I had been running around with my friends one day, playing a game called Dumb Yeerk. One of us had to go around with blindfolded stalk eyes, as if a Hork-Bajir. They were slower this way, and could only look in one direction. IT was similar to the human game "tag." The other Andalites would pretend that they were great warriors. The blindfolded Andalites, or Dumb Yeerks, would try to tag them with hands, hoves, or tails. If they did, then the Andalites "died." The Andalites could tap the Dumb Yeerks on the head with the flat side of their tail blade, killing them. It was one big war where no one got hurt.
I was playing as an Andalite, and doing quite well. Sudenly, a ship landed right nead where we were playing. A few Hork-Bajir, Gedds, and Taxxons stepped out. We had no idea what any of the real things looked like, as we had imagined them quite different.
One of the Hork-Bajir spoke. He said, "Nova. Come with us. We have a surprise for you."
I was a little kid at the time, and wanted to know what the surprise was. So I followed them into the ship. At that time, I also didn't know that Alloran was a Controller.
"Nova," the Hork-Bajir said, "do you want to see your father?"
<Yup!!!!!> I screamed, almost shaking the ship.
"We're taking you to him."
We traveled for quite some time. I was so excited! I couldn't sit still, and it was a small ship. Finally, they put me into hibernation. That's where they do something similar to freezing the body. You don't age for that period of time, but you can't do anything, either. It's just like sleeping.
We finally got to Earth. Yeerks were taking over, but I didn't know that. All I wanted to do was see my father. The Hork-Bajir brought me out of hibernation. I watched out the window as we descended to Earth. We went through a big hole in the ground, landing by a HUGE lake. The water ripples and waves were going every which way. I saw huge, yellow things. At first they looked alive, but then I noticed a..... thing sitting inside of one, moving a lever and hitting buttons to make the machine move. There were people all around us, of every race imaginable. I just didn't see my daddy.....
The Hork-Bajr just said, "He'll arrive soon," and was quiet.
I saw another ship land in the underground city. Out stepped a few Hork-Bajir, Taxxons, and Gedds. Then, an Andalite. I knew... or, thought I knew... who he was.
<DADDY!!!!!!!!!!!!!> I screamed, and ran towards him. <Daddy, I haven't seen you in SUCH a long time! Why didn't you ever come and visit?>
<Well, sweetheart, your daddy is a VERY busy man,> he responded. <But now, we have all the time in the world.>
I gazed up at him. <Daddy, why did you send distress signals to me in my sleep? You're alright!>
He looked shocked, but quickly regained his composure. <I wasn't alright until you came along, Novster.> You see, that was his little nickname for me.
<You remembered!!!!> I shouted, meaning the nickname. <Oh, daddy, I love you. Can we bring mommy here, too?>
<Well, darling, that wouldn't work out. Your mother and I.... had an argument. I think she's happy on the Home World.>
<OKAY!!!!!!>
<Now, Novster, I have a question for you. How about we play a game?>
<What kind of game?> I asked him.
<It's a surprise.>
<Okay,> he said. I could see a smile in his eyes. <It's a breath-holding game. One of my friends here,> he gestured towards the Hork-Bajir, <will hold our balance, and we dunk our heads into this lake. Whoever can keep their head in the longest wins. Okay?>
<Okay!> I screamed. I liked games, and this one seemed fun.
Everyone cleared away from the docks. I walked up to the end of one, with two Hork-Bajir at my sides. Alloran walked up to the other.
<Ready?> He asked me.
<Ready, daddy. Just say go!> The Hork-Bajir held me for balance as I kneeled by the water. He shouted a command, and I dunked my head into the water. I saw slugs swimming by. I didn't know at the time what a Yeerk looked like. I felt a pain in my ear, but it quickly subsided. I felt my whole body go numb. At last, my brain went numb. The Hork-Bajir pulled me out of the water. But it wasn't really me any longer. I had been taken. I was a Controller. I was not me, and I knew that I would probably never be me again.
Now, I knew. I knew about the Yeerks, what a Hork-Bajir really looked like, that I had made 'friends' with one. And I knew what a fool I had been.
«Nova..... Nova, fight back...» It was Alloran! The real one, not the Yeerk. It was then that I learned an important lesson - Two beings, capable of thought-speech, could communicate, even with a Yeerk! The Yeerks couldn't control it!
«Father?» I asked, testing my newfound knowledge. «Father... Alloran... is that you talking to me?»
«Yes, my child. Now listen to me, and listen well,» he said. I could sense the Yeerk would wake up in about one minute. Don't ask me how, but I just knew. «Nova, listen to me. You MUST rebel! Now, before the Yeerk wakes up!»
I knew I had to. But... i wasn't big or strong enough to take on all these Controllers! I couldn't even morph yet, as I wasn't old enough.
«Father.....» I cried out. «Daddy, how? And what do I do then? I am not big or strong enough to do any damage to the Yeerks!»
«My daughter..... listen to me. You CAN hurt the Yeerks! It is in our family's blood. I can sense the Power in you! Alas, I did not recieve this Power...» I had no idea what he was talking about. «But you did! It's your destiny to protect our race. Go, my daughter. I am weakening, and can't talk much longer.... Go, and bring honor to our family's name!»
«Daddy? Daddy! Say something! Daddy!!!!!» I heard no answer. He was gone. My father had no strength left. He could not fight. But I could. And you can bet that I wanted to kick some Yeerk bum.
<What's this, Nova? A game? Dumb Yeerk? Interesting.... oh, and you have a crush on Aximili, do you? I'll have to kill him then.>
<you keep your filthy hands off of me AND my friends, you got it, Yeerk?>
<Oh, but I do have a name, Novster. My name is Themley seven-zero-five, of the Limg Heme Pool.>
<Listen, filthy slug. I am taking over. You will not control me! I swear it!>
Then, I knew. I knew how to use the Power.... or, at least, most of it. The air around me started to glow with a greenish tint. Soon, the whole underground city was glowing. Controllers started screaming in hatred and pain. I had no idea what I was doing, but I knew that it was hurting the Yeerks. Some started screaming "Kandrona!!!!!!!" over and over and over again. Others slipped out of their hosts into the pool. Finally, I learned what I was doing. The Yeerk in my head told me.
<Fool!> it screamed. <What do you think you're doing? Stop! STOP!!! I COMMAND YOU!!!!!!!>
So I told that Yeerk. <You stop taking helpless hosts, and I'll stop this.... whatever I'm doing.>
<Stop taking hosts..... NEVER!!!!! I can easily control you! Wait... what's this? I can't stop this!!!!!!!> Then, he started screaming to everyone. <EVERYONE EVACUATE!!!!!!!!!! I CAN'T CONTROL THIS #$&*ING HOST!!!!! GET OUT!!!!!! SHE'S STEALING THE KANDRONA RAY - AAAAGGGGGHHHH!!!!!!!>
I was glad to hear that, but I knew that my Yeerk was dying. It slithered out of my ear, into the pool. Finally, I had no energy left. I fainted, but I knew that Visser Three still existed.