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-Techno

The Ellimist was wandering around space-time, as usual, looking for a way, any way he could help the Animorphs without violating The Rules. He knew the young Animorphs' chances of victory were slim, and he didn't think that even he could help them now. But if they lost…The Yeerks would take over the galaxy. The Yeerks would win. Crayak would win. And the Ellimist would do whatever it took to prevent that monstrosity from achieving its goals of universal destruction.

As he was caught up in his musings, he noticed another ripple in space-time. Something he'd seen for a while, but been too busy to care about. He took a closer look, and saw that the ripple was much larger than normal. It was another war for Earth, going on under his nose..not that he'd had one, even as a Ketran. A war between two races, the Loric children, refugees of a dead planet, trying to save Earth from the Mogadorian Empire, led by a Loric traitor.

Now this complicated things. He was already overburdened as it was. How in the name of the Azure Crystal was he going to fix this!

Just then, he heard a voice. Well, not really heard, as extra-dimensional beings had long since dispensed with physical voices, instead using an advanced form of thought-speak, but that was the best word to describe how he reacted to the voice.

I know of the Loric War. I am the reason the Loric are holding out, as it is.

The voice was cold, flat, emotionless almost. As if the entity was a representation of the literal universe rather than an ascended mortal. This scared the Ellimist. And not much scared the Ellimist. Not even Crayak could harm him.

Who are you?, the Ellimist asked

I am the Loric Entity. I am the essence of every planet with sentient life, but I was most active on the formerly inhabited planet Lorien.

I have been aware of another presence ..aside from Crayak..in this region…I did not give it much thought however, the Ellimist admitted.

I know of you, Toomin, as of your race, and all in the universe. I am the force that kept your crystal ecosystem alive, the Entity said in that same cold flat voice which seemed to penetrate every fibre of the environment, much to the shock of the Ellimist.

The Ellimist could not comprehend this, knowing this being was far older and more powerful than he or the Crayak. Yet, he realised, there must have been a force holding together the universe even before the Crayak and him had been sucked into a black hole and ascended into extra-dimensional beings. This Entity must be it.

..If you're so powerful, why can't you help the Loric more? Or help me with the Animorphs? the Ellimist said in irritation

Much to the Ellimist's surprise, the Entity began to laugh. It was a chilling sound, as if the universe itself was reverberating. Now the Ellimist knew how the Animorphs..or any mortal..must feel in his own presence.

Once the Entity stopped laughing, it began to speak:

Long ago, billions of years ago, when the universe had barely formed, but still had been in existence for hundreds of millions of years, I was much younger, and more arrogant. I thought I had control of everything. Which even I technically don't. I was..bored, you may say. And with all the imagination I could muster, I created a device you refer to as the Time Matrix. That had disastrous consequences, even when an extra-dimensional being such as I used it. It created a permanent warp in spacetime -the ability to travel through time and modify it. I tried to destroy it, but such an object cannot be destroyed, of course, it said condescendingly, as if the millions of years old Ellimist was a mere child. Which he was, of course, in comparison to the ancient Entity. Beings with our level of power cannot interfere unless the balance is at stake. And as powerful as the Yeerks and Mogadorians are, they are mere mortals. They will just shift the balance in their favour -they cannot break it altogether. Eventually, even they will cease to exist, and the balance will once again shift.

The Ellimist was infuriated by the way the Entity treated him so condescendingly, as if he was far below the Entity. But what made it worse was, that if the Entity was telling the truth, the Ellimist was indeed far below the Entity. He'd have to hide his thoughts however. If that was even possible.

Essentially, you can't do anything due to non-interference. Like the Rules between Crayak and I.

Yes. However..I do have an idea..

Yes..?

Let's agree on a compromise..so that the both of us can save Earth and restore balance.

What are your terms?

A new reality, where the parties of both conflicts meet, a pocket dimension, the Entity replied

The Ellimist's mind was working very very quickly. On one hand, such a thing could have unforeseen effects, and required immense power to sustain. Power the Ellimist was not sure he had. However, the Entity could theoretically tap the entire universe's power, perhaps the energy of a black hole..the same energy that had turned him into a god so long ago..It was a risky manoeuvre. But the Ellimist had learned so long ago that the risky, unorthodox manoeuvres often worked, even when more logical courses of action had long failed.

This may have effects on the strands of space-time, as delicately interconnected as they are. However… Since I discovered the Loric War, I have been curious as to what would happen if both wars for Earth were to collide. I thus agree to your terms. Let us hope for a better future.

