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Controller

Chapter Two

Earth date: 1987

Andalite date: 8564.2

Yeerk date: Generation 687, early cycle, year 2123.9

Orifix

At the time I thought I would never get used to being a Yeerk. But, well, I eventually did.

Being a nothlit isn't so bad. I mean, it's got it's ups and downs, like everything else.

I guess you have to rely on the ups to survive.

It seemed like I had been in the small pool forever. I missed Jani. And the rest of my family.

I still wonder if she made it out alive. If she's still wondering where I am.

I guess I'll probably never know.

Depressed at my fate, I curled up in the corner of the pool. And cried. At least, I think I was crying, because I don't know how -- and if -- Yeerks cry.

But I knew my heart was crying.

Did I even have a heart?

Anyway, I waited there, in the silence, for a very long time. It seemed like a month. I waited, and waited for something to happen. And finally, something did...

Are you new here?

I snapped out of my thoughts. Who was talking to me? It's kind of hard to tell when you can't see anything!

Huh? Was that me talking? I was making these strange little squeaks, but to me it sounded like "Huh?", so whatever.

Well, at least we know you're alive, the Yeerk squeaked.

How did I understand this language? I guess it must have been part of the Yeerk's instincts.

Yeah, I'm alive, I muttered bitterly. I'd be kind of glad not to be, though... With this stupid life...

Well, I was being rude. But I could not help it. I think you would be rude, too, if you'd just lost everything you ever had.

Running in the fields with my sister.

Helping my mom around the scoop.

Going to the lake with my father.

Even going to school!

It was all gone. Gone! My life was gone!

And unless the Yeerks figured out how to make the Escafil device, it would not be coming back any time soon.

It was very, very hard to look on the bright side right now...

... Who stepped on his Kandrona? muttered the Yeerk whom I was talking to. He definitely sounded offended. And where are those Hork-Bajir hosts they promised us?! I don't feel like being stuck in here forever, people!

I think he left, then, because I didn't hear from him since.

Another Yeerk then came up to me. It patted my back with one of its thin "arms".

Hi, he said.

Hi, I replied.

I was starting to calm down. I was starting to feel a bit better. Even though I was among the creatures who kidnapped my sister.

... Listen, I said. I didn't mean to offend your friend, over there. I'm just having a very bad day. They... They took away my host, a few hours... or days... ago. I apologise for hurting your friend. I hope he can forgive me.

Oh, don't worry about it. said the Yeerk, She's been cranky lately. See, we've been expecting new Hork-Bajir hosts for two days, and they still haven't come. She's had a very hard life. She saw the world only once, for fifteen minutes. And ever since then, she's been here, on that Yeerk Bug Fighter, in the darkness, while the Sub-Vissers looked for Andalites, constantly telling us about the world. Hoping one day the light will come back... They've made us promises. They've turned us down so many times. And... and I don't think she can take being turned down again.

I was silent. Silent, with mixed emotions. My hate and anger were slowly vanishing. They were still there, of course, but mixed with other things...

Pity. And guilt.

I did my best to hide my emotions.

She? I asked, How can you tell? .... By that, I mean, of course, that I've never been around other Yeerks in the pool.

Oh, it's quite easy to tell, the Yeerk said swiftly. Females are thinner, and of a lighter color that males.

Interesting. Okay, well, at least I knew that. It was a start.

So, I said, Have you ever seen the world?

No. the Yeerk said, If the Hork-Bajir come, it'll be my first time. I'm actually a bit nervous.... How about you?

I've seen the world, I said, I told you I lost my host days ago....

I stopped.

By the way, my name's Tehlit, said the Yeerk, Tehlit Two-Eight-Six. I am a male, if you can't tell. And I am four years old.

Four years old. Yeerk years. In human years, that's eight. Two years older than I was. It takes two human years for a Yeerk year to pass.

In Yeerk years, I would therefore be three.

Nice to meet you, I said, I'm Orifix One-One-Four-Four.

Suddenly, as soon as I finished saying that, I heard another voice. A familiar voice.

The Yeerk female.

1144? Well, that's an odd sort of number, isn't it? she said in the coldest voice I had ever heard.

He didn't mean it, Edriss! yelled Tehlit, He didn't mean what he said earlier!

But the female would not listen.

No, no, no! I will not take this! she spat. It's not our fault we have awful lives! Do you think we have a choice?

No, I... I started.

If I had a choice, I would get out of here and never come back! You don't know how much I want that, mister 1144. So you just pack up your Kandrona and move out, if you have more power! Just leave, if your life is too good for us.

Her last words were almost a whisper. I was crushed. Because she was right. And I hated to admit it, but I had been wrong.

We had been wrong.

Edriss directed her squeaks to Tehlit.

They're not going to come, she said softly. The Hork-Bajir aren't coming, Tehlit.

They will come. Tehlit's voice was level, but reassuring.

