Galaxy's Edge Space Bar (archive)

[Aluminator (Kit)]

Salem nodded, but didn't move from the tree he was leaning against. "Know what I do when I have one of those? I do something to get my mind off of it, at least until the memories aren't quite so fresh. Rolling it around in your head over and over is rarely productive. What's done is done." He fixed Terenia with a sad smile. "I usually go for mindless, menial repair tasks to get my mind off of things. I've got a friend back at the bar who would recommend drinking and dancing. Just something to lose yourself in for a while." He ****ed his head slightly. "You seem more like the dancing type."

[warren_bearclaw]

Rayker slowly approached the group beside the new grave. They couldn't wait much longer; Desmond would wake up soon, and they weren't ready yet. He stood three feet or so away from Morgan, Silver, Andromeda, Gaz, and their crew behind them.

"Pardon me..." He said softly.

He knew they must still be pained by their loss. He had felt the same way a short while ago. So he also knew that they wouldn't want to allow their grief to prevent them for finishing their task. That regret added on to the pain of loss could be an unbearable lingering ache.

[Terenia]

"Can't say I've ever been," Terenia says, rubbing her bare arms against a nonexistant chill. She let's a few minutes pass in silence before speaking again, not entirely sure why she is confiding in Salem, of all people. "I don't think I need to keep my mind off of anything. It's strange. You would think I'd be in hysterics, you know? What was it Myitt said - blinded by guilt and rage? But I've been sitting here thinking about it for awhile now, playing it over in my head. And no matter how many times I look at it, I can't see another option." She drops her gaze again, to meet Salem's. "I don't feel guilty for what I did. I know I should, but...I don't. I know how I should be reacting...but I can't."

She hangs her head, one hand playing with a fallen leaf idly. "It's almost like it was someone else altogether, not me, who did any of it. I don't know that person."

[KitsuneMarie]

Tora hesitates, glancing back to the Skimmer once more, not really expecting to see Corliss but checking nonetheless. With a shrug, she turns back to him with a nod. "I appreciate the offer and accept," she says, resuming her walk towards the Bar. "I have not seen an android like you before; who created you?" she asks curiously.

[Myitt]

<Well, come 'ead, you can't stay in here moping all night,> Mike says internally to Corliss.

<Yes, I can,> Corliss replies flatly. 

<Let's at least see if we can help Tora with her ship,> Mike insists.  <It'll get our minds off of...off of things.>

Corliss sighs and sits forward in the main navigational seat, rubbing his face tiredly. 

"Perhaps you're right," he murmurs.  "No use dwelling on it."

"I can't believe you snogged her," Corliss adds incredulously, with a bit of a smirk.

He stands up and stretches, commanding the Skimmer's hatch open. 

<Oh, you'd better believe it,> Mike says reassuringly.

Corliss peeks outside warily.

---

Myitt avoids the Skimmer's clearing altogether and makes a bee line for the gravel shipyard.  She curses under her breath.

"If she doesn't want my help, then so be it," she mutters irritably.  "Didn't even have to stumble upon them in the first place."

[Luke Skywalker (Ossanlin)]

Ossanlin ****s his head slightly at Salem.  He hadn't seen the strange human standing there.  He forces his emotions deeper, refusing to acknowledge them.  He then listens to Mar.  <Well I'm sorry for your loss Mar.  Always tough to lose someone you hate...>  Ossanlin dives under again, rinsing the last remnants of Tamora's blood from his body.  He swims underwater for the shore, a dark green shape gliding a few feet down.  He makes his way back to the beach, standing up out of the water, dripping moisture.

<My...compassion...i s what caused this mess.  Apparently I was wrong...it does not have a place in war...and there are good reasons to support that.>  Ossanlin looks pointedly at Tamora's grave.  He uses his hands to sluice some of the water off of his frame, and picks up his discarded harness, throwing it over his shoulder at least until his skin is dry...swords crossing his back.

[Shenmue654]

Mar glares at Ossanlin. He can't believe the Andalite's unbelievable arrogance about the whole situation. As if he were the only person in the world that suffered because of what happened to Tamora. Terenia was in obvious pain, for one thing.

"The mission wasn't yours alone," mutters Mar in an even voice. "Myitt and the others were part of the effort as well. Would you condemn their compassion as inappropriate? My Precious' open heart is the only reason she fell in love with me once...and the only reason she became your friend. It is true that positive emotion is often a weakness. You can harm someone with it as easily as you can help them. And I always take advantage of that fact. "

"But..." Mar shakes his head. This is his friend. He has to attempt to salvage him. "...to eliminate all your efforts because of a single terrible mistake is not like you. And not the mark of the hero I thought you were. Your warmth has its faults, but it is part of why people enjoy your company."

[Cobra (Gymn)]

As the bug nears earth Kevlin cloaks it. "Temrash. If anyone stops us I cansay I'm with intelligence that usually shuts them up. We could even use that if anyone recognizes Dara."

