ELEVEN: CASSIE
It might have been a different story if someone I knew was a Controller, screaming for help inside their head. I thought it was the same for El. But she defended her Yeerk, even threatened us.
So Jake ordered Ax and Tobias to keep watch on them after they left and the rest of us just headed back home.
It was a Friday the next day, no school. Which was good. I quickly finished my chores and headed for the restaurant. And throughout the whole flight, I was thinking back what El'd said to us.
"Where were you when I needed saving?"
Something happened to her that Rachel and I never knew. And the key was V'trix. El ended up relying on her to be saved.
I had to know. Even if I had to keep pretending to be an Andalite.
(Cassie!)
On the rooftops near El's place, I spotted four familiar birds and joined them. (When did you guys arrive?)
(Rachel and I just came only. Marco was here this morning,) Jake said. (Anything to report?)
(Obviously, she's been contacting her buddies about us,) Rachel muttered.
(Not really. El just went to bed after getting scolded by Mr Liang,) Tobias explained. (At least I think it was scolding. He was real quiet.)
(We've not ruled out the possibility her great-uncle could be a Controller.)
(I checked earlier. There's nothing about him that screamed Yeerk business,) Marco vouched. (You weren't kidding about their cats being pest control.)
(She's been helping her great-uncle with the restaurant the whole morning,) Tobias continued.
(Ok but what if she sneaks out to make a phone call or something?)
(That's covered,) Marco droned. (Ax's monitoring them somewhere in her bedroom as we speak.)
(You sure that's a good idea?) I asked.
(Considering what happened yesterday,) Jake grumbled. (No.)
(Sorry,) Tobias apologized. (I didn't think about it at the time.)
(So she hasn't done anything,) Rachel stated the obvious. (That doesn't mean she's not planning to.)
(And you want us to keep watch for three days?)
(The moment she has to head to the Sharing is when she drops her guard and we yank her out.)
(Rachel, are you sure about that?) I asked worriedly.
(We discovered that a human and Yeerk will die if they are separated. Please. Yeerks need to go to the pools,) she muttered. (Once El's free, she'll be able to think clearly. It's the best option for her.)
Was it? I didn't quite agree. There was a side we didn't understand here and I wanted to know.
(That's not why we're here,) Jake reminded us. (We still need answers. Even though I have no idea how she's connected…)
(I doubt she's going to talk to us after last night,) Marco pointed. (We really ticked them off-)
Ka-Thud!
We nearly flew off our perch by the sound of windows shoved open by one particular person.
Correction. One particular Yeerk.
"I know you're out there, Bandits," V'trix hollered with folded arms. "My answers are still the same. But I do want to know why you are irritatingly convinced I had any partake in your claim. So I would like to talk to you. Just talk."
It was a surprisingly bold proposition coming from her.
"And, no, this is not a trap, I do not have weapons, and there are no Yeerks watching this restaurant or devices to capture you." She headed back inside. "Your call, Andalites."
We waited for a minute. Nothing.
(What now?) Marco cautioned.
(...We'll hear her out. She doesn't know Ax is inside. Tobias, keep an eye out for us.)
(Roger.)
The four of us fluttered down to the fire escape. Inside, V'trix was waiting at the desk languidly, letting out a yawn.
(Ax, if she does anything funny, don't hold back.)
(Yes, Prince Jake.)
Once we cautiously hopped onto a window seat, V'trix spoke up. "Now that we've gotta past the threshold, let's get this over with."
(That's rather cooperative of you. Why the sudden change?) Jake asked carefully.
"I've not decided to pledge alliance with you if that is what you mean. The faster we can resolve this matter, the faster you can leave us be."
(Oh? Getting tired of us?) Rachel spat.
"I do not care how long you keep up with this surveillance treatment. However-"
She suddenly gave a frustrated glare at us. "I care! Enough of this spying stuff!"
(Would you stop it with this Yeerk-host duality bit?)
"This is El talking to you, you stupid centaurs!"
"She hasn't had any sleep since our return home," V'trix explained. "Hence her mood."
El rubbed the sand from her eyes with her right hand. "I couldn't shake off this feeling someone was watching me the whole night. I can't even trust my own cats because one of you might have changed into them!"