No, they won't.

Edriss swam away, leaving us to the awful, dreadful silence. After a while, I spoke.

Do you really think they'll come, Tehlit? I asked, These "Hork- Bajir", I mean.

Tehlit sighed. A long, pained sighed that reminded me of defeat.

I don't know, Orifix. he said. For once, I really don't know.

It took a week. One long, horrible week.

But they did come.

The first thing we felt was that the pool was being lifted.

And Tehlit told me, It can only mean one thing...

I can't believe it! Edriss. I can't believe we're finally gonna get hosts!

Well, believe it, cause it's happening! said Tehlit.

Their joy was incredible. And contagious. Soon, I was feeling quite perked up as well!

Where are we going, again? Not only was I happy, but I was also completely clueless.

The Hork-Bajir came! The Hork-Bajir came! exclaimed Edriss.

Eu... I'm sorry, I know this is going to sound stupid... I said in an embarrassed voice, But... What exactly are Hork-Bajir?

Hork-Bajir? asked Tehlit, What are you, an Andalite? Edriss, get this! He's never seen a Hork-Bajir!

I cringed. Tehlit was making a "joke". Something related to "humor". Only certain species have the sense of humor.

I think Yeerks did. But I knew Andalites didn't...

And Tehlit might not have known it, but he'd just laid a finger on my greatest secret.

I cringed. Good thing Yeerks are blind.

Eu... An Andalite?! I tried to sound mocking, Of course not! It's just that... eu... my former host was a Gedd, and I've been working in this industry manned... eum...

If there were a prize for thinking fast, I think I would have obtained it that day.

... Only by Gedds. I concluded. I have heard of Hork-Bajir, but never seen one.

Hork-Bajir... said Edriss pensively, They are big, bladed creatures. Mostly brown, and with horns.

They have too many teeth, if you ask me. added Tehlit.

And their mouths are huge beyond all reason. continued Edriss. And their laughs! Uuuugh! They could scare Sub-Visser Nine! You know, I'd love to scare Sub-Visser Nine one day...

As they described the Hork-Bajir, a mental image of the two bladed creatures who kidnapped my sister shot into my head. They fit Edriss's and Tehlit's description perfectly. Hork-Bajir.

Those would be our "hosts".

Our hosts? I had briefly controlled Jani, but it was purely out of my morph's instincts. Could I do that again?

I should have paid more attention to what I did the first time...

I surely couldn't ask Edriss and Tehlit how to control a host! Every Yeerk knows how.

They would figure out I wasn't, exactly, a Yeerk.

I couldn't risk them knowing I was an Andalite. They were the only friends I had in this life...

... Hold on, Orifix! I thought to myself, What am I thinking?! These creatures are not my friends! They are the enemy. Yeerks! They are the people who kidnapped Jani and almost enslaved her forever!

They are the reason I am a nothlit...

I looked around me. Or at least, I had the impression I was looking around me, since I was blind. I heard Edriss and Tehlit laughing.

And this is going to sound crazy, but they... They reminded me of Jani and I.

How we used to have fun together. Be normal children.

And that's what these two Yeerks were. Normal, innocent children.

They were not the enemy. They had no control over what the powerful individuals in their species did. What havoc they caused.

Maybe they would have power some day. How could I know?

But everyone can dream.

And I dreamt of a better life for everyone in the universe. Of freedom.

As an Andalite, that was my honor.

And if three Hork-Bajir hosts was what it took for me to try and stop what the Yeerks were doing, I would accept that.

I may be a Yeerk in body, but I'll never be a Yeerk at heart.

- PLAK.

Edriss! Edriss, wake up, we're here! Tehlit said.

What time is -- mumbled Edriss sleepily, ... We... We are?!

Yeah... Wherever here is...

That last one, of course, was from me. I was not only confused, I did not blame Edriss for feeling tired.

We had been carried for the last hour or so. It was a long wait when you were stuck with these two Yeerks who were jumping with anticipation.

We must be at the main pool. said Tehlit, Sulp Niar.

Oh, really?! exclaimed Edriss, My nine-hundred eighty-four zero point five year old brothers and sisters better be well taken care of! Hi Eesha! Where's Bailon? And Jeika, Kilin and Oreh?!

Please... PLEASE don't name the other nine-hundred seventy-nine! exclaimed Tehlit.

Okay.

Suddenly, the pool was shaken and, unwillingly, the three of us rose to the surface. Then, we heard faint, incomprehensible voices...

And then...

Hey guys, I'm being lifted! said Tehlit. I think I'm going to get my host!

Good luck, Tehlit! I said.

Yeah. Get a tall one! added Edriss, So then when you're big enough you can be taller than Sub-Visser Nine!

I'll try, said Tehlit.

And then, we heard nothing.

We waited for about five minutes, Edriss and I. And then, it was my turn.

