Richard's Animorphs Forum
Animorphs Section => Animorphs Role Playing => Topic started by: BaronConall on December 11, 2010, 06:13:31 PM
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Ok, this is basically the Animorphs Reborn RPG that I volunteered to GM. I changed the title and storyline since it wasn't my creation to take over. Here's the basics:
I feel I should tell you all, if I do take this on, I may be inclined to incorporate a D20 system in order to guide plot and determne success of planned attacks and inentions (such apps can be found for iTouch or iPhone or even online if no-one has any 4,6,8,10,12 or 20 sided dice).
I won't be going nuts with the D20 system (no one will have to create character sheets, everyone basically has the same level of strength and health which would only differ with the morph you're in). I will also allow people to choose whether they are Human, Andalite, Hork-Bajir or Leeran and the only real things I'd ask people to roll for is Willpower and Luck.
Willpower will tie directly into how quickly you can morph and aquire and Luck in battle is self-explanatory.
I will also allow for more characters with a maximum of 8 players. (Not including me)
Also, please keep in mind that I have never GM'd before, so you may need to bear with me in some areas.
Other than that, if you have an interest in playing, we'll restart the character applications from scratch and I also ask that you send me a message to express interest.
New Character Creation will look as such: (Note that there will be no morphs listed until you actually aquire them, so all morph fields will stay blank in the interest of Role Playing)
Name:
Age:
Gender:
Appearance:
Practice/1st Morph:
Battle Morph:
Flight Morph:
Aquatic Morph:
Species:
Willpower:
Luck:
Andalites will have a +2 racial bonus to Willpower.
Hork-Bajir will have the racial bonus "Help of the Ellimist" resulting in a +2 Luck modifier.
Leerans will have the racial bonus "I'm in your head", resulting in a +4 Luck modifier but can be injured easier in their Leeran form. All Leerans lose this bonus while in morph.
Humans have no bonuses.
Luck and Willpower start at a base of 5 and can be no lower. To establish Luck and Willpower, a D10 is rolled and the number rolled is then added to the base number for a maximum of 15. The highest possible Luck/Willpower is 20, with the additional 5 points being added through racial bonuses or in-game situations. (eg. The highest possible starting Luck a Leeran can start with is 19 but will immediately drop to 15 while in morph. The highest starting Willpower for an Andalite is 17, etc, etc).
Beginning plot device will be added shortly.
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wait what is a D20?
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WARNING: THIS PLOT CONTAINS SPOILERS TO THE ***ACTUAL*** ANIMORPHS SERIES!!!
Year Setting: 2072
Planet: Earth
Background: In the +70 years since the Yeerk-Andalite war and the Animorphs Liberation of Earth, public knowledge and acknowledgment of the war is on the same level as World War II during the early 2000's, something to be taught in history classes to students and acknowledged on Rememberance Day Celebrations.
The surviving Animorphs disappeared without a trace in early 2010, save for Cassie, who has since passed on due to old age, with the only memorials of their efforts being in the form of statues and the memorial site of their bombing of the Yeerk Pool.
Human civilization has taken to the stars, establishing colonies throughout their own solar system and select others, having established a strong foothold in the fields on extra-planetary Colonization and Galactic Communications. The Yeerks who did not willingly become nothlits have established a symbiotic race similar to the Iskoort, utilizing recovered Arn genetic-technology from the Hork-Bajir homeworld, becoming the foremost race in the field of genetic sciences.
The Hork-Bajir have long since liberated their homeworld and have an established society and state on Earth within Yellowstone Park and are the main authority on all things agricultural, having established a respected agricultural schooling system never known to the Hork-Bajir people in their history.
Leera has become recognized as center of galactic negotiations is much the same was as the U.N and Geneva during the days of Isolated Earth and morphing has become an even higher regulated technology, with less and less need for Galactic Espionage, save for some un-savoury Corporate elements on Earth.
Andalites have become recognized as the Galactic Superpower n this half of the galaxy with Earth having become one of their most trusted allies.
The Taxxon are now a true race of serpentine nothlits, their entire race having become utilized the frolis maneuver and Yeerk genetic technology to combine their Taxxon DNA with that of earth's snakes as a means of retaining their Taxxon appendages whilst removing their cannibalistic hunger, having become a content and peaceful race and the authority on galactic mining.
Half of the galaxy has been experiencing an era of peace long overdue, whilst the other half of the galaxy, commonly referred to as Kelbrid Space, remains shrouded in darkness and mystery.
Unbeknownst to one group, they are about to be hurled into a galaxy of exploration, danger and what has been unthinkable for nearly a decade: War.
Post Merged: December 11, 2010, 06:52:36 PM
wait what is a D20?
Similar to Dungeons & Dragons and other die based Roleplaying Games
Post Merged: December 11, 2010, 11:49:52 PM
I figured I'd outline some basic rules too. Basically, 3 strikes and you're out.
1) Be aware of your character. <Remember to use thought-speak if Andalite, Leeran or in morph.> "Also make sure to use quotation marks when talking as an applicable species with a mouth."
2) I am not a grammar nazi, but grammar is still important. The easier it is to read a sentence, the more immersive the game.
3) Try to post at least once per day. Once every two days at the very worst. If you will be unable to post for an extended time due to vacation, work, emergency or otherwise, please send me a message so I can explain your absence in-game.
4) No God-modding. While I will remain present and on the ball throughout this RPG, do not try to get away with things like "Flew across the room and decapitated Crayak with my tail-blade, somehow gaining his power!" This is common sense, but it still needs to be said.
5) Think before you act. While it may seem like that hostile Hork-Bajir is on his own, one slip could bring a host of Blue Bands down upon you. There is always the chance that you are one bad roll from character death, so treat your characters life as you do your own.
6) Write (and stick to) a brief biography on your character. Be mindful of how being able to morph would affect them and try to express that as best you can. If your character is shy, they may gain more confidence, even if it's just enough to ask someone out.
7) If you need to swear, keep it in context and to an absolute minimum. And nothing ridiculously offensive. The GM is always reading what you write. Better yet, try to make it so you swear in Galard.
8] Romance is always a possibility. Erotica is not.
9) Most importantly, have as much fun playing these new Animorphs as you did reading about the Originals.
10) NO META-GAMING
These rules are subject to modification and updating as required. You are responsible for you character and what they say/what you write.
Break these rules and your characters doors and windows will somehow all turn into Gleet Bio-Filters.
LIST OF CHARACTERS:
Played by BaronConall
Name: Lee
Age: 21
Gender: Male
Appearance: 5' 7", slender build, caucasian, hazel eyes, brown hair, full beard.
Practice/1st Morph: Leeran (http://animorphs.wikia.com/wiki/Leeran)
Battle Morph:
Flight Morph:
Aquatic Morph: Leeran (http://animorphs.wikia.com/wiki/Leeran)
Species: Leeran
Willpower: 12 (Panic-mode morph in just under a minute and a half)
Luck: 17 (distrubingly Lucky)
Bio: Lee is an unpaid intern at one of the largest earth-based communication companies, GT&T (Galactic Telephone & Telegraph), working directly under company CEO, Tiberius Marx.
This in itself is strange, as Tiberius Marx is a man who refuses the assistance of a secretary, with Lee handling all associated affairs for the CEO. Lee is rarely seen away from the side of Tiberius and there is a long standing rumor that it was with Lee's assistance that Tiberius was able to become CEO of GT&T 5 years ago. An impossibility if you consider Lee would have barely been 16 years old at that time.
Lee tends to be soft spoken, but seems to carry great weight with his words when he does choose to talk.
Played by gorillaman16
Name: Shaun
Age: 17
Gender: Male
Appearance: 5'7" Blue eyes, dirty blonde hair, clean shaved, handsome but not the best looking guy out there
Practice/1st Morph: Silverback Gorilla (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gorilla)
Battle Morph: Silverback Gorilla (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gorilla)
Flight Morph:
Aquatic Morph:
Species: Human
Willpower: 14 (This means that, in full panic (ie. "MORPH, DAMMIT!!!") mode, Shaun can completely morph in just over a minute, as opposed to 2 minutes. Could almost be considered an Estreen.
Luck: 7 (Slightly above average)
Bio: Shaun's parents divorced when he was young. He doesn't see much of his dad anymore his mother is a hardworking woman who is never really home.
He is and average student and receives ok grades who is currently a junior just wanting to make new friends. One of his favorite thing to do is to help work with animals when he gets the chance. He has his license and can drive in his new car. He will step up as a leader of a group if necessary but would rather be second in command. Shaun is courageous and thinks of others before himself so he would risk himself instead of his friends.
Played by Cobra
Name: Chris Larson
Age: 14
Gender: Male
Appearance: 5' 10", Solid build (slightly overweight), Gray-Green eyes, tries to be funny some times, is serious others. Usually has a neutral expression on his face.
Practice/1st Morph: Asiatic Lion (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asiatic_Lion)
Battle Morph: Asiatic Lion (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asiatic_Lion)
Flight Morph:
Aquatic Morph:
Species: Human
Willpower: 9 (A panic-morph time of a minute and a half)
Luck: 14 (Constantly finding money in the street)
Bio: Chris is a mostly average Freshman in highschool. He has two parents, a younger sister, a dog, a rat, and some fish. He plays football and is working out because of that. One of his favorite subjects in school is the Yeerk war. He has a greater than average knowledge of the events of the war. He wishes he could do something heroic like the Animorphs did.
Played by SantaBear
Name: Marty Wells
Age: 19
Gender: Male
Appearance: He's short compared to most of his peers, has dark brown – almost black – hair, lots of freckles on his cheeks and nose, and an average-ish build. He's into track, but he's not very good at it (he's never won a competition race, and didn't even make the team his senior year). Clean-shaven, hazel eyes, and is always wearing a smile.
Practice/1st Morph: Grey Wolf (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grey_Wolf)
Battle Morph: Grey Wolf (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grey_Wolf)
Flight Morph:
Aquatic Morph:
Species: Human
Willpower: 7 (Panic-Mode morph in a minute-forty)
Luck: 8 (Occasionally hears his favourite song on the radio)
Bio: Marty has the average family: a mom, a dad, a younger sister, and three dogs. They lived in the suburbs near (whatever town/city this is going to take place in/near), but now he attends a local university, in pursuit of a Bachelor's degree in Advanced Computer Engineering. Marty has always been fascinated by science and technology, especially the flood of new tech that's constantly coming in from Intergalactic trade and commerce, and he has a knack for understanding it. He makes friends wherever he goes, and never forgets the names of anyone he meets.
Played by Estelore
Name: Arhareli-Winwall-Ajaht (pronounce it AR-uh-RELL-ee; Reli as a short form)
Age: Equivalent to human 20 years
Gender: Female
Appearance: She is a tall, lean-figured Andalite female with a musculature that could be compared to the Akhal-Teke horses of Earth. Her fur is a dark indigo shot with green undertones; her eyes are amber. She has a long tail with the short triangular blade typical of female Andalites.
Practice/1st Morph: Kafit Bird
Battle Morph: Bengal Tiger (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bengal_Tiger)
Flight Morph:
Aquatic Morph:
Species: Andalite
Willpower: 9 (Panic-mode morph in just over a minute and a half)
Luck:13 (Wins most of tail-fights)
Bio: Granddaughter of exhibition tail-fighter Ajaht-Litsom-Esth, Arhareli was raised to be proficient at tail-fighting and with the use of a handheld Shredder weapon. She is a gifted marksman, and her tail-fighting abilities are on par with male Andalite soldiers, and she certainly surpasses the skills of civilian Andalites at tail-fighting. However, she only possesses one morph, the Kafit Bird, and while she is able as an Andalite to morph somewhat faster than a human of the same amount of experience and under the same stressors, she is not particularly skilled at morphing in an absolute sense. That being said, she heavily prefers to use her tail and ranged weapons, and would only morph as a matter of concealment, survival, or logistics.
Arhareli subscribes to the Andalites' primary nature-and-science-based religion; she frowns on public displays of emotion, and prizes logic and precision of thought. However, she is not above emotion, and she is hardly fearless; in times of fear she reverts to her training and beliefs to suppress the temptation to panic.
She finds Hork-Bajir to be fascinating and an "ideal" species in terms of their symbiosis with any environment in which they live. She values human artistic creations, but she looks down on their technology and the manner in which they have historically treated their planet and other species on Earth.
She does not leave home without her Shredder, and on the same utility belt she keeps a very small portable Escafil Device.
Played by Ghost of Christmas Present
Name: Jim Thompson
Age: 17
Gender: Male
Appearance: Tall and lean, with dark hair and eyes. He's not particularly athletic.
Practice/1st Morph: Polar Bear (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polar_Bear)
Battle Morph: Polar Bear (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polar_Bear)
Flight Morph:
Aquatic Morph:
Species: Human
Willpower: 10 (Panic-mode morph in a minute and a half)
Luck: 13 (Never missed the bus. Ever.)
Bio: Jim lives with his parents and two younger brothers in (whatever city this RP is set in). He is quiet and reserved, but has a bold and even aggressive streak that tends to show up at unexpected moments.
He enjoys and does well with technology, and plans to attend college for a technology degree.
Played by Gumby
Name: Jonathan Fisher ::NOT MORPH-CAPABLE BY HIS OWN CHOICE::
Rank: Corporal
Age: Twenty one
Gender: Male
Appearance: Tall, stocky and solid frame. He has tanned skin with military length light brown hair. He has few visible wounds, just a few small scars with the exception of a large blotch-like portion of scar tissue on his back, a reminder of a close encounter with a dracon beam fired by a smuggler
Primary Weapon: HK66 9mm Assault Rifle
Sidearm: TR9 .44 automatic pistol
Species: Human
Willpower: 9 (Panic-Mode morph in just over a minute and a half)
Luck: 8 (Doesn't believe in Luck)
Bio: His child hood was an interesting one. He had nearly gotten himself expelled after he started hunting down school yard bullies and beating them to a pulp. He was an avid hunter, and got a firearms license at the age of twelve, and bought his first gun at fourteen, though it was actually his uncle getting him the gun because he was under aged and Jonathan paying his uncle.
His father served in the Marines which inspired Fisher to do likewise. He enlisted when he was sixteen, lying about his age to get in. He was found out, and kicked out until he was old enough. Getting back in when he was eighteen he passed the physical and proved to be excellent leading a small fireteam. He was soon transferred out on a long range frigate patrol and later stationed on a small colony world where he is today.
Fireteam Zulu: (Soldiers under Fisher's command)
Private First Class Carl Baxter, riflemen: A heavy set man in his mid-twenties with a bull-dog like body and attitude, he’s always ready to do whatever they to do. A born scrapper, he’s spent time in the cooler for boxing down enlisted men before.
Private First Class Mason Johan, riflemen: A rather thin, reedy looking man, Johan looks like a gust of wind will blow him away. But beneath the weak looking frame, he’s actually quite strong. An ex-basketball player from high school he is rather tall and can reach what others cannot.
Private First Class Joseph Ben-David, CQB: A big boxy man in his twenties, Ben-David was born on Earth in the country of Israel. He spent much of his childhood hunting, becoming quite adept with weaponry before many his age.
Played by Horesefan/Seal
Name: Mesa-Teern, Mesa for short
Age: The equivalent of 16 human years
Gender: Female
Appearance: "Normal" Leeran, yellow, frog-like creature with four tentacles, large green eyes, and a rounded head. What makes her different from other Leerans is a pattern of light brown speckles down her back.
Practice/1st Morph: Indian Leopard (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_leopard)
Battle Morph: Indian Leopard (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_leopard)
Flight Morph:
Aquatic Morph: None (Leerans are amphibians)
Species: Leeran
Willpower: 11 (Panic-Mode morph in under a minute and a half)
Luck: 16 (Needs to visit Vegas)
Bio: Mesa was always a curious Leeran. She was born, strangely, alone on one of the few islands on Leera, where the Leerans laid their eggs. She was born all alone, which made her naturally curious about the world. She eventually got to civilization and learned all of the Leeran customs, but she still wanted to know more. Eventually, she managed to get to Earth, an intergalactic hub. It was also rumored that there were millions of species already on Earth without the visitors! However, once she got there, most people avoided her due to the whole mind-reading thing--and got freaked out by how she looked--so Mesa left the city she was wandering around, lost and confused on. She got to a secluded little place for her to live. She now lives in a large pond in a forest. There's a river leading to the ocean, so she can get there whenever she wants to swim around someplace bigger. And it was within range of some humans, so she could hear their thoughts and learn more about them.
Mesa is rather reckless due to her curiosity--she can't help investigating something if it isn't something she knows about. However, if something scares her, she usually gets out of there quick. She speaks with the usual stilted form of English for Leerans, and shares the same secrecy, though she isn't aware of it.
Played by Terenia
Name: Reyna Jackson
Age: 19 Earth years
Gender: Female
Appearance: Reyna is absolutely average in appearance. She is about 5'5" tall, with dirty blonde hair that falls to her shoulders in no particular style. Her eyes are brown and her skin standard caucasian. She is neither an eyesore nor anything special to look at.
Practice/1st Morph: Arctic Wolf (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arctic_Wolf)
Battle Morph: Arctic Wolf (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arctic_Wolf)
Flight Morph:
Aquatic Morph:
Species: Human
Willpower: 15 (Panic-mode morph in a minute-fifteen)
Luck: 11 (Passes exams she hasn't really studied for)
Bio: Reyna has a rather interesting history. Her great-grandparents, both now deceased, were participants in the original Yeerk war on Earth. They were Imperial Yeerks who, after given no other options, chose to become nothlits. As human nothlits they procreated, giving birth to Reyna's grandfather who in turn fathered her mother. Reyna's grandparents were staunch believers in upholding Yeerk traditions, viewing the Yedd race as traitors to their kind and the other nothlits (most of whom are now deceased) as victims of mass genocide.
As a result of being raised in this culture, Reyna comes off as a bit awkward. She was home-schooled through middle and high school and while her parents are not as extremist as her grandparents they still believe in upholding certain traditions, such as fasting every three days in remembrance of their past dependence on Kandrona. Through the stories that Reyna's grandparents and great-grandparents would tell in her youth, Reyna developed a keen interest in history. She is currently attending community college, with the intent of going on to a university for a degree in Earth and Extraterrestrial History, with an emphasis on the Yeerk/Andalite War.
Played by Scinalo
Name: Kage
Age: 20
Gender: Male
Appearance: 5' 11", 2 horns(Deformation)
Practice/1st Morph: Northwestern Gray Wolf (http://www.wolfquest.org/wolf_nwgray.php)
Battle Morph: Northwestern Gray Wolf (http://www.wolfquest.org/wolf_nwgray.php)
Flight Morph:
Aquatic Morph:
Species: Hork-Bajir
Willpower: 15 (Panic-Mode morph in a minute-fifteen)
Luck: 9 (rarely has a blade-accident)
Bio: Kage is a Seer from the Hork-Bajir homeworld who recently stumbled upon neglected Arn genetic technology. As a Seer on the homeworld, he saw it as the key to restoring his planet and boosting the intelligence of his people so that, one day, all Hork-Bajir may be Seers.
Unfortunately, while trying to understand the tech, Kage accidentally become exposed to a poorly constructed genetic sample, stunting the growth of one horn, but also increasing his Hork-Bajir eyesight (which is usually worse than a humans) as well as his adrenal system, meaning he can push yourself harder for longer when in full panic/adrenaline mode. The problem with this is that he feels heavily drained once the adrenaline boost wears off.
At the invitation of Tiberi, Kage finds himself at GT&T. In return for his help, Kage has been offered payment in the form of training and an understanding of the genetic technology to help Kage return his homeworld into a lush, jungle world, and also unlock the true cognitive potential of the Hork-Bajir people.
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ok this sounds like fun even though i dont completely understand
Name:Shaun
Age:17
Gender:male
Appearance:5foot 7 blue eyes dirty blonde hair shaved handsome but not the best looking guy out there
Practice/1st Morph:
Battle Morph:
Flight Morph:
Aquatic Morph:
Species:human
Willpower:
Luck:
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Okie dokie :)
I can help you with a random roll to figure out your Willpower and Luck :)
*rolls* 0.o Wow... Okay, 9, so your Willpower 14. That's a really good roll 0.o
*rolls* Huh. Guess it balances out. A roll of 2 for a total of 7 Luck, so you have slightly above average luck. I'll add all this to a list of current characters. Were you wanting to add a history/biography for Shaun?
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I may join. I'm not sure.
Name: Chris Larson
Age: 14
Gender: Male
Appearance: 5' 10", Solidly built (slightly overweight), Gray-Green eyes, tries to be funny some times, is serious others. Usually has a neutral expression on his face.
Practice/1st Morph:
Battle Morph:
Flight Morph:
Aquatic Morph:
Species: Human
Willpower:
Luck:
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I'll add you to the list and we can see how much you like it :)
*rolls* A 4, so a willpower of 9
*rolls* Good lord... 9, so a Luck of 14
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um yeah ill do a biography
Shauns parents split up when he was little and doesnt see his dad much anymore his mom is a hardworking lady and is never really home.His schoolwork is ok and he gets ok grades hes a junior and really just wants to make new friends. His favorite thing to do is to help work with animals when he gets the chance. He has his license and can drive in his new car. He will step up as a leader of a group if necessary but would rather be second in command. he is courageous and thinks of others before himself so he would risk himself instead of his friends.
Post Merged: December 12, 2010, 01:35:33 AM
do i need a certain type of die for this?
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Only a 10 sided die for the initial Willpower/Luck stuff, after that, no.
I can take care of the rest on this side of the RPG as the GM :)
Basically, you write what you intend to do.
eg. I look to Chris and scream to him <GET DOWN!!!>
I take off running toward the Hork-Bajir, claws extended and fangs bared.
At the last minute, I leap for it's throat.
NOW, what *I* would then do on my end is roll a 20 sided die, take into consideration how lucky you are, and then respond as such.
(If the Hork-Bajir rolls a 4 for Luck and you roll a 20 [the best you can get])
The Hork-Bajir slashes at your throat with his wrist blade, but swings too early, his blade singing over your head as you lunge, throwing him off balance.
The full weight off your Tiger morph knocks him to the ground, your jaws around his throat.
From there, it's your turn to respond again. Do you kill him? Do you hold him there so you can question him? At that point, he's at your mercy, which means I won't need to roll for Luck again. That doesn't mean he'll be very forthcoming with his information, though :P
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ok so i only need a 10 sided die to determine my willpower and luck?
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Yep. I already made a random roll for you, but if you want to re-roll it for yourself, you can :)
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no im ok with what i have and what do i use the 10 sided die for during the game
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I really like the idea behind this RP, particularly the part about the dice roll deciding the outcome. (I've never played Dungeons and Dragons or anything of that sort....) That format of RP'ing is new to me, and I'd love to give it a shot, or at least watch as you guys do it. The only problem is that I'm already in four other RP's and I'm playing in the new round of Animafia, so I'm pretty busy. If I play, I'd be able to post at least once a day for sure, generally speaking. I'm really tempted to be something other than human, since I'm always human (go figure), but I/we would have to find a smart way for me to interact with everyone else early on in the game. Lemme think about it for a little while, and I'll make a decision by tomorrow or Monday at the latest (how soon are you starting?).
And btw, I found one of those online dice rollers for y'all. [spoiler]http://www.bgfl.org/bgfl/custom/resources_ftp/client_ftp/ks1/maths/dice/[/spoiler] It does 6 to 12 sided dice.
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thanks
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No problem, Santa (that sounds... Different)
There's always the possibility of you playing an intel gathering character whos off gathering info, or something like that.
Gorilla, you can use the 10 sided die to help with decision making. Think of 1 as 10%, 2 as 20%, etc, all the way up to 100%. It's like flipping a coin.
"Should I lunge at his throat?" *rolls* "A six. Sixty percent chance that this is a good idea, forty percent that I have a death wish. I'll take those odds."
Of course, you don't *have* to do this, it just gives you the option.
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ok thats sounds sweet
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Bio: Chris is a mostly average Freshman in highschool. He has two parents, a younger sister, a dog, a rat, and some fish. He plays football and is working out because of that. One of his favorite subjects in school is the Yeerk war. He has a greater than average knowledge of the events of the war. He wishes he could do something heroic like the Animorphs did.
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Awesome, we'll probably start once we have about 3 more characters. Any more after that and we'll see if we can work them in.
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Played by Bear (aka, Santa Bear)
Name: Marty Wells
Age: 19
Gender: Male
Appearance: He's short compared to most of his peers, has dark brown – almost black – hair, lots of freckles on his cheeks and nose, and an average-ish build. He's into track, but he's not very good at it (he's never won a competition race, and didn't even make the team his senior year). Clean-shaven, hazel eyes, and is always wearing a smile.
Practice/1st Morph:
Battle Morph:
Flight Morph:
Aquatic Morph:
Species: Human
Willpower: 7
Luck: 8
(I used the online dice roller, but you can re-roll for me if you want... I really don't care either way.)
Bio: Marty has the average family: a mom, a dad, a younger sister, and three dogs. They lived in the suburbs near (whatever town/city this is going to take place in/near), but now he attends a local university, in pursuit of a Bachelor's degree in Advanced Computer Engineering. Marty has always been fascinated by science and technology, especially the flood of new tech that's constantly coming in from Intergalactic trade and commerce, and he has a knack for understanding it. He makes friends wherever he goes, and never forgets the names of anyone he meets.
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Ok Prince Warren. ;D
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Ok Prince Warren. ;D
NO! Not in this thread! I get enough of that already. If I end up being a leader here, then fine, call me 'prince'. But as of right now, I ban you from calling me prince.
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This isn't the banning thread you can't ban me private Warren.
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Oh, and btw, call me Bear. There is such a thing as being banned from something outside of that thread. You aren't 'banned' banned, just not permitted to do something.
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Fine! I'm just bored and so I'm acting squirrely.
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Excellent! 3 down, 2 to go :)
Post Merged: December 13, 2010, 09:38:01 AM
Also, make sure to keep an eye on your "My Messages" inbox. It's a great way for you to ask me in-game questions, such as "Do I recognise this alien?" without breaking flow or giving too much a way, at which point I may ask you to roll a D10 to see the likely-hood of you knowing something.
Post Merged: December 13, 2010, 11:52:51 PM
Additional:
If you know anyone who you think would like in on this, feel free to invite them or send people this way.
The sooner we're up to the number of characters we need, the sooner we can start :)
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I wouldn't mind joining up. :)
Quick question: Can another species be morph-capable? I was thinking of being a Leeran to add some variety, but that would exclude me from most of the RP if I couldn't morph.
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Bear sent me an invite to this rp. I'm fairly busy with the GESB and the Camp Half-Blood rp that I'm GMing, but this has me intrigued. It's been a very long time since I used a dice system, and never with an Animorphs sort of plot. So long as you guys can handle me only posting once a day or so, I'm in.
Baron, I may PM you a couple of questions before I create a character.
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I'm not sure but I believe that no one is morph capable except andalites to begin with.
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I meant can others acquire the morphing power, Cobra. With the cube.
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I assume so. Baron?
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Having been invited to the thread, I find I am interested in joining. For the beginning luck and willpower values for my character, I request that the GM roll on my behalf, thereby removing any personal bias I could possibly include in my profile. :)
We have an abundance of human characters, so if nobody has objections, I wish to play an Andalite for this game.
Played by Estelore
Name: Arhareli-Winwall-Ajaht (pronounce it AR-uh-RELL-ee; Reli as a short form)
Age: Equivalent to human 20 years
Gender: Female
Appearance: She is a tall, lean-figured Andalite female with a musculature that could be compared to the Akhal-Teke horses of Earth. Her fur is a dark indigo shot with green undertones; her eyes are amber. She has a long tail with the short triangular blade typical of female Andalites.
Practice/1st Morph: Kafit Bird
Battle Morph:
Flight Morph:
Aquatic Morph:
Species: Andalite
Willpower:
Luck:
Bio: Granddaughter of exhibition tail-fighter Ajaht-Litsom-Esth, Arhareli was raised to be proficient at tail-fighting and with the use of a handheld Shredder weapon. She is a gifted marksman, and her tail-fighting abilities are on par with male Andalite soldiers, and she certainly surpasses the skills of civilian Andalites at tail-fighting. However, she only possesses one morph, the Kafit Bird, and while she is able as an Andalite to morph somewhat faster than a human of the same amount of experience and under the same stressors, she is not particularly skilled at morphing in an absolute sense. That being said, she heavily prefers to use her tail and ranged weapons, and would only morph as a matter of concealment, survival, or logistics.
Arhareli subscribes to the Andalites' primary nature-and-science-based religion; she frowns on public displays of emotion, and prizes logic and precision of thought. However, she is not above emotion, and she is hardly fearless; in times of fear she reverts to her training and beliefs to suppress the temptation to panic.
She finds Hork-Bajir to be fascinating and an "ideal" species in terms of their symbiosis with any environment in which they live. She values human artistic creations, but she looks down on their technology and the manner in which they have historically treated their planet and other species on Earth.
She does not leave home without her Shredder, and on the same utility belt she keeps a very small portable Escafil Device.
((I suppose it might be plot-helpful for me to keep that particular item handy. ;) ))
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Wow! Sudden 'splosion of interest! :)
Okay, I'll add the Luck and Willpower straight away, Estelore.
Terenia, that sounds fine, I'm glad to have peaked your attention :)
Quick question: Can another species be morph-capable? I was thinking of being a Leeran to add some variety, but that would exclude me from most of the RP if I couldn't morph. [/color]
Yes, other species will be morph capable. I won't be restricting to humans and Andalites. Leerans and Hork-Bajir will be allowed to morph, too.
Keep in mind that if you do RP a Leeran, you will lose all psychic abilities while in morph, which will also mean that your bonus +4 to Luck will be deducted as well, since the +4 bonus is based on your ability to read your enemies mind to know if, how and when they will attack.
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Yay! Thanks for joining Este!
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Could I RP a non-morphing human, a soldier, a marine with a gun? And who are we warring anyway?
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Also, if I may make a suggestion, Este?
With the Escafil Device being such highly guarded and regulated Andalite tech, you may also want to add in to your bio why or how your character came to be entrusted with a minturized version (that is, of course, unless you intend to explain so in-game) :)
Post Merged: December 14, 2010, 11:09:42 PM
Gumby, that's entirely possible.
And all will be revealed in-game. Including if or how certain or all characters become morph capable.
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Since I don't know what situation we will initially encounter in-game, I figured I would put that into the exposition portion(s) of my first post(s), as soon as the Escafil Device becomes plot-relevant. For instance, a character could directly ask my character how/why she has the morphing cube, and based on the scenario-of-the-moment, I could give an appropriate answer in dialogue.
Is that acceptable?
If the cube in Arhareli's possession never becomes plot-relevant, then I can simply edit it out of her bio.
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Chris will most likely ask if it is an escafil device as soon as he get a glimpse of it. He is into Yeerk war history after all.
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That sounds fine to me :)
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Sent you a PM, Baron.
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Awesome! I'm actually intensely jazzed about this game. This is the first time I've been this excited about an impending text-RPG since O.MAAS. I enjoy M.C.C.F., but it's difficult to build much momentum with only three (currently very IRL-busy) players.
Hmn... I just had a thought...
M.C.C.F. never was given a specific date or timeline. We just know it is post-ani-war.
It also has a character named Shaun.
This is throwing a lot of potential confusion into the mix, but... would anybody be interested in building either a cross-over or a continuity between the two RPGs?
I'm not saying that any character, location, timeline, or event would need to be taken strictly from the canon/timeline of the other RPG, just that "past" events from one could be referenced in the other.
*shrug* Meh, that's likely more trouble than it is worth. No worries. :)
I rather enjoy speculating, if you'd not noticed. :P
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Name: Jonathan Fisher
Rank: Corporal
Age: Twenty one
Gender: Male
Appearance: Tall, stocky and solid frame. He has tanned skin with military length light brown hair. He has few visible wounds, just a few small scars with the exception of a large blotch-like portion of scar tissue on his back, a reminder of a close encounter with a dracon beam fired by a smuggler
Primary Weapon: HK66 9mm Assault Rifle
Sidearm: TR9 .44 automatic pistol
Species: Human
Willpower: 9
Luck: 8
Bio: His child hood was an interesting one. He had nearly gotten himself expelled after he started hunting down school yard bullies and beating them to a pulp. He was an avid hunter, and got a firearms license at the age of twelve, and bought his first gun at fourteen, though it was actually his uncle getting him the gun because he was under aged and Jonathan paying his uncle.
His father served in the Marines which inspired Fisher to do likewise. He enlisted when he was sixteen, lying about his age to get in. He was found out, and kicked out until he was old enough. Getting back in when he was eighteen he passed the physical and proved to be excellent leading a small fireteam. He was soon transferred out on a long range frigate patrol and later stationed on a small colony world where he is today.
Fireteam Zulu: (Soldiers under Fisher's command)
Private First Class Carl Baxter, riflemen: A heavy set man in his mid-twenties with a bull-dog like body and attitude, he’s always ready to do whatever they to do. A born scrapper, he’s spent time in the cooler for boxing down enlisted men before.
Private First Class Mason Johan, riflemen: A rather thin, reedy looking man, Johan looks like a gust of wind will blow him away. But beneath the weak looking frame, he’s actually quite strong. An ex-basketball player from high school he is rather tall and can reach what others cannot.
Private First Class Joseph Ben-David, CQB: A big boxy man in his twenties, Ben-David was born on Earth in the country of Israel. He spent much of his childhood hunting, becoming quite adept with weaponry before many his age.
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Also, I'm adding a new rule that I only just realised I had lapsed on.
While it's obvious to most Role-Players, it isn't to others.
No meta-gaming. This means that if you're off-planet and the rest of the characters have a conversation or a situation occurs, you cannot somehow know or 'sense' these things unless you are specifically brought up to speed. If you as the player reads or learns something, you must take into consideration that your character does not know this yet, and must play so accordingly.
The only exception to this rule are those playing or morphing Leerans. And this is *only* while in your Leeran form. If anyone does RP or morph a Leeran and wants to know what a player or NPC is playing, direct you queries to me, the GM.
I will then ask the player for the information you are attempting to retrieve and send you the players (or NPC's) response by PM in the interests of Role Playing and immersion, so as to make it privvy information to share at your own volition and to lessen the chances of meta-gaming.
but... would anybody be interested in building either a cross-over or a continuity between the two RPGs?
I'm not saying that any character, location, timeline, or event would need to be taken strictly from the canon/timeline of the other RPG, just that "past" events from one could be referenced in the other.
If you're willing to PM me to bring me up to speed on the M.C.C.F plot and universe, I can see if it fits with continuity and the idea I'm hatching and can consider if it's a possiblity.
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Would anybody object to me starting an OOC thread for this RPG?
We are beginning to have quite a collection of players, and I'm in a spot of quasifree time right now; I'm wanting to make a single post listing each player's characters and NPCs, no-profiles-just-name-and-species.
Basically, it would be a quick-reference for me and anybody else participating, to keep track of who is in play.
If a character dies, I can go back to the first post of that thread and mark "died on page ___ of game thread".
I could also use that thread to make a table-of-contents style timeline of the game, listing major events and what page they occur. Since one can fairly easily foresee periods of inactivity for me starting next semester, I think it's also pretty easy to understand why I'd want to be able to keep track of the long-term movements of plot within the thread.
All in favour?
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Bear invited me to join, and this looks like a lot of fun. Sure, count me in! :)
I've been busy and will be busier shortly, but I can usually make it online at least once a day.
Name: Jim Thompson
Age: 17
Gender: Male
Appearance: Tall and lean, with dark hair and eyes. He's not particularly athletic.
Practice/1st Morph:
Battle Morph:
Flight Morph:
Aquatic Morph:
Species: Human
Willpower:
Luck:
(Please roll for me, Baron)
Bio: Jim lives with his parents and two younger brothers in (whatever city this RP is set in). He is quiet and reserved, but has a bold and even aggressive streak that tends to show up at unexpected moments.
He enjoys and does well with technology, and plans to attend college for a technology degree.
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I'm in favour of that, Este :)
Post Merged: December 15, 2010, 12:04:24 AM
Also, Gumby, what are the relations of Ben-Davie, Johan and Baxter to your character?
Post Merged: December 15, 2010, 12:21:23 AM
ADDITIONAL:
**CHARACTER APPLICATIONS ARE NOW CLOSED**
Pending Terenia's response as to whether she will be joining, no other characters will be created.
We no have seven player characters.
Depending on Terenia's response, we may have eight.
Thank you everyone for your interest and choosing to play this RP with me :)
The Ressurection will begin as soon as we have confirmation/withdrawl from Terenia :)
Also, to all those playing, I ask that you please check your PM boxes once the game commences. You **WILL** be recieving a letter that will be relevant in-game!
EDIT:
Since Twelve Seals also expressed interest (and before Terenia :P) I will be making an exception and allowing her to become a ninth player chracter, should she decide to join.
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Wow! I'm surprised how many people actually decided to join! I sent out so many invites because I was sure that I'd only get one or two "yes"s.
Yay! ;D
And about merging the M.C.C.F. plot line.... maybe that was in the semi-recent past? This story line is like seventy years after, right? And wasn't Jake training some similar counter terrorism team in the last book? Maybe the M.C.C.F could be like, ten or twenty years after #54, and this is fifty or sixty years after that. Or then again... is the story line of the M.C.C.F team common/public knowledge? Maybe it's confidential, and not in any history books.....
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MCCF is twenty years afterwards and I imagine it would be hard to hide a Howler invasion. :akanbe:
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I was tossing around a few options for it...
1) it's recent past (would require editing OP of MCCF) and common knowledge to just enough characters that they can communicate about it
2) it's extremely recent past (within the same generation or even decade); Shaun could even be the same Shaun and come into the story already morph-capable?
3) it's not recent, but it's known to the public; Shaun could be a namesake of MCCF Shaun, if he wanted.
4) it's simultaneous to this story and occurs on a non-Earth planet that was colonized under laws that are less regulatory of morph-capability than Earth. Would require some editing of that thread, but not much.
*shrug* Have at it, or don't. :)
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Or then again... is the story line of the M.C.C.F team common/public knowledge? Maybe it's confidential, and not in any history books.....
That's something I was wondering while reading up on the info sent to me.
If it was Spec-Ops/Black-Ops, which seems the most likely, it would lead to it becoming need-to-know intel, which means it could be referred to in passing as a conspiracy theory.
The only problem is, to my understanding, M.C.C.F hasn't finished yet, which means that history could clash with Ressurection's if we were to reference it via crossover.
...Unless we use the Many Worlds theory and this is a universe where the outcome was different :P
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As far as I'm concerned, the entire reason for having continuity is for after-the-fact referencing in _this_ game about the events of _that_ game; cross-over would involve events influencing both timelines.
Ulterior motive: if we say something 'happened' in an MCCF that is "past" in the Resurrection timeline, but keep it vague enough not to give away who lives/dies, etc.... then it could serve as a plot-driving-force within MCCF: we know x event MUST happen, because x event was mentioned in the "future" that is Resurrection.
This could be helpful to the players of MCCF during those times when I simply can't be online. I'd like the thread not to be left high and dry (or worse, dead...).
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Well, I'm signing off. We'll pick this up tomorrow!
'Till then, guys!
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It would be maybe about same knowledge as a secret mission ten years after WWII is now. It really depends on how the MCCF RP goes if we beat backthe Howlers soundly I would say common knowledge and if We barely do it would probably be hushed up.
Este, you are right it would help MCCF.
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Even if the MCCF team loses, we could reference it as an invasion-and-massacre, the first real postwar attempt of the alien species to create a band of guerillas, involving humans... and admittedly a failed attempt. Andalites/Hork-Bajir/Leerans in Resurrection could reference the event, if their ideology is against cooperating with humans on a military basis.
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I would still like to join, please. I have to get ready for school now, so can I make a character application later? Sorry if this delays things, I just need to go.
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Sorry, they're Fisher's charges, the fireteam he commands. Cleared that all up.
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So.... what is society like? Flying cars? Or maybe just hybrid cars? Is Human culture pretty much the same, or what are the major (and minor) changes we should know about? Other than what was in the first couple posts, of course.
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I'm assuming humans have energy weapons now right?
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Okay, first things first. My in-laws get here tomorrow for my wife's college graduation the day after and will be here until the following day, at which point there will be much partying to celebrate my Permanent Residency Status and wife graduating with honours, away from the watchful eyes of Mormon in-laws.
I *will* still be coming on tomorrow night to help start things and hopefully the night after depending on the length of family dinners and Skype chats. The only night that I may not be on is Saturday night. So I *might* be absent Saturday night. Friday and Saturday at the very most. I figured I should give everyone a heads up.
NOW: Lengthy history lesson.
The year is 2072, almost exactly 72 years since the disappearance of most of the surviving Animorphs in 2010 and 10 years since the Earth and many homeworld's mourned the passing of the last known living Animorph, Cassie, who died peacefully in her sleep.
Much has changed on Earth. Technology has continued to progress at such a rate that each new generation hardly registers any significant technological marvel to grace the market until they are in their prime and their childhood toys have become 'retro'. Earth, as always, is a Corporate hub for all things regarding to tourism, business, commerce, technology and culture. Many of the companies of the early 21st century are, surprisingly, still present today, having taken great advantage from the massive influx of knowledge and technology to their respected areas once the galactic community was opened up to them.
Apple computers has recently released the iLight 9, a personal computing device that employs both holographic and force field technology coupled with quantum storage capacity. The device itself, a small as their archaic iPod Nano, emits what Apple call a 'hard-light touch screen' that can be as small as the palm of your hand or as large as a 21" monitor, whilst storing up to 16 terabytes worth of music, documents, games, or other relevant data. The iLight 10, boasting the first ever petabyte storage capacity on a personal device is expected for release in 2074.
General Motors has similarly cashed in on galactic commerce, having established itself as a key supporter and backing company for deep-space hydrogen fuel mining expeditions, hydrogen having become the fuel-source of choice on earth. While cars are still restricted to ground travel, the latest '72 model vehicles boast the highest in safety standards, with front and side air-bags, front, side and rear shields and the latest in inertia control technology.
Architecture is similarly on the rise on earth, if you'll pardon the pun. Most structures on earth are now high-rise, including living quarters, as a means of freeing up more land space and allowing the ecosystem to recover from the last 300 years. This is not to say that human living is more compact. Most living quarters are now advertised as containing a bed, bath, lounge and garden room, a marvel of human blending of extra-planetary colonization technology and self contained environments, providing almost every home or apartment with an 'indoor backyard'.
This has also led to a maze of weaving high-rise roads and highways, anchored to the sides of these buildings and supported by the latest in anti-gravity stabilizers.
Culturally, earth is still just as vain. Galactic culture greatly influences the fashion and media industries and the latest genetic technology has given rise to a whole new market of body modification, with the latest guarantee that "90% of all genetic modifications will not become hereditary" doing little to quell popular public opinion on the matter. Forked tongues are now akin to wisdom teeth coming through, as are sixth or seventh fingers, prehensile tails, natural hair colours of every shade as well as bone-horns.
The third world still exists, albeit now at a level more akin to the early 2000's, still using fossil fuels as a means of fuel and power. It is is generally hoped that the third world will be brought up to a cultural, medical and technological synchronicity within the next 100 years.
On the Galactic side, much has also changed. Galactic tourism is booming, with much of the general Andalite public flocking to earth via Virgin and Qantas space-flight to sample the delights of taste. Earth, after assisting the Andalites in numerous missions and expeditions of negotiations and peace, has become a trusted ally of their people. It is even rumored that the new CEO of Apple is an Andalite nothlit.
The Taxxons, while those present on earth and a small number on their homeworld flocked to become snake nothlits, were divided in their decision. A faction developed between those willing to become nothlits and those who wanted to retain their homeworld, and civilization, while ridding themselves of their cursed hunger. Their answer came with the use of Yeerk genetic technology. The Yeerks went on to discover lost Arn technology on the Hork-Bajir homeworld, using the oppurtunities it opened up to them to become a ruely symbiotic race.
With this technology, the Yeerks were able to combine the DNA of the Taxxon with that of the snakes of earth, allowing their offspring to retain their intelligence as well as their Taxxon appendages, while also freeing them of their cannibalistic hunger but leaving them with their Taxxon tunneling abilities, even if they are hampered by their new found ability to become full. Because of this ability, Taxxons are the employees of choice within General Motors when it comes to deep-space mining.
The Yeerks have perhaps changed more than any other species in the galaxy. Those who did not become nothlits of other, sentient or non-sentient species have gone on to utilise Arn genetic technology to alter their very first hosts, the Gedd, as well as their own bodies.
The Yeerk homeworld is now home to a race who prefer to refer to themselves as the "Yedd".
Their Gedd hosts are now completely bipedal, no longer the hunched over Gedd of their past. Their bodies a covered in short, coarse, blue fur, their upper torso sporting two strong arms ending in slender, four long-fingered hands with opposable thumbs, while also posessing two stong legs ending in four-toed, webbed feet for traversing the muddy terrain of their homeworld as well as a prehensile tail in order to maintain balance.
The Yeerks have also heightened the senses of smell and taste within the Gedd, senses they lack in their natural forms.
On a whole, the Gedd are almost completely similar to their previously beloved Class 5 host species, Humans, in terms of upper body strength, movement speed and eyesight and hearing, with their only improvements being with smell and taste.
As a means of avoiding another Yeerk-Andalite war, the Yeerks have modified their bodies to require a certain enzyme that only modified Gedd biochemistry can provide, which seems to be toxic to almost all other species. On top of this, Gedd skin cells are now capable of converting solar energy into Kandrona radiation, making the Yeerks completely reliant on Gedd hosts, essentially making the Yedd one species.
The Hork-Bajir have similarly undergone a great deal of change. Those who liberated their homeworld have become content with re-seeding the world with lush plant life, as was their intended purpose when created by the Arn.
The Hork-Bajir that remained on earth, however, have become recognised as refugees with no birth home and have become a recognised state on earth, the Hork-Bajir state of Yellowstone.
These Hork-Bajir are a far cry from the Hork-Bajir of their homeworld. Under the guidance of their seers, the late Toby Hamee and their newest seer, Sadee Jerath, the Yellowstone Hork-Bajir have become recognised for their incredible insight on all things agricultural and have even established a agricultural schooling system recognised as one of the most prominent in the galaxy.
While it is true that Hork-Bajir, save for seers, lack the mental capacity to learn to read or write, they have long established a familiarity with "learning by doing" and an apt memory for recognising past mistakes and using what works best. In this regard, the Hork-Bajir are at a disadvantage when it comes to learning, but are in their element when it comes to remembering, with all of their history and teachings being oral and passed down through folklore to be remembered and incorporated.
Hork-Bajir schooling typically involves briefly being told what to do, the right and wrong way to do it and then immediately putting it to practice in the fields.
Admission into Hork-Bajir schooling usually involves achieving a certain level in a series of memory excercises.
The Leeran's have changed perhaps least of all, being most comfortable on their aquatic homeworld of Leera. Their people and world has become recognised as the hub of galactic politics and negotiations since, on Leera, there are no secrets. The furthest any Leerans appear to travel is to earth to assist with deep-sea expeditions and research, although most of the general public do tend to avoid a Leeran out of self-conscious fear of exposure and vulnerability.
Ironically, however, not much else is known about Leera or it's people, not so much because the Leerans are not forthcoming with information or have something to hide, but because they are yet unfamiliar with the concept that there are races out there that don't know what they're thinking. The Leeran's literally expect you to be a mind-reader.
There we go. History Lesson over. More will be added as it comes to light in-game.
Post Merged: December 15, 2010, 02:45:51 PM
I'm assuming humans have energy weapons now right?
Yep. But there are still projectile based weapons, too.
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Well that answers my question......
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...Wow. That's awesome! Well done, Baron! I'm posting my character now...if you could roll for me, that'd be great. And if I need to change anything, let me know.
Name: Mesa-Teern, Mesa for short (I don't know if that's a Leeran-like name, it's kind of styled after the name of their only known god)
Age: The equivalent of 16 human years
Gender: Female
Appearance: "Normal" Leeran, yellow, frog-like creature with four tentacles, large green eyes, and a rounded head. What makes her different from other Leerans is a pattern of light brown speckles down her back.
Practice/1st Morph:
Battle Morph:
Flight Morph:
Aquatic Morph: None (Leerans are amphibians)
Species: Leeran
Willpower:
Luck:
Bio: Mesa was always a curious Leeran. She was born, strangely, alone on one of the few islands on Leera, where the Leerans laid their eggs. She was born all alone, which made her naturally curious about the world. She eventually got to civilization and learned all of the Leeran customs, but she still wanted to know more. Eventually, she managed to get to Earth, an intergalactic hub. It was also rumored that there were millions of species already on Earth without the visitors! However, once she got there, most people avoided her due to the whole mind-reading thing--and got freaked out by how she looked--so Mesa left the city she was wandering around, lost and confused on. She got to a secluded little place for her to live. She now lives in a large pond in a forest. There's a river leading to the ocean, so she can get there whenever she wants to swim around someplace bigger. And it was within range of some humans, so she could hear their thoughts and learn more about them.
Mesa is rather reckless due to her curiosity--she can't help investigating something if it isn't something she knows about. However, if something scares her, she usually gets out of there quick. She speaks with the usual stilted form of English for Leerans, and shares the same secrecy, though she isn't aware of it.
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Name: Reyna Jackson
Age: 19 Earth years
Gender: Female
Appearance: Reyna is absolutely average in appearance. She is about 5'5" tall, with dirty blonde hair that falls to her shoulders in no particular style. Her eyes are brown and her skin standard caucasian. She is neither an eyesore nor anything special to look at.
Practice/1st Morph:
Battle Morph:
Flight Morph:
Aquatic Morph:
Species: Human
Willpower:
Luck:
(roll for me, Baron? :) )
Bio: Reyna has a rather interesting history. Her great-grandparents, both now deceased, were participants in the original Yeerk war on Earth. They were Imperial Yeerks who, after given no other options, chose to become nothlits. As human nothlits they procreated, giving birth to Reyna's grandfather who in turn fathered her mother. Reyna's grandparents were staunch believers in upholding Yeerk traditions, viewing the Yedd race as traitors to their kind and the other nothlits (most of whom are now deceased) as victims of mass genocide.
As a result of being raised in this culture, Reyna comes off as a bit awkward. She was home-schooled through middle and high school and while her parents are not as extremist as her grandparents they still believe in upholding certain traditions, such as fasting every three days in remembrance of their past dependence on Kandrona. Through the stories that Reyna's grandparents and great-grandparents would tell in her youth, Reyna developed a keen interest in history. She is currently attending community college, with the intent of going on to a university for a degree in Earth and Extraterrestrial History, with an emphasis on the Yeerk/Andalite War.
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Aaaand that's a wrap, people ;D
I'll be PM'ing everyone and in-game letter and from that point on, this RPG has officially commenced!
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Question, can I write down on how Earth's military power is currently? I'll PM it to you before posting it of course.
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You find yourselves within the waiting room of the GT&T, outside the massive oak doors of the office of Tiberius Marx, CEO.
Palatial doesn't even begin to describe the waiting room. The very floor itself is a species of grass native only to the Andalite homeworld, the lights on the wall are a type of bioluminescent fauna modified and grown by Yedd geneticists, the seats themselves are even plants that have been carefully cultivated for not only the utmost in design, but also comfort.
Upon closer inspection, you even notice that the oak doors are, in fact, living oak, modified so that their root system anchors them to the wall whilst also acting as hinges.
You get the feeling that whoever Tiberius Marx is, he likes the feel of open plains and the presence of nature around him.
You also get the feeling that he has more money than he can spend. The growth, modification and maintenance of a room like this would cost close to two million Earth Dollars, under the new Unified Earth Currency and Banking System implemented in 2035.
You each hold in your hand the letter sent to you from the desk of Tiberius Marx himself with numerous questions and no answers.
For now, until you are admitted to see Tiberius Marx, you are left to talk amongst yourselves.
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((From now on, please let all OOC communications between members occur in the OOC thread. Also, for the sake of any Leeran player(s) who need mind-reading fodder, assume that any full sentences in Italics are the unspoken thoughts of other characters.))
Arhareli-Winwall-Ajaht made an effort to relax; this environment, the delicious homeworld grass beneath her hooves, and the perfect transparency of the windows should have been sufficient to ease the sting of claustrophobia and unfamiliarity that creeped down her spine and left her tail nearly twitching in anticipation. However, as gorgeously as the mysterious host had attempted to provide an atmosphere of comfort, Arhareli could not get past the fact that she was the only Andalite in a room full of humans and one Leeran, and she wasn't entirely sure why.
I remember sending back their spam mail the first time it arrived on my comm. Why did GT&T still take such efforts to bring me to Earth? And why are there so few of us, and I the only Andalite? This does not make sense. I should be home practicing for the exhibition at the end of the year, not milling around with comm techs and their lackeys.
Arhareli finally worked up what she hoped would pass as a benign and relaxed posture, and she turned to the male human nearest her.
<Hello; do you have any idea why we have been brought here? It is a mystery to me.> She made the thought-speech public and clear, turning a stalk-eye each toward two other human members of the group, inviting anybody to give her the answers she needed.
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Why am I here? I should be studying or getting ready for football. This is a pretty cool room though. And it's also pretty cool to be in the waiting room of THE Tiberius Max, CEO of GT&T!
Chris remembers responding on a whim to the comm-message they sent him. He hadn't expected to get this far into whatever job they had open.
When the Andalite addressed me I turned to answer. "I assume that it is because you applied for a job."
-
<Difficult as it may be to believe, I sent this company a very clear negative when they asked if I had any interest in being employed by them. They contacted me at an inconveniently busy time of year, and among other things, I am not currently in need of employment.>
The winnings from last year's exhibition has carried me quite comfortably through the past eight months; there is something to be said for being the premier female competitor: we get paid better than the males. I suppose I have the humans to thank for that... their tourists are always more interested in watching the females fight, since the males in combat or acting are the only ones the humans ever see on their holovision programmes.
-
"Really? How weird!" Chris exclaimed. Why would they bring her here when she didn't want the job. Was she really that well qualified?
-
<Furthermore, I do not have any particular experience in communications... that is, compared to Andalites who specialize in those areas. I- well, I am a performance artist. I engage in regulated tail-fights, as a public paid entertainment. That is nearly as far as one gets from communications, I think.>
Arhareli didn't know why she suddenly felt like disclosing that much information to a complete stranger, a human no less...
...but then again, there is a Leeran in the room; it is rather pointless to bother concealing anything about myself. One person here, at the very least, would always know it before I say it. Wouldn't you, Leeran? Do you have a name?
Arhareli didn't bother to project the thought; she automatically assumed it would be heard, but she wasn't terribly concerned about getting a real answer.
-
This is so weird being in a room with an Andalite a Leeran and other humans that i barely know.
I never applied for a job they sent me mail i opened it and was like this is weird i don't need a job, then next thing I know some guy comes and tells me to come with him and he brings me here.
-
"You're a tail-fighter? That's cool! I don't watch much holovision but I see a fight every once in a while."
-
Upon entering the room that felt more like outside than inside, Reyna had immediately chosen the seat furthest from other occupants. She watched them now as they conversed, keeping her arms crossed protectively over her chest as listened to their conversation.
Why am I here? she wonders to herself, ducking her head whenever she thinks the Andalite's stalk eyes are getting dangerously close to catching her gaze. I don't belong here at all. If my family knew where I was, and that I was within throwing distance of an Andalite I would be grounded for a year.
Reyna shifts uneasily, the comfort of the fauna chair not relaxing her as effectively as it was likely meant to.
-
The familiar complimentary reaction of the human speaking to her was finally enough to ease Arhareli's mental tension... or at least enough to knock it down maybe half a notch. She let her tail lower into an at-ease position near her legs, only belatedly realizing she had been keeping it battle-ready over her back this entire time.
Oh, Z-space take it all! Something about this whole situation has me twitchy, and I don't like it. I hope our host shows himself soon, or I may just have to walk out of here. But... at least this human is pleasant enough.
<How would you like me to address you? I am Arhareli-Winwall-Ajaht.>
-
"Im Chris!" He hesitantly reached his hand out for a hand shake.
-
Arhareli stared down at the human's hand for a moment, then extended her own hand to clasp his, giving what she hoped was an appropriately firm grip.
She avoided wincing at how much stronger the human's hand was than her own hand, but fortunately the human did not apply enough pressure to be painful.
<Well met, Chris.>
-
Jim wondered why so many people were gathered here; he had expected only a handful, not a roomful. He pretended to read through his letter again even though he practically knew it by heart, waiting for someone else to break the ice. Finally, the Andalite and one of the other humans began a conversation, and he decided to join them.
"Hey, I'm Jim. It's nice to meet you both."
So Arhareli isn't exactly a standard candidate for a tech job, either. Huh. I wonder if we're all like this, capable enough but not quite what you'd expect for a tech company to be hiring?
-
Arhareli swiveled one stalk eye toward the new speaker.
<Hello, Jim; well met you, too.>
-
Mesa was distinctly uncomfortable. Sure, she was amphibious, but she much preferred water. The message was odd. She had said nothing about getting a job. She sustained herself in her pond.
Everyone was confused. It was a little disorienting, being rather separated from thoughts for a while then thrown in a whole jumble of them. But soon she filtered through them separately. She was a little surprised when the Andalite, Reli, as she called herself for short, addressed her. They cannot read minds, she reminded herself.
I am Mesa-Teern. Call me Mesa, she said to them. Please, do not be uncomfortable, she added. I generally do not talk about what I hear in people's heads. I suppose I am used to other people knowing as well. She broke off. Let them digest that much, she decided. Not being psychic must be very difficult.
-
"Oh!" Chris looked around the room. He hadn't noticed the Leeran. "I'm Chris but I guess you Already know that."
-
Arhareli almost laughed at the human's surprise at the Leeran's presence. How strange it must be, to have only two eyes, and no significant natural weapons. Arhareli flexed the hand that had been shaken earlier, aware again of the special differences between humans and Andalites.
Actually, their hands would be very good weapons, as long as no beams, morphs, blades, or projectiles are involved....
