Yamatoishida27: Thank you for all your reviews, sorry about the typo.
Meow: Actually, this chapter shifts into Yeerk perspective, and from now on the chapters should alternate between Rebecca's and Terran's POV. I had to have it in Rebecca's for the background information, but the bulk of the story is when Terran is infesting her. However, this story should have many differences to Broken later on, which I hadn't read before I wrote this.
AllOrNone: Yes, you're right. Thanks for the review.
Elwing: Yeah, probably. But I don't plan to include why Braunan moved up; this isn't his story. Those few chapters were simply to show the background. Terran is already a member of the peace movement; as for what happens and his significance, you'll have to wait!
Birdie num num: Thanks for the review, glad you're enjoying this.
Keeda: Thanks for reviewing! Keep it up. I love your fics.
Edriss: New chapter of The Homecoming coming soon! Sorry for the wait, I had a minor bout of writer's block, but hopefully I'm over it now. Thanks for reviewing. There is a significance to Terran being male, which you will see later. I'm not saying anything further, or I'll be giving it away.
This Chapter is dedicated to Anifan1 for being the first reviewer for the last chapter. I am now going to dedicate all the new chapters in all my fics to the first reviewer who hasn't previously had a dedication. This is to tempt people to review. I might also give an additional dedication to a really useful review, too.
Enjoy! This chapter is in Terran's POV, next chap Rebecca's, and so on.
Terran's POV
I waited nervously in the pool. I had been told to take an involuntary host.
I didn't want to do this. I had never had an involuntary host before; I thought it was cruel. Also, I had recently joined the peace movement.
This gave rise to my dilemma. I could not refuse the offer without arousing suspicion. I asked my commander for a feeding cycle to consider, and he had reluctantly agreed.
On my previous visit to the Pool, I spoke to Illim, new leader of the peace movement since Aftran had been 'rescued' by the Andalite bandits. The leaders of the peace movement always seemed to change the subject when the bandits were mentioned. When I had asked why, they had gently told me that they could not tell me for security reasons.
Anyway, I went to see Illim. As you may or may not know, we Yeerks communicate in our natural bodies with a language of ultrasonic squeaks.
Illim and I went to a quiet area of the pool, and I told him my dilemma.
Illim considered for a while. (Did they tell you which Yeerk is currently infesting the host?)
(Yes. Braunan 232, I think.)
(Infest her,) Illim said almost before I had finished.(You'll be doing her a favour, trust me. I know Braunan, and I wish I didn't.)
I obeyed reluctantly. I swam in nervous circles near the infestation pier, waiting.
The girl's ear was thrust into the water, and I squirmed inside.
(Hello,) I greeted her once I had made the necessary connections to her brain. There was no reply.
The host sat quietly in a corner of her mind, silently mourning the loss of her freedom.
(I'm Terran. What's your name?)
(I.. uh…)
At least a reply. That was something. But this host had trouble accessing her own memory? Remembering her own name? It shocked me.
(I'm Jenny. Jennifer.)
(I won't hurt you. If you want me to go in three days I'll try to find an excuse…)
(No,) she said to me. (I don't want another Yeerk like Braunan ever again. I can't cope. Please, I'll do anything you say if you won't torture me.)
(I'm no torturer,) I replied softly. I was terribly nervous, but tried to keep this hidden from my host as best I could, judging that she didn't need any more stress. I spoke as calmly as possible.
(I'm with the peace movement,) I explained to her.
(But, Braunan said he knew you. He said you were like him.)
(He was lying, then. I don't know him, but I know his type. Please don't get the idea we're all like that.)
(No,) she replied meekly.
There was an awkward silence. Jenny retreated back to the corner of her mind, while I racked my brain for something to say. I mean, how can you gain the trust of someone who has been so brutally cowed, when you are a member of the same species as her tormentor? I already felt guilty about infesting her in the first place.
However, I sensed that beneath this meek, scared exterior the girl had a beautiful character. If only I could get her to trust me, I might be able to see it.
I walked her body home. Had it been another host, I would have gladly let her walk by herself, but I thought if I suddenly gave her control back she might collapse from not being used to how her brain controlled her muscles.
She must have heard my thoughts. (I can walk, if you want me to,) she said. She was careful not to ask me, just to say it as a suggestion.
I gradually gave control over to her, and found she was perfectly able to walk on her own.
(I haven't been infested that long.) She had answered my thoughts again. (Just long enough to be hurt,) she murmured wistfully.
I suddenly felt a surge of fear from her, and realised she was frightened that I might punish her for speaking out of turn. I was silent, and let her fear subside of its own accord. I didn't touch any of her memories or functions at all, lest she think that I was punishing her, or threatening to.
Gradually, her fear disappeared once she realised I wasn't doing anything. It was replaced by a nervous sort of curiosity.
(Am I allowed to do that?) she asked, surprised.
She sounded like a young child, and it would have made me cry had I had tear ducts. Of course she was allowed to! What kind of brutal, twisted creature could make her lose her freedom to think what she wanted, as well as all her other freedoms? It was simply incomprehensible to me.
(Of course you are,) I replied. (You can think what you want of me. I promise I won't be angry,) I said as gently as possible.
(What about of Braunan?)
(I could give you my opinion of that scum, provided you don't mind the use of a long string of curse words.)
She laughed slightly. (I never heard a Yeerk make a joke.)
She seemed to be recovering then. (I wouldn't say you've met a Yeerk. I don't want to be counted in the same species as your tormentor,) I answered. (And anyway, it wasn't a joke. I honestly don't think I could give you my opinion of Braunan without cursing.)
(I don't think I could, either,) she replied.
(Of course you couldn't. He's a pathetic excuse for a Yeerk, bullying you like that. And I shall tell him so.)
(No!) She cried suddenly, terrified.
(He can't hurt you now. Anyway, I shall say I found it out from your memories, which is true, so he can't blame you.)
She started to sob again. It was a very nerve- racking experience, dealing with this type of host. I had never known anything like it before. A Yeerk who had treated his host so badly that she was frightened of him even when he had left her for good? It made me sick.
We had been getting on so well for about a minute, and then one sentence made her break down into sobbing again. I didn't really understand why, only that this host had sustained terrible mental injury. I had no idea if I could cure her, or if she was even cureable.
All I knew was that I felt a deep sense of responsibility for this human, and that I would persevere with my task until she was finally able to trust me. Or until one of us died.
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