Galaxy's Edge Space Bar

[warren_bearclaw]

Al was fun. Jasper enjoyed his personality, which was an astonishing concept to him, considering he knew that he was just an android. But then.... "Just" an android probably was a really foolish thing to say. The fact that he could take inventory of the ship from here was way more impressive than he could handle. Jasper let out a whistle. "That's just too cool, Al." He said, shaking his head slightly. "Texas is on the south border of the United States, right above Mexico. At least... it is in my United States. I have no clue if or when you might have visited. It's a great place."

<<That's your ego talking.>>
<<Oh hush. You know I'm not as bad as Jeff is... I'm only.... marginally egotistical.>>

"Except for the heat. I'm not going to lie. Texas is hot. Waaay hot."

Jasper and Sapttus didn't comment on Ewa's question of Al's humanity. They didn't want to give anything away.

[Terenia]

<<Yeah, you're right. It isn't even really them anyways. Not the version of them I knew...>> Terenia says, unconvinced. She mentally winces away from the support he sends. They only remind her that Mike and Corliss' feelings for her are yet another issue that needs resolving. Funny how that had been top on her list of worries not more than fifteen minutes ago. <<You guys are idiots, you know that, right?>> she mutters to him. <<If you still care about me after all this **** I've put you through, you're complete morons.>>

Terenia enters the bridge and looks at the hatch. She hesitates, torn between giving the command for it to open and running to the controls, taking off from the planetoid and leaving all of her problems in the dust.

"This isn't right," she says at last, exhaling slowly. "She shouldn't be here - can't be here. If we talk now...what if it messes up her timeline or something? What if it screws up my timeline? I don't know how this **** works - anything we do could destroy everything!" She lets out a growl of frustration, clenching the Dracon in her hand. Cursing, she abruptly pulls Corliss' comm and hails Ossanlin.

"Hey, oh-great-and-powerful Andalite with the magic tricks, mind picking up?" she hisses into the comm link.

[Luke Skywalker (Ossanlin)]

~Ossanlin~

Ossanlin glances at Claxter again, taking a deep breath and savoring the cooling sensation running up his leg from the mint-water.  <There are times, Warrior, when there are no good solutions, no good choices.  In those situations, you must strive to make the better choice, the least of evils.>  He pauses a moment and continues.  <This is a war Warrior, and it is not pretty whether we like it or not.  Choices must be made, and they are sometimes ruthless.  People get hurt because of someone else's decision, and the person that made that decision has to live with that fact.  Just remember that you are responsible for more than yourself Claxter.>

Ossanlin shifts his main eyes over to Salem and narrows them, his dislike for the human showing through.  <Perhaps...if you can keep yourself and your artificially-intelligent friend from accidentally killing me every time we share more than a glance.>  Ossanlin shifts his eyes toward Al for a moment before returning them to Salem.

His thoughts are interrupted by his comm going off.  He pulls it from his harness and notes Corliss' signal.  He sighs, opening the channel and is greeted by a snide comment.  <Well Corliss, I'm glad you're finally showing your true colors, pretending to be civil is so unsuiting for you.  To what do I owe this rude interjection?>


___________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ ______________

~Rathien~

Rathien chuckles again, taking another drink of his beverage.  "I'll be sure to let fate know that you don't believe in her when she kills you.  I'm certain I'll be present as the instrument of her design."  He smirks.  "Until then I must bide my time I suppose."

Rathien raises his glass to the bar in general.  "As for what I want...who's to say?  I follow my sixth sense and it never leads me astray.  That doesn't mean I know why it leads me to do what I do.  Besides, I wouldn't have gotten to sample the drinks of this fine establishment if I'd stayed outside.  Nor would I have heard about your little plan to assasinate a member of the Electorate.  I assume he's your contact?"  Rathien gestures at the large male Andalite.  He listens as the Andalite speaks to Salem, his face twitching at the mention of Al.  The Andalite's eyes had flashed to a table full of people...so, one of them was the android.  There was little way to tell which one he was.  First glance would suggest the well-dressed one, but then that might be part of the deception.

