Galaxy's Edge Space Bar (archive)

[Myitt]

Myitt glances at the doorway.  Claxter and Terenia are visible outside, through one of the grimy bar windows.

"Looks like her boyfriend is going to make sure she's all right," Myitt says offhandedly.  She glances at Mar, but it seems he's fine, and has barely taken any notice of his near-death experience.

Listening to Sukohn's host, she can't help but add, "Wait a minute.  I didn't realize The Sharing was allowing convicted criminals to join its ranks?"

[Chad32]

"There was a little experiment where they started infesting some criminals and such. unfortunately we've been harder to contain in the Yeerk Pool. We had to be put in separate areas so we don't kill the other hosts in the cages. I don't think it really went very far. The ones they used were sent to a psychological facility that was supposed to be a new way to rehabilitate people. Everyone thought it was miraculous when people thougth to be impossible to rehabilitate started showing signs of improvement. In reality, we were just being infested and made to act more how society wanted us to act."

[Myitt]

"Interesting," Myitt says, sounding a bit disturbed by this information. 

<C'mon, Myitt, ask him if he likes Huey Lewis and the News.>

<What?  No, this isn't some game.  This creature could really kill someone.>

<So could any of us, remember?>

[Chad32]

(I don't know who Hewey Lewis and the News are.)

[Myitt]

((It doesn't matter, you can't hear what they're saying to each other anyway   It was a movie reference to American Psycho.))

[Terenia]

<I am calm,> Terenia snaps, clearly not remotely calm, <I just, he just...argh!> she throws her arms up in frustration and begins to pace.

<I was perfectly prepared to talk to Ossanlin, and that dapsen had to waltz in throwing out his opinions when he has no idea what is going on. If I had my way he'd be dead right now.>

<You are completely mad,> Efaen says mildly. Her own fear has drained, she is paying attention to Claxter.

<Shut up, you,> Terenia hisses, <don't you ever seize control like that again.>

<Would you like me to ask politely next time you are about to decapitate someone?> Efaen asks, <I do not believe that there was time.>

<I don't care!>

<Terenia, Claxter is right. You need to calm down,> Efaen says, <why don't you let me have control for a few minutes?>

<No!> Terenia cries, alarmed, <you just want to talk to the Andalite!>

<Yes,> Efaen admits, <but it would give you a rest. And you can always regain control when you feel ready to do so.>

Terenia frowns in frustration at the idea. She hates to admit it, but Efaen is right. She could use a moment to control herself and think things over. The caped man had set her off in a way that she had not experienced for a long time. She hadn't even realized that she was still capable of such volatile reactions anymore.

<Alright, fine,> Terenia says at last, <but don't expect this to become a regular thing.>

<I will most certainly not,> Efaen says gravely. Terenia sighs and relinquishes control. Nothing changes outwardly, of course, except for a slight change in expression. Her eyes soften and her expression becomes less furious and more concerned.

<Claxter?> Efaen asks tentatively while Terenia sulks in a corner of her mind.

[Chad32]

<the caped man? I suppose that's the one Ossanlin came back with earlier. I believe he is a friend of Prince Ossanlin's and is concerned for him, so I guess whatever he said wasn't what you wanted to hear.> Claxter said when she had gone silent within her mind. Then she said his name.

<Yes?> He noticed her expression had softened. Maybe she was starting to calm down, but who knew? She was a timed explosive, and the longer she stayed here, the more prone she came to going off.

[Terenia]

<Claxter, it is...> Efaen hesitates, not sure how to approach him now that she had control, <I do not have much time. Terenia will take control back soon. She is...recollecting herself at the moment.>

Efaen pauses again, feeling awkward, <Thank you for trying to help us...her. I know that you are only following orders, but it requires an amount of patience that is hard to come by.>

[Chad32]

Claxter wasn't sure if it was really Efaen talking, but he was willing to give her the benefit of the doubt.

<I can be patient.> he said, then tentatively brought his hand up to caress her cheek. <I don't know what to say to mar. If he is a friend of Prince Ossanlin's, there isn't much I can say. Not to mention that I don't believe he is a mere Human. You saw him come out of the timestream with the others as well, did you not? I don't have any answers, and I don't know what to say that hasn't already been said.>

[Terenia]

Efaen seems to relax at Claxter's touch. She smiles at him shyly, averting her gaze.

<Oh, barf,> Terenia comments blandly.

<I understand,> Efaen responds, <every word that human, if that is what he is, spoke was true. That is why Terenia is so distressed. It is difficult for her to admit that she cannot hope to succeed without help, especially Andalite help.> She pauses, waiting for Terenia to seize control again. When she doesn't, Efaen continues quickly, trying to get out as much as she can while the opportunity still exists, <Claxter, I am sorry that I allowed myself to be reinfested, but...I believe that it was the best decision. Terenia is correct in saying that my freedom would be a hindrance to all of those I care about, possibly deadly. I do not enjoy that fact, but it is true nonetheless. As long as Visser Three is in power he will seek to destroy those that threaten him. If I were freed, he would view me as a threat. So I must remain Terenia's host, for now.>

It is obvious from Efaen's little speech that she has no more remorse for Yeerks than she did previously. She is truly making her decision based on those she cares about, not because she sympathizes with the offending race.

[Chad32]

<Very well.> Claxter said, and removed his hand. He wanted to hold her, and feel her tail entwine with his, but he knew if he went much farthe rthat Terenia would become upset. <If I had the power, I would grind Visser Three up for fertilizer, but I have no such power. I must only hope that Prince Ossanlin can think of something, and if Terenia wants to have any say in what he does, she needs to really open up. I don't know if that's possible for her, though.>

<So has the Imperial left yet? I don't suppose his presence would help anything.>

[Terenia]

<The Imperial left his host,> Efaen reports grimly, <I believe his host is involuntary, although it seems as though he was some sort of criminal on Earth. It does not look as though anyone is eager to free him from his restraints, something that has not gone amiss on Terenia.>

<Alright, that's enough,> Terenia says gruffly, returning herself to a position of control. She fixes Claxter with a steely, but much calmer, gaze.

<Andalite,> Terenia says, <I will speak with your Prince, but I would like the conversation to be private. Additionally, I would like the rebel Yeerk girl to be there,> she hesitates, before adding, <your presence would be optional, but not restricted. I will not re-enter that bar so long as that human is in there.>

[Chad32]

Claxterwas confused on why the Imperial would exit his host inside the bar, but he let it slide for now. There was enough on his mind as it was.

<I will see what I can do.> He said, and walked inside the bar.

<Prince Ossanlin and Myitt. Terenia has calmed down again and is willing to speak to the two of you, with my presence being optional. The other occupants are asked to remain in the bar.>

[Myitt]

Myitt swivels in her seat to face Claxter, eyes narrowing.  "She wants me to be there, too?"  She shrugs.  "All right, if she thinks I can help."  She hops off the seat, wincing a little and itching at her right arm.

<Stupid...bandages.. .they itch like crazy,> she murmurs internally.

Myitt steps out of the bar and walks over to Terenia, still idly scratching her arm. 

"How can I be of service?" she asks with a small smile, putting her hands on her hips.

[Terenia]

<I know that you are not 'on my side',> Terenia says as Myitt approaches, <but I think that it would be unwise to trust my fate entirely to Andalites. I would appreciate having a Yeerk who could weigh in on the situation.>