Chapter One

My name is Marco. Marco the cute. Marco the witty. Marco the king of Nintendo. Marco the brilliant. Marco the Animorph. I coined that term, Animorph. Just another way for you to see how brilliant I am.
Well, if you're reading this you probably already know about the Yeerks. In case you don't though, I'll still tell you. Not that you really want to know.
The Yeerks are aliens. They really look like big, ugly, gray slugs. But they're much worse. Yeerks take over your brain. They crawl into your head through the ear canal.
Then, they take over. They squirm and squish into every little nook and cranny of your brain. Suddenly, you can't move your legs. Then your hands… Eyes… Mouth… Everything is taken away. It's like being paralyzed, completely paralyzed. All you can do is think.
Now, you hear the creature start to laugh. You realize you are remembering things and thinking about them without actually trying to. The Yeerk is doing it. Suddenly you see some lie you told your mom when you were five. You see the time you ate five pieces of cake at a birthday party and threw up all night. You see the time you saw Old Yeller and actually cried. All the things you thought you'd forgotten, or at least had tried to forget.
Well, so much for the short version. Anyway. This is where we come in. We means me and five of my friends. We are the Animorphs. We were told about the Yeerks by a dying Andalite prince named Elfangor. He gave us the power to morph. Our one true weapon against the Yeerks. Any animal we touch, we can become. Our job is to stop the Yeerks from taking over the world. Your life in freedom depends on four kids, an alien, and a bird. I wouldn't want to be you.
It was a Friday night, and we were looking forward to a long holiday. Monday was a national holiday and Tuesday there was going to be an all day teacher conference. So, we were all at the mall. Cassie and Rachel were shopping in The Gap. Actually, Rachel was shopping; Cassie was just being dragged along. Me, Jake, Tobias and Ax had just left the comics store and were going to the food court where we planned to meet up with Rachel and Cassie.
I was actually at the mall, too. I couldn't go as my cute self, however. See, the Yeerks think I'm dead. So, I'd been able to acquire Jake, Lewis, and some other guys. Ax taught me how to 'mix' the DNA to create a totally new person, enabling me to be able to actually leave the woods. While I wasn't quite as cute, this morph would still probably attract some girls.
Anyway, as we walked to the food court, we saw this girl in the Cinnabon shop begging for more buns. She was running from table to table asking for money so that she could get more rolls. It was not a good idea to act crazy in the mall. I could already see the guy behind the counter bending over to push that little silent alarm thing that calls mall security.
Hearing the commotion, Rachel and Cassie came over a little faster than they would have. Cassie being Cassie came to our little group. Rachel being Rachel went straight to the girl and put her hand on her shoulder. I could tell it wasn't exactly meant to be comforting, but to get her to relax and shape up.
"Its ok," she said to the bystanders. "I know her. She probably just forgot her medication again. I'll get her home." To the girl she hissed, "Look, I don't know who you are, but stop struggling and come on unless jail seems like a nice place to spend the night!"
Maybe it was Rachel's smile, maybe her confident manner of authority. Maybe it was the girl's submission. Whatever it was, the crowd dispersed, allowing Rachel to take the girl by the arm and half drag, half walk, half run her to the door. We followed one by one, trying to look casual. Rachel and the girl were waiting for us on one of the benches out front.
Cassie and Rachel waved to one another, Cassie giving them an inquisitive glance. When we were within earshot without having to shout, Rachel suggested that we all go over to Cassie's for a while. "I figured it might be fun to hang out," she said, "Get to know each other a little better."
"Forget relaxing this weekend," I muttered.


Chapter 2


We walked to Cassie's house. Man, when you're used to flying, then have to walk a great distance for some reason or other, it's exhausting. We did get to talk some on the way. Hard to talk through huffing and puffing.
Rachel, Cassie and the new chick walked ahead of us boys. The rest of us hung back some, but not much. We still needed to hear what was going on.
"Sorry about what I did at the mall," Rachel said, "I probably was over reacting just a tad."
Over-reacting my foot. Funny she only apologizes to girls.
"Oh, that's quite all right," Newbie replied, "I must have been a sight. I got…slightly carried away." She blushed.
Slightly carried away. Sure.
"My name's Laria, by the way."
