Meeting at the mall

Recoil of the cannon:

This mini-chapter takes place at the beginning of volume 08. As a reminder, in this volume, the Animorphs notice the first effects of the destruction of the kandrona generator during an outing to the mall. There is then an argument with Axe because he did not warn them that their actions would lead to the death of humans. And also because he is hiding things from them about the Andalites.

oOoOoOoOo

(Ah !!)

I mentally breathed a sigh of relief as I saw the cinema lights go out and handed over control to Tom. I was so hungry. So much so that I could no longer maintain control all the time.

Those cursed Andalites. At the same time, we should have suspected that they would use the morph next to one of our facilities. What is more surprising is that he seemed to know this creature perfectly and how to get rid of it. Yet our scientists had claimed that the Veleek was a speciesUnknown Andalites. The outcome of the events was not only that the Andalites were at large, but also that a large part of our transports had been destroyed. The very ones we depended on for kandrona supplies until the main generator was replaced. Despite the Visser's denials, upon hearing the news of the disaster, all the Yeerks understood what it meant: there would not be enough kandrona for everyone.

No one was therefore surprised by the attempted purge that supposedly followed to find the traitors who had given the Andalites the necessary information (what a flimsy excuse, as if a Yeerk would help the Andalites). In fact, so unsurprised that the Visser's agents were met with armed resistance. A battle ensued within the HQ, leading to the destruction of another shuttle. By the end of the day, calm had returned, and half of the personnel present in that area were either dead or doomed to starve. Shocking losses, but barely enough to resolve the shortage.

What a humiliation. We were tens of millions of Yeerks armed to the teeth on this planet and hundreds of thousands in this area, and yet 6 elite Andalite soldiers without advanced weapons were giving us a monumental beating. Not even. 5 Andalite soldiers and an Andalite child.

Indeed, during the Veleek disaster, it was confirmed that one of the Andalites was just a child survivor from the world ship that had approached near the moon without an escort, completely unaware of the extent of the Yeerk fleet deployed around this planet. His rescue shuttle had miraculously escaped our hunters, and then he had survived, somehow, the particularly dangerous wildlife of this planet. And all without being detected by humans or controllers.

The kid took after someone, but it was still impressive.

But anyway. The disaster was such that it was rumored it was only a matter of time before Visser-3 was demoted and his Andalite host confiscated. It is true that it would have been much more logical for the leader of the invasion to take a human host (as long as the invasion had to remain secret). Such an exceptional host had its place on the battlefield and not as a tool of intimidation for troops increasingly disapproving of their Visser.

But while waiting for the wonderful day when the council would bring this psychopath into line, visser-3 remained in charge and was determined to restore his authority. And that was just one of the many troubles that followed. But only onechooseReally worried me: hunger. Never, even during the worst sieges, had I been so hungry. And this, while we were supposed to be outside a conflict zone (which was evident by the large number of civilians and opportunists who, unlike me, had never really known hunger).

It's simple, me and the other Yeerks of my rank étionsNow subjected to a regime that was normally reserved for the worst criminals. Receiving every 3 days a dose of kandrona sufficient to prolong the life of the yeerk, but insufficient to allow it to repair the damage caused by the period of fasting. Usually, it was a torture technique that allowed a yeerk to slowly starve to death (the death penalty was so common among the yeerk that it was necessary to invent an even worse punishment for the most serious crimes). And all this while the visser and his associates could indulge as much as they wanted.

Even knowing that in two days everything would be over and I could eat and rest as much as I wanted, I wouldn't have been able to bear it if IHad not discovered this wonder that was cinema. Being able for several hours to just watch beautiful lights coordinated with music move on a giant screen while your host regularly consumed junk food. What a delight. At certain moments, I almost managed to forget that I was in pain. At others, I almost managed to follow the film's plot.

Tom was also happy to be able to have control, even if he complained that he was getting tired of spending the little time he had in control sitting on a chair watching the same movie on loop. But he said it more for form's sake. I expected him to help me reluctantly to protect himself and his brother. But I did not expect to receive sincere compassion. Even if tinged with a wild joy at seeing the Yeerks suffer and some reflection on how to take advantage of it to free themselves permanently from the Yeerks (and therefore from me). Wait, do the images look different? I thought.

Tom, we got the wrong room, it's not the right movie, let me take control again.

