Tiny Little Problem || Astrane/Kat & Illim/Tidwell
Astrane raced down the corridor, ignoring the other few students who littered the hallway. She didn't care. She had to see Illim, now.
She stumbled to a stop outside his room, with about a minute to spare before the bell. She leant against the wall, catching her breath, waiting for class to end so that she could try to work this out.
<Kat... I'm so so sorry for what I did...> Astrane said, pain in her voice at what she had been forced to do in order to keep their cover. <If there had been any other way, then I...>
<It's okay,> Kat replied, somewhat weakly. She was exhausted from Astrane's attack, even if it hadn't been meant: it unnerved her a little how strong Astrane was, but upon reflection, it was probably for the best. <I know it was necessary, and I would rather that than be discovered and killed - although, unless we sort this out, that could be the outcome anyway.
Astrane was alarmed at how weak Kat sounded, and decided to allow her to rest. She sent a feeling of peace towards her host, which Kat gratefully received. The girl relaxed - not sleeping, just dormant. Listening and watching in case she was needed, but not taking any active part.
The bell rang shrilly, and Astrane jumped slightly. She stood back as the chattering barrage of kids came pouring out of the maths room. When the last few stragglers had left, she stepped into the room, knocking on the door as she did so.
"Mr Tidwell, sir? Can I talk to you? It's... Urgent. We have a bit of a problem."
Safety in Numbers || Astrane & Kathryn/Illim & Tidwell
Astrane knocked tentatively on the door to Tidwell's classroom. She had arrived at school early that morning, hoping to catch him before the usual manic day began. Physically, she was totally fine from the encounter with Visser Three. Technically, no harm had been inflicted on her. But she was still shaken from the meeting, and was constantly paranoid that he had someone keeping an eye on her, given the last thing he said before his departure.
"Mr Tidwell? Sir, if you're in there, I need to talk to you, about... about that assignment you gave me."
She was emotionally drained, and it was taking a lot not to break down from fear. Kathryn had made the offer before, and made it again.
<Astrane... are you sure you don't want me to take over? I don't want you wearing yourself out and running dry...>
"No! No. I'm fine, I'll be okay.> Astrane felt a need to prove herself, but didn't seem to grasp that right now, Kathryn really did not care about that, and just wanted her to be okay. Kathryn fell silent and dropped the issue: atound Illim, Astrane slipping up wouldn't matter too much. Afterwards, given the way Astrane was, it wouldn't take much to take control anyway, so it could wait a little while.
Kathryn glanced at the pool. Her time was up. Taking a shaky breath, she stood, and made her way towards the Yeerk pool to retrieve Astrane. Something she had done many times, but never with her mind racing like this. She tried to calm her thoughts: she had to focus, had to be able to see her plan through. If she couldn't, she would die. Others would die – many others. So many lives, hanging in the balance, relying on the actions of a scared teenage girl and a confused Yeerk.
Somehow, things weren't looking so positive.
Kathryn pressed her ear to the Yeerk pool, feeling a familiar shudder as she came in contact with the slime. Astrane numbed her ear, then the uncomfortable sensation of the Yeerk wriggling inside her head began. It may be painless, but it was not pleasant, either. She stood, for the moment still in control while Astrane spread herself over the brain, and rushed to a secluded corner where she could begin her plan without the threat of the Hork-Bajir being quite as present as by the pool.
Kathryn’s heart was pounding. Her mouth was dry. Her breaths were quick. All things that Astrane noticed as she began to take control. Before Astrane had a chance to look through the recent memories, Kathryn spoke to her.