"Rachel. Pleased to meet you. This is my friend Cassie."
"Oh, and I'm Marco," I said, "And this is Jake, Tobias, and, uh, Ax."
"Yes, I am Ax," Ax said helpfully, "I am Pri- I mean Jake's Cousin."
Great going Ax.
"Prince Jake," Ax said, not too quietly, to Jake, "I have approximately four minutes and thirty-five seconds left in morph."
Laria's eyes bugged out. Not that I was surprised. Laria's reaction to Ax's name didn't surprise me much, either. If she was an Andalite, she probably wouldn't exactly be accustomed to human names.
"Right," Jake said quietly to Ax. Then, to the rest of us he said, "Um, us boys have a couple things we should do. We'll catch up with you guys in the barn." (By this time we had almost reached Cassie's house.)
"Later," Rachel said.
We went ran through a neighbor's yard so as not to be seen by the girls. Then, we went behind the barn. We couldn't be seen because there is a row of juniper bushes that border's Cassie's and her next door neighbor's yards. There was probably a two to two-and-a-half foot space between the bushes and the back of the barn. Cassie took note of our position and entered the barn in such a way that Laria wouldn't see us. Ax de-morphed.
Rarely does anything get to Jake. Now, He was ticked. "Ax, what were you trying to do back there?" Jake demanded. "Are you trying to give us away?!"
Prince Jake, Ax to us, I believe Laria to be an Andalite. Her behavior indicates that my assumption is likely to be accurate.
Jake was starting to cool down. He was still mad, but didn't look ready to tear Ax apart anymore. Definitely a good thing. "And if you're wrong?" Jake demanded.
If I am wrong, and I am not often so, we will-
"Figure something out," I said, finishing his sentence. "But right now, Ax morphs again, we go in there, and find out about this Laria girl. You know, Fearless Leader, I think it might be a good idea to watch her for, what say three days? Then we'll know for sure."
"Right. Ok. Sounds like a plan," Jake was now much closer to the cool cucumber I'm used to. "Tobias, Ax? Think you can do that?"
Will do, Tobias said. He'd had to demorph too, and was again that fearsome hawk we've all come to know and love.
"I will do anything to help my prince," Ax. Remorphed.
"Alrighty then boys and girls! Let's go meet another potential alien!" I said and slapped Jake on the back.
Jake had Tobias stay outside to keep guard and make sure it wasn't another Yeerk trap. It wouldn't be the first time. The rest of us went inside to talk with Laria.

Chapter 3


We walked into the barn. Cassie and Laria were sitting on some hay bales. I guess Rachel would rather have sacrificed comfort for clean pants, and she was siting on the floor of the loft. It looked rather empty up there, so I went and sat with her.
As we entered the room, Rachel looked quizzically at Jake. She must have been asking where Tobias was or something, because Jake made a slight nod to the roof. Rachel nodded back. Cassie, noticing this correspondence, said nothing. Laria didn't seem to notice he was missing.
"So, Laria," I said, "Where do you live?"
"Oh, uh, close-by," She said evasively.
"I see. Do you go to our school?" I asked, "I haven't seen you there before."
"School?" She questioned, "Oh, yeah, right, school. Um, no I uh, just moved here."
This answer that began with a confused question told me a lot. She sounded like she was unfamiliar with school.
"From where?"
"A ways away," She said, again really avoiding my question. She was nervous. Very nervous. Cassie put her hand on Laria's shoulder reassuringly. Laria jumped. Normally, I would have laughed. I mean, it was a rather comic scene. Six kids sitting around in a barn interrogating this totally freaked out teenage girl. Under the circumstances though, it wasn't going to make me laugh.
I was about to ask another question, but Tobias called us outside. Uh, guys? he said, there's a blue scorpion deer person at the edge of the woods. Looks kinda like someone we know, but I'm not sure.
I knew who that someone was. The only other Andalite on earth. Visser 1. Previously Visser 3. He killed Elfangor. He was trying to kill us and take over the world. This was not my day.
Rachel and us boys went outside, insanely and futilely hoping Laria and Cassie would stay inside. We knew Rachel would come outside. She would never miss a fight. We went behind the barn as four normal kids. Soon, we were a grizzly bear, a tiger, an Andalite, and my favorite, a very big gorilla.
