A/N: Thanks for the reviews, keep them coming! I had a bit of trouble with this chapter, as I fell into a giant pothole labeled 'Writers Block', so I'd like to know what you think.

Oh, just so everyone knows. I don't update to the next chapter until I get at least 30 hits and 1 review on the latest. It's my little system, and it hasn't steered me wrong yet!

Chapter Twenty

I was shocked by the fury which radiated from Jennor's body. She was in a battle stance, with her tail cocked and ready, despite the millions of light years between us. She was staring at me with all four eyes, narrowed dangerously. There was a deathly quiet and I shifted uncomfortably, waiting to see who would speak first.

(So, um…what's up?) I asked lamely, unable to take the silence any longer. Not exactly the most eloquent start to our conversation, although it did break Jennor's silent build-up of rage.

(What is up?) She sounded offended that I would even think to ask such a stupid and human thing. (You want to know what is up, Terenia!? Well what is up is that you are a complete and total disgrace to me and the entire Andalite race!)

(Oh, I'm sorry.) I said sarcastically. I was a disgrace to her? (I was unaware that I had to make sure that you always looked good in the eyes of everyone else.)

(You betrayed us, Terenia! You knocked me out and took an INVOLUNTARY host! Have you gone completely crazy!? I gave you a home, I was your shorm, and I gave you a purpose when you were completely lost. And this is how you repay me?)

(Excuse me!?) I was yelling now too. (You gave me a purpose? What the hell is that supposed to mean? What do you want me to do, bow down at your hooves and thank you for saving me from the scary alien world? Worship the grass you eat while you yourself do nothing but grovel at those above you?)

(I am a warrior, Terenia. That requires a certain amount of subservience. A concept you obviously have yet to comprehend.)

(I don't serve someone who treats me the way the Andalites have. Geroth was using me. The only reason he kept me alive was because he found me useful. Or have you forgotten that he tried to send us to our deaths?)

(So instead you choose the Yeerks. The plague of the galaxy, spreading like a disease from planet to planet – to your planet. That is what you want?) Jennor grunted in disgust, as if she couldn't stand to even look at me.

(Earth is not my planet anymore. And neither is the Andalite Homeworld. I didn't come here because I wanted to betray the Andalites. I came here because the Andalites betrayed me! I am not one of you. I am not accepted by you. You've been using me and when you were done with me you would have thrown me to the side. You and your people think the entire universe revolves around you, and I cannot accept that.) I tried to lower my voice, balling my hands into fists in an attempt to control my anger.

(Terenia, you have more arrogance than my entire species combined.) Jennor responded, her voice icy. (You need to do everything your way, with complete disregard for who you hurt along the way. Because of you Allora is dead. Because of you your brother is dead. Because of you I was forced to become a voluntary Controller. Because of you Aristh Rekora has become an involuntary Controller. And because of that, you signed your death warrant.)

(Because what, Geroth says I'm the new Abomination?) I responded, (Do you actually buy that?)

(If I hadn't allowed you to infest me, then you would not have had the opportunity to take Rekora and escape to the Yeerk forces.) Her voice was firm, although her eyes carried a small amount of sadness as she continued. (Therefore, Terenia, it is my duty to the People to eliminate you before you cause more damage. I created you, and I must destroy you.)

She cut the transmission, and the hologram disappeared to reveal the transparent wall. Visser One was watching me closely, wanting to see my reaction.

For a moment I did nothing. My plan to run away from the Yeerk's had disintegrated in just moments. If I so much as set hoof into space alone I was as good as dead. And Jennor...I felt a mixture of anger and disgust well up inside of me. We had been shorm's, and now she saw it her duty to kill me? Just because a more experienced warrior had said so? A more experienced warrior that had tried to kill her, nonetheless.

I looked at the Visser with all four eyes. I hated him for all the suffering he had called me. He had killed my family, put me in impossible situations. Yet all those situations stemmed back even further to the first day I had tried to run away from my problems, as a scared ten year old girl.

