Review Responses:
LilManaic: Thank you for reviewing! Aftran is in a bit of trouble, which is significant, as you should find out in this chapter. But she won't be punished, other than a scolding.
Mersang: I'm not sure I can manage 1000 words per chap. I think I'll try regular updates, short chapters. Although I know I left a long gap between updates before, that was writer's block, which is now gone. Yay!
Korean Pearl: I didn't tell you Aftran's task, because KAA does, in the Departure. If you haven't read it, I'll e-mail you some background to what I'll be using in this fic. But this chapter should partly explain it to you.
I know it took a long time for me to update last time, but now I'm making it up to you, aren't I? I'm having a creative burst now I'm over my writer's block! Yay! Anyway, enjoy the chapter, and don't forget to review!
Visser Three stood now in the centre of the room, in full Andalite form. He looked round at all of us, his eyes a window to pure evil.
(We have a problem,) he said, in thought speak that could only be heard by those in the room. (As you will all know, there are several surviving Andalites. They have somehow managed to destroy our Earth based Kandrona.) There were gasps from around the room. I was terrified. (Do not fear, we shall shuttle you all up to the Pool Ship in orbit around this planet. You will receive the minimal amount of Kandrona needed for survival until the situation can be rectified. A new Kandrona is on its way and will arrive within two or three Earth weeks.)
(Innis 226 has, I believe, compiled a list of shuttle groups, and the dates they will leave. If these dates are not correct, please notify Innis 226. I shall expect that all of you should notify him if the dates are too early; your first shuttling should take place on the final day of your feeding cycle, the longest time you can continue without Kandrona. This way, if there is a Yeerk whose shuttle date is too late, you may swap with them. That is all, other than that I wish to see these Andalite bandits caught. The Yeerk to bring me them, dead or alive, will receive great reward.)
The Visser morphed again, and left the room, accompanied by his guards (humans, of course, not Hork-Bajir. But humans with guns and hidden Dracons.)
I went over to the list, and, noting that my name was a day too early, went to Innis 229 to rectify it.
"Sir?"
"Yes, Aftran 942?"
"My shuttle is a day early."
"I know this. You are on the shuttle with those who have missions of high importance and need more Kandrona than just to barely survive. Do not fail in your mission. Your commander wishes to see you at whatever time is most convenient for your cover in his command room at the Pool."
The next day I walked down through the Gap entrance at the Mall. I had taken the bus into town, telling my.. Karen's parents that I was meeting some friends at a café. As Karen was so young, her mother had been a little anxious about allowing me to go alone, but luckily my.. her father stepped in.
"Don't worry, our little girl's just growing up a little, that's all. She goes out riding alone now, which is far more dangerous. I'm glad she's got friends and she's spending time with them."
(Dad, no! Don't let her go!) Karen cried, a prisoner inside her own brain.
I walked down into the Pool. The Yeerks without hosts were being put into glass tanks of water, ready to be shuttled in three days time.
I pressed the pad which rang a bell in Sub- Visser 19's command room.
"Enter."
I went in.
"Aftran 942!" He snapped at me. "Innis 226 says that you have made little or no progress with your assignment."
"Sorry, Sub- Visser. I have just been getting used to the world these humans inhabit, so I may keep my cover appropriately."
"I will expect to see results. You need to get access to the banking computers and find us information about who is significant. You need to find ways to get some of the money, or at least persuade the target to invest money in Yeerk- run corporations. Can you do that?"
"I will do my best, Sub- Visser. I will start straight away, Sub- Visser."
"Very good. You are dismissed."
I walked out of the pool, may legs shaking. I then did meet up with Emily, Alex and Maria (another of Karen's school friends) at the Italian café. I had to so I could sustain the lie.
Emily and Maria left after an hour, and Alex and I left the café shortly after them, talking on the way up to the bus stop.
"What did he say?"
"He was angry that I had done little on my mission. He said I had to hack into one of the banking computers, although I've no idea how I'll do that."
"Does your host's father ever work weekends?"
"Sometimes, yes."
"Well, ask if you can go with him. Take your own sandwiches, and then when he goes to lunch you'll be left with the computer."
"That's an excellent idea!"
(That is so totally wrong. It's illegal, Aftran, and it's not right. You can't do that. And what if Dad found out?)
(He won't. I'm not stupid, human.)
(Well, you fooled me. And since when did you start calling me 'human', Yeerk?)
(Since I realised how sentimental I am. I need to distance myself from you if I am to complete my mission. So shut up and do as I say. Not that you have any choice.)
(You slug! I thought we were supposed to be on good terms!)
(Not any more. Not now I have a really serious assignment, and my superiors are already angry. No more friendship, no more being soft on you. Nothing.)
Karen was silent. I could feel her shock, but also the first seeds of understanding what it must feel like for me, also. There was some pity. But there was more hatred.
