Nahuel's fleet arrived at Earth and hid behind the dark-side of the moon so as to avoid detection by the humans. Information that the humans could somehow get through the cloak was being channeled to all Yautja ships. Scientists were already working to increase the efficiency of the cloak.
Nahuel stayed on the bridge as shuttles landed down on Earth to recover the damaged Yautja battleship. Each member of the crew were scanned for Yeerks. Since the Yeerk and the Yautja brain had two different temperatures they were easy to spot. The Yeerk officers knowing this fled on foot. After three days, they slit their own throats killing themselves and their host.
"I must scan you and your family members for infestation," a commander said to the Prince.
"Very well," the Prince agreed fatigued.
Once the Prince, Makawee, and Wayra were scanned the commander asked if there were any other survivors present. "My seventh wife was infected by the Yeerk. She took a shuttle and escaped. I have an idea as to where she is going," the Prince told the commander.
"It would be an honor to assist in your pursuit," the commander replied.
"No, I must go alone," the Prince said.
The Visser raced towards a space station on the edge of the galaxy in uncharted zones. The journey was taking longer than usual and with each passing hour the Yeerk became nervous. He had only three days before he would perish. Lex could feel his sense of anxiety. Lex figured the Yeerk was lost and that she would be free in three days.
"I can slit your throat before I die," the Yeerk reminded her.
"What a petty thing to do," Lex shot back.
"It is in your interests to help me survive," the Yeerk said.
"How can I help you? You already have my mind and body," Lex said bitterly.
"Your emotions are annoying," the Yeerk replied.
Lex laughed in her head irritating the Yeerk. "I was in his head. Do you wish to know what he truly thinks of you?" the Yeerk asked.
"Why should I believe you?" Lex replied.
"Surely, you are curious. I know you are," the Yeerk said.
"The Prince sees me as a science experiment and that's all," Lex said.
"The Prince hides his emotions well, but he could not hide them from me. With the exception of his first wife, he loves you most," the Yeerk said.
"I suppose I should be thankful to be second place," Lex said.
"I can sense your thoughts. You are surprised and grateful. If things had been different, you could have been his favorite," the Yeerk said.
"If things had been different I would still be human, married to a human man, have human children, and continue the work that I loved," Lex shot back.
They were silent for a moment. "You couldn't kill Makawee or Wayra because the Prince prevented you?" she asked.
"He has a strong will. He became difficult during these moments," the Yeerk admitted.
"Yet, you had no trouble controlling him when you fought me," Lex pointed out.
"Your observation is correct, human."
The Yeerk revealed information on how the Prince truly felt on a number of different issues. Lex took whatever the Yeerk said with a grain of salt. They could all be true, half-truths, or all lies. She figured she would believe the ones that made the most sense, but then the Yeerk knew how to manipulate her. In any case, it passed the time as they were alone on the shuttle. Finally, they came upon the Visser's destination.
"I am here to deliver the specimen as promised," the Visser said as the Yautja shuttle approached.
"You have permission to land," a pink-colored female humanoid servant replied.
The Yautja shuttle was dwarfed by the massive space station. Lex could sense a certain fear coming from the Visser as he landed. Once locked in, the Visser placed his mask on and exited the ship. The servant girl approached the Visser with her hands clasped together. "My master will see you know," she said pleasantly.
The Visser followed the servant girl to the Collector's liar. Inside, the Visser looked around and saw life-forms of every kind in glass cells. There were plants, animals, and even sentient beings placed in each individual cell. The Visser stared into tanks filled with snail-like slugs. In other areas of the collection were historical artifacts from every alien culture in the galaxy. Lex noticed a number of human artifacts from thousands of years ago.
"I present to you, Taneleer Tivan, the Collector," the servant girl introduced.
The Collector appeared human with slight differences. His hair and skin were white and there was eye-shadow around his eyes. The rest of his body was completely clothed in armor and a white fur coat. "A pleasure to meet you," Tivan said politely bowing his head slightly.
"Only the body is female. You are aware of why I am here," the Visser said.
"Of course. What is it that you want?" Tivan asked.
"I want a strong body to possess and portable kandrona radiation. In return, you can have this body for your collection," the Visser offered.
"And why would I trade for this?" Tivan asked looking over Lex. "This appears to be an ordinary female Yautja, of which there are many in existence," Tivan said.
"This is no ordinary Yautja. She is a human transformed into a Yautja through genetic experimentation. As you can see from the skin design, she is not ordinary," the Visser said.
