Review responses:

Korean Pearl: Yeah, I do see your point, but I think Marco and the others were just angry; everyone says words they later regret when they're mad. But you do make sense there and I wish I'd spotted it earlier, thanks for the tip! I'll try to consider it in later chapters, but I try not to change what's already there; it can confuse people and can sometimes alter the plot.

Birdie num num: Well, you will be pleased to know that I have included a little interaction between Jahar and Alloran in this chapter, although it's not really very romantic, but it is a little. And don't worry about making suggestions for future chapters; it's not really rushing me so long as you don't expect your suggestion to be worked on straight away!

Dot the Distracted: Thanks! Enjoy this chapter!

Chii: Stop flattering me, you're making me blush! Thanks for the very encouraging review though!

Cassie thought that the Andalites might be suspicious of a video camera, but said there were many miniature recording devices that we could use. Illim and the others protested at first, not wanting to cause any more trouble. The humans' justification was that Lirem hadn't said anything about not recording the tour for the Yeerks, just about there being no Yeerks permitted in the building.

So that was how, several hours later, Elsa ended up carrying a miniature human recording device disguised as a necklace as we toured the Electorate building. It wasn't the primitive device humans called the 'video camera', but it transmitted a message to another device outside the building that would then store the information on a human 'video', so it could be watched later. A Yeerk scientist had modified both devices. I refused to be involved, unwilling to further antagonise Lirem. I thought that if they were discovered, the Andalite Electorate wouldn't see it that way.

The tour was actually more detailed than it would have been had Yeerks been there, I thought. The tour guide gave us a very detailed account of the building, and if anyone had been planning a rebellion, the tour would have given him or her a lot of what they had needed to know. There was also a lengthy presentation on the evolution, history and political system of the Andalite race. However, all the sections of our history that could possibly be shameful had mysteriously disappeared, and what was there seemed very much over- glorified; I guessed that the Andalite Electorate had made a calculated decision to seem perfect, although I'm sure that they wouldn't have put it that way.

It was mid day when we finally exited the electorate building. There was an hour for lunch, and then in the afternoon we went first to the Academy building.

The Academy tour consisted of a long walk around the training grounds and facilities, which seemed to emphasise how efficient and well- trained the Andalite military was; a warning, perhaps? But to whom? The Yeerks weren't there… then it must be to the humans. Perhaps the Council were a little worried about the 'disruption' during mine and Illim's warning talk, and seen fit to do something to intimidate the humans. But the humans didn't seem in the least bit afraid; in fact, many thought the Andalite attempt at humiliation was laughable,

The remainder of the afternoon was spent touring the various universities and science facilities. These had grown vastly in number and in the equipment available during my time away. We also entered Marili's university, where they were now studying humans. Apparently, there was a new theory that humans had almost a full half of their brain devoted simply to not falling over, which resulted in several humans clutching their sides in an attempt to laugh without making a sound. The university of Scientific Studies also held classes in intro- biology (the study of life forms on the Andalite world), space geography and physics, atomic chemistry, scientific theory and weapons chemistry (a subject which I thought unsuitable in peace time) and other classes that we were not shown. By the time the first day of the tour was completed, it was 6pm Earth time. We rejoined the Yeerks (who had spent the entire day doing basically nothing as there were apparently no Andalites who had thought that perhaps they might like some other form of entertainment since they could not go on any part of the spaceport tour).

The Yeerks' guards seemed happy to leave them under our supervision after they realised that Prince Aximili was with us and that many of these humans and Hork- Bajir were ex- involuntary Controllers ( I think they must have felt that anyone suffering involuntary infestation would be eager to make Yeerks suffer at the slightest excuse- I think perhaps they thought that I was the exception, or had forgotten about me altogether, although that seemed unlikely). However they gave us one condition; we were not to enter any buildings in the spaceport. Elsa asked if we were allowed in the Dome Ship and they consented, but sent ten guards to ensure we did not enter the bridge. That was no problem for us; the TV wasn't on the bridge anyway.

We took the recording device and played all the videos one by one for the Yeerk tourists. When they saw the part about the theory of half the human brain being devoted to balance, it sent them into fits of laughter.

"Actually, it's more like a hundredth, although Tidwell is a poor example, being so clumsy and all," Illim joked.

Once the Yeerks had seen all of the tour, we headed back outside. A group of humans had arranged a 'barbeque', which Aximili and I enjoyed in human morph. Those Andalites who were not so accustomed to humans watched the proceedings with fascination at first, soon turning to disgust when Marco 'kindly' explained just exactly what it was they were eating.

When Aximili and I demorphed, we were given many horrified glances by other Andalites for having actually eaten another animal, albeit in human form. My wife and children shared similar views, which made me wish that I had not chosen to indulge, despite the amazing experience of taste.

Jahar spoke to me later, while the children were gone; Baras to the Academy as he was taking 'Prince' training and Marili had gone to interview some Yeerks as she had been assigned a complicated xeno- biology study on them.

(Alloran?) she asked, slightly shy.

(Yes?) I looked at her lovingly. She was growing old, but she was still so beautiful to my eyes.

(Why did you, um, eat that poor animal?)

(Probably because it tastes nice. Why?)

(Well, it just seems… wrong.)

(The animal was dead anyway, no sense wasting the meat. They'd prepared a little too much for the humans and Yeerks so Prince Aximili and I.. well, helped a little.)

Jahar looked troubled, but said no more on the subject. I wish she had, for her next topic was something I wished to forget altogether.

(What happened to you.. when you were.. a Controller?) Jahar asked hesitantly.

I flinched slightly. (I don't really want to think about it, let alone discuss it, love.)

(Oh. Well, if you ever need anyone to talk to, I'm here..)

(Thank you, I appreciate the gesture, but you can't really understand what it's like. And anyway, I wouldn't want to make you suffer the pain of hearing it.)

(That's better than suffering the pain of not knowing.)

I had to admit, she did have a point. So I told my beloved wife everything that happened in the worst twenty- four years of my life; bar the very painful parts. I didn't want to recall them, and I didn't want Jahar to know, either.

(Why are you so friendly with Illim, after all that has happened to you?) Jahar asked once I had finished my tale.

(Because I appreciate his bravery and he is a good person. What other reason does one need for a friend?)

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