Jera456 the traitor 2

Recall of the cannon:The end refers to volume 10 where the Animorphs steal a Permalite supercomputer (a vanished alien race that was much more technologically advanced than the Yeerks or the Andalites) in order tomodify the computer program of the Chee. The Chee are ultra-advanced androids created by the Pemalites. For reasons I won't spoil, the Chee want the Yeerks to leave Earth. They could defeat the Yeerks in a few minutes, but their programming prevents them from harming a living being. If attacked, the Chee allow themselves to be killed rather than risk hurting someone. Their only defense is their holograms, which allow them to pass for anything or create diversions on command.

Once the crystal is stolen, the animorphs free a che from its programming. The che then transforms into an unstoppable war machine. Once all the enemies are reduced to pieces, the che begs them to make it peaceful again, as it cannot bear the images forever etched on its hard drive of the suffering it has inflicted. The animorphs, disgusted and frightened by what they have just seen, decide to grant its request and dispose of the supercomputer in the ocean. And this, while the ches might be the only means to avoid humanity's enslavement.

oOoOoOoOo

I was pacing at the edge of the forest, nervously looking into the undergrowth. What was taking them so long, damn it? If this continues, they'll reach the two-hour limit.

When I reported Jera456's request to the animorphs, the reactions were not what I expected. I understood that they were suspicious and considered the possibility of a trap. I would have scolded them myself if that hadn't been the case. But their reaction was largely excessive. No words were spoken, but I could clearly see from their looks that they thought I had betrayed them by revealing so much without their consent. What did they want me to do? I had to give him something.

And Tom's remarks urging me to be understanding only made me more upset.

As a result, even I did not know the place of their meeting. All I knew was that I had to drive Jera456 into the middle of the forest and then leave him to be guided by the thought-word to the place of their gathering. Moreover, I only knew the exact place where I had to leave him once Jera456 got into my car alone.

After a while, my patience finally paid off. I saw him suddenly emerge from the forest. I wanted to ask him how it went, but he gestured for me to be silent.

After a few kilometers, I ended up asking him:

It's good, two hours have passed. They can no longer spy on us. So how did it go?

Extremely well. To simplify, I obtained from them that they no longer attack my factories. Finally, those of Trista171 and Racane263. In exchange, I promised them to modify the software embedded in the Yeerk components, so that it is not Visser-12, but the Andalites who have control of the human missiles.

What! But how do you plan to do that? I exclaimed.

I won't even try. The risk is far too great to get caught. Visser-12 put betraya148 on the case. Even the Andalites can't crack his code. He explained to me calmly.

I'm afraid to understand. I said suspiciously.

Seriously, did you really think I would cooperate with that Andalite scum?

The Andalites will realize your deception. I asserted.

So what? By then, it will be too late. Visser-12 will have launched his large-scale invasion and their little guerrilla will have become insignificant. Provided, of course, that you help me hide the truth from them long enough. He finished with a dangerous accent. How did he manage to look frightening with such a host?

And if I refuse? I asked calmly.

So I would make sure your dear Timmy pays the consequences. He threatened.

Well done Thévenin, I told you that we couldn't trust a Yeerk. Do you still think that Jack and the others are wrong to be suspicious? Tom reproached me.

Shut up, you're talking about what you don't know. And I want to point out that I too am a Yeerk.

(Yes, well, I'm starting to think that you are a special case).

(All yeerks are special cases. And I remind you that you promised to agree to share the planet with all yeerks. Not just with the special cases).

(Jack and the others promised. As far as I'm concerned, I'm starting to wonder if it will be possible). He grumbled.

(You know, it's not because I can read your thoughts that you should get into the habit of really telling me what you think. A little hypocrisy would be appreciated sometimes)

(With a little goodwill, I'm sure we'll end up agreeing. Let's just say that from Monday to Wednesday the planet is ours and from Thursday to Friday it's yours. And on Sunday, we alternate weeks). Tom replied with irony.

(Finally, I prefer it when you are frank). I replied to him before turning to Jera456 to say:

Jera456, you are not that kind of yeerk.

Hahahaha. And what kind of yeerk do you think I am?

The kind that refuses to make others suffer needlessly. The kind that cannot stand to participate in what the empire does. The kind that indulges in debauchery and excess to forget, but fails to do so. You know, it's one of the few points on which you have never managed to deceive me.

