Disclaimer: Animorphs belongs to the great K A Applegate and/or Scholastic. Ryan is mine. All others belong to 20th Century Fox Film Corporation. I am not profiting from this etc. etc. This story takes place after the 'Hunting Game' series. I suggest you read that first or much of this might not make sense.
Animorphs: The Black Death
1: The Infestation
A Predator ship in Zero-Space
Malarnex, Predator warrior and leader of the Fenris Tribe, sat in his command chair on the bridge of his ship. He was in a good mood. Since he had taken the mantle of Leader, the tribe had gone from strength to strength. Soon, the Fenris Tribe would be the most feared in all Predator society. As far as he knew there was only one Hunt that had gone sour: the Hunt on the world known as Earth a few months ago. Malarnex was at a loss to explain that one. The Predator who had gone, Varkan, had been one of his best warriors and yet he had been beaten. What was even more galling was that the prey who had bested him were mostly human children! They had Andalite morphing capability and one Andalite ally but logic dictated that one able Predator like Varkan should have killed them all. Malarnex had had to alter most of the details in his report to the Elders. His tribe would have been a laughing stock if they had found out the whole truth! Still, that was of no concern right now. His business was the upcoming hunt and the students that were to participate.
Leader!
Malarnex turned and saw Vorka, his best and most trusted warrior, standing in the doorway. Like Andalites, the Predators were capable of thought speech but not many outsiders were aware of this as they rarely talked to 'prey species'.
What is it, Vorka?
The students are almost ready and we'll be dropping out of Zero-Space soon. Should I prepare the prey shuttle?
Yes, you should, Malarnex was looking forward to this hunt. Load at least twenty into the shuttle and launch it. The prey should have matured by the time we arrive. I want our students to face their hardest challenge yet. Meet me at the training area when it's done.
Once Vorka had left Malarnex went down to the training area where thirty other Predators were sparring and preparing themselves. They were all capable and well trained but were young and untried. Malarnex touched his forehead and the thunderbolt insignia that was burned onto it.
By the end of the hunt his students would either be marked, like he was, or they would be dead.
Leader! There is a problem! Vorka seemed worried, which was most unusual.
What is it?
The prey shuttle is out of control. It is not responding to the recall signal and it has deviated from its course.
WHAT!
They hurried to the bridge.
Where is that shuttle headed now? Malarnex was seething with anger and worry. This prey was the most resilient and the most deadly he had ever known. The Predators only hunted them on certain planets where there was no sentient life and no chance of complication. If, however, the prey were allowed free rein on a heavily populated world the consequences would be disastrous.
According to these readings it will land on the third planet of the Sol system. The Earth planet, one of the bridge crew reported.
Earth again. Is that system cursed?
Malarnex's good mood was rapidly disappearing.Can we destroy the shuttle before it lands? he asked. The crew all shook their heads. Then ready one pod for departure.
One pod only, Leader? Vorka asked in surprise.
The students are not going now, Vorka, Malarnex said. Only you and I will be going. The situation is out of our control and we will have to deal with it ourselves. If we act quickly enough, we should be able to destroy the prey before their numbers become too great.
Why should we bother? Vorka angrily asked.
I know your feelings about that world but we have no choice. I don't really want to have to explain to the Elders why one of our main hunting grounds may be ruined due to our actions, do you? Malarnex retorted.
Vorka growled angrily and turned away. I'll do it, Leader. But only for the Tribe's honour!
Malarnex waited until Vorka had left and then turned to the crew again. Where will that shuttle land precisely?
If my readings are accurate it will land in the same area of the last hunt on that world.
Malarnex grimaced. This was getting worse all the time. Send a request to the home world for reinforcements and stay in orbit once we arrive. I will need as much support as possible.
There are reports of Yeerk ships in that area.
Then blast them into oblivion! Malarnex roared. What are they to such as we? If they need reminding of that, do so.
With pleasure, Leader. The crew remembered the fight with the Yeerks well. It had been a glorious battle.