"So for the sake of my x'yta's mental state, we'll play along with your game."
(You're still keeping up with this switcharoo and you expect us to work with you?) Rachel groaned.
"I don't expect us to work," V'trix answered bluntly. "And we've told you, El isn't under my complete control."
(That isn't going to cut it. Yeerks need bodies. There is no way you'll let your host be free when you want her body for yourself.)
"So you won't cooperate us until we clear this misunderstanding?"
(What misunderstanding? We know perfectly well you're too stubborn to drop the act.)
"I see." She gave off an air that said "now I get it". "El-"
"No." That was a very quick response and El's angry frown was even quicker.
"El."
"Nope. Zero, zip, zilch, nada. You're gonna open up my head like a dissected frog or something."
(What does she take us for, mad scientists?) Marco uttered privately.
"You have to tell them," V'trix said cooly.
El's face turned sour, like she bit a lemon. She was clutching her right hand tight till it went white.
If this was really an act, then I'd give V'trix credit. For this long, she was making out to be a good actress. The others were thinking that too.
But something was telling me it wasn't.
V'trix gave a sympathetic look but the right fist was still shaking. "They are not going to let this go," she said. "If you don't tell them, I will."
There was a minute of silence. As if she was holding back to give El a chance.
"Or you could always stay awake tonight-"
"Alright!" El shouted with fraying arms. "Alright. You want me to air all of it out, then fine…"
If it was any consolation, a part of me didn't want this.
She swallowed, looking very uncomfortable and embarrassed. "I'm not like other humans... I only have half a brain."
It was an answer that sounded so straightforward, it didn't sound real.
And as quick as always, Marco had to comment on it.
(We figured that much. With you having an alliance with an enemy.)
That made El furious. "Get out."
(Wait, what did I say?)
"How about being more insulting to me at the obvious, blockhead?"
Half a brain.
It was an answer I was waiting for. But I never thought it to be that kind of answer.
That finally clicked in Marco's head. (Oh…are you serious?)
"No. I joined the Yeerks because I'm a nitwit," she droned irritatedly. "Of course, I mean it!"
Boy, did he step on a landmine. With his head hunched into his neck, the osprey hopped back. Everyone else was too afraid to cross over the line this time.
"This is exactly why I didn't want to say anything. Just leave me alone-"
(W-Wait,) I hollered, trying to calm El down. (You only have half a hemisphere?)
It seemed to work. "...The right side and a portion behind the left eye. But yeah. I was born without the rest."
Even if I heard it twice, I still couldn't believe it. To discover someone I knew from school to have a brain condition like that.
(No way. Is that even possible?) Jake said in a private thought-speech.
(It's rare but possible,) I explained. (I've read up that a brain that has gone through trauma or surgery can rewire itself to adapt.)
(I don't buy it,) Rachel said. (You could be lying.)
El rolled her eyes with a loud and long groan. She rummaged around her desk for a bit until she finally pulled out a folder and one large envelope. She tossed them at the foot of the window seat. "Those are my medical history and neurology appointment log. The envelope is my recent brain scan. That is if you Andalites can even read them."
(These could be fake. We know there are Controllers working in your hospitals.)
"Hmph," V'trix surfaced. "Like they'll do that for a Werch."
Jake suddenly jumped down to the papers. (Who is this?) he demanded, sounding a bit agitated. (This name.)
"Him? He's my doctor," El answered.
I dropped down and examined the letters. The address was familiar. The hospital's name was familiar too. And the one thing that hit home was the doctor's signature on it.
(This...this is my dad's signature,) Jake said privately.
(Wait! What?) Marco uttered softly.
"Hey, don't go after him." We turned back to a worried El. "He just does my check-ups."
I was a bit surprised to hear that. Though, I think because of our silence, she thought it wasn't convincing to us.
"Look, I can bring more proof about my condition since I was three, ok? But my doctor has nothing to do with the Yeerks."
"She is correct," V'trix added. "He is not a target of interest. Your deal is only with us."
Even the Yeerk. Strange.
(T-That won't be necessary. But why would you say he's not involved? He could easily falsify the information.) Jake struggled with the last sentence. He didn't want to hear the idea his father could be working for the Yeerks.
