[Elfangor]

Kevin, to my chagrin, was still looking vaguely bored. "So, have we come to a decision, then?" he wondered. "Or are you guys going to make out again?"

I blushed despite myself, but Loren just grinned. "Maybe," she allowed. "Where's the morphing cube?"

Kevin disappeared for a second. Then he reappeared, and the box was in his hands. He handed it to Loren.

"Sorry," he said in aside. "We were keeping it in a secret place that we don't want the Yeerks to know about. If things go wrong…"

"They won't," said Loren confidently. Her fingers danced idly along the cube. "Oh," she murmured in a soft voice, half to herself. "That kind of… tickles. Hah, whoa."

She made a strange sound, then. A sound I hadn't heard in a long time.

It took me a moment to realize she was laughing.

"That was… really weird," she said after a moment, and I had to agree with her. Then she grabbed her purse from the couch and slid the morphing cube in without another word.

Beside us, Kevin sighed. "I suppose I should go and find that nasty Yeerk again," I heard him mutter. Rolling his holographic eyes, he turned and walked across the carpet to open the door.

"You rang?" Greg sing-songed pleasantly.

He was standing in the doorway, that irksome grin still plastered across his face. I glared at him, somehow not surprised that he had stayed outside the whole time.

"I'll do it," Loren said, her voice strong and firm, and Greg nodded.

"I thought you might," he replied. "Well, come along, then. We don't want to make the Visser impatient."

I couldn't help it, I shuddered. I had been a child the last I'd seen a Visser. And he hadn't been a very pleasant one, to boot. He'd killed my friends and taken my captain hostage, had nearly erased both Loren and I from space-time entirely.

"Be careful," I muttered, but I don't think she heard me.

Loren reached out a hand, and Greg took it, and that was the last I saw of them for a very long time.

[Loren]

Greg's hand was large and firm in my own, and maybe a little too tight. It felt safe, but there was also a little bit of anger in that grip which made me a little nervous. The Controller led me down the steps and onto the sidewalk, and I wondered when the last time was that I had gone anywhere without Champ.

I felt… almost naked, without him. Exposed.

We walked down the sidewalk for a few minutes, and then Greg's hand left mine, and I heard the sound of a car door opening. I was seated in the back of what I think was a limo, and the seatbelt was handed to me. I guess the Yeerks think Safety First.

We drove for what felt like hours, what probably was hours, and I found myself nodding off to sleep more than once. Finally, the car stopped, and my door was opened, and Greg's hand was in mine again.

He led me down what I can only assume were dark, spider-web-filled pathways until we came to an abrupt halt.

"Where are we?" I asked.
"Where do you think?" he replied.

There was a sudden scream, then, and my whole body convulsed.

"Tobias," I whispered.

That strong, firm hand on my shoulder again. "Go on in. Say hi to your kid."

I did as Greg said.

The first thing I was aware of on entering the room was that there was a low humming tickling the balls of my feet. And then there was a voice in my head that turned my bones to ice.

(Welcome, Loren. It's been awhile.)

Because the voice was in my head and not my ears, I had no idea where it coming from. I didn't move, didn't blink. But that voice was familiar, and I could feel it send shudders of cold down my arms and legs.

"I know you," I said aloud.

The voice chuckled. (And I, you. Tobias here has told us that you don't even remember what he looks like, let alone know what happened all those years ago. No, don't,) he added as I turned to where I had heard Tobias screaming just moments ago. (He can't hear or see you, anyway. He's quite unconscious, by now – Taylor has seen to that. We'll have him returned to your home immediately, if you wish.)

I glared, but what could I do about it? "What about Erek King?" I asked. "You said you would return him as well."

The voice let out another short laugh. (Of course we won't be returning the android. Do you think us stupid? But you can have your son back – that's what you wanted, isn't it?)

I hesitated. If we got Tobias out, Erek could probably break free on his own. Right? He had to be capable of that, at least.

