The Galactic War: Rogue Element ~The Beginning

[Terenia]

Terenia's lip curls a little when Claxter introduces himself. "How the hell would I recognize you? Most of the time I saw you, you were blue." She looks his human morph up and down briefly, then snorts a little. "What threats?"

"When you first realized who I was, you were not particularly...frie ndly, if you will recall" Efaen says quietly. "I believe you tried to attack me."

"Well, yeah," Terenia says, seeming to gain some of her strength back as she rolls her eyes. "I was ****ing pissed off. Wait, you don't actually think I'd kill her, do you?" Terenia laughs, then looks surprised by the sound, as if she had forgotten she could make it. "You idiot, Efaen's only alive because of me, why would I kill her?"

[Chad32]

<You have the gall to ask me why you'd kill someone you once treated as property? Perhaps because you're psychotic.> Claxter said, voice raising not far below yelling. <Efaen was tortured and enslaved because of you. She killed rebels because you invited her so she could continue being a slave after I rescued her from you. Everything that's wrong with her life is because of you. are you saying it was your idea to steal the last thing she had left? What authority did you have to do anything? She worked for Prince Ossanlin, not you or Reven.>

<You have been nothing but a curse on her. Why would I not expect you to kill her? It's not as if being fond of someone prevents you from killing them if they don't conform to your beliefs. You didn't value her as anything more than property the last time I saw you, and the first words out of your mouth the next time was a death threat. For what? You act as if morphing someone is like enslaving them and running off to go work for Visser Three.>

<I ought to have killed you back at the bar when I rescued Efaen, but I'm not a cold blooded murderer like you. You were incredulous when I thought you might kill your sister, and she's dead. Now you're incredulous that I think you might kill Efaen? You're the idiot here. You knew Efaen better than anyone on the galaxy. What did you think was going to happen when you knew she wasn't going to join the rebels as your puppet?>

<Don't you ever pretend that anything you've done has helped Efaen, or done enough to make up for all the harm you caused. If you honestly think you've ever been a good influence on her, you're either a narcissist or in some other way detached from reality.>

[Terenia]

"Claxter!" Efaen hisses aloud, looking appalled.

Terenia goes completely still, blanching a little at Claxter's tirade. When he mentions her sister her chest contracts and her cheeks flush pink. Her hands clench into fists at her side, but she doesn't interrupt, letting the Andalite vent. When he finishes she takes a couple of deep, steadying breaths, not allowing her sometimes explosive anger to take over.

"You've been wanting to say that to me for awhile, haven't you?" she says, keeping her voice as steady as she can, though it is tight with a barrage of emotions. Which, she has to admit,is better than the nothingness she had been feeling moments ago. She takes another deep breath.

"You're right, of course," she murmurs. "Nothing I can do will ever make up for what I put Efaen through, or what happened to my sister. Does that mean that I should give up trying, though?" She shrugs her shoulders. "As you said, I knew Efaen -- the old Efaen -- better than anyone else. That doesn't mean I saw her attack coming. I wanted the rebellion to help her. I didn't like her, but I wanted her to find a home there and be happy, because after what I put her through she deserved some happiness. She didn't have to come with me. I didn't force her."

Efaen shifts uncomfortably, frowning as Terenia talks about a version of herself she does not remember.

"I didn't ever, in a million years, think that Efaen was capable of cold-blooded murder," Terenia continues, her anger beginning to show as she steps forward towards Claxter. "Let alone the mass murder of completely defenseless creatures who did nothing to her. I would have understood if she attacked me, but those Yeerks didn't do a damn thing to her except try and make her feel welcomed. And you know what? I still saved her sorry ass, because I understood that she was ****ed up, and it was my fault. She was sentenced to death, and so long as she was a threat to the rebellion, they would have killed her. You didn't see the trial, Claxter. They were out for her blood."

"Perhaps I should go," Efaen says under her breath, taking a step back, away from Claxter and Terenia, the confrontation putting her on edge.

