The Galactic War: Rogue Element ~The Beginning

[Luke Skywalker (Ossanlin)]

Ossanlin steps forward behind Claxter, looking around the inside of the Skimmer.  It's remarkably well-maintained considering all of the circumstances.  He notes Farrah's reaction with a bit of relief.  Of course, that doesn't mean they will continue to be friendly after all of the information comes out.

He retrieves the pants from "Nefitt," and then attempts to look around with his stalk-eyes, only to be sorely disappointed.  How had these humans ever managed to evolve with so little in the way of defense?  Ossanlin instead rotates his head around.  He finds the wall he'd been searching for, and leans his back against it in order to lift a leg into the air...he might've gotten somewhat accustomed to two legs and no tail, but he doesn't trust himself to keep his balance with a single leg alone.  After pulling the pants up and settling the elastic waist around his midriff, Ossanlin stands straight again, re-crossing his arms over his chest.  Confidence, confidence, confidence.  He nods to "Xevec," still remaining silent.  Keslin would know how best to answer the questions lingering within the other controllers' eyes.  Ossanlin, himself, would not speak unless addressed directly, as had been the case with Claxter.

[Shenmue654]

Keshin listens to the elder Andalite's explanation on morphing technology, and how the military has come to rely on what the scientist seems to think of as second-rate alchemy. He can't really blame the guy, given his profession, but he's far more interested in the bitter and twisted response of the younger Andalite. What was his name? It was always so difficult to tell one of these people apart from another.

"Wait," Keshin says in as strong a voice as he can manage out of Joanne, holding out his hand in a "Stop" position. "I want to walk with you, if you don't mind a Yeerk beside you. We're no longer part of the Empire because I couldn't bear what twisted bureaucrats would do with my host if they found out about our...problem. In the name of power. We might not be so different..Andalite ."

Even Keshin had little idea of why he was doing what he was doing here. Perhaps it was just interesting to him that one of this wretched, arrogant little race thought in much the same way as he did, several years ago.

[Terenia]

Nefitt frowns at Ossanlin's awkwardness in clothing himself, but he steps back, giving the stranger space and looking to Farrah for further instructions.

"Xevec, Nefitt, it's good to see you. Kevin as well," Keslin says with a smile. "Farrah, how is Isren holding up?"

"She's been quiet since the attacks," Farrah says, her smile sad. "We all lost quite a few people. Keslin...we haven't been able to locate Sam and Kalnath. Or Issid or Miles or..." She trails off, a spasm of grief crossing her expression.

Keslin doesn't let his own emotion show, though a wave of hopelessness hits Chris in their shared mind. "Who do you have?" he asks quietly.

"Those of us here, on this ship. Dan and Haviss. Firin and Rythil. A few others. Not many, though. Not enough."

Keslin nods. "That's alright. There are other rendezvous points and our people are strong. The other survivors will find us." He lets out a low breath. "For now, let's deal with what we have. I want you to do a memory dump on me, Farrah. I need you to see firsthand what happened to us, and I don't want you doubting its authenticity."

Swallowing hard, Farrah nods, going over to one of the compartments to retrieve the probes. "Who are your friends?" she asks, glancing back at the two men curiously.

"That's one of the things I think you should see the memory dump before I explain," Keslin says levelly. "Please, Farrah. It will be easier this way."

Farrah hesitates, then nods, closing the distance between herself and Keslin, placing the edge of one of the sterilized probes at his ear. It seems to come to life, snaking its way into Chris' skull until it finds the Yeerk flesh stretched around his brain.

A holoscreen pops up, and Farrah widens it so that Xevec and Nefitt can see the events as they play out. As she interfaces directly with Keslin's memories, she brings them manually up through to his last days on base, followed by the enduring darkness and pain of capture, imprisoned within his cell, not knowing where he was or what happened to the people he loved. There is a long stretch of darkness during his imprisonment, contrasting with the sudden brightness of his return to Chris. The images slide along in fast forward; Keslin's realization that they are on an Andalite ship, his introduction to Ossanlin, the birth of his children, the death of one, and the tentative allegience that the surviving rebels have made with Ossanlin's crew. The memories slowly settle into the present, effectively revealing the identities of his two companions.