But…

"We want the android, too," I said stubbornly. "We're not abandoning a friend."

(Alright,) the Visser agreed. (The android in exchange for the Andalite.)

I froze.

(We can't understand the android's technology, not in a million years. He's useless to us. But I know you, Loren. And I know the Andalite scum who's been clinging to you since you were babes. He's alive, isn't he?) The Visser placed a hand on my shoulder. It felt… strange, and cool, and slim. (Elfangor.)

"Why didn't you tell us that off the bat?" I demanded. "Why wait until I got here?"

(Because I know you, Loren,) the Visser repeated. (I know that you're brave, and noble, and I know that Elfangor is nothing but a coward. If it were up to him, he never would have let you come here, am I right? If it were up to him, he would never sacrifice the both of you to save a simple android.)

"He'd do it for Tobias," I whispered.

(Are you sure?)

He would, right? He was doing it right now. Me for Tobias. The thing that was ours.

Our baby. Our son.

My choice.

"Alright," I found myself saying, before I could think. "Me and Elfangor, for Erek and Tobias. But you'd better keep your end of the deal, you stupid Yeerk."

(Of course,) the Visser said, and I could hear the grin in his voice.

Then he lifted his tail, and suddenly, all was black.

When I woke up, I was in another room entirely, and I could hear the sounds of someone's fists banging on glass. "Loren, Loren!" the voice was shouting. "Loren! Mom, wake up! Please!"

I am awake, I thought groggily, and I was vaguely reminded of Tobias jumping on top of me on Christmas day.

Then I realized the voice was Tobias, and I shot to a sitting position in a blink.

"Tobias?" I blurted.

"Loren!" Tobias shouted back.

There was the sound of a door opening, and then warm hands on my neck. "Are you alright?" he demanded.

I nodded. "Are you?"

There was a brief hesitation which I did not like at all.

"Yeah," said Tobias quietly. "I'm fine."

"Where's Erek?"

Tobias's hands left my neck for an instant. "He should be right behind –"

His voice dropped abruptly. "Tobias?" I pressed.

"Erek, what are you doing? Come on!" he said instead of answering me.

From further away, I heard the sound of someone struggling. Four someones, if my hearing was accurate.

"You go, Tobias," Erek was saying. I frowned. He didn't sound like he was struggling. But who else could it be? "I'm not going to be responsible for you losing both your mom and dad."

"Erek, come on," Tobias pleaded. "They know where we are. I couldn't – I told them, okay? They'll come get Dad whether you come or not, okay? I need you, man. I – I don't have anyone else."

"Tobias –"

"Just shut up and go, Erek," I said. Blame games were fun when the blame was exchanged, not hoarded over like water in a desert. "Elfangor and I – I think he'd rather be here, anyway. So go. Please."

"Elfangor will be fine as long as he has Tobias. I'm staying here."

I could practically hear the Visser throwing up his hands. (Stay, go, I don't care!) he exclaimed. (Just get it over with. You three are giving me a migraine.)

I stared at the floor.

I didn't need to do that. But, see, there were the beginnings of a plan working their way through my brain, and the movement was helping me think.

Think, think think.

How to save Elfangor. How to save Erek. How to save Tobias.

Think, think, think… ah.

"Tobias, come here," I said quietly, finally.

His hands were back on my shoulders in an instant. "What is it?"

"My purse. Take it."

"Why would I –"

"Because there's something inside it that's very special, Tobias." I pressed my forehead to his. "We'll get Erek back, I promise, but I need you to take the purse. And don't go home," I stressed before he could move to obey. "Find somewhere else to stay. But keep the purse, and don't mess up."

His fingers squeezed my skin tightly. "I won't, Mom."

"Good boy." I squeezed him back. "Now go!"

I could hear him stand. Then he was gone, and I was alone with the Visser and Erek.

(Well, now,) the Visser said in my mind. (It seems as though we've got some catching up to do, Loren.)