CHAPTER 9: Insolent Species
Ax
"We're going to have to make a decision," Prince Jake said. Even in the dark we all could see his face was focused and serious. The others had decided to hold a meeting not at our usual spot, which was the barn, but instead at my meadow.
"About what?" Marco shrugged.
Rachel shivered. "About the fact that we can't just starve Aurana. Duh, Marco even I, Xena, could see that."
Why not? I asked.
They all stared at me.
I was just attempting to make a human joke, I said quietly.
"Right," Rachel's teeth chattered. "Jeez you know we could have picked a better time to do this. I'm freezing and standing here in my morphing outfit does not help."
Prince Jake sighed. "Let's get back to the point. Anyway, it is true Aurana knows too much. Erek said he tried finding out a way to see if she was, but it's impossible unless he's able to take control of the Yeerk. Somehow I don't think Aurana's going to be up to that." He looked at me. "From what Ax has told us... about what occurred, I'd say she is still on our suspect list. She wouldn't come looking for him at his meadow if she wasn't interested in capturing him. And she seems to have no idea that some of us are human. If she was in the peace movement like she said she was, she should know."
"It's been a long time since we've come in contact with them," Marco said. "Didn't Illm say they were growing pretty big?"
"Yes, and?"
"Well, how could they keep track of everyone with something that big? They might not trust everyone with the information."
Prince Jake sighed once more. "And so, once again, we are back right where we have started."
"So it's either we kill her or we let her go," Rachel said quietly.
We all stood in silence for that moment. Cassie spoke.
"I'm not going to stay there if we decide to let her starve," she said in a low voice. "I don't care how justified any of you might think it is."
The problem was, everything was at equilibrium. We could not confirm either side.
"We shouldn't be thinking about making a decision right now," Cassie said after awhile. "We don't even know her."
Jake nodded. "Alright. So, I think we all should think about the plan for what we should do if... Just think about what we should do."
They were all quiet for a moment. Then,
If Erek were able to see that she is in the peace movement, then wouldn't we be obligated to let her go?
"Yes, definitely," Prince Jake said.
Then we should only be unsure if she was not.
Cassie looked awkwardly at me and then to the others. "She seems really nice."
"Of course you would think so," Marco said crudely.
"Well, what do you think, Ax?" she asked me. "You seemed to have been able to strike up a conversation with her without threatening her with your tail."
Everyone turned to look at me. I suppose it appalled them that I could speak with a Yeerk in the way Cassie described.
Actually, I did. But the moment passed. In one occasion her host spoke to me and they seemed to be on good terms with each other.
"How are you sure it was the host that spoke with you?" Rachel asked.
I truly do not expect someone like Aur 1-6-2 to go into discussion how Yeerks and Andalites are similar, I said.
"She may seem cruel," Cassie went on. "And she might be just trying to get on our good side. But then again... are you sure?"
They decided to discuss it no longer. Slowly, they departed, with the exception of Prince Jake. I had asked him to stay.
"What is it?"
I believe that I may have another solution other than to kill her or let her go, Prince Jake. I did not want to bring this up among them because I am not positive if this solution will be open to us.
"So... this solution of yours. What is it?"
A technique is in the process in Andalite science that is inconclusive. But I believe that if I can work with Erek, we might possibly find a solution.
"What is this technique?" he asked, watching my closely. I understood and knew that he was not exactly in favor of my people currently.
It is... a solution, which would pull apart the fabrics of the most recent of brain cells. I said. It does not destroy them, just simply disables them. This makes them inaccessible and unreachable.
Prince Jake seemed deep in thought. "That might work. You talk to Erek about it. Come up with something."
Yes Prince Jake.
I finished grazing and tried to sleep, but for some reason, couldn't. Anxious to do something, I walked around my meadow, but I found this not enough, especially since the hour soon became three in the morning, Earth time of course. Finally I walked over to the shed quietly and slowly creaked open the door. Aur 1-6-2 was sleeping pretty soundly, Tobias on the other hand looked tired, even through his red-tailed hawk morph.
You may go ahead and rest, Tobias. I can take care of Aur 1-6-2 until the others get out of school, I said to him.
Alright Ax-man. See ya, Tobias fluttered out the door and into the air.
I walked to my usual place: the other side of the room, and stood, pretty very much bored.
Around four thirty in Earth's hours she jerked awake, breathing heavily.
Nightmare?
