A/N: Thanks to everyone who has reviewed so far. I hope you enjoy this chapter and some of the new characters.
The Yeerks' apartment was a sharp contrast to the dilapidated, depressing atmosphere of the stairwell. The tiny hallway was lined with mirrors, posters and pictures, covering most of the surface in a way that would probably make an interior designer cringe. Carla smiled slightly to herself. Even if she'd not known who this place belonged to, she could probably have guessed. She knew how Silrin would have reacted if given a space of her own to decorate how she saw fit. There was still a disco ball hanging from the centre of Carla's ceiling that spun light from the windows onto the walls in patterns her Yeerk had found endlessly fascinating. As Carla lived alone and had no real friends outside the Sharing, Silrin had never had to worry too much about maintaining her cover at home.
Carla was jerked out of her thoughts by Alniss' voice inviting her through to the living room. Crammed into the room were two big sofas, which were covered in colourful blankets, rugs and cushions. Posters lined the walls here too, mostly of beautiful natural scenery with the occasional artwork. The room also contained an open-plan kitchen area at one end, where a young woman with blonde hair and olive skin was busy rolling out tortillas.
"Ilsh'na." The woman looked up with a smile as they entered, her eyes landing on Carla before she abruptly switched to English. "Good day?"
"Eventful," Alniss responded, returning the smile. "Kalran, this is Carla Roberts, ish' allok' a' Silrin, ka schrellie. Carla - Kalran 553 of the Sulp Niar pool. You don't mind if she stays for dinner?"
Kalran's eyes turned to look at her, but Carla felt none of the tension that close scrutiny would usually provoke, as the Yeerk was smiling openly. Carla wasn't quite sure of the meaning of everything Alniss had said: she recognised schrellie, which was a verbal Yeerkish word indicating a close sibling, but she didn't know the rest of it. She assumed it probably meant 'host', or maybe voluntary host.
"Of course you can," Kalran said. "Can I offer you a drink?"
Carla nodded.
"We've got tea, coffee, orange juice, beer, cider, milk or water."
"Just water, please. Erm… alcohol's really not a good idea, I, er-"
"Would you rather I never offer you any again?"
Carla nodded. "That'd be best."
The water was ice cold and beautifully refreshing after the hot bus ride. Carla felt like she was letting out a breath she'd been holding in for months as she settled onto one of the sofas. It was squashier than you might expect a brand new one to be, but no less comfortable for that, especially given the number of blankets and cushions that had been piled onto it.
A few minutes later, an Asian man in a business suit and a tall black woman came into the room, who were introduced as Menhal 624 and Hallim 709 respectively. Both greeted Carla warmly, and seemed perfectly happy about the idea of a stranger, a human, staying to dinner. Yeerks were much more helpful than humans in that regard… and most others, Carla thought.
"So," Menhal asked, settling himself on one of the other sofas. "How've you been doing since the war? Are you alright?"
Carla winced a little, glancing at Alniss. She wasn't sure that the other Yeerks' hospitality would extend to having her stay for an indeterminate period.
"Actually, that's something we all need to talk about," Alniss said. "I think Carla could use some help."
Kalran, who was currently frying onions, chicken and peppers, looked over. "Anything."
The other Yeerks made similar noises of assent as Alniss explained the situation. In only the few minutes it took Kalran to finish the fajitas, all five Yeerks had agreed to the plan without Carla even having to say a word. It was refreshing after two months spent fighting for work, struggling to persuade people to take her on without a reference and trying to work out how much she could ration her food without hunger becoming painful. Carla was slightly proud she'd made her savings last as long as they had after she'd lost her job, but it was wonderful to surrender and let someone else solve her problems for a while. The only thing that stopped her from closing her eyes in blissful relaxation was a lingering sense of guilt about invading these Yeerks' lives.
Carla reached out to take the plate Kalran offered her. "Thanks," she said softly. "So much."
"No worries," Kalran responded, settling herself next to Carla and picking up her own plate. "What're your views on all this, anyway? You haven't said a word."
"I…" Carla hesitated. "I just want to be sure you're all OK with it. I keep feeling like it's too much to ask."
"I'm very happy to do it, if it's what you need. There's no need to feel guilty."
"Of course there isn't," Hallim interjected. "Don't forget that Yeerks and humans have very different ideas about the concepts of personal space and privacy. We're used to being surrounded by others all the time, and having no space that's solely our own. Do you think six human strangers would find it easy to live amicably in an apartment this small?"
"No," Carla admitted. "Wait, six? There're five of you."