Tobias informed us that the Andalite was running off. He must have heard us opening the barn door. Want me to follow him?
Yeah, Jake replied, Yeah, do that. See any Hork-Bajir? Taxxons?
No, and that's what's funny, Tobias mused, Visser 1 doesn't usually go anywhere without his bodyguards, but there's no sign of other aliens and I didn't see the blade ship, just heard something in the woods. I thought it was probably a deer and didn't think too much about it, until I noticed it was blue.
Yeah, well, deer ain't blue, I agreed. Guys, wouldn't it be easier if we just called him back?
No, Jake said, It could still be the Visser. Call him back and then, if it is the Visser he'll know for sure. He may not have seen us morph, but he probably heard us in the barn. He might think we were in morph, but maybe not. It's too risky.
Just then, Laria came rushing out of the barn with Cassie on her heels.
Yaaarrrriiinnnn!!!!!! We heard a thought speak yell. Ruuuunnnnn!!!!
I didn't know a 'Yarin.' Neither did any of my friends. That left only one option. Laria. She must have forgotten not to 'broadcast' her thought speak. You see, thought speech is like e-mail. You can direct to everyone, a few people, or just one person.
The Andalite stopped… Tobias reported, He's coming back!
The Andalite soon emerged from the woods. Laria? he said, Are you all right? Cassie had discreetly hidden behind a bush. The rest of us were quiet, trying to figure out what was happening.
Yes, I'm all right. Laria could thought speak as well as talk because she was in morph. You're a fool! Didn't I tell you to run away? Have you gotten your sense of direction confused? Laria was very mad.
I am not disoriented, Yarin said calmly, And I heard your warning. But did you expect me to abandon my sister on an alien planet when she was in danger? Besides, you would have done the same thing for me.
She sighed. Yes, I suppose you're right. I was just so frightened. I'm sorry I lashed out at you. Laria began to demorph.
It's all right, Laria, Yarin said, Where did your friends go? He sounded concerned.
Jake stepped out from behind the barn, in human form. "Who are you really?" he asked. We all demorphed and came out, except for Tobias, who stayed hawk, and Ax who morphed human.
Well, I suppose there is no point in avoiding the subject any longer, Laria said. My name is Laria-Corass-Fanatur. This is my brother,
Yarin-Tulara-Estrillam. for some reason, Ax looked startled when he heard their names. But there were more important things going on. I couldn't let that bother me. We are aliens, called Andalites. Laria paused. You are not frightened? she asked.
"We are familiar with Andalites," Jake said. Not exactly the right thing to say. Laria's stalk eyes began frantically searching for Hork-Bajir, or Taxxons, or something. She looked terrified and ready to run away.
Yarin was startled, but soon was able to regain his composure. He was angry. Yeerks, he growled, I should have known it was a trap.
"We are not controllers," Ax said calmly. He began to demorph. We fight the Yeerks, he finished.
You are Andalites? Laria questioned. The 'Andalite bandits' perhaps?
I am Aximili-Esgarouth-isthill, Ax said, I am an Andalite. We are the so-called Andalite bandits.
Why do your friends not demorph? Yarin asked.
Jake answered, "Because we are not in morph."
You are nothlits?
"No. We are humans."
They were appalled. Aximili?! You broke the law of Seerow's Kindness?
Ax replied, No. It was my brother, Elfangor-Sirrinial-Shamtul. When he was about to die at the hands of the current Visser 1, he gave these humans the power to morph. He felt it his only option if this planet was to be saved. Why are you here? I could tell he was confused. We all were. It's not every day an Andalite shows up at the Mall.
Yarin spoke, The Andalites received your z-space transmissions on the home world and we came to help you in your fight against the Yeerks.
Where are the others? Ax asked.
Well, to be honest, Laria replied, They don't exactly know we've come. I'm only an aristh, but Yarin is a warrior. Almost.
But you are a female, Ax said.
Yarin answered him, It has been decided that females should be allowed to fight. True, they have smaller tail blades, but war is rarely about tail fights anymore. Females can handle shredders, morph, and steer ships just as well as males.
"Do the other Andalites know you've come?" Rachel asked excitedly, "Are more coming? Will there be more here to assist us?!"
No, Yarin answered, if they had known, they would not have let us come.