Humpf. You talk like my twin brother. Complained Jera456.

I didn't know you had one.

I don't have any more. He was killed for treason during the purge of transger9. Do you think you're the first to imagine that we could revolt? To think that this time, it's different? But the truth is, it will never happen. In the pool, there is too much proximity for us to talk discreetly. And if we do it outside, all it takes is for the host of one of our members to be assigned to a loyalist for the secret to be exposed. It is impossible to create an effective resistance movement. He explained.

The first emperor did arrive there. I countered.

It just means that your ancestors were weak and incapable of doing what it takes to keep power. It takes at least that for them to have accepted being the Andalites' lackeys. Or that this story is a bunch of nonsense. What do I know? In any case, I'll tell you what I know. Idealists don't survive very long.

What's so great about surviving in these conditions?

Life is worth nothing, but nothing is worth life. The day you take your shot, you'll understand. Jera456 retorted to me.

I didn't know how to respond to that last remark. In my silence, he continued:

Come on, don't make that face. I'm not a monster. If you serve me well, I might even get you a promotion. You'll see, I take good care of my close ones.

Keep your gifts to yourself, I'm not the kind of Yeerk that can be bought.

Frankly, what is wrong with you? If you were doing all this for a race like the Hork-Bajirs, I could understand. But humans, honestly? They are barely better than the Taxxons. It's a chance for them to be infested by the empire. If they were a bit more evolved, they would understand.

How can you say that? Can't you see that your host has nothing to do with the taxxons? I asked angrily.

He was raised by Yeerks. No wonder they're somewhat decent. And even then, it's still a predator. Even when I'm in his head, I frequently let him have control of his body. He keeps pretending to play war or kill small insects. Just yesterday, he attacked an anthill like that for no reason, just for fun.

Really? I'm sure he had another reason?

(It’s okay, it’s just ants. You’re not going to make a big deal out of it, while you exterminate entire species.)

When one kills, it is not just for fun. Honestly, you have to be seriously crazy to take pleasure in killing. And we do not exterminate any species. We simply enslave them.

He said nothing, but I saw him thinking back to what he had experienced with temrash114. To what other hosts had tearfully told him in the cages. To what he had seen when his yeerk was one of Visser-12's close associates. For him, a quick death was far preferable to this long agony. Meanwhile, Jera456 replied to me:

Believe me, I've searched his mind thoroughly and that's not the case. Anyway, it's not just him. They're all like that. They spend most of their time looking for ways to kill each other.

You're exaggerating. I reproached him.

Not at all. I said they were barely better than the Taxxons, but in fact, they are worse. The Taxxons kill only to feed. They eat their wounded, but they do not wage war on each other. Damn, I think it's the first time I've heard of a species that wages war on itself, even though it has enough food and territory for all its members. And with what talents, too.

We do that too. How many Yeerks has Visser-12 killed? I replied, inspired by my host's thoughts.

And you think Visser-12 is a model of mental health? Imagine an entire species behaving like him.

It's not just Visser-12. All our leaders are like that. And all those who suck up to them for a promotion, I added darkly.

I inform you that I am one of the so-called bootlickers. And you would do well to get into it if you really want to have a peaceful retirement one day.

I am not as skilled as you at making speeches, but you understand what I mean. What is funny is that my hood says almost the same thing about the Yeerks. Imagine if we judged our species by what it does.The empire or our leaders. Damn, that's literally what the entire galaxy is doing.

Well, maybe they are not wrong. We are the two most unhealthy spaces in the galaxy. Super-parasite and super-predator. We are made to get along. Jera456 said in a falsely cheerful tone.

Jera456, you are anything but a disillusioned cynic. You are the yeerk who loves life the most that I know. If you lose that, what do you have left? Let me tell the Andalites that you can't crack the code. You will find a solution together.

The solution is that they will blow up my factories and not care in the slightest about what Visser will do to me. Or what he will do to you when Timothée's next Yeerk tells him about this little meeting.

I would be able to convince them to look for another solution. I assured him.

Why would he do that? He asked incredulously.

Trust them. They are not like other Andalites. You must have noticed when talking to them.

Except that he insisted that only this young Aristh speak to me, I didn't notice anything strange. And if you trust Andalites, then you're even crazier than I thought, he retorted.

