The Galactic War: Rogue Element ~The Beginning

[Luke Skywalker (Ossanlin)]

Ossanlin makes his way through the Dome.  <You realize I will either have to imprison this Taxxon, or keep it under constant and heavy guard...we have no meat aboard aside from that which is still living....>

He continues to the ramp-well, descending several levels, emerging in the hangars.  He makes his way toward the irregular hangar.  <Do you have any ideas?>  He keeps a stalk eye on Keslin.

[Terenia]

"If we plan on keeping him, we will have to obtain meat," Keslin says simply. "Taxxons can survive on the same protein packs as humans for a very limited time, but their digestive systems are much more demanding than a human's is. Honestly, it's a miracle this Taxxon is still alive at all." He sighs a little, shoulders slouching as he walks. He can't help but feel responsible for even the Taxxon's fate, little as he likes Taxxons. "This Taxxon deserves to live as much as any human or Hork-Bajir," he finally says. "We need to find a way to make that happen. If we play favorites, we're no better than the Empire."

He hesitate, then adds, "But, yes, he should be kept under a heavy guard. For everyone's safety."

[Luke Skywalker (Ossanlin)]

Ossanlin arrives at the hangar as the ship is being towed into the hangar.  <This presents difficulties we may not be able to deal with.>  Ossanlin says matter-of-factly.  <Stasis may be the only solution to preserve its life.>  Ossanlin waits for the Taxxon controller to emerge from the fighter.

[Aluminator (Kit)]

Aetheas listens to Claxter's message with little surprise. Claxter is definitely describing the Warrior that Aetheas has just spoken to. In spite of his fresh, nagging doubts about Claxter's own honesty, Aetheas felt somewhat reassured by Claxter's statement that Ferxal wouldn't attack unprovoked. He hesitates another moment, then sends the Prince another message,

<Would Ferxal have any reason to lie about you? Would he have any reason to seek you out? Would he have any reason to hold a grudge?> They sound, he thinks, like fairly professional questions, but he can feel that he's asking more to sate his own curiosity than his is for the safety of the ship.


Varit catches sight of a ship approaching out the window. Initially his insides turn and his hearts pump harder-- it's Andalite!-- but its a matter of moments before he feels himself growing lightheaded again.

<<It's just a tailfighter,>> his host tells him reassuringly, recognizing the overall shape of the craft. <<We can take them.>> Varit is startled by how complacent Resseliss sounds-- the lack of air is affecting his brain, he realizes.

<<I don't think...>> Varit begins, but he stops as the shape grows larger and larger outside the window. This is no tailfighter. This thing is huge. It keeps growing and growing.

<<It's a dome ship,>> he says, his growing panic battling with his lightheadedness. The hull shudders as a tractor latches on.

<<We should run,>> says Resseliss some moments later. The larger ship is enveloping them now

<<We should,>> Varit replies, glancing at the controls. They're so far away-- he reaches for them, from his spot lying on the floor. When did he end up on the floor? It's so comfortable... was it really worth getting up and moving all that way just to avoid dying?

He's still working up the energy to hit the throttle when a gentle bump signifies that the damaged bug has touched down on the floor of the hangar.

[Chad32]

<He was always pretty honest. Maybe a bit too frank with his feelings. I hope he hasn't been seeking me out. I wouldn't say it's impossible that Prince Foosal, my former Prince, might send someone to have me killed. Still, that was a while ago. If something like that were going to happen, it would be sooner than this. I don't think Ferxal holds grudges. He's all about keeping any emotions contained, and looking at things from a practical viewpoint. That's why I don't think he'll attack anyone unprovoked, even a controller.>

[Shenmue654]

It didn't take long before Keshin spotted a familiar face. It was that Andalite he'd spoken to some time ago, the one with the limp tail who seemed afraid that he'd nearly killed the War-Prince. They'd had a few conversations more recently, but nothing complicated. However, he'd heard that the Andalite had been promoted. If he wanted to get close to the Dome Ship's plans or even to an end to their isolation, it might be a fine idea to befriend the officer. Still, the Andalite was wary of him....

<He looks warier than usual, man. Somethin's buggin' the sucker.>

<I think, from the chatter around, that new people are entering the ship. Weird new people.>

<Only one way to find out.>

Keshin wandered towards the unusual Andalite and spoke. ".... Aetheas, wasn't it? We heard you got promoted after what happened to your superior. Everyone seems..." Keshin looks about him. "...tense today."

