Galaxy's Edge Space Bar

[Shenmue654]

Keshin snerks slightly. "Classic Andalite arrogance. The only species in the galaxy who can literally say they're smarter than everyone else without batting an eyelash. Hah!" Keshin adjusts his position in the field and sighs out long and hard through Joanne's lips.

He then glances over at Ossanlin and nods. "...without hope is something you could say we've been, yes. With no cure for the illness, Joanne and I have been wandering the galaxy with nothing to look forward to but a good time. Even if we were cured, there is still nowhere for us to go. We have made enemies in the Empire, in the Rebellion..." Keshin chuckles. "...we're about as proper ****ed as two people get. With that said..."

Keshin shakes his head. "...we should probably get back into the Bar. If that's possible. The others are probably wondering if we're even still alive." 

[Luke Skywalker (Ossanlin)]

Ossanlin focuses again on Keshin.  <Note that I did not say 'everyone,' nor did I use the term 'smarter.'  It's clear that the physiological capabilities of the Yeerk's neural network is...superior...in some fashions.  And just because a being has a greater capability for intelligence does not mean that he or she will utilize it.  However, the same amount of effort would yield greater results in an Andalite brain than it would in many others.  Simply put, intelligence is much easier for Andalites to obtain than it is for many other species.  One could say knowledge comes to us freely.>

<If you truly feel well-enough to return to the bar.  Your attacker is likely still in there.  Well...attackers, though you must understand that Myitt was not in control of herself.  She has done some...shocking...t hings in the past, but the man she was in is terribly unstable.  He wishes only to cause disorder and chaos...to spill blood and laugh about it.  That kind of person has no place in this Galaxy.  Not to mention she was...chemically... compromised as well.>

Ossanlin relaxes the field further until it's flexible enough for Keshin to sit up.  <I wish I could offer you a place aboard the Tyrennian, but as it stands I'm once again under the yoke of the Electorate and that of Sector Seven.  A Yeerk aboard an andalite ship would not be possible at this juncture.  I do not know what your relationship is like with the rebels...but they seem able to forgive quite a bit in return for a formidable dracon arm.>

He falls silent for a bit, picking his next words carefully.  <You know, Keshin...performing a frolis nothlitization would not be impossible for you personally either.>

He concentrates on Dalik for a moment.  <Have you satisfied your curiosities, Dalik?>

[Terenia]

Dalik's lip curls, but he keeps himself in check and his anger turns into a smile when Keshin speaks up and practically smugness when Ossanlin acknowledges Yeerk superiority.

"Yes, I'm quite satisfied," he says. "Thank you for reassuring me in my own capabilities. You have quite a pretty toy here, but nothing I couldn't patch together myself."

He steps over to Keshin and Joanne, offering her an arm. "Would you like assistance returning to the bar? I could see you safely before returning to my usual host."

[Luke Skywalker (Ossanlin)]

Ossanlin chuckles to himself...ever the Yeerk, apparently.  He almost senses her internal intent when her host's face exudes a form of smugness.  <You should also note that I said that the Yeerk brain is superior in some regards.  Certainly not all.  For example, Yeerks are much better at mentally forcing their will upon innocent, free sentient beings.>  He shrugs noncommittally.  <No ship is a toy, dear Dalik.  This ship is a honed military machine.  As for your ability to copy it...well, that's generally your entire technological structure, isn't it?  A mildly successful attempt at copying the technology of a more advanced species?>  He keeps his tone neutral.

[Terenia]

Dalik bristles all over again, William's eyes narrowing at Ossanlin. "I see little benefit in building from scratch when you can improve upon what already exists," he responds. His eyes rove around the ship. "Of course this ship is a toy. All technology is a toy. It's also a weapon, and an effective one I'm sure."

He keeps his arm crooked, waiting for Keshin to accept or reject him, but his eyes are on Ossanlin. "We have the capacity for understanding and expanding upon technology in a fraction of the time it took you to initially develop it. Of course Andalites are an intelligent race, but intelligence comes easy when it is uncontested for generations."

[Luke Skywalker (Ossanlin)]

<Improve upon?  I think you mean jerry-rig.  Unless you consider a messy, decaying-beam Dracon that loses more energy over distance and causes an incredible amount of pain and suffering to its victim as it slowly burns through his body to be an "improvement" upon a clean, efficient, high-energy Shredder that is effective over longer distances and kills cleanly.  That's only one example.>

He arches an eyebrow, still keeping his face impassive and his tone neutral.  <That, my dear Dalik, is because it's MUCH easier to build something when someone hands you a working model and blueprints.  Just imagine where we'd be if we hadn't put all that time and effort into actually learning how to use technology on our own?  If someone had just come down from the clouds of our infant world and graciously bestowed the secrets of space travel upon us.  I think we'd look up to our benefactors and thank them...not betray them and start waging a war upon an entire Galaxy we know almost nothing about.>

He pauses, shaking his head a bit.  <You truly believe that greater understanding of reality should be...'contested?'>

[Terenia]

Dalik coughs a laugh. "My people have made mistakes, I'm not denying that, but so have yours. Do I need to make mention of the quantum virus?" He wipes at the drying blood on his chest irritably. "Listen, I am not responsible for the Empire's actions, so do not put them on my shoulders. This war was started before I was spawned." He waves a dismissive hand. "Besides, isn't the nature of technology that it is constantly improved upon, based on previous blueprints? We've developed our own memory technology that is far superior to anything an Andalite could ever create. You've developed morphing technology. Each of our people has technology to be proud of. My point, my Andalite friend is that they all can be improved upon, and easily, if you have the talent for it. I don't 'jerry-rig', as you call it."

