trans_9 | Here's the deal these days: They know exactly who we are. They know exactly where we live.

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Here's the deal these days: They know exactly who we are. They know exactly where we live.

Cybil is currently talking with Jaime Reyes about the possibility of hacking the ship's systems. Just a normal day on the meatship, a normal conversation in one of the cold zones, where there are no working sensors, about getting the hell OFF the ship, or turning the big bitch around.

"Do you think we could have our resident tech nerds build something to bridge the gap from technological to the more organic parts of her systems?"

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"Maybe. That's probably our best bet," says Jaime thoughtfully. "I think you need to talk to our lab nerds to see if we have the resources for that though, but if we do, the scarab can probably handle the hacking part, especially with the other hackers helping. The difficult thing will be doing it without damaging Stacy's systems. This is basically her nervous system and anything we could do could brain-damage her--which aside from being morally questionable, could delete information she needs to run the ship properly so we have breathable oxygen, or navigational information that we need to get home or..."

Suddenly, the bioluminescent lights on the ship flicker.

"What the hell was that?"

That, thought he doesn't know it yet, is the Yeerks activating their device that will cripple Stacy's brain, which will allow them to control her just like they control the minds of their hosts, but will destroy the information they need to go home to their respective worlds.

There was an Earth saying, 'When you hear hoof beats, think horses, not zebras'. On board this ship, well, you were just as likely to get lizards.

Or in this case, a teenage Andalite.

Ax clattered around the corner and skidded to a halt.

< Prince Cybil, Jaime Reyes, everyone is in very grave danger! > he announced, watching the human woman's expression with his main eyes as his stalk eyes scanned the area. If she was herself infested, she would undoubtedly react to an Andalite presence. He didn't think that it would be possible for Jaime Reyes to be infested, since he already had a parasite. < Several members of the crew have had their minds taken over, including Robin, Sam, and Dox. >

Her eyes flicker, but it's likely just recognition from the Bug-fight, and general caution and paranoia.

Her sidearm is out and quickly pointed at him.

"You! You showed up at the fight with the Bugs. Who and what are you? And what the hell are you talking about? Why haven't you introduced yourself to the crew?"

She's not firing though. Good sign. It looks more like cop instinct and worry for the crew due to a big unknown factor.

And she's not the only one being cautious. Jaime suits up, although he says, "Cybil, I don't know who he is, but he helped us a lot during the stuff with the Bugs."

A Yeerk would have fired. He would have to trust her for now.

< My name is Aximili-Esgarrouth-Isthill, I am an Andalite, and I possess the power to morph. > Ax said, holding up his hands in the manner he had learned on television. Barely a concession, since his tail blade was infinitely more dangerous than his hands.

< I have interacted with both of you under the guise of 'Phillip'. I did not reveal my true form sooner because in my own universe I am battling an invasion of alien slugs that are capable of crawling inside the heads of other species and taking over their minds and bodies. Some are on board this ship, and they are going to attack the rest of the crew, infesting those they can and killing those they cannot. >

A stalk eye swung Jaime's way. < You, for example, will likely be killed since I doubt that your own parasite would be interested in sharing your body. >

"Wait a second. You're Phillip?" You can see the gears grinding. "The speech impediment, the toppling over... you weren't used to being human. That's what that was, wasn't it."

She lowers the gun just slightly.

"You're telling me the reason you were faking human was because of these parasites from your home--and they're here? They're actually in people here?"

No time to explain the difference between a "speech impediment" and "enjoying mouth-sounds", or talk about how utterly ridiculous the two-legs-no-tail idea was.

< That is exactly what I am saying, > Ax said. < I currently am only aware of three Controllers. Robin, Sam, and Dox. I had recruited Dox to help me look for the Yeerk Pool -- the parasite's "base", as you would say -- but he went without me and unfortunately did locate it. I do not doubt that there are more Controllers. I also recruited Lyta to help me, and Tobias is an ally from my universe. >

He stretched his tail, arching it high over his back. < We need to move quickly. I cannot stress this enough. The Yeerks are aware of my presence and will have adjusted their time table. >

A figure with a Dracon beam took careful aim...

But Andalites had four eyes.

Tseeeeeeeeeeeeeew!

Ax dodged out of the way, spinning around to face the enemy.

< Yeerk! >

Cybil only just manages to get out of the way, but the way she dives puts her a little too close to the shooter...

...Who used his weapon to crack her across the face, enough to stun her so he could knock her gun from her hand and put her in a headlock. He pressed the muzzle of his Dracon beam up against her head before giving his best friend a grin.

