Hork Bajir homeworld. Yeerk Pool/training facility 790-Current exact location-sick bay
It had been an hour since the fight at the Pool and Serri, Eliza and I had recovered from our wounds and fatigue. (In Serri's case, just fatigue) For a while we just sat in silence until I put a question to them that had been on my mind since the fight. "Heyo and those two other losers ran off. Do you think he told anyone about what happened?" Serri mulled it over for a couple of seconds. "You really think he'd tell anyone about that? Chances are he kept it to himself, not that you could hide something like that though. He doesn't want to ruin his promising career." Eliza threw a disapproving look at him and said "You're being really insensitive you know that? Or did you forget about the whole reason we went there in the first place?" Apparently he HAD forgotten. He looked at me and made to apologize but I cut him off "It's okay. You can talk about successful careers in front of me." I smiled to show I was sincere and continued, "In fact, I don't care what rank I am, i don't. I could become Visser One and I still wouldn't care. All I care about is staying alive and making sure that my two best friends stay alive and are happy. i'm not going anywhere in my career path right now so I might as well help you advance in yours."
They stared at me in shock, looked at each other, then back at me. Both exclaimed at the same time,
"MISS, ARE YOU INSANE?"
"That's so sweet! Are you sure about this?"
I looked at each of them for a few seconds, remembering when we first met, the 4 months of training together, and most recently our first real combat situation, faced as a team. "That thought has crossed my mind alot lately. And yes, I'm sure about this." Serri hesitated before asking "So where does this leave you and orders from above?" I playfully punched his shoulder and replied "You must be the crazy one for asking that. I'll still follow orders. How I interpret and carry out those orders is a whole different story." Eliza looked suddenly excited and gave Serri and I an unexpected hug and got a simultanious shout of "MIND THE BLADES" in return. She stepped away with a smile and said to Serri "Do you know what time it is now?" He looked baffled and just stared. She rolled her eyes at him and answered herself "It's time to visit the hanger. Your bug fighter should be here, I can't believe you forgot!" The three of us left the sick bay and started through the maze of hallways, I noted that the controllers we passed were staring at us with something in their eyes, I didn't know if it was fear or awe. Maybe it was both. Eliza and Serri noticed as well, as they both grinned. "I think we have a reputation." Eliza said happily. "A reputation for killing our own people, that's such a great one to have." I said sarcastically.
We walked on and saw a group of about 6 or 7 controllers, comprised of Hork Bajir, Gedd and Taxxon all running towards us. We stopped walking and as the knot of controllers passed, Serri tripped one of the Hork Bajir controllers who fell into a Gedd, sending him to the floor as well. Paying the Gedd no attention, he asked the Hork Bajir "What's happening? Where is everyone running?" The controller recovered from his fall, looked back at the other controllers and then said quickly. "New Yeerk, new host. He's squaring off against Visser 47 and Sub Vissers 155 and 156 on the training room floor, we're going to watch." He started off after the other controllers, leaving us unsure of where to go. The only thing that registered for me was Visser 47. Heyo.
Serri made up his mind first for he switched directions and headed back the other way. He looked over his shoulder and said "You coming or what? Come on, 3 on 1! A new species!" Eliza looked at me uncertainly. "3 on 1..I have to see this. I suppose you have to too, seeing as Heyo is one of the three. I think you're hoping he'll get killed by whoever the new agent is." As the three of us made our way to the training room I thought aloud "Maybe the new guy will join up with us after Heyo is beaten to death."
Serri took on a mock arrogant tone and said "I don't think we need a fourth team member. He'd get in the way." I shoved him into the wall and laughed. "Probably as much as you and Eliza do." Eliza caught me off guard and pushed ME into the wall. "Oh yeah like you never get in the way?" I faked outrage and said "That's different! I don't get in the way. I'm just reckless. Technically I'm getting out of the way."
We turned the final corner to the training room, went up the stairs to the balcony and groaned at the sight of 20 or so controllers watching the action below and cheering Heyo on. We stopped at the edge of the crowd and Serri said sadly "Great. We missed all the relevant information and who knows how much of the fight, on top of that, since we're stuck back here we'll never know how Heyo dies." I suddenly had a very crazy idea. "Well, maybe these nice folks will clear a space up front for the newly christened Visser 46 and her bodyguards." Eliza grinned "I bet they will. Serri? You up for being a bodyguard for the new Visser 46?" He laughed and said "I've been preparing for this role my entire life." I gave them both a quick smile "If this works I'm going to be amazed. Here we go." I stood straight and tall, put a bit of a swagger into my step, then we moved into the crowd.
We didn't meet any opposition on our way to the front, thanks in part to Eliza and Serris' shouts of "Make way! Come on move it you filthy mongrels! Visser 46 coming through show some respect!" For those few seconds, I felt the part. I felt confident. I felt what I couldn't have or be, at least not yet. Now at the front, we got our first look at what was happening below. My eyes instantly picked out Heyo and his two minions, the former hiding behind the latter. Figures. My Distractions were still standing a little ways behind and on either side of me, playing the role of bodyguards. I heard Serri whisper in a disappointed tone "We still missed everything! There's not even any use being here now. We might as well just head over to the hanger." I heard Eliza agree with him.
I kept my eyes glued to the floor below, watching Heyo intently, watching the movement of the other two controllers. A sharp jab in my shoulder brought me out of my thoughts. I turned around angrily to see my Distractions watching me as I had been watching Heyo. "WHAT?" I demanded. They'd just stopped my careful planning dead! They looked at each other and Eliza said quickly "We know what you're up to Terrus. Even a Taxxon would shy away from the hunger in your eyes." Serri looked ready to bodily haul me away from here. He talked fast like Eliza had, "We aren't stupid miss. We know you're going to jump down there and fight it out with Heyo."
I didn't have time to deal with this. I glared at them and said angrily "WELL? Are you two in or are you out? If you're in then stay out of my way, if you're out then enjoy the fight." They glanced at each other quickly and both said "We'd rather stay out of your way." I grinned and said "Perfection." Then I turned and jumped.