The day of The Sharing Shindig came, and I felt like crying. Tergiv used my mouth to smile warmly at my parents as we got ready to head out. I began to realize this was the last time my parents would leave the apartment as free people. When we returned, they would be slaves to the Yeerks in their heads.
«Wait!» I cried out to Tergiv. «You don't have to take my mom too! You can let her stay free! Leave her someplace with other people while you infest dad! He's the one you mainly want, you don't need her!»
«It will be easier with you all infested,» Tergiv sighed. «No more acting, no more charades. I suppose we will have to keep up the fiction of you and Lucas, for the benefit of your schoolmates.» I felt sick once again, realizing what Tergiv meant. If my mom was left uninfested, then my dad's Yeerk, and Tergiv, would have to keep pretending to be us. With my mom also infested, there would be no need.
The entire car ride to the Community Center, I wanted to open the door, and jump out. Tergiv laughed silently in my head, but otherwise kept communication to a minimum. Lucas was waiting for us, a broad smile on his face. Yet again, I thought about how I would feel if this were happening without Yeerks in our heads. My parents greeted Lucas warmly, and I wanted to scream. He led us inside, similarly to how he led me that first night. All of this, because they wanted whatever my dad was working on at his job.
"Um, your elevator seems to be out of order," Mom said.
"I said the same thing," Tergiv said. "Show her what you did to me, Lucas!" With the same crazy smile he had that night, Lucas stepped into midair. My mom gasped loudly, and my dad barked Lucas' name, before they realize he was hovering.
"The Sharing has all the latest and greatest!" Lucas boasted. Footsteps sounded behind us, and we turned. Kassidy and Taylor were standing there, and it really was feeling like a replay of the night I was infested. Except, there was no sign of Visser Three.
"It's called a dropshaft," Taylor said, sounding sickeningly sweet.
"These are my friends, Kassidy and Taylor," Tergiv said, giving the impression we were all some big friend group.
"I don't know which is more impressive," Dad said, "this invisible elevator thing, or you guys getting Shana out of her shell!"
"Wait until you see the rest of what we have to offer," Kassidy said enthusiastically. "Come on!" There was room for all six of us in the dropshaft.
"Just concentrate on the bottom floor," Lucas encouraged my parents. Tergiv, meanwhile, thought «Take me to the pool.» We all began descending, quick enough to cause a thrill, but not to frighten us into believing we would crash to the bottom.
I had lost count of how many times Tergiv used dropshafts since I was infested. Once in a while, there would be no choice but to use an entrance that only had the long, winding stairs carved into the stone. Whenever possible, though, Tergiv used an entrance that included a dropshaft. I nearly died inside when Tergiv went to McDonald's, especially when I heard my mouth order a "Happy Meal with extra happy." Sounded like something a pervert would say. Instead, the cashier giggled, rang up our "order," and told us it would be ready in a minute. Then, Tergiv walked toward the bathroom, but went inside the kitchen area instead, straight to the walk-in freezer. I could not believe the Yeerks had hidden an entrance there.
Suddenly, I realized we were nearing the pool. I could hear the same screams for help I heard before. My parents hesitated, the same way I had. My dad looked concerned, and my mom looked almost horrified.
"What is going on?" she demanded. "What is going on down here?"
"Shana?" Dad asked. He sounded concerned, like he was finally starting to question this organization his daughter belonged to.
"It's okay Mom, Dad," Tergiv lied.
"Your lives about to change forever!" Kassidy said brightly.
"I don't think I like what you kids are up to," Dad said sternly.
"I want to go back upstairs," Mom said, beginning to sound scared. My heart broke as Taylor positioned herself behind them.
"You will, later," she said, and she lifted her arm. This time, I could see the spray that exited her fingers. She hit my dad first, and I saw him stiffen, then slump to the floor. My mom called out to him, but Taylor sprayed her next. In mere seconds, both my parents were unconscious on the floor.
"Go get some Hork-Bajir to carry them," Tergiv ordered, and Lucas scurried off.
«Mom… Dad...» I sobbed.
«Look at it this way,» Tergiv said, speaking to me for the first time in over an hour, «you're finally getting your wish!»
«What wish? You're not going to free me, or let my parents go free!»
«No, but you will be rid of me,» Tergiv replied smugly. «You'll, of course, be getting another Yeerk, but I'll finally be out of your head permanently.»
«How? Why?»
«Why, I'm going to be infesting your father...»
«NO!» Once again, my mental outburst was powerful enough to temporarily disrupt Tergiv's control. My body lost balance, and fell backward into the stone wall.
"Tergiv, is something wrong?" Taylor asked, sounding equal parts mocking, and concerned.
"Let's just say I'll be glad to be rid of this host," Tergiv muttered. Taylor frowned, but did not press the subject. Probably, because Lucas returned with the Hork-Bajir. They carefully lifted my parents' bodies, and carried them off to a room with a small tank. There were two Yeerks swimming around.
"How are we going to do this?" Lucas asked.
"Infest the mother first," Tergiv said casually. "Then, I'll exit this host, make sure to hold her tight! After I'm in the father, you can reinfest this one…" Lucas nodded, and gestured for the Hork-Bajir holding my mom. They positioned her next to the tank, and held her head beneath the surface just enough so a Yeerk could slither in her ear. We all stood silently while the Yeerk took control of my mother.
"Percran 754 in control," my mom's voice said, and my heart broke even more. Tergiv walked over to the tank, and lowered my body down.
"Tightly!" Tergiv reminded. I felt hands clutch my arms. Lucas on one side, Kassidy on the other. Then, an even tighter grip on my shoulder.
"One wrong move, human, and I'll stun you again," Taylor said, and I assumed she was the one holding my shoulder. Tergiv lowered my head, then I felt the now familiar feeling of the Yeerk slithering out of my ear. Instinct kicked in the moment I was in control, and I started to struggle against my captors. However, their grasp was firm and tight, especially Taylor's.
"Let me go," I whispered, tears streaming down my face.
"Not. Yet." Taylor's voice was sinister, and caused me to shiver. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw the Hork-Bajir lower my father's head into the tank. Hatred coursed through my veins as I watched Tergiv crawl up into his ear. I could picture every second of what was happening. Tergiv squeezing in through the ear canal, to the brain, wrapping tightly, blanketing the entire thing. All I wanted to do was reach in, and pull Tergiv out, hopefully tear the Yeerk straight in half, but I could not. Lucas and Kassidy held me tight, and Taylor forced my head into the sludge. I continued to cry as I felt my new Yeerk enter my ear. Eventually, the tears stopped, as the Yeerk gained full control.
«Hello,» the Yeerk said.
This was the day my mother became a slave inside her own body.
This was the day my father became a slave inside his own body.
This was the day I first met Kurtaz 994.