Chapter 6

Everyone was waiting for us when we got inside. Tobias looked mildly irritated. I think it was a look of worry, but he had forgotten what that was supposed to look like. "Is everything alright?" he asked.

For a moment, I was afraid Marco would blurt out my secret. But he just shrugged. "Fine. You know how Rachel is. She just couldn't stand another minute away from me."

Tobias sighed and went back to business. "Okay, we're leaving now. Thanks to the information we got from the Reliquary, we know that the Visser is calling in a new shipment of Kelbrid and now we know where it is. The first step is to intercept it."

"I already don't like this plan," Marco asserted.

"Don't worry, that won't be the hard part," Tobias assured him. "The difficulty will come when we find and acquire the leader."

"No," Marco insisted. "I am not doing that."

"I didn't expect you to. I'm going to do it, but I want someone else to acquire the leader with me."

Tobias looked expectantly at me. "I'm in."

"No you're not," Marco snapped. "Not a chance, Rachel."

"Why not?" Tobias asked. He looked from Marco to me and back again.

"She might…get carried away," Marco answered. "I mean, we're trying to rescue Ax, right? But if she ends up fighting the Visser and has the chance to kill him, she might do it."

It was a lie and we all knew it. But Tobias decided to let it go. "Okay. So who else wants to be my backup?"

((I will do it, my prince,)) Al piped up.

"You would, but I don't think you can take the Visser. He's got a lifetime of experience with that tail. I don't think David or Jeanne could take him, either. That makes it up to you, Marco. Think you can handle it?"

Marco glanced at me and then nodded. "I'll do it."

"Okay then. After we acquire the leader, we need to kill him to keep the Kelbrid from getting confused. One of us will pose as him. If the trip takes longer than two hours, we'll switch off.

"The next step is the Blade ship. They'll try to infest the Kelbrid leader. That means at least one of us will end up with a Yeerk in his head."

Marco was looking worried now. "And what way do we have around this?" he demanded.

"Oh, we'll get Yeerks in us, but they won't exactly be real Yeerks. Someone will need to morph a Yeerk. Two someones actually, since everyone gets backup."

Marco groaned. "This keeps getting better and better. What else happens?"

"Well, one of us will be fighting the Visser. That will either be you or me, Marco. The other guy will be working on a back exit along with whoever the Yeerk in his head happens to be."

"That only accounts for four of us," Marco reminded him.

"I know. The other two will be waiting in the Reliquary to get us out of there."

"How exactly do you plan to get Ax out of there?" I asked. "I mean, we're talking about kidnapping a Visser off of his own Blade ship. That's impossible."

Tobias gave me a wild smile. My own smile. Maybe Marco was right; maybe we were turning into each other. "Nothing's impossible if you have enough firepower. The Kelbrid poison will slow Ax and probably knock him out if he gets enough of it. When he's out of it, we'll grab him and make a break for it. Whoever's in the Reliquary will blow open an exit for us. We'll hop on the ship and head back home."

Marco sighed. "You know what I'm going to say, right?"

"Yep," I answered. "You're going to tell us all of the reasons why this is insane and why it'll never work."

"Exactly. And then we'll go and do it anyway. I guess the question is, who gets to be Yeerks?"

Tobias shrugged. "That's up to you, Marco. Whoever's in your head will get to read your every thought, every memory. Every dirty little secret. So who do you trust, Marco?"

Marco moaned. "Well, let's see. It can't be David. No offense, but I'm just not comfortable having you control me. As for Jeanne…I've got some thoughts that I'd be a lot happier if you didn't see them. Al…I've got some thoughts that a kid his age shouldn't be exposed to." Then, Marco gave me a look. "Not that he hasn't already seen some things he shouldn't have."

I pounded a fist on the table. "That was one time, Marco! And it only happened because you were paying him to spy on us."

He just shrugged. "Either way… I guess I'll go with Xena. I've got no secrets from her. That's the basis of a good relationship, after all."

Tobias nodded. "Alright. In that case, I'll take…Jeanne. Al is needed to fly the ship, and David knows more about the Yeerks than the rest of us. They'll be able to help the most from there."

I nodded and then turned to my sister. "Well, it looks like you and I get to go on a little shopping trip to pick up something grey."

"I hear it's the new black. Let's go."

