How was your rest?

“Peaceful. I was out like a log.” Tarek smiled just slightly, pleased to hear the voice of his host once again. He’d spent so long listening to him; it had been unnerving to experience silence.

All but dead? He tried, repeating something he had heard the old doctor say once.

“I guess so. What about you?”

Controlling your body requires more effort than I am used to.

“Are you ok?”

Quite fine.

“Did you get in trouble?”

Oh yes. Everybody was quite unnerved to find my presence in control rather than you. People have become quite hostile.

“Not their fault I suppose.”

Perhaps I would have been better received if Tasys wasn’t around.

“Tasys?”

He is another Arentai larva like myself. He took an engineer as a host.

“Have you spoken to him?”

I exposed him.

“Did you expose yourself?”

Sadly, yes.

“Ah.”

Please forgive me Ves. It was either expose myself willingly or risk the safety of this entire space station.

“It’s ok. I’m sure you did it for the right reasons.” There was a sad sigh. “I guess we had a good run.”

What do you mean?

“Aren’t they, you know, going to kill us now?”

I hope not. I offered the General a most tempting offer.

“Oh?” Ves always sounded very young when he was curious. “What was it?”

My help.

“And he trusts you?”

Surely not, but it is the best he can get.

“Sounds dangerous.”

They could turn on us at any time they so choose.

“So it is dangerous...”

Yes.

“Was it fun? Scaring them all like that?” There was a pause.

Yes. There was the soft peal of laughter in his head, Ves’ consciousness chuckling. Tarek cracked a small smile on his host’s lips, enjoying the brief respite from the serious situation that he had woken in to.

-

“What do you think he is smiling about?”

“He’s an alien, how am I supposed to know what he is thinking?” Whispers between crew members were increasing, guards standing over him, holding him at bay with armed rifles. The great General Lerren was looking exceedingly agitated; watching as the young man sat still, eyes closed an unresponsive.

“Which one is it again?”

“It’s still the larva, Sir.”

“Didn’t the child revive himself?”

“We’re not sure Sir. It was just what the alien said.” One of the scientists that had assisted in the surgery was talking, Tarek was vaguely aware of that.

“What is his name?”

“Ves Falcore.” The General gave the speaker a blank look.

“I mean the larva.”

“He calls himself Tarek, Sir.”

“Yes. Thank you.” He waved the scientist away. “Now then, Tarek... Tarek?” Frustratingly unresponsive. “Tarek.” Nothing. “Tarek! You ruddy little worm!” Tarek snapped his host’s eyes open wide, bright lavender orbs fixing right upon the General.

“Yes General?” That horribly gravel voice croaked from that throat, almost like he was continuing to speak in that manner to annoy him.

“We need to-” He was cut off as the larva raised a hand, closing his eyes again. “What are you doing?” Lerren barked incredulously, glancing almost nervously at the screens behind him, several other base captains looking equally as confused.

“I’m talking to Ves. Please excuse us a moment.” Lerren could only blink.

“Can you do that?”

Yes. Technically I am not under his command. Can you hear everything now?

“My senses are starting to come back. I can hear him. Phew. And I can smell the guy standing next to us.” Tarek cracked another small smile. There was also that beautiful sense of relief at hearing Ves describe this body as ‘us.’ “I can’t see though.”

I have your eyes closed.

“How come?”

It is easier for me to focus on you. It is also the sense which is hardest to process in your current suppressed state.

“Why?”

Because you rely so heavily on sight, it takes time for you to adjust to the image and light impulses.

“Can we try now?”

“How much longer is this going to take?” Lerren again.

Yes hold on. Tarek murmured internally, opening his eyes slowly and looking up at the General once more. Can you see?

“It’s a little blurry.”

Give it time. He kept his eyes on Lerren, staring ahead. If he were to flick his eyes around before Ves could get used to it, the repressed host would never learn to see.

“General Lerren!”

You can see now?