<Hello, Mesa-Teern. It is a good thing to meet you.>
Shred it, that was not exactly the right wording for human convention. Not that it matters, but it is abnormal for me to be in the minority species in a given room. Mesa-Teern, I perceive a kindred nature with you; we are both out of our element in this place. While we are here, if you crave an ally, I will stand with you. Is this acceptable to you?
Arhareli relaxed and kept her thoughts unguarded, relieved that the other non-human in the room had finally spoken.
-
Jim swiveled his head, looking for the source of the new "voice". He hadn't seen the Leeran, either. "Nice to meet you, Mesa."
Not for the first time, he wondered how the Leerans managed to get along with their psychic abilities. To be able to see someone's most private thoughts... that must get embarrassing sometimes - his face colored a little and he turned his thoughts toward other things as he realized that Mesa was probably reading that thought.
-
Arhareli did another head-count of the room and then spoke again, directly addressing everybody.
<There are nine of us here, and it appears that at least two of us have no apparent connection with GT&T before coming here, nor any clear reason for this corporation to want us here. Acknowledging that it is unlikely anybody else in this room is more informed on the situation, I still must ask... do any of you know why we were invited here?>
-
"I responded to a comm message." Chris offered.
-
Fisher was thumbing the handle of his TR9 pistol, again.
It was just what he did when he was bored or nervous or both. Despite being a marine for several years, carrying a gun was still just so cool! He hadn't actually shot anyone before, no major conflicts of any kind yet except for terrorists on Earth and Fisher was rarely on Earth anymore.
But now he was, and he wasn't sure why.
He'd gotten a message saying he'd applied for a job, probably some desk job, at GT&T, the main human communication company in space. Of course he'd never applied for the job, unless, oh hell, had he been drinking too hard? Please God no, oh on.
Of course when he was sober there was no way in hell he'd apply for a desk job! Of course, when you're just being rotated around colony worlds and after a month of wandering around, there wasn't much fun in being sober all the time.
He wasn't an alcoholic or anything, but he was no stranger to the bottle. He was considering rethinking this lifestyle now, if he'd drunkenly signed up this BS he was definitely going to ease off a bit, or at least have someone watch him. Yeah, Baxter would, or he wouldn't. Fisher trusted his troops with his life in battle, maybe, but sure as hell not with this kind of thing.
Regardless, he was here now. Better say 'no' ASAP and get out of here. Oh well, may's well introduce myself. He was no stranger to aliens, few United Nations Marines were, but talking to them was still a little weird, especially froggy over there, the physic one, the Leeran. The others were all introducing themselves,s may as well.
Standing up, he gave a sloppy half salute and spoke out.
"Well, i'm Corporal Fisher of the Uniter Nations Marine Corps and I just got a comm telling me that I applied for a job here, which I didn't unless I was drinking too hard, and now I figure I'm just gonna decline fast as possible and get back to Harmony." He said, referring to the city on some colony world he was stationed on.
-
Arhareli noticed the human Fisher fidgeting with his weapon.
Perhaps we are not quite so different.
<You have worked at Harmony? My family has a friend stationed there with whom we keep regular correspondence; are you familiar with the name Maherelis-Jalal-Rewat? I believe she is rank-equivalent to a captain in your military.>
((OOC: The name-drop is an ambient NPC; do whatever you want with it. I'm just giving the characters a chance to have commonality.))
-
Chris feels young now.
People in the military, andalite tailfighters. I'm really out of my league here. I'm just 14!
-
I step through the large, oaken doors as they swing open upon detecting my presence, entering the waiting room.
Taking in the number of guests in the room, I count us as being one short.
The Andalite tail-fighter, the three youths, the Corporal, the Descendent and our Leeran. Huh. Speckled back. You must have been born on the Te Isle? Thank you for finding your way here, Mesa. It seems we are missing someone.
"Welcome, all. Thank you for coming on such short notice. No doubt you have questions about the letter you received. Let me assure you that Tiberius will be capable of answering any and all questions you may have. Meanwhile, allow me to make introductions so as to familiarise you with your potential future colleagues."
I gesture towards each member as I address them,
"Corporal Fisher, with the UNMC. Numerous rotations through colony worlds but, as yet, untested in live battle. Arhareli-Winwall-Ajaht, a well-established and respected exhibitionist tail-fighter that some of you have undoubtedly caught a glimpse of on H.V. Sean, Chris and Jim, current High School students, Reyna Jackson is the one who has undoubtedly escaped your notice here. A current college student and 4th generation descendent of the Yeerk nothlits... I assure you, Reli, we are quite thorough with our background checks... And Mesa-Teern, our only other non-human."
I look around the room once more.
"We do appear to be one applicant short, so I ask that you be patient for a few more moments while we wait for his arrival. Much longer and we may need to proceed without him and ask for him to catch up."
-
Chris nodded. Even the other Highschoolers where older than him! He looked and the yeerk descendant.
What must it be like? The prejudice?
-
Arhareli's eyes narrowed briefly at the female human-
-no, former Yeerk-
who was across the room, clearly avoiding Reli's gaze.
Reli sucked a quick breath and worked to steel herself against a sharp surge of inherited prejudice.
I will... be... civil. Unless It gives me a reason not to be civil.
<Greetings, Descendant Jackson; know that I do not intend harm to you.> Arhareli tucked her tail tightly against her legs, a gesture of restraint from treat.
Good to have that over.
She then looked to the three youngest humans in the room.
<I had not realized the GT&T corporation sought the employment of minors. I will not agree easily to anything that is not above-board in that respect.>
-
"Rest assured, Reli, this form of employment is not without precedent and is entirely culturally acceptable on earth. Similarly, Tiberius is well aware of the implications of acting above-board and has nothing to hide, as is evident with our Leeran friend here."
Speaking of whom, it's my understanding that you find yourself in a pond quite some distance from here, Mesa. I can't say I blame you, I never was one for the noise of the city.
-
Arhareli settled a bit and forced herself not to let any of her eyes settle to stare at the Yeerk Descendant for longer than she looked at anybody else in the room.
<Very well. I suppose now we await the proposition to be made.>
-
((Sorry for the wait... late shift tonight....)))
The letter had been a pleasant surprise for Marty Wells. He had hoped to intern at GT&T during his third year at the university, but apparently, they were wanting him to join much sooner than he'd applied for. Which was alright for him. This experience would be great, and he was sure to enjoy it.
He'd left early enough to make it in time for the meeting, but the shuttle had had some mechanical delays. He had offered his assistance to the driver, but he'd refused to allow 'some college brat' touch his vehicle. When he finally arrived at the magnificent building, Marty realized that 'magnificent' wasn't an appropriate word. But then again, he didn't think the English Language had one to describe this place. It was a mesmerizing blend of organic and fabricated infrastructure, a true marvel of design and architecture. He knew several people who'd come here just to look in awe. He entered the building, with the acceptance letter in hand, through the door embossed with the GT&T logo. Marty found himself in a room full of people, or beings, rather. There were six humans, an Andalite, and a Leeran. He'd been around Andalites before, more than once actually. But he'd never been near a Leeran, and the psychic abilities of that species intrigued him. The group seemed to be sharing small talk, probably introductions. Several people looked at him when he entered, so he held up a hand in a gesture of friendly greeting.
“Hello. I'm Marty. It's sure nice to meet each of you. Are you all here for intern positions as well?”
-
"Ah, Marty, welcome. I believe Tiberius is waiting, shall we all?"
I motion with my hand towards the parting oak doors, making my way into the office of Tiberius Marx. The room is completely devoid of furniture, save for one, massive hard-light holo-monitor near the end of the room and a small door to the right. The office itself is identical to the waiting room in it's splendor. Lying in the grass next to the holo-monitor is a man who you can only assume to be Tiberius Marx.
Rising to his feet, he is a 5'11" caucasian man with a slender figure and clothing that seems too loose for him. His eyes are green and his hair is midnight blue, most likely due to folicle manipulation. He carries himself proudly across the room to greet you.
"Welcome, all!" he exclaims, shaking hands and tentacles alike in greeting, save for Reli, who he pauses in front of, placing his right hand first on her right shoulder, then on her left, keeping his head bowed and avoiding eye contact.
"Sir," I speak up, "If I may, I am nearing my 4 o'clock appointment?"
"Ah, yes, by all means, Lee. Thank you for showing our guests in."
With that, I take my leave, exiting through the door on the right. Regardless of space, the climate is too dry in here. Tiberius needs to consider greatly increasing the humidity in here.
"Now then," says Tiberius, gesturing towards the grass, "Please, have a seat, I'm sure you have much you would like answered."
-
Marty shakes Mr. Tiberius' hand firmly. "It's a pleasure to meet you, sir." He then sits cross-legged in the grass, amused by the lack of conventional furniture. The room had a very appealing taste to it. He hears that the man who'd led them into the office was named Lee... he stored that information away for future reference.
-
Reyna watches as the oak doors open on command. Her brown eyes grow wide when her identity is revealed. I shouldn't be surprised, she reminds herself. My status is written an all official documents. Still, the thorough background check combined with being in close proximity of a Leeran made Reyna incredibly uncomfortable and when the Andalite addresses her she jumps nearly a foot into the air.
"Um...thank you," Reyna says in a barely audible whisper. Her face clearly reveals her fear. I've never been this close to an Andalite before. What if it's lying? What if it attacks me? I'm so dead.
Reyna is not given time to dwell, however. She is led into the next room, where Tiberius is introduced. Strange names have become popular these days. She shakes his hand when he offers, but withdraws it quickly, her eyes flitting around the room as if in search for an escape route.
-
Jim raised an eyebrow as each person's background was revealed. GT&T was certainly thorough, all right. He couldn't help but feel sorry for Reyna, though. She was clearly unhappy and afraid at having her Descendant status revealed. 4th generation and still the old anti-Yeerk prejudice sticks. How bloody long is it going to take before people figure out that Yeerk Descendants aren't Yeerks?!?
He followed the others to the other room and shook Mr. Tiberius' hand. "Nice to meet you, sir," he said, and took a seat in the grass next to Marty.
He noticed Reyna, apparently still jittery, quickly glancing around the room. Just for a second her eyes met his and he flashed her a sympathetic smile.
-
Fisher heard, or felt, or thought or whatever, the Andalite talking to him, or into him. Turning his head to face the mouthless alien, he answered semi-casually.
"Eh, never heard of her, sorry. I'm usually stationed on the outskirts so there's not many aliens around there." Then shortly afterwards a man stepped forward and introduced them to each other. Fisher stiffened when he heard his name called, he wasn't sure what was going on here but he would bet a weeks R&R that it wasn't about a job application.
As the final member of their group came in and they were ushered into Tiberius's quarters, Fisher stiffened and became more and more formal, what he did when he got stressed. Marx was a strange looking fellow for sure, particularly his blue hair. Ugh, Fisher hated color-heads.
He got up from the grass-covered floor (yes, grass!) And warmly shook their hands save the Yeerk descendant. Fisher rolled his eyes at this but said nothing. As he dismissed their escort, 'Lee,' he told them the obvious, that they had questions for him. Gestured to the grassy floor, Fisher awkwardly sat down and looked up. He was right, Fisher did have questions.
"Sir, I must say that while I appreciate your hospitality, I never applied for a position within your company." He said respectively.
-
Tiberius smiles and acknowledges Corporal Fisher being the first to say what, undoubtedly, some of the room are thinking.
"Your skill set acted as your application in this instance, Corporal. I'm sure you are familiar with this practice, considering your military background. As is Reli, I believe."
-
Marty made a mental note of the two mentioned to have military experience. That was always good to know. And one of them was even designated by rank. That was the one behaving in very sharp, formal military manner. No surprise there. The code of conduct and honor within militaries past and present was a very interesting subject, and it was quite impressive to see it carried out in such precise fashion. Marty though it was odd that neither of them had sought out this position. Perhaps there was more going on here than he thought.
"I'm not sure I understand... Is this about the intern position, or something different?"
-
"Then what acts as my application?" Jim queried. "I don't even have a formal degree yet, not even a high school diploma."
-
When Reli offered to be an ally of sorts, Mesa was very glad. Thank you, she said politely--and privately--to the Andalite. She directed her psychic so only Reli could hear it, like thought-speak. Not being human on Earth is difficult. I'm sure you understand. I do not understand your prejudice, however, she thought to herself. A Yeerk Descendant is not a Yeerk.
Mesa responded to Lee privately as well. She reminded herself that the others couldn't hear what he was thinking, and there was no need to really confuse them. The noise and the prejudice. People don't like their thoughts being heard by a Leeran. And I missed the water. And yes, I was born on the Te Isle
When they were ushered into Tiberius' room, she resisted from probing his mind. It wasn't polite. He seemed friendly, with nothing devious in store. And he did shake her tentacle, which most people didn't do. I was also wondering what my...qualification would be, she said, talking to everyone in the room again. Most people avoid a Leeran. And I do not have much technical experience.
-
Chris shook Tiberius's hand trying not to show his excitement. "Am I the only person in here who responded to the comm message positively?" He sat down and cracked his knuckles. It was a nervous habit of his.
-
Reyna took a small, almost imperceptible step away from the growing crowd. She was interested in answers herself, but she was also incredibly anxious. One of her frantic glances caught the eye of one of the younger 'applicants'. Jim, I think he was called. She manages a ghost of a smile back at him, but it fades quickly, her brows drawing together as though she is mentally chastising herself.
Don't make friends. Just find out what this is all about and then get home.
-
"I was interested in the comm message too, but I didn't think anything would happen at least until I had a few years of college under my belt," Jim answered, only half paying attention to Chris. He wanted to see what Tiberius would say.
-
It irritated Mesa, in a way, Reyna's discomfort. No one should have to feel so insecure in life, to the point of not making friends. She thought, but resisted talking to the girl. If she had emotional baggage that she wanted to deal with herself, so be it.
Her curiosity was almost overwhelming her. What was Reli like, under the instinctive Yeerk prejudice? What was Reyna's past? And most of all, what did Tiberius want? But she still resisted, for some reason. She had a feeling this probably was not about communication, however. Reli and Fisher were warriors. A marine and a tail-blade fighter. Did that have something to do with it?
-
Arhareli's eyes widened at Marx's greeting.
An Andalite exile, in human morph, on Earth? No wonder he had chosen to alter his pigmentation; I imagine his fur used to be that same blue.
Reli inclined her head and said privately to Marx,
<I acknowledge you, exile. I do not know what you did to receive your sentence, but unless given a reason, I will not reveal your identity to the others. I assume the Leeran knows, of course, but she is not without discretion.>
Reli waited for most of the humans to finish asking their questions, and then she opened her thought-speech to be public, attempting to summarize both her own questions and those of the others in the room.
<I am curious why this corporation would have need for a tail-fighter. Surely there are other options native to Earth, if combat experience is necessary.
I am still more curious why combat experience is needed at all in the field of mainstream communications, why a significant portion of the beings here are considered juveniles of their species, and why so many of us were brought here on company expense despite our vocal lack of interest in comm work.>
-
Tiberius nods at Reli in acknowledgement and gratitude
"As Reli her has ascertained, I am, in fact, an Andalite. A nothlit and exile, no less." Tiberius pauses to take in the reactions of those around him.
"My true name is Tiberi-Usmar-Xarllof. I have since established my position as CEO of GT&T for one reason. The monitoring of information. 5 years ago I was exiled for challenging a War Prince because I believed that our half of the galaxy has been secretly infiltrated by Kelbrid Space over the last 10 years. A challenge which I lost."
The now revealed Tiberi ****s his head and looks to the door on his right. "It appears we have a late, albeit Wild-Card arrival..." He continues to look off to the right. Send him in.
The oak doors open behind you to reveal two, intimidated looking human security personnel escorting a large Hork-Bajir.
"Ah," Tiberi says, "Welcome, Kage. I'm glad to find you accepted my invitation."
-
Tiberius's story was fascinating to Marty, even though he should now refer to him as Tiberi, he guessed. Kelbrid Space... he hadn't heard of it before. The situation seemed rather serious. He wondered if it was in any way related to this meeting. As if on cue, the doors opened behind them to allow in a Hork-Bajir, a juvenille, it appeared. He was only six feet high, and yet the escorts seemed worried. Perhaps that was a sign of potential danger....
"Hello, Kage." he said simply, with a short wave and a smile.
-
<Greetings, Kage; I am Arhareli-Winwall-Ajaht.> She inclined her eyes toward the newcomer, and then turned her attention back to Tiberi.
<Forgive me the repetition, but why do we have this particular mix of individuals here? If this is a combat mission, then it makes sense to have fighters, but perhaps not an exhibition artist like me. If it is in fact a combat mission, then why are there juveniles here? If it is not, then why do we have fighters here? This situation still baffles me.>
-
"We are a rather peculiar bunch..." Marty said. He sure hoped this wasn't a combat mission recruitment or anything of the sort. That wasn't exactly what he'd applied for....
-
Tiberi returned his attention to Reli, "This is not so much a combat mission as much as it is reconnoissance and evidence gathering mission."
At this point I re-enter the room. "I may be able to help explain the situation, Tiberi." I say.
"By all means." Tiberi replies, nodding his permission.
"Thank you." I address you all as a group. "Many of you may not be familiar with the term Kelbrid space. This is not surprising, as it is not common knowledge outside of the highest ranking Andalite military." I allow this information to sink in.
"Only half of this galaxy is actually mapped and explored, for the most part. For almost as long as Andalites have been capable of Z-Space travel, they have been in an uneasy truce with a race known as the Kelbrid. The terms of this truce are simple. Not Andalite is to enter Kelbrid space and no Kelbrid is permitted to enter Andalite space. To this day, no one has actually determined what a Kelbrid is or looks like. Similarly, no Kelbrid has ever ascertained what an Andalite is or looks like."
"Thank you, Lee." Tiberi cuts in. "The situation is, if my information sources are correct, this may no longer be the case. It is my belief that the Kelbrid have begun to infiltrate Andalite space on fact-finding missions. The reason I have called together such a diverse cross-section of races, age groups and skill sets are for two reasons. The first is to ascertain whether this Kelbrid infiltration is malicious in its' intent and to alert the Galactic community immediately. The second is because, if the Yeerk-Andalite war has taught us anything, it's that the most unlikely of groups are capable of the most incredible things."
Tiberi pauses to look around the room once more.
"I feel I must tell you that in bringing you here, I risk exposing my Andalite heritage. So certain am I of this infiltration that I am willing to risk a second exile from my newest, adopted race." And my own life...
-
<Correct me if I misunderstand you, but... if no Kelbrid has seen an Andalite, and therefore an Andalite would be unidentifiable by a Kelbrid for any reason other than having an unfamiliar appearance, the same is true in reverse: we don't know anything about them, or how to identify them... and for all we know, they could look exactly like us? In addition to this, if they have not been into Andalite space, they will definitely have never encountered Hork-Bajir, who were created within Andalite space, and who have therefore never existed in Kelbrid space. Even if Kelbrid were identical specially to one of the other three races represented here, they would assume on sight that Hork-Bajir are from Andalite space; they would then assume the mutual avoidance treaty has been violated.>
Arhareli struggled to work out the entire spectrum of possible scenarios in her head, until she finally just gave up trying.
She spoke privately to Tiberi and to the Leeran, who could hear anyway.
<Forgive me, but this reeks of suicide. How do you intend we pull this off, and are you coming with us? Please do not misunderstand; I see how much you are willing to risk. However... I do not believe these children would be equally willing to take those risks.>
((gonna' hit the hay now; great plotting, GM!))
-
"Didn't I hear of 'Kelbrid Space' before? Maybe in reference to the Yeerk-Andalite War?" Chris is trying to place where he heard the term before. It sound familiar.
-
((Sorry...GESB...))
"Hello." I said to all of them simply. I was nervous, what could I say?
-
Jim turned and waved at the Hork-Bajir. Kage, was it? "Hi, Kage."
Turning his attention back to Tiberi, he frowned. "If nobody's ever seen a Kelbrid, how do we know what we're looking for or where we're looking for it?"
He realized there was another problem. "And come to think of it, if the Kelbrid have never been into Andalite space, they won't recognize any of us. Won't they suspect something if a group of strangers shows up?"
I'm beginning to understand the diversity - the original Animorphs survived because each of them had different strengths and weaknesses, so they could cover each other. This should be a very interesting mission, assuming we can deal with these problems...
-
Fisher listened as Tiberius, Tiberi, explained that he was an Andalite exile which explained the funky hair color. He listened to him explain the reason for his exile, the failed challenge and the belief that the Kelbrid were scouting out Known Space.
Fisher was no genius, but from the tone of this conversation, if all those war movies meant a thing, it sounded like he was about to be inducted into some government special operation named Black Shadow or some BS like that. He’ never heard of the Kelbrid, but as Tiberi went on, it sounded like they were the Andalites intergalactic neighbor who stayed inside his house all day.
A six foot Hork-Bajir was escorted into the room by a pair of security guards who then left. Fisher’s hand drifted a little more to his pistol, a reflex after all the movies he’d seen of the old Yeerk Invasion.
However as Fisher listened that he was planning to take them on a recon mission into Kelbrid and quite potentially hostile space, he leapt to his feet half shouting.
“Well shouldn’t we warn the UNSN Command of this? Isn’t there a better choice for a recon team than a mish-mash of aliens, high-schoolers and me? Shouldn’t the Andalite Electorate or whoever know about this? And what the hell are we planning to fly in there anyway?”
-
The others assembled seemed to be neglecting the fact that Tiberi had information that at the least suggested that the Kelbrid had infiltrated, thus, they must have some identifying information about them.
"What information led you to expect that it was the Kelbrid that have been spotted in chartered regions of space, if you don't mind me asking? Surely you must have some knowledge that led you to suspect the Kelbrid, rather than another unknown species."
Tiberi didn't rise to the top of the corporation for nothing. Marty had followed the company for the past couple years, as well as researched GT&T's past performance. Tiberius was intelligent, even for an Andalite in disguise. He wasn't the type to make arbitrary assumptions of the sort, and certainly not one to plan espionage based on a random guess. And Marty was pretty sure that Tiberi had considered the dangers of the mission, and chosen wisely, even if the logic he'd used wasn't understood by all. Surely he had his reasons.
In response to the others' concerns, he said, "It isn't entirely rare for a new race to be discovered, even in chartered space. The Kelbrid may have reason for suspicion when several new life forms appear together, but they would have no evidence that we are from Andalite Space. Even they can not have explored all regions of space. It seems reasonable to assume that if Tiberi was exiled for this suspicion, neither government would be very accepting of this proposed mission. That's why it is being done in secret. Correct, Tiberi?"
-
I speak up in response to the sudden influx of questions, first addressing Fisher.
"Tiberi attempted to war the Andalite Electorate with what he thought to be sufficient evidence. In the end, he had his tail-blade removed and was exiled. How much more of a chance do you believe he would have if he were to contact UNSN Command, declare that he has been deceiving the Human public for half a decade and wishes for them to embark on the same mission that resulted in his exile from his own birth race? Also, the treaty stipulates that no Andalite is permitted entry to Kelbrid space."
Tiberi held up a hand, interrupting. "Also, what I am asking of you is not to infiltrate Kelbrid space. I am asking you to locate Kelbrid infiltrators within Andalite space." he pauses to address Reli, "Make no mistake, I have no intention of sending anyone on a suicide mission, but I do need fresh minds that are open to all possibilities and able bodies to protect them in the event that there is any violence."
He then addresses the group as a whole again, "My position within a communications company serves one ultimate purpose; To monitor and follow communications within Andalite space. Within the last six months, I have picked up an increase in what I can safely say is Keblrid communications being sent from within Andalite space with the end destination being deep within the heart of Kelbrid space" Tiberi pauses to let this process.
"My largest concern is that these transmissions are originating from within a prison containing on of my most trusted sources. These transmissions are originating from earth."
-
He had to stop watching those movies, he was jumping to conclusions way to fast. Those movies, plus a few years of service without doing anything with his gun at all, Fisher was definitely getting edgy.
He heard again about an attempt made by an Andalite named Tiberi to warn the command about this threat, why in hell they'd ignored him was beyond Fisher. Signals being transmitted to alien space? That was cause worthy of investigation!
"Those stupid blue sons of..." He finished the sentence with an exhaled heartfelt expletive. Rubbing his hand across his face, he slumped back to the floor. Yeah, if alerting the UNSN would have worked an Andalite would have tried it by now.
"Well I understand that, but you must know you can't just pluck me from service and take me down to find some transmission source, now without..." His voice trailed off, an Andalite, particularly a rich one, would have probably have made a way to get an excuse a lowly Corporal's leave for awhile.
This probably meant that Fisher was on shore leave or something like that, he was probably excused from service for now.
Sinking even deeper onto the grassy multi-colored floor, he sighed deep.
"Well, when are we going?"
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Jim softly whistled in surprise. "Kelbrid communications are coming from Earth? That means either Kelbrid look enough like one of the races usually found on Earth to get by, they're morph-capable and have acquired morphs of races usually found on Earth, or they've gotten a few people to give them information without technically violating the treaty."
He paused, realized Tiberi hadn't provided all the necessary info, and took a guess at why. "I'm guessing you have more information for us, probably once we agree to go on this mission? I'm in."
-
Reyna's already pale skin blanches when the Hork-Bajir walks in. Great. Now I'm surrounded by three, no four aliens, if you count Tiberi. Two with blades and one that can read my mind. This cannot get any worse. She listens intently as Tiberi outlines their "mission", a word Reyna has an immediate aversion to. "Mission" sounds way too life-or-death. I don't belong here...
Reyna's eyes flicker from one speaker to the next as the questions pile on. Each answer leaves her more uneasy than the last, but she lacks the courage to speak up for herself. Instead, she begins wracking her brain for any information about these 'Kelbrid'. Nothing. In all of the history books she has read, not one mention that sticks out. That isn't altogether surprising, but something is nagging at her nonetheless. She feels vaguely as though she has heard the term before, somewhere.
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I looked around at all the people in Tiberious' office and then at him as everyone started to sit i stayed standing i'm not much of a sitter not even in school. I still wondered why so many variety of people were here right now most of us didnt even accept the invitations this is so weird.
"Yeah i was just wondering why are we all here, what do you want us to do for you because i have homework that needs to be done and i need to get home to help my mom around the house?"
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He is telling the truth, Mesa told them. Or, at least, he thinks he is. I would be willing to partake in this...job as well. She refrained from using the word "mission." Reyna was edgy enough without her throwing in that word. She wanted to send words of encouragement to the Yeerk Descendant, but didn't quite know what to say. Eventually, privately, she spoke to Reyna. Although I am an alien, I do not hold any prejudice. We are not biased like the Andalites, even though Yeerks did attempt to make us Controllers at one point. It's your actions that matter. So...don't feel uneasy around me. Speeches weren't her strong suit.
When Shaun spoke, Mesa blinked in disbelief. Tiberi just explained, Shaun. she said to the room at large. Were you not listening?
-
Sorry i wasn't really paying that much attention i was confused to as why so many humans are here and so few of other races can you just give a brief summary?
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((Read page 5 onward, and post that in the OOC section))
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"Kelbrid? On Earth? Where?" Chris was freaking out. There are Kelbrid on Earth! KELBRID!
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Tiberi's source was in a prison? That was odd. Even odder was the fact that the transmission's were coming from there. It was so ironic that Earth, of all places, was the place where the supposed Kelbrid infiltration was taking place. As had been said before, Earth was the hub of galactic travel.
Marty was relieved to hear that Tiberi did not intend to send anyone into Kelbrid space. Not that he was frightened or anything, but it didn't seem like a safe or wise decision. "This group would be excellent for espionage purposes in Andalite Space. We could blend in perfectly, in almost any crowd." The potential violence bit made Marty concerned. Observation, even spying, he could do. But he wasn't a fighter. That wasn't exactly his strong suit... never had been. In the earlier years of his schooling, Marty had been picked on and bullied a lot. It didn't bother him much now, but he still didn't like physical confrontation. Was he willing to walk into a dangerous situation, where maybe his and his partners' lives were on the line? People were already committing to this 'plan'; on such short notice, too. Their lifestyles must allow this sort of decision making. Marty could easily be gone from his classes for an extended period of time... he was ahead of his peers by more than a month, anyways. And his family wouldn't worry to much about his little 'trip' either, if he decided to come.
In response to Shaun, as the highschooler with homework was apparently named, Marty said, “Perhaps it's because humans are everywhere. We stick our noses into everything, and are well known to explore and travel more than any other race, generally speaking.” Since space travel had become commonplace, Earthlings had spread themselves well over their solar system, not to mention the rest of the galaxy. “And about a 'summary' of Tiberi's purpose for bringing us here, we are wanted to gather information for him that he cannot safely, or legally perhaps, collect for himself.”
Marty then looks at Tiberius, one of the men he'd looked up to as a model citizen. “I would be glad to help with surveillance and reconnaissance work... but I am worried by the potential danger you mentioned. I am no fighter, and I can promise you, I would not be worth your time if it comes to combat.” Tiberi had already mentioned that Reli and the Corporal, whose name he had not yet learned, had earned their places here due to their military experience. Perhaps Marty would be able to serve only as the tech and information expert, as his own experience and knowledge credentials would suggest.
-
The Leeran's voice in her head does little to calm Reyna. She is relieved that the Leeran does not seem to hold any prejudices, but doubts that having a psychic frog on her side will do her much good.
Reyna lets up a little involuntary squeak of fear as Marty mentions combat. She has successfully avoided violence most of her life - one of the benefits of being home schooled - but it was not for the lack of trying on the part of the prejudiced. If nothing else, Reyna thinks, I have at least become quite good at avoiding violence. I doubt that's very helpful in this situation, though. Besides...my parents would never approve..
Reyna's gaze drops to the floor and she sucks her bottom lip in between her teeth, gnawing nervously. The idea of speaking up terrifies her, but she feels that it is necessary, before the conversation progresses further.
"Um..." Reyna immediately flushes red after making a semblance of noise, but she barrels forward, forcing herself to look at Tiberi instead of the grass at his feet. "I think you made a mistake, sir." She speaks very quickly and quietly, so it comes out sounding more like ithinkyoumadeamistakesir. "I can't be involved in this. It sounds dangerous, and I've never even been out of this city. I can't fight, and my parents would never let me work with...with..." she trails off, not wanting to say Andalites, but thinking it nonetheless.
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"I finally figured out why you want wanted me here Mr. Tiberi, it's because i'm from Earth i moved here only a year ago with my mother to get away from my father and his business. Three weeks before I moved my father was sent to prison, I believe your source from Earth is that of my father."
"Hey Marty don't worry I don't have any training either but one would assume that Mr. Tiberi will be giving us a way to fight if needed."
This all makes sense now. I'm wanted because of my dad and everybody else is wanted for something they did or can do to help.
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Tiberi acknowledges Marty's concern. "I understand your reluctance towards violence, but you must understand, I deal in communications and information." he says looking at Marty.
"Your technological knowledge, especially in the field on computer sciences, will be essential for data and evidence gathering. Also, I have a feeling that your... family history will end up being quite beneficial in this undertaking." If that source can even be trusted. Last I heard, he was still orbiting Titan, drinking himself to death, claiming that Hork-Bajir assassinated a human leader named 'Kennedy'.
Turning to Reyna, Tiberi looks at her sympathetically. Prejudices of a bygone time. I truly believe that until the day I die, I will never meet a race who is not guilty of that.
It is I, however, who speaks up. "Reyna, there is also a reason you are here." I look at her meaningfully. "As we have said, the Kelbrid seem to be on earth. The problem is, how has no one noticed a previously never-before-encountered race? Especially in a prison?"
Tiberi chimes in, "There is classified Andalite and Human military information that I was privy to as an Andalite. Information about a lone Yeerk Blade Ship that ran into Kelbrid space during the conclusion of the war. This Blade Ship was never encountered again." He looks at everyone, meaningfully.
"I stipulate that those Yeerks not only fled, but established alliances or even hosts in Kelbrid space, waiting until they had regained their numbers. It is quite possible that the transmissions may be being sent from the prison by human-controllers." Tiberi's sympathetic gaze returns to Reyna, "The reason you are here is because, if this is true, you would be the only kindred link in this group that we would have with the Yeerks."
Tiberi looks knowingly at Reli, "I anticipate that they would react more favourably towards a Descendent than towards an Andalite."
With this, he finally turns to address Shaun, "Unfortunately, Shaun, only half of what you know is true. While it is true that your father is within this prison of which you talk, he is not an inmate. He is a guard. The nature of his placement required not only the utmost secrecy, but also the utmost sacrifice."
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"Wow my dad is a prisoner guard I never thought that he of all people would be a guard. I have one more question, you mainly brought high school students here and barely any adults and we have no experience in fighting how do you plan on teaching us to fight in a matter of hours? The best solution would be to have history repeat itself and give us the morphing technology just as Elfangor gave to the Animorphs."
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Tiberi raises an eyebrow at Shaun's statement, a human reaction that took him years to achieve naturally and sub-consciously. "The law of Seerow's Kindness may have been relaxed somewhat since the Yeerk-Andalite war, but morphing technology still remains regulated military technology." He gaze drifts towards Reli, "Would you explain on my behalf the consequences of providing untrained youths with high-level military and espionage technology? As well as the risks that are involved with morphing?"
-
Fisher listened in silence as Tiberi explained that the alleged Kelbrid signals were coming from a prison. His eyes were the only moving body part, widening as he took in the theory about the renegade Yeerk bladeship that escaped into Kelbrid space and that they possibly took hosts or at least made alliances with the Kelbrid, lying it wait to reestablish their numbers.
And maybe even launch a second assault?
Fisher barked out a half-laugh at Shauns proposal.
"I'm no expert, but from what I understand, Elfangor giving the Animorphs that ability was a damn foolish last-ditch effort by a mortally wounded and possibly slightly mentally unstable Andalite, not exactly a sound military decision." Then he turned more serious. "But the kid's right, I mean if we get into trouble, and I have a feeling that we may if what you say is true, the bulk of the others here are not exactly going to be great in a fight."
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A gasp of shock escapes Reyna's tightly pursed lips when she is told of a Blade Ship escaping into Kelbrid Space. Real Yeerks? she marvels. Her mind instantly begins whirring with the possibilities...and implications...if that prediction turns out to be correct. She thinks back to her great-grandparents, who, before their passing, had told her stories of the Yeerk war, and the terrible discrimination they had faced in the years immediately following. She remembered the frustration and anger with which they had spoken of the Yedd - symbiotic sell-outs who had chosen to alter their own biology rather than fight for acceptance as their true selves. Reyna was not sure that she shared their anger, but the thought of true Yeerks - not Yedd, and not forced into permanent nothlitism - excited her nevertheless.
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Jim was quiet during the conversation between Tiberi and Shaun, taking in the details of the mission. An escaped Blade Ship - the one that killed Rachel the Animorph, no doubt - and now they've got human-controllers? So this really is a delicate mission, involving a lot of major galactic powers. No wonder Andalite High Command wouldn't listen - they didn't want the headache of trying to deal with this!
"Mr. Tiberi, with all due respect, I'm afraid Marty and Shaun are right. Most of us can barely hold our own in a fight with other humans, let alone potential human-controllers with Yeerk weapons. I'm no legal expert, but since most of this mission seems to be unsanctioned, I don't think one more broken rule could do much more damage."
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Mesa was surprised. A Blade Ship, containing real Yeerks, fleeing into Kelbrid space? Reyna was excited, for sure. But Reli--oh dear. Reli would not be happy, would she? Cha-Ma-Mib curse Andalite prejudice, she muttered inwardly.
News got around very quickly on Leera. But somehow this was never known. The informer and all those who knew this probably avoided Leera just for that reason. It miffed Mesa slightly. Why couldn't people just do aboveboard things? Why did people have to keep secrets? Wars were meaningless. Everyone should be psychic for a while just to settle their differences. That would make things easier in the world, if everyone knew everything. It would make people think seriously about what they wanted to do first. Why can't everyone just be a Leeran? But she had to focus on the now.
I assume I was brought because of my abilities, Mesa spoke up now. But...Shaun and Jim are right, in a sense. It is possible we will get in a combat situation. Not that I doubt Fisher and Reli's experience, but we should be prepared. Morphing is very dangerous, yes, but certainly there must be something else we could use. Though arming human teenagers might not be the best idea.
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"I'm not going to be much use in a fight unless all our enemy are teenagers too. I may play football but I'm still only a Highschooler." Chris was really very excited about this whole thing. A chance to do something heroic, just like the animorphs did! It's too bad we won't get the morphing power though.
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"Would you explain on my behalf the consequences of providing untrained youths with high-level military and espionage technology? As well as the risks that are involved with morphing?"
Arhareli closed her main eyes waited for the humans to finish making their respective remarks, keeping her stalk eyes on Tiberi and the Hork-Bajir, and occasionally flicking around to the Descendant and the human who carried the gun.
Finally they all settled a bit, and she opened her main eyes to look at the main body of the group.
<The laws regarding Seerow's Kindness are exceptionally clear on the matter of morphing technology. The morphing technology remains exclusive property of the Andalite people, to distribute to other governments on a regulated basis. Among Andalite citizenry, it is an expensive technology, but it is legally accessible to all law-abiding members of our population, over a certain age. Since five years after the Yeerk-Human war, all instances of morphing on non-Andalites has been on a registration basis: you need a government permit, and the femtotechnology that allows you to morph will be regulated so that it expires after a specific number of weeks, months, or years, depending on your reason for using the technology. Only Andalites and very specific instances of other species are permitted permanent license to the technology, and again... it is only on an individual basis, for non-Andalites. Sharing morphing technology in an unregulated manner carries risk of severe punishment, and depending on the species to whom it is released, that punishment can vary from inprisonment or exile to being forced into an undesirable nothlit form or, in the very extreme case of releasing morphing technology to Skrit Na, Yeerks, Yedd, Yoort, or Descendants... public execution and the exile of all direct relatives within one generation.>
Arhareli paused to let that sink in.
<However...> Arhareli reached into the pouch on her utility belt, on the side opposite her Shredder, and pulled out a cyllindrical silver vial. She twisted off the stopper and tipped out a small bluish shard into the palm of her other hand, and then closed her palm and sent the command,
<Expand.>
She opened her palm and revealed a perfect one-centimeter cube, palest blue and utterly smooth on all faces, glowing faintly. Arhareli spoke slowly, almost as if she were talking to herself, trying to convince herself that what she was about to do was right, and that it wouldn't destroy everything worth having in her life.
<...however, I happen to be in possession of the last half of my winnings from last year's tail-fighting exhibition. I- well, to be very frank, I had intended to sell this on the Andalite infra-comm system. It would have been an extremely lucrative action for me to take; it would have sustained all my expenses for many months consecutively. That being said, for this mission I would be willing to diminish its resale value.> Am I willing to diminish the value of my life? I put myself at risk of death every day, even IF the risk is low, in an absolute sense, compared to soldiers facing noncompetitive combat, but-
Arhareli closed all her eyes tightly and shivered once, almost invisibly, extending the palm holding the tiny cube toward the middle of the room.
She spoke in a rush, reciting by rote the specifications of the cube, which she had memorized to be advertisement in preparation of its intended sale.
<This Portable Trial-Basis Escafil Device is designed to be ready on-the-go, wherever you are. It is functional for fourteen individual uses, each use lasting one full moon cycle - that's about eight months for Earth - and expiring at the end of the cycle, taking with it all morphs acquired during that time. Perfect for families who have a history of Hereth Elint morphing allergies, tourists who want to experience other alien forms first-hand without permanent retention of alien DNA, and anybody who wants to "test drive" the morphing experience without the risks of military conscription. Use of the PTBED does not prevent later use of the Permanent Escafil Device, so if you like it, you can upgrade at the end of your moon cycle! Escafil Technologies Incorporated and the resaler are at no legal liability if the user experiences negative reactions resulting from misuse of the PTBED; it is the user's obligation to adhere to the included instructions. Instructions: 1. Touch the device while it is held by an already morph-capable Andalite. 2. Touch and focus on a form of intelligent life in order to acquire its DNA. 3. Focus on the form of that intelligent life in order to assume its form. 4. Focus on your own original form in order to resume your original form. WARNING: A time limit of 0.015 rotations ... that's two hours for Earth... is placed on every incidence of assuming a form other than the original form. Should the user stay in an unnatural form beyond that time limit, including the time it takes to leave that form and assume the original form, the user will permanently be trapped in whatever form was held at the last parallax-meter of the time limit.>
Arhareli drew another deep breath and finished,
<In short, this technology is extremely dangerous if misused; it is unlawful to give to anybody here. It is unethical by the standards of my race to give it to a specific being here. It is immoral to give it to juveniles. In offering this, I am sentencing all of us to death and my own family to disgrace and exile, so PleaseSomebodyUseIt NowBeforeIChangeMyM ind.>
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Jim's eyes widened. He had expected the penalty for this to be severe; he hadn't expected anything nearly as severe as what Reli listed. For a moment, he mentally argued with himself, then one thought stood out: She's got way more to lose than I do. If she's willing to take that risk, what right do I have to say no?
"Let's do it," he said quietly, and held out his hand.
-
Chris hesitantly reached out his hand and held it over the cube. He looked at Reli. "May I?"
-
Tiberi listens intently to Reli as she produces the Portable Escafil Device. He may be a drunken conspiracy theorist, but at least he was right about her winnings. I should visit the city of Vegas with all these gambles I'm taking.
He watches the group, turning to look meaningfully at me. With my nod, Tiberi speaks, "Keep in mind that Reli is not only risking her family, people and livelihood, but she has also given this undertaking a time limit. The effects of these Portable Escafil Devices lasts eight earth months only. After that time, you will lose all morphing abilities and any DNA you acquired at that time. What Reli also neglected to mention is that, in order to regulate morphing, each Portable Escafil Device is only capable on bestowing the ability to morph once per recognised genetic blueprint. This means that once you use this device, it keys to your DNA and prevents you from regaining the ability from that specific device once the eight months expires. At that time, you will need to either locate another Portable Device or and Escafil Device capable of bestowing the morphing ability permanently."
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I have just killed myself. I am dead. This is what death feels like.
<Tiberi is correct; yes, Chris, you may. Everybody willing to continue with this risk, please do as well. That includes you... Miss Jackson,> she inclined her head toward the Yeerk Descendant,
I. Am. Committing. Treason. And murder.
<...that is, if you are willing. I suppose, simply implying that you can morph would qualify as the same crime, so it might as well be the same thing; you may as well use the opportunity.>
Seerow's Kindness: I am doing nobody here a kindness by doing this. I have just killed myself and taken these children with me. I have just taken a soldier and a Leeran and a Hork-Bajir with me. I have just taken a Yeerk Descendant with me. Maybe if we get caught- Arhareli's eyes shot open, and she straightened her posture.
<We will not get caught.>
<...I just said that aloud. Didn't I. Please excuse me; this is a matter of considerable personal conflict of interest. Proceed to touch the box, please, one at a time. Just place your palm over mine so that your skin comes into contact with it. It will not hurt.>
Arhareli turned one stalk-eye toward Tiberi and the other toward Lee. She spoke privately to the two of them, excluding the rest of the room, save perhaps the Leeran, if she was listening.
<I know that at least one of you was aware of my winning this device last year; I know that that person was aware that I received one of the limited edition prototype Devices, the kind that can be legally transported off-planet, because it has not yet been patented, and therefore is not listed in our government Tech Transport Registrar. That being said, I want you both to know that I take my own life or death into my hands, willingly. But I want you both to know this, also: if any of these children die, or are imprisoned, or are trapped in morph, or otherwise suffer direct and long-term consequences because of this, I hold you equal to me in responsibility and guilt.>
Arhareli watched as those willing to do it stepped up to gain the morphing ability.
<Tiberi,> she whispered to him alone, <because I hold you to my own guilt, because of the monetary value I am sacrificing, and because of the risks these humans and I are taking, I demand compensation from you.>
She watched him closely now, with both stalk-eyes, to see if he registered any movement to suggest an answer.
<If we are doing this, let us do it all the way. I will give you this cube. Duplicate the technology and patent it on Earth before the general patent is drawn for it on the homeworld; I know you have the capabilities here to do it, and you are no longer bound by Andalite law, civil, commercial, or military. If you give unregulated morphing to the humans, they will never extradite you to the Andalites; I can assure you of that much. It may just guarantee the legal safety of this group, if we don't get ourselves killed anyway in the process of this mission. Second, sell the technology at a premium on Earth; distribute it widely. In addition, give every person present here an equal share of all royalties incurred.>
Again she waited for a response.
<Finally, I demand the Andalite fair market value of the cube as it was before its use, to be wired to my family's bank account on the neutral planet New Switzerland; should I die in the mission, or should they be exiled, it will be enough to make up the financial loss to them. I will give you twenty Earth minutes to send the funds and two Earth months to develop the technology, far more time than you truly need. Know that at this point I am a desperate Andalite with death on my conscience, and if you refuse me it will be no trouble at all for me right now to add your severed head to the list of my sins.>
She spoke the threat matter-of-factly, lifting her tail slowly into a ready position over her back.
<How do you answer, Tiberi?>
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Chris lowered his hand and touched the cube for a second and then backed away to make room for the others.
-
Tiberi looks at me for several moments and, again, I nod. With this, Tiberi looks back at Reli and bows his head in agreement before walking to his holo-monitor to make arrangements.
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Chris approached Lee. "I know I responded to the Comm message, but you didn't send those out at random, did you? Why did you send one to me?"
-
Reyna has only just barely gotten over the shock of the possible existence of true Yeerks when a second gasp escapes her. This time it is in response to Arhareli presenting the Escafil Device. And it is being offered to me. Me! Reyna is floored by the implications. A Descendent like her would never be offered such technology through conventional means. If she accepts this offer she could very easily be the first Descendent to ever possess such an ability. Suddenly thoughts of her parents disapproval seem trite and meaningless in comparison.
If I accept this, Reyna realizes, it will be a huge victory for us. I have to do this. It is that final realization that makes Reyna hesitate. Committing to the morphing power means committing to the mission - a mission that she is not entirely comfortable with. At the same time, though, it is an opportunity she cannot afford to pass up. Taking a deep breath she steps forward and holds out a shaking hand. Her eyes are on the Escafil Device the entire time, not daring to look at the Andalite holding the cube. A small shiver runs up her spine, and she is not entirely sure if it is her fear or the device.
"Is that...it?" Reyna asks after expelling the breath she had been holding. She removes her hand and risks a glance at Arhareli. "Thank you..." It is a whispered sign of gratitude, but a sign of gratitude nonetheless.
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<Miss Jackson, what I have given you is dangerous. Yes, it is powerful. Yes, it gives you the freedom of another kind of choice to make. Those things make this more dangerous than the laws we now rightfully fear. Therefore... I know in this moment you see it as a gift; know that in this moment I see it as a curse that I inflict, regardless of ancestry, on an innocent person. Because of this, I can no longer view you as a racial enemy to me. If I owe it to my people to hate you, then I have just committed the ultimate act of hate by legal proxy murder. If I do not, then... then I have given you a tool with which you can make your own identity, regardless of race, if you choose it. If you choose to leave now, morph-capable and otherwise unscathed, with eight months to decide how you use this opportunity, then I will not fault you. If you choose to stay and pursue this mission with us, then I will be forced to assume you are just as suicidal as the rest of us, and...>
Arhareli's eyes softened, the rare, sad smile.
<...if you are as crazy as me, then you are more like me than unlike me, and in a fight I will actively protect your life within my ability to do so. Call me "Reli.">
-
These were very interesting developments taking place in the office of GT&T's CEO. The assumption of morphing capabilities being handed out was wild, but the revelation of an Escafil Device was crazier still. Tiberi admitted that it was his technological expertise that had brought him here, and while it wasn't a promise, it seemed understood that he would not be expected to fight. That is enough for him. Why have discipline in any field if not to use it for good? He was ready to commit to this mission. Since there was no recording of this meeting (of that he was sure), he could technically and legally walk away if the details later showed this plan to be reckless, foolhardy, or something he otherwise couldn't be part of. But it seemed like a noble cause.
The remark on his 'family history' made Marty falter. He looked quizzically at Tiberi. "I had a great-grandfather who was a British Spy. But I never met him or anything, so I'm not sure what you mean by that. My dad's an architect."
The Andalite's speech was interesting. She was not bound by the same strict codes of honor that the military bred in it's followers. This could be a good thing, yet it also had it's risks. Reli showed that she was willing to think freely, and seemed to understand that not all superiors deserved that position. But was she a team player? After all, she was an exhibition fighter. Her personality, and personal investment in this decision to share the Escafil Device spoke well of her, at least in Marty's view. Her willingness to work beside a Descendant for this cause she saw as noble was all the evidence Marty needed to decide she would be reliable and reasonable. The Corporal seemed to accept this almost too easily, though that was no surprise, really. The Descendant, or Jackson, had remained withdrawn, and it was obvious something in the last few moments had tipped the scales in her mind. The Leeran seemed to be acceptant of the recent turn of events, and didn't appear to be affected by emotion. To his knowledge, they often behaved in that manner. It was the high-schoolers' readiness that piked his curiosity. Tiberi had surely done his research well, to expect these results, and achieve them. There was no way Marty could pass up an opportunity like this, to see how this would play out, to be part of something that had such a strong potential as history book fodder.
“I am willing and ready to commit my expertise.” he says simply. With that, he rises, walks over to really and presses down on the cube in her many-fingered hand. He nods, with a look in his eyes that he hoped an Andalite would perceive as respect and understanding for the weight of her choice. After a few seconds, he returned to his spot, but remained standing.
-
Arhareli met Marty's eyes with her own main eyes, and she returned her tail to its 'at ease' position. She saw in him something she respected, something she instinctively wanted to trust.
While the last of the group used the morphing cube, Arhareli spoke once more.
<I am eager to "get this performance on the thoroughfare." What is the plan?>
-
"The plan," Tiberi says, "Is that I have had my source in the prison stage a communications blackout as of half an hour ago, because of which they have organised a GT&T repair team to be dispatched immediately. You will, under the direction Lee, be that team. The youngest of you will assume the role of apprentices, of which the prison has been made aware of. You will be departing immediately. All necessary... Excuses and appointments have been catered to."
-
<How do you plan for us to arrive there? Unless you have birds handy to acquire and morph, we will require a method of transport; it may be advantageous for some of us to acquire human morphs.>
-
That was the perfect plan. It was a little devious, but perfect for the task at hand. This was something he really could be a part of. He no longer had any worries about Tiberius' intentions. Marty thought it would be ironic if he was to play an 'apprentice'. His Global Networking class instructor had asked for his help on a project once.... This would be fun.
"I assume that we would be traveling in the same manner as any other GT&T crew."
-
Morphing. Morphing! Even Mesa, not particularly given to surprise, was...well, surprised. Reli, an Andalite with all their rules and customs, was going to break their most major law. It was shocking. She was almost amused by the commercial reenactment, though. But she kept quiet about Reli's concern for her family and funds. She really cared, which warmed Mesa's heart. So not all Andalites were so aloof.
Chris's...recklessness unnerved her, though. He clearly didn't understand the dangers. Prepare for the worst, she told herself grimly. Chris was thinking of the heroics involved, that was all. But for some reason, she held back from talking to him. She felt that it wouldn't be...prudent? How much Earth had changed her! Leerans thought freely, were not afraid to talk to one another. And now...she was restricting herself from warning him! Jim and Marty seemed to realize the dangers, that was good. And Reyna seemed to be thinking of the honor she could bring to Yeerk Descendants. That's good, Mesa thought. I hope you do. Despite being on Earth for a while, and already being changed, she still faltered slightly at the lack of response.
And Reli seemed to be getting over some of her prejudice. Hmm. That was unexpected...but good. Maybe one little act of peace could help change things. Of course, it didn't really help if Reli was exiled or in prison. And Marty thought Mesa wasn't affected much by emotion...was she? It's not like that, exactly. She said privately to him. Privacy...goodness. Did she like it? She didn't know. It's that...I already know what's coming, I guess. I have as much emotion as anyone, but letting my emotions get out of control is not.... not what? not particularly helpful. Even as she said it, she sounded strange. What if she was wrong about Leerans?
No, matter, no matter. She stepped forward, towards the morphing device. She stretched out a tentacle, and laid it on the cube. A tingle went up her spine, but otherwise she felt no different. But that was it. You may have broken your people's laws, Mesa said privately to Reli. But it's for honorable intentions. Who knows what the Kelbrid could do, especially if true Yeerks are involved? I have a feeling they are not just misunderstood. And they were to be infiltrating a prison? What information was to be had in a prison? She assumed she would take a human morph, people didn't like Leerans on Earth. Leerans didn't really like Earth, either. So why am I here?
-
Kage sat down. Nothing seemed to be happening, so there was not much else to do. He had waved to the others when they said 'hi', but nobody really accepted him into any conversations.
-
Jim pressed his hand against the side of the cube; a tingle ran up his spine, but nothing else seemed to happen. "I guess that's it," he said to nobody in particular, and stepped aside.
I wonder how well we can pass for apprentices. Chris and I are both still in high school; I hope nobody asks why minors are with the GT&T team. At least I've done well enough in my tech classes that I should be able to get by anyone who questions my skill level. And besides, few people would ask too many questions about the GT&T team they just called for. That does mean we'll need to go in with the team, though. I hope the rest of the repair team knows what's going on so nobody calls us out when we split off.
"I think most of us can and should travel as normal members of the GT&T crew," he said thoughtfully. "It's probably the best way to get past the prison guards without too many questions. Reli, Kage, and Mesa, you may want to acquire human morphs first."
-
I can't believe my idea was actually used, mine! With that i went up to the cube pressed my hand on it and a tingling sensation went through my body. This is going to be a real blast while it lasts, but then it is going to suck once we have to lose the technology.
"Did you just say we are going to the prison that my dad is the guard at?"
-
(Posting on the road, sorry if it isn't prime stuff)
Fisher’s chest tightened and he sucked in his breath as the Andalite delicately pulled out a small, blue cube. A Morphing cube, blue box, Escafil doohickey, whatever you call it. There it was in all of its tiny blue glory.
However while all of the others crowded near it, Fisher jumped to his feet and backed up, arms waving in front of him.
“Oh no, heck no. I ain’t going anywhere near that thing, I’m not stupid enough to try that morphing stuff!” He would have done it, a few years ago, but back at Harmony with nothing to do, they’d watched a lot of movies, horror flicks as well.
Horror producers had jumped for joy about the morphing technology, and soon the theaters were absolutely flooded with movies about people or Andalites or whatever who got stuck in half-morph or something and started going on demented killing sprees. And Fisher didn’t want to ever think about those freakish morph-porns, but he, and almost everyone’s did too, that the producers should be shot.
So now, especially after watching the gruesome and popular Tiger’s Eye series, Fisher was not going to touch a cube for a looong, long time. Patting his pistol, Fisher insisted.
“If push comes to push, I’ll stick with this baby.”
-
If Mesa had eyebrows, she would have raised one as she looked at Fisher. When she saw what was concerning him, she almost laughed. Movies? He was concerned about something he saw in movies. Surely you should know, she said to him. She figured it might be embarrassing for a human--sensitive as they were--to realize that what he saw was utterly false. That movies will always exaggerate. From what I know, you rarely get trapped in half-morph, and even then you don't turn into some kind of killer monster. We'll have Reli with us, she can time it. And as for the other thing you were thinking about...well, never mind that. Ix-Me, that was horrific. She quickly directed her mind elsewhere.
-
What on odd reaction from a soldier. He knew several people that held onto irrational fears, but this seemed a little overboard. For any average Jo, there wasn't anything irrational about it. But for a man trained for years to control his inner fears and do his duty regardless of them? Marty noticed the Hork-Bajir's reclusiveness. But that wasn't a surprise. Marty wasn't sure yet if he was considered a Seer yet or not... He had only spoken one word.
'It's not that exactly' he heard in his head. He looked at the Leeran with a slightly puzzled expression. She had a good point. He looked at her and nodded in agreement.
-
Jim raised an eyebrow. I thought soldiers were usually ready for tough missions, but now he's turning down something that could potentially save his life?
He refrained from commenting, though. Fisher must have had a good reason for his reluctance.
-
"Reli," Raya says, nodding firmly and committing the abbreviation of her name to memory. She backs quickly away from the device so that others can crowd around and gain the ability themselves. Once she is a few paces back she lifts her hand - the same hand that had just touched the Escafil Device - and looks at it with fascination. The skin looks no different, of course. But it can become different now, she realizes. I can become anything, so long as it has salvageable DNA. The thought sends a second tingle up her spine and she finds her attention drawn to the people around her. Each of them vastly different, and yet somehow connected now, through this technology. The fact that the Andalite was willing to utilize it strikes her as incredibly un-Andalite.
Perhaps this one is different, she reasons. There is little time to dwell on it, though. Tiberi is already hashing out the details of their mission. So soon? She wonders what excuses have been made to her family, who would be expecting her home from her classes soon.
-
Tiberi returns from the holo-monitor, addressing Chris, "Let me assure you that I do not deal in chance." ...often
"You were all chosen for specific reasons. Some of you may not yet understand why, but in time, I assure you, you will. That also includes your presence here, Kage." He looks at Kage, "I understand that, as a Seer, you have a duty to your people on your homeworld, but I also would like to stress that if the Kelbrid are working with the Yeerks to infiltrate Andalite space, then there is much that you can do here, with us, to help your world."
With the Corporals statement and Mesa's confusion I raise my hand to silence the room a moment. Before, when I left you, I accessed the Corporals Psych Evaluation. "Before, when I left you, I accessed the Corporals Psych Evaluation."
Before, when I left you, I accessed the Corporals Psych Evaluation.
Before, when I left you, I accessed the Corporals Psych Evaluation.
I continue, "We were fully aware of his possible reluctance to accept this ability. It seems that only the most extreme of situations may be enough to sway his decision, but let me stress to you all that this is a choice. You may choose to take this ability, or you may choose not to. Similarly, you may choose to accompany us on this undertaking without this ability. The only difference is that you will not have as much at stake as the rest of us."
I turn to address the Corporal directly, "Let me also inform you that, should you decide to turn down this ability, we have also made arrangements to have your fire-team briefed and made ready to join you, should you still decide to join us."
