All right! Just cleared another $135 at the casino. I'm having a great week. But it's time to finally get off my lazy beep and get cracking. Here we go!

Chapter 13: Jay.

"Andalites? You actually have contact with them? How?"

Well, this meeting just got interesting.

Here we are, trying to make sure Forsil doesn't kill herself (and by extension, me) and our solution is to join a guerrilla group? Great.

Erek continued: "They actually helped the peace movement since its inception."

Well, Forsil's a little off balance.

Of course I am! I didn't know Ampriss was so close to the enemy!

Well, it looks like you're going to be making friends with them.

Forsil decided to speak her mind out loud with my mouth:

"I don't know what's more of a shock...the fact that Yeerks are helping Andalites, or the fact that I may join them!"

Angie, or maybe it was Ampriss, responded: "We're offering you a chance to do what you know is right. A chance to make up for all the sins of your past."

"May I have a moment to think about this?"

"Of course, Forsil."

So...Forsil...what do you think?

I don't know. I really don't.

Well...if you ask me, I think it's slightly ludicrous. But to be fair, your race isn't a bunch of angels. I think your crew needs to be stopped. But I'm a human...what do I know?

Jay, please. I need to consider this.

All right...but if you still can't decide, do what I do when I need to make a decision.

I could feel Forsil scanning me, trying to figure out what I do.

Most casinos don't have fifty-cent chips. They usually give out half-dollar coins when they need to pay out in those increments. I have quite a collection of halves.

Half-dollars are the USA's biggest coin. Both the markings on the front and back are quite large, so they're easy to feel for the vision impaired.

Or someone who can rig coin flips like me.

I can toss it up, grab it in the air, feel which side is going to come up, and flip it over if I want to, all in one motion. It's pretty easy to do.

Heads, I do this. Tails, I do that. I toss it up, and subconsciously, I'll make sure the side I want comes up.

I've always trusted my instincts to pick right for me. The only time it failed is when I asked myself if I wanted to join the Sharing.

All right, Jay, we'll give it a try.

We took out the coin.

Heads we join the Andalites. Tails we stick with the Empire.

Forsil gave it a toss. She snagged it in the air. I could feel it too. Tails was going to come up.

But Forsil flipped it over.

She held out Kennedy's face for Erek, Angie, and Ampriss to see.

"Heads. I guess we're Andalite terrorists now."

Ampriss was slightly surprised. "That's how you decide? A flip of a coin?"

"Yup. That's that idea."

Erek seemed to enjoy the outcome. "All right, so be it. I'll go make contact with them, and set up a meeting. What time is good for you?"

"Erek, I play poker at all hours of the day. Any time is good for me. Just let Angie know and she'll send it my way."

Ampriss looked at Erek. Looks like we have a decision.

"All right, Forsil. We'll be in touch."

Great. I'm now a DOUBLE AGENT in a world domination conspiracy. What next? Do I need to steal nuclear launch codes?

Not now, Jay. We need to go. It's feeding time anyway.

We left the place. We went to the pool.

Hey Forsil...a request.

What?

Tell the guys there I'm a voluntary now. I am so sick of sitting in a cage for hours. I won't do anything.

There was a little hesitation. Forsil was verifying my story.

All right. I'll let them know.

* * *

Chapter 14: Jay.

Screams. Torture. Cages. Fast Food.

The Yeerk pool.

After dropping Forsil off for a swim, I headed to the "voluntary" area...a nice little hole. They had some burgers and drinks if you wanted some.

I relaxed. Well, I relaxed the best I could with the screaming and begging going on a few yards away.

When my name came up, I went to collect Forsil. She climbed in and took control.

Jay, I need to meet with someone.

Who?

Visser Three.

All I know about this Visser Three guy is he's the guy in charge of this whole invasion thing...and his host body is an Andalite. He liked to yell a lot too. I think I've only seen him once.

A few minutes later, I was looking at a blue centaur thing with the following changes: No mouth, two mobile eyes atop his head, too many fingers per arm, and a scorpion-like tail with a wicked blade at the end. He can do some damage if he's in the mood.

"Oh great Visser Three! May the Kandrona shine and strengthen you!"

Same to you, Forsil 326.

Andalites don't have mouths...so they have a telepathy thing instead. You can hear him through walls.

Jeez, Forsil...why must we always suck up to the higher ranking guys?

Delusions of grandeur, remember?

Oh yeah.

The Visser began his spiel:

Forsil 326, I am now giving you a permanent assignment. You are now going to be responsible for training new recruits for the Blue Band special force. We have recently built a training facility in the wilderness, and you will train them to become great warriors as you are. Do you accept?

"Of course, Visser. When do I begin?"

In thirty-six hours. You will receive the details on your way out. And Forsil...do not disappoint me.

"I will not, Visser."

Forsil, who are the Blue Bands?

A special force of Hork-Bajir Controllers. The Hork-Bajir they have are specially bred to be larger and stronger, and only the most fanatical Yeerks may infest them.

And we're going to train these guys?

Yes.

Cool. I always wanted to be a drill seargeant.

* * *

Author's Note: Well, there we go. We've finally made the connection to everyone's favorite teenagers. The upcoming two chapters will be posted as normal, then there will be another "Voices" chapter.

Side Author's note: I've been having a great week at the poker table...in training for the big day on Saturday. Starting at 1:00 PST, I'll be competing for a $10,000 prize at PokerPages.com. I'll have to run through over 500 opponents (Second place wins you nothing. You must win it all.), but I'm going to give it my best shot. So, I'll be online on AIM name "ASixHighStraight" from around 12:30 PST to whenever my game ends. If I get to the end...it should last eight hours. If you drop me a line or wish me luck...I'll appreciate it.