Chapter 7

This would not be an easy mission. I needed to get my hands on a Yeerk and acquire it. And I had to try not to morph, because no matter what the doctor said, I didn't think it was safe to do with a child.

We were stealing Marco's car. Just when we were about to pull out of the driveway, Marco leapt into the backseat. "Marco, why are you here?" I demanded.

"I can't keep an eye on my two favorite girls?" Jeanne and I gave him identical glares. He sighed. "Fine, I'm going. I have to go off with Tobias anyway. I just wanted to tell you to be careful. Both of you."

I knew what he meant. "We'll be fine," I assured him. Jeanne was driving, so I expected her to move after Marco left. She didn't.

"Jeanne, are you alright?"

Slowly, she turned to me. "Rachel…we need to talk."

"What about?"

"About you and Marco."

"Geez, this again? Jeanne, nothing is going on between me and Marco. Tobias and I… Marco is all yours."

"You can deny it all you want, but I have eyes, Rachel. You have feelings for him and I think he feels the same way. And ever since I started seeing him, it's only gotten more obvious. Just look at what happened a few hours ago!"

"Jeanne, I promise you, there isn't anything going on between us," I insisted.

"Don't lie to me, Rachel. I can see it."

"No, Jeanne…" I didn't feel like I had a choice. "I'm pregnant. With Tobias's child. Marco is the only one who knows. We were at the doctor's earlier. He was a friend of Marco's and wouldn't wonder why someone who was supposed to be dead was suddenly walking into his clinic."

"So…so there isn't anything to the two of you?"

"No. That's why he's suddenly protective of me. He couldn't handle it if something happened to me. He'd feel responsible, and I'm sure you know how he feels about responsibility."

Jeanne nodded. "Okay. But we have to make some rules, then. Like no morphing unless it's absolutely necessary."

"Okay, fine."

"Now…where do we get a Yeerk? Should we just walk into the Yeerk pool and grab one?"

"When Cassie did it, she found a Yeerk who let her acquire him."

"Where could we find a Yeerk like that?"

"I know where. Hand me your phone."

Twenty minutes later, we were in the director's office of Tri-I's local branch. Tri-I, the International Invasion Investigation Force, tried to do what its name suggested. It was supposed to make sure something like the Yeerk invasion never happened again.

The best laid plans of mice…

The director was one of the Chee. I'm sure you know all about them by now. If I remembered correctly, this one liked to be called Mark.

Mark was happy to see us. "I'm glad you came. I wasn't sure which invasion you'd decide to fight."

I nodded. "Look, Mark, we don't have a lot of time for small talk."

"Snappy lately," Jeanne commented.

Mark just shrugged. "Pregnancy does that."

I glared at him. Did everyone have to know? "How did you figure it out?" I demanded. "I'm always snappy."

"I can see an extra heat signature in your womb."

"Oh. Yeah, that would - You can see my womb!?"

"To be honest, there isn't a whole heck of a lot that I can't see Rachel. But we Chee always figured it would be best if you didn't know what our sight was like. We wanted to avoid…well, awkward situations like this."

"Whatever. We've got much bigger problems. Did you bring it?"

"Yep. Erek dropped it off just ten minutes ago. He's spying inside of the rebel organization again. He'll probably have some information that'll help you."

"Good to hear. Until then…"

Mark sighed. "So impatient. You'd never be able to stand living for thousands of years. Fine, here it is."

Mark, who usually looked like a distinguished businessman, dropped his hologram to reveal a steel and ivory dog. His head cracked open. There, wrapped up in a bundle of wires and electrodes, was a Yeerk.

Tentatively, I reached out a finger and poked it. "Squishy," I muttered. Then, I concentrated and felt the Yeerk's DNA enter my body. I felt a weird, sickening sensation as I did it. Maybe it was because I was acquiring a Yeerk or maybe it was the pregnancy. Either way, it felt wrong.

Jeanne did it, too. Now, there was Yeerk blood in our veins. Forever. I suddenly wondered whether or not that would affect our child. I hadn't even considered that before.

I shuddered. This needed to be finished and soon.

Chapter 8

A few hours later, we got a transmission from Tobias and Marco. They had, somehow, managed to sneak onto the Kelbrid transport and replace the leader. Don't ask me how, I wasn't there. Al and David had remained aboard the Reliquary so that they could tell us their progress. We got a transmission from them, too, as soon as we got home.