[Luke Skywalker (Ossanlin)]

Ossanlin pauses mid-stride, not turning his head or his body, merely standing there, the air drying his skin slowly.  <They came because of me.  You of all people should know that what Myitt did...hurt her.  It wouldn't have happened if she hadn't had a mission to go on.  If it wasn't for me, she wouldn't be living with this terrible pain.>

<I'm a hypocrite of the worst kind really.  I condemned Myitt for what she did...I did not kill Tamora...I hoped Terenia wouldn't either, but she had the right to retribution.  I think I knew she would kill her, that then Tamora would be dead...the best solution really...and that it wouldn't be my blade responsible.  I was a coward.>  He turns his eyes finally to look at Mar.  <I'm not a hero Mar.  I don't even deserve my command, I see that now.  This...human...>  Ossanlin gestures at the grave.  <...she is not the source of this, her death merely made me see the truth.  The truth about myself.>

Ossanlin glances back at the ground in front of him.  <I am less than worthy of what I have.  Perhaps you are right...I cannot restore balance and undo the wrongs by simply becoming a true Andalite.  I've gone too far beyond that.  I shall seek to...remedy...this problem at the soonest convenience.>  Ossanlin begins to walk towards the forest again.

[Myitt]

((Important OOC note from one of the DM's: Please note that if characters leave the GESB, and intend on doing so for some time, you must create a separate spinoff thread for the purpose of that storyline.  See the GESB: OOC thread for further details, and a clarification of the rules.  Hopefully it helps everyone, and please let us know if you have any questions.  Us being: Me, Terenia, Shenmue, Marie, or Ossanlin.  (Considering we've had over ten years of good roleplaying and/or writing experience).  Thanks guys!))

[Aluminator (Kit)]

Salem smiled slightly. "Either you're taking it better than I used to, or this is not your first rough day. Either way, I know that feeling. The distance between event and emotion. It's a useful barrier." His eyes glazed over a bit as he lost himself in memories. He wasn't just talking about Terenia's situation anymore. "Sometimes there aren't other choices. Not second-guessing yourself in those cases... it's helpful. The hard part, once you start down that road, is not losing sight of who you were."

He shook his head. What he'd said hadn't made any sense, now that he thought about it. He cleared his throat. "Sorry about... earlier. The whole mind-flood thing. I... um..." he cleared his throat again. He wasn't used to apologizing. "Did you happen to see where Myitt went?"

[Shenmue654]

Mar groans and rolls his eyes, beginning to follow him. How could his friend be so over-dramatic and stupid? Was he really that distraught over the death of one worthless girl and a failure in judgment? Something about what Ossanlin said near the end bothered him, but he didn't have time to think about that.

"You are unbelievably stubborn, my dear War Prince. You killed one woman, and drove a wretch over the edge. So what? I indirectly murder hundreds of people a day in many universes. What you did was merely the unintended result of your mission. Terenia's situation would have exploded in her face regardless of whether you had done it or not. You simply sped up what was becoming a painfully slow process."

[Luke Skywalker (Ossanlin)]

Ossanlin stops in his tracks and pivots in front of Mar, his "voice" cold and emotionless.  <That's what you do Mar...that's what you were created to do.  A being that deals in death is going to deal in death.  I was not created to slaughter innocents and drive people mad.  At least I hope I wasn't, because if that's my only purpose in existence, I would rather leave behind the existence part.  This situation showed my true colors to me.  I can't blind myself as I was before.  I must do what is responsible...what is honorable.>  Ossanlin shakes his head and turns to move again.

[Shenmue654]

Mar blinks in surprise as he begins to get the gist of what Ossanlin had in mind. His eyes burn red in fury at the Andalite's stupidity. Is this what their culture demands of them when they fail? What possible purpose can that serve? Mar wanders close to Ossanlin and attempts to smack him as hard as he can. Ossanlin may be a Hork-Bajir and it may hurt his hand to do so, but he needs to get a grip on himself.

"Don't be so incredibly stupid," mutters Mar in contempt. "If you are thinking about what I think you are, then leaving your body will not solve anything. You'd just be running away from a problem you didn't want to deal with. And that is the mark of a coward and a fool, not an honorable prince. Are you so willing to accept that senseless image of yourself that you'd throw everything you've done for others in this time away? One action does not make a mortal. I will have you know that it never ends, Ossanlin. No action is truly final. And that I will come to find you afterwards, whether you know me or not."

[Luke Skywalker (Ossanlin)]

Ossanlin's head rings at the surprisingly resounding smack.  He doesn't react, he merely pauses and then continues walking, knowing that he is deserving of such things.  <Did I not already tell you that I am a coward?  A child with a hopeless ideal?  I would think that had been made clear by now.>  Ossanlin pauses again, looking impassively towards Mar.  <And will you torture me properly?  Cause me as much agony as I have caused others to restore balance?>  Ossanlin takes a deep breath.  <I would welcome it.>