Review responses:
Korean Pearl: I'm not sure if Alloran's children would feel ashamed of someone they can't remember. I would say perhaps they would be happy to finally meet their father, curious, very nervous and perhaps angry because his reputation has affected them. Jahar I would think would be more relieved to see him alive, at least at first. This chapter should show more of the children's emotions and attitudes, some of which their father disapproves of. But thanks for the advice and I will try to introduce a little more of that element.
Anonymous- cat: Thanks for your helpful reviews. Um, in chapter 2 I wasn't trying to show Alloran as bored, more nervous and stressed, and Illim is trying to get his mind off it, but I suppose it could come across that way. As for your other bit of advice, read Korean Pearl's review response!
Little Midgett: Thanks! Glad you like the 'Visser voice'! As for the rest of your review, please read what I said to Korean Pearl: it applies to you too!
Dot the Distracted: Here you'll see how Alloran's daughter reacts to humans; his son will come later. Thanks for your review, and don't forget to leave another one!
Birdie num num: Thanks for your review. Enjoy this chapter!
A/n: Hope you all enjoy this! Read by all means, but please don't forget to drop me a review to tell me how you liked it!
Many Andalites had now arrived, either from the ships or coming to greet those from the ships. I began to notice stares, dirty looks and glances at me. My family seemed unconcerned, obviously having been through this a lot before.
Presently, my son left to speak with some other warriors. This hurt me; I had returned, yet my son didn't seem to want to know me. My daughter also seemed more interested in the opportunities for xeno- biology research around the spaceport than me, but she was a little more discreet with her disinterest.
Jahar at least was pleased to have me back, but I had noticed a change in her posture: in my memories, she walked proudly, her tail blade level with her flank, her tail arching downwards and then up again before it ended at the blade. She used to walk with her head up, usually with all four eyes focused forward or scanning. Now, however, her tail fell sharply down from her back, her tail blade held near to the ground. Her shoulders slumped forward slightly, her stalk eyes drooped a little and her main eyes were cast down. She looked as though she had endured much humiliation, making me seethe with anger at the people who had driven her to lose the confidence that she once had had. But then I remembered that I had been infamous for my crimes on the Hork- bajir world, before the Visser took me over. I was partly to blame for what Jahar had suffered since. This realisation hit me like a rock, the pain almost unbearable. Nothing the Visser had ever said or done had made me feel the shame and sadness that I now felt, knowing that I had partly done this to my beloved wife.
A little later my son rejoined us near where a group of humans were having their meal. Among them were Tidwell, Marco, Cassie and Eva, who had been the former Visser One's host. We got on surprisingly well. This was probably because I thought that anything Esplin hated couldn't be a bad thing, and Eva presumably had a similar philosophy. We often argued over which Yeerk was worst, but other than that we agreed on most things.
My daughter couldn't wait to quiz them all on their biology.
(Try not to be rude,) I warned.
She looked surprised. (Obviously, I would not wish to insult them, but there is nothing wrong with scientific research and I am sure they will not mind answering my questions,) she said blandly.
I was stung at the formality of her reaction, and also at her dismissing what I had to say. I appealed to Jahar with my eyes, but she made no move to reprimand Marili. Had they changed so much?
No. It was I who had changed, and now they seemed strange to me. My last memory of Marili was her struggling to her feet after her birth and beginning to cavort about. Then I had needed to go on the mission that would take me away from my family for so long. Marili was now 25 years of age, Baras 28. I still thought of them as children, but they were now full- grown adults with their own thoughts, morals and ideas. I had had no part in shaping what they were to grow up to be, save perhaps making it more difficult for them to gain respect, as they were infamous, too. I felt terrible. I was not a father to them. They did not know me, I did not know them. Perhaps all they felt for me inside was hatred and anger, for my reputation having been passed down to them.
We walked towards the humans. As soon as we had reached and greeted them, Marili commenced her questioning.
(I am Marili, and am studying advanced xeno- biology.)
"What's xeno- biology?" Asked a teenage ex- controller.
(It is the study of life forms native to another planet.) (Aliens,) she clarified.
"Yeah, I can work out the meaning of 'life form native to another planet', thanks."
(I would like to know more about human biology.) Marili left it there, waiting for them to begin spilling out information.
"Uh, like what?" Asked Cassie.
(Everything.)
"Well, where do I start?"
(Start with what you need for nutrition. What plants are you eating there?)
"Well, the plants there are the broccoli and the potatoes," Cassie explained, pointing to them.
(What is that?)
"That's chicken. It's a bird that lives on our planet."
(You EAT your birds!) My daughter asked, shocked. Obviously the authorities had left out 'omnivores' and 'predators' from their xeno- biology studies.
"Well, yeah. Humans need protein, and animals provide us with that protein."
My daughter appeared to quickly lose interest after that piece of information. All Andalites have an instinctive fear of predators, but I didn't think it needed to extend that far. I sighed.
Illim, of course, needed somewhere to stay that night. I invited him to our scoop almost instinctively, not thinking beforehand about the possible consequences. I should have done.
Apparently, my son's façade of courtesy only extended so far.
(No, father,) he said quietly but angrily when I asked Illim if he would like to stay with us. It wasn't even in private thought speak; Illim heard it.
(What did you say?) I asked, slowly, quietly but in a very threatening tone. I, of course, did use private thought speak.
(I will not have that scum on my grazing lands.) Again, my son let Illim hear him. Illim went red with rage and embarrassment, but stood still and was silent.
(Your grazing lands? I invited him to my scoop. You may live at home, Baras, but I still hold claim to my own land, and we will have such guests as I permit.) I was no longer speaking privately; I was angry.
(You're a disgrace to your family, the military and the People. Why should I listen to you?) My son galloped away, leaving me standing there, shocked.
You might think it's short, but it came to just over 1,000 words without review responses and author notes. I was advised in a review for another story to try and get at least 1,000 words per chapter so I will!