Galaxy's Edge Space Bar (archive)

[Terenia]

<Yes, mother> Terenia says sarcastically to Belzar, <I'll just drop everything I've worked for my entire life. After all, the big hunk of metal that isn't even a real person said so.>

When Corliss speaks, though, her sardonic expression falls into one of relative bitterness, <Whatever punishment I have received,> she says briskly, <I have deserved. The five years I have spent with Visser Three, I have deserved every one of them.> She closes her main eyes, as though to block out the memory, and speaks evenly, <I apologize. I am not in the business of making people feel sorry for me. I am frustrated, because if Ossanlin and the others succeed where I could not it is just another failure. I am beginning to tire of failures.>

[Myitt]

Corliss shakes his head.  "I don't reckon it would be a failure at all, if they succeed," he reiterates.  "Failure would be returning to Visser Three with no progress made, regardless of who actually frees your sister.  As much as you think you deserve all those years of punishment, you don't deserve to endure it any longer.  That's what I believe, at least."

[Chad32]

"Eventually you're going to have to start over, or stagnate. Do you even know what you would do with your sister if you 'saved' her?"

Belzar was hurt that she said he wasn't a real person, but he tried not to let that get to him. This girl obviously needed help, and snapping at her wouldn't help things. "And don't say I'm not a real person. If I wasn't, I wouldn't care at all."

[Terenia]

<Perhaps you are right,> Terenia says, although it is written plainly on her face that she does not believe him, and sarcasm leaks back into her voice, <perhaps I should instead focus on my future with a bounty on my head in both the Yeerk Empire and the Andalite Electorate. Now that my sister may have been freed we can become the best of friends. Hell, I can leave Efaen and live inside her head. Won't that be grand. Then we can run back to Earth and go into hiding and live happily ever after. Or maybe we can even join your rebellion, Corliss, and become heroes with a valiant cause, just like yours.>

If she were human she might have spit, but as she was not she settles for crossing her arms, <That's what you all want, isn't it? The perfect fairy tale ending to the sad story that is Terenia's life?>

To Belzar she adds, <I won't do anything with her. What she does after she's free is her business.>
--

Trey climbs slowly to his feet, moving as someone much older than he would. He now has a number of new bruises to add to the list, but that is secondary in his mind to the discussion playing out between Mar, The Director and Elayne. A discussion that seems to center around his very existence.

"Um...excuse me," Trey says at one point, but no one seems to hear him. He clears his throat and speaks louder, "Excuse me! Um...don't you think I should have a say in all of this? I mean...it is kind of a big deal whether or not I....you know...exist or not."

[Chad32]

"You seem to be in a place that transcends dimensions and time. I don't think it would be hard to escape your persuers. Even if you didn't do that, then it isn't impossible to disable whatever device the enemy is using to track you, then perhaps make some sort of living in a remote location."

[Myitt]

Corliss laughs quietly.  "Oh, Terenia, you know as well as I that there are no such things as fairy tale endings," he says.  "As for my cause, it might be brave and noble and all that bull****e, but I have the same kind of bounty on my head from the Empire and the Electorate.  This is not a fair game, and sometimes you've got to take what you can get.  What are you going to do with your sister, if she's freed?  You've said it yourself, you'd have to go into hiding or exile somehow, and you hate each other's bloody guts.  So I suppose you'll just go through hell, just for the sake of punishing yourself and not even pausing to accept the smallest triumph, only to become trapped with your last, and vilest, remaining family member.  Forgive me, Terenia, but it simply doesn't add up."

[KitsuneMarie]

Elayne looked to Trey and nodded, her narrow eyes returning to the Director. "Precisely. Who's to say he isn't more important to the future than others? Maybe a successful revolution rides on his shoulders. Anyway, it's not as if I'm going to have any success even if I go back. It's all hypothetical guesswork about stopping forced nothlitism; my movement was failing even when it was at its peak. If I return to Earth, I'll only be there to witness its failure." She sighed, her hands tightening on her forearms. "Stop trying to sound like you understand the situation better than we do," she said, although she sounded more petulant than irritated now.

