Parasites in the Park

[echoofaperson.livejournal.com]

Hydroponics was peaceful. There weren't that many people in it, and most people were willing to ignore you if you curled up in a corner with a book- well, data pad, and he almost missed the solid weight of paper and ink in his hands - and kept your head down.

And right now, Iniss wanted nothing more than to stay out of the way and avoid all of the humans and assorted alien lifeforms that had decided they were going to hunt him down for Jake.

His host was quiet, on the edge of dozing. Bored by his reading choice and content, for once. He'd sent Jake a message, and he knew Jake had to have received it.

It was a small thing, something very few other people would think much of. Telling your younger sibling you love them? Most teenagers would die first. But Tom hadn't been able to say so much as 'Hi' to his little brother in three years. It felt...nice. Comfortable. He felt almost happy. As close to happy as he'd gotten in years, even with the near miss of freedom.

And so he dozed and Iniss read and they ignored each other completely.

It could almost be said to be peaceful, if living with an alien slug in your head could ever be said to be peaceful.

Comments

[standaloneshell.livejournal.com]

...until the Major's shadow fell across him.

She was human- or human enough, if someone with a full-body prosthesis could have been said to be so. But of all the people aboard who had so much to fear from a Yeerk, Motoko Kusanagi was one of very few who could say even nominally she was both human and completely outside Iniss' ability to threaten. Indeed, the Yeerk that tried infesting her brain was likely to electrocute itself.

Truly, she'd have just as soon shot Tom and Iniss both for the trouble their combined presence had and would continue to cause.

"Tom Berenson," she asked, casually, as if she weren't staring down at him with death in her red eyes. Would you like creme in your coffee?

[echoofaperson.livejournal.com]

Iniss stayed very still for a long moment, staring at the combat boots over the top of his data-pad.

Well shit.

"You appear to have me at a disadvantage, miss."

He wasn't unaware of the tone, but he was very cautious as he looked up at her, keeping his hands lose on the data pad, not moving more than he had to.

[standaloneshell.livejournal.com]

The Major was aware that she had cornered him, which was ordinarily a very dangerous move./ But he would run, oh yes, if he could. Fugitive from all and sundry, protected only by the ship's oath to exact swift vengeance on those who killed within her walls?

It didn't take much to predict him.

"Would you prefer I refer to you as Iniss 335?" She pressed, only moving her eyes against the unnatural cyborg stillness, following his gaze. She softened, after a moment of thought, and tilted her head ever so slightly- the only motion in her was the rise and fall of her chest, cycling air to cool her systems, "I am Major Kusanagi. I don't intend to kill either of you, if I don't have to."

[echoofaperson.livejournal.com]

"Major." He responded politely, inclining his head in acknowledgment. "Your preference is, of course, your preference. I will answer to either and have no opinion on which I prefer. And that is much appreciated, I have already almost died once this week and I'd rather finish this book first, if it's all the same to you."

His expression was guarded, but polite, data pad still gripped loosely in his hands. "Is there something I can help you with, Major Kusanagi?"

[standaloneshell.livejournal.com]

"I would like to speak with you about the options you're likely to face, and ask what you intend to do about them," she replied, just as politely. Thank what little good there was left in the world for the small blessings of civility, "The last time there was a publicly-known Yeerk presence aboard, the fallout was unacceptable. If you intend to remain alive, host or otherwise, you will need to react intelligently."

She didn't bother asking after Tom, at least not in so many words. Motoko had been on both sides of this coin- as both captor and captive, and knew the tactical positions of both. It would be very easy for her to abandon Iniss to the lynch mob, even easier to get rid of it herself. But, that wasn't what she was here for.

[echoofaperson.livejournal.com]

"I understand most of them and am currently working with members of command to secure a solution more in line with the moral values of the rest of the crew. I wish to avoid the fate of my predecessor, of course, if it's all the same to you." He paused, and finally slipped the data pad into his pocket, keeping his hands lose at his sides and keeping a nonthreatening posture.

