The Galactic War: Rogue Element ~The Beginning

[KitsuneMarie]

"I'm not a doctor," Tess pants, looking at the growing crowd with a bit of consternation. "I have no idea what's safe. I just know--" she gives a hissing intake, "that this really hurts." She clenches her eyes shut, gritting her teeth until the wave of intense pain subsides. "Painkiller would be good... if you have it," she murmurs to Enorryma, her dark eyes going worriedly to Keslin and Chris.


"Not terrible odds, really," Illim replies. "We set up three rendez-vous points in case anything like this happened. We very well may find him at one of them."

[Estelore]

<Tess... the only anaesthetics we have available are neural dampeners designed for Andalite metabolisms. I fear anything we attempt here would either be ineffective or would be dangerous to you or your young. I am sorry, but I would not dare risk it.>

[KitsuneMarie]

Tess lets out a bitter curse in response and squeezes her eyes shut again, giving a clenched-teeth groan. At some point, she has started sweating, and her hot pink and black hair sticks to her forehead in stringy locks. "Kes..." she whimpers as another round of contractions begins.

[Myitt]

"Two days," Myitt repeats flatly. "Thanks. No, that's really all I needed." She sighs and turns away from the Andalite warrior abruptly, her distant gaze wandering over the expanse of the Dome.

She doesn't mean to lock eyes with Keshin and Joanne, barely noticing when she does, and she glances away again quickly.

<<We should see where Illim and Terenia have gone off to,>> she murmurs, crossing her arms.

<<And Tess,>> Tara adds. <<My god, she could be in real trouble, real soon.>>

She nods outwardly, heading in Joanne's direction but aiming for the direction Tess and Chris and Enorryma had gone off towards.

[Chad32]

Claxter felt Myitt was indifferent towards him at best. He wasn't sure if he should try to make better friends with her or not. He went to his room for some quiet time. He shut the door, and pulled two rods out of a cabinet. There was nothing special about them, and all he used them for were exercise weights.

He was always impressed that Ossanlin could wield swords as well as fight with his tail. He had never given any thought to using his hands for attacking, and it certainly wasn't in any combat textbook. He had mentioned once that it would be useful if he could train too, though he hadn't really spoken of it since. Mostly because it seemed silly to him, but also because the only one who could really train him had captain duties. Captains were typically too busy to be anyone's personal trainer.. Still, he found some old rods, and in his room he would work his arms some with them. Try to mimic how Ossanlin swung them, and try to manage what grace he could. Sometimes he would mimic tail striking to help him get a good rhythm going.

So far it was more of a way to help kill time and burn energy than a serious regimen.

[Terenia]

"I'm right here, Tess," Keslin says, slipping into control. His trembling hand holds hers, and he watches her helplessly, face pale. "It's alright," he murmurs. "I know it hurts, but think about afterwards. Think about...about our children." His throat catches a little and he brings her hand to his lips, kissing it. "Just let me know what I can do."


Terenia shrugs. "James and Reven are dead," she says dully. "They could have easily stayed behind, with them." She glances at Illim. "Esreth is dead."


Efaen, after spending many long minutes staring at her feet, stands and makes her way out of her quarters. She is restless, and everyone of import seems busy. Making her way to the Dome, she stretches her human legs, breathing the familiar-yet-alien air of the Andalite Homeworld. Finally, she comes to a stop and sends out a private thought-speak message.

<<Ossanlin,>> she calls, unsure if he is close enough to even receive the message. <<When you have a moment, I would like to speak with you. I'm in the Dome.>>

[Luke Skywalker (Ossanlin)]

Ossanlin surveys the situation and ascertains with all the talk of "babies" that this must be human labor.  He'd seen a female Andalite in labor once, but she had been in no pain due to precise implementation of medical practices.  Many Andalites still choose the natural route, though with judicious application of pain-limiting techniques.  Ossanlin knows that he, himself, was conceived and born by natural means.  He has no doubt that his parents still indulge in tail-twining to this day.