"Why did you come anyway?" I asked, "I mean, I'm sure there's plenty of fun stuff to do on your home planet."
This fight is personal, Laria replied. We are here to free Visser 1's host.
"Why?" I asked.
If I am correct, Alloran-Semitur-Corass is their father, Ax replied.
Yarin nodded. We are the children of Alloran. We would be honored if you would help us in our quest. You all are greatly admired by every Andalite aristh. They all want to be like you. You have done great damage to the Yeerk forces.
"We will help you in any way we can," Jake said.
I said, "Or, as Rachel would put it:"
Rachel finished for me, "Let's do it!"
Chapter 4


It was getting late, so we all went home for the night. Laria and Yarin assured us that they had already constructed a scoop.
The next day, we met at Taco Bell. We got our food and sat down. I was preparing to enjoy my taco and nachos when this kid walked up. Just an average kid I suppose. Not to tall, not to short. But we knew this kid. His name was Erek King. He was a Chee. He always came around to inform us of trouble. The Chee are androids. They help us by giving information, but that's about all they can do because they are programmed to be pacifists.
Suddenly, I didn't feel like eating anymore.
"Hi guys!" Erek's hologram said, "Mind if I sit with you?"
I raised my hand. "I mind!" I said, "That is, unless you are inviting us to a birthday party, or to go bowling, or do something fun."
Jake said, "Just sit down, Erek. What's up?"
The air shimmered a little as Erek projected a hologram around all of us so that we looked and sounded normal, not as though we were talking about Yeerks.
"Uh, Jake?" I said, "Before Erek gets us ready to fight, shouldn't we introduce him to our new friends?"
"Oh, I already know them," Erek said, "And so do the Yeerks."
We stopped breathing for a few seconds.
"What do you mean?" Cassie asked.
"I mean that the Yeerks saw their ship land and have been looking for them ever since. They don't want your force growing any stronger. You've already damaged their forces, and they don't want you doing any more. They're really starting to see all your battles add up. Destroying the Kandrona a while back. Then the Yeerk pool on the Hork Bajir home world. The Anti-morphing ray. Stalling World War III. They know you've infiltrated the school, and Visser 1 has decided you are his next priority."
"I'm honored," I said sarcastically, "Visser 1 thinks I'm more important than the conquest of Earth."
"I'm not through yet," Erek said. "He plans on doing everything in his power to catch and kill you. He doesn't want you infested, but killed."
"Yeah, that does make sense," Cassie said, "If we were infested, we'd challenge him. Seven more morph capable bodies? He's not going to let that happen. Better to just get rid of us."
Erek nodded his steel and ivory head. "They are developing sensors that will not only detect morphing energy, but anyone who is able to morph. Luckily, they aren't finished. Yet."
He let that word 'yet' hang in our brains awhile.
"Well, what are we waiting for?!" Rachel practically shouted. I couldn't help but wonder how soundproof holograms are. "Where are they building it and lets go smash it!"
"Therein lies the problem," Erek said, "We think the Yeerks might have detected us among their ranks. While they don't know we're Chee, they do know that you know almost every big thing they do. They know there must be traitors. They are keeping this extremely hush-hush and only top controllers know what's going on."
I grabbed his arm. "Erek," I said, Would Tom know?"
"Probably. He's pretty high up in the ranks. There's even been talk of him becoming a sub-visser."
"Ok then. I'm forming a plan. Maybe you could figure out when Tom's Yeerk's next feeding is. Then maybe you could have your Yeerk 'feed' at the same time as Tom's, and you could take a second Chee with you, only you could extend a hologram around the second Chee so it looked like it wasn't there. You could somehow get rid of your Yeerk for a while. When Tom's Yeerk fed, the other Chee could look like you and extend the hologram around the real Tom. Then, you could look like Tom. When it was time for the Yeerk to re-enter Tom, you could take it, tap its brainwaves or whatever and learn where the new ray thing is being built!" I concluded triumphantly.
"Yeah Marco!" Rachel said. We exchanged high fives.
"That's a lot of 'maybes', "Erek said, "but it might work. I'll look into it and get back to you tomorrow."
He put his hologram up again and looked like a normal boy. He said goodbye, and one by one, we all went home.


