Galaxy's Edge Space Bar

[Terenia]

"Hi," Terenia responds, feeling a little foolish. Despite herself, a grin breaks out on her face and she ducks her head to hide it. She finds herself staring at her bare feet and she wriggles her toes a little, her smile widening as the muscles flex at her command. Hesitantly, she glances back up at Corliss.

"So, what do you think?" she asks quietly, running a hand through her hair and relishing the way her fingers tangle in the snarls there. Despite her giddiness a part of her is still worried that, now that she is human, Corliss himself will have lost interest, no matter what Mike has to say about it. He was an entirely different species, after all.


"Sub-Visser Twenty-Eight," Zorish corrects Ewa, "but just Zorish is fine. This hardly seems like the place to recognize Imperial authority. I suppose I am lucky enough that I have not been shot for my affiliations yet."

[Shenmue654]

Keshin shrugs, putting his hands behind Joanne's head as he lays back in the chair. "Yeah, there's all kinds. Some people have theories, but for us it just means new clients. The weirdoes at this Bar all have some kind of story to tell, and that story usually involves danger and intrigue. Every once in a while, one of these nutjobs hires us. That's why we keep coming back to this middle-of-nowhere rock."

<That, and to pick on the Movement. It's waay too fun to get those guys' panties up in a britch.>

<Maybe.>

<Or maybe it's jus' that you like hangin' around with Myitt. Hehe.>

<It is not!>

Keshin grins and says to Simon, "So, what's your story? Where do you come from? At this rate, we've seen and heard everything."
************************************************************************************
Mar bites his lip with what look like surprisingly sharp canines as he overhears the conversation between the Yeerk and the other. The imperial-looking creature wanted to speak with his dear Precious? Hmn. Precious was in with the rebel scum. Not good.

Mar turns his head sharply toward Zorish and says with a hint of suspicion, "You want to parlay with Myitt One-Nine-Five? Forgive me, but I cannot help but assume your intentions are less than noble. I am not a rebel, but I do have familiarity with this one. She may have no love of my affections, but they are present nonetheless. Explain your wish to me."

[Chad32]

"You're a mercenary. I see. Jocun has worked with mercenaries from time to time. They can be a fun bunch, but not always the most trustworthy. Most love money more than people, but some are smart enough to know good PR helps the money keep coming."

"My story? Well, I was born on Earth, several decades after the Yeerk Empire won the war and took over the galaxy. some of the people here, especially the Andalites gave a cold reception when Jocun mentioned he was a high ranking individual in the Yeerk Empire, but it's really not the same as it was before. No one is alive that was personally involved in the war, and the Council doesn't have an iron grip on the people as it used to."

"I have heard stories of involuntary controllers tricked into infestation and locked in cages while the Imperials used them to get new hosts. Nowadays if Jocun tried putting involuntaries in cages and ignored their wishes, his political career would be in jeopardy. There are still extremists that think Yeerks should be masters over all, and some people who think infestation is a horrible thing, but it will probably always be that way. I'm content with my life. Not always happy, but then who is?"

"I don't think we need any jobs done by a mercenary right now, but if something comes up, maybe we'll hire you."

[Myitt]

Mike's thoughts rush to answer the question.

What do I think? You look amazing, and you're really you, and god that outfit, and your tangled, amazing hair, I just want to--

Corliss clears his throat, smiling again.  "Reckon you look really great, for being half soaked in pool water," he says.  Then he searches her expression cautiously.  "You're happy with your decision?"

[Terenia]

"Yeah," she says, biting her lip and looking away. The way he was looking at her made her feel...odd. "Yeah, I am. I mean, how could I not be? I'm human." She hugs herself, as though checking to make sure her arms are still there, and laughs. "I'm actually human again. ****." She laughs again, a sound filled with relief.

Outside, in the cabin, Efaen hears the sound of Terenia's laughter and her main eyes darken. She steps forward, back to the doorway of the small storage closet, regarding the two.

<Congratulations,> she says in flat thought-speech. <You have finally managed to become human, using the borrowed form of your murdered sibling. I warn you, though, Terenia, do not think of this little procedure as a victory. You are a sniveling, manipulative, pathetic creature. The last thing that you deserve is happiness.>


Zorish raises his eyebrows in response to Mar. "What do my intentions matter to the likes of you?" he asks. "And why should I explain anything? It is personal."

[Myitt]

Corliss grins boyishly at Terenia's obvious joy, but his expression turns sour when Efaen sticks her tail into the little storage room. 

"Well, thanks for that completely unhelpful bit of uselessness, Efaen," he snarks, trying to remain as placid as possible.  "Perhaps if you had a bit more happiness yourself in your sodding life you wouldn't go round knocking others for it."

[Terenia]

Terenia's own face has flushed red with Efaen's words and she steps forward, pulling away from Corliss. "Get out of here, dapsen," she snaps. "Go bother someone else."

<I intend on as much,> Efaen says, but her step takes her forward instead of back. <I merely wanted to remind you that your decision here comes with consequences.>

Before Terenia can so much as blink, Efaen whips her tail forward, in a deadly arc. A long, thin line appears on the bicep of Terenia's right arm as the blade slices through her skin. The slit darkens and splits, allowing thick, crimson blood to flow out freely.