[Terenia]

"It's Terenia," she snaps, eyebrows drawing together in frustration. "Listen, I don't know if you noticed yet or not, but there's been a rather unwelcome visitor to the bar and she - he - is asking for me." She realizes that her fear over the situation is manifesting itself in anger and checks herself, forcing Mike's voice to calm a fraction. "Ossanlin, I don't want to screw up any of the, you know, time lines or whatever. I'm not stupid, we both saw what happened last time I faced my sister. A...a mistake like that could alter everything this time around."

She sighs, plopping down in the pilot's chair. What exactly am I trying to ask him for? "I need to get out of here, Ossanlin. Sooner than later. This place just keeps creating more problems for me and we all know that no one will mourn my leaving this damned place. But I need...I need your help. I can't leave until you help me." She gulps, getting to the crux of it. Of what she wants and of what she can clearly see Mike wants for her.

"How long until you'll be able to make me human again?" she asks quietly, trying her absolute hardest not to sound demanding. "And...if something were to happen in the meantime, with my sister and her Yeerk...how would it...would it at all..." she lets out a frustrated groan. "I don't understand how any of this **** works. Damn this bar!"

[Aluminator (Kit)]

Salem shot Ossanlin a smirk. It looked like the War-Prince was going to continue holding the fact that Al'd run him over with a spacecraft over Salem's head.

"No, Andalite, I assure you I'm more than capable of just sitting and speaking. Should I let you tend to your... emergencies for now?" he asked, indicating Ossanlin's comm device.

He turned back to Rathien, "Even if fate existed, hunter, would she really choose you to carry out her whims? What makes you so special?" When Rathien suggested that Ossanlin might be Salem's 'contact,' he laughed. How much should he reveal to this hunter? Would there be any additional harm in being honest? Probably not, this time. In fact, it might benefit him, if he played this right.

"No, no, Rathien," he said, keeping his voice low enough that Ossanlin shouldn't overhear. "I doubt a War-Prince would approve of that kind of thing. This particular little job is all mine." He gestured to the rest of the bar, "With this crowd, I'm sure you can find some pretty interesting drinks, at least, if that's all you're here for. But," he continued, staring straight into Rathien's eyes, "if you're looking for a greater challenge than most individuals can afford to you, that's got to mean you're here to see me. What's that sixth sense of yours say about taking jobs from marks?"

He noticed the way Rathien followed Ossanlin's eyes in Al's direction. Great. If Rathien had figured out who Al was, that was one of Salem's biggest advantages down the drain.

<<Hey, Al, keep an eye on Rathien,>> he thought-spoke to the android.


Al frowned and thought, "United States... that does vaguely ring a bell. Might be one of your old nations, right? On the less-used of the two main Earth landmasses? And Mexico... I was in a Mexico City once. Cute little place. Very tourist-destination kind of town. Not very big, but friendly. That anywhere near where you're from?" he asked, looking at Jasper with a shrug. "It was definitely hot there, anyway. And thanks for noticing my neat little ability," he said, tapping his temple with a finger and grinning. "Added that one myself. I can still experience secondary sensory input from the ship from here."

When Salem thought-spoke to him, Al rolled his eyes. He couldn't answer back without giving himself away, of course, but if he could have, the response would have been something along the lines of duh.

[AmberKatira]

Ewa felt her half-formed thoughts stall, flummoxed.  Van had all the tell-tale changes and embellishments that marked him as other than human, but--excepting the tux--Al looked like exactly the same race as Jasper.  And Jasper was from Texas.

Then Al revealed his ability to "experience secondary sensory input" from his ship.  So he's disguised as human... probably meant for infiltration... unless he's supposed to be from a universe or time where humans have become technologically more advanced.  Would having cybernetic implants mean he's not human anymore?

Ewa gives herself a mental shake as she notices the bar tender returning with their drinks.  I keep underestimating the allowable diversity in this scape.

"If no one minds me asking," she began as she claimed the drink that had been set down next to her, "that Imperial who was in here earlier seemed to cause a lot of...disturbance.  Would any of you know what that was about, or are you all here for your own reasons?"  Mostly she was asking Al and Jasper, since she knew Van was as new as herself, but there was no telling what he might have picked up since they had separated.

She took a sip of her drink.  It was stronger than she had expected, but it had a very pleasant cinnamon/spice sort of aftertaste.  I'd better take it easy with this, she thinks and looks over at Van with a bit of a smirk.  "Nice drink recommendation.  Do you use it often?"