"Because he's not one of those crazy Controllers," El answered, looking like it was an outrageous idea. "He doesn't know anything about the invasion."
(But you have an enemy in your head.)
V'trix shook her head. "Our biological structures can imitate brain cells that those readings will look normal to the human professionals. And for the better that El's doctor remains oblivious about the existence of our war, Andalites."
Jake finally let go a tiny sigh.
(Jake-)
(I'm fine. Really,) Jake told me. (Just...finding it so close to home.)
I could understand. First Tom and now his dad.
(Huh. So MRIs don't show Yeerks. Well, that's a useful piece of information to hear,) Marco mumbled disappointedly to us.
"Now do you understand? El's disability is why I cannot control her."
(That's total bu-I mean, I can't accept that," Rachel said.
(I agree. You Yeerks don't have any use for hosts with disabilities,) Marco pointed.
(And don't say it's a selfless act.)
"Maybe it's a bit of both." That remark took us by surprise. But V'trix continued with a soft smile. "Being a bit selfless and selfish. We both have our own limitations and because of that, we've compromised to work together in one body. I control the left." She raised up El's left hand.
"And I control the right." El lifted her right.
(What exactly are those limitations?) Marco pushed.
El frowned, tapping her right foot. She really didn't want to talk about it.
"El."
"Go ahead. It's already out in the open."
V'trix nodded in acknowledgement. "El's limitations are partial paralysis, memory problems and language issues. I can override them to help her overcome them. However, with her brain map different from others, I can't see through her left eye or completely take over speech and motion."
"But I can see through both eyes and talk whenever I want to," El added.
(Memory problems? Language issues?) Rachel repeated. (Sounds contradicting with the way your host acts. That is if you really aren't controlling her.)
El snorted, averting her glare away. "Like you would get it."
(Hey,) Rachel said dejectedly. I get why. What Rachel thought from those phrases was El couldn't entirely remember, speak or move. But it wasn't that straightforward. This was the left hemisphere - El's logical side. Like math and facts.
(And you two benefit from each other?) Marco asked.
"Yes. El helps me and I help her. When we are together, we can make up the difference. Of course, that's probably laughable, even to you Andalites."
It wasn't a response we expected or for most of us, believe. But I found it both genuine and strange. I couldn't put my finger on why she said "even to us".
"That is why I am needed. And I will not leave El, even if you threaten me."
(Just give us three days,) Rachel hissed.
(Rachel,) I called privately.
"Look. We're cooperating with you, ok?" El demanded. "Just don't hurt V'trix. Don't...make me go back." The last sentence trailed off as her right latched onto her left sleeve.
I wondered what she meant by go back.
V'trix directed a disappointed frown at us. "Enough. This is not about us but your little allegation. You said you saw us. But you found it preposterous when I suggested it could have been one of you who morphed into El."
(Because it is-) Rachel huffed but was stopped by Jake hopping in front of her.
(What are you proposing then?)
"Mind you, these are merely assumptions. From our intel, my people have deduced that your group has been cut off from your people since they're currently fighting in the Satrona region of the universe."
We had absolutely no idea what she was saying.
(She is correct. The Satrona region is a location far from your solar system where the war is taking place,) Ax confirmed.
"Of course, I cannot confirm if any recent Andalite ship has been spotted on the radar since I've been removed from the frontline. But seeing how there hasn't been any alarm among the grunts in the last 24 hours, I'm gonna assume there hasn't been one at all.
So perhaps this Andalite could have been one of your comrades aboard the same ship that crashed a year ago." She gave a sly grin. "Rejoice, you have another to add to your ranks against us Yeerks."
(Sheesh,) Marco mumbled. (Never thought there'd be a day we meet a sarcastic Yeerk.)
(Think she might be right, Ax?) Jake asked.
(It's...a possibility. But could there really have been a survivor…?)
"Now that I've given you my speculation, it's time for you to look for your missing ally. Good day."
(Now hold on!) Rachel barked, stopping V'trix in her tracks. (What makes you think we'll just forget about you?)
"Because that missing Andalite should be your top priority, not a Werch."
(But this is still an assumption you're betting on. What if it turns out to be a dead end?) Marco blurted.
"And what? A Sario Rip opened up and dropped another version of us? That's ridiculous."
