The Galactic War: Rogue Element ~The Beginning

[Luke Skywalker (Ossanlin)]

As Ossanlin continues to wait, the two Warriors Serid had brought with him for escort trot up the ramp, doing their best to ignore the humans and Yeerks.  They begin gathering the host and Yeerk supplies, carrying them down the ramp to pile near the Mirage one or two packages at a time, busying themselves with the work.

Ossanlin allows himself to frown as he sees Esran standing near the Mirage...he shouldn't have come down.  He should've stayed on the Bridge until Ossanlin relieved him of command.  Norry gives him a frosty glance as she walks by...probably for the breach of protocol.  Who had he left in charge of the ship?  Ossanlin makes a mental note that Esran would require a conversation, and is not, in fact, reliable enough to leave in command.


~


Esran stiffens at Enorryma's rebuke, but keeps his eyes facing forward, not making eye contact with her.  <<Yes, Prince Commander.>>

He glances at Ossanlin with his stalk-eyes before immediately lowering his eyes to the deck, apparently catching Ossanlin's faint frown.

[KitsuneMarie]

<<Very well, sir.>> Serid's response is calm, displaying none of his inner surprise at hearing Efaen's name. It is remarkable she has survived this long, he thinks. He always supposed that, after all she had gone through, the pendulum effect of her beliefs and her ostracism from nearly everyone, that she would not have made it through so many years of the war.

He continues scanning the humans and Andalites before him, ready to move into action at a moment's notice, not quite holding the same graceful ease of posture as many of his comrades. It is almost as if he is uncomfortable in his own body.


Illim squeezes Terenia's hand gently once she's on her feet, and then he puts it on her back. "Come on. We're not going to find Mike staying here," he murmurs, keeping his voice low. "Niko's identified at least one pre-set rendezvous point. Maybe we can get in touch with the rest of the rebellion."


Tess puts her arms around Chris in a brief, weary hug, before starting after the rest of their recently rescued friends. "That's good," she says in response, "but I'm prepared to give birth on my own. I always figured I'd have to in that cell, if I wasn't... if something worse hadn't happened by then." She looks up at him with a small smile. "At least now I have you to help me. And that is so much better." Tess trembles a little, fighting the rise of emotion her own words evoke.

[Terenia]

Terenia doesn't respond to Illim, her gaze still on the floor. She moves when he does, though, following his direction off of the ship. When they exit the Mirage she glances up briefly, taking a quick look around before looking down again. A shiver runs through her and she folds her arms across her chest, hugging herself.


The thought of actually helping in the physical birthing process makes Chris turn a little green, but Keslin quickly covers the terror he feels. "I'm here," he says reassuringly, helping Tess along. "No matter what."

<<You don't think we're going to have to--?>> Chris asks anxiously.

<<First order of business: find Sam,>> Keslin responds firmly, leading Tess off of the ship. He is one of the last to exit, and he looks around with the same cautious awe as many of his companions. His gaze finds Ossanlin quickly, though, and he takes in the other Andalites warily.

[Myitt]

Lanath cranes his neck to ensure that Tess, Chris and Dom are following along with the crowd that spills out of the Mirage's hatchway.

He slows to match their speed, making their way to the crowd milling inside the hangar.

"Aya and I are glad you're stable, Tess," he says quietly, smiling reassuringly.


Niko trudges out into the docking bay, his arms loaded up with packages of human provisions and Kandrona.

He follows the Andalite attendants just far enough so that he can deposit the items on a hovering cart. Then he sighs, brushing his hands, and turns back to the crowd.


Myitt nods at Chris and Keslin. "Yeah, I've got things under control," she exhales. "I think."

She falls into line with Terenia and Illim, boots clanking, steel toes on metal as she marches down the ramp to join her comrades.

[Luke Skywalker (Ossanlin)]

Ossanlin nods as the remaining rebels exit and directs another private thought to Serid.  <<Joanne and Keshin inhabit that female body.  Terenia is that female over there.>>  He nods slightly again in the proper direction, then continues.  <<And Efaen apparently prefers being a morphed human rather than an Andalite...that's her.>>  He indicates Efaen's body to Serid.

<Good, if you'll all follow me, I'll give you a brief walkthrough.  These are the primary hangar bays.>  Ossanlin gestures.  <I won't go into heavy detail, but both have quick-launch capabilities.>  Ossanlin tuns to follow the railed walkway to the starboard side of the upper level of quick-launch hangars.  <When the atmospheric doors are open, energy shields protect the atmosphere in the hangar and inside each individual ship cell.>

He turns to the right and walks up a large ramp-well and into a large corridor tha runs the length of the ship.  <The engineering section of the ship is back here...including the A2 Coliders, engine nacelles, power-relays, and engineering labs.  If we moved to mid-ship, we'd find the central computer system, batteries, astrometrics, the med-bay, and the environmental systems for both the dome and enclosed spaces.  At the front, we'd find the sensors array, primary Shredder coils, and, of course, the bridge.>  He continues up the spiraling ramp past eight floors to a wide central hallway that runs along the middle of the ship.  <This is the main concourse.  It connects to the dome both fore and aft, and provides the primary entrance to the bridge.>

He walks toward the front of the ship, the hallway just as brightly lit, white, and gleaming as the hangar bay had been, still keeping his pace slow enough for the humans to keep up.  He stops at the transparent, sealed doors leading into the dome, waiting for the humans to gather again.

