<Alloran is also not unbiased about Mhalir. Though - there is something to be said for not letting his personal charm feel a thousand times more salient than his actual history.> Tail-shrug. <If we want me to try to convince our electorate to spare him, it'd be helpful for that; otherwise I do not think it's necessary.>

:It is very possible I will want you to do that, depending on - various factors, but mostly whether his immortality setup will verifiably work, I am not willing to risk losing him forever just to simplify Andalite politics: Leareth knows that's an uncharitable way to frame it, but can't bring himself to correct it. 

His mind-voice is maybe the slightest touch sharper in response. <Well, then we should check this. You can in fact be around if you wish; if you were morphed as a specific other Andalite rather than your usual form Cayaldwin would not notice.>

:I can do that. Thank you for - helping check: Leareth lets out his breath. :I was going to bring him over again the morning after next: 

<I will think about how to arrange things from there.>

Nod. :You had better not speak to me about it again before it happens. I will have to ask Melody to do a temporary block or something, so I can be sure not to think about it when I am bringing him over:

He nods. Changes the subject to the logistics for magic demorphing of the nothlit Andalites.

They can discuss that, then. Leareth doesn't mind going to the Andalite homeworld, but would prefer to do only one trip, and maybe combine it with any other necessary politics or message-passing, the Gate is a particularly tiring one.  

He can probably line up some other politics that is convenient for the same time.

Perfect.

After their discussion, Leareth goes on with his other work. Talks to Melody again the next morning, asks about the block. 

Melody does not voice any of her snippy thoughts on how it's really about time they checked. She doesn't like Mhalir, but that doesn't mean she's going to be unprofessional about it. 

She does the block for him. It shouldn't be too noticeable to Mhalir, subjectively, it's not covering very much total memory-area. Just in case he does notice it, though, Melody does a slight redirect to one of Leareth's especially vivid nightmare-memories of Earth getting destroyed. :You can tell him you asked me for it because you were still traumatized about things: 

Great. :Thank you: 

Leareth writes up plans and checks in on Cayaldwin's research and teaches Andalites magic, and doesn't think at all about the ((thing he cannot actually think about, and when he tries he instead thinks about confused nightmares of Urtho's Tower exploding and killing five billion people...)) 

He goes to pick up Mhalir at the scheduled time. 

Mhalir has a lot on his mind, and doesn't notice the block, which means he doesn't get redirected to horrible things. 

Leareth checks the compulsions a second time, making sure they're solid, before handing Mhalir over to Cayaldwin. He still can't really think about the ((something)) but he knows it's important, and he needs to - morph Andalite, not his usual composite morph but a random soldier, he'll go off and do that and walk around the field...

Matirin updates him on the plan once Mhalir is out. And about an hour later he heads over to Cayaldwin. <I need to speak with you, urgently.>

<I'm busy> he says, annoyed to have lost track of the morph-tether configuration he was tentatively building in twelve dimensions in his head.

<This is information that I had when I decided to interrupt you.>

<Fine. What.>

<Yeerk out first, please.>

Matirin always calls everyone by their name. Always. <Is something wrong ->

<No, just sensitive and time-sensitive.> Swish swish. 

<Sure, where's Leareth ->

He looks around too. <I think he may have headed out already.>

Sigh. <If it's sensitive enough he shouldn't be in my head afterwards either you need a nice fishbowl, I think, plain water's not great for them for long term storage...>

<Right, of course> Matirin says distantly.