trans_9 | Disturbance At The Tree

And Elfangor did. How secured the message was and the meeting place. He wasn't sure what had spooked his brother, but he trusted his instincts.

He made sure no one had followed him as he approached the tree, eye stalks constantly scanning the area, but with no movement, it should have been safe and there shouldn't be any surprise visitors. Unless they came by chance, but that could be dealt with then.

< What's happened, Aximili? > It was a bit direct, but after everything that's happened, anything that might be a threat was best to deal with as soon as possible.

< At least two of the crew members awakened in this most recent Pod Release are Controllers, > Ax said in private thought-speak to Elfangor and Tobias. Best to get to the point directly. < One of them may or may not be an ally, depending on the point in time from which she was taken; but the other is a known enemy. >

His tail lashed back and forth. < We've spoken with Stacy, and she says that she is including the nutrients that the slugs would otherwise get from Kandrona rays in the food she provides for the hosts. Marco is currently masquerading as a Controller himself to get close to them. >

Tobias was indeed keeping watch, going between gliding overhead and sitting on that ridiculous *thing* Marco had brought in. He hated it with a passion, but he didn't have time to worry about it at the moment.

 Tobias said. < After their encounter, Aftran let Karen go free and chose to remain hostless. >

< All I do know is, the rest of the crew finds out, they'll want them dead, and fast, after what happened before. So, we have to decide what to do and hope no one else finds out. Except maybe mom...should she know about this? > he asked.

Elfangor did not look pleased at the news. More Yeerks? Controllers that the kids clearly KNEW if they recognized them off the bat and one was...

An ally? Really? < You met a Yeerk that was an ally? > Elfangor asked, just a bit of his confusion in his tone. It was such a foreign concept. Then again, Taxxons could rebel and there had been Yeerks that helped the crew before.

< We have to tell Loren. She wouldn't think to hide she's associated with Aximili and myself and they'll think she's a prime target. She can defend herself better knowing they're there. >

< Several, actually. Illim was the name of another. Some of the Yeerks were not comfortable with enslavement. They chose to abandon their hosts and remain without one, or to stay in with the host's cooperation. They called themselves the Yeerk Peace Movement. They supported cooperation between the species rather than enslavement and domination. >

< I was skeptical at first myself, but Aftran eventually saved Ax's life. He got the Yamphut . Cassie had to rescue Aftran on her own because we all had a form of it, and Visser Three was coming to interrogate her. She morphed another YPM yeerk and slipped into the pool in his host. She returned back with Aftran just as Ax was hitting the critical stage...it was only with Aftran's help that Cassie was able to get the tria gland out before it would have killed Ax. Aftran ended up becoming a humpback whale nothlit. >

< Illim we lost contact with as the war went public, so I'm not sure what happened to him eventually. But it was he who helped Cassie get into the pool to save Aftran. He and Mr.Tidwell let her morph yeerk and then enter the pool inside Tidwell. He also protected Ax and the rest of us from Chapman after Ax got sick. We were sure he was going to turn us all in, but he didn't. Or Mr.Tidwell didn't...it's hard to keep track. >

It was nerve-wracking saying all of this, and Tobias braced for Elfangor's potential response.

 he said, glad his father was on the same page with him, as it were.

Ax hunched his upper shoulders in a human sort of way, suddenly looking anywhere at Elfangor. The Yamphut and being rescued by a Yeerk had been bad enough without Tobias telling Elfangor all of the gory details.

Especially about giving Aftran the ability to morph. Yes, Elfangor had broken the law of Seerow's Kindness in giving the Animorphs the ability to fight back, but giving it to a Yeerk was...

Well, Ax was pretty sure that most members of the Andalite military would execute them on the spot.

< Whatever you think is best, > he demurred.

(pardon the out-of-turn, I need to fix this)

Tobias didn't realize until after he'd spilled that some of those things were potentialy troubling details he'd just told.

< Sorry...I should have probably been a bit more discreet there. I hope he doesn't go nuts about the morphing thing with Aftran. > Everything going on was wearing on Tobias's mind, and he was a little less careful than normal sometimes. Not in a way that could put himself or the others in danger, but little things like this.

< We only did it for that special reason...we couldn't stand the idea of her dying a slow, painful death of starvation. And we figured that as a nothlit, she'd be no threat to us. >

< You had Yamphut?! And you had a Yeerk in your head?! > Elfangor...really did not sound pleased. Not at Aximili though. Just the fact there had been a YEERK in his brother's head! Ally or not, it was just...just...

< And you gave a Yeerk the ability to morph?! > Yes, he gave the ability to humans, but humans had also shown to have a better moral code than Yeerks consistently. < And a whale, you couldn't even hold her until... >

Elfangor took a moment to breathe deeply, trying to control the obvious agitation. No, he had to think this a bit more logically. His brother could have died. No human would be able to find that gland, they just didn't know the Andalite biology. A Yeerk, however, could find it.