Trust me then.

I saw him sniffle. So I added:

You are our only hope to develop a resistance movement strong enough to put an end to this conflict.

Yeah. I think there's a better sucker than me to play this role.

He thought for a few seconds before answering:

Humpf! There is indeed a way to sabotage Visser-12's plans without putting myself in danger. What interests Visser-12 is mainly taking control of the missiles on nuclear submarines. For the other missiles, we already have infected individuals capable of neutralizing them or countermeasures to destroy them. Sabotaging their replacement with missiles under our control will not change Visser's plan. Or not much. However, nuclear submarines are a real problem for Visser-12. The 3-day limit makes us unable to infect the submarine crew members, and our search for Aximili's escape pod made us realize that Earth's oceans disrupt our detection tools. To achieve this goal, Visser-12 has asked our triple to use our hosts' connections within the Pentagon and the Senate to pass an accelerated renewal program for American nuclear missiles. Visser-12 then relies on the tendency of other states to imitate the decisions of the American military to successfully convince other nuclear powers to do the same. I won't go into details, but the keystone of our plan is an infected senator named Jon Kyl. If the Andalites put an end to his political career before next week's vote on the defense budget allocation, then Visser-12's plan would fall apart. But this time, the Andalites need to be discreet. No one must suspect their intervention, or Visser-12 would definitively go on a traitor hunt, and Timmy's memories would be searched by his loyalists.

Are you telling the truth? Or is it another lie so we leave you alone? I asked him suspiciously.

And then, you dare to demand that I trust you. Jera456 reproached me.

I never tried to screw you over. I reminded him.

I would like to point out that I am already taking a huge risk by proposing this plan. I am still not convinced that these Andalites will make the effort to stay discreet to protect the Yeerk. Not to mention that I am not sure these brutes are capable of discretion. If you had seen the state of our facilities after they stole the calculation crystal that Visser-12 had bought extremely expensively from Skrit Na merchants. I had never seen such a massacre. Even after a week, we were still finding body parts in some corners. These Andalites are anything but discreet.

You know very well that their morph technology makes them extremely discreet. I asserted, pretending to still be offended by his attempt to deceive us. I hoped I wasn't overdoing it. He must not suspect that the Andalites were actually human children or he would betray us for good.

Moreover, I was mentally noting to ask Jack and the others why they had shown so much cruelty during this mission. Now that I remembered, I had also heard about this particularly violent intervention by the 'Andalite bandits'.

Okay, I understand. Come to my place tomorrow at 1 PM. Trista171 and Racane263 won't be there. You can check in Timothée's memories that I'm telling the truth. And then you can try my personal pool. You'll see, it's great to have all that space for yourself, without having to deal with your host. And then I ordered from a mixing pro, a cocktail made with nitrogen isotopes that can only be found here. You'll tell me what you think.

Jera456 didn't know it, but I had already experienced this form of luxury during my mission on uran1.

Tom, would it bother you if …

(If I agreed to spend my Saturday chained in a dungeon so you could lounge in a spa. But of course, my dear friend. What could possibly bother me?) he replied sarcastically.

You know if I refused, he might take it badly. It is very important that we maintain a good relationship with him.

Okay, stop, I get it. No need to make up excuses. You can go. But you'd better not do anything dirty. No way you're going to mess up my brain with slug sperm.

I gave him a big mental hug. I was all excited about the idea of tomorrow.

oOoOoOoOo

The next day

But what was I thinking accepting that? I complained loudly, without noticing that I was not alone.

Sorry Tom. Jera456 insisted that I should not release you under any circumstances. You have to understand. Outside of their host, the Yeerks are defenseless. He can't take the risk of letting a stranger roam free in his place. I don't understand why Thévenin didn't allow him to read your mind. Jera456, he allowed him to read mine though. It's really impolite. Said Timmy, fidgeting with his hands next to me.

I was completely immobilized by about ten straps against a hospital bed in a gigantic bunker converted into a prison. After noticing my frustrated silence, he asked:

Say, was it really you playing with me? Jera456 says it was Thévenin pretending.

Yes, it was indeed me. Frankly, I am much cooler than that old slug. How dare you think you could confuse us?

He smiled, but nevertheless, he said:

You shouldn't insult your yeerk. It's not right.

