Leareth thinks, but only for about half a second; his plans after this were to work on murdering rabbits morph research until evening and then attempt to extract Mhalir from Cayaldwin's head and Gate him back. <Yes. I would like that.> 

Then they can do that! He has his Thoughtsensing amulet back and the ground is nice ordinary grass and he's much more at ease on it. 

Leareth is probably going to lose, then, but he's back to practicing several times a day now that he's back on Earth, and still improving. Also, sparring with Matirin on his best game is more fun even if Matirin wins. 

He does! He is less taken aback, this time, by how much fun it is to be around Leareth like this, to spar with Leareth like this, and so he is able to be professional and pull his tail-blade back normally. <I think you have improved> he says, happily.

<I think so too. I - perhaps take slightly more frequent breaks than I actually need to rest my brain, but I always focus better afterward so it seems a reasonable use of time.> Leareth seems very happy as well. 

<People are not just brains. And if you will be impersonating Alloran you'll want to be comfortable in an Andalite body.>

<That makes sense. ...I am not sure I have ever had a body I felt so actively pleased with, and it is not even my real one.> He likes being fast. And having a built-in weapon. And having eyesight in all directions. All of those things are really excellent. 

<Maybe if you and Cayaldwin succeed at all your research you can usually be an Andalite.> His voice is light and maybe a bit teasing, but to Empathy he is having - emotions about this? He really wants it, or at least really wants something.

Huh. Interesting. He's noticed that Matirin seems happier and more relaxed about his company when he's in Andalite form; his best guess is that it's the herd-instinct Andalites have, but he's...less sure, now. 

<I hope so. You know, Mhalir said he wished I could sleep with the herd, even just once, he said it is - very restful. And that he wonders if I need that.> 

<It seems very lonely to me that humans sleep alone.>

<Many humans like to sleep with their romantic partners, for that reason. Sometimes their children too. I - always thought that sounded like more stress than it was worth, probably that is related to the part where I am very paranoid and trust no one.> He says it lightly, half-joking, but half not. 

<I hope when all this is over you can be - safer, and less lonely.>

Awww. And also a pang of sadness, he's not sure why. <I hope so too. Anyway, I should get back to my research. I will tell you if I make further progress. - By the way, I have been considering ways to have Mhalir more often, he seems to make Cayaldwin about twice as productive. I suppose having two people in one head would do that.> 

<I suppose it would.> With just the slightest bit of distaste detectable to Empathy. <I assume he is very busy but progress on morph technology would be very advantageous.>

<Yes, we are both aware. I will talk to him and see if we can make it work.> 

And he heads back to his own, separate morph research. He wants to borrow Cayaldwin again at some point for input, but he's not going to pull him away on his Mhalir day. He tries a slightly different arrangement way of Gating components into a nothlit rabbit's z-space pocket. And then attempts to force-demorph it and instead murders it, predictably, but the space of possible issues here is narrowing down further and further. At some point soon he'll be likely to get it right just by trial and error. 

He takes a break to spar with someone else, sadly Matirin isn't always available even though sparring with him is for some reason the most fun, and then does another failed-but-closer trial, and around sundown goes to find Cayaldwin. He's back in human form now. :Sorry, I need to steal Mhalir back now, he has politics to do: 

<Politics are a waste of time> he says, but will hand Mhalir over.

<I apologize. I wish I could work on this all the time.> 

:I want to bring him over more often, if that would be of value to your research: Leareth tells Cayaldwin. :Every third day, perhaps, would be possible, midday or so until the next afternoon. If you want: 

<That works for me, if it won't get him assassinated again.>

:Well, he is if anything safer here than at his own facility, and if there is any unrest with the Yeerks we can cancel a day so he can handle it. I think it is probably worth it:

He takes Mhalir back once extracted and sticks him in his own ear for the trip. :So, progress?: 

<I think so! Cayaldwin is brilliant.> Mhalir is, perhaps, a little bit mentally bouncing about this. 

:Yes, I know. I am slightly jealous that you are the one who gets to be in his head all the time: 

<Not all the time> Mhalir protests. <A very inadequate percentage of the time.> 

Leareth says nothing, just Gates him back to Amanda and takes off his compulsions. "Here you go. We were careful with him, as usual." 

She takes him back and wishes Leareth good luck with whatever he's up to.