Review responses:

LilManiac: Thank you! Enjoy this chapter.

Anonymous- cat: Yes, it was far too brief. I'll try to cover Aftran begging Cassie to demorph in a later flashback. I'll save your advice until I revamp this fic once it's all done, and then you can tell me what you think. As it is, I'll try to add more detail now, and thanks for all your help!

Elwing: Thanks for your review! I always thought KAA should write this as "The Yeerk chronicles" or something, because she has only done one full book from a Yeerk's POV, plus a few chapters in the Hork- Bajir chronicles; and both of those were from power- hungry, ruthless Vissers (although 'Visser' did include some more 'human' emotion, if you get my meaning). I thought she should do this, but she never did, so I did!

I hope you enjoy this chapter; I think it's better than the last one. REMEMBER TO REVIEW!


I had only been in the pool for a single feeding cycle. Three days, that was all. But already it seemed like a lifetime. I had spent so much time dwelling on memories, thinking about what I had given up.

(Get a grip, Aftran,) I said to myself. I struggled desperately to stay out of despair.

Soon I realised I would have to do something for the war effort; but what? What could I, a lowly Yeerk without a host, the lowest of the low, do against the rest of the Yeerk Empire?

Recruiting like- minded Yeerks seemed like a good place to start, but that was easier said than done. I had no idea who they were, and if I asked the wrong person, I could throw away Earth's last chance of survival by revealing the names and locations of the Animorphs under torture.

I figured it was best to start with the Yeerks I knew; my family and friends. Estril, of course, was dead. Milan would never even consider it. Tassan, though, I wasn't so sure about, and I thought perhaps I could persuade Innis and Illim.

I took Tassan aside, desperately praying to everything, from every species, that there was to pray to.

I told Tassan my tale, leaving out Cassie's name and the names of the others.

Tassan was silent for almost a full two minutes, though it seemed like years, wondering what she would say.

(Can I have a feeding cycle to consider, Aftran? This is a big step, and I really need more time.) she asked finally.

I understood. (Of course, but…)

(But what?)

(Tass, promise me you'll tell no one. Even if you don't join us, tell no one at all.)

(I swear. I wouldn't do that to you, you should know that.)

(Thank you.)

I breathed a sigh of relief as Tassan swam away. Well, a mental sigh anyway. It was a start, having at least one Yeerk even just consider.

Three days passed, and Tassan returned to the pool. I was desperate to hear her decision.

(I will join you,) she told me with great determination. I knew the determination was a way for her to try to reduce the fear she felt inside. (And Rebecca says I can stay in her, says she wants to help.)

That surprised me; Tassan had always described Rebecca as being highly resistant; as an adult, she found change and restrictions on her freedom a lot harder, in some ways, to accept than a child like Karen did.

(Thank you, Tassan. And tell Rebecca thanks; tell her it's really helpful to have at least one member who's not confined to the pool.)

(Yeah, I will. But what next?)

(I don't know.)

(We need more members.)

(Jeez, you think?) I said sarcastically. (That's easier said than done.)

(I know a Yeerk named Asta 231,) Tassan began. (She's upset by having to infest an involuntary, feels bad about it. She might consider it.)

(Can we trust her?) I asked doubtfully.

(She's my cousin.)

(Visser 3 could easily be my cousin. I wouldn't know, I don't know all my siblings, and certainly not my parents' siblings.)

(That's true, but she's a close friend, more so than many of my siblings, actually. That's how come I know she's my cousin.)

(Speak to her, then. But only if you're sure she won't betray us.)

(I'm sure.) With that, Tassan swam away.

My fears turned out to be misplaced. Asta joined us. Having had two successful recruitments, I think now that I began to be a little less cautious.

I invited Innis and Illim, also. Illim accepted quite readily, but Innis said he wouldn't do it.

(You what!) I asked, desperately afraid.

(Don't worry, I won't give away your secret, Aftran. I could never see you hurt, I just can't be a direct part of this. I simply don't dare to.)

I accepted that answer, although I was disappointed that Innis would not be joining us. I still considered myself to be in a relationship with him, we had not 'broken up' as you humans would say, although we saw each other little after that.

Many hosts of the peace movement Yeerks consented for those Yeerks to stay in them; they wanted to help the fight. Our number steadily began to grow.

We tried to rearrange our feeding schedule so those in hosts would all feed together; this way we could meet every three days to make plans. I, having nothing else to do, spent hours sifting through information the other Yeerks had given me, trying to form it into some sort of order and make a plan if one needed to be made. I would then explain it at the next meeting and other Yeerks would add their ideas and we would make the necessary changes. Then those Yeerks in hosts would put the plan into action.

There were only three other Yeerks to whom I told the names and locations of Cassie and the others; Illim, Asta and Tassan. Someone had to know so that they could contact the Animorphs if ever I was discovered and captured. Many others thought that my thinking of capture was paranoid; no one knew I was here, I was very low- ranking. I let no other Yeerk but us three know of the Animorphs; I referred to them as the Andalite bandits.

I was very cautious about new members. Until they had completed a task against the Empire, showing their sincerity, they would learn no other name but mine. Later, we were glad that we had done this.

In the following months, I became more of a leader; I had to. I lost the submissiveness which had prevented me advancing far before. But at the same time, I became softer, gentler. I lost my taste for power, my ambition to be a Sub- Visser one day. And I began to pity almost everyone; I think it was a mechanism to stop me falling into ever- greater despair. I would think of people who were worse off than me every time I started to wallow in self- pity for my blindness and vulnerability. The people I pitied most were the human involuntary hosts- no, slaves. My own guilt was still strong, but I was happy for what Karen had said when I had left her;

(Please don't feel guilty about anything, you did what you had to. I understand. Goodbye, Aftran.)

Those were the last words Karen had spoken to me before I left her ear forever.

Eventually, of course, I exhausted my supply of friends and siblings who had given hints that they were of like mind, and likewise with Illim, Tassan and the others. I then remembered a Yeerk who I had met in Visser Three's personal guard; Leyan. 'He seemed nice enough' I thought to myself, and decided to ask him.

A word of advice; 'seemed nice enough' is never a good enough reason to reveal a deep secret to someone. No matter who they are. But I had forgotten that; with my recent successes, I had become slightly reckless. And I had forgotten that people can change a lot over a year; and past grudges can grow until they become hatred.


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