The following morning, Jake ate enough breakfast to feed five families living in a third world country. Or, at least, enough for four teenagers going through what must be a growth spurt.
Since we didn't have traditional breakfasts together the way we did for dinner, Jake's eating wasn't exactly on display for them. Still, Mom would have to go shopping at least two more times a week if Jake kept this up.
(As long as he doesn't eat another pie again,) Liliss mused, as we watched Jake down his fourth bowl of cereal.
(Surprised he wasn't in the bathroom all night,) I admitted.
Well, he could have been. Maybe.
We tried to laugh it off, and I knew that Liliss wouldn't use this as a reason to infest him. Still, I was worried, especially with this change being so...abrupt. Had I eaten that much when I was his age? I was pretty sure I hadn't, and I didn't want to ask Liliss to bring up any memories of me when I was thirteen. Not that they were horrible ones, but...
Jake was still eating when Liliss and I took off for school. I assumed that Jake would make the bus, because I was going to drive Mom's car (she didn't need it today) and it would be a long walk if he missed it.
Liliss took one last look at my kid brother. "See you tonight, Midget!"
"Yes. Es. See you tonight. Night," he mumbled through a mouthful of half chewed cereal.
The day passed as a fairly normal one, even though it seemed strange that Liliss had been in my head for just under a week and I was already thinking of life under her-whatever it was-as normal.
Really, I didn't exactly mind her being in control of my body when we were at school. School hadn't been bad before Temrash. I'd been popular as a star basketball player, and my grades might not have been all A's, but they were still pretty good. Enough for my teachers to like me, to think I was a decent student as well as an athlete. The two didn't always mix. I probably could have gotten all A's if I put more effort in. Whenever Jake had needed help with his homework, I'd been available to help. Not that he'd asked for any in the past year or so. Anyway, before Temrash, I'd kind of had the best of both worlds at school. Respected by my classmates, liked by my teachers, and probably a crush by more than a few of the girls in my class. Which had been why I'd joined The Sharing.
Temrash had enjoyed making my life a living hell at school, showing me everything I'd lost. I was still popular, but as a member of The Sharing in good standing. My grades suddenly jumped to all A's, even though The Sharing took up almost as much of my time as basketball did. At least, the way Temrash used my body to promote it.
Now...
Basketball was still on the table, but not until next year. Assuming that I recovered enough to be able to play on my own. I was still liked, still popular, among my classmates and my teachers. I guessed I had some hope that my life would be almost my own again, maybe, in enough time.
Right now, I was okay with Liliss controlling my body while I was in class. I'd never been all about the quest for learning. Which meant that I not want to spend mental energy controlling my body for something that my new Yeerk could handle. Besides, we both knew that it was safer for her to be in control right now.
So, while Liliss took notes, my mind usually wandered. Sometimes, I'd think about the past. Playing basketball on the team, or with Jake. My dad teaching me how to ride a bike, and later, how to drive a car. Sometimes, I'd remember something from childhood, and I'd be a little suspicious that Liliss was involved with that, but her concentration was on my classes, so probably not.
It wasn't that I'd been unable to remember the good times when I'd been with Temrash. More that even thinking about stuff like that hurt. By the end, he almost didn't have to punish me with memory torture. I could almost do that on my own.
Now, remembering that I'd had a life, a good life, before becoming an alien slave, and hoping that I could trust Liliss not to go all evil space slug on me...
I could find some kind of happiness in remembering my life from before.
Unfortunately, today was different. Not because of Liliss. She was decent, as she had been for nearly the last week. No, mostly, I was worried about Jake. The change in him was so sudden, so drastic.
Once, I might have joked that an alien had taken over his body, but having gone through that, I knew that no Yeerk would act so recklessly.
Had my kid brother snapped? If so, why?
There wasn't much that Liliss could say to reassure me, so I sort of stewed in the back of my mind for most of the day. Hoped that my kid brother would, somehow, become himself again.
Whether God was answering my prayer or Jake had decided that he was sick of eating everything and playing with words, he actually did seem himself when we arrived home. Well, kind of. He gave me this long stare, and I almost thought he was about to start crying, but then, he just forced a smile.
"Hey, Midget," Liliss greeted. "You okay?"
"Yeah, sure," he mumbled. "I got a lot of homework. See you later."
(Well, at least he's not playing with his words,) Liliss reassured me.
(Or headed for the kitchen to eat everything in sight,) I added.