Malarnex left to prepare himself. He had a hard battle ahead now but that was better than trying to explain this to the Elders. He just hoped that he would be in time. If not, his tribe would be disgraced and everyone on Earth would be facing a hideous death…
Earth
The Animorphs were flying home from their latest mission against the Yeerks. They had just freed another dozen Hork-Bajir and sent them to the Ellimist's valley.
Is it just me or is Visser 3 really starting to lose his touch? Marco asked.
For once, Marco's right, Rachel said. That was too easy.
Don't get too overconfident, Jake said. We got lucky that time but it won't be that easy again.
Yeah whatever, Great Leader, Marco quipped. Can't you loosen up once in a while?
Hey, what's that? Tobias had suddenly noticed a ball of fire in the sky. As they watched, it plunged into the mountains and disappeared from sight.
A meteorite? Cassie asked.
Let's check it out, Jake replied. Ax, how much time do we have?
One hour exactly, Prince Jake. But I must tell you I do not like this. I sensed something strange about that object.
We'll never know unless we go and look, will we? Ryan put in. Besides, I feel like kicking some more Yeerk butt!
Marco sighed. Oh great. We already had Xena and now we've got Hercules too!
It wasn't an overstatement. Since joining them Ryan had become almost as 'insane' as Rachel. Unlike David, however, he didn't have a sadistic streak and he was a team player.
Is there any chance we could stay serious? Jake broke in, sounding exasperated. Are we going to do this or aren't we? In reply, they abruptly started flying toward the meteorite's landing area. I'll take that as a yes, Jake muttered and turned to follow them.
They would not have been so eager if they knew that the meteorite was actually the lost prey shuttle. As soon as it had smashed into the ground its automated systems kicked in and it launched what looked like a tractor onto the surface. Then the back of the tractor opened as it ran and it started to drop large oval shaped objects onto the ground. It dropped around twenty in all. Once that was done, the tractor and what was left of the shuttle exploded. The whole process had taken less than two minutes.
The Animorphs arrived just as the shuttle and tractor had exploded.
I do not like the looks of this, Ax warned.
Me neither, Ax, Jake replied grimly. It didn't look like a meteorite to me.
Should I go and have a closer look? Cassie said.
Oh shit! Tobias broke in. He had been scanning the area around the crash site. We've got trouble coming!
What is it, Tobias? Rachel asked.
A load of hunters is coming this way. They're the jerks who shot another hawk out of the sky around here last week!
They've got to be jerks, Marco spat. It looks like Johnny's with them.
Who's he? Tobias asked.
Just about the worst jerk in all of school now. Marco replied.
We'll come back here later when they've gone then," Jake decided. I hope they aren't controllers.
Controllers? No chance. A Yeerk would be wasted on that moron, Rachel sneered.
Are we doing the right thing? Cassie asked. Leaving whatever's down there, I mean?
We can't take the risk, Jake said. Only one has to be a controller to blow everything.
I suppose so, Cassie sighed. She couldn't shake the feeling that they were making a hideous mistake.
She wasn't wrong.
They quickly flew back the way they had come just as the hunters reached the site and were examining the row of objects. Unfortunately they didn't notice that some of them were opening…
Early morning : the next day
Malarnex and Vorka checked the landing site carefully. They had found the row of eggs and the destroyed machines. There was a crucial difference now, however, as the eggs were open at the tops. They looked everything over carefully and then burnt the remains of the eggs with a flame-thrower.
It is as I feared, Malarnex said. The prey has managed to breed. Someone must have sabotaged the shuttle.
Should we wait for reinforcements? Vorka asked.
If we do, the prey will control half the planet by the time they get here! We must at least delay them ourselves.
If we die, at least it will be in a good hunt! Vorka said with fire.
Malarnex smiled under his mask. At least he's ready to hunt and he's not brooding anymore. We'll head for the nearest settlement. The prey will most likely be there.
They cloaked and left the site. Malarnex would not have been so happy if he'd known Vorka's thoughts.
