Galaxy's Edge Space Bar (archive)

[Myitt]

((Interesting question...I think it depends on whether Claxter is "aiming" his thought-speech at Efaen's body, or more specifically at Terenia's Yeerk body inside of her.  I'm sure most of the time he's thinking of Efaen, but I think if he focused just on Terenia, only Terenia would be able to hear it.  Unless Terenia let whatever Claxter had said pass on to Efaen.  Okay, I think my head is going to explode now xD))

Myitt throws on a pair of prepackaged, purple nitrile gloves from inside the compartment.  She glances at Terenia, sucking in a breath.  "Okay," she exhales, taking out the thin, prepackaged wires hooked up to glowing white tubes.  The tubes themselves disappear into the wiring of the panel in the wall, and a holoscreen pops up next to them all.  Myitt taps at it with a gloved hand and takes off the protective coverings around the metal ends of the wires.  "Whatever we want to see will be shown on this screen, exactly as you remember it.  I can do this the relatively non-invasive way, up here on the screen through the computer, but I may accidentally record snippets of memory from all over your life.  I'll try not to, but the best way for me to be really sure of what I'm recording is if I, or whoever you want, goes in there along with you.  A mind-to-mind connection offers much greater control.  I know this is already quite an invasion of privacy, so it's your choice.  You may want to sit down, either way."

[Terenia]

<Sit?> Terenia seems distracted, confused.

<Oh...right...> she morphs to human, the changes happening a bit slower than usual. Once she is fully in her humanoid form she seems to relax ever so slightly. It is something, but not much. Her fingers are tapping against her thigh nervously and her eyes dart back and forth as she sits in one of the available chairs. She keeps glancing at the holoscreen as though it will fire up any moment, displaying all of her nasty little secrets.

"I don't...I mean..." Terenia shrugs helplessly. "I don't particularly want anyone inside my head."

<Hypocrite,> Efaen snaps.

"Anyone else," Terenia amends, "but...if you think it would be best." She squirms, wondering why she had agreed to such a thing. Blast that creature, Mar. It was all his fault. Silently, she vowed to get her revenge on him when this particular torture was through.

[Chad32]

Claxter looked like he wanted to make a comment about Efaen not really wanting Terenia in her head either, or something else, but he kept his thoughts to himself. it wouldn't help things, and she was already uncomortable. He watched the screen with his main eyes while his stalk eyes tracked around the room.

[Myitt]

Myitt hesitates.  "I thought Andalites could sit?"  She waves a hand.  "No matter.  I've never done this sort of thing on a morphed form, but then again, your Yeerk body is a morphed form, too.  Here's what I'll do.  I'll go in there and make sure we're being as least intrusive as possible, and let the computer record and display whatever we see.  Okay?  If you're ready.  This might sting a little."

She holds one of the wires up to Terenia's right human ear, resting something that almost looks like a Bluetooth ear clip onto her earlobe.  The metal-tipped end of the wire seems to sense some kind of trigger, and even thinner, nearly microscopic wires snake their way through Terenia's ear canal.  Much like a Yeerk itself, they ooze liquid that numbs the whole process, but it is uncomfortable while the wires burrow their way until they touch the living surface of her brain. 

At first nothing seems significantly different, aside from the discomfort.  Myitt sits down in the metal chair across from Terenia and looks up at Ossanlin and Claxter. 

"I assume I can trust you, at least, to prevent anything from harming us while we're out of commission?" Myitt asks Ossanlin.  The question is rhetorical, and she clips her own memory wire onto Tara's ear.  She closes her eyes, and in a few seconds she slumps back against the metal chair, like she's asleep but somehow still alert.  Her eyes move behind her eyelids.

What both Myitt and Terenia now see is also projected as a flickering image on the floating holoscreen next to them all.

The first few microseconds of it are a garble of raw data, and then the actual raw human mind of the morphed body itself.  All it is is a very brief replay of the last few moments since Terenia has morphed, and since the machine is also tuned to sense emotion, there's a brief data recording of something like childlike wonder.  But only Myitt, Terenia and Efaen can really feel that, the others would have to go through the data themselves one-on-one.