The movie has not started. This is a donation appeal message for the 'earthquake' that devastated the region.

Oh yes, one of the many other problems that followed was that it was necessary to cover up the sudden disappearance of hundreds of thousands of people from this mini-civil war (most of whom were in high-ranking positions in the police, the army, the media, politics, or finance). The vibrations caused by the underground battle were used to make people believe that an earthquake had occurred. To successfully make humans swallow this lie, all the Yeerks were mobilized almost 24/7, which only worsened the fatigue due to the lack of food and thus the Yeerks losing control of their hosts. Fortunately, given the extent of the problem, the systematic execution of Yeerks and problematic hosts was stopped. From now on, they are put in cages until the problem is resolved, but this involves explaining their temporary disappearance to their loved ones.

In short, I spent half of my days 'helping earthquake victims' with the sharing association instead of going to class with the express permission of Mr. Chapman (a controller whose host is part of Tom's high school leadership) and the other half in this cinema watching movies on repeat. And my nights were largely spent doing guard duty at some yeerk installation in case the andalites launched a new attack, because of course, who needs sleep?

And to top it all off, there was the constant threat of another attack by the Andalite commando, which was driving everyone crazy. Especially Visser-3. He knew that even the slightest additional failure would mean the end of his career. He was plunged into a sort of paranoia. He saw traitors and hidden Andalites everywhere. For the first time in his impressive career, Visser-3 was afraid of his opponents.

It must be said that these Andalites made a particularly inventive use (and contrary to their code of honor) of morphing technology. In the eyes of the Yeerks, morphing technology was more like magic than science, but from what little we understood, it allowed them to store their bodies in zero-space for a maximum of two hours and interact with our dimension byThrough an artificial body. In a word, he could transform into any living being at will for two hours. And when he returned to their initial state, all the injuries they had sustained disappeared. However, if he exceeded the two hours, he remained forever trapped in their transformation.

They could therefore be anything and appear from anywhere. Normally, it is just one of the many technologies the Andalites had to ruin our lives. Because of their rules of honor, usually only Andalite spies really used it (at least until they were cornered enough to throw their stupid code of honor out the window). However, combined with guerrilla tactics, it proved extremely effective in spreading terror among the Yeerks.

After a few minutes, the movie finally started and I let Tom give me my dose of chocolate at regular intervals. Mmm chocolate. I will never understand why humans don't consider it a hard drug.

After an indefinite period, Tom's gaze left the screen. I asked him what was wrong when I saw him scolding a child who was devouring at full speed the chocolate bars Tom had placed on the empty seat next to us. This stock was supposed to last us the whole day, and he had already made a quarter of it disappear. Without even thinking, I took control and set about securing my precious loot, but he resisted.

But will you let go!

To me, eat. Declared the creature like a zombie, its face covered with traces of its previous misdeeds.

Tom couldn't help but burst out laughing at that face he found as cute as it was funny. But I didn't see what was funny about it.

No way, it's mine. I shouted with great maturity before pulling harder on the tablet he was holding in his hands. He retaliated and we almost ended up fighting.

The other spectators turned around worriedly and very quickly we became the center of attention.

Axe what are you doing? Leave it. Excuse us, Sir. Tom!!

Marco. I replied.

The moment I showed that I had recognized him, Jack's best friend displayed a terrified expression that he would never have directed at Tom.

(So, Jack won't talk to anyone about it?) I said sarcastically to Tom.

Don't act surprised, you suspected it for a while. Anyway, what difference does it make?

(Not much) I conceded to him.

My inner debates were interrupted by the arrival of a sweaty Jack who also turned pale upon recognizing me. He tried to force this curious child to leave the cinema and stop picking up popcorn remnants from the floor that must have been from the previous screening, while Marco nervously rambled on with a speech I didn't pay attention to. I was in pain and just wanted to be alone again.

It's okay, it's just chocolate. But you need to feed your friend.

He left without asking for more and I sat back down for the rest of the movie. I was just waiting for Tom to stop laughing to give him back control.

He's really weird, that kid. Besides, I shouldn't laugh about it, he's probably autistic. In your opinion, was it a boy or a girl?

I don't know, I didn't really pay attention.

A boy, I would say, but he had a feminine look. In fact, he looked like a mix between Jack and my cousin Rachelle. It's crazy how much he looked like them.