Fine, Leader, I'll hunt the prey. With luck I can settle a little score of my own whilst I'm here too…
At school
The Animorphs, minus Ax and Tobias, were taking a break in the cafeteria.
"It's amazing they got this place working again at all with what happened a few months ago," Ryan said.
Marco nodded. "It doesn't help a school when papers show cops bringing dead kids out the front door with their guts hanging out."
"Will you shut up, Marco!" Cassie snapped, looking slightly green.
"Yeah, don't remind me!" Jake said. "I still have nightmares from that!"
They all nodded. The Predator incident was not one that anyone wanted to go through again. They were so wrapped up in their thoughts they didn't notice Johnny and two of his other friends enter the cafeteria at first.
Jake was the first to notice. "Oh great, look what just walked in."
"Thanks to them, we couldn't get near whatever that thing was yesterday," Marco grumbled.
"Tobias told me that he had a look with Ax this morning, Rachel said. "They found a lot of burn marks but nothing else. Someone set a fire out there."
"Wonder who did that?" Marco sneered.
"Whatever that thing was it can't have been important then, could it?" Ryan said. "I mean if it was something would have happened by now, right?"
As Ryan finished talking, they noticed that Johnny didn't look very well. He seemed to break into a fit of coughing. His friends were looking at him in some concern and were asking if he was all right. Then, to the shock and horror of everyone in the cafeteria, his coughing turned to choking and he started clutching at his chest. His friends stepped back quickly as blood appeared on his chest, seemingly out of nowhere. Johnny was screaming as his chest blew apart and a hissing creature burst out. It was about forearm length, flesh coloured and had a large mouth full of sharp teeth. It jumped from its nesting place and slithered away before anyone could stop it. Johnny convulsed twice more and then collapsed to the floor unmoving. The Animorphs gaped in shock as everyone else started to scream and run from the cafeteria. They were all thinking the same thought.
What the hell was in that meteorite yesterday?
The school basement
The newborn creature had managed to slip out of the cafeteria and down to the basement without being seen again. It was now growing remarkably fast and was starting to change shape and colour. Its skin was changing from flesh colour to black and it was hardening, becoming more like reinforced carapace than skin. Its head was elongating, becoming banana-shaped and it was starting to grow a tail. Its thoughts and instincts were rather basic. After all, it had only two purposes: to breed and to kill…
Outside the school: half an hour later
Everyone had been moved outside the school soon after the cafeteria incident whilst the police went over everything. The Animorphs had met up in a corner of the yard and were talking quietly.
"Any idea what we should do now?" Rachel was asking. "I wish Ax was here, he might know more about this."
"Or Erek," Cassie added.
"I bet that thing in the mountains yesterday wasn't a meteorite," Ryan said. "Only thing is, what was it?"
"Nothing good if Johnny is anything to go by." Marco didn't sound his usual self.
Chapman then emerged from the school and announced that the police were shutting the school down for the day for their investigation. Normally this would have been met with a cheer but spirits were, not surprisingly, somewhat low.
"Even Chapman looks shocked," Cassie said. "I don't think this is the Yeerks' work."
"I don't either, Cassie," Jake replied. "But if it isn't the Yeerks, who or what is doing this?"
"Should we take another look at the crash site?" Rachel asked. "Tobias and Ax only had a quick look there this morning from the air."
"Yeah, perhaps we should. Then we'll talk to Erek," Jake decided.
Cassie's barn
Burst out of his chest? Ax did not look or sound happy at this. I am sorry, Prince Jake, but it does not sound like any species I have ever heard of.
"That's ok, Ax," Jake replied. "But do you think it's another Yeerk weapon?"
No, I would think not. The Yeerks want the human race alive for use as hosts. This other species would probably not do that if it uses humans as egg incubators.
Maybe we should check that crash site again, Tobias suggested.
I'm in! Rachel and Ryan said at the same time. They looked at each other and grinned.
