A/N: The next chapter will be posted within ten minutes.

Interlude 9

"So, here's what you need to understand. At some point, one of you is going to get captured by the Yeerks. It's inevitable, just a matter of time. And when that happens, they're going to know everything. Everything you've seen, everything we've told you, they're going to replay this conversation right here a thousand times until they've squeezed out every little detail they can, whether you thought it was important or not. And then they're going to come for us, and they're going to kill us, because us they can't infest. So until somebody else invents Yeerk-proof earplugs, every last one of you is a liability. You're a ticking time bomb. You're the noose around our throat."

"But then why—"

"Because you stepped up. You volunteered. Humanity still needs you—it's just that we don't. We're not stopping you from fighting, we just can't let you fight with us."

"But how—"

"Look, I'm fourteen, okay? You'll figure it out, trust me. Acquire as many animals and people as you can, stay in morph as often as possible, and try to keep your head down. And when the time comes—do what needs to be done."

"So you're just ditching me? I can't—I mean, there's no way that I can—"

"None. Sorry. Better go ahead and swallow that now."

"But then what's—what are you going to—"

"I'm going to put this blindfold on you, and then we're going to drop you off somewhere nice and quiet and safe. You're going to count to a thousand, you're going to take the blindfold off, and you're never going to try to find us again. I'd recommend you not go home, either, but—well, you're going to make your own decisions, I guess. Oh, and count slow—we probably won't waste half an hour making sure you don't peek, but we do have laser guns, and there is a war on. So."

"You—but—I—"

"Yeah. Welcome to the resistance, pal."