We headed upstairs to work on my homework. Afterwards, since there was still an hour before dinner, Liliss took me back on the trail and I managed a full ten minutes of walking on my own before needing to hand over the reigns to her.
Ten minutes wasn't horrible, but it wasn't great.
(You're anxious,) she soothed.
(Probably.) I sighed. (I'll feel better once we see how Jake's doing.)
If we knew one way or the other. One meal wasn't going to determine whether or not my kid brother had gone off the deep end, but it might be an indicator.
Jake was subdued at dinner, barely touching his food. He also looked at me with more intensity than he had before. It was weird. Over the last couple of days, when our eyes met, his almost radiated anger. Especially when Liliss spoke. Now, he just looked wary, like I was going to tease him mercilessly about the amount of food he'd eaten.
In all fairness, Liliss wouldn't be playing me if I didn't make some comment about Jake's eating habits.
Especially when he barely touched his tuna casserole. Not one of either of our favorite foods, but Mom was almost as big as getting "different types of meat" into us as she was about disgusting vegetables like broccoli or Brussels sprouts.
"Mom? Dad? May I be excused?" Jake asked, after finishing about half of his dinner.
Mom always made a dessert, but maybe Jake had decided he was already stuffed after, well, the last couple of days.
"Sure, honey," Mom answered, gently. "Aren't you feeling well?"
Jake gave me another strange look, then nodded. "Yeah, I guess I'm just really tired."
This was evidently a good enough reason to skip dessert.
"Want me to save you something in case you change your mind?" Liliss asked, without any teasing in our voice.
But Jake just shook his head, and headed upstairs.
Was it an improvement? Or another personality switch?
That night, I had my first nightmare since Liliss infested me. Since it had been a week without any, I should have been expecting one by now. For whatever reason, though, I hadn't been.
In the nightmare, Jake was at a Sharing meeting, but he wasn't a full member. I knew this because I was in a small room for full members only, and he was in the larger area with the associate and potential associate members. Visser Three was in the room with us, in his stolen Andalite body. Suddenly, Jake was banging on the door, yelling that the building was on fire or something like that, and just as the door opened, he saw Visser Three.
I screamed in my head, begged Temrash not to take him, but he just laughed. Oh, that horrible, menacing laugh. Then, he gleefully informed me that he hoped the visser would allow him to personally infest Jake.
I woke up, then, unable to move. Unable to do anything, even blink.
(Tom, it's me,) came Liliss' voice, gentle, but urgent. (It's okay, honey. It was just a dream.)
A dream. Right.
Midget was safe.
It was a dream.
But, I still couldn't move. I was trapped.
As usual.
(Please...can I...?) I half asked, half pleaded.
Liliss seemed to expect this. Of course, she had, being in my head.
(Of course, honey,) my Yeerk answered, and withdrew from the control centers of my brain.
I sat up, unable to breathe. I forced myself to take a deep breath, then another. Still. It felt like I'd just been suffocated.
"Why...?" I began, then, immediately switched to mental speech. (Why'd you keep control?)
I knew it sounded like I was whining, but the dream was still vivid, and my fear for Jake felt very, very real.
(I'm sorry. It was a precaution,) Liliss explained, softly. (Next time, I'll give you control as soon as you know it's a dream. I promise.)
Believing her, I nodded, for real, still wishing I could slow down my heart rate. Then, I flopped back down on my bed. I grabbed a pillow and held it close to my chest.
(Right.) I nodded. (Okay.)
(I can...do that,) Liliss offered. (Without taking full control.)
I took another deep breath, but it still felt like I couldn't get enough air into my lungs. I held the pillow tighter.
(Okay,) I repeated.
Without losing control, I felt my heart rate slow down, my lungs able to expand, or whatever it was that they did. I could feel myself calm down, physically, and mentally.
I reminded myself that Temrash was dead. Jake had only ever attended one Sharing meeting, and then bolted. More to the point, Liliss didn't seem to have any immediate plans to infest my brother.
My kid brother.
For now, at least, Jake was safe.
Even so, I really didn't want to go back to sleep. I probably wouldn't have the same dream again, but what if I had another nightmare?
Hearing this thought, Liliss spoke up. (There are other ways I can help you, Tom. When you have nightmares.)
(How?) I asked, warily.
(Yeerks can give mental hugs. Or, I could replay a pleasant memory. There are also songs we know, from the pool...sort of like human lullabies, but without words,) Liliss tried to explain. (We have many calming techniques.)
Right. While I didn't think Liliss was going to use any of that to torture me, at least directly, that required a lot more trust than I had.