[Chad32]

Claxter had been enjoying his run across the tome, as he got rid of the tension of what happened in the ship. As he came around to the door, he noticed Ossanlin coming over with the guests. He decided to stop near them, and see how they liked the ship so far. Efaen was back to her Human form again, which she was apparently more comfotable in. Though if she felt vulnerable here, her natural form would actually have been more suitable for protection. That felt a bit ironic to him.

<<So, Serid, how have you been? I know I didn't really say anything earlier, but I felt like i really needed to stretch my legs a bit.>> He said privately, so he wouldn't interrupt Ossanlin talking to the controllers.

[KitsuneMarie]

Serid follows Ossanlin, surveying the new passengers before he is distracted by Claxter's greeting. <<It is good to see you have safely returned,>> he replies to his comrade, nodding. <<How was-->>

Suddenly, he cuts off, all four of his eyes fixing on the shortest man among the humans. <<Illim,>> he blurts.

The brown-haired man looks up and away from Terenia, trying to discern which Andalite has called out to him.

<<It is me. Serid. I will speak with you once the War-Prince is done,>> he continues.

Illim's eyebrows raise in evident surprise, and he leans over to whisper to Myitt, "Serid's here."


Tess leans against Chris as they walk off the ship and follow the others, paying half attention to Ossanlin's tour. She gives Aya a worried smile and squeezes Chris's arm. "Thanks. I... I'm not sure I can walk this long, though," she murmurs, her voice quiet. "How stupid is that, right?" she pants. "Can't even stand up for longer than a few minutes." Her legs are jittering with every step.

[Chad32]

Claxter noticed Serid suddenly noticing Daniel in the middle of a question. <<Yeah, Illim and his host were a couple of the fortunate ones to be saved. Hopefully we can all get along with each other, though some individuals may cause some problems. I don't suppose you'd help be keep Terenia and Efaen apart? Terenia has been threatening to kill her, and is obviously not in her right mind. Not that her right mind is very civil.>>

[KitsuneMarie]

Serid spares one stalk eye to look over at Claxter, the rest still trained on Illim and Daniel. <<Yes. The safety of everyone here is my primary job,>> he replies. <<War-Prince Ossanlin has been indicating the potential problems since he arrived, but I certainly welcome your insight as well.>>

He turns his second eye stalk to him. <<Do you know Efaen well?>>

[Chad32]

<<I knew Efaen at the bar. She was quite the typical Andalite, for better or worse. Her memory was taken after she attacked the rebels, soon after they took her off surveillance from what I hear. She'd rather be among them, but from what I've seen, they don't seem eager to be around her. I think I'm starting to gain a little of her trust, but it will take time. She's different, but still kind of the same.>>

<<Aside from Terenia, and possibly Keshin, I don't think we have to much worry about the others. Keslin and Niko have been helpful. Tess isn't going to be causing problems, to be sure.>> He said, looking at each person with a stalk eye to indicate which one he was talking about. <<I'd like to think Keshin is smart enough not to try anything with us now. No one has the money it would take to make anything worth it fir the bounty hunter. Aya is actually a friendly Human towards Andalites, and Lanath too perhaps.>>

[Estelore]

Enorryma noticed Tess faltering and approached the group more closely, her tail kept low.

<Tess, if you are able and willing to sit on my back, I can carry you wherever you need to go for now.>

She turned her stalk eyes toward Chris, questioning: would he allow Norry to help the woman, and would Tess accept the help offered? Norry would tolerate the minor indignity of being ridden, over the dishonour of letting an infirm person suffer who could be helped.

[Terenia]

Efaen keeps to the edges of the group on the tour, her eyes downcast. She has been on this ship before, of course, and does not particularly need the introduction, but she is hesitant to stray. They'll probably think I'm trying to destroy everyone or something, she thinks bitterly. She casts a hopeful smile in Myitt's direction, trying to gauge the suspicious Yeerk's temperment. She was the reason Efaen had placed any stock in the rebels protecting her, after all.


Dom finds himself striding alongside Niko, his long legs pulling him ahead of Tess and Chris. "I must say," he murmurs, trying to sound upbeat despite the fact that his expression is still overwhelmed with the grief of loss, "they certainly have a good sense of style. Very modern. I approve."


Chris' eyebrows raise when Enorryma approaches them, and Keslin glances at Tess to see how comfortable she is with the idea. "She needs rest," he says quietly, his words a little stiff. The idea of speaking with an Andalite still makes him wary. "Will you be able to support her?" he asks hesitantly. "I do not want her to be accidentally injured, but this is too strenuous, especially after so long in a cell." He gives Tess an apologetic little smile, not wanting to call the shots for her, but also wanting to ensure her safety.


