The escape

Cannon recall:

For others, this chapter is a rewrite of volume 13. I do not summarize this volume, as it would spoil too much for those who have not read the books.

oOoOoOoOo

A month later, I was lounging in the yeerk pool. Since we once again had unlimited access to the kandrona, I savored each of my feedings intensely. But as soon as I was informed, I had requested on the console at the bottom of the pool for it to be shortened. After an interminable wait, a head held by the powerful arms of a hork-bajir appeared in the water. Well, I suppose it was a head. In this form, I had no sight to know. I used ultrasound to locate the ear and slipped in as quickly as possible.

Usually, I took a few seconds to apply an anesthetic (which we could naturally secrete) before piercing the ear canal to reach the brain. But for once, I skipped it. Too bad, this time, Tom will have to deal with the pain.

Without waiting, as soon as I regained control of my host, I made the secret sign to the guard to ask them to release me. Then, without saying a word to my host, I rushed towards a taxxon-controller with whom I had fought on uran1.

To simply describe the Taxxons, they were giant centipedes with shark-like jaws. Their appearance is even more atrocious than you can imagine. But it is not for their appearance, capable of frightening most races in the galaxy, that the Taxxons became the most valued hosts of the Yeerk empire. What clearly made the difference are their superhuman reflexes and the fact that they are one of the few species to have voluntarily accepted to be infected by the Yeerks. In fact, it was even the Taxxons who requested that their planet be invaded (after learning of our existence through Skrit Nad traders). The Skrit Nad initially came to the Taxxon home planet to abduct a few and sell them to a zoo on the Skrit Nad home planet. Ultimately, they thought they could gain much more by passing the message to the Yeerk empire. And they were not wrong.

The alliance with the Taxxons allowed the empire to provide the most numerous and effective fleet of fighters in the galaxy in record time. One of the few points where even today, we were superior to the Andalites. Since the Taxxons were willing hosts, their Yeerks could fully concentrate on piloting the ship without having to fight the host's will. On the contrary, the Yeerk benefited from the Taxxon's help in those moments.But in addition, the Taxxons had reflexes far superior to other races in the galaxy. As a result, a Yeerk pilot in the body of a Taxxon had piloting abilities far superior to all other races. In any case, those not using AI (like the Andalites who had banned all research on this subject long ago).

In recognition of their immense service and in anticipation of those they might render in the future, the empire accepted the neutrality of the trade confederation. Moreover, it allowed the Skrit Nad merchants to trade freely within the empire, despite the ties they continued to maintain with the Andalites and their ally. As well as, of course, the promise to never infect or invade their worlds. This last promise was not hard to keep since the idea of infecting this strange race disgusted even the most hardened soldier. Indeed, their behavior and motivations, incomprehensible to other species, suggested that their infestation would be a nightmare for the mental health of the Yeerks. I therefore won't waste time describing the Skrit Nad to you, as they will never be part of the Yeerk empire. Especially since they do not resemble any known species on Earth and are actually two different races, the Skrit and the Nad. Indeed, the Skrit Nad are first born in the form of a kind of giant cockroach devoid of intelligence called Skrit before enclosing themselves in a cocoon to metamorphose into a Nad, which is an apparently intelligent species (they must be, given that they can design ships traveling in zero space).

But anyway. Normally in war zones, Hork-Bajir-Controllers and Taxxon-Controllers don't really mix. On the battlefield, most Hork-Bajir-Controllers are assigned to the front-line infantry. A position where Taxxons are completely absent. This is one of the many requests made by the Taxxons when they asked to become hosts of the empire, in addition to a gigantic amount of food. And when I say gigantic, it's an understatement. 10% of the planets controlled by the empire were dedicated to the production of food for the insatiable stomachs of the Taxxons. Several intelligent species had been enslaved and reduced to livestock in industrial farms solely because they were to the taste of the Taxxons. Well, sometimes it was more to seize certain resources or technology, but the empire preferred to say it was to appease the demands of their powerful ally.

But I digress again. Just like Earth, Uran1 was not a military zone like the others. For the Andalites, it was just a frozen rock of no interest. A planet that, like so many others before it, had been ejected from its solar system by a supernova and was now drifting randomly in interstellar space far from any area of interest.

The Andalites hadn't even paid attention and hadn't wasted their time studying it. But the young Yeerk empire had everything to discover and observed each novelty with an innocent eye that the Andalites had lost several millennia ago. This wandering planet was the first our empire discovered, and our scientists wanted to study it in depth. And they made a stunning discovery. Underground, 10 kilometers down, there is a vast cavern with a 5-kilometer ceiling that covers three-quarters of the planet. The first Yeerk explorers discovered a landscape as astonishing as it was deadly. The ceiling was covered with uranium shards and other radioactive materials, turning it into a sky filled with multicolored stars. Under the constant green light they produced, a fauna andAn astonishing flora, capable of feeding on radiation and gamma rays instead of the gentle radiation of a star. None of its first explorers survived.