She looked up at me, her eyes glistening. She nodded, and laid back again. She fell asleep, and it took her a full two hours for her to awake again. One and a half hours in Earth's time for her to awaken, a half an hour in Earth time for her to become fully conscious of her surroundings.
She took one look at me, looked above to the rafter where 'Tobouss' was not there, and closed her eyes, laying back again. "So I wasn't dreaming when I woke from that nightmare," she muttered finally. "Why is it that you're around more than the others?" she asked with her eyes still closed.
Why is it that you want to know?
"I'm just inquisitive. Is that an atrocity?"
It can be. And to answer your question they are out collecting items for the supplement.
"Wonderful. Tell me something, is what you are doing to your enjoyment?"
Not quite.
Aur 1-6-2 gave a small smile, still resting and keeping her eyes closed. "Life is full of the galaxy's toughest choices aren't they Aximili?"
I decided not to answer her question, knowing where she was getting at.
"Then tell me this, oh quiet one. Has anything you've done on this planet been to your enjoyment?"
Yes of course, I answered. Eating, for one, human foods, and speaking using a human mouth.
"You know to anyone else that would sound beyond odd, but for some reason, I understand what you're getting at," she opened her eyes and looked at me. "I have seen some human movies that are pretty amazing. Although it's not very technologic, it is surprising to see what humans can come up with."
Oh really? Such as what movies?
Aur 1-6-2 thought for a second. "Two really exceptional ones were The Sphere and The Matrix."
Yes I have seen those before on a human television. I really was not able to see any movies, most of them go beyond my morphing time and I cannot risk seeing one unless I take time to demorph. That and I become quite uncontrollable whenever I eat...
"Just between your grass and my Kandrona rays I think humans have the better end of the deal when it comes to food."
Very. I enjoy cinnamon buns the most.
"Yes. I do as well." Aur 1-6-2 surveyed her arm, which I noticed had been bandaged.
I... I am sorry about that. I suppose I lost my temper back then.
She looked up from her arm and stared at me. "What?"
I apologized, alright?
"Yes. Alright. Fine. I... I guess I just wasn't expecting it. I mean," she gave a little laugh, "it's not everyday that I get an apology from an Andalite."
Nor is it everyday that I give one to a Yeerk. I suppose that is a first for both of us.
"So... did you enjoy seeing the Matrix?"
Yes. A little on the extreme side but I had no idea how many moves a human can make that are actually harmful to another.
She smiled. "Yes, they really aren't all that physically disabled even though they don't have a tail. Didn't quite expect that now did you?"
No I did not, I said, but I am betting you did not expect it either.
"I really did not expect any physical disability..." she said after awhile. " Just mental disability, which in fact turned out to be still a little odd."
She looked up at me, suddenly. "Aximili, what do you fear most?"
I laughed. Do you really expect me to admit that to you?
She shook her head. "Not exactly but... what does it matter? I am to die anyway. Besides what would I do, manifest up some nightmarish beast myself?"
I do not fear any beast.
"So you do not fear Visser One?"
No I do not. I no longer have a reason to fear him. I loathe him more than anything else.
"Despise. Hate. Loathe. One thing most Andalites and Yeerks could agree on."
Most Yeerks? I asked doubtfully.
"You don't understand. 82 percent of the Yeerk population despise him because he's so powerful and are jealous. 11 percent despise him because he's so evil. And the final 7 percent are just pathetic followers who have nothing better to do with their lives than be faithful to that wretched scum, in hopes that one day they'll be promoted, yet most will find themselves just dead for being sniveling fools in the first place."
Ah. So do you fear any beast?
She thought for a minute. "I cannot say the beast itself is what I fear but I do fear its' intentions."
What about death?
She was silent for a moment, then looked up at me.
"I do not know... I suppose I fear what comes after death. What's important to fear is something you are headed for, but you do not know."
Fear the unknown.
"Yes," she smiled. "A famous human quote."
I had begun to enjoy my talks with Aur 1-6-2. I did not know why, but there was a certain serene, easy, open-mindedness to it. She was not uptight or disdainful like I had expected most insolent Yeerks to be. As well as bright; witty. She held an understanding of human concepts, and could combine them with her own as well as mine.
Aur 1-6-2 sighed. "Human life is so much easier than Yeerk life. They are not put up to so many expectations, they are not forced to do anything, and if they make a mistake, they do not get killed."
I agreed with her. Yes... still they do not know much about space and technology.
"Yes but is it not true that the more you know the worse the situation becomes?"