“Yes, everything is back. Not sure about taste though. And I can’t move”

I still have control of your body, and we haven’t had a chance to eat. Now that he thought about it, he was feeling a little hungry.

“Can I have my body back?”

Forgive me Ves, not yet. You are still too weak.

“Bugger. You’ll give it back though, right?” That slightly nervous tone made his heart sink.

Yes. I don’t like being the one in control of your destiny. And talking to these apes is tedious.

“So I’ll sit tight ‘till then?” Thankfully, Ves didn’t sound nervous anymore.

You may sit however you want. Please pay attention though; I will need your help in case I make an error.

“Ok captain. I’m watching and listening. Resume your previous functions.” Ves was laughing, that was good.

-

“We are finished now General Lerren. You may continue.” Tarek croaked aloud finally. The General looked red in the face, angry and frustrated. Like a child who had never been told ‘No!’ before. However, probably due to the number of staff in the room, he seemed to finally calm with a few deep breathes.

“As I was saying before,” He paused, waiting for Tarek to interrupt. When he didn’t, the General continued. “We need a list of the Arentai ship classes, how many troupes on each vessel. Home world locations and estimated populations. Level of technology. Physical weaknesses.” He was ticking each request off on a finger. Tarek felt as though he was under interrogation. Ves felt like he was listening to a military shopping list. “I want battle strategies, for fighter craft and for ground troupes.” Tarek cracked a wicked smile. “What?”

“The Arentai have no ground troupes. There is no need. A station like this is able to land upon a planet surface and provide considerable fire power.”

“That can’t be possible.” A soldier at his side gave a nervous laugh. “A vessel this size would be torn apart upon entry into the atmosphere.”

“You only say that because you are still thinking within the realms of your own technological advances. The Arentai are far more advanced than your humanoid alliance.” The General eyed him carefully, trying to determine whether he was lying or not.

“Do they have weaknesses?”

“Of course, everything does.”

“Will you tell us?”

“I can not name them all right now. But in the context of ship and planet destroyer vessels or home world populations, I can tell you.”

“Excuse me sir...” It was that surgeon, Jalindal, who only seemed to be standing still because of the soldier’s hand staying her just inside the doorway. General Lerren looked up, his eyes snapping forward as he recognised that jittering voice. “He’s awake.”

“Who’s awake?”Tarek sighed softly.

The engineer. The one Tasys took as a host. He went in to the surgical room to have the larva removed.

“You don’t sound very happy that he is awake.”

If the surgery is successful, then they may try to separate me from you. If it is a complete failure, they will accuse me of lying.

“Point taken. Do you think the surgery was a success?”

The larva was removed, and despite your limited technology the engineer will survive. His memory will come back...

“I sense a ‘But’ coming.”

Not everyone takes repression as well as you are. He would have seen everything that his body was doing, unable to stop it. His mind would have tried to tell him that is was a dream. But there is only so long you can go on trying to fool yourself. And from what I know of Tasys, he would have made his host suffer every waking moment.

“Blegh.” Ves made a retching noise.

When we first met his host was screaming, repressed and unheard by everyone around. But I could hear him.

“And now that he is free?”

His memories and trauma will return. Only this time he will be able to express it vocally.

“Think he will scream?”

I’m fairly sure he will.

“Can I turn my ears off? Screaming people weird me out.” Tarek presumed that it brought up memories of Ves’ planet being invaded by the Arentai scourge.

You should probably pay attention. From the way Jalindal-”

“Who?”

The surgeon- is looking at us; I think she wants us to come along.

“I don’t think that’s such a good idea.”

Neither do I. Our presence will only distress him further.

“Is that still Tarek in control?” The larva politely turned his head towards her, giving her a brief nod. “Good, please come with me.” For the first time it didn’t take a lot of convincing the general to let him go. With his recent assistance with the engineer, and the apparent voice of reason that Ves held over him, the General was less eager to keep him in his sights. However, the guards were still stationed at either side of him. Just in case. “You were away with the fairies then.” Jalindal chuckled, performing several skips between paces to keep up with the strong willed soldiers, and by extension, Ves’ body.

