In the wake of the Visser's victory, the Earth spaceport was a bustling hub. Transports arrived brining advanced weapons and departed to send Controllers throughout the galaxy. Computers analyzed information on Andalite fleet movements. Technicians hustled about, overseeing it all.
It was the image of progress, a testament to the Yeerks' efficiency…except, of course, for the lowly Gedd-Controllers confirming departures. Theirs was a tedious business, consisting of double-checking other people's bureaucracy.
The Controller who arrogantly showed up, then, was not as intimidating to them as he might have been to younger, more impressionable, low-ranks. These Yeerks had seen it all: the brutality of battle, the boredom of better times. They had believed in their future promotion, and their dreams had been dashed. Innumerable superiors had had to wait for them before they could go any further. Whoever was strutting around like he owned the place didn't, and they were only happy to tell him that.
"Rr-well? What's your name?"
"E-uh-Sub-Visser One."
"You'rre not him," another Gedd, sharper-looking than the first, said. "He's on-rrr the way out."
"I know," said the Controller, trying to make a smile come to the lips of his human body. "That's why I took his rank."
"Verry cleverr." The first Gedd sounded as if that was not at all the case. "And yourr identification?"
"I told you, it's not in the system yet."
"Then I'm afrrraid you'll just rr-have to wait herrre."
"This is on special order of Sub-Visser 95."
"Rrand can she prove it?"
"Well, you've already let her on the spacecraft. I don't think she'll be very happy if you haul her back out."
The Gedd-Controllers laughed. Uppity Yeerks quickly learned who, in that microcosmic sliver of the universe, was in charge. "I don't think so eitherrr. Having herr time wasted by nobodies likerr you."
Inwardly seething, he struggled to maintain control: he was unused to managing a human face. "Humor me. Dig her out."
Reluctantly, one of the Gedds trekked into Edriss's spacecraft. She was indeed still a Sub-Visser, but rarely was referred to as such, due to the risk of confusing her with Esplin. But with his demotion, she was beginning to come into her own.
"Have we abandoned the warrr on Earrth orr what?" mused the remaining Gedd-Controller. "At the rrrate people want to get out of herrre…"
"Who wants to leave?" asked the loiterer.
"Everrrybody, it seems."
"I'm sure Visser Three has a plan."
The Gedd laughed again.
"Er, excuse me," the Controller said in a much edgier tone, "I need to…ah…I'm not used to having a human host, you see? This is new. If I can simply relieve him of his, uh, excretion?"
"Go rrright ahead. Wouldn't rr-want that sorrrt of thing in public."
He dashed off on ungainly human legs, but shortly returned, much more at ease, to the place he'd occupied.
"What arrre you doing herre?" deadpanned the Gedd.
"Waiting for Ed-admission to the ship!"
"You'll have torrr get back in line."
"I waited for-well, not hours-far too long to get through."
"Yourrr own fault forr not sticking around."
"As a direct superior, I command you-"
"Oh, and can you prrrove that you actually arrre a Sub-Visserrrr?"
"As soon as I get access to a computer-"
"But until then, you'rrrre not a superrriorr."
Fuming, he strode to the end of the line.
As the Gedd prepared to deal with the next Controller, Edriss finally emerged. "You said someone wanted to see me?" she snapped, looking around.
"He rrrealized that you werrre too busy to waste yourr time on him," the Gedd that had fetched her said confidently.
"I'm back here!" he called.
"Vait your turn," muttered a Nak-Controller in front of him, through a thick accent.
"I already did!"
"I just survived a ride through Z-space from ze Sstram homevorld."
"So? I outrank you."
"I am Visser Thirty-Eight," she smirked.
"Well, I'm-never mind," he sighed.
"Whoever you are, I am Sub-Visser Ninety-Five," Edriss reminded them, "and I'm not interested in waiting on your childish conversations. We are engaged in a war." She marched back into the ship.
Restraining his fury, the Controller waited in line. Fortunately for him, it moved more quickly once the Gedds had settled into a rhythm of insulting the others in a way that didn't interfere with their work. "Afterrr all," as one put it, "the morre people come thrrrough, the morre we can rridicule merrcilessly."
At last, he returned to the front of the line. "Once again, Sub-Visser Ninety-Five has the necessary files."
"And once again, she has alrrready come out. We cerrtainly wouldn't want to botherr herrr any morre."
"If she's not interested in seeing me, why is she still here? Certainly she has important missions to accomplish…just like you, I'm sure."
"Ourrr mission is to make surre that no Andalite in morrph trries to sneak aboarrd these ships, so forrgive us if you'rre not trrreated with the highest priorrity," one snapped.
In spite of everything, the Controller laughed. "Of course. Wouldn't want to jeopardize imperial security."
Edriss was roused again, and angrily poked her head out. "What now?"
"I'm the new Sub-Visser One," he said nervously. "Visser Three assigned me here."
"Did he?" she asked critically. "I think I would have heard."
"Let me access your computer, the data should be in by now."
For an instant she looked even more confused, but recovered quickly. "I'd have to accompany you in order to give you clearance."
"Of course," he nodded.
She strutted into the ship, and he followed close behind.
The Gedds watched for a moment-something seemed slightly off-but quickly focused on the next Controllers. "How can rrr-I help you?"
A Hork-Bajir Controller started a reply in the Taxxon language, then switched to Galard halfway through. "Ssnrwee ssleeyer ashthess departing to contact Skrit Na?"
"Rright overr that way."
The other Gedd looked down at a computer monitoring all of the Z-space logs. "What was r-that?"
"Rr-what was what?"
He jabbed the screen.
"Someone just exited intorr Z-Space."
They looked at each other momentarily, worried.
"Next?"