I continue, addressing you as a group, "As for our non-human compatriots, while we are a Galactic community, Human identities will still be prudent on earth for this particular journey. As such..." I reach down to a spot in the grass, redder than the rest of the pasture, and push with considerable effort. Three vials ascend, like some sort of sprinkler system. Each vials contains blood.
"These vials carry a sample of your blood, taking during your genetic screening process once you arrived on earth. A security measure to ensure your were not illegally attempting to enter or migrate to earth in the morph of a legal citizen." I pause to let this sink in. "As you may have already guessed, Andalite, Leeran and Hork-Bajir blood is not red. This is because we have modified these samples. These vials now contain the DNA of what you would look like, were you human. All appropriate identification documents have been created in association with theses samples."
It's Tiberi's turn to address the group, "As for transportation, I have arranged a private shuttle flight. You will leave this building via shuttle, enter low-orbit and descend towards the prison. This will cut down travel time from 90 minutes to half an hour." He then addresses Shaun, "And yes, your father will be there. Make no mistake, I know that you have visited him in prison and seen that he was an inmate there, but this is due to the nature of his employment. With every visit you have made to him, he has been moved to a separate correctional facility and incorporated as an inmate for that time. I feel you should know that there is a lot about your father and the nature of his past that you do not know..." Tiberi pauses.
Yes... He should know.
He looks at Shaun, his eyes smiling in the way only Andalite eyes can, which is a sight to see on a human body. "You father was a true and trusted friend of mine. He helped me adjust to human life when I was exiled, something he never had the luxury of."
((OOC: I'm letting Este, Seal and Scinalo choose what there human morphs look like in terms of hair, eye and skin colour, height, etc. These are essentially extensions of the characters you have created, so I'm leaving the creative control with you.))
-
<Forgive me for pointing out an unpleasant point, but firearms of any kind are forbidden inside human penitentiaries since rather early in human history. Furthermore, as long as it is used according to the instructions I gave, the technology itself poses no risk to the user. The only dangers inherent to morphing, specifically, are overstaying the time limit. As long as I am within thought-speech range, I will keep everybody posted on their individual times left safely within morph. As for injuries incurred by morphing, the same injuries can be incurred in your natural form, and demorphing automatically heals anything that doesn't kill you faster than you can demorph. Regardless, please do not feel pressured to use the technology- I only have said these things to clarify misunderstandings.>
-
Tiberi smiles. "Rest assured, Reli, there is always a postive and a negative in all things, even the Corporals choice. Even if you were to enter the prison as GT&T employees, you would still be required to stay under the watchful eyes of an armed security detail while there."
Tiberi then stands proudly, "As far as human technology has come, it has not come so far as to exceed Andalite standards. Entering the Corporal and his team into the prison database and assigning them as your armed detail will not be that difficult, even if I am limited to five fingers."
-
"What do you mean when you say he never had the luxury of, what didn't he have the luxury of?
This is way to much to take in about my dad i can't comprehend it all.
-
((Wireless!))
Fisher had never had his mind read by a Leeran before and he didn’t like it, not one bit. He jerked back, visibly irritated and gave an annoyed glance to the froggy looking creature.
“Don’t ever do that again.” Then noticing the odd looks he was getting from others, he defended himself. “Hey, if it hasn’t happened yet then the odds get better and better don’t they? We’re trained to operate in combat, not turn into animals and suppress emotions and all of that crap, that’s what the special forces do.” He then went silent as he listened to Tiberi address him. Boy, his team would never believe this.
Tiberi gave the aliens some ID, blood samples included, and proceeded to explain how they would be transported to the planet, they’d leave in an hour. He finished it all off with that creepy eye-smile and a
statement to Shaun.
The Andalite exhibition fighter, Reli, mentioned his TR would be taken. Tiberi corrected her, he and his unit would be an armed detail, security fellows. Fisher cracked a small smile, that would be good.
-
Chris shrugged when Tiberi didn't really answer his question. I'm going to be an apprentice. That's...ok, I guess. He didn't really care since he was getting a chance to do what he had dreamed of! He was getting a chance to do something like the animorphs had done.
-
Arhareli took the vial of re-coded blood and removed the stopper, slipping one slender finger into the fluid and acquiring the DNA it contained. She resealed the vial and examined the ID that had been given to her.
----------------------
Name: Walton, Reilly
Species: Human
Race: Caucasian
D.O.B.: Earth 10-07-2052
Eyes: Gene Mod Yellow FFFF33
Hair: Gene Mod Violet/Green 330066/003300
Height: 5'-9"
Weight: 152 lbs.
-------------------------
Reli glanced around at the humans' clothing, then looked at Tiberi.
<Do you have extra female human clothing available for my use? I suspect I would be noticeable without it. Also, do you have anything that the other humans can wear into morphs?>
-
It was very pleasing to hear that the Corporal and his fellow soldiers would likely be covering the required security detail. That made everything better, and more secure, at least for their party. It was impressive how thoroughly everything had been planned out. Marty liked the tidiness and completeness of it all. He couldn't help but smile at the clothing comment. "Yes. That would be much appreciated."
-
I smile at the inquiry and exit momentarily through the door on the right. When I return, I'm holding 9 pieces of cloth.
"These pieces of cloth represent the cutting edge in deep space exploration apparel." I say, "Each of these items is made with 'intelligent fabrics', being heavily laced with task-regulated nanites. Once wrapped around the body, the fabric recognises the form, mass and size of the wearer, expanding and contracting accordingly, completely covering the feet, all the way to the neck, increasing grip and friction on the hands and feet. These suits are also capable of accommodating to non-human form also, leaving hooves exposed for eating, blades exposed for working and gills exposed for breathing."
I hold up one of the pieces of cloth, "These are designed for use under most spacesuits, retaining body heat in extreme cold and effective up to -20 degrees Celsius. They are also flame retardant and composed a kevlar-like material, designed to protect against stray projectiles. Unfortunately, they offer no protection against energy weapons. These have been tested and will remain with the wearer after morphing and can be summoned to cover the appropriate morph. Unfortunately, the only choice in colour is black."
-
"Wow. That's cool. Do we each get one?" Chris asked.
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I start handing the suits around, "You'll all certainly need them."
-
One of the people started handing out suits.
I stood back trying to hide my stunted horn inconspicuously.
-
((Baroncanoll's character is Lee))
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Tiberi then looks toward Kage, as if becoming aware of his silence for the first time. "I feel that I must draw attention to our late arrival. Shy as he may seem, Kage here is a Seer from the Hork-Bajir homeworld, and a particularly driven Seer at that." Tiberi then addresses Kage directly, "I'm sure you know that this gift of morphing extends to you also, Kage. Is that not right, Reli?"
Finally, I take this chance to address Chris. "Your father was exiled to earth just over 35 years ago. He was once a decorated War Prince and an old one at that. Old enough to have been present in the Yeerk-Andalite war. It seems he wanted to atone for his past and start anew, fading into the background. From what we understand, he used the Frolis Maneuver using the DNA of several human infants in an effort to be 'reborn' as a human nothlit. As such, he has grown as a human for the past 35 years, living the life of a human, taking a wife as a human, raising a family and, for all intents an purposes, becoming human."
-
I responded to Tiberi, the first person to really directly address me since my arrival, "The gift of morphing? You want me to touch...the cube?" I asked, stunned. The Andalite government was very strict about the usage of the Escafil device. I'd barely ever seen one, much less approached it or touched it.
-
Mesa stared frostily at Fisher. You might as well ask the tide not to come in. I am psychic, sir, but I will not address you again if it suit you. She turned her back. Humans, she thought furiously. Insensitive...do they not understand that on Leera every has their minds read every day? Privacy is such a foreign concept, and I don't understand it one bit.
However, her attention was taken by the vials of blood. Intriguing. She said, stepping forward. She examined the official document attached.
Name: Melissa Terian
Species: Human
Race: Caucasian
D.O.B: Earth 02-15-2056
Eyes: Dark green 006600
Hair: Blond/brown CCCC00/663300
Height: 5' 9"
Weight: 143 lbs.
Mesa accepted one of the suits. Impressive technology. She said. Are we leaving immediately? We must be on a schedule.
-
Jim also accepted one of the suits and examined it. Black. Perfect for blending into shadows. I just hope we have plenty of those to hide in.
When Tiberi mentioned the suits wouldn't give any protection from energy weapons, Jim frowned slightly. That means we're on our own for Dracons. "Will these suits offer any protection from blades?" he asked. "Hork-Bajir blades, for example, or even knives."
-
Arhareli tucked her identification into her utility belt next to her Shredder, and then she took one of the morphing suits. She started her human morph, and immediately the suit sprang to life in her hand.
The black material looked like a hole in the fabric of space, absorbing light as it grew and spread over Arhareli's hands and arms. In a matter of seconds, it was completely covering her entire body except hooves, tail blade, and everything above her neck. She stopped morphing and examined the material where it covered her wrist.
<It appears that it responds to morphing energy as the activation stimulus; is that correct? This reminds me very much of the veleek. Would I be wrong in guessing that it also uses morphing technology as its nanites' power source? I am detecting a very thin localized exo-magnetic force field from them, presumably what would deflect stray projectiles but not beams. I would guess that unless a blade is a highly magnetic metal, it would not be deflected by this material, either....>
Arhareli caught herself musing and glanced up at the rest of the group.
<A similar material is used for practice tail-fights. Early in a fighter's training, his tail blade is coated in a highly magnetized gel, and he wears an exo-magnetic helmet and wrist-guards. In that way, misplaced lethal strikes are deflected from vulnerable areas, but the student can still learn how to achieve lethality at no real danger to the instructor. On the homeworld, it is still a very simplistic and specialized technology, and I would never have thought to apply it to a full-body morphing suit; really it is a very inventive adaptation of the technology.>
Arhareli didn't even try to suppress the grin in her "voice". This reinterpretation of familiar concepts had her excited, even eager to proceed with the mission.
Finally she addressed the Hork-Bajir seer,
<Yes, Kage; it is intended that you also use the morphing technology. Once you are done with it, I will assume my new human morph, and we will see where we go from there.>
-
"Yeah when exactly are we leaving and when do we acquire morphs." I already have a morph in mind my long time favorite and of course the trusted battle morph of my favorite Animorph Marco, the silverback gorilla.
-
Mesa smiled internally at Reli's musings. She probably needed some interesting technology after being away from the Andalite home world. Despite their advances, Earth will ever be primitive in the eyes of Andalites.
And Shaun already had a morph in mind. That made Mesa pause a little. What will I morph? Other than humans, obviously. What could have the same grace on the ground as Leerans did in the water? But she waited to start morphing human. As much as it surprised her, she was a little self-conscious about morphing. Leerans weren't exactly the most...attractive creatures. One morphing, with bones and skin and what-not all mooshing about, it wouldn't be very appealing. Rather gross, in fact.
But...something...w as off. Was it Tiberi? Something was sending off...vibes...and.. .what was it? Mesa poked around a little, but she sensed nothing unusual. Something was off....she could tell.
-
While Arhareli waited for the Hork-Bajir to use the Device, she contemplated to herself what she would add to her morphing repertoire. Unlike the others, her morphing ability was the permanent variety, gained when she first started her schooling.
Even so... I only have the Kafit Bird morph, and that is hardly an Earth creature. Anyway, I dislike how bulky it is; I may want something smaller, maneuverable... what was that smaller Earth-bird called, the one I liked? Kestrel? I will have to ask about it, when that time comes. In battle, I would rather be myself, of course, but if I cannot be myself, I will want an alternative with no shortage of sharp edges and speed.
-
Reyna accepted her suit without a word, holding the dark fabric against her chest once it was in her arms. One hand fingered the fabric in wonder. She watches each of the others as they do the same, during which time she realizes that her hesitance is not just borne from her personality. Something is bothering her. She clears her throat slightly, sidling around behind the others until she is nearer to Tiberi.
"Sir..." she says softly, "I understand that you wish for us to sneak into this...this prison. But what will we do once we are in? How will we locate the guy we're looking for? And if - when - we do find him, what are we going to do with him?" Surely he does not expect us to kill someone,Reyna wonders, feeling a bit ill at the thought.
-
I looked at the suit i was holding and couldn't help but overhear the girl named Reyna asking Tiberi a question. "I can find the guy we are looking for he happens to be my father."
She looked nervous so i decided to try and comfort her.
"Hey if we get into any trouble i'll protect you and make sure you escape before i do."
-
Mesa glanced up at Reyna. She asked a good question. Certainly it would be illogical to kill, though, this mission was rather discreet, she assumed.
She was rather surprised at Shaun, though. Are you sure we are looking for your father? she asked, looking back at Tiberi. And Reyna is older than you. She has been discriminated against all her life, she added silently. I'm sure she is capable of looking after herself.
-
I address the group, "We will depart as soon as everyone is ready. We have access to your psych profiles and have selected a genetic sample of an earth animal most suited to your personality. These will be made available to you on the shuttle, as well as a crash-course in morphing."
I then look towards Reli, addressing her question, "You're quite right. This suit represents the combination of Andalite tail fighting protocols as well as data garnered from human exploration of Saturn and it's moons. With some small adjustments, the suits can offer some protection from stray blade swipes, but not a full strength blow."
Listening to Reyna speak, I lose myself to a momentary thought. Just because we do not anticipate violence does not mean we should not prepare for it. Still... What will I think of myself knowing that I have recruited a group of innocents, some even being children, into a mission that, if it all goes into southern waters, could ultimately lead these people to taking a life... Is it worth maintaining this identity just to earn such trust that I could not, otherwise?
I decide to be as honest as I can. "Reyna, there is a risk in all things. I certainly have no intention of leading us into a situation that requires us to take the life of another, but I am not one to say what fate has in store for us. But I do sincerely hope that it does not come to that."
Once Shaun and Mesa voice there concerns regarding the contact, Tiberi speaks again. "I know exactly where to find your father. And yes, he is my contact. He is guarding a specific cell, of which Lee has memorised the location. If something does go wrong, however, I trust that Marty will be more than capable of accessing the database to learn his location. The man you are looking for is a guard by the name of Allan Oran."
-
((You did. :) Awesome. I'm going to bed after this one; g'night!))
Allan Oran? No- surely he can't mean-
Arhareli censored her own thought before it could be completed. Perhaps her flickering moment of recognition hadn't been noticed by the Leeran? Regardless, she forced it out of her mind and focused on speculative thoughts of morphs and the mission ahead.
-
Marty took hold of the strange fabric, watching it pour over Reli's morphing form. It was fascinating."Is there anyway to control how much area it covers? I've never been a long-sleeves kinda guy...." He said. It was true; he only wore a jacket if it was literally freezing outside, and he never wore long-sleeved shirts. It was just some weird thing about him.
Perhaps something weirder was learning the Chris' father was also an Andalite-Human nothlit. That was surely something worth remembering. And he was satisfied to hear he was right in assuming the Hork-Bajir was a Seer. No offense to the kind creatures, but the average Hork-Bajir wouldn't exactly pass as a GT&T employee, no matter what it morphed. And it was so very convenient for Tiberi to have individually selected morphs picked out for them in advance. Their group certainly had an upper-hand to the Animorphs when they entered the battle. It would be interesting to see what morph was chosen for him.
At the mention of him being expected to be able to locate their target in case of a change in plans, Marty smiled. "Ten dollars says I've got a modified version of whatever security system they use on my computer. I use them for holo-games I share with my friends. That part will be a piece of cake." What he said was mostly true. He knew most security programs and safeguards inside and out. He was familiar with nine out of ten systems he'd every heard of. It wasn't definite that he would know the exact program used, but he was sure he'd figure it out easily enough. "I'm interested in hearing what you've decided to say on my behalf about my absence, but regardless, I'm ready."
-
So they wouldn't be taking life. That was good. Mesa was peaceful, and thought that taking any life was extremely foolish. And the contact was Shaun's father? That might make it...difficult for him if something did arise.
And Reli recognized the name? But she cut off the thought...very frustrating! It started to bother Mesa to no end. But now Reli was thinking forcedly elsewhere, like she didn't want Mesa to see! This Andalite has hidden something from a Leeran, Mesa thought in wonder. How extraordinary.
Tiberi said he had picked out their morphs. That was good, she would probably find it rather natural to morph that creature, then.
-
Fisher heard, or thought, or felt the Leeran give him a rather irate response. How the devil did those frogs just live their whole lives having their minds read daily, that fisher would never know but he was hellbent on never, ever going to Leera.
As they were handed out they strange suits, he nodded in approval as he heard they had a the capability to deflect bullet, though in his heart he doubted anything could stop direct HK66 bullets. Oh well, he may find that out soon enough. Gingerly, he held it against his body, felt pretty good. It dropped to his side, held loosely in his right hand.
Questions were asked, Fisher was relieved this would probably be a non-lethal mission. But still, you could never know. Tiberi said they would leave as soon as all were ready, prompting Fisher to speak up.
“I’m good to go, where are my men?”
-
"Yeah i'm ready too, just as soon as we can get our morphs of course."
-
Reyna nods, not entirely satisfied, but thankful for his honesty. She was still uncertain, but in accepting the morphing power she had, in her mind, accepted everything that went along with it. The Andalite had said that she could walk away, escape the prejudice that had followed her all her life, make a new future for herself. Somehow that sat wrong with Reyna, though. I may not like Andalites, she thought, but this one has made a serious sacrifice in offering me this power. I can't walk out on that.
"I am ready as well," Reyna says, her voice so quiet that only those that are closest to her can hear.
-
"I wouldn't mind a chance to try out my morph before we go," Jim said. "I've heard it can be a little difficult to gain control sometimes, and I don't want to risk that in an important situation. It's ok if we don't have time for that, though."
Despite his statement that he didn't mind going without trying the morph, he was very uncomfortable with the idea. If something happens, I'd like to have it be now, where there's a chance for someone to handle it. We may not get that luxury on the mission...
-
<Actually, I have to agree with him. If any of the morphs are particularly dangerous, then the very best time to try them would be when both naturally-bladed individuals are here. If any morph goes out of control, I would be able to subdue it and keep it away from the humans. Likewise, if I lose control in morph, then our Hork-Bajir friend would be equipped to stop me from rendering harm to the others here... if he does not object to it, and if the timing is not poor for the existing plans.>
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"That seems like a good idea, though you seem to have the planning for this expenditure down to a very precise level. I'm assuming this was the 'crash-testing' that you mentioned though, because you surely considered the initial reactions to instincts, especially for beginning morphers. Also, I am very interested in seeing what was chosen for me. I have a feeling I'll enjoy it." Marty was rather excited about the surprise awaiting him. It was like opening a present or something. Surely it was something good, with a lot of thought put into it.
-
"Yes, where are we going to acquire morphs." Chris really wanted to acquire some sort of big cat, after all his football nickname was 'Big Cat'.
-
Tiberi raised his hand, "Let me assure you that I have taken every precaution in catering to those new to morphing. Even the presence of an Andalite or a Hork-Bajir is no guarantee against potential violence should a person become lost to a morph and being rendered unconsciousness while in morph is always incredibly risky. The shuttle that will be taking you to the prison is outfitted with a secure isolation room which I intend for each of you to use in order to become accustomed to your new morph. Communication and observation will be entirely possible in order to help each of you ease through this transition."
-
"That sounds excellent. Let's go."
-
Tiberi looks at the time on the holo-monitor,"I'm afraid we'll need to conclude this on the shuttle. We're on a very tight schedule. I will remain here in an effort to offer any external assistance in case it is needed. Lee, show them to the shuttle."
"Yes, Tiberi." I say, escorting you all through the door on the right. The room is revealed to be a launching room for the shuttle, which is pointed directly at an already open roof, capable of closing on command. Directing you all to a platform elevator, we rise to the entrance to the the shuttle. "Mind your step. It may seem like you're stepping off into a vertical drop, but the artificial gravity will make the 90 degree angle seem as negotiable as walking down a hill."
Upon entering the shuttle, the craft is revealed to contain the same decor as the office as well as the Corporal's fire-team, waiting patiently, having already been briefed. The rear of the shuttle is sealed into two rooms. The left is the secure isolation/observation room and the right is locked by a secure Andalite locking device, keyed to a certain genetic sequence.
I briskly walk to a control panel as the last of you enter the shuttle and, without another word, close the door and initiate launch. Within less than half a minute, you all realise that the shuttle has already taken off, the inertia dampeners making it feel as though the craft has not moved at all.
"From here, we have approximately 45 minutes until we have reached the prison. In half that time, we will reach low orbit." I say, addressing all of you. I activate the auto-pilot and walk to the rear of the ship, opening a cabinet next to the isolation room door, revealing a series of vials containing blood and the name of each individual t is intended for.
"These contain the DNA of the animals best suited to your person." I say, handing out the vials, "Mesa, for you we have a Leopard. Marty, for you, a Grey Wolf. Reyna, similarly, you have been provided with the DNA of an Arctic Wolf. For Shaun, a Silverback Gorilla. Reli, we have selected a Bengal Tiger for you, Jim, for you we have the Polar Bear... Chris has been selected for Lion and for Kage we have selected the Northwestern Wolf."
I stop, allowing everyone to consider their morphs before looking at the time. "If you'll excuse me momentarily, it is half past five. I must inform Tiberi that you have all received your morphs and make preparations"
With this, I unlock and open the right-side door, entering and locking it behind me, leaving you to your discussions.
-
Marty was delighted at the sight of the shuttle, already prepared. This whole scenario was very thrilling, and he was beyond enjoying himself as he watched their story pan out. And so far, it had done so to perfection. Everything, exactly right. He knew that the order and precision of the mission wouldn't exist after they arrived at the prison, at least not at the same level. That was when the unknown variables would sneak in, the unpredicted events that would alter the plan. But it was impressive how many of these unknowns Tiberi had rightly assumed and prepared for before this day.
The step off the platform gave him an odd feeling, but not one he hadn't experienced before. The shuttle itself was almost as wonderfully natural as the office had been. It was smaller quarters, for sure, but the party wouldn't be cramped, or even inconvenienced. Marty reached out to shake hands with and greet each of the fire-team members, glad for their company. “Hello. I'm Marty.” he said simply, with a grin. But before any small talk could begin, Lee brought their attention to the vials. He was suddenly aware that Tiberi had planned on them acquiring the morphing capabilities Reli had shared with them. Either he had known that Reli would have it available and be willing to lend the morphing cube's use (from a source of his, no doubt), or he'd had his own means of bestowing that ability. That was a truly intriguing puzzle, one he may not ever know for sure. Perhaps he would ask Lee after he had a free moment or two.... Lee explained to them what the vials contained, and distributed them.
The Grey Wolf. Marty instantly saw it as an excellent choice. It was fast, it was smart, able to plan and evaluate. The wolf didn't tire easily, it wasn't too big and bulky, nor was it small and defenseless. The senses would be remarkable, the strength and speed, unimaginable. He could evade, he could run, he could maneuver... Marty had accepted the decision immediately, not that he'd had much choice in the matter. As a wolf, he would be able to still perform his tasks; surveillance, reconnaissance, espionage. He hadn't been wrong to look up to Tiberi. Even though he wasn't born human, he was the smartest one he'd ever known. This planning must have taken months, if not years. Better yet, there were two other wolves, albeit different species. Wolves were pack animals, and together with Reyna and Kage, the three of them would be able to function so effectively. Without hesitation, Marty pulled the stopper out of the vial, and dipped his finger tip into the blood sample.
After the others had received theirs as well, Marty asked openly, "Who wants to use the isolation room first?"
-
Chris was very excited about this. Lions may not be his favorite animal but they were powerful. They also were big cats. He realized from his studies of the Yeerk-Andalite war that it would be necessary to get some flight morphs for transportation but that could come later. He popped the top of his vial, and dipped his finger in, focusing on the lion. He had learned a lot about this stuff from his interest in the Yeerk-Andalite war. "I'll use it." He said looking to see if any one else want to use it first.
-
So they were on a schedule. Mesa started off after Lee, her feeling of something being off prickling at the back of her mind again. It was maddening, like a name being on the tip of your tongue, but you can't quite place it. She angrily shoved those feelings to the back of her mind and focused on the trip in front of her. She instead focused on the technology around her. The artificial gravity felt odd, but it was a good piece of equipment. And the shuttle was practically the same as the office. Mesa was a little disappointed at the lack of water, but she accepted it diplomatically. You knew you were getting into this when you left Leera, she reminded herself.
Fisher's squad was there. Mesa did not shake their hands, if they were anything like Fisher they would avoid her. She merely nodded a little, saying And I am Mesa-Teern. Call me Mesa. after Marty greeted them. And now to find out what morph had been chosen for her.
The leopard. Mesa wracked her brains. She remembered, vaguely, someone saying something about a leopard once...that it was a big cat? She had limited knowledge, but if it was anything like she expected then it would be wonderful. She was eager to test out her new morph--and her human morph--but she was willing to let others go first. She opened the vial, dipping a tentacle in. She focused on that blood, welcoming it into hers. Go right ahead, Chris, she said. I would also like to test my human morph if we have time--I am not expecting you humans to have overwhelming instincts, but I would like to go in there prepared.
-
Fisher followed Lee through the door and into the launch bay. He got a sense of vertigo as he seemingly stepped off into a drop, but that quickly passed as the artificial gravity held. Holding out his arms to stabilize himself, he kept himself upright and continued in.
Inside were Baxter, Johan and Ben-David. Fisher immediately brightened up, and a grin spread across his face. They saw him and immediately straightened up a bit, snapping off salutes. He casually returned and it as the others introduced themselves to his team.
They shook their hands and greeted Marty, and politely said hello to the Leeran before branching over to Fisher as they all got aboard and the shuttle took off from the station and headed towards Earth.
Besides and initial rumble from the engines, Fisher didn’t feel a thing and went over to greet his friends as Lee gave the others blood vials to acquire their morph DNA
“So I guess you guys got the brief on the situation then?” Baxter nodded, he was almost Fisher’s second in command, guys just naturally listened to him.
“Yeah, that Tiberius, Tiberi feller gave us the four-eleven on what we’re going to do. I think it’s pretty crazy myself. I mean come on, some mega-powerful alien race we’ve never heard of called the Kelbrid are transmitting signals from a jail cell? Sounds like a bunch of crap to me, but at least we’ll be doing something other than what was at Harmony.” Johan piped up from the back then.
“Yeah, Harmony’s a pretty dull place after awhile, nothin’ to do except smoke those Jumpers.” He said in reference to Harmony’s semi-dangerous rodents. Fisher nodded in agreement.
“Yeah, and even that get’s dull after awhile. It is good to be doing something else. Though I have a feeling this isn’t a load of crap,” He looked at Baxter. “I mean, I don't think Mr. Blue got to be in charge of GT&T by being a fruitcake. I think something will be down there, though I ain’t sure it’s gonna be a Kelbrid spy.” He checked the others; they were getting ready to check out their morphs in the testing chamber. He grabbed a seat on a nearby couch, slumping into the very soft material to rest, it’d be a bit of a trip.
-
((As it happens, I have by an awkward variety of luck managed to delay departure by a few hours... just long enough to make one post here and finish wrapping a gift for my grandmother. After this one, I'm gone until 12-26-10. Happy Christmas!))
Arhareli took the vial containing the tiger's DNA and quickly made the acquisition. She recalled from her early childhood a holobook she had read about Earth animals. The details ran through her head in a rapid litany of the tiger's virtues.
The tiger... it was dark red-orange, striped with black... presumably a very basic camouflage to break up its visual outline. Averaging in the vicinity of eight Earth feet long for females, ten for males... good either way, just large enough, and not bulky. Amazing senses. Fast-twitch muscular strength in all limbs and the jaw. Perfect balance, ability to move fairly well in water, but strongly prefers land. Most important- sharp edges everywhere. Claws, teeth. Fast like a tail-blade. Not the same species as the human morpher Jake, but a close relative, and smaller... but faster, and suited to a hot climate instead of a cold climate, so less conservative about how it uses its energy to fight... therefore, pound-for-pound, stronger. Ears can pivot, making up the function lost by stalk-eyes.
Reli smiled slightly and whispered, half to the DNA in the vial, half to herself,
<Hello, tiger. I think I like you. We will work well together.>
Arhareli tucked the vial away into her utility belt, along with the vial of her "own" human DNA. Then she stood back from the rest of the group and waited for them to finish using the practice room.
Unlike the rest of them, I do have experience with one morph... but the Kafit Bird is neither a predator nor a primate. I will wait my turn and practice after everybody else is done; in the mean time, it is enough for me to enjoy the view of this place, crazy technological hybrid that it is.
-
Chris headed into the isolation room. He closed and locked the door and focused on being a lion. At first nothing seemed to happen then he felt an itching feeling around his neck. He reached up with his hands but stop when he saw they wear covered with golden fur. He felt his neck and realized he had a mane! His hands changed to paws and his nose elongated in front of his eyes. He felt his ears shift to the top of his head. He turned to the one mirror in the room in time to see his knees bend backward. He fell to the ground on all fours and turned his head to watch his tail stretch out of his behind. He turn around. He didn't understand why he was contained. He hated being contained! He let out a roar. "Graawrg!"
-
I exit the room just as Chris finishes his morph, with one fundamental difference. I'm in Leeran morph.
Focus, Chris. I say, publicly, Your name is Chris. Think back. Remember playing football. To the rest of you, I explain. Sorry, but one of us is needed to be Leeran in the prison. Ordinarily that would have been Mesa, but there are some things in there she is better off not knowing, and being in human morph is a secure way to assure that.
-
Mesa jerked with surprise as the familiar psychic tones rang through her mind. Another Leeran! But no, it was Lee. Still, he understands better than anyone here how privacy is so strange to me. She thought, realizing with some joy that Lee could hear what she just said. It was strange, really, feeling glad that someone could hear what you were thinking. But it was what she was used to and enjoyed.
I thought we were beyond the secrets, Mesa said after Lee was done speaking. Was this what she felt was off? Or was it something else?And besides, will I not just find out when I demorph? I am not complaining that I get to morph, she added, but I am used to being a Leeran and it seems like it would be easier.
-
I looked at the vial and was so surprised that i actually got the morph that i wanted and will be able to use it.
"If it isn't a problem to anybody else i would like to go next."
-
By all means, Shaun.
To Mesa, I reply, There is a time and a place for everything. And sometimes, there are even things a Leeran is better of not knowing.
Arhareli starts at the appearance of Lee in his morph. That explains the other room, then.
To Chris, she offers guidance. <Remember, Chris, you are human. Remember who you are, anchor yourself to what makes you happy. What makes you you.>
-
Chris slowly comes back to himself. He realizes he had lost himself to instincts. <I'm fine. I'm in control. Wow. I had heard about watching out for instinct in morph but I didn't realize they were that strong. This is an awesome animal! No wonder they call the lion the 'king of beasts'. I'll be out in a minute or two.> Chris began focusing on his human self again and slowly and randomly his lion body was replaced by his human body. He unlocked the door after a few minutes. "That was sweet!"
-
Jim silently acquired his polar bear's DNA, then watched as Chris morphed the lion. The morphing was definitely not pretty to see, but not as bad as he had heard. It seemed too easy to lose control of the morph, though, and that was worrying. I wonder how strong the polar bear's instincts will be? It's a predator, and a strong one at that, so it'll probably want to hunt. I wonder if I can control that...
He would have started pacing the floor, but didn't want the others to realize that he was worrying so much. Not like I can hide that from you anyway, Lee and Mesa, he thought wryly. Oh well. Any suggestions on keeping control?
-
A second Leeran? This was even more interesting than Marty had already thought. He hadn't even known that Lee was morph-capable. So Tiberi did have an Escafil Device, it seemed. Fascinating. It was true what his Communications Tech instructor had said during one of his rants; "If you control information, you control everything." Marty watched Chris as he changed to and from his newly acquired lion morph. He seemed to have stayed in morph just long enough to gain that crucial initial control over the first barrage of instincts. Marty wondered what wolf instincts were like.... He would take his turn in the room once there was an opening.
-
I speak to Jim, privately, Keeping control is as easy as holding onto a memory, sometimes. Something that helps you define you as you. Other times, depending on the instincts of the morph, it can be a true battle. I anticipate that yo will not have much trouble with the Polar Bear morph. Humans are not all that different in their predatory nature.
-
Thanks for the advice, Jim thought. He immediately knew which memory to hold: his first time writing a computer program. That had been a defining moment in his life, and he was certain he could keep the memory firmly in mind.
Much less worried, he settled down to wait for his turn in the morph-testing room.
-
Chris looked around the room. "Who's next?"
-
"I'll go", i said as i started walking towards the room. I entered the room and locked the door so i wouldn't be able to escape. I walked into the middle of the room and faced the others. I then started thinking about the gorilla and the way it looks and how it moves and concentrated on the fur, I started to feel an itch and looked at my hands they were covered in fur! My arms grew next they just increased in size and just kept growing it was like they were never going to stop, while this was happening my feet started to shift and started to look like hands. My legs shortened and my chest became bare and leathery, as did my face. The morph was complete. The instincts didnt hit me that hard all i knew is that i was hungry and wanted food so i started walking around until i came to the mirror and said to everybody <Does anybody have any food for me im pretty hungry in this morph?> I then realized i needed to take more control so i did and i decided that i was in control and could do it again so i thought about my human self and after a little over a minute I was myself again. That was fun.
-
With his new Human and Wolf DNA infused, Kage decided to practice morphing...the Wolf of course, since he had nothing to cover his nude human morph.
His beak softened, becoming a furry snout. His nostrils narowed and moved to the front of his mouth. They became wet, and fused into the terran canine nose.
He shrunk! 5' 7". 5'. 4' 3". 3'. 2' tall. He fell onto his arms, which became paws with non-retractable claws. Then, his rear legs followed suit...
Ears sprouted, like sonar dishes. Fur covered him. His tail shortened. He growled.
He was the wolf.
-
Well done, Kage, I say, once he has finished morphing, You too, Shaun. Now Kage, focus on what I'm saying to you, focus on your role as a Seer. Concentrate on returning to your Hork-Bajir form.
-
After Lee had given Jim tips on morphing, Mesa added, Emotion is nothing to be ashamed of. But Lee and I should be able to help if you loose control, given that we can sense if you did.
Shaun morphed, and he didn't have any problems. He was only hungry. But when Chris had morphed, it had taken a little bit. Well, I realize how the instincts can be, since I am psychic, Mesa said to herself. So hopefully I won't have any problems. May I use the isolation room next? She asked, looking around. She was very eager to find out what it was like.
-
"Kage seems to be taking it quite well." It seems that I'm just weak-minded. Chris tried not regret his abilties but he couldn't help it.
-
((Resurrection is now PAUSED. We will recommence on the 27th of December, the latest being the 28th of December Have a Happy Holiday, Merry Christmas, Festive Hanukah, Peaceful Kwanzaa and (for all the Pagans out there) a Pleasant, albeit belated Yule for the 20th-22nd just passed!!!))
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((May I have the honors? It is December 28. Just delete my comment if I'm too early.))
The Wolf.
I felt the urge inside me. Kill. It wanted to eat. Terran creatures had always been very violent, especially when seen next to creature from my own world.
The voice in my head told me to return to Hork-Bajir form. Hork-Bajir form.
I focused on my own body. I am a seer. That is why I was on this mission. I am not a Wolf.
My snout hardened and became a green beak. The nostrils moved back to their original positions. My ears became flat and unobtrusive. My fur melted together, and became a green scaly system.
I grew. 3 to 4 feet higher than the Wolf form. My tail grew, rippled with muscles I had somehow forgotten. The blades grew back into place...
And my forward horn grew...grew...stopp ed. It was a genetic mutation. It was in my DNA. I had a stumped horn. I wasn't getting out of it.
I was Hork-Bajir again.
-
The trip onto the space shuttle is a bit unnerving for Reyna, and her stomach lurches uneasily as she steps aboard. For a moment she is worried that she will lose her lunch, but luckily her brain quickly compensates for the change in gravity and after a moment it is as though there were no change at all.
When Lee appears with the vials of blood, Reyna is the last to acquire her chosen morph. Wolf, she notes, wondering why he may have chosen it for her. According to Lee and Tiberi all of the morphs were chosen specifically for the morpher. What about me screams 'wolf'? Then she realizes that two others have been given a wolf morph. They're putting me in a pack. I already stand out enough as it is, and they're making it so that I am part of a group. Reyna isn't sure whether she is happy about this or not, but she acquires the DNA without any fuss.
When Chris steps into the chamber to morph Reyna discreetly looks away, continuing to stare at the floor through Shaun and Kage's morphs. She has seen one too many movies that feature morphs gone wrong, and the thought of watching it in real life makes her a bit queasy. Better get used to it, part of her warns. You'll be up before long. Quickly she finds something else to think about.
-
Well done, Kage, I say, nodding at him as he leaves the isolation room, Mesa, if you feel ready, then please proceed.
-
Kage seemed to have taken control rather quickly of the wolf morph. He watched very closely, paying apt attention to his behavior, and the process in general. It had to be such an experience to actually become another creature. What a wonder of technology.
-
Chris felt weak because it had been hard for him to control the instinct and the others seemed to do it so easily.
-
I walked up to a person who seemed to be very distinguished, "Hello. I am the one Tiberi introduced as Kage Gretha. How are you?"
-
((OOC: I haven't posted in awhile, so I guess I'll jump on this one. *shrug*))
Arhareli turned to face Kage.
<I am Arhareli-Winwall-Ajaht; I am well enough, but I am also eager to get on with the mission. What of you?>
-
"Also eager. And well. Too well I suppose. But well."
-
Mesa nodded to Lee and stepped into the isolation room. She focused on a rough image she had garnered from one of the human's minds. Focused on what it must be like. Strong. Fast. Like a Leeran swimming. Soon, there was a strange sound as one set of tentacles retracted into her body, and the other began to thicken. Her legs grew and lengthened, and with a strange grinding noise she was soon horizontal. Her body lengthened, and the base of her head was squeezed into a neck. The top of her head shrunk as the froglike shape of her body vanished into one smooth torso. Fur began to sprout, itching slightly, a tawny golden with spots dotting its length. The last thing to grow was a tail, stretching out.
Mesa prepared herself, but the slamming wave of instincts was still shocking. She tensed, growling and looking around. Small space! No good! No room to run! Strange scents. But she was the predator. The--NO! She was Mesa. Mesa-Teern. A Leeran. She managed to suppress the instincts, and morph back into her normal Leeran form. That was definitely bizarre. She said as she stepped out of the isolation room. But I believe I am ready.
-
Marty marveled at the others as they morphed, simply because it was such a fascinating thing to watch. It was particularly interesting watching the froglike Leeran become feline. After the Seer and the Leeran had finished, Marty stepped in the room, latching the door behind him, as the others had. He removed his outer layer of clothing, only the black suit remaining. He closed his eyes, and recalled in his mind Kage's morph, and everything he knew of the creature he was to become. Their keen eyesight. Their unmatched hearing. Their sense of smell that no man could imagine. People may as well be blind when compared to the wolves' ability to learn about their environment through the subtlest scents. He thought about what it would be like... being able to smell the others who'd already been here. Lion, gorilla, Leopard, another wolf. In fact, he wasn't just imagining.
While his eyes were closed, Marty's jaw jutted out, and his whole head narrowed. His teeth rearranged themselves, grew to points, and filled his mouth. And his nose crawled to the front of his muzzle, becoming black, and damp. Marty became aware of the other changes. His knees had switched directions with a sudden pop, and a cracking sound that should have hurt. And his legs were covered in shaggy gray fur. Within moments, he was Canis Lupus, the Gray Wolf.
It was exciting for Marty. Exhilirating. Wolves liked to run, and he would have, but there was no room here. Wolves were pack animals, highly social, yet there were no others. Marty howled. But no one came. After a few seconds, Marty said, <The wolf doesn't like being alone. It bothers him. And Kage has a noticeably male wolf morph, by the way. Good thing we didn't try morphing together....>
-
Jim watched as Mesa morphed - that was definitely a weird sight, seeing the frog-like Leeran take the grace and power of a big cat. She seemed to lose control for just a moment, but it was over so fast he wasn't even sure it had happened, and then she was demorphing.
Marty didn't seem to have even a hint of trouble controlling his morph. In fact, he was apparently comfortable enough to try out thought-speech... I hope my morph goes that well. Might as well try it...
"Can I go next, please?" he asked.
-
By all means, I reply to Jim, Marty, Mesa, Kage, you all did quite well.
To Chris, I say privately, Sorry to intrude, but I sense the feelings of inadequacy that you have. Let me assure you that everyone experiences some troulble controlling their first morph. If I may say so, you handled yourself better than I did, the first time I morphed.
-
"Re..." I mean, really? Thanks for reassuring me. Chris felt better because of what Lee had said.
-
Mesa felt slightly bad. So focused has she been on her own morph that she hadn't noticed Chris. I only kept control because I could sense how strong the instincts are before I morphed. Do not worry about it. Pay attention, she scolded herself.
-
Do not worry, Mesa, I say to her, privately, It's one thing to read thought, it's another entirely to be completely Ke to the people around you. When you spend everyday of your life hearing the thoughts of others, it's easy to overlook the little things.
-
Mesa visibly jerked in surprise. Ke? She demanded privately. You are Ke sensitive? How did you acquire that morph?
The human equivalent of a Ke would be something like an empath, sensitive to the emotions of those around you. He must have spent much time on Leera, she thought in wonder. To know about this. Could this relate to the...unease I was feeling earlier?
-
<Well, I suppose I will go now.>
Arhareli stepped into the room and locked it, took off her belt and hung it on a peg on the wall, and she immediately began the tiger morph. Her fur shifted pattern to serve as jungle camouflage; her stalk-eyes and tail-blade simultaneously shrank away, leaving her feeling momentarily defenseless-
-until her hands and hooves reshaped into massive paws with long, black claws, and her vision took a level in clarity and sensitivity to movement.
She sank down onto four limbs, felt the dense feline muscles layering over each other under her fur... felt the mind of a solitary apex predator rise beneath her own. The tiger was unperturbed that it could smell wolves, and it could smell human and tiger blood coming from the belt on the wall... it could also smell her own Andalite presence from a moment before, and Arhareli was startled by how much it resembled prey... but the tiger didn't like these walls.
I agree; I dislike enclosure. I don't expect to need this morph more often than my own form... I prefer to engage combat with tail and Shredder... but I can cooperate with these instincts to protect myself, at need. This is good and sufficient.
<That went well and without surprises; while I am here I think I should try my human morph as well.>
Reli demorphed, taking her time to avoid fatigue, and then she started her human morph. The tiger had prepared her to lose her stalk-eyes and primary defenses, but she was still startled by the complete loss of external balancing mechanisms.
Reli managed to stumble to the nearest wall for support until the morph was complete.
She looked down at her hands, only ten digits now... the morphing suit which had shifted to cover most of her body. Then she attempted speech, mimicking the way she had seen humans position their mouths for sounds.
"Mmmmyyy nnnname izzz Arharellliii. Hmmmn. The mmmm sound and the zzzz sound arrre verrry satisfying. Ing. Fying? I think- ink? I think I will need to practice speaking ing normalllyyy... or elsssse I should not speeak at allll in front ovvvv people outside our group. Oh! vvvvv is startling! Alssso, how do humannnnz manage with onlyyy two legzzz?"
Arhareli took a tentative step from the wall, felt her balance shift forward suddenly, and shot out the other foot awkwardly in an attempt to catch herself.
"Thisss will need some work. I will demorfffffffffff now. Fffffff."
She retreated into her natural form as quickly as she could and stepped out of the room, and she adjusted her belt around her waist.
<Well, I believe that is everybody. What now?>
-
Excellent. Well done, Reli. Since I anticipate that it may take some getting used to, we'll have Marty carry you on his shoulders and explain that you had a tool box dropped on your foot as we were unpacking. I look at the shuttle panel for the time.
It's been half an hour. I have to make sure to remember that. It means I have only an hour and a half until I need to 'excuse' myself again. I shake my head clear.
We will be landing shortly.
We will be landing shortly.
I look at everyone, We will be landing shortly. I ask that all those that need to, take your human morph. Everyone else, please don your morph suits. Corporal, you and your team my keep them under your clothes for now.
I run my tentacles over the shuttle control, turning the walls transparent. Beneath us, an island is approaching, positioned in a random part of the ocean.
Upon closer inspection, the island is revealed to be artificial. A ship, deigned to submerge and move at random throughout the ocean and even capable of entering orbit. Whatever this prison is, it's kept on the move to prevent anyone or anything learning of its' location. How Tiberi came to learn of its' existence alone is a testament to his resources.
But the most interesting part is its' design. The architecture of the island itself is reminiscent of the Military Industrial Machine that has come to be associated with earth technologies, but the weapons systems guarding it are Andalite. Shredder Cannons, to be specific, used only on Dome Ships and heavy duty Andalite craft.
It's clear that the prisoners here are under the highest guard that human and Andalite technology can achieve.
As the shuttle begins its' final descent, you are all given a chance to prepare.
-
Lee was avoiding the question. Idiot! Mesa thought. Just read his mind. So she focused in on Lee's mind, but all his thoughts were directed elsewhere. He was trying to misguide her, she was sure. But just as she was about to try some poking around in his memory, the news that they would be landing shortly interrupted her. I'll have to morph human now, she realized. Holding the morphing suit close, she began to morph, and it instantly wrapped around her, fitting her now shifting form perfectly. She focused on the humans around her, imagining her own froglike shape changing, becoming one of them.
She grew, first, which had to be rather disturbing. Soon, her skin was smoothing out again. Again, the head grew, the lobe at the top shortening and the bottom being squeezed into a neck. One set of tentacles vanished entirely, while the other thickened and began to form hands. Mesa was balanced as she had two legs in the first place, but what she didn't expect was the...
silence.
She had been focusing on the leopard's instincts, she hadn't noticed. There was no low hum of the background noise of other people's minds. Just her own thoughts, echoing emptily. "Aaah!" She yelped, spinning around. "Wh...what...it's...why is it silent?" She paused for a moment, breathing heavily. "Oh," she realized, and flushed. "I am no longer psychic....and I'm speaking! Ing. Kuh-ing. K is a wonderful, sharp sound. Sshhhhh. Smooth. Ssss. Oh dear. Duh-ear. Ear-uh. This will take, aKE, getting used to. To. T." She flushed again. Perhaps I better not speak either, she thought.
-
Arhareli reluctantly re-morphed human, now a bit more accustomed to the balance-shift... but still hating the raw feeling of being defenseless.
She turned her head, such an unnatural gesture... and faced Mesa.
<If it will help, I can keep up a constant thought-speech communication with you. Unlike the natural humans here, you and Kage and I will have thought-speech capabilities in our human morphs. In fact, I think it would be wise for us to stay in communication. It will suppress our urge to speak aloud, allow us to report the time left in morph and anything we notice to the team 'silently', and hopefully reduce your discomfort at not hearing the thoughts of others.>
-
I relaxed visibly once Mesa morphed into her human form, allowing myself a moments respite.
AH!!! Thank goodness!!! BIRDS, WATER, THE PRISON, ALLAN ORAN!!! This is taking far too much focus. I don't know how long I can be expected to keep this going, letting Mesa know I know what a Ke Sensitive is was almost too much of a slip. Now for the prison. If the Kelbrid are using anything like what we found, then that can only mean...
I finally allow myself to become lost in thought for the first time in a while.
-
Marty smiles at Arhareli and Mesa's reactions to being human. It was a typical response for most aliens that morphed human. Many of them said that humans were physically disadvantaged due to their methods of balance and motion, but Marty disagreed. He'd seen human gymnasts performing tricks that would make an Andalite jealous.
"I'd be glad to help you until you're comfortable with two legs, Reli. I'm assuming that you won't be needing help though, Mesa." He assumed that the transition wouldn't be too much different than her natural form.... at least as far as the bodily changes went. Apparently the mental changes were startling for her. "So, if you don't mind me asking, what are the human instincts like?"
They begin their descent. Marty smiles at how far human tech has come in the past few decades alone. It wasn't that long ago when passengers who weren't buckled into their seats would be tossed around by the turbulence of landing. He looks at Reyna, the only one left to use the room. He hoped that she had time to still use it....
-
"The hyewwwwman mind izzz mmmore prooone to disstracshunnn thannn I exxxxcpected. Ected. Ex. Instead of focussssing very sharply on one line of thhhhought and maintainingggg a general awarenessss of its envvvvironment-ment, it triesss to follow. Ollow? follow several thoughtsss at once. Unce. Wunce. It also hazzz an opppppp? Opportunistic quality, like the tiger. It feels almost predatory compared to the Andalite-ite mind. Also less wary than Andalites. But that makes sense-ense, becuzzzz humanzzz are omnivorous. Oh! Omnivorous! I like that word! Omnivorous. Eeemohshunz are more sudden, too. Omnivorous."
-
"Huh. I guess that's what one might expect." Marty smiled. He didn't think the way the two of them spoke was funny really, just fun. Here were two beings who had never spoken audibly, and they were already communicating well enough with their voices to get a message through.
-
Chris snorted as he stifled a laugh. The two most articulate people here were exploring audible speech for the first time. Is was very funny.
-
Reyna took this opportunity as a sign. Everyone seemed distracted by the fact that they were landing and had failed to notice her in the background and had yet to morph for the first time.
I suppose I should be grateful for small favours. she thought, silently entering the isolation room in order to morph without the scrutinizing eyes of the other. If she messed up her first morph, she didn't want to be largely noticed, especially by Reli. She was less likely to see her morph without her stalk eyes.
Reyna locked the door and closed her eyes, visualizing the Arctic Wolf.
Her teeth were the first to change, here canines lengthening and sharpening to accommodate a meat-based diet. In fact, it seemed that her head was the first to change before any other part of her body. She watched her nose contort and stretch in front of her, as well as her upper and lower jaw. Her nose flattened, fusing to her upper jaw. As Reyna looked down, she saw the pattern of the fur begin to appear on her arms and legs, a grayish-white pattern that eventually started to itch and take on depth as furn started to grow from her body. Her eyesight dimmed, but at the same time, her hearing and sense of smell increased incredibly!
This is amazing! Reyna thought, It's only been a few minutes since the others were in here, but I can still smell them as if they were right next to me! Even their morphs!
Falling forward, Reyna was only dimly aware of the morph completing, her hands fusing and contorting into paws, her joints and organs shifting. The smells and sounds were just incredible! Then, the mind of the Wolf surfaced.
t could smell the other animals that had been present in here and became wary, but at the same time it also smelled the other wolves that had been present, also. Yet the wolf was not immediately keen to join these other wolves, it was wary. The wolf did not know their scent and was more inclined to avoid them, to watch them, to learn about them before thinking to join them. It was comfortable to remain a lone wolf.
Just like me.
That was all it took. With that echo of a thought, Reyna made the connection between who she was and who the wolf was. She remembered who she was, how she felt alone yet, at the same time, was more comfortable that way, to be left by herself with her own thoughts. She felt a akin to the wolf and, with that connection, brought its' instincts under control.
With that, Reyna focused on herself again and began to demorph before the others noticed. Her limbs lengthened first, this time with her skull demorphing last. It was bizzare, almost exactly like rewinding her wolf morph. Most likely by some random chance of morphing.
As Reyna finally regained the last of her features, covered in the morph suit she had been given, Reyna left the isolation room, taking her place behind the group again, but this time she felt more confident, more comfortable. She felt reassured by the Wolf, looking forward to morphing it again, hopefully soon.
Across the room, still not looking at Reyna, I hear her thoughts and feel her Ke as she undergoes her first morph. As she leaves the isolation room in her own thoughts, I can't help but smile in that weird, frog-like way that only a Leeran can.
-
Mesa gratefully thought-spoke back to Reli. <Thank you,> she said gratefully. <This is unnerving. I don't know how humans can do it.>
In answer to Marty's question, Mesa listened to Reli, then nodded. "You, yeeeeeeeeew, are sssssurprisingly, ing, ing-LEE, aware of your surroundingssssss. Round. Ing. Sssss. Even though, oh, you aaarrrre not psychic, kick! Psy-CHIC, you are aware. Are. Aaaaare."
She heard a small snort, and turned to see Chris seemingly struggling with something. Mesa understood, with a twinge of annoyance, enough of human behavior to realize it was laughter. <Thought-speak is so much easier,> she sighed to Reli.
-
Chris swallowed to help keep from laughing. He noticed Mesa turn towards him. "Sorry."
-
Marty rubbed the back of his neck at the compliment. "Some of my professor say that I'm too detailed-oriented. But then again, that's why I've got any tech skills worth mentioning." He smiled at Mesa. "My dad taught me well; he's an architect, so y'know... he pays lots of attention."
-
Reli looked back at Mesa.
<Agreed... and our attempts so far have only reinforced my feeling that we should maintain verbal silence after we land.>
-
Mesa nodded thoughtfully. "Attensssshhhun to detail, ail, is good. Good-uh. Duh." She shook her head in frustration then. "I think, ink, that I might-uh give us...ussssssss...aw ay. A. Infuriating. ING. I sssshhhall have to be, be, careful. Ulllll."
She glanced over at Reli. <You're definitely correct,> she said. <I just hope I won't reveal us. That would be a very large problem.>
-
Jim's hesitation had put him last to try the morphing room; each time he had taken a step toward the door, someone with more determination had gone.
This is getting nuts. What can happen, anyway? With that thought, he stepped into the room, locked the door, and focused on the polar bear. It's powerful and confident, he thought. Just what I need. Truly the perfect morph for me.
His arms and legs began bulking up as though he had gone through a dozen rigorous exercise programs, and whitish hair began sprouting from them. His ears and nose began shifting, and he became acutely aware of the smells of the others' morphs. Wow. I guess this is how the bear hunts. It's certainly effective!
As his arms and legs completed their final changes, he fell forward onto all four feet. For a moment, he just stood there, waiting for the instincts. Lee had been right: they were fairly simple and easy to control. All the bear really wanted to do was hunt and sleep. But the confidence... the bear was master of his area, and he knew it. Nothing could challenge him and live. I like this bear... if we get in trouble, he won't have a problem fighting his way out.
Familiarizing himself with the morph, Jim moved around a bit. Not too fast, but I bet I could push that a bit. And the power is enough that I shouldn't need too much speed; he's built for fighting, not running.
He demorphed and rejoined the others, still quiet but more confident.
-
Fisher and his team stood to the side of the shuttle, talking some amongst themselves but mostly they were watching, intrigued, fascinated and rather horrified by the morphing process. Johan, the most squeamish of the group crunched his eyes shut tight at a few parts, while the others just stared, eyes wide open. They'd all seen it a hundred times in movies before, but first hand experience was always something new.
As the Andalite tail-fighter morphed a human and began playing with her mouth and mouth sounds, the entire team began to laugh. Fisher too, he leaned back against the metal wall and laughed heartily, this was hilarious! Trying to control himself, he called out loudly.
"Yeah, 'cause that'll be suspicions down at the prison!" This caused another wave of laughed to spread throughout the team until they were nearly in tears, it got even better when Mesa morphed homo sapiens for the first time. He was regaining his composure when suddenly the walls vanished.
His arms flung out to his sides, flailing to gain his balance as he half-yelled "Son of a bi---" His vice trailed away as he found himself still leaning against the transparent wall. His heart was going a mile a minute but he was safe. Breathing out a sigh of relief, he turned to observe the prison they were rapidly approaching.
It looked like an island, a clever trick. Fisher had seen one once, on Harmony. He could see Andalite shredder cannon bristling from the structure and he was pretty sure there might be a few rail guns there as well.
Fisher heard, or rather he thought the morphed Lee tell him to stow the outfits under their uniforms. Fisher complied as did the others, shoving the suits under their coats. As the others all made their final preparations, Fisher leaned against the invisible shuttle wall, he was ready.
-
When Fisher's team laughed, Mesa glared frostily at them again, her new human eyes piercing. "As the only one," she began, talking slowly to try not to play with the sounds. "Too coward, ard-uh, to not morph, pppphhh, I would not laugh, Corporal." She resisted repeating "Corp" again, that was fun. She made sure to lay heavy disdain on the words, though. <The implications humans can make just by changing how their words sound is rather astonishing,> Mesa said to Reli privately. She resisted laughing when Fisher yelled, merely smirked silently.
-
<Yes; it is a language of many nuances. And... I admit I do not like that Fisher fellow, either... but I cannot afford at present to make bad associations with him, if there is to be risk of combat. I need my 'partner in arms' to be on at least decent terms with me. So I will not call him out on anything unless absolutely necessary, even if he proves insufferable.>
-
Jim rolled his eyes in frustration. "Guys. Chill. Please. We're about to go get ourselves in the middle of a delicate situation where we'll probably have to fight for our lives at least a dozen times. We really can't afford to be fighting among ourselves before we even get started! Corporal, sir, I don't believe Mesa and Reli are exactly familiar with mouth-speaking, any more than we're familiar with morphing. Mesa, I'm sure the Corporal has his reasons for not wanting to morph. Let's just shake and make up, please?"
He flushed as he realized he'd just thrust himself into the middle of an already-tense situation, and had spoken far more than he meant to, but he stood his ground.
-
Mesa glared for one moment longer, then relaxed. "Very well. Ellllll." She relented. "You are rrrrright, Jim. I apologize...gize! Gizzzzze...for my manner, er, Fisshher. Oh dear," she muttered as she realized how much she had botched that sentence. She made a silent vow to speak as little as possible. <You are right,> she sighed to Reli. <I suppose on Leera we could all understand each other. Things are so much more complicated here.>
-
Shaun looked at Mesa and Relli and smiled briefly that their sound making abilities but there was to time for jokes they were approaching the prison.
So this is where my father has been for so long.
"Ok guys lets just do what we came here to do and get out as safely as possible we dont need any casualties on the first mission.",Shaun said trying to be somewhat like a leader.
-
Reyna remained silent, watching as the Leeran and the Andalite played with their new human forms, taking in the conversations of her new team members. The initial morph to wolf had calmed her nerves somewhat, but now they were standing around waiting. I wish we could get underway, Reyna thinks, shifting so that she can lean against the wall. The longer we wait the more likely it is someone will try to strike up a conversation. I just want to do this. She was surprised by her own eagerness; Reyna had never considered herself the adventurous type.
