The Galactic War: Rogue Element ~The Beginning

[Shenmue654]

Keshin and the War-Prince are the last two people to leave the meeting room, which is a bizarre situation if Keshin's ever seen one. Keshin glances at the War-Prince with a sideways look, as if now that he has the Andalite alone he has no idea what he's supposed to say.

"L...Look," states Keshin, his voice catching as he thinks about everything that Ossanlin has said. He didn't think one word of it was plausible to be honest. The ship was a total mess. "I'll work for you, do any job, if someone on this boat or someone we bring on can find a way to slow down the progression of the disaster awaiting us. You see..."

Keshin glances off. "....it's bad. Really bad. We only made it this long because of the efforts of a demented xenobiologist, and we have no idea where that guy is. Since we only had four vials on us that weren't on the ship, the kiss of Death is only going to be a few weeks from now. If you can't save us, well...well I guess that's fine. You can't compromise the safety of the other passengers for two people you can't stand. Yet....in my heart of hearts...."

Keshin gives Ossanlin a strange look. "...I'm thinking that what you have in mind is going to eventually require the services of someone with fewer moral scruples than you."

[Luke Skywalker (Ossanlin)]

Ossanlin watches as the others filter out, closing down the holo-display.  Every place he could think of, Sector 7 could eventually find.  To truly accomplish the goals he wants to accomplish, he needs a steady base to overhaul the Tyrennian...one that can stand the test of time and won't have to be abandoned.  Yeerks had shown to be remarkably capable of ad hoc modification and possibly improvement upon some Andalite technology...what kind of advancements could they accomplish with assistance and support from Andalites who could actually build the original technology from scratch?  Such projected technological advancement should be used to bring the two races together...it couldn't fall into the wrong hands...and any Imperial or Andalite loyalist would count as the "wrong hands."

<Three weeks...not much time.  Apparently there wasn't any medication with your personal effects?  It's possible they removed it to study the compound and to try to ascertain its purpose.>  He takes a deep breath and glances again at the insignia on the wall...not just a symbol of authority, but one of responsibility.

<We could place Joanne in...suspension, if you'd like.  I can't promise we'll find a solution right away...it will take time to adjust our medical technology and pharmaceuticals to benefit humans.  And I cannot guarantee that we will find any of the Rebellion's medical staff.  The chances that this...person...you speak of having survived are...well, probably less than half.  And that's optimistic.  Suspension should extend Joanne's life as long as necessary...>


___________________ ___________________ ___________________ ________________


Atlin looks behind himself with his stalk eyes from the sensors console on the bridge.  <I believe the current projection is approximately two days, Command-Warrior.>

[KitsuneMarie]

Despite her obvious pain, Tess breathes a sigh of relief at the sight of Chris and Keslin. "I think--" she pants, struggling, "I need a doctor this time." Her laugh is cut short by a wincing hiss. And then a curse. She fumbles with her pants, struggling to push them away as she leans back as well as she can in the suspended bed, having little to go off of beyond what Sam had told her and television shows she had watched as a child. Her dark eyes follow Enorryma and her actions, but they swiftly go back to Chris, betraying her worry and fright that the moment she had been glossing over in her thoughts, choosing to think instead about the children who would be with her afterwards, was here. And not how she expected.


Illim shakes his head, putting a hand on Terenia's back. "Don't say that," he says quietly. "You don't know we won't find him again, alright?"


Serid departs the War Prince's office, his main eyes tracking the floor as he mulls over these new and disturbing revelations. Still, there is little that can be done for it, now that he has chosen this path. They have certainly dug themselves in very, very deep.

He resumes his usual post at the edge of the bridge, standing straight-backed. Despite his posture, however, he is very much distracted by his thoughts.

[Chad32]

<Thank you.> Claxter said, leaving once again. He trotted to the dome, and found Myitt. <It looks like it will be about two days. Is there anything else you need help with?>

[Estelore]

Enorryma noticed Tess struggling with the bed. <Place a hand flat on the wall next to you and rotate or slide your palm slowly in the direction of tilt you want. I have a sterile surgical tarp here, suitable as a blanket or privacy drape.> She held the pale opaque blue cloth up where Tess could see.
<Would you like me to bring it over for you? I apologize that I am no doctor, but if you want me here, I will stay throughout the process and provide whatever basic aid I can. If nothing else, I am an extra set of hands, and I can limit blood loss and risk of infection.>

[Shenmue654]

