Galaxy's Edge Space Bar

[Chad32]

<We didn't get to talk.> Derrel said, obviously disappointed that Reven cut the feed so suddenly. He wanted to talk to Reven in the hopes that he'd get confirmation on his possible future. Judging from what he told Efaen, Derrel would likely go under observation too. He wouldn't mind being watched as long as he wasn't antagonized. Obviously Terenia wanted back in Efaen's head bad, but not enough to actually try to make amends with her. <Seems like Terenia needs to learn humility if she's ever going to get back with Efaen.>

Claxter heard Terenia shouting, but had no context for the statement. He waited for Gremyyt to tell him what was going on.

[RAFrukh]

We listened to Terena and Efaen, <There does not seem to...be anything threatening occurring within the ship.>

[Myitt]

Corliss sighs, looking up at the cabin ceiling.

"Terenia, you heard what she said," he says tiredly.  "I can't do much else about it.  If you'd like, you can borrow Mike again for the duration of the trip?"

He looks over at Illim.  "And since we're all here, I reckon it means we can actually depart.  If there are no objections?"

[Terenia]

<No,> Terenia says, panic and fury overtaking her. <No, no no. I'm not going to the rebellion like this. I can't. I won't. I...>

<It is possible that Terenia is suffering a mental breakdown,> Efaen observes, a smirk on her face. She is clearly enjoying her former Yeerk's weakness. Terenia's plan has entirely backfired. Not only does she not have Efaen as a host, but Efaen is going to be there on the base. It is unacceptable.

<Shut up, Efaen! Just...just shut up. Corliss, please. I can't do this. Not like this. Not...damn it all.> She sounds as though she is on the verge of tears, although Yeerks, of course, do not cry. <Get Ossanlin.>

[Chad32]

Claxter is not certain something wasn't wrong, even though Gremyyt said there didn't seem to be anything threatening going on. He was supposed to be relaying the conversation to Claxter, though Claxter didn't want to provoke him. He picked up his communicator and tried to call efaen.

<Efaen. This is Claxter. Why have you gone with Corliss into the Skimmer? They cannot be trusted. Can you exit the ship and talk to me? I'm outside.>

[Myitt]

Corliss hesitates.  "You mean, you want to take him up on his offer?" he asks skeptically.  "Terenia, you just insisted Efaen join us, and she's agreed.  I assumed you knew this would always be a risk."

He narrows his gaze at Efaen.  "Do you really enjoy the suffering of others?  Especially someone you once called your friend?"  Irritably, he reaches over and taps the holoscreen, searching for Ossanlin's communications device.

It takes a few moments, in which Corliss fumes internally.

<<I can't bloody believe her,>> he scowls.  <<How can she be this cruel?>>

<<It's like you said, mate,>> Mike says reluctantly.  <<You can't force her to let Terenia back in.  It was always a risk.>>

<<Yeah, but that doesn't change the fact that Efaen's a self-serving, hypocritical fool...>>

Angrily he taps the icon, sending an urgent hail to the signal that appears to be coming from Ossanlin's Andalite link.

[Terenia]

<I know what I said, but I didn't want her joining the rebellion without me,> Terenia snaps. <The only reason I insisted on anything was so that I could get my damned host back.>

Efaen's brow rises. <Is this true, Corliss? Were your attempts to illicit my help merely due to the whims of this human child?>

<Oh shut up, Efaen, don't bother. Nothing we told you was a lie, you can still act holier than thou about this. But I need a body and I'm not going to spend my first months with the rebellion swimming in blind circles. I'd rather go back to the Blade Ship.>

Efaen is about to respond, but her comm goes off. Pulling the device from her holster she recognizes it as the one Claxter gave her, not the Imperial issue device. With a flash of irritation she compresses the button.

