A/N: This chapter is extremely short. This happened because I found I simply didn't have much to say in this chapter. It's just kind of a connect-the-dots chapter between chapter 14 and the already-written chapter 16. Next chapter – that's when the real fun starts. You haven't seen NOTHING yet, people. :P

Also, most of this chapter is more or less a monologue. Everything in the present tense in this chap is Visser Three's monologue. Hope you enjoy!

Dedicated to everyone over at the Morton Avenue McDonald's – would you like some extra happy with that Happy Meal? ;)

Visser Three's Journal

Chapter 15
A Perfect Ending?

June 29th

Dear Journal,

The morning after my dinner with Ellie, I went to visit Visser Four. Since returning from the medical wing, she'd locked herself up as she had before in the Bug fighter – this time in her room. I honestly feared she would never come out of there.

I walked into her room (she hardly ever left it locked anymore), and found her dozing in bed, looking sickly. When she heard my hooves clopping, she opened her heavy, drooping eyelids and looked up almost reluctantly.

( Are you sick again? ) I asked.

" Only temporarily," she said grouchily.

( What do you mean? )

" It happens a lot lately – almost every day for a period of time…" she explained. " And then it stops for the remainder of the day. I just have to wait it out. Probably some persistent virus from Leera…"

I sighed and looked at her frail form, pelletoned under the covers.

( You can't stay in bed forever, you know. )

" Oh no," she replied, dripping fake joy. " Eventually I'll have to get up and vomit again."

( Visser Four, you are so – ) I rolled my eyes, deciding to leave it at that. ( I'll see you later. )

Gathering my hooves, my nose, my stalk eyes and hopefully the rest of my body, I walked away, outside the room, and back into the hallway. And what the heck that whole "gathering" thing was all about, damned if I know.

---

Now, today, it's been exactly two weeks since Visser One was abducted. And, guess what? It's my birthday! This was the day that the Yeerk pretending to be my grandmother was ORIGINALLY supposed to send you, Journal. Can you imagine, if I had only started you now, how much FUN we'd have missed?

… Ahem. "Fun" is perhaps not the term I was looking for, but anyway.

Ah well, still, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MEEEE! I am NOT going to let Visser One's absence, Iniss's whining, Ellie's likes, Councilor Four's constant visits or Visser Four's grouchiness ruin MY day!

I had dinner planned with Ellie later to celebrate the occasion. A lot of things have changed these past two weeks, it's incredible! Iniss just came back from his weeklong duty on Earth (hopefully the place isn't incinerated or something equally gruesome), Councilor Two and I have been hanging out a lot and actually became GOOD FRIENDS (what the hell!), and last, but not least, Ellie and I have been going out quite a few times. Going out as in DATING. Yes, with Ellie. Isn't that slightly frightening? … But anyway, she's an okay girl, she really is. And she even "likes" less when on a date!

We're not mates yet, and I don't think we will be anytime soon. I just hope it works out well while it lasts… as long as I don't decapitate her for being a dreadful priss. Which knowing me, I wouldn't doubt.

The only person who hasn't changed much these last two weeks is Visser Four. She's still in her room, sulking. And, strangely enough, still sick. She should really get checked up again… hmm, whatever, if she dies it's her own fault for not following the proper procedures…

As for Visser One, the Empire did organize a search party, and did look in every corner of the galaxy… but what they didn't do is find Visser One. At the moment, she is presumed dead. We've failed in finding her and the Empire has stopped trying – even if she isn't dead at this moment, she will be soon enough, due to the gruesome ransom.

There'll be a memorial service tomorrow, in Visser One's honor. I didn't want to go, but Ellie is pretty much forcing me to, so… I guess that's that.

It wouldn't be an exaggerration to say I've been a bit snappish toward everyone lately (as in more than usual) – heck, even a LOT snappish! I guess it's because Visser One is gone, and I have no one to argue with… I'll tell you a secret – I used to not be able to imagine life without arguing with her. To me, it was impossible! No joke, Journal! But I'm actually finding it kind of okay, you know? More peaceful, anyway…

Dum-da-da-da-da-DAAAA! Happy birthday, dear Visser! … Oops. Am I humming again? Apparently. Who writes their HUMMING in their Journal, anyway? Wow. Just between you and me, Journal, I AM a loser…

ANYWAY.

If my diary was a novel, this would be the perfect ending. I was happy, Ellie and I were as happy as we could ever be, and my life was finally starting to take a turn for the better. Sure, there were pieces missing… but everyone has those, don't they?

Yeah, if my diary was a novel, this would be the perfect ending. And I wish I could have ended it here, I really do. But unfortunately, life is unpredictable. And before I could do anything about it, it took another turn…

- Riiiiing! Riiiing!

My telecom rang just as I was about to finish my entry, and close you, Journal, for the last time. I walked over to the table where the telecom lay, and hastily picked up, thinking it was Ellie, who had gone out with some female friends for the night.

( Hello? ) I said in a bored tone.

" Visser Three?"

My heart jumped. It was Councilor Two! Why was he calling me at this hour?

