<<You know I don't like it when those kick in when you're flying,>> Sydney said nervously. Eshen 2249 blinked a bead of sweat out of her eye, trembling hands wrapped in a death grip around the controls of the Bug fighter. "Would you rather me try to fly when they wear off?" Eshen said aloud. It was easier--voices were starting to whisper in her ears again, making it hard to communicate with her host the usual, mental way. Stupid, lousy pig, one of said voices said to Sydney. "You try not to crash while listening to that," Eshen continued. "I've gotta take 'em."
<<Fine,>> Sydney said. <<You do realize...>> "Yeah," Eshen said. With trembling fingers, trying to retain her focus as reality slipped slightly around her, she set the ship to autopilot, locking on to the coordinates. The buttons seemed to swap, but she closed her eyes and used muscle memory. It was easier that way. Once she finished, she crossed to the back of the fighter, plucking the small bottle from its usual spot. "Second to last dose," Eshen whispered, shaking two of the pills into her hand. Don't let her take that! a voice screamed. It's poison! All of it! Poison! She's trying to kill you, and you're falling for it! Stupid! Eshen nearly threw the bottle away. What if they were right? What if it was poison? Maybe she could just...
No. No. She knew this wasn't real. Just because her host's mind was...disturbed...d idn't mean she couldn't see that some things were hallucinations. But staring down at the innocent white pills, she felt a wave of revulsion. The Empire was probably out to get her for abandoning her post. They substituted the pills with something else. No. Eshen replaced the pill bottle--nearly empty--and grabbed a water bottle. Hesitating for just a moment longer, she downed the pills before sinking to the ground and closing her eyes, waiting for them to kick in.
See what you've done? A voice demanded. They never spoke to Eshen. Just to Sydney. You let her kill you! All because you're too weak to fight back.
This is all your fault, added another. You could have stopped all of this, but you're too lazy. You're too much of a failure.
Eshen waited as the voices lapsed back into an almost inaudible murmur at the back of Sydney's mind. Sydney sighed in relief, a gesture Eshen echoed.
The Yeerk hauled her host's body to her feet. The body Eshen was currently inhabiting, Sydney Teralin, was nineteen. Sydney had been a runner before Eshen came along, and along with Eshen's training to keep her fit to help fight for the Empire, was in pretty good physical condition. She had short black hair and dark green eyes, along with a spray of freckles dusting across her nose. She looked like a perfectly innocent human--but Eshen was a pretty darn good shot with a Dracon. So she was definitely dangerous. Eshen now surveyed the planet they were coming up on. <<What is this place, again?>> Sydney asked. <<It's a bar, tucked in the corner of the galaxy,>> Eshen said, reverting to mental conversation now that she could be heard. <<I figure a lot of different people visit this place. We should be able to get you some help.>>