GESB: Operation Time-Cops

[Terenia]

Within the pool the body of Zorish slowly begins to break apart, dissolving into the pool water until there is no discernible relic of the sentient creature that had swam there moments before.

[Myitt]

<You had to?> Tara demands.  <You had to starve him to death?  To make him die in agony?>

Myitt can't answer outwardly, her body lost in sobs.  <He would've done the same to us.  He would have.  It was quick,> she rationalizes.  <It isn't nearly as...>

<As what?  As bad?  Is that what you were going to say?  You berated the bastard earlier for his government using the same damned thing on people like Raiker.  Your own brother, Myitt!>

"I know, I know, I know," Myitt hisses through the tears.  Without warning she closes herself off to her host, lost in despair. 

[Luke Skywalker (Ossanlin)]

Ossanlin watches as Myitt paces to the pool.  Without warning she turns the beam on the pool and pulls the trigger.  Ossanlin steps forward, shock not stunning him as it would most normal people.  He grabs Myitt's arm.  <What are you doing Myitt?!  What are you doing?!>  Ossanlin watches as the Yeerk in the pool begins to shrivel. 

<Myitt this is a war crime!  Stop!  If he's going to die he should know!  Myitt!!>  Ossanlin raises his tone of thought uncharacteristicall y.  He moves to pull Myitt's arm away from the pool but the Yeerk in the tub has already stopped moving.   <What have you done?>  Ossanlin allows his arm to drop, backing up a few steps.  He shakes his head.  <This is...war...but that was unacceptable Myitt...>

[Chad32]

Claxter had stood by while it happened. He didn't relax his guard when Tara said she was in control. Eventually the Yeerks changed positions, and surprisingly Myitt killed Zorish callously and painfully. He didn't really know what to say. For some reason his Prince had grabbed her by the arm instead of using his tail, so he wasn't fast enough. Claxter himself hadn't moved either, even though he was closest to Myitt. Maybe he was just surprised, or maybe he really just didn't care about Zorish. He wasn't sure.

<Explain yourself, Myitt.>

[Myitt]

Hadrin has watched the whole scene, too stunned to move.  He knew Myitt as a casual acquaintance, and he'd trusted her, but he never would have expected something like this.  He waits as the Andalites rush forward, almost certain that they will kill her, but instead they stand there yelling down at her while she is caught up in tears like a confused human child. 

Slowly he walks over, glancing at the pool just to confirm the inevitable, but keeping well away from the Andalites in their anger.

"Myitt," he says softly, "you had no right to be trial and executioner."

Myitt looks up at the people surrounding her, her eyes red and filled with tears.  "Is it unacceptable, Ossanlin?" she demands, her voice cracked, swallowing the lump in her throat.  "Is it unacceptable not to take the slightest risk that would endanger everything and everyone I care for?"

<Uh...yes?> Tara says sardonically.

"Shut up, human," Myitt snarls aloud, looking away.  "You wanted him to use you."

<Oh, don't blame this on me!> Tara warns.  <I didn't pull the trigger, Myitt.>

After a few tremulous seconds, Myitt looks back up at the Andalites.  At Hadrin. 

"I did what any of you would do, if someone knew everything," she says through gritted teeth.  "And that someone worked for your greatest enemy.  I know the data on memory relapses with near total wipes, and the process could have killed him anyway.  Would you have berated each other, then?  No, it would have been a convenience.  Yes, Ossanlin, this is war, and we cannot afford to lose."

[Chad32]

<Everyone takes risks Myitt. It's impossible to do anything in life without taking risks from time to time. You have killed a potential ally. For a second I thought maybe there was hope for Zorish, but you have taken that hope away.> Claxter said. He left the room and went back to the medbay. He glanced pitiably at Tamora, but said nothing. Sukohn arched an eyebrow questioningly, but Claxter ignored him.

[Myitt]

Myitt watches Claxter walk away.  Part of her wants to spit back at him, she knew more than a thing or two about taking risks...but instead she just bows her head again, shutting her eyes tightly.  She sniffles and irritably wipes her nose on the inside of her jacket collar. 