Nefitt watches the memories with a scrutinizing eye. As soon as he realizes that Andalites are involved he jerks physically, his hand going straight to his holster and pulling his Dracon.

"Andalites," he hisses, bringing the weapon to bear on Ossanlin. He does not pull the trigger, but he does draw a bead on the morphed Andalite's chest.

[Luke Skywalker (Ossanlin)]

Ossanlin watches the memories play back and admits that the Yeerks' technology in this area out-strips that of the Andalites.  The images are pure, perfect visual representations, much like playing back a video-file on a computer.  Ossanlin takes a deep breath as he sees the injuries his morphed body had sustained from the chemical shower...he hadn't realized the burns had been that extensive, or that bad.  Otherwise, he watches with an impassive eye until the images resolve to the present.

His eyes jerk over to Nefitt as he draws and levels his weapon.  He returns the Yeerk's gaze calmly.  He resolves to use normal speech to try and soothe the Yeerk.  "We are no threat to you.  We are unarmed, per your requirements.  Our human bodies have no natural defenses besides fists and...feet.  Those are easily nullified by your possession of Dracon weapons.  You would be able to shoot us both long before either of us could demorph, so do you really feel it's necessary to hold your weapon to bear?"

Ossanlin looks around at all the Yeerks.  "Yes, I am Ossanlin-Rethin-Sephirel.  An andalite, and not your enemy.  If I may have your assurances that you will not harm myself or my Command Warrior, I will submit myself for one of your memory probes if you doubt my word."

[Chad32]

"You have got to be ****ting me!" Xevec said, looking back and forth between Keslin and the Andalites in morph, as if he can't decide who to direct his fury at first. "You got captured by a group of Andalites, removed from that place by a different group of andalites, and LED THEM RIGHT TO US!?"

<<Calm down Xevec.>> Derrel said.

<<Calm down? Give me one good reason I should be anywhere close to calm!>>

<<Because I know this guy. From the bar. He's the guy that helped Terenia.>>

<<So what?>>

<<So, this is an Andalite, who met someone who held an involuntary Andalite host, who has an abrasive personality to say the least, and HELPED her instead of starving her out.>>

Xevec stood and fumed a bit, as he forced himself to use his indoor voice. "What made you think this was a good idea, Keslin? Obviously they're not attacking us right now, but that's because they expect us to file into their ship like little sheep to be carted off back to Corvis or who knows where."

He looked at Ossanlin. "My host, Derrel, wants me to give you a shot, since he says he knows you. You bet you're getting scanned."


Claxter considered demorphing, now that everyone knew the truth, but felt that might incite Xevec or the others. Unless he saw his Prince demorph, he's try to keep practicing that true bravery Ossanlin spoke of and stay Human. He moved between Ossanlin and Neffit. Not that it would help much.

[Terenia]

"I didn't think it was a good idea, Xevec," Keslin says, wincing a little as the memory probes snake their way out of Chris' head. "It was our only option. It is our only option, for right now."

Nefitt squares his shoulders, eyes narrowed at Ossanlin, nodding in agreement with Xevec. "The Andalites destroyed everything we had, everything you helped to build, Keslin. How do you know they aren't still using you?"

"I don't," Keslin admits. "They might very well be using all of us, but right now I'd rather be used than dead. Our people have been killed and hunted and tortured. We're scattered across the galaxy, and Ossanlin is offering us a place to regroup. Our Council is decimated, Nefitt. Myitt and I are the only ones left. We had to make a decision, and the Andalites can provide us with Kandrona and food and shelter until we figure out what to do."

Farrah, who has been silent during the exchange, looks up at this. "You and Myitt..." she echoes. "But surely Reven--?"

