Parasites in the Park

[echoofaperson.livejournal.com]

Hydroponics was peaceful. There weren't that many people in it, and most people were willing to ignore you if you curled up in a corner with a book- well, data pad, and he almost missed the solid weight of paper and ink in his hands - and kept your head down.

And right now, Iniss wanted nothing more than to stay out of the way and avoid all of the humans and assorted alien lifeforms that had decided they were going to hunt him down for Jake.

His host was quiet, on the edge of dozing. Bored by his reading choice and content, for once. He'd sent Jake a message, and he knew Jake had to have received it.

It was a small thing, something very few other people would think much of. Telling your younger sibling you love them? Most teenagers would die first. But Tom hadn't been able to say so much as 'Hi' to his little brother in three years. It felt...nice. Comfortable. He felt almost happy. As close to happy as he'd gotten in years, even with the near miss of freedom.

And so he dozed and Iniss read and they ignored each other completely.

It could almost be said to be peaceful, if living with an alien slug in your head could ever be said to be peaceful.

Comments

[standaloneshell.livejournal.com]

...until the Major's shadow fell across him.

She was human- or human enough, if someone with a full-body prosthesis could have been said to be so. But of all the people aboard who had so much to fear from a Yeerk, Motoko Kusanagi was one of very few who could say even nominally she was both human and completely outside Iniss' ability to threaten. Indeed, the Yeerk that tried infesting her brain was likely to electrocute itself.

Truly, she'd have just as soon shot Tom and Iniss both for the trouble their combined presence had and would continue to cause.

"Tom Berenson," she asked, casually, as if she weren't staring down at him with death in her red eyes. Would you like creme in your coffee?

[echoofaperson.livejournal.com]

Iniss stayed very still for a long moment, staring at the combat boots over the top of his data-pad.

Well shit.

"You appear to have me at a disadvantage, miss."

He wasn't unaware of the tone, but he was very cautious as he looked up at her, keeping his hands lose on the data pad, not moving more than he had to.

[standaloneshell.livejournal.com]

The Major was aware that she had cornered him, which was ordinarily a very dangerous move./ But he would run, oh yes, if he could. Fugitive from all and sundry, protected only by the ship's oath to exact swift vengeance on those who killed within her walls?

It didn't take much to predict him.

"Would you prefer I refer to you as Iniss 335?" She pressed, only moving her eyes against the unnatural cyborg stillness, following his gaze. She softened, after a moment of thought, and tilted her head ever so slightly- the only motion in her was the rise and fall of her chest, cycling air to cool her systems, "I am Major Kusanagi. I don't intend to kill either of you, if I don't have to."

[echoofaperson.livejournal.com]

"Major." He responded politely, inclining his head in acknowledgment. "Your preference is, of course, your preference. I will answer to either and have no opinion on which I prefer. And that is much appreciated, I have already almost died once this week and I'd rather finish this book first, if it's all the same to you."

His expression was guarded, but polite, data pad still gripped loosely in his hands. "Is there something I can help you with, Major Kusanagi?"

[standaloneshell.livejournal.com]

"I would like to speak with you about the options you're likely to face, and ask what you intend to do about them," she replied, just as politely. Thank what little good there was left in the world for the small blessings of civility, "The last time there was a publicly-known Yeerk presence aboard, the fallout was unacceptable. If you intend to remain alive, host or otherwise, you will need to react intelligently."

She didn't bother asking after Tom, at least not in so many words. Motoko had been on both sides of this coin- as both captor and captive, and knew the tactical positions of both. It would be very easy for her to abandon Iniss to the lynch mob, even easier to get rid of it herself. But, that wasn't what she was here for.

[echoofaperson.livejournal.com]

"I understand most of them and am currently working with members of command to secure a solution more in line with the moral values of the rest of the crew. I wish to avoid the fate of my predecessor, of course, if it's all the same to you." He paused, and finally slipped the data pad into his pocket, keeping his hands lose at his sides and keeping a nonthreatening posture.

