POV: Jake

Two years.

Two long, lonely years of fighting the Yeerks. Two years of fighting, killing, injuries and lying to our parents. Killing a few Taxxons here, thwarting one of Visser 3's plots there, scoring a few victories. Small victories.

But we're losing ground. Over 20,000 humans have been infested, according to our best estimates.

And now Erek the Chee has brought us the news we've all been dreading: the Yeerks are preparing to attack openly.

We're not quite sure we the Yeerks have abandoned their policy of subterfuge. According to our Chee spies, even most of the Yeerks don't know why. Wild rumors are circulating among them, ranging from the Yeerks defeating the Andalites enough that they can focus on Earth (unlikely) to the Andalites finally preparing a fleet to retake Earth space (our greatest hope, but two years of war have made us all cynical). Visser 3 himself has secluded himself in the long-range communications room, talking extensively with the Council of Thirteen.

But the bottom line is that Earth is not ready for this assault. Ax estimates that it would only take a maximum of two months for the Yeerks to effectively destroy organized resistance, though the guerilla wars (like the one we've been waging) would effectively go on for years.

Now my team is looking at me, waiting for orders. And I have no clue what to tell them.

The obvious course of action would be to approach the world governments and warn them about what's about to happen. But that's too dangerous. We know at least one head of state is a Controller, and quite possibly more. But what else can we do when the Yeerks start using massed firepower in a conventional war?

We need a miracle.

No sooner had the thought crossed my mind than there was a...well, tearing sound. All of us started looking around wildly, then our gazes fixed on a spot in the center of Cassie's parents' barn. The air was beginning to ripple and twist.

Now, this wasn't the strangest thing the Animorphs had ever seen, but it was definetely unusual. And a potential threat. It was a bit jarring to have to face something like that here, which had always been our sancturary.

Not that that stopped us, of course. Rachel was already beginning to morph bear. Marco quickly followed with gorilla.

The...thing...in the air had grown larger, a deep blue color, and was beginning to swirl around itself.

(Prince Jake...) Ax sounded rather hesitant. (I believe that is a wormhole forming.)

(A wormhole?) Marco was almost completely morphed now. (Like on Star Trek?)

(Er, yes) TV-fan Ax agreed. (Though I cannot be certain. No Andalite has ever seen one. It is beyond even our technology.)

"Then it's probably not Yeerk..." Cassie (who had stayed in human form like me) pointed out.

The wormhole had now reached seven feet across. The center rippled slightly...

...and a man stepped out.

It was distinctly anti-climatic. He was about six feet tall, in early middle-age, dressed in a conservative three-piece suit, and carrying a slim executive briefcase.

What...the...hell?

He scanned the room, seemingly not surprised to find a grizzly bear, a gorilla, two kids, an Andalite, and a hawk. I got the distinct impression those eyes missed nothing. Then he smiled. "Greeting, Animorphs."

Rachel let out a loud growl as she mover closer to the man, walking on her hind legs. (Who are you?) she asked in a deadly voice.

He didn't look the least bit intimidated. "My name is Zedd Oliver. I'm here to help."

Marco couldn't resist. (With what, our taxes?)

Zedd smiled. "This isn't my usual attire, but I wanted an outfit that wouldn't scare you."

"It takes a lot to scare us," Cassie stated softly.

"Yes, I suppose it would. That aside, as I said, I'm here to help with your war against the Yeerks."

"How?" I spoke up finally. I wasn't sure what to make of this. "The Yeerks are about to attack openly. We'd need an army to stop them."

Zedd remained calm. "I have something better than an army." He walked over to a bench, set the briefcase down, and opened it, with the open side facing us. Six gold coins gleamed in the light.

(You're going to bribe the Yeerks?) Marco suggested dryly.

("Shut up, Marco,") we all said/thought spoke. I couldn't put my finger on it, but something was telling me that these things were more than mere coins.

"These are the Power Coins," Zedd stated. "They will give you access to technology far more advanced then the Yeerks." He looked at Ax. "Far more advanced than the Andalites, as well."

Ax stiffened. (How is that possible?)

"I'm not from around here. However, rather than tell you, I'd rather show you. Any volunteers?"

Rachel snorted. (How stupid do you think we are?! Why should we trust you?)

Zedd just smiled. "Are you afraid, Rachel?"

You could have heard a pin drop in that barn. Rachel's bear eyes blazed. Marco's voice came on "private" thought-speak: (This guy is SO dead...)

Rachel walked up to Zedd, and looked down on him from her seven-foot height. (NOBODY CALLS ME A COWARD!!) she punctuated this with a roar.

Zedd didn't back down a inch. "Then accept my challenge. First, morph human."

Rachel just looked at him for a long moment, then started to shrink. Zedd watched her calmly, seemingly immune to the disgusting morphing process. Soon Rachel was human again, clad in her "morphing spandex". "Well?" she sneered.

Zedd picked up one of the coins and handed it to her. "You are certainly a Pink. I give you the power of the Pteradactyl."

Rachel took the coin and looked at it...and something seemed to click in her eyes. Her sneer faded. "What now?" she asked with a calm that startled us.

"Raised in your right hand and shout 'Pteradactyl!'"

(That's ridiculous...) Marco started, but Rachel silenced him with a look.

"PTERADACTYL!"

The room filled with Pink light.