((The transport will arrive at the Blade ship within two hours. David and I are on our way to retrieve you. Be prepared to depart as soon as we land. The timing will be very difficult to execute correctly.))

((Translation,)) David added, ((This isn't going to be a picnic. We're on a tight schedule and if we screw this up, Tobias and Marco will get sliced and diced.))

I really didn't need to be reminded of that. Jeanne and I waited in tense silence for almost an hour before they landed in my front yard. The ship was cloaked, but I could hear it. I knew what to listen for.

Jeanne and I dashed aboard almost before they landed. I shoved Al out of my way and grabbed the controls. I was pretty good at flying the ship, after all. And I was in a hurry. And to be honest, I was scared.

This wasn't going to be a good mission. I could feel it in my bones. Something was going to go horribly wrong. I just hoped that nothing would happen to Tobias. I didn't want our child to grow up without a father. Tobias's father had been lost to the Yeerks and I knew how much that hurt him. I didn't want this kid to have to deal with the same pain.

Anyhow, I was scared. And when I'm scared, I have to act. I have to do something. So, although Al was probably a better pilot than me, I needed to fly the ship. If I just sat there, I'd explode.

When the Blade ship appeared on our sensors, I activated the Reliquary's cloaking system. We would be completely invisible to any sensors. Only a visual scan could see us, and the ship was camouflaged for space.

"Okay. How do we get in?" I asked. My plan would normally be to shoot my way in, but this was a stealth mission. I didn't do stealth well. That was Marco's job.

David thought about it. He was a good substitute for Marco when we were in need. ((Well…Al, would it be possible for us to survive outside of the ship?))

((That would depend on a great many factors. I suppose the gravity generated from our two ships would be more or less sufficient to hold us in place with a little care on our parts. Likewise, the heat generated by our craft might keep us from freezing instantly.))

((What about air?))

((How long are you capable of holding your breath?))

((Was that a joke?))

((Do what now?))

I interrupted them. "Okay, so if we park the Reliquary above the Blade ship and stay between them, we should be fine. How does that help us?"

((Well, I'm thinking we could use a Dracon beam to make our own opening. Sound like it would work, Al?))

I think that, when Tobias is away, I'm in charge, but David had a good reason for asking Al. He was the tech guy here. A genius, really, even by Andalite standards. He was as good as the Chee.

((Yes, that might work. However, I do not think we have any Dracon beams or Shredders aboard the ship.))

I sighed. Then, I went to the nightstand between my bed and Tobias's. I unlocked the drawer and pulled out a pair of Shredders. "Here you go."

((I was not aware that we had those.))

"Yeah, well, Tobias didn't think it was a good idea to have guns in the same house with a kid, so we tried to be careful."

If Marco had been there, he'd have made some kind of crack about our being 'careful' and my present situation. I'm glad Marco wasn't there.

I moved the Reliquary so that it was just above the Blade ship. Jeanne and Al dropped through the hatch in the floor and began cutting a hole into the Blade ship.

Then, David said the last thing I expected him to say. ((So, how's the baby coming?))

"What!? What are you talking about?" He just stared at me with his beady little rat eyes. "Okay. How did you know?"

((What do you think Jordan and I were talking about? I mean, it was pretty obvious. Between the morning sickness, the weird food combos… I'm pretty sure everyone knows.))

"No. Only a few of us know. Marco, Jeanne, you and the Chee. And Jordan, apparently."

((That pretty much sounds like everyone you know. Except for Al and Tobias. That's kind of weird.))

"What is?"

((The two Animorphs closest to you ate the last ones to know. Why haven't you told Tobias?))

"Because…he'd have stopped me from coming on this mission and I couldn't let that happen."

((That could be it.))

"Could be?"

((Well, it could just be the usual fear.))

"What usual fear?"

((Maybe you're just afraid that if he learns the truth, he'll be done with you. It happens all the time.)) I almost hit him. Then I guess David realized what he had said. ((Sorry, I didn't mean it like that. I'm trying to stop assuming the worst of people. Old habits die hard.))

Chapter 9

Jeanne and Al melted a nice, circular hole in the roof of the Blade ship. Jeanne dropped through and was attacked almost instantly. There was a Kelbrid guarding here. I could see the fight, but I couldn't get into it yet.