He quickly accesses the ship's priority communication and contacts Varekil.  The field medic had taken over the med-bay temporarily.  <<Varekil, bring a mobile medic station to dome quarters immediately.  We have a human female preparing to birth young.>>

The young Warrior is silent a moment before replying with a <<Yes, sir.>>

He directs a private thought to Enorryma.  <<I have sent for Varekil to bring a mobile med-station...if it's not too much to ask of you, I'd like you to remain here.  I understand that human females are uncomfortable with males seeing them nude.  I will be of little help and I do not wish to be a source of excess stress.  I do not know what we will be able to do if there is dystocia.>>

He nods to Tess and Keslin.  <I have sent for our field medic, he is bringing a mobile medical station here.  Enorryma will keep me abreast of the situation...please share any useful information that either of you might have with her and Varekil.  I will return when you have stabilized, I do not wish to be a source of external stress.>

He falls silent as the door slides open and Varekil trots in pushing a hovering vital station.  <<Sir, I do not know what you expect of me...I know nothing of human physiology.>>

<<I know that, Varekil.  Ask questions of the humans and listen.  You will do well.>>

The look on Varekil's face says otherwise, but he pushes the floating cart up next to Tess and begins interfacing the vitals computer with Tess's body as best he can.

At that point, Ossanlin hears Efaen calling from the Dome.  He grimaces, but nods to Enorryma, Varekil, and the humans.  <If you will all excuse me.>

He turns and egresses into the dome, shutting the door behind himself.  He trots into the artificial meadow at a slow pace, the wall fading out behind him into a scene of grasslands.  As he approaches Efaen, he sends her a private message.  <<What is it, Warrior?>>

[Estelore]

Enorryma hears Ossanlin's orders and generally agrees: the room would be too cramped, anyway, with this many adult Andalites in it.

<<Yes, Sir.>>

She was relieved to have Varekil here, if only because a professional medical presence would make the situation calmer in general.

[KitsuneMarie]

"Just stay with me," Tess replies to Keslin and Chris through teeth clenched with pain, her forehead a mess of wrinkles.

She turns her dark eyes on Ossanlin and then squeezes her eyes shut, trying to focus on anything but the terrible, repetitive pain that keeps coming in ever faster waves. "This has to be a universal first," she tries for a laugh in response to Ossanlin's orders, but it comes out as almost a groan.


Illim sighs with a nod, looking down at his lap. "You don't know Corliss was with them," he insists quietly but the wind seems to have been taken from his sails.

[Shenmue654]

Keshin notices Myitt's glance in their direction. Myitt...he needs to talk to Myitt. The situation is so maddening that even the most unfriendly friendly face would help. Even Myitt, after every time they had met. Keshin held up his arm as Myitt came towards him, hoping that the Yeerk would pay attention.

"Wait! Wait, just.....where are you going?" said Keshin awkwardly. "And can we help? Look, you're the only person we know on this entire boat other than the captain. And we tried to kill hi---okay, we tried to kill you too, but..."

This was already getting ridiculous. He wondered what in the world he was thinking. "...we need time to talk, and to make what amends are even possible. You're going to need every able, sane, skilled person you can get on your side, and we have no other option but to work with you."

[Terenia]

"I'm not going anywhere," Keslin breathes. In truth, he's terrified to move. All thoughts of the rebellion and his role as leader are shoved aside in light of Tess' pain and he stays beside her, comforting her as best he can.


Terenia doesn't say anything to this. She just leans against Illim and sniffles, her shoulders slumping hopelessly.


Efaen pales a little at Ossanlin's approach, but she stands her ground, reaching up to tuck a curl back behind her ear. "We were followed, weren't we?" she says quietly, her eyes on him. "That's why we jumped twice?"

