Revolution part 1

I took a deep breath. The moment had finally come. I tried to ignore David's screams as he alternately yelled for me to give him back his freedom or cried in fear of what we were going to have to face.

Doing that to a child so young broke my heart. He was even younger than Tom when he was forcibly infested. Barely older than Timmy. I could, like the Animorphs, tell myself that he deserved it after trying to kill them and abandoning humanity to its fate. I wish I were human to be disgusted by some of his tendencies towards cruelty.

But I was a Yeerk, and if I fought, it was precisely so I wouldn't have to tell myself lies anymore. I disapproved of his attraction to violence, of course, but I didn't feel such disgust that it would lead me to despise him. And I couldn't blame this child for holding the Animorphs responsible for the loss of his parents and his life. I couldn't blame him for refusing to be a soldier obeying Jack's orders. Great Visser knows that if I could have, I would have made the same choice.

Finally, I could not afford this kind of state of mind. An additional soldier equipped with Andalite morph technology is too significant an asset to be ignored. Especially when the balance of power is so much against us. And if we succeeded, he would be the last human to experience such a thing.

A dull noise was heard. Our shuttle had just connected to the mothership currently in orbit around Jupiter to serve as a base for the Yeerk workers who were building a huge industrial complex there. Once completed, gigantic nuclear fusion reactors and particle accelerators would convert the atmosphere of the gas giant into antimatter capsules (the fuel for our ships).

Our plan was simple. Jera456 had convinced a small group of Yeerk soldiers and the captain of a transport ship that regularly supplied the mothership with drinking water to join us. Thanks to Andalite morph technology, I had acquired the DNA of the host of a high-ranking Yeerk. I and a small group of soldiers would impersonate him and his escort on an inspection tour for Visser-12. At the same time, the Animorphs would launch an attack on the Yeerk pool to force Visser-12 to intervene with his blade ship.

That should keep him busy enough so that he doesn't pay attention to the confirmation requests from the mothership's officers. Once our small group reaches the ship's bridge, while the soldiers cover me, I will transform into a creature capable of sweeping away the defenders, and we will take control of the mothership. If there is a problem, the troops waiting in the water carrier will be there to cover us. Once we have control of the mothership, we will inform all the yeerks through all possible channels. Visser-12 will be forced to abandon the game to retake the mothership, even if it means letting the animorphs escape.

And as soon as it is high enough in the atmosphere, France will launch a nuclear attack on the axe-ship, aided by Tobias who will continuously maintain a laser guidance system attached to his paws aimed at the ship. This planet has such strong gravity that to escape it, the axe-ship must reduce its shield power to a minimum (which are not very powerful to begin with).

It should damage his ship enough for it to crash and for the Animorphs to capture Visser-12. Once Visser-12 is eliminated and the mother ship is under our control, the Yeerks on Earth will have no choice but to obey us if they want to eat.

Then, Richac6487 and Jera456 will lead the Yeerk by relying on their respective clientele.

It was a perfect plan. And like all perfect plans, it didn't take 3 seconds before we had to throw it in the trash. Damn! Who would have thought that just at that moment, Visser-12 would be on the mothership. Normally, he never sets foot there. I glanced at Jera456. Despite the inexpressiveness of the hork-bajir who was temporarily hosting him, I saw his face fall apart. I was really glad that Timmy wasn't there to see what was going to happen next.

oOoOoOoOo

Barely 30 minutes later, I felt like I was in hell. We were surrounded in a corridor located in the middle of the mothership. Shots were coming from all directions, bodies were piling up. Everything was nothing but screams and confusion.

Damn Jera456, what are the orders? I yelled at him.

He was supposed to be the operations leader, but since the shooting started, he remained crouched back, trembling, without saying a word. As a result, everyone reacted randomly and completely ineffectively. And his panic was starting to spread. Damn coward! I was going to have to do his job for him again.

You two hold the position and make them believe we're still in this corridor. The others with me. They will probably try to outflank us by going through corridor B-3 to encircle us. We will intercept them. Our advantage is that Visser-12 is so convinced he has the upper hand that he wants us alive for interrogation. Follow me and I promise you victory.