The Yeerk saved an Andalite's life. So they took a chance at trusting them. And...and morphing.

...a way for a Yeerk to have the senses that Seerow so pitied them not having, but without taking other another being. It was a logical and good choice, if the Yeerks could be trusted with such an ability. A chance the Yeerk had earned.

< ...I understand your reasons. I...would not suggest I meet this Aftran until we're sure she's more for the Peace Movement, > he said, voice more even and controlled. He wasn't sure what he'd do if he confronted the Yeerk who had been in Aximili's head and it gave the usual Yeerk attitude. < But we will tell Loren about what's going on. Tell me about the other one. >

Ax squirmed in the face of Elfangor's obvious displeasure. It really had been the best course of action at the time, but...yes, it sounded terrible.

Best not to mention that Cassie deliberately let Aftran into her head during that first encounter, and that Cassie had let the Yeerks have the Escafil device.

< Aftran is in the body of a young human girl named Karen, > he said meekly. < The other Controller is an adolescent human male who, from what Tobias and Marco have told me of the future, goes on to become an enemy second only to the Abomination before he is killed. His host's name is Tom, and we have had extensive contact with him, though he is unaware of it. >

Unheard to the others, Elfangor got a message via the comm rings from Loren.

ELFANGOR! There's a yeerk here! Stacy won't let go of me and I can't stop him. He's going to get away.

What timing!

This might be a blessing for Ax and Tobias because the idea of Loren being in danger got rid of that anger at them very quickly.

< Loren, where are you?! Is it a little girl or a teenage boy? > Elfangor responded, already turning to head back to the elevator. < Are you in danger?! >

Why was Stacy holding her down when there was a Yeerk?!

The teen boy, Tom. I'm fine. I caught him in a lie and he pulled out a Dracon beam. I lunged for him and he fired at my feet. Stacy grabbed us both. She let him go but is still holding me. He's gone.

< He pulled a Dracon beam on you?! > He didn't sound happy at that, but then another thought.

Her feet? Why did he shoot at her feet of all things? Killing her might have been a stupid move, but stunning was an option that he could possibly justify if Stacy deemed Loren was aggressive enough to restrain.

No, now wasn't the time to think about it. Loren first.

< So you're safe? >

Yes. Stacy's let me go. Where are you?

She was safe. Good. < We're at the Garibah tree in the City. Tobias and Aximili are here too. > Elfangor said and paused. < ...how did you catch him in a lie? He's a Controller from their time, so how did you know he was one? >

I'm on my way there. He said he didn't know why he was here and then he said he knew Marco. There was a pause as Loren realized that she should have been a lot more careful with her words. And I didn't tell him why Marco was important and would have been chosen by Stacy but I probably gave him a good idea that he was important. I'm sorry.

< ...you didn't know, but we need to warn Marco now. > Letting the Yeerk find out that Marco could morph or he knew about the Yeerks was a bad idea.

< Elfangor? > Ax asked, noticing that his brother seemed to be very suddenly agitated and distracted. He began scanning the area around them more intently, raising his tail higher in preparation for a fight. < What's wrong? >

< Loren ran into Tom just now, > Elfangor said. < She's safe and on her way here, but Tom is now aware that Marco is 'important' in our world. Not the why, but it will likely make him more suspicious. >

Tobias listened to his father's explanation.

He wasn't really sure whether to be somewhat annoyed at the second Yeerk invasion that was going on now, or to be happy to be back in the fight again. He did hope that they could rescue Tom and avoid anyone getting hurt, though.

< Great. It definitely will. > Tobias said with a mental sigh.

Ax pawed the ground with a fore-hoof. < It will indeed, > he agreed unhappily, trying to figure out some way to salvage the situation. They should have expected it really, when had things ever gone as planned for them? < We may need to, ah, 'wing it'. >

< Did you have a plan before this? > Elfangor asked. Because winging it now usually meant there was something. Not that he was bad with winging it.

< Well, Marco and I were talking, but we were kind of in a "wait and see" mode, trying to figure out the best place, and the best way, to catch and stash Tom. We really don't wanna screw this up, that's for sure. > Tobias said.

< The place will have to be in the City, > Elfangor said. < Because Stacy is apparently protecting Tom. We need a place she can't reach. >

Why she was protecting him was a very good question. Why would she protect a creature that once before had tried to take her over. The other one was perhaps understandable if she was to be part of this Peace Movement, but this Tom and his Yeerk were a different story entirely.

< Indeed, > Ax agreed. < Although there have been repairs done. We will have to be careful. >

He thought for a moment, then inclined his head in the direction of the stone maze standing in the shadow of the Garibah tree. < Perhaps in there, if we can eliminate the stairs leading up from the pit in the center. But we would need lights to make sure that no holes appear in the walls that the Controller could escape through. >

Tobias nodded in agreement to Ax's words, even though it looked slightly strange for a hawk.

 he said. < Marco, too, assuming he drops the controller 'disguise' by then. >

< More than likely he'd have too or else the Yeerk would wonder why he didn't try anything and how he was found out should he somehow escape. It would be broken either way or Marco would lose the advantage it gives him anyway. > Elfangor said.