[warren_bearclaw]

"...I'm guessing that you haven't been to my timeline. At least not at the time that I'm from. Er.. something like that. I guess you could say Mexico City is kinda close... I mean.. not really, but... yeah." Jasper said.

Salem answered Ewa, or at least, responded to her question. "I have no idea who that was. I haven't had the chance to get acquainted with any of the other bar patrons in the short time I've been here." Sapttus was tapping his foot on the ground; he wasn't anxious or anything, it was just a habit, really. Jasper reached inside his black laptop bag and pulled out the half-finished wooden elephant and his whittling knife, laid out a napkin on his lap and began to chip away at it. He was still part of the conversation, of course, he was just... multi-tasking.

[Chad32]

Claxter hoped what he had done was the right thing. He heard what Terenia was saying, but said nothing. He had nothing positive to say about her, and insulting her wouldn't do anyone any good.

[Aluminator (Kit)]

Al smiled and shook his head at Ewa, "I'm with him," he said, pointing at Jasper. "No idea what the imperial's deal was. I couldn't tell you what a lot of the drama centered around this bar has to deal with. Everybody's got issues here, seems like. I'm just here to enjoy myself."

He took a sip of his second drink, which had just arrived, "Mmm... that's not bad, Van. Good recommendation. I'll have to keep that one in mind," he said to Van, smiling.

Al laughed and shrugged somewhat apologetically at Jasper, "Yeah, like I said, I haven't spent a whole lot of time on Earth, and from the sound of things, you're from a very different version of the planet than I am. Or... a past version or somethin' or other. Iunno," he grew more and more mumbly as he spoke. When Jasper pulled out his elephant carving, Al looked at it with interest, "Now that's pretty decent work. I used to dabble in whittling, myself. Is that... what is that?"

[Luke Skywalker (Ossanlin)]

~Ossanlin~

Ossanlin shoots Salem another non-trusting glance.  Generally he wasn't this hostile to anyone, but he can't shake the negative feelings he has for Salem.

Listening to Terenia, he moves his free hand up to pinch the bridge of his nose.  <Terenia...well I suppose I should've known that Corliss would keep up pretenses.  I do hope you're not mis-treating poor Mike.>  Ossanlin takes a deep breath...he was letting her get under his skin again and he'd promised himself to not do that.  <I apologize.  Look, Terenia...the battle with that strange human has drained me to the maximum.  It's injured Mar as well.  Frankly I do not believe I will be up to the attempt of reverting your body for quite some time.  Ideally I would not try for several days.  I have been recovering more quickly than I imagined though, so it may be sooner.  I don't think you'd want to be stuck half way in between forms, so don't rush me.>

He sighs again.  <Yes I saw your sister.  I do not know if she is from an alternate multiverse or merely a different point in your timeline.  She can't simply be dismissed.  I don't suppose it would harm anything if you merely spoke to her and her Yeerk...as long as you do not reveal knowledge of the future to her, assuming you can manage not to do anything...final... to them.  I'd rather not detain her as that could alter the timeline as well.  I do not wish to use empty threats...if Zorish calls the bluff, he'll know I can't do anything to him.>  Ossanlin sighs to himself again.  <If you can manage to speak with them carefully and without using a weapon on them, it is the only way I can see to resolve this safely.>


___________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ __________--

~Rathien~

Rathien raises an eyebrow.  "Well I could explain to you why I am an instrument of Fate...but you implied that you had no desire to learn about The Kill.  Without learning about The Kill, my explanation will hold little meaning to you."  Rathien takes another pull from his glass, setting it down on the bar beside him with about a third of the drink left.

"As for your...hit...for all I know, assisting you will lead to your own perfect demise.  My instincts do not lie about such things."  Rathien smirks again.

[Terenia]

Terenia frowns at the comm link, wondering why the Andalite never seems to say anything that benefits her. She has half a notion to demand that he come and take care of everything immediately, but she knows that conversation will not end well. "Alright," she says into the comm. "I'll...I'll wait for you, then." Her voice takes on a sarcastic edge. "And I'll try not to kill anyone without your permission." She hesitates before replacing the comm to Mike's holster.

"Thanks," she adds, more sincerely, quickly cutting the communication. <<Alright, then,>> she says to Mike, still gripping his Dracon firmly in his left hand. <<I guess we go talk to my sister.>>


Outside the hatch of the Skimmer, Zorish is deep in conversation with Tamora.

