<You don't,> says Alvandar. <You could walk away and tell your government and then I suppose I'll have given the Yeerks four more morph-capable hosts to go with the one they already took. Perhaps it will start a fashion.> The dry gallows humour comes through with remarkable clarity. Apparently some things really are universal, and cracking jokes in the face of certain doom is one of them.

She swallows.

She takes the cube and brings it out of the ship. She offers it to the alien.

He holds it out atop a flat palm. His stalk eyes continue scanning the sky as his main eyes regard each of the humans in turn. <If you are willing to accept this responsibility, touch the cube, and maintain contact while I activate it.>

Merry puts his hand on the side of the cube as soon as the alien looks at him.

Lucky hesitates, but then steps up and puts his hand next to his brother's.

Nick's hand settles onto the top of the cube; he's tall enough that taking a side would be awkward.

Well. They're already here, and stuff. Be kind of awkward to back out now. Also might result in the world being overrun by alien parasites.

She puts her hand on a side of the cube.