Very, very brief flickers of memory--the memories of both Efaen and Terenia--then both flicker past on the screen.  Far too fast for any real intelligible information.  Snippets of family arguments, at hyper-fast forward.  A tiny flash of blue-green grass. 

Then Myitt appears, in Tara's form, standing in Terenia's first memory of being trapped as an Andalite nothlit.  She is invisible to anyone else in the scene except for Terenia, and Efaen, since both minds are connected within the human morph.

[Terenia]

((oh boy, here we go. Excuse any long posts during this whole memory dump thing. There's a lot to say. ))

Terenia winces in discomfort as the probes find their way into her brain, and she shies away from the brief flashes of her memory that are projected on the holoscreen. After a moment she is aware of Myitt's consciousness joining her own. The jerky barrage of images finally settle down to a single scene, from a time long ago, during Terenia's last moments as a true human.

The room is small and crowded, made more so by the two occupants, an Andalite and a young human of no more than ten years old. The grass on the floor and single transparent wall are indicators that they are within an Andalite ship, a relatively small one at that. The Andalite is also young, although not so young as the human, and also female. She is holding a blue box that glows faintly, her stalk eyes tracking nervously as she speaks.

<Teresa,> she says, <this is your last chance. We will arrive at Earth within half a day. Prince Terafin will inject you with a formula that will erase your memory and you will never remember these events. You will be forced to go home.>

"I don't wanna go home," the human girl, Teresa, stuck her bottom lip out and hugged her knees close to her as she pouted.

<Then do not,> the Andalite said, <I will go home in your stead.>

"Why?" Teresa narrowed her eyes warily, "I told you my dad was a bad man. Why d'you wanna go there?"

<I have no desire to fight in this war,> the Andalite said, giving Teresa a stern look with her main eyes, <I have learned that I will be of no practial use as a warrior, and so I will go underground. I have always been fascinated by alien life, and there has been virtually no research on humanity. I will integrate myself in human life and learn about them, and then when I have enough knowledge to defeat the Yeerks, I will reintegrate myself in Andalite society.>

"Why?" Teresa asks again, clearly not understanding the Andalites rant. The Andalite sighs and holds the box towards Teresa.

<Just put your hand on this,> she says. Teresa does so and after a moment fights to suppress a giggle. "It tingles," she says. The Andalite moves the box, setting it on the floor.

<Now,> the Andalite says, taking Teresa's hand and setting it on her flank gently, <I want you to concentrate on me. Focus on how I look, the color of my fur, the shape of my body. Everything.>

Teresa's eyes close to half mast as she does so, and the Andalite reaches over and grabs Teresa's shoulder. They acquire one another at the same instant, both growing groggy and recovering at approximately the same time.

<Good,> the Andalite says with a strange, mouthless smile, <Now focus on me again, but this time, I want you to think of becoming me.>

"Is this some sort of game?" Teresa asks, looking curious.

<Yes,> the Andalite says, <close your eyes. Concentrate.> Teresa does so, and the changes begin. It takes several tries and quite a bit of freaking out on Teresa's part, but eventually Teresa manages to fully assume the Andalite girl's form. The Andalite returns the favor by morphing Teresa's form.

"There," the Andalite says, "now when we land on Earth I will get off the ship instead of you. You will be free to explore the galaxy and I will research humans. Ans. Hyuh."

<Sireah,> Teresa says, her thought speak sounding tiny and hesitant, as though she is unsure that communicating via thoughts will actually work, <I will be able to change back, right? When I'm through exploring and want to go home. I'll be able to be myself again, right? I'll be able to go home and be with my sister and brother again and tell them about all the adventures I have, right?>

The Andalite named Sireah remains silent for a long moment before fixing Teresa with a smile.

"Of course you will, Teresa. Of course you will."

[Myitt]

"The rest, as they say, is history."

Myitt walks in between Terenia and Sireah, her mouth set in a thin line.  "You were so young," she marvels, shaking her head.  "So was I, when I was first involved in this war.  It's such a shame."  She looks down at the Andalite grass sprouting from the ship's floor.  "Let's fast forward a bit, shall we?"