Especially now.
I shook my head. (No, Liliss. I'm not...I'm not ready for that. Any of that.)
Especially not the memories. No, I really didn't want her playing back any of my memories.
(Of course. I understand, honey,) Liliss reassured me. (It was only a suggestion, in case you should ever change your mind.)
I nodded, again.
I pulled the covers tight around me. I was aware that Liliss still managed my breathing, but otherwise, I kept complete control of my body. Not that this amounted to doing much. Just laying still and holding the pillow for its life. At least I didn't feel the same level of mental exhaustion that I experienced after I'd been in control for several minutes.
As the moments passed, I began to feel better. I didn't feel completely safe-how could I?-but I felt safer than before.
I closed my eyes, imagining Jake and I playing basketball together. A smile formed around my mouth.
Slowly, I fell back asleep.
Over the next week, I felt like things between myself and Liliss were improving. Certainly, almost anything would have been an improvement over Temrash, but now, I could actually feel like there might be some reason to have hope with my new Yeerk. Sure, I didn't completely trust Liliss, but, by now, I also was pretty sure that she wasn't going to suddenly turn all evil empire Yeerk on me and throw me into a torturous mental memory loop.
Just as important, and maybe more so, there was the fact that I could feel myself improving with using my body. Not that I was anywhere near as good at maintaining control before I'd been infested, but after the first few days of being exhausted after five minutes of control, I could maintain ten minutes at a time. A few days after that, Liliss told me, proudly, that I'd just passed twenty. I could hardly believe it when, by the end of the second week, I'd maintained control over myself for a half an hour.
Sure, I felt ready to pass out, afterwards, and took a three hour mental nap. I woke up in the middle of watching TV with my parents. Jake was probably at Marco's, it being a Friday night.
Remembering my accomplishment, I grinned at my Yeerk. Liliss smiled back at me, her emotions indicating that she was proud of me.
(I knew you could do it, honey,) she praised.
(Thanks.) I grinned again. (Think it will get easier after this? Maybe...I'll manage two hours by the end of a month or so?)
(It's certainly possible,) she enthused. Then, she added, (Not to be a "Debbie Downer", as you would call it, but I would be careful. Push yourself, of course, but not too much.)
It was probably a sign that I was beginning to trust my Yeerk that my mind didn't immediately jump to the idea that this had all been a test to keep me in my place.
Mostly because Liliss made sense. I was proud of going a half an hour in full control, but sleeping for three hours seemed like a high price to pay. What if I managed to get in a full hour or to, but then remained nearly comatose for a day afterwards?
On the other hand...
Liliss voiced this opinion. (I wonder if it's a matter of balance. Certainly, Tom, you don't want to push yourself too much, but I wonder if a lot of it is getting used to it? There's no physical strain on your body, since I've been using it, but there's clearly a mental element to it.)
(Yeah. I kind of hope that you're right. About getting used to using my body again for extended periods, I mean.) I paused. (Maybe, it's like riding a bike after stopping for awhile? You know, we have an expression for that.)
(Yes, I know,) Liliss smiled at me. (And the horse one.)
I snickered. (Not lots of people riding horses, unless they're rich.)
Liliss continued to smile, but her emotions took on a sad tone. (Meg used to love riding.)
(You, um...?) I trailed off.
(In the beginning,) she replied, gently. (Before her eyes went bad.)
Right.
We were quiet for awhile, and Liliss focused my attention on the action movie we were watching with my parents. I was pretty sure it was one of the Mission Impossible ones.
She also fed me popcorn, from the large bowl my mom had made. I assumed it had been her, anyway. Dad could use a microwave for most things, but he always overcooked the popcorn when he tried. This popcorn didn't taste overcooked.
After the movie, Liliss walked me up to my room, but let me get ready for bed on my own. I buried myself under the covers, still thinking about the movie as I drifted off to a dreamless sleep.
As the next couple of weeks passed, I could feel myself becoming used to this life with Liliss, and even not minding it. Sure, I hated Sharing meetings and the Yeerk Pool, but so did she. I was still a little worried about Jake, even though his weird behavior had stopped as suddenly as it had begun. Unfortunately, he was still pretty distant with me. We also hadn't spoken, yet. Even though I was improving, I knew that what I was actually doing when I was in control was pretty basic. Mostly walking and running. I hadn't even thought much about playing basketball, even with Liliss' help, because I'd been scared of what I'd discover. She'd broached the topic of practicing a few times, but I'd always told her I wasn't ready, and she'd let the topic drop.