"Hey Jaime. I thought I was the one who was supposed to fall in with the 'wrong element'." He narrowed his eyes at Ax. "I can kill her before you can reach me, Andalite. You stay back."

"Fuck."

He hadn't moved like a teenager, he'd moved like an adult that'd had years of experience beating the shit out of people.

"Paco, what are you doing? Put the--laser weapon thing down."

"What does it look like I'm doing, Jaime?" Paco asked, drawing the name out like taffy. "Be a sport, amigo. Power down before I pull the trigger. At this range, it'd take her head cleeeeeeeean off. And that would just suck for everyone."

< Jaime, your friend is not in control of himself, > Ax said urgently in private thought-speak to Jaime and Prince Cybil. < I am speaking privately to both of you, he cannot hear me. The weapon is a Dracon beam, the highest setting can punch a hole through ten feet of titanium and it is purposely constructed in a way to cause maximum pain. Do not get hit by the beam. Prince Cybil, we are going to rescue you.>

In public thought-speak, to the Yeerk. < Release her and your host this instant, you filthy slug, and you may just survive long enough to get back to your disgusting pool. >

"What he said. Because what would suck for everyone is if I power down and just let you kill me. Which is what you plan to do, right? Then Paco would be guilty, Cybil would be guilty it led to me dying--and then probably wind up infested or dead--and everyone would lose anyway," Jaime says carefully.

"Since you have control of Paco's brain, you should know I'm not that stupid. How about instead of surrendering, whatever happens happens, and then I'll be extra pissed when I stop you from doing anything else."

Buying time for options. Rotate through. That's fatal, no. Fatal. Fatal. Non-fatal, but too slow, so Cybil could die. Fatal...

One of the benefits of Jaime not knowing all that the suit can do means that Paco doesn't either--and therefore, neither does the Yeerk.

"Jaime, Jaime, Jaime," Paco said, sighing. "Don't you remember what happened the last time you believed random blue aliens? Honestly. If I was just going to kill you, I could do it without you powering down. All I'd need to do is flick this switch right here to a higher setting, like so, and--"

Paco flung Cybil out of the way and fired at Jaime.

Jaime flings up a shield, and dives out of the way, but the shield shatters from the force of the blast, and so does the armor of his arm. Jaime cries out, and it leaves burned skin visible through the cracks, still bubbling and steaming.

With Cybil out of the way, however, he can fight back, and he fires plasma blasts in a concussive pattern around Paco to disorient him--he can't hit him directly or he could kill him.

"Cybil, Ax, go! Warn the others! I'll take care of him!"

She hesitates for a moment. Just for a moment.

Then, "You heard him. Move!"

Ax also hesitated, but Prince Cybil gave her orders. He bolted after her.

Paco didn't stagger or try to dodge. Kuber 492, also known as Sub-Visser Seven, the leader of this party, knew very well that Jaime would not shoot his best friend. That was why he had taken this body, even though there were better ones. Shortly however, Jaime would cease to be a problem and Sub-Visser Seven would have his choice of hosts. He rather hoped that no one killed the Andalite.

It was difficult to shoot with Jaime firing all over like that, though. Paco made-believe like he'd been hit. "AUGH!"

His strength is his weakness. It's always been. Trust. Caring just a little too much.

"Paco!"

He races towards him. It's instinct. It's always been his fear, ever since he got the scarab, that he'd somehow hurt his family, his friends--anybody.

Paco grinned.

"Sucker."

With Jaime coming right toward him, he barely needed to aim before he fired.

That hurt.

Like, badly. Like he can vaguely hear the scarab blaring a warning in his head about his injuries. His armor cracked, burnt skin showing through.

His problem is HOW he fights back. There are things he can do to take Paco down in an instant.

...Those things are all instant because they're fatal, and therefore not an option.

Jaime struggles to climb back up to his feet, managing a kneeling position first, looking up to see where his friend/enemy (frenemy?) is.

His "frenemy" was standing over him, with the Dracon beam pointed at his head.

"It's a shame it had to end this way," Paco said, almost conversationally. "Your powers would be a great asset to the Yeerk Empire. We will simply have to use this ship to develop the technology to control your alternates."

He crouched down, resting the muzzle of the gun against Jaime's forehead, right between the eyes.

"But while I've got your undivided attention, I want you to do something for me. I want you to beg."

Here's the deal these days: They know exactly who we are. They know exactly where we live.

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