Sireah fades away and there is another random flicker of memories.  It's a bit sickening, like Terenia's life is spilling out at rapid speed.  No real sense of direction.  Yet, of course, it's a painfully familiar process.

"I don't want to go rooting through your whole life," Myitt says blandly, "so I want you to have some input.  But I am in control of what we see.  Let's focus on the situation that made you become a nothlit in Yeerk form."

[Terenia]

((I swear I am trying to condense this, but you're basically a
asking for entire chapters from my fanfic It's harrrrd!))

"No...." Terenia whispers, feeling distinctly ill. That moment is one of the last things she wishes to focus on. Nonetheless the image appears, displayed upon the holoscreen as clearly as though it had happened moments ago.

The body of Sireah had aged, though not much. She was alone in a room that was defined by black steel and sharp edges. The only rounded edge was that of a holographic emmiter that rose from the ground, a narrow pedestal. The machine that displayed the holograms was being shut down and only a flicker of image was displayed in the memory. The brief imprint of a house, burning steadily and voraciously to the ground flashed through the screen before the hologram disappeared. Behind the pedestal was the images creator, an older, male Andalite with steely blue fur and an evil grin that turned the entire room into ice.

<You see, Terenia,> Visser Three said, his voice like silk, <your family has abandoned you. Your parents are nothing but ashes, your siblings mere servants of the Empire.>

<No....> the younger Terenia looked as though her tail had just been sliced off. It was a look of uncomprehending pain and sadness.

<There is no use fighting the inevitable, child,> Visser Three said, <your little adventure has come to an end. Although...well, I do love a challenge. A deal, perhaps?>

<What?> Terenia asks, still looking as though someone had just slapped her.

<Yes, a deal. I believe that is what this calls for,> Visser Three says, his evil eyes alight with glee, <I will offer you freedom. You may leave my Blade Ship. You may even take your little friend who we have captured. If...you defeat one of my warriors.>

<One of...just one?> Terenia asks, looking cautiously hopeful.

<Yes, just one,> Visser Three responds, nodding to affirm his terms. <Do you agree?>

<I...> Terenia's stalk eyes twist about in terror, looking for some other escape, but there is none. Her tail sags, and at the same moment a look of utter determination crosses her face, <I do.>

<Excellent.>

The real, present day Terenia lets out a suppressed sob as the scene shifts.


Terenia is in what is apparently a docking bay. The shadows of Bug Fighters dot the landscape. Just behind her is another Andalite, lying on the ground unconscious. Terenia is not paying her any mind, though. All four of her eyes are facing forward, towards a closed door. Her tail is raised and her body quivers with tension. Then, a door on the opposite wall slides open and a single human figure walks in.

"Teresa," the human says, a sneer on his pale face. He is tall, about six foor four, with sandy hair and dark gray eyes. When Terenia sees him her tail wavers, her eyes widen with shock.

<Danny?> her voice is incredulous, hopeful, terrified. Danny's smirk widens.

"Hello, little sis," he says, raising the Dracon and pulling the trigger. Terenia dodges, but the blast razes her flank, causing her to cry out in pain. What follows is a vicious battle, armed human versus Andalite. Several times Terenia, who is not completely used to her Andalite body, almost falters. Almost fails. Then, she gains the upper hand. Her tail arches towards Danny's head and she moves to turn the blade flat, to knock him unconscious, but he raises his Dracon and aims point blank at her chest. In complete reflex she neglects to turn her blade. Her eyes widen as it connects with her brother's neck, slowing as it slices through sinew and bone.

<No...>

Danny's face is frozen in a gruesome smirk of mock victory as his head rolls from his body.

<No...no, no, no....> Terenia staggers backwards, almost tripping over the unconscious Andalite. From somewhere beyond her viewpoint she can hear a deep, evil laugh.

<Congratulations, Terenia,> Visser Three's voice says, <you have won. You may leave.>

<No.> Terenia insists, but even as she does so, she is dragging her unconscious friend on board a nearby Bug. Her hands and tail shake as she does so, her stalk eyes will not leave the dead body of her brother. Her face is pale and her fur is scorched in more than one place. She is weak from battle, and becoming light headed.