Because they might be bothering themselves?

They do not insult us.

Oh yeah! And what were the comments they made about us yesterday?

They weren't insults since it was true. Thévenin has gone completely mad. I'm sure it's because of me. My parents were right, I always ruin everything. You have to convince him to stop before he gets himself killed. Timmy lamented.

Without wanting to offend you, my influence on Thévenin is quite limited. I retorted.

You're kidding. We have a huge influence on our Yeerk. And Thévenin is nice. I'm sure he listens to you. Timmy stated.

Do you think I would be tied up like a ham if he listened to me?

He nodded then declared:

You're like Thévenin. You're too nice for your own good. Please, at least try. You must realize he has no chance. Please, if you don't do it for him, do it for yourself. Unlike me, you have no value. You're not even willing. Visser-12 won't hesitate to kill you, along with Thévenin, when he discovers everything.

Before I could reply, I heard an adult scream in the distance:

Kid, are you there? I'm begging you, set me free. I'll do whatever you want, for pity's sake.

Another replied to him.

Shut up! You still haven't understood that this son of a bitch won't do anything. I bet he's getting off on it. He's no better than the Yeerks.

I have to go. Timmy said hastily, before leaving with eyes filled with tears.

WAIT!

When he closed the bunker door, all light disappeared and I heard a man in the distance start to cry. I would have liked to comfort Timmy. To tell him that he was a great kid. That his parents were talking nonsense and he shouldn't listen to what the other prisoners said. However, I don't think I would have succeeded.

I understood why he had chosen the other side. But a part of me couldn't forgive him. Probably the part that wanted me to scratch my nose. Or perhaps the part to whom this forced immobility in the darkness unpleasantly recalled the time when I was the host of temrash114.

I was going to make Thévenin pay for at least a month for abandoning me there.

oOoOoOo

After what seemed like an eternity, the light returned to the bunker. Then I heard footsteps coming towards me.

Timmy, is that you?

Silent slave.

Once again, I would have at least liked to be able to turn my head to see who was there. After a few seconds, Timmy's face appeared. Except that Timmy would never have had such a harsh expression.

Insulting you is the only pleasure you've given me, filthy sadist. I don't see why I should deprive myself of it.

If you really want, next time, I can also gag you. Jera456 threatened me.

Or you could just put me in a cell.

And how could Thévenin789 reinfect you if you are not immobilized?

I would let it happen. Anyway, what would be my alternative?

He lifted Timmy's hair to reveal a scar that must have required stitches and explained:

You see that? This is what happens when you trust an involuntary host who promises to allow reinfection.

I felt something wet being pressed against my ear, then a slight discomfort in my ear canal.

Arougul741. It's okay, you can untie me. I asked after regaining control of Tom.

There you are at last. What the hell were you doing? Tom asked me angrily.

I shortened the session as much as possible. I swear that if I had known he treated the guests so poorly, I would never have accepted his invitation.

(Was it at least good?)

(Not so much. But it was instructive.) I knew him well enough to know that I definitely shouldn't tell him that it had been one of the best days of my life. Say what you will, Jera456 knows how to enjoy life.

(Okay, give me back control now)

(No, I need to speak to Timmy.)

(Are you kidding me?) he complained angrily.

Jera456 had just removed the restraints from me and I stretched Tom's body, which had become sore from being kept still. I felt a bit of guilt. It must have started to be really difficult for Tom to be locked up here.

Jera456, I need to talk to Timmy about what I saw in his mind. Will you let him have control?

Timmy's face changed completely. Jera456's extreme confidence was replaced by a beaten dog's expression.

I'm sorry. Timmy declared in a very small voice.

No, you are not. I asserted calmly.

I took a step in his direction, but he backed away. Remembering what I had seen in his mind, I set aside my shame of doing this in the presence of Jera456. Then I bent down and opened my arms. Timidly, he moved towards me, then when he was close enough, he hugged me as tightly as he could and I did the same, lifting him up.

I let out a sigh of surprise. I didn't think he was that heavy. The last time I did this, I had a Hork-Bajir body and he was two years younger, but still. Maybe I should take Tom to the gym. I snuggled him against my heart, then carried him out of this grim place.