Easier was talking to Liliss about what else I should or could do when I was in control of my body. We always referred to it as that-my body. It was reassuring to hear her, not just me, call it that. A Yeerk might refer to their host's body as "my host" in front of other Yeerks, or "my host body" in front of higher up Yeerks to make it clear that it was only a body to them. If Temrash had ever referred to my body to me, it was either an entity separate from my mind, or something that I used to have autonomy of, but no longer did. Liliss spoke of my body as a matter of fact. Of course, it belonged to me, but because of the vile government the Yeerks had formed, she had to maintain her cover by living inside my head and controlling it. Plus, there was the matter of me only being able to stay in control for short periods of time.
It felt like she was on my side. More than that, even though I couldn't read her thoughts, it seemed like she took for granted that I was myself. An individual, not a slave, not someone whose sole purpose in life was to be her host-or the host of another Yeerk.
We weren't friends, exactly, but I thought that she felt something for me. Protective, maybe. Anyway, she wanted me to get back to my pre-infestation status almost as much as I did, so even if I didn't completely trust her, I was willing to work with her on that.
Anyway. For now, we'd decided that walking and running made the most sense, now, when I wanted to do anything physical. I could have spent some time reading or watching TV, but that was just sitting there, maybe moving my eyes or shifting my position on the couch. Better to be active, to let my body remember what it was supposed to do. So, after school, Liliss would drive me to that trail, and then let me take over until I needed her back.
I rarely talked to Liliss when I was in control. It was easier, that way. Used less mental energy to ignore Liliss, to pretend that the last several months had only been a nightmare. She respected my wishes, remaining quiet in my head, ready to take over when I inevitably needed her to do so.
I always did.
After the half hour mark at two weeks, I slowed down, but just a little. Three weeks after she'd first infested me, I managed to use my body for a full hour. It was a Friday, and it was only after a walk, and then a run, and then a "cool down" walk that I felt like I would pass out if she didn't take over.
(Liliss?) I prompted, a little more urgently than normal.
Immediately, my Yeerk took over, leaving me with the full "feel" of my senses, but managing my body.
She looked at my watch, then beamed at me. (Tom, that was more than an hour!)
(Really?)
(An hour and four minutes, to be exact,) she answered, with another mental grin.
I returned her smile, more than ready for a nap, but not too tired to feel proud of my latest milestone. (At this rate, I'll be able to use my body for a full day by next month!) I boasted.
(I hope so, honey,) she told me, affectionately. (Sleep well.)
Unfortunately, things slowed down after that. I'd expected to be able to maintain control for at least an hour and fifteen minutes, if not an hour and a half, the next day. Instead, I was ready to pass out after an hour and eight minutes. Which I did, for two and a half hours. I guessed that was better than my monumental three hour nap. The next day, I could manage to be in control for the same amount of time. Liliss claimed I managed an extra thirty seconds, but she was probably just trying to encourage me. Same thing the following day. The day after that? I nearly collapsed after a whopping hour and ten minutes.
It stayed like that for a month. The only thing that kept me from sinking into a depression was that my "recovery time", as Liliss and I termed it, went down. I might only be able to handle an hour and fifteen minutes on my own, but after a month of stagnation, I didn't fall into a heavy mental sleep.
That was something, right?
A month of that, and I finally let my Yeerk give me a mental hug. She'd broached the subject before, along with replaying decent memories, but I hated the idea of her going through my memory or manipulating my emotions. She'd also offered to show me events from her time with her previous host, which I'd flat out refused.
Honestly, I wasn't sure what changed. Maybe, I finally trusted that Liliss wasn't going to do anything to hurt me. Maybe, it was her insistence. Or, plain old curiosity. In any event, exactly two months after she'd entered my head, I was having the worst time falling asleep. I was worried because I hadn't been able to increase the amount of time I could stay in control for during the last three days, and Jake was as distant as ever, and I hadn't recovered even half of my skill level at basketball. I was terrified that I was stagnating with control, that this was as good as it was going to get.
Sure, where I was now was way better than my first day, but I really didn't want to be physically dependent on Liliss or another peaceful Yeerk-were I to be so lucky to get a second one-for the rest of my life.
After tossing and turning for ten minutes straight, worrying the whole time, Liliss spoke up.
(Tom. Honey,) she murmured, her voice sleepy.
Yeah, Yeerks slept. Something I hadn't known before Liliss. Not as much as humans, but they sleep all the same.