"Jilran used to live here, as well. She moved a few months ago so she could share a place with her mates- her tripartite, that is, if you know what that is- like a human couple, but involving three people."
"Yes, I know."
"So you see, we've already got an extra space: there's a spare bed in my room," Alniss said. "So there's really no need to worry."
"But Jilran would've paid rent, and I can't."
"Funnily enough, the air molecules currently occupying that bed haven't offered to pay their share either," Tafnik said. "I've been meaning to talk to them about it, actually. The cheek!"
Carla and a few of the others laughed, which dissipated the slightly awkward mood. Carla picked up her knife and fork and began to eat. The food was so delicious that despite eating a large meal only an hour and a half ago, she managed to finish it all, and was immediately offered more.
"No, no thanks. It's delicious, but Alniss made me the biggest lunch I've ever eaten. I can't fit anything else in."
Having declined dessert, being literally unable to eat another thing, Carla sat nursing a cup of tea in her hands as the five Yeerks settled themselves on the sofas around her.
"Should we brave the news?" Hallim asked.
Carla tensed, something that was clearly not missed by Alniss, who was sitting beside her.
"It might be best to give it a miss," Alniss said quietly.
"They've been banging on about it for about a month already," Carla muttered, bitterness and hatred filling her. She felt sick with rage every time she heard Jake Berenson's name, and seeing his face almost made her want to punch through the television screen. It meant she didn't watch the news much.
Kalran, who was on the sofa opposite, shifted a little, her expression anxious.
"Maybe we should watch a movie, then," Menhal suggested. "Or play a game? Any preferences, Carla? Everything's in that cupboard over there, if you want to have a look."
"A movie sounds good. I don't mind which, 'long as it doesn't have Marco Garcia in it. It's a shame he's in so much stuff, I woulda liked to see the new King Kong."
"Apparently they're remaking 'Invasion of the Body Snatchers'," Tafnik commented. "I'm hoping for a starring role with at least a million pound contract."
Carla smiled, though it was tinged with bitterness. Tafnik reminded her of one of Silrin's friends at the Sharing, who had the rare talent of being able to lighten any situation through humour. Carla wasn't sure where he was, or whether he'd even survived.
Eventually, they settled on a light-hearted romantic comedy. After only half-an-hour, Carla began to feel increasingly sleepy. She'd had a lot of disturbed nights: loneliness and anxiety were always worst in the early hours, so whenever she awoke she would inevitably end up tossing and turning for hours in a stew of emotions.
Carla fought her tiredness for about ten minutes, but eventually let herself nestle against Alniss' shoulder.
"Do you want to finish this tomorrow?" Alniss asked her.
"No, you watch it," Carla murmured. "I don't mind falling asleep here"
"I really think bed might be better. Not that I mind being a pillow."
Carla nodded and yawned, but didn't move. She felt too lethargic to shift a single muscle.
"Come on," Alniss said, shifting her shoulder to move Carla's head slightly. "Let's get you into bed."
Carla followed Alniss back out into the narrow hallway, turning right towards a door at the end.
"Our room," Alniss said, showing Carla in.
Two single beds, a wardrobe and a chest of drawers were crammed into the small space, the two beds almost touching. One, with a purple cover, was almost directly beneath the window, while the other, which had sky-blue linen, was against the same wall as the door. Carla let her eyes stray to a picture of an African savannah under a bright blue sky, which was stuck to the wall at the foot of the beds, surrounded by other posters and photographs stuck haphazardly around it.
"You're here for tonight," Alniss said, pointing to the blue bed. Looking closer, Carla could see that a pair of pyjamas had been laid out on top of it. "If you want the window bed, we can maybe swap tomorrow?"
Carla shook her head. "This one's fine. It looks really comfy."
Alniss turned her head away while Carla changed, then showed her the bathroom, whose walls were painted a cheerful yellow. Alniss pulled a new, red toothbrush from a cupboard, and Carla cleaned her teeth quickly, exhausted and desperate for sleep.
The bed was even more comfortable than it looked, and Carla breathed a sigh of contentment as she slipped between the covers, her eyes closing in bliss.
"Do you want anything else?" Alniss asked her.
"Stay with me until I fall asleep?" Carla murmured, without opening her eyes.
"Of course I will," Alniss whispered quietly.
Carla felt Alniss's fingers touch her hairline, slowly stroking the wisps of hair back behind her ear. A sense of complete contentment stole over her, and it was only a few minutes before her breathing deepened and she slid into restful, dreamless sleep.