This chapter is on the short end, again, but the next chapter is quite long. I do apologize for the wait—in addition to this fic, I've picked up the additional project of translating D'espairsRay's new album, Monsters, which is understandably time-consuming.
After some deliberation, we decided it would be better to gather in Ax's scoop than in Cassie's barn. For one, Ax wouldn't have to worry about balancing while we were asking him questions. First and foremost of those...
"Invaders?" Jake asked intently, leaning against a tree with his arms crossed.
"The Irken race are scavengers. They used to be humble and weak, confined to their star system. Then, a long time ago, they were attacked. The ruler raised an army. Despite their tiny stature, the Irkens overcame their attacker, going so far as to overtake and destroy their planet. Irkens are naturally a hive creature, like bees, so the victory's euphoria was viral."
Cassie shivered. I didn't blame her. Hive animals and us didn't get along very well, but we understood what Ax meant.
"So they just kept invading planets?" I asked. "Just overtaking them with brute force and reducing them to rubble?" The thought was disgusting. At least the Yeerks were doing it for the bodies, mostly...
"Some they made use of for resources. They began to acquire technology from the planets they conquered. By combining the technologies, they became one of the more advanced races in the galaxy."
"So why haven't we seen more of them? Shouldn't we be conquered by them already or something?" Marco asked.
"I didn't think they had reached this far. They've overrun a quadrant on the other side of the galaxy, even further from Earth than my own home. For them to pass by the Andalites on their way here is... unusual." Ax looked at each of us with his eye-stalks. "But it worries me that there is one that tall on Earth."
"That tall?" Marco asked. "He wasn't taller than me! I thought he was tiny."
"Bet that made you happy," I shot. Marco stuck his tongue out at me.
"Irkens are about three feet tall on average. Height indicates status. Their rulers are the tallest ones of their race. That one had to be elite ranked." Ax's eyes frowned where he had no mouth to do so.
"Ooh, sucks for you, Marco. And you thought you had found a friend!" I said, trying to lighten the mood. Marco laughed. Nobody else did.
"Oh come on, that one was good," I muttered, crossing my arms.
"Rachel, this is serious. If we have an elite Invader on our planet, we might be fighting two threats instead of one, and it sounds like the Irkens aren't going to be afraid to come in, guns blazing, and obliterate us," Jake said, looking to Cassie to back him up. She appeared torn between her best friend and her boyfriend. Finally, she sighed.
"Dib feels... safe. They all seemed okay, to be honest," she said resignedly. "But I've misjudged people before," she added with a frown. "And there are so many things that don't add up. What if Dib is a Yeerk sympathizer? What if he's an Irken sympathizer? What if Gaz is some sort of spy? We don't know what any of their motives are."
"When we met Dib, he warned us against The Sharing," Jake said after a moment of silence. "Unless he was trying some stupid reverse-psychology thing, which I don't think he was, he's genuinely against the Yeerks. Right Marco?"
After a moment, Marco nodded. "He did seem genuine. It's why we met him after school, right? So Dib is for real. How do Irkens play into this?"
"Well," Cassie began. Everyone looked at her. "Remember what they were like in Elementary school?"
It was hard to think back. Nobody paid attention to anyone outside their friends in elementary school. But Dib and Zim... I did remember them fighting a lot. Dib was crazy, always yelling about aliens... and Zim was just... weird.
"They hated each other. Why would Dib help defeat the Yeerks so that an Irken could take over?" Cassie pointed out. "I have my doubts, and this is weird and kind of scary, but..."
We looked at one another. I heard a rustle up above us.
"Tobias?" I asked. He had been quiet, but now he shifted his wings and peered down at us. It was hard not to see those golden eyes as menacing, but hawk eyes don't show confusion, caution, or kindness like human eyes do.
"His exact words were, 'stupid human filth, can't keep track of time, can't follow directions...' I said that I was trapped while on a raid, hiding under orders, to keep my fellow Animorphs safe. His whole attitude towards me changed. He might not have the same nobility of spirit as Andalites, but he has his own code of honor, I think," Tobias said. "But he says he's trying to save humans, and then calls us 'stupid filth'?"
"You're right. Something's not right with him, or Dib," I said.
"I get the feeling they've been hiding for a long time," Jake said. "Maybe they've just forgotten how to interact with people?"
I still wasn't ready to give them the benefit of the doubt. I looked to Cassie. She seemed torn. Jake seemed to have made up his mind. Marco looked as against it as I felt, but I knew that he and Jake agreed that at least Dib was sincere.
"I am willing to accept Prince Jake's judgment, but I am reluctant to give them information until I know why the Irken is here," Ax said.
"I can keep an eye on their house for a while," Tobias offered.
"Last time we were in there, they identified you. Demanded to know who the hawk was flying around above them. I'm glad they don't shoot first, ask later," I said quickly. "I don't want you scoping it out alone like that."
"What do we do, then?" Cassie asked.
"We wait. Let them make the next move, I guess," Jake said. "I trust Dib, but we seem to be divided on everything else. I want to give them the chance to prove themselves trustworthy, because they could be a huge asset."
The tone was conciliatory, but Jake had spoken. We were going to wait. I growled under my breath. I hated waiting.