And how so?
"Well let us say you were in a fight against Visser 1, but you do not know his morphs. You will fight exceedingly strongly with some hope that you can beat him. If you knew his morphs then you might fear him and it would keep your mind off of fighting and more on what he might do to you if you lost."
True, but still... sometimes it is better to have knowledge of something that way you can expect the worst. If I went up against Visser 1 and did not realize how fast his tail is or the fact he could morph, then, well... I would be in trouble.
Aur 1-6-2 nodded and was quiet for a while. Tobias flew in around lunchtime with food for Aur 1-6-2 and gave me a half hour break to graze. Then I returned and Tobias left.
Aur 1-6-2 did not say anything at first. Then she smiled over at me. "Your friends are enjoyable to speak with. So... different than from what I expected."
And what did you expect?
"Arrogance," she admitted. "Hatred. Heartless."
And don't forget ruthlessness, I smiled up over at her.
She grinned. "Humor? Didn't expect that from you."
I shrugged, a thing that I had picked up from humans. Something I had acquired from studying humans. If you have been on this planet for as long as I have, it is something you will most likely pick up too.
"Yes... I am already beginning to pick up human sarcasm. They are an interesting species. Too bad they lack the technology to help them find knowledge about the galaxy."
That might possibly be for the better...
She looked at me with interest. "What do you mean?"
Well, if humans were introduced to Yeerks, Andalites, and such, then some of the ones that cannot be trusted may join either of the opposing forces, possibly giving up valuable human information and leaving the human race in charge of some frivolity-obsessed idiot.
She shook her head. "A shame. Yet... maybe humans could acquire better technology...?"
Possibly but not much. Andalites aren't open to sharing and I'm almost positive neither are Yeerks. They would jump 100 years ahead of their time at the most.
"Well it is better than nothing. But you can't blame them, at least they don't have quite as many wars and they don't have to send their children through training."
Listen to us, I laughed. We sound as though we would like to become human.
She smiled and a distant gaze seemed to cloud her eye. "Have you ever though of what it would be like if you were human? Not as many worries, not so much a care. More friends to spend time with, easy classes, no wars, no expectations..."
And all the different types of food imaginable.
Aurana glanced at me and smiled. "Yes. And all the different types of food imaginable."
Ax
"We're going to have to make a decision," Prince Jake said. Even in the dark we all could see his face was focused and serious. The others had decided to hold a meeting not at our usual spot, which was the barn, but instead at my meadow.
"About what?" Marco shrugged.
Rachel shivered. "About the fact that we can't just starve Aurana. Duh, Marco even I, Xena, could see that."
Why not? I asked.
They all stared at me.
I was just attempting to make a human joke, I said quietly.
"Right," Rachel's teeth chattered. "Jeez you know we could have picked a better time to do this. I'm freezing and standing here in my morphing outfit does not help."
Prince Jake sighed. "Let's get back to the point. Anyway, it is true Aurana knows too much. Erek said he tried finding out a way to see if she was, but it's impossible unless he's able to take control of the Yeerk. Somehow I don't think Aurana's going to be up to that." He looked at me. "From what Ax has told us... about what occurred, I'd say she is still on our suspect list. She wouldn't come looking for him at his meadow if she wasn't interested in capturing him. And she seems to have no idea that some of us are human. If she was in the peace movement like she said she was, she should know."
"It's been a long time since we've come in contact with them," Marco said. "Didn't Illm say they were growing pretty big?"
"Yes, and?"
"Well, how could they keep track of everyone with something that big? They might not trust everyone with the information."
Prince Jake sighed once more. "And so, once again, we are back right where we have started."
"So it's either we kill her or we let her go," Rachel said quietly.
We all stood in silence for that moment. Cassie spoke.
"I'm not going to stay there if we decide to let her starve," she said in a low voice. "I don't care how justified any of you might think it is."
The problem was, everything was at equilibrium. We could not confirm either side.
"We shouldn't be thinking about making a decision right now," Cassie said after awhile. "We don't even know her."
Jake nodded. "Alright. So, I think we all should think about the plan for what we should do if... Just think about what we should do."
They were all quiet for a moment. Then,
If Erek were able to see that she is in the peace movement, then wouldn't we be obligated to let her go?
"Yes, definitely," Prince Jake said.
Then we should only be unsure if she was not.
Cassie looked awkwardly at me and then to the others. "She seems really nice."
"Of course you would think so," Marco said crudely.