Just then, with a pop, a strange creature materialised in front of the Ellimist. A creature he was all too familiar with. The Animorphs had often described him as looking like a cross between a purple dinosaur, and a prune. The Ellimist had seen plenty of both, and could understand the resemblance

Oh ho! I cannot believe it! My master the great Crayak was not invited to this gamble?

What do you want, Drode?, the Ellimist said in irritation and exhaustion

Merely to play a part of course!

Who is this? the Lorien Entity said in annoyance, likely at the Drode's tone

This is the Drode, the main servant of my enemy Crayak. The Crayak and its allies, seek to destroy, and undo my progress, while I seek to create, and undo their work in turn, while still obeying the rules we have predetermined to maintain balance. The Drode is the most dangerous of Crayak's allies, as it too is an extra-dimensional being, and is extremely unpredictable. The Drode means "wild card" in the language of his species. Quite an apt name for such a variable being

So this is the famed Lorien Entity? the Drode said in an insolent tone. Why, you're even more pathetic than this meddling nitwit Ellimist!

Do not try my patience. the Entity said in that same disturbingly flat tone, made more distorted by the anger in its voice. If you wish to participate, do so without making irrelevant remarks. If not, leave, and you will face the wrath of your master due to your incompetence.

Alright, no need to be a whiner, the Drode said in his strangely high pitched voice. But down to business then. The great and noble Crayak only proposes two terms. Just two.

Yes? the Ellimist prompted, fearing what the psychopathic Crayak would want. The last time Crayak had made a request, the Animorphs' leader, Jake, had died. If it weren't for the Animorphs' reckless but ingenious gamble, Jake would have stayed dead, a major victory for Crayak, who at this point was Jake's enemy as much as the Ellimist's. And why did he not have the decency to show himself, instead of always sending his servant here.

Crayak is very generous. He is inclined to forgive. He demands just one.

And those four words filled the Ellimist with dread. Would the Crayak never be appeased with enough death, destruction and violence?

Another death for Crayak? the Ellimist said in a voice that hinted at the accumulated weariness of millions of years.

Where's the fun in doing the same thing twice? No, no, Crayak is far more creative than you think. Though, now that you mention it, we can add in a death too. What he wants..is just one of your..ah..puppets, of his choice...to be infested by a Yeerk! Ah hah! the Drode said as it threw back its head in sadistic laughter.

The Ellimist was utterly shocked. This… even the Crayak couldn't possibly stoop this low … To be infested by a Yeerk was far worse than death. And though many Yeerks were decent, knowing Crayak, he'd pick the most sadistic Yeerk he could think of. One which had sworn allegiance to him...Esplin 9466 the Greater! Visser Three, also known as the Abomination to the Andalites. The head of the Yeerk invasion of Earth. The Yeerk which couldn't have possibly survived that black hole decades ago, but did. The only living founder of the Yeerk Empire. One of the leaders in the assault of the Hork-Bajir World. The only individual Yeerk that the proud Andalites feared, not just because he had killed many Andalites, but also because he of all Yeerks, had an Andalite host, who in an ironic twist of fate, was responsible for the Hork-Bajir quantum virus genocide. Esplin with Crayak's backing and a new host, perhaps more powerful than his current one..would mean the end of the free galaxy. He could only hope Esplin's new host wouldn't be a Loric.

However, he had to grudgingly accept the fact that this time, Crayak had won. It was well within the rules. And perhaps, Crayak's victory would be his last, and not in a way good for the Ellimist.

Very well, Drode, the Ellimist said. He was in the form of an old man now, and the grief could be seen in his all-knowing eyes. I accept

He could sense the shock of the Lorien Entity. The Entity, too, had likely grasped the gravity of the situation. Though it was not as familiar with Yeerks as the Ellimist, the Entity knew this could upset the balance grossly towards Crayak's favour.

You agree with this demand?

I must. The Rules of the "Game" between myself and the Crayak dictate so.

Rule Three Thousand Seventy Two -B to be exact. Crayak was a horrible bureaucrat and if his nonexistent soul loved anything at all, it would be those rules. Bureaucrats were the worst mortals, and as extra-dimensional beings, they were only worse.

The Entity knew even its limitless power could not be applied in this situation. Then if there is nothing we can do, let us begin

Indeed. the Ellimist said with a deep sigh. As the new reality forged itself in a flash of blue, the last thing the Ellimist heard as his very being reshaped itself was the Drode's laughter.