Kelbrid are incredibly fast, strong warriors. They've got one giant arm with a huge stinger on the end. The other arm ends in a weird many fingered hand. They've got a cat's legs and a gorilla's chest. Big, alligator-like heads with no eyes. Instead, they've got whiskers like a bug's antennae.

They feel very little pain, so hurting them isn't enough. You've got to kill them. Jeanne had fired the Shredder on full power and it took out the Kelbrid's biggest arm. That only slowed it down.

The Kelbrid smashed the side of her head with its good hand. Jeanne stumbled back, stunned. Then Al leapt into the fight. His tail darted and danced, but he couldn't score any deadly hits against the Kelbrid.

The Kelbrid grabbed Al's tail in his mouth and shook his head, sending Al flying. "Jeanne, morph!" I called. I was trying desperately to think of a morph that would help me. My grizzly bear wouldn't fit through the hole and there was no way I was going in there without a morph. It wasn't that I was afraid, it was because I couldn't risk my child. If I got injured as a bear, I could demorph and we'd be fine. If I was injured as a human, my baby might be hurt, too. I couldn't risk that.

David leapt through the hole, morphing as he fell. Already, he was growing into a lion. A fierce beast, and deadly. Not quite a match for a grizzly bear, but it could go one on one with a Kelbrid.

Not that the Kelbrid would give him a chance. They are a stupid race, but they know how to fight. And with the Yeerk controlling his every move, this Kelbrid was smarter than his uninfested brethren.

He picked up the half-morphed David and started squeezing him. It would be a race against time. Would David suffocate before he became too large for the Kelbrid to choke? I didn't know what to do. I had to help in some way. Maybe there was something on the ship…

Al surged to his feet and sung his tail. He sliced off the Kelbrid's remaining hand and released David. The Kelbrid leapt at Al, trying to bite him.

David finished his morph and jumped on the Kelbrid from behind. The lion and the Andalite made short work of him after that. It wasn't a pretty sight, and I've seen some disturbing thins.

They morphed after that. It was the best way to get the Kelbrid's blood off of them. Their blood is acidic enough to melt steel, so they had to get rid of the injuries form it.

Jeanne had recovered by this point. "I forgot how tough those things are," she muttered, retrieving the Shredders.

"I think that was one of Guraff's special Kelbrid," I reasoned. "And I think he was uninfested. A Yeerk would have called for help or even retreated once he lost his arms. This one kept fighting, so I think he was genuine."

((Let's just keep going,)) David said. ((That cost us time we don't have. We've got to find the pool and get you girls into it as soon as possible.))

"Does he ever remind you of Marco?" Jeanne asked me.

I nodded. "That pool comment's what did it. He's right, though. We're cutting it kind of close. How do we get to the pool? Any ideas?"

Al nodded. ((I have the schematics of the Blade ship on the Reliquary's computer. David and I were investigating it on our way back from the Kelbrid transport ship. I suggested cutting a hole in this part of the ship for a reason. There is a water conduit not far away from here that will take you to the ship's Yeerk pool.))

"How do we get through it?" I asked. "Fish morph? But I'm the only one with that."

David nodded. It's weird to see a rat do that. ((Not fish. Yeerk morph.))

"Oh. That. Yeah, I guess we'll have to do that sooner or later." I composed myself. "Alright. I'm really not looking forward to this, though." Then, I began the morph.

My eyes went first. I was bind. Totally blind. I don't think I've ever morphed something without any sight at all. This was a new experience. Thankfully, I couldn't see the rest of my morph, or Jeanne's.

Of course, I could still feel it. I felt my arms and legs shrivel into nothingness. I felt slime coat my entire body and I wanted to vomit.

I felt the emptiness inside of me as almost all of my organs dissolved into nothingness along with my bones. And my baby, I reminded myself. I did not want to spend much more time in this morph. It wasn't a good idea at all. If I could have backed out of it, I would have.

But backing out wasn't a choice now. They needed me. Marco and Tobias needed me. Ax needed my help. After we rescued Ax, then I could stop this.

It would be kind of like what Cassie pulled with David. She needed to leave, so she found a replacement. That was kind of what I was doing with Ax. He'd take my place.

Right after this mission.

Chapter 10

I felt someone pick me up. Probably Al. I could sense Jeanne near me, but I'm not sure how I knew she was there. I certainly couldn't see her. I couldn't really hear her, either. Maybe it was bad Yeerk hearing or maybe she just wasn't making any sound. Either way, I still knew she was nearby. Probably in Al's other hand.