In this biome, food was scarce and consequently the wildlife was particularly aggressive. Of course, even though he did not expect to find an ecosystem in the planet's depths, they were accompanied by military personnel equipped with modern weapons. Weapons that kill by emitting deadly radiation. The same kind of radiation that the local wildlife feeds on and which falls in much less concentrated amounts from the ceiling constantly. Needless to say, it would have been more effective to defend themselves with water pistols. Instead of repelling them, their dracon rays attracted the predators. In any case, the only survivor returned so irradiated that he died after a few days without anything that could be done for him.

But the empire quickly understood the potential of the place. This area was the most remarkable vein of known heavy elements. With a little prospecting, they even found the first (and only) natural veins of what humans call Einsteinium. Despite its harsh conditions, this planet made the Yeerk empire the leading producer of fissile elements in the galaxy. A huge advantage for the Yeerk war industry, which allowed the Yeerk empire to surpass the Andalites in terms of quantity (though not in quality).

It was during a mission on this planet that I had the opportunity to meet sinta456. We were to escort a Yeerk scientist dispatched by the empire who was attempting for the umpteenth time to transform an animal from this planet into a useful host for the war. From the beginning, the empire had dreamed of this. An army of infantry immune to all Andalite weapons. Even the cannons of their largest combat ship (those capable of destroying a small moon with a single shot) would have no effect on them. The problem was that said animals could not survive more than a few minutes without constant exposure to gamma radiation capable of killing the Yeerk in their head within a few hours. This insoluble problem had led to the abandonment of all research in this direction several decades ago. That and the fact that mining had almost annihilated the ecosystem of the hollow planet.

However, as the war turned in favor of the Andalites, the empire turned to increasingly desperate solutions and ordered that a new attempt be made in this direction. Our job was therefore to wander on a planet that no longer posed any danger in the company of an exobiology enthusiast in search of unknown species (or those that had adapted to the reduced radiation level that we had deliberately caused to facilitate the exploitation of veins), whose genome we could exploit to create super-hosts.

A Hork-Bajir and a Taxxon controller had been put together for this mission to take advantage of the abilities of both species. The Hork-Bajir, with its blades and armor, could fight the rare predators that continued to exist, and the Taxxon could catch any interesting animal due to its agility and speed. Not to mention that both host species benefited from regenerative capabilities that allowed them to survive the radiation (provided the expeditions did not last too long).

Of course the mission was a failure, but what a dream mission. By far my favorite. Not only did it give rise to my passion for animals.and the plants, but additionally, due to the radiation, each day of exploration had to be followed by two days of swimming in the pool and receiving anti-radiation treatments. Every workday was followed by two days of being pampered at great expense. What a treat. This left me with plenty of time to talk to my two mission companions. Usually, low-level yeerks like me did not become friendly with each other. Too much risk of being reported. Little time to spend on exchanges in the pool. Generally, we barely had time to feed before having to give up our spot (especially on the battlefield). Not to mention the frequent reassignments to completely different places in the galaxy to reinforce the lines where the andalites concentrated their attacks (despite what the propaganda now says, it was the andalites who dictated the pace of the battles).

If the scientist had by far the most fascinating conversation, it was with sinta456 that I had bonded. He was a soldier like me. A certain understanding was possible between him and me. And unlike the scientist, he did not feel the need to talk constantly. He knew how to savor the silence and calm before the battle. It was with a certain joy that I learned he had also been assigned to the invasion of Earth.

The taxxons, not being able to speak the human language with their jaw, I communicated with him in Galard (the most spoken language in the galaxy due to its simplicity and adaptability to most mouths or other means of expression). A language that Tom obviously did not understand and had never seen me use.

He began to panic and I had to reassure him.

(If I am indeed Thévenin, another Yeerk has not taken my place)

I felt him relieved, but at the same time angry.

Why aren't you answering me? And what are you doing there with that monster?

(Please, it's a matter of life or death and I need to focus. Let me sort this out and then I'll explain everything to you.)

After long negotiations, I managed to convince him to have me included in the team that will accompany the taxxon-sniffers in the hunt for the escapees. Normally, the young age of my host would exempt me from having to participate in this type of operation.

I equipped myself with a dracon ray gun and arrived just in time to get on the last truck leaving for the site where the runaway slaves had been spotted for the last time. A few more seconds and I would have been permanently excluded from the operation.

