Part Two: Countdown To Extinction
DECEMBER 2nd, 2000, ANTIMORPH BASE ON REKLAABB V…
DAVID
We'd fled back to our hideout on Reklaabb V after the disaster at Nahara, with our two new allies.
Spike was OK. He had sworn fealty to me and the crew. With his military and tactical knowledge, he was a formidable ally, even without a tail.
Rico Muerte was another subject all together. Aleks, his former right hand man, had rejected him completely. He hadn't won any other friends on our crew.
He was conniving. Remote. The second we looked away to scratch out asses, he'd jump out at us to fulfill whatever plan he was cooking up.
I was tempted to shoot the spic son of a bitch right there, but our knowledge gained from the disc we had intercepted on the Bug-infested moon was running out. Most of the information had been changed, and it contained limited information on their "Eye" project.
Rico knew things, and we needed him alive because of it.
Good thing all trace of Britz was gone. He'd probably have tried to kill us all by now. Lousy computer son of a bitch.
We'd all been distant and quiet since we'd landed. The Empire's search for us had intensified. The YNN was broadcasting bulletins 24/7 for us.
The Yeerks were finally very afraid. The fact that our little band was a substantial threat to their empire was finally beginning to sink in.
Still, they were cooking something. Something very, very big. Big enough to have a fifth of their entire fleet blockading Nahara. Big enough to warrant the personal inspection of the Emperor. Big enough to cause the intense fighting on the Andalite front to die down temporarily as the consolidated their plans.
I had called meeting in the grand hall of the ancient Xel'Naga temple. Everyone was there, including Rico, who was adequately restrained by Skorre, and Spike, standing grim on the far side of the room.
"Well, it's that wonderful time again," I said, addressing my comrades, "Time to make our next move."
"I say we take the fight to them!" Ripper cackled, "Go after the Emperor, take it to the homeworld!"
"If we want to take the fight to the Emperor, we have to go back to Nahara," LaRouche said, "The disk says that something BIG is going down there. And we saw all the fleets coming in to guard the planet as we made the jump to Z-Space last time we were there.
"You've got no clue what their building, though," sneered Rico, "And you won't know, either, until it comes up and bites you in the asshole."
"You seem to know pretty well, Muerte," Aleks countered.
"You've known me since you were fourteen, Stantford. I've always got an ace in my sleeves."
"Yeah, but I never suspected how big that ace was," Aleks replied.
What every they are building, the security is paramount. Even my Yeerk was not aware of the details.
"And they may have more Demonoids," Skorre pointed out.
"We killed the Trio, but it took a lot out of us," Sara agreed, "If they had an army of those things, who knows what they could do?"
"We've got a powerful mother fucker ourselves," Ripper said, looking at me.
The knowledge me, Ripper and LaRouche had gained while…dead, was showing on all of us. LaRouche had become very withdrawn and hesitant to follow commands, Ripper, once believing that I was a soldier of God, now saw me as Jesus H. Christ himself, even though I was the 'Beast.'
"David did take out that Shrike-thing," agreed Sara.
I paused, not responding to Sara's comment, but looking to Rico Muerte, "Tell us what you know."
Rico looked around begrudgingly. "What will happen if I don't?"
"We'll execute you by pouring molten silver into your eyes and throat," Said Ripper, matter-of-factly.
"'Ol Silver-backed Muerte," Laughed Aleks.
Rico looked around, nervous, and hesitantly spoke, "It's a weapon, of unimaginable power. Sauron stole the plans from some empire on the other side of the universe or something. It can turn an entire planet into wasteland of molten slag, make it un-inhabitable. He wants to turn it loose on the Garatron planet-there's a rebellion there, and they can't use the planet because there aren't any natural resources and shit- than take it to the Andalites and presto! The Yeerk Empire has complete control of the galaxy, until they invade Confederate space."
"Confederates?" Asked LaRouche.
"The Kelbrid Confederacy. It's a massive Empire that borders the Andalite Federation. The Yeerks have never seen a Kebrid, but if they can get the Andalites, they should have no problem subjugating the Kelbrids."
Grim news, indeed.
"What are our options?" I asked.
Take the fight to the Yeerkish Hordes! Destroy their weapon and their Emperor, all in one blow. As a friend of mine, Arbron Son of Falbron said, 'Put some tail to them!' Spike said vigorously.
"You ain't got no tail, you Carver wanna be," Muttered Ripper.
The principal is the same.
I asked Rico, "When is the weapon supposed to be finished?"
"I don't know…maybe a few weeks?"
I thought for a moment, but if we really wanted to take out the Empire, there was only one choice.
"Let's do it."
IMPERIAL POOL SHIP TYRANT, IN ORBIT OF NAHARA…
Efflit 1318's new command ship was brand new, a Basilisk class warship. Much better than the old Gorgon class.
Of course, the Captain was a pain in the behind.
Slip, unfortunately, had survived the confrontation on the planet below, with a hand torn off. The once human hand had been replaced with a mechanical limb.
Slip was troubling Efflit at the moment. The Demonoid flexed it's new bio-mechanical arm, a sharp and vicious claw that was capable of summoning Dracon plasma as a weapon. The Emperor had made Slip an honorary Sub-Visser, and a Captain. He was still in command of security on Nahara.
The grisly mix of human, Demon and machine looked coldly at Visse Eleven, "The Emperor will arrive in four days."
"I know that," Efflit said, flicking his hosts attractive, blond hair back over the shoulder. Military regulations called for human host hair to be shaven to the scalp to avoid parasites and sanitary problems, but Visser's always had a right of way to get around the rules.
"And he know's that Taggart will come."
Efflit's heart suddenly filled with dread.
Whats the matter, Yeerk? Afraid to fail, again? Asked the long imprisoned voice of Rachel Berenson.
If I fail, both of us shall be killed, you human fool, Efflit replied, Our fates are interwined, surely you can see that?
The only thing I see is a Colonel Klink who is letting Hogan run circles around him. Said Rachel, laughing in their shared mind.
"The Emperor wants Taggart. While he is here. The Demonstration on Gara must go through as planned."
Efflit stood straight up, looking into the Demonoids eyes.
"He wages this war of his for one thing. His parents. His life. When he turns on the YNN and sees Hork-Bajir with their blades to the throats of his mommy and daddy, he will come."
"If you only knew what he was, your confidence in this plot of yours would be minute."
"Why don't you tell me, then, Slip?"
"He is Hell."