Keshin frowns, thinking on this. Suspension would put him without a body and Joanne...frozen. Both of them would be at the complete mercy of the War-Prince, although the fact that they were on the ship suggested the War-Prince's mercy was considerable. <...we need to consider it as an option.>

<But Kess, Jesus above! We don' know a goddamn thing about that technology, and we're Static Shock. I'd rather kick the bucket than be that vulnerable around clients and bounties.>

<.....I know, I know. But I would rather you didn't die. That would leave me alone with no host and no friends. Perhaps...>

Keshin stares at Ossanlin, ending any unnecessary fidgeting motions and standing strong. "We'll stay...we'll stay conscious on the ship until we are met at least at the first rendesvous point," he says. "We are not of one mind about whether we should suspend Joanne, and it is...." This is probably the first time he has said these words, or even acknowledged them. "...it is her body I am sitting in. We shall wait until the situation on the ship has settled, and until we are certain we do not have anyone to help us in the coming weeks.

"That might be stupid," says Keshin, showing a bit of his fear again. "But this...this is not a normal situation. Being on this ship."

[KitsuneMarie]

Tess gives a tremulous laugh and, around her panting, she nods to Enorryma. "Honestly, I'd appreciate that. I like the idea of someone else--oh god--someone else who's female here with me." Tess squeezes her eyes shut, planting her hand on the wall as guided by the Andalite and grunting as she tries to recline more fully. Then she tilts her head up at Keslin and gives a wincing laugh. "No offense, loves."

[Estelore]

<Of course. If you have any request or instruction, I stand ready to fulfill it as well as I can.> She carried the drape over to Tess and spread it across her abdomen and legs.

What now, I wonder?

[Luke Skywalker (Ossanlin)]

Ossanlin nods to Keshin.  <The decision is yours.  The first rendezvous should be within the next two days.>  He pauses a moment before stepping out from behind his desk, opening the opposite door from the one they had entered by...the office has three entry/exit points, odd as that might seem, but it's merely for War Princes' convenience.  The door he opens leads through a small hall and into his personal quarters.  He stops before striding through.  Perhaps honestly would be best.

<I am confident that we will be able to adapt our pharmaceuticals to work with human physiology, but without a sample of your drug...>  Ossanlin falls silent before turning his main eyes to regard the turuleks.  <The prognosis is not beneficial.>

<I will do what I can to keep everyone alive, and that includes both of you.  We have a poor past...an unpleasant one, and I feel no guilt in stating that that is true because of the actions that you chose to take.  But I won't turn you out...I'd be no better than the Imperials or Sector Seven.>  He takes a deep breath, before continuing.  <I will not imprison you, not unless you do something that deserves imprisonment from here on forward.  And you'll not be kept in your quarters, which would be little better.  You will have mostly free reign of the ship, though there will be some restricted sections for you in particular.  And you will be watched at all times.  The security staff will try to be unobtrusive, but I'm sure someone of your...persuasion.. .will realize you're being followed.>

Ossanlin turns back toward the door to his quarters.  <For now, you will be allowed access to the Dome and your personal quarters only until I can put together restriction lists for those who require them.  Do not attempt to enter any area besides the Dome, your quarters, or the hallways and ramp-wells in between.  The security staff will offer polite encouragement for you to refrain from leaving those areas, at least for the time being.>  He glances back with his main eyes again.  <I hope that we might be able to develop some level of trust with one another, but for now, this is what we have to work with.  If you follow the others out that door and turn left in the main concourse, you will return to the Dome.  From there, one of the security staff will be able to show you to your quarters should you decide to retire.  If you'll excuse me...>

Ossanlin turns back and begins walking down the short hall to his large, two-level quarters.  It would feel so much better to have his proper equipment on again...

[Shenmue654]

Keshin stands in Ossanlin's personal office for a little while after the War-Prince leaves, occasionally glancing rather dully at the spinning model of the ship. What Ossanlin was offering, he had to admit, was generous by any standard. Considering they had both been badly injured in their last meeting over a client issue, and that Andalites weren't known for trusting people...he was a bit shocked that he wasn't completely trapped. <I suppose he does want to build trust---he's effectively extending a way to get it.>

<Huh. ....see, told you. Blue Idgit's alright. We can work with 'im. Don' like bein' limited, though. Why do we have to do what Boss Man says at all? We'll jus' slip by 'im like all the others. Check this place out.>

<We're being watched. They will not trust us as you'd hoped if we explore their ship without their permission. This is a very different kind of trust than the sort we arrange in a client situation. Understand?>

<Kay. I get that, actually. I'm jus' complainin'.>

Keshin rolled his eyes and began to follow Ossanlin's directions, turning left and heading in the direction of the Dome. He kept his eyes and ears peeled for any suggestions of security, but he was also looking for the rebels. It wasn't just Ossanlin Keshin needed to get to trust him, after all. He wondered how Myitt One-Nine-Five was getting along with so many friends dead.