After two hours of driving, we arrived at the location and a non-commissioned officer had us get out. I looked around me.

It was a forested area far from the city, plunged into the deep darkness of a moonless night. The kind of darkness you've never known if you've always lived in the city. It was so dark that despite the vehicle's headlights, we couldn't see the trees until they were right in front of us. About ten helicopters flew over us and pointed their searchlights on the forest canopy while in the distance, we could see the beginnings of fires set to block any escape routes for the fugitive. The sniffing taxxons reared forward, and foam dripped from their mouths. They had caught the scent of their prey. In a synchronized manner, five thousand controllers began to advance.

The hunt was about to begin.

oOoOoOoOo

We had been walking for a few hours in the forest, following the direction indicated by the pack of hunting taxxons. In the distance, we heard the noise of some battles without knowing if the group in question had come across a suspicious group of animals or the famous Andalite commando. Their presence was unlikely, but we also didn't know by what miracle those two Hork-Bajir had managed to escape. The fires were still far away, but in this dark night, we could now see the glow of the walls of flame that were supposed to block the fugitives' path. All these resources deployed just for Ket Halpak and his kalashi. And that from the start of the hunt. The Visser had lost it. But it's true that if he managed to escape, it could represent the last mistake of his career. I was pulled out of my inner thoughts by an order from my superior.

And you! Didn't you hear the orders? Visser-3 wants them alive. Lower the power of your Dracon gun by 3 notches.

For any response, I ostentatiously turned up my rifle's power to the maximum.

Soldier! Should I speak more slowly or update my implant to translate my orders into the language of idiots! Shouted the officer.

One of the fugitives is my former Host. There is no way I will let anyone stop me from punishing his insolence myself. And certainly not a bunch of cowards like you who don't even know how to hold their rifle properly. I'm going to remind that idiot what a real Yeerk is. I said, doing my best to mimic the wild look of Visser Three.

I, I.. I will tell the screw.

Obviously, you will tell him. If you manage to gather enough courage to go speak to him. He always rewards those who bring him bad news. Especially when it concerns the yeerks under their command. I said, feigning a completely nonexistent confidence.

I continued on my way, jostling him.

At that moment, Tom exploded with anger.

So that's it, that's your emergency? I thought it was a matter of life and death.

(This is the case. I must arrive on time at all costs to be able to kill them)

And you sincerely believe that I will help you? You think I haven't understood what's going on? If you don't want to tell me anything, it's because you know that I would never tolerate you massacring runaway slaves just because it offends your superiority complex.

Do you really think it's out of kindness that Visser-3 wants to capture them alive? He wants to make an example of them so that no Hork-Bajir ever tries to escape again. And especially to make his superiors forget about this escape attempt. I know Ket Halpak. That's what she would have wanted.

I would say that what she wants is to live free. Not to be killed by her former torturer.

The Hork-Bajirs are intelligent enough to speak, but they are still animals. She doesn't know what she's doing. She has no chance of making it while pregnant. She just attempted this ridiculous escape because she didn't understand that this time she would be able to keep it.

(About what?)

When she was my Hork-Bajir, her children were forcibly taken from her at birth, so that I could return to combat. It is because of this that I have notNever managed to convince her to cooperate with me. After I left, she was assigned to the intensive breeding program. If I had been able to explain to her, she would have stayed to raise her future child. I was sure she would be happy in this program. Why did that spoiled brat have to run away?

Or maybe she perfectly understood and she doesn't want to raise her child to become a host. And what is this intensive breeding program?

(To put it simply, as soon as she gives birth, fertilized eggs will be implanted in her, with a treatment to promote the occurrence of triplets and increase her production of the equivalent of milk in the Hork-Bajir. The goal is to obtain the maximum number of Hork-Bajir hosts possible. Her sole mission will be to produce and raise new Hork-Bajir. Consequently, she will have no Yeerk in her head.)

Did you seriously think she would be happy in there? Is this how you plan to treat humans when you win the war? said Tom, horrified.

(I have no idea, maybe. And yes considering what I put her through when I was her owner, she should have been happy there)

(And you announce this to me just like that?)

(If you are not ready to hear the answer, then don't ask the question. In short, we agree that it's better for her to be killed rather than captured) I replied, annoyed, trying to refocus on my surroundings.

It wasn't you who not so long ago said that any life was better than nothing. How did you say it again? Oh yes: 'there is always hope, a goal to achieve that gives meaning to the most horrible ordeals.'