Marco shook his head. "I'd better go as well just to make sure you two nuts get back in one piece!"
Jake nodded. "Alright. While you're doing that we'll go and see Erek. Maybe he knows what's going on. Just don't do anything stupid, ok?"
"What, us?" Rachel said innocently.
"Oh boy. I can tell I'm in for a bad day," Marco groaned.
Over the mountains
There it is, Marco said, looking down at the crash site.
I'll stay up here and watch from the air, Tobias said.
Ok, let's do it! Rachel shouted with her usual enthusiasm.
Right! Ryan was right behind her.
I'm stuck with a pair of psychos! I'm doomed! Marco sighed.
Good luck then, Marco, Tobias chuckled as he watched them descend.
They landed at the site and demorphed. Or rather they landed at what was left of the crash site. The whole area appeared to have been burned.
"Whoa! What happened to this place?" Ryan asked in amazement.
"Someone's been over this with a flame-thrower or something," Rachel said. "Maybe Jake was wrong about the Yeerks not being in on this?"
"Maybe," Ryan replied. "But why burn everything here? What could be worth doing this?"
"Uh. T-that m-maybe?" Marco said shakily.
Rachel and Ryan looked at Marco. He was shaking in terror.
"What's wrong?" Rachel asked.
Marco pointed behind them. They turned round and then wished they hadn't! There were three of them. They were standing twenty feet away. Gigantic, black, long arms and legs, sharp and spiny tails, long dark skulls and dripping razor sharp teeth.
Ryan was shaking now and even Rachel looked like she was losing it. Tobias had seen them from the air but there was nothing he could do.
"Oh s-shit!" Ryan just managed to blurt out before the creatures snarled and ran at them at full speed.
"AHHHHHHHH!!!"
They had no time to morph. All they could do was shut their eyes and wait for the end…
The Chee Base
Meanwhile Jake, Cassie and Ax were at the Chee underground park with Erek. Erek looked as confused as Ax had been when he heard the story.
"Sorry guys, but I haven't heard of any species like that either. The Yeerks haven't been doing anything much recently. Chapman and the others seem just as confused as you do. Whatever it is, I don't think it's their work."
"Yeah, that's what we figured," Jake replied. "If it isn't the Yeerks though, who's doing this?"
"We'd better find out," Erek replied. "I think I might know how, too."
The park around them began to dissolve and was replaced by another hologram.
"What's this?" Cassie asked.
"One of my friends, Jenny, is at the school. We're seeing what she is seeing," Erek said.
Why there? Ax asked.
"Because that's where you first saw this thing. Oddly enough, the police that were sent there today haven't come out again either. According to my contacts in the Yeerks, they should have finished there an hour ago," Erek said.
The hologram was of the school's main corridor. It was empty. There was, however, a dripping sound coming from around the corner. Everyone watched through Jenny's eyes as she walked down the corridor
and turned the corner. No one was prepared for the hideous sight that awaited them. There were three dead police officers. All had been ripped open and most of their insides were spread across the floor and walls. Standing over the remains was one of the black aliens. It had just finished tearing up the cops and its mouth was dripping slime and blood.
Erek didn't waste time. "Jenny, get out of there NOW!"
The hologram faded away as Erek cut the connection.
"What the hell was that thing?" Jake asked in shock and horror.
"I don't know but my guess would be it's the thing that burst out of your friend's chest this morning," Erek said.
If it is, then it has grown remarkably fast since this morning! Ax said in disbelief.
Cassie looked like she was going to be sick. "Will she be alright?" she asked Erek in concern.
"Don't worry about Jenny, she's fast and resilient like all Chee are. She'll be back here soon. I'd be more worried about everyone else up there if I were you."
A nasty thought struck Jake. "What about the others? SHIT! I never should have sent them to check that crash site!"
"Crash site?" Erek asked.
They filled him in on the rest of the details. His face became grimmer than ever.
"If that creature isn't unique… I think we're in big trouble!" he finally said. "Go and help your friends. I hope it isn't too late!"