<Need...to morph....> she mumbles to herself as she sets in an autopilot on the Bug Fighter. She begins to concentrate but then stops. A wave of illness washes over her as she realizes what she has just done. She killed her brother. She murdered him. She is a murderer. If Terenia had a mouth, she would have thrown up. As it was, she had no mouth. She did not even have tear ducts. Instead, all she had was her guilt and self-hatred.

And punishment.

She could punish herself. Yes, that was the solution. That was the way. Terenia focused her mind and felt herself shrink, saw the Andalite beside her swell and grow and then disappear as she lost her vision.

Slowly, Terenia became a Yeerk.

[Myitt]

Myitt is silent for a long while, watching the whole scene, watching Terenia shrink into Yeerk form, writhing helplessly on the Bug fighter floor. 

She kneels down, and even though Terenia's Yeerk form shouldn't be able to hear her, of course she can. 

"I am sorry," she says, and her simulated voice also echoes into the pool room of the Skimmer from the computer's audio.  "Can you go on?"

[Terenia]

Terenia holds back a scathing response. She takes a few deep breaths, trying to compose herself. Even Efaen is silent, careful not to project any thoughts that may set Terenia off.

"Of course," Terenia says, her voice nearly a whisper, "you have seen what happened to my brother. All I had left was my sister, Tamara. Jennor, the Andalite you saw knocked unconscious, was my closest ally. She allowed me into her head. For a long while we were allies. Jennor was always a better fighter than I, so we were much more successful than we had been independently. Then, the Andalites found out who...what...I really was..."

Terenia cuts off as the device imprinted in her mind catches on her memories and displays the images she is recalling.


Terenia is standing in the sick bay of an Andalite Dome Ship. There are two large male Andalites, both looking at her with distrust. On one of the makeshift cots is an unconscious and battered Hork-Bajir. Terenia's expression is one of alarm.

<What are you asking me to do?> she asks one of the Andalite's, her voice incredulous.


<We are merely requesting that you do what your body is designed to do,> the Andalite responded, his voice cold, <you chose to remain in that...form. If you truly believe in our cause, then you will use it to your advantage.>

<But...the Hork-Bajir...his Yeerk?>

<The original Yeerk has been starved out,> the second Andalite said curtly, <you will have no trouble infesting him.>

<But...he can't be voluntary,> Terenia says.

<He may be carrying important information,> the first Andalite says.

<But...>

<Terenia,> the second Andalite cuts in, <you are currently in severe violation of the Andalite code of ethics. If the Electorate was aware of your situation you would be executed immediately. We are offering you a way out. An escape. If you provide us with viable intel, then you will live. If you refuse, then we will be forced to seek legal action.>

<I...> Terenia starts to protest, but the stern looks of the Andalite warriors makes her stop. Looking torn, she walks forward and presses her ear to the Hork-Bajir. A moment later her body shudders as Terenia loses control and transfers into the Hork-Bajir.

The Hork-Bajir mind screams out in resistance, a sound that causes Terenia to clamp down, using the Yeerk's natural instinct for control. She opens the Hork-Bajir eyes and tracks slowly. In the back of her mind the Hork-Bajir cries out for freedom.

<Be quiet, please,> Terenia pleads. The Hork-Bajir does not listen. Terenia hurries through the interrogation, gathering the information she needs and returning to her Andalite host as soon as possible. When she regains her normal body she looks disturbed.

<That was horrible....> she says meekly, shuddering at the experiance of controlling another.

<You will get used to it,> one of the Andalite warrior says blandly, <after all, they are just dumb animals.>

[Myitt]

Myitt is sitting on another makeshift cot, next to Terenia, watching her reptilian Hork-Bajir expression of disgust.  Myitt's legs swing idly beneath the cot, which is made for Hork-Bajir and is a few inches taller than a normal human hospital bed.

"How long did this go on for, before you met Efaen?" Myitt asks gently.

[Terenia]

(( I apologize for monopolizing GESB. After this post I will hold off for awhile. I don't want anyone to feel left out or like they aren't involved in the storyline or anything....this particular tangent just happens to require a bit of background detail. Sorry! I'm gonna wait for some more people to post before I do so again. ))

"A year," Terenia says quietly, "maybe more. The T.O. was correct. I became used to the idea of controlling another's mind. I began to think that those who were unable to control their own bodies were weak. If I could defeat them, of course they were weak..."


