The full title for this chapter is Quartet (A Model of Decorum and Tranquility)

The Emperor was a busy being. Leader of the Council of Thirteen and the entire Yeerk Empire, he was no stranger to danger. He had faced Andalite Dome ships, rebellious hosts, and the logistics of interstellar navigation.

Today, he had a new problem.

Its name was Efflit 1318.

After the Sub-Visser's inexplicable exit, the Yeerks had been cast into disarray. Efflit shrewdly saw the opportunity as a place to lay the blame on his superior's opponent, and immediately called an emergency meeting. To support his position, he had dragged along the Visser himself, though the latter appeared distinctly bored at the proceedings. Efflit could not be bothered to notice such behavior, only using it as an excuse to speak on behalf of countless Yeerks rallied behind their cause. His rhetoric was unceasing, as he targeted first the Sub-Visser, then all his supporters. There was plenty to target: such a walk-off was unprecedented.

Neither Efflit, the Visser, or any of their underlings had actually seen the Sub-Visser since then. The only person who claimed to was his personal assistant. This, however, immediately gave her the responsibility of explaining his behavior. When Efflit paused to breathe, she jumped in: not because she was ready, but because she doubted she'd get another opportunity. "Have you considered that maybe there is a reason that he left? And that the people responsible for the event are also responsible for whatever reason?"

Efflit looked at her in an uncharacteristic moment of silence, then simply said, "No." Inhaling, he repeated his outraged cry, though varying it slightly. "If you are implying that I have any other purpose for being here than discussing the invasions-"

"-the benefit of the doubt that you've been granted-"

"-you slight an entire force of loyal Empire-"

"-dealing with the Visser rather than anonymous individuals demanding-"

"-distracting us from the main focus of this-"

Efflit's accusation was not directed at the Emperor, but he was perhaps guilty of the charge. While the ideologues debated viciously, he was desperately seeking approval for more specific details. "A standard interferer will broadcast at a frequency of 256 nanometers from inside the complex, thus prohibiting external knowledge of the discussions, unless there is any expressed dissent?"

"-what motives could have prompted such a display of-"

"Take that as a yes, then."

The Sub-Visser's second continued trying to defend him. "If you are looking for something to boost your egos, consider how long he lasted before protesting your injustices."

"Ours? How would his irregular departure imply misbehavior on our part? And who is moderating his actions?"

"Me-"

"-with yourself, of course, in such a magnanimous display of respect by staying behind and refusing to sink to his level." Efflit grinned, almost flirtatiously.

She was taken aback. "I-you've changed your tone quite a bit."

"I express only the same concerns you do," he replied with a nod, "that this civil discussion setting will regress into a degenerate brawl."

She smiled faintly at the camaraderie from an unexpected source. A moment later, he picked up right where he left off.

The Visser entered the conversation, his thoughtspeak seemingly communicating on a deeper, more intrinsic level than Efflit's prattle. ((Not to interrupt such stimulating conversation, he laced each word with sarcasm, but if the Sub-Visser is so upstanding and of such moral fiber…where is he?))

The Emperor took advantage of the bickering to make another minor proposal. "Without any other opinions being indicated, a frieze matrix will be placed over all entrances and egresses to the facility."

While other opinions were indeed indicated, they had nothing to do with his trivialities. "He is resting. He has not had the easy path to his position: no grand Andalite host to infest, no dramatic space battles to win. Had you any thought for anyone beyond yourself," the Sub-Visser's second declared, "you could perhaps emphasize with him. But I doubt it."

"Unless you actually believe he is going to show up," Efflit confronted her, "please let us get back to our official business: preparing for the debate. Which is all we want to do."

((It is difficult for me to emphasize: with you. Why would you work with someone who leaves you in situations like this?))

"With no objections," the Emperor declared, "the maximum length of discussion will be one quarter of the revolution of this planet around its own axis, before adjournment."

"I enjoy," said the Sub-Visser's second sharply, "success, and I have found that it is most probable right where I am."

Efflit, however, had actually heard the Emperor's request. "Adjournment? When we could spend even more time yelling at each other?"

The Emperor laughed grittily from within his Hork-Bajir host. "The homeworld didn't rotate on the same timescale: our pool meetings went on longer than we could stay in our hosts! Almost a shame, really," he added reflectively, "to see what it's turned into."

"Almost?"

((Best of luck to you.)) The Visser kept his thoughtspeak private. ((You deserve better, and I doubt you will get it.))

"None of us will get anything out of this," the Sub-Visser's second protested loudly. "And what's worse, all of us know it already. We only do it because we have to do it."

"It'll be fun," Efflit smirked.

"For you."

But none of them looked forward to it. For all the Emperor established minutiae, he had not ascended to his grand rank to do a Gedd's job. For all Efflit looked for an edge in competition, debate was too passive for him. For all the Visser boasted, Essam was a serious threat.

And for all Edriss 562 tried, she was still under the thumb of Essam, subject to his unpredictable whims. The freedom she experienced was a consequence only of his inexplicable absence.

It was truly inexplicable. Without any idea where he had gone, she was pressured to defend him to the three other Yeerks, all very divergent. Imperial rhetoric, the conquest of Earth: nothing was a common ground.

Ironically enough, perhaps the common disgust at the debate process was the only thing that could unite them.