Incoming message, beeped the primitive human mechanism. I looked at it, and sure enough, it was him. "Can it wait?" I said. "We're having a meeting of the Sharing here."
No. It can't, the words on my screen declared. I'll never interrupt you again.
"Don't make promises you can't keep."
No. I mean it. Get the live stream from atmosphere.
I clicked through. Explosions were everywhere. Andalite fighters were incinerating in plain sight. "Reason number 1,764 Esplin is a dapsen. Excuse me for a minute," I addressed the group at large and stepped out of the room.
We're already past sixteen hundred?
"Yes. You can speak now."
>I'm a bit-occupied at the moment.> The chip implanted in his head transferred emotion of fear, but fear harnessed and channeled for a purpose.
"You and your hirac delests."
>Luckily I only have one, singular. Although for slightly obvious reasons, you've been excluded.>
"Only slightly."
>I've made up a story about a human girl to compensate.>
"Where are you? Can I get there in time?"
>No. This is the end, my love.>
My host's teeth chattered. I tried to stop them, but couldn't find the force. "How can I go on?"
>Be strong. Resist Esplin. There is a better way.>
"I will make him pay for this."
>You are making me smile. That in itself is enough.>
"But I want to destroy him."
>Oh, as do others.>
"Others? Your allies are here?"
>I have new allies. One of whom resembles you->
"In appearance? Or determination?"
>Both, my Edriss, both.>