-
Chris glanced at Fisher. He could have atleast tried to stifle it! Chris didn't want to be a hypocrit so he didn't say anything.
-
Marty was slightly disappointed while Fisher and his group cackled at Reli and Mesa, two of his own teammates. He knew that military personnel weren't formal and serious all of the time, but this seemed like a far-off alternate. Hopefully, their rowdiness wouldn't cause them any problems. Mesa's comment seemed sharp, as if she were offended; he wasn't worried about it though. Jim was a peace-maker. He's stood up in front of others, who were much older than he was, trying to be a voice of reason. He seemed to have a good head on his shoulders. Marty nodded at him, a sign of approval. And Shaun... he seemed nervous, the way he was summarizing their plans. Probably, he was preoccupied knowing his father would be there, somewhere.
They were getting closer. He couldn't wait to see how smoothly Tiberi's plan would work... or if it would at all.
-
Kage ignored the commotion taking place around him and started his human morph. He watched his blades recede into his body, as well as his tail and beak. His skin took on a more olive complexion, and his hair became dark brown while his eyes kept their golden sheen.
Kage couldn't help but feel... weaker without his blades, not because of their usefulness as weapons, but because of their usefulness in general. A Hork-Bajir without blades was a Hork-Bajir without purpose, unable to strip bark. Especially not with the curiously fragile human fingernails Kage saw on the tips of his fingers..
This body is so... alien.
As his tail shrank into his body, Kage almost appeared to lose balance, but quickly regained his footing, stabalising himself instinctually when his ears came through.
Their hearing is so dull, he contemplated, And the mind... It seems so quick and ready to anger, and not just as an act of defense.
"I am ready to join you all." Kage commented, once the morph was complete.
Enough. I say, addressing the group as a whole, sternly. Corporal, I'm familiar with hazing rituals, but even you must be aware that an tactful unit is an effective one. Reli, Mesa, I need your complete and total focus with this. We need to convey the image of a reliable human service group under the watchful eye of not only a security detail, but also under the scrutiny of a Leeran psychic screening. I understand the sensation of words being new, but we need your full attention here.
This is why I needed Mesa to be human. There are some things in there that are kept secret for a very good reason. Any Leeran assigned here is usually forbidden from any other Leeran contact again, outside of other Leeran guards. Complete segregation from their own race.
This is where things get serious. I will answer any questions we are asked from here on in.
The ship finally comes into dock, resting silently in the docking bay. I flick a tentacle over the control panel and the walls become opaque once more. The shuttle door slides open and we are greeted by the Warden.
"Nhad," The Warden says, nodding towards me, "How did things go at GT&T? Everything was secure?"
The Warden is an imposing man, as tall as the average Hork-Bajir and with the physique of a man who appears to live his life on a prison ship with nothing else to do except life weights. His hair is jet-black and his eyes have been gen-modded to be just as black. Even the whites of hi eyes are jet-black, hinting that his eyes have been modified to see as clearly in the dark as they would in the day, as well as looking slightly into the infra-red spectrum.
Yes, Warden. I reply, pretending to transmit privately, but broadcasting to you all, Tiberi is clear. I found nothing within his mind to prove that he possessed knowledge of this facility. There was the suspicion of a mole in his corporation, however.
"Very good, Nhad." The Warden replies. He acknowledges you all for the first time. "I am certain you know the reason you are here. To repair our comms relay. Let me warn you that the Confidentiality Agreement you all signed is serious. You do not ask about this place. You do not ever talk again of this place. When you leave here you try your damned hardest to forget this place exists. Violation of your agreement is punishable by High Treason under both Human and Andalite Law as sanctioned by Leeran Delegation." He looks at the younger members of the group, "And let me assure you that the charges of treason do not take the excuse of youth into consideration. Think of this as the most intense on-the-job training of your lives."
Warden, I speak up, The security detail is already present and screened. Shall we proceed?
The Warden regards Fisher and his team for a moment before addressing them, "Let me make one thing perfectly clear to you, Major," He says, looking directly at Fisher, "I don't care what you or your men managed back on Saturn, you aren't the first to encounter a Veleek swarm. You're New Blood here and that means you're under close watch. You earn our trust when you take a bullet. One for each of you. You botch any part of this up and you'll find yourself a Corporal on Paradise guarding the highest peak on the planet. Alone." The Warden looks back to me, "General Oran is waiting for you up ahead, he'll take you the rest of the way. Dismissed."
With that, the Warden leaves and we exit the shuttle. Around us are high ranking human and Andalite military personnel, each armed with the latest in projectile and energy weapons.
Corporal, I say, pointing a tentacle to door in front of us, You may want to arm yourselves in the armory through that door. Try to be as quick as you can.
-
Marty was caught off-guard by the familiarity the Warden and "Nhad" shared with each other. But he quickly realized it was just a ruse. Surely they hadn't been tricked.... he keeps a blank expression. Marty nods while the Warden addresses them; he did have a very commanding presence. He followed the others without comment. It was time for the secrecy and trickery to begin. Espionage. Infiltration. Now the mission had begun.
-
Shaun was eager to see his father but he remembered this is not a reunion this is a mission. With that Shaun noticed how the Warden was a big man like really big the height of Hork-Bajir and the body of bodybuilders.
"Okay well lets get to work." he said trying to make it sound like they had to repair the comms relay.
-
Chris's eyes widened at the Warden's size, then he nodded to Shaun. "Where is the comm relay?"
-
It didn't seem smart for the highschooler's to be trying to bluff through a conversation about this stuff that they probably had no real idea about. Marty tried to cover for them. He had some idea, but it wasn't something you'd be know for sure. "The communications room will be in the administration building, away from the inmates' buildings." Marty felt that was a pretty safe response. He assumed that they wouldn't have to try and find it themselves. Lee probably knew where it was already.
-
A bit intimidated by the Warden's size and threatening manner, Jim remained silent. Aware he was probably being mentally probed by Leerans, he kept his mind as blank as possible, focusing only on the "job" of finding and repairing the comm equipment. He waited for instructions from Lee.
-
Mesa nodded in understand. "I will keep as quiet as possible. P--" She quickly cut off the syllable. Intense concentration, she said. A Leeran screening? This will also require intense focus. It is not very easy to fool a Leeran.
She was momentarily distracted by the Warden. Very intimidating--especially the eyes. Genetically modded? Mesa wondered, but kept a blank face and mind. She focused intensely on the comm equipment, throwing in a little bit of nervousness--that would be natural, she was younger and didn't want to screw up. She brushed her dirty blond hair out of her eyes, slightly annoyed at the tickling feeling. But she still acted like a normal human, listening intently to the Warden. When he addressed the younger people of the group, and presumably her as well, she nodded.
-
"Ok." Chris said to Marty. He realized he should the others do the talking and fell silent.
-
Keep calm, I say, privately to everyone. You're doing well to focus your thoughts only on the job at hand, should we encounter other Leerans. If the schedule has remained the same, there will be no Leeran security around General Oran. He's a highly respected and trusted man on this facility, given his background.
Kage looked at the armory that Lee pointed out.
Weapons... I admit that my blades are never used in violence, but I feel naked without them. Should I see about hiding a firearm? It would make my human form more useful...
He quickly stopped his thoughts. He wasn't focusing on the task a hand and there was the possibility of a Leeran hearing his thoughts. He tried to still his mind.
Don't. I say privately to Kage, The Corporal and his team have received firearms training. You have not. They have been assigned the role of Security Detail. You have not. If you are caught with a weapon, this entire operation will be compromised.
-
Mesa relaxed as she heard there were no Leerans scheduled to be around. But she kept focusing on the job. Account for changing variables, she told herself, but quickly changed that thought so it applied to their "job." It was surprisingly tiring, not thinking about things. It just kept trying to surface to the top of your brain.
-
Remaining silent, Reyna tried her best to lose herself in the group. The Warden's size hadn't intimidated her so much as his eyes; they were black as midnight, a fact that made her shudder. She had never been a big fan of gen-modding, and this particular man looked downright terrifying. Soulless... she thought, forcing back a second shudder. She chased away her trepidation by following Lee's advise and focusing only on the job at hand. She lowers her gaze to the floor, not looking up until the Warden has departed, afraid to meet his opaque gaze.
-
Chris took his glasses off and cleaned them in his shirt. He thought about how that would help him see better to work.
-
Fisher bristled at the Leeran's accusation of being a coward and was about to send a cutting reply before the whole wall seemingly vanished. The frog-turned human gave him a smirk at this embarrassment. As he regained his composure and what remained of his dignity, he caught several glares from the other members of the team. Annoyed he glared back at them.
"And I suppose you've all never laughed at a Andalite play with mouth noises?" Lee in his Leeran morph gave him a reprimand, made sense Fisher guessed. Oh well, back to business.
The shuttle docked with the massive floating prison with a slight bump. The walls flickered and became opaque once again as the doors slid open with a hiss to expose the greeting party. The warden, a particularly tough-as-nails looking fellow who appeared to be the size of a musk-ox with a muscle build to match. The black, shark-like eyes startled Fisher, no wonder the guy maintained order with that look! Around him where several security soldiers all packing all kinds of firepower.
He went right to business, greeting them and going over basic ground rules like that if they exposed this facilities existence they would be killed and stuff like that. Lee introduced Fisher and his team to the Warden who turned to scrutinize them with his shark-eyes before addressing them sternly.
Hearing himself be referred to as Major Fisher did a mental double take. What the hell? However he quickly realized this must be part of Tiberi's plan, though he wondered how he would pass off for a Major at his young age. Still, he stuck with it and stood at attention throughout the introduction, concluded with threats of a demotion and re-deployment to some rock if he screwed the pooch.
Saluting smartly, Fisher barked out loud and clear. "Sir yes sir!" Turning to Lee, the general instructed them where to go before dismissing them and walking away. Lee advised them to arm up in the weapons depot. Wheeling around, Fisher motioned his team forward into armory. Shutting the door, Baxter turned to Fisher and snickered.
"Major Fisher? Why am I not convinced?" He broke off into light cackling as did the other two, ass holes. Scanning the expansive weapons rack, Fisher selected an HK66 Assault Rifle from the table equipped with an under slung energy weapon attachment. Grabbing a quartet of grenades with an admiring whistle, he slung them too across his chest diagonally and grabbed six clips of ammunition for the rifle along with four clips for his TR9 pistol.
As he and his team where now appropriately armed, he checked the safety was off, headed back out to lee with the gun held in his hands pointing towards the ground with the butt coming up by his chin, finger resting on the trigger guard.
"Ok, we're good to go."
-
Marty scratched a spot on his shoulder as they waited to go. When Fisher's squad was ready, so was Marty.
-
Okay, stick with me.
We walk down the hallways of the prison ship, passing numerous human and Andalite warriors. Some of their weapons are recognizable, others are not. They seem to be prototypes, available exclusively to this crew.
Comms relay. Left corridor, turn right, proceed straight 400 meters, thrice left, twice right.
I try to keep my mind as focused on the task at hand as we walk our way through the maze. It seems that of all the humans and Andalites, they all have one thing in common; They are all heavily battle-scarred. Most are gen-modded, all are high ranking. At one point, you pass an Andalite in the hallway that seems to have the upper body strength of a human. He's so sure of himself that he doesn't even swivel his stalk-eyes to watch you as he passes. A long, jagged scar reaches from his right collar bone to where the right human hip bone would be.
Less than a dozen human and a Leeran, I hear him snort in his own mind as he passes us, No honour in it.
Finally, after what seems like nearly ten minute of walking, we come to a single, modified steel, hydraulic door. It opens at our presence and allows us inside to an almost pitch black room. The writing on the door is in Galard, reading "Inmate observation".
Inside is a man in stark contrast to the people you have just passed. He is roughly six feet tall and lanky. His body is toned and his ears are pressed flat against his head. The only explanation for his appearance would seem to be that his entire muscular and vestibular system has been completely modified to take full advantage of all aspects of human dexterity, reflexes and balance. In fact, it's quite safe to assume that his ears have been modified to include a vestibular apparatus, literally giving him the balance of a cat. This is made even more evident by the golden glow of his eyes reflecting the only incoming light from the doorway and a one-way mirror to the mans left, hinting at the presence of a reflective layer of tapetum in his eyes, giving him night vision.
A light turns on and the darkness clears, the door hissing shut behind us. The man in front of us is illuminated more, with a full head of brown hair and yellow eyes.
"Was beginning to think you weren't coming, Lee." He addresses me, "Let your people know that they can demorph. This room is one of the most secure in this facility. Apart from that one." He nods through the glass at a small room. Inside lies a single crate, the size of a small suitcase.
I search the room for any other minds present before answering. Thank you, Allan. Sorry for the wait. I turn to Kage, Reli and Mesa, It's okay, we can trust him. Demorph. Mesa and I will use our Leeran forms to listen for anyone approaching.
General Oran nods and then stops, abruptly. "Shaun?!"
Kage nods and begins to demorph, much to his relief. I'm much more useful with my blades, anyway.
Once he finishes, he stops to regard the father-son reunion with curiosity.
((NOTE: I need everyone to roll a 10-sided die and PM me what you roll. Preferably beofre replying. Thanks! :)))
-
"Yeah dad it's me, i'm here with Lee and the rest of the group, i guess i got chosen because of my relation with you since you seem to know them."
Shaun couldn't help but hide the excitement of seeing his father again, but he stood firm with a little relaxation in his stance. His whole life all he wanted to do was impress his father but never thought he was good enough so now he feels like he really can.
-
Mesa thought she was used to the genetic modding--especially after the walk down that hallway with the guards--but she still stared when she saw the man Lee had addressed as Allan. He looked like what Mesa had learned to be a cat. A family that had lived near her pond had owned a cat, and called the poor creature Mr. Mufflesworth. And it was odd to see the modifications in such clarity. Leeran eyes, designed to see underwater, produced rather murky images on land. Despite the encumbrance with the eyesight, Mesa gratefully began to morph back to human. After the strange process--to even her own slight discomfort, her tentacles had grown back first--she welcomed back with a slight inward sigh the other minds. She had to resist to go drinking in and chasing all the thoughts.
She then watched with interest the reunion. Shaun seemed a little...aloof for this reunion. But she kept her mind focused on searching for anyone approaching, not wanting to be caught off guard.
-
Chris was impressed. The man infront of him wasn't as muscular as some but he looked strong and balanced. It was slightly uncanny how he resembled a cat. Shaun didn't seem as excited as he should be.
-
Jim kept his head straight and his eyes in front of him all the way down the hallway. He didn't want to start any trouble, and he knew the easiest way to keep someone else from stopping you was to look busy and preoccupied. Meanwhile, he did his best to keep his mind clear, not giving any Leeran guards anything to work with.
When Lee introduced Allan and reunited him with Shaun, Jim stood aside and watched. Shaun's not behaving as I would have expected... Something's not right. He doesn't seem fully focused on his father or on the mission; it's like he's halfway between the two.
-
"What happened to Tiberi's reassurance of this being a fully Andalite Mission, Lee?! You bring my last surviving son, my only human son here?!?!" Allan looks at me with fury in his eyes, "And you, son, you assume that these people drafted you because of your connection to me? I should have thought my 'incarceration' would have taught you more responsibility... What makes you think you haven't been brought here as leverage, boy? As a hostage for me to negotiate the release of?!"
Inconceivable! Allan roars within his own mind, I accept nothing less than a second dishonourable discharge from the Human Military this time in an effort to finish what I started in order to protect my family, my last living family, and they bring my son here! To his cell!!!
Allan looks around the room and notices Kage an Mesa demorphing. "A Leeran?! And a Hork-Bajir?!?! Is there any part of the agreement that Tiberi has honoured? Let me guess, one of them is Yedd. No, worse yet, a Descendent! Tiberi knows the stake that the Andalite people have in this facility! Only an Andalite can appreciate and handle this situation accordingly! Are there any other surprises you'd like to bestow upon me, Lee?"
I wait patiently, allowing Allan his rant. When he finishes, I speak. carefully and with restraint. Humans have just as much at stake in this facility, Oran. I say, intentionally withholding the title of 'General', And regardless of the significance of this facility, there is much more at stake here. Tiberi received your information on the Kelbrid transmissions.
This snaps Allan back to attention, although the withholding of his title is certainly not unnoticed. I can hear it clear as day. His Ke may as well be giving off flames. "It's not just the transmissions that I needed to talk to you about, it's their destination. And what their sending. I need you to relocate the prisoner."
Oh ghde, I think, Now things are getting bad. I'm definitely worried.
Kage watches the exchange between Shaun and his father. He stands almost as tall as Kage, which is impressive for a human. He also seems... springier. Kage starts at Allan's fury, especially when it's revealed that the party is not all-Andalite. From the way Allan regards him, it's clear he does not know he is a Seer. Kage makes no effort to hide his glare.
Kage continues to watch the exchange before regarding Shaun once more. This explans the curt greeting he gave his father. The seem distant, as if his father had some plan for Shaun. A plan that Lee was jeopardizing. He did seem quite overprotective as well. He mentioned Shaun being his last living child, also. That would explain a lot, too.
Still, he underestimates the Hork-Bajir at his own peril.
-
Even Mesa wasn't prepared for Oran's sudden fury. This was meant to be an Andalite-only mission? She thought with some shock. It certainly said something about why Shaun seemed so reluctant to face his father, though he could be feeling otherwise--Mesa wasn't Ke sensitive. But then Oran's thoughts threw her for a loop. His cell?!
Then, suddenly seemed to hit Mesa, linking her to her unease earlier. Why, she wondered out loud for the benefit of the others. were there no prison cells? I just saw guard after guard...but no prisoners. Even in a facility this large. She took a step forward. What is going on here? General Oran, she used his title so she might get answers, you thought something about your son's cell? What do you mean? She didn't hide her suspicions. Though Oran seemed to recognize what Lee said about the Kelbrid transmissions, it could be some elaborate trap. What have I walked into? She thought. But still...she was curious. What was going on? Was there something deeper? Could she help?
-
Chris weathered through the tyrade, looking around. Something struck him as odd about the prison. What could it be....? That's it! He spoke up after Mesa took the words from his mouth, "I noticed that too. The room with the suitcase is the only one that looks remotely like a prison cell."
-
"I noticed that too," Jim said. "Don't tell me... don't tell me they built this whole prison for one guy?!? And just a minute. General, what agreement are you talking about? This whole mission looks like it's been planned for months, but nobody ever said anything about a prior agreement."
Part of his mind wondered just how secure they really were - both Mesa and Lee appeared to be devoting their complete attention to General Oran, and the General's rant hadn't exactly been quiet - but he paid little attention to the thought.
-
During their walk through the facility Reyna remained silent. When they reached the cell of the one called Allan she kept her gaze and thoughts diverted, focusing instead on the back of Shaun's head - the person who happened to be directly in front of her. When Allan began his rant she flinched, and when he went further and expressed such obvious disdain at Descendents she flushed red.
Reyna is glad when the Leeran and Chris speak, pointing out the lack of prison cells. She isn't as concerned about the content of their conversation; she is merely glad that it has steered away from anything that involves herself so personally. I'm beginning to think that this was a bad idea, she thinks, risking a glance at the human nothlit. She quickly looks back down when his eyes catch the light, the strange inhuman gen-modded reflection giving her the creeps.
-
Fisher kept an eye on everyone they passed, the guards especially. Stepping to one side to let a particularly burly and tough scarred up human lumber past. Clutching the plasta-steel handle tightly, the material forming around his fingers, he let loose a faint "wow" under his breath as the oak-like man rounded a corner.
Come to think of it, everyone here was covered in scars; they all looked like they'd been put through a blender. Jagged scars criss-crossed the bodily surfaces of almost, no of every person he’d seen here so far.
Speaking of blenders, a few of these people seemed to have been in the blender with someone else, this place must have some pretty good finances to afford genetic engineering on this level of magnitude. He skirted past a passing Andalite soldier who, besides tough enough to have been rubbed against every coral reef in the seven seas, had a very strong rather human-looking torso which doubled the centaur experience.
After at least ten or so minutes of walking, Fisher was about to pipe up and asks where the hell they were going when they stopped by a door with a label written in Galard stapled on. Frowning as he tried to remember his Galard classes back in basic training, he deciphered it as either “Inmate Salutation” or “Inane Coalition”, he couldn’t tell.
Regardless, the door slid open with a smooth hiss of hydraulics to reveal a man completely the opposite of the he-man guards they’d seen everywhere. Rather, he was tall and lanky with toned skin with ears flat against his head and eyes with an orange, no a golden tinge. Overall he looked really rather cat-like.
The hissed shut behind them and left them in relative darkness until the lights snapped on revealing the man to indeed have yellow eyes and brown hair. He briefly greeted Lee before saying that they could all dimorph save Mesa.
Fisher suddenly realized this was a general. Straightening up more he tried to look more soldier-like before the general recognized his son and nearly went ballistic, yelling that this was supposed to be an all-Andalite operation. Fisher heard this and, with the rest of his team, shot a questioning look at Lee as the General continued.
When the subject of the lack of prison cells and prisoners was brought up, Fisher smacked himself dead in forehead.
"Damn it!" He said aloud at his ignorance provoking the whispering humor of his colleagues.
"Nice going Major Clueless."
"Officer Dumbass is more like it." Fisher turned his head and snapped back quietly.
"Hey, I didn't see you guys pick any of it up!"
"No, but we're just lowly privates, what do we know?" Fisher turned around and shut them out, focusing intently on the scenario before him.
-
Arhareli isn't sure what exactly to make of the facility. These aren't the Andalite warriors she's used to. They're heavily scarred and most are even modified, some even seem to have introduced human genetics into their upper torso. They all seem so sure of their abilities that none even seem to swivel their stalk eyes.
There's a human term for it... ****y. They're all ****y. These aren't proud Andalite warriors. They're thugs. Hired muscle. They've probably forgotten how to use a tail-blade.
Arhareli leans on Marty for support for the majority of the walk, still not used to the human sense of balance. After what seems like an age of stumbling and hobbling, they come to a door. Upon entering, a wry man is revealed to be observing a single cell that seems to contain...
No... What use would that have here? Surely it doesn't hold...
The lights reveal another modified human, yet this ones modifications seem more... practical. Lee reveals him to be General Oran. It's only after and awkward greeting from his son that the General begins to chastise the group.
So, this was intended to be an exclusively Andalite excursion. Interesting. It's when the General refers to the cell they're observing, as well as Mesa's observation of there being no other cells in the facility that it all snaps together for Arhareli. Curse my only having two human eyes! How could I have not seen this! This is where they're keeping him!
"War-Prince Alloran," Reli says, finally speaking up, whilst demorphing at the same time, "I am Andalite." Her forelegs sprout forth and Reli falls forward, glad for the stability once more. As she finishes demorphing, Reli proceeds. <I am Arhareli-Winwall-Ajaht. Forgive my assumption in this instance, but if this prison is truly for one being, am I to assume that this is his cell?!> Reli can barely contain the hatred seethig from her. It can't be. She can't be mere feet away from that thing. That Abomination.
I listen to Jim, Chris and Mesa in their observations. They were going to find out eventually. It's Reli's question however, that brings me to respond.
Correct, Reli. This was War-Prince Alloran-Semitur-Corrass. He is now General Allan Oran. Tiberi has been indebted to General Oran for some time now. He helped him adjust to human life and helped him through his exile. As for any prior agreement, that is a personal matter known only to the General and Tiberi.
The General seems to relax more at the presence of Reli. "Well met, Arhareli. I know of you. We may not have much to do on this facility, but many of the men here are avid tail-fighter enthusiasts, human and Andalite alike." The General pauses or a moment to think. If he could place his trust in human youths nearly a century ago, then surely I can, too. If I recall, his son was a part of that group, also.
The General sighs, heavily. "Fine. The situation is this; I am not entirely sure anymore as to whether these transmissions are Kelbrid."
I start at this, Why the sudden change of opinion?
"Because of the replies they're getting. True, there are transmissions being sent into Kelbrid space from this facility, but the replies that they're receiving carry a transmission signature that matches a Yeerk Blade Ship. A seventy year old Blade Ship."
Relis tenses at this news, <The Yeerks that fled at the end of the War?>
The General ****s his head to one side, "Curious that you are familiar with that information, but yes, most likely." General Oran looks through the glass at the black suitcase. "Your assumptions are correct, Arhareli. That case is constantly emitting Kandrona Rays to sustain its' occupant. He's been in isolation for over seven decades now. I can only guess at what' become of him." A cold smile crosses his lips, "And I can tell you that he deserves every moment of it." The General looks at everyone, "This entire ship is designed as the holding cell of Espling 9466-Prime. Formerly Visser Three, Formerly Visser One. Leader of the Invasion of Earth during the Yeerk-Andalite War."
The General pauses to reflect, "I was his host. As disgraced an Andalite as I was, I was still the Abomination. The things that were caused, the lives that were lost from the use of my own body... Even being freed was not enough for me. I needed to start again. My sons were killed in the final battles, my wife, Jahar, her heart could not take anymore loss and she too passed. I started again, here on earth in self-exile." The General looks at Shaun, "I fathered a new family, I found new happiness, yet I still felt the guilt of what I had done and been made to do. The only way I could think to make amends was to dedicate the rest of my life to seeing out the rest of his, to make sure he could never repeat his actions again."
The General looks at Shaun intently, while addressing everyone as a group. "But these transmissions. I fear that the remaining Yeerks intend to return, to reclaim him. I cannot let that happen I need him relocated until the source of these transmissions is uncovered." The General continues to look at Shaun, "I know that I have kept much from you, son, but I never lied to your mother about my past.I know that I have been hard and demanding, but it was always to prepare you from a world I am far too weary of. In a way, I'm glad you're here, Shaun. I know that you can do this. I know that you will make me proud and continue what I have started. I know you will prevent his freedom."
Suddenly, an explosion rocks the ship, shaking the ground. In that split second two things happen; first, there is a shimmer, almost impossible to see behind the General. Without warning, blade appears from General Oran's chest, exactly where his human heart is.
The second thing to happen is the lights flicker and explode in a bright flash, sending the entire station into darkness.
A second explosion rips the door away behind you all, sending you into the black depths of unconsciousness.
When you all awake, it's in a pitch black room. You have no idea where you are, or if you're even alone. Your hands and feet are shackled, tentacles bound and blades sheathed. All weapons have been removed.
-
Chris had gasped at the information that Visser three was in the next room. He was almost sorry for General Oran. He had always how it would feel for you to be associated with the worst evil of your lifetime by being captured and enslaved. The the world went black and when he awoke he was bound and it was pitch black. He realized that his glasses were missing. "Oh well. I can still see somewhat without them." he murmured to himself. "Guys?" He whispered, "Are you there?"
-
"I am here Chris." Marty said. "It's good to hear you're awake." Flashes of the past few moments of his memory surface in his mind. None of it made sense. The last thing he remembered was Gener... Alloran voicing his doubts of the transmissions' origins. He remembered the revelation of the man's identity, and who the prisoner was in the next room, Visser Three. But he couldn't remember why he was where he was now. "What happened, Chris? I don't remember how we got here."
-
"I'm not sure. I think someone killed Alloran and knocked us out. Yeerks?" He shrugged. "Any ideas where we are?"
-
Reyna has always been a fan of history, especially pertaining to the Yeerk-Andalite war, and when the true identity of Allan Oren is revealed her eyes widen in surprise and fascination, her brain kicking into overdrive. This is the Alloran. He's been closer to the Yeerks - true Yeerks - than anyone else living. He was The Abomination! A thousand questions flood her mind, but before she can so much as open her mouth events take a turn for the worse.
For a moment she is certain her eyes are deveiving her. It appears as though a blade is emerging from Alloran's chest. Then the blood begins to flow, thick and dark, removing all doubt. Reyna feels the blood in her own face retreating as she blanches in horror. She has a moment to contemplate retreat before her world goes black.
When Reyna comes to she can see very little; her vision is still blurry from whatever knocked her out. Squinting she can just make out the wounded visage of General Oran, on his hands and knees, progressing towards her. Beyond the General, she appears to be alone in the room.
Oran - Alloran - crawls towards her over the floor, which is slick with his own blood. When he speaks his voice reveals the pain he must be in. His voice is low and through her own disorientation she can barely make out the words. Those she does understand make little sense to her. He seems to be asking for forgiveness and...Contain him? Who? What's going on? Contain who?
She opens her mouth once more, wanting to ask him what was going on, but stops abruptly when she feels something damp touch her. Something moist and disturbingly warm was touching her ear. The General coughs up blood, and When he speaks again he has pulled something from his pocket that looks like a primitive music player. His last words she makes out clearly.
"Portable direct Kandrona Rays. Battery life... for a century... Tell Shaun... Proud..."
The General collapses and Reyna slips back under a wave of blackness.
-
The reason for the surprising lack of prison cells suddenly came into view, also the reason for such a large group of large guards. As Lee and the General talked, Fisher’s eyes shot open at the revelation of this man, this General is the former War Prince Alloran, host of Visser Three/One.
Before he could say anything more, it was quickly explained that this entire facility was designed to be the ultimate prison, the resting place of that murderous slug Esplin Nine Four Double Six Prime. Fisher raised his eyebrows in surprise, looking from first the case, the creatures prison, and then to his teammates.
They seemed surprised as he was, well they were Fisher assumed. While they all knew well of the former Vissers terrible crimes, he was treated like the humans of 2010 treated Hitler. He was the subject of thousands of jokes, documentaries, movies, novels and even some fanatical fan-sites supporting him and/or calling him God among other things. Fisher, while he knew he was a horrible creature, had no real personal feelings of hate towards him and thus, didn’t really respond much.
But when he heard the possibility of allies attempting to rescue him from his just incarnation at this facility, well, Fisher began to pay more attention, though it did not and could not prepare him for what happened next.
There was a shimmering of light from behind the General immediately and quickly followed by a terrible sight. Like some gruesome flower, a blade suddenly sprouted from the General’s chest where his heart was located.
Fisher, an avid horror movie watched and a fan of the ancient Alien franchise, reacted as one would expect. In a flash the gun was up and the safety was off as Fisher was yelling near-hysterically
“What the hell!?” Before he could do anything however the lights exploded, throwing them all into darkness. As the panic began to set in, a second explosion blew open the door they’d came in, right behind Fisher and his men.
Their high-impact blast armor saved them from major damage, but they were swept away into unconsciousness none-the-less.
Fisher came to with a start, swinging his arm ready to fight. This was met with a tugging pain as the shackles bounding his arms and legs resisted his movement. Crunching back in pain, Fisher began waking up and looking around, taking in his surroundings.
Useless, the room was pitch black. He could his armor stripped away, weapons too. He was effectively shackled to something, presumably a wall. He remembered his friends, calling out loudly.
“Fireteam, report!” There a brief silence, then his comrades echoing replies.
“Baxter here!”
“Johan here!”
“Ben-David here!” Good, that was taking care of. Shouting out into the darkness, fisher called out. “Lee, what the hell just happened?”
-
Arhareli, Kage and I come to around the same time as everyone else. The first thing we hear is Chris and Marty, followed by Fisher doing a head count.
<I am here too.> Arhareli replies, memories flooding her. The facility, the lights... The Abomination!!! she thinks, with a start, That was the attack! They took the Abomination from his cell! Arhareli attempts move only to find her hooves hackled and her tail-blade sheated and handcuffed to her hands. <I cannot move!> She calls out, in a panic. The room seem dark and incredibly small, not good for an Andalite.
"Neither can I." Replies Kage, his hands and feet similarly bound and his blades sheathed by what seems to be some sort of metallic material. "I recall the General being wounded in one of his hearts and then the lights went out."
Someone hit the prison with a high-yield EMP. I speak up. The General is most likely dead, Kage. humans only have one heart. This is not good. No Tiberi. No Oran. I have no sources at all. Looks like it's trial by fire now. Now we can see if Tiberi's gamble with this group really paid off. Wait! Shaun!
Shaun, are you ok?! I call out, searching for his mind. Who knows how he felt, having just seen his father die. The best part about Leeran at least was that you knew f you were truly alone in the dark. The best part of being Leeran...
Arhareli! I call out in realization, How long have we been unconscious?
This brings Arhareli back to some sense of calm. A problem that required an answer was still a distraction, at least. <We must have been kept sedated if we are all waking at the same time.> She muses, looking into her biological clock. <It seems we have been sedated for...> Oh no...
Arhareli look for me out of reflex, but realizes that she cannot see me in the dark. <I'm so sorry, Lee. But we have been unconscious for two earth days.>
-
Fisher struggled against his bonds uselessly, then said with disgust.
"I thought the prison would be protected against EMP blasts, most military installations are after all." Upon hearing how long they had been out, Fisher felt two feelings. One he felt terrible for Lee, being stuck as Leeran for bloody ever, and two he felt relieved he hadn't morphed, his men either.
-
"It must have been from inside the prison. Or perhaps the defense systems were shut down prior to the blast." The attack was like nothing he'd ever experienced before. The others were waking up quickly now. "We should be careful what we say. I think we may not be alone here."
-
Fisher's question snaps me out of my daze. What am I supposed to do now?
True, Corporal. Given the nature of the prison, it should have been protected against such an attack. However, since it seems that the facility had been infiltrated by either Kelbrid or Yeerks, it would make sense that they disabled such protocols.
This is not how I had this all planned. Curse it all! What's the expression... It seems like every hand I've dealt... Fell down like a house of cards?
-
Of course, an inside job. If fisher ever got his hand s on whoever did, it, that’d be a dark day for that individual. But until then they had to do something, escape possibly. Hmm, Fisher wondered if they’d disabled his emergency transponder.
Speaking calmly and clearly, Fisher carefully said the activation code. If it was still working, it should send an emergency signal to the nearest UNSN outpost.
“Alpha-Delta-Zulu-Foxtrot-Niner-Niner-Zero.” Silence, then again. “Alpha-Delta-Zulu-Foxtrot-Niner-Niner-Zero.” Nothing, it was dead. He let out a curse, and then returned to finding out a situation. There was no breaking out of the shackles, that for certain. It was pitch black so he couldn’t see the exit either; their best bet was to wait for someone to come to them. “Do you suppose they’ll be coming down to get us now we are awake? They must want something with us, they wouldn’t just capture us just so we could rot in this hole.” He wondered.
-
I do not know. I answer, pulling at my shackled tentacles, But these shackles seem to react to my movement, constricting and changing to suit form. I don't think we could even morph out of them.
Across the room, the voice of a stranger speaks up from the darkness. <Correct, stranger.> The voice seems harmonious, cheerful even, but there is still despair in its' voice. <All Kelbrid prisons are morph-secure.>
-
"I figured we weren't in Kansas anymore..." Marty mutters. Marty tries pulling on the shackles again himself. He doesn't so much as gain an inch from his efforts. This was very good, and very interesting, technology. They were in a Kelbrid Prison, or so they were to believe.
-
Shaun hears Lee in his head and replies in his head yeah i am here. He had just watched his father die and was awake for nearly 2 hours before everybody else if these people wanted to kill them they would have already. Shaun spent the entire time thinking about his fathers story and the look on his face when he was murdered in cold blood by the enemy. He was crying for almost an hour before anybody said anything then a voice popped up speaking to Lee and bragging about their equipment and Shaun knew just how it worked he already tried his gorilla morph. When the thing spoke up Shaun stood for the first time and screamed "I AM GOING TO KILL EVERY LAST ONE OF YOU FOR KILLING MY FATHER AND DON'T WORRY WHEN I FIND THE PERSON THAT KILLED HIM HE WILL SUFFER FROM THE TORTURE THAT I WILL GIVE HIM!"
-
"Shaun," Marty says tenderly. "We may not want to anger these people. All of us - your father included - need you to be strong." He was just a boy....
-
Shaun felt good hearing Marty try to help him but all he really wanted to do was continue crying but not here not in front of all his teammates. "Thanks Marty ill be cool."
-
<Then it seems we have a common enemy in the Kelbrid,> The voice answers in response to Shaun's outburst. <I am just as much a prisoner as you, friend.>
Arhareli is startled at Shaun's outburst as well as the voice of the stranger. They have morph-secure prisons? Just how much do the Kelbrid truly know about us?
<Please, Shaun, try to be calm. I understand your pain. War-Prince Alloran was a great man. His passing his a great loss to us all. For now, we must focus on our escape.>
"I agree." chimes in Kage, "If we are going to learn anything of what has happened to us and who the Kelbrid are, we must find a way out of here."
I agree. I answer, Can anyone think of anyway we could get out of here? It would help if there was a light on.
As if on queue, lights immediately illuminate the cell, revealing walls that seem to be completely black and metallic. We are all revealed to have been shackled along the same wall, from corner to corner, in nothing but our morph-suits. The room itself is ten feet by ten feet and the shackles that bind us seem to be made of some sort of organic metal, as are the sheaths that cover Arhareli and Kage's blades.
At the far end of the room, near what appears to be a doorway, the stranger sits, shackled in the corner. He is curled into as much of a fetal position as he can manage, but starts to uncurl in surprise once the lights come on.
He is covered in patches of light blue and black fur and is about about five feet tall in total. His hands are four stubby finger with small, non-retractable claws on the end of each 'finger', whilst his feet end in what can only be described as paws. A long, bushy tail sprouts from his tailbone and his head has all the characteristics of a beagle. All in all, he looks almost exactly like a bipedal dog.
He looks at everyone in shock, first at Arhareli, then Kage, then Mesa and I and then the rest of us. <I knew your speech was unfamiliar, but I did not realize you were all so alien...> He looks at all of us in bewilderment. <What are all of you?>
-
Shaun now having got courage to avenge his father and knowing his father was a war prince. To Reli he says "to me his name is General Oran and you are to call him by his human name not his Andalite name the one at which he hated for all the damage he caused." To the stranger he says "We are humans, Andalites, Hork-Bajir and Leerans."
-
Fisher, heard or rather thought this stranger talking to Lee, informing them of the facts that they were in a Kelbrid prison, and the cell was completely morph-proof. Letting out a low curse at this, he tuned in to hear Shaun come too and erupt in justified anger, vowing to slaughter his father’s killer. Fisher winced, he pitied the kid, but he was doubting they’d ever get out alive.
Lee mentioned how nice lights would be, and as if to please the lights snapped on to reveal them all. Fisher’ eyes snapped shut; two days of darkness didn’t suit well when one was immediately exposed to bright light. Slowly he regained his sight until he could see out of to squinting eyes.
They were in a ten by ten foot room made out of black metal, or a metallic substance. Dressed in his morphing suit, as was everyone, he was locked to the wall by his shackles. At the end of the room next to what must have been a door, was a cage and inside was a creature that looked very similar to..
“A pooch!” Fisher blurted out aloud. The thing, five feet tall and wrapped in blue and black fur with four stubby fingers with claws, was curled up in in as much of the fetal position as it could, looked very much like a beagle, a bipedal beagle.
It seemed as shocked to see them as they were to see it. Bewildered, it asked what Fisher was dying to ask, what were they? Fisher struggled into more of a sitting position and answered.
"Um, I'm Corporal Fisher of the United Nations Marine Corps and this is my team, Private Baxter, Private Johan and Private Ben-David." He bobbed his head towards his fireteam who nodded dumbly.
Fisher looked the thing in its eyes and asked it firmly, "Now who and what are you, and where the hell are we anyway?" His eyes narrowed. "Are you Kelbrid?"
-
The creature looks at Fisher with a look of confusion. <Kelbrid? No, I am certainly not. I am a Pemalite. You mean to tell me you have never seen the Kelbrid?> Suddenly, something Shaun has said catches the Pemalite's attention. He directs his gaze at Kage. <You are Andalite? The Andalite race is dead. Conquered by the Kelbrid, as is alost every other race in the galaxy.>
This grabs Arhareli's attention. <I should hardly think so. We Andalites flourished as a species for many thousands of years.> Replies Reli, drawing herself up in pride.
That's true. I speak up, offering my support. From what we understand, Kelbrid and Andalites have abided by a treaty , separating half the galaxy for millennia.
The Pemalite directs it's attention to Arhareli. <You are Andalite? Impossible. You have only one blade. You have no claws or mouth. You cannot be the vicious Andalites.>
-
Jim listened as the General explained the purpose of the prison. He didn't fully understand why one Yeerk needed such careful guarding, but he never got a chance to ask. Like some horrible flower, a blade shot out of the General's chest.
Jim gasped and took a quick step forward, but that was as far as he got. A pair of explosions ripped through the prison ship and his world went black.
He awoke later - how much later, he had no idea - to hear the others trying to determine if everyone was all right. "I'm here," he called, trying to make his voice stronger than he felt. He unsteadily rose to his feet and took a step, only to discover he was bound with some high-tech material that seemed to move and flex with him. I bet it's to prevent morphing, he thought, and his guess was quickly confirmed.
The others seemed to be discussing their situation, Shaun vowing to avenge his father, something Jim sympathized with but doubted could ever happen.
-
Fisher did not register the word 'Pemalite,' oh well, some new race to learn about. However when the creature declared almost all races as subjects of the Kelbrid government, his eyes widened.
"What? That's absurd, I think the Kelbrid are lying through their alien teeth!" Then the 'Pemalite' went on, shocked that the Andalites lacked a truly monstrous appearance, much to Fisher's amusement. "Nope, this an an Andalite, the Kelbrid have been feeding their subjects much propaganda."
-
Chris scratched his head. This was very confusing. The name Pemalite sounded familiar...
-
Mesa stayed quiet as the fuzz in her head finally cleared. She heard everyone else's confusion as well as her own, and that hadn't helped. You knew something was wrong! She inwardly wailed. Why couldn't you have warned them?! She remembered that one horrid moment. She had stiffened, opened her mouth to warn them, but then the blade had ripped straight through Alloran's heart. She couldn't even shout before the explosion had knocked her out.
A Pemalite?! She demanded at last, able to speak through the psychic turmoil again. But the Pemalites died out...millennium ago, didn't they? But I thought they were a myth. Leera was home to an enormous library, where vast amounts of holobooks were stored. There were Leerans devoted to nothing but scanning strangers' minds for accounts of history to add to their collection, with their permission. One day, someone had come with vague knowledge of the Pemalites, though he was convinced it was a myth. The historians had found that mind a very interesting, and the guy had been willing to share.
-
When the lights came on, Marty blinked. Not because of the light, but because of the creature that sat before him. A Pemalite? He sat silently through the conversation. He noticed when their species were listed. "We should be careful sharing such information, I believe. Is this room bugged?" he finally says.
-
((OOC: In the books, the Chee made the Animorphs agree not to give them away, and IIRC, Ax was surprised at their existence. Since Mesa didn't mention them aloud, I'm going to give Reli a basic knowledge of the Pemalites, but no awareness of the existence of the Chee.))
Arhareli's eyes bugged. Her words came out in a stumbling flood, almost simultaneously with Mesa's.
<P- you can't- Pemalites- It's one of the nursery stories we tell our children to warn them of dangers that come from space and the need for a powerful military. The stories say they were destroyed in a single day, because they had no defenses or weapons at all.>
Arhareli addressed the group directly.
<Pemalites are legendary among Andalites as having the first and greatest spacefaring technologies in galactic history, before they and their works were completely destroyed. They are also legendary for being completely against all forms of violence.>
Sharing knowledge like this was making it easier for Arhareli to endure the dreadful confined space and the ghastly memory of Alloran's death.
And poor Lee... even so, there are worse forms to be trapped in than those of Leerans. I cannot imagine what he's going through. If we ever get out of it, I will have to introduce him to Wirikel-Aleros-Mastid, the only other Leeran nothlit I know. Perhaps they could be a psychological help to each other. Right now, though, better not to dwell on it. By the Sky, there is a Pemalite! Alive!
-
Reyna is slower to wake than the others, caught up in a nightmare of images that cannot possibly belong to her. Flashes of destruction and political deceit and monsters with gaping jaws fill her mind until her eyes snap open. The room is dark. Her eyes track left, then right, seeing no one, but hearing a cacophony of voices speaking over one another. It seems as if the others are all present, and all of them are attempting to figure out what has happened. Reyna does not join them in their speculation - not even when an unknown newcomer joins the conversation. All of her mental power is turned inward, for even though she has awoken, the images have not vanished.
She slowly comes to realize that the pictures can be organized. They have a timeline, with distinct emotions attached to each one. They can be strung together like a movie, made to play continuously. But what does it mean? she wonders. These pictures aren't mine, why are they in my head? Did the Leeran do something...?
She thinks back to her last few moments of consciousness and the nearly dead Alloran crawling towards her, suitcase in hand. The suitcase! Her mind balks in recognition as she remembers the moist brush of something against her ear.
"Oh no..." she whispers. At that same moment the lights click on, and she is forced to squeeze her eyes shut against the sudden brightness. The others are discussing something...Pemalit es? The name rings a slight bell - probably something she read in passing during one of her history classes. It is unimportant at the moment. All that matters is what has transpired. Esplin 9-4-6-6 Prime....The Abomination...Visse r Three, later Visser One.... his names and designations ring in her head, each one feeling like a blow to her gut as she realizes what has transpired.
He's in my head!
-
Mesa closed her eyes to deal with what had just happened. The entire prison ship had been for Visser One. Though the Leerans were relatively unaffected, except for their brief enslavement, the name was still hated throughout the planet. And he was...
The Abomination...Visse r Three, later Visser One...He's...
In my head! Mesa accidentally yelped the last of Reyna's thoughts out loud. No! she quickly corrected herself. Reyna is a Controller! Visser One is in her head! The enormity of the situation crashed upon her. The evil Yeerk tyrant was back, with a new body. He was probably the one communicating with the Kelbrid. There were Yeerks in Kelbrid space. This could start another war! And she...she and the others...several human youths, a Corporal, an Andalite tail-blade fighter, a human Nothlit and a Hork-Bajir Seer...were the only ones who knew.
-
"No!" Reyna cries in response to Mesa. She doesn't know why she is so adverse to Mesa's outburst, but she knows that something is wrong in her analysis. She opens her eyes, then closes them again, the light still too bright to be tolerable. Straining against her shackles she can feel them change position. I'm moving, she realizes. I'm moving on my own. The Yeerks...they are supposed to have total control.
"I don't..." Reyna hesitates, but for once it isn't out of embarassment. She is far too entranced by her situation to be shy. "I don't think it's...working right. He's in my head, but I can still move. I can still talk. He's...not there. He's not present." She bites her lip nervously, knowing that she is failing to explain adequately. She tries addressing Mesa silently. I can see his memories. At least, I think they're memories. But...it's like he doesn't know I'm here. Or that he's here. He's a vegetable.
-
Reli's attention instantly snapped to Reyna. She addressed the entire group but didn't turn a single eye away from the girl.
The Controller. I need to act fast.
<Everybody, listen to me immediately. I do not like to sow suspicion in this group, but if there is truly a Yeerk in her head, he could be controlling her already and making her say these things. Even if she is not under the Yeerk's full control, she is still morph-capable now. In the event we are unbound, she will be potentially dangerous. Whether or not my tail-blade is sheathed, even from here I can still gain enough leverage with it to knock her unconscious without doing direct harm to her; if I see her morphing at a suspicious time, this is exactly what I will do. I will rely on the two...> what do I call Lee? <Leerans in the room to notify me if the Yeerk is taking control and about to do something that it should not be allowed to do. I value the life of our human ally Reyna, and I will only ever use lethal force against her human form in the case that she asks for it.>
Arhareli struggled not to let her 'voice' shake.
<Reyna, the Yeerk won't ever be able to block the Leerans from hearing your thoughts. My views toward the thing in your head are identical to those of every other Andalite, but if we can get him out by starving or persuading him, naturally I prefer it over harming you. However, I want you to be aware that circumstances may force me to knock you out. I hope you will understand.>
Arhareli swiveled her stalk-eyes to the rest of the group.
<As for the rest of you, except on the Leerans' own confirmation, assume automatically that anything Reyna says is in fact the Yeerk talking through her. Lee and Mesa, if Reyna is still... herself... please let us all know on a regular basis, and notify us the moment you perceive that she is no longer in control. I apologize to you all for assuming any authority here, but ever since the original Abomination, Andalite schooling has given a very thorough training in what to do if you suspect a morph-capable person of being a Controller. I am going to trust all of you to understand the situation and co-operate. I am also going to trust that the other military individuals present here will restrain themselves from any unnecessary use of force against Reyna. She is a victim, not a criminal.>
-
She's telling the truth. I speak up after the events between Reli and Reyna have been made apparent. His... thoughts. They aren't present within her head. He seems like a shell, driven by instinct over will. At least, that's how his Ke feels.
The Visser is in the head of a Descendent. It seems too... ironic. I wonder if this was Oran's doing...
The Pemalite, however, is more surprised this time. <Chee? Yeerks? The Chee are a myth, made from rock and bone by the early powers of our people, creations designed to serve. Powers that we have long since lost. As for peaceful...> The Pemalite draws back his lips in a hideous snarl, <Our people have long since abandoned such whimsical notions after what the Keblrid subjected us to. Their Yeerk slaves are not better.>
-
((OOC:The Chee were never mentioned aloud.))
-
"No...don't..." she shakes her head, trying to clear it, but the images - memories - are disturbing, and she is distracted by their intensity. Some of the things that Esplin has been through...some of the things that he has caused are enough to make her stomach clench. At the same time, for some strange reason, the thought of starving him out of her head seems wrong. Something General Oran had said, about Esplin being forced to live, forced to serve his sentence.
"Ugh!" She cries, frustrated. It is impossible to make sense of it all. Hazy images from her last few moments of consciousness mix with these new memories that are not her own, that she does not want, and then there's this sense that no matter what happens Esplin must remain alive.
"General Oran said," Reyna begins, speaking in a halting tone as she pieces together the information. "that he needs to serve out his sentence. He cannot die, because....death would give him....peace."
She inches her eyes open again, this time able to do so without harm.
"What is that?" she asks, looking at the Pemalite as though just noticing his presence.
-
Jim's head snapped toward Reyna. "A controller?" he gasped. Events were starting to fall into place, although he couldn't do more than conjecture at the links between them. That explosion... it must have been to free the Yeerk. But how did he end up in Reyna? There are two Leerans in our party, surely whoever set off that explosion must have realized the Yeerk couldn't keep up a deception against them! Or was that a desperation move? Their plan went wrong and they had to pick the first convenient host?
Lee's "voice" broke in on his thoughts, and he frowned. "He's like a shell? How... maybe the long imprisonment? Without anything or anyone to interact with, maybe he just... shut down?"
-
"Wait! What?" Chris looked back and forth between Reyna, who apparently had visser Three in her head and, Lee who seemed to be the ones with the answers.
-
Fisher shot Reyna a long, long look of concern. When it was revealed she was OK, still in control, Fisher did relax but was still confused. How was she still in control?
Whatever, Fisher just wanted to know where the hell they where what the hell was exactly going on. Turning his gaze towards this Pemalite creature, he stared it dead in the eye to question it.
"Ok, now you know the Kelbrid I assume right? Now answer me these questions. Where the hell are we, what the hell are the Kelbrid exactly, and why are you in here?"
-
Marty's mind was whirling. He stared at the Pemalite. He couldn't think of anything to say, except to repeat his earlier question. "Is this chamber monitored? Are we being observed?" He really wanted out of those shackles about now...
-
Mesa closed her mind for a moment against the outburst of mental noise. Quiet! She accidentally burst out. She then opened her eyes, scanning each face. Sorry, she said. We need to keep things under control, and see if we can figure a way out of here. First things first, she said. Reli, Lee and I, she glanced at the Nothlit, feeling a deep pang of sympathy. will keep you updated. Reyna, try to shut it out for now, we can explore later. Now, Pemalite, where are we?
She realized it wasn't just curiosity now--something new had risen in her. Maybe always listening to mental turmoils had made her calmer in situations like this. Or maybe she was just pushing aside her own mental turmoil for later.
-
The Pemalite looks at each of you. <We are in a Kelbrid Scythe Ship, scheduled to land on Etheriper. The Kelbrid have no need to monitor these cells. If they want information, they will extract as the see fit.> He then regards Fishers question. <You truly do not know of the Kelbrid... You should be grateful.>
That still tells us nothing. I speak up. What are the Kelbrid? What do they look like? How do we unlock these shackles? Once again, as if on queue, the shackles binding us recede, assimilating into the black wall and taking on it' properties, freeing us.
The Pemalite stares at us in awe. <Your race... They're psionic. They give psionic commands. Impossible, the Kelbrid said they were the only...>
Before he can complete his sentence, the panel that appears to be a door opens, not with a slide or a hiss, but receding in the same way as the shackles, as if the entire cell is organic and each aspect a voluntary muscle subject to various commands.
In the doorway stands an immense creature, eight and a half feet tall. Its' skin is a mottled, moldy green and its' legs are the same bent back knees as the Hork-Bajir, with its' tailbone supporting a stubby, vestigial tail. Its' hands end in four fingers, arranged in a zygodactylic fashion, pointing at an avian ancestry. It's mouth is a hardened beak of sorts and its' eyes are milky white, devoid of pupils. From its' head sprout a multitude of quills, in much the same way that a human has hair. Another interesting fact is that the creature is wearing clothes, a claim that, until now, on humans could make. It wears a series of leathers and plates across its' upper and lower torso as well as a leather hood. The mell of the creature hits you all immediately. A strong, mucky odor.
The creature regards the room for some time, before directing its' gaze to the Pemalite.
<Ayrow, we must leave quickly. This morph does not have much more time.>
The Pemalite seems just as shocked by this turn of events as anyone else, but quickly rises to his recently freed feet. <Ehruf? How did you even get here. Wait. Don't answer that. I can smell the blood.> The Pemalite, who can only be assumed to be Ayrow, looks back at you all. <You are free to join us. It seems you have a lot to learn about this place. I know many who would wish to meet a living Andalite.>
Ayrow's saviour tenses, immediately glancing at Kage. <An Andalite? Impossible!> It's as ferocious as they say...
<I'll explain later. For now, lets go!>
All this has happened so quickly that I barely have time to blink my Leeran eyes. Hey! Wait up!
Kage rises to his feet in bewilderment, also. Everyone here thinks I'm an Andalite. I should be flattered... "Yes, I am in agreement! Let's leave this place!" Kage doesn't know whether he should trust this 'Pemalite' but right now, it seems to be the lesser of two evils...
-
Mesa was about to ask her next question when suddenly the shackles receded. She gratefully massaged each tentacle, loosening the kinks in it. Then the door opened and there stood...what Mesa's first thought was, a Kelbrid.
Mesa had a rather bad sense of smell--it wasn't really necessary underwater--but even she could clearly smell the strong odor emanating from this creature. It seemed to be scanning the room, then its gaze locked on the Pemalite, addressing it as Ayrow. Then they were gone. Mesa quickly went after them, struggling slightly to keep up. Who are you? She asked the "Kelbrid."
-
Arhareli levered her tail against the wall to get her weight under her and stood up quickly, immediately stepping in range of Reyna.
<If there are no objections, I would appreciate for the soldiers to place themselves in alternation between the morph-capable team members, with Lee in front of Reyna, and me at the end of the procession. It will allow the best coverage until normal weapons become available, and I can cover us from behind with my secondary eyes.>
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A sound plan. I reply to Arhareli, taking position.
<I am Ehruf.> The creature replies to Mesa, in a hurried tone. <Forgive my morph, but I truly am a Pemalite. This Kelbrid form may be detestable, but it was... neccessary if I was to free Ayrow.>
-
I am Mesa-Teern, Mesa for short. Do you know the way out of this facility? Mesa asked, keeping her other questions back for later, though her mind was spinning. A live Pemalite? With strange delusions about the Andalites?
-
Jim stared as Lee's question apparently removed everyone's shackles, but didn't waste much time wondering. Move first, ask questions later, he reasoned, heading for the door. "Sounds good, Reli," he said, agreeing to her plan. "Where do you want me?"
-
The bindings released him, and Marty was up on his feet in a flash. He stared hard at the creature who'd entered. He was so very confused. He didn't understand what was going on anymore, or at least, he wasn't able to put the right thoughts in order. He was able to understand that the others were running out of the room though. That much made sense. He followed them, keeping up easily. He fell in position as suggested without remark.
-
Reli spoke quickly.
<Kage and then Mesa are in the lead; I think it would be best for one of the soldiers to go next, and Marty is already in place. Next another soldier, then you, Jim, then a soldier each before Shaun and Chris, and finally Lee, Reyna, and I hold the tail, literally. The polar bear morph is the largest we have, and placing it centrally maximizes the mobility and chance of escape for people on one side of him, but diminishes it on the other side, depending on where the danger originates.>
I won't say it to him directly, but that bear morph had better be survivable, or his size will make him a very pretty target. Still... I couldn't hope for a better wall and roadblock, if we need one. I just hate that it will trap half the team until he demorphs. Without morphing, Kage and I are the fastest here, and the others slow us down...Hello, there's a thought....
<Reyna, would you be willing to ride my back? I'll be faster with your weight than you will be on foot, and as long as I am able to cover my own back, you will be at significantly safer there than on foot. If you decide you want a lift, let me know.>
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Quickly and wordlessly, Jim took his place as Reli instructed.
-
Mesa quickly took her place, and scanned Reyna's mind. She's still in control, she reported to Reli, as asked.
-
((Whoops! Page didn't refresh as expected. Sorry I took so long.))
Reli addressed the Leeran privately.
<Thank you, Mesa. I believe you already know how I feel about her situation; Reyna may be a bit calmer about it if you say something to her to reinforce a feeling of being safe with me. I will protect her to the best of my ability... and we can deal with that thing in her head once our situation is stable. Also... the sooner you are able to morph, the better. You're our first warning of trouble ahead in your current form, but you're also a painfully easy target, and... forgive me for saying this, but if anything happens to Lee, we are going to need your abilities more than ever.>
She was as much reminding herself as the Leeran.
-
Chris got in position in front of Lee. "Are we morphing?" He was looking forward to the next chance.
-
<The sooner the better, but unless you can morph on the run, probably not just yet. You're close enough for me to cover you as long as the danger is only from one side of us. If you get a chance, I'd like you to help me cover Lee, as well as the soldier in front of you.>
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"Wait, so I'll morph later and you'll cover me while I morph and then I'll cover Lee and one of he Soldiers?" Chris was having trouble getting this. His communication skills were very lacking.