[Terenia]

"As long as the life is preserved," Keslin says sternly. "I won't have any of my people sacrificed. And this Taxxon is one of my people."

<<Gross.>>

<<Not helpful, Chris.>>

Keslin waits for the Varit to exit the fighter, rocking back on his heels and frowning at the old ship. It seems impossibly small, despite the fact that he called such a ship home for nearly ten years.

The minutes tick by and Keslin becomes more and more uneasy. "Perhaps we should contact him," Keslin suggests, stepping towards the ship and glancing back to Ossanlin. "Your thought-speak may be more effective than my screaming through the hull, but let him know I'm here, eh? The last thing I want is a panicked Taxxon."

[Luke Skywalker (Ossanlin)]

<Panic is likely still the lesser concern where a Taxxon is involved.>  Ossanlin signals to the security team that Serid had dispatched to surround the fighter's exit.

<Ho, Varit...I am Ossanlin-Rethin-Sephirel, Captain of this vessel.  Keslin is here with me.  We need you to open your hatch and emerge slowly.>  Ossanlin commands his own Warriors to place their Shredders on stun setting, and watches as one of them has to do so...that shouldn't be the case, they all knew to use stun settings onboard, but there was a lot of unease these days.  They had been informed that they would be escorting a Taxxon...that meant everything to some.

Ossanlin directs a stalk-eye at Keslin.  <<I do not like to see life snuffed out either, but let us not forget that the Taxxons voluntarily offered themselves to the Empire.>>

[Terenia]

"And Yeerks voluntarily created the Empire. And Andalites willingly destroyed a planet full of innocents in the Hork-Bajir war," Keslin returns, glancing at Ossanlin. "Yet here we are." He raises his light eyebrows, keepiing an eye on the hatch. "You should know better, Ossanlin, than to judge an entire species based on the actions of its masses. I admire any Taxxon that is capable of valuing independent, free thought in light of their more basic instincts. They may be unsavory creatures, but they are not all alike."

[Luke Skywalker (Ossanlin)]

<<And you, of all people, should realize that I do not judge others based on species alone...but Taxxons are different.  They are of one mind...literally, a hive mind.  I don't see how one could ever trust a creature like that when the mind once decided to favor the Empire.>>  Ossanlin falls silent for a few moments, still waiting.  The comment about the Hork-Bajir had been a bit of a low blow...one Andalite had been truly responsible for that, and he was now trapped in a living hell as his just desserts.

<<If this one is capable of independent thought, it is an aberration, or perhaps an evolution...somethi ng like a Hork-Bajir seer.  As such, that alone would demand its preservation.>>  Ossanlin furrows his brow.  <<If it ever emerges...>>

He opens a comm channel with Varekil and requests his presence in the hangar...perhaps the controller was injured, and if that was the case...what in the Homeworld could they do for an injured Taxxon?

[Aluminator (Kit)]

Aetheas's hearts sink ever-so-slightly when Claxter confirms Ferxal's honest nature. So he had deserted as a coward, he seems to be admitting. He resolves to watch future exchanges between Claxter and Ferxal closely.

He jumps when he's addressed directly by... by that Keshin creature. It's normally nearly impossible to sneak up on an Andalite, but he'd been lost in his thoughts. He tenses up-- to say he's still not comfortable having this particular Yeerk aboard would be an understatement.

He nods a stalk-eye and turns to walk the dome's perimeter. <The rendezvous we check today is last location at which we can reasonably expect to find members of the Rebellion,> he says stiffly. <We have so far found one Andalite Warrior,> he gestures vaguely in Ferxal's direction, <but no Rebels that I am aware of. We were hoping to find the remainder of the Rebellion today.> He glances up, through the dome at the stars. <I am unsure whether it is a good sign that we are still in normal space.>


Varit happens to look at the simulated air-pressure gauge on one of the displays in the ship, and notices that now, rather than creeping slowly down, it's creeping slowly upwards. Good. That's good.

Finally, finally, he works up the energy to stand, but the effort leaves him panting. How had he ever moved so easily, when every movement is a painful battle?

He opens the hatch.

He's immediately hit by a breeze as air fills the damaged Bug. The sudden increase in pressure causes him to let out a short, surprised shriek of pain as his body recaptures its precious, precious air.

He stands, hunched against the console, marveling at the fact that he can breathe again. Air! Air had never felt so good!