[Chad32]

<If any place was going to be a home for Efaen, it would have been on Prince Ossanlin's ship, being guided by fellow Andalites away from the propaganda. Not with people she's been raised to hate. If a trial was to be had, it would be with Prince Ossanlin, her superior. You didn't save her. You just wiped her and started conforming her to your views.>

<She wasn't forced into going, but she didn't need to be near you if she was to get better. Have you even accomplished anything good since you left your family?>

Claxter took a few moments to try to calm himself. <My view of you is very one sided. I left the electorate to come find Efaen and help her, and it upset me to hear after all this you were threatening to kill her. Apparently you don't believe you will, but I honestly don't know what you might do. I'm not positive you even know what you're doing. I guess pushing your buttons isn't going to help the situation we're both in.>

Claxter started demorphing. <I need some distance.> he said, moving away from Terenia and Efaen.

[Terenia]

"Now you're blaming me for Efaen's mistakes!" Terenia cries incredulously. "I didn't force her to go or to be near me. She chose that. I didn't keep her from Ossanlin's ship, she did! I only wiped her memories because she would have died otherwise, and god ****ing dammit no one forced her to believe anything! If she's decided to hate you four-legged, arrogant bastards, it's not anything we did. We let Tora -- an Andalite -- take care of her after her memories were wiped. We tried to make sure she learned as much about her ****ing heritage as possible."

When Claxter moves away, Terenia makes an angry, disgusted sound. Her lip quivers for a moment, but then she turns her back on him, pausing briefly to eye Efaen. "I'm glad you're okay," she says quietly, then stalks back towards Illim, looking more herself than she has since Corvus.

"Let's find some ****ing food," she says to Illim pointedly.

Efaen blinks, too taken aback by the unexpected argument to come up with her own retort. After Terenia stomps off she follows Claxter, frowning. <She is right, you know,> Efaen says, using thought-speech as she, too, begins to demorph, sensing that her two hours are almost up. <I spend a good deal of my time with Ertoran, in the beginning. She taught me the Andalite customs, and rituals.>


Keslin walks for what must be a good ten minutes before coming to a halt, clearly turned around. Frowning, he inspects the hallways, then chooses one at random. Eventually, he manages to make his way back to the Dome which, while not his original destination, serves him well enough. He scans the open expanse, taking note immediately of the rebels present in the alien park, but shying away from them. He is not quite ready to answer the questions they no doubt have regarding Tess.

When he gaze falls on a familiar Andalite form -- is he getting better at telling them apart, or is it just the distinctive weapons that help him? -- Keslin's lips settle into a grim smile. He shoves his trembling hands into his pockets and makes his way in the general direction of Ossanlin and Enorryma.

[Luke Skywalker (Ossanlin)]

Ossanlin's stalk eyes catch one of the rebels making their way toward him.  Keslin...definitely Keslin.  He pauses, glancing his main eyes toward Enorryma, his lungs breathing deeply after the short run.  <<Enorryma, please report to the bridge and relieve the night duties.  Make sure we're still on course and take the Command for now.  I sense that Keslin means to speak with me.  Considering the circumstances, it must be important.>>

He falls silent as he hears the piercing voice of an angry human female.  His other stalk-eye catches sight of Terenia, Efaen, and a demorphing Claxter.  He doesn't display the scowl that tries to make its way onto his features.  No doubt Claxter had spoken his mind...he'd have to have a chat with him later...this was no time for unnecessary antagonism.  Terenia was being watched...that should be more than enough for him.

Ossanlin turns toward Keslin and makes his way toward the controller at a more sedate pace, maintaining decorum.  The human looks haggard.  Moreso than he had when he'd been removed from the facility on Corvus.  He stops a good fifteen feet back from the approaching controller, allowing the human and Yeerk to decide how close was comfortable for them.

[Chad32]

<You forced her to be near you the second you decided to kidnap her for your own goals. You're the one who first asked her to come with you. Do you think Corliss would have invited her if not for you? You took her from her life, and when forced to end your service to Visser Three, you opened the window of opportunity for her to harm the rebellion. Before Ossanlin gave you your body back, you only wanted her for a host, and afterwards you said you didn't care, yet you claim this was for her happiness? You threatened to kill her yesterday, yet claim to have forgotten about it, and act shocked that I think you're willing to kill her? You're either a liar, or insane.>

It took him a few moments to process that there was another Andalite among the rebellion. <I'm not sure how to reply to that.> He said to Efaen. <I don't know anything about it, but it doesn't make anything Terenia did right.>

<I shouldn't have followed you over here. Even if it did get it off my chest, I should probably practice more control. I just wanted to give her a mild warning, and look what happened.> He finished demorphing, and trots off to collect himself.

