Reviews:
Quillian: Any suggestions for the homecoming would be very helpful! Thanks so much :)
Animorphgirl: Uh, what did I say at the bottom of last chapter about putting guesses in an e-mail:P thanks for the review
Edriss: Thanks. Did you get my e-mail with my ideas for the hell of forty?
Sinister Shadow: Yeah, I edited the conversation a bit. And I edited out the bit you told me was very OOC for Visser One from this chapter. I still have a little tribute to it; read to find out :)
Anonymous-cat: Thanks. If I'm right about what you mean by 'new way of looking at things' it's not exactly new... check out the c2 section to see what I mean. It isn't hard to find since there's only 10 animorph communities
Voodooqueen126: Yeah, it wasn't SUPPOSED to be funny, though. Glad you enjoyed it anyhow :)
Myitt: You'll find out if you're right in this chapter. Thanks for your review! Hope you like this chapter.
Author Note: Slightly longer author note today...
Thanks to all my reviewers first, as always.
Second, chapter dedications. I was torn between Sinister Shadow, Edriss and Quillian. Sinister Shadow for her support and help, Edriss for the encouragement, and Quillian for offering me help with the homecoming, which I desperately need.
I finally decided on Quillian as the other two have already had chapter dedications and I desperately needhelp with the homecoming.
Finally, I wanted to make a note that this fic will be in 4 or more parts, which will be posted as seperate stories. This fic goes up to 45. Part 2, 3, 4 etc come after that. So when I finish this one, don't be disappointed :), there'll be a new part up fairly soon after that.
Enjoy!
The next day, Eva still wouldn't shut up about it.
(I do not love him!)
(Yes, you do. You know you do.)
(No, I don't. I might feel attracted to him at the moment, but I do not love him in the true sense of the word. There's a difference.)
(Oh. Okay, I understand that. But I still can't believe it! You and Visser Three are arch enemies!)
Oops. I didn't mean to let that slip. I said you'd never find out… anyway, no going back on that now.
(Can we drop it please, Eva!)
(Well, you did ask nicely, but I'm afraid I can't stop thinking about it.)
(Let us speak of something else.)
(You should date him,) Eva teased, (you'd make a perfect couple. You already fulfil the role of a married couple; you argue all the time.)
(You said you would leave it. Anyway, how am I supposed to date him even if I wanted to, you fool! He's thousands of light years away!)
(I was only joking.)
(Well, don't. It's too awful to imagine.)
But in a way, I wanted her to continue teasing me. This meeting was possibly one of the most boring I had ever endured, surrounded by foolish, simpering subordinates.
Plus, in a way I was glad that she was speaking to me so amiably. At least this gave her some amusement, isolated and far away from her home and family. Even if it was at my expense.
(Be careful,) I thought to myself. (You cannot allow yourself to be too sympathetic to your host, not this time.)
This was my last chance. I couldn't make a mess of it.
(Edriss?) Eva inquired. (Did you hear me?)
(No, I was… distracted. Would you repeat yourself?)
(You could just look at…)
(What if I want to have a normal conversation? I don't particularly wish to go rifling through your memories at the present moment.)
(I just asked if you could get any news from Earth. You know, what Visser Three's doing?) She sounded nervous. Of course, she was asking me to do a favour for her, to find out about her son.
I thought about it for a moment. There were three options: a blank denial, an excuse or… or to agree to do what I could.
(I could try,) I said. (I can't make any guarantee of it, though. I am busy, and it is not as easy as you may think to do so without arising suspicion.)
(If you can, will you?) She asked hesitantly.
(Yes,) I replied simply.
There was a short silence as Eva took that in.
(Th- thank you, Visser,) Eva stuttered, taken aback.
I was surprised at the respect and gentleness in her tone. (You need not call me by my formal title. I refer to you by your first name; you refer to me by mine.)
I felt Eva's pain lessen as she realised that I could be a close friend to her. It was strange to think that after all I had done to her, I was now the only person she could rely on to help her.
I saw that she wanted my friendship. She would never admit to it, but I could see it all the same. And the more I considered it, the more I wanted her friendship, as well.
I needed her support as much as she needed mine.
"Visser!" Sub-visser 20 asked, nudging me. "Visser, why are you staring into blank space?"
For once, it was a good question. I tried to bluff my way out of it.
"I was considering the tactical situation."
"Yes, Visser? What is your opinion?"
Another good question. I should buy him a card; first five minutes of intelligent conversation.
Right, concentrate, Visser… he might just require an answer…
(Tell him you told him yesterday, it hasn't changed and you won't repeat yourself?) Eva suggested, a little uncertainly.
That was a good answer. I replied immediately.
"It has not changed! Never make me repeat something twice. You'll be dead before you hear it a third time," I snapped.
(Thank you, Eva. Quick thinking,) I acknowledged.
He recoiled slightly. "So w-what a-are your orders, Visser?"
(A THIRD good question?) I said to myself.
(It's amazing. But have you got a good answer?)
(No,) I replied honestly.