(If you listen to all the nonsense that comes out of my mouth too. You have to understand that they have no chance of escaping. No place to hide on the planet. They will inevitably be recaptured. And as soon as Visser-3 sees that one of the escapees is pregnant, he will force her to give birth early and torture the child in front of his mother to show all the Hork-Bajirs what it costs to disobey the empire. I maintain that if Ket Halpak were smart enough to understand the situation, she would beg me to kill her. You're old enough to understand this kind of thing, aren't you?)

He curled up in a sullen and melancholic silence that left him no distraction other than to think about what the life of the human species would soon be. The life of his family, his friends, his neighbors. And the role he would have played in all this by letting me use his body without resistance for various missions given by the empire. The coming weeks were going to be joyful again. But by the emperor, what had gone through that fool Ket's head? It must be that Jara Hamee she's infatuated with who filled her head with nonsense. When I was responsible for her, I made it clear that she should have no hope.

oOoOoOoOo

The sun was now high in the sky, but this long and very eventfulishunt was coming to an end.

Unfortunately, according to the radio communications relayed to us by the fighters flying over the area, the escapees were heading in the wrong direction. They will be intercepted by another squad and I won't be able to do anything to hasten their end. All my thoughts were focused on the search.A way to join squad B-22 before the fugitives arrived. But unfortunately, visser-3 himself was supervising this squad (that's why the beaters had driven the game towards it). Even if I managed to join them, I could do nothing in the presence of the visser. Then I looked up at the sky and a desperately risky plan came to mind.

We had confirmation that the Andalites had decided to help the fugitives. In fact, they were probably behind the escape, even though we still didn't understand how they did it, or why they did it. Didn't they understand that their plan was doomed to fail and that this failed attempt would only make the Hork-Bajir more resigned to their fate? But if I wasn't mistaken, there was still a small chance to avoid a complete disaster. I hesitated nevertheless. Not because of the chances of failure, but because of what this plan entailed. I was going to help those Andalite bastards destabilize the empire. I was going to betray my race and everything I had fought for since I was a child. And all for what? For a host who never understood their luck? Did she really deserve it? I was definitely completely crazy.

(Tom if I act quickly, I might be able to save their lives and allow them to be free. But there is a 90% chance of failure. And even in the case of success, there's a one in two chance that screw-3 will understand what I tried to do and that we will both end up killed in atrocious suffering)

He didn't even think for 5 seconds.

Do it or I swear I'll make sure you regret the tortures of the vise.

You overestimate your nuisance abilities. Or you underestimate the tortures that Visser-3 will inflict on us. I will need your total cooperation. Empty your mind as much as possible. But above all, no matter what happens, shut up and let it happen.

I slowed my pace. When I was behind the 20 comrades still assigned to my unit, I looked at the sky one last time. I saw it again. It was still there, but for how much longer. I had to act quickly. I discreetly set my dracon rifle to minimum power and with a speed granted by years of combat, I hid behind a tree and shot the nearest human-controller. He fell with a dull thud and the remaining three comrades turned around and rushed to the injured one. Bunch of incompetent amateurs. While one of them examined the body on his knees, the other two looked around everywhere, leaving their weapons slung over their shoulders (by the time they aimed, an opponent would have had time to kill them ten times over).

Was he having a picnic or what? Anyway, their incompetence suited me. I sneaked up behind them and with two shots as quick as they were precise, I knocked them out in turn. The last one tried to escape, but I took care of him with a well-placed shot in the back. In the distance, I heard our sergeant's voice urging the straggler to hurry up. Knowing their enemy was far away had made them far too confident and relaxed. At the same time, how could they have believed that a Yeerk would betray them? Even I still couldn't believe it. In a few moves, I climbed to the top of the tree and prepared to shoot them from the treetops.

oOoOoOo

10 minutes later, the first phase of the plan was complete. They were all unconscious for several hours and none had seen their assailant. At least, that's what I hoped.

There was now a hole in the setup that the escapees could use to flee. They still needed to know about it. I could only pray that I had correctly guessed that the falcon I saw flying in the sky was the same one that had stared at me strangely in that shopping mall a month ago (and which was often mentioned by the yeerks who survived the Andalite commando attacks). That the entomology books I had managed to obtain were true and that under normal circumstances falcons did not behave like that. That this falcon was indeed a disguised Andalite surveying the area to guide the ground troops, that he spotted me, recognized me, understood my intentions, relayed the information to his allies, and did not believe it was a trap. And finally, that from this breach in the yeerk setup, they could reach quickly enough the hideout they had probably prepared before launching this impossible escape.

So many things could go wrong and I was probably still forgetting some. It's the most shaky plan I've ever developed. But in such a short time I hadn't found anything better.