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<That's correct. The idea is to give protection to those who can't morph. Morphing automatically heals all injuries you have, and the soldiers and Lee don't have the ability. Any injuries done to them can't be fixed without medical help. Make no mistake- you can still die in morph. Anything that doesn't kill you can be fixed, though.>
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Shaun took his place among the others in the ranks ready to do damage if he needed to. Shaun started his morph to gorilla just to be safe, he didnt want to get ambushed and not be able to do something while everybody else fought to protect them, he wanted to help protect everybody too. He know feels like he has to take a shot at being a leader figure and today was his 18th birthday just his luck.
-
When the shackles slide back into the wall Reyna stumbles forward, almost toppling over before she finds her center of balance. Once she is stable she merely stands here, her eyes the only part of her moving as she tries to sort through this new mind within her own. They are joined by another creature, one that makes Reyna wrinkle her nose, but garners no further reaction. Two days ago it would have been the most terrifying creature she had ever seen. Today her mind held a library of terrible creatures. Morphs, she clarified mentally. Those were his morphs. He used them to intimidate, to push for power, and sometimes just for entertainment.
"What?" Reyna asks abruptly, snapping from her reverie when Reli addresses her directly. It takes her a moment to process the question, and when she does her brows furrow in confusion. "You want me to...ride...you?"
-
A Kelbrid Scythe ship, that didn’t sound too promising in terms of survivability. Regardless, Fisher was about to pursue the question further when it commented he was lucky to not know the Kelbrid. Lee wondered aloud about how to get the shackles off, causing the said shackles to suddenly melt away off of them and retract back into the wall.
Fisher jumped up and backed away, not keen on possibly getting re-shackled. Then behind him a door opened. Or more like the wall twisted open like it was made of muscles. Through this opening stepped a rather ugly, mottled green creature eight or so feet tall that looked a bit bird-like and that had a quite musky smell which caused Fisher to gag.
It is introduced Ehruf, a Pemalite In morph to save Ayrow, the other entrapped Pemalite. Being invited along to join, Fisher and the other leaped at the chance of freedom. This ‘Ehruf’ seemed as surprised about Andalites as Ayrow, but Fisher really didn’t care now. He just wanted to get some weapons and get back to Earth.
Reli suggested a formation to get in, the marines alternating between the others until they found some real weapons. It was a sound idea, Fisher shrugged and agreed.
“Sure, okay boys form up!” He and his team fell into their suggested positions, ready to go.
-
I watched and listened to everybody as they took their positions, commenting on the need to protect Fisher and his fire team and, more importantly, me.
Wait. I say from my position.
They're risking their lives to protect me... I can't do this anymore. The need for secrets is over and it takes too much guilt and strain to maintain the disguise. I guess this is what humans call playing your last hand.
My tentacles twist and merge together while my legs and torso lengthen. As my legs and arms gain strength, I push myself up onto my developing feet as my tail starts to grow. Talon and claws sprout from my fingers and toes and blades begin to erupt from my tail, elbows, wrists, knees and head. A beak springs from my mouth and my skin take on a brown pigmentation while my eyes take on a reddish hue.
A male Hork-Bajir. The only other morph, besides human. It looks like the boh's out of the pond.
I keep my new Hork-Bajir gaze steady and ahead of me in embarrassment, guilt and anticipation of the anger to come. "If we make it out of here, it seems I owe a rather large explanation."
Ehruf continues to stare at us, bewildered. <Yes, yes, very good. I don't know how you came across Kelbrid morphing technology and I don't much care, but if we could please move before I become soul-bound to this morph, I would be most grateful.>
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((If he has time to morph, presumably so does everybody else who intends it... might not want to morph bear yet, 'Jim'... big target + path-block. Suggestion.))
<Yes, Reyna; in the event the Yeerk manages to take control of your ability to move, we can keep moving, and you won't need to walk. If you decide to morph wolf, I won't stop you right now, but admittedly my attention will be much more divided in monitoring you in that more dangerous form. The choice is yours. Lee, I think your situation is fairly obvious to most of us. At present, I'm just glad we have one less helpless member of the group.>
-
((That's pretty much what I figured when Shaun had time to morph Gorilla))
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((Oops, I missed that one, too. Dang, I'm getting slow!))
-
She seems to be coping well, Mesa said to Reli in regards of Reyna. Visser One is pretty much dormant.
She reeled slightly with shock as Lee morphs. But...the two-hour limit...? No time, no time. I think I'll stay in my Leeran form, she said. If that's okay. We need to keep an eye out for anything these Kelbrid might throw at us.
-
Chris didn't morph even when he saw Shaun and Lee.... LEE! He shoved it aside and focussed on the mission he would morph later. "Kelbrid morping technology? Don't you mean andalite morphing technology?"
-
"Oh....right," Reyna raised a hand to her forehead, rubbing it vigorously. What if he wakes up? The thought is terrifying to Reyna, and she rubs harder, as though trying to remove the very notion. When she pulls her hand away she looks just as confused as before, but she approaches Reli cautiously, giving her tail a wide berth.
"I guess that's the best idea" Reyna hesitates. "Um...how do I get on?"
-
Ehruf just stares at Chris for a moment, with his cold, white eyes.
<I believe we'll have plenty of time to answer questions when we make it out of here alive.> Ayrow says.
"Agreed." I answer, as we start to move forward.
Kage quickly takes his position, still trying in vain to comprehend the situation and feeling a little overwhelmed, especially after Lee morphed a Hork-Bajir.
The pathway that we walk down is similar to the cell. Black, almost organic metal, the roof of which seems to be emitting light in some bioluminescent fashion. The atmosphere of the ship is thick, humid and very temperate, which is a welcome development for Kage and I with our Hork-Bajir physiology. There is enough room in the hallway for three Hork-Bajir to walk side by side and enough head clearance to make even a Hork-Bajir feel short.
<There should be jump-capable vessels not too far ahead.> Ehruf says, leading the way.
As we round the corner, however, Ehruf stops suddenly. In front of us are four other creatures, similar in appearance to Ehruf's morph, each one at least a foot taller than a Hork-Bajir. They all appear to be talking in a language consisting of clicks, whistles guttural squarks.
"Rrrk ta pheer ke-ke grarrr crrrk-tse."
<Looks like fight or flight from here,> Ayrow says, baring his fangs as one of the four notices our arrival and draws his companions attention to as with a shrill cry. Escaped. Led by one who has stolen the essence. Comes a deep voice from one of the creatures. You could almost mistake it for Leeran, but it doesn't have the same presence in terms of emotion and communication. It seems more commanding. Dominant and hungry.
What you can only assume to be the Kelbrid each pull two foot long daggers from sheaths on their hips, an action that Ehruf mimics, whilst also demorphing.
<I'll be cursed before I become soul-bound to a Kelbrid morph while fighting these monsters!>
The Kelbrid each hold their daggers tightly in their two-fingered, two-thumbed hands in a bird like grip and charge towards us, murder in their eyes.
Kage and I take our stances and brace for the attack.
-
<Reyna, wrap your arms around my waist and raise one leg as high as you can at the knee; I'll boost you up with my tail. Quickly, please!>
-
Shaun sees the attack and decides to counter attack. He pushes people out of his way and charges on all fours at the Kelbrid, gets to the front of the group and beats his chest and bares his fangs ready to be the first person they hit when the attack comes. He then clenches his fists and screams <THIS IS FOR MY FATHER!>.
-
"Right," Reyna said, nodding as if it made perfect sense. Ride an Andalite. If my parents could see me... She snakes her arms around Reli's waist, trying hard not to shudder at the touch of Andalite fur. Then she hoists one leg up as far as she can, grateful for the morphing outfit that leaves her movement unrestricted.
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<Okay, up you go!> Keeping her blade well away from the human, Arhareli hooked her tail under Reyna's leg and lifted her quickly until she could sling her leg across the Andalite's sloping back. Reli let Reyna's weight get settled... not as heavy as Reli had expected, and all the better for it.
Human bone construction really isn't as dense as I thought it would be, considering their musculature and the needs for balance....
<Hang on tightly; we're going to be moving fast!> Reli bolted forward and quickly met up with the rest of the group, tail arched high and ready to make short work of anything that got too close.
-
Chris had began morphing as soon as he had seen the Kelbrid. Now he finished and let out a ROAR! He looked over the group he seem to be surrounded by Prey! He saw the Kelbrid and knew they were the greatest threat. He would deal with them and then move onto the easier prey like the blue hooved prey. He stalked towards the Kelbrid and snarled.
-
Jim immediately began his Polar Bear morph as soon as the Kelbrid began their charge, staying in the middle of the group until he finished morphing. What I wouldn't give to be able to morph faster! he started to panic, trying to will his morph to finish faster.
Kage was frozen where he stood, unsure of what to do. He'd always heard of combat, but he was still Hork-Bajir. Violence wasn't the first reaction he had to any situation.
I, on the other hand, was quick to bring up my wrist blades to defend myself. I was just as untested in battle, but I had a minor advantage. All that time on earth, the exposure to the human psyche... I don't know whether to be happy or dismayed at immediate lunge towards self-preservation...
The Kelbrid, however, seem unfazed at the sight of all the morphing and confusion. The lead Kelbrid leaps at Ehruf and Ayrow, soaring over Shaun and landing between the two Pemalites with a screech. It swipes with both its' knives, the first sinking deep into Ehruf's morphing abdomen and the second narrowly missing Ayrow's neck. Ayrow snarls at the Kelbrid and swipes with his paw only to find that it has no purchase on the Kelbrid hide, sliding off harmlessly due to some slick substance coating the Kelbrid's flesh.
The Kelbrid behind it leaps directly at Shaun, landing with such tremendous force that it knocks a full grown Silverback Gorilla onto his back, the talons of it's feet planted firmly on his shoulders, pinning him down. With a lunge, the Kelbrid swings down both it's blades towards either side of Shaun's collar bone, hissing.
The remaining two Kelbid begin bringing up the rear, looking at Shaun intently. Consume the Pure Kelox!!!
((gorillaman, roll a D10 and PM the result for me. Sorry, the Kelbrid got a high Luck roll. Gymn, you may want to roll a D10, too, to see if your Willpower overcomes the Lion instincts.))
-
Fisher had stopped caring about anything other than survival now, getting off this literally stinking ship. When Lee morphed into a Hork-Bajir Fisher made a mental note to check in later about that.
And now, faced by several big and mean looking Kelbrid, Fisher and his team where backing off to the rear, useless in this fight.
Fisher could feel fear pumping through him along with the adrenaline flooding his system. Backing off fearfully, he saw as one of them leaped, nearly took out their Pemalite allies and knocked down Shaun's gorilla morph.
"Ok, this is where those blades of yours come in right?"
-
((I did my own dice roll for this post; I rolled 1 on a d10, so I'm going to treat it as if the attempted maneuver fails to be completed. Next I rolled a 6, so I'm treating that as a successful but imperfect maneuver.))
<Shaun! Are you okay? Reyna, keep your head low and stay as close to my torso-back as you possibly can.>
Arhareli leapt toward the Kelbrid that had the gorilla pinned... she only had enough time to parry one of the blades... she went for the nearest, on the Kelbrid's left... and at the wrong moment, one of her hooves skidded on the smooth floor. The strike went wide from its target. Reli used the momentum of her tail on the recoil stroke to knock the blade sideways and off-center, but the edge of her blade made no contact.
Yaolin! Arhareli repeated the Andalite curse rapidly in her thoughts. This was going very badly.
((Don't know if we have to consult the GM about killing nameless Kelbrid attackers, so I'll stop there for this post.))
-
<I'm okay>, Shaun said as he threw the Kelbrid from his body and removed the knife and threw it to Fisher for protection. <Fisher use it only if they can get through our ranks or if you can get a kill with it from behind. Reli thanks for distracting the Kelbrid it gave me enough time to react and now fight to kill.> Shaun stood up from the attack his one arm hung limp at his side unable to be used. <Guys this one is mine, he attacked me he needs to know that i mean business and that i plan to fight to kill. If i fall in this battle know that i plan on taking him with me and if i cannot show him no mercy.> With that Shaun screamed at the Kelbrid <Fight me one on one!> hoping that i would understand his speech.
-
This child is going to get himself killed at this rate. We should have had the civilians practice using the morphs for combat BEFORE WE GOT HERE. Now if I can just keep us alive without letting him die....
-
Shaun! Don't <do stupid heroics!> Mesa yelled, her speech transitioning from the deep Leeran psychic to, in her mind, simple thought-speak as she morphed. She was morphing with all speed, putting intense focus into it, and quickly shook off her distraction. She couldn't help but flinch as her psychic shut down again and she was left in silence, but continued to morph as fast as her new acquired skills would let her.
-
((If you roll well in Luck and your attempted attack, then I have no problem with you landing the attack. If you swing for the stomach and get a 9, you hit their stomach hard. Similarly, if you have a Kelbrid swinging two blades at you and get a 9, like Shaun did, you can escape either their hold or taking any damage. Shaun handled it quite well; The blade sunk into one arm, but he was able to throw off his attacker. If you land a fatal blow, then I'll write up their death scene, but as I said, if you make the roll, you connect the blow/get the kill.))
The Kelbrid flew back as Shaun threw it off, landing on its' back and quickly rolling to its' feet with an agility that deceived its' size. The Kelbrid looked at Shaun, curiously, before speaking.
"Fiiiight meee. Won un woooon." It say's mimicking his speech.
With that, the Kelbrid leaps at Shaun again, arching downward with its' blade held high, aiming for Shaun's skull.
It's at this point that I leap forward, trying to aid the Pemalites while Kage remains frozen in confusion. I swing my left wrist blade upwards at the things throat while driving my right elbow blade towards the right side of its' abdomen. My wrist blade, just as with the Pemalite's claws, finds no purchase on the slick substance coating the Kelbrid's hide, however my elbow blade makes a direct blow with its' abdomen, sinking deep into its' side while the creature screeches in pain.
The Kelbrid rips the knife from the stomach of Ehruf, spraying the walls with blood and gore while the wounded Pemalite collapes to the ground, Ayrow only barely catching him in time. <Take it...> Ehruf says, weakly. <We need... To get it back...>
Spinning to face me, the Kelbrid swings its' knife, still soaked in blue Pemalite blood, plunging it just beneath my collar bone. The second knife swings high and catches my head blades.
Jim continues trying to morph as quickly as he can manage. Oh, god, Shaun is gonna die if he takes that thing on alone! Hurry up!!! he screams in his own mind, the last of his fur and muscles forming and growing, his Polar Bear morph nearly complete.
-
<Mesa I have to do this I need to kill at least this one Kelbrid to get the anger out for what happened to my father. I'm sorry guys but nothing you can do will stop me from fighting this thing one on one in s fight to the death.> Shauns word were sincere like he put much thought into them, he really wanted to do this to avenge his father in a little way and to prove to himself and the group that he would not be a weak link and that he was to be treated with respect instead of like a little kid.
-
<If you die it won't help your father!> Mesa yelled, happy that her leopard morph was nearly complete. <And I can stop you from fighting one on one! By fighting with you!>
Mesa focused intensely, planning to leap and intercept the Kelbrid midair if she had the time. If that blade gets into Shaun's head he's done for! She thought desperately.
-
( I rolled a 7)I swing my left arm aiming right for the Kelbrids face seeing that it has no armor on it. The blow connects and I feel the bones in it's beak break along with the fingers on my hand, blood came from my hand and dripped to the floor as I waited for it to strike at me again. I can do this he thought to himself even with only one arm to use. He then decided that there should be 3 or 4 people who stay to fight while the others go look for a way out then come back with the information.<Guys we don't need all of us here to block the way some of us should go and continue to look for a way out like Reli you should go because you have Reyna and Fisher and his team can go too with Kage and the Pemalites. Me and Lee should stay since we are already engaged in battle with two of the 3 then whoever is left can help us especially Jim his bear will be able to tear this thing in half.>
-
Shaun tossed the alien knife to fisher who fumbled with it for a moment before sliding it into a combat pose. He skirted the fight, from what he'd seen slashes where no good, the bastards had some sort of goop which kept them from getting any purchase. but what about a solid stab?
Circling around a Kelbrid busy assailing Lee, he took his chances and stabbed. A mix of adrenaline, fear and inexperience hampered his aim, plus the moving target and he didn't do much damage. The blade sunk into it's left leg, hitting at an angle and not penetrating very deep but definitely causing some pain.
Fisher had not taken into account the tail which spasmed and smacked him in the chest, sending him flying across the floor and int other wall, the wind knocked out of him.
Sitting up, he pulled himself from the fight. He wasn't hurt, but damn shaken up. Maybe he shouldn't intervene again, that was close.
((I rolled a seven, so I figured a semi-successful attack that caused no real damage followed by being knocked away was appropriate, or shall I modify the post?))
-
((This time, rolled a 10. Going to go with it. Shaun: assume that the strikes took about as long as it takes you to say "Mississippi", and the thought-speak tirade begins as soon as you start thought-speaking to Reli. You might even both be talking simultaneously, but she's definitely ignoring whatever 'orders' you give. She's paramilitary, Shaun is a kid, and in her eyes making every dumb mistake an aristh can possibly make. She doesn't dislike Shaun, but she sees him as a liability more dangerous than the possible-Controller, right now.))
ffffFWAPPP!
Arhareli cracked her tail like a whip within milimeters of Shaun's right ear, letting him hear the air whistle and pop as the blade broke the speed of sound.
<Freeze.>
On the backstroke, she pivoted on both her back hooves and used the full force of her movement to lodge her tail-blade firmly in the center of the Kelbrid's neck.
KSSHingggk!
She dragged the blade sideways and twisted it, pulling a gaping hole out of the side of its neck. The movement ended with a sickly wet noise, and Reli shook the blood off her tail-blade by cracking it again next to the other side of Shaun's head. Finally she turned to face him with her main eyes.
<ENOUGH OF THIS FOOLISHNESS. Shaun. We are a team. Your personal feelings do not matter. You will either get yourself killed, or somebody else will die trying to keep you from dying. Either control your issues immediately, or I will incapacitate you and ask the fireteam to drag your unconscious body back into the hallway. AM I CLEAR?!>
Arhareli didn't wait for an answer, and she bounded over Shaun's head,
<Sorry for the jolt, Reyna->
landing next to Kage.
<I know you don't have fighting experience. I understand. But right now, I need you to pull yourself together and start using the natural tools for survival that you have as Hork-Bajir. Try starting with your tail, if nothing else. Clear an open space around your whole body, so that you can confront enemies one at a time.>
Reli spotted a metallic panel on one of the wall-mounted comm systems.
<This will have to work.>
She struck at the metal, making a long gouge, then she struck again, again, three wide strips of sharp, exposed metal. She cut them away at their base and tossed them, sending them skidding along the floor to Fisher and his fireteam.
<See if you can use those as knives! I'm sorry I don't have more to help you Careful, they'll be sharp even where you grip them.>
-
Shaun was stopped dead in his tracks by Reli who killed his opponent. Shaun was injured but not to badly he has only one arm to use and the fingers on his good hand are broken but thats about it. <Shouldn't we try and get the Pemalites and the soldiers along with Reyna out of harms way , so why dont we have some of us go on with them and have others take care of the two remaining Kelbrid?>
-
((Everyone is doing really well. Anything over a 6 is more than a mediaochre hit. A 9 is a good blow while a 10 is just an automatic win. Try to make two rolls, the second one being Luck, to see how lucky you are :) Doing good, guys!))
<No!> Ayrow cries out to Shaun, <This is the only way towards an escape vessel! Any other direction will take us deeper into their numbers!>
The Kelbrid shreiks out in pain and stumbles from the wound in its' calf, courtesy of Fisher. I take advantage of the distraction and drive wrist blade forward once more, aiming to drive my blade into its' neck this time. My attack finds success and sinks deep into its' jugular. With one fluid motion, I rip my elbow blade from its' abdomen while the other tears out its' throat. Kicking out with my feet, I push the Kelbrid back into the two other Kelbrid.
Jim finally finishes his morph, trying to focus on his own mind as the Polar Bears instincts rise to the surface of his mind. He makes to start charging forward, but finds too many bodies in front of him. <Guys! Let me past! I can help!!!>
The Kelbrid feels Shauns fist connect with its' beak, splitting the top portion, but at the same time, piercing his only good fist. It stumbles back, stunned and shaking its' head, vulnerable. The strike from Reli is enough to be the final blow, dark brown blood gushing from the wound as it starts to bleed out.
It's at this point that Kage finally snaps out of his daze. He doesn't know what it is; the blood, the screams or the smell, but suddenly fury and adrenaline pumps through is veins and he starts to charge.
The two remaining Kelbrid regard their fallen comrade at their feet, leaning down and ripping chunks of its' flesh away with their beaks and consuming it before looking up at the charging Kage. His essence is ours! The Shaper demands his preservation! cries one, attempting to protect their companion turned meal. The other begins a similar charge towards Kage.
<You!> Ayrow calls to Marty amidst all the confusion, <Help him! We must carry him out of here!>
-
Fisher and his men caught the crude shivs skidded their way by Reli, the Andalite. As Lee finished one off and the other were badly wounded, Fisher yelled out for his men to go, focus on the one wounded by Reli.
Wrapping thier morphings suits around the base to prevent slashing their hands, they all encircled the wounded beast, then stabbed in unison.
Baxter and Fisher's had no effect, slipping off the protective slime, but Johan's and Ben-Davids struck and penetrated deep into it's back, sure to cause damage. Immediately they released their weapons and leaped back along with Fisher and Baxter.
((Rolled 9))
-
((Oh hell, I think Kage just went Bezerker...))
The Kelbrid leaps straight for Kage while the Hork-Bajir barrels forward, driven. The Kelbrid screeches through the air, but with one fluid motion Kage wraps both hands around its' feet mid-air. With one full, massive swing, Kage slams the Kelbrid, full-force into the adjacent wall with an intense snapping and cracking sound as well as a wet slap.
The only thing more daunting than his actions is the fact that Kage does all this is pure, calculated silence.
Dropping the Kelbrid, Kage turns to the remaining, hissing Kelbrid.
-
Shaun stares in awe at what Kage just did then bounds up behind the last Kelbrid and using his one good arm breaks the final Kelbrids neck. <Now can we get out of here?> Shaun feels like this isn't going to be a smooth ride, he fears they all won't make it out alive.
(I rolled a 10 for my attack)
-
((Signing off for tonight, guys. Gonna give Bear a chance to catch up and make his moves so he doesn't feel left out of the post 'splosion :P Good run, though!))
-
((I rolled a two to control the instincts. I'm going to assume that's failure.))
Things moved quickly and more animals dealt with the Kelbrid. Chris roared and lunged for the prey. He would fight for the prey now.
((That's Reli. I rolled 0? (or was it 10?) for the Attack.))
-
((I rolled 7 for luck in defending against the lion attack. I also rolled for luck in keeping Reyna out of the lion's way, and got yet another 7. Here goes. :P))
GRWOOOOWRRRR!!!
One stalk-eye swiveled to the sound, which was getting rapidly closer. The eye widened and Reli pivoted to place Reyna as far from the approaching lion as possible. Reli slapped the lion hard on each side of his head. She didn't want to hurt him if she didn't have to-
<CHRIS, CONTROL YOURSELF!>
-one of the flat-strikes was at just enough of a wrong angle. It drew a bright line of blood across the lion's muzzle.
Curses.
The next strike, intended to trip all four paws, instead sliced deeply into one of the lion's ankles. Reli felt claws dig into several places on her body... some of them too close for comfort to where Reyna sat.
<Reyna, are you hurt?>
-
((I rolled 6 to control the instincts. I shall assume that that means he comes out somewhat dazed or shell-shocked.))
The sudden pain and Reli's mental shout brought Chris back to himself. <What have I done! Reli are you alright!? Reyna?!> Chris drew back and sat down on his haunches, shellshocked.
-
<I've had worse injuries from unregulated practice-fights before. I'll manage. In the mean time, I suggest you coax Shaun to demorph-remorph to heal, and you cover him while he does. Whether or not he realizes it, his gorilla is... broken... right now.>
-
<What?Oh...> Chris shakes his head in an attempt to clear it. He limps I've to Shaun. <You need to Demorph.> He says some what dazedly. He is still shocked by what he did.
-
Marty had frozen as the battle began. He watched his friends morph. He heard the Kelbrid calling out to each other. He saw the 'Pemalite' in morph attack. Then he snapped out of his daze. Someone called him. They wanted him to carry the morphed Kelbrid that had released them from their cell. He stalled, but only for a second before picking him up and tossing him on his shoulder like a sack of potatoes. He then took off quickly down the hall ,in the direction pointed out to him, regardless of the extra weight.
-
"Marty! Wai-" I call out after him, but he's already gone, carrying the half-demorphed Ehruf.
<Here,> says Ehruf, weakly, after having been carried roughly six hundred meters. <The vessels... should be here.>
On the left side of Marty are a series of organic doors, nine in total, each presumably leading to a Kelbrid fighter.
-
It didn't take much more than the promise of a way off this blasted ship to get Fisher and his team moving. Walking quickly backwards to make sure no other Kelbrid were following them, they then turned and helped Marty hoist the wounded Pemalite, dragging it for a few hundred meters until they were at what must have been fighter bay doors or something like that.
Remembering how the prison had worked Fisher wheeled around to Lee.
"Lee, use your thought speak and open this damn door!"
-
Thought-spea-? I barely catch Fishers demand as I stay back to make sure the others are ok. Oh. Right.
<I can't!> I reply in thought-peak, which would hopefully carry further. <It seems to be tied to Leeran telepathy, or the Pemalite would have used his to escape! I'd need to demorph first!> Turning to Mesa, I say, <I can keep us covered with my blades, Mesa! Can you demorph?>
-
At one point, Fisher's men had caught up to Marty as he sped down the hall. When they decided to 'help' transport him, he didn't argue, though they did end up going noticeably slower while dragging him down the hall. Their injured rescuer told them they were near their best chance of escape, and Marty halted at the doors, if you could call them that. He stands by the door, allowing Fisher and his group to support the 'Pemalite'.
-
<Okay.> Shaun said to Chris as he concentrated on his own self and the changes began. The first thing he noticed to go was the fur and then the feeling of the power was drained from him and he started to want it back but continued his demorph. After about 2 minutes he was himself. "Okay ill go back to gorilla now." The process was started over again and the first thing to change was his hands and feet the leathery pattern appeared on his chest and face and he grew in size his arms changed and then his legs, lastly the fur sprouted and it was complete. <Okay Chris ill cover you now.>
-
Arhareli moved quickly to the other side of the room, debating chasing the others up the hall to the escape, or else waiting here until Chris and Shaun were both remorphed.
I don't expect Chris to lose it again, but if he does, I can't leave him alone with Shaun... and neither of them is singly equipped to take down one of these Kelbrid without extra backup, not just yet.
<When you two are ready, go on ahead, and I'll pick up the rear. Please move quickly; there may be more of them coming. Reyna, I'm not a human, and I can't tell how you're faring unless you tell me. I'll get us out of here as soon as I can, and we can take stock of injuries and morph to heal them. Hopefully we'll find some food before everybody passes out from morphing fatigue.>
-
When Reli mentions food, a wave of hunger overwhelms me. With all the rcent developments my body hadn't had time to register that I had gone two days without food. Or water.
"We need supplies." I say, walking towards Fisher and the others, slowly demorphing as I go. "Let's just hope there are some on these escape vessels."
Jim starts to feel the same way. <I'm going to demorph. I don't know how big the ships are, but if they're anything like this hallway, I'm better off being human.> As quickly as he can manage, Jim starts to demorph.
Kage, however, remains motionless, still staring silently at the two Kelbrid bodies in front of him.
-
Marty looked at the door, as if frustrated that it didn't open already. He looked anxiously down the hall. Reli, with Reyna, was waiting for Chris and Shaun to finish demorphing before they came along to their exit. And Kage seemed frozen in place..... "Lee, get the door open, I'll go get Kage." Marty began walking briskly down the hall, back to Kage. Without a moment's hesitation, he reached out and gently grasped Kage's wrist tugging lightly in the direction of their escape route, saying, "It's okay now. We're going to be alright. We found a ship... Come with me."
-
Mesa was also frozen as the battle progressed. She had to calm the leopard's mind, and by then there were no openings. However, when Lee asked her to demorph, she bounded down after Marty and Ehruf, demorphing as she went. In around a minute and a half, she was done. Let's see... she mused, facing the doors. Doors, open, she said. Lee's questions had activated things, surely this would do the trick.
-
((rolled for whether or not the lion attack hit Reyna and got a 9))
Reyna clutches Reli's waist, her eyes wide as the battle commences around her. She finds herself wishing desperately that she had risked morphing wolf, but it is too late now. She is stuck quite literally riding the battle out. She seems to be doing well enough, but then Reli's tail snaps forward, halting Shaun and killing one of the Kelbrid. The speed of the Andalite's attack shocks Reyna and she almost slips off. Quickly correcting her balance, Reyna is met by another challenge. A lion is lunging for her - or rather, for Arheli. Once again, Reyna bumps and rattles, clinging for dear life as Arheli sidesteps the majority of the attack. Reyna shifts her weight to the far left, as distant from the reaching claws as she can manage. She feels the breeze of a claw as it narrowly misses her right leg, drawing only a small cut instead of the deadly gash it is capable of. She rights herself and looks around, eyes wide, preparing for the next attack...
...but none comes. The Kelbrid have been defeated and everyone seems to be planning their next move.
"Let me down," Reyna croaks, "I need to morph. I'm not...that was..." She cannot continue. Her teeth are chattering with fear and she feels incredibly exposed. "I'm getting down. Please."
-
<Of course.>
Arhareli drew her tail down below her belly, keeping the blade flat against her own body, preventing any possibility of Reyna getting hurt while she climbed off.
<I apologize for the rough nature of the ride, but thank you for being so cooperative a passenger. I will wait with you until you are ready to join the others.>
-
At Mesa's command, all the doors open, save for four. Through a stroke of luck, each one contains a docked vessel, ready for departure.
By this time, Ehruf has finished demorphing but is far too weak to to morph again to heal his wounds.
<Quick! We must get inside!> Ayrow says, moving towards the first open door.
I similarly start moving after Ayrow, still demorphing.
Kage, however, seems to be slowly coming back to reality and slowly turns to look at Reli. "They think Hork-Bajir are Andalites." he says, with a hoarse chuckle, before his eyes roll back into his head. Kage collapses.
"Woah, woah, WOAH!!!" Jim crys, chasing after Kage as his body crumbles to the ground. He reaches his side just as he finishes demorphing. At that moment, the Kelbrid that had been beside Kage, the one he had slammed into the wall, snaps its' eyes open, both four fingered hands flying out out and planting itself firmly on Jim and Kages chests.
The feeling is like electricity racing through his body.
"AAAAAHHHHH!!!" Jim cries out in a mixture of terror and pain.
-
Kage slumps to the ground, and Marty is pulled off balance before he lets go. He quickly rights himself, and before he can even lean over to help hoist up the Hork-Bajir, the Kelbrid grabs both Kage and Jim, who'd run up to help when Kage had fallen. His comrades are obviously in intense pain, and it appears to be electrical, or something to that affect. He instantly reacts by taking hold of the Kelbrid's wrists and tries pushing it away from his friends, hoping to seperate it far enough to disrupt the contact between its hands and his friends.
-
Shaun hears the scream and goes running off to see what happened. He sees Kage on the ground and Jim in the grasp of a Kelbrid. <Marty let go of that thing you arent in a morph it will kill you!> Shaun then starts running towards the Kelbrid and lowers his shoulder to knock him off of Kage and Jim. <Yes i got him. He will not escape us all alive.>
-
Kage went completely ballistic and the door snapped open to expose several parked ships. Suddenly, the Kelbrid next to Kage had its eyes shoot open. It reacted immediately, and promptly shoved its hands on Kage and Jim's chests.
Their reaction was terrifying, they began to scream in pain. Fisher panicked and, using his crude shiv, leaped on the alien and furiously began stabbing it in the back. Terror and adrenaline filled his body, heavily impairing his aim. Several stabs punctured, but only shallowly and the rest slid off the cursed slime. With a twist of its body, the grotesque creature shoved him off into a wall.
Baxter, with a frantic yell, also jumped to his friends aid and began stabbing. He did better, sinking the blade deep into its back, but flick of its tail flung him into a wall with a crash.
((Fisher rolled four and Baxter got six))
-
<NO! Shaun and Chris, can you get the others out of here?>
Reli darted toward the Kelbrid that had partially skewered Jim and Kage. Before she could get there, Fisher, Baxter, and Marty were already attempting to restrain and damage the Kelbrid. A fiercely protective anger flooded Reli's mind and she charged on the side where Jim was still being attacked.
<Release them!>
FWAPP! FWAPP! Her blade cleanly half-removed the creature's left hand at the wrist, then on the return strike it got stuck fast in the bones of its right arm.
Her voice alternated between detached and venomous.
<Lucky for me, my blade is bone, and Andalite bones->
She pulled hard, freeing her tail.
<-do not->
FWAPP! The flat back edge of her blade struck the Kelbrid's neck, just below the jaw, and she slowly lifted him against the wall, pinning him.
<-conduct electricity. I was going to leave you alone, but you decided stupidly to sneak-attack my colleagues. Bad form.>
Reli twisted her tail, embedding the blade in the Kelbrid's neck. She pulled back her tail, releasing the Kelbrid to slump to the floor, then started walking toward the exit hallway.
<Please move quickly, people; I feel it unwise to linger here.>
What a sucker-shot. I understand and accept the nature of warfare, but nothing about that resembled fair play. Maybe I just subscribe to a more idealistic sense of etiquette in combat... either way, what good would it have done, really, for me to kill him? This ship has cameras, so there will be record of this. His reports alone are meaningless. He was outnumbered. He had no reason to try to fight; he knew what I did to the last of his group. I don't know, maybe it's some 'to the death' cultural idiocy. Regardless, one thing is certain: I will never again count on enemies to put self-preservation first.
((Rolled 8 for getting to the Kelbrid in time to do anything at all, then 10 for disarming and killing it. Used the prescribed method of counting the second of two rolls as the luck/success roll. Maybe her actions border on show-offish, but remember she is a show fighter, and she was raised with the ethics of regulated competition between equals in a society that considers unnecessary altruism/bravado incredibly stupid.))
-
Mesa was about to enter the ship and help the others, but a horrifying scream reached her ears. She ran back outside. The Kelbrid! It was doing...something to Jim and Kage. She was looking around frantically to try and help, but Reli quickly handled the situation. She started helping Ehruf inside the nearest ship. We seem to be in some strange world, Mesa said to Reli after catching her thoughts. Where extinct creatures live and Andalites are portrayed as vicious. I say we count on nothing here.
-
<Agreed. Although I don't think I terribly mind being considered vicious. Psychological warfare may even be on our side in this.>
Reli leaned against a wall, nearly ready to drop with exhaustion. Fighting normally wouldn't be an issue, but hunger and morphing fatigue were making her usual muscle burn more like an all-consuming inferno.
She waited for the others to catch up, mentally begging the Sky to let them get to the escape safely, with no more events between here and there.
-
Shaun bounded into the ship not wanting to demorph unless he had to.
Wow i could really get used to being a gorilla, wait what am i saying im a human not an animal no matter how much i like the feeling of having all this power.
-
The Kelbrid collapses, dead. It's attack the result of some sort of final death spasm. Kage remains unconscious while Jim falls back in shock. "I'm okay. It felt like some sort of electrical thing, but I'm ok."
At the sound of the screams, I stop, looking out of the doorway.
What happened? I ask, finishing demorphing. Is everyone ok?!
-
A few bruises aside, Fisher and Baxter were fine. Fisher exhaled deeply as he shook all over, buzzing from the bolt of sheer adrenaline of combat. He turned his head shakily and gave Baxter a good hearty slap on the back.
"Thanks brotha, I owe you one when we get back." Baxter hmphed that.
"Yeah, you mean if we get back. Now let's try and get back, and get the hell on that ship!" Fisher nodded in rapid agreement.
"You're sure as hell right. Okay guys, on the ship!" Mesa had used her creepy psycho sense to open the doors and Fisher and his team piled inside, except or Johan who stood on the outside, scanning the corridor for any more possibly attacks. He waved urgently at the other, his lean frame quaking in fear of another Kelbrid encounter.
"Come on, let's go!"
-
Now I only need to get Chris and Reyna out of here, and we can be off this cursed deathtrap. I hope the escape ships have room to move.
-
The Kelbrid did some kind of final attack on Jim and Kage, she said. Kage is unconscious. Shaun, can you help me get him in here? Privately, she added, Be careful of what you want. Having the power of another animal is exhilarating, yes, but remember Tobias, the Animorph.
-
<Final attack?!> Ayrow calls, running to the entranceway. <Did it touch their chest?!>
-
<Yes! Does that have some meaning to you that we should know?>
-
Marty made contact with the Kelbrid, braced for the shock, and.... nothing happened. Perhaps it had been the 'shock' the Kelbrid received when he was attacked by Reli, Fisher, Baxter, and Shaun. He quickly released the Kelbrid, stepping back as it died, and turning to head back to the ship. Chris was still in the hall. Marty stopped, stooped, and went to pick up Chris, if he would allow it. "Need some assistance?"
-
<Kill them!> Ayrow crys out from the entranceway, <Kill them NOW!> It will be a mercy...
Wait, kill them?! I cry, in shock, What did it do to them?
Jim is similarly stunned, "Wait! No! Please!" Oh god, please no! I don't want to die! What did that thing do to me?!?!
-
((Oh, man, please don't tell me it turns them into Kelbrids, too. :P))
<Pemalite, for once in your existence can you speak plainly? What has been done to them?>
-
Kneeling beside Chris, Marty adds, "Perhaps we should get everyone into the ship before we decide to kill each other off." with a slightly agitated edge.
-
Calm down! Mesa quickly said to Jim, though she was equally shocked. We'll find a way around this! Ayrow, what do you mean it will be a mercy?! What did those Kele-Zi do?! She probably didn't need to add that calling one a Kele-Zi was almost tantamount to a Leeran swear word. And Marty is right. We need to evacuate immediately before more Kelbrid come.
-
Ayrow starts at the realisation that Mesa can read his thoughts. Stay OUT of my head, Kel-Spawn! he thinks glaring at her. His Ke is unmistakeable to me. Fear. Trauma. Memories. The sense of invasion.
Ayrow addresses Reli, <It's an attempt to infiltrate! It's how they breed!>
-
<Is there any reason it cannot be undone simply by morphing a very small creature, something smaller than their spawn? And how quickly does it occur?>
-
I will not stay out of your head if you try to kill our companions! How do we stop it?! Would morphing work, as Reli said? It heals wounds! Mesa demanded in a rush, her thoughts whizzing into overdrive. Jim and Kage will become Kelbrid?! No! Not possible! Calm down. Calm. She took several deep breaths, then said in a calmer voice. Will all sense of themselves be erased as they become a Kelbrid?
-
<These are the creatures that invented morphing!> Ayrow retorts, <Their physiology adapts so that any species is a potential mate! In five months, the outcome will be unavoidable! You have to kill them now!!!> he then looks at Mesa, <They will not become Kelbrid, they will give birth to them!>
-
Fisher’s nerves had been constantly grinded away by the adrenaline, the fear, the brutal bursts of insane combat and the stress of escaping before more things showed up. And now, with the Pemalite fanatically crying for them to be merciful and kill Jim, Fisher had just had enough. Walking into the middle of it, he faced the fear-stricken Pemalite and shouted right in its face.
“What the hell are you talking about? What do you mean by infiltrating, it breeds by touching your chest? Can you speak one bloody clear sentence for once if your damn life?”
He quietly listened, face twisting in revolt at the concept of birthing a Kelbrid. Holding off a wave of nausea, he said quietly and calmly, deadly serious. "Well then you kill the little f**k while it's still developing, no need to kill Jim!"
-
Jim has no idea what to do or say. He's dumbstruck. I'm... Pregnant?!
I'm agree! Jim is just a kid! We can't kill him! How de we even know the Kelbrid will grow up bad?! I look as deep into the Pemalites mind as I can but... He's shut it out. I can't begin to understand how, but he's managed to lock out a Ke sensitive Leeran. Completely. Even I couldn't manage that in the presence of Mesa.
<Kill the child or stay here.> Ayrow says coldly, staring Fisher dead in the eyes.
-
Fisher did not flinch an inch. He stared back at the doggy-looking alien with equal coldness and determination. In a low, deadly serious commanding voice, he suggested.
"We could kill you and leave instead."
-
Reli whispered privately to Fisher,
<I find I am respecting you more by the minute. If they want to harm Jim, they will need to get past me.>
-
Marty glared at Ayrow. "Everyone, ignore the blind fool for the moment. Get aboard the ship. Somebody help Reyna. We need to leave. Now."
-
Ayrow continues to glare at Fisher for a few long moments, calculating, before curling his lips and giving an agitated growl, spinning around and walking back into the ship. <The mistake is yours to make,> he snarls, <They're going to die, anyway. I would just prefer it if they did not take us with them.>
I relax noticeably, but the gravity of what just happened has shaken me. How the qate did he block me out so completely?! I think, remembering the lengths I had gone through, just to learn to cover my own thoughts.
Kage remains unconscious on the floor. The sudden adrenal burst coupled with the lask of food and water having been too much for his body to take.
Jim has also relaxed considerably, but is stil in some measure of shock. "I guess when an alien dog says you're pregnant with alien demon spawn and need to be killed, you find out who your true friends are." He say, duly. He realises that he's broken out in a cold sweat and feels very lightheaded. "I think I just want to sleep, now."
-
Shaun walks out of the ship and goes and picks up Kage and puts him on his back and carries him to the ship. He then returns from inside the ship. <Okay this is nonsense we dont kill anybody that is part of the group unless they have betryed us and im pretty sure that Kage is in no condition to do that and Jim is just a kid who has no experience so why would he try and do that? He wouldn't plain and simple so now shut your mouth, get on the ship and if you have a problem with that you can kill me right here and now, but remember i will not go down without a fight then we have Reli who will gut you in a matter of seconds, so if i were you i would do what i say or i will put you on the ship myself conscious or unconscious it doesnt matter to me.>
Shaun then replied to Mesa privately,<And Mesa i know what happened to Tobias he was actually the one i wanted to meet the most next to Marco of course, but i will do my best to save myself from becoming a nothlit but i need to stay in morph right now to protect Jim and Kage.>
-
Ayrow's ears prick up at Shaun's outburst. <Gut me?> He says, turning to face Shaun, undaunted by his Gorilla morph, <Conscious or unconscious? Those are bold claims, stranger, from someone who does not know which part of the galaxy they are in. Or which planets the Kelbrid occupy and the sectors they police. Or how to pilot a Kelbrid ship.> he says, stalking forward. <Make no mistake, 'friend', this is not an act of retreat or mercy on my part. The longer you champion your companions cause, the closer we come to the entire ship being alerted of our escape. Or would you prefer I take my friend here to one of the other four ships? I'm sure you can work out the nuances of psionic piloting, something that the Kelbrid are trained in for years.>
Ayrow turns back to the unconscious Ehruf, slapping him lightly. <Ehruf, come on!> he say, worry hinted in his voice, <I need you awake and morphed! There's been a change of plans!>
Ehruf's eyes slowly open. Wordlessly his barely conscious mind takes hold of Ayrow's instructions, and he begins to morph a Kelbrid once more.
-
<Then go ahead. We will use the other pods. There are plenty of viable pilots among us.>
Arhareli mustered enough energy to slowly, slowly morph the Kelbrid she had acquired.
Good thing blood contains DNA.
<I will only have enough energy to demorph, but not to morph again until I have eaten and slept.> Her voice was strained.
<In the meantime, if somebody else would be so kind and acquire a Kelbrid morph from one of these conveniently large blood pools, I would be appreciative.>
Reli walked over to Kage and carefully hoisted him up on her shoulder.
<Now everybody. For the last time. MOVE.>
-
Shaun knuckle walked into the pod. <You heard her lets get moving! Now!> Shaun couldn't believe how easily he was able to kill the Kelbrid he wasnt much of a violent person. I guess its everything that has happened over the past few days that did this to me. The way that Kelbrid's neck snapped under his arm made him happy almost it was a weird feeling to him but it made him feel like nobody could harm him, and now that i have all my body parts useful i can be of more assistance. Why couldn't i have this power forever i would be able to continue the fight and destroy all my enemies with it! The sick thing is i liked killing the Kelbrid!
-
Ayrow starts to slowly back away from Reli. <Ehruf... Morph faster. Now, please.>
-
Need food... humans too weak. Pemalites not worthy, Leerans belong to water. But the bladed one...
The Kelbrid's instincts and genetic memory hit Reli like a brick to the face, overwhelming her and making her hunger exponentially more urgent. But only some foods would be acceptable... only some essences could be taken to strengthen her Kelbrid body... the Hork-Bajir in her arms, unconscious, but a walking weapon...
Reli leaned down, preparing to rip into his shoulder with her beak.
almost as good as the four eyes and the tail of the Andalite, but they're herbivores... Her beak had only just drawn a line of blood down his arm, and she felt a gear shift in her mind.
Wait. Tail. Andalite.
<I am Andalite.>
Reli shook her head rapidly. She felt like she had been standing still, contemplating eating Kage, for hours, even if only moments had passed.
<On s-second thought... nobody else morph Kelbrid. The instincts- don't.>
She knew who and what she was, but that hunger was so insistent.
-
I stare at Reli, watching as she almost rips a chunk out of Kage. I can't say anything, though. Those thoughts... That Ke... They're both so... Hungry. Hungry and dark.
Jim is still slowly making his way to the ship, unaware of what has happened, while Kage is still deeply unconscious. For how long, no one knows.
Ayrow continues to look at Reli with caution yet relief.
<She tried to become Kelbrid. Didn't she?> Ehruf says weakly, his morph slowly finishing. <And we aren't dead. She's either very strong or we're very lucky.>
((Just a heads up. Kelbrid morph will require 2 Willpower rolls each time. Like controlling Taxxon hunger. Este only managed to snap out of it with two 9's. Kelbrid instincts got a 10. And Reli still drew blood. Kelbrid also have this habit of eating their dead.))
-
<The->
"khhhhhh..." Reli panted hard for a moment, trying to focus. She could suppress the instincts, but the hunger... it was making it so hard to think...
<The humans, Leerans, and Pemalites are safe. The Kelbrid doesn't want to eat them. But we need to get Kage awake enough to protect himself. As long as there is a Hork-Bajir present, the other three species don't interest the Kelbrid for food. I think if he wasn't here, though, the hunger would win out over the pickiness, or else I would have tried to eat Chris' lion morph. It's... can we just go now?>
She glanced at Jim, and a faint thought crossed her memory.
<Jim,> she whispered, <when we get in the pods, ask to acquire a Leeran. We'll go from there.>
-
Jim nods at Reli, still stunned.
In light of all these developments, we all enter the ship as quickly as possible.
Ehruf stands weakly and moves towards a panel of sorts. Initiate. Seal airlock, leave dock. Shaper permitted action.
There seems to be a common theme with Kelbrid technology. All the material is semi-organic, yet again, and jet black. The ship itself is twice the size of the cell with a series of six semi-organic pods lining the rear of the vessel. What seems to be a massive refrigeration unit dominates the left side of the ship, holding large quantities of not only raw meat, but also water.
As the ship pulls away, you see the exterior of the Scythe Ship for the first time. It appears to be the scaled head of a bird with a segmented body behind it. Three massive engines adorn its' rear while two large 'scythes' jut from either side of the 'neck' of the brid head. The ship itself has almost reached the orbit of a large planet, completely green with only one small ocean.
<Etheriper.> Ayrow says. <Far too close.>
A series of smaller ships line the exterior of the Scythe Ship, all presumably the same ship Ehruf is now piloting. They have the same segmented body, but the front area is triangular and segmented with small bladed appendages coming from the side of each segment. The entire design makes it look like a...
Yeerks. I say. The smaller ships all look like Yeerks.
Ayrow looks at me, <Hardly,> he snarls, <They are Kelbrid Dagger Fighters. We are in one currently.>
<You said there was a change of plans?> Ehruf asks, turning to Ayrow, <What did you mean?>
Ayrow motions to Kage and Jim. <They have been impregnated with Kel-Spawn. We can't take them home. We need to go to Feytheer.>
<Then they need to be put to sleep.> Ehruf says, nodding towards the semi-organic pods. <We jump in two minutes.>
-
Reli stepped over to where Ehruf was operating the controls. She payed close attention, memorizing what she could. Even so, her head was so foggy from hunger... she knew she'd be able to pilot one of these black monstrosities, but not with any degree of grace or precision.
Yaolin, I wish this were a normal Pod ship, or even a Bug Fighter! I also wish this Taxxon-hunger came with Taxxon-weaknesses... if Kelbrid were easier to kill, I wouldn't have to worry as much about the young ones. As it is, they would all be better off with Shredders used in their own human hands. At least they wouldn't look as appetizing... change subject!!
<Ehruf, what kind of weapons system does this bucket have?>
-
Ehruf turns to look at Reli, <The 'blades' along this ship charge, back to front, which results in a highly concentrated, directed electric burst. Kelbrid aim to disable ships. Not destroy them. More food, that way.> Ehruf ****s his head to the side, <Speaking of which, your scent says that you're hungry.> He motions towards the large quantity of meat, <Eat what you can. You'll need it. If it's not too much trouble, I'm going to need something to eat, also.>
-
Marty assisted Chris aboard the strange ship, thankful that the now remorphed Kelbrid was able to pilot it. He doubted that he would have been able to do anything, particularly if it was fully psionic. He was a little bothered by Reli's new morph. It may turn out to be useful, but it seemed perilous. But he trusted Reli. "Put them to sleep?" he questioned. "I'm sure hoping you mean in stasis..." he says. He had to restrain himself from using a few choice words.
-
<Of course, and thank you.> Reli dug into one of the piles of meat and downed a piece the size of a large steak. It took the edge off her hunger, and her thoughts quickly regained a measure of clarity. She kept eating for a few moments longer, and finally she mentally felt like herself again. She knew better than to expect the hunger to go away completely.
<It's just a pity that when I demorph, I'll lose the benefit of the food. I hope we get someplace with vegetation sooner than later. And yes, Marty, he means stasis. I've had a hard time getting any useful information from the Kelbrid's genetic memory about these ships, but one of the few things I've gleaned is that those pods are designed for three purposes: long-term space travel, housing and sustaining injured crew, and storing food animals live to keep them fresh for long trips. They will be safe for both Jim and Kage. In fact, if somebody would go ahead and stand up Kage in one of the pods, it would probably be a good idea. I don't how badly I hurt him, but if he can't wake to morph and heal, we don't want him bleeding out or getting infected.>
-
They situation was good, for now. Jim and Kage were still alive, for now. Fisher intended to keep it that way. Now as their ‘dagger fighter’ cruised through space which was decently piloted by Reli in Kelbrid morph, who knew the wretched things were so food obsessed, Fisher felt more relaxed, content to sit back and listen to the banter.
Taking a glance out of the viewport, Fisher noted the curious design of the Kelbrid Scythe ship, it looked like it had a bad attitude. Fascinating though, Fisher almost wished for a photo to take. As the conversation between the Pemalite and Reli turned to weapons, his ears perked up and he tuned in.
Hearing about the Kelbrid’s preference of capturing rather than destroying, Fisher barked a satisfied laugh aloud.
“Well in that case it’ll be easier for us to smoke them if we ever have fleet engagements.” Then another topic popped into mind. Turning to Ayrow, he curiously asked “Hey, is there any weapons locker or an armoury me and my team can arm up at on this ship?”
-
<It occurs to me that it was the Kelbrid who took our weapons, and that in capturing other ships, they have also acquired the weapons of the creatures they used for food. I wonder what the odds would be of finding beam or ballistic weapons here...>
-
Shaun sat in the corner of the ship away from everybody else he just wanted to be alone in his gorilla morph.
Why did he have to die? It makes no sense the Kelbrid keep their prisoners for food why would they kill him? Nobody here knows what its like to have your father murdered right before your eyes in cold blood at a reunion. Why does everybody i love have to die this is why i cant become physically attracted to anybody in this group, even if i want to become attached to a certain somebody. Oh yeah in all this commotion i forgot today is my 18th birthday.
<Hey guys it's my 18th birthday today i just realized it because we have been away for 3 days so now im 18.>
-
<Congratulations on living eighteen years, Shaun. Fisher, I just checked the ship's inventory. There should be a bin over by the pods; it has two Kelbrid daggers and two Kelbrid handheld weapons. Once I demorph, my hands won't be suited to operate any of them, and I'll have my tail at the least, so go ahead and share them out with your team. Human hands are strong and large enough to use them.>
-
Reyna has only begun her wolf morph - the only change so far has been the unsightly protruding of her nose - when all hell breaks loose a second time. One of the Kelbrid attacks Kage and Jim and the commotion that follows breaks her concentration. She reverses the morph, watching with wide eyes as Reli takes out the Kelbrid with ease. Remind me not to make her angry... Reyna thinks, but this thought too is quickly distracted. The sight of Reli morphing a Kelbrid has her, almost subconsciously, going through the catalogue of morphing memories that now exist in her head. She shudders, her stomach roiling uncomfortably. The ship, she scolds herself. A bit unsteady, Reyna follows everyone onto the small ship, doing her best to avoid the rather large pools of blood.
Once they are aboard the ship Reyna finds the nearest wall to lean against and scoots down until she is sitting on the ground. Pulling her knees up she lays her head down, rubbing her temples and trying to make sense of things. She feels almost as if the time since her waking has been a long, convoluted dream. Jim and Kage pregnant...Reli in that awful form...the Pemalites... She went down a mental list of everything that had happened, sorting out what was real from what was a new memory, courtesy of Esplin 9466. Her attention is broken by Shaun mentioning his birthday.
"Shaun..." Reyna says, forcing a sad smile. "Your dad. Before...before he...before we were captured he told me to tell you something." She squints her eyes shut, recalling the dim moment where she had hung between consciousness and unconsciousness. "He told me to tell you that he's proud of you. That was the last thing he said."
-
The hunger and thirst seemed to his Mesa like a blow. Her mind suddenly heavy with fuzz--and the fuzz of everyone else's minds, once the Jim and Kage situation was slightly cleared up, she merely followed. She didn't even bother to correct Shaun--Jim was around his age, not just a kid. She couldn't even bring herself to comfort him about his father, or congratulate him on being 18. Being a Leeran, being deprived of water for so long was taking it's toll.
I need water, she said, managing to gather her thoughts. I'm not much help. The morphing...lack of food...Ehruf, Ayrow, would it be possible for us to get some? I'm sure we all need it, she said, remembering the thoughts of the others.
-
Fisher nodded his thanks to Reli and wandered over to investigate the bins. Popping off a lid, he reached his hand in and pulled out two of the knives and two hand-held weapons of some sort. He tossed one gun to Baxter and kept the other for himself.
"You're the best with hand guns, you two get the knives." He flicked a knife to Johan and Ben-David respectively.
Now heading back to the control center of the ship, he looked out at the space ahead of them. "So where are we going, Earth or the Andalite world presumably? Where are we anyway?"
-
<Wait a second my father said he was proud of me?> Shaun said as he got up and knuckle walked over to where Reyna sat in the fetal position. <I'm sorry for what has happened to you Reyna having that evil slug stuck in your head, if i could i would switch places with you. I can't even imagine what its like having him in your head the monster who was in my fathers head for so long.>
-
Reyna gives Shaun a small, but genuine, smile in appreciation. "Thank you. It could be worse, though. At least he isn't controlling me." She drops her gaze then, feeling awkward staring at the disturbingly intelligent gorilla eyes.
"Your father was a good man," she says. "I've studied him and...and Esplin, of course. I took an entire course on Yeerk Hierarchy last semester and a large portion was spent discussing The Abomination and his host. Alloran may not have been the most likable person in the galaxy, but he was strong and he never gave up."
Forcing herself to look at Shaun again she adds, "I'm sure his son is no different."
-
Shaun gives her the best smile a gorilla could make, which must have looked pretty funny. <Thank you that means a lot to me. You're not half bad yourself, i don't understand why everybody makes a big deal about Yeerk decedents they aren't Yeerk, they are human and people really need to learn that. I'm not big on Yeerk history but i'm pretty sure not all the Yeerks were evil and i know for a fact that you are not evil or else you wouldnt be so nice to me. If you are uncomfortable with me in my gorilla form i can demorph for you.>
-
Reyna's cheeks redden slightly at this, and she diverts her gaze again. She does not want to sounds angry with him, but her voice has, nevertheless, taken on a staccato quality when she responds. "The Yeerks are not evil. My great-grandparents were born Yeerks, and I cared for them a great deal." She chews on the inside of her cheek a bit, knowing that pressing the issue is probably not a good idea. She does not like talking about herself, or her position as a Descendent, and yet...sometimes the preconceptions of others irk her to no end.
"My nana told me, before she died, the exact opposite." She stretches out her legs, examining their clearly human form. "She told me that I should never forget where I came from. I wouldn't be here if it weren't for the Yeerks."
-
<Well your nana was a wise woman because that is true but your nana wouldn't have come to Earth if humans weren't a class five species and if the Animorphs hadn't won the war for Earth. If that would have never happened i would not have been born just like most of the people on this ship, and if we had not been born we wouldn't be having this conversation.> A tear runs down the gorillas face as he thinks about how his father was the person who people feared most in the entire galaxy, and how he never got to tell him he loved him after the last encounter. <And i might also add if we never would have been born i would not have met such a beautiful woman like yourself.>, Shaun adds privately.