The last thing he wanted was for her to think he was going for a non-existent weapon.

"If you have any advice or information, I would be more than glad to listen."

[standaloneshell.livejournal.com]

"If anyone had had an ounce of sense, that one would have died as soon as it was captured," she replied without an ounce of pity. After all, it was true, "To suggest that at the current level of organization present, the crew is capable of saving a live Yeerk's life in any meaningful longterm fashion is laughable."

It was in her to offer him the use of one of her civilian bodies, but she held back. No one deserved the fate that had been meted out to a creature who was, to all intents and purposes more innocent than this. It had been six months since then. If that Yeerk still knew anything beyond it's own gibbering, then it would not thank anyone for being allowed to be conscious of it. The sensory deprivation associated with being in stasis was not a joke.

"I am capable of giving you an out that has more certainty," her voice was an edge of tempered steel, "What I need to know from you is why I should. You were brought here because of Tom. For that purpose you represent so far a threat to morale and a source of internal conflict. What good are you?"

[visserbasher.livejournal.com]

Oh, hydropodnics was peaceful all right but it was about to be less so.

"...You." Loren had her bat out all ready, and she gripped it tightly.

You better be glad I like you

[echoofaperson.livejournal.com]

Crap.

He held the data pad in front of him, looking at her warily.

"Beautiful day for a nice, peaceful walk...isn't it? No beating people's heads in required."

Terrified is the word

[visserbasher.livejournal.com]

"You don't have a dracon beam this time, do you?" Not that she'd believe the answer.

No *I* like you, *INISS* is terrfied

[echoofaperson.livejournal.com]

"I have a data pad, your grabby friend took all my things." But he made no effort to put the data pad away, holding it in front of him.

The last thing he wanted her to do was wack him.

Re: No *I* like you, *INISS* is terrfied

[visserbasher.livejournal.com]

Score one for Marco.

Of course on a ship like Stacy that didn't mean he had no secret stash or hadn't raided the weapons locker.

Loren nodded. Her gaze softened for a moment. "I'm really sorry, Tom." They were so close.

[echoofaperson.livejournal.com]

< Not your fault, Loren. It's ok. I'm used to it, by now. >

"He said something sentimental to try to make you feel better." Iniss reported dutifully.

[cityship]

"Iniss 335, stand."

[echoofaperson.livejournal.com]

There were things you said 'no' to. There were things you tried to be coy about.

And occasionally you stored your pride in the overhead compartment, did as you were told and kept your mouth shut.

He had a horrible feeling that this was one of those times, and so didn't bother to argue.

He just stood up.

[godbydefinition.livejournal.com]

Ba'al had taken a great interest in what he had heard about this... situation, with the 'yeerk'. It was only natural that he sought it out, curious about it. It was unlikely it was the other he had felt, but the description was uncanny enough to merit it. It might even be useful to convince him he was on his side (though the actuality of this would have to be seen; he would simply control him if possible).

But someone beat him there, and he knew immediately he'd been correct about the assessment that this yeerk was not the other one. Expression steely, he folded his hands behind his back, calmly, as he approached.

"I'm not too late for the festivities, am I?" he asked, but his voice was humourless as he looked them both over critically.

[cityship]

“Not at all. I am pleasantly surprised. I did not expect us to all meet at once. We must be sure we are not watched.”

[echoofaperson.livejournal.com]

Iniss glanced between the two men, head tilted to the side cautiously. "To what do I owe the pleasure?" He kept his tone respectful, cautious and guarded. When two being sought you out to this extent, there really were few reasons that ended with all parties walking away with limbs intact.

[godbydefinition.livejournal.com]

"The boy on the communications made quite the scene of it," he replied, to the other, nodding his head in agreement, just slightly. He could concede to caution, but that was obvious. To the yeerk, "I've been given reason to take... special interest in you, considering recent announcements."