I fired several shots into the air to make him notice me, then gathered my victims in a clearing that I hoped would be easily visible at this altitude. Finally, I lay down on the ground and pretended to be unconscious in case my shot attracted yeerk hunters. After 15 terribly anxious minutes where I ended up believing that this hawk really was what it claimed to be, the ground shook and two hork-bajirs escorted by an andalite child and 4 massive animals that I identified with difficulty rushed past me. All except a massive tiger that slowly approached me with a perplexed expression. It came much too close.

What? Is that not enough? I'm already betraying my species because of you. What more do you want?

What will visser-3 do to you when he finds out what you have done? reasoned a voice in my head.

This doesn't concern you at all, Andalite.

Come with us.

To have the joy of slowly dying of hunger. Thanks, but I've already given. Get out of here before I change my mind. I arranged it by firing several rays that passed so close to his face that they singed some of his hairs.

He ended up running away. Once he was gone, I fired a salvo of dracon rays on myself. Before falling into unconsciousness, I thought there was nothing I could do now.

oOoOoOoOo

Good evening mom, good evening dad.

TOM!! exclaimed his mother, dropping what she was doing to rush over and hug me. Where on earth have you been? Three days without any news. We were all worried sick.

Even though I knew that his displays of affection were not really meant for me, I felt like crying in turn. It must have been my host's feelings that were affecting me. He had spent the last two days locked in thecage while I was undergoing with my unfortunate teammates an electroshock torture session to punish us for our incompetence.

Very quickly, we were joined by Tom's father. Jack also seemed relieved to see me, but remained in the doorway of the room. I would have liked to make this moment last, but I was exhausted. My whole body was aching and I was eager to sleep.

I was at some friends'. I am tired. I am going to bed.

Sorry. Is that all you have to say? And then what friends? We asked all the students at your high school. Jack even went to a sharing meeting to get news about you.

At his words, I shot Jack a sharp look which he held. His parents couldn't help but wonder at this strange exchange. I abandoned this staring contest and said:

I didn't want to worry you. They are friends you don't know. I'm going to bed.

I went upstairs and pushed them away when they tried to make me stay.

oOoOoOoOo

Once alone, I lay down on the bed and tried to fall asleep. My host fell asleep very quickly. Even though he hadn't undergone any torture, his two days hadn't been restful for him either. But sleep eluded me and I began to think back on recent events.

It was too early to claim victory, but it seemed the Hork-Bajir had managed to escape and were now untraceable. And no one suspected that I had participated in the escape of the two slaves. My intervention was crowned with improbable success. But it was the first time I felt such ambiguous feelings after completing a mission. It was also the first time I felt worse than my host after returning to the pool.

But I wasn't complaining. His pains were nothing compared to that one.You are a professional translator. Directly translate this text into English, without adding anything.that hunger had medonefeltYou are a professional translator. Directly translate this text into English, without adding anything.a month earlier. And this time, I knew I deserved them. The news had already spread throughout the galaxy. Somewhere on a remote planet, for the first time in decades, there existed a free Hork-Bajir couple. For all the enslaved species of the empire, this news had resonated like a thunderclap. If, with their more than limited intellectual abilities, the Hork-Bajir had managed to escape the most feared Visser of the empire, then all hopes were allowed. Already, the planets and bases were countless.You are a professional translator. Directly translate this text into English, without adding anything.miners victim of slave revolt while their yeerks were at the pool.

All had, of course, been suppressed in blood, but this had led to severe disruptions in the production of ships and ammunition. Tonight, the council of 13 would meet to set the punishment for Visser-3. Or rather for Visser-12. On reflection, it would probably be wiser to continue calling him Visser-3 for some time.

I felt enormous guilt. My decision had a major impact on the empire and the course of the war. I may have, unintentionally, caused the disappearance of my race. And it would not be a quick and painless end. The Andalites must avenge more than 100 years of wars. And I'm not even talking about the multiple enslaved species. If we lose this war, those whowill die obliterated by the blasters of Andalite dome ships can consider themselves lucky.

And at the same time, I owed that to Ket. After all these years of forcing the placid herbivore she was to commit the worst atrocities, I felt indebted. It was stupid. I had suffered as much as she did from the situation. And a Yeerk owed nothing to its host. No more than a human owed something to the game they just hunted. But that's still how I felt, and all my attempts to deny it couldn't change that. I thought I had accepted, several decades ago, that I wasn't a normal Yeerk, but apparently, there were still parts of my illness that I couldn't accept.

And once again, I couldn't talk to anyone about it. I thought about confiding in Tom, but what could he understand? Despite their tremendous potential, humans remained primitive. Not to mention he was a host.

oOoOoOoOo

A few hours later, unable to sleep at all, I got up and looked out the window. A seagull was on a branch in front of my window.