During the journey, I asked myself for the thousandth time why he never told me he wanted to continue receiving signs of affection. Why did he tell me he was no longer a baby the last time I tried? How was I supposed to guess that human larvae lied about their development status? If this whole story hadn't led me to have to read his thoughts, I would never have known.

Once in the open air, I sat on one of the many benches in the park. I noted that they were extremely dirty. Timmy did what he could, but he would never replace the dozens of employees who used to maintain the place.

I understand that you're worried. And I'm not going to lie to you, you're right, it's very risky, but sometimes we are forced to take risks. And I don't want you to try to stop me anymore. I explained to him.

But there's nothing forcing you to do it? Timmy asked me.

If I were in danger, wouldn't you risk your life to save me?

You know very well that yes since you read my mind.

It was a rhetorical question.

What is a rhetorical question? Timmy asked.

No matter. What I mean is that if I don't do it, I will lose things that I care about a lot. And I wouldn't be the only one. And yes, you are one of the things I want to protect, but you are far from the only one. Even if you didn't exist, I would have made this decision. And I'm not lying to you to make you happy. That's a human thing.

(Yes, you are lying to yourself for your personal interest.) Tom reproached me.

(I have a slight feeling that you're still mad at me for this afternoon)

No. I'm far beyond being mad at you. Was it really an emergency to play the babysitter? Couldn't it wait until next time?

If Jera456 tried to betray us, it's because of him. Initially, Jera456 sincerely wanted to try to create a revolt movement among the Yeerks. It was Timmy who convinced him to give it up and lie to the Animorphs so that they would no longer attack his factories. Or rather, he influenced him to give it up. Jera456 is convinced that the idea came from him.

What? But that's impossible.

(Don't make the mistake of underestimating Timmy. He is really very intelligent. Did you know he taught himself to read and write?) I knew perfectly well that Tom was unaware of it, because I had discovered it myself by probing his mind. But I couldn't help announcing it with pride. Until now, I thought it was one of his Yeerks or a human tutor appointed by Jera456 who had taught him.

But how could he do that, when Jera456 can read his mind?

(Without wanting to upset you, I don't really want to explain to you how to manipulate me.)

(I see that trust prevails.)

You're going to have a hard time making me believe that you haven't thought about it.

(Obviously, but that doesn't mean I'm going to do it) complained Tom.

In short, it is urgent to convince him to stop before he succeeds once again in changing Jera456's mind.

I don't want you to leave. Timmy shouted.

Me neither. And that's exactly why I want to make sure we don't have to fight anymore. You know, it's a real miracle that I'm still alive. Most low-ranking Yeerks like me die young in the terrible battles currently tearing the galaxy apart. Of my 54 sisters, none reached their 21st birthday. High-ranking Yeerks like the Visser or even Jera456 think that if I survived, it's because I have exceptional combat skills. But that's nonsense. It's just that I was incredibly lucky. If it's my sister, and not me, who got hit by an Andalite orbital shot, it's not because I was more skilled than her, but because chance had it that I was two meters further away. When the invasion of theThe earth will be finished, I will have to go back there and nothing says that my luck will continue. I prefer the possibility of dying now trying to protect those I love, rather than the certainty of dying in a year having lost everything.

Tears pearled on his face which he repressed.

(Definitely, you are the father of the year. Why are you so keen on making him believe that you are going to die?) commented Tom

Because it's true. The sooner he gets used to it, the better it will be.

(I know the stakes as well as you do, but he is traumatized enough as it is.)

Timmy dried his tears and suggested:

Jera456 could help you. He could get you a promotion.

I'm afraid that Jera456 doesn't have enough influence for that. And anyway, it's too late now. A promotion would necessarily involve changing hosts. However, Tom knows too much for me to entrust him to another Yeerk. It may not seem like it, but Tom is one of the humans best suited for war. He and his Yeerk are destined for the front line.

(You never told me that) exclaimed Tom.

I thought it was obvious. You are an athlete, what better body for a soldier. Why do you think you were assigned to me?

(Former athlete) he said bitterly, but I felt that he was nevertheless flattered by the mention of his past sporting achievements. Maybe I could try flattery to get him to overlook this afternoon. In the silence of Timmy, I continued:

Listen, buddy, I promise to do everything to stay alive. In return, all I want is for you to stop looking for a way to stop me. Is that okay?

He thought for a moment, then said:

Alright.

Thank you, now I will give control back to Tom and we will leave.