<I have various duties to attend to on board this ship, Claxter. Why are you following me? Did Prince Ossanlin assign you to be my keeper?> she wonders if the Andalite Prince trusts her less than she imagined. <If you wish to speak I will disembark shortly.> She releases the button and glances at Corliss. <I should at the very least resolve my affairs with Prince Ossanlin before we depart. I presume that he will be encouraging of my decision, given his...alliances.>

[Myitt]

Corliss waits until Efaen pauses in her conversation with Claxter.

"Efaen, Terenia's right.  She may have hoped you would accept her back, but our offer still stands true," he insists.  "You may still accept it if you wish."

<<When did yo become such a bloody good liar?>> Mike wonders.

[Terenia]

Efaen considers Corliss for a moment.

<Understood. I will return to the rebellion base with you, and I will keep my word with your leader, unless my Prince tells me otherwise. Regardless of Terenia's selfish intentions, I am...hopeful...that I can be more successful in undermining the Empire with this arrangement.>

<I hope they lock you in a cage,> Terenia spits. <I hope they decide that you're too dangerous and keep you trapped underground for the rest of your life.>

Efaen gives Corliss an exasperated look. <It would, of course, be a more pleasant experience if I did not have to endure Terenia's empty insults and threats.>

[Chad32]

Claxter is a little hurt by Efaen's words. <I'm not doing this on anyone's orders. I'm doing this because I care about you. I'm worried that they'll try to take you away to once again be surrounded by people you don't like without anyone around that you do like. I mean...you do like me, don't you Efaen?> He remembered when efaen took Terenia back just to protect him, and that she used to care for him. He wondered if he had said or done anything to make her not care for him anymore. <I just want to protect you. I care deeply for you, even though we haven't known each other long.>

<I can hear from out here with her yelling that Terenia still considers you just her host, and any attempt to get you to come with them is an attempt to get her back into your head. It's not as if Corliss, Terenia, or Mike actually consider you a person. You're just a host to them.>

[Terenia]

<Oh yaolin,> Efaen mutters. She compresses the com link, even though it really isn't necessary. If he is close enough to hear Terenia's thought speak, he is close enough to hear hers. <Claxter, we will discuss these matters in private. I will be there in a moment.> She puts the link away and gives Corliss a pointed look. <It appears that I need to disembark for the time being.>

[Myitt]

Corliss nods.  "All right, Efaen.  Contact us when you're ready to leave, and please...try to hurry.  The sooner we're off this blasted rock, the better."

Is it even fathomable that I'm beginning to feel even a tiny iota of sympathy for this creature? he marvels.

<<Penny for your thoughts, mate.>>

He sighs aloud.  <<It's nothing.  Nothing, let's just get to work preparing to get out of here.>>

"Terenia," he says, tapping into the pool communications system at the main controls.  "Do you want to have a bit of a personal chat with Mike, or not?  It's your choice, I know you're thrilled about staying in the pool."

[Terenia]

Efaen nods and waits for the hatch to open. Once it does, she descends the ramp, coming to a halt at the bottom and scanning the area for Claxter.

<No,> Terenia says, surprised at how quickly she refuses the offer. As much as she enjoys having eyes and ears and actual limbs...something about being inside of Mike's head had seemed strangely...wrong. More wrong than being in Efaen. She hadn't really had the opportunity to dwell on it in the moment, determined as she was to persuade Efaen, but now that she is free of his memories she is strangely relieved. <Mike needs a break,> she says instead.

[Chad32]

Claxter walks out from the hologram so Efaen can see him, then waited for her to speak. Last time he just started talking abruptly, she seemed to close herself off from him. This time he'd just let her speak.

[Aluminator (Kit)]

Salem turned to Jasper with a smile. They were still not far from the door of the bar.

"Hey. If you're looking to trade something, I assume my little trinkets weren't interesting?" He shrugged- he wasn't terribly concerned with gathering DNA. Mostly he used it as a gateway to open greater trades. It looked like that might be what'd happened here.

"What is it you have for me? And while we're at it... are you looking for anything in particular, or did you just want to see more of my stock?"