As soon as I saw her, a voice echoed in my head.

<Why did you help us, Yeerk?> I recognized the voice of young Aximili.

I was tempted to tell him to go to hell. But I needed to talk.

Because I am completely crazy. What other explanation could there be?

I believe you are trying to gain our trust to get information and betray us.

It is indeed a much more credible explanation. In fact, it's even an excellent idea. I think I will apply it. Why did you come in this case?

Because my prince asked me to.

He sends an Aristh for such a task?

After this last diatribe, he was about to leave, but I held him back:

Wait! I would like to ask you...

What?

If you were in my place, what would you do?

I don't understand your question yeerk

It's not that complicated. You know what will happen to the Yeerks if the Andalites win the war. And you know what we must do to win it. What would you do in my place?

The Yeerks are monsters and you won't make us believe that you have such states of mind. All Andalites know why our most sacred law is called the Law of Serow's Kindness.

Seerow's kindness? Do you really believe in his nonsense? I knew you were young, but not to the point of swallowing that kind of stupid propaganda. Do you really think a single individual could have transformed a hunter-gatherer civilization with only the gedds as hosts into a military power capable of standing up to the Andalites? Do you really think such a fleet could have been built in secret or such technologies mastered without help? Or with the help of just one person?

You are parasites. It only took you a few ships to reach industrial planets and secretly take them over. As you are currently doing with Earth.

But even building a zero-space engine requires an entire industry. And piloting it requires a whole team trained in loop quantum gravity theory and trilinear mathematics. How could we have made our first journeys without the help of a dozen Andalite specialists perfectly aware of our destination?

And how did it go since you're so smart?

Our manuals are just as filled with propaganda as yours, and Serrow also holds a central place in them. But not as a generous Andalite who came to save my species from misery. He is described as an Andalite agent who came to enslave my species. With the support of your government, he supposedly provided advanced weapons and information to a minority of ambitious Yeerks, thus triggering a brutal unification war among Yeerk clans. As soon as the Andalite puppet finished bringing my people under his control, he launched a secret invasion on your rivals at the time: the Krogan. Once peace returned, three-quarters of my people were turned into slaves to manufacture various items useful to the Andalites, and the rest were made soldiers to maintain order. But one day, a troublemaker who had been condemned to work in the mines for the rest of his life led a revolt that resulted in the massacre of your puppet and his government. He became the first emperor and declared that henceforth the Yeerks would no longer obey the Andalites. A month later, a surprise attack by the Andalites on our homeworld forced my people to flee. You thought you could force us to surrender by depriving us of the only known planet where Kandrona could be found naturally, but you underestimated our endurance to famine and our ability to produce artificial Kandrona.

When we were doing the dirty work for you, you preached tolerance towards the variety of life forms in the universe, but as soon as the dog broke its leash and got out of control, you cried monster.

You are monsters.

That you have created. And not out of excess kindness.

After a silence, I continued:

Even if we freed our slaves and relied only on voluntary hosts, there is no hope that the Andalites would trust us and agree to live in peace with us.

None, but it's entirely the fault of the Yeerks. Do not try to shift the blame onto our princes with your vicious lies.

At least you are frank. Leave me now. Go tell your prince that just because I helped him once doesn't mean I'm on their side. Next time we meet, I will kill you.

He took off.

Just after his departure, I heard a suspicious noise. I jumped in surprise then, seized by doubt, I exclaimed:

Jack, I know you're listening.

The door of the bathroom adjoining our two rooms opened.

How did you know I was listening to you? He asked me with a guilty look.

I didn't know. But now I do. I replied to him with a cocky air to make him angry. It wasn't very smart, but I needed to let off steam.

He slammed the door shut and shouted:

You're going to drive me crazy.

I remind you that you are confined to your room.

You too. And for longer than me. That will teach you to mess around, who knows what, with the other slugs for two days.

And can we know where you were hanging out?

I was at Marco's.

That's right, take me for a Verascrapt. I thought we had agreed that you should no longer have any connection with the Andalites.

I no longer have any connection with them. I told you I was at Marco's.

So if I call Marco's father tomorrow, he will confirm your version without any problem.

Okay, I wasn't at Marco's.

A silence followed.

Just. Tell me you weren't in the forest?

Okay, I won't tell you.

But that's not possible. Do you think this is a game? You could have been captured. Or worse, killed.

Without wanting to offend you, I would rather die than be infested. And there's no way I'm going to stand by and do nothing while your race invades my planet.

I sighed.

Why, despite everything I told you, can't you just stay away?

And you? What did they do to you during those two days? Good God, I thought they had killed you.