[Luke Skywalker (Ossanlin)]

<It's a human term, I thought you'd be familiar with it.>  He turns a palm up, shrugging.  <No Andalite is responsible for the quantum virus besides one Alloran-Semitur-Corass.  He did that all by himself.  And he's living a fate worse than death for it.>

<Perhaps you'd be interested in my knowledge regarding sub-Z travel?  Or my knowledge of a captial-ship cloaking device?  Perhaps you'd enjoy hearing about a new hyper-coil beam half again as powerful as a Shredder, that requires less than half of the energy of a traditional Shredder?  Or would you enjoy seeing specs for a new twin-tail fighter that will leave bugs in the dust?  Or perhaps the method for creating a flex-field shield array?>  He smirks just a bit.  <Do not lecture me upon the merits of improving existing technology.>

[Terenia]

Dalik looks down at himself. "This particular human is from a very different time and place than I'm accustomed to. He's not familiar with it." He sighs, dropping his arm and turning to fully face Ossanlin. "Alloran released the virus, but it took the work of others to help with the development of it, did it not? He was a warrior, not a scientist, and he is not the sole Andalite to blame."

As for improving technology, I don't doubt you champion it, noble Andalite. Nor do I doubt that I can counter each of your projects with one of my own and both would be valuable in some way." Dalik's wave is dismissive and irritated. "But you can only improve upon what you have already been given, and that is all I do. Do not belittle my own progress because I am improving upon existing blueprints when that is exactly what you are doing as well."

[Shenmue654]

"Well this is fascinating," says Keshin, looking between Dalik and Ossanlin as they engage in possibly the oldest argument in the Yeerk-Andalite playbook. Keshin sits up and props Joanne's body up on the field, shoulders slumped carelessly and one leg hanging off as far as the field will let him go. Keshin snickers. "I half expect an Imperial retinue and the Electorate to show up and listen to you and place bets. Yeerk innovation and adaptability versus Andalite creativity and arrogance, the great debate!" Keshin rolls his eyes. "But regardless..."

Keshin glances toward Dalik. "I'd be fine with you accompanying us back to the Bar. It's been a long night and we'd prefer some kind of escort given what happened and that..." Keshin twitches. "...Myitt and that monster of a man are still in there. As for Myitt being in control of herself..."

Keshin nods quietly and firmly. "...I've known Myitt One Nine Five a long time. And what we saw wasn't normal, even by Myitt's standards. She is resentful, not violent, not unless she's defending someone else or herself. But I do want to hear it from Myitt herself."

[Luke Skywalker (Ossanlin)]

Ossanlin arches an eyebrow at Dalik.  Did he really not know the truth?  <Of course it took the work of others.  Specifically that of the Arn.  I suppose you could hold them accountable if you want, aside from the fact that they're likely completely extinct by now.>

He commands the field to slowly dissolve around Keshin so that he and Joanne can adjust to the removal of the field over time instead of having support simply vanish suddenly.  <If you feel confident enough, I see no problem in your return to the bar.>  He shuts off the flow of painkillers.  <The carotid artery should now be even stronger than it was before the laceration.>

[Terenia]

Dalik gives Ossanlin a dark look, but instead of responding he turns back to Keshin. "Let's return to the bar, then," he tells her, offering his arm. He frowns down at his bare, bloodied chest. "Although...would you be opposed to stopping by my ship first? Your blood has caused a bit of a mess, and I should make sure William looks at least marginally civilized."

[Hunter]

Meanwhile, in the Bar

Hunter orders another drink from the Bartender as he takes a drag from his smoke. He blows the smoke up towards the rafters and takes a quick look around the bar. Not that many people here. he thought to himself as he takes a sip from his new drink

[Shenmue654]

Jeffrey sighs. It was pretty clear that Terenia didn't want to talk to him, so he sets his sights on the strange wolf-creature that was drinking his life away at the Bar. Jeffrey smiles slightly and walks over to him, putting a hand on the Bar space just next to him.

"So what's your story then, bub?" says Jeffrey. "Are you people involved in this crazy blue deer-tapeworm war? Or are you an outsider, like me? Different time, different place, different world."
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"We feel pretty confident," says Keshin, nodding firmly. "And thank you again, War-Prince Ossanlin. We will seriously consider what you have on offer while we're both still here, and make our choice."

<<Kess...We need to talk to Myitt. We need to know what happened. We can't just let it stand like this.>> Joanne's thought voice sounded hesitant, and scared. It was clear she both wanted to know and was trying to deflect them from the massive change they could potentially undertake. Keshin could wait. Joanne always had let him know in the past when she had enough mental strength to do something that mattered.

"I'm fine with that," says Keshin to Dalik. He dropped off the medical bed slowly as the field dissipated. He still felt a bit woozy in Joanne's body, but it wasn't horrible. He shifts her weight back and forth, testing it, before glancing at William. "Okay, let's go. I'll let you know if we have any trouble."

[Hunter]

Hunter glances at the human resting a hand on the bar next to him, his purple suit going a dark red to his tritanopic vision. He sniffs a little, taking in the strangely dressed persons scent. Can't quite get a read on this guy. Rad suit though. His ears fold back - whether in relaxation or apprehension, is hard to tell.

"Who you callin' bub, Human?" Hunter snapped, slightly drunk. "I got nothin' to do with those crazy slugs." He took a drag to calm himself, blowing the smoke upwards

"From what I can gather we're all from different worlds. The name's Hunter." He takes a swig from his drink before placing it back on the counter.