-
<Actually, you need to demorph, anyway. Anybody who went into morph before I did will have less than fifteen minutes, at this point. I suggest getting it over with now; you don't want to underestimate how long it takes to morph while hungry. As for water... we have as I see it two options. Option One: we ration out an equal portion to everybody here, and make it last a maximum of three days in spaceflight. Option Two: we let the Leerans completely rehydrate, because their need is by far greatest, followed by the humans, and then the rest of us take a slightly smaller share. This lasts us approximately thirty Earth hours in spaceflight. I will let you all decide among yourselves; Andalite bodies are designed to conserve moisture well, and I will need less water than the rest of you, either way. Keep in mind that the decision you make will determine how far we travel before we MUST stop and resupply, but also keep in mind that neither Kage nor I can metabolize meat, and we will need to stop as soon as possible anyway. Also, we have no apparent way to cook the meat that is here, and it may not be very edible to humans.>
-
Fisher nodded his thanks to Reli and wandered over to investigate the bins. Popping off a lid, he reached his hand in and pulled out two of the knives and two hand-held weapons of some sort. He tossed one gun to Baxter and kept the other for himself.
Marty was nearby the pods and saw when Fisher opened the bins. Along with the weapons he'd pulled out, Marty noticed lots of scraps and pieces. Some of them looked very interesting... and useful. He pulls out a handful. "This should be handy... I think we have enough bits and pieces here to rebuild a few Dracon/Shredder-ish weapons. I'd say at least three..." There were several large chunks of machinery that appeared to be complete modules for energy weapons.
-
Her face was already red from anger, but at Shaun's private comment her blush deepened to an amusing shade of magenta. "I don't think...now's not really..." she spluttered, unable to finish her train of thought. She was partially embarassed, but another part of her was still fuming over how easily Shaun dismissed the Yeerks as evil. You shouldn't be so surprised, she chastised herself. That is how people are these days. Winners write history and all that. The Yeerks have been penned as the villains and the Descendents would do well to forget their heritage. That is just the way of it.
She is pulled from her dark thoughts by Arheli, discussing their options. Reyna did not respond, but she listened carefully for the comments of the others. She glanced at Shaun curiously, "Perhaps you should listen to her and demorph, Shaun. It has been awhile."
-
<Marty, if you can get even one working safely, you'll be able to use it to cook a crude meal for yourself and the other humans. Although... I don't know how well Leerans and Pemalites digest terrestrial meat. Speaking of Pemalites, Ehruf, you've been in morph as long as I have, and our Leeran friends are naturally psionic. Do you think we might hand the controls to them and demorph, or will the ship rebel against them?>
-
Shaun started to demorph and the changes happened rather slowly this time. It took him about 2 and a half minutes to actually become himself again. "There now im back to myself again. I could care less at about how much water i get i just need some food im starving." Shaun couldnt help but feel helpless without the power of the gorilla but he got over it rather quickly.
-
<In case you have forgotten, Shaun, humans die after no water for three days. You were unconscious for two days; this is day three. I suggest you be more sensitive to the needs of your fellow humans and especially the Leerans, who at this point must be suffering incredibly.> Reli kept the message private. No reason to publicly single him out for being rash.
-
Even through Mesa's fog, she could hear Shaun's private comment. After he demorphed, she said to him privately, and gently, I don't think now is really the time. This isn't to say I don't approve, but we need to assess our needs first. And Reli is right--you need water. She turned back to Reli. I think we should ration out our water, but in appropriate proportions. We don't want only a few drops left for the last people and the rest of us completely hydrated.
-
<Like I said, I'm letting the rest of you decide that among yourselves. I don't exactly represent a species in majority here. Ehruf, I'll be right back; I want to take a look at what kind of scraps we have to work with in the weapons department.>
Reli stepped over to Marty's side and watched him examining and fiddling with various pieces. Her eyes widened, and she waved at Reyna to approach and take a look, too. Sky knows she might want just to get away from Shaun for a moment...
<Please excuse my interruption, but it occurs to me that along with all the necessary parts for some rather... vintage... Shredders, in here are similar parts for Dracon weaponry. Not to presume anything, but in your schooling, were you ever taught how to assemble a handheld Dracon from its parts?>
Reli picked up a bright green Shredder power supply, a focusing lens, and four slightly charred and twisted segments that she could force with Kelbrid hands into a barrel and grip. After manipulating them for a moment, she twisted the grip to adjust the focal length and intensity, and then she fired the weapon at the nearest small pile of meat. A narrow, pale green beam of light lanced out of the weapon, TZEEET!!
The meat on the surface of the pile was charred hamburger-brown, and the warm smell of cooked meat filled the room.
<There are parts for two more Shredders in here, and if I counted right, I think the other parts will make three Dracon weapons. I can put the Shredders together as easily as this one, but Dracons operate by a slightly different principle and with a nuclear power supply instead of a solar supply. Reyna, if you have any knowledge of them, I'll leave you and Marty to it. If not, I can try to tinker with them. Either way, at least now we have something for you humans to eat.>
-
Ehruf addresses Fisher, <I do not know where these places are, but if your friends are harboring Kel-Spawn, then we are going to Feytheer to contain and possibly treat them.> He regards Reli's suggestion at demorphing with a **** of his head. <Why would I need to change back? I am at no risk of becoming soul-bound yet.>
Ayrow sits near the console, staring at the group.
Jim, in light of the recent news, has made his decision. "It's okay with me if I need to get frozen."He says, a little too detached, walking towards the pods.
I start to notice the dehydration more and more the more we relax. I'm for rehydration. What is our estimated arrival time, Ehruf? I turn to Reyna, realising how much time has passed, We're also going to need to find a way to keep the Visser alive. He can't be far from Kandrona Starvation.
Ehruf looks at me, flicking several switches. <Thirty minutes.> Suddenly, a white-red rift opens before the front of the ship. The ship travels forward, towards the gaping mouth of the rift and upon entering... Nothing happens.
Everything seems just the same. On closer inspection, however, it is revealed that a large present is aproaching, still far enough away to be indiscernible.
<Feytheer.> Ehruf says. <As far as Etheriper as possible, on the outer arm of the galaxy. Roughly 70,000 light years apart.>
-
In response to the matter of food and drink, Marty said. "I'll be fine with a smaller ration. I think I'll be alright with just a bit of water til we land somewhere... strange as it sounds, I don't feel like I'm dying of thirst at the moment." He shrugs, expressing that he doesn't really understand it either. And with a smile, he adds, "And I'm good as far as the food goes for a while... I'm in college, we don't eat that much anyways."
Marty begins tinkering with the bits and pieces in his hands, laying them out on the floor in a pattern. "Does anyone see any tools I can use here?" He begins rummaging in the bin again, searching.
-
Reli told Ehruf privately,
<I was suggesting it for two reasons, the first being that we are both exhausted physically and mentally, and retiring to our own forms would be restorative, as long as the Leerans are able to pilot. The second...>
Reli winced.
<The second reason is that I DO intend to demorph presently, and that will make me instantly the single most appetizing thing in this ship, as far as your Kelbrid body is concerned... and you smell like hunger, too.>
Reli opened up her thought speak to reach Marty and the group.
<You won't feel the thirst immediately, because your time in morph allows your natural bodies to preserve a certain amount of moisture. However, the very act of demorphing takes significant calories, and the process of burning that much energy requires a significant amount of your body's water content.>
-
Fisher suddenly realized how blasted thirsty he was. Like a great wave, a dreadful thirst suddenly swept over him, causing him to stagger and swoon a bit. The adrenaline, the fighting, it had all kept his mind away from the thirst, and now it was hitting back with a vengeance.
He staggered back, his hands groping for a resting place. Finding the wall, he collapsed back against it, half-leaning up against it. He listened, more or less with everyone else about the water debacle, about dividing it and so on. He half-nodded in agreement over the Leerans hydrating first, then he loat strength and fell.
Hunger, thirst, and the fatigue brought on by sudden rushes of adrenaline leaving brought him down, slumped against the wall. Ben-David heard, and whipped around to see his leader on the ground, eyes widening in surprise. Then running over to the water reservoir, he grabbed what must have been a Kelbrid cup or something of that sort and filled it up, bringing it over to Fisher.
The rest of his fireteam gathered around him too, concern on their faces. Tipping the cup slowly to his mouth, Ben-David let Fisher drink slowly and carefully. Once the cup, it must have been a liter and a half, was half empty, it passed between the others who finished it off.
The water really did a world of good for the UNSN Corporal, he found new strength pouring through him and he stood up in time to see Marty and Reli tinkering around with the parts for weapons. As a beam of pale green light lanced out and barbecued a hunk of meat, Fisher became much more engaged, letting out a faint "Yeah!" Then curiosity took over and, examining his weapon, asked the Pemalite Ehruf.
"So what exactly does with thing shoot? Energy, projectiles?"
-
<True, yet I have had more time familiarizing myself with this morph than any other here. And I have no objections to raw meat. Kelbrid prefer it that way.> Ehruf responds to Reli. He then taps his head, <And if my internal clock is anything to go by, I still have two and a half hours in this form. I may as well keep my true body from becoming hungry as long as possible.>
He then addresses Fisher, <It's a Kelbrid Zapper. It works in much the same way as this ships weapons. Knock out the prey for herding, farming or eating. It only has one setting, which will knock out any target for approximately two days.>
I speak up from the refrigeration unit. I have since opened the door and grabbed the equivalent of a gallon container, drinking half and pouring the rest over my body. Perhaps now is as good a time as any to get answers. I am still aware that some of you may even have questions for me at this point.
Jim, in the meantime, is still standing in front of the pod, staring blankly at it. Open. Activate. Initiate. Shaper Permitted Action. Please just let me go to sleep and not think about this anymore...
Actions keep replaying in his head like horrors. The gutted Pemalite, the throats of the Kelbrid being torn out. The sickening slaps, cracks and thuds. Reli, leaning down to eat Kage. And the blood. The memories always come back to the blood.
-
Reli's head snapped toward Ehruf.
<Two and a half... hours?> Her voice was incredulous.
<The morphing technology we use has a limit of exactly two hours. I presently have twenty-two minutes left safely in morph... and if you are certain of your control, then I will go ahead and demorph. Honestly... this body is hungrier after eating a full meal than my own body is after two days and six morphs without food... and when my own body is hungry, it does not make me a danger to my teammates.>
Reli walked over to the stasis pods and activated them for Kage and Jim, and then she demorphed, fatigue making the process slow.
Three minutes and thirty-two seconds. A new bad personal record.
She walked back to the bin full of tool scraps and shards of metal; she found a piece that had probably once been something like a helmet; it appeared to be watertight at the crown. She used the Kelbrid cup to decant half a liter of water into the helmet and submerged her hoof in it completely.
<Ahh, that is an improvement.>
When she was done, the 'helmet' was completely dry, all internal moisture absorbed from it. She then refilled it as close to the brim as she could and carried it over to Mesa.
<Here; I'm going to go tinker on the weapons a bit more, and then I intend to rest as long as can be done before landing.>
Reli briskly worked together two more Shredders with the parts available; they were markedly smaller than the first one, making the work very delicate, but at least barrels and grips on these were still intact enough to interlock cleanly with each other. Some long strips of a leathery material were mixed in among the tools, and she looped one through the smallest Shredder's trigger guard and tied it loosely around her waist. She took out another strip and tied it perpendicularly to the main loop, putting it over one shoulder... a crude but sufficient sling that wouldn't let the Shredder be easily parted from her. She tested it, firing at the meat pile again. Once again the aroma of barbecue wafted through the cabin.
<Perfect.>
Reli let go of the Shredder completely, and it hung at her side, in reach and out of the way.
<The other two Shredders are designed well to be used by Andalite or human hands; anybody who wants them is welcome to them.> She looked hard at Shaun for a brief instant, but said openly, almost flippantly,
<But that's not an excuse to compete over them or fire them casually on board a moving starship. I would suggest that the Leerans opt for any of the larger weapons, namely the Dracons, because they are typically inoperable to human hands, but tentacles and Hork-Bajir have no trouble with them. That is, once the Dracon weapons are constructed.>
-
Marty pulled his head out of the bin, holding a couple things that might have been tools. "I found some!" He laid the tools in a row beside the parts, and began tinkering with them. Reli soon joined him. Soon, she had pieced together two guns, which worked. Marty smiled. "Awesome." he said. He finished putting the outer casing onto his own contraption, checking it over. He held it out to Fisher. His squad would have much better use of it than he would himself. He looked back at his pile of scrap... he had pleased to see that he had enough for a couple more guns, as well.
-
Reli smiled appreciatively as Marty successfully assembled a Dracon pistol.
<You do good and clever work; you are a credit to the innovative capacities of your species.>
-
Chris had demorphed and now he sat against the wall, lost in thought. He couldn't believe he lost it!
-
Marty scratched his neck in modest embarrassment. "Well thanks. It just runs in our family, I think. I mean, it's not every father who teaches his kids to make his own video games before paying for those crazy overpriced ones. I'm a quick learner is all...." He chuckled at the memory, while snapping a particle diffuser onto the power core of a second gun.
-
"A Dracon?" Reyna was grateful for the opportunity to leave the uncomfortable moment with Shaun. She scurries over on her hands and knees, not bothering to rise to a full standing position. "I know the theory, but I've never seen a real one." Her voice was thick with excitement, but her thoughts are confused. Why would there be Dracon parts all the way out here when they haven't been in use for decades? She watches is awe as Marty constructs the weapon. It is, unfortunately, too large for her own hand. She isn't sure why she feels so disappointed at this. She has never shot a weapon in her life, and the thought of using one to destroy someone else does not thrill her. Still, they are Dracon weapons.
"May I hold one?" Reyna asks Marty, looking at him with wide eyes, eager to inspect the Yeerk artifact.
-
Marty notices that he's drawing a small crowd. "Yeah, let me just..." he says, trailing off as he finishes the device. "Ow!" he mutters, pulling his finger back as a spark jumps from a wire. He glares at it, then uses something like a pair of tweezers to stuff it into the tangle of other wires before screwing on the outer shell. He really liked the way these came in large chunks... it made assembly much faster. "Here." he said, handing it to Reyna. He smiled. She seemed to be coming out of her own shell more and more. He was sure that she would be really fun to be around when she felt more comfortable.
-
Reyna grasped the weapon in her hand, staring down at it in wonder. The grip was far too large for her small, human hands. Definitely made for a Hork-Bajir, she realized, turning the weapon around and analyzing as much as she could. "According to records these were modeled after Andalite shredders, but the technology was modified. They use gemstones for precision shooting and have a variety of settings that range from mild paralysis to total incineration. The main difference between the Dracon and the Shredder is that the Dracon sets a chain reaction of exploding cells. The process is slightly slower and infinitely more painful. This one was made for a larger hand, but there were other versions to suit the variety of species in the Yeerk Empire."
Realizing that she had been speaking out loud, Reyna blushed, quickly handing the weapon back to Marty. "Sorry..." she mumbled, embarrassed by her rambling excitement.
-
Mesa gratefully accepted the water from Reli. Thank you, she said. I think I shall be able to go without food, especially if the planet is only 30 minutes away. I...don't really fancy trying that, she added, glancing over at the pile of meat.
She then turned to Lee. How, she said, cutting straight to the chase, were you able to morph after you spent over two days in Leeran form? And how, she added, frustration creeping into her tone, are you able to keep secrets? From me? I thought that impossible before.
She knew she was ignoring everyone else, but this was driving her crazy. She had to know. Who is Lee? Is he still my friend? Or my enemy?
-
As Chris sat on the floor against the wall, he buried his head in his hands. The lack of hydration suddenly hit him. He stood and looked at the water. "May I?"
-
Reli's stalk eyes swiveled to glance at Chris.
<Help yourself. Consensus appears to be "take what you need".>
She smiled again at Marty and Reyna, who were clearly getting some enjoyment out of the Dracon assembly process. She walked over to the nearest open space of wall and slowly folded her legs under her, leaning her torso and head on the cool surface of the wall. She closed all her eyes but one, leaving one stalk-eye facing the whole room, occasionally panning from side to side.
-
"Thanks." Chris found a container of some sort and pour some water into it. Once he was done drinking he went back to the wall and sat down. He buried his head in his arms and sighed.
-
Ehruf regards Reli's shock at his morph time. <It's hardly surprising that your time in that form is so limited. The Kelbrid have long told us of the Andalite assasin, Escafil, who entered Kelbrid space and stole Kelbrid Morphing technology in an attempt to assasinate Him. It's the entire reason the Kelbrid went to war with the Andalites. We had always been told the Kelbrid wiped you out.> He looks at Reli, <But that was clearly a lie. It was always on the posters on the Mining Worlds. Slaves would be constantly asked "Do you know who your fellow slaves are? Could be the Andalite tyrants in morph. Rewards for Slaves who alert the Shapers to suspicious activities."> Ehruf seems to boil in hatred at the memory.
He turns, looking at Ayrow, still brooding and glaring. <Do not mind Ayrow,> He says to Reli, privately, <He's always been that way. He lost a lot to the Kelbrid. He and I are all that's left. Even though he is not truly a Pemalite, he is sti-> Ehruf catches himself, <Never mind.>
I turn to Mesa. I never aquired a Ke sensetive Leeran, I say, I was born a Ke sensetive Leeran. The problem is I just couldn't get over... I spin my tentecle clockwise in the air, a human action when trying to look for the right word, The noise... The Ke aura of the people around me just made it that much worse. I could never tell what thoughts were mine. I felt more like a collective entity than an individual Leeran.
I keep thinking back to Leera, the oceans, the islands. The noise.
My family, they wanted to re-introduce me to Leeran life. Memory erasure and a Restart of Personality. So I swam away. During that time I cam across information on humans. Their concepts of lying and secrets. I wanted to be unique, like no other Leeran. I wanted to be able to keep secrets and, after some years, I could. And I did. But it took too much strain. I couldn't keep it up day after day, so I swam away again, to earth, where I could be more human. That how I met Tiberi, just after his trial and exile on Leera.
I look at everyone evenly. I owe him everything. My ability to morph in order to silence the thoughts of those around me. His friendship, my lifestyle. He only ever asked of two things in return. That I never lie to him and, when the time comes, that I remain completely honest to all of you. He used to tell me that secrets were only sometimes necessary, but trust was infinitely more important.
Jim finally steps into the pod, resting his back against the interior. "I'm ready to go to sleep now."
-
<Somebody push the dark blue button next to his head, and the pod will close.> Reli managed to mumble sleepily. She let herself doze, the small alert part of her brain keeping that one eye constantly surveying the room.
-
Chris heard that the Andalites had stolen the morphing technology. He didn't care anymore. He just wanted to go home and forget this whole episode. Especially when he lost it on Reli. Thank you for being honest, Lee.
-
Andalites are opportunistic; it wouldn't be surprising for us to steal a prototypical technology and modify it for our own uses... and the Kelbrid advancements to that technology would explain the time limit extension. Hmmn. Not worth waking up over it right now, though...zzzz...
-
Chris had dozed off but now he woke with a start. He sat straight up. In his dream he had pinned Reyna to the ground in Lion morph and was about to rip into her with his fangs. He breath was fast and his eyes were wide.
-
"Sorry..." she mumbled, embarrassed by her rambling excitement.
"No, it's kinda fun listening. You really know your stuff with this here." Marty says, hefting the bigger-than-normal partial gun in his hand. He really enjoyed seeing her so excited about it. "You want to try?" he says, holding out the tools and mostly-assembled Dracon. "Be careful of those wires though... they aren't friendly."
Marty gets up and walks over to their water supply. He uses his cupped hands, considering that they are probably cleaner than the random scraps others had used, and had just a small drink. This brings him close to the pod that Jim is waiting in. He looks him in the eye. "Sleep well, friend. I'll watch over you." He then presses the blue button.
After hearing Lee explain himself and come clean with what could be assumed to be the truth, Marty simply said, "Well that explains things."
-
Reli gave another little sleep-mumble.
<Considering you weren't>yawwnnnn<very upset about being stuck in morph, and considering Tiberi's identity, it wasn't much shock to me. You clearly had your reasons for hiding, and it kept us from having dangerous thoughts in the presence of other Leerans. Why fuss over it?>
She dozed again and switched eyes, resting the one that had been patrolling for the past several minutes.
-
Thank you for understanding the situation. I reply. I don't know what I was expecting to happen. Anger towards me? Intense questioning? I don't know if or how they're going to be able to trust me. Especially Mesa. How does she know to trust my thoughts? How does she know she can believe these thoughts?! I ponder for a moment. Maybe this is why Leerans aren't supposed to be able to lie. The paranoia is almost as maddening as the noise.
I turn to Ehruf, So what can we expect down there?
Jim hears Marty comfort him while activating the pod. Thank y-
-
"Thanks," Reyna breathes, grabbing at the pieces. She fumbles at first, not used to the tools and having never been very kinesthetic. Eventually she gets the hang of it, though. The assembly is really quite intuitive, and coupled with her knowledge of the weapon it takes no time at all for her to complete the Dracon assembly. She sets the finished weapon down carefully, treating it more like a museum artifact than something to be used in combat. She turns to give Marty a triumphant smile, but he has left to take a drink of water. Water would be good, Reyna realizes. She is accustomed to fasting every few days, and she has not morphed, so the dehydration has not hit her as hard as the others. Still, her throat is dry and her stomach twisted with hunger pangs. Used to going without, she waits patiently for Marty to finish his drink, listening instead to Lee's story.
"I understand the usefulness of secrets," she says softly, surprised that she is speaking up at all. "Before my people were as they are today they thrived on the propogation of secrets and lies. Sometimes it may not seem right, but it is necessary."
-
<The planet itself is mostly desert with two major oceans.> Ehruf replies. <It's where the majority of the free Pemalite race resides. For all the wrong reasons. There are even a few stray pools of Yeerks down there. The ones that managed to escape.>
I turn to Reyna, I am quite familiar with your history as a Descendent, I haven't been able to address the topic yet, but I am aware that Yeerks are not all evil. I believe that is something your grandmother knew quite well, also.
-
Marty takes his place by the pieces. He's surprised to notice that Reyna has already finished it. She apparently did really know what she was talking about. "Wow..." he says. To Lee: "Like Reyna said... sometimes people need to keep secrets."
-
Mesa shook her head, bewildered at everyone. Secrets just cause trouble! She said. Do you know why Leerans get along so well? Because we all know everything. Crime rate is so low because people know you did it. A Leeran knows he can trust his fellow Leerans. And we understand each other! No wars are fought over silly things.
-
Reyna smiles, blushing a bit at the way Marty seems impressed by her work. Feeling emboldened by her recent successes she addresses Mesa. Her voice is barely a whisper, but she knows that whatever Mesa cannot hear will be picked out of her mind.
"And minimal progress," Reyna says. "Is trust truly trust if it is imposed? There is risk implied in trust, and a closeness that I think is missed in the Leeran culture. What do you do with the Leeran's who have distasteful thoughts? Destructive thoughts? So you shun them as outcasts for something they have not yet even committed, but merely thought of committing?" Reyna pauses, not really entirely sure where she is going, but feeling that it needs to be said regardless. She is surprised by how scathing her next words sound. "If Leera is so wonderful and understanding, why did you leave?"
-
Mesa flinched. Reyna had hit hard. Leerans understand each other, she said again, but her voice was flat. We do not...I...Nobody... She trailed off and stared at the wall. The outcast. And she hadn't even thought of doing anything. I didn't understand, she whispered. Didn't understand...why they didn't understand...I.... she fell silent, and then made it clear she had no intention to speak again.
-
Reyna does not look happy with her victory. In fact her alrady red cheeks flush redder and she looks down at the completed weapons, disgusted with herself for calling Mesa out like that. All she's ever tried to do is help us, Reyna scolds herself. Just because you can't live a life without lies that doesn't mean you should lash out at those who can. Get over yourself, Reyna Jackson. You're better than this.
Once again resorting to the old nervous habit of chewing the inside of her cheek, Reyna sens Mesa a private message. I'm sorry. I didn't mean that. I...I'm just jealous, I guess. It would be nice to live somewhere as accepting as Leera.
Reyna sighs, resuming her previous position of leaning against the wall. Looping her arms around her knees she catches sight of a bulge in the side of her morphing outfit that she had not noticed in all of the previous excitement. Curiously she reaches into the fold and pulls out a smooth rectangular object that looks surprisingly like ancient music devices that held cassette tapes. There are even earbuds attached. For a few minutes Reyna looks at the device blankly before a memory comes crashing through her.
"Portable direct Kandrona Rays. Battery life... for a century... Tell Shaun... Proud..." General Oran's last words.
-
Shaun looks around and decides to go and get some water. Shaun has been thinking about what will happen once they get back to Earth. "What will happen when we are done with this mission, will we have another one waiting for us?"
-
Chris looked at Mesa and Reyna. "Please don't fight." he pleads quietly.
-
Leerans don't actually trust each other, I interject, Leerans know each other. If my time and experience with humans has taught me anything, it's that trust is based around the hope that, while you do not know what another is thinking, you believe enough in their integrity and their high opinion and consideration of you to tell you what they are thinking. I look at Mesa, Couldn't you feel it when you morphed a human? The silence? The paranoia? What if you were stuck as a human? How could you trust others then? I shake my head, a human action, No. Knowing what someone is thinking and trusting someone are two entirely different things.
I turn to Shaun, I honestly do not know, I answer, All of this was based on Tiberi's intentions and plans to root out Kelbrid infiltrators. We will need to return to earth before we will know any more.
-
Fisher shook his head in amusement.
“Really? What is with the Kelbrid and non-lethal weapons, do they carry anything capable of killing?” Then he thought about and shrugged. Oh well, two days would be good as killing in their circumstances.
Reli seemed to be shocked that the Kelbrids could morph longer than the Andalites could, Fisher didn’t really care. No that he had water, he could feel the fatigue creeping in again to drown him in sleep.
Now Reli and Marty were working away, quickly assembling more shredders and dracons. Intrigued, Fisher and his team wandered over to observe the work. Several of the energy weapons were complete, rag-tag as they were. Marty finished up another, slid a shell over it to protect the inner working and handed it to Fisher who gladly took it and inspected it for a moment before slinging a crude holster over his shoulder and resting the shredder within.
He tossed his zapper to Johan who gladly took it over his knife, earning a rather contemptuous look from Ben-David.
Fisher perked up at hearing Ehrufs obviously propaganda-based tale of an Andalite assassin who stole morphing ability to murder a Kelbrid leader provoking an alleged war which supposedly destroyed the Andalites. He rolled his eyes at this fable, though now he wondered what would happen about the Kelbrid?
They were very clearly an incredibly cruel race and, from the sounds of it, very militaristic and aggressive. If they ever got back, the UNSN would have to do something.
Lee told his story, born a Leeran, an odd one out in society who fled to Earth. Right now Fisher was tired, too tired to really care, and he was just focused on getting home.
Marty closed the suspended animation pod Jim had crawled into, sending him to sleep. Fisher felt a pang of pain and sorrow for him, poor guy. And now as Mesa and Reyna were starting to get into a debate Fisher decided it was well-time to pack it all in as well.
Laying down on the floor in a corner, he closed his eyes. Exhaustion, long held at bay, overwhelmed him like a tidal wave and he fell asleep immediately.
-
I look over to where the others are dozing off. That might no be a bad idea. I think, Hopefully there's somewhere to sleep down there.
<Brace for landing.> Ehruf says. I hadn't even noticed how much time had passed, but now, looking out the ****pit window, I see just how close the planet is. The planet is almost entirely red desert with two, massive inland oceans and sparce patches of green and blue foliage, capped with to icy polar caps at the north and south of the planet. The planet seems to be almost devoid of life. <When we get there, follow me.> Ehruf says, demorphing. <We aren't to trusting of newcomers.>
The ship lands in the red sand, kicking up a large, red dust cloud. One of the major inland oceans lays aproximately 500 meters away from the ****pit of the ship. As the dust settles and Ehruf finishes demorphing, the doors of the ship open. Ayrow, still silent and brooding, exits the ship. We all follow.
At first, there is nothing to see. The heat and harsh wind are immediately tormeting my Leeran skin. But as I look closer, I notice that amongst the sand dunes are red mud huts.
<AMONGST THE STARS IS WHERE WE ROAMED UNTIL THE KELBRID BURNED OUR HOMES!!> Ehruf shouts into the wind.
One by one, red, dust covered forms timidly appear from their huts. Brown, grey and green eyes peer out and seem to recognise our pilot. Whispers of <It's Ehruf. Ehruf has returned with Ayrow!> make their way up the dunes.
As we stare out over the mud covered huts and the primitive town before us, Ehruf speaks up.
<Welcome to the majority of the free Pemalite race.>
-
Shaun exits the ship and sees all of the Pemalites exiting from their homes. "I would have never expected there to be so many of you."
-
It is a pleasure to meet you, Mesa said, shutting her eyes briefly against a spray of sand, quickly leaching the moisture she had gotten. I'm Mesa-Teern, a Leeran. Mesa for short. She paused, hoping they wouldn't freak out at her psionic speech. After all, it was how Kelbrid communicated.
-
Chris followed quietly at the back of the group and shield his eyes from the dust. He didn't bother to speak up to give his name. He just wanted to get home as quickly as possible. Of course he wanted to help Jim and Kage too.
-
Marty exits the ship. He stands quietly with the others, observing. His eyes are scrunched against the wind and sand, making it hard to read his facial expression.
-
The Pemalite locals watch everyone for a moment before leaving their homes and going about their business, presumably as they had before the ship landed. You all get the feeling that they aren't interested in introductions or small talk.
Most seem to be gathering food, primarily from the nearby sea, which you now see shimmers with primitive fishing nets. In fact, upon closer inspection, everything here seems ridiculously primitive. Almost like the third world lifestyle of early earth, a far cry from the mythical incredibly advanced race of Pemalites told inn the stories. Any tools you see are made of wood and stone, the populace is ratty, unwashed and underfed, the children... Actually, looking out in front of you, you see no children at all. No signs of playful youth or anything similar.
Just near the fishing nets lies possibly the most reinforced structure you have seen yet, half reaches into the water, the other half inland. It's approximately one kilometre by one kilometre and nearly 100 meters high and appears to be made from scrap metal. There are no visible entrances or exits.
Ayrow has long since disappeared by now.
<Follow me.> Ehruf says, heading down the dunes, <Let's see a about some food and shelter while we're here.>
-
Assuming her usual position at the back of the crowd, Reyna reluctantly leaves the Dracon weapons behind, debarking from the ship. As soon as she crosses the threshold of the spacecraft she is bombarded by dusty, dry air. She had not taken any water aboard the ship, and this fact becomes painfully apparent to her as her lips chap and her throat scratches. She falls into a dry coughing spell, turning away to cover up the fit.
When she turns back around Ayrow is gone, leaving only one Pemalite to guide their group. Reyna does her best to ignore her lightheadedness, licking her lips and surveying the alien world around her.
I've never been on another planet before, she thinks, marveling at the primitive Pemalite society.
-
The Pemalites didn't seem to care. They must get visitors more often than I thought, Mesa muttered to herself, glancing back at Reyna, who seemed to be having some coughing fit. She was okay, however, so the Leeran followed Ehruf, staring at the rudimentary supplies. But Ehruf and Ayrow had seemed totally at ease--apart from the whole Kelbrid-trying-to-eat-them thing--on the spaceship. Mesa guessed that perhaps when the Kelbrid had "burned their homes" they had been advanced like the myths said. But now they probably didn't have supplies.
-
Reli stepped out of the ship not far ahead of Reyna; Reli's stalk-eyes tucked down against her head, trying to avoid the sandblasting... she hated that it left her half-blind.
This doesn't look good for the food situation....
-
Marty follows... mostly. After a moment of walking, he stopped again, looking all around him. His hand covered over his eyes, shielding the sun and blasting sand. He'd catch up with the others in a second...
-
Walking into the primitive city, you see just how life is here.
To one side you see a Pemalite calling out in thought-speak, selling large quantities of raw meat in exchange for scrap metal. On the other, a second Pemalite sells scrap metal in exchange for meat. Still further down is another Pemalite selling purified water in exchange for labour at the purification facility.
As Marty falls behind, a scrawny black, gray and white Pemalite comes up to him, gesturing with her hands, holding what appears to be a damaged food preparation device. The Pemalite says nothing and it quickly becomes clear she is mute.
Ehruf finally stops, not to far from where Marty has been halted, and gestures inside a mud hut before entering. Inside are clay pots and various pieces of scrap technology as well as a seated old Pemalite female with shaggy, red fur. There is a hide rug in the center of the hut and, as the elder Pemalite rises, you notice that her seat is a stuffed hide cushion of sorts. The hides look disturbingly Pemalite, yet radically different in some strange way.
<Ehruf,> the elder say, standing uneasily, <Ayrow just told me you would be here. He tells me you have Kel-Spawn.> She looks at the group, <And apparently an Andalite?>
-
Reli steps forward one pace and levels her tail, respectful and unthreatening, but a bit wary.
<Greetings; I am Arhareli-Winwall-Ajaht, Andalite. I intend no harm to you or any here.>
-
Marty looks at the chunk of machinery, and takes it kindly from her hands. He could somewhat tell what it was, or rather, what it was supposed to be. And he could see generally how it was supposed to work. He could fix it, but there weren't any tools or parts. If only... He handed it back, shaking his head slowly. He joins the others quietly, seeming lost in thought.
-
Mesa stared around. These Pemalites were just primitive, they were struggling to survive. A wave of hatred for the Kelbrid suddenly washed over her. How could they do this? She wondered. Mild revulsion came next as she saw the Pemalite hides. Or were they? They were...different, somehow. Odd.
Then the questions came bubbling up, and she practically had to clamp her mind shut to keep them from escaping. How did the Pemalites get here? Did the Kelbrid do this? Why do they keep thinking Kage is an Andalite? Why do they think Andalites are so vicious? And...what's my part in this?
But she said nothing. None of the other Pemalites acknowledged her greeting, so...
-
<Ehruf,> the elder says, standing uneasily, <Ayrow just told me you would be here. He tells me you have Kel-Spawn.> She looks at the group, <And apparently an Andalite?>
Reli steps forward one pace and levels her tail, respectful and unthreatening, but a bit wary.
<Greetings; I am Arhareli-Winwall-Ajaht, Andalite. I intend no harm to you or any here.>
"You have been misinformed. This," Marty said gesturing to Reli. "is an Andalite. Despite their tactical advantage" he gestured to her tail blade raised over her back. "they are cordial and trustworthy allies. Generally speaking." He couldn't help but add. "We are indebted to Ayrow and Ehruf both, who helped us to escape the Kelbrid ship's prison. Unfortunately, two of our friends were afflicted during our escape... they are currently in a state of biostasis aboard the stolen fighter((?))."
-
((Correct about Jim & Kage. I'd post again, but it would be really weak filler. >_<))
-
The elder looks towerd Reli following her introduction and acknowledges Marty's explanation. <And how long have your friends been afflicted?>
-
((Note: I will be posting for Baron's characters from time to time, and when I do so, it will be in his green font.))
"Our friends were... 'afflicted'... just over a half hour ago. They were put in stasis almost as soon as we had boarded the ship."
<That was wise.> said the elder. <Perhaps they can be allowed to live... > she says.
Marty stood quietly, expecting her to continue. When she didn't, he did. "We've heard mention of a possibly cure. Is there - "
The elderly lady laughed quietly, though that was only due to her age holding her back. Ehruf shifted on his feet. He'd been the one to mention the cure, after all. The elder shook her head slowly.
<There is a cure. But it is costly. We do not have the means - or the concern - to expend our resources on neh'tsevern.>
-
Mesa thought she might explode. Were all Pemalites so roundabout? What was this cure? With a little gentle probing, all she found were thoughts of costs and expenses, along with concern over Jim and Kage. I'm getting tired of asking questions, she thought sullenly. Is there anything we can do to help? She eventually satisfied herself with saying. A Leeran asking questions that they could psychically glean would look...odd.
-
Our hostess shrugs slightly, as if considering a new option. <Perhaps. Though your own deaths will not be of much benefit to your fallen allies....>
Ehruf took a half-step forward, and appeared to be about to speak. He didn't though. They managed to not die aboard the Kelbrid ship.
-
Though her sleep-deprived mind was spinning out of focus, Mesa probed tentatively into the elder's mind. Images of sandstorms and a huge creature crashed over her. She tried to get some more information, but her lack of focus sent her thoughts sliding onto Ehruf's. We're rather...resilient. We might be able to handle it.
-
"It's not like we have many other options," Reyna says, surprising herself by speaking up. She glances back the way they came, then down to the ground, shifting uncomfortably as she draws attention to herself.
"I mean..." she trails off, trying to collect her jumbled thoughts that were strewn with memories of another. It was kind of like watching two movies at the exact same time. Images from Esplin's life kept popping up, distracting her from her own purpose.
"We can't just let them die," she says at last, drawing a deep breath and forcing herself to focus. "If there's any way that we can help them...we'll do it." She winces slightly at that, waiting for someone to rebuke her for speaking for them all.
-
Getting off the ship was a mistake....
Reli's sight drifted in and out of focus, and her balance alternated between rock-steady and wobblier than a human standing on a rolling desk chair.
She could feel her muscles rebelling at her attempts to marshall them into coordination; she needed food. The water was enough to keep her vital functions operating well... but her energy was at an all-time low...
...at least since that first week of training. I feel weaker than an infant. At least I can still think-
-
Mesa picked up Reli's thoughts, twisted and confused, and Reyna's even more twisted and confused thoughts, combined with Esplin's. She dimly recalled Fisher...back on the ship...asleep...
We...need rest...first, she said, looking around. With a jolt of surprise, she realized that she had...taken authority? Her? Mesa-Teern, from the Te Isle...I guess I got my wish after all.
-
"Whoa," Marty said as Reli stumbled. He then realized just how badly his group was in need of provisions. "I agree with all of those statements; we need to help Jim and Kage. But we won't be much good if we don't take care of ourselves, and soon." He stepped over to Reli, and offered his support. Turning to the Elder, he said, "As much as I hate to encroach ma'am, would you be able to spare some food and water?"
The elder Pemalite looked as if she was considering it for a moment, not sure how to answer. Ehruf cleared his throat... or maybe he growled, it was hard to tell the difference. "You will be our guests here... with certain restrictions... and temporarily, mind you. As you can see, we do not live in a world of abundance. Ehruf seems to think you have some merit. What that may be, I fail to recognize. He will see to it that you are made comfortable." she smiled, as if making a joke.
"Thank you ma'am. You're people's hospitality is much appreciated." Marty with a slight bow.
Ehruf nodded, and stepped outside of the door opening. He waited for the others to follow him, presumably to a place with food.
-
Chris felt the pain in his stomach. It gurgle loudly. He was very hungry. He followed Ehruf out the Door.
-
<Thank you.> Reli managed to whisper to Marty.
Any other time it would shame me to be so weak that I need rely on human physical strength... but let this be the exception; he has morphed less and eaten somewhat more... and I'm sure I'll cover him at another time when he needs it.
-
Mesa followed Ehruf after thanking the elder. The "restrictions" part sounded a bit...ominous, but for now she was just happy for the food. There was something else...the ship...oh, right. Fisher. We have another companion, she said. Fisher...he's back on the ship with his friends. I believe he may be asleep...but he needs food as well.
-
<We will be in that Yuk'kum to the left.> he said pointing to another ramshackle hut. <Fetch your friends, and meet us there.> He looked at the group only briefly before walking in the direction he'd pointed.
"I'm on it..." Marty said. He jogged off with his eyes squinted against the sun and sand, back towards the ship. A Pemalite stood by the door of the large sheet metal structure they'd passed earlier. Marty boarded the ship, tracking sand into the interior, and stood in front of Fisher and his crew. "Corporal Fisher. The locals have agreed to share their food and water with us. We should hurry."
While they walked, Ehruf looked back a couple times. After several moments, he said, <I must admit, I am still rather... intrigued... by your group's diversity.> He then looked at Mesa over his shoulder. <You're species truly have psionic capabilities as the Kelscum do?>
-
Mesa nodded to show she understood as Ehruf explained where they would be. At his question, she paused. It didn't take a genius to know the Pemalite's hatred towards the Kelbrid. Would he think less of her? Should she hide...hide it? Secrets again...Earth...this world...this is too much, she though. But...best not to hide things. I don't know exactly how the Kelbrid's capabilities work, she said. But the rudiments appear to be the same, yes. All Leerans are born with them.
-
Fisher was dead asleep, that was for sure. Even his fireteam had collapsed soon after in a deep snooze. Even if it was just for half an hour, it was welcome after the adrenaline-charged combat.
Too bad it didn't last longer.
Fisher could hear a sound, a distant voice that pierced the murk of sleep, calling his name. Everything began to vanish, as his consciousness came to its senses.
Like rapidly emerging from a deep pool, Fisher suddenly found himself shooting into the air on his feet with a half-yelled exclamation.
"Yessir Sarge, what is it-" As his consciousness returned so did his memory and he shut up. Dazed, he shook his head to get his surroundings. Marty was the summoner, and Fisher wondered what it was all about? Hearing something about locals and food, Fisher roused his friends with a light boot to the ribs.
"Alright fellas, get up. We've got locals with vittles they'll share." A quick thought later though and he turned to Marty with a strange look. "But don't we have food and water here?" He waved his arm to the stores behind himself.
-
Reli drew her thoughts to focus and half-babbled a reply to Fisher's question, including his fireteam in her thought-speech.
<Not all of us can metabolize meat, and if we have to leave suddenly from here, we'll need to save what water and food we have. We can't ask the locals to stock our ship for us. I->
She cut down her speech to be privately directed just at Fisher.
<-I am not able at present to give protection to the team if they need it. You and your men can make use of the weapons we have found and made. Please, at least one of you come and give cover? I'm useless until I can eat and sleep.>
She cringed again at her own enforced helplessness, but she forced herself to keep following the group as Marty led the way.
-
Reyna followed, lagging behind the main group. Her movements were sluggish and she was finding it a bit difficult to focus. Water, she realized slowly. I didn't drink anything on the trip here. I was too distracted by the Dracon Beams. Her feet were dragging, but she finally made it to the ship. Marty had gone inside, but the climb up the ramp seemed like too much work. Instead, Reyna leaned against the hull, closing her eyes and tilting her head upwards to catch the sun. Consciousness seemed to become fluid as she slipped in and out, dehydration combining with a strange uneasy feeling in her stomach.
-
From the back of the group, Chris noticed Reyna slip off. He had been walking next to her and she looked a little dizzy. He decided to follow her. When she leaned against the ship he spoke up. "Are you ok?"
-
Marty turned behind him. He seemed surprised that Reli had followed him, and Reyna and Chris too. As Fisher woke up his crew, Marty walked over the the water supply and scooped out a deep 'dish' full of water. "Here..." he said, setting it on the ground for Reli to use, and looked at the others down the ramp. "Either of you want some water while I'm at it? We don't really need to save this anymore..."
<Fascinating.> Ehruf said. <That would be quite useful, I'd imagine....> At that moment, they arrived at their destination. Ehruf barked out a few native phrases. He then held the curtain out of the way, and gestured for the others to enter the yuk'kum. Other Pemalites could be seen moving about, setting out various spreads of food items. There was a large basket of smoked meat, which was obviously the main course, as well as much smaller amounts of roots, tubers, and other dried vegetation. Jars filled with sloshing liquids - some were water, and some were presumably a soup of sorts- were brought out and set in the middle of the open area with the rest of the meal. After doing as Ehruf asked, the few Pemalites who were already in the yuk'kum sat to the side and talked quietly amongst themselves, glancing occasionally at the group of assorted aliens who entered. <I hope that this will be to your liking.... Help yourselves.>
-
"M'okay..." Reyans says, but her voice is just a whisper. She cracks her eyes open, finding Chris' face nearby. "Just need a little nap..."
For some reason, though, she cannot drift off entirely. Something in the back of her mind will not allow her to fall asleep, despite the warmth of the sun and the exhaustion in her muscles. Something is nagging at her, that she cannot quite put her finger on.
Without really realizing what she is doing, Reyna slides down the hull of the ship until she is sitting on the ground, leaning against it. Drawing her knees up to her chest she stares off blankly, her eyelids at half mast.
-
"I'm fine. Reli might need some though." She didn't look good.
-
Chris said he was fine, but Reyna's response consisted of sliding to the ground. Marty found another scrap item he could use as a cup and brought some water to Reyna. "Here, take this with you. Looks like you need it. Chris, we should go ahead and catch up with the others now... would you help her get there if she needs it? I'll be right behind you as soon as Reli is ready..."
-
Fisher nodded, not everyone was good with a shredder barbeque. He was more awake now and could fully grip what Reli privately confided with him. He nodded slightly, looking her in the main eyes. Then he turned and went to arm him and his companions. Strapping a shredder to his waist, the other did the same. Grabbing the home-made beam weapons as primary armaments, Fisher and Baxter took the pair of zappers as backup while Johan and Bed-David took the long knives.
Taking a long slug of water from their storage, Fisher and his team began made their way to Marty where the Corporal inquired about what was going on.
"So Marty, what is it exactly that is happening here?"
-
"Nothing to worry about really. Ehruf took us to who I assume was their leader, and we've been allowed to stay as guests 'with restrictions'. The others are heading that way where they have some food for us. And... we aren't sure about that cure for Jim and Kage yet...."
-
Reli nodded thanks to Fisher and Marty, quickly drawing up water from the 'dish'. She took more this time than she had earlier, knowing that the need to ration was all but eliminated.
She stayed close to the group as they returned to where the food waited for them, hoping there would be something plant-based she could consume.
-
Reyna grunted a reply, taking the makeshift cup from Marty. It seemed to require great effort to lift the metal to her lips, but she managed to succeed after a small internal struggle. As soon as the cool wetness touched her tongue she seemed to regain a certain sense of clarity and guzzled the entire thing, relishing the sensation of a temporarily full stomach.
"Oh..." she said, wrapping one arm around her abdomen. Perhaps I drank that a little too fast... Her stomach woes were quickly interrupted, though, by a prickling sensation at the back of her neck. Instinctively, Reyna looked behind her but there was nothing there but the ship she was leaning against. Frowining, Reyna began to pull herself back to her feet.
-
"Need help?" Chris asked awkwardly. He didn't feel comfortable around girls.
-
Marty smiled as his friends took the water. It was easy to see that it helped them already. He stepped down the ramp, and after Fisher and his men were ready, he began heading back to the "yuk'kuk" that Ehruf had pointed them to.
-
"Thanks," Reyna said, smiling through her chapped lips. "I think I'm okay." She managed to pull herself back into a fully upright position before tilting the cup back a second time, determined to catch any stray drop that may have been left behind. When she was certain that the scrap metal was empty of water she lowered it, blushing a bit at her over-zealousness.
"Sorry...I guess I was pretty thirsty," she says. Pushing away from the hull of the ship, Reyna's eyes follow the direction of Marty. "S'pose we should follow him, hmm?"
-
"Sure." Chris started off that way, anxious to rejoin the group. Be soon caught up and took his place at the back of the group.
-
As the group began weaving between the huts, they were joined by someone else strolling the village; the young Pemalite that had approached Marty earlier. She walked along side of him for a little while, and then she began walking backwards while in front of him. Now facing him, she again held out her little malfunctioning gadget, pleading with her eyes. She said nothing. Finding it hard to walk with her in front of him, Marty stopped briefly. He looked long and hard at the Pemalite girl. Then after taking the cluster of parts and pieces from her, he smiled, and so did she. She began following at his side again as the group continued towards lunch.
<Glad to see you decided to join us.> Ehruf said as the nine of them walked in. He made no comment on the girl entering as well. It was a bit crowded inside the structure now, but there was still enough room to enjoy the meal. Marty was glad himself to see that the others were all here and apparently waiting for them; he looked at Lee, waiting to follow his lead. Lee looked at Ehruf, who then said, <Sit> and then proceeded to do so himself. Ehruf and the other Pemalites joining them each in turn stuck their paws into the
basket of meat, picking up two or three pieces hooked on their short claws. None of them touched the other dishes yet.
After seeing the example of their hosts, Marty slowly reached out and picked up a couple pieces for himself. It seemed to have a taste somewhere between pork and beef.....
-
<Thank you for sharing your provisions.>
Reli scooped up a handful each of several grassy-looking clusters of vegetation and arranged them on the ground in a low, broad pile. She slowly, almost methodically, crushed them underhoof. They appeared to dissolve and disappear each time she stepped down.
Eventually a little scattered pile of pale, ashen stalks and a bit of dust remained, and Reli was visibly healthier from the meal. A gust of wind from outside guttered under the wall, then it shifted the pile until it was lost to the sands outside.
Reli delicately picked up what appeared to be a dark blue-violet fruit of some kind. She made a thin cut in it with her tail-blade, examining and smelling the pale white interior.
<This plant appears to be a starch-bearing fruit, similar to the Earth potato or apple. It should provide sustaining energy to humans, and you can metabolize it.>
She offered the fruit to the nearest human.
-
"Thanks." Chris took the Fruit and took a bite. Once he was done he selected a couple pieces of meat. He didn't really settle on how it tasted. He was too hungry.
-
Reyna meandered behind the group, seeming to draw further and further behind. At one point she stopped entirely and turns around abruptly, staring back the way she came with a scrutinizing look on her face. After a moment or two of staring she turned back around and continued on to the hut.
Upon entering the hut, Reyna's stomach shook itself from its reverie and growled loudly. Food! she thought happily, momentarily distracted from whatever had been bothering her. She took her place at one of the empty seats, watched everyone else for a moment, then dug in. Halfway through a bite of some alien meat she stopped again, food halting midway to her mouth, to look over her shoulder. I could've sworn...no, there's no one there.
-
Mesa, following the leads of the Pemalites, took some of the meat. It couldn't be that different from fish...could it? She tentatively took a bite. It wasn't bad. Dry, though. She wasn't really picky, though. Too hungry. As she ate--one of the useful things about not speaking with her mouth--she said I have some questions, if that is alright. to the Pemalites. She was still baffled as to why they thought that Andalites were vicious...and why they were still alive.
-
Ehruf looked up, working his jaw on a particularly thick cut of meat. <Feel free to ask whatever you like. I don't guarantee that we'll answer, though.>
Marty looked up from the disassembled device momentarily. The mention of an semi-open forum seemed to perk his interest. He said nothing though and continued twisting wires and removing panels. He furrowed his eye brows, and looked at the younger Pemalite girl, pointing at a small cluster of parts. She looked confused only momentarily, but then smiled and ran out of the hut.
-
<If I may, what before meeting me did you believe an Andalite was? What propaganda has been disseminated in this region, that we are regarded with such dread? If I may clarify with certainty, we are an herbivorous species, essentially peaceful, and we only participate in defensive wars. Our own planet has all the resources we could ever need, so invasion is unnecessary and out of the question.>
-
<Not surprising, actually. To our kind, your people are only a myth, meant to destroy any last surviving remnants of hope in ours. We are told that the fierce, blood-seeking Andalite War Clans seek nothing but death and desolation to appease the wrath of their savage gods. They are a hive collective of killers, naturally equipped with an armored coating of blades, crushing, shredding jaws, and claws able to rend even the toughest Pemalite warrior in two. Obviously, you do not quite meet those lofty criteria. And while all our folklore of your kind has been fed to us from the Kelbrid, there are still those among us who doubt they were entirely defeated by the Kelbrid, as the stories go. Perhaps it's a desperate attempt to cling to hope. If the 'mighty' Kelbrid were able to wipe out the horrific Andalite race, what can we mere Pemalite hope to acheive?> He sets what's left of his meal - just bones, cleaned white - on the ground and stares ahead, his face hard. What isn't a lie? We waste away, serving the 'Slayers of the Andalite Horde', and they're no more frightening than a Kel-crawler.
The Pemalite girl came running back in and resumed her seating by Marty. She handed him what looked like a tuning fork, beaming.
-
Mesa paused in thought. It is entirely possible that the Kelbrid lied to make them seem stronger, she mused. A tactic to prevent rebellions. That would cause...unnecessary effort, perhaps. She picked up on Ehruf's thoughts. There must be something we can do to help these people...too liberate them. But what can a couple of aliens do? She cut off her thought. Who were the Animorphs but six children? She reminded herself. To us, the Pemalites were something of a myth, she informed them. You...well, were thought to have died off long, long ago. Very little is known. Some people say a disease...some say fierce creatures called Howlers killed you...but obviously this isn't true as well, she finished with confusion.
-
Fisher and his men listened intently, chewing on the pieces of alien meat which had been laid out before them. Now at all sure if what it was, they'd treated it quite gingerly at first. After a bit of holding back. fisher had volunteered for the first bite. Taking it carefully, he lit up and remarked that, "It's better than MREs." That was enough for the others who promptly, albeit gingerly, began to eat.
Now as they listened to the Kelbrid-made propaganda about the Andalite barbarians of myth, they rolled their eyes and chuckled lightly. Fisher mentally agreed with Mesa, it was a good plan. Implant a total air of power and might to prevent any future uprisings. Shaking his head, Fisher apoke his disgust.
"Man, if we ever get back we're gonna have to tell the UNSN and Andalite Command 'bout this, together we could put these slimy little Kelbrid to and end." He looked Ehruf. "You deserve better, our people could help you."
-
Ehruf snorted at the comment of Pemalites being extinct... What does it really matter? We're here, and now.
Marty studied the tool closely. He was apparently very absorbed by the seemingly simple tool.
He looked up again, his hard expression aimed at Fisher. Maybe they... <No. Your peoples have never faced an enemy such as our Kelbrid oppressors. You do not know what you're suggesting. Open war would not be a fruitful venture.> He remained quite for a few moments, and served himself a bowl of the stew dish, which he left untouched. <Now it is my turn. Why are you here? You claim to know so little of the Kelbrid, yet you were prisoners aboard their ship.>
-
Mesa paused, listening to Ehruf. And not only his thought-speak. The Pemalites were all so...hopeless! They just didn't care for the deeper questions, motive and the like. They just didn't care at all. Live one more day, it seemed to be. Just live one more day. And that was it. But...was that...hope she heard? If only for a second?
Mesa shook herself out of her reverie. But how much should she tell? We were investigating what we believed to be Kelbrid transmissions, she said slowly. These people had taken them in, fed them what little food they had. She shouldn't be so suspicious. Something went wrong with our mission...I'm still not sure what happened, she finished, glancing at her friends. We were at a prison where the transmissions were coming from. Visiting an...informer, she said carefully, shooting a glance at Shaun. There was an explosion. We woke up on the Kelbrid ship.
-
((whoa, it was five days??? dang I thought it was just a couple since the last post.... ))
Ehruf nodded. Not that it made sense to him, he was just acknowledging her response. <You must have been deemed worth Acquisition. I don't think they would have brought you here alive otherwise. They must have targeted your planet next. It was only a matter of time before the Kelbrid decided to move on to fresh territory. Honestly, I - >
He is interrupted by a sudden outbreak of high-pitched howling and yipping, soon followed by shouts and barks of Pemalites sounding the alarm. The younger Pemalites sitting to the side in the hut cowered together. The girl doting on Marty looked frightened as well, but made no noise. She gripped Marty's arm and looked in his eyes, sending messages of fear. Scared! Danger! Hide!
Ehruf went rigid, and almost instantly was on his feet. As he ran out the doorway, the only think he said to his guests was <We are being attacked.>
Marty's head snapped up as well. He put down the contraption he was still fidgeting with but did not rise. He looked at the others, waiting. "Sounds like dogs... but... bigger."
-
Reli leapt between the entry flap and the people inside the little hut, tail high and all eyes watching the door. Distant millennia of racial memory of being a grazing prey species rose beneath her concentration, sending adrenaline coursing through her system.
-
Shaun jumped to his feet at the sound of being attacked and immediately started his morph to gorilla. "Let's do this guys."
-
Reli grabbed her Shredder from its sling, turned it to the second-highest setting, and pointed it steadily toward the doorway. With one eye she observed Shaun hurriedly morphing gorilla.
The last thing we need right now is for these children to make themselves a liability again. I need to keep him out of the way.
<Shaun,> Reli said privately to him, <I have a job for you, if you'll help me with this: keep Reyna covered. She's still carrying the Yeerk, and the Leerans may need to morph, so we'll probably lose the benefit of their mind-reading. If Reyna morphs wolf, let her... and if she appears to be about to attack an ally, stop her. Your hands are strong enough to choke a wolf unconscious, so right now you're the only person here other than me who can both watch her back and nonlethally incapacitate her. Will you agree to it?>
It would be ideal if I can keep those two in one place... I think I'll play this from both directions.
<Reyna,> Reli said, again privately, <Shaun is getting gung-ho, and he's probably going to put himself right under my hooves if we leave him to his own devices. Do you think you can help me keep track of him, out of range of my tail? I know he will listen to you and do anything you ask him, at this point. If you ask him to stay close to you, it will keep him from getting between me and whatever is out there. Please.>
Hopefully playing them off each other will be enough to keep them both from getting the rest of us hurt... and they really are well-equipped to keep each other covered, as least as combat morphs go....
-
<I'll do it.> Shaun said privately to Reli.
-
"What are those noises? What should I do? morph?" Chris looked at Reli. She seemed to know what she was doing.
-
<Yes, morph. I do not know what is out there, but whatever it is, you do not want to meet it as an unarmed human. Pemalites, what are we hearing?>
Reli narrowed her thought-speak to Chris and Marty.
<I've already asked Shaun and Reyna to cover each other. Now I'm going to ask you both to do a "job" for me: I'm the first thing between us and whatever is outside. I don't know how many there are. So if->
-she drew a sharp breath-
<-when something manages to get past me, I'm going to rely on you two to be the second line of defense. Chris, use your speed and attack from below, tangle their feet and gut them. Marty, use your size; attack from above and aim for the head. Work together. Crowd them so they can't move.>
She paused briefly, one eye watching the group race to prepare itself.
<Marty, Chris, you two and I may be a delay tactic at best. We keep the enemy busy so Fisher's team has time to pick them off one by one. We give the others time to escape back to the ship.>
Finally she opened her thought-speech to the whole group again.
<We are probably outnumbered. The instant you have a chance to retreat to the ship, take it. No showboating. We aren't here to win; we're here to escape and survive. Get ready.>
-
Reyna's lackluster eyes suddenly gained focus at Reli's thoughts penetrating her mind. A piece of foreign meat was halfway to her mouth and it haung there limply, her hand paused as she listened. Slowly lowering the food back to the table she nodded her agreement, though she was not entirely sure Reli was paying attention. Her eyes scanned the room until they found Shaun, midway to gorilla morph. Detaching herself from the table, she stood and strode over to him.
"Wait for me," she murmured as she began her own wolf morph.