I shouted the last sentence and to emphasize my words, I transformed into a rhinoceros and smashed through the wall behind me. Once on the other side, despite the rhinoceros's poor vision, I had no trouble seeing the fifty or so Hork-Bajir who, as I had predicted, were trying to flank us. Thanks to the element of surprise, I crushed them with ease.

I resumed human form, let out a war cry while raising my Draco beam high, and charged forward. Whether out of conviction or because he preferred to be in the only corridor where there were no more enemies, they followed me.

oOoOoOoOo

Meanwhile, in France, Jacques Chirac was biting his nails in the secret bunker of the Élysée Palace, surrounded by his entire staff (all infested by yeerks, of course). They should have launched the first nuclear strikes about an hour ago. But since the docking of Jera456's squadron to the mothership, there had been radio silence. What were they supposed to do? Deep down, he knew. In such a case, they had to wait for more information to act. Patience was the best weapon of the warrior. But Richac6487 had never been patient.

Order our forces to launch the assault. Let the submarines surface and our special forces begin landing along the California coast. Let the fighters stationed in French Polynesia take off to protect them from bug fighters. Our target is the Yeerk HQ.

Under-screwing, the non-commissioned officers are infested, but most of the soldiers are mere humans.

And so?

So there is no chance that they will agree to launch an assault against the USA as long as no spacecraft is visible.

Tell them it's an exercise. When they are under enemy fire, they will no longer be able to retreat and will be forced to advance.

Have you gone mad? It's completely out of the question. Reasoned with authority a voice that belonged to none of his officers.

Completely stunned, Richac6487 watched helplessly as the being he hated most in the entire galaxy, Lionel Jospin, entered the bunker. The other Yeerks mainly noticed that he was escorted by about ten Republican Guards, of whom only two were infested by Yeerks.

How did you get in? I shouted.

Jacques, you left the same code as in Tonton's time (Author's note: for the younger ones, it's a nickname that was given to Mitterrand.)

Following this response, Richac6487 instinctively lowered his eyes in shame, under the reproachful gaze of his men. Then he raised them. He was the leader. As the leader, he was in charge of the grand strategy, but it was up to them to think aboutthis kind of insignificant detail. As soon as the humans are gone, he will severely scold them for this oversight.

In fact, it's perfect. You're arriving just in time for me to take revenge for several years of humiliation. Soldier, as the head of the armies, I order you to execute this unbearable bespectacled person.

But apart from Lionel Jospin (who slowly approached Chirac), no one moved.

Jacques, let's not go that far. I understood from the dissolution that you, too, could never forget that evening in Acapulco. From the beginning, I understood that it was a ploy to get closer to me. But the world is not ready to accept us as we are. Lionel pronounced in a suave voice, reaching out his hand with the obvious intention of caressing Chirac's cheek.

But this one stepped back.

But stop! For the last time, there is no scheme. I HATE YOU. Shouted Richac6487.

In front of the astonished gazes of all the individuals present (human and Yeerk), Lionel continued:

Your words say one thing and your actions say another. If you really hated me, why did you do everything to make me your prime minister? Jacques, give up this madness and accept that we must live our love in secret.

For any response, Richac6487 panicked and ordered his chief of staff:

Send the atomic bombs. Now!

Where to screw down? We have no target. Replied the officer, barely holding back laughter.

Wherever you want, but shoot.

Immediately, the republican guards regained their composure and raised their weapons on Chirac. His words had dispelled their last doubts about their leader's mental health. They could not let this band of depraved old politicians destroy the France he had sworn to protect. Not 7 years before their retirement.

Calm down, gentlemen. I was joking, come on. Right, it was a joke? Laugh, you idiots! Defended Richac6487.

But only silence was heard. After what seemed like an eternity for all the participants, the youngest of his assistants gathered enough courage to suggest:

Sub-screw, I think we need to tell them everything.

