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Chapter 8—Eslak

I went straight to Aximili's scoop after school, where the Yeerk was writhing in pain.

((Shouldn't be too much longer,)) Aximili said.

It looked at me, eyes glazing over.

"Please let me go, human. Michelle, your name is? Please let me go—let me live. This is torture," it said. I looked straight into the eyes.

"Death will be painful, Yeerk. Beg forgiveness of the boy you've infested. If you leave, death will be less painful. You will be killed the moment you leave the host," I said coldly, "I told you I hold grudges against parasitic slugs."

"I am sorry for the sins I have committed. I apologize for taking the gift of sight, sound, taste, touch and smell. I beg forgiveness but I will not surrender my life."

((A martyred Yeerk. Never thought I'd see the day,)) Aximili muttered.

"Your life is ours anyway, Yeerk. You would only end it sooner," I said.

"Cruelty is not in your nature, Michelle. Promise to end my life painlessly and I will leave."

"I promise," I said, morphing into the tiger.

"That morph will kill me painlessly. Magnificent creatures, tigers," he said before he crawled out of the teenager.

I lifted one paw and ended the life of the Yeerk.

"Thanks for freeing me," Jason said when he woke up.

I smiled at him, "Hey, no problem. I'm one of the newer Animorphs. It's my second week on the job."

"Could have fooled me. Eslak was terrified of you. He told me right before he left to tell you that he even respected you. Most kids of controller parents give up, don't fight."

"If given the chance, would you fight? To free others entrapped like you were?" I asked, untying him.

He nodded.

"Of course. How many of you are there?" he asked, stretching.

"Four original humans, one nothlit hawk recently regained the power to morph, one Andalite aristh and three of us newbies. 9 so far."

"Visser 3 has been fighting 5 humans and an aristh all this time? Well count me in. Eslak wasn't powerful enough to be missed by anyone," he said, turning to Aximili, "you are very powerful for an aristh."

Aximili smiled his eye-smile, ((Thank you, Jason. I am Aximili-Esgarrouth-Isthill, brother of War Prince Elfangor.))

"Should your strength and kindness continue, you will honor your people and become a war-prince yourself," Jason said, nodding respectfully.

He knew his stuff.

((Why do I get the feeling that you know Andalite customs well?)) Aximili asked.

"Eslak was a Yeerk diplomat in the days of Seerow. In fact, Seerow was a great friend of Eslak, as were many Andalites of the day," Jason explained.

I watched as Aximili's face hardened at the mention of this guy Seerow.

"Who's Seerow?" I asked.

Jason smiled, "There's the Yeerk point of view and the Andalite version of that. Aximili?"

((The fool. The story of Seerow's Kindness is told to every Andalite child. He gave technology to a race many years ago, and they used it to go from world to world, enslaving peoples.))

"This Seerow gave technology to the Yeerks?"

"Now the Yeerk vantage. Seerow's Kindness will always teach the Yeerks that not all Andalites are 'evil.' He gave technology to a race that he thought needed it. He was only mistaken in thinking the Yeerks could be trusted," Jason said, looking at Aximili, "through Eslak I met Seerow. He was a great Andalite who made one mistake."

((That mistake cost the lives and freedom of millions of Hork-Bajir, humans, Andalites. My brother never saw his son. Tobias never knew his father. Toby, Ket Halpak, Jara Hamee, will likely never see their homeworld again. The great War Prince Alloran…))

Not another word. The passion with which Aximili spoke overwhelmed me.

"There is hope, Aximili. That's why I'm joining. When Eslak freed me, he asked that I help free Alloran. That's all he asked of me when he gave me his life's knowledge," Jason said, putting a hand on Aximili's shoulder.

I felt out of the loop…"Alloran?"

"Alloran-Semitur-Corrass. Host to Visser 3."

"Michelle, this is the last new member. I mean it this time," Jake said sternly.

"Believe me, I didn't plan it and I don't plan on recruiting any more members, Jake. Jason was a special case—you must admit that with the memories of a Yeerk diplomat from the days of Seerow…"

Jake nodded, "I know. Okay, Jason, touch the side…" he began again.

((We both know that if you proposed another member, he'd take them just because you asked,)) Rachel said, flying in.

I nodded, whispering, "Not quite gonna test that, Rachel."

As Silver walked in, I took him to one side as Rachel winked at me.

"What, are you mad at me for the way I treated Tobias? I apologized to him later," he said.

"I'm glad you did, but that's not why I wanted to talk to you. Tobias and I aren't a couple. He's with Rachel."

He looked shocked, then smiled before he shut down his emotions.

"And why would it matter to me?"

I slapped my forehead. Men! I left the door right open! I guess I'll have to lead him through it.

"I was wondering if you and I could go out, since I'm open and I assume you're free…"

"Your assumption is correct," he said, barely containing his excitement, "I shall consider your offer."

I rolled my eyes skyward, "You do that."

I talked to Rachel afterward, telling her what happened.

"Men, too chicken to ask, then too proud to accept too quickly."

"Most of them," I agreed. Beth walked up, hearing the conversation.

"Except, evidently, for ex-Yeerk ambassador infested humans. Jason asked me out almost as soon as we met," she said.

"Cool. You accepted, of course."

Beth nodded.

"Of course. I almost wish I'd met Eslak now. I mean, he met Seerow and Alloran, and even Elfangor back when he was an aristh," she said.

"Elfangor was a cool guy. I wish I'd known him longer," Rachel said.

"Well at least you met him, Rachel. We hear so much about him, but we never met him," I said.

"Well I'll tell you what, Ax grows more and more like him each day," Rachel said.

((Thank you, Rachel. Elfangor was a great prince,)) Aximili said, walking out of the forest.

"Aximili, you really have to learn not to sneak up on us. Girls talk girl-talk. Sometimes boys don't want to listen," I said, smiling. Aximili looked embarrassed.

((I apologize for the intrusion. Shall I leave?))

"No, Ax, we're done talking now. Care to talk?" Beth asked.

We continued walking in the night forest.