bar, Mythica_Vampiress has a new character called Keiko, and I think you're familiar with the other characters. Oh, and Fletcher turned out to be a former informant for Gaz's enemies, so he's having a rough patch with Gaz and Morgan.)
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((Aluminator also has some new characters that were introduced, but they're also mingling within the bar. Their names are Al and Salem. Actually, for once, I think every single character is inside the bar, with the exception of Terenia who is locked on her ship.
Space should be clear. There was a Yeerk attack a bit ago, but they've gone off now.))
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Yeah, Aluminator's characters too. Nothing hostile is going on, so we can land whenever.
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((Sorry to butt in. The Director has entered Terenia's ship. Other than that, yeah everyone else is in the bar.))
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I posted that he was outside the ship when he was still outside. But whatever.
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((So...consensus to enter real-space then?))
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((Aye, Cap'n! *salutes*))
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:p
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((Yay we're landing yayy! Oh wait, this was the even more depressing situation...))
Myitt looks up at Ossanlin as he manipulates the controls. Her eyes are still red and she looks worn out.
"If you are still acknowledging my presence," she says to him, "might I ask when we're exiting this endless sea of marshmallow Fluff?" She smiles hopefully, even though her friend's mistrust of her still pains her. What she has done to Zorish still pains her.
-
Tamora has fallen silent. Her eyes are still closed, but she is not sleeping. Her lips are moving rapidly, but no sound is being expelled.
-
Ossanlin regards Myitt with a stalk-eye, not turning to acknowledge her. <Very soon.> A simple two-word answer, the information Myitt asked for...nothing more and nothing less.
Ossanlin takes the auto-nav offline and strengthens the forward buffers in preparation for the return to real-space. He ignites the forward-mounted destabilizer, ripping a hole in the fabric of real-space. He adjusts the grav-field around the ship and powers down the z-space engines, the loss of the grav-field expelling the Mirage through the z-space rift into the blackness of real-space, everyone on the ship would detect a slight shift in inertia. As the ship exits z-space, Ossanlin powers the main real-space thrusters towards the small planetoid in front of them.
((And thusly ends the thread. I will now post a re-intro in the regular space-bar.))