Part Four: Road To Oblivion
ALEKS
David and LaRouche had gone off about two hours ago to investigate the Yeerks new superweapon. I kept watch on the Anubis.
I hated Rico for what he had done. He had saved me from prison after I stabbed a cop and helped Roach, Slip and Coil in attacking an Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department station. He was like a surrogate dad to me. He taught me everything I knew, and under him, Slip and I were his most trusted soldiers.
But all the time he had been a controller. A Yeerk lived inside his head. Whats worse, he was a voluntary. That fucking Yeerk and him shared a glory. The Rampage was nothing less than an extension of the Yeerks military campaign on Earth. We had supplied security to a group called The Sharing, really just a Yeerk front organization. We had trafficked Yeerk weapons and technology around the region.
Rico/Eusshe was an even bigger liar. He was taking bribes from someone named Jo Bob Fenester, a rogue Yeerk, and the head of Web Access America, to supply mercenaries and security at his compound.
I had killed about sixty people in my life before David found me. Most of them were enemies of the Empire.
I had been…fucking used. By the person I trusted most. And Rico Muerte would pay for it. He would pay with his life.
When no one else was around, I looked into the Red Stone, to tell me what to do.
The creature inside the Stone talked to me. It told me of everything that could be mine if only I would aide it. But it told me that the time had not yet come to make my move. But soon. Very soon.
That would be the time. Then…I would be a god.
I genuinely liked Spike. He was a ruthless soldier, and punished by his own people because of it. He was my kind of man.
But he was also an ass-kisser. He did whatever the fuck David told him to do. He was always trying to point out the best ways of attack.
The best place for Spike was beneath me. To speak only when commanded. To jump when he was told.
When I killed Sanders to become air commander, and the Antimorphs second in command, I was committing mutiny. I don't see much of a problem with doing whatever I can to get ahead. Neither does Spike, save that he still try's to keep a demented sense of honour about him. He wants a Prince to give him orders, just so he could put them to the limit.
Spike could be dangerous. But he was likeable, especially to one such as myself. He needed to be kept in check.
I was in my room, listening to a MegaDeth CD, and finding a vein in my arm for the shot. I loaded up the hypodermic needle and inserted it, winching in the slight pain as it broke my skin. I pushed the heroin into my bloodstream and began to feel the effects of the narcotic. The world slowed itself down, things became blurry and out of focus. Problems just seemed to go…away. It's a wonderful feeling.
That's about when we got the transmission. From LaRouche.
"Aleks, you'd better come up and see this," Said Sara over the Anubis's intercom.
I put on some pants and shook myself awake from my drug induced stupor, and climbed through the Anubis to the bridge.
I saw the screen as soon as I came in, playing a twisted, garbled, and out of focus message.
LaRouche stood in a dark, small space, holding the recorder. He was in his normal form, but behind him was David, as a Hork-Bajir
"Aleks…It's LaRouche…we've..it…'s fucking huge…of Akdor…gotta destroy it now…in dry dock…'ot operational…need help, now!"
"It's all fuzzy," observed Ripper, squinting up at the screen.
"How well deduced, Holms," I mocked.
We can get there in ten minutes at a medium burn, Offered Spike.
"We go. Let's blow the fuck out of them."
As soon as I gave the order, Spike punched up the burn.
Time to shine…
DAVID
LaRouche and I had killed a Taxxon computer worker and stolen some its equipment, patching into the comm. Link and sending a fuzzy and garbled message to the Anubis. With luck, they should be on their way.
We had no sooner sent our findings back to the ship when I heard Slip's cocky voice.
"Wait a second…I smell something."
"Shit," I muttered, "He's got a Demon's senses."
"Fee, Fi, Fo, Fum, I smell the blood of David, Taggarts Son," Slip cackled, "In the tech room."
As he said those words, the doors kicked in. There stood the patchwork creation of human, Demon and now, machine, that made up Slip the Demonoid, flanked by four Hork-Bajir and an Andalite.
Slip raised his cold, mechanical claw and hoisted LaRouche over his shoulder, then took his gnarled, twisted spine and, as the point contracted, used this new hand to ensnare me.
I kicked, hitting Slip in the nut sack. LaRouche followed my lead and swung his fist at Slip's neck. He was a lot taller than he had been when he was human. Demon blood does some wack things.
"Nice try, kids," He laughed, "Look here, Visser, I've got a little present for us, and Christmas isn't for a few weeks!"
Efflit 1318, in the tall, volumptuous and handsome body of Rachel Berenson, ex-Animorph, strode in.
"By Carger's Blade!" Exclaimed the Visser, chortling, " My plan worked! Two Antimorphs, in my grasp!"
"Fuck you, Yeerk!" I spat.
"And I had your parents as bait, though I didn't really need to bother, did I? All things come to he who waits, don't they?"
"My parents…" I stammered, filled with rage, "Free them at once, you Kandrona-feeding slimy little fuck-slug…"
Efflit cut into my tirade, "Language, language, Mr. Taggart. You are in no position to demand anything."
"I'll kill you!"
"Yes, you did swear to end my life, didn't you? Something along the lines of "even if all my bones are broken, I will drag myself back from the dead to kill you…" some rubbish like that? I really found it quite amusing, you know, that you decided to quote a MegaDeth song."
"Gotta admire Dave Mustaine," LaRouche muttered.
Efflit let out a smile, "Indeed. You know, David, you and I are much alike. When I helped command the Terra Firma invasion force under the late Visser Three, I was noted for my…shall we say, extreme tactics. You are much like me, human. You murdered thousands of humans and Yeerks in Berlin and Tokyo. You destroyed a pool ship as a diversion. You let those…biological weapons…loose on the moon, killing hundreds. You crucified Tak Sistranus and left him as a bloody message. You murdered an entire crew of an unarmed freighter and, destroyed an entire world of our people. Millions, dead. That planet is now obsolete, did you know that, Taggart? Over 80 percent casualties. I had pool-bretheren on that world. Many of us did. You, Taggart, as a mortal creature, have more drive, more of an appetite for destruction, than any other being I have ever known of."
"Don't talk like that, you monster," I said in a low, evil growl.
"Monster?" said Efflit, surprised, " At least I have a purpose. I am a soldier, and I fight for my species and my people, and the glory of our Empire! What do you fight for, Taggart? What's your glory?"
"MY people," I said, angrily.
"YOUR people? Asked Efflit, incredulously, " You murdered YOUR people in droves! You flushed your ALLIES into space! You assassinated an unarmed negotiator in Tokyo. Every little shred of opportunity for peace, you have spat on. You are a fool and a hypocrite."
He spoke on, "Since you have shown such…diabolical tactics, we shall as well. The Eye of Akdor shall be tested on the rebelling world of Gara. Then, you will watch as your parents are executed," He said with a cruel smile, "By me."
We stared at each other in silence for a moment, neither group speaking in the least. Finally, a human lieutenant spoke, " Visser, the Pool-Ship Judicator has joined the armada. Visser ten wishes to know our status and plan of action."
"You just heard it, Silnay. Inform Visser ten. The Antimorph ship Anubis will be coming soon, to respond to the message these two sent. That hothead Aleksander will come in Dracons blasting, and the Judicator can handle him. I believe it is finally time for young Mr. Taggart and his lacky, LaRouche, to meet the Emperor."
"Does he wear cloths?" I asked snidely, but was met only with a violent buring from Slip's other hand. Dracon power flooded into me, and I passed out.