Chapter 5


I was underground, locked in a cage. I was with three others, a man, a woman, and a girl, about my age. She was crying. I went over to her, trying to comfort her. Suddenly, two Hork Bajir opened the cage and grabbed me. They dragged me away, kicking and screaming to a steel pier. I knew what would happen there. I feigned submission and defeat. Then, when we were almost to the pier, I twisted and jerked free. Free! I ran for the stairs. Suddenly I heard this alarm.
BBRRRRIIIINNNNNGGG!!!! BBRRRRIIIINNNNNGGG!!!!
I awoke with a start, breathing heavily. I glanced at my watch. It was nearly 1:00 in the morning. BBBRRRIIINNNNGGGG!!!! Oh. The phone.
"Hello?" I said groggily.
"Hi, Marco?" Jake, sounding nervous and stressed. "You know how we were planning to get together tomorrow? Um, well, I thought it would probably be better to do it now, if that's okay."
I was definitely awake now. The little guy in the adrenaline pumping house had just put all the valves on full power.
"What! Oh, uh yeah. Sounds good," I said, trying to sound casual. "I'll be right over."
I quickly shed my outer clothing and morphed to owl. Generally, I prefer osprey, but it was a new moon that night and cloudy, resulting in virtually no light. I soared out of the Hork-Bajir valley, then to Cassie's barn.
"What took you so long?!" Rachel demanded.
"Well, Xena, I came as fast as I could. Besides, Jake and Erek aren't even here yet," I pointed out. "Where are Laria and Yarin?"
"They're going to sit this mission out," Cassie said, "I don't think they have any morphs with enough firepower. I was planning on taking them to the Gardens tomorrow…"
Just then, Erek and Jake walked in.
"Okay," Jake said, "I was just about asleep, when I heard Tom making a phone call. I guess he thought everyone was asleep. They were talking about doing something, who knows what it was, at 3:00 this morning. But Tom said that's when he was going in to regenerate. I called Erek, then you guys."
"And here we are," I concluded.
"Right," Erek said. "It's almost 1:30 now. That gives us about an hour and a half to come up with a plan."
"This isn't the time for fire power," Jake said, "That'll come soon enough. But we should probably have some of us ready to morph in case something happens."
"Yeah," I said, "Besides, Rachel's gonna want to watch this."
"But what about the Gleet biofilters?"
We all looked at Cassie.
"I mean, you guys must be forgetting there's no way to get past them."
"Yeah, unless we morph fleas and crawl up Erek's nose or something like we did with the cows," I said.
Rachel gave me a disgusted look. "Only you would come up with such a disgusting idea."
"Well, that wasn't even the practical one. The practical one is even more disgusting," I said. "Ax, the Gleet Biofilters detect Yeerks, right? Not specific Yeerks, just Yeerks in general?"
Yes, Marco. What are you suggesting?
"Well, dare I say it…" I took a deep breath and slowly continued, "Cassie has a Yeerk morph… And Erek has a Yeerk…There's six of us, and we could kinda do three and three, girls with girls, guys with guys. I mean, don't know about you, but I don't want Rachel poking through my brain."
"It could work," Jake said, "It's the most disgusting idea ever, but it could work. I guess we'd better take a vote. I say we probably should."
"Let's do it!" Rachel, of course. No one was surprised.
"I guess so," Cassie said, "It's the best idea so far. It's definitely not my favorite, but it seems the most practical."
"Well, it was my idea, so I kinda have to vote yes," I said, "It won't be the most disgusting thing I've ever done."
"Oh?" Rachel said, "Like what else?"
"Eh, you know, morphing cockroach, crawling into a cow's nose, sitting next to you…"
I felt a sharp pain as Rachel's foot connected with my shin.
"Back to business…" Jake said, "Tobias? What about you?"
I definitely don't like the idea. He said, But it probably is the best. Don't ask me to enjoy myself, though.
"Ax?" We all looked towards him. This would be very hard if he agreed. Just for the record, Andalites and Yeerks aren't exactly best buds.
I must say I do not like the idea. I despise it. It is a horrifying thought. He paused, But, I follow my Prince. And I trust you, my friends. I will never want to speak of this in the future.
"Does this mean yes?" I asked.
Yes, Marco. Ax said softly. Yes.