Part Four: Old Friends And New Allies
ALEKS
We landed easily, and, in Hork-Bajir morph, left the Anubis in a gorge on a distant part of the planet and flew one of the Bug Fighters to the City of Lud, the location of the summit.
"Unidentified Bug Fighter! Lud air control requests immediate identification," were the words that barked from the radio as we flew over the low, stone buildings of the ancient Naharan city.
Signs of the Yeerk occupation were evident: a massive Yeerk Pool slammed right into the center of the city came to mind, as well as Surface to air missile sites, Dracon turrets, landing platforms, as well as factories, grinding out Yeerk tanks (the primary industry on this planet) and the Hork-Bajir shock troopers of the Empire, marching in unison about the city, populated mostly with Naharans and Taxxons.
"Additional bodyguards for Belran 209, Visser fifteen. Under Visser nine hundred two in command. Clearance being transmitted now." LaRouche spoke in Galard, and transmitted a series of beeps and squeals in some cursed computer language.
"Clearance accepted. Proceed to docking bay seven six seven."
We landed, with a good hour and forty minutes left before the two hour time limit.
Our landing platform was near a metallic bunker, guarded by an Andalite controller.
Two things stood out about this Andalite: It had no tail, and a massive scar covered the right side of its face.
You must be Visser 15's additional security team. Good to have you here. I'm Rygrif 660, Valan Sisk pool, Lummod IV. I'm the Visser's clerk.
"What is your rank?" Asked David, in Galard.
Uh…no rank, Sir. I'm enlisted.
We all forced a Hork-Bajir laugh, a big chortle straight from the gut.
"An enlisted Yeerk with a new Andalite host?" I asked.
This Yeerk seemed good-natured for one of its kind. It smiled.
This host and I have a history. It murdered over three hundred of my pool brothers on the second moon of Kiltri. Visser 15 felt that I deserved to subjugate this host.
Rygrif took us into the corridor, flanked by an additional two Hork-Bajir.
This host's true name is Spikarezellius-Quillica-Istopholes. It knows itself as 'Spike.'
"Hardly fitting, as it lacks a tail," David replied.
Oh, he had a tail. And it was how he used it that got him his nickname. He was almost a Prince, but his recklessness and bloodshed were known throughout the Galaxy. He murdered hostages, fired on civilians, even executed many of his subordinates. He tortured any prisoner with his tail, so we called him "Spike the Bloody."
"What happened?" Asked Sara, in broken Galard.
Rygrif didn't seem to notice, too involved in both getting us to our destination and telling his story to give a damn.
He lead a raid on an outpost and murdered everything alive, even the empty hosts. When he returned home, he was put on trial for War Crimes, got his tail cut off, and was banished. That was about…eight years ago. We caught him a few weeks ago associating with known rebels and terrorists, trying to implant some kind of bio-metallic implant. Visser 15 gave him to me.
"Impressive," complemented David.
"Most impressive," added Skorre. Even he was in morph, to avoid detection.
Thank you, Under Visser. We are approaching the meeting hall now. Visser 15 is stationed on the far right hand side of the room.
We walked out and towards the meeting hall, taking our places in various parts of the room.
With an hour and ten minutes left, the meeting began to come under way.
But it was who BEGAN the meeting that really got my attention.
LaROUCHE
Rico Muerte! Aleks shouted, silently in thought speech to us.
Who? Sara asked, suddenly alarmed.
My…my old gang leader. Muerte…he was like my fuckin' father! He practically raised me and the others…
Others? asked Ripper.
Slip, Coil, Roach, and Hounder and Blick 'till the Crips wasted 'em… I haven't seen Rico in months!
Well, he's a Controller, now, deduced David.
"My name is Eusshe 013, Aid to the Emperor and Lord of the Bajir system. My host, Rico Muerte is a voluntary controller who shares my position with me by Imperial decree."
Some mutters went through the crowd of Vissers and their bodyguards.
