Animorphs: Ressurection

[A ghost you know]

Jim wondered why so many people were gathered here; he had expected only a handful, not a roomful. He pretended to read through his letter again even though he practically knew it by heart, waiting for someone else to break the ice. Finally, the Andalite and one of the other humans began a conversation, and he decided to join them.
"Hey, I'm Jim. It's nice to meet you both."

So Arhareli isn't exactly a standard candidate for a tech job, either. Huh. I wonder if we're all like this, capable enough but not quite what you'd expect for a tech company to be hiring?

[Estelore]

Arhareli swiveled one stalk eye toward the new speaker.

<Hello, Jim; well met you, too.>

[Horsefan1023 (Seal)]

Mesa was distinctly uncomfortable.  Sure, she was amphibious, but she much preferred water.  The message was odd.  She had said nothing about getting a job.  She sustained herself in her pond.  

Everyone was confused.  It was a little disorienting, being rather separated from thoughts for a while then thrown in a whole jumble of them.  But soon she filtered through them separately.  She was a little surprised when the Andalite, Reli, as she called herself for short, addressed her.  They cannot read minds, she reminded herself.

I am Mesa-Teern.  Call me Mesa, she said to them.  Please, do not be uncomfortable, she added.  I generally do not talk about what I hear in people's heads.  I suppose I am used to other people knowing as well.  She broke off.  Let them digest that much, she decided.  Not being psychic must be very difficult.

[Cobra (Gymn)]

"Oh!" Chris looked around the room. He hadn't noticed the Leeran. "I'm Chris but I guess you Already know that."

[Estelore]

Arhareli almost laughed at the human's surprise at the Leeran's presence.  How strange it must be, to have only two eyes, and no significant natural weapons. Arhareli flexed the hand that had been shaken earlier, aware again of the special differences between humans and Andalites.

Actually, their hands would be very good weapons, as long as no beams, morphs, blades, or projectiles are involved....

<Hello, Mesa-Teern.  It is a good thing to meet you.>

Shred it, that was not exactly the right wording for human convention.  Not that it matters, but it is abnormal for me to be in the minority species in a given room.  Mesa-Teern, I perceive a kindred nature with you; we are both out of our element in this place.  While we are here, if you crave an ally, I will stand with you.  Is this acceptable to you?  

Arhareli relaxed and kept her thoughts unguarded, relieved that the other non-human in the room had finally spoken.

[A ghost you know]

Jim swiveled his head, looking for the source of the new "voice". He hadn't seen the Leeran, either. "Nice to meet you, Mesa."

Not for the first time, he wondered how the Leerans managed to get along with their psychic abilities. To be able to see someone's most private thoughts... that must get embarrassing sometimes - his face colored a little and he turned his thoughts toward other things as he realized that Mesa was probably reading that thought.

[Estelore]

Arhareli did another head-count of the room and then spoke again, directly addressing everybody.

<There are nine of us here, and it appears that at least two of us have no apparent connection with GT&T before coming here, nor any clear reason for this corporation to want us here.  Acknowledging that it is unlikely anybody else in this room is more informed on the situation, I still must ask... do any of you know why we were invited here?>

[Cobra (Gymn)]

"I responded to a comm message." Chris offered.

[Gumby]

Fisher was thumbing the handle of his TR9 pistol, again.

It was just what he did when he was bored or nervous or both. Despite being a marine for several years, carrying a gun was still just so cool! He hadn't actually shot anyone before, no major conflicts of any kind yet except for terrorists on Earth and Fisher was rarely on Earth anymore. 

But now he was, and he wasn't sure why.

He'd gotten a message saying he'd applied for a job, probably some desk job, at GT&T, the main human communication company in space. Of course he'd never applied for the job, unless, oh hell, had he been drinking too hard? Please God no, oh on.

Of course when he was sober there was no way in hell he'd apply for a desk job! Of course, when you're just being rotated around colony worlds and after a month of wandering around, there wasn't much fun in being sober all the time.

