Tank-Baby [Visser Three]

The Visser was due to inspect the cloning facilities for the Hork-Bajir. They'd recently expanded and added one on the surface of Earth, and the Visser had been informed of some interesting news. Apparently, there had been an unusual side effect of their genetic manipulation; they had quite accidentally created a Seer. It was a rare genetic anomaly - present in only one out of perhaps three or four thousand Hork-Bajir - and yet they had one. Esplin was interested to see how the increased intelligence of this Hork-Bajir affected its capabilities... both as far as military training went, and conditioning to accept its Yeerk when it came of age to receive it. Would it be willing to cooperate? Who knew?

Well, he'd just have to see for himself.

There was a clopping of hooves inside the facility, and Vek would hear a wide-broadcast thought-speak voice for the first time. <Where is the Seer?> came the voice, so strange.

"This way," a human voice answered. Footsteps and hoofsteps rang out through the halls, until a bizarre blue creature stood in front of Vek's cell, looking at him with four eyes (before the stalk-eyes wandered to other subjects, anyway.)

<So,> the Visser said, now directly addressing the Hork-Bajir Seer. <You are the one they call Vek Notur?>

Read more: animorphs.freeforums.net/thread/295/tank-baby-visser#ixzz3Q6OKmRst

<Simple thought-speak,> the Visser said coolly. <It is an Andalite's gift. With no mouths to speak, they have evolved other means of communication.> He could tell just by this brief small talk that Vek was indeed different from the other Hork-Bajir. A true Seer. The Andalite-Controller eye-smiled at the Hork-Bajir male.

<I hear that you're quite special,> the Visser continued, eye-smiling again. <What's your opinion on yourself? The Yeerks? I'm afraid that I'm not so familiar with whatever you've been taught about us thusfar.>

<Ah, very good,> the Visser said, 'nodding' in approval. <Yes. That is correct; we are very caring with our host bodies. Some species actually come to us for our help. They find our ability to control them to be very helpful.> A partial truth, anyway; the Taxxons had surrendered to them, desperate for help with their unceasing hunger.

Good. So this Hork-Bajir was trained to see them as allies. As friends, even. Glorious benefactors and benevolent, peaceful symbionts. The Visser actually might have felt a little sorry to see this picture Vek had of them ruined... but only a little. He'd learn the truth in time. They always did. No matter.

<As for sharing your body,> the Visser said, <It's much like what you're feeling now. Just imagine that there is another.... presence in your mind. A gentle, nudging voice in your head.> As good a lie as any, he supposed. Many Yeerks were far less than gentle.

<Time for more clever lies,> Alloran scoffed in their head.

<Quiet,> the Visser growled. Alloran was usually quiet, but he did, on occasion, make a smart remark. It was true in this case, though; the Visser had to think of something clever for this one. He might have been a captive-bred Hork-Bajir, but he was also a Seer. That meant that he might also be clever enough to peer through a thinly-masked lie.

<We want to experience the world,> the Visser responded. <You see, in our natural bodies, we are helpless. Deaf. Blind. But when we take a host... it's as though a new world has opened up. We just want to see the universe as other beings see it. We don't make our hosts more intelligent, however. As for mine, this Andalite and I have an... understanding. He sees the world the way that we do.>

<You wish,> Alloran said weakly, settling back into his corner. The Visser would do what he wished. Alloran had given up fighting him long ago.

<We live in the host's head, yes, or wherever a creature's brain is located.> the Visser responded with an Andalite nod. <Though only for three Earth days at a time. We must return to the Pools to feed and replenish our strength,else we starve in a host-body.> He saw no harm in letting this detail slip; once the Hork-Bajir was infested, he would learn that anyway. Besides, it wasn't as though there would be much of anything he could do with that detail.

<As for who you will receive, Vek, I have one of my trusted lieutenants picked out especially.>

<We have scientists working on the time limitation, yes,> the Visser responded. <Research has been slow, unfortunately. As for your Yeerk partner, his name is Silar Five-Eight-Two. He was among one of the original Yeerks to escape from the home-world, you see; he's one of the oldest and wisest of us. He's also the best Hork-Bajir warrior that I have ever seen, preferring Hork-Bajir hosts over any other. You'll see when you meet him.>

<As for what you'll be doing... Killing Andalites, yes,> the Visser said with a nod. <But also training others to fight like you do. Keeping the Empire secure from the Andalite menace, in any way you can!> He laughed. <A truly noble cause, wouldn't you say?