The Departure Nit

[Tim Bruening]

Aftran had been assigned to occupy Karen's brain to keep an eye (or whatever the Yeerk equivalent is) on her rich father.  However, Cassie persuaded Afran to free Karen and never occupy a host again.  How did Karen escape from the Yeerk Pool un-Controlled after Aftran released her?  How did Aftran hide from the other Yeerks the fact that she had freed Karen and was no longer occupying hosts?

[VisserWho]

I am pretty sure that this is one of those: "Huh, look at that--how very convenient!" moments.  In the book where they have to rescue Aftran from the Yeerk pool where she is awaiting Trial by Visser Three Induced Cannibalism it is kind of implied that Aftran should have figured that eventually she'd be found out, having ditched her Controllor body and (presumably) spending her days hiding in the Yeerk pool, where they are fully capable of communicating with one another.  It's just one of those things that works best in Cassie's head and, in reality, was pretty much a giant disaster waiting to happen.  Aftran and Cassie would have made great BFFs--both waaaay too naive when it comes to the big picture.

[Tim Bruening]

I am pretty sure that this is one of those: "Huh, look at that--how very convenient!" moments.  In the book where they have to rescue Aftran from the Yeerk pool where she is awaiting Trial by Visser Three Induced Cannibalism it is kind of implied that Aftran should have figured that eventually she'd be found out, having ditched her Controllor body and (presumably) spending her days hiding in the Yeerk pool, where they are fully capable of communicating with one another.  It's just one of those things that works best in Cassie's head and, in reality, was pretty much a giant disaster waiting to happen.  Aftran and Cassie would have made great BFFs--both waaaay too naive when it comes to the big picture.

But how did Karen escape from the Yeerk Pool after Aftran freed her?

[Dylan]

The magic of Cassie

[Tim Bruening]

The magic of Cassie

As seen in MM 4, when she caused a fake timeline to break up, or in Book 50, when she allowed to Yeerks to steal the morphing cube on a vague hunch, and she turned out to be right?

[Dylan]

As I said, The magic of Cassie.
Can't deny pure Cassie magic, how else do you think escaped her butterfly fate?

[Tim Bruening]

As I said, The magic of Cassie.
Can't deny pure Cassie magic, how else do you think escaped her butterfly fate?

The Yeerks had assigned Aftran and Karen to spy on her rich father.  When Aftran vacated Karen, Karen's body would have stopped reporting on her father's activities.  Wouldn't the Yeerks investigate her dereliction of duty and discovered that Aftran had left her?

[Dylan]

More likely Aftran simply asked a member of the Yeerk Peace Movement to carry her to the Yeerk pool in a Ziploc bag filled with water, and let Karen be on her way, safely above ground. We know for a fact that Aftran had to have touched base with the YPM at some point prior to releasing Karen, which is how Tidwell/Illim knows the Animorphs identities in #29: The Sickness.

Also, HOW DARE YOU DEFY CASSIE'S MAGIC, MORTAL!

[Tim Bruening]

More likely Aftran simply asked a member of the Yeerk Peace Movement to carry her to the Yeerk pool in a Ziploc bag filled with water, and let Karen be on her way, safely above ground. We know for a fact that Aftran had to have touched base with the YPM at some point prior to releasing Karen, which is how Tidwell/Illim knows the Animorphs identities in #29: The Sickness.

Also, HOW DARE YOU DEFY CASSIE'S MAGIC, MORTAL!

I had thought that Aftran had founded the Yeerk Peace Movement as a result of her epiphany during "The Departure", so the YPM wouldn't yet have been around to help Karen.

[Dylan]

WHY YOU DUMB MORTAL, QUESTION THE ALL POWERFUL CASSIE MAGIC?

Here's a different explaination. (This is after Cassie has been "trapped" as a caterpillar.) Aftran runs off to the State police-Controllers, and says she lost track of the Andalite Bandits, but she's safe now. Aftran doesn't tell Yaheen 747 and the others what she knows, as part of Cassie's peace treaty. The next time Aftran and Karen go to the Yeerk Pool, Aftran gives her instructions. At the unloading pier, she tells the Hork-Bajir-Controller guard there that Karen is a voluntary host (now?) and has permission to go to the cafeteria (or wherever). Aftran instructs Karen to wait in the café for a few minutes, and then walk out as if she's a Controller. This is how Karen gets away free while Aftran stays in the pool as per her promise to Cassie.

[Tim Bruening]

WHY YOU DUMB MORTAL, QUESTION THE ALL POWERFUL CASSIE MAGIC?

Here's a different explaination. (This is after Cassie has been "trapped" as a caterpillar.) Aftran runs off to the State police-Controllers, and says she lost track of the Andalite Bandits, but she's safe now. Aftran doesn't tell Yaheen 747 and the others what she knows, as part of Cassie's peace treaty. The next time Aftran and Karen go to the Yeerk Pool, Aftran gives her instructions. At the unloading pier, she tells the Hork-Bajir-Controller guard there that Karen is a voluntary host (now?) and has permission to go to the cafeteria (or wherever). Aftran instructs Karen to wait in the café for a few minutes, and then walk out as if she's a Controller. This is how Karen gets away free while Aftran stays in the pool as per her promise to Cassie.

But won't the Yeerks get suspicious when Karen fails to ever come to the Pool again?

[Dylan]

She can make an excuse to why she never comes back. Easy.

[Tim Bruening]

She can make an excuse to why she never comes back. Easy.

I'm assuming that the Yeerks still think that Karen is a Controller!  As a Controller, Karen would have NO CHOICE but to visit the Yeerk Pool every 3 days!  What excuse would Karen have to not patronize the Yeerk Pool?

[Dylan]

Idk what other explanations to give to you. It's basically a loose plot hole, try not think about it too much.

[Tim Bruening]

Idk what other explanations to give to you. It's basically a loose plot hole, try not think about it too much.

Cassie saves Karen from a bear, and soon learns that Karen is a Human-Controller.  At one point, a leopard attacks Karen, who defends herself with a Dracon beamer, but doesn't harm the leopard, and soon loses the Dracon.  She then tells Cassie that she will be punished if she doesn't bring back the Dracon.  Was she punished when she returned to the Yeerk Pool without the Dracon so that Aftran could release her?

Another possible nit:  At one point, Aftran actually takes over Cassie's body, mirphs her to osprey, and flies her up.  They see a bunch of Human-Controllers searching for Karen, and see some Animorphs searching also.  Aftran uses thought-speak to warn the Controllers that "Andalite Bandits" are nearby as birds of prey.  When Aftran/Karen report back to the Yeerk pool so that Aftran can exit Karen, how will they explain Aftran's use of thought-speak?