He paused. < We'll have to tell the Command Staff about this. We don't know what the other one thinks right now and if she brings attention to Tom and his Yeerk, we'll be put in a bad spot. > Another hesitation. < And why we will have to give the Yeerk a chance to surrender. >

Ax said. < Guarding him goes without saying. At least he doesn't have the morphing ability, so we should have a much easier time of it than -- > Oops. Perhaps he shouldn't mention that Prince Jake was infested once. Yes, it was quite early on in the Animorphs' career, but Elfangor didn't really need to know about it. < -- We would in most situations, > he finished, hoping Elfangor either wouldn't notice or wouldn't comment on any momentary breaks in his thought-speech.

He shifted his weight from hoof to hoof. he said finally. 

As for Aftran...well, Ax wasn't entirely certain of his thoughts as to what should be done with her. His military training screamed that she should be put into stasis or killed as well, a Yeerk was a Yeerk was a Yeerk. Even if she was a future ally, she certainly wasn't one now, and her host deserved to be free.

< Yes, I agree. > said Tobias. < And yeah, this will be a lot easier. > Tobias knew what Ax was talking about, but he had a feeling the Andalite was trying not to let on about it to Elfangor.

< You're being careful, aren't you? I don't know how he'd react either if we told him about Jake > he said privately to Ax.

< Not many of them. Although things did get heated before. > he said in reply to Ax's comment about getting rid of the Yeerk.

< It's Stacy that worries me. She doesn't like fighting between crew members...I really hope she won't consider the yeerk a crew member and try to protect it. >

< ...what do you mean he doesn't have the ability to morph? > Elfangor asked. There had been a cut off. If it had been Visser Three, there would be no cut off.

< Just the Command Staff for the moment. We may not have to mention the Yeerk at all to the crew as a whole depending on how things go, > Elfangor said.

Elfangor paused for a moment and there was a slight sag in his shoulders. < She does. The fact she defended him proves it. >

Ax focused on keeping his racing thoughts from showing in his body language. To tell Elfangor about Prince Jake's infestation, or to tell him about the Yeerks obtaining the Escafil device? Or to do the unthinkable and lie to Elfangor? He knew he was capable of lying to a superior officer, as he had when Estrid and her party had come to Earth, but to lie to Elfangor? Unthinkable.

< He doesn't have the ability to morph, > Ax said carefully, focusing his main eyes on a point just above Elfangor's own. < What I was recalling isn't really relevant at the moment. > Hopefully, Elfangor would accept that, and not order an explanation out of him.

< I'm sure that Marco would request that we involve as few people as possible, > he continued on the next topic. < If only because the more times we have to explain it, the more opportunities the Yeerks have to overhear. And if Stacy will defend him, then we just need to find a place where her anti-violence protocols can't reach us; or render him unconscious with a single blow and accept the Violation. >

And finally Loren had found them. "Hey, I'm sorry if I messed everything up." Loren walked beside Elfangor and put one arm around him- because at the moment, she really needed it.

Ax was taking a cautious approach, not telling Elfangor about the Jake incident. Tobias couldn't say he blamed Ax, really.

< Yeah, that figures...I remember that. What I'm most afraid of is, her trying to keep the yeerk alive he's wherever we stash hi somehow. I'm not sure how that would work, though. >

< Hi, mom > Tobias said, looking up as Loren came in.

< What happened? > he asked. Her tone and expression worried him.

"I ran into Tom, or rather the Yeerk inside Tom. I can't believe Stacy defended that-" She had to cut herself off before she said something she shouldn't say in front of her son.

Elfangor ALMOST asked about what Ax was talking about, what wasn't relevant, but then Loren arrived. His eye stalks were already scanning her for any injury, an arm moving around her shoulder to comfort her.

< Then Stacy definitely protected the Yeerk. Which means she sees him as crew, > Elfangor said. < We will have to tell the highest of the command, though no necessarily all of it. Just those with the most power. I'm hesitant to say just Kirk as that might put him in a tight spot, so we at least need a few others. I'm sure they'll agree the host should be freed and if the Yeerk surrenders and relinquishes that control, we can't kill him. Stacy may even allow us to do that, since then we don't kill either one. >

Loren seemed to be distracting Elfangor from Ax's slip. Ax had never felt more favorably inclined to her.

< Who in particular should we tell? > he asked, pressing onward before they could back-track. < But we should hold him in a place that we could keep him for three days, in case he doesn't surrender. Then we can give him the option. >

Tobias listened, wondering the same thing. He wasn't totally sure who they could trust or who was the best to tell. Heck, with so many people on the ship, it was hard just to keep track of who was who. Plus, they had to be careful who they told, or they'd have another riot like they had before.

 he said, agreeing with his mom.

Disturbance At The Tree

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