Aximili-Esgarrouth-Isthill
I have long found the ways of humans to be strange and confusing compared to those of my people, the Andalites. They are at times primitive, yet capable of creating such wonders as the cinnamon bun and movie-theater popcorn. They show great compassion for animals and less intelligent species, but their history is full of the genocide and slaughter of their own. They also fail to understand the benefits of having four legs. It seemd to me that humans must be the most confusing race in the galaxy. I was wrong. Humans are simple to understand compared to this being who calls himself the Doctor.
He was playful, childlike. He bounced from one subject to the next, and showed an unusual interest in physical contact that was uncomfortable even to my human friends. We stood now, in his ship that was not a ship, as he spoke of defeating the universe's greatest threat as though it was as simple as reprogramming a human computer. He smiled as though the war that my people and the Yeerks had been fighting since the fallout of Seerow's Kindness was some sort of game.
But his face when Rachel had become emotional and morphed into the grizzly showed another side to the Doctor. One that frightened me. My people, the Andalites, were renowned for their ability as warriors. Even I, a lowly aristh, knew the basics of one of the most important skills of combat- recognizing the strength of an opponent.
"We'll need to retrieve the morphing cube," said Prince Jake, "As soon as possible. Cassie, do you still have it hidden?"
"Yes," she nodded, "I've kept it safe. Ever since… It hasn't been noticed at all." Cassie stopped mid-sentence as she realized what she was saying. None of us wanted to think about what happened with the human David. It had been a… difficult situation… and was certainly the reason that Prince Jake had insisted on the approval of the entire team before agreeing to my suggestion. The Doctor and Rose certainly noticed the awkward pause.
"Since what?" the Doctor asked. His brow had furrowed. I believe he may have guessed that the answer was not pleasant.
"We lost it," Rachel said simply, "But we got it back."
"Right, of course," the Doctor responded. Perhaps the tone of her voice was enough to make both he and Rose realize that the subject was uncomfortable. Or perhaps they simply didn't feel the need to press the matter. Either way, there were no further questions.
"Right," continued Jake, "The sooner we can get Aftran settled, the better."
Agreed, Prince Jake. It would be best to tie up all lose ends before making any further moves against the Yeerks. For a moment, I thought perhaps Rose Tyler, or the Yeerk inside of her, wanted to speak. I must have misunderstood, however, as they said nothing. Sometimes human body language still confuses me, even after all the time I have spent with the Animorphs.
"Exactly. And don't call me Prince."
Yes, Prince Jake.
Now Rose Tyler snorted in laughter. The Doctor also smiled, but he had been doing that so frequently that I almost wonder if it meant the same thing to Time Lords as it does to humans. I am becoming better at human humor, I think. Rose obviously found the comparison of Andalite military hierarchy and the similarity to Great Britain's monarchy to be amusing.
"Not that we want to see you gone, Aftran!" added Cassie, "But I'd feel a lot better knowing you were safe." The Doctor nodded solemnly. I wondered then, if his agreement was intended in kindness, like Cassie, or if his motives mirrored my own. While I owed Aftran 942 a debt, I was also being cautious- I didn't want to concern myself with a Yeerk while also keeping an eye on strangers. Particularly strangers who were certainly advanced enough to exploit Andalite technology, given the chance. I also wondered if they would take our decision with Aftran as a chance to request access to morphing abilities themselves. Admittedly, I was slightly curious. If they were from a different dimension, as they claimed, did they have DNA? Would the Escafil device even work on them?
Either way, both Rose and the Doctor had the tact not to immediately mention any desire for the technology.
"Yeah, Aftran'll be safe," Marco said, "But what about us? What is the plan for the whole massive stopping the Yeerks thing?"
The Doctor's face had become serious again. Not as menacing as when he had faced down Rachel, but serious enough. Prince Jake, too, had what Marco would call his "game face" on.
"Cassie mentioned you were able to access the electrical controls to the Yeerk Pool. And that you threatened to shut of the Kandrona Emitter from there," said Rachel, "Was that threat for real? Or was it a bluff?"
