Time for Reflection

[lytaalex.livejournal.com]

After having her injuries--as superficial as they were--treated in the medbay, Lyta had gone immediately to get some much needed sleep. Her encounter with the inquisitor in the sensorium had been grueling, nerve-wracking and painful. She'd suffered a multitude of bruises, several lacerations and one of her ribs had been cracked. However, she had thankfully survived. She had gone through what the Vorlons liked to call "the crucible" and she had come out the other side. She had, like all that had before her, come out changed. She had more doubts, more questions, more uncertainties than she had when she had gone in. But instead of doubts concerning her safety, questions of the superheroes humility, and uncertainty over whether she could trust them, all the new ones were about her.

This was why, when she finally woke back up from her rest, Lyta made her way down to the city and headed directly for one of the few places she had discovered that was peaceful here: the Garibah Tree. The tree under which she had first met Ax, the one that reflected a person's feelings back to them. And that was just what Lyta needed, for her emotions to be shown to her in the hope that, perhaps, she may gain some sort of perspective.

Comments

[crusades]

Bruce allows her solitude for several minutes. There was something about this ship that made it a rare privilege. He'd spent the last few hours creeping through the living quarters of Stacy, eavesdropping on what conversation he could. Wherever he looked, from the sensoriums to the messhall, from the media library to the medbay, the people of the ship travelled in groups. Even the newer inhabitants such as himself had gravitated towards company.

But this woman was different. It was clear that she didn't want to be disturbed, that perhaps something was troubling her. And so, it is perhaps a bit ironic that he picks the one crew member that doesn't want company to probe for information.

He stashes his utility belt, the item he carries that might help identify who he really is, somewhere no one is likely to stumble upon it. When he swaggers into the light he is wearing black wayfarer sunglasses, despite the low lighting in the city, and twirls a book of matches between his fingers. Even with the full beard he's grown in place of the usual artificial pencil moustache, he looks completely ridiculous. But of course, it's all part of the plan.

"Hey, doll," he blurts unceremoniously in a faultless New Jersey drawl, "Any idea what a guy's gotta do to get a beer 'round these parts?"

[lytaalex.livejournal.com]

Lyta turned with a start toward the voice's source. The moment her eyes landed on him, she felt her body stiffen. She'd never seen this man before. He wasn't on the crew when she woke up, hadn't been in any of the pod-pops, and definitely hadn't been in the meeting with the newest arrivals. He was, however, wearing the suit, but the fact that it was tattered as much as it was suggested he'd either been here for a while...or he'd been very busy.

"Who are you?" she demanded.

[crusades]

"Whoa, sorry lady," he holds his arms up to show he doesn't mean any harm, "Didn't mean to spook ya. Handle's Matches."

He rips one of the matches from the book and catches it between his teeth to iterate. Clearly he doesn't just look ridiculous.

"I'm new 'round these parts."

[lytaalex.livejournal.com]

Lyta narrowed her eyes, her eyebrows drawing together as she gave him a suspicious glare. "You're lying," she stated. "Who are you, really?"

[crusades]

The various tics he picked up to distinguish the Matches character jar for the most fleeting of instances when she replies. He'd spoken to associates of the original Matches under this guise, and even they had been fooled by his performance. That only left so many possible explanations for her perceptiveness-- he instinctively begins playing chess in his head. Pawn to king four; knight to rook three.

"Alright, ya caught me," he grins and shrugs, "So my momma didn't really name me Matches. I just got kinda attached to it."

[psi-flames.livejournal.com]

Lyta isn't the only one looking to get some perspective. Or, at the very least, a good spot to get his thoughts back in order. It could be hard on Stacy when the ship gives him a permanent headache.

So it's probably not all that surprising that Jono stumbles on the tree. And Lyta. Sorry, mate. Didn' mean to walk in on you thinkin'. Nice as it is to talk to other telepaths, he really doesn't know Lyta much. They've linked to protect the group. That's about it.

[lytaalex.livejournal.com]

It's all right, Lyta replied. I just needed to get away, clear my head. Which is a little difficult when the entire crew is screaming at the top of their minds most of the time.

[psi-flames.livejournal.com]

Don' I know it. He walks over, stopping about ten feet away or so before sitting. Either them or Stacy. I ain't ever got me shields down much.

[lytaalex.livejournal.com]

You still getting the headaches? she asked. While the static sound in her head had been almost overwhelming at first, it had, over time, died down considerably and become more of an irritant than a pain. But that didn't mean the same was true for the other telepaths.

[psi-flames.livejournal.com]

Jono nodded. Almos' like pressure headaches. Stacy's pretty overwhelmin' if given a chance. It was probably his unique physiology that made it a problem. Not that he thought of it that way. Add in all the minds what keep comin' awake an' it gets more difficult. Harder t' filter out, so shieldin's jus' the easiest way t' handle it.