<Astrane, something has happened. Something that will endanger both our lives, and the lives of many others, if we go about this the wrong way. You’ll understand once you see my memories. But you need to be aware that I have made a promise, and it is a promise I intend to keep. I need your cooperation on this, Astrane, and it is not optional. I know I cannot force you to do anything – that is well beyond what I can do from here – but I can make your life incredibly difficult if you don’t. Do you understand?>
Astrane was more amused than worried. <I understand, Kathryn, I’m just a little confused. What makes you think I will give you my cooperation? I have no reason to trust you.>
<Yes, you do. You know I cannot hide things from you – I can hardly have some secret plan going on to the side here. And you can’t keep things from me, either. All cards on the table. That’s how this is going to work. Now, please, if you have any respect for me at all, take us out of the pool before looking at my memories. It will become clear, I promise you, and you’ll understand soon enough.>
Astrane deliberated for a moment, before deciding to humour her host. <Fine, we’ll do this your way. But so help me Kathryn, you had better explain all this soon enough.> Keeping her attention away from Kathryn’s memories, Astrane walked out of the Yeerk pool, exchanging a few nods with other controllers that they passed. What was going on here? She knew there was no chance of a trap: she couldn’t have organised something like that in the time she had, and there was no way of doing that before. She didn’t like not knowing things, so picked up her pace a little, exiting the pool into the changing rooms of the local leisure centre. She felt Kathryn stiffen – it was through here that she had first been infested. She usually left by this route, just to remind Kathryn who was truly in charge here. The changing rooms were empty, but Astrane slipped into one of the cubicles and locked the door before sitting on the slightly damp bench.
<Okay. I’m going to look at those memories. You’d better have a good reason for this...>
<Be my guest. Believe me, this is a very, very good reason...>
Kathryn felt Astrane dive into her memories, zipping through them, taking in everything from her conversation with Tidwell – including what Kathryn thought of the whole situation. Once all had been shared, both fell incredibly quiet.
<Let me get this straight,> Astrane said quietly, and Kathryn could sense the anger burning beneath her words. <You want me to go against everything I know, everything I’ve ever been taught, so we can join this prissy little rebellion and join a useless fight, probably getting us killed in the process? What the hell has gotten into you?! There was me thinking you were logical, sensible...!>
<It’s not like that, Astrane! Think about it, just take a moment and think. This goes against all you were taught, yeah, but you know what else? You were questioning it! I know you were, you know I know, you know that you don’t like this life!>
<It’s the life I’m supposed to lead! It’s the life all Yeerks are supposed to lead! It’s what we’re born to do. It’s all we’re here for, all we can do.>
<Look at the bigger picture. Peace between species. Voluntary hosts. Not all hosts have to be human either, just... consider that. I know this war isn’t what you expected ->
<Damn right it isn’t!> Astrane exclaimed. <When I was told there was trouble on Earth, I didn’t think it was this bad! I thought maybe a few rebellious hosts... I didn’t picture anything this major. Dissent among the Yeerks themselves... How does no one know about this?!>
<They’re careful, Astrane – they have to be in order to survive. You know what I think – I think this would be ideal for you. It goes in line with everything you want! An organisation like this must have good structure and authority to survive, right? And using solely voluntary hosts within a willing, cooperative species... That’s all what you want. Don’t try to deny it, I know it’s true!>
<Kathryn...> Astrane sounded almost desperate. <What you’re asking me to do... you want me to betray my people! My entire species...>
<No, that’s just it. You wouldn’t be – you would be helping them! Helping them to live a more harmonious, peaceful life, that doesn’t revolve around stealing the lives of unwilling beings.
I’m not asking you to instantly make a choice to join them. All I’m asking is that you take us to meet with Tidwell and Illim tomorrow after school, and in the meantime you don’t go to anyone, anyone, about this. This has to remain between us, else we are endangering so many lives – including our own. Is that... Will you do that?>
Astrane sighed and placed her head in her hands. <Fine. Fine! I’m not promising anything about the discussion tomorrow. So long as he turns up alone I’m willing to talk. But... don’t expect him to just snap his fingers and I go dancing across to join the traitors. But... for now, at least, I’ll do as you ask. I don’t want to be risking any lives just yet.>