“Not the fairies. Ves.” Tarek replied in all seriousness, creating a broad grin on the surgeon’s face.

“Talk about anything interesting?”

“Ves has been asleep for some time, I was telling him about everything that had occurred in his absence.”

“Was it a story of heroics and adventure?” Tarek gave her a blank look.

“Ves is laughing. I think however, it may be at you more than me.” The woman laughed, performing yet another one of those catch-up skips, keeping pace just behind him. She seemed to be playing a mirrors game, placing her feet in the space which Ves’ boot had just barely left.

“Did you talk about me?” She teased, but her grin turned into pursed lips, a curious cant to her head when Tarek nodded. “What did you say about me?”

“I find you odd. But friendly.”

“You’re very blunt.” She cooed like a mother playfully putting her child back into his place.

“I was told not to lie.”

“Little white lies can be ok. You could have told me that you were talking about my beauty and charm.” Tarek turned over his shoulder.

“I don’t understand. Lies have colours?” Tarek paused, his eyes unfocused slightly. “Ves is laughing at me now.” The rest of the journey was like a memory playing over again in his head, tracing each step like he had done before. Counting the doors to the right, turning down this hallway and the next. The long march to the infirmary and medical wing. Jalindal was talking merrily, her peculiar speech pattern making every third step seem that little more exciting that the two before.

“Very exciting.” She hummed more to herself than to the three men before her. “With the brain bug gone, our little engineer can think again. I wonder what his brain will tell him to do.” She skipped again, her breath hiccoughing humorously in her throat. “A little sad that you squished him.” She must have been referring to Tasys now. “Then again. Can’t have him wiggling around. Not in to me. No sir-ee. Not in him, or him either.” She tapped the soldiers on the back on their heads. They didn’t seem to be very pleased with the affectionate slaps. “Here we are! Lucky number...” her eyes rolled up into her head and back. “Door, whatever. Our dear engineer Lorn is in here.” She seemed delighted by the words rolling off her tongue, turning the door handle and sweeping it open with a grand gesture. Tarek stepped inside at her insistent nudge against his back.

-

The room looked upturned, the bed that the man had been lying on had mused sheets, obviously been torn away in a hurry. Cupboards were open and closed, tid bits and instruments scattered about the floor. There was water and spilled food on the tile, footprints leading around the broken plate in a circle before they disappeared. Jalindal shut the door in a hurry, locking out both of the armed guards. Tarek turned to look at her. Her jovial smile was gone, and her large eyes were narrowed with distress.

“What has happened here?” She gasped, looking around the room. Tarek didn’t expect she really wanted an answer from him. Each step he took forward was painfully obvious, the combat boots adorning his host’s feet clicking audibly on the tile. Slowly the two of them advanced, keeping an eye on the door as well. If the patient was violent, or trying to escape, a door was always good to keep clear.

“He’s still in here.” Tarek murmured in a gravelly voice, sweeping slowly through the room, lavender eyes peering into each deep and dark corner. While Jalindal gathered precious and perilous instruments, it was Tarek who first stumbled upon the quivering figure of the engineer, huddled into a tight ball in a corner between the wash basin and the wall. Tarek knelt slowly, keeping a respectful distance away. His hair laid in small clumps on the floor about him, his bandages askew and unravelling. Those calloused hands sporting fresh new wounds on his knuckles and fingertips, like he had spent some time beating and scratching at the walls. Tarek felt his stomach lurch. Ves felt it too.

“I guess this is what you were talking about.” The engineer jolted, his head snapping up, back rigid as he tensed against the wall. Perhaps he hadn’t heard them come in, though Tarek doubted that. He would have heard them coming into the room long enough to find this hiding place. His eyes looked tired and red from crying, narrowing at the face of the larva and host before him.

