Chapter Text
I filled Ava in on my own story. My own history with the Yeerk Empire and with the Animorphs. We walked up from the the beach as I did. I searched Ava's mind for some knowledge of where we were. I stopped for Ava to pick up her jacket and put it back on, then went to where she'd locked her mountain bike to a small tree. I took off in what I hoped was the direction of Cassie's farm.
I let Ava do the riding. I looked through some more aspects of Ava herself. Not memories or private things, just her interests. Things she liked in music, movies, books. Things she liked doing, her favorite places and foods. Just basic things so that I knew something about her.
-Parents aren't around much.- she said suddenly, getting off the bike. Somehow, we'd ended up in the woods. She chained the bike around a tree, planning to come back for it later. -They're active duty military, so I pretty much get the house to myself. You won't have to worry too much about passing for me. They're not home enough to notice if I start acting differently.-
-You're like Tobias. Kind of.- I said
-He's the bird one, right?-
-Yeah, he's the nothlit. But he can morph now. Don't ask, I'm not a morphing expert.-
-Ah...It'd be neat if they gave us the morphing power.- Ava mused.
Us.
She'd said us.
I don't know why that bit got to me. But it felt really good that she included me in her wish. I guess it was because no Yeerk is used to being thought of that way, except by other Yeerks. We're not used to someone actually wanting us around, wanting to include us, or even talking to us like we're people. But that was how Ava saw me. Not as a parasite, but as another person. One who just happened to live in her head.
I was clearly out of practice having a host, because I didn't realize how long we'd been walking. I also wasn't watching where we were going. So of course I plowed us into the rump of a large animal.
A large blue furred animal that startled when we hit it. Its tail flicked and knocked our legs out from under us. We landed on our back and stared up at-
"Aximili!" I blurted with Ava'a voice. All four of his eyes widened and he cocked his tail blade.
-Yeerk!- he growled
"No! I mean, yes, but...uh..."
-Tell him your name.- Ava suggested.
"Aftran." I said, "I-it's me, Aftran 942. The one who went in your head to find your Tria gland."
Ax paused for a moment, probably thought speaking with Tobias.
-How?- he finally said, -You were a nothlit, I timed your morph.-
"I know. I was a whale earlier, then this voice starts talking to me. Says I can-"
-Voice? From everywhere at once?- Ax asked.
"...Yeah. How did you know?"
-Ellimist.- Ax answered, -It had to be the Ellimist. The same being that restored Tobias' morphing powers.-
"So, the guy the humans say is basically a god?"
-Yes. What did he have to do with you?-
"He said...I could get back in the fight. I...didn't really want to just go nothlit and not be able to help, but I had to keep my word to you guys. So, he turned me back into a Yeerk and had a voluntary host find me." He started to object, but I stopped him, "Give me a minute and I'll prove it." I disengaged from my connections and found my way to Ava's ear, carefully making my way back out. My vision and hearing faded back in as I exited and dropped into Ava's hand.
"See?" Ava said, "She's fine. Just...keep that tail away from her, please. I'm Ava, by the way." She placed her other hand over me protectively.
-I see that. You should put her back now, Ava. They can dry out like Earth slugs.-
-We need to find the others,- I said from Ava's hand, -I need to tell them what I've just told you. Myself.-
"Oh yeah. She talks. And she can see and hear. I guess that Ellimist guy changed her biology or something." She moved her hand and my eye stalks locked gazes with Ax's stalk eyes like we were having a staring contest. If we did, I would win, since I don't have eyelids.
-That doesn't surprise me.- Ax muttered, -Come, I've sent Tobias to get the others. We will meet at Cassie's barn-
"Let me go get my bike real quick. Here, hold this." She dropped me on Ax's shoulder and ran off. He looked down at me, confused.
-You think it's a lot for you to take in, try being me,- I said, -Um...can you make sure Rachel doesn't try to kill me when we first get there? Thanks- Ax nodded, plucking me off his shoulder and holding me in his hand.
We were spared further awkwardness when Ava returned.
"Thanks. I'll take my Yeerk back now." She took me from Ax's hand and I slithered back in, once more seeing through Ava's eyes. Ax blinked at us like we were weird (and he's not? The guy eats with his feet!) before he turned and started walking toward Cassie's. We followed, walking the bike beside us.
I recognized the barn from my time in Karen's head, when I'd hidden beside it to spy on Cassie. I saw five birds of prey go flying in through the doors, and soon I heard voices inside. When we walked in, I saw four humans and a hawk spread around the barn, all eyes on me.
-Ava,- I said, -meet the Animorphs-