Tara is silent, smoldering. 

[Terenia]

Tamora starts at the sound of the medbay doors opening. She looks miserable: her face is streaked with tears and a rather unattractive glob of snot is hovering just below her left nostril. She looks up at the Andalite with red, puffy eyes that are bright with terror and misery.

"Zorish?" She asks in a small, cracking voice, wanting to know what has transpired.

[Chad32]

Claxter looked at Tamora again. She didn't look very well. He went to a cabnet and took out a damp cloth to wipe her face with. As he cleaned her face, he wasn't sure how to tell her. He should probably make Myitt tell her, or something.

<Don't worry about Zorish. Just try to remain calm. Are you comfortable? Would you like something to drink, or...anything?>

Sukohn rolled his eyes. Claxter was obviously avoiding the issue. Zorish was probably dead, judging from what he heard coming from the other room. He was closer to the door than Tamora was, and heard Ossanlin say something about a war crime. He couldn't say anything with the cable in his mouth, though.

Derrel was dozing off in the corner, though not deeply.

[Alic]

Alic had listened to what Zorish had to say and kept quiet. She knew an extra voice wasn't needed and they would do what they felt was right. Alic would have preferred him dead, of course, but she did not expect Myitt to agree. She stared wide-eyed at Myitt in shock of what she did, but no thoughts of stopping her had crossed her mind. Alic would have done the same thing herself, given the choice.
One less greedy slug to worry about.
She turned her head to the other two andalites and then to her sobbing friend.  She went to Myitt and gently placed a hand on her arm. "I would have done the same. Myitt is right. This is war and letting him loose with memories or not was too big of a risk to take."

[Terenia]

Tamora recoils from Claxter's touch, but her restraints prevent her from pulling fully away. As he wipes her face she begins to shiver, goosebumps rising on her bare arms.

"Why..." she chokes off, gasping for breath and starts again, "Why are you doing this?"

[Myitt]

Myitt starts and looks up at Alic.  Encouraged by her support, slowly, wearily, Myitt climbs to her feet and runs her sleeve across her wet eyes.  

"Ugh.  Thank you, Alic," she says, looking around blearily.  "I did what I thought was best for my people.  But I...I never want to do that again.  I didn't want to cause him pain.  It makes me sick.  I'm so...so tired of it."  Myitt casts a miserable glance over at the med bay doors, then she looks at Ossanlin.  

"If I have committed a war crime, my friend, then I suppose I should be sentenced," she says, sniffling and regaining some of her energy, if not her spirit.  "It wouldn't be the first time.  But until then, let's do what we must do with the matter at hand."  She avoids looking at the pool, now devoid of life, and turns to head toward the med bay.  

[Chad32]

<Well, we are intending to rescue you.> Claxter said. <You see, we kind of ran into your sister. I and my prince want to free the Andalite that she has enslaved, but Terenia said that Visser Three would kill you in anger if either one of them escaped his grasp. As a side mission to retrieving Sukohn, we got you away from Visser Three. We were aware that you were vluntary, but not to this extent. I don't think anyone plans to hand you ovr to your sister, and personally I'd rather just grind her under hoof and forget her existance, but we'll have to see how things play out when we get to where we're going.>

<I would have said this earlier, but my prince felt the need to keep it from Zorish.>

[Luke Skywalker (Ossanlin)]

Ossanlin shakes his head again and takes a deep breath, his thoughts calming.  <For once Myitt...I don't know what to say.  I didn't think you were that...ruthless.>  Ossanlin turns back to the console checking their arrival time.  <One-half a standard hour.  What else were you planning on Myitt...can I allow you in the med-bay or are you going to execute Derrel, Sukohn, and Cody too?>

[Myitt]

Myitt stops and turns near the med bay doors, eyeing Ossanlin coldly.  "Yes, Ossanlin, because in all the years we've known each other, I am best characterized as a mass murderer," she scowls.  "If I've committed such a grave crime, then act on it.  Otherwise, judge me as you will, and let me do what I have to do."