(YEEEEEES) exclaimed Tom.

Wait, I need to tell you something.

(NOOOOOON) laments Tom.

Yes Timmy?

In a month, the G7 leaders will meet at the Marriott hotel to discuss the crisis in the Middle East. Visser-12 wants to take advantage of this to infest all the leaders, the secret services, and ...

His expression changed and he said in a completely different tone:

Sorry Thévenin, I don't know why he's telling such a lie. I promise you that Visser-12 has no plan of this kind and that Timmy will be punished accordingly. I really don't know what's gotten into him... WHAT! YOU DIRTY RASTAR.

What's happening? I asked worriedly.

That damned primate tricked us. You need to warn the Andalites. If Visser-12's plan succeeds, then in two months everything will be over. He will be able to launch his invasion without fear of any human retaliation.

What are you telling me? I searched through his memories and there was nothing like that.

Despite the side effects, that lunatic took Drapelsiant to erase his memories.

Of what? I asked, increasingly panicked.

Sorry, I'm starting over. As part of a contract with the CIA, 10 years ago WellingtonIndustrie developed a whole range of drugs intended for interrogations and the creation of sleeper agents. The project was abandoned afterthat a senatorial inquiry commission had deemed that the experimental protocols violated the Geneva Convention. Finally, that they violated it even more than the other projects of WellingtonIndustrie. But secretly from the authorities, his father kept a significant stock of his drugs to use against his personal enemies. From his reserves and the notes left by his father, this traitor took advantage of some of my moments of relaxation to create a cocktail that erases human short-term memory. Then, he erased the messages from the visser regarding this plan, left a note to himself, and finally took a shot of his poison. Thus, even by searching his memory, one could not discover his nonsense. And when he found his note, he would remember again what he had done. Of course, he repeated his act every time he risked undergoing a memory inspection.

A whole range of emotions were battling inside me, from anger to astonishment. And I wasn't helped by the fact that Tom was more or less in the same state. All I could say was:

Is he at risk of having long-term consequences?

I have absolutely no idea. He was counting on yeerk medical technology in case of a problem, but his stuff is such crap that I'm not sure anything can be done about it. At least now I know why I had such migraines.

I saw that in his memories and it has nothing to do with it. It's because you don't let him sleep enough. You need to stop relying on what he tells you about his physiological needs. He just has no idea how to take care of himself. According to my host's memories, at a minimum, a human larva must sleep 7 hours a night and take a shower every 3 days.

(In fact, it's a bit more than that. It's just me who was a bit messy and stupid when I was young)

Believe me, I'm not about to start listening to it again.

Do not punish him too severely. He meant well.

Are you still defending him? He asked me incredulously.

In the end, he confessed. Even though he knew you would get angry. That deserves your leniency.

In any case, this time, I swear not to leave him alone without supervision, to go enjoy my wonderful and sweet personal pool. And this time, I will stick to it. Goodbye to the PH variations, the beta wave diffuser, the republic-style acoustic decoration, the calcide ionizer... Well, I will do it just once more, but after that, I stop.

oOoOoOoOo

That same evening, I asked Jack to organize a meeting of the animorphs where I explained the situation to them. They received my information with great suspicion (especially after I confessed to them that Jera456 initially intended to betray us). But fortunately, even Aximili and Rachel seemed to agree to take care of Senator Jon Kyl immediately. However, they decided not to do anything about the G7 meeting until they had further verified the information. Moreover, they insisted that I leave while they devised their plan. I found this request extremely humiliating, but given their insistence, I had to comply. Once again, I urged myself to be patient (but it was becoming increasingly difficult).

A few days later, Senator Jon Kyl's credibility was destroyed after he kicked one of his voter's poodles violently in front of the cameras. The image made the headlines of all the morning shows and AmericaThe whole group mocked him. Then he disappeared purely and simply. I tried to ask them how he did that without Visser-12 suspecting their involvement, but all I got was a blush from Marco and a sarcastic comment from Rachel about Marco's incredible ability to annoy anyone to the point of fleeing to the other side of the world. Realizing the topic was sensitive, I did not insist.

Instead, I asked them what had happened several months ago in the center where Visser-12 stored his calculation crystal. The only response I got from them was that they couldn't talk about it. I was starting to get fed up with their constant suspicion.