This last remark alerted me and I replayed the memory to get a portrait of the boy. Depending on how you looked at him, he displayed a different face. At one moment, he looked like a boy and at others, he looked like a girl. And constantly, he seemed like a mix between Rachel, Marco, and Jack. You could also say there was a bit of that Cassie, but I couldn't be sure, because Tom had never spent much time with her, so Tom's memories representing her were blurry. Immediately, all the pieces of the puzzle came together in my mind and my blood ran cold. I rushed out of the cinema amid the shouts of a Tom who didn't understand where my anger was coming from.

I spotted them quickly. HeYou are a professional translator. Directly translate this text into English, without adding anything.was foundYou are a professional translator. Directly translate this text into English, without adding anything.a few meters awayfrom the cinema entranceand I triedYou are a professional translator. Directly translate this text into English, without adding anything.to move away as quickly as possiblethis strange child from the terrace of a restaurantunder the furious gaze of the customers. I rushed towards them. Tom tried to stop me, but I was seized by a new strength I didn't think I possessed, which temporarily made me forget my hunger. I violently grabbed the armof the two boysfrom behind and forcibly moved them away from the androgynous boy. They tried to break free, but I held them firmly.

Hey, let us go. What's gotten into you? Jack scolded me.

You, if you value your life, I advise you to shut up and come with me. I replied to him.Firmly.

The chocolate-devouring monster pretended to approach. I placed myself between him and the two unconscious people and ordered:

And you, the degenerate nag, don't take another step. Your brother killed half of my litter sisters. Eliminating you would be a pleasure.

"But what are you talking about? Has hunger driven you mad or what?" Tom exclaimed.

Shut up! He has no way of knowing we came unarmed, thinking he was rightly criticizing the madness that such a bluff represented.

The boy looked at me with a deep look of contempt straight in the eyes and I heard resonating in my mind:

They are not going anywhere yeerk. Release them immediately.

And otherwise, what are you going to do? You are alone and you can't transform in front of so many people. And in this form you are as harmless as a newly born Yeerk (especially hoping he doesn't know that I too was harmless).

"You're talking to yourself now," worried Tom.

(He is telepathic and speaks directly into my mind) I quickly replied to Tom

This response only confirmed her fears about me. Never mind, I had other fish to fry for the moment.

All of a sudden, another voice resonated in my head:

He is not the only Yeerk. Let the humans go and we will not harm you.

For all response, I started to laugh to feign a confidence I was completely lacking. It was a cold and cruel laugh. I don't know if it frightened my adversaries, but it worked extremely well on Tom. I then spoke without paying attention to the many people surrounding us:

Tell your nanny that I have killed enough Andalites to know that if you could have done anything to me, you would have already attacked. Add that whatever they try, I would have plenty of time to shoot the little brother of their late leader. If you have any of that honor you so often boast about, let me leave with the two humans. Anyway, you should never have involved them in this.

Without waiting for a response, I headed towards the parking lot, dragging behind me the two runts who did everything to slow me down and hurled protests that I didn't even bother to listen to.

Once seated in the car, I turned towards the back seat where those two fools were sitting and yelled:

Can we know what you were doing? After all the risks I took for you. Is this how you thank me? Do you even know what will happen when the other Yeerks find out that I'm the traitor who allowed the Andalites to destroy our shuttles?

You didn't do this out of charity, but because my brother agreed to sacrifice himself for us. The only one I owe something to is him, Jack replied courageously.

And in your opinion, what will happen to your precious brother when you get caught?

He seemed to want to say something, but lowered his head, his eyes filled with guilt.

And you, the sexual partner of the dwarf, have you thought about your father? You clearly don't care about dying, but what do you think would happen to him if just after losing his wife, he lost his only son? Have you even thought about it?

Of course I thought about it. But we have to do something. We can't let the Earth be invaded. If we lose, all our loved ones will be enslaved. And we will never abandon Tom. He replied.Marcowhile glancing at Jack.

So that's it. You think you're heroes who are going to save the earth? Is that what the Andalites told you to convince you to help them? I have bad news for you, war is like in your stupid movies. Except humans aren't the main characters of the story, but the grunts you see in the background getting blown away in general indifference. For you, there's no happy ending at the end. The best thing that can happen to humans is that the invasion is a success. I harangued them with spite.

You seriously hope to convince us to support the invasion. Retorted Jack.