-
"I can do that." Chris focused on becoming a lion and slowly but surely his form shifted. He sprouted fur claws and a tail and fell to all fours. The last part was his mane which grew out full and golden.
-
<Sorry Reyna i didnt mean to start without you. Oh yeah and sorry for acting all weird on the ship i got mixed up in emotions because of my dad and stuff and then i saw you and im not saying i didnt mean what i said on the ship im just saying sorry i shaouldnt have said it at all.>With that shaun was up and ready to move when he had to but he made sure he would protect Reyna from danger. <Reli what happens if i get to injured to protect Reyna do i tell her to get to the ship or not?>
-
<Shaun, the ultimate goal is to get back to the ship alive. That's the first priority for you and Reyna both. If you have an opening to get yourselves to the ship, take it, even if it means leaving others in the group behind. If you see Fisher and his team moving out, stay close to them, and you can all cover each other. If anything happens to me, for the purposes of this battle, consider him the best person to listen to.>
-
Mesa's head snapped up sharply as a high-pitched howling started outside of the hut, sending shivers down her spine. The mental noise increased, Reli's thoughts in particular increasing drastically. She quickly realized that the Andalite knew what she was doing as she hesitated to begin her morph, reluctant to loose her psychic. She's amazing, she thought admiringly as Reli outlined her plan to the team members. Keeping Shaun and Reyna, who might be liabilities out of the way while using the power we do have to its maximum potential. Realizing with a start she was behind, she hurriedly began her own morph. The Leeran was glad she hesitated, though, when her psychic was the first thing to cut off. The speckles on her back enlarged, her tentacles became legs, and her hind legs extended, leveling her body out. Morph faster! She thought angrily. Then, privately to Reli, she said <Do you want me to stay with Shaun and Reyna or help you, Marty, and Chirs?>
-
<Mesa, consider yourself the "relief hitter." You, Chris, and I all have fast combat morphs, but there isn't room up here for two big cats to maneuver in the same space. Your job is to watch Chris for injuries that will affect his speed. As soon as he starts slowing down, switch places with him and tell him to remorph and be prepared to switch back with you. With any luck, this will end fast, and you won't need to switch into the fight.>
-
<Alright,> Mesa confirmed. I'll keep an eye on Reyna and Shaun too--just in case, she decided. The senses of the leopard almost made up for the silence in the back of her mind. The morph quickly took shape--fur sprouted over her body, ears rose from her head. She stretched quickly as the morph finished, her tail extending to full length, limbering herself up. She had a moment of struggle with the instincts, tensing and glancing around at the cramped space around her, almost ready to spring. But she wrestled it back.
-
Jim and Kage - safe on the ship. Mesa - backup and relief. Chris and Marty - rear guard. Shaun and Reyna - liabilities under control. Fisher... I don't need to tell him anything. He knows this situation, and I can trust him for cover fire. Lee and the Pemalites... I think they can manage themselves; the Pemalites obviously have more information here than we do, and Lee is probably gleaning it from them right now. That's everybody. Let's hope whatever is out there dies easy.
-
Marty replied by flashing a wolf grin. He looked comical with a muzzel and ears on an otherwise normal face, but this was no time for laughs. He was soon fully wolf.
The Pemalites wimpered, speaking quietly in their verbal language. <They call them Kel-hounds. And they are very afraid, even though they feel that they should be safer by staying inside.> Lee said.
Screams and yells, both telepathic and audible, could be heard from outside. The war cries of the Pemalite defenders joined with the surreal barking sounds to make an andrenaline-inducing clamor. A few more women and children ran into the yuk'kum, only to cry anew at the sight of assorted aliens and Earth creatures. They only hesitated briefly, for their fear of what was out there was far greater than that of what was in here. The racket continued... there was an painfully high yelp, followed by several smaller canine exclamations of pain.
Lee spoke again. <...They wonder if we will help them....>
-
<How many are out there? If we are too outnumbered, we can't help the Pemalites.>
Reli deliberated a moment, one eye sweeping the room, pausing on Fisher, then returning to Lee's face.
<Tell the newcomers to stay close together, out of the way. I'll do what I can, but I will take my first opportunity to get our group back to the ship. I don't speak on behalf of anybody else.>
-
Mesa hesitated. Abandoning the Pemalites? But these people were so hopeless...they had to help. They had been beaten down for centuries...and now to just run? It seemed selfish. Maybe these Kel-hounds will be easier to fight, she contemplated. The Pemalites are relatively defenseless...but they can morph too! Ehruf can, at least.
-
Click-eeeeeEEEEN Fisher's group's energy weapons whirred to life, responding to being adjusted to full-power. "Well let's blast us some Hell-hound, boys." He said, an expression of excitement veiled behind seriousness. They hadn't had much action on their previous assignment.... The four soldiers stood braced and ready, various weaponry displayed prominently.
More screams came from behind the hide partition serving as the door. For a few brief seconds, cries of victory could be heard, before being drowned out once more by persistent shouts of battle and bloodshed. The 'voice' of Ehruf could be easily hear above the chaos. <The legs! Take out the legs!>
Lee looked back to the Pemalites clustered in fear. There was nothing he could say....
<But what if this is our chance? What if they're distracted now? Reli, this is a world we don't know. Maybe this is our one chance, our golden opportunity. Let me see what we're up against out there. I'll scope it out. After all, that's why I'm here.> Marty says. He edges towards the door frame, sticking the tip of his nose past the flap. He looks back, awaiting her response. She'd taken charge of their well being, and while he considered this a smart move, he would let her decide. <Don't worry. I won't draw attention, and I won't try anything. They won't even know I'm there.>
-
Reli looked down at the wolf inching toward the door.
He does have the best chance at stealth, for the moment....
<Better yet, let's both look. Stay close to the ground: if I have to use my tail, I don't want you between it and its target.>
Reli leaned forward toward the tent flap and carefully let one stalk eye find its way around one of the gaps near the top.
She leaned away from the flap again, face visibly pale beneath her fur. She glanced down at Marty again. She kept her voice private, relieved that nobody else could hear the edge of dread inching into it.
So many bodies....
<Marty, you're seeing what I'm seeing. Do you feel your morph is capable of dealing with these creatures? If so, I feel as you say that our best chance to escape will be immediately, while they are still mostly busy with the remaining Pemalites.>
I don't know how we can help the Pemalites and still get ourselves to safety. There are too many factors in this. I have to prioritize the team... and Ehruf, Ayrow, and the others here with us. But the ones outside? No chance.
-
What are they doing it just doesnt make sense if we need to get to the ship lets get to the ship sure i might be the slowest but sure im one of the strongest so i think i would be able to handle myself but now everybody else on the other hand would get there before me because Reli has amazing speed alond with Marty and Reyna and then Fisher and his team but i might be able to get there before them but i wouldnt let them get left behind then we have Mesa who is a leopard and is quite fast but non-the-less we all should make it there except Lee i dont know what he can morph besides human so im not to sure about this.
<Guys why dont we all just make a break for the ship as long as we all stay together we should be fine.>
-
((Punctuate, please? I don't want to be grammar-Nazi-isch, but frankly I know you can do better than that, and it's not difficult to type '.'))
<Maintain your position.>
I hope Reyna can keep him from making the situation worse.
-
<<I don't know.>> Came Marty's reply. <<They're rather close. Well, I figure that they have to be fast, so that really isn't a long distance for them. I think this is probably the best we're going to get, so perhaps we should take our chance before it's too late. A couple of us should be ready to distract them if we catch their attention. I volunteer for that. And... maybe Mesa would be a good pick as well. You need to lead. They'll follow you. Fisher's group just isn't fast enough to handle those. We need to get back to the ship, and maybe Lee can control the ship enough to make use of whatever weapons it has.>> He couldn't stand watching the violence and utter killing force. This was way far from the intelligence position he'd agreed to. <On Reli's signal, everyone needs to get to the ship as fast as humanly ... or otherwise.. possible. Stay close to the buildings. And do NOT stray from the group.>
A crumbling, breaking sound could be heard from the warzone right outside the doorflap. A Kel-Hound had crashed into a yuk'kum, and delightfully discovered the secret within. Women and children screamed. More sounds of fighting. More evidence of eminent death....
-
<<Agreed.>>
Reli widened her thought-speak to include Mesa and Chris.
<<You two, Marty, and I are immediate cover for Lee, the humans, and the Pemalites in the group. Stay close to the slowest in the group; when the group is rushed by a hound, distract it, but don't waste time killing it. No matter what, keep moving. Keep your head down so Fisher's team doesn't hit you.>>
Finally, she opened to the whole group.
<Fisher and fireteam, cut a swathe as far ahead of us as possible. Marty, you and I will take point position and clear the immediate path. Reyna and Shaun, move with the Pemalites, Lee, and the fireteam; stay right on their heels and protect them from attack from behind. Mesa and Chris, each of you take a flank and guard for anything coming in from the sides.>
Too many factors, too many weak points... I'm going to be busy. I'd better re-establish secondary chain of command. Fisher is best for the sake of the fight... but once they get to the ship... after all this, the other humans are going to want to look to a human...
...and Marty can be trusted to see all the angles. He won't start a fragmentation between the Leerans and the humans. I can't trust Fisher yet not to cut his losses and favour only the humans in an escape. He's going to be thinking of his fireteam, first and foremost, no matter what.
<Take positions now. We move on Marty's signal.>
She waited for them to form up and prepare themselves, making one last call before everybody was shuffled into position.
<<Marty, when you're ready, count three for everybody. I'll go out first and hit whatever is on the other side of the door. Once you're out, keep moving. Once everybody is halfway to the ship, I'll drop back to cover any stragglers and to make sure Shaun and Reyna are still with us.>>
-
<<Sounds like a plan....>> Marty replied. What had he gotten himself into? This was not his his purpose. But he couldn't just leave the others to fend for themselves. No. He would help them. In every way he could. <I've got to take another look...> Marty slunk out of the doorway, crouched low and tight against the wall.
There were two monstrous creatures, each about the size of a rhinoceros, raiding a house through the broken walls. It was only a short distance away from their own. The Pemalite warriors, who only numbered slightly over a dozen, had managed thus far to keep the Kel-Hounds near the outskirts of the village. There they fought with two more, with one other lying in a contorted position, gripped by the final stages of death, spears protruding from it's hide. They looked similar to Marty's own morph in several ways, but drastically different as well. The had spines that grew from the base of their neck and down their spines... whether they were protective or just a display of dominance, he wasn't sure. Their jaws seemed more like a beak than a standard canine mouth, but that didn't make it any less intimidating. The four still living Kel-hounds seemed occupied....
<Okay... 3, 2, 1, Go!>
-
((OOC: Lost my Willpower Roll. In other news, Hi guys :P)
I shook my head severely. What was going on?!?! I was clearly aware of my surroundings, the conversations and the events taking place around me, but my mind was murky, distracted... Smothered, almost.
It's like my body was moving automatically, listening to external commands rather than my own will. People wanted me to head to the ship, they wanted me to stay close, not to deviate from the group, stick by the slowest member... But this feeling... This... voice.
It was everywhere.
Run.
Food.
Shelters.
Inside.
Grab.
Rip.
Tear.
Run.
Inside.
Grab.
Rip...
It was everywhere. And it was powerful. Like a suffocating Ke devoted to nothing but hunting and feeding. It was like Leera al over again. My mind was gone, replaced by only the most basic drives and minds and wills of those around me.
<3, 2, 1, Go!> I heard Marty's count down. Felt Reli's intention, her directions, her commands. Provided I stayed close to them, they're intentions would be my intentions. Stray too far... Somewhere in the recesses of my mind, I knew what would happen. I'd lose myself to the instincts of the Kel-Hound's without having to morph them. I'd think I was one of them. One of the pack.
I watched Reli and Marty, ready to follow.
((OOC: In other news, I succeeded on my Luck Roll and didn't decide I was a Kel-Hound. Basically, I'm a Ke driven Zombie who is basically following Reli's every command and intention. The problem: When Reli attacks, I attack. When Reli morphs, I morph, etc.
Bear: I hope you're okay with me maintaining my ability to GM roll for circumstances involving my characters actions. The rest is all yours, right down to the Enemy Rolls. If you're ok with that. Figure I wouldn't take the wind out of you mission-sails :-/ ))
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Mesa quickly moved into position. The screaming and sounds of violence battered at her sensitive ears, and for once she was glad to be without her psychic. She slid into position on the left side of the group, mentally checking for everyone. Lee seemed a little...off...but she couldn't focus on that. She just had to tune out the horrors that went on all around her. Leera was a very peaceful place, and she was not used to this. At Marty's countdown, she started moving, staying with the group. She scanned the village. Most of the Kel-hounds were on the outskirts, and their path was pretty much clear.
-
Marty dashed through the doorway. He stopped after several yards, waiting for the others to follow. He stayed pressed against the wall, hoping to not draw too much attention to himself. But he knew that would be a futile effort. They would smell him. <We need to go NOW!> He watched the Kel-Hounds as they fought with the Pemalites. If they turned, if they looked his way... there was no way they would all live.
-
As Reyna finished her morph she half listened to the rapid instructions from Reli. Her orange, canine eyes were on Shaun, but her ears were twisting, turning as they tried to pick up some sound. What is...I don't understand. Her mind was wandering, distracted by something she could not quite pinpoint, and she almost missed the countdown. A half second after Marty yelled out <Go!> she broke into a loping run, the sounds and smells of battle assaulting her wolf senses as she left the Pemalite structure. A part of her was sickened by it all; another part of her was terrified. But both of these sensations were left in the dust by a single thought. We have to get to the ship.
-
Shaun bounded out of the building when he heard Marty yell go into everybody's head and he made sure to keep Reyna in sight.
-
((Woah, I am really sorry guys! My stupid email isn't notifying me... Where are we??? More importantly, where am I?))
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((Um... go check the OOC thread, please.))
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Well, this was his moment.
Combat, with his team and with a weapon. He could feel the energy coursing through the jerry-built weapon, quivering as with anticipation. Turning to his team, he yelled out his first real battle orders.
"Ok guys, stay at range! Use setting four so we don't drain all of our power and don't take wild shots! Aim for the head! You with me?" They yelled out an affirmative, Fisher grinned. "Alright then, now retreat?"
"Hell!" They finished the battle cry. Fisher grinned again as the Andalite gave out orders, she had a good idea too, Fisher waved his troops on and they dashed forward ahead of the others.
Rounding the building they were next to, Fisher got his first good look at the kel-hounds. Yikes.
Looked like a demon hybrid with a bird and a dog for good measure. The Pemalite fighters seemed to be holding them off on their own, the beasts were pretty occupied with this fight, leaving the path to the ship clear.
Shredder held put in front of him in quaking hands, Fisher kept his calm while motioning his team into defensive positions, moving with the others who he craned his head to call out to,
"Go on, if they give us any trouble we'll fry them pronto, now let's go!"
-
Though it would probably go unnoticed to those without a refined sense of smell, a soft wind blew through the terrorized town. It carried the smells of strange creatures to the Kel-hounds invading the shelter nearby. One, having pulled it's nose away with a newly-acquired gash from the hopeless defenders inside, caught the scent and turned his eyes and ears their direction. It made a peculiar sound, somewhere between a whistle and a dog's yawn. It turned to watch, taking just a short step towards the creatures who'd piqued his interest.
<<Reli! One of the monsters is watching us!>> He said privately, a slight tinge of worry in his voice. Publicly, he reminded, <Move it people, let's go!>
-
At Marty's signal, Reli had lurched out of the hut, eyes wheeling in search of the nearest threat, faintly relieved that nothing was yet within attacking range. She dodged aside and let Fisher lead his team ahead of the rest of the group, lagging a bit behind them and eventually circling toward the back of the group.
Marty alerted her to a hound who had just noticed the group.
<<Good eye. Keep moving; I'll handle this one.>>
Time to look like prey...
Reli made another tight loop toward the middle of the group, circling closer to the hound than the other runners. She tucked her tail against her back, keeping it low-profile, trying to look more vulnerable, more edible than the humans and Pemalites.
With any luck, he'll try to chase me instead of the smaller prey...
<<Come on. I bed you've never had such a nice easy target->> She whispered toward the hound in a quietly teasing voice.
<<Come on, look at me!>>
This is the only hound paying attention to us. All I have to do is keep it out of range of the humans. The rest are far enough for Fisher's team to clear them out if they start approaching; we don't even need to engage them otherwise.
-
Mesa pulled her lips back in a slight snarl at the stench of the Kel-hounds. It was horrid. Like dried, rotting meat...which would make a good meal in a pinch...she could just take some. It would sustain her, help her get the better meat later....
NO! Mesa shook herself, growling to herself and speeding up, as she had been lagging behind the group a little. The instincts of the leopard had almost overwhelmed her. The battle, the blood, the stench of the Kel-hounds...she had almost lost herself. But she focused now. I know the instinct. I've listened to it. I heard those Kel-hounds outside...she shivered at that thought. The Kel-hounds' instincts were so simple, but so...commanding. Then she noticed--one of them was not there. <Chris? Chris?!>
-
Yaolin...
<Keep moving! I'll watch for him.>
Sky... where could he be?! Can't right now, more problems than one gone missing-
-
So much movement. But which one to choose? The Kel-Hound stood, seemingly confused, for only perhaps ten seconds. Then, one of the odd smelling creatures broke off from the herd, singling itself as easy prey. It was a new challenge, however, and it was somewhat hesitant in it's approach. The distracted Kel-Hound began trotting towards Reli; a casual, though certainly not slow, approach. When it got a bit closer, it jumped at Reli, experimenting with it's new find.
((Attack roll for Kel-Hound = 3. Reli, roll for your attack (if you wish), and then you may continue as normal by rolling for it's defense and following attack. You may repeat this cycle as much as you'd like until one of the combatants dies, or you break off the attack. Be sure to post rolls.))
Reli wheeled back, drawing the creature to herself. Unfortunately, her plan worked. The Kel-Hound pounced, though it seemed to be holding back. Hopefully the fact that they were unknown to this beast would be enough help to keep them alive. Marty continued running with the others, though continually looking back, keeping his ears turned behind him, torn between following and helping. He knew he had to. He was the only one. But they had to run. Run from the enemy, protect themselves. Reli was risking her life for them.
This was chaos.
<She'll be fine, keep going! Almost there! Mesa, Chris, you - Where's Chris?>
No, actually, he'd been wrong. This was chaos.
<Everyone on the ship!>
The Pemalite soldiers managed to kill off another Kel-Hound, it's bellows and cries shrill and painful, then cut off abruptly. Only one hound remained fighting, and was unaccounted for by either group.
While the team had made their exit, this forgotten monster grew tired of it's raid on the shack it had penetrated, and moved on to the next. Which happened to be the same hut they'd just been in. Chris, as a lion, and the Pemalite girls were the only ones still inside. It broke through the back wall, sending the natives screaming for the door. It lunged, hoping to grab hold of a child caught in the bottleneck at the door. It hadn't accounted for a full-out attack by an adult male lion to its face. <I'll stop it! Hurry!> He shouted to the fleeing innocents. He never knew if they'd made it out alive. Reflexively, the monster slung it's head sideways, slamming Chris against the wall, or rather, through the wall, and into the next hut. He was dazed, and after trying to get back up, he figured his back leg was broken. Nothing a little morphing wouldn't fix, but that wasn't something that he was going to try after the Hound grabbed him by his thick main and carried him away. He was powerless. Try as he might, his powerful claws only scraped at and slid off the hard beak of his captor, and there was nothing he could do. He roared; it was futile. Being carried as he was made it hard to manage a true roar, and the noise of battle washed out his attempted call for help. Regardless, the Kel-Hound disapproved of this idea, and thus, it rose it's head up and swiftly slammed him down on the ground.
Everything went black in Chris' mind. The Kel-Hound resumed carrying him off into the sandy wilderness.
-
The Kel-hound sprang toward Arhareli, and at the last moment she pivoted on her front hooves, placing herself behind the monster. The hound ducked in the same moment Reli made a two-strike pass at his head; the first strike landed and left a long gash across his neck and muzzle, but the second missed.
From his crouching position, he lept up from beneath Reli, clinging to her underside and dragging long, deep claw marks through both her sides. She started bleeding heavily, and a foreleg buckled, but not before she dragged her tail across the creature's neck again, this time nearly beheading it. She pried its claws out of her flank with her tail and struggled to hurry back toward the group, moving much more slowly.
Not an easy kill; I don't think I can handle a second one alone...
((Turn 1: Kel-hound attack 3, Reli defense 8. Kel attack fails.
Turn 2: Reli attack 9, Kel defense 6. Attack successful, Kel -3 HP.
Turn 3: Kel attack 8, Reli defense 3. Attack successful, Reli -5 HP.
Turn 4: Reli attack 5, Kel defense 1. Attack successful, Kel -4 HP.
-3-4 = -7. Kel-hound successfully killed in two full exchanges.
Reli suffers -5 HP damage; has 3 HP left until able to morph and heal.))
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Move, Reyna tells herself, wolf legs propelling herself away from the battle. She focuses her eyes on the gorilla that was Shaun, using him as a guide to the ship. Her own vision felt strange - not foggy, exactly, but indistinct. She felt almost as if the battle so close behind her were being viewed from a holoscreen. The only indication that any of this was real was the sharp smell of fresh blood in her nose.
Can't let them get us, Reyna told herself, although the words almost seemed as though they belonged to someone else. We have to survive. She fired her muscles, urging the canine body to its top speed, even if it meant leaving the slower Shaun behind.
-
Shaun saw that Reyna was getting ahead of him and he got worried about it.<Don't even think about leaving me behind.> he said as he reached for her tail.
-
((Gman... that's powergaming. It's perfectly fine for you to attempt to reach for her and try to pull her back, but your post left no room for Terenia to decide how Reyna would react. Please modify your post. Thanks!))
Post Merged: April 07, 2011, 11:43:31 PM
It was only a short distance to the ship now. The group of leopard, gorilla, Andalite, two wolves, and four (?) humans had grown somewhat spread out, but were still closing the gap.
Marty reached the ship first. He waited outside at the base of the ramp while the others caught up. They were going to make it. And to top it off, Reli had defeated the Kel-Hound single-handedly. That was a good sign, though she surely looked like it had taken some of the fight out of her. Thankfully, morphing would fix the injuries. It couldn't fix the weariness, however.
The remaining Kel-Hound fought on, batting away flying spears and paws. It dodged, landing on a warrior Pemalite, crushing him, then rebounding for his counter-strike.
-
Reli trotted as quickly as she could to match pace with Reyna and Shaun, who were lagging the most of the group.
She drew back her tail, a precursor to the flick that would shake Kel-hound blood off the blade...
Let's rethink that.
She pressed a hand against the blood that coated her tail-blade. It was still hot, the cells still barely alive.
She gathered her focus and quickly acquired the DNA from the hound's blood, then she completed her intended action, a soft whip-cracking sound and a dark splash on sand.
Might be useful later, but I won't try it until I know the morph can be contained. I barely controlled the Kelbrid, and I don't imagine their hounds are much more co-operative.
-
When Reli had gone off to fight, Mesa slowed her pace a little, getting closer to Reyna and Shaun. After Reli dispatched the beast, she noticed that there was only one left. Reli came back, and she pulled ahead slightly. It would be so easy just to run over there and fight....but she had to focus on the mission. Get safely to the ship. Protect the others. Guilt was wearing down on her for abandoning the Pemalites, but Mesa...she had to stay focused.
She bounded up the ramp, past Marty, and quickly scanned the battle. She narrowed her eyes against the dust. But there was no sign of Chris. Everyone else was there, but...
-
Reyna let out a loud, purely wolf yip as the gorilla reached for her tail. For a moment the canine instincts overtook hers and she rose her lips in a snarl as she twisted out of the way. This had the effect of turning her entirely around, so that she could clearly see the Kel-hounds behind them.
<Oh...>
The sight of the beasts shook her consciousness back to the forefront. She spun again, this time towards the ship.
<It's not my fault you're slower than I am,> she snaps at Shaun, pushing forward. She does reign in her speed somewhat, though. Reli had warned her to watch him, and she wouldn't want Shaun getting hurt due to her.
Luckily they were drawing nearer the ship by the moment. The open hatch was only a few lucky paces away.
-
Reli reached the ship a stride ahead from Shaun and Reyna, pausing outside until the last of the group boarded.
Once everybody was up the ramp, she followed them on, all too aware of her injuries.
((I'm not god-modding everybody... you can all make your own process to get aboard or not. Just call this a 'hand wave solution': Reli gets on last. We can assume that everybody is on except Chris, by the time the next after-boarding post is made. If anybody decides they want to stay off the ship, for whatever reason, I can adjust my post easily enough. I figure we'd all just as soon be on our way, though. *shrug*))
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Shaun was the last person to board the ship besides Relli who made sure everybody was able to make it to the ship.
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((Erm... :-\ I might be doing some GMing here, but... This is an important plot point, okay? I've been waiting to post this for a month...))
Finally. Everyone was on the ship. Marty was walking up the ramp still, with Shaun just ahead, entering the hull, and Reli just beginning to come up the ramp from behind. And then the unthinkable happened. Suddenly, as if out of nowhere, a Kel-Hound came flying through the air, tackling Marty off the ramp. <What is....?!?>Instinctively, Marty bolted. Now that everyone else was safe, he just wanted to live. He yelped, and shouted in thought-speak. In reply, his pursuer growled it's odd wavering cry. They tore behind a building, disappearing from sight around the corner a mere two seconds after the appearance of the beast.
And as if that were the signal, A cry went up from the far side of the village. A large group of five or so Kel-Hounds came bounding in from behind the shacks, filling the 'street' in between, sending the Pemalites scurrying in all directions. They didn't attack, not yet. They were waiting. One of them, the largest of the group, began to creep towards the few remaining warriors. The others, taking notice, turned and followed a few paces behind.
<GAAAAH!> Marty yelled. The mental scream made the Kel-Hound pack flinch, but they quickly resumed their deadly march. The warriors – a group of five, including Ehruf and Ayrow – clenched their clubs and spears, growling, bracing themselves.
There was a roar. But it wasn't from the tense soon-to-be battle scene. It came from the shack that the group of kidnapped morphers had just escaped from. It sounded like a large Earth species of cat. Which, of course, it was. From the front door-opening poured an odd assortment of creatures. Specifically, a tiger, a leopard, a gorilla, a crocodile, two wolves, and several humans. The circus-army charged right for the pack of Kel-Hounds, who turned to face the new threat. The ferocity of their attackers seemed to stun them for the briefest second. Astonishingly, the tide was turned rather quickly. With two animal assailants for every one Kel-Hound, the pack soon realized they wouldn't succeed in nabbing an easy meal. They turned tail and ran, far faster than even the big cats could run. The group chased after them nonetheless, following the pack around a large outcropping of rock not far away. Soon, they couldn't even be heard.
Relieved yet confused Pemalites came out of the house, looking of into the distance where their rescuers had vanished. They began cheering. And all of this was over in about two minutes.
-
Mesa jumped as a Kel-hound flew out of nowhere, slamming Marty off the ramp. <Marty!> She yelped, but he was soon running. She jumped down the ramp after him unthinkingly, but froze as noise battered her sensitive ears. She still wasn't used to the enhanced hearing. It was...a roar?
Suddenly, Earth animals started chasing the Kel-hounds. Earth animals?! How many light-years were they away from Earth? Where did they come from? The Kel-hounds turned and ran, the noise fading away with them. Mesa still stood there, stunned. Flicking her tail, she glanced up at the others, still on the ramp. <I just....saw Earth animals...didn't I?> She said in slight disbelief. <....What just happened? Are there other morphers here? That acquired Earth animals?> She wasn't really directing her questions to anyone in particular, but if felt right for her thoughts to be heard. The whole privacy thing was still weird to her. The mind silence hovered in the back of her head like a black cloud, putting a slight quiet over everything.
-
So much had happened in so little time, all of it too far out of reach to influence...
<Marty?! Where are you? Are you hurt?>
Reli finished ascending the boarding ramp and began tiger morph, going slow to conserve as much energy as possible. The whole time, she called out in near-private thought-speech, <<Marty? Chris? If you're out there, answer!>>
Two members of the team were out of reach, alone.
But not confirmed dead or hurt. There is that much. Earth animals on the Pemalite planet... the Kelbrid have spent a long time violating the treaty, it appears.
-
So much had just happened in such little time. <Marty where are you? Why were there Earth animals on this planet?> I think this classifies as me not having to watch Reyna anymore. Shaun then ran down the ramp to help find Marty.
-
For Sky's sake...
<Shaun, please come back here right now! The last thing we need is three of us missing.>
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<I wasn't going anywhere i'm waiting for the group so we can find Marty I am not leaving him behind without knowing if he is dead or alive.>
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Chris came to with a start as the Kel hound dropped him to get a rest. He let out a moan and fell silent. He quietly got up, wincing, and crouched. Summoning up the last of his strength, he lunged for the beast. He landed on its back and dug his claws in. The Hound turned and tried to claw him but only left a scratch. Chris couldn't bite it with the turning and neither could it get him. He slashed a hefty claw across it's neck and it fell to the side. It then slashed him and scored a deep gash. Chris pinned it and clamped down on it's neck to finished it. He realized that if he didn't demorph NOW he would faint. He focused on his human self and slowly he began to become himself. Once he was human he focused on Lion again. No point in being out in the desert defenseless. He started back towards the way he had come by following the scent.
((I'm using my come back alive free pass to defeat the Kel-hound.))
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((Glad to have you back... maybe he conveniently hears Reli calling, at least faintly, and realizes that Marty is also awol? Tiny suggestion. :] ))
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All of this was happening so fast for Fisher, but he was trained for that wasn't he? So why didn't he do anything? Standing there, shredder held out with his guys waiting for a command, he just watched as a pack of Earth animals tore out of a shed and into the pack of Kel-hounds. He watched as they chased after them, not even letting off a shot.
He turned to realize that Marty was, gone? His eyes shot open, why hadn't he bloody noticed this? What kind of marine was he? Disgusted, he whirled around to see Reli and Shaun arguing over going after Marty. Fisher couldn't take this, no bloody way he was leaving someone behind, especially not Marty.
"Look, we'll use the ship to hover and find him ok? Now everyone in now!"
-
<<Thank you, Fisher.>> Reli whispered so that only Fisher and his team could hear it.
<Good plan; even if we have trouble finding them immediately, we'll be visible to anybody on the ground. for some distance away If Marty or Chris can see us, one of them may find a way to signal to us or at least navigate back toward us.>
Reli boarded the ship, stalk eyes turned to Shaun to make sure he also got on board.
-
Chris was focused on following the trail. But he thought he heard his name called. Perhaps the others were looking for him. He sped up his pace.
-
<Do you have to look at me like that? I'm getting on the ship.>
-
Just as the last member of the group was boarding the stolen Kelbrid fighter, one of the celebrating Pemalites turned. When she caught sight of creatures exactly like the ones that had chased off the pack of Kel-Hounds, she began pointing and gesticulating towards them, drawing the attention of her companions. Several of them - mostly youngsters, and none of the warriors - ran to the ramp, hoping to show their gratitude to their alien allies. Only then did they realize that they recognized a few of the creatures as the very ones that had come to them aboard the ship. A murmur rose up from the crowd. Did their strange visitors possess the same shape-shifting abilities as the oppressive Kelbrid? What did this mean?
There was the slightest shifting in some rubble behind the main row of primitive structures. The sound could hardly be expected to go much farther than a couple yards. <Ugh...>
-
Chris soon came in sight of the village. The Kel-hound hadn't taken him far. As he passed a hut quietly so as not to announce his arrival to any remaining Kel-hounds, he heard a noise... Or rather a thought. He turned and sniffed at the pile of rubble behind the hut.
-
Reyna seemed unaware that anything else was happening. Once she successfully boarded the ship she made for the furthest corner, where she circled in her canine body and lay down upon the cool metal flooring.
We survived, she told herself. Our morph is faster than we thought. Now that she was safe she began to relax, and the haze began to find its way back in as a thin film that covered everything. She closed her eyes, far more exhausted than she should be.
-
<Hey, hey guys?> Marty 'shouted'. He was trapped under the rubble of a house that had collapsed on him during his escape from the Kel-Hound. It hadn't been able to get to him easily, and it had fled with its pack when the time came. Marty whimpered unintentionally... it just seemed to be a natural response to his situation, at least for his morph.
-
<Marty?> Chris began digging his claws into the rubble and attempting to dig.
-
Mesa's head was whirling with all of this. Sher heard thought-speak from Chris! And Marty! Marty's thought-speak obviously sounded confused and dazed, but Chris's was clearer. He sounded tired, though. The Pemalites were creeping closer. Mesa hesitantly paced down the ramp, pausing at the bottom. <Marty?> She called out. <Chris? Where are you? What is...> She shook her head, glad for once for the lack of her psychic. The mind noise had to be almost ear-splitting right now, and her own confusion was overwhelming.
-
((Chris and Marty are behind a hut.))
Chris's head swiveled towards Mesa's voice. She sounded confused. <I...uh...kinda'...uh...got dragged off. Come on guys I think marty's stuck under some junk.> Lions don't dig well so he started demorphing. He was tired. He didn't think he could last much longer with out a rest.
-
Shaun ran down the ramp so that he could help dig out Marty. <I'm coming guys I do have the only hands in morph.>
-
Mesa followed the "sound" of his thought-speak, swerving around a hut to see a lion, slowly demorphing. By the speed of the morph, Chris was obviously exhausted. <Demorph, but stay human. Get some rest, you're obviously...asleep on your feet.> She had to think for a moment to remember the proper human phrase. Telling him he looked like a kre-tilpe-am would mean nothing to him. She started pawing at the rubble Chris was looking at. <Marty? Marty, is that you?>
-
<Yeah... yeah, it's me. It's.. .too heavy.>
The Pemalites parted to let Shaun and Mesa through. They seemed to get over their hero-worship well enough to realize that one of the group was in need of help, and they all joined in, tossing rubble aside.
Marty crawled out, covered in dust and gashes, his paw obviously damaged. <Thanks. I -> He gave a sharp yip after putting too much wait on that paw. <-I need to demorph guys.> As he began doing so, he asked: <What happened?>
<You saved us.> Ehruf had pushed through the small crowd, still clutching his spear. <You fought honorably. How you ended up here, I do not know. But nonetheless, we are grateful.> He looked at each of the morphers, even the ones still on the ship, ensuring that it was understood he meant that as thanks to all of them.
-
Chris stepped to the side as Shaun and Mesa helped Marty. He was out of energy. He had morphed and demorphed twice in the last half hour. He leaned against the wall.
-
Arhareli observed the proceedings from the ship, letting the work be done by more efficient hands.
The group will be craving rest soon, even the freshest of us. Even so, we should be able to restock the ship with things to eat, before we leave.
-
Chris walked slowly back to the ship. He really just wanted to rest. As he walked up the ramp and into the ship he noticed Reli. He nodded to her and lay down against the wall.
-
<<It is good to have you returned to us alive. We will depart shortly; go ahead and get some sleep if you can, Chris.>>
He has been through much in a very short time... I don't want him to feel obligated to stay awake, especially in case we eventually need him to morph again.
-
Marty demorphed. Now standing in the desert village in just his black morphing suit, his feet hurt. "I'm sorry, I must have missed something. What are you thanking me for?"
<Not just you, but your entire group. We couldn't have fought off the whole pack at once. Maybe before, but we've lost too many; we are no longer strong enough.> Ehruf said.
Marty looked at Shaun and Mesa. "I don't ... get it. How long was I out?"
-
"Huh...oh...yeah...t hanks." Chris had literally been asleep on he feet there. He tried to get some sleep and was out cold within a minute.
-
So, the lost lambs returned?
It sure seemed so, Marty was back and so was Chris. This made little sense to Fisher, why did it just dump them and then take off? On the other hand, things had stopped making sense awhile ago.
The Pemalites sure didn't care, they were as pleased as punch about all of this and Fisher guessed he should be too, and he was really. It was great they were alive and all, but still confusing all the same.
Whatever, he just really wanted to pack up and get back to Earth. he shrugged his shoulders and leaned against the ship entrance, the hot alien sun beating down on his face. The Pemalites hero-worship was dying down now, and it appeared Marty was just as confused as Fisher while Chris seemed ready fall sleep on his fee-nevermind, he was.
Fisher didn't say much, just watched everything happen. The jerry-rigged shredder hung loosely in his hand, he didn't have anywhere to put it yet. Now he was just ready to go, providing they could fly this tub without smashing into a black hole or something. He held up hi hand and called out to the others,
"Hoi, shouldn't we stock up and roll out? We should probably get back to Earth ASAP."
-
Reyna lifted her head briefly, ears pricking forward to catch bits of conversation from outside. Something had happened, some excitement had come and gone while she was lost in her own thoughts. She contemplated getting to her feet, going to see that everyone was okay, but could not muster the energy. For some reason her thoughts drifted to her History classes in school, to the lessons about the Yeerk who now inhabited her head.
What had they said about him? A cruel and methodical killer, with no regard for the sanctity of life. Even his fellow barbarian Yeerks often became his victims. That's right. He had committed dozens of acts of brutality that were known, and probably hundreds that were not. A small shudder ran through her wolf body. All of that evil is living in my head, she realized. Brain dead, unable to think or feel for himself, Esplin 9466 was a part of her.
Suddenly, Reyna's head snaps up, her ears pricked all the way forward and nose twitching. Nothing has changed, but she could have sworn she felt someone's eyes on her. But no, everyone was still busy outside. She put her head back down on the floor.
-
Reli called out to those of the group still outside the ship.
<The sooner everybody has boarded, the sooner we can all be demorphed, rested, and on our way back to Earth.>
-
Mesa's ears flicked. <Do you mean those other Earth animals we saw?> She asked cautiously. <The ones who chased the Kel-hounds off?> She glanced up at Reli, and took a pace towards here, but paused, glancing back at Ehruf. <Because...those were not of our group. I was wondering where they came from myself.> Cha-Ma-Mib, she thought in exasperation. All I wanted was a new life...not danger on a sun-cycle basis.
-
*Post Rapture (http://animorphsforum.com/index.php?topic=8000.0) stole my bump, and I don't care to rewrite it all nice and pretty. :P*
Marty wasn't sure if he should follow Fisher and Reli and lead the others in leaving for the ship, or not. Ehruf was confused, maybe even concerned, when Mesa said that they weren't the Earthen creatures who had rescued them. The crowd murmured, wondering <What does this mean?> Just then, the tribal elder came through, and the crowd parted with a respectful hush. She bore a hard expression, and after a moment's silence, she asked <We are grateful. How may we repay you?> Marty looked back at Reli. This wasn't his decision.
-
Now Fisher normally would have been perfectly fine with accepting gifts from these people normally, but after being captured, starved, and attacked all n an alien planet he was really just itching to get home as fast as humanly possible. So he let out no small exasperated sigh at the Pemalite's offer of repayment.
Wiping some sweat from his fatigue-lined face, he sighed again and looked the Pemalite elder straight in the eye and, with as civil a voice as he could manage at the time, said:
"Listen, sir, there are no thanks necessary. We just did what was the right thing to do, and we really don't need any much for repayment, just some provisions for our journey back home." Fisher inwardly cringed at the cheesiness of what he said, but kept a straight face and waited for an answer.
-
((Sorry, was outta' town. Thanks!))
<Agreed; provisions, and if possible, fuel for our ship, would be greatly appreciated.>
-
Mesa decided to just kind of go along with it. She began to slowly demorph, suddenly craving the sound of the minds that would fill the silence in the back of her head. She stayed silent, however, the others already have spoken for her.
-
<I will assume, then, that you are asking for the ship as well?> Said the Pemalite elder. <It requires no fuel that I'm aware of, though a working knowledge of Kelbrid technology might be of some use to your group.> Not that it would be of any help to a grihnd-luk like yourself. Only looking out for your own needs and petty desires... Hurry home, little one.
Ehruf, still perplexed by the situation, looked at Reli and Fisher. He didn't understand why they were in such a hurry to leave. Why help if you intend to run? And what of your allies aboard the ship? He asked silently.
"I... think she has a point." Marty said. We know next to nothing about the ship, or even this part of the universe. That makes me a little worried. I like to know what I'm getting into before, well, getting into it."
-
Reli sensed a faint note of... contempt?... in the speech of the Pemalite elder.
She narrowed her thought-speech to Fisher's team, Marty, the Leerans and Pemalites.
<<Any knowledge you might share with us would also be greatly appreciated; please do not mistake our urgency to depart for ingratitude... it is a contingency of the situation of this group for the past several days. To be very plain with you, I am not content to keep these children off their home planet any longer. As capable as they have been for so little combat experience prior to this venture, they remain liabilities over which I am default in charge, until somebody takes over to see to their welfare. The fact that they are here at all is a result of significant deception to us all, and the sooner I consider them safe, the better for all concerned, as I see it.>>
-
Her psychic returned like a semi-truck. Mesa was overwhelmed for a moment, but quickly neatened it out, and she felt comforted again. Unfortunately, she was able to catch most of the Elder's displeasure. She didn't know what a grihnd-luk was, but she probably didn't want to. We are not only concerned for our own needs, she said, widening it to everyone, and giving the Pemalite Elder a keen glance, we are also unsure of the safety from where we came from. Leaving quickly would be...beneficial, perhaps. Though Marty is right, it's too risky to fly the ship on our own.
Mesa was unsure what to reveal about their mission--she was confused by it her own self. The whole business unnerved her, and despite what she said about the world, she did really want to get back to her pond. And eventually back to Leera. She had seen enough of the world for now...
-
((I'm thinking only a GMod can save this now))
Fisher nodded, then addressed the Pemalites.
"I'm not trying to be rude, though it probably seems that way. But I'm sorry, we're thousands of light years from home, we've discovered a very potential threat to Humans and Andalites, and I really just want to get back to UN space and warn Strategic Command about the Kelbrid." He turned to face Reli. "And I'm sure some of us want to warn the Electorate as well."
-
((Game-saver!))
<<He makes an excellent point: whatever our immediate concerns, this information is a matter of interplanetary security, and we as citizens of our respective planets are duty-bound to inform our governments and militaries of what has occurred. This is larger than us.>>
Frankly, I could not care much less at the moment about those details, but who would argue against this excuse? Brilliant, that Fisher.
-
Shaun demorphed and went to the ship and leaned against a wall and dozed off ready to get home and relax.
-
Shaking my head, I slowly come out of my Ke trance after what seems like an age. My memories a mostly disjointed with the only constant image in my mind being Reli.
What in the... Where...? How did I get out of the hut...?
I anchor myself to the chatter and thoughts around me, something to grip to until I get my bearings, slowly getting myself back up to speed.
I... I feel obligated to stay here and help. I say, shakily. I feel like I'm having difficulty regaining parts of myself. I know what's happened to me to cause this confusion, but my mind can't place the term, keeping me constantly guessing. I was almost some...thing else? But now I'm me again... But not... Who is me?
I think we need to warn the rest of our packs about this, however. I'll leave this to a majority vote to see how we proceed.
The Alpha will want to know. Alpha... Tiberius... Tiberius is my Alpha.
-
Chris was half-asleep when he heard Lee's thought speak. Something made him vaguely uneasy but he was too tired to know what.
-
((OOC: Okay, this game has been dead for a long time, and there are people wanting back in. That means some overhauling of the plot will have to occur to let them in without overwriting the existence of the currently-not-playing characters. What's about to happen is going to come out of nowhere, Diabolus ex machina, but it's about time the thread had a jump-start. Sorry if it sounds contrived. We're just trying to get this back to a state of playability.))
Reli's ears detected a faint, shrill whine in the distance- something about it was vaguely familiar, but she couldn't place the sound. Her eyes searched for a source, but by the time she figured it out, the Skrit-Na-modified Dual Shredder Cannon had torn up the turf and ripped jagged holes in the ship's hull to both starboard and port.
Reli's legs lost sensation and collapsed under her as a modified Dracon weapon struck her on its second lowest setting. She had just long enough to get a look at one of the creatures standing over her, a faint moment of recognition, before it fired again and rendered her unconscious. Her last thoughts before passing out, casting as widely as she could for any allies to hear, <The high-pitched noise... in-atmosphere cloaking field. Trap within a trap. Kelbrid- Pemalites- just- the bait.>
Later, passage of time unknown
Reli faintly regained consciousness, her entire force of will bent to staying perfectly still and keeping her breathing slow as in sleep. Vicious burning pins and needles raced up and down her legs and tail as the modified Dracon's effects wore off agonizingly slowly, and it was all she could do not to twitch and give away that she was awake.
Eventually the sensations subsided, and she turned her attention to the sounds around her. Voices speaking in an unfamiliar language similar but not quite identical to Galard... distantly, a masculine human voice calling for help, asking where he was- steps of people walking by on hooves, pods, paws, talons, shoes, and fleshy feet...
We're on a mercenary or smuggling ship. We have to be on one. There's no other way to explain this many species in one place, unless... no. Don't even consider it, not yet. If this were a Yeerk Empire refugee ship, this far into Kelbrid Space, I'd be a Controller already. Nothing else would make sense.
Hsiiisssssss... The sound of a pneumatic pressure-sealed door opening- that was definitely Near Space technology, Skrit-Na or Earthling. Ever since both races were space-faring, they'd been paranoid about vacuum and toxic atmospheres, so all atmosphere-capable ships were obsessively designed to make each compartment airtight.
Somebody walked into the room, one, two, three steps. A biped, on clawed feet. Then a guttural voice. Hork-Bajir.
"I know you are awake, Andalite. That particular weapon has very reliable stun durations. If you want to eat, you will follow me to the mess room. Do not try to give us trouble; your every movement is monitored on cameras fixed with remotely controllable weapons set to stun."
The Hork-Bajir waited for Reli to roll to her feet and follow him slowly into the hallway outside. The floor of her cell and the hall was a faintly gritty material that gave plenty of purchase for her hooves. The hallway itself was broad with a high ceiling, so unlike the claustrophobic vessels humans and Skrit-Na crafted. It's like the ship was purpose-built for varied species....
<I am Arhareli-Winwall-Ajaht. Where are we, why are we here, and what should I call you? Where are the others who were with me?> The hallway was long; there was time for questions.
"You can call me Ekkid. We are farther into Kelbrid space than you have ever been in your life, Andalite, and we are here because your powerful friends ask too many questions. Your friends are in our possession and have not been harmed by us, and those who were injured in the attack are receiving medical care. I do not know if all your companions survived the attack. Beyond that I am not authorized to give you more information. I am only to see to your physical nourishment, at this time. Your friends may or may not also be in the mess room; they are not my priority."
<Thank you for telling me as much as you have.>
"It is nothing you would not have learned, anyway, in several moments. Come, here is the mess room. There is a strip of edible grass against the far wall. Avoid the Taxxon and Kelbrid corner of the room if you value your hide; they will see you as food, and we do not take kindly to our guests injuring our crew, even the less civilized members of our crew."
<There were humans in my group! We can't let them be near feeding Taxxons and Kelbrid!>
"The humans, Na, and other physically weak species dine on the Hork-Bajir side of the room. You may fear for their sake and your own later, but they will not be in danger at mess."
Reli crossed the room carefully, staying clear of where the ravenous frenzy to her right, stepping onto the long strip of pale orange grass and tasting real, quality food for the first time in recent memory. Andalite-Solar lamps overhead and a small irrigation system kept the grass plot lush, and the luxury of it amazed her... but not enough to keep her from feeling a surge of disappointment each time an unfamiliar human entered the mess.
Please, Earth children, be here. Be alive.
-
It happened so fast I didn't even know what was going on or even if I was going to survive. I had just shut my eyes for what felt like five minutes when the top of the ship was completely burned away. I opened my eyes and saw my comrades laying on the floor; my first reaction was to morph but before I knew it I felt a dracon hit me in my lower back and my body crumbled crippling me into unconsciousness.
I woke up suddenly and heard noises that were unfamiliar to my ears. There were languages that I had never heard before. Where am I? The next thing that popped in my head was where are my comrades. Before I could even think of something else a Hork-Bajir walked into the room and told me to accompany him to the mess room where I could eat. He told me that my questions would be answered soon and before I knew it I was in the mess room. The Hork-Bajir told me to stay away from the Taxxon and Kelbrid just before we went through the doors. I looked around for familiar faces and found Reli. "No surprise that you surived." I said as I walked up to her.
-
<SHAUN!> Reli trotted quickly over to the human end of the mess, looking the human up and down for signs of injury, even knowing that morphing would have taken care of that. She composed herself quickly.
<I am relieved to find you alive. I do not know where the others are or how many of us have survived and been captured. I suspect that we may be on a smuggling vessel, but do not quote me on that. At the moment, the only rational explanation for this varied crew is refugees or mercenaries, as I have seen no uniforms to suggest that this is some joint interplanetary military or merchant venture.>
Reli glanced around the room, still hunting for familiar faces and forms.
<Regardless, the food appears to be of superior quality. I see no reason not to take full advantage of the accommodations, until we have more information.>
Reli stepped aside so that Shaun could get to the food service buffet and tables nearby.
-
Chris was having a nightmare when the ship was attacked. The Kelhound was dragging him off again. The Kelhound threw him into a Rick right as the blast to the ship knocked him into a wall. He felt a sharp pain in his head and then faded to dreamless unconsciousness.
undefined period of time later
I groaned as I came awake. I felt pins and needles all over my body as I rolled off my face and onto my back. I blinked my eyes open and looked around. I was in some sort of room or cell. How did I get here? Wheres here? I was on a cot on one wall. There was a hiss a the lights came. I groaned and covered my eyes. I had an awful headache. When I put my hand to my head I felt a bandage. How'd I hit my head?
The door had opened when the lights went on. A man walked through the door. He wasn't anyone I knew. "Where am I? Who are you? Are my friends all-right? What happened?" I croaked. My head really hurt!
"Not so many questions." The man demanded. "You are aboard a ship. My name is Devlin. I do not know whether your friends are all-right. I am here to take you to the mess hall to see that you get food. I'm not authorized to tell you anymore. Follow me."
I got up a little dizzily and gritted my teeth against my headache. I had a white bandage wrapped around the back of my head. Maybe I have a concussion. That would be bad. "Will my friends be at the mess hall?" I asked.
"Maybe. I don't know." Devlin responded. We lapsed into silence for awhile. Eventually we cam to a bustling room full of many different species. "Food's over there," Devlin pointed the food bar, "help yourself. I'll be back for you later." with that he left.
I looked around for my friends as I walked to the food bar. I could see very well without my glasses, but I thought I saw Reli and Shaun. I hurried over and saw that it was them. "Hey guys! Are you ok?"
-
<Chris, it is good to see you here and not worse for wear. Shaun and I are unharmed, but we have been here several minutes, and I have not seen any of the others. I fear we may be all that remains of our own crew, or at least all that have been taken by this vessel. As I already told Shaun, I believe this is a smuggling vessel, possibly run by mercenaries or refugees, and apparently built for its purpose. Whomever it is that have taken us, they are well funded and powerful enough to have command of a truly excellent ship designed for a crew of at least seven species, possibly more, but I have obviously not seen all their facilities yet.>
Reli glanced around the room and noticed several humans and Hork-Bajir looking at her, then glancing away when she made eye contact. The Taxxons across the mess hall eyed her and the humans hungrily but apprehensively, and she was suddenly very grateful for the visibly-placed camera-mounted Shredders and Dracon weapons on the walls of the room. The Kelbrid seemed to be pointedly ignoring them, intentionally avoiding confrontation. Unusual from such a hostile species....
<For now, friends, keep your wits about you and try to stay close to each other. I do not know yet if they will try to keep us separated outside the mess hall or not. They don't seem to mean us harm right now, so avoid acting rashly and give them no reasons to distrust us more than they would already distrust strangers. Aside from that, eat and recover your strength. Also, I strongly advise not morphing unless you have no other choice. They might not know yet that you two are morph-capable, but they will probably assume it of me.>
I don't know how better to impress on them that information is the only currency we have, right now... and even that might be worthless.
-
((OOC: I am kind of lost, so my post might make no sense))
I walked into what seemed to be a mess hall. So many unfamiliar alien races, I didn't even know what any of them are. I looked to find if there are any humans, I found some hanging out with eachother, and some aliens. I walked over to them and asked "Where are we? I went inside this ship earlier to find out where it would go, can you explain this to me?"
-
An unfamiliar human approached Reli, Shaun, and Chris, seeming confused about where they were.
<As for where we are right now and where we are going, your guess is as good as mine. Where were you before you walked into the ship?>
-
The Alien that was talking to me was an Andalite, I remembered that from school. "Honestly, I don't remember anything from before I got here, I don't even remember getting on this ship." I told the group. I thought hard about where I was before I got on this ship, but everything was blank.
-
"I'll remember that advice Reli." I responded to Reli. When the new guy walked up and said he didn't remember any thing I was shocked. "What do you mean you don't remember! Do have amnesia or something?"
Just then my stomach growled. "Oh, I probably ought to get some food. We should find a table and keep talking there." I stepped into line and got some food. I turned and scanned for an empty table. When I found one I headed that way.
-
I followed the boy that look about my age, and got a plate of food. "I guess I do have amnesia, since I can't remember anything before being here, not even how I got here, then this is be a problem." I looked around. "Can you explain what this is, what kind of ship or how you guys got here? I am going to have to stay with you guys to be safe." I didn't want be alone in an unfamiliar place, the people her already met me.
-
<You may call me Reli; these are Chris and Shaun. What should we call you? As for what kind of ship this is, I have never seen the like of it, and I can only make guesses at its purpose. It is probably a smuggling ship run my refugees or mercenaries, as I have told Chris and Shaun. I cannot guarantee your safety in this place, because I do not know why they brought us here, but I can advise that you stay away from that type of creature, since in my experience they view humans as food.> Reli gestured with her tail toward the Taxxons and Kelbrid across the room.
-
"Names Dru, thanks for the advice!" I told Reli. "Since none of us know where we are, we should atleast find out what kind of ship this is, and where it will be landing. I am not sure about you guys, but I want to find a way to get off." I got up and started walking out of the mess room, trying to avoid the more dangerous aliens. "You guys coming?" I asked them rhetorically.
-
<I like how you think, Dru. Shaun and Chris, as it seems we have acquired a new ally, I would prefer not to leave him wandering the ship alone. If the two of you would join me, I shall also be investigating the ship. I believe you will be fairly safe on this side of the mess hall, if you are not finished eating, as long as you do not wander off from here... however, we would be safest as a group, if we are to leave this space. I leave the choice to both of you, but I will be going this way.>
Reli gestured with her stalk eyes in the direction Dru had started walking. She caught up to him in a few paces.
<If anything happens, I can cover your back against single enemies, as long as you stay close to me. Do not expect to outrun most of the creatures on this ship, nor to win a fight with your human body. Do you have any skill with morphing or hand-held weapons? I had a morphing cube and spare Shredder, but it seems they were confiscated when we were brought aboard, so I cannot lend you anything at this time.>
-
I was surprised that she said she had the morphing power, most Andalites do, but it is still kind of strange. "Sorry Reli, but I don't know how to use a shredder, or have any experience with the morphing power, I haven't even seen it in action." I have passed the option in the past to see recordings of the morphing power. "I remember there was a room on the ship holding lots of items, I found it when I was looking for people. It was locked, but I found the card key." I reached into my pocket and showed it to Reli. "Maybe we can go to the room and search for the morphing cube. I will be glad to help you guys out." I was so happy that I might be able to have the morphing ability.
-
Reli's eyes widened as she saw the key card in Dru's hand- surprising that he managed to obtain it, and more surprising that the ship ran on simple magnetic strip identifiers and not biometrics.
Oh, of course- with this many species and most probably morph-capable, biometrics would be nearly useless for security, but so would thought-speech access for anybody who cannot use it.
At a deeper level of thought, Reli began to question her 'luck' in finding this human... if he was in fact human, and not somebody in morph, or a lingering remnant of the failed Yeerk Empire. This whole set-up seemed too choice, but she didn't have enough evidence to confirm the lad wasn't simply a very skilled and curious pickpocket, but otherwise ordinarily human.
<Do you remember where this room is? If so, let us go to it and see if we cannot find my personal effects and those of my companions.>
If this is a trap, I don't see the point of it. We're already captive on this ship. With those odds in mind... I shall chance this and perhaps regain my sidearm and the portable Escafil Device.
-
"Yeah! The room isn't very far from here." I told Reli, I left the mess room and walked to the door to the room holding belongings of others. I waited for Reli.
-
Reli stood next to Dru, tail arched and ready for any surprises, waiting for him to use the key on the door.
-
I hurried to gulp down a few bites after Dru suggested exactly what I was thinking. I followed Reli and waved to Shaun. "Come on! I don't want to be left behind." I was pretty sure there were plenty of aliens on this ship that could kill me before I could finish morphing. I was much safer with Reli.
I fell into step behind Reli and Dru and listened as Dru said he had the keycard to some sort of armory or something. "Did they just leave lying about?" I asked, incredulous. Who would do that?
As we reached the door I saw Reli arch her tail. I knew that I wouldn't be able to do anything until I morph, I stepped to the side with hopes that I would be able to help in time if something happened.
-
I saw Chris catch up with us, with Reli as cover I swiped the card on the reader attached to the wall and the door slid open.
The first thing I noticed in the walk in closet sized room was a blue glowing cube, the size of one of those old puzzle cubes sitting by a shredder. I picked up the cube first which sent a small electric shock throughout my body, I put the morphing cube in my pocket. I grabbed the shredder and walked out the room.
A reptilian alien rushed towards me, and put his hand on my shoulder and gripped it hard. "Human! What are you doing with that weapon!" The Hork-Bajir growled at me. I placed my hand on top of his and focused. I felt his grip on my shoulder relax, and I watched his eyelids flutter. I acquired the Hork-Bajir.
I thought about shooting him with the shredder, but instead I handed Reli her Shredder, and hoped she had a more safe way to get rid of the now passive Hork-Bajir.
-
Reli took a moment to acquire the same Hork-Bajir Dru had acquired, using the tall alien's stupor as an opening- FWAPP! - to knock him unconscious with the flat of her tail blade.