[Luke Skywalker (Ossanlin)]

Ossanlin breathes a little sigh of relief when Keshin says nothing further.  He makes his way into his personal quarters.  He longs for his repose-field...but that would have to wait.  He'd been up for many hours...he'd probably be up for a few more at least.

He makes his way to the suspension locker where his proper tactical harness is floating in the shape of his body.  He removes it from the field and dons it, the shoulder-strap settling into place satisfyingly.  The familiar feel of his light, neutronium-weave swords a welcome weight.  The swords are nearly as much a part of him as his own tail.  Being without them had made him feel...partial...as if he wasn't quite all there.  The warriors who'd moved the feed had also delivered Ossanlin's decoy weapon belt.  He removes his ARC and places it in its proper holder on his harness, also picking up the holo-emitter and settling the piece over his right ear, the eye-piece automatically positioning itself optimally, near the outside corner of his right eye.  He picks up the CC wrist panel and clasps it over his left wrist once again.  He checks all of the pouches and containers on the tactical harness, making sure that they all contain their appropriate cargo before regarding himself in the viewer.  He looks like himself again.  He removes the heavy gold and silver War-Prince insignia from its storage display and attaches it to his weapons belt, slightly off-center.  For the first time in months, he feels right.

Things had been decaying in the Electorate, and Sector Seven had been gaining more power.  Ossanlin had felt...off...for some time, as if he'd been covered by a thin layer of grime that wouldn't come off no matter how much you washed.  Finally, now...looking in the viewer in his customary uniform, finally free to follow his ideals, he feels good again.  He feels right.  Of course, it's a long and harrowing road ahead, but it's the right road, and that makes all the difference to Ossanlin.

He walks across the bottom level of his quarters to the Dome door and passes out into the lush facsimile of his Homeworld.  He breathes deeply before galloping across the Dome toward the quarters he'd assigned to Tess and Keslin.  Claxter had mentioned that something was happening with Tess...he hopes it isn't the birth of her young.  The quarters had just barely been adapted to human habitation, there's no feasible means to provide for the needs of human young...there are barely means to provide for any humans at all.

[Terenia]

"Uh...none taken," Chris says, blinking into control, looking a little nauseous at the idea of what might very well be taking place in this room. "Do you...can I help you?" He stays by her side, gently brushing her hair back behind her ears. "Just tell me what I can do, okay?"


Terenia shrugs. "And what are the odds of that?" she asks flatly. "Us finding them?"

[Luke Skywalker (Ossanlin)]

Ossanlin nods to the members of his crew as he gallops past.  He's galloping not because he's in any particular hurry, but to discharge energy and feel the simulated breeze riffling through his fur.  In a very short time, he stands in front of the door to Tess and Keslin's quarters.

<Hello...I've heard there is an issue.  I'm going to open the door.>  He gives the warning before commanding the door to open and stepping inside.  Tess appears rather distraught.  Her face seems to be paler than before, but mottled with patches of red.  What little he knows of human physiology says that these are signs of distress.

<You appear to be ill.  Perhaps it would be best to move you to the medbay?>  He glances at Enorryma questioningly.  He assumes that she's already asked after the problem, whatever it is.

[Shenmue654]

Keshin and Joanne wander toward and into the Dome, breathing in the fresh but strange air of the Andalite home world. Keshin groans---the air in this place might be problematic. It smells breathable, at least.They have to inject the first of their four rounds of serum by tomorrow or any problems they've been experiencing will get worse. It was always a stopgap measure---sooner or later, the two of them will become too damaged internally for the serum to do much at all.

<You figure Scientist Boy had any idea what to do, anyway? I mean from what I was hearin' it has to do with how energy goes into me to begin with. I should've been dead as a little kid. >

<You always were something of a miracle, Joanne.>

Keshin wanders through the soft grass of the Dome, checking to see if any of the rebels are inside. For all he knows, they might have all retired to their quarters. He needs to see Myitt One-Nine-Five. She's the only Yeerk here that he really knows, and thus can really trust.

[Estelore]

Enorryma glanced back at Ossanlin. <<I am not sure she can be moved safely, at this stage. I take my queue from her, right now.>>