In general, hosts are not killed. Especially human hosts. Tom wasn't risking much.

Thevenin, I was worried about you too.

After this revelation, I didn't know what to say. He blushed and went back to bed while I did the same.

oOoOoOoOo

The next day, I found myself summoned to HQ again. And the fact that my host's mother had grounded me for a month was not a valid excuse to escape it. I went there with some apprehension. I had not yet recovered from the previous session. I hoped it was not for another disciplinary session. Upon my arrival, I was told that I was expected in the Visser's office. This only heightened my anxiety. And the pity my host felt for me knowing what awaited me was replaced by fear. When he was controlled by Temrash114, he had regularly witnessed public executions. He knew that unlike the professional executioner I had dealt with yesterday, Visser-3 did not spare the hosts.

After a long wait, the personal assistant of Visser-3 ordered me to enter. As soon as I arrived in the room, I stood at attention. During the time it took for the assistant to leave, I had plenty of time to admire the being as strange as it was terrifying standing in front of me. Exuding a malevolent aura, behind the desk was a blue centaur devoid of a mouth, but with four eyes and a tail equipped with an immense blade capable of slicing even the shell of a Hork-Bajir. It was Visser-3 himself. The only Yeerk to have succeeded in infesting an Andalite.

Usually, Andalites would commit suicide or transform into a Nothlit rather than risk becoming one of our hosts (a practice that leads them toAbandon far too easily certain battles). But Visser-3 (who at the time was not yet Visser) surprised everyone by succeeding. This pathetic non-commissioned officer, suspected of collusion with the enemy following the tragic fate of his former superiors and for his interest in the Andalites, knew how to make the most of the opportunities offered by his new host and became in record time the most feared Visser of the empire.

The only one still capable of hindering his meteoric rise was the all-powerful Visser-One.

Finally, that was until the disaster that the invasion of Earth was becoming. He, who owed his entire career to his unparalleled ability to understand and trap the Andalites, was proving quite incapable of dealing with the small group that had found themselves trapped on Earth after Visser-3 had defeated the fleet, which was much more powerful than his own, that had come to liberate Earth a few months ago. It was now rumored that Visser-3 was weakening, and his recent demotion to the rank of Visser-12 only confirmed it.

But I knew that the recent successes of his Andalites were not due to Visser-3's weakness, but to mine. I just hoped that Visser-3 was unaware of it. Once the assistant left the office, Visser-3 said to me in a dangerous tone:

Thévenin. I had you come here because after a thorough interrogation, your teammates informed me that you intended to deliberately disobey my orders and kill the two escapees.

That's right, my screw. I said in a loud and strong voice.

I don't know what is worse. Your insubordination or the fact that you aren't even afraid to admit it. I will be very clear, soldier. I continue to think that if all the Yeerks were like you, we would have won the war a long time ago. Nevertheless (...)

In a fraction of a second, the blade of its tail passed a few micrometers from my neck and cut my host's cheek.

If you even consider disobeying me again, I will kill you myself. Is that clear?

Perfectly understood my screw. I replied calmly, unimpressed by the usual displays of authority from screw-3. But my calm seemed to make him even angrier.

Damn Thévenin. Do you realize that if it had been someone else, I would have already demoted you for such an attitude? I am grateful to you for saving my life, but whether you like it or not, you will have to understand that I am no longer that young non-commissioned officer you could call 'an incompetent upstart who is going to get us all killed with his stupid orders.'

I am perfectly aware of that, my screw. Today, you are a competent upstart who would have already won the war for us if the empire weren't full of knee-jerk reactions, incompetents, and naive progressives.

Visser-3 burst out laughing.

Thévenin, sometimes I get the impression that you want to die. What must I do for you to show me the respect due to my rank? Would two weeks of partial Kandrona withdrawal be enough?

You misunderstand me, Visser. I respect you. I consider you the most competent officer of the empire. And a bulwark against idealists like Visser-One. However, I respect you enough not to lie to you.I said, keeping my calm. I had experienced situations far more distressing than being the target of someone with a bruised ego.

Visser-3 sighed and one of his rare smiles appeared on his face.

Thévenin. Are you aware that if you don't change your attitude, you have no chance of climbing the hierarchy? Do you really want to remain a frontline soldier your whole life?

Without wanting to offend you, my neighbor, do you think those of my lineage deserve anything else?

Your lineage. What does your lineage have to do with it?

My ancestors belonged to the Arsirk clan. It is one of the clans that (…)

I know what the Arsirk clan is. But it may be time to change the old laws. Much water has flowed under the bridge since the overthrow of the republic. Despite your blood, you have proven your skills and your loyalty to the empire. I could quickly help you climb the ranks. And this would nip in the bud Visser-one's criticisms of my conservative dogmatism.