Relax, Visser Three. I told myself. My heartbeat regulated, but was now pounding at top speed.

( Councilor Two, ) I said.

" Visser Three," he said again, in a concerned tone. " I have some news."

( What is it? ) I asked guardedly. What if Ellie had gotten hurt? Killed? I was surprised at the lack of emotion for her at that moment. Why couldn't I throughly care for Ellie? Why couldn't I ever fully care what happened to her? … Yes, there were some pieces missing. Indeed. But I could live with them.

" I received some information from a reliable source." Councilor Two said a bit shakily. " He says that Visser One is alive. And that she's somewhere on this planet. She's managed to escape her captors. The Andalites were holding her on a deserted part of the planet the entire time, where they knew we'd never think of looking… Visser Three, we have to find her before they do!"

I rolled my eyes. ( Who's we, Councilor Two? ) I said a bit irritably. ( Why would I want to find Visser One? You know she's been nothing but turmoil to me my entire life. Why would I even want to help her? )

" She would help you, if you really needed it," Councilor Two said bitterly, obviously feeling betrayed.

( NO, SHE WOULDN'T! ) I exclaimed, losing my temper. ( I'm her worst enemy just as much as she is mine! )

Councilor Two lost his temper also, then. " Visser Three, you just don't want to see that she has a good side, too!"

( No, ) I said. ( It's all YOU people who don't want to see how bitchy she can get sometimes. You've never seen the other side of her. Be glad you haven't. )

Councilor Two was silent for a moment.

" You realize I could charge you for insubordination right now, right?"

( For what? For speaking the truth? )

Councilor Two sighed. " I won't charge you, we're still friends despite this argument. But since we ARE friends, I hope that you'll come along in this mission. I hope you'll help save Visser One, not for her – but for me."

Ahhh… now I saw what he was up to. Clever, clever. I couldn't refuse, he was Councilor Two. And he was a friend, counting on me.

I didn't delay the inevitable.

( … Alright, I'll help you, ) I said voicelessly. ( What do you want me to do? )

" Okay. Well, since we and the source are the only three people who know of this development, and that there are two huge deserts on the planet, you with search in the Southern Desert and I will search in the Northern. You will not have a ship – too dangerous, as we don't want any Andalites to see us and find out Visser One's location when we find her. Also, we don't want them to know we've realized where she is. They'll move her."

I nodded, even though he couldn't see me.

( Very well, then. ) I said. ( When do we leave? )

" Right now would be best," he said. " Better to get a headstart."

( Well, I've got dinner with Ellie tonight… ) I droned, kind of annoyed by Ellie at the moment. ( I'll call and cancel. )

" Oh, alright," Councilor Two said, seeming to feel kind of bad for wrecking our evening.

As for me, I couldn't care any less. I hung up and called Ellie to cancel dinner. Needless to say she wasn't very impressed with me…

I hung up without even saying goodbye.

---

Now, it is currently ten o'clock at night. I met up with Councilor Two outside the Empire Building, and we immediately began our lost search, heading off in opposite directions. Visser One… where are you? Why can't I find you, so I can go back home, where it's warm and comforting, instead of being forced to spend the night in a cold outpost shelter? Tomorrow night, there may not even be an outpost shelter.

I could have morphed, but you know as well as I do that none of my bird morphs can see a THING at dark. I would have looked like some sort of drunken gopher, and we cannot have that, because as much as I'd like to be sleeping in the safety and comfort of my own bed, I will not risk MY reputation for YOU.

You sicken me. You and your getting captured all the time. Could you, my worst enemy, not have been some low-ranking Yeerk who never gets any attention? Instead of Visser One, the hugest Andalite target in the Empire, who always gets herself into deep shit? Had you been a low-rank, I would not be here right now… And I wouldn't have to risk looking like I care.

Yawn… I'm starting to get tired. I can't go home until I either find you, or get news of Councilor Two that he found you… so might as well be well-rested, eh? I HATE THIS! YOU DON'T DESERVE TO BE RESCUED! BUT I AM THE ONE FORCED TO DO SO, WHEN ANYONE ELSE WOULD PRACTICALLY HAVE DIED TO BE THE HERO THAT SAVED VISSER ONE! WHY ME? WHY?

And where is Councilor Eight in all this? Has he abandoned you, my dear? Has he, closest to you, left you to fend for yourself through your torture? How does it feel, Visser One, to be, for once, the one left lonely, cold and afraid? I revel in your suffering, though no one else does. And yet I am forced to save you from it.

How fair is this?

I hate you, and I can't sleep. Maybe writing it all down is making me too frustrated, too jittery… I'm going to sleep now. I won't write another word.

Good night, Edriss.

For I'm not losing sleep over you.

Until my (morose) return,

Esplin 9466.

---

Really proud of that ending, myself. What did you think of it, and of the chapter? Short, I know, and Ember, I HAVE NOT forgotten about The Anati Chronicles! I've been REALLY busy. Will review tomorrow, hopefully! If not, Saturday. I'm home all day.

Hope you liked, and see you soon for CHAPTER 16:D

Two chaps before 18, Kharina!