[Terenia]

Efaen hesitates, finishing her own demorph before she follows Claxter, keeping a distance of several feet in case he does not want to speak to her.

<I do not entirely understand,> Efaen says after a brief hesitation, <why Terenia's actions anger you so much. I know she has done many terrible things, but it seems as if very few, if any, of them have affected you directly, and I am certain that most of the people here have done terrible things. Myself included.> All four of her eyes watch Claxter, curious and a little timid.


Keslin comes to a stop a few feet in front of Ossanlin, instinctively keeping himself out of reach of the Andalite's tail. He takes a deep breath, pulling one hand from his pocket to run it through Chris' shaggy hair and scratch at his jawline. He is desperately in need of a shave after so long on Corvus, not to mention a shower, but the unfolding events have not allowed him an opportunity to clean himself up.

"Ossanlin," he begins with a nod, working to keep exhaustion and grief out of his voice. He tries to remember if Ossanlin was present in the room at any time during the birth, but his memories of the ordeal are entirely tied up in Tess. He clears his throat. "I was hoping I could get an update regarding our attempts to locate the first rendezvous point. If I can be of any immediate assistance, I am..." he falters a little.

<<By the Kandrona, what I wouldn't give for half a packet right now,>> he whispers.

<<Don't even start down that road, man,>> Chris responds. <<Not now. Not with the kid.>>

Keslin swallows his words and nods to himself. "Tess is doing relatively well," he says, picking up his train of thought. "She will need rest, though, probably for several days. In the meantime, I am available, should you have need of me."

[Chad32]

Claxter turns toward Efaen, still angry. However when he sees she's somewhat intimidated, he calms himself to a neutral expression. <I'm not sure what this Tora person taught you of Andalite culture, but there are a few things they hammer into our heads: All Yeerks are evil, and infestation is the worst thing that can happen to a person.> He brings his tail blade around to place it in front of his neck. <We are taught that in the event of possible capture, we are to commit suicide.> He moves the blade quickly across to help visualize the point. <Any andalite that is infested is called an abomination. We hate Visser Three so much because he enslaved one of our kind, and call him an abomination. Technically Terenia is the second abomination. What she did, and the reasons for what she did are both revolting and frightening.>

<Perhaps it's just more propaganda and indoctrination. I avoided hating Yeerks in general, but Terenia has shown nothing but anger and hypocracy towards us when we tried to help her at the bar. She was angry that we "meddled in her business", when frankly any Andalite that wasn't Prince Ossanlin would have killed her as soon as they found out what she did. What redeeming qualities does she even have that would make her less than contemptable?>

[Terenia]

Efaen does not respond immediately, stopping far enough away from Claxter that she will be relatively safe, should he choose to vent his anger physically. <I do not know,> she admits. <In the time I have known her she has kept her distance from me. The few times we have spoken have been strained.> She tilts her head slightly, a disconcertingly human gesture for her Andalite form. <But I do not think her actions should be judged on the same scale as Imperial Yeerks. She is not a Yeerk, nor is she an Imperial. I cannot claim to know why she did what she did, or even more than the barest details about it, but from what I understand she was scarcely more than a child when it happened.>

She scuffs her hoof on the dirt, eager to return back to her human form, though slightly winded from the morph. She decides to wait a few moments longer.


<I disagree with what you are taught,> she continues. <Infestation is not the worst thing that can happen to a person. I chose voluntary infestation when I was with the rebels, and the Yeerk who chose to be my companion was kind. We were friends.>

[Chad32]

Claxter felt bad for what had happened. Not enough to apologize to Terenia, but for losing his cool, and possible causing Efaen to fear him. <No, she wasn't born a Yeerk, and no she didn't grow up in the Empire even though no one forced her to work for them. Her sister's imperial Yeerk also treated her with about as much kindness as is possible for them. Terenia does seem to regret what she did, but nothing seems to come from that. The only reason she stopped working for Visser Three is because she was forced to. She had no good reason for convincing to bring you along, and apparently there was nothign set in place to prevent harm, aside from constant monitoring.>

<I'm not really sure what being a child has to do with it, though I've never been a civilian. I was raised in the military with a brutal Prince breaking me down and trying to mold me into what he wanted me to be.>

<I'll be willing to agree that perhaps a kind Yeerk that allows you some freedom is probably not the worst of nightmares, but Terenia was not that type of Yeerk. If it talks like an imperial, and acts like an imperial, it's hard to believe it isn't an imperial. If I can have more respect for someone who was loyal to the Empire than Terenia, there's something wrong with that picture.