The last thing he wanted was for her to think he was going for a non-existent weapon.

"If you have any advice or information, I would be more than glad to listen."

[standaloneshell.livejournal.com]

"If anyone had had an ounce of sense, that one would have died as soon as it was captured," she replied without an ounce of pity. After all, it was true, "To suggest that at the current level of organization present, the crew is capable of saving a live Yeerk's life in any meaningful longterm fashion is laughable."

It was in her to offer him the use of one of her civilian bodies, but she held back. No one deserved the fate that had been meted out to a creature who was, to all intents and purposes more innocent than this. It had been six months since then. If that Yeerk still knew anything beyond it's own gibbering, then it would not thank anyone for being allowed to be conscious of it. The sensory deprivation associated with being in stasis was not a joke.

"I am capable of giving you an out that has more certainty," her voice was an edge of tempered steel, "What I need to know from you is why I should. You were brought here because of Tom. For that purpose you represent so far a threat to morale and a source of internal conflict. What good are you?"

[echoofaperson.livejournal.com]

"I disagree. What had he done to deserve a death sentence? What had he done to earn his sentence at all?" He shrugged his shoulders. "But we, like all creatures, are at the mercy of our fellow crew-mates. If you decide to destroy me, there is little I can do to stop you."

His watched her, cautious and careful and more than a little afraid. "I am an information specialist. A nice word for a spy. I study other speices. It's a bit of a hobby, really. And who, after all, is to say that Tom wasn't brought here because of me?"

He would rather throw in his lot with command, who at least was unlikely to throw him to the wolves, and who Dani he trusted with his life. Not a stranger who apparently had saw no problem with killing him.

[visserbasher.livejournal.com]

Oh, hydropodnics was peaceful all right but it was about to be less so.

"...You." Loren had her bat out all ready, and she gripped it tightly.

You better be glad I like you

[echoofaperson.livejournal.com]

Crap.

He held the data pad in front of him, looking at her warily.

"Beautiful day for a nice, peaceful walk...isn't it? No beating people's heads in required."

[standaloneshell.livejournal.com]

"It's not a matter of deserving it," the reply was a careful one, thoughtful and not nearly as harsh as it could have been, "If you want to be completely honest, I'd have done the same regardless of the target's species or transgressions."

It was business, it was always, only ever business. She listened to his reply with great care. Information warfare was a way of life in Section Nine, and Motoko was its Queen.

"I say so, but believe whatever you want," she informed him quietly, but her folded arms made a threat of it. Her position in Neuropathy gave her a greater scope of information than most on this ship, and while the whys were never a part of her information set, Motoko was possessed of a truly terrifying poker face, "Go on. I'm listening."

Terrified is the word

[visserbasher.livejournal.com]

"You don't have a dracon beam this time, do you?" Not that she'd believe the answer.

[echoofaperson.livejournal.com]

"Don't all creatures deserve their fates, by law? Humans have a quaint saying, "Innocent until proven guilty." But guilt is such a subjective term, after all, based entirely on the morals of the people involved. What I consider an action to hold guilt for, for example, and what your average human would consider something to be guilty for. We cannot see eye to eye on that matter. But then, the average human is a creature of such innocence, most sentient beings feel the need to regulate them to the rooms with the children."

He watched her for a moment. "But what is the point of killing someone who did nothing to deserve it? What is gained, save the loss of life, and what is lost, except the possible input such a creature would have on future situations? As for skills, I can offer an ability to pass in most any society, information gathering and processing, interrogation, as is need, though it is not my specialty. I am good at reading information written by a species and presenting the best course of action to deal with them, pleasantly or unpleasant, and an apt diplomat."