"My host will now take over."
Eusshe gave a visible shudder, shook his head, and took on a different, more personable personality.
"Well, well, well…look what we've got here. We've got Andalites…if you can believe it, sitting right next to Gedd Controllers. We've got Taxxons, sitting right next to Hork-Bajir. Nobody, is wasting nobody."
The room erupted into cheers.
Then, Eusshe seemingly took back over.
"In the past, our soldiers swore fealty only to their Visser, who swore alliegience to their Council Member. The Council is no more! All destroyed by Andalite treachery. Ever since that dread day, however, we have been more prosperous and victorious than ever before!"
Another shudder…Muerte took over again.
"But! We don't have TOTAL control and power just yet. We've got one problem: The Antimorphs. Human renegades, lead by some TEENAGE CLONE named David Taggart. They are SINGLE HANDEDLY waging a more successful war then even the Andalites have. They proved this with their raid on Taxxis just weeks ago, killing BILLIONS of civilians and causing irreparable damage. The planet may have to be abandoned."
Hey, finally we get some sodding credit, I muttered.
They seem to have looked me over, Skorre remarked, sounding disappointed.
No sweat, big guy, someday everyone will know your name, Sara said encouragingly.
As the room applauded again, and the Yeerk assumed control of Rico Muerte once more.
"We are still making progress, however. Even as we speak, miles above us, a new weapon of terrible destructive power is being built. A weapon that, used in unheard of, wild space, by an ancient Empire, destroyed TWO entire worlds!"
The room went into a silent awe.
"This new battleship shall grant us swift victory and terrible vengeance against the Andalite Federation, and later, conquest of the Kelbrid Confederacy!"
More cheers.
"We now possess the power to turn an entire world to a slab of liquid magma, igniting the atmosphere and making it uninhabitable. I'm sure you're all aware of the rebellion on the Garatron homeworld of Gara III. That world, and its meagre population are now worthless to us. It shall be the first to go."
A hushed silence.
"Then, Andale! Today, this galaxy, tomorrow, the Universe!"
The crowd of controllers and soldiers erupted into total applause for Eusshe/Rico.
Off to the side I saw Visser 11, Efflit 1318, in the body of Rachel Berenson, and Visser 10, masquerading as Aximili-Esgarrouth-Isthill.
Even while applauding, they stabbed daggers at each other with their eyes.
Just then, a Taxxon came struggling through the room, sheiking its high-pitched snake-speak.
"Sreeeaaaassss sssslliiaaasssss ssssnaaaaaasssssaaaasss!!!!"
A Sstram controller spoke up, translating it.
"Sir! This Taxxon brings a message from the security team! They've detected intruders!"
"How many!" Eusshe snapped.
"Six in this room, in morph, another coming very close! It's something we've never seen before!"
"Ready all soldiers, block every exit, surround the complex, ready all defences!"
"Sir," a Hork-Bajir on the far side of the room interrupted, "It's already inside."
With that, a black, amourphous, evil shape cut through the wall.
"You…" Eusshe, (or was it Rico?) started.
~I come for the morphers. And I come for you!~ It pointed a long 'finger', straight at David.
"Not if WE have anything to say about it, Shrike!"
Aleks knew that voice, showing it in the jerk of his body.
Three "things", half human, but with demonic parts surgically grafted onto them, like some vile looking Frankenstein Monsters…
"Slip! Coil! Roach!"
"Hey hey, Blades! Long time, no see!" Said the shortest one.
"Your dead! I killed you myself!" Aleks said, his voice, for the first time I've ever heard it, full of FEAR.
"Can't keep a good soldier down, not these days." Said the black one.
"This is going to be quite a fight," Said the lead one, " The Demonoids, the Antimorphs, a bunch of Yeerks, and a demon-lord. Let's get this party started, shall we?"
Enough of this bullshit! Ripper roared, demorphing, "WE'RE TAKING OVER!"