<<Why do they keep saying 'sister' if it's a Yeerk?>> she is asking.

<<I do not know, Tamora,>> Zorish's reply is testy. His host's constant worrying is beginning to impact him. <<The Andalite said she gained the morphing ability. Perhaps she has morphed a Yeerk.>> A smile of amusement crosses his face at that idea; certainly any creature that had access to the morphing technology was a friend of the Andalites. And no sane Andalite ally would ever take on Yeerk form.

<<But what if>>

<<What?>> Zorish snaps. <<What if your dead sister somehow resurrected herself, inserted herself into our war and ended up here, light years away in the body of another? Do you realize how absurd you sound?>>

Tamora's silence is compounded by the hurt she feels at being yelled at by Zorish. He sighs, running a hand through his host's hair and unlimbering his weapon.

<<I apologize,>> he says in a softer tone. <<I know that you mourn the loss of your family, broken as it was. But trust me when I tell you that clinging on to empty hopes will not help you. What if it is Teresa? What then? Are you going to ask me to run into her arms and hug her like the long lost ghost she would be?>>

<<No,>> Tamora admits grudgingly. <<I...I don't know how I would feel.>>

<<If this is your sister,>> Zorish presses, <<then that means that she didn't just run away from your home, she ran away from Earth itself. And if she's been alive all this time, why didn't she try to contact you? We - you and I - frequently monitor communications in and out of Earth space. Never has there been anything to indicate Teresa's presence, except for this message we received saying that you and I were dead.>>

<<So Terenia is->>

<<Terenia is a murderer, whether she is your sister or not,>> Zorish says, clicking the dial on his Dracon up to a higher, more deadly setting. <<And if she is your sister, you owe her nothing but contempt.>>

[Chad32]

Ossanlin had advised Terenia against what Claxter had actually done. This might not bode well. Would he be reprimanded if anyone found out? Would they kill Zorish and Tamora if they found out? Would their deaths achieve the same goal of insuring the other Efaen didn't fall into Terenia's self serving control? Probably. Would he ever know if what he did was the right thing to do?

[KitsuneMarie]

As the Skimmer comes into Illim's view, he spots the woman who appears the be the source of Corliss's worries standing near the ship. Illim approaches more cautiously now, keeping a lookout for the dark-haired Brit.

It's good news, at least, he thinks, that the ship hasn't left without him. Slightly more troubling is the fact that the Skimmer's hatch is closed.


Serid shifts in his seat, listening to Ossanlin's conversation as well as he can, distracted as he is by the many others in the dark room. To what he particularly listens is the War Prince's discussion of his agreement to return Terenia to her human body. If it will be so difficult to help her, it makes him wonder if he should even be getting his hopes up at all.

[Myitt]

<<Yeah,>> Mike says worriedly, <<I reckon we attempt to make civil conversation with...with the dead.>>

He steels his nerves as best as he can, although it has no effect whatsoever on his body, which is completely under Terenia's control. 

[Terenia]

"Right," Terenia says, biting Mike's lip. "Yeah. Let's...get this over with." She takes a deep breath and orders the hatch to open.


Zorish's internal conversation is interrupted by the sound of approaching footfalls. He looks up and notes a vaguely familiar man approaching. He must've been in the bar, Zorish says, squinting as he tries to place him. Casually, he shifts his position slightly so that he is in a better position to shoot if the stranger is not friendly.

"Hello, friend," Zorish calls out to Illim, a tight smile on his face. He opens Tamora's mouth to speak again, but just then the hatch to the Skimmer swoops back open. Zorish's head snaps around, and he sees "Corliss" standing in the doorway.

Except, even in the little amount of time that Zorish and Corliss have interacted, he can sense a difference.

"Terenia, I presume?" Zorish asks smoothly, keeping Illim within his view as he turns to the ship.


<<Oh God, it is her,>> Terenia says, clamping Mike's jaw shut tightly to keep it from opening with shock. Even though his memories were right there, even though she expected it, her Tamora's presence still nearly takes the wind out of her. For a long moment she is frozen, staring at the ghost of her sister incomprehensibly. She almost forgets that her hand is wrapped around a Dracon, so tightly that Mike's knuckles are bone white.