The Galactic War: Rogue Element ~The Beginning

[Chad32]

<Maybe that's it, then. Once he had her, he warped her to the point where she really is crazy. I suppose she was more afraid of death than pain.> Maybe if Claxter thought of her as just crazy instead of evil, that might allow him to be less angry around her. Though that didn't really make her more trustworthy. <We tried to be nice to her at the bar. We tried to help her. We did so much more than any other Andalite would have bothered to do. All she did was tell us to leave her alone. The same things Tamora said to her. I do not like her, but if you really want, I will try to be more patient with her. I still wouldn't want you to be alone, unarmed, and in Human form with her, though. She sometimes does things she states she wouldn't do.>

[Terenia]

Efaen nods slowly. <I believe I am capable of protecting myself...probably more so in human form than in this one.> She turns one stalk eye to survey her tail blade doubtfully. <Andalite arms are not made for throwing punches.> Her eyes crinkle into a small smile then. <I...I do find it admirable, though, that you would attempt to help Terenia, when doing so was dangerous and of no immediate gain to yourself. Even if it ended poorly, it takes a good heart to even attempt such a thing.>

[Chad32]

<You're thinking of the wrong end. I assure you that an Andalite tail beats a Human arm any day. I could give you some lessons, including how to use it nonlethally. Well, Andalite arms that are not Prince Ossanlin's, in any case. I wouldn't want him punching me in the face.>

<Well, it was that or blast her in the pool when I had the chance. It's not like we could just let her leave. Abandoning an involuntary Andalite host that was being made to serve Visser Three was out of the question, even for a Prince that didn't hate Yeerks equally. That was before I knew much about her, aside from the fact that she was a controller. Right now if there's anyone who could use a wipe and reset, it's probably her.>

<I'm going to be piloting the Terrenian soon. It's the biggest ship I will have flown. Piloting is one of my strong points, and Prince Ossanlin needs a new pilot. I'll start in a day or two.> He said in an attempt to change the subject.

[Luke Skywalker (Ossanlin)]

Ossanlin removes his arm and nods again, turning toward the bridge.  <Very well.  You're welcome to join me on the bridge, should you desire.>  Ossanlin begins to walk in the direction of the main concourse leading to the bridge, slowly enough that Keslin would be able to keep up without any strain.  Things with the rebels must be handled with care...Ossanlin reminds himself again that they are not his to command, and would likely fight against such an idea.  Careful words and careful tread.

<It is my hope that we can work together.  I know that the rebels are not mine to command.>  He keeps his main eyes on Keslin as he walks, his stalk eyes steering him in the proper direction.  Humans often grew uncomfortable when being addressed without eye-contact.  <But you must understand, this ship is one working unit made up of many people.  If your rebels are to assume work duties on the ship, they must be willing to follow my commands and do so without second-guessing.  We have some very dangerous individuals trying to find us, and three seconds of indecision could mean the difference between life and death.>  He nods at Keslin.  <Should your rebels be willing to accept those terms, and to devote themselves to the good of the ship as a whole, I would welcome their assistance.  All positions would require at least a general working knowledge of the Tyrennian.  I would give select members of your rebellion access to the Tyrennian's engineering, structural, and technical schematics to facilitate this process.  But with that knowledge would come the ability to do grave injury to this entire ship and everyone on-board.  That is why I would require the assurances I've mentioned.>

He continues to walk leisurely across the open plain of the Dome, enjoying the natural-feeling breeze blowing across his fur.  <The one you call Niko, he is particularly...evol ved...for a human.  I would say that his mind would rival an Andalite's, and I say that with no implication of condescension.  Humans have great potential...Niko seems to have tapped into it, at least partially.  Of course, I'm sure you are much better qualified to give an assessment of human neurological capabilities than is any Andalite.>  Ossanlin eye-smiles to show that the comment was not meant to be negative in any way, but merely a comment on a fact.

[Shenmue654]

Keshin, upon wandering into the halls leading to where they were staying, overheard a furious and public thought-speech outburst from the kind Andalite he'd met moments earlier. It was directed toward Terenia, a woman whom he'd had a....less-than-pleasant history with. They'd tried to kill her in the Bar a while back, and it was the reason he'd attacked Ossanlin. Yet one of them had to know where Myitt had stashed the food. Keshin swore under his breath. <He picked a terrible time to let out his frustrations, even if I do understand them.>

<Yeah. Ship's a pent-up ball of anxiety an' grudges. It's like you said----Ossanlin's ideals are nothin' on what we have against one another.>

Keshin waited for the argument to subside, which was also giving him time to think about how he would react. He couldn't side with anyone in the conflict, because he had no stake in it. Terenia was a mess of a human being, and everyone on the ship knew it. However, Claxter was very wrong about one thing---Terenia's sister and her Yeerk were just as poisonous as Terenia herself. The two of them had sent the tenuous relations between the Bar inhabitants spiraling into chaos without a second thought, with Joanne and himself as their chosen tool.