"No. Reven is dead," Keslin says, surprising himself with how steady he is able to keep his voice. "Corliss is missing. Tora is missing. Right now, what I need from you is patience, and a little bit of trust. Xevec, listen to Derrel. Nefitt, please lower your weapon."

It is with gritted teeth and shaking hands that Nefitt shoves his weapon into his holster, folding his arms across his chest and continuing to glare. "If you are leading us into a trap, Keslin, you will pay for it."

"I understand," Keslin says placatingly. "For now, why don't you run a memory dump on Ossanlin and Claxter. They only have so much time in their human forms."

<<And I'm fairly sure that if they tried to demorph here either Xevec or Nefitt would kill them before they got halfway through,>> Keslin adds silently to Chris.

"Memory dump. Right," Farrah says, blinking out of a trance. Her eyes had gone blank, lost in some internal conversation with Isrean. "Um..." She frowns at the two Andalites. "Which of you would like to go first?" She asks the question with exaggerated politeness, smiling a little anxiously.

<<So far so good, eh?>> Chris says. <<Could be worse. Xevec's always been a bit of a loose cannon, and Nefitt isn't the sort to disobey orders, even if he doesn't agree with them.>>

<<We will see.>>

[Luke Skywalker (Ossanlin)]

Ossanlin glances around at the Yeerks.  "If your assurances are given, I will volunteer myself.  I am the driving force behind the Andalites here.  While they have followed the path that I have set for their own reasons, a portion of their reasoning is in the following.  I believe you will glean more of what you want from me."  He uncrosses his arms and pats Claxter's shoulder, stepping past him toward Farah.  As a human, he is not terribly imposing...halfway between Tara and Mike's height with straight black shoulder-length hair, blue eyes (likely from his Silver Blade exposure which seems to permeate him in cross-dimensional ways), and a frame that might be called "lithe," but not muscular.

He makes eye-contact with Farah, switching to conversational thought-speech.  <I expect to emerge from this process in the same condition in which I am entering into it, and in a timely manner.  At the least, you will see the difference between myself and those of my species whom decimated you.>  He crosses his arms over his chest again, presenting himself to Farrah

[Chad32]

"I still don't like it." Xevec said. He couldn't really think of another option besides what Keslin had done. It's not like they knew where this Corvis place was, or even how to get them out of a roaming dome ship. "I swear, if any of you guys sell us out to the Andalites I will take you with me. I did not join this group just so I could pal around with gr-Andalites mere months later." He said, keeping himself from saying grass eater. "At least if we're going, I'm taking my bugfighter with me."

<<You didn't really have much of a choice, after your imperial comrades betrayed you. I know these aren't our people, but they're in the same boat.>> Derrel said.

"They don't have a way to trick memory scans, do they?"


Claxter didn't relish having his memory scanned. It was already a tense situation. What if they noticed his...less than pleasant thoughts about Terenia? Back when he threatened to throw her in a cell if she threatened Efaen, he was really thinking he'd shred her to atoms. What if they glimpsed the memories of his first battle? He REALLY didn't want to relive that.

[Aluminator (Kit)]

<Andalites are nothing like Yeerks,> Aetheas says sharply as he walks into the corridor. He pauses for a moment, then turns in the direction of the dome. <I would not object to company,> he says, his tone... possibly apologetic? His stalk-eyes sweep Joanne up and down, and he frowns. <What problem would cause the Empire to be upset with you?>

[Shenmue654]

Keshin follows Aetheas, giving him a vaguely sympathetic smile. Or at least the best one he can come up with--- He's spent years in her head and she's still more natural at it than he is. Luckily the Andalite wasn't likely to care how socially apt he was.

Keshin raises Joanne's hand, pulling the tips of her fingers in slightly as if grasping something in midair or checking to see if his connection still works. "Upset? Mmm..." Keshin frowns, as if wondering how to describe this. "...more that I was upset with them, and preemptively left my country before it might damage my host. My host is a..a mutant, if you will. The mutation will end her life."