[Darth Revan]

The Director gained an arrogant look upon his face, "Understanding the displacement and other effects of time travel? You won't get a better authority on Time than I. Now I admit, I don't know about Yeerks, or the humans of your Earths," he looks to Trey, including him in his speech, "but you've seen over 1,000 inter-species war, and you've seen them all. I understand the situation all too well."

The Director then looks solely at Trey and says outright, "No. You don't have a say. It's her decision. Oh sure, you can say, 'I enjoy living, I like being alive.' But after everything is said and done, it's her decision. You just have to live with the circumstances."

The Director looses his arrogant demeanor and regains the posture of someone watching sport, "Either way, it seems she's made her decision. So you don't have to go worryin' yer pretty little head about it." He dons a big smile and asks looking to Trey, Elayne and Mar, "So, who wants a drink? On me of course."

[Terenia]

Terenia sighs, her main eyes dropping to the floor, <I don't know what I am going to do with my sister," she admits, "I hadn't gotten that far, but I have no intents on remaining trapped with her. The point is not to live out my life with her, the point is to undo the mistake I made.>

She scowls and unfolds her arms. When she raises her main eyes the fight has gone out of them, <you know, I'd prefer not talk about it. Especially when it may not matter anyways. There's been no response from Myitt yet. That doesn't bode well...>


----

Trey's brow furrows in confusion mized with indignation at being told that he has no control over his own fate. He looks at Elayne, his eyes clouded in doubt. Before The Director made his presence known he had been almost willing to face non-existence. Now that the situation had been brought further into light Trey felt that perhaps he did want to live.

"I..." Trey hesitates, unsure of what to say. Finally he gathers what little courage he has and proclaims to The Director in a meek voice, "I think you're wrong. I do have a say."

[Darth Revan]

The Director sighs and asks, "Cor, are we back on this? Relax she's made her decision, can't ya see? You're safe, you can go on existing. Celebrate, have a pint."

[KitsuneMarie]

Elayne gave him a sharp nod. "Of course you do, Trey! Ignore him." she said. "I don't care what kind of experience he has with time," she jabbed a finger towards the Director, "he can't disregard your importance as an individual. Or your right to want to exist. And he can't understand the complexities of human-Yeerk interactions just because he has dealt with other species before."

She sighed as she looked back at the Director, letting her arms fall back to her sides as she sat back down in her chair. "I probably could use a drink," she admitted, "and I wouldn't mind having one on your expense, considering I don't much like you."

[Chad32]

"You don't make much sense. I suppose that's why you dislike talking about it. You can't explain it well to yourself, and have no real plan, so of course you wouldn't be able to convince anyone that you're doing fine so far. Instead of trying to separate your sister from her allies, I seriously think you should focus on separating yourself from your tormentor and your past."

"Your current plan is to free your sister from a place she is happy with, then somehow convince her to not go straight back to her superiors. Have you at least made a speech?

[Darth Revan]

The Director looks genuinely shocked, "Don't like me? What did I do? I gave you an option. I told you the possible effects of your decision. You made your decision, and that's that. I certainly don't think any less of you." He stands up brushing nothing off of his pants and asks, "What'll you have then?"

[KitsuneMarie]

Elayne rolled her eyes. "You insulted my whole race, butted into my business, and talked down to me. You didn't exactly make the best of first impressions," she raised an eyebrow. "I don't imagine you thought much of me to begin with, anyway," she added with a laugh. Then she shrugged. "A beer, I guess. Thanks."

[Darth Revan]

The Director smiles as he shakes his head, "No love, you misunderstood. You humans are a fantastic race. Truly brilliant, but with all your upsides, there are almost as many downs. I wasn't insultin' ya; just statin' the truth. I'm sure you're not too fond of the lovely traits I mentioned earlier either; but you know it's true. As far as buttin' in on your business, I heard you talk about going back in time, so I offered you a ride. I realize I'm not the most diplomatic of people, but I actually admire that you stand by your decision and value of life."

He looks to Trey and Mar, "So what'll you boys 'ave?"