[waylostandfound.livejournal.com]

There was a familiar whoosh, and moments later, Nathan was touching down on the ground. He slowly approached the telepath, and giving a scrutinizing look to her appearance. He hadn't seen her around in some time, not since the meeting, and was relieved that she was all right. Mostly possibly.

"Been wondering where you were," he remarked.

[lytaalex.livejournal.com]

Sitting on the grass near the base of the tree, Lyta looked up at Nathan's familiar face and almost immediately felt a sense of relief fall over her. "Hi," she said, giving him a weak smile. "Sorry, I...I guess you could say I had something I needed to do."

[waylostandfound.livejournal.com]

"Needing to vent?" He continued to take a few steps closer to her, and gestured to her face.

"You all right?"

[lytaalex.livejournal.com]

"Yeah, I'm fine," Lyta nodded, rubbing one of the bruises on her cheek. "I just...I had a little run-in with someone I wasn't expecting to see. Especially here of all places."

[waylostandfound.livejournal.com]

Nathan then hunkered down on the ground by her so be easier for eye contact. Also so she didn't have to strain her neck.

"Who was it? One of the new people popped out?" He wanted to have some words with them if that was the case.

[mynameisax.livejournal.com]

The sound of hoof beats on the various surfaces of the City's floor preceded the Andalite producing them. He trotted around the corner of one of the buildings and paused at the edge of the grass, first to greet the Garibah, and secondly to take note of its -- and Lyta's -- emotional state.

< Hello, Lyta, > he ventured after a moment. He was close enough to the tree to be within its range, and it began reflecting new emotions.

Mostly happiness, which was...new. He definitely hadn't been feeling anything remotely like that last time they had both been at the Garibah. Some concern, some worry. But mostly happiness.

[lytaalex.livejournal.com]

"Hi," Lyta said, looking up in surprise as Ax drew closer to her. "It's been a while. But it's nice to see you as you and not a teenage human. I think this suits you better."

[mynameisax.livejournal.com]

< It isn't necessary for me to pretend to be human anymore, > Ax said, ironically with a very human shrug of the shoulders. < I don't want to be in morph unless I have to on board this ship. Time is strange here, and it throws off my internal clock. >

Which was very bad for an Andalite in morph. Especially since Ax had several that he would never want to be trapped as.

[lytaalex.livejournal.com]

Lyta nodded. "So...you're brother is on board now," she stated, changing the subject in a way that was both quick and awkward. It would seem that there might be something Lyta is trying to avoid talking about. "You must be feeling pretty ambivalent about that..."

[mynameisax.livejournal.com]

Ax glanced away for a moment, as the Tree reflected a sudden pang of sadness.

< My brother has been dead for two Earth years from the point at which Stacy abducted me, > he said. < He was murdered. It is very good to see him alive again. >

Ax could only hope that he could keep Elfangor alive, bring him through time somehow...

Perhaps Lyta had been successful in distracting him.

[ravaged-rose.livejournal.com]

The city was the only free space Rose had found was any good for this sort of exertion. Between the frustration and anger at being left behind from the mission, Eddie turning up and twisting all her emotions into knots, and then the revelations contained in the team re-converging she felt dizzy with all the things she needed to be thinking about. A dead run and the adrenaline rush of the exercise was about a clear as she could manage to make things for now.

She'd never wanted more to see further than a few seconds ahead of time. Actually it would have done her a WORLD of good to be able to record, rewind and review her life with some kind of Tivo brain implant.

Being able to sleep without dreaming horribly would be nice too.

She finally pulled up from her hard run, lungs burning, near the tree. Bowed over to catch her breath she felt the prick of eyes on her before Lyta had actually turned her head.

Well... she'd been meaning to dig Lyta out of the fray and talk, now was as good a time as any.

"Hey... how's the shade?"

[lytaalex.livejournal.com]

"It's...shady," Lyta answered, looking up at her visitor, getting the distinct feeling that her appearance was not a total coincidence. "Can I help you with something?"

[ravaged-rose.livejournal.com]

Rose straightened up, sweeping her hair off her neck with a heavy sigh and taking her time walking over. She sat herself down as well, not bothering to really ASK if she could join Lyta first. If she wasn't welcome she could get back up just as easily.

"Have you got a minute to talk about that vision thing (http://community.livejournal.com/trans_9/33588.html?thread=2881076#t2881076)"?

[lytaalex.livejournal.com]

"Um...yeah, sure," Lyta said, looking a little confused. "What about it?"

[ravaged-rose.livejournal.com]

"It's not still bugging you? What we all saw?"

Rose's mouth pressed into a thin bloodless line, nervousness crawling up into her posture and bringing her hands together to wring one another in her lap. Was she seriously the only one this bothered by the whole thing?