The Galactic War: Rogue Element ~The Beginning

[Aluminator (Kit)]

Aetheas stumbles backwards through the stream, blocking blow after blow, his stalk-eyes frantically looking for a way out of this situation. His tail was getting tired-- there was no way he could continue to match Claxter's endurance.

He waded, carefully, into deeper water, until he was deep enough that nearly the entirety of his legs were submerged. The current was getting stronger, and he was upstream here; any slip would carry him right towards Claxter and leave him helpless.

He used his hands to splash some water towards Claxter's face, ready to lunge should the Command-Warrior flinch.

[Chad32]

Claxter averted his eyes when Aetheas started splashing., He probably should have expected such a tactic. He would just have to rely more on hearing Aetheas coming, and feeling the displacement of the waves as he tried to move forward. <Oh, now we're child's games, I see. Have you no shame?> He said, jokingly.

[Terenia]

Efaen's own eyebrows raise in a mirror image of Eleric's, but it is not a flirtatious gesture. His words are more than a little off-putting, and her lips set into a scowl.

She is about to respond with a biting comment, but hesitates at the offer to be taught how to pilot. It is one of many skills she is lacking since the memory wipe, and one that might prove particularly useful should her popularity here remain so low. An escape might not be a bad idea, she thinks to herself. Swallowing back her insults she forces herself to smile at Eleric, not sure if he will recognize the gesture on a human face. When she responds this time, it is aloud. "I would love to learn some piloting. I'm sure you're quite good at it."

[Luke Skywalker (Ossanlin)]

Eleric's grin widens further as his voracious ego is fed.  <Well, I'm still too young to gauge my kill-count, but Prince Ossanlin has promoted me to the Squad Commander position of the Lightning-Strike Squadron.  I'm the second-youngest person to earn his own squad command.>  He doesn't mention that the unofficial truth would name him the third-youngest.  Prince Cariovin holds the record officially, taking command of his squad shortly after joining his Dome Ship.  But unofficially, the youngest person to command a squadron is actually on-board the Tyrennian.  Enorryma had been commanding her first squadron right after graduating...but the oppression of females in the military had led to her position being completely off the books at first.

<I'd be happy to show you some maneuvers.  Maybe Ossanlin will allow us to run through a quick lesson when we drop out of Z-Space.  I think you'll find that there's no greater thrill.>  He winks at Efaen, noting the human version of a smile which included the eyes as well as the mouth.

[KitsuneMarie]

Illim shrugs Daniel's relatively thin shoulders. "Not sure we've got much of a choice, honestly," he replies. "At least until we find the rest of our survivors. I'm... I'm sure there's more out there," he adds, glancing in Terenia's direction and then looking back at Keshin. "Ossanlin's just going to have to understand that, as grateful as we are, we're not used to taking orders from Andalites. We need to maintain our own leadership here."

[Aluminator (Kit)]

Aetheas frowns at Claxter's joke. This 'humor' thing is always lost on him. With Claxter somewhat distracted by the water, Aetheas seizes his opportunity and lunges. slipping a bit on the rocks at the bottom of the stream.

[Chad32]

Claxter swings his tail forward, but he couldn't get the water out of his eyes, and felt Aetheas connect with his torso. <Maybe jumping into the water wasn't the best plan after all. My tail is getting rather worn out. How about yours? Do you want to take a break?>

[Aluminator (Kit)]

<Yes, a break would be good,> says Aetheas, panting. His tail is burning and his hearts are pounding, but he allows himself to take some satisfaction from the fact that he scored a hit on Claxter. <I may decide to stay here, actually. The water is refreshing.> He half-smiles at Claxter, <I'd like to practice more with that technique.> He lowers his tail into the stream, allowing the water to run over it, and sighs, <Eventually.>

[Chad32]

<I'm glad you like it.> He said. He lowered himself into the stream, enjoying the refreshing coolness after building up a sweat. He closed his main eyes, though his stalk eyes wandered as always. Efaen and Eleric were talking, and he was tempted to invite at least Efaen over, but maybe not. It occurred to Claxter that Eleric thought himself a lady's Andalite. He wondered if the Warrior was trying to flirt with Efaen, and how he felt about it. Surely he and Efaen were far from a close item, but he hoped Eleric wasn't just trying to add another girl to his list or something. That was about the last thing Efaen needed right now.

[Terenia]

"I would like that," Efaen says, smile remaining in place, though it stiffens a little at his words. She keeps her voice saccharine, forcing back what she would truly like to say to him. "I'm sorry, but I don't think I caught your name."

[Luke Skywalker (Ossanlin)]

<I am Squad Commander Eleric-Serivul-Mezian.>  His ****y grin changes to a more genuine-looking smile.  <But I certainly have no issues with someone such as yourself calling me Eleric.  We have one trainer down in the Hangar Bay...but it doesn't quite feel the same as a true Tail Fighter.  We could start with the trainer, but later, we might be able to pull off a lesson or two in my Tail-Fighter.  Strictly-speaking, you have to be in a true Tail-Fighter to get the full experience.  It'd be a bit cramped, but I'm sure we could manage.>  He winks one main eye at Efaen, still smiling.

[Chad32]

Claxter's stalk eye caught Eleric winking at Efaen. He WAS flirting with her! His main eyes open to an uncharacteristicall y scowling look as he stared at Eleric. He ought to go over there and say...something. Efaen was smiling, but Claxter thought it looked a bit forced. Or was he just hoping it was a forced smile? Surely she wouldn't let that guy reel her in too easily. He wasn't sure the exact words to say that wouldn't carry the risk of offending her. Unless he waited until Eleric left. Then he's give the guy a piece of his mind. Possibly his tail.

[Terenia]

"Less cramped if I remain in this form, Eleric," Efaen responds. "It is the best way for me to learn, as I use it more frequently than my Andalite body." She tucks a dark, curly strand of hair behind her ear, watching Eleric closely. "I...understand you are likely quite busy," she murmurs. "But whenever you are available...please, do not hesitate to seek me out."


Terenia follows Illim and Keshin to the same room she had spent the night trying to sleep in. Hovering near the doorway she listens to their conversation, but does not participate. Her temporary anger from the unexpected conversation with Claxter seems to have faded entirely, leaving her just as listless as before.

[Luke Skywalker (Ossanlin)]

Eleric's smile slips a bit at that.  <I don't understand why you would deny yourself the superior mental and physical capacities of your natural form.>  He forces his smile back into place, suddenly somewhat out of his element.  If this female truly doesn't care for her physical form...but he's already offered.  Then he thinks of a way to make it work out one way or the other.  His smile becomes more-assured again.

<I'm afraid you'd have to use your natural form for piloting a Tail-Fighter.  You can use the thought-speech interface in morph, but the physical controls are designed for a thumb and six fingers, not four.  It would be all but impossible to effectively pilot a Tail-Fighter with so few digits.>

[Terenia]

Efaen can't help but scowl a little at this. The idea of spending any extended amount of time in her own form is repugnant enough. To do so in the presence of a clearly egotistical male warrior was...well, it was very likely her best opportunity to forge her own escape and save herself from Ossanlin's science experiments.

"Very well," she says reluctantly. "I suppose I understand if you are not up to the task of modifying your usual methods of instruction." Her smile returns, a little sharply. "If I must use my own form, though, we should begin immediately. I am less familiar with it, so it may take more time. Let's go."

She deliberately phrases the last part as an order, knowing that she has no authority over him. Even if she is a warrior in name, she is further behind than most arisths. Mostly, she just wants to see whether Eleric will let his ego or his desire to flirt with her win out.