The scene flashes forward to Terenia, in an aristh sized quarters. She is in the form of the Andalite body she has borrowed, her friend Jennor, typing furiously into a computer console.

<There,> Terenia says, stopping at an image of an Andalite female, a slightly younger version of Efaen. <Her.>


<Terenia, you don't want to do this,> Jennor's voice bubbled up, <you aren't this person. You can't take an Andalite.>

<How is it different from taking a Hork-Bajir or a Taxxon or a Gedd?> Terenia shoots back, downloading the file, <None of them want me. None of them need me. None of them...nevermind. You wouldn't understand.>

<Terenia!> Jennor cries, sounding disgusted, <if you do this, you realize what you are doing, correct? You are abandoning your ties with the Andalites. You are abandoning me. I allowed you inside of me because I trusted you. If you break that trust, I have no choice but to hunt you down and destroy you.>

<Some friend,> Terenia scowls. She grabs her shredder and heads towards the Dome, where Efaen is feeding alone. Terenia wastes no time, aiming carefully and letting loose a shot. Efaen falls before she even realizes that another Andalite is in the Dome.

<Terenia, don't!> Jennor pleads.

<Shut up,> Terenia says, <you act like I am in the wrong now? Now? Now, after I have infested how many dozens of involuntaries? Now you care!? You have NO PLACE in my decisions.>

<It was for the good of the war!> Jennor cries.

<That does not make it right,> Terenia responds solemnly. She approaches the fallen Andalite. She pulles a syringe out of her holster and presses it to Jennor's arm.

<This will effectively render you unconscious within one minute of injection. By the time you regain consciousness I will be long gone. Jennor, you have been a great friend. I'm sorry that this is how it had to end up...but I can't stay here and be the servant to Andalite whims.>

Terenia presses the needle into her own arm, injecting the serum into her blood stream. As Jennor's vision begins to swim, Terenia presses her ear to Efaen and enters her head, leaving Jennor behind. For a moment there is a terrifying moment of no control over either body, but then she seizes Efaen's mind and clamps down on it. Efaen's immediate reaction is terror and resistance, and Terenia, at a lack of other responses, laughs.

<There is nothing you can do,> she says, <for once, it is the Andalite who is out of control.>

[Shenmue654]

Keshin nods at Sukohn's host quietly, pacing back and forth. "What an odd event for someone to go through. Turned into a slave of the Empire over their own broken mind." Keshin laughs a little bit. "You must have noticed by now that your condition is not unusual among Yeerks. We're practically encouraged to be a little bit sociopathic in order to further our own agendas. I...am not. I have my own problems." Keshin stares off a bit.

<....Joanne...do you ever wonder what would have happened if I hadn't done it?>

<.....not really, Kess. You might've been great. But I don' think ya would've had half as much fun.>

<Yeah. Yeah you're probably right.>
*******************************************************************************************************************
Mar smiles at Ossanlin and nods his head, sending one last thought before Ossanlin leaves the room. <Good luck out there.> He then glances about himself warily, noting that all of those he would normally converse with have either left the Bar or seem quite busy. How utterly depressing. Hmn... Mar eventually settles into a seat at the Bar, thinking to himself over what has passed. He hopes that Ossanlin is successful in his venture, absurd as it all seems to him.

[Chad32]

"That's why I don't mind being a controller. The Yeerks think I'm funny because my mind works much like a typical Yeerk's. Some have even said I was born into the wrong species. I don't think I'd want to become a Yeerk nothlit, though. I like having my own body. Sukohn isn't quite as bad as most Yeerks. He has a personal set of rules he follows, but sometimes only he understands them."

Claxter was disgusted at the Andalite's tone when he commanded Terenia to infest involuntaries, while calling them animals. These were the people Andalites were supposed to be trying to save, because they stupidly allowed the Yeerks to escape their homeworld. He was becoming disillusioned by his people.