I didn't really care as much anymore that my parents had died. The initial shock had long worn off, and I had never been close to them. My brother's death still burned like a white-hot knife, driven into my hearts. That had been my fault, though. The Visser had given me a choice, and I had made it. Allora…also the result of my own choices. All choices I had made after Jennor convinced me to join this God-forsaken war. I could have found a way home; I could have stayed on the Andalite Homeworld oblivious. But somehow Jennor managed to get me caught up in believing her 'great war-hero' fantasies.

I might hate the Visser, but Jennor was the root of it all. And now she thought that it was her obligation to destroy me. She hadn't even given me a choice this time. I was stuck with the Yeerks, defending my life against the most arrogant race in the galaxy.

(Alright.) I said to Visser One at last. (You win. I get the point. I will be faithful to the Yeerk Empire.)

(I know you will.) The Visser responded, his voice like silk. (We have the Kandrona you need to stay alive. We have the protection from the Andalite filth. And we can offer you more than the Andalites ever could.)

(So…what happens now?) I asked, looking around my black cage.

(You will serve as my personal assistant until further notice.) The Visser gave me a rueful look. (I would like to keep you close, given your habit of running away. I will of course have to alert your…unusual…situation to the Council of Thirteen who may have further orders.)

A door appeared in the clear wall, its outline barely visible. I wouldn't have even noticed if the sound outside hadn't amplified suddenly. Thought-speech isn't restricted by walls, but the grunts of Hork-Bajir and squeals of Taxxons are.

I stepped out slowly; afraid that at any moment Visser One would change his mind and slice my head off. Instead he turned and walked away without a word, obviously expecting me to follow. I did so, trying to ignore the openly staring Yeerks around me. It wasn't every day that an Andalite entered Yeerk sanction.

(This will serve as your quarters. It is properly suited for an Andalite host.) Visser One said, stopping at a door. (I will have someone come for you when I have need.)

I opened the door with a thought-speech command and looked in. It was indeed built for an Andalite. The ground had springy grass underfoot and the room was quite large – three or four times the size of my old Andalite quarters. It had probably once been the quarters of the Visser himself. I walked in, taking in my new home.

(And Terenia?) The Visser added lightly, as he turned to leave.

(Yes?) I responded, unable to keep a slight growl from my voice. No matter what protection he offered me, he was still evil.

(Do not forget that your life is in my hands.) He gave a cruel smile. (If you try anything you will spend the rest of your life wishing you were dead.)

He left then. I was alone to think. I trotted in circles around the room until I felt dizzy. It was eerily silent. Even Rekora was quiet, and when I prodded her brain I saw that she was trying desperately to think of a way to save herself from the same fate as Visser One's host.

(You still think I am as bad as Visser One?) I asked, laughing a little at her feeble plans.

(No.) She retorted. (You are worse. Visser One was born a Yeerk, it is all he knows. You had a choice, and you chose this.)

I shrugged her off. I was not Visser One. I did not take joy in torturing others. After all, it was not as if I was killing Rekora. She was still alive and conscious and capable of thinking whatever she wished. I was not a cold-blooded murderer. Not like Visser One. Not like Jennor would be if she did her "duty".

I pondered that for a moment. No one knew Jennor like I did – after all, I had lived in her head for months. If she saw killing me as her duty then she would stop at nothing to achieve her goal. Especially if it would make her look better in her superiors eyes. Jennor would stop at nothing to kill me.

If I reached her first and put an end to the threat, would that make me a murderer? Or would it only be self-defense, like the many deaths I had caused in battle? If I didn't get to Jennor before she got to me I would be dead meat, no doubt about that. If only she wasn't so prideful, so dead set on the "Andalite way". It made me angry just thinking about it. Visser One was right about one thing, the Andalites were the most insolent race in the galaxy. And now they had made me their largest target. I clenched my fists, letting the reality of the situation wash over me.

Murder or not, I was going to have to kill Jennor.