"Well, what do you think, Ax?" she asked me. "You seemed to have been able to strike up a conversation with her without threatening her with your tail."
Everyone turned to look at me. I suppose it appalled them that I could speak with a Yeerk in the way Cassie described.
Actually, I did. But the moment passed. In one occasion her host spoke to me and they seemed to be on good terms with each other.
"How are you sure it was the host that spoke with you?" Rachel asked.
I truly do not expect someone like Aur 1-6-2 to go into discussion how Yeerks and Andalites are similar, I said.
"She may seem cruel," Cassie went on. "And she might be just trying to get on our good side. But then again... are you sure?"
They decided to discuss it no longer. Slowly, they departed, with the exception of Prince Jake. I had asked him to stay.
"What is it?"
I believe that I may have another solution other than to kill her or let her go, Prince Jake. I did not want to bring this up among them because I am not positive if this solution will be open to us.
"So... this solution of yours. What is it?"
A technique is in the process in Andalite science that is inconclusive. But I believe that if I can work with Erek, we might possibly find a solution.
"What is this technique?" he asked, watching my closely. I understood and knew that he was not exactly in favor of my people currently.
It is... a solution, which would pull apart the fabrics of the most recent of brain cells. I said. It does not destroy them, just simply disables them. This makes them inaccessible and unreachable.
Prince Jake seemed deep in thought. "That might work. You talk to Erek about it. Come up with something."
Yes Prince Jake.
I finished grazing and tried to sleep, but for some reason, couldn't. Anxious to do something, I walked around my meadow, but I found this not enough, especially since the hour soon became three in the morning, Earth time of course. Finally I walked over to the shed quietly and slowly creaked open the door. Aur 1-6-2 was sleeping pretty soundly, Tobias on the other hand looked tired, even through his red-tailed hawk morph.
You may go ahead and rest, Tobias. I can take care of Aur 1-6-2 until the others get out of school, I said to him.
Alright Ax-man. See ya, Tobias fluttered out the door and into the air.
I walked to my usual place: the other side of the room, and stood, pretty very much bored.
Around four thirty in Earth's hours she jerked awake, breathing heavily.
Nightmare?
She looked up at me, her eyes glistening. She nodded, and laid back again. She fell asleep, and it took her a full two hours for her to awake again. One and a half hours in Earth's time for her to awaken, a half an hour in Earth time for her to become fully conscious of her surroundings.
She took one look at me, looked above to the rafter where 'Tobouss' was not there, and closed her eyes, laying back again. "So I wasn't dreaming when I woke from that nightmare," she muttered finally. "Why is it that you're around more than the others?" she asked with her eyes still closed.
Why is it that you want to know?
"I'm just inquisitive. Is that an atrocity?"
It can be. And to answer your question they are out collecting items for the supplement.
"Wonderful. Tell me something, is what you are doing to your enjoyment?"
Not quite.
Aur 1-6-2 gave a small smile, still resting and keeping her eyes closed. "Life is full of the galaxy's toughest choices aren't they Aximili?"
I decided not to answer her question, knowing where she was getting at.
"Then tell me this, oh quiet one. Has anything you've done on this planet been to your enjoyment?"
Yes of course, I answered. Eating, for one, human foods, and speaking using a human mouth.
"You know to anyone else that would sound beyond odd, but for some reason, I understand what you're getting at," she opened her eyes and looked at me. "I have seen some human movies that are pretty amazing. Although it's not very technologic, it is surprising to see what humans can come up with."
Oh really? Such as what movies?
Aur 1-6-2 thought for a second. "Two really exceptional ones were The Sphere and The Matrix."
Yes I have seen those before on a human television. I really was not able to see any movies, most of them go beyond my morphing time and I cannot risk seeing one unless I take time to demorph. That and I become quite uncontrollable whenever I eat...
"Just between your grass and my Kandrona rays I think humans have the better end of the deal when it comes to food."
Very. I enjoy cinnamon buns the most.
"Yes. I do as well." Aur 1-6-2 surveyed her arm, which I noticed had been bandaged.
I... I am sorry about that. I suppose I lost my temper back then.
She looked up from her arm and stared at me. "What?"
I apologized, alright?
"Yes. Alright. Fine. I... I guess I just wasn't expecting it. I mean," she gave a little laugh, "it's not everyday that I get an apology from an Andalite."
Nor is it everyday that I give one to a Yeerk. I suppose that is a first for both of us.
"So... did you enjoy seeing the Matrix?"
