((Wow did I ever miss a lot. There is nothing I can possibly post that would excuse my inactivity. Maybe I'll just say I precogged the whole thing. XD Seriously...I guess that's what I'll do. I had a
feeling that I shouldn't do anything. :p Oh, and Shen in case you didn't see it before you took off on the side-thread, I had Ossanlin preserve Mar's body outside the time-stream.

))
Ossanlin stands impassively in his spot as the flurry of interractions occur...Corliss trying to reinfest Efaen, Myitt supporting him, and Alic and Claxter defending Efaen. The shot to the head...the exchange of dracon and shredder fire. He continues watching, somehow he had had another feeling...this would play out the way it needed to without his involvement. As things calm down, he flexes his tail experimentally. His arm wound has stopped bleeding, but blood is still crusted in the fur all the way to his elbow. He twists his upper torso and his back pops a few times, then he tilts his neck and a few more vertebrae pop. He rests a hand on the stock of one of his shredders.
<I don't believe this, I don't believe any of it. Yet here I am. You...> Ossanlin directs his main eyes at Corliss. <...are much less a friend than I took you for Corliss. A dangerous oversight, perhaps I'm a bit too trusting. And you...> Ossanlin directs his main eyes at Myitt. <...must've run across something on Earth that scrambled your neurons...or maybe it's some sort of after-effect of your resurrection. Do I remember properly how
you saved me from involuntary control? In the words of your host...what the HELL?> His eyes take in both Yeerks again. <How could either of you advocate involuntary infestation? Whether she was born a Yeerk or not, she is still repressing a living, breathing being. Efaen is a biggot like many others, maybe she always will be, especially now that you've shown her that her preconceptions about Yeerks are right, but that is not any justification for slavery. You decide that this person's better off being enslaved, it gets easier. Then other things start to justify slavery until you can always magically come up with an excuse to take away someone else's life to further your own goals. If I have to stand against either of you, I will...and I will not be easy, not on this.>
Ossanlin looks to Claxter and nods. <You may have reacted a bit strongly, but anything less may have allowed Efaen to be reinfested again. You made correct judgements and reacted accordingly. Corliss will have a bit of a headache, but that's the price for rash actions. And his head
is still attached. That sort of judgement and reaction is required in battle, I'll put in a commendment for you when I contact the Tyrenian which I may do shortly.> He smiles at Claxter, a hard smile that contains approval, not happiness.
Ossanlin turns his main eyes to Alic and moves to rest a hand on her shoulder. <Thank you also for intervening, Aliciania. I'm glad that you agree.> He switches to private thought-speech for just a moment, still addressing Alic. <<Please don't harass Claxter...we need unity here. I didn't think our friends would go against us, but we need to stick together on this, even if Myitt doesn't see it that way. He did well and he did what was necessary, and you know it. Just go a little easy on him for me...>>
Ossanlin then opens his thoughts again to all. <And Terenia, I will reiterate that you will not reinfest Efaen without her permission under any conditions. I'm sorry. The fact is, I believe you both have some psychological issues. Yours are quite understandable as I can't comprehend the kind of hell you've been through, but two wrongs don't make a right as the humans say. Efaen may well get herself killed in battle, at least if that happens she will die under her own mental control, and that's the least anyone can ask for. You say that all three lives are in danger if you do not reinfest her. While that is true, your life, as well as Efaen's, are put in greater danger if I allow you to go back to Visser 3. It sounds as if your sister will not be executed given her circumstances. Yeerk-supporting humans are a precious commodity that the Empire won't squander. The truth is, you staying by your sister doesn't help her in any way, it is merely a purpose that you've set for yourself. You are being selfish, you wish to remain closer to your sister just because you
want to be close to her. Apparently she doesn't care about you if she's a voluntary controller and does nothing to help your treatment under Visser 3. The ruthless truth of the entire situation is this, both you and Efaen stand a much better chance of survival away from Visser 3, at the same time the Empire will lose a morph-capable host which currently serves and obeys them.> Ossanlin doesn't feel good about trying to disabuse the young human-yeerk
nothlit, or about being ruthless, but he
will not allow another involuntary controller to go free.
Ossanlin feels the familiar brush of Mar against his mind and smiles inwardly. Mar's presence brings back a bit of joy at least and makes him feel a bit better. He sends Mar a private thought-speech. <<I have placed your previous avatar outside the timestream in a timeweave cocoon. It is attached to one of my memories of the past. I can guide you to it when this situation is resolved, or you may look into my mind and see exactly where it is for yourself.>>
Ossanlin continues on. <As for restraint...I suppose separation might be necessary, but it will hardly resolve the situation. Efaen is emotionally compromised at the moment, not just because of her own thoughts.> Ossanlin looks darkly at Corliss again. <But I do have a solution of sorts. The Mirage has a full medkit in it. One of the ampoules contains a synthetic neuro-transmitter called pseudraphine. Its effects are similar to those of endorphines, in essence it should make her feel relaxed and a bit cheerful, and it should remove almost all of her aggressor tendencies for a while. She should not attack anyone while under the pseudraphine's effect, but we should still disarm her shredders for safety. She
will retain all of her cognitive functions however, so we'll still be able to talk with her. She should not feel 'drugged' at all.>
Ossanlin pauses a moment in thought before speaking again. <Terenia, you should remain in the bar for now. I think we've demonstrated our abilities to keep Efaen from being infested. If you continue antagonistic behavior, we can always take you beyond thought-speech range later to let you cool down.>
Ossanlin shakes his head a bit. <I don't know why I come here to relax...> He sighs quietly and scans the bar to see what effect he's had on everyone, especially Corliss and Myitt.
((Woohoo, I wrote a book. Sorry for the long read guys. :p In case some of you want to skim over it, the ones who should really read it in detail are Myitt, Chad, Terenia, Alic, and Shen.))