Within moments, though, he begins to take stock of his situation. He's aboard an Andalite ship... and he's already being called out. For the briefest moment, he's tempted to power up and try to blast his way out of here... to grab a Dracon and go down fighting... but no. No, he will have to live to fight another day. Besides, Keslin had said... had said...

He heads for the open hatch and stops. The sight of Chris, standing, surrounded by Andalites... it's a shocking dichotomy, to say the least, especially after it was the Andalites who'd attacked them in the first place.

<<We're dead,>> says Resseliss, eying the big Andalite standing closest to Chris.

Varit slowly makes his way out of the ship. He stumbles as he crosses the threshold, nearly falling over. Still weak from the lack of air. He raises his claws, showing that he's unarmed, and looks questioningly at the Andalite guards, awaiting their move.

[Shenmue654]

"After what we've heard about Sector Seven, I'm less than thrilled about our current location too," states Keshin with a shrug, wandering closer to Aetheas and maintaining eye contact with his main eyes. "....I can't figure that entire situation out. We unintentionally got dragged into the War-Prince's **** fight with the Andalite Temser. "

"By the way..." states Keshin, probing for information. "...have any of the Rebellion members who have come on earlier brought supplies with them, or is it just the members themselves?"

Keshin and Joanne's medical situation was continuing to get more problematic. It was starting to look like he was going to have to either beg Ossanlin for the use of an Escafil device, or find something on this ship that was worth enough to Salem to save Joanne's life. He still had a bit of time, but it was not enough.

[Luke Skywalker (Ossanlin)]

Ossanlin represses the recoil he feels at seeing the Taxxon.  The things were...well...they were disturbing, and the fact that the hive mind had chosen the Empire sets Ossanlin on his guard.  Well, more-so than usual.  Ossanlin had noticed the loud intake of air the ship had taken when the controller had popped the hatch.  So...this one had been nearly dead.  He represses the niggling little thought that it would've been better for them to have been just a few minutes later with their rescue.

<Your name is Varit, I am told.  Once again, I am Ossanlin-Rethin-Sephirel, Captain of the Tyrennian.  Please understand, the guards are not here to hold you prisoner...they are here to keep everyone safe.>  He allows the implications to hang in the air without voicing them, and falls silent, waiting for Keslin to speak his piece to the controller.

[Chad32]

Xevec and Derrel hadn't been doing a whole lot in the past week. They hadn't been trusted enough to keep busy with helping, like Derrel preferred to do. He usually liked to be seen being useful, even though he did live with people that didn't demand that you always be useful to be willing to have you around. Xevec himself hadn't gotten far in developing some sort of escape plan in case things went wrong, but he was starting to get the idea that these Andalites weren't just hauling everyone back to Corvus or some other dismal place. They were starting to settle down, though Xevec was never completely settled even with people Derrel was certain weren't going to stab him in the back as soon as he turned around.

They were supposed to reach the last rendezvous point today, so he went out to the dome to see if anyone else was joining them. He noticed a new Andalite face that Serid and Aurellia were hanging out with. He had made sure to get everyone's name, as opposed to some controllers that just called them Andalites. If there was any info he could get on individuals, at least names weren't hard. After a moment, he realized that the two were watching him more closely than people normally did around others. Maybe they just picked up a new guy and were on watch. He kept an eye on them from afar, wondering if he could use this somehow.

[Terenia]

Keslin's saving grace in hiding his revulsion is in his practice. Years of living around -- and within -- Taxxons have lent him a tenuous understanding of the creatures.

<<They're still ugly as hell,>> Chris says, picking up on Keslin's thoughts.

Drawing himself up straighter, Keslin takes a step forward, towards Varit. His smile is only a little forced -- he is, truly, glad to see another one of his people alive. Even under such complicated circumstances.

"Varit," he says, nodding. He raises his own hands, keeping them far from his Dracon. "It is good to see you alive, cousin."

He takes another step forward, remaining wary of the Taxxon's teeth, but wanting to show Ossanlin that he trusts Varit. "These people...these Andalites," Keslin continues, "they have helped us. Those of us that survived. They are providing us a home, for now." His eyes look over Varit, curious. "I thought you had a human host, when I last saw you." He inclines his head a little. "I'm afraid I cannot recall your current host's name, but I am grateful to see that the Taxxons will continue to be represented within the rebellion."