((Author's Note: In this section, the Ellimist 'speaks' like a normal person. He's in his 'human form' while speaking to the Drode.))
Interlude I: Ellimist
We are, I am, the Ellimist.
Many beings cannot understand what I am. They do not know the story of how I came to be, they do not understand the power that I have—and the limits imposed on it. All they see is a "godlike" being who is always the 'trickster' that offers what someone wants only until they receive it.
They do not understand that I play a cosmic game. That there are rules, limits, and time constraints. That I fight a being of pure evil, who would do anything in his power to destroy or subjugate every living thing in the universe, who would sacrifice almost anything to get that kind of power. They do not understand.
But that is to be expected. They cannot see the things I see—and, in some ways, I envy them. The small band of Animorphs who fight their guerilla war against the Yeerks on the backwater Planet Earth, they are the closest to understanding who and what I am. They are among the few who have, even if only for a moment, seen what I truly am. I can say with certainty that they constitute the majority of the beings in this universe who ever could understand what my existence is like, because of the war they fight.
It is not my will that I should be so secretive, so elusive. If it were my choice, if I were the only being operating at this level of existence, I would do everything in my power to spread joy, understanding, and peace. I would not interfere—that is, I would not make decisions for others—I would simply assist. Increase the likelihood that two species would connect; delay a natural disaster long enough to save precious lives. Unfortunately, none of these things can be done, because I am not alone.
For years beyond the reckoning of both humans and Andalites, I have struggled with my ultimate foe: the Crayak. He is the incarnation of false testimony, of selfishness, and of greed. Long, long ago, even before my story truly began, the Crayak was one among many beings of similar form that ruled over a distant galaxy. However, his greed and malice were great even then, and he was cast out by their combined power. Now he hungers and thirsts unendingly for power, for revenge against those who exiled him.
When he first came, neither of us wielded the power we do now. He was more powerful than I, because I was but a ship and he was much more than the sum of his parts. We battled for centuries, millennia, destroying so many beautiful worlds…so many priceless works of art. However, his first and greatest miscalculation was when he sent me into a black hole. He had thought I would be destroyed, that my essence would be obliterated. He was wrong.
I became integrated with the fabric of the universe. Perhaps it is because of my mind, made up of all those that Father had once absorbed. Perhaps it was chance. I do not know. But it enabled me to do things I had never thought possible.
Crayak became extremely afraid. He was no match for a being that had gone from merely technologically powerful to truly integrated with spacetime. His greatest fears were confirmed when he attempted to destroy a planet that would become, one day, highly influential. I intervened, shifting the planet half a year in its orbital path. Crayak knew that if our battle was to continue, he would need to join me.
And that he inevitably did. He discovered the principle behind the accident that created me, and repeated it. However, I had a slight head start on him—which I used to my full advantage, much to his consternation.
For the first time since the two of us met, we reached an agreement. We knew the potential dangers our new powers possessed; we had already lost much of the influence we had gained in our direct struggles. So we agreed to play a game. A game not entirely unlike human chess. A game where the fates of worlds hung in the balance—and where neither of us could directly intervene.
This is why I was allowed to change what had been, once, on the Earth. Crayak had somehow meddled with my selection of the Animorphs—though I do not know if he understood the impact of his meddling. He is often unaware of the plans I have, of the strategies I make, and because of his ignorance I have won more than a few of our last skirmishes. The Iskoort race will survive, because of the pieces I selected. Of course, Crayak never knew that I selected them beforehand, but that is his fault and not mine.
And now a new human has joined the band, though from their perspective he was always there. Crayak hid this human boy from me—though I should not be surprised, as I hid my manipulation of who became the original Animorphs so well. Perhaps Crayak discovered an ability of Ezekiel's that I am not aware of, or saw how he could eliminate future pieces by denying me this one in the first place. Oh, if chess were like this game, no human would play—it can be difficult even for Crayak and I to keep all of our pieces in memory at times.