"Good question," I told him, "but I think I will need to look at some more data before I may answer it. I shall see you all here, first thing tomorrow," I told them, and walked out.
(That was the best you could come up with?) Eva laughed.
(Yes. I cannot think straight at the moment.)
(Can I help you? I know nothing of battle tactics, but I could help you with the other problems you have to tackle.) Her tone was serious now, friendly… almost affectionate. I was touched by her kindness.
Touched? Oh, no.
(You mean, that I'm about to turn into a human?) I replied. (Again?)
She laughed gently. (You're a long way from that. Right now, you're just acting like a person rather than…) she trailed off, shocked at what she had almost called me.
(Than?) I knew what, of course, but I wanted her to say it.
(A cold-blooded monster,) she admitted. (I'm sorry to say that, but…)
(But it's true,) I agreed. (And I feel truly awful about it.)
I reached my room, and walked over to my zero-space communicator.
(What are you doing?) Eva asked, surprised I did not go to my desk.
(I'm going to call up Visser Three. See if I can find anything out about the situation on Earth.)
(Are you sure?)
(Perfectly so.)
(Thank you.)
(It isn't just for you, you know. I wouldn't mind knowing about my son, if I can somehow tease it out of him.) I punched in the code to signal to Earth. There was a few seconds delay.
Then a very arrogant Andalite face appeared on the screen.
(Still 'attracted' to him?)
(Eva?) I said nicely. (Shut. Up.)
(OK.)
"Ah, Visser Three," I said. "I presume you have made absolutely no progress whatsoever with Earth?"
(Of course I have, Visser One,) he answered.
"I dare not hope that you have even the slightest lead on those troublesome Andalite bandits, have you?" I mocked.
(I will find them one day, you half-human traitor.)
"You shan't, Andalite fool. It requires intelligence; a trait I fear you do not possess."
(Have you bothered to communicate with me simply to mock me?) He sounded almost… disappointed.
"Why else? Do you want advice?"
(I want nothing, or I would have communicated to you. What do you want?)
"I want to know how much of a mess you are making of a planet I handed over to you in perfect shape!"
(Wrong, Visser One. You want to know how your child is, don't you? I shall tell you. I gave him to Malbron 1748, especially for you. I'm sure you are aware of his reputation.)
"I know you shan't give him to Malbron, Visser. You would indeed be a fool if you did. Besides, if I remember correctly, it was you who banned Malbron to the pool last year."
(I'll give him to someone just as bad!)
"And lose evidence against me? You insult me with the crudeness of your bluffing!"
(Um, Edriss? What are you talking about? Is Darwin OK?)
(Not now, Eva. Wait a minute.)
(I shall infest him myself!)
"Well, at least that would entertain him. Perhaps you would learn something of the planet you are in command of?" I sneered.
(Shouldn't you be making your own plans instead of interfering with mine?)
"Goodbye, Visser. You'd better get back to whatever foolish plan you were making to get the Andalite bandits. I can promise you it will not work. You won't catch any Andalites."
I ended the communication.
(Edriss? Who's Malbron?)
(He's a very cruel Yeerk, Eva. He hasn't advanced in rank because all he ever does is ruin hosts.)
(Ruin? What do you mean, ruin?)
(He tortures them, Eva. Constant mental torture, for no reason. After a month or so they're little more than shells. The stress affects the way their bodies work. They simply stop functioning and it's a lot of work for their next Yeerk to get them healthy again. But he still does it; it seems to give him pleasure. There are a few like that, but it's a very small amount of the population.)
(Why would Visser Three…)
(You don't think he cares? He'd lost about fifty Hork-Bajir hosts because of Malbron, Eva. If he'd let it carry on, it would have been nearer a hundred!)
(Lost? How?)
(Well, if they were voluntary at first they simply ran away or committed suicide after the first three days. If they were involuntary, they lasted about two months before their brains stopped working altogether. You see, the simple Hork-Bajir mind had no mechanisms to cope with the constant torture, so it destroyed the cells. The Hork-Bajir at first couldn't think, then couldn't remember, then motor functions became almost dead… they simply had to be destroyed. You see, the brain even of a relatively simple sentient creature is a very complicated and delicate organ. You can't just go messing around with it for fun. Anything a Yeerk can do which a host normally can't should be viewed with extreme caution.)
(That's terrible,) Eva whispered. Words could not express her horror and disgust.
(I agree with you, Eva. No sane Yeerk would act in such a manner. It's like those humans who would set a helpless kitten on fire, only about a hundred times worse, as a Yeerk has access to functions that cannot normally be touched.)
(So he was bluffing?)
(Yes. I am quite certain of that.)
(Or you'd be on your way back to Earth now?)
(No! I…)
(You would. Or at least you'd be thinking of it.)
(Well, at least you found out what you wanted to know,) I said, anxious to change the subject.
(Yes,) Eva replied. (Thank you.)
(You are most welcome,) I answered.
I sighed with Eva's mouth. (I'd better get to work,) I told her.
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