"Oh, no. I could do it. Quite easily. It's a fairly simple system."
Yeerk technology is stolen, and inferior, in many ways, I added helpfully, I very much doubt it would give them trouble compared to the complexities of time and inter-dimensional travel.
"Technically, the inter-dimensional travel has been accidental," said Rose.
"Right," the Doctor continued, "But if I make the claim, and don't follow through, the Yeerks will refuse to listen, and we'll have trouble. I have to be able to go through with the threat."
"Visser Three will make you go through with it," said Marco, "No doubt there."
"Yeah, we noticed he could be a bit… difficult," the Doctor said. Marco laughed. Not the kind of laugh humans make when they think something as funny. The kind they do when things are difficult, but expected. No one else laughed.
"But going through with it isn't the issue, actually turning off the Kandrona, isn't the difficult part," said Prince Jake, "I mean, if I understand correctly, it should be like flipping off a light switch for you. We'd have to get back into the Pool, but if the TARDIS can get there as easily as it gets to other planets…"
"It's not turning off the Kandrona that's the problem." Cassie spoke up now. She glanced over at the Doctor, and he nodded in agreement.
"Exactly," he said, "It's what happens after."
Yeerks will die, I said simply, Visser Three and the Council of Thirteen will, of course, refuse to negotiate. Until the cost becomes to great for the Yeerk Empire to handle.
"Exactly. Yeerks will die. Thousands, maybe millions," the Doctor said, "Maybe even billions. I won't be responsible for that."
Humans too, said Tobias from the corner of the room. Tobias and I spent much of our time together. He as a hawk, and I as an Andalite. We were shorm, closer than friends or brothers. And Tobias was technically what humans would call my nephew- the son of my brother of Elfangor through a series of events made possible by the meddling of the Ellimist.
"After we destroyed the Kandrona source for just one Pool, we saw humans murdered as the Yeerks died in their heads," said Cassie, "That would be happening on a world-wide scale, until the Yeerks were unable to contain it any more."
"Yeah, but if ended thing, once and for all…" Rachel's words drifted out. Even she had her doubts.
"Would you be willing to make that sacrifice? Condemn the innocent to die? Commit galaxy-wide genocide?" the Doctor asked. Rachel didn't respond. Neither did I. "It's not worth the lives lost. On either side," the Doctor said firmly, "And I won't allow it to happen. Not like that."
I wanted to point out that humans would die if the war continued. That the Yeerks were the enemy. That my own people, fighting a war a light years away, were dying as we spoke. The Doctor spoke with decisive authority, as if it was it was his war to fight or suffer through. It bothered me. But I knew that the Animorphs would not be willing to take the risk. Sometimes, I worry that they didn't fully understand the sacrifices that had to be made, that had already been made, to win this war. Often times, they seemed to feel that the life of a few was worth more than the lives of the entire galaxy.
Sometimes I worried that they were right. And I worried what that would mean for my people, and the galaxy.
"So. If we're not going to actually shut down the Kandrona, what's our plan?" said Marco, "Cause Visser Three isn't real big on anything even slightly related to the whole 'peaceful' thing."
"We offer them a choice. Everyone gets at least that," replied the Doctor firmly.
"A choice of what? asked Tobias.
"Well, here's the thing- I've been talking to Aftran for the past few days. I set her up with that lovely box over there-" The Doctor pointed to a small tank in the corner, which appeared to have a modified Kandrona emitter as well as a poorly assembled though-speak transmitter. Poorly assembled, but still apparently impressive effective for someone who knew nothing of the technology.
"And well, being a Yeerk, without a host, is kind of miserable," he continued, "Frankly, it's hard not to feel pity for a sentient being trapped in a body lacking in almost all its senses."
"I mean, even from what Aftran has told me," added Rose, "I can't imagine what that would be like. I'd probably go mad, yeah?" She looked at Cassie, who smiled. "That's why you did what you did? Let her leave you in that morph, trusted her to leave that girl?"
