The Animorphs met at the Cassie's barn.
Marco parked his bike, and swung into the barn. He was the last. "So, Fearless Leader, what's this all about?" He asked.
Jake sighed. "I think we need to add a new member to our group. Melissa."
Rachel stood up quickly. "What?" She yelled, surprised. "She's my best friend, but her dad's a controller!"
"She won't tell," Jake told them. "And we need more people in our group. We're barely scraping by with six. Seven could make all the difference. Besides, she could be infested at any time. We have to protect her. Why don't we put it to a vote?"
"I vote no," Rachel said. Everyone knew why. Even though Melissa was her best friend, Rachel hadn't exactly had a good time with David.
I vote no, too, > Tobias voiced. He went with Rachel, as usual.
"I say yes," Cassie said. "We have to protect her from being infested."
I am with Prince Jake, > Ax told them.
"Yes," Marco said softly.
Cassie raised an eyebrow at Marco. He was the last person she would have suspected of letting in a new Animorph. "Why?" She asked.
"We've been dating for a few months," He said. "We have a date tonight. I'll tell her then."
"Fine, fine," Rachel gave in. "I guess if we had to pick someone, it'd be Melissa."
"Then it's settled," Jake told them. "Melissa becomes one of us tonight."
***
Marco met Melissa in front of the diner three hours later. "Hey Mel," He said, kissing her cheek. "Can we put off dinner for an hour? I have to talk to you about something."
"Sure," She replied. "What's up?"
Have you told her yet? > Jake asked as a cockroach from Marco's pocket.
Marco ignored him. "Melissa, it's important. Me and a couple of my friends, we can change into any animal we touch."
Melissa smiled and played with her hair. "How?" She asked, playing along.
"One night," Marco whispered, his voice monotone. "I was walking home with four of my friends, and an alien landed in a spaceship near us. He warned us about aliens called Yeerks, that take control of people's minds. We're the only protection Earth has. And we want you to join us."
By that time, they had walked, and were near the woods. "I'll help save the world. Just not how you expect."
Then she did something unexpected. She began to change. To Andalite. The Andalite known as Visser Three.
Marco didn't even have time to scream as Visser Three chopped off his head.
***
Marco woke up, screaming. He tried to control himself. It was a dream. It was just a dream.
Even so, he walked downstairs and picked up the phone, and called Jake.
Tom picked up. "'Lo?" He asked.
"Is Jake there?" Marco asked.
"Yeah," Tom replied. Then he could be heard yelling. "Yo! Midget! Phone for you!"
"Hey," Jake said.
"Jake? I just had a dream that we told Melissa everything. And then she turned out to be our biggest enemy." Marco couldn't say 'Visser Three', in case Tom was listening in.
"Wow," Jake said. "We'll keep fighting in secret, and tell no one until we win."
