Alister the Apelantian is the name given to Dr. Fatima Tarif's assistant for the sake of convience-- Apelantian names being non-verbal, and thus meaningless in our language.
A reluctant foot-soldier during the 2007 invasion of Jolt City, it was he that gave Martin Rock, Derek Mason, Dani Handler, and Dr. Fay information about the Apelantian master plan. Because of his co-operation, he was not taken as a prisoner of war or returned to Apelantis-- where the punishment for failure is death-- but was allowed to stay with Dr. Fay.
Housed in a tank of water in the Kistler Building, he enjoys his frequent solitude and seems not to mind being apart from his species.