[Luke Skywalker (Ossanlin)]

Ossanlin stops in front of Efaen and remains silent for a moment before nodding.  <Yes, we were followed...we've lost them for now.  We should have a few more days worth of peace at least.>

Ossanlin falls silent again as he regards Efaen's human morph.  In truth, she presents a much graver danger than Joanne or Keshin.  He'd been trying to come up with some sort of a solution to this little snarl...only one thing kept popping up in his mind.  <I believe they managed to trace the Mirage's Z-Space trajectory somehow.>

He's fairly certain it hadn't been because of her...not yet at least.  She would still be carrying the chip.  The biochip that he'd implanted in her himself, before the rebels had erased her memory, and therein lay the gravest threat.  It would only be a matter of time...at least a week more as propriety would demand, but probably not much longer than that.  Sector Seven would find the records about Efaen's halcyon chip...and they would find its broadcast information.  With that, they would be able to find Efaen anywhere within the Galaxy...and through her, the Tyrennian and everyone onboard.  He arches an eyebrow at the morphed Andalite female, wondering if she, herself, had finally remembered about that.

[Terenia]

"It wasn't because of me," Efaen confirms firmly. The tracking device has, apparently, crossed her mind. She chews on her bottom lip for a moment, thinking through what that might mean. She is not foolish enough to think that the Andalites pursuing them will not use her against the rebels if at all possible. Nor does she have any faith in the knowledge of the biochip remaining a secret.

"How long do I have before they will be able to track me?" she asks plainly. "And is there anything we can do to prevent it?"

[Luke Skywalker (Ossanlin)]

Ossanlin nods more to himself than anything.  Efaen might claim to hate her heritage now, but she clearly still held on to her Andalite intelligence.  What a mess.  He switches to private thought.

<<Sector Seven is not aware of your halcyon chip.  Not yet.  I managed to keep that information to myself.  However, there is note of it within my personal records...records which, by custom, remain closed to all eyes for one standard month in honor of my death.  An old custom, to be sure...supposedly waiting one month to investigate or alter a person's personal effects is a show of faith in a person's possible return.  Sector Seven would break that custom if they thought to gain benefit through it, but they have no reason to believe that.  And the People would be outraged with such a breach in the case of myself.  So we should have at least one standard week left...perhaps a few days longer than that.>>

Ossanlin pauses, giving Efaen a serious look before continuing.  <<The halcyon chip is meant to be fool-proof...but there is a possibility...there's no guarantee it will work, but it's the only way to have even the slightest chance at success...>>  He pauses again, locking his main eyes with Efaen's.  <<Death.  Followed by surgical excision.  And then attempted revival.>>  He holds Efaen's gaze with his own.  <<We would have to cease all of your vital functions.  No heartbeats, no respiration, no blood-flow of any kind.  The chip would have to be removed physically...and that is difficult, seeing that it matches your own tissues.  If even a tiny piece remains after we revive you, there's a chance that it could use your own healing processes to regenerate.  And, of course, revival isn't a stroll through the meadow.  There's no guarantee there won't be cellular damage, especially neural damage, due to the lack of vitals.>>  He shakes his head, dissatisfied with his own answer, but it's the only solution.  <<There is no other choice, Efaen.>>  He doesn't mention that the only individual on the ship with any advanced medical training has only received enough of said training to be a field-medic.

[Terenia]

Efaen swallows, dropping her gaze. "I had presumed as much," she says blandly, fidgeting. She doesn't say anything else for a long moment, debating with herself internally. On the one hand, her survival instinct utterly resists the idea. Beyond the risks that are inherent there is the added fact that no one her is particularly fond of her. It would be easy for something to conveniently go wrong. Easy to pretend that they could not rouse her despite her best efforts.

On the other hand, she does want to help these people. The rebels, at the very least, who have lost so much and who, even if they seem to have forgotten it themselves, offered her a home.

She lets out a slow breath. <<There is another option,>> Efaen says, switching to private thought-speak herself. <<You could give me a ship, and I could set out on my own. Once they begin tracking me, it will pull them away from this ship. They know I was stationed at Corvus, it will not take much for them to connect my disappearance with you. If they turn their energies towards tracking me down, it may buy you time.>>