He wasn't an alcoholic or anything, but he was no stranger to the bottle. He was considering rethinking this lifestyle now, if he'd drunkenly signed up this BS he was definitely going to ease off a bit, or at least have someone watch him. Yeah, Baxter would, or he wouldn't. Fisher trusted his troops with his life in battle, maybe, but sure as hell not with this kind of thing.

Regardless, he was here now. Better say 'no' ASAP and get out of here. Oh well, may's well introduce myself. He was no stranger to aliens, few United Nations Marines were, but talking to them was still a little weird, especially froggy over there, the physic one, the Leeran. The others were all introducing themselves,s may as well.

Standing up, he gave a sloppy half salute and spoke out.

"Well, i'm Corporal Fisher of the Uniter Nations Marine Corps and I just got a comm telling me that I applied for a job here, which I didn't unless I was drinking too hard, and now I figure I'm just gonna decline fast as possible and get back to Harmony." He said, referring to the city on some colony world he was stationed on.

[Estelore]

Arhareli noticed the human Fisher fidgeting with his weapon.

Perhaps we are not quite so different. 

<You have worked at Harmony?  My family has a friend stationed there with whom we keep regular correspondence; are you familiar with the name Maherelis-Jalal-Rewat? I believe she is rank-equivalent to a captain in your military.>


((OOC: The name-drop is an ambient NPC; do whatever you want with it. I'm just giving the characters a chance to have commonality.))

[Cobra (Gymn)]

Chris feels young now.
People in the military, andalite tailfighters. I'm really out of my league here. I'm just 14!

[BaronConall]

I step through the large, oaken doors as they swing open upon detecting my presence, entering the waiting room.

Taking in the number of guests in the room, I count us as being one short.

The Andalite tail-fighter, the three youths, the Corporal, the Descendent and our Leeran. Huh. Speckled back. You must have been born on the Te Isle? Thank you for finding your way here, Mesa. It seems we are missing someone.

"Welcome, all. Thank you for coming on such short notice. No doubt you have questions about the letter you received. Let me assure you that Tiberius will be capable of answering any and all questions you may have. Meanwhile, allow me to make introductions so as to familiarise you with your potential future colleagues."

I gesture towards each member as I address them,

"Corporal Fisher, with the UNMC. Numerous rotations through colony worlds but, as yet, untested in live battle. Arhareli-Winwall-Ajaht, a well-established and respected exhibitionist tail-fighter that some of you have undoubtedly caught a glimpse of on H.V.  Sean, Chris and Jim, current High School students, Reyna Jackson is the one who has undoubtedly escaped your notice here. A current college student and 4th generation descendent of the Yeerk nothlits... I assure you, Reli, we are quite thorough with our background checks... And Mesa-Teern, our only other non-human."

I look around the room once more.

"We do appear to be one applicant short, so I ask that you be patient for a few more moments while we wait for his arrival. Much longer and we may need to proceed without him and ask for him to catch up."

[Cobra (Gymn)]

Chris nodded. Even the other Highschoolers where older than him! He looked and the yeerk descendant.
What must it be like? The prejudice?

[Estelore]

Arhareli's eyes narrowed briefly at the female human-

-no, former ^Yeerk-

who was across the room, clearly avoiding Reli's gaze.

Reli sucked a quick breath and worked to steel herself against a sharp surge of inherited prejudice.

I will... be... civil.  Unless It gives me a reason not to be civil.

<Greetings, Descendant Jackson; know that I do not intend harm to you.> Arhareli tucked her tail tightly against her legs, a gesture of restraint from treat.

Good to have that over.

She then looked to the three youngest humans in the room.

<I had not realized the GT&T corporation sought the employment of minors.  I will not agree easily to anything that is not above-board in that respect.>

[BaronConall]

"Rest assured, Reli, this form of employment is not without precedent and is entirely culturally acceptable on earth. Similarly, Tiberius is well aware of the implications of acting above-board and has nothing to hide, as is evident with our Leeran friend here."

Speaking of whom, it's my understanding that you find yourself in a pond quite some distance from here, Mesa. I can't say I blame you, I never was one for the noise of the city.