I swam back across the pool, lost in thought. Its familiarity was no comfort. My mind was still swimming somewhere back with the Gedd whose very body I had just taken control of.

Taken control.

I shuddered. This was what we would have to do in order to see again? To see and exist outside of the pool?

The Gedd had not been a witless, blank receptacle. Of course it wasn't. But it had felt despair at my presence. Why? Why had it felt this way? It was all that the creature had known its entire life, its people had evolved in near mutuality with my own. Why should it feel sorrow at such an existence?

I felt angry. Angry at the Gedd for not accepting what it must accept. Angry at my brother Yeerks for telling us it was our right to control them. Angry at myself for questioning that right.

So, Myitt. How do you feel?

I turned, jarred out of my thoughts. It was Larin.

Well? she said, when I gave no answer.

Fine, I muttered.

There was a moment of silence.

Fine? That's all you can say?

I hesitated. Larin had never been an empathic person, but surely there would be no reason not to tell her how I truly felt?

Well, Larin continued, musing almost to herself. I think I would give anything to have a host. What power! I never imagined it would be so wonderful. Don't you agree?

It was wonderful, I said, sounding as though there hadn't been anything wonderful at all about it.

Come, cheer up, we're adults now. We should be celebrating, not moping about. Think on it, Myitt, soon we could have hosts of our own! Wouldn't that be exciting? Think about all the equations you could dream up with six fingers!

It would be nice, I said, sounding more sure of it. And we would be able to see.

That's the spirit, she said happily. Come on, let's find the others.

Why was she so eager? A real change from the last time I had spoken to her. Had infestation really affected her mood that much?

I thought you didn't want to associate yourself with alleged Andalite-lovers, I told her as we swam.

There was silence again.

I didn't mean that, said Larin. I was just angry, that's all.

I waited.

I'm sorry, she said.

I don't think I'm the one you should be apologizing to.

Oh, Reven will be fine, Myitt. Besides, I'm sure he will have changed his mind about infestation now that he's done it.

I decided to try and test her opinion. I still think he feels insulted. Although I have to admit you're right Larin, this is what we were meant to do, and nothing can change that.

She stopped swimming and turned to me. So, can I assume then that you feel that Reven's behavior amounts to more than his nerves speaking for him? She lowered her voice to a whisper. I think he's beginning to sound like he's against us.

This surprised me very much. Against us, as in our people? Larin, don't be ridiculous, we have the right to choose if we want to take hosts, whether it's within our ability to do so or not.

Well some of us, and it's far more than just myself, are beginning to think it isn't natural to feel that way, that we should want to take other bodies now that we have the capability to find them. They're saying as many of us as possible should be granted hosts. There's even talk of trying to find bodies that would serve adequately in battle. After all, we are at war.

War. It hadn't really sunk in yet. Yes, we were at war, and we would have to fight.

I thought again about the poor Gedd whose mind I had so easily crushed beneath my control, almost without thinking. Its simple body would be excellent for tasks of labor, but it was hardly a warrior's body, even if it was armed with an Andalite weapon. It was by sheer surprise that the organized attack on the homeworld had succeeded.

Perhaps we would find creatures who might be willing to serve us, and fight for us? The idea lifted my mood considerably. I told myself it was possible, it had to be possible.

I don't think Reven is against anyone, Larin. If we are meant to spread throughout the galaxy and take new hosts, he will have to accept it. At least until this war is over.

I had to accept it, as well. Yet I did not tell her that I still agreed with Reven. Something, some nagging feeling, told me not to.

We eventually found Reven and Corliss. Reven claimed his infestation had been a very good thing.

I thought you might have a different opinion about it, Reven. Larin was busily rubbing it in. Do you understand now? The Yeerk race finally has the ability to achieve its fullest potential. Finally we are as free as the Andalites!

And soon we will undoubtedly be more powerful, said Corliss. Imagine all the technology we could come across. I thought the Andalite technology we have here was incredible enough…soon we might have weapons of our own. Ships of our own, Yeerk spaceships!

It truly is exciting, said Reven abruptly. Ah…Myitt, would you mind coming with me to find Rykker? I haven't spoken to him yet.

Of course, I said. We bade farewell to Larin and Corliss and swam off to find our softspoken sibling.

For a few moments there was an awkward silence between Reven and I.