<Makes you wonder when we're gonna act without bein' somebody's tool, don' it? Are we Bluebutt's tool now?>

<Better him than any other, for right now.>

When the argument cooled, Keshin walked into the gathering as if he had no idea what had just been going on. Best not to bring it up. "Hey, errr....do any of you know where Myitt is at the moment? Or where she's keeping the refreshments? We're getting pretty cranky with hunger, and..." Keshin shakes his head a bit, as if noticing how frustrated the group looks. "...you guys don't look much better."

[Chad32]

Claxter had walked a short distance from Terenia, and she him, but he saw and heard Keshin asking about food. Now was not a good time for him to approach Illim about food. <I'm sorry, Keshin, but I haven't seen Myitt walking around. Just follow Illim and Terenia for food.>

Unfortunately since Myitt and Illim had the food, and Claxter had likely soured any chance of pleasantries with with them for now, there wasn't much he could do. It must be frustrating for the hungry Human, know he and the other Andalites could easily have filled up already wheil they spent time and energy just looking for breakfast.

[Estelore]

<<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.>>

<<Sir.>> Norry moved quickly toward the Dome exit, silently relieved to be dismissed to practical duties. The run had been a good stretch, and she felt physically more up to par, but she had not cared for the emotional nature of the conversation Ossanlin had started. She wondered if Ossanlin realized what an impossible thing he was asking of her, to speak only as a friend and not a subordinate: Ossanlin's friendship could no more be divorced from his rank than Norry's authority within the ship could be divorced from her military history and reputation. Necessity forced Enorryma and Ossanlin to take up the same side of whatever conflict they joined, and that was all there was to say about it, as far as Enorryma believed or cared.

She took the most direct routes she could find through the halls of the ship, stepping out onto the bridge and making her way over to each workstation respectively. Certainly, she could have accessed the screens of every station, from the captain's station, but she preferred getting the reports first-hand from each crewmember as she made a circuit of the bridge. She made her first stop at the helm station.

<Anything new to report, and are we still on schedule to make our destination at the projected time?>

[Luke Skywalker (Ossanlin)]

It would still be several minutes before those on day duty for the bridge reported for duty, but those whom had been running the ship through the evening tail-salute Enorryma.

Anir, a middle-aged male, manipulates a few controls on the helm before turning his main eyes on Enorryma.  <Nothing new except a small, favorable shift in Z-Space, Prince-Commander.    We are still on-course, but we will be arriving at the supplied coordinates early this evening instead of tomorrow morning.  Otherwise, Z-Space has been relatively calm.  We discovered a small spatial misalignment within the Z-Drive, but it was nothing serious.  We believe it resulted from the stresses suffered by the Z-Drive during the double jump yesterday.  We were able to correct it remotely.>

[Terenia]

Efaen blinks her main eyes in surprise when Claxter brushes past her compliment. After his persistance in befriending her, she had expected him to be relieved that she was even acknowledging him, let alone complimenting him.

<Congratulations on your new assignment,> she says, a little stiffly. <And no, I thank you, but I do not need lessons. I only maintain this form so I am not a strain on the human's resources. Otherwise I would have nothlitized myself a long time ago.>

As if in answer to her thoughts, Keshin shows up, asking where the food is. Efaen frowns a little at that, though she does not jump into the conversation. It is not for her to help the bounty hunter. Instead she paces away from Claxter, opening her hooves to the grass as she does so.


Keslin considers as he walks alongside Ossanlin. "The other rebels will follow Myitt and myself. If we tell them to default to you in certain circumstances...you may meet resistance from some, but of the people here I believe most will listen."

His gaze drops to the ground, watching the lush grass as he trods over it. His entire body feels weak, ready to collapse, but he pushes it aside.

<<I gotta sleep sometime, Kes,>> Chris murmurs.

<<I know. Just give me some time,>> Keslin responds, dreading the moment his host falls asleep, leaving him alone and awake to contemplate all of their losses.