"Yes," Cassie nodded. It didn't surprise me that Cassie seemed to agree with the Doctor. Of all of the Animorphs, Cassie was the most compassionate and empathic. The others say that she has a way of reading people. She had trusted the Doctor, far more quickly than any of us would have liked. Would we come to regret that? Sometimes, I think Cassie might be the most dangerous of all of us.
"So we give the Yeerks a choice. I don't want to say, well, I want to discuss it with Erik, before I say too much. But there's an opportunity to reestablish the Yeerk home world as a place someone might actually want to live. And to work- possibly, mind you, I have to see- to get the Yeerks into bodies that would actually be worth living a life in."
There was silence as we all thought about what he had said.
"It's not an awful idea," said Tobias, "I mean, it's risky, but it's not awful."
"Um, thanks?" said the Doctor, "Not awful is… not… bad?"
"So, like androids?" asked Prince Jake, "You're thinking build them bodies, let them see and hear with them?"
"Well…" began the Doctor.
You assume the Yeerks will accept this choice? I interrupted, Perhaps, on a smaller level, it would be possible. The Yeerks Peace Movement which Aftran was a part of would certainly jump at the chance, but the general population? The assumption that the Council of Thirteen, let alone Visser Three, would even consider the possibility is absurd.
"Ax has got a point. How do we get them to agree to this?" Rachel asked, "I mean, yeah, some of the Yeerks are good-"
She gestured in Rose and Aftran's direction-
"But it's not like we can trust them all to be."
"We'll just have to make an offer they can't refuse," said the Doctor. He was smiling again and Marco laughed.
"They have The Godfather in your universe?"
"Yeah, although, it's not really my favorite, to be honest," said the Doctor, "But the quote felt fitting."
Visser Three will refuse. It does not matter what the offer is. He will sacrifice innocents, and allow the death of a billion Yeerks if it means completing his conquest of Yeerk.
"I have to agree with Aximili on this matter," Rose spoke, or rather, Aftran 942 did. "Visser Three is not one to listen to reason. And the idea of the Council of Thirteen even considering giving up on military conquest is absurd. It would not be the first time in Yeerk history that aid given on good faith was returned with hatred and violence."
"I never said anything about offering the choice to the Yeerk military command," said the Doctor, "I intend to offer it to the Yeerk people. A mass broadcast, spread through the Pool communications systems. An offer of peace, and hope."
At that, Cassie inhaled sharply.
"It's looking like a slightly better than not awful idea," said Tobias.
"If we could get it to work," added Marco, "Spreading a huge rift in the Yeerk forces could be pretty useful. If there are a lot more Yeerks like Aftran. If whatever you want to talk to Erik about works."
"We've risked a lot more on bigger ifs," said Rachel.
"Yeah, except one problem, Xena," said Marco, pointing his thumb at the Doctor with a jerking motion, "He's not suggesting we build robot bodies for them. Are you?"
I spun my head, all four eyes focusing hard on the Doctor. If Marco was suggesting what I thought he was… it was out of the question.
"Well…" the Doctor ran a hand through his hair, "Strictly speaking, I wanted to ask… well, I'm not completely clear on the technology involved, well, almost clear, I still need to check a few things, and well, I wasn't sure if this was the right time to ask, well, alright, I knew there wasn't really going to be a right time, so-"
Dude, you talk a lot said Tobias, Has anyone ever told you that?
"Yes," said Rose with a small laugh.
"Anyway," the Doctor continued, moving around to the side of the controls in front of everyone else. He put the glasses on, and studied us. "It had occurred to me, that well, if Aftran was able to escape the three day limit, and have a whole new lease on life, then maybe-"
Out of the question, I said, Aftran-942 is a unique case. My offer was due to her extraordinary circumstances, My tail-blade twitched. I turned one eye to look at Prince Jake. The very idea is an affront to everything my people have worked-
"Yes, yes, you both hate each other, they burned you once and you don't want to risk it again," the Doctor interrupted, "But did it ever occur to you Andalites that you have withheld the one technology that would have actually prevented this whole war in the first place. You told them of the wonders of stars, and then were surprised they wanted to see them for themselves."