POV: Henri:

Being a Cêpan was no easy task. Especially if you now had several Garde teenagers to care for and train instead of just the usual one. John I'd been with for a very long time, and knew his family personally. He was an okay kid, even if he could be a bit stubborn at times.

And then, once John developed his Lumen and a few other Legacies, some more Garde showed up.

First came Six. I knew Six. On the ship to Earth, Six and John, then very young children, had played together. I entertained the concept of Loric love occurring between Six and John, since they had known each other beforehand, but then again, John loved a human named Sarah. Not that I had anything against humans, its just that most of them were incapable of feeling the bond that comes from Loric love, and the few that did would only bring their Loric partner grief after a few decades. Why? Humans live less than half the Loric lifespan of two-hundred years, and age much faster..meaning the Loric would have to grieve for half their life.

There was also the added complication now, of the constant risk of being killed by Mogs. A Garde could defend themselves far better than a human could. There was the risk that Sarah might die during the war.

While Sarah was a nice girl, I really thought John should reconsider his relationship with her.

Then came Nine, we found him trapped in a Mogadorian facility, he'd been there for a year. Well..he was a special case. Very violence prone and arrogant, but I, as well as the other Loric saw his good side at times.

It did help that he was probably the most physically powerful Garde around, and probably was the next Pittacus Lore, though I didn't tell John that. Still, holding John over the roof of the Hancock Centre was unnecessary.

Then Marina (Number Seven) and Ella (Number Ten) arrived. Marina was quiet and shy. Very nervous, she was, and needed a lot more self-esteem. I mean how can you NOT when you have such an important Legacy like healing?! Thank goodness Eight was able to give her more confidence.

Ella was a strange case. Everyone, myself included, thought there were only nine Garde who'd made it to Earth. Apparently we'd been wrong, as Ella was the tenth Garde. The fact that there were ten Garde triggered something deep in my memory..weren't there supposed to be just nine Loric Elders?

Next Eight arrived. That kid was such a ball of energy. Still is. The guy always knew what joke to tell or weird pranks to play, and you never failed to feel happy around him. Paradoxically, he was a perfect match for the quiet and shy Marina, they brought out the best for each other. I was happy for them, and I really hoped they'd both make it through the war.

I could sense though, that under all that energy and outgoingness, he was hiding some deep sadness inside. I didn't want to pry, but I guessed it was likely that his Cêpan had recently died.

Lastly Five. I don't know why, but he gave me the chills. It was unfair really, suspecting him, but something told me there wasn't something right about him. Not many of the other Garde liked him either. Marina was that kind of person that was nice to everyone, and so was Eight, so they liked him. I guess. John was civil to him. But Nine was outright hostile to him, which really would result in some problems.

A Mogadorian kid named Adam also joined at some point. I still wasn't entirely sure about him, but evidently One had trusted him enough to give him her Legacy. He was a quiet one, and still blamed himself for Three's death. Somehow, I wasn't entirely sure why, but my mind seemed to link Adam with Five. Perhaps because they were both introverted?

Anyways. Right now, I was doing my usual morning-threat detection. Mog alert to be specific. That involved checking the system of computers in the intel room. Usually there was nothing of importance, but it had served us well when necessary. I did a cursory glance at the computer screens in the intel room, and was just about to leave, when I got an alert on one of the computers. An alert over the Atlantic Ocean, close to Long Island. A possibly hostile craft was descending at a rapid rate..too fast, it appeared to be crash landing...I zoomed in onto the satellite network connections over that area, and although whatever it was was moving very quickly, I could see it appeared to be a very large dome with one heat signature, and at least a hundred residual heat signatures...Mogadorians didn't have craft this big, and none this shape. This wasn't a Loric craft either.

I racked my brains. I knew other spacefaring races existed, like the Kordek, the Skrit Na, Ongachic, Hawjabrans...and the...Andalites. Of course! How could I not see it was an Andalite craft! Their Dome Ships were iconic, apparently one of the most powerful spacecraft ever made..but a Dome crashing meant something destroyed a DomeShip. The battle bridge was gone, just the Dome. I hated to think what could possibly destroy a DomeShip. So the Andalites were engaging in battle with a force just outside of Earth...and had lost? But who...the Mogadorians?

Had the Andalites finally responded to the distress beacon the Loric sent out when the Mogadorians destroyed Lorien?