Terenia does not look up on the tour. She also does not seem particularly prone to any violent outbursts, keeping her arms folded tightly around herself and her eyes on her toes. She barely responds to Illim or Myitt, except to move in the direction they direct her. Periodically she sniffles, fresh tears falling down her cheeks.

[Myitt]

Niko whistles appreciatively as they walk along, nodding eagerly when Ossanlin explains the ship's engineering capabilities.

"What I wouldn't do to pick their brains," he sighs, thinking of the Andalite engineers and how far above his head they must be. He cranes his neck to watch the line of his comrades behind and beside him. He smiles at Dom. "It's so...clean."


Lanath gently takes Tess' arm, trying his best to support her with Aya's thin frame. "It isn't silly at all," he grunts quietly, smiling. "You do need to rest, and I daresay we'll find a medical professional soon enough who can help you more than I can."

He listens attentively as Keslin speaks with Enorryma.

<<Though I am not sure how comfortable I am with Tess being left with an Andalite doctor, inexperienced with human birth,>> Lanath murmurs to Aya. <<The sooner we find someone who can help us--Sam and Issid and Farrah, or not--the better.>>


Uncomfortably, Myitt brushes a hand along Terenia's back, wordlessly trying to offer comfort.

She sighs and looks up only at Serid's name, blinking at Illim, then around at the other Andalites. "Where?" she hisses, only catching Efaen's eye, which makes Myitt herself scowl. "They all look the same to me, is that terrible or what?"

[Luke Skywalker (Ossanlin)]

Ossanlin nods as everyone gathers near the doors into the Dome.  He notes Enorryma who appears to be addressing Tess, though he cannot hear her speech.  It would make sense, his TO more willing to associate with the free human first...but most Andalites wouldn't deign to go even that far.  He smiles internally...she would probably be embarrassed or upset if he brought it up, so he'd merely observe quietly...but she appears to be making greater gains than he'd have thought possible at such and early juncture.  Perhaps she would eventually associate with them without needing to feel that Ossanlin requires it of her.  Of course, he remembers the agreement...he would hold to his word until she released him of it.  Word and honor had much to do with one another.

<We are about to enter the dome.  It is currently the ship's day-cycle, so the holograms will be active...this means you will not see the stars, but the blushing red of our Homeworld's sky.  At night, the holograms in the upper dome, save those that represent the moons, are deactivated so that the stars are visible.  Once we move past the entry area, the doors will be hidden as well...the holograms  near the edges of the dome are distance-projected, so that they become increasingly translucent as you near the edge...please do not be alarmed.>  Ossanlin presses a panel and the transparent doors slide open, a small puff of warm air gusts out into the hall as if it's been warmed by the sun.  He trots through, far enough that the distance-projection hides the edge of the dome completely.  He allows himself a small smile...around him the landscape appears as rolling plainsland for miles, dotted by thickets of trees and bushes, the nearest ones real, the farther ones mere projections of the holographic wall.  A strong breeze blows across his fur before quieting down again to a soft whisper of wind.  The illusion even includes a gentle heat emanating from the direction of the illusory sun.

<The Dome of our ship is a true ecosystem.  There are cycles of actual rainfall, errant currents of air.  The temperature and pressure of the air change depending upon weather and circadian cycles.  The officers' quarters also have entries directly linked to the dome.  Myitt, I assume that you and Illim will wish to share a room.>  He glances at Keslin and Tess.  <And you two will be sharing a room?>  Ossanlin nods before either of them even answer.  <There are no other pair-bonds and the rest of you would prefer personal rooms, correct?>

[Terenia]

Tentatively, Efaen steps out onto the grass of the Dome. The open space is reassuring, but she doesn't find any particular joy in being there. She still feels like an outsider, hovering on the edges of two different peoples. The openness tugs at her, though, and she begins to wander away from the group a little, feeling the grass between her bare toes.


"And it comes with a park," Dom continues, a smile flickering across his expression. "Now just point me to the bar and I will be content." He steps into the Dome, admiration on his face. "Can you imagine what sort of a party you could throw in here?" he asks, shaking his head. "Fabulous."


<<Even Miles would be something,>> Aya says to Lanath, her concern for Tess easy to read. Part of her thoughts remain firmly on the turelek, though. The presence of the bounty hunter clearly has put her on edge, dredging up painful memories.


Terenia comes to an abrupt halt at the edge of the Dome, despite Myitt's hand on her back. Raising her gaze to the lush imitation of the Andalite Homeworld her expression crumples. With the Homeworld in front of her and the Andalite ship behind, it all seems too much for the young woman. Ossanlin's commentary about pair-bonds only worsens the situation and she begins to tremble, her knees nearly giving out as she covers her mouth, unable to prevent a sob from escaping between her fingers.