Every fiber of my body tightened with rage.
You would insult the one race of the galaxy that has stood against the Yeerks? You, who knew nothing of this fight until a few days ago! My people have suffered losses you cannot even dream-
"Ax," said Prince Jake, "Stand down,"
Without realizing it, I had taken steps towards the Doctor, tail blade held high and at the ready. I stepped backward and lowered my tail.
Yes, Prince Jake, I said, keeping my eyes firmly locked on the Doctor, But I feel compelled to point out that this plan is unacceptable and unrealistic.
"Ax is right. The Yeerks are evil," Rachel added, "No offense, Aftran, but I mean- we've never seen any sign that they might change their ways."
"But there's never been another choice for them," said Cassie, "I mean, Aftran is the perfect example of what can happen when you give them a choice."
She looked around at the rest of us and I was reminded once again of the dangers of kindness. I wanted to speak out. The others, at least, understood the absurdity of the suggestion. The Yeerks aside, the response from my people would be… the ramifications would be catastrophic.
"That's insane. You realize that, right?" said Marco, "I mean, how would we even do it? Line up the Yeerks, and make them pinky-swear to be good before letting them touch the box? Hope they decide not to turn around and conquer the galaxy anyway?"
"We've all done the morphs- flea, ant, caterpillar-" Cassie continued, "We know what it's like to be blind and helpless. How can we ask the Yeerks to live the same way, knowing we have a way to save them from that?"
Because the Yeerks cannot be trusted to hold up their end of the agreement, I reminded her, frustrated that it was even necessary, We would have to watch, individually, that each Yeerk stayed in a morph. And after that? We would simply have Yeerks with their greatest weakness, the reliance on Kandrona, eliminated from their biology.
"Oh but you see! The option to chose, the option to choose freedom! To chose peace! That's the whole point!" the Doctor grew excited, "Aftran, Illim, the entire Yeerk Peace Movement is evidence that given the chance, the Yeerks can be just as good as any other species in the galaxy. Better even! The point is, they'll have a choice!"
I mean, he's not wrong, said Tobias, With the Kandrona turned off, the Yeerks will certainly be lining up to be free of its limitations. We know most of them here on Earth don't exactly like working for Visser Three, at least. But the risk… I think Ax is right. I don't think we can afford to take that chance.
Thank you, I told him, privately.
Suddenly, there was a knock at the TARDIS door. Rose looked at the Doctor in surprise and he shrugged. I saw my friends were just as confused as they were. It was a strange noise to hear with in a ship. Pulling his glasses off (I was beginning to question whether his eyesight required their use or not), the Doctor tucked them in the front of his coat and walked to the door.
"Hello?" said the Doctor, pulling open the door quizzically, "Oh! Erek, good to see-"
"We've got a big problem," Erek interrupted. The Doctor swung the door open wide and Erek stepped in quickly. Rose walked over, frowning.
"What is it?" she asked, "What's wrong?"
"The Doctor's threat to shut of Kandrona, well, Visser Three is taking it very seriously," Erek said, "We're not sure what exactly is going on but the Yeerks are arming themselves. Heavily."
"Arming themselves? For what?" asked Cassie. I froze. Erek paused to look first at the Doctor, and then Jake. I realized the reason for the changed situation immediately. The Yeerks knew only one way to handle threats. And I knew, then, that my friends would now feel as though they have no choice but to agree to the Doctor's plan.
You scared them, I said, Visser Three must have realized that the potential for shutting down the world's Kandrona Emmitters was in fact there. You gave them a reason to panic, I saw realization dawn in the Doctor's eyes. He knew, then, what I had already guessed. I suppose, for him, this would be a good thing. He could convince my friends to try anything now. But for the moment, he looked like he had taken a blow to the stomach.
Erek nodded in my direction before turning to address the others. "We think they're preparing to drop all secrecy for a full-scale invasion."