[Luke Skywalker (Ossanlin)]

Ossanlin nods, slowly closing the distance between them far enough that he can lay his right hand on Chris's left shoulder, attempting to convey a manner of peace and openness through his natural posture of command.  <I am...sorry.  I have lost Andalites under my command, some that I would've called "brother," but I cannot begin to understand the loss of one's young.>  He pauses in a moment of silence before continuing.

<If work is what you desire, I'm sure we can use the assistance.  What are your strengths?  Where does your expertise lie?>

[Terenia]

Efaen's brows draw together at that. <I did not know she was working for the Empire,> she says slowly. <I was under the impression that she was being held against her will. Corliss told me that she was tortured, forced to obey them.> She shakes her head, frustration seeping into her thoughts, <Perhaps he lied to me, out of his love for her. I do not know. It is difficult to know what is true and what is not when you do not have any of your own experiences to guide you.>


Keslin only nods at the words of condolences, not ready to deal with their implications just yet. He is too tired, too overwhelmed to even flinch at the Andalite's touch. Instead, he takes a breath and considers.

"I was one of the leaders, so my skills vary by necessity," Keslin says. "You saw my piloting earlier. A decade on a Bug Fighter is about the best fighter pilot training there is. And engineering...the dapsen things break down constantly. More importantly, though..." He shrugs. "The rebels here, they trust me. At least...the ones that don't trust Myitt, trust me, and the ones that don't trust me, trust Myitt.  I can get you a roster of our people, those that are here, and what their specialties were on base. I know you have already put Niko to work, but I'm sure others will be of use." He clears his throat, his voice gaining strength as he pushes aside the recent emotional disturbances and focuses on the task at hand. "I'd like to see the specific information regarding which rendezvous point we are heading for. I may be able to extrapolate which members are supposed to be there, if they survived. There is one point in particular that should house our medical staff, and we should make that a priority as soon as we can."

[Chad32]

<She went to the Empire of her own will, supposedly to rescue her sister. Though why she thought working for Visser Three was the best way to get onto the bladeship is beyond me. After that he put a tracker on her so he would always be able to find her, though even then there would be options for removing it or neutralizing it. After finding out her sister was voluntary, there wasn't really much she did besides be Visser Three's servant and fail to make Tamora change her mind. You were both tortured, to be sure. The only thing really keeping her in Visser Three's service was herself.>

<Perhaps I'll never understand what it was like being a civilian, going through that. Perhaps I wouldn't do much better in that position. Still, she has no one to blame but herself.>

[Terenia]

<It sounds to me like if she didn't do what this Visser said, he would have killed her, and perhaps her sister as well,> Efaen says. She shrugs. <I do not remember being tortured, or what the effects of that were. But I know people who have been. I know that the threat of torture is often times more than enough to gain loyalty from someone who would otherwise resist.>

She considers for a moment, opening her hooves to take in some nutrients as she thinks. <There was a rebel I met on base, in the med bay. He helped me with my initial recovery, and monitoring my brain signals after the wipe to ensure that nothing was permanently impairing my cognitive functions. His name was Nefitt, and when he was within the Empire his job was to heal the tortured hosts so that they could be...re-used...for other Yeerks who had been accused of betraying the Empire. He never allowed me to speak with his host, because the man he resided in had gone completely mad, being forced into the Empire's torture chamber again and again, forced to be the vessel through which the traitor Yeerks endured their punishment.>

She trails off thoughtfully, and begins walking again, slowly. After a moment, she picks up again. <I cannot imagine what such pain would do to a person, given enough time. But I can understand how it might impair someone's judgment, and drive them to do things they would not otherwise have done. I saw that clearly enough through Nefitt.>