Reli grabbed one of the Andalite-fitted utility belts sitting on a crate nearby and slipped it across her torso, holstering the Shredder before turning her stalk eyes to give Dru a hard look.
<I do not think you are unintelligent, considering how much you have already discovered of this ship in your time here, so I do not know if you have a death wish or if you are just terribly lucky and certain of my ability to protect you. Do you have any idea how quickly that Hork-Bajir could have removed your hand- or your head! - if he had considered you an enemy?> Her thought-speech was caustic with barely-concealed worry- either that this young human would get himself killed on her watch... or that he'd get all of them killed when his apparent blind luck ran out.
Reli could hear clawed feet approaching from the direction down the hallway opposite the one they'd come from.
<Everybody, arm yourselves. We need to get out of here before we find ourselves surrounded.>
This human Dru cannot be as simple as his surface appearance. He recognized my Shredder from every other weapon on the pile... how does a young Earthling get such ready knowledge of Andalite weapons that he can tell a standard-issue Andalite military sidearm from civilian marksman's Shredder tailored for a female Andalite grip? He knew how to employ the Escafil Device without a walk-through, and he even knew how to collapse it to transport size. None of this makes any sense.
Reli turned toward the open hatch, eyes watching the wall across from the hatch for moving shadows that would indicate the arrival of company.
((OOC: Guys, we're going to be out of town for a couple days, without much in the way of web access. We ought to be back online by Sunday evening at the latest.))
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"Relax, I am still alive, right?" I reminded Reli. When she told us to arm ourselves, I guessed she meant for us to morph, which somehow I just knew how to do. I focused on the Hork-Bajir DNA inside of me. The first to change was my skin which transitioned to a dark olive green color and broke out in scales, then with a sickening SPLOOSHH a lizard-like tail grew out of my behind. My feet turned into sharp talons and my body grew until it was around 7 feet tall. Blades grew from multiple spots of my body, and my neck became long and snake-like. My fingers became wicked sharp claws. I was then fully Hork-Bajir.
I stripped a Hork-Bajir sized belt containing a dracon beam from the one Reli just knocked out, and strapped it onto me. I picked up the card key and opened up the door. I used my new strength to put the Hork-Bajir in the room, I walked out, letting the door shut.
Just then another Hork-Bajir walked towards us. "Farush, Sir! what are you doing with those human and that Andalite?" It took me a couple seconds to realise he was talking to me. I focused on my new comrades <<What I do? He thinks I am the Hork-Bajir i morphed, and It sounds like I have authority over him too.>> I asked.
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I was the last to leave the mess hall. What I found wasnt what I had hoped for right there was Reli and Chris standing in between two Hork-Bajir! I did the first thing I could think of and hoped Reli and Chris would understand. I ran at the Hork-Bajir with his back to me and placed my hands on his midsection. He fell into the trance and he was acquired. "Guys take care of the other one!"
-
<Tell him the 'truth.' You found us snooping in the armory instead of in the mess hall where we're supposed to be, and now you are about to escort us out and back to our quarters. Keep his eyes on you.>
Reli waited for an opening, her Shredder set to stun, her tail poised to knock out the Hork-Bajir Shaun was acquiring. The timing on this had to be exact, or the Hork-Bajir speaking to Dru would hear her strike, and there would be no saving the situation.
Our one great bit of luck is the apparent lack of cameras in the armory. If this place had been monitored, it would already all be over.
((OOC: Okay, guys, we're about to leave. If you decide to turn this into a fight scene, you can, but try not to end it with any of us dead just yet, hey? It's too early for a sweeping cavalry arrival to rescue our characters, so they're on their own on that ship.))
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<Shaun, I am the Hork-Bajir standing by you. Okay, guys I have a plan, play along. If I hurt any of you please don't get mad.> I told my group. I ducked on the floor and swept my tail, causing Shaun to fall on the floor. I put my clawed talons on top of him and with my left hand I reached into my holster and put the muzzle of the dracon beam on Relis' head. With my left arm I put Chris in a hold putting my arm blades around his neck. I then had all three of my teammates as 'hostages'. The Hork-Bajir Shaun acquired got out of his trance at that moment. "What happened, sir?" He asked me. "You!" I stopped, startled by my Hork-Bajir voice. "You were being useless as always! I am escorting these, filthy human and Andalite to their quaters, I don't need you here!" I spat at the poor Hork-Bajir. "Y-yes sir!" he replied. After he turned around I got off of Shaun and fell in step by him. In one lightning quick movement I hit the flat my arm blades on his neck, causing him to pass out. I picked him up and took the card key off my belt and put him in the armory too. I reached my hand out to help up Shaun. <Again, sorry about that.>
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"Its ok. We all have to do what we have to do." I said as I walked over to the table and took a shredder off of it. I searched the room for anything else that might come in handy. Nothing really stood out to me that would be usefull. "We need to find a way to get off this ship."
-
"Maybe you should morph Hork-Bajir too, so we can go unnoticed." I told Shaun, slightly slurring my words. "I doubt anyone will be able to notice that we are humans in morph."
-
Dru was right so I started my newly acquired morph. First came the lizard like scales that covered my body then I grew to like seven feet tall and the tail grew from my tailbone. My feet went next turning dinosaur like. My arms grew in length and my fingers grew pointed nails and I lost one. My face changed next but the weirdest part has yet to come though the blades. Blades started growing out of everywhere on my body. Finally I am the Hork-Bajir.
<I need a holster for my dracon weapon.> I said as I started looking for one. I tried on many until one fit my size. <Okay lets go.>
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Events moved too quickly. I wasn't able to react to either Hork-Bajir quickly enough. I was surprised when Dru grabbed me. I pulled against his hand but couldn't budge. When he let go I stepped aside. "Let's not do that again." I grabbed a gun off the table. It was a Dracon. Then I knelt and acquired both Hork-Bajir. I would be ready next time. I morpher to Hork-Bajir as quickly as I could and then left the armory. "Let's go."
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"We should leave now." I told Chris. I was going to start walking, when the belt holding the holster for the dracon beam started to vibrate. I jumped a little, startled by it, and started to feel around in the belt until I found a earbud-headset made for Hork-Bajir. I put it in my small hearing hole. "Farush, we need for you to return to the control room you should have finish feeding and it is time for you to fly the ship." A Hork-Bajir sounding voice said. "Um, Yes. I am on my way." I spoke into the headset. I looked back at my friends 2 Hork-Bajir and an Andalite. <Should I go up to the control room? I don't even know how to fly a ship!> I told them.
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<The risk is huge but if you dont they will get suspicious and start searching for him. If we are lucky they might not search for him and think he blew his shift. The call is up to you your the one in his body.>
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"I think they'll notice that you're not him if you go. I think we should go back to the mess and pretend that nothing happened. We don't want to have to fight the entire ship." I said in my new, Hork-Bajir, voice.
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The belt kept on vibrating and it was starting to annoy me. "Farush, you need to come now! You never had to leave in the first place!" The female Hork-Bajir said on the microphone. I wanted to say 'Farush is knocked out stop bothering me!', but I kept my cool. <It must be urgent for them. I don't want them to think something is up with him.> I said in thought-speak so it wouldn't come off in the microphone.
-
Reli resisted the urge to groan as these events unfolded, but she decided to go with it for the moment... as long as Dru's luck held out.
<Chris, if we go back toward the mess, we will be on camera again. Farush was only down here because he saw us on the monitors from the bridge. At this point, the best we can hope is to commandeer the ship- not likely to work- or to find an escape vessel of some kind and pray to Sky that we're near a planet with a breathable atmosphere. We have morphed and incapacitated two of their crew, one of whom is a ranking officer and one of the pilots. They have no choice at this point but to treat us as hostiles, even if they were not already. They will separate us, prevent us communicating, and beyond that I have no idea what they will do, because I do not know what their plans for us were in the first place. From this point onward, our best hope is to keep moving away from where they expect us to be... which means either we play our way to the bridge and actually try to seize the ship, again, not a good idea, or we run away from the mess as far as we can and hope there are escape pods.>
Reli eyed Dru again. <Also, if you are going to actually draw a weapon on a hostile Andalite, do it well outside tail range, or you won't have hands. I can see you no matter where you walk relative to me, and I can move much faster than you can, even in that Hork-Bajir body.>
Reli knew they had just a few seconds left before Farush's absence put up more red flags for the bridge crew.
<What will it be, fellows? Do we try to escape, even if there turns out not to be a way off the ship, or do we stage a very ill-advised hostile takeover? At this point, it is all I can do to keep any of us alive, so I suppose I might as well leave our choice of poison to the three of you to decide.>
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<I think I should go up and pretend to be Farush, if I don't do it soon they will probably think somethings up with him. On the other hand if we leave we will be off this ship for good, but the chances of us getting somewhere safe is low.> I saw some people eye me as I stood there. <We need to choose a plan fast. I think my first option is better for helping us live, so I say I pilot the ship.> "I ran into some Humans I will come up once I am done with them." I said into the headset and then clipped it back into the belt.
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"I say we go for an escape vessel. We can't fight the entire crew. I still say they'll know that you aren't Farush if you go up there." I was worried that I would be out voted and we would attempt to storm the bridge.
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<I agree that if we try to masquerade as Farush and crewmembers, it won't last more than a few seconds- definitely not long enough to actually pilot the ship. There's more to pretending to be somebody else than just morphing them, especially on a ship where morphing technology is well-understood.>
Reli looked at Shaun.
<Even so, the vote is decided by you.>
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<Dont storm the bridge its too dangerous none of us need to die on this ship.> How will we avoid being noticed by anybody?
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I took off the headset and crushed it in my hands, it was getting irritating in my 'ear'. I was actually happy that my plan got overruled, it was a bad idea and none of us could probably make it out alive. "So how will we leave this ship?" I asked. "Where would the escape pods be?."
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"They have to have a shuttle or fighter or something. Don't all ships have that?" I asked. "Does one of those two have a map or something on them?" I check the two Hork-Bajir but didn't find anything. "Is there a computer terminal nearby where we could get directions to the hangar?"
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"Or we can just ask for directions." I half-joked. I thought of where a terminal would be, but my knowledge on ships are low. "I think the ship can have a a hanger."
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<Escape methods have to be kept where the maximum number of crew can access them at once. They will not be too far from here, since the mess and armory are on this section of the vessel. If we go this way, more people are likely to spot us, but we have speed on our side- three Hork-Bajir and an Andalite - if we barrel down the hall as fast as we can, anybody who gets in our way will have to move or get cut. As long as they are not expecting us, we have a chance.>
Reli waited for the others to form rank around her, gesturing toward the hallway.
<When you are all ready, move fast like you have a purpose for going this direction. Do not make eye contact. If anybody challenges us, we break into a run.>
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Shaun took a place next to Reli. <Ready when you are.> He gave a nod and a fist to emphasise.
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<I am ready too Reli.> I fell in place behind Shaun.
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<Here we go.>
Reli strode out into the hallway, adopting the casual arrogance she'd learned from her brother, who had been a military officer. Her body language and facial expression said "I am supposed to be walking down this hallway with these Hork-Bajir; carry on."
Their entire group moved without obstruction. Reli noted with a relieved surprise that none of the armed cameras seemed to be swinging their way at all. I guess Ferush was the one in charge of monitoring us.
Soon the hall branched, with a side-hall on either side. Reli noticed painted strips leading down both halls, along the walls. The main hall had no strip painted at all. <I believe this hall passes the entire length of the ship; that is why there are no colour indicators: it is the primary path. Let us go left.>
The left path had a fluorescent green stripe and a red stripe. The right path was marked with fluorescent orange and dark blue. Green is the Skrit Na warning colour, and red is standard for most other species. If we are going to find escape pods, surely they would be this direction...? There were no other beings in the hallway Reli chose. If there is no danger, of course there is nobody headed toward the escape.
The group turned left and kept moving down the hall Reli selected. Sure enough, nobody approached them here, either; the hall was devoid of other beings.
Five steps later, HISSSSS a pneumatic hatch appeared from the walls and closed off the hall behind them.
<That... may be a very bad thing. Keep moving.>
The hall widened out into a large, domed room filled with control panels, lights, a large whirring and glowing machine, and not another living being. Some large cubic structures stood against one wall.
<We appear to have found an engine room.>
To the back of the room was another smaller extension of the space, containing a well-stocked large transport pod of some sort, not equipped for atmosphere, but well-outfitted for as many as six occupants.
As the group walked toward the pod, Reli took a closer look at the machine in the middle of the room and the boxes along the wall.
Not boxes. Cages. Three very tall, empty cages, clearly strong enough to withstand a struggling Kelbrid or Hork-Bajir... or Andalite... and the air around the bars humming with the tooth-itching whine of the Gleet Bio-Filter.
Her hearts started beating more rapidly, a surge of deep loathing and anger rising in her gut. No.
<Correction: we appear to have found a Kandrona.>
Reli drew her Shredder and powered it to a higher level, taking aim at the Kandrona's power source.
<Gentlemen, I suggest you board the escape vehicle. We will have some very unpleasant company very soon.>
Reli opened fire on the power source.
-
I could already hear the footsteps down the hallway of Hork-Bajir and Taxxons. I couldn't believe that there was Kandrona in a ship, I thought there was now Yedd and Yeerks were changed. "I can't believe some yeerks still use Kandrona! Do you think they have hosts too?" I grunted at Reli.
I didn't want to get a fight started, so I went inside of Pod. Once inside I started to demorph. I looked into the reflective black screen of the ship as the Hork-Bajir scales turned into human flesh and shaded back to my skin color I was a giant human with blades, horns and a tail! I remembered that I needed to talk to Reli. I reversed the morph and sat down at the pilots' seat. <By any chance, would you know how to start a ship like this?> I asked Reli, fighting my urge to press buttons and wait for a reaction.
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I Was nervous during our march but when we didn't see anyone I calmed down. We came to a giant room with ... a Kadrona? "So this is a Yeerk ship." I comment as get into the pod. "I don't know how to fly anything. Reli? Do you?"
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<There should be a set of large flat places for you to place your hands. Put your hands there and thought-speak to the ship, "begin prelaunch sequence, essentials only, crew of four." I will be with you in a moment. Yes, they have hosts; those are cages by the wall.>
Reli continued destroying essential components of the onboard Kandrona, using her tail on anything that would not electrocute her, and the Shredder on everything else.
<If we are lucky, they will be too busy recovering and repairing this thing to bother chasing us. Is everybody loaded in?> Reli used her tail to gouge a few holes in the hull of the Kandrona room; air started escaping as the vacuum outside dragged it away. The room's main hatch hissed closed as pressure sensors detected a reduction of air in the room. That should buy us even more time.
Reli backed toward the pod and climbed into it.
-
I walk over to the panels Reli mentioned and waited for her to get in the pod. Once everyone was in I repeated what Reli had told me and the pod prepared to launch. "What next?" I ask Reli.
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Everything happened so fast. A Kandrona? No way not here, but it really was there and we needed to get out of there fast so I jumped in the pod and when we were out I sighed in relief.
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I could hear the pods engines starting up, and everyone was now in it too. "So can you explain why there are yeerks here?" I asked Reli.
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Reli closed the pod's hatch and took a place at the control panel, palms flat on its surface. <Disconnect from mothership. Sixty per cent power to rear engine.> The pod pulled off the main ship just after the pod bay doors closed shipside. <Weapons at five per cent. Full standard power to rear engines. Prepare for entry to Z-space.>
Reli turned her stalk-eyes back to her companions. <I do not know why they are here, and they probably have an emergency Kandrona as backup somewhere on the ship. They cannot make a Z-space jump with their hull's airlock compromised. Take your seats, everybody; we are going to be followed by small craft.>
Reli kept manipulating controls, turning on the blast shields.
<There are two weapons stations and a life support control panel configured around one of each of your chairs. The weapons are run by thought-speech and touch-aiming on the screen. Just touch the enemy on the screen and think 'fire'. The life support panel will have indicators for our oxygen, shields, velocity, weapons power, and fuel. I need one of you to take each of these stations. Whomever has life support needs to manipulate all of the levels constantly so that our velocity never drops below the blue indicator line. Alert me when fuel drops below fifty per cent capacity: we need to dock with a friendly ship before that happens, because this vessel is not made for atmospheric flight.>
She turned to face them, a nearly human gesture. Her eyes were sad and tired.
<I do not know how far we are from a friendly ship, but we are out of other options. I do know those Yeerks' hosts are not voluntary, if there are cages on their ship near the Kandrona. Please all of you take one of the control stations. It will take us four minutes to get up to speed for a Z-Space jump, and we have to protect ourselves and outrun the enemy during that time.>
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I took a place at one of the weapon emplacements. I prepared to fire at whoever I saw. "Reli do you know how long I've been in morph?"
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As I took a seat at the weapons station I demorphed just in case. "Weapons system fully functional." I sat looking at the screen showing me possible targets. "All clear right now."
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I sat down at one of the other open weapons station and placed my awkward claw-like fingers on the weapons panel. "We are heading back to earth, right?" I asked Reli. I didn't want to go to the Andalite home world or anything.
-
((OOC: Guys... XD there are only two open weapons stations; the third is life support. Bah.))
<None of you has been in morph longer than forty minutes. As for where we are headed, right now I am just trying to get us into Known Space. Once we are there, I can put out a distress beacon, and we can await pick-up from the nearest Human or Andalite vessel, whichever is passing by. Right now, though, we are running from, not to.>
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After not noticing anything at all accept a few bar on the screen I realized I had not chosen a weapon station. this was life support. I sighed. "Oh well." I focused on keeping the life support stable.
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I doubted any ships will come by soon, so I sat down at the station and relaxed. I turned to look at Shaun. "How long have you guys known each other?" I asked trying to start a conversation.
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"Not that long we were on our first mission as a team when it went bad." I said to Dru. BLEEP! The radar picked something up. I looked at the screen a red dot was blinking on the screen. "Reli I dont know what it is but something is behind us."
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I looked at my radar "I see it too! Do you know if it is friend or foe Reli?" I didn't feel like randomly shooting someones ship down.
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<Shaun and Dru, keep your eyes on it and be ready to fire on it! We just need to buy one more minute. Strap yourselves in if there are straps; I'm going to be working to evade them by flight maneuvers. I can't use speed to run until the Z-Space jump finishes spooling up.>
Reli could see the ship approaching on the heads-up display. It fired a warning shot across the nose of their pod, and she swung the ship around at a steep angle so the Dual Shredder Cannon sights would come to bear on it.
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I locked the shredder onto the ship just in case. "Ready to fire Reli." I reminded her.
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<Then fire on it. It did just shoot at us.>
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I fired shots from the shredder cannon at the ship. "Do you know why they are firing at us?" I hollered at Reli, as the ship shot more shots at us.
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<We just blew up their Kandrona and stole their escape vehicle. Where have you been?>
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"I have been trying to pretend this never happened. When will the Z-Space jump happen?" I fired more shots at the ship. <Sorry for freaking out, I just am not used to this yet.> I told Reli in private thought-speak.
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I didnt wait for a command from Reli, as soon as they shot at us they started a battle I would not no could not lose. I fired repeated shots at them but shooting from a spaceship isnt like anything you can just imagine its a lot harder than you think. Shots go stray more often than I would like but we cant have everything we want. "Reli we need a backup plan this migbht not cut it just shooting until one of us dies."
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"I agree with Shaun, Reli you need to think up a backup plan soon. Chris, how is the ships life doing?"
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<No back-up plan needed. Computer: Commence Z-Space Jump.> The ship behind them, the fighter ship, the vast black field of stars outside... they all vanished in an implosive wink, like water sucked away by a drain.
FWOOOOOMmmmmm- it was as though all the sound had been sucked out of the world. That didn't really make sense- space is silent- and yet somehow Z-Space took that to another level. Outside the ****pit was an endless expanse of marshmallow-white, without variation, contour, or anything that could pass as a reference point. They could be flying toward a wall, or toward nothing; the void was all the same distance away at once.
<Demorph and take some time to rest, if you can. We will be in Z-Space for another three hours. I will be making several more jumps, to keep them off our trail. I will need you all focused and ready when we prepare to emerge into Known Space.>
Reli's posture sagged a bit with her own exhaustion.
<There may not be a friendly reception, you see... this ship looks Yeerk, unmistakably so, from the outside, even if the controls are adapted to thought-speech users. Obviously we must not attack our own people, but until we see what kind of communications array this vessel has, we will not know if we can get a safe pick-up. We definitely cannot fly into any atmosphere; this ship is not made for true flight, only spaceflight. We are not, as humans say, "out of the woods yet." We merely get three hours to rest, for now.>
-
I listened to Reli and demorphed. I sat back, closed my eyes, and went to sleep. I had a long day so far.
-
"Systems are fine." I let out a sigh of relief and settled back into a more relaxing position. I demorphed, skin replacing scales. "What now?"
-
I relax in my seat waiting to arrive at a destination.
-
Just outside the border of Kelbrid space, in the furthest reaches of Andalite territory, Terliss Five-Seven-Eight sits on the bridge of his ship. It is not a large ship, nor a well-kept one, at least not in appearances. Yeerkish in design, it looks similar to a lobster, with serrated living metal and bulging, crimson "eyes" where the viewscreens are. Beyond the main cabin there is a pool room and a storage room, part of which has been transformed into makeshift quarters. The very last room, at the tail end of the ship, allows entry to the engines.
It is small, especially as a permanent residence, but Terliss enjoys the solitude that he is guaranteed here. As long as his Kandrona holds out, and as long as jobs find their way to him on occasion, he is content.
His host, however, is a different story.
<<I'm bored,>> Aya Ya says. <<Can't we go back into Kelbrid space and find some planet to explore or something?>>
<<No,>> Terliss responds stiffly, watching his holoscreens, paying the human woman little attention.
<<At least give me control for a little while. I need to stretch or something,>> Aya presses. With a small sigh of exaggerated frustration Terliss obliges, letting the human move freely. Aya immediately stands and begins walking the length of the cabin, stretching her arms above her head and trying to get the blood flowing freely again after sitting for so long. Every few seconds she glances back at the holoscreens to ensure that they are still alone in their little corner of space.
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<Prepare to emerge into Known Space.>
Reli allowed the small crew a moment to wake up from naps and gather their attention to their monitors. Then, noiselessly, but with a sensation of emerging out of some thick gelled mass into a wide open space, their ship pulled back into the black, star-dotted familiarity of standard space.
<Only a few of these constellations are familiar; we must be galactic south of the sector I was aiming to reach. Still, this is much better than where we had been. Time to see if there is anybody out here who can help us.>
Reli fired up the communications array and composed a short message that would send out in repeated bursts until somebody responded:
<Escape vessel with five-person crew requesting pick-up or refuel. Carrying sensitive military information. Not equipped to fly in atmosphere. We are not hostile. If you can hear this, please reply with instructions or patch us over to the Andalite Electorate.>
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Aya's pacing comes to a slow cease when she sees the communications array light up. Curiously, she moves back over to the pilot's chair, accepting the unencrypted message. When she hears what is clearly an Andalite's voice she frowns a little, tilting her head as she commits the transmission to memory.
<<Should we respond?>> she asks Terliss.
<<It might lead to a job,>> the Yeerk murmurs thoughtfully. <<We are running low on supplies. As much as I loathe to deal with an Andalite, it may be to our best benefit.>>
<<Uh-huh. Just let me do the talking, Mr. Cheerful,>> Aya says with a smirk. She sends a return hail, requesting audio and visual interface.
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<It seems somebody has noticed us; now let us hope they will hear us out before assuming our Yeerk-looking vessel is an enemy. Let us make our best efforts to appear harmless.>
Reli turned on the comm screen and directed it so that she and the other three in the crew were all visible to whomever was contacting them.
<Greetings; thank you for returning contact. I had feared there would be nobody to help us, this far from the inhabited systems.>
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"We keep to ourselves," Aya says with a friendly smile. Her eyes tighten only slightly at the Andalite visage that appears on screen. "You're lucky you caught us." Her dark eyebrows raise a little bit as she glances at a second holoscreen, which is scanning the strangers' ship. "You know, wandering around Andalite space in a Yeerk vessel is a bit dangerous. I should know." Her smile widens a little and she orders her ship to uncloak in with a quick command, spoken in Yeerkish. "I'm sending you my coordinates, you should be able to get a pretty good lock and start heading my direction. Hurry up, though. I don't like to stay uncloaked for long."
Her dark eyes briefly leave the Andalite and take in the other passengers of the ship, but she does not address them directly, turning her gaze back to the Andalite. "I'm Aya, by the way."
-
Reli's eyes narrowed slightly, recognizing how much more complex their situation had just become. Privately she addressed the rest of the crew, <Do not react as if I am saying anything. The person who is picking us up may or may not be a Yeerk; the ship is definitely Yeerkish, and right now this is our only apparent chance of getting safely back into familiar territory. We are out of fuel and out of options.>
Reli responded to Aya, <I am Arhareli-Winwall-Ajaht, and these are Shaun, Chris, Dru, and Corporal Fischer. Your position is acknowledged; we are approaching and should be there within seven Earth minutes. Once we dock and board, you are welcome to salvage what little fuel and other resources remain on our vessel.>
Reli piloted the pod to the coordinates Aya had given her, and there was no denying that Aya's ship was visibly Yeerkish in style and origin. The fur on Reli's spine prickled up with tension, but she focused on keeping her posture relaxed and her tail low. As long as there was only the one person on board, Aya's human body would not be a significant threat to an Andalite. Firearms and beam weapons could create problems, but Reli trusted that at the very least her own tail would be faster than a human body's draw on a Dracon weapon. Reli silently thanked Sky that some of the boys with her had picked up Dracon weapons instead of Shredders, when the opportunity arose before. If nothing else, it would put into question whether or not Shaun, Chris, Dru, and perhaps even Reli herself were free bodies, Controllers, or morphed Yeerks passing as humans and an Andalite.
-
Dru waved at the screen slightly when Reli called his name. Getting aboard Aya's ship seemed like a good idea to him. Aya did not look like a bad person, and she was welcoming.
-
Aya waits patiently for the smaller vessel to arrive, continuing to scan as she does so.
<<This is foolish,>> Terliss murmurs quietly. <<We should not allow one of them within ten light years of our ship, yet you wish to lay out a doormat.>>
<<We'll be fine,>> Aya responds, rolling her eyes and prepping the ship for a standard docking procedure. When the pod is near enough, she initiates the tractor beams that will gently pull it close without damaging either ship.
"Alright," Aya says to the still open communication. "It might be a bit bumpy, but give it a minute or so and you'll be set to come aboard. My ship isn't too much bigger than yours, so I hope you don't mind getting cozy. At least we have more than one room."
As she speaks the pod is pulled close to her own ship, a narrow force field preventing the metals from actually meeting, and also allowed for pressurization in the slight gap between the two vessels.
"Opening my hatch," Aya says. "Give it about thirty seconds before you do the same on your end."
She swipes the screen away and steps back, well away from where the strangers will enter her ship. Unlimbering her Dracon beam she waits patiently, the dial set to stun, just in case the strangers are less friendly than they seem.
-
Chris yawned and stretched as Reli contacted the other ship. He readied his Dracon just in case. He wasn't a good shoot but it never hurt to be prepared. He wasn't anywhere near ready to give a possible teeth the benefit of the doubt. Not after what he'd just been through.
-
Fisher hasn't spoken much since the ambush, and since his team had vanished. Dead? Alive? Who knew, the corporal sure didn't. His neural interface wasn't picking up their transponders, so either their heads were obliterated or they were inside a well-contained unit of some kind, or outside of the transponders considerable range. In any case, the event had screwed the poor marine badly. His men, his responsibility on paper. But there wasn't anything he could have done; he didn't even know what the hell had happened.
Oh, and now they were preparing you enter a Yeerk ship, which meant it was quite possibly headed by a Yeerk. They were essentially hitchhiking with the bloody thing and hoping it didn't just carbonize them the moment they stepped through the airlock. Yeah, wonderful. He sighed, fiddled with his dracon beam, checking what he'd been told were the power readings. Three-quarters charged, and set on a low setting -he didn't want to punch a hole through the ship, or potentially incinerate the pilot if need be. He stepped around Chris in the cramped space and tapped Reli on the shoulder.
"You are aware that, if the pilot is a Yeerk, I am obligated to arrest it under the Invaders Act. And in any case, if it is a Yeerk, I sure as hell ain't gonna let it prance about on that ship."
-
<<Fisher, first, we do not know if she is alone on that ship or if there are others. Second, the ship might have control settings which make it unflyable to anybody but her. Third, between the lot of us we have enough muscle to overpower her and at least one other being, no matter how fast she is with a beam weapon. If you must arrest her, can it not wait until we are safely on-planet, or at least until we know with certainty that the ship will be flyable?>>
Reli gave him a pointed look, her main eyes all but begging him to not screw up their likeliest chance of getting back home alive and in one piece.
The look said, we've already lost enough people.
<Opening our hatch now and preparing to transfer to your vessel.> Reli palmed the keypad next to the hatch and commanded it to open. She braced herself for the tell-tale whoosh of escaping air, but instead felt air rushing across her ankles into the pod from the ship's more effective pressure containment. Aya hadn't tried to airlock the lot of them. That was promising.
The hatch door slid upward until they could see across the docking components into Aya's ship.
-
If Fisher tightened his grip on the gun any more, he'd probably crack the casing. He sighed, ground his teeth together, and tried not to punch something. He hated this. He'd been trained in the various ways of making things dead and keeping important things from becoming dead, not much in the way of fore-thought. All he wanted to do was his job dammit! All his bloody life he'd been dreaming of the day he could blast down Yeerk terrorists and save the day, or something like that. Now he could practically smell the chance of it all, and he was screwed.
So instead they were walking onto a Yeerk ship, quite possibly controlled by a Yeerk, who for all they knew wouldn't be too happy about having Andalite and Co. strutting on board in need of what she possessed. And now they couldn't even simply hog-tie it and drop it in a closet if need be, just hope on the goodwill of a possible Yeerk who had stolen a vessel and fled far off to stay under the radar. Just great.
"I really, really hate this." Fisher sighed as Reli palmed open the airlock. He tensed up, preparing for an onslaught of toxic gas or the whoosh of them being sucked in a vacuum.
Air swept past his ankles from the open airlock. Clean, normal, breathing air. That was something promising at least. Stepping forward lightly, beam pistol still in one hand, he stuck an foot forward out of the escape pod, at least the other ship would be more roomy.
-
Reli strode forward beside Fisher, deliberately keeping her posture as unthreatening as possible.
They emerged into Aya's vessel. <We are boarding now; thank you again for your assistance.>
<<Fisher, if we are fired upon, you can use my body for a shield. As long as we do not attack, she will not be shooting to kill. She could just as easily have killed us just now, or while we were still in the pod.>>
-
Aya is standing on the other side of the hatchway, a good several dozen feet away to allow the newcomers plenty of room to pass onto her ship. Her Dracon is raised, but she does not shoot, eyes darting from one person to the next as they enter, committing their faces to memory and ensuring that none are familiar.
"Arhareli-Winwall-Ajaht," Aya says to the only visible Andalite, having no trouble recalling or reciting the strange complexities that are often associated with Andalite names. Her lips twitch upward into a small, thin smile. "Welcome aboard my vessel. You'll have to forgive me if I request that all weapons be left here." She gestures to a small storage bin. "I won't keep them, but I prefer not to be shot in the back on my own ship." Her eyebrows raise, as if daring them to contest her, but her expression remains otherwise friendly.
-
Dru followed Fisher and Reli and boarded the ship. "I think that having no weapons will be a smart idea." Dru said as he put his dracon beam into the bin. "As long as you have no weapons too. I would never want to die on a spaceship." Dru said raising an eyebrow at Aya, hoping she wouldn't be hiding anything.
-
<Considering the fact that an adult Andalite can never be considered truly disarmed, Dru, I think it would be inappropriate for us to make that request of Aya, especially when she is offering us her rescue and hospitality.>
Reli put her Shredder into the storage bin and moved into the ship, giving Aya a wide berth while still staying close enough to her own group that she could bodily shield them at least a little bit if needed.
Sky help us, but that Dru fellow is a diplomatic nightmare.
-
The proposal of using a friends body as a living shield repulsed Fisher, but he kept his comments to himself due to a lack of thought-speak. He was repulsed even further by the disarming request, but he regrettably had no choice. He calmly dropped the dracon beam in the container, and took a place beside Reli. Even if she did turn out to be hostile, he wa pretty sure the Andalite's tail would give them an advantage, or at least distract long enough for him to get in close or grab his weapon.
-
Aya laughs lightly, flipping her dark ponytail over her shoulder. The hair is held back with an out-of-date, bright green scrunchie, making her look even younger than she is. Her attire shows major signs of wear and tear; the once vibrant yellow long-sleeved shirt has faded to a dull, buttery color, and her jeans are covered in grease stains and tears. Beneath the various rips in the fabric small glints of something more substantial, possibly metallic, can be seen, almost like medieval chain mail, but much more supple.
"Arheli has a good point. Typically I'd request that she morph something a little less worrisome, but I like you." Aya winks at Reli. "You can stay in your natural form, so long as I feel safe and sound. I'm not overly worried about Andalite blades anyways. Especially a female blade."
Moving over to a small computer console, Aya brings up a holoscreen and commands her hatch closed. "I'll hold onto your escape pod for you. Not really the time or place for me to strip it of essentials, so we'll just tow it for the time being. Besides, you might need it again. I'm still not sure if I can help you or not." Turning from the main entryway she gestures for them to follow her out of the narrow docking area. "Come on, it's more comfortable through here. We can all get to know one another a little better."
She doesn't wait to see if they are following or not, passing through into one of the larger rooms on the ship, relatively bare except for a long, bolted down table and similarly bolted chairs.
-
Reli let the insult slide. Even female blades can stun, and that armor does not keep her skull plate protected, but the point is moot for now. All the better if Aya does not recognize me from my competition days, or she may have pressed the issue. Disarming beam weapons for courtesy is one thing, but I will not risk being trapped in an helpless morph.
Reli followed Aya, her stalk-eyes taking in the spaces around them, memorizing details, control panel locations.
<What brings a lone voyager to this corner of Known Space? We escaped in the pod where you found us, but your vessel appears to be truly self-sufficient beyond general fuel needs.>
-
I am liking this more and more Dru thought as he followed Reli to the room. He looked around and then sat at one of the chairs.
-
Chris dropped his Dracon in the bin with the rest and found a seat. He sat down but didn't recline. He was pretty tense.
-
Aya moves to the head of the table, standing behind the chair there rather than taking a seat herself. "It is self-sufficient," she says to Reli, not without some pride. "We've been living on this vessel for the past five years or so. Hard to tell, what with being in space and all. Everyone has a different way of keeping track of time." She flashes Reli a bright smile. "As for the why of it, which I'm sure is your next question, my line of business with my partner, Terliss, and, ah, the somewhat politically sensitive nature of our relationship isn't too welcome in the inner areas of the galaxy."
She leans on the back of the chair, watching the group cautiously. "And you? What brought you to be in an escape pod this far out, hm?"
-
So far, things were going as diplomatically and well as Reli could have hoped, but she was still hesitant to volunteer too much information. Even so, this near the border of Kelbrid Space...
<With the exception of Dru, who is an incidental and recent member of our party, we were members of an exploratory expedition into the near side of Kelbrid Space, attempting to retrieve some information sensitive to at least two planetary governments. We were attacked several times, and highly essential crew members became separated from our group, until only we four remain, and now Dru is with us as well. The escape vessel is what it appears to be: a last effort to get what is left of our crew home safely, before we lose more people. I would not even know where to begin looking for the rest of our group, and I cannot express how it pains me that this has occurred: I was brought onto the team to be personally responsible for the safety of others in the team, and now they are beyond my ability to help them. By all accounts, the mission has been a failure. Right now we are simply trying to get home and cut our losses, with what spare information we have managed to collect for those who hired us.>
Reli didn't have to falsify the look of exhaustion, grief, and self-disgust that covered her face and posture... but she also knew that looking so downtrodden would probably make her seem less dangerous to Aya than if she appeared desperate.
-
Wow 5 years. I can barely last a day. Dru thought. "Do you ever get lonely all the way out here?" Dru asked.
-
Aya grins at Dru. "I have company," she says simply.
To Reli she nods. "I'm sorry for your losses," she murmurs, her fingers tapping out a pattern on the back of the chair. "Though you should consider yourself lucky. Not many Andalites slip into Kelbrid space and live to tell about it. There's a reason it's restricted, after all..." She trails off, her eyes blanking ever so slightly for a brief moment.
"Of course," she says, as if in response to someone, blinking her eyes back into focus. "You must be hungry. I have protein bars and the like. For you, Andalite, I'm afraid I only have liquefied grass, and not much of it. But you are welcome to what I have, while we discuss terms."
She strides over to a wall panel, sliding it open and beginning to rummage through the contents.
-
She'd been hiding for years, in a Yeerkish ship, avoiding contact in space. That, and the references to "we" just made Fisher itch in his seat more. He was dead-positive she was a controller, and if she'd been hiding, he wondered what sort of crime she'd committed to want to flee.
"Right now we are simply trying to get home and cut our losses, Fisher glowered inwardly at the mention, remembering the bloody audacity of the Kelbrid. He personally thought Reli was taking too much of the blame -they sure had been expecting to be suddenly transported across the galaxy from a prison- but he said nothing, just kept a calm of a face as he could. UN and the Electorate will blast them them to blazes when they get word of this. He thought. Especially the UN, who -as all mighty human armies had- had been looking for a good fight ever since the end of the Yeerk War.
:"You must be hungry. I have protein bars and the like. The offer made him suspicious of course. Poisoned probably. He wouldn't touch the stuff, despite barely being able to sleep on account of his rumbling gut. He just sat there, quietly, watching as this all went down, and hoping he wouldn't get a knife in his back at a moments notice.
-
<Thank you. Liquefied grass will be more than adequate. Most of my recent sustenance has been limited to meat while in carnivorous morphs, so anything remotely resembling provisions intended for Andalite consumption would be a vast improvement.>
-
"No thanks, I'm not a big fan of Protein Bars." Dru told Aya. He was ready to get out of space and back to earth.
-
Aya collects a handful of rations - several protein bars and a pouch of liquefied grass. "I try to keep at least something for everyone on board, though I don't have much," she explains as she hands the grass over to Reli and places the protein bars in the center of the table, taking one for herself. She glances over at Dru and shrugs. "Suit yourself. Can't afford to be too picky this far out. I've been living off of protein bars, Spam and a few other odds and ends. There isn't exactly a grocery store nearby."
She takes a seat at last, sinking into the chair that is clearly positioned at the head of the table and yanking the wrapper off of her protein bar. "So. You want to get to Earth," she says, taking a bite and chewing thoughtfully. "It's not our usual sort of job, but we can do that...maybe. It's a bit of a haul, though, so it'll cost you in food, fuel and of course whatever we determine as a base rate. There's a bit of an added fee for going into such dangerous territory, of course."
She glances at Fisher, who is looking less and less happy with his circumstances. "Cheerful fella you've got there," she says with a smirk, keeping her attention focused primarily on Reli, who appears to be their makeshift leader.
-
<I am certain we can arrange for adequate compensation for your time and trouble. As for Fisher... I believe he is most eager to be planetside as soon as possible.>
Reli swung one stalk-eye in his direction and hoped this wouldn't get uglier than it needed to be already. She accepted the grass pouch from Aya and opened it deftly, inserting one hoof into the open end of the bag... probably the closest Andalite equivalent to a feed sack tied to the face of an Earth horse.
-
"Cheerful fella you've got there,"
Just a Reli replied, Fisher could take no more. Using all his willpower to look angry, he stood up tall and looked Aya square in the eye.
"Miss Aya, thank you for all your hospitality, but I must ask one question on my mind. You keep referring to "we", talking in the plural. If you would be so kind to inform us, who is the other occupant of this vessel?" He was trying now to show his anxiety, but it clearly stood out. His frame looked strained, his spine wa a wound spring ready to explode loose.
-
Aya raises her gaze to Fisher, her smirk fading only slightly. "My apologies, sir," she says, smiling sweetly. "My comrade is a bit on the quiet side. He's been watching, of course, but I'm in charge of negotiating. He's the muscle of our little duo. Which is odd, considering how small he is." Laughing a little, Aya takes another bite of her protein bar, taking her time as she chews. It's pretty clear that she notices Fisher's anxiety, and she is in no hurry to placate him.
When she finally does swallow she shrugs. "My companion is named Terliss Five-Seven-Eight of the Tel Serrlash pool. He is a Yeerk, of course." Her fingers trail down to tap against her Dracon, not pulling it, but reminding him that she is armed. "Is that going to be a problem, sir?" Aya asks, her dark eyes widening innocently.
-
Fisher had often read about the feeling one gets when one realize just how bad of a situation one is in. Now he experienced it. Everything seemed to snap into place, like he had just put on glasses to see the situation. She was a Yeerk. She was armed. They were not. This was her ship. She was hiding, probably a criminal of some sort. Or possible insane. Think, think, remain calm. Fisher slowed his breathing, aware of the thundering of his heart and the sweat forming on his skin. Trying to remain as discreet a possible, he forced a formal smile.
"I most certainly hope not." He said, pleasantly and calmly as he could before taking a seat, glancing casually at Reli, and flashing her a concerned look.
-
Reli thought-whispered to Fisher as soon as she saw the clarity of the situation appear in his eyes. <<Thank you for understanding. It was either this or slowly starve to death or asphyxiate on the pod, with no way to land, and not enough fuel to make another Z-Space jump. Of those situations, just between the two of us, I prefer the one with the Yeerk, because at least in this setting, I have something I can fight before it kills me. You cannot fight oxygen starvation. Still, I would rather this not become fighting until we can be sure we have the upper tail on her.>>
Reli turned her most diplomatic voice back to the rest of the people present. <Being on the run for too long without rest is enough to make any crew anxious and distrustful. I hope we will all be able to proceed peacefully and without undue grief to anybody, especially those who allow us here as their guests.>
If Lee had ever suggested I would be placating a rogue Controller for transport back to Earth, I would have told him to seek mental reconditioning.
-
Aya considers for a moment before taking her hand away from her Dracon, instead placing it flat on the table in front of her. "Wonderful," she says, all smiles again. "Then let us proceed. As I said, Terliss and I are willing to help you, so long as we can negotiate a fair price. There is a slight problem, though. Usually we require at least half of our payment in advance. I can see from your circumstances that you do not have much of worth to us, so we would need to be paid retroactively and, frankly, I have no idea whether or not I can trust you, my Andalite friend."
-
Reli did some calculations in her head. This could either go very well or very damn badly. She would be breaking the highest law of her race. Which was worth more, the law, or the lives of her human companions?
Reli moved very slowly, not suddenly, and removed her utility pack, which she knew only contained one thing, one very relevant thing which could potentially change the game for all of them.
Reli placed the pack on the table and pushed it toward Aya.
<This contains one portable Escafil Device. On the condition that you do not attempt to acquire or morph any of us, and that you return us either to Earth or to the Andalite home world, that is yours, as a down payment for your services.>
I am a traitor to my race, a violator of the Law of Seerow's Gift, for the lives of four humans. If we survive, I can never go home. At this point, I can only hope that Aya or Terliss value what I have done, and that they are not already morph-capable.
-
Fisher. Was. Fuming. Reli had good intentions, but he'd rather take the ship by force than let the damn slug get a morphing cube. He shot murderous glare at the Andalite, considering the possibilities. There was no way the Yeerk could keep the cube of course; and if she got them to the Andalite world or Earth, Fisher would jump her. A dracon beam could deliver a stunning blast, he'd done well in his Basic Energy and Advanced Weapons course. He could knock the slug out and take the ship. Hell, even if the ship was rigged to blow or some crap if the slug died, he'd still do it once the others got into the pod. Either way, the Yeerk was not getting the device.
He sat at the table, unconsciously drumming his fingers against the surface.
-
Aya's eyebrows raise and she leans forward in obvious interest. She reaches over and takes the pack pulling it towards her and opening it, peering inside. What follows is a long moment of potentially awkward silence, Aya's eyes blanking as she and Terliss speak to one another, their conversation entirely internal.
"Alright," Aya says, nodding and closing the pack. "We'll do it. I'll place the Escafil Device in a secure location, and so long as it remains in my possession we're open for business. I'll still require payment upon delivery, of course. At the very least the equivalent to the fuel and food we use, and a few extra items. You'll find most of them aren't too expensive, just luxuries Terliss and I are typically denied, living out here." She grins. "Like chocolate. You have no idea how much I miss chocolate."
-
<Of course. On the topic of chocolate, I have been told it is all but a necessity for any Andalite visiting Earth to taste this substance. I have never taken the opportunity, since my only visit to Earth was on business.>
Conversation will hopefully maintain a measure of peace here.
-
"Definitely worth trying," Aya says firmly, pulling herself to her feet. She lifts the pack, slinging it casually over one shoulder. "I'm going to go lock this up. Wait here, and don't try to touch anything. All the computers are voice activated and have passcodes that, unless you speak Yeerkish, you won't be figuring out." She winks pleasantly and moves out of the room, sealing the door behind her.
<<What are we going to do with them?>> Aya asks Terliss, her smile fading as soon as they are in the next room. She chews her lip nervously.
<<For now?>> the flat, androgynous voice of Terliss responds. <<Keep an eye on them, and carry out the task. They are paying well enough. Check the databases, though. If there is a gashad on any of their heads they may be of more worth to us dead.>>
-
Fisher's face had gone from raging to cold calmness. He stared cold daggers at Reli, then stood up and slowly began to pace around the room. The only Yeerkish he knew were swear words, and they were all starting to bubble up to mind right about now. He stopped right besides Reli, glaring at the Andalite.
"I think," He forced out calmly. "That there are a few things we need to talk about."
-
Dru stared at Fisher. "What? Is it something important?" He asked, waiting for the conversation.
-
<Say your piece, Fisher, but don't forget that Aya probably has at least some surveillance equipment in this room.>
-
Fisher didn't bat an eye.
"How can we trust this woman? She's a Yeerk for crying out loud, how do we know she won't just fly us to some uncharted system, snatch the cube, then eject us into a sun?"
-
<<Fisher, any one of us could acquire her, given half a chance to get close enough, and I speak enough Yeerkish to operate some simple ship controls. Any one of us could also simply threaten to do irreparable damage to vital systems on the ship, if she attempts to double-cross us. You know and I know that I can move my tail much faster than she can draw her Dracon weapon. At this stage, while I do not trust her, I do believe she sincerely wants to get resources from Earth.>>
Reli retrieved the liquid grass bag from her hoof and looked for a place to dispose of it.
<<She will not be able to get within orbital range of the planet Earth, in a Yeerk ship, without us on board to win her flight clearance in Human airspace. She has to keep us at least that long, and killing us before landing would also result in her getting blasted to very small crispy pieces. Right now she is probably trying to find out from her computer if we are who we appear to be, and if there is any bounty for us in Known Space... or at least, that is how I would react, if a morphing cube and several wayward travelers appeared from Kelbrid Space and got on my vessel.>>
-
Of course Fisher had much more pressing issues at mind, but he wasn't going to discuss them openly. He would not allow the slug to take the cube. Reli said she could operate some basic ship controls, good. That saved the trouble of potentially beating such information from the Yeerk -or starving it out of the creature. He hissed irritably and stalked back to his seat, slouching down in it. But he had to keep this argument up for appearances.
"Stasis Reli, Bio-stasis. She could potentially flip a switch and immobilize all of us without even blinking. And once she finds out who we are, she may very well flip the switch, jettison us, and sell the cube on the black market." He sighed in exasperation, and slid further into his chair.
-
<<Fisher, have you noticed the size of this vessel? Yes, she could jettison us, but she would not have enough air volume left to make it alive to the nearest planet. This room is too large to be a worthwhile atmosphere sacrifice. As long as we do not wander into smaller compartments along the external hull, it will be too risky for her to expend her own air on being rid of us or poisoning us into sleep.>>
-
Fisher dragged his hand across his face with a sigh. Now he wished he had picked up on the morphing thing, thought speak would be mighty useful about now.
"No, stasis. She could just lock us up in our sweet sleep and kick us out the back door, if you get what I'm saying."
-
Dru wondered why Fisher was being speciesist, or was it racist? Either way it was wrong. "Excuse me, but I doubt anything bad from her, she had giving us hospitality and is trying to help us. Even if she is a bad person, which she isn't, you should at least pretend to be grateful of her."
-
<<To put us into stasis, she would have to capture us. Attempting to knock us out in this room with a gas would just poison her own air supply, and no human body is fast enough on a Dracon beam to stun all of us in the time it would take one of us to get to her and stop her. We do not have the upper hand, no, but she would be inconvenienced by any attempt to harm us, at present. Furthermore, she has much more to gain at this time by keeping us alive.>>
Reli resisted the urge to roll her eyes- such a human expression!- at Dru's naivete.
<<Just between you and me, Fisher, I think it serves us to keep the boy ignorant for now, but I will fill him in enough that he might not be a complete liability.>>
<Dru, it is less that she is automatically a bad person and more that her presence in this sector of space, in the type of ship she is flying, is extremely suspicious. Fisher's caution is well-founded, on those grounds. At this moment, we are at Aya's mercy to get us home safely, and if she wanted to make trouble for us and just take the bounty of our ship and our morphing cube, then the lot of us would be... in a cucumber.>
Reli blinked slowly as her brain's implanted translator chip refined the idiom she was attempting to use.
<...a pickle, rather. I do not know why humans make expressions relating plants to danger. Anyway, to put it simply, Aya is in a position to give us trouble or worse, and we are out of other options. We are the 'buyers' in a 'seller's market'. Aya could be the very kindest person, and it would still be wise for us to keep our wits sharp.>
-
Fisher twisted his neck, looking dubious, giving a slight nod of the head at Reli concerning Dru.
"I don't care. I refuse to trust some Yeerk who's been on the run for God-knows how long in a stolen ship. She's either gone bush-crazy or she's got some plan in mind. I don't think she'd risk going to one of the places she's clearly avoiding, more likely she'll wait 'till we're asleep and then do something to keep us under lock and key." He leaned forward towards Reli across the table. "I wonder how much a morph-capable Andalite host body would go for on the black market, hmm?"
-
There is a hiss as the door slides back open, readmitting Aya. Her expression has shifted from pleasant to stormy, and the smile on her face is knife-like -- nowhere near as pleasant as it had been. The bag, and its contents, are gone.
"Given the context of your conversation, I thought it would be fit to properly introduce myself," Aya's voice says in a stilted, staccato manner, giving confirmation to Reli's suspicion that they were being monitored. "Terliss Five-Seven-Eight." He gives Fisher a tight smile. "I'd like to assure you that this ship is not, in fact stolen. It was given to me as payment many years ago. I command a high price, in both Andalite and Kelbrid space. I could easily obtain a vessel that would be more inobtrusive, but I prefer Yeerkish technology."
The Controller leans against the doorframe, one hand resting casually on the butt of his Dracon. "It seems as if my host has not been particularly clear on our terms. Her downfall, being human, is the tendency to sympathize with your kind, despite the atrocities they have committed against mine."
Terliss licks his lips, his voice lowering. "Let me be perfectly clear, human. I am a turelek. Do you know the word? It is old Yeerkish. The closest English equivalent would be 'mercenary' or 'assassin'. I have no fear of going into human or Andalite space, as they tend to be some of my most frequent clients. It is dangerous, yes, but I have learned to avoid most of the dangers." His expression shifts into a knowing smirk. "Besides, I have military clearance with several of Earth's governing bodies."
He quiets for a moment, letting that information sink in, before continuing. "Now, none of my clients have a direct gashad on your head, so do I have any desire to destroy you. Right now, you will serve me better alive. So long as you follow my directives without complaint that will likely remain the case. Understood?" Aya's eyes narrow at his last words, and he directs them specifically towards Fisher, his distaste for the human evident.
-
Fisher did all to refrain himself from snorting at the word atrocities, but failed, narrowing his eyes contemptuously at the Yeerk. He was willing to buy that she, that it was an assassin of some type. Certainly there had been cases like it springing up time to time. But he refused to believe it was employed by the UN. Fisher smiled thinly.
"I'm glad to see that's all laid out. And don't fret your pretty face, I don't plan to start shooting holes fifty million light years from the nearest non-artificial atmosphere." He said patronizingly, then leaned back in his seat, seemingly without a care in the world. He believed it that they had value to its purposes alive, so it surely wouldn't go through the trouble to kill him over a bit of sass.
-
Now it was Arhareli's turn to watch Fisher with wary stalk-eyes. Please, human, do not give the Yeerk a reason to actively want to kill us. I had better change the subject.
<Greetings, Terliss Five-Seven-Eight, and thank you also for permitting us passage on your ship. Do you have a projected timetable for our arrival in the Earth system?>
-
Terliss' expression tenses at Fisher's response, and he turns his attention to the Andalite almost gratefully.
"That, my Andalite friend, depends entirely on how Z-Space decides to treat us," he says. The word 'Andalite' is anything but friendly. "If it does not reconfigure itself then it will be a matter of two or three days. If it does reconfigure...a good deal longer than that. In any case, we will be spending a number of days together, so let us make it as bearable as possible, yes?"
He gives Fisher one more suspicious look before sliding back, Aya's posture immediately relaxing as she regains control of her limbs. "Sorry about him," the human says, rolling her eyes. "Like I said, he doesn't talk much, and when he does he comes off as a bit out of touch. Hope the whole 'turelek' thing doesn't bother you too much." She shrugs, pulling her hand away from her Dracon to fold her arms across her chest. "It's a living, and a pretty darned good one at that, considering the fact that I've got a rogue parasite in my head."
-
<While we are not ourselves mercenaries, we were hired as a group for various skills through which we collectively functioned not so dissimilarly from a mercenary team. Our mission was not, strictly speaking, legally 'on the level', in the sense that any foray into Kelbrid Space automatically comes with the assumption of being disavowed by the Andalite government if anything went diplomatically wrong while we were there. I cannot speak for my comrades, but I do not judge you negatively for your line of work, and if you have contacts in Earth governments, then no doubt there is a need for the work you do.>
Reli couldn't help thinking that her own involvement in the start of this mission was basically as an intelligent bit of muscle and firepower. How things had changed, to be the peace-making voice now! Perhaps their employers truly had been thinking ahead, to hire her. She certainly had no love for the Yeerks, but at the same time, she had a level-headedness in this situation which no military Andalite could ever possess: any member of the Fleet would have already attempted at least twice on Terliss' life. A military Andalite would have turned this into an inadvertent suicide mission for himself and the rest of the crew, and he would have made no sincere attempt to keep the humans alive following the ambush on the Pemalite planet. A civilian fighter like herself could be trusted to value civilian lives and to see death as a last resort instead of a means to an end.
Fisher's presence certainly made up for any hot-headedness Reli lacked, but at the same time, his open prejudice served a very useful purpose: it allowed Reli to appear, by comparison, the mature and peaceable member of their crew, and not the hostile Andalite a Yeerk would expect to find... and that was probably the only thing keeping Terliss from killing them on sight just for the sake of safety. If an Andalite can seem 'tame' to a Yeerk, then perhaps this venture home would be successful, and if Fisher, the military human, seemed a bit less tame... well, at least humans can appear to be disarmed. All his rage would carry a certain sense of inefficacy, no matter how skilled he was in unarmed combat, because he stood next to an Andalite. The overall effect was that they were both rendered benign-seeming, simply by comparison to each other: Reli seemed 'safe' by being calm next to an angry Fisher, and Fisher seemed 'safe' by being a Shredder-less human next to an Andalite's tail-blade. The other three humans, well... they were a joke, probably, in Terliss' eyes. Their immaturity and unfamiliarity with the situation belied the fact that Shaun and Chris had now both seen and created more bloodshed in a week than most humans experience in their entire lives. It belied that they were both pretty experienced morphers from just this one ill-fated venture. As for Dru, his obliviousness was even more protection for all of them, and Reli would preserve it as long as possible.
-
Fisher just sighed irritably, then began drumming the table with his fingers. He turned back to the controller -he'd never thought he'd be talking to a controller- and said, with as much politeness as he could muster:
"Well, now that formalities are out of the way, is there any chance that us star-lost refugees might find some form of quarters, or a place to rest?"
-
"Oh, there's definitely a need," Aya says with a nod. "As Terliss said, we command a pretty high price. It's not every day you find a Yeerk crazy enough to enter Andalite space. But it's useful. Definitely useful." She winks at Fisher.
"Right. Beds. Well, this is officially the largest room on the ship. I've got a bit of a room for myself, but it's really just a mattress shoved up against the wall. I can bring you some extra blankets and stuff, but otherwise you'll have to make yourself comfortable in here." She shrugs. "Sorry. We aren't used to visitors."
-
Fisher was becoming more acutely aware of how tired he was. And as the exhaustion mounted, and as his learned more and more how hopeless the situation sounded, he slowly stopped caring as much. He on this ship, like it or not. They weren't going to be overtaking it anytime soon, and odds were they'd sleep unmolested for a while. With a slight mental shrug, he leaned back and faced Aya.
"Sure, toss me a wrap. I'm ready for some sleep."
-
Reli backed up against the nearest wall and settled into the typical Andalite half-sleep: standing upright, tail coiled against her back, stalk eyes lazily sweeping the room and taking turns opening and closing while the main eyes stayed closed.
-
Aya strides over to the same wall that held the food rations and opens a larger compartment, pulling out a small pile of neatly folded, but well-worn blankets. "Have at them," she says, placing the pile on the table. "I'll be in to check on you in the morning. Or, you know, what passes for morning out here." She winks at Fisher. "Don't get into any trouble, alright? I'd hate to end this pleasant meeting prematurely."
She gives the room one more sweeping look, then nods, seemingly satisfied, and turns with a little wave. As soon as she crosses into the next room the door slides shut behind her, locking the visitors into the room.
-
Fisher grabbed a blanket, tossed it over himself, pitched his head back, and began sawing logs. Training Earth's first space warriors had created a need to impress the Andalites with how tough humans were, so they had forced them to sleep all over the place back in training. In trees, in chairs, on tables, on the ground, anywhere. And after a few days of being interstellar refugees, pretty much anywhere was good for sleeping. Fisher was hard asleep in seconds.