"If they had found out that the mutation had benefits as well as downsides, they would have ripped her apart to understand how it works and then left her to die. That's why."

[Aluminator (Kit)]

<Mutation?> Aetheas echoes, giving Keshin a closer, more appraising look. He hasn't had time to read up on all of the rebels who've joined them, and this comes as news to him.

He makes a noise of bemused agreement when she describes what the Empire would do. <The Andalite government behaves similarly. They believe that no one is worth more than the greater good, and their definition of 'greater good' seems to change on a whim,> he gestures back towards the med-bay. <I am the other side of that problem. As a vecol, the Electorate would simply allow me to disappear if I didn't raise their attention.> He fixes her with a steady stare, <I still find it intriguing that you rebels apparently value your hosts' lives over the Empire, when so many of your brethren do not.>

[Terenia]

Farrah nods slowly. "It will not hurt, and I won't...alter you," she says, giving him a hesitant smile. Her original shock at being in the presence of an Andalite is slowly giving way to fascination, though her expression remains pleasantly neutral. "I don't even know how, honestly. I'm a neuro-scientist, not a computer programmer. The memory technology is beyond me, save a simple dump and analysis."

<<Be careful,>> Isren warns silently, his own emotions towards the Andalite far more prickly, though he does not assert control. <<Andalites are notorious for their lies.>>

She approaches Ossanlin slowly, not wanting to alarm him. "If you'll allow me?" she asks, holding up the self-sterilizing probe, ready to insert it into his ear when he gives the go-ahead.


Nefitt glances over at Xevec. "I may be joining you on your fighter," he says flatly, having absolutely no desire to remain in the presence of the Andalites, allies or not. "You need someone to work weapons if things go badly."

Keslin shoots Nefitt a sharp look. "Nothing is going to go badly," he says. "We just need to stay calm and take things step by step. I promise you, this will be fine."

<<You sound pretty confident,>> Chris teases.

<<Someone has to,>> Keslin responds soberly, his eyes darting between the various members of the crew. With a slight grimace of distaste, he puts a hand on Claxter's shoulder in what he hopes is a reassuring manner. "The memory scans are only tricked if your own memories have been previously altered," he says. "It's nothing to be concerned about. They won't be able to see everything at once, there's too much data. The only thing they'll be interested in right now is what happened from Corvus on."

<<Yeah, but we'll watch the whole thing later,>> Chris adds silently.

<<The Andalite doesn't need to know that,>> Keslin responds.

[Chad32]

Xevec nodded in agreement with Neffit wanting to go in his ship. "I don't want to have to say I told you so from the next cell over if things go from bad to worse, Keslin. Or Derrel telling Chris that, because apparently I'd be shoved into a container just big enough to hold my body and a bit of liquid. Everyone on the ship should have been sent down here so we could talk privately amongst ourselves, without being watched. Ossanlin likely has something on him right now that lets those fighters hear everything we're saying. We will need that private conversation soon."

[Luke Skywalker (Ossanlin)]

Ossanlin gestures at Farrah.  "Go ahead."  Ossanlin avoids flinching as he experiences the strange sensation of something creeping into his ear.  He grits his human teeth, holding off his desire to rip the device out of his head by sheer willpower.  It felt all too much like a Yeerk snaking its way into his brain.  He does his best not to show his discomfort, but the emotive human face makes it difficult.  He winces as the probe makes its way past the human ear-parts and inside his skull.

[Terenia]

Farrah says nothing about the Andalite's obvious discomfort, busying herself with the holo-display that pops up once the probes fully connect to Ossanlin's temporarily human brain. "It won't take long," she promises and, out of the habit that comes with years of practiced bedside manner, she places a reassuring hand on his shoulder as the holoscreen begins scanning through Ossanlin's life at hyperspeed, downloading all of the data.

Keslin frowns at Xevec. "You're just going to have to trust me," he says, his voice losing some of its polite edge. "If you want to take your own ship, by all means do so, but right now I need your trust and your obedience, understood? Once all of us are together we can begin to discuss what to do."