If we succeed in the invasion quickly enough, we can project the war onto the Andalites' home planet. If we fail, all our defense lines will be breached and this planet will be reduced to ashes by the Andalites' orbital bombardments.

The Andalites will never do that. Jack replied with conviction.

Of course. The planet is already too infected for them to risk a ground assault. What did you think they were going to do? Scan six billion human beings while trying to dodge the Dracon rays. After more than a century of war, they are as exhausted as we are. Even if they wanted to, they simply wouldn't have the means. And the genocidal maniacs who lead our two peoples will never agree to sign a peace.

You are mistaken, Andalites are not like the Yeerk, they are (...). Attempted Jack, but I interrupted him.

Stop being so naive and grow up a little. In reality, there aren't the good guys on one side and the bad guys on the other. There are only bad guys and a mass of extras struggling to survive in the midst of this mess.

Hope to survive to know an eternity of slavery. I think you haven't quite grasped the concept of hope, Marco said ironically.

It is not me who makes the rules. In a few years, you will become slaves and you must accept it. I know it sounds horrible as a fate. And it is. But there is always hope, a goal to achieve that gives meaning to the most horrible of ordeals. As a Yeerk saying goes: 'Life is worth nothing, but nothing is worth life.'

Easy to say when one is destined to be the master. Retorted Marco, once again.

Upon hearing that, I got angry again:

The master! The master of what? I have been a soldier since birth. This invasion is just a parenthesis. Once finished, at best, I will be sent back to the front and I won't even be able to breathe without a permit signed in triplicate by my assistant's sub-screw. Unless the Andalites find us and kill us from orbit.

I did not tell him that the most likely scenario was that once the invasion was over, they would both be infected (like the rest of humanity) and that the other Yeerks would discover my betrayal by searching their memory. I would then suffer a slow and painful death. Unless I kill them both. Maybe it will be easier when they are older.

I resumed in a softer tone:

I didn't have a childhood. I was twice as young as you when I killed for the first time. Until I arrived on this planet, I was never given any choice in my life. You have it. Enjoy it while you still can. Leave honor and great ideals to the Andalites. Whatever the outcome of this war, none of us will be part of the picture. In fact, if the Andalites win, there won't even be a picture. All you can do is enjoy the time you have left.

You know I've met undertakers more cheerful than you. Does that mean you're not taking us for a little swim? Marco added.

I turned around and started the car.

No, I'm taking you home.

They both sighed with relief. I added:

But if you have even the slightest instinct for survival, you will not come within 100 meters of a Yeerk installation. By the way, before I interrupted you, what were you planning to do at HQ? I understand that the Andalites want to attempt an attack when we are most vulnerable, but what was your role in this story?

Nothing at all, we just wanted to show a film to Axe. Jack replied.

Axe? Is that what you call Aximili-Esgarrouth-Isthill? He must really be desperate to accept such a lack of respect.

How do you know him?

I don't know him. Since the Veleek incident, all the Yeerks on the planet know that the killer Yeerk's little brother is part of that very strange group of Andalites that have been ruining our lives for months.

Why strange?

If I answer your questions, you will answer mine.

It depends on the questions.

Because they do not behave like Andalites. Andalites are brainless brutes who follow a very strict code of honor. Guerrilla strategies are not their style. They charge in, relying entirely on their technological advantage to get by. Not to mention, they manage to blend in surprisingly well among humans and are extremely knowledgeable about the local fauna. So much so that many have said it was not Andalites, but humans. However, Visser-3 dismissed the hypothesis outright, as that would mean he had failed to maintain secrecy. It was very clever of them to use humans. Not at all in accordance with their laws, but clever.

Now it's your turn. What were you doing near one of the secret entrances to the HQ with Andalite soldiers, just before the installation of the new Kandrona generator? You're not going to make me believe it was just to watch a movie?

Well, that is to say. Jack began awkwardly.

But of course, Andalites are fans of Star Trek, that's well known. I said with sarcasm.

A moment of silence followed.

The Andalites are Star Trek fans!? I exclaimed.

We just wanted to show him what a movie was. Jack replied.

You took the risk of getting caught just for that?

So yes, said like that it sounds silly, but at the time it seemed harmless.