“It’s you.” He croaked, his voice broken and sore. “I saw you in my head.” Tarek nodded slowly. “Are you still in my head?” His hands shook as he touched the bandages wrapped about the crown of his skull, fingers grazing stitches and buzz cut hair.

“I’m not in your head.” Engineer Lorn froze, eyes wide.

“Then that means... this, this is real!” His mouth hung open, a startled o formed on his lips. And then he screamed. He turned in to the corner of the room and screamed, slapping his hand against the wall and wailing. Jalindal dropped her armful of instruments, scattering them across a bench top in her surprise. Tarek winced and turned away, facing just slightly over his shoulder.

“Told you he would scream.” He said aloud to Ves. And the screaming stopped. Lorn fell forward onto his hands and knees, bringing his face within an inch of Tarek’s. There was food and sick down the front of his shirt, he smelt as though he had probably wet himself also. Tarek resisted the urge to recoil. Ves wanted him to move away. Now.

“Who were you talking to? Who are you talking to?” Lorn’s eyes flicked up, watching Tarek’s forehead.

“I was talking to Ves.” Tarek replied. Lorn lifted his grubby hands, placing them either side of Tarek’s face, smudging his cheeks with dirt. He shook his head from side to side, all the while muttering an incoherent drawl.

“You have one? One of your very own? You talk to it? Does it talk? Mine just laughed. Evil, so evil.”

“Ves is not an Arentai larva,” Tarek frowned slightly when Lorn squeezed his cheeks harder. “Ves is the host.” He clarified. “I’m the larva.”

To be honest he had expected more screaming, he had expected the man to recoil away from him in fear and disgust. But there was a flash of something else behind the engineer’s eyes. His hands curled into claws, digging his nails into the tender and rosy cheeks of the host body in front of him. He wanted to hurt, to maim. He wanted to tear away that innocent young man face and reveal the monster that was inside. Tarek winced, a low growl in his throat as he raised his own arms in defence, swatting at the engineer until he retreated back to the corner.

“Wait!” Tarek protested as the engineer tucked his legs beneath his body, preparing to spring.

“Wait!” Ves repeated, holding his hands up in front of him.

-

Now he was feeling a little woozy, the lights in the room humming and bright to his eyes. But he was aware of what was going on, his senses and his strength rapidly returning. The slight echo of taking a back seat in your own body was falling away, leaving him open and fully conscious of the world before him. Lorn slumped against the corner behind him, defeated under those lavender eyes.

“Your voice... it just changed.” Ves lifted his hands, rubbing his fingers over his face, dragging his nails through his hair. After spending even a few hours not in control of his body, just watching from the sidelines, it felt so much better to be able to move once more. He couldn’t imagine what it must be like for the man in front of him. How long had he been trapped in that way, what had he seen? Ves wasn’t sure this man would be able to cope if they asked him to remember anything about the larval occupation of his brain. “You’re the host.” Lorn looked close to tears, and yet too intrigued to care about anything else.

“Yes.” Ves nodded with a relieved smile, flexing his fingers before his eyes. “I’m Ves.” Lorn made a snuffling noise against his shirt sleeve.

“I’m Lorn. I’m a host.”

“Not anymore you’re not. You’re free now.”

“He’s gone?” Ves nodded his head. Lorn pawed at his bandages again. “Where did yours go?”

“Tarek is still here with me.” Ves offered a smile, wondering how many facial expressions he could pull now, missing the feel of those muscles moving at his command. His hand swept further through his hair, fingers brushing the calloused scar at the nape of his neck. It didn’t hurt, didn’t sting. It felt exactly like the old wound he had lived with for most of his life. Apart from the dull aching in his head, he felt perfectly fine.

“You are not afraid.”

“I like Tarek. We get along very well.”

“You should take him out.” Lorn moved his hand across his throat like someone miming strangulation. “They can do that now.”