Her angry face then changed to puzzlement. "V'trix, what is a Sario Rip?" El asked.
V'trix calmly answered. "It is a hypothetical rift in space-time, caused by a massive, precise explosion. And again." She glared at us. "A hypothesis. It is similar to a black hole. However, the negative energy from the explosion sustained by a secondary zero matter stabilizes z-space to form a rip."
El hunched her lips to the side, not getting any of that.
"Basically, a big explosion at correct timing shortcuts through z-space to create time travel."
"Oh. Ok. I think."
(I didn't get any of that until the last part.)
"Why are you confused?" V'trix chided at Marco. "You Andalites should know all of this and that it's impossible. If a rip existed, it could easily destroy a third of this planet."
(Holy...how did we survive the previous rips?!)
Yeah. No kidding.
"So please think rationally. Nothing good comes out with these obscene theories."
(But we've experienced them before,) I said. (So it's still possible-)
"It's not," she snapped, unusually irritated. "It's nothing more than fictitious delusions in fringe science. I will not make the same mistake again in chasing after them. And neither should you."
Mistake?
Knock, knock!
"Ah! Coming!" El hollered with a melodic tone before glaring daggers at us, finger to her lips. "Don't you dare say anything!"
(And we're watching everything you do,) Jake countered. (Think careful of what you say.)
El gave a muffled growl and quickly slipped halfway out the door. "What is it, Kong Kong?"
"Were you talking to someone?"
"Some annoying chatter birds outside my window. I threatened to let Gingko and Kandi loose on them."
(Hey!) Rachel uttered.
"Your mother called. Need to babysit Luke for a while."
"Sure," she didn't hesitate but she did sound jumpy. "Let her know I'm on my way."
Once he left, El shut her door and rested her forehead on it. At first, I thought V'trix wasn't too keen to babysit a human kid.
Then she swung up her right arm and jabbed a finger at us, head still glued back. "You are not going to my house."
(Isn't this her house?)
(Her great-uncle's. She lives near the city exit in the suburbs,) Rachel explained to Marco privately. (Not too far from my place.)
"The last thing I need is you centaurs at my place of comfort," El grumbled, grabbing for her knit cap.
(We're not done,) Jake stated. (There's still a lot to talk about-)
"Well, I'm not gonna be like Mrs McPherson and have my family look at me weird that I'm talking to birds."
(Mrs McPherson?) Marco repeated.
"An elderly human who spends her noons with pigeons," V'trix explained as she helped El wear on her parka. "I've never been able to understand that, El. She could easily talk to anyone walking by if she wanted a companion-"
"The point is that you can keep talking to us through your telepathy jumbo but we'll not gonna be talkative to you."
(That is not telepathy,) Ax chipped in but it was ignored.
(But you talk to that Yeerk,) Rachel muttered.
"Yes," El hissed through her teeth. "But at least we can communicate inside my head. Now shoo. Go look for your other Andalite."
(We can't let you go easily. You're still a Controller and with an enemy,) Jake enforced.
"Or what? You're gonna keep tailing us?"
(Of course. You know too much about us,) Rachel grunted.
"Hmph, so we're a liability," V'trix said. "Telling my people the Bandits are harassing me is nothing but a death sentence to the both of us."
(Why not? I'm sure that will get you out of your little dilemma.)
"Do you really not understand the title, Werch? You know our language. It's impossible for one to reclaim back their social standing. Moreover," she barked. "I would rather die than to go back to the way things were."
Again, the words, "go back". Just like El.
(That's rich, coming from you. But we know your kind. It's too convenient that you so happen to have a human you can't control-)
"Just stop it," El suddenly spoke out.
Rachel arched back her head, startled by that sudden demand.
If I know Rachel, it's that she was desperately trying to get El to give us any sign she never wanted to be a Controller.
"I've said this and I'll say it again. I'm not crazy, V'trix isn't a bad guy and I don't need saving. The only thing you're doing is shortening our lifespans the longer you're with us," she insisted. "You're the Bandits, fighting for us humans. So why not focus on other Controllers who really need saving."
(But-) I wanted to say something.
FLASH!
"-you're not going anywhere, Werch!"
The man in suit pointed the Dracon Beam straight at El's forehead, terrifying her to tears. One shot would kill both her and V'trix.