Without clarification, he turned to face his fellow, his own 'normal' voice in contrast to its. "Care you identify yourself?" he demanded.

[echoofaperson.livejournal.com]

His hand was lose around Jake's wrist, tightening sporadically just to remind him that his brother was there, and this was really happening.

He hadn't actually walked to the Observatory before now, but he knew the way. Iniss liked the room, even if he was cautious to only go there when he didn't think anyone else was there. Tom liked the room too, but for diffrent reasons.

Iniss called him space mad, like a little child with his face pressed against the window. Iniss could call him whatever he wanted, the view of space from the window was quiet possibly the most intoxicateingly liberating view he had ever seen in his life, even with the block of the slug wrapped around his brain like a blanket. He wanted to see it himself, as much as he wanted to show it to Jake.

His hand squeezed around Jake's wrist again, reminded, achingly, of when they were little, and his mom would leave him in charge of Jake and tell him not to let go of his brother or he might get lost or hurt.

Don't let Jake go, bad things might happen.

It was so simple back then, clutching tight to his brother's hand would keep Jake safe and make his mom proud of him for being responsible.

"You told Iniss you've known since the start." He paused in the doorway, voice soft, staring at the promised view. "When did you find out? I just- I guess it doesn't really matter, right...I just...want to know."

Maybe if he held on hard enough, he could rewrite the last three years.

[mynameis-jake.livejournal.com]

For Jake, the memories of walking around with Tom were a little more faded, but something still seemed right about following where his big brother led. He'd looked around the ship himself, trying to get a sense of the size and the resources of it, but he'd never made it up here. It was like a piece of the hull had simply been sliced away, and endless space stretched out before them, farther than the eye could see or the mind could comprehend.

Without really thinking about it, Jake walked past Tom right up to the window, putting his hand on the glass to touch his hazy reflection, fingertips to fingertips.

About to tell Tom how incredible this was, Jake froze when Tom spoke first. A strange suspicion clutched his throat, and if he hadn't had his back turned, Tom would have noticed the unguarded expression of wonder quickly slipping from his face. As it was, he took a second or two to compose himself, and the suspicion faded quickly into regret. Tom had a right to know, and more importantly Jake wanted to tell him, run up to him at the end of the school day, pulling out this story and that bandaged scrape for show and tell.

"Hey, it does matter," Jake said softly. "And I want to tell you so bad, but I can't. Any little thing Iniss finds out... Well, we can't take chances." Jake turned his back to the incredible sight, the stars and the galaxies far away, and sought out Tom's gaze, hoping he would understand. "But I promise: as soon as that Yeerk is out of you for good, I'll tell you everything. For now, maybe--" Jake motioned vaguely behind him. "Maybe you can show me what I missed."

[echoofaperson.livejournal.com]

There was a ghost of a smile, lurking around the corner of his lips. He'd wanted to do the same, the first time he been taken into space.

It was almost reassuring to see the old man fade and his little brother show up.

"I know." His head ducked a little, full of regret. "It's ok, Jake...I understand. I'll... I'll look forward to hearing it all, when you can tell me, ok?"

The smile was just a little more real, just a little more genuine as he joined Jake at the window. "I think it's the only good thing that I've gotten out of all of this, getting to see it like this? It's amazing. You feel so tiny, right?" He reached out hesitantly, clasping Jake's shoulder. "Have you...I mean, have you gone into space before this? Seen it? Earth, it's so different...it's beautiful, like...magic, hanging in space and so huge and yet, in space, it'd just another tiny thing."

[mynameis-jake.livejournal.com]

Jake opened his mouth to say the sensible thing, that he couldn't talk about it until Tom was fully free, so let's change the subject. But it was Tom in front of him, and when he talked about the stars he lit up like them, he looked almost like his old self for the first time in way too long, and for that "sensible" would happily fly out the window and be sucked up into space.