I studied Ezekiel. Learned about his habits, his talents (those he knew of and those he did not), and his weaknesses. He bore a strong spirit, one that when properly nurtured could rise to almost any challenge. But he was plagued with self-doubt, as well; a deep, lingering suspicion that he wasn't good enough, strong enough, or knowledgeable enough. He cared for others, just as Cassie did, but his understanding of the mind was of a different sort. Where she knew the right words to soothe, to placate, to heal, he knew the words that would open, invigorate, and encourage. Where Aximili gave them their knowledge of the universe beyond the Earth, Ezekiel brought humanity's knowledge.
And there was his propensity for sacrifice. The boy understood the value of his fellows, but too often he forgot his own. I harbor occasional concerns that he would recklessly throw away his life in a desperate bid to save another. But he is more logical than that…as long as his emotions do not override his mind. That is an issue that will have to wait, though.
Then, suddenly, I saw it. I looked deep, deep into this human boy, but now with a purpose, knowing exactly the thing I searched for. I found it, at the source of all his other talents, at the very heart of his personality, at the wellspring of his very soul.
Ezekiel was inquisitive, that much could not be denied. But it was his ability to ask exactly the right question, at the right time, in the right place, of the right person. Sometimes, it is vital that the right question be asked. Questions can shape how someone looks at a subject, questions can open our eyes to things we had been blind to beforehand. And questions can give us something to quest after, a goal that drives us to achieve our ends. This was, by far, his most important trait, and one that I could use to great effect against the Crayak.
It was also the newest piece of proof that humanity was as I thought. That the world I had saved was worth it. The Crayak cannot understand the power held in the positive aspects of humanity. He sees them only as pawns, tools that can use a limited understanding in horrifically destructive ways.
Humanity is so much more. Gifts like Ezekiel's are but a reflection of their true potential. When Rachel deduced the location of the first kandrona projector, it was the faintest gleam of the wisdom and power contained in the human spirit. Aximili has seen, experienced, and been changed by the good within humanity. He has also seen the horrors that humans are capable of committing, the dark depths of atrocity that their violent history contains. And yet he still sides with them, respects them…possibly more.
Though my ability to foresee the movements of the strands of time becomes less accurate as I look deeper and deeper into the future, this I know: if humanity survives, it will achieve great things. There are possibilities for destruction and death, but there is a greater possibility for joy, unity, and understanding. If humans can learn to use their many talents and keep their darker sides in check, they may one day cross the threshold and see me as I really am.
These are speculations that should wait. The game at hand is more important than the first ten moves of the next ten games we play, even if they are all interconnected. And I now have a new piece, a new warrior to fight against the Crayak's soldiers of darkness.
Oh, yes, this new piece would greatly improve my hand, if Crayak and I played a human game of cards. This piece would greatly increase my control over the galactic 'chessboard.' But it would be a slow increase, a gradual change. Perhaps the Crayak would not notice.
"I see you have made yourself another pawn, oh Great Meddler," a sneering, snide voice said to me. I perceived the Drode, the wildcard, the servant of my enemy. I knew why he had come with his childish taunting—it was a clear message from Crayak. He knew that I had returned the universe to the path I had originally woven long before his change. He knew that I had discovered the twisted strands and that I had fixed them. "My only hope is that that piece proves less useful than even my master predicts. I assure you, he does not see the value of it that you seem to."
Another trick? Possibly. I would bide my time. "Hello, Drode," I replied, giving him neither the satisfaction of perturbing me nor any clue as to my motives. "You may look at this new development however you wish. I saw the change your master made, and corrected it. That is my right, as you well know. I follow our rules of engagement."
"I also know that Crayak enjoyed affecting your 'stacking of the deck,' as the humans would say. My, they have such useful phrases. It is such a pity that all of their languages will die out in just a scant few years, yes?" Another hideous sneer stretched across his wrinkled, purple face. "And all your Animorph meddling will be for naught."
"We shall see, Drode. We shall see." It was difficult to hide the knowledge I had gained, the understanding that my new piece could be played so powerfully…if placed in the correct situation. "Does your master fancy another duel of forces? I know there are planets he has his gaze upon."
Drode regarded me skeptically, then shrugged. "When, or if, my master desires another confrontation, you will know, Ellimist. You always have. Your interfering ways that put the Andalites to shame—or perhaps out of shame—always let you know."
I could not help a very small smile. "Then shall we continue the game from where we last played it? I believe that the Taliesin were preparing for a Characid invasion…"