(Run!) It was pointless for me to yell.
But I had to try.
"Mreowww!"
I fired myself up the police car and leapt, claws extended. Kandi was angry. Someone was hurting her family-
FLASH!
"But what?"
I flinched when El asked me that.
I was almost ready to bolt it. But I was in El's bedroom. I wasn't charging up to sink my fangs into someone's arm.
W-What did I see?
V'trix sighed tiredly. "It is pointless to argue, El. Andalites are as equally stubborn as moles."
If I was human right there, I'd be staring at her like she had an extra head. That saying didn't sound right to me. But the strangeness was enough to calm me down.
"It's 'stubborn as mules', not moles," El corrected.
V'trix hunched her eyebrows. "But they are also stubborn, right? They don't come out of the dirt."
El wanted to say something but just stopped herself.
"Regardless, you won't believe us one way or another. So why don't you mind your own business and we'll mind ours. And we will agree to avoid each other." V'trix grabbed El's backpack. "Pretend I'm not even here."
It started off as a threat but the last part sounded a bit sad to me. Tired, too.
"C'mon, V'trix," El scowled. "You don't need to say anything to these creeps anymore."
(Hey, we're not the bad Andalites here,) Marco pushed.
"'The bad Andalites'. See, even you know you're all full of it. Your whole government's a police state and it took the lot of you being stranded here to see how terrible your race really is. V'trix's already said her piece. So unless you morph into people like your other friend did with me, there's no need for us to continue talking to you." She headed for the door but not without a final say. "Don't let the window hit ya on the way out."
Bam!
And slammed the door behind her.
(Well, that was entertaining,) Marco droned. (Think we've given her a good impression about us?)
(You don't actually believe her, do you?) Rachel grumbled.
(Cassie, what are you doing?) Jake asked. It was risky for me to demorph there but I was already at work with the envelope. I quickly closed the curtains and held up the MRI scan close to some Christmas lights hung on a wall.
(They have to be fake, right, Cassie? She got someone to switch the envelope.)
(Doubtful. They'd have to fake my dad's signature too.)
(Then they could have switched the contents. Easy.)
(But could they easily fake an MRI scan of a person with half a brain?) Marco pointed. (If this is a rare thing, finding someone to be a test subject has to be difficult.)
(There could be other ways.)
"Not likely," I explained. "Do you see the black blotch on the left?"
(You're the expert, Cassie. What are we reading?) Marco asked.
"It's like this. Black means nothing. White means something. The MRI scan paints up the exact details of the whole brain with those colors." I pointed at one spot. "And this blotch behind the eye isn't what a brain should normally look like."
(So she's really-)
"Yes." I stared back at the hollow space in the scan.
I know enough in medicine and biology that a hole inside the membrane couldn't be easily faked. Even if it was possible, that seemed like a lot of work to do for a criminal.
I was right. Why V'trix couldn't see much without El's help. Why there was a need to exchange conversation. And I would be lying if I didn't find this really amazing.
A Yeerk can't completely control a brain that's partially dead without having to work with her.
And here is the chapter where you learn one main thing that connects El and V'trix, El's disability. It was what inspired these two characters way at the beginning.
Before I was developing this fanfic, I was reading about a girl with half a brain and still have good vision through one eye. I then thought of the question: "would a Yeerk cooperate with their host to share one body together". Of course, not to say any common Yeerk would want a host like that unless for reason, which is something that will be explored further in this story.
This question has shaped the character developments in both El and V'trix. Moreover, I had lots of fun working on these two characters and look forward to new things to be thrown onto them in this megamorph. :3c It's also gonna be an interesting thing to write the reactions of the Animorphs on these two and that the more they learn about them, the more it's gonna put them on a grey area - can they keep seeing them in the same light as their enemies? That is something that will be tested in the chapters onwards.
Anyway, hope you guys like this chapter! If something bugs you, please let me know. I am always striving to improve this fic to the best I can. I might have some trouble with the next chapters but do hope I'll get the next up for the biweekly deadline.
Also shoutout to Artisan219's fanfic, Animorphs Reboot #1. It's an awesome fic on his take with the Animorphs being older and in our modern time. Give it a whirl.