"Niko is a bright man," Keslin continues. "I don't know him well, but he is rather adept at theoretical physics, from what I understand." He smiles blandly. "Human neurological capabilities differ greatly from human to human. They all have their strengths and weaknesses."

<<So do Yeerks,>> Chris reminds Kes, his thoughts on Keslin's increasingly disruptive trembling.

[Chad32]

<I didn't mean to offend you.> Claxter said. He was surprised that she had in fact considered becoming a nothlit a long time ago. He started walking with her. <I'm sorry. I'm glad you didn't become a nothlit. Perhaps you could tell me about Tora. Why did this individual join the rebellion? I assume Tora would have told you some good things about our people, or it wouldn't have been noted that you were raised by one. Do you think Tora may be at the rendevous point?>

[Estelore]

<Excellent. Thank you for your good work through the night shift. If there is nothing further to report for now, Anir, you may take leave from your post. I can relieve the helm station until the morning crew arrives.>

The favourable anomaly was the best news she had heard in quite some time, and as the beginning of a shift could go, this had been a good one.

[Luke Skywalker (Ossanlin)]

Ossanlin nods at Keslin as they walk.  <"Most" is not all.  Those whom you believe might balk or cause trouble cannot be given work duties, nor can they be given access to the Tyrennian's technical schematics.  I am sorry, but I cannot be flexible on this.  My first duty and responsibility is to the Tyrennian and her crew.  I have no doubts about Myitt, and Myitt trusts you.  That's good enough for me.  But sometimes there isn't time to filter orders through multiple people.  If there is a crisis situation, I must have your complete assurances that everyone who has been entrusted with responsibilities will follow my orders without question or delay.  Don't take me wrong, I don't presume to lead your people, but I do lead the Tyrennian, and if anyone is entrusted with responsibilities aboard my ship, they will have to accept my leadership faithfully whilst on-duty.>

Ossanlin notices the drag in the human's step and the darkness around his eyes.  He probably hadn't slept since Corvus, and likely hadn't slept well there either.  He doesn't bring up the controller's apparent exhaustion, trusting the human and Yeerk to know their own needs and limits.  <I'm going to be completely honest with you...there aren't enough of us left to keep the Tyrennian flying.>  He pauses a moment in his stride, glancing around the whole dome before turning his main eyes forward and taking up his leisurely stride once again.  <Oh, she'll fly for a while, but without more hands, critical testing and maintenance will fall behind.  Systems will slowly deteriorate until something irreparable happens.>  He turns his main eyes back on Keslin before speaking again.  <The simple truth is, we need you and your people.  Of course, you still need to regroup and reform your governing body.  Your course of action should be decided by your people.  I will say that I am...fervently...ho peful that you will decide to work together with us.  If you do not...well, I suppose we'll have to figure out something else.>  Ossanlin glances forward again, still keeping his pace slow enough for the human controller to keep up comfortably.

Ossanlin eyesmiles a bit, moving on to another topic.  <Yes, your Niko does have quite a mind.  But what I meant was that all of our neurological data regarding humans says that they only use a small fraction of their physical cognitive capacity.  I would assume that Niko has managed to utilize some of that untapped potential.>


~


Anir bows the top half of his body and tail-salutes.  <Thank you, Prince Commander.>  He makes his way off the bridge, followed by the other two officers that had been on night-duty, heading to the Dome for a quick feeding before making his way to quarters to cleanse and rest.

[KitsuneMarie]

Serid's eyes turn to Enorryma as she enters the bridge. Already standing at his security post, Serid straightens his back and salutes. Waiting until the night shift has vacated the now relatively empty bridge, he murmurs, <Greetings, Prince Commander.>


Illim sighs, watching Efaen and Claxter walk away from him. Brushing off his jeans, he stuffs his hands in his pockets and looks to Terenia. "Hey," he murmurs. "It's in the room, apparently. So much happened yesterday, I didn't even realize they'd dumped it there." He tilts his head back towards where he at least thinks his new quarters are.

[Estelore]

Enorryma returns Serid's greeting. <I hope the morning crew has rested well; several of the human passengers have had a difficult night, and diplomacy with them will be easiest for our Captain if the crew can present a unified and professional front to them.>

[KitsuneMarie]

Serid nods, hesitates then asks, <If I may ask... were you among those who had a difficult night, Prince Commander? I know you had been planning on assisting the human woman.>