"She got assigned to me as a punishment. To torture her, basically."

"...Uh?"

"I... don't know if I wanna know, do I wanna know? Should I know?"

"Well... I wouldn't mind you knowing. But it's pretty nasty."

"It kind of sounds like you got tortured a lot? And the Yeerks knew it?"

"Kind of about right," says Trouble. "My stepdad's a Controller. He has some kind of a deal with his Yeerk. I dunno what the Yeerk gets out of it, but I know what Reggie got."

Andi scratches her head, but doesn't say anything.

"What?"

"I dunno how much I'm supposed to be able to figure out from that?"

"You can always ask for the rest."

"It's kind of awkward to have to ask, though, like, I don't have sadistic fascinations here and probably don't actually have to have details to do anything I need to do and I dunno how much you want to tell me anyway."

"I want to tell you, I just don't want to give you nightmares if I can help it. And me and my high tolerance for unpleasant shit aren't always good at figuring out where that line is for other people."

"I don't really have a problem with nightmares. If my dreams get even slightly unsettling I wake up and roll over and try again. So I guess that kind of is a problem with nightmares, but not the usual kind."

"Yeah," says Trouble. "I just... it's weird having people I'm willing to tell. Maybe it's just 'cause Reggie can't get me anymore. Except if we all get captured and infested they might give me back to him for a while. It'd be a waste, but it'd be just like Visser Three to waste me like that."

Andi nods.

He shrugs. "Anyway. I guess you don't need the details."

"Who else knows?"

"Bella. And Ethan could've guessed by now if he gave half a shit."

"Which... he does not?"

"Course not, he's Ethan."

"Well, I'm glad he can't get you anymore, anyway."

"Aww." He smiles. "Thanks."

"You're welcome."

"So - hungry yet?"