Crayak and I sat back, silent for a few ensuing moments. Now that Zenguh was dealt with, our most recent galactic game had come to an end, quite suddenly. We could feel it. Yet the Yeerk invasion of Earth continued around us. Of course, we knew a bit more about the situation than did the Animorphs.
We were under a large tree at a park on Earth. Music was playing from a radio at a picnic table nearby. I was in my "elvish form", as Marco likes to say, and Crayak was also in a human-like form, possibly for his first time. A chess game was set up on the picnic table, and we were positioned to engage in a bit of competition while we discussed the results of the Zenguh predicament.
"It's over, then," I said, moving a white pawn forward.
"And they think that Zenguh Two-Zero-Zero-One is dead," Crayak responded, eyeing his pieces. He pushed one of his own pawns forward a space.
"Instead, he may become our problem," I sighed, looking up at my long-time opponent. "This may be the one situation where collaboration between us is key."
"Yes, these humans constantly disappoint me," he answered. "We should have made an exception to our rules, so that we could crush him ourselves when he was weak."
"They did their best, and in a sense, the Animorphs did win their fight — at least today," I said.
"How so?"
"He has left Earth again, after all," I responded. "In that walk-in cooler of a ship. Well, he left Earth as the ship, I suppose."
"But he had left Earth before," Crayak said, adjusting his eyepatch. "Remember? I got those ridiculous Helmacrons to interfere."
I hated Crayak's dismissive attitude toward life in the universe, but as far as the Helmacrons were concerned…well…
A new song started on the radio. Light guitar rang in the breeze. I could faintly make out the words.
Looks like we made it…
I turned my attention back to the game and moved another piece, while Crayak resumed his explanation.
"I could have gone either way, of course," he said. "Either the Animorphs were going to kill Zenguh, or he was going to create a lot of new games for us across the galaxy. Killing him ourselves is a price I would not mind paying for this new entertainment. He is in our battlefield now." His bishop was now free. He advanced it into the open center of the board.
"It was fun watching the Animorphs struggle to defeat him," Crayak added.
I stared at him intently. Even after all these years, I still feel there is more to learn about my rival each and every game.
"I noticed that you offered considerable help to Rachel, and yet Jake had numerous near-death experiences," I observed.
We mighta took the long way...
"Look, Ellimist, Jake being dead would be a tremendous asset to my side of our larger game," Crayak continued, smiling faintly. "How could I resist? Plus, Rachel is so close to crossing 'the line' every day, as that fool Cassie would say, that a stiff breeze could have pushed her over."
"Clearly that's not the case," I retorted. "Or you would not have felt the need to supply her with superpowers. Besides, is that not interfering with the rules of our game?"
"And when you showed Tobias the construction site, was that not interfering?" he countered. "And the Chee you brought in to help with the encryption, so they could find Zenguh's location?"
"Those benefited you, as well," I pointed out. "Zenguh was an issue for us both, which is why we bent the rules to get assistance."
"Granting Rachel her powers was also beneficial for us both," he retorted. "Zenguh's strength was growing exponentially, and may have eventually surpassed ours." He moved his knight forward three spaces.
But we knew we'd get there someday…
"And your interest in Rachel was not meant to forward your agenda with Jake?" I asked him, a bit tauntingly.
"You knew I couldn't refuse such an opportunity to, shall we say, remove Jake," he shot back.
I quickly moved my pawn backward in anticipation of his next move.
"It's a shame then that after all the effort, Zenguh escaped into the galaxy," I said sadly. "The Yeerk assault on Earth will continue, unnoticed by the humans."
"He was almost the one to ruin our little war," said Crayak eagerly.
"He was, but many things must still happen before that game comes to an end." I said, my voice heavy.
They said, "I bet they'll never make it"...
"Perhaps Rachel will have another opportunity to take him down in the future," Crayak said knowingly. "Even if not in the same way she envisioned. She can take him down in one form or another. After all, she made me a promise."
I had seen the same strands of time as Crayak. I knew exactly what he was talking about. We continued our chess game in silence for a few moments. Most of Crayak's pieces were now on my side of the board.
We're still together, still going strong...
"What should we call this new foe?" I asked after some time had gone by, confident that we would come across Zenguh again somewhere in the galaxy. My king piece was laying on its side, but so was his.
"Well, since there are so many minds sharing one body," he mused, flipping his rook to the opposite corner. "What about 'Better Ellimist'?"
I wasn't a fan of that suggestion.
You're still the one...
"You said he was the one to very nearly ruin the Yeerk war," I reminded him, pensively. "And he is the one reason we could work together."
Crayak looked at me.
"Why not call him The One?"
We both looked down at the chess board.
"Did I win?" I asked.
"Ellimist, we don't even know how to play chess," he said angrily; and with that, we left Earth for the Animorphs to continue their defense.