Yes. A little on the extreme side but I had no idea how many moves a human can make that are actually harmful to another.
She smiled. "Yes, they really aren't all that physically disabled even though they don't have a tail. Didn't quite expect that now did you?"
No I did not, I said, but I am betting you did not expect it either.
"I really did not expect any physical disability..." she said after awhile. " Just mental disability, which in fact turned out to be still a little odd."
She looked up at me, suddenly. "Aximili, what do you fear most?"
I laughed. Do you really expect me to admit that to you?
She shook her head. "Not exactly but... what does it matter? I am to die anyway. Besides what would I do, manifest up some nightmarish beast myself?"
I do not fear any beast.
"So you do not fear Visser One?"
No I do not. I no longer have a reason to fear him. I loathe him more than anything else.
"Despise. Hate. Loathe. One thing most Andalites and Yeerks could agree on."
Most Yeerks? I asked doubtfully.
"You don't understand. 82 percent of the Yeerk population despise him because he's so powerful and are jealous. 11 percent despise him because he's so evil. And the final 7 percent are just pathetic followers who have nothing better to do with their lives than be faithful to that wretched scum, in hopes that one day they'll be promoted, yet most will find themselves just dead for being sniveling fools in the first place."
Ah. So do you fear any beast?
She thought for a minute. "I cannot say the beast itself is what I fear but I do fear its' intentions."
What about death?
She was silent for a moment, then looked up at me.
"I do not know... I suppose I fear what comes after death. What's important to fear is something you are headed for, but you do not know."
Fear the unknown.
"Yes," she smiled. "A famous human quote."
I had begun to enjoy my talks with Aur 1-6-2. I did not know why, but there was a certain serene, easy, open-mindedness to it. She was not uptight or disdainful like I had expected most insolent Yeerks to be. As well as bright; witty. She held an understanding of human concepts, and could combine them with her own as well as mine.
Aur 1-6-2 sighed. "Human life is so much easier than Yeerk life. They are not put up to so many expectations, they are not forced to do anything, and if they make a mistake, they do not get killed."
I agreed with her. Yes... still they do not know much about space and technology.
"Yes but is it not true that the more you know the worse the situation becomes?"
And how so?
"Well let us say you were in a fight against Visser 1, but you do not know his morphs. You will fight exceedingly strongly with some hope that you can beat him. If you knew his morphs then you might fear him and it would keep your mind off of fighting and more on what he might do to you if you lost."
True, but still... sometimes it is better to have knowledge of something that way you can expect the worst. If I went up against Visser 1 and did not realize how fast his tail is or the fact he could morph, then, well... I would be in trouble.
Aur 1-6-2 nodded and was quiet for a while. Tobias flew in around lunchtime with food for Aur 1-6-2 and gave me a half hour break to graze. Then I returned and Tobias left.
Aur 1-6-2 did not say anything at first. Then she smiled over at me. "Your friends are enjoyable to speak with. So... different than from what I expected."
And what did you expect?
"Arrogance," she admitted. "Hatred. Heartless."
And don't forget ruthlessness, I smiled up over at her.
She grinned. "Humor? Didn't expect that from you."
I shrugged, a thing that I had picked up from humans. Something I had acquired from studying humans. If you have been on this planet for as long as I have, it is something you will most likely pick up too.
"Yes... I am already beginning to pick up human sarcasm. They are an interesting species. Too bad they lack the technology to help them find knowledge about the galaxy."
That might possibly be for the better...
She looked at me with interest. "What do you mean?"
Well, if humans were introduced to Yeerks, Andalites, and such, then some of the ones that cannot be trusted may join either of the opposing forces, possibly giving up valuable human information and leaving the human race in charge of some frivolity-obsessed idiot.
She shook her head. "A shame. Yet... maybe humans could acquire better technology...?"
Possibly but not much. Andalites aren't open to sharing and I'm almost positive neither are Yeerks. They would jump 100 years ahead of their time at the most.
"Well it is better than nothing. But you can't blame them, at least they don't have quite as many wars and they don't have to send their children through training."
Listen to us, I laughed. We sound as though we would like to become human.
She smiled and a distant gaze seemed to cloud her eye. "Have you ever though of what it would be like if you were human? Not as many worries, not so much a care. More friends to spend time with, easy classes, no wars, no expectations..."
And all the different types of food imaginable.
Aurana glanced at me and smiled. "Yes. And all the different types of food imaginable."