“Yeah. Apparently they can.” Ves nodded passively, not wanting to agitate this possible basket case in front of him.

“I’ll take it out for you. I just need my wrench. I can fix anything with my wrench.”

“I don’t want him gone. I like having him with me.”

“You say him like it is a living thing.” Lorn wrinkled his nose, fidgeting with the ends of his sleeves. He drew his knees up, like a barrier between Ves and his torso, keeping the other host at bay with what he could.

“He is. And he’s my friend.”

“A friend. I’d like a friend. Do I have a friend?” How much of his brain was damaged from the surgery? Ves wondered internally, fearful that if Tarek were ever taken from him, he’d be left no more than a vegetable.

“I... I don’t know. I don’t know many people here.”

“Pity.” Lorn made a gruff noise in his throat, turning his head, but not turning his eyes away from Ves. Or was it Ves? “How did you come back?” Ves blinked slowly, thinking it over.

“You wanted too.”

“I just wanted too.” Ves murmured, smiling to himself and the familiar voice inside his head. “I really wanted to reach out to you, so I did.”

“I felt the surge of your energy. You didn’t need to rest any more.”

“I was tired, and then suddenly awake.”

“I knew it was time to go back.”

“And then I could reach out my hand. And I could talk. And it was easier.”

“The transition was less painful for me too.”

“It was just a jolt. Like a cold hand on the back of your neck.”

“Returning control to you was almost effortless.”

“Tarek gave me back control of my own body when the time was right.”

“What time is it?”

“Just the right time.”

“It’s never the right time.” Lorn grumbled softly, his voice hoarse and grating. It almost reminded Ves of the voice he had heard Tarek using. “It will be hard to make friends when they think you are possessed.” Lorn murmured almost wisely, nodding his head.

“People know about us now.” Tarek was right. He could remember the looks of those that they passed by on the way to visit the crippled engineer, the scorns and worried glances. Ves looked down the collar of his shirt, admiring the little blue disk embedded upon his chest. Currently, his sensor was the only thing proving that he was indeed the one in control. But that was always hidden away; he wasn’t fond of letting people see that it was there. Maybe they would soon forget that he was ever involved, and yet, even Ves thought that that was unlikely. People on this base were so concerned with breach and security; he highly doubted that those blaring sirens and flashing lights would ever be forgot. D day. The moment when it was confirmed, that the enemy could be successful in infiltrating the military. How many other Arentai larvas were there out there, and how many of them had found a host in the humanoid alliance?

How many of the enemy were inside?

-

It’s up to us Tarek. We’re the only ones who will know for sure.

“We would be able to sense the presence of another larva. Working in harmony, our senses are combined.”

There may not be one now. But others might come.

“We could be suspected of aiding the enemy.”

Then we’ll just have to prove we are on the right side.

“And how would we prove ourselves?”

You can provide the intelligence. I’ll provide the arse-kickery.

“I can guide you Ves. But I’m not a soldier. You are the leader, the decision maker. Don’t discredit your own intelligence.”

You really aren’t a soldier. Intelligence is the information on the enemy.

“Then that is what I will provide. It is up to you to figure out what to do with that.”

Noted. I think we should inform Satten and the rest of the Dacte that I’m back in the pilot seat. See if I can beg to still be trained.

“I believe even with my presence inside you, you are a most valuable asset to the alliance. Your help will not easily be dismissed.”

I hope so. All I’ve ever wanted to do was this. It’s all I’ve ever known.

“Tell that to Satten. He is a more compassionate man than he seems.”

Sure. I’ll do just that. When he stops scowling at me from the door.

((I would just like to appologise to everyone for the lateness of this chapter. It has been a hard few months for me with assignments and university in general. I hope to be getting as much writing in as I can before I am stolen away by exams. A special appology and thanks to Jalindal and Dachande663-ff, who have been very supportive in my writing.))