The others approved and without waiting for their leader's orders, they began to explain that they were actually extraterrestrial parasites in rebellion against a galactic empire trying to invade Earth. This explanation did nothing to reassure the republican guard soldiers about the mental health of their command, until the only Yeerk with a voluntary host decided to leave its host. That, plus the fact that two of their colleagues in whom they had complete trust admitted to being Yeerks, convinced them that this incredible story was indeed real.

However, in good French fashion, they reacted to this turn of events with a long argument about the course of action to take. During the entire duration of this battle, no further orders came from the presidential bunker. Much to the despair of the animorphs, who did not understand why no reinforcements came to their aid as planned. Fortunately, Jack ordered the retreat early enough for them to escape without too much damage. The absence of Visser-12 also greatly helped them to come out unscathed.

Despite everything, it was with much bitterness that they assessed the situation. The operation was a total failure. The Yeerk HQ was not under their control, and the blade ship had not been destroyed. Thévenin789 would have to escape the entire Yeerk fleet and the reinforcements that the HQ would soon send.

oOoOoOoOo

We had succeeded. After hours of intense battle, we had managed to reach the heart of the ship's survival system. And with practically no losses on our side. With a bit of tinkering, we had modified the oxygen and CO2 levels in all other parts of the ship to a level that caused fainting in all the races enslaved by the Yeerks. Many human hosts would suffer lifelong consequences, but such a high CO2 level was necessary to paralyze the Hork-Bajir. I collapsed to the ground exhausted.

CRIIIIIIII

What was that noise? I said aloud.

As if to answer me, the thick steel wall shattered the next moment, and a creature composed of multiple tentacles emerged (killing about ten of my men in the process). Visser-12 had resisted. I got up and gathered what energy I had left to transform into the most powerful creature I had made David acquire: A skunk.

David, I know you hate me, but if you want to survive, stop screaming. Your mom can't do anything for you. But if we win, I promise to do everything to find her.

oOoOoOoOo

After a tough (and very smelly) fight, Visser-12 lay unconscious on the ground, like the rest of his men. We had won.

Thévenin, Thévenin, Thévenin, Thévenin

To my great surprise, I was now surrounded by our supporters who, without asking my opinion, carried me in triumph. Even my host inwardly joined the crowd. I was too tired to protest and let them lead me to the control room where we were to announce to the Yeerks remaining on Earth our takeover. But it was not for me to do it. It was Jera456, our leader. I searched for him with my eyes and saw him in the middle of the crowd. He was applauding with the others. When he saw that I was looking at him, he approached me and spoke in a loud and clear voice so that everyone could hear:

I believe your moment of glory has finally arrived, my screw.

Fucking lazybones. How did he always manage to get me to do his work for him? I thought.

I took the microphone and hesitated for a few seconds on the course of action. I modified the transmitter settings. I saw Jera456 try to stop me, but with a gesture from me, the other soldiers stopped him.

I did not want to address the Yeerks, but also all of humanity. And there was no question of doing it in the guise of a child reduced to slavery. The face of the empire would now be one of symbiosis with a consenting host. Or rather, no. We are no longer the empire. I took on the appearance of Tom. Grabbed the microphone and began to speak:

Hello, I am Thevenin789 from the Arsirk clan and if I am speaking today, it is to announce the creation of the Second Yeerk Republic.

This beginning of the speech was meant to go down in history. But after 15 minutes, the communications operator removed his headset, screaming, and then massaged his ears. An extremely powerful jamming had just cut the transmission to Earth.

Everyone moved towards him to find out what was happening. But before he could open his mouth, we had our answer. In front of the bay window of the mothership's bridge, in all its terrifying splendor, the battle-axe ship had just appeared (accompanied by a significant escort): Visser-12's personal warship. The only ship in the empire capable of rivaling Andalite ships in speed and firepower. The ship that permanently housed a regiment of the visser's personal guard. Elite soldiers chosen by Visser-12 himself for their skill and fanatical loyalty to the empire.

We literally had no chance.