(It's not my fault I can't sleep,) I grumbled, as I turned over on my left side.
(I can help,) she offered, gently.
(You know I don't want you rifling through my memories,) I insisted, now switching to my right side.
Liliss didn't take offense to this. Nor had I expected her to.
Anyway.
(It doesn't have to involve your memories, honey,) Liliss answered, gently. (There are a myriad of ways of calming a distraught host.)
I rolled my eyes. (Distraught? Really, Liliss?)
(Yes, really,) she replied, her tone diplomatic. (We both know that you're improving, and your handle on your body is nothing like it was when I first gave you control. You are improving, even if you're concerned that it won't continue. I'm sure, by the way, that it will.)
(I'm sensing a "but" somewhere,) I observed, with another eye roll.
Liliss made a sound between a laugh and a sigh. (Tom, I know how much your old Yeerk hurt you. I also know how afraid you are...of what could and couldn't happen. You are, quite simply, distraught.)
Okay, that was fair enough.
(I know that you just want to help,) I allowed, almost grumpily. I was, after all, tired. (What other ways can you help me sleep? Without going through my memory?)
(Without taking control, I can give you a mental hug,) Liliss explained.
I rolled my eyes for the third time that night. It was just...Liliss had been on about this for weeks, now. I would call it nagging, except I could never associate "nagging" with a Yeerk. They had full control, after all. If anything, I was the nag. The unimportant mind of the body the Yeerk had taken over, powerless, yet still there. Crushed and defeated under a Yeerk's control, sure, but my voice was still present.
Not the Yeerk.
Well, it seemed, Liliss was sort of the exception.
Obviously, I hadn't let her give me this "mental hug", whenever she brought it up. Part of it was pride, but it was more than just that. Honestly, the idea of a slug hugging me inside my mind, even one I kind of liked and sort of trusted, gave me a gross feeling. Even though she was already wrapped around my brain, her body tucked into all of my crevices...
Temrash had given me the detailed explanation, plus mental images, early on. Gave me nightmares for weeks.
(It's not like that, honey,) Liliss murmured. (It's...gentle. Soothing. I've used them on all of my hosts before, and they always enjoyed them. Especially Meg, when she was first...diagnosed.)
She probably-definitely-knew that I would take the reaction of a human being given this treatment over a Gedd or Hork-Bajir. Not that they weren't sentient, but they weren't...human.
Liliss was starting to wear me down.
No, it was just because I was exhausted, unable to sleep, and by now, I didn't really think she'd do anything intentionally to hurt me.
Even so...
(If I'm uncomfortable, you'll stop. Right?) I asked. (You promise?)
(I promise, Tom. I'd never do anything to hurt you intentionally,) my Yeerk reassured me.
I rolled my eyes again, and considered saying no, but if this kept on, I'd probably end up with less then four hours of sleep that night. It being a Thursday, it would mess up my entire weekend.
I nodded, physically, and shut my eyes tightly. (Okay.)
(You should know that there are up to ten levels of mental hugs. Most humans, unless entirely shattered, cannot handle more than a five in the beginning. I'll start with a one, and if you want, and only then, I can increase it. Slowly. If you want me to stop, or remain at a one, I will do either. All right, honey?) she asked.
(Yeah. Okay,) I repeated.
(On the count of three, then,) Liliss murmured. (One, two, three.)
Less than a second after three, I felt a wash of warmth pour over me. It was like a was a small kid again, being held by my dad.
Warmth, just this feeling of warmth, filled me. Inside, outside, all over. More than that, I could actually feel myself being hugged.
By my Yeerk? By Liliss?
It had to be.
I sighed as the warmth continued. Never getting too hot, though. Just...warmth. No, there was more than that. Security. Safety.
Arms around me. Except, it was in my mind instead of around my body.
I was still in control. I felt myself relax, and pulled the blankets closer around my body. I adjusted myself so that I was lying on my right side. I felt extremely comfortable, but beyond that, I felt safe.
Warm.
This must have continued for several minutes. Gradually, my breathing slowed, even though I knew that Liliss hadn't taken control. I felt my mind begin to relax, the way it did in those final seconds before sleep overtook me.
All this time, the warmth and security and comfort followed me.
When I woke up, still in control, still feeling the remnants of the warmth and security and peace, it was morning.
(Okay,) I told Liliss, in lieu of my normal greeting, (of all the ways you Yeerks can manipulate my emotions and my body, that's pretty much the only one I'm totally okay with. You can do that again. Well, when I say you can, anyway.)