How did you get the other Andalites to approve this nonsense? Don't tell me they're children too? I asked. I didn't know if I hoped the answer would be yes or no. On one hand, if they were all children, it would be easier to catch them, but on the other hand, what a humiliation it would be for the empire.

They fell silent and we approached Marco's house. I sighed. Now that we were far from danger, my strength was gradually leaving me.

Okay, I understand. You won't tell me anything and whatever I say, you won't give up. Just don't take unnecessary risks and don't foolishly trust the Andalites, just because they tell you what you want to hear and their natural appearance is more appealing than ours. They are only using you and will betray you at the slightest opportunity.

No. Axe is our friend.

Oh yes, really. Does he trust you? Does he answer your questions? Is he hiding important information from you? If I remember correctly, you didn't seem to know that the destruction of the Kandrona generator would lead to thousands of human deaths. Wouldn't they have hidden this slight little detail from you, just so you would agree to help them?

They did not reply anything.

If there is one point on which the Andalites and the Yeerks agree, it is on how to treat primitive species like yours. To them, you are just inferior beings. Animals they can dispose of as they please. They will never treat you as equals. And your 'friend' is no exception.

I stopped in front of Marco's door. The two boys got out. I suppose Jack didn't want to be alone with me. I let them.Leave hoping that he would stay out of trouble. As soon as I found myself alone, Tom's voice echoed in my head.

(So, are you going to explain to me what's going on?)

It was going to be a long conversation and I no longer had the energy.

Later Tom, I'm tired. Can you drive?

Obviously, I have my license, just so you know.

(No, Temrash114 had the license. You were just a spectator when he took it)

Before my infestation, I often secretly drove my mother's car to go to Cindy's house.

(Is she your ex too? Is there a single girl in this town you haven't slept with?)

Stop, nothing happened between us. I was just a friend to her. The only one I clicked with pushed my head into the yeerk pool. Who would have thought that the star of the local basketball team would be such a loser with girls.

You are not a loser. It's just that you were infested very young. Too young to experience serious stories. Normally, we avoid infesting non-mature hosts. And not only because the high hormone level is ... disturbing.

I gave him a mental hug and completely disconnected from his mind, leaving him totally free of his movements without me being able to intervene. I had only given him such control once. It was a few days after he became my host. After the disaster that was that first time, I swore never to do it again (even in safe places). Since then, I had always maintained a minimum level of connection and was ready to regain full control at any moment. But now, I was too tired to do otherwise.

I spent a few minutes alone in the dark trying to fall asleep despite the pain. But deep in my retreat, I sensed hormones linked to a depressive state. At the cost of great effort, I immediately reconnected (this host was going to end up killing me).

(Is something wrong?) I asked worriedly.

No, nothing, everything is fine. Rest. I will go home quietly like a good obedient slave.

(Are you going to try to commit suicide again?)

Of course not. I'm much better now. Thanks to you, he added timidly. And I already told you I didn't want to talk about it anymore.

Tom, I can see that something is bothering you.

(It’s nothing really. It’s just… I was thinking about that girl. It was her first time too. At least that’s what her Yeerk told me. Now that I know she was infected, I feel like I violated her) he stammered.

You couldn't have known. It wasn't your fault.

(It doesn't change anything. Why did she do that? I mean, why did her Yeerk do that? I thought you didn't want to infest people so young or without power. At least not for now.)

After some hesitation, I replied:

(I don't know. Maybe his host felt like it and wanted to please him.)

Thévenin, you are in my head. Unlike you, I can't read your thoughts, but I can tell when you lie to me. And I have enough experience to know that yeerks wanting to please their host are ultra-minorities.

I answered him more honestly.

I can only assume, but if you had continued with basketball, you would no doubt have become a star known throughout the country. If that had been the case, you would have been a top recruit and the Yeerk responsible for your infestation would have received a reward. Maybe even a promotion. But after your little escapade, they had to infest you urgently and you ended up with a Yeerk who had no intention of wasting time putting balls in a basket.

There was another question burning on his lips, but he didn't dare to ask it. But it obsessed him so much that I didn't even have to make the slightest effort to read it in his thoughts.

(When the pool is operational again, I will try to speak to his Yeerk. But don't get your hopes up. I don't see how I could convince him to stop using such an effective recruitment method. With this body, he doesn't really have any other assets to use to try to get a promotion. And if I am too insistent, he won't hesitate to denounce me for sympathy.)