"Will you stop obsessing about me, Mar?" Myitt snaps. "I'm in no mood for games."
"Yes, it was only a temporary infestation," Corliss concedes, gingerly touching the side of his head, "but I don't even think Terenia enjoys the situation she's in. She did say this was a punishment she imposed upon herself, it can't last forever. I wasn't trying to shut Efaen up because she's a bigot, although I hate to say that was tempting. I simply reached the conclusion, given what we've heard from both of them regarding their situation, that they really do need each other in order to get out of the situation Terenia has put them in.
"Consider our options here: We take Efaen away from Terenia and allow her to work for the Andalite military, and regain her freedom. This is all well and good, Efaen is free and has a place in the military, albeit one that would never see the sort of battle she apparently seeks. But Terenia would either be dead or a prisoner of the rebellion, never able to regain a host or return to Earth. If she were our prisoner, she may be traced to the rebellion through this very bar, and become a serious security threat. Or someone here, perhaps looking for money, would turn her in to the Empire and effectively kill her and eliminate the Visser's use for her sister, making Tamora much more expendable--and still a Controller. Two people definitely imprisoned or killed off, for Efaen's freedom to live a life she doesn't really crave--but, still, her freedom nonetheless. Not to mention the Visser could easily come looking for Efaen and destroy her and Andalite security, as well, if these two really are as valuable to him as they imply.
"Or, we allow Terenia to reinfest Efaen, sacrificing Efaen's freedom, perhaps temporarily while Terenia seeks a way out of their situation. Terenia is allowed to monitor her sister and free her from Visser Three and her Yeerk Zorish with whatever grand scheme she's envisioned. Tamora remains brainwashed to serve the Empire, but is alive and free, unless Terenia infests her. Efaen is hopefully freed, and Terenia is free to help save her planet--which, I assume, would be the goal of a human-turned-Yeerk with no real allegiance to the Yeerk Empire. Three of them still alive and safe, and the only one imprisoned inside her own head is the one who apparently wants to be."
Corliss glances at Ossanlin. "I'm not asking you to agree with me, I'm just asking you to follow my train of thought for a moment, before you decide to use that tail of yours like your friend Claxter did."
<At least it was the flat of his blade,> Mike grumbles. <Jesus. Even that. Don't ever go near the backside of an Andalite again, okay mate?>