Myitt, said Reven. Promise me you won't tell the others if I confide something to you?

Naturally, Reven, I said. I saw this coming.

Reven sighed. Listen. I enjoyed infestation, maybe more than I want to admit. But I still don't feel right about it, I don't feel right about it at all. Did you search the host's memories? Mine were…awful. Horrifying. These training Gedds…they aren't happy with our control. They and many other Gedds. Anyone who takes the time to search their minds can see that. The creatures are simply too feeble to do anything but suffer in the back of their minds. They bear such slim sentience that they lack the power to fight, and so they accept Yeerk control as a grim but all-encompassing part of their lives. They don't know any better. Myitt, it was…worse than I had feared. How can we take their sight, their bodies, all their senses when they are too dim to do anything but despair?

We had stopped swimming. The desperation in his voice, the memories of my own experience…I sympathized with him more than I knew how to express.

I feel the same way, I said simply. But Larin has been speaking to others, and she says there will be no choice but to take a host if we are assigned one. It is because of the war. Reven, you must believe that I feel what you feel…but I don't think we'll have a choice, if the Council deems any of us useful enough to gain a host body.

I am glad you agree. I knew you would, he said softly. But if what Larin says is true I don't care, I won't take a host if I am called. What happened to free will among our people?

I laughed bitterly. That, my brother, was lost when we left the homeworld.

He was so frightened, Myitt, said Rykker. It made me feel terrible. I still feel sick because of it.

Reven and I had found Rykker, palps downcast, idly playing with some pebbles on the warm metal floor of the pool.

I told Myitt, I don't care, I'm not taking a host if I'm told to, said Reven furiously.

Not even to see? said Rykker. Oh, to see again…I think I could almost handle controlling a host to be that way, even just to have control of the sight organs. I felt him sigh. It isn't like any of the elders will think I'm useful, anyway.

Nonsense, Rykker, there are a lot of things you're good at, I said. The Council of Thirteen will realize that. Besides, what about the things we haven't learned yet? They look for certain traits in people and send them to a host to learn skills, you know, what about mechanics? I bet you would be really good at handling a ship's Shredder cannon.

I fell silent at the thought of Rykker destroying enemies in battle.

You're making him feel just wonderful, Myitt, said Reven jokingly.

Well, I think I might be good at something like that, Rykker mused. 'Rykker 279, report to weapons station'…I like the sound of that.

Dreams of grandeur, yes Rykker? Getting carried away? I laughed. It was good to see him cheering up a little, and it made me feel better too.

Even something safe, like janitorial duties, that would be fine by me.

I don't think I would call those safe, exactly, Reven intoned.

What if the hosts we take could be persuaded to allow us to inhabit them? I said. What if we could give them partial control, or at least allow them some freedom if they asked it of us?

I've heard others, in passing, mentioning similar things, said Reven. I've been…sort of eavesdropping whenever I can to see what the consensus is among people our age.

So tell me, I said slyly. Are we so strange to be believing that our own Gedds are unhappy with their great Yeerk dominators?

Why no, my dear Myitt, as a matter of fact there are a lot of us who feel the same way as the three of us. I don't think Larin is capable nor willing to hide such dissent from us, so she's probably going to stick to her 'overlords of the galaxy' ideal. I wonder about Corliss, though. I hope he hasn't really fallen in with the way Larin thinks.

And if she's right, there are just as many of us who think the same way she does, I said.

Well. Here's hoping there are enough of us to regain some sense of decency among our people, said Reven.

I hope you're right, Rykker muttered. Both of you. Maybe there is a better way.

Youthful optimism made us blinder than ever. It would take the rest of Rykker's life before we could really see again.

A/N: Thanks to everyone for reviewing :) If you're new to the story please send along comments, criticisms and whatnot.

Anifan: Thankee as usual :)

Tiko: Aw thanks!

Quillian: Exactly. More of the same in this chapter, I'm afraid, but only because it's such an important event in their lives. It molds their morals.

AllOrNone: grin And you wouldn't like her if she was caught up in the Empire? I can't tell you, anyway (because I'm evil ;))

Baranth: I wondered where you had gone! Myitt didn't know any of you guys when she was a youngster. I can't promise anything because I don't know if I'm going to give allies anythingat all,and if that,a brief mention or a cameo...this story is focusing on the Yeerks themselves.