"Ahh!" Terenia clamps her left hand over the wound, but it does little to stop the sticky substance from winding down her arm and dripping from her fingertips to the floor. "What the ****!?" Terenia snaps.

<You will be unable to morph that wound away. I hope that serves to remind you of the pains that you have inflicted upon me. I daresay that may scar,> Efaen sneers. <It is nice to know that you can no longer escape your mistakes.>

"Dapsen!" Terenia screeches, moving to attack the Andalite bare-fisted. Immediately, Efaen's blade is at her throat. A wordless snarl of frustration escapes Terenia, but she cannot move.

<No, human,> Efaen says, clearly amused. <this is not a battle that you can win.> She turns her tail blade to the side, pushing the flat of it against Terenia's chest. <It is time that you learned your place in this war.>

Terenia stumbles back against the table, crying out again.

Efaen finally turns to regard Corliss, her eyes still flat. <Alert me when you are ready to depart, Corliss. You have my assurance that I will not cross paths with this human again, unless necessary.>

[Myitt]

Corliss watches the whole exchange numbly.  It is only until Efaen reminds him of the Andalite's new found acceptance into the rebellion that he snaps out of his shock.  He is dimly aware that Mike's fists are clenched painfully tight at his sides. 

Out of a million retorts none escapes his throat, which is constricted almost as badly as Mike's palms. 

He finally turns to Terenia.  "That bloody dapsen coward," he snarls lowly, crossing the little room to the circulatory water dispenser and wetting a couple of clean red cloths with cool water. 

"Here, let me help you clean this up."  He gently presses them against Terenia's wound, although her dark blood only stains the deep red color, the color of the Yeerk Empire, an even angrier shade of crimson. 

[Terenia]

"I'm going to kill her," Terenia scowls, clenching her teeth and glaring after Efaen as the Andalite's tail, still dripping blood, disappears out the door of the Skimmer. "I'm going to murder her."

She seems fully prepared to charge after the Andalite, but hesitates at Corliss' touch against the cut. She winces slightly, glancing down at the cut. "It isn't deep," she says sullenly, sighing. "Do we really have to live with her?" Despite her anger her stomach flip flops slightly at the idea of her living at the same base as Corliss. She could see him every day, if she wants, a thought that makes her bite her lip.

[Myitt]

Corliss gently dabs at the wound.  "I've got to bandage it, anyway," he murmurs.  "You're bloody lucky, don't reckon you need stitches or even the putty gun."  He looks up at Terenia.  "And yeah, much as I hate to admit it, we do have to live with her.  At least until we can figure a reason to kick her out.  Here.  Hold that down, keep the pressure on."

He lets go of the bloodied cloths and cleans his hands in the tiny sink before setting about gathering human antiseptic ointment, gauze, and bandage tape. 

[Terenia]

Terenia obeys, holding the cloth against the cut and watching him as he moves to the sink. "I hope we find a reason quickly," she sighs. Her gaze drops to the floor, where a small pool of blood has formed. "She's right, though. I'm not going to be able to morph anymore." She shakes her head and tries to use thought-speak. It scares me, she thinks at him, remembering how morphing saved her life not more than two days ago, when Keshin blew off the same arm that is now dripping blood.

[Myitt]

"Is it worth it?  Your old body, permanently, in exchange for your...well, relative invincibility?" he asks gently, peeling away the dampened cloths.  "Hang on.  This might sting a bit." 

He lets the vial of antibiotic hiss a fine mist of clear liquid across the gash in Terenia's arm. 

[Terenia]

"Ow, ****!" Terenia cries, yanking her arm away. "Jeez, maybe it isn't worth it if you're going to freaking make it worse. What the hell is that stuff?" She glares at the antibiotic spray suspiciously, then at her arm, as though expecting it to burst into flames.


Efaen hesitates at the Skimmer's hatch. She does not want to go far, as she is eager to get underway, but she hardly wants to be near Terenia and Corliss. She resolves to go for a brief run until she is needed. It may be some time before I am able to run under the stars again, she reminds herself, descending the ramp.

[Myitt]

"It's going to prevent your arm from falling off," he says with a small, wry smile.  "Now hold still, will ya?"  Corliss unwraps the sterile gauze package and gingerly presses it against the wound.  He only applies pressure while wrapping the bandage firmly with medical tape.  The gauze runs all the way around the circumference of her arm, and already thin spots of red are peeking here and there through the fabric.

"Good as new, then," he says, crumpling up the trash and tossing it into the room's single incinerator panel.  The items ignite with a muffled rush of air. 

[Terenia]

"Thanks," Terenia says softly, taking note of the fact that he did not respond to her private thought. It appeared that thought-speak was also lost to her now. I really am...totally human, she thinks with a swell of emotion. Her eyes follow Corliss, watching him closely. I never would have done it if not for him, she realizes. For them. It would have been too much of a risk. Better to stay with Efaen and risk the Empire.

"Yeah," she says quietly, picking at the bandage with her left hand and returning to his previous question. "Yeah, I think it was worth it." She smiles, a little shyly, "At least, I hope it was."