"I've seen so many things, Tom. I saw - we were on this whole other planet, all the way out there - and there was this species called the Iskoort. Really weird things, heads like these, you know," Jake curled his hand, "vultures, and their legs were backwards. But you know what? It turns out that was just the Isk. The Yoort was the species that lived inside their heads and had to come out every three days for Kandrona."

Jake stopped and snorted. If Iniss was going to search Tom's memory for information, he could have it. As long as he saw this too. "I guess the Yoort used to be parasites too, but the thing is, they didn't stay that way. They made the Isk, and they, I don't know, altered themselves so they couldn't live without each other. It's that thing you always learn in bio - you know, like with the clown fish and the anemone?"

[echoofaperson.livejournal.com]

Maybe it wasn't the him he would have been, had the yeerks never come to earth and taken over his life. It was hard to consider how he might have reacted to this as a normal teenager. Maybe he would have dismissed it, like a stupid kid who didn't know any better.

Maybe he would have been appropriately awe struck by the magic of the sight spread out before him.

"You went to another planet?" The smile widened a bit, true curiosity in his eyes. "Iniss showed me what the Hork-Bajir world looked like, but I've never been to another planet. How'd that happen?"

The actual information took longer to sink it, forehead furrowing in thought as he rested his cheek against the view port. "Symbiosis? I didn't think that was possible. How'd it work? It's what they're trying to do, Iniss and the Yeerk in Karen, I guess...almost? Even if it's just to keep themselves safe. What else did you see?"

[mynameis-jake.livejournal.com]

The earlier suspicion returned with a vengeance. It was a unnerving how Tom kept trying to get answers out of him - almost as unnerving as how good it felt to tell even one thing to his brother: how easy, how natural it was to open his mouth and say everything that came to mind, bridge the gap of all those years and all those lies between them... Worst of all, it reminded him uncomfortably of Iniss, how the Yeerk had been trying to to grasp for more information even as he'd been dying.

But the reason the Yeerk hadn't died was because of his, Jake's, own carelessness, and Tom had almost been freed today - maybe he would have, if Jake had just forced the issue, or reached out to swat the Yeerk from Dani's hands. The last thing Jake wanted was to show Tom how that small margin - between freedom and half of it - would continue to taint his life, how as long as Iniss was scheduled to crawl back into his head, he couldn't be trusted with information any more than he had been before.

Jake searched for safe topics, which was surprisingly easy. There was just so much he wanted to tell Tom, even if it had to be a censored version. For all his deliberation, it was only a brief hesitation before he was grinning up at Tom.

"What else? Well, okay, their home world was - " Jake shook his head, as though still in disbelief. "It was pretty much Dr. Seuss land, if it was made out of Legos. I'm not even kidding. There were just all these platforms - like, no order to them - platforms everywhere, all pink and orange and green."

Honest enthusiasm picking up now, he added, "And the Iskoort themselves - man! You think telemarketers are bad? Or the guys handing out flyers at the supermarket? The Iskoort swarmed us as soon as we g-- as soon as we got there, right, squawking and screaming to buy and sell pretty much whatever they could think of. They wanted our clothes, our shoes, they wanted Rachel's hair--" Jake paused. He hadn't meant to give away that Rachel'd been there. This was harder than he'd thought, but he couldn't stop now. "--yeah, everything. They even wanted us to sell our body parts, if you can believe it, and they kept asking us for our mem-- our money, not like we had any. Rachel wound up having to get a haircut just so we could hire someone to show us around the place."

Brilliant, Jake - now Iniss could easily piece together when that mission had been, if he just looked back to when six inches of Rachel's hair had mysteriously disappeared. Or was that from before Tom's time? Jake couldn't remember anymore. He quickly changed the topic.

"I guess you didn't exactly get to travel that much, huh? Maybe Stacy will make a stop - if it's still around." Now that was a problem, if the Iskoort were still playing the Animorphs' memories around for anyone to see? "Uh... what did you mean, he showed you what it looked like?"