trans_channel | PSA: this is your brain on Yeerks

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PSA: this is your brain on Yeerks

My name is Jake. I'm here to tell you that there is a Yeerk among you. His name is Iniss 335, and his host is Tom Berenson. My brother.

I'm new to this ship, but not to the war against the Yeerk invasion. I'm told that some of you are sympathetic to the Yeerks, that you pity them, and I understand.

I'm not going to tell you that you're wrong. I can't make that call for you. But you know what the Yeerks are. You know how they control a host so completely, so perfectly, that you can't tell who around you is free and who's helpless in his own mind. The one you don't know is Tom, who has been imprisoned for more than three years. Imagine being unable to move a single muscle, voice a single thought, imagine your body a tool for your captor, used to enslave everyone you care about. Imagine that your thoughts are no longer your own, that someone else can rifle through them at will, and does: uses your knowledge to fool your friends, find their weaknesses, and your every fantasy to shame you.

I know that my brother is strong, but I also know that he is suffering, and I would like that suffering to stop. If you still feel that all creatures have a right to live as they choose, then so be it. But I hope you won't mistake Iniss for the victim here.

If you see Tom, I would appreciate any information.

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...

You're not going to make me feel worse.

I have actually thought this through. I did not make my decision blindly. I want to do what will be the best for everyone. Tom will be free. Iniss won't be in a living hell. And maybe it'll even help with the problem of the Yeerks when we defeat the Ohm and get the universes back if they see there's a way to make hosts.

I'll be talking to Iniss. He's already let me talked to Tom. I'm sure after he's no longer spooked, he'll let Tom talk to all of you. Tom will probably like that.

Try not to starve him again because I really hate having to fight when all it takes is people to be civil and rational to solve something. Something can be organized without having to hurt anyone.

You've talked to Tom?

I would... really like that too. But how did you know it was Tom who was talking? The Yeerk is... very good at pretending.

Thank you for trying to be civil and rational. From our point of view, Tom is actually being hurt right now, as long as he's under Iniss's control. But if you're willing to discuss things, then so are we.

...because I can tell. There's good pretending, but there's some things people can't pretend.

...he's not happy, I know that. But I can't ask anyone to do something I couldn't say I would do myself.

But if I showed Iniss that I meant what I said, then it would be easier to make deals with him so Tom wasn't having to hurt so much.

...

Dani, are you saying that you let Iniss into your head?

....no. I honestly don't even know if a Yeerk could be SAFE inside my head or I'd have offered that already.

Does this have something to do with how you got Tom and Iniss out?

Sorry, then. What did you mean?

Yeah. I have powers. I don't know what that'd do with neurons, not to mention one form might not even be possible to infest period.

...I can't demand Iniss leaves Tom's body when he told me what it's like outside it. I know I couldn't do it. I'd do most anything to avoid it.

That combined knowing that I can easily justify a body take over on my own without a society that I KNOW makes people do weird things no matter the culture, I couldn't ask him to do that.

But I want to get more freedom for Tom because not being in control....

...that's why guilting me doesn't really work. I already feel bad what I'm doing to Tom, but this is the most peaceful way to get the best solution.

Yes, Iniss has told you what it's like outside of his host body. But has Tom ever told you what it's like inside it? I had a Yeerk in my head, Dani. This isn't something I tell most people, but I saw how easily it rifled through my memories, created the perfect illusion of me and nearly fooled all of my friends while I sat in there, screaming, helpless.

You're right that I shouldn't try to guilt you, but I do want you to know that there's no guarantee that you've ever talked to Tom. Yes, Iniss can say exactly what Tom would say, exactly how he'd say it - he probably doesn't even see a difference between that and letting Tom say it himself. But as long as Iniss is in there, he has no reason to ever give up control to Tom, even for a short while.

I know there's a chance Iniss is lying to me.

I have always been aware of that.

But there's no advantage to him doing so. Especially when I, unlike almost every other person on this ship except my cousin, is the LAST person he wants against him.

He didn't have to tell me he was a Yeerk. He chose to do so. He chose to risk that I would honestly understand where he was coming from, that I'd give him a chance and I'd try to help. And there's no advantage to lie after that. It's not like Tom has been saying he's great or anything. The best compliment is he's not as bad as the last one he had in his head.

Fear is a great reason to lie. Maybe the only reason.

But it's strange, thinking of Iniss having friends. I mean, we consider the peace movement Yeerks to be our friends, but Iniss isn't... Iniss is still...

Just be careful, Dani. If anything happens, don't be afraid to let us know.

But he wasn't afraid to tell me he was a Yeerk. He talked to me about them and he decided to tell me. I didn't force him or figure something out. It just seems stupid to be honest only to make a situation for yourself where you lie.

I know it isn't impossible. I've kept that fact in mind, but he took a chance to trust me. Until I see proof not to, I'm going to return the favor.

But besides that, like I said, I'm the last person he wants against him. And he's seen enough of my abilities if he's smart enough to pull off such a big lie right off the bat, he could probably figure out what they could mean for him.

But the best lies are based in truth, aren't they? Never mind. You've... never been exposed to Yeerks before, and I've been too much. We're not going to agree on this, but want to speak with Tom the way you have, if that's my only option.

Maybe, and like I said, I'm willing to accept the possibility. But I'm not going to assume it's the truth.

I think the problem is you only have exposure from one side. My powers allow me to take over minds. I've done it. It was only temporary and it's different from how the Yeerks do it, but in the end, I can see how they just justified it in their mind.

And to be without senses...

I can see both sides. There's differences, yeah, but it's all basically the same.

It seems like you're only seeing it from the Yeerk's side, to be honest. Right now there are only two options, one that's horrible for Tom, and one that's horrible for Iniss. Even though Iniss has had his way for years, even though the body rightfully belongs to Tom, because of your own experiences, you still sympathize more with the Yeerk.

...

Iniss is giving me trust, but trust needs to be earned.

I can't ask for big things from Iniss without showing him he was right in trusting me. I was making sure he did before I pressed him too much.

...though it seems that is another advantage of you ALMOST KILLING HIM. I'm pretty sure he knows I'm sincere now.

Don't play the trust game with him, Dani. Do what you think is right, but don't think you have to prove yourself.

...Glad to help.

It's not proving myself or anything. Trust can't be asked for. That's why I know I can't ask all of you to trust me. You have no real reason too.

But I am doing what I think is right and I'm making sure I don't blow it for them both by jumping the gun.

All right. And, for what it's worth, I think I do trust your intentions. Other than that, we'll just have to see.

...

I am sorry. I hope it'll be easier in the future and everyone can be happy, but I can't give in until then.

[Transmission End.]

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