<Please move on and find out what she's been planning as far as Tamora goes. The transfer and all.> He said, not wanting to see Efaen's suffering just after she realised her life was not her own anymore.

[Alic]

Alic walked up to the bar counter and before she could ask, a bottle of Jager and a glass were set in front of her. <Erm, actually... I was hoping to have some rum. Cap'n please.> The Bartender gives her a look of annoyance and took the Jager back. She morphed human while he was grabbing the rum for her, and sat down on the stool right as he put the Captain Morgan in front of her.
"Thanks." She wouldn't even look at the crazy chained up human.

[Terenia]

((Tara, I know you are technically in control of which memories show and which ones don't, so let me know if you want me to change anything))

At first, Terenia does not react to Claxter's thought-speak. She is too immersed in her own memories to notice him. She is watching the scene of Efaen's infestation and the moments thereafter. She is listening to Efaen rage, then beg, then slowly become silent. Only Myitt can feel the emotions of this past version of herself, and Terenia is glad. She does not want Claxter or Ossanlin to feel the rush of excitement, the feeling of purpose that she gained from infesting Efaen, from stealing the limited shipboard Kandrona, from commandeering an Andalite fighter, from stealing away in the night.


Terenia realizes then that Claxter has made a request. Her memories flash forward, finally regaining focus a few weeks after Efaen's infestation.

The stolen Andalite fighter drifts through normal space, approaching what is unmistakably a Blade Ship. The communications device is activated and there is a hologram of a human being displayed. They are arguing. Abruptly the image shifts, and Visser Three's hologram can be seen.

<You wish to beg for mercy, Andalite?> he sneers, <I am afraid I cannot reward Andalites so foolhardy as to cross my path unprotected.>

<My presence here is no accident,> Terenia says with a scowl, <and I am no Andalite.>

Visser Three raises his brow, <are they accepting mentally deficient Andalites into the military now, as well as females? You are more foolish than most of your kind, but you are clearly an Andalite.>

<No,> Terenia insists, <I am Terenia Rerin, and I am here to claim my sister.>

For a moment the hologram flickers, as though the connection has been lost.

<Terenia?> Visser Three's voice is mocking now, <do you think me a fool? You are not Terenia.>

<I am,> Terenia says, <I can prove it. You made me kill my brother. You forced me to murder him. Then, you let me escape with Jennor.>

<Explain your current form,> Visser Three demands.

<I...> Terenia hesitates, then straightens, <that does not matter. Hand over my sister.>

<Or what? You'll shoot me? A single Andalite fighter against my entire Blade Ship? You will be obliterated.>

<I will stay,> Terenia says quickly, <I will help you. Just let her go.>

The Visser glares at her, calculating. Finally he snaps to someone unseen, <bring her in. Do a full memory dump and leave her in the holding cell.>

The scene flashes forward again. When everything clears Terenia is being unhooked from a machine very much like the one she is currently attached to. She has just completed a memory dump, and Visser Three's eyes are alight with malicious glee.


<You thought that to punish yourself, you would become a Yeerk?> Visser Three sneers. Terenia's eyes are downcast, <and then you ran away from the Andalites, even though they were the only ones protecting you?>

<They were making me infest people against their will,> Terenia says, <I couldn't...>

<Terenia, Terenia,> Visser Three shakes his head in mock sympathy, <you are more Yeerk than you realize. Is not the brain you are currently coiled around involuntary? Did she not beg for mercy, for freedom? Did you not dismiss her pleas as irrelevent?>

<I am not like you,> Terenia says, <give me my sister.>

<No, I don't think so,> Visser Three leans in close, <See, you need me. You need my Kandrona. No other Yeerk will take you in, and you have abandoned your Andalite allies. It would be cruel of me to send you out into the galaxy only to starve.>

<I want my sister!> Terenia cries, beginning to look panicked.

<Yes, yes, your dear sister,> Visser Three waves his hand dismissively, <go on, try to save her. Every time you fail, though, you will be punished for your misbehavior,> he sneers gleefully, <Oh yes, this is going to be quite fun. And, of course, my dear Yeerk friend, here is the best part. If you ever do succeed in saving your sister, I will kill you.>