They needed no further prompting. They ran out of the park through all the dogs to the lift. Jake was beside himself with worry.
"I never should have sent them! What if they're…"
"Jake! Calm down. It wasn't your fault," Cassie tried to reassure him.
She is right, Prince Jake. Worrying about them will not help, will it? Ax put in.
"Easy for you to say, Ax," Jake retorted. "You didn't send them up there, did you? I only hope we'll be in time to…"
Jake stopped in mid-sentence as he realised they weren't in the lift anymore. They were surrounded by greenish-blue light. They were in the Ellimist's domain.
"Oh no, not NOW!" Jake screamed.
We have no time for your games, Ellimist! Ax roared in anger.
AND WHO SAYS I'M PLAYING ANY, ANDALITE?
That stunned them all. They had never heard the Ellimist sound so serious.
"Can't this wait? Our friends may be in trouble!" Cassie asked.
I'M AFRAID IT CAN'T. BUT YOU NEEDN'T WORRY ABOUT YOUR FRIENDS. AFTER ALL, THEY'RE NEEDED TOO.
As he finished his sentence, Marco, Ryan, Rachel and Tobias appeared nearby. Tobias was in the middle of a dive and the others were cowering in terror with their eyes shut. Tobias was the first to speak.
Uh guys, I think you can open your eyes now.
They all looked around.
"Are we dead?" Ryan asked, still shaking in fear.
NO RYAN, NOT YET.
"Who? What?" Ryan was looking around in shock.
"It's ok. It's the Ellimist. He's a friend. Sort of," Rachel said.
"You're ok!" Jake yelled in relief, running over to them.
"Yeah, just. If it weren't for the Ellimist we would have been sliced and diced by now!" Marco said.
You were in trouble? What kind of trouble? Ax asked.
"What kind? Oh, so tall, black, big skull, claws, long tail and more sharp teeth than Count Dracula's entire family," Marco quipped, although he was shaking in fear too.
"You saw one too?" Cassie asked in horror.
"One? There were three of them!" Rachel said.
"We're in big trouble," Jake sighed.
PRECISELY WHY I HAVE BROUGHT YOU HERE.
You know this species? Ax asked.
UNFORTUNATELY ALL TOO WELL. WHEREEVER THEY GO THEY BRING DESTRUCTION WITH THEM. THEY ARE AN ABHORRENCE TO ALL OTHER LIFE IN THE UNIVERSE.
"How did they get here? In that thing that crashed yesterday?" Cassie put in.
YES. THEIR SEEDS WERE IN THAT SHUTTLE. IT WAS NOT MEANT TO LAND HERE HOWEVER. THAT WAS CRAYAK'S WORK.
"Crayak?" Jake asked, noting that the Ellimist had a lot of venom in his voice.
MY, NO, OUR OPPONENT IN THIS 'GAME' AS YOU PUT IT. HIS LAST ATTEMPT AT DESTROYING YOU FAILED SO HE IS TRYING A NEW APPROACH.
"Oh great. I thought it was something really dangerous," Marco sneered.
I CAN NOT INTERFERE DIRECTLY IN THIS AFFAIR. I HAVE ALREADY BENT THE RULES BY SAVING YOUR LIVES ONCE. HOWEVER I CAN GIVE YOU SOME OTHER HELP.
"And what would that be?" Rachel asked sceptically. She was grateful to the Ellimist for saving her life but, like Ax, she didn't trust him fully.
I CAN GIVE YOU ALLIES. CRAYAK HAS OFFENDED THEM BY HIS ACTIONS ALSO. YOU NOW HAVE A COMMON PURPOSE.
"Oh no!" Marco screamed as he saw who the Ellimist had brought. The others looked around. Two Predators stood behind them armed to the teeth: Malarnex and Vorka. They were looking around in confusion until they noticed the Animorphs.
You! Vorka roared.
Jake shut his eyes in despair. What did we ever do to deserve this?
TO BE CONTINUED…