The first thing I felt was something hard and rough surrounding me. It grasped me all around. Then, gravity did its work. I was being carried upwards.

Goodbye, Edriss! I said, See you soon,

See you soon! she echoed.

I smiled mentally. But only because I had no mouth.

Now that I sit back and think about it, it's ironic how she said that.

If I'd been aware of what was in store for her, I surely would have warned her. Gave her a sign, at least.

Because, like me, she was so sure her plan would succeed.

But sometimes, it's at those times that reality hits you hard in the face.

And it's also at those times that it hurts most.

Taking control of a Hork-Bajir was not at all difficult. All you had to do was slither in, flatten out to fit the small spaces, and follow the nerve all the way to the brain. Then flatten and wrap around it. Simple, correct?

And as soon as I did these simple things, I was greatly rewarded.

I saw the underground pool, Sulp Niar, and more Hork-Bajir. I heard the Sub- Vissers talk at the other end of the room. I smelled... Well, the smell was quite bad, but I was so happy to finally smell these things that I did not care.

I was busy seeing, hearing, smelling and touching when another Hork-Bajir came up to me. He put his hand on my shoulder to attract my attention.

Orifix, is that you? he asked.

I didn't recognise the voice. But the tone, yes.

Tehlit! I exclaimed. Good to see you!

The Yeerk laughed.

Nicely said, he complimented me.

Where is Edriss? I asked.

Tehlit looked at me, then pointed at his left. There was a tall Hork-Bajir holding a small, silver Yeerk. Edriss. And next to him, sitting on a stool, was a small Hork-Bajir.

She's getting her host, see? Tehlit explained. In a minute she'll be along with us.

I nodded. But somehow, I felt a little strange... Like there was this annoying little pinch in my Hork-Bajir stomach that just wouldn't go away.

We saw Edriss slither into the Hork-Bajir's ear.

Tehlit... I finally asked, Doesn't it seem strange to you that that Hork-Bajir isn't even resisting the Sub-Visser placing a Yeerk into its ear?

Edriss was going deeper and deeper into the strange Hork-Bajir's ear. Suddenly, the Hork-Bajir cringed and quickly brought its hand to its ear and touched it, trying to figure out what was happening.

Suddenly, Tehlit made an interesting realization:

That Hork-Bajir didn't move its eyes once, Orifix! he exclaimed, Okay, there is something strange about it...

I told you.

I was really starting to wonder about the strange Hork-Bajir when suddenly, it got up, tripped, and fell to the ground.

Was that Edriss controlling it?

What is she doing?! exclaimed Tehlit.

I have no idea... my Hork-Bajir eyes widened.

Edriss had gotten up, and now she was running maniacally around the room. All of a sudden, she banged straight into a metal wall.

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahh! she shrieked, the impact sending her falling again.

And then, she started screaming uncontrollably.

She's gone crazy! exclaimed a Controller I recognized as Sub-Visser Thirty-Eight's henchman.

Well, what are you waiting for, Eidan? exclaimed Sub-Visser Thirty- Eight, standing nearby, Catch her! Hold her back! Anything!

Eidan was about to run towards Edriss, but Sub-Visser Nine stopped him.

I'll handle this. he said.

But... Sub-Visser, we -- started Sub-Visser Thirty-Eight.

I said, I'll handle this.

Sub-Visser Thirty-Eight, obviously fear-stricken by his superior, gulped and backed away. Sub-Visser Nine, on the other hand, strode off towards Edriss.

When he arrived face to face with her, his eyes menacing, hers flickering with anger, he grabbed her arm and forced her to stand up.

Edriss immediately calmed down a bit. She straightened herself and stopped shrieking. We thought she was over her strange fit out of nowhere...

... Until she turned and spat directly in Sub-Visser Nine's Hork-Bajir face!

That did it. The Sub-Visser took back his arm and quickly backed off, rubbing his face, with a look of pure disgust.

The crowd that had formed went dead silent. Tehlit and I looked at each other in pure amazement.

How dare you, you pathetic excuse for a Yeerk?! Sub-Visser Nine yelled. How dare you spit at me?!

Me, a pathetic Yeerk? yelled a very angry Edriss, Why? Why? What did I ever do to deserve this? Wasn't I a good Yeerk? Wasn't I?!

I am sorry, Sub-Visser Nine's voice was calm, stable. But I thought I saw the slightest inch of fear in his eyes... But I must admit that I have no idea what you speak of.

Oh, you don't, do you? exclaimed Edriss, the air vibrating with her anger every time she spoke. Well, here is the answer, Sub-Visser Nine: I can't see! This host is blind! You gave me a blind host!! You get it? GOOD!

And with that, she started running. She ran away, feeling the walls. And when she felt an opening she ran outside, away from our sight.

Our sight. We were so lucky we had it... Because she didn't.

Edriss had a blind host body.

Please review if you want me to continue.