Chapter 9

It was five days after I had left Visser Three's cave. During these five days, I had spent much of it meditating, eating, exploring, thinking of Loren as well as pondering the situation with Visser Three. It was very different to how I had spent most of my life. The last time I remembered a period of such relaxation was back when I was a child and had few encumbrances. In fact, I was so unused to the sensation that it took me nearly an hour to realise that I was bored.

Extremely bored.

I had expected Visser Three to attack me, however, he hadn't. So I was left with nothing but my own thoughts and at that very moment, my own thoughts weren't pleasant company. I had spent much of the five days wandering around, specifically avoiding areas that I knew Visser Three might frequent, but attempting to gain a topological map of the landscape in my mind. So far, I had realised that the area that the Yeerk fighter had crashed into was part of a flat forested area that stretched for several miles. Beyond that, where Visser Three seemed to have made his scoop, was a series of networked caves set deep into a cliff face.

There was a waterfall further along, about a half day's walk for me, and I marvelled at its beauty. There was nothing like that on the Andalite home world, and I doubted such magnificence could come from the Yeerk home world, so I suspected that this gigantic waterfall was purely from Earth.

There were a series of small streams flowing through the forest and I found many delicious new varieties of grasses growing on their banks.

I had wanted to explore further on foot, but invariably, I always turned back just after the day was half over. I didn't want to accidentally get lost. A part of me was always drawn back to where I had originally made my scoop, which was rather close to the downed Yeerk fighter. I reasoned to myself that I was simply keeping an eye on Visser Three's progress on fixing the ship, however, I sometimes wondered if it was more than that.

On the fourth day, I morphed a kafit bird and flew towards the horizon. I had always found flying to be beautiful and had always regretted not trying out a few Earth bird morphs before I permanently became human. Earth animals were numerous and varied compared to those on the Andalite home world. I vaguely remembered a lesson in school about a cataclysmic event in relatively recent history that had caused all but a few species on the Andalite home world to die out. It was obvious that there had been little genetic variation since.

The kafit bird was not very fast for a bird; however, it was much faster than I was in my natural body. I discovered that this planet was far bigger than I had first imagined. The Yeerk home world was tiny in comparison, and I suspected by the curve of the ground, that this planet was possibly twice the size of Earth.

I flew and saw other parts of the planet composed of deserts, oceans and giant forests. Sometimes I couldn't even tell the difference between human and Yeerk landscapes. During my time on Earth I had discovered that much of that planet had been covered in ice and completely inhospitable. There were plants that ate animals, flowers that stretched over two metres long and smelt like rotting meat as well as terrifyingly huge marine animals. Truly, Earth was a strange place. I wondered how much of it had been transposed into this bizarre world.

I wondered if Visser Three had been tempted to morph to see more of this planet. I knew that Alloran himself would only have the few morphs I had, the chadoo, the kafit bird and Taxxon. However, I was positive that Visser Three would have collected more morphs. A part of me cursed the Andalite High Council for its policy of not allowing morph-capable Andalites to collect more than the necessary number of morphs. Other than specialised spies within the Electorate, very few morph-capable warriors had more than a few morphs.

After I had explored as much of the planet as I could, I found myself in at a loss. I wasn't going to sit around and be a pawn of the Ellimist. I needed to get off this planet, however, unless a spaceport magically appeared, I was stuck. The only way off the planet seemed to be the Yeerk fighter.

I wondered why Visser Three hadn't simply chosen to morph into something to destroy me. My only conclusion was that he had more to do than to simply kill me, or that I was still of some use to him.

It was with those thoughts in mind that I went to find Visser Three.

-***-

[I can only presume that you have a death wish, Elfangor,] Visser Three commented.

I stopped, and wasn't sure what to say. From where I was standing, I could tell that he had made some progress on the Yeerk fighter, but not as much as he would have had if I had been there.

[I see that you have been struck dumb by shock at my progress,] Visser Three said. I wasn't sure whether it was my imagination or did he sound weary. [Leave now before I am forced to make you leave.]

[No,] I said finally.

Visser Three turned both stalk eyes towards me. [What?]

[No,] I said, louder. [You need my help if you are to leave this planet. If either of us are to leave. You know you do.

Visser Three laughed silently. [I concede that this would go faster with your help, however, how can I trust that you will not make another attempt at my life?]

I somehow felt that there was something odd about the situation. Visser Three was talking about trusting me? I was an Andalite and he was a Yeerk. We were supposed to be the trustworthy ones! Although, I had to admit, from our actions since we had arrived on the planet, Visser Three had shown himself to be somewhat more trustworthy. [You have my word,] I said quietly, and meant it. I had been doing a lot of thinking over the last few days and discovered that I was glad that Visser Three wasn't dead. It meant that I had not killed somebody – even an enemy – in cold blood and for that, I was grateful.

Visser Three walked towards me. I twitched my tail blade to a defensive position. [I have morphs that would terrify you,] he said softly.

[You will not morph,] I said confidently.

[Why?]

[Because you would be vulnerable mid-morph,] I told him. [Because I could kill you. Because you would never want to put yourself in that position.]

To my surprise, Visser Three laughed silently again. [You would make a good Yeerk, Elfangor.]

I worked hard to keep my face expressionless but it was obvious that Visser Three saw through it.

[Don't look so offended,] he said. [There are many kinds of Yeerks. Seerow knew that.]

[Prince Seerow was a fool,] I spat, enraged. [He released a plague upon the galaxy.] I could feel my hearts pounding.

[Yes, I believe Alloran agrees with you,] Visser Three commented. [You have an ally, even if that ally is inside my head.] He tapped the side of his head.

[You are inside Alloran's head,] I corrected, my voice shaking. [You are nothing but a pathetic, pitiful little slug.]

I could see Visser Three's hands trembling. His tail blade moved slightly and I could tell that he was expending a lot of effort in keeping it still. [I will not kill you, Elfangor,] he finally said. [You would make a perfect host for one of my subordinates, or perhaps, even my twin. I would not wish to damage such a perfect specimen.]

I narrowed my eyes. [And I will not kill you, Visser Three,] I said, proud that my voice wasn't shaking. [Because I will see you brought to justice.]