< Nice Resume. >

< She will kill you too, you realize. >

< I do, but it's interesting to see you cornered. It's almost entertaining, I don't get to see it very often. >

No *I* like you, *INISS* is terrfied

[echoofaperson.livejournal.com]

"I have a data pad, your grabby friend took all my things." But he made no effort to put the data pad away, holding it in front of him.

The last thing he wanted her to do was wack him.

Re: No *I* like you, *INISS* is terrfied

[visserbasher.livejournal.com]

Score one for Marco.

Of course on a ship like Stacy that didn't mean he had no secret stash or hadn't raided the weapons locker.

Loren nodded. Her gaze softened for a moment. "I'm really sorry, Tom." They were so close.

[echoofaperson.livejournal.com]

< Not your fault, Loren. It's ok. I'm used to it, by now. >

"He said something sentimental to try to make you feel better." Iniss reported dutifully.

[standaloneshell.livejournal.com]

"It's known as damage control," She explained, patiently. It was like talking to a small child, or the teenager Tom appeared to be. A spy Iniss might be, but it had little enough experience actually acting on the information it provided, "At the time the political rift caused by the Yeerk's presence caused a number of casualties. It didn't deserve to die, but if everyone ever killed did then the world would be a very different place. As it stands, the result that currently holds sway was already foreordained. The options at that point were either stasis or death, never so fortunate a choice as you face. This is neither fair, nor moral."

She paused, looking him over and cocked her head. The 'cyborg head-tile' she'd heard it called, and for a moment she thought she saw...

"Life is cruel. I have no need for fault, I am uninterested in the difference between accidental and purposeful actions. You will adapt and become useful to this crew, or else you will not, and the consequences of your position will be your own. Make yourself useful, and I will protect you. Beyond that, I don't care whether either of you live or die."

[visserbasher.livejournal.com]

"Next time, or if whatever plan Iniss has works out..." Loren sighed, then her face tightened. "Iniss, you must be so pleased with yourself." She held her bat tight enough to leave marks on her fingers.

[echoofaperson.livejournal.com]

"It is my dearest wish to be accepted on my own merit as a member of this crew and allow us all to triumph over our foes. Universe destruction doesn't do me any good either, you know. I will strive to be useful, and avoid conflict with any and all members of the crew, and if trouble is started, deal with it through the appropriate channels, of course."

< A woman after my own heart. >

< Gross. >

"Damage control can also be known as wasting valuable resources. Killing things to make people feel better means no one wins."

[echoofaperson.livejournal.com]

< I look forward to it. >

"I'm uncertain what you mean, and I fail to see how anyone could be pleased by someone standing over them with a bat."

[visserbasher.livejournal.com]

"You're not dead." Loren said flatly. "Just what did you tell that girl?"

[echoofaperson.livejournal.com]

"Oh, that, yes I am pleased that I'm not dead. Most creatures are." He gave a little shudder. "I told her the truth, shocking as it seems. It's amazingly effective."

[standaloneshell.livejournal.com]

"Simply not siding with the Ohm and promising not to work at cross-purposes to this crew are very different things," she reminded him, coldly, "The fact that you by nature draw a civilian into this particular exchange doesn't impress, either."

This is how much the Major cares, Tom. You are in the wrong place at the wrong time, through no fault of your own. But even a valuable hostage is still not a reason to negotiate unreasonably, not in her line of work.

"So don't presume to lecture me on the ethics of killing prisoners of war. You're in no position to ask me to justify my opinions."

[visserbasher.livejournal.com]

"You told her that you're controlling everything Tom says and does?" What kind of screwed up girl would help him after learning that.

[echoofaperson.livejournal.com]

"My host has been highly trained for my work, over three years of training. He no longer counts as a civilian. That's longer than any boot camp I know of lasts." He spread his hands. "Like any body, it has been trained to suit my job."

He looked at the Major for a long moment, then nodded. "You are correct, I was unclear. I will work with the crew. Willingly, so long as they are not trying to kill me. I owe my life to some of my crew-mates, after all."