I still wanted control, after all. I didn't want to be trapped in a mental hug every minute of the day.
She laughed softly. (And that was the lowest level,) she reminded me, almost teasingly. (If you ever let me give you a three or a four, you'll think a one is nothing.)
I didn't doubt this.
(Without giving me one...can you tell me what it's like?) I asked, almost shyly.
I felt her consider my question as I got myself out of bed and got dressed. By now, I was doing this without any hesitation, let alone problems.
(A three is typically when powerful memories associated with being loved emerge,) Liliss began. (Four intensifies them, and you can feel like you're back within these memories, instead of simply watching them on a TV.)
Which meant, then, that I would have to let Liliss replay some good memories before I let/asked her to intensify mental hugs to that degree.
I still wasn't comfortable letting her replay any of my memories. Which she knew, and respected. I'd known that she'd searched my memory either when I'd napped that first day, or when I'd fallen asleep later, because she'd needed to. As long as I hadn't experienced anything firsthand, I saw it as just another indignity-if a necessary one. I mean, I still couldn't maintain control for long periods, and letting me loose in front of my friends or family would just be asking for trouble. If Liliss didn't have a perfect knowledge of me, she could get us both killed.
She knew everything there was to know about me, but didn't even threaten me with mental torture. Which was more than I could have hoped for with Temrash.
I guessed I was adjusting quickly. Or, my standards for respect had lowered after getting the Yeerk from hell.
Hearing my thoughts, Liliss now comforted me. (I would never do anything to hurt you on purpose, Tom.)
She'd told me this countless times over the past couple of months, but I was only just starting to fully believe it.
If this whole thing was a ruse, well, it might last for years before she went evil Yeerk on me. At this point, I was ready to, if not completely trust her, at least trust that she didn't want to hurt me or my family.
Later that day, I asked her a question that had been on my mind for awhile.
(Liliss?) I asked, as we sat in my History class.
She, of course, was diligently taking notes and looking like a good student.
(Yes, Tom?) she responded, gentle as always.
(I know that I can only go an hour with being in control before I feel like I'm going to pass out, but if, somehow, I get past this slump and can stay in control for long periods of time...what does this mean with us?) I rambled. (I mean, are you going to give me a set amount of time each day and the rest is yours, or...?)
I was sort of glad that she could read my thoughts.
Even though they were a jumble.
Liliss continued to take notes, even had most of her focus on what my teacher was saying, but she was also fully attentive to me.
(There will be times when I need to be in control,) Liliss began, (but they're limited to when we're in the presence of other known Controllers. When you reach the point of being able to use your body without experiencing exhaustion, you can have control whenever you want, outside of those times. And, I am only placing those...restrictions...because few hosts can perfectly imitate their Yeerk in those circumstances, and it would be near suicide to attempt otherwise.) Liliss paused, probably remembering that I had tried to end my life on a few occasions. Before her, obviously. (I...hope that you don't want to kill yourself anymore, honey.)
I considered. If she got reassigned, yeah, I'd probably try to end it. If I got another Yeerk like Temrash.
Especially then. Liliss was decent to me, after all. Going from that to another Temrash?
I couldn't deal. At least, Temrash had broken me. At least, I hadn't known anything but him.
I was pretty sure that Liliss would try to prevent this from happening to me. As much as she could.
If she got reassigned.
(Not anymore,) I allowed.
She gave a mental laugh. (I'm glad. I care about you, and I want to make things easier for you.)
(You have,) I agreed. After a pause, I added, (They're a lot better, now, Liliss.)
She smiled at me. (I know, honey. I'm happy that...)
I gave a mental nod. (Me too.)
We were quiet for a few minutes, and I realized that she hadn't answered my question. Not completely.
(So...with control, basically, when I get to that point, I can use my body whenever I want? Outside of Yeerk controlled areas?) I prompted.
(Yes, honey. It is your body, after all. You know that I would free you, if I could,) she added, almost wistfully.
(Yeah, I know. Anyway, you're not so bad,) I added. (You want to help me, and you're not big on mental torture. Next to Temrash, you're...well, you know.)
Liliss smiled at me. (May I hug you?) she asked, almost tentatively.
I gave her a mental nod. (Just a level one, okay?)
(Of course.)
The hug lasted until the end of that class, which was probably a half an hour. Afterwards, held by my Yeerk, I felt a lot better about my life and my chances of getting it back.
Fully.
