Review responses:

Quillian: Thanks for the review. A little on the short side, though.

Edriss: Thanks for your review. School does that sometimes. That's why I tend to update on the weekends, I usually write a bit Friday night or Saturday morning and not much else during the week.

Sinister Shadow: It's OK that you weren't on the internet much. I'm just not a very patient person when it comes to fanfic! I'm glad you liked it, and thanks for the tip. I'll bear that in mind.

Anifan1: Thanks for the review. Glad you like it.

X:Thanks.

This week's chapter dedication goes to Sinister Shadow as she made a helpful suggestion in her review.

Author note: I'd first like to say thanks to everyone who reviewed.

Second, I like my readers to have some kind of influence on the story. So I would like as many people as possible to answer these questions when they review:

"What would you like to see later in this fic?"

"Where do you think this fic is going? Is that where you'd like it to go?"

Feel free to give me as many suggestions as you like. I can't guarantee to include everyone's in the story, as obviously if I get two conflicting suggestions I can't include them both!

On with the story!

The ship travelled slowly down to meet the sand of the Anati desert. A bleak wilderness, save for the towering metal and glass structure that was the main Yeerk facility on this part of the planet. We left it in this flat area so any Anati rebels sneaking up on us could be easily seen.

I stepped from the ship. I instantly felt an unpleasant change in the air. It was baking hot and bone dry, the water vapour sucked from it by the burning sun. I hurried across the boiling ground to the doors of the facility, desperate for the cool, conditioned air inside.

I needed to feed. The central pool in this building was on the basement level, but I wasn't going there. As the Visser in charge of this planet, there would be a private pool for me on the top floor, near my quarters.

But I wasn't so hungry that I wouldn't familiarise myself with my surroundings. This floor was mainly lecture or meeting rooms, large training halls and the cafeterias.

On the first few floors up, there were quarters for those of no rank to speak of. These quarters were tiny, I knew. I could see a shared bathroom area at the far end. There were three or four of these floors.

On the fifth floor were sub-visser's command rooms, or offices. These were still quite small, but larger than the private quarters of the low-ranking Yeerks.

(That's hardly fair,) Eva commented. (That the sub-vissers should get much larger rooms just to work in than the ordinary Yeerks get to live in.)

(Who told you life was fair? Besides, the low-ranks will just have a bed in their rooms. Those offices have to incorporate desks, computers, all that stuff. Wait until you see mine.)

(I've seen enough of them to get the idea of what they're like. The private quarters will be five times as big as those offices!)

We then flew (for we were, of course, in a dropshaft) past the residential floor for sub-vissers. They shared a bathroom between two or three of them.

We then passed the floors for the offices and private rooms (or suites, actually) for the five or so other vissers. Then we were on my floor.

"Stop," I commanded the dropshaft, and walked out.

Yes, you are correct. I did say my floor. I had the whole last floor (well, actually, last but one. Above me were storerooms or offices) to myself. It had my command room, private room, bathroom and of course, my private pool facility. There were also a couple of smaller rooms for attendants and messengers.

I had a large window of ramonite, a material that can be made transparent or opaque. I could look out at the landscape or down at the activity in the small docking facility for our ships.

(It's disgusting,) Eva spat. (Those other Yeerks have to share everything apart from one private room, and here you have a whole floor to yourself.)

(So? I'm in charge of them, Eva. There's nothing you can do. Your human value of equality has no authority here.) I laughed. (You're only moaning because you won't get to chat while you're in the communal cage downstairs.)

(Down dropshaft. There aren't any stairs here.)

(Don't correct me about trivial details. It's the mark of someone who's losing the argument but doesn't want to admit it.)

(You should be a lawyer.)

(I am not human,) I replied.

(You were almost, at one time.)

(Silence!) I snapped. Eva was getting to insolent for her own good. I would converse with her, but I was in command. She needed to learn to respect me.

She obeyed, at least. Good. I had enough to do without a disobedient host.

After having fed, I opened the door to my office and strode through. I had certainly been well attended to. The room contained a desk, a Yeerk computer and even a human coffee maker!

I sighed and sat down at the computer.

"Bring up data on the weapons and security arrangements already in place," I commanded.

There weren't many. I began to add my new proposals to the plan, but soon found I couldn't concentrate. Eva was physically exhausted and it was a struggle to keep her body awake. I was mentally frustrated and emotionally shattered. We were both all but crying out for want of sleep.

(All right,) I answered Eva's unspoken plea. (You have a good long rest. We'll continue in the morning, once we are both fresh and your body has adjusted to the new environment.)

(Thank you,) she mumbled. (You rest, too.)

I left the office and wandered to my quarters. I collapsed onto the large, soft bed, too tired even to undress.

We were both asleep the second our head touched the pillow.

I awoke to a series of loud knocks on the door to my quarters.

"What!" I exclaimed grumpily.

"Visser one, your sub-vissers await you in the lecture room downstairs. They need to know your plan, Visser."

"What time is it?"

"It is an hour from midday," the attendant replied, sounding concerned.

(Ah,) I said to Eva. (That would explain it.)

I leapt up, and quickly tried to make Eva look reasonably presentable. I then ran to the dropshaft.

"Top speed to the ground floor," I ordered.

(Plans!) I ranted in my head. (I didn't make any plans. I'm supposed to give them orders. What will they think?)

(Tell them you were very tired. You're the ruling Visser, for heaven's sake. They won't answer back.)

(I KNOW!) I yelled. (That's not the point! They may report to the council. Then what will I say!)

(Calm down,) Eva soothed. (There's nothing you can do right now, except compose yourself and come up with something to say.)

(You're right,) I replied, calming slightly. (And I shouldn't take it out on you.)

(I'm used to it.)

(You shouldn't be. I wish I were kinder towards you.)

(You have been, recently. Just don't mention it.)

The drop shaft reached the ground floor, and I hurried out, almost running to get to the door of the lecture room. I stopped there. I could see the shapes of various species within, all sitting, quietly murmuring amongst themselves. I felt I distinctly heard the words:

"Why's she so late?"

"Don't know. She'll probably have no plan. I heard they almost convicted her."

"They did convict her," the first Yeerk said. "Her sentence was suspended. She'll be executed if she loses this battle." Was there a remote note of pity in his voice?

"They should have killed her. Human children? What normal, loyal Yeerk'd want human children?"

And he laughed. Others followed suit. The harsh sound pierced me to the core. It hurt to hear their scorn. Had they no pity?

"Don't be so harsh," the first one said. "You have no idea what she went through."

"All for nothing, anyway. I was on Earth. Left shortly before the trial. I knew the Yeerk who had the unfortunate job of infesting her son for Visser Three's little gamble. Said he was the most idiotic piece of human scum he ever had the misfortune to listen to."

My hands began to ball into fists and I gritted my teeth. How dare he!

(Edriss,) Eva warned. (I know how much you want to hurt that Yeerk right now. But if you do, you'll only prove them right. Just calm down, then go in. Imagine what they'll think if they find you listening at the door, getting in more of a state every second?)

(You're right, Eva. Thank you.)

I took several deep breaths and then pushed open the door.

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