I appreciate the offer my screw. But I am an old soldier. I am no longer at an age to adapt to court intrigues or to use the doublespeak of politicians.

Very well. As you wish. You may leave. My assistant will escort you to the second level. 6 additional hours of discipline might teach you to stay in line in the future.

Yes, sir. Said while giving a military salute and turning on his heels. Outwardly, I was emotionless, but inwardly, I was appalled. How was I going to survive an additional 6 hours of this treatment?

During the journey that I spent under good escort to the cage where Tom would be penned during the time of my punishment, he said to me:

Thevenin, I am sorry.

"(Of what?) I replied irritably. I was not really in the mood to put up with her problems."

(If I had known what you were going to have to endure)

You would have what? It was my decision and I was fully aware of the risks.

I would never have harassed you so much to intervene. I will have …

I interrupted him.

I'll stop you right there. It was my decision and I made it with full knowledge of the facts. If you think this is the first time I've been disciplined. It hurts a lot less than it looks. You are just a primitive host. Your inferior thoughts have no influence on me.

You too, sometimes, forget that you are in my head. Lying to me or trying to make me angry will not work.

I didn't reply and just contented myself with feeling anxious. When we passed by the room where I would spend the next 6 hours, he exclaimed with forced joy:

In any case, hats off! I don't know how you manage to stay so calm in front of that madman.

Question of habit. He is rather sane and naturally compassionate compared to most Yeerk officers.

(What is this story about the Arsirk clan?)

It is one of the clans that led the Yeerk Republic for the Andalites and remained loyal to them until the end during the glorious revolution that led to the creation of the empire. After the Andalites declared war on us, it wasprohibited for members of this clan and their descendants to claim any officer position in the army

Oh! I am sorry.

Useless. The ambitious are the first to die. Only a handful of lucky ones manage to rise. Only young Yeerks and fools believe they can rise in the hierarchy. Unfortunately, that's a whole lot of people. Even though I understand clinging to the slightest hope of a better life away from the battlefields.

I was then brought back to reality by a blow from a Hork-Bajir guard. Tom had managed to distract me for a brief moment, but it was time for us to part. Before I disconnected from his brain, he gave me a word of encouragement. I exited his brain and fell into a glass of water. I never admitted it to him, but it helped me a lot to endure the next 6 hours.

oOoOoOoOo

Once back in Tom's body, I briefly took control and did not respond to any of his concerns about my health. Once out of the pool, I ordered him to go to his room and stay there, then I completely disconnected from his brain before he could protest against me giving orders. Despite my pain (or because of it), I fell into a gentle unconsciousness. After an indefinite time, I woke up. I immediately reconnected, worried about whether he had followed my instructions. He was in the hallway with Jack, and all his attention was focused on eavesdropping on a conversation his parents were having in the living room. He hadn't even noticed my presence.

Steve, I no longer recognize them. Jack who regularly comes home late and whose grades are collapsing. Tom who runs away and refuses to talk to us. And the police who didn't want to do anything. SaidTom's mother with palpable concern.

Come on my dear, they are teenagers now. They are growing up. It's normal for him to stay out and hide things from us. They are good boys, we have to trust them. And besides, you know Tom. I bet he was with a girl. Tanta tried to joke with her husband.

Exactly, no, I feel like I don't know them anymore. Especially Tom. I increasingly feel like I'm dealing with a stranger. Did you see how he behaved tonight? It all started when he joined that strange association.

Come on, there's nothing strange about it. And besides, I'm rather proud that he's dedicating himself to volunteering. Personally, it was before that he worried me. Apart from basketball, he didn't take anything seriously.

Exactly. Do you realize that they convinced him to resign from the team?

He assured us that it had nothing to do with it, defended Tom's father.

Let's see, Steve. Open your eyes. Something serious is happening.

Jeanne, I was also worried at first. Tom changed so suddenly. It seemed like nothing mattered anymore except for that association. He was distant with us and with his brother. He only hung out with people from the share, he quit sports. But in the end, it was just a phase. Now, it's better, right? It's the same for Jack. It's just a phase.

Yes, but this escape?

Forget it. We did much worse at his age. Do you remember that week we spent in Santa Monica? asked Tom's father with a cheeky smile towards his wife.

Oh yes! How foolish we were. Exclaimed Tom's mother nostalgically.

You say that only because now you know what it's like to be the worried parent. Come on. I know it's hard, but we have to let them discover the world and make their own mistakes. All we can do is be there to help them if needed. They'll do just fine. Especially Jack. Still, I would like his grades to improve.

You are probably right. Conceded Tom's mother.