Tivan gave Lex a closer look examining her body. Lex felt uncomfortable with the inspection even though she had no control over the transaction. "Would you be willing to give me a blood sample?" Tivan asked.
"Yes, proceed," the Visser allowed.
Lex could sense apprehension from the Visser. He didn't trust the Collector and any medical procedure was risky for him. Tivan took a device that looked like a pistol and quickly took a blood sample from Lex's body. He took the green blood and placed in an analyzer machine. Tivan and the Visser then stared at the large computer monitor.
"How very interesting. Her DNA has human and Yautja characteristics. The Yautja DNA is a combination of many different clans," Tivan observed.
"The female is also pregnant," the Visser added.
"Indeed, and with twins," Tivan revealed.
Lex realized with shock as she listened to Tivan's revelation. She was not just carrying one Yautja baby but two of them now. She had never considered the possibility of twins. "They are female but not identical," Tivan said.
"You give me three bodies for the price of one," Tivan smiled at the Visser.
"Do we have an agreement?" the Visser asked impatiently.
"For this trade, I shall provide you a stock of portable kandrona radiation for your home-world. You may choose any creature in my collection to possess," Tivan said.
The Visser looked over the large collection of sentient beings. Lex could sense the Visser was having difficulty deciding.
"I suggest you possess the night-elf body. It is very durable able to withstand extreme conditions. It can see in perfect darkness," Tivan said.
The Visser looked over the body of a very bored night-elf. "This will do," the Visser agreed.
Tivan smiled pleased. "Shall we begin the transfer?"
The Visser nodded. The glass case of the night-elf opened. The night-elf did not attempt to escape but walked out of the case lazily. It appeared it could barely stand. "Due to non-use, its muscles have weakened. But I assure you, it is one of the strongest beings in my collection," Tivan said.
The Visser moved Lex's ear next to the night-elf's ear. Lex suddenly regained control of her body as the Yeerk slug came out of her ear. The Yeerk then proceeded towards the night-elf's ear. Lex collapsed to the floor as she had a monetary disorientation. Tivan suddenly took hold of the Yeerk keeping the slug from going into the night-elf's ear. Taking the Yeerk, he placed it in a small liquid tank held by his servant girl. Tivan then took hold of the night-elf to place him back in his glass cell. The night-elf resisted, but Tivan's strength was too much.
Tivan then turned his attention to Lex. "Do you plan to resist?" he asked her calmly.
"Always," Lex said stumbling to get to her feet.
Tivan waited patiently as Lex steadied herself. She went into a fighting stance and punched and kicked at Tivan. The impacts did nothing to him. Lex backed away surprised by Tivan's calm demeanor. "What are you?" she wondered.
"Do not make the mistake of confusing me with humanity. I existed before humanity was even conceived," Tivan said advancing on her.
Lex decided to run down the halls towards the Yautja ship. Upon reaching the door, she found that it was locked. Lex then looked around the large exhibit of creatures. Surely there were hundreds if not thousands of places she could hide.
Tivan walked through the hallways looking around as he did. "There is no escape. You will perish here without food and water," he said.
Lex looked over the glass cases and figured she could amass greater resistance with a squad of trapped aliens. She cocked her arm and punched the glass as hard as she could. The hit did nothing to the glass. "It must be bullet-proof or something," Lex realized.
Tivan ignored Lex and ordered his servant girl to place the Yeerk in a special exhibit. The Yeerk was placed in a larger tank powered with kandrona radiation.
With her hands injured from pounding the glass, Lex sat down hopelessly. After gaining the freedom of her body, she was now the Collector's prisoner.
The Prince sat on a rock for a long time contemplating what had happened. Makawee was with him to comfort him. "I was defeated in battle and infested by the highest ranking Yeerk. I was used to lure the Andalites into a trap and then cowardly retreat. I had Yautja criminals infested and then killed. I had my officers enslaved. I almost killed you. I am ruined," he said sorrowfully.
"You were outnumbered in battle. It is not your fault," Makawee said.
"It would have been better if I had killed myself rather than become a slave," the Prince said.
"Why didn't you?" Makawee asked curiously.
"With death there is no more. I grasped onto the possibility I could be saved. I didn't want my story to end," the Prince said. "I wanted the throne."
"You can still have the throne," Makawee assured him. "You are the greatest warrior of your brothers."
"I volunteer for the most dangerous deployments to prove my worth but in the end I am always requesting assistance from my brothers," the Prince said disdainfully.
"What will you do now?" Makawee asked.
The Prince said nothing. "You must save Lex," Makawee pressed. He continued to remain unresponsive. "She is pregnant with your child. You must find her."