Mini Yeerk Pool: Underground, Ireland

Chapman paced back and fourth. "Okay, so we may not have Artemis. But we've got the next best thin, the boy's bodyguard. How are you holding up there, Nijir?"

The Yeerk smiled weakly. "Fine, Iniss. But this has got to be the most stubborn host I've ever had. This human has amazingly strong will power."

"Suck it up, Nijir. The Visser will be here any minute and he's expecting a thirteen-year-old genius to be with us."

Butler screamed and cursed with all his might, but it was no use. The creature had complete control over him, and there was nothing he could do about it. Absolutely nothing. He had never felt so powerless, and to make matters worse there was no one to protect Artemis. If anything bad were to happen to him, it would be all his fault. And Butler knew he would never be able to forgive himself.

Nijir 4613 was having problems of his own. For some odd reason he could not able to get ahold of all of his host's memories. This Butler person was fighting back harder than he thought possible. At least the host was getting tired. Nijir knew he would not be able to keep it up for much longer. But still, the thought scared him. This was only Nijir's third human host, and the other two had both been volentary controllers. Do all humans resist this much? he wondered. Nijir surely hoped not. This host was turning out to be a lot of trouble handling. Maybe I should stick to the Hork Bajirs from now on.

At last, Butler could no longer take it. And Nijir understood why he had tried so hard to stop him from seeing certain memories.

Chee Jet: Somewhere above Europe

"This technology of yours sounds remarkable. Would you mind if I see one of you morph?"

"Umm...sure. Cassie, go ahead."

Artemis watched with utter facination as Cassie transformed into an osprey and then back to her human form.

"So will you help us?" asked Jake.

"I am assuming we are also going to rescue Butler, correct?"

"Who's Butler?"

"My bodyguard-"

"You have a bodyguard named 'Butler'?" Marco asked.

"Yes."

"So, does that mean that at your house you have a butler named 'Bodyguard'?"

Some of the other Animorphs sniggered at that thought.

Artemis, however, did not look very amused. "If you are done with your childish affairs, you may now turn your attention to the more serious matter at hand, which is, of course, the rescue of my bodyguard, Butler."
"Rescue? Are you sure you're a criminal?" Rachel said.

"If we manage to sucsesfully save him, and I am willing to help you fight the Yeerks."

"Really?"

Then a horrible thought struck Artemis. If the Yeerks could really read the minds of their hosts, then that meant they knew everything Butler knew about Artemis. Everything. All of his secrets. And that would include... Oh, D'Arvt! The LEP!

Now Artemis and the LEPrecon did not exactly get along perfectly, but even he didn't want them to be infested by evil alien parasites. After all, they had saved his father last year. But what about the Animorphs? He saw no way around telling them, and as much as Artemis hated to admit it, he needed their help; his chances of success were much less without their knowledge about the Yeerks. And in the end, he could always have the fairies mind-wipe them. That way, everybody wins.

"Artemis, you okay?" Cassie asked, her expression looked concerned. It made Artemis uncomfortable, he wasn't used to having people be concerned about him.

"Yes, I'm fine." he would tell them when the time was right. He looked down. "But would someone mind freeing me from this chair?"

"Ax-man, can you-"

((Yes, Prince Jake.))

"Don't call me prince."

((Yes, Prince Jake.)) He turned to Artemis. ((But I do recommend that you stay as still as possible. I do not wish to accidently remove any of your limbs.))

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