I felt a wave of heat. I guess Al or David had cut us a hole into the conduit using one of the Shredders. Then, I felt water all around me. They plunged us into the conduit. ((Good luck,)) Al called distantly.

I had done something like this before, as an eel, trying to sneak into the Yeerk pool. It didn't work out. I hoped this would go differently.

Water rushed around me. I couldn't see anything, but I could feel the water and the suction. I bumped into something next to me. Jeanne.

((Hey, sis!)) I giggled, giddy from the rush.

((Yeeehaaa!)) she shouted back.

Vaguely, I thought Yeehaa? That's a pretty American expression if you ask me. I ignored it and just enjoyed the ride. Well, as much as anyone can enjoy a ride that will end at a Yeerk pool.

We knew when the ride ended, too. All of the water pressure that had been giving us such a huge rush suddenly stopped. We were floating freely, carried by our momentum. I slammed into something squishy.

A Yeerk. I shuddered and tried to vomit up the Kandrona rays I was absorbing. Good thing Yeerks don't have mouths.

((How long until they get here?)) I asked Jeanne.

((I do not know. I think the bigger question is, though, how do we know which Kelbrid are them?))

((I think only one of them will be a Kelbrid,)) I reminded her. ((I mean, they both acquired the leader, and since the other Kelbrid would figure out that something was up, only one of them could be the morph, right?))

((Oh. That makes sense.))

Jeanne and I floated around for a bit, trying not to touch any of the other Yeerks. It was probably the most disgusting experience of my life.

Then, I heard a familiar thought-speak voice. ((I'm innocent! Innocent I tells ya!))

((Marco, shut up. You've been doing that since they marched us into this place. Girls, are you in the pool?)) Tobias asked us.

((Just waiting for your signal,)) I said.

((Rachel's waiting for the signal before she goes nuts? Tobias, I think you're a good influence on her.))

Tobias ignored him. ((Marco and I are both in Kelbrid morph. Marco's the leader right now, and I'm morphed as some kind of guard, I think, so—))

((So call me Prince Marco.))

((So Rachel, you'll be the one fighting the Visser. Marco will give you some…let's call his panicked yelling suggestions, but you're in charge.))

((Hey, that's not fair. It's my body!))

((Technically, it isn't your body, either. Besides, this is a fight we're talking about. Who do you think would be a better choice?))

((Fine, fine. It'll be nice to get a break from these Kelbrid instincts for a minute.))

((What's it like?)) Jeanne asked.

((You know how the Howlers are just children playing a game?)) Tobias asked.

((That is what I have heard.))

((It's the exact opposite of that. I've felt predator instincts before, but this is more than that. It's kind of like being a Taxxon. You know how a Taxxon wants to eat just about everything? Well, the Kelbrid wants to fight everything,)) Marco told us.

((It just wants to kill,)) Tobias agreed. ((This creature isn't a predator. It's…it's a murderer.))

I don't think I've ever heard Tobias use that word before. Murder. That implies a crime. He's never been on to blame a creature for being what it was. If he said the Kelbrid was bad, it must have been.

I could sense the Kelbrid above me. One stuck its head into the pool. ((Is that one of you?)) I asked.

((Nope. I'll tell you when it's me, Xena,)) Marco said. ((Just hang around near the pier. It won't be long.))

Three Kelbrid went by. Then, Tobias called, ((Okay, Jeanne. That's my head. In you go. And try to let me keep charge, okay?))

((Alright,)) Jeanne said. I sensed her entering Tobias's head and for a moment, I was weirdly jealous. She'd probably stumble across stuff that Tobias hadn't told anyone, not even me. Oh well. At least I'd get some new blackmail for Marco.

Speaking of Marco, he was next. I bumped a Yeerk out of the way and slithered into his ear. ((Oh man,)) he groaned. ((This is really wrong. That is you, right Xena?))

((Oh, is that you in the water, Marco? Sorry, I wasn't paying attention.))

((WHAT!?!?!))

((Just kidding. Yeah, that's me. Okay, steps one and two are complete. We've infiltrated the Kelbrid ranks and gotten past the pool. Time for step three: kidnap the Visser.))

((This is insane,)) Marco muttered, using his trademark line. Seriously, he had that line copyrighted after the war.

I used my own trademark. ((Let's do it.))