Tom figured out what Jake and Cassie had been up to before any of their parents did. Jake went down to Tom's basement cave to report on the mission plans. "Usually a team meeting leaves you worried about the mission," Tom said as he saw his younger brother. "You seem to be in a good mood."
"Yeah, I am," Jake replied, reflexively cracking a smile.
"Lemme guess, Cassie put out?" Tom said with a wink and a wicked grin.
"I wouldn't phrase it like that," Jake said defensively. He realized that by only questioning the choice of words, he had made a de facto admission.
"Better tell Mom and Dad, so you don't get busted for lying and can control the fallout," Tom advised.
"After this mission," Jake said, mostly agreeing.
The Animorphs flew to an out-of-the-way part of the mountains that the Yeerks often used for moving distinctly alien beings and things. Tobias stayed behind, because he couldn't be of much help. As the Animorphs had hoped, it was full of Controllers preparing for a trip into orbit to attend the meeting on the Blade ship. As they also hoped, their Hork-Bajir morphs were able to blend in. Ax had generated realistic Yeerkish names for them to use if questioned.
The Yeerk bigshot controlled the body of a creature that looked sort of like an Andalite but wasn't. Its tail wasn't bladed, and from what Jake could tell of Andalite culture, that made all the difference in the galaxy. The rapid pace of its thoughtspeak would take some getting used to, the Animorphs thought as the creature announced its presence.
((Welcome to Earth orbit, Inspector,)) Visser Three broadcasted.
((The Andalite bandits must still be at large, for if they had been killed or captured, I am certain you would have let the whole Yeerk Empire know,)) the inspector countered.
((Did that thing just use sarcasm?)) Marco whispered in amazement.
((I'm more concerned about what Yeerks mean by 'captured', and the fact that they're talking about us,)) Jake told him, ever the responsible one.
((They are not causing us any serious damage,)) the Visser said defensively. As the Animorphs had feared.
((Yet they are clearly slowing you down,)) the inspector pointed out. This was the Animorphs' hope. ((The Council expected you to finish the job before the Andalites showed up again!)) The Animorphs dreamed of buying enough time for that. ((Visser One discovered this planet, created The Sharing, handed Earth to you with a shining Kandrona sun. Even so, you have not yet succeeded!))
((Can't discover Earth. People already here.)) Cassie muttered sarcastically. ((Filshiging dapsens want to outdo humans on killing and enslaving.)) The Yeerkish for motherfucking assholes seemed appropriately inappropriate. For once, Marco agreed with her, reminded that Cassie's kindness did not make her weak.
((It is believed that Visser One has a human host, but this was previously unknown,)) Ax reported. ((Prince Jake's brother might be able to make more of this information.))
((I need more resources,)) this Visser protested.
((The Council must be confident that you could make good use of them. The Empire must be able to carry out the maneuvers without Andalite interference. And we both must contend with the vagaries of Z-space,)) the inspector objected.
Visser Three proffered a lead to his boss' representative. ((The Andalite bandits might be interested in the place where I defeated beast Elfangor)). I. Of course.
((Murdered him!)) Ax said in public thoughtspeak. He'd lost his calm as his brother's killer gloated about the act. The human Animorphs were also disturbed by the reminder of a horrible night that had begat many others. Ax charged the Visser, instinctively swinging a tail blade, but Hork-Bajir tails were no match for Andalite ones. Ax's oozed dark red. However, he had thought to lower his head and gore the Visser's side.
((You can't even keep the Andalite bandits off your ship!)) the inspector quite validly complained. It seemed everybody had Dracon beams drawn. The Animorphs had picked some up while blending in as Hork-Bajir Controllers. They had often escaped a battle by creating a hostage situation, and needed that to work again. To shoot first would mean their deaths, taking out some important Yeerks but not stopping the invasion.
Visser Three began to morph. The Animorphs didn't want to find out what alien monster he was going to fit into this confined space. However, he was simply assuming one of his human forms to morph away the injury, deny that bargaining chip.
This moment of confusion allowed Ax to make a break for it, the Visser's red-banded personal Hork-Bajir in hot pursuit. They were shooting to stun. Even with intent of torture, being wanted alive often gave the Animorphs an opportunity. Ax's comrades were 'accidentally' firing at the guards on full power, and rushed to join his escape. ((The inspector moves as fast as he talks! Don't try targeting him!)) Jake ordered. Rachel slammed wrist blades into the head of someone about to catch Ax.
The group stormed their way into an escape pod. ((We don't have time to try to show this to one of your human princes,)) Ax pointed out.
((Yes, Aristh Aximili,)) Jake agreed.
((Yeah, making it to Buckingham Palace is as unlikely as the White House,)) Marco said to Jake privately. Ax managed to ditch the thing in the mountains somewhere near where they'd started, and they fled the immediate vicinity.
"Just another normal day in the life of five idiot teenagers with a death wish," Marco said right after demorphing. "Listen, Ax-man, I understand why you got especially pissed at the abomination this time."
Tobias found them. Once he perched, the debriefing began. His comrades found it easier to converse in human form, and needed a physical rest from all the morphing and fighting.
"So they're checking the abandoned construction site. We figured they vaporized it all, they probably did too," Jake reported.
"And nobody gave it a second thought until now?" Cassie wondered.
"Apparently," Marco said. "It would bring back bad memories for us - we already have more than enough of those. Returning to the site would have raised suspicions," he observed.
Then a light went on in Jake's head. "Hey, we might find the blue box!"
((Is that what you call the Escafil device?)) Ax translated.
"Yeah, and Jake has already found a black box," Marco said.
((Does that refer to a female-bodied sexual organ?)) Ax said, having a different kind of trouble with human language.
"That's what Marco meant, but that part is pink, which he would know if he'd ever seen one in real life," Rachel shot back.
Yeah, Playboy didn't show much detail, Jake thought. He had taken Marco some of Tom's old stuff, including a stack of those.
Marco glowered but refrained from commenting on what color Rachel's was at this time. The Animorphs didn't need that tension, or trying to explain low quality human humor to Ax.
"But why do humans call dark brown skin black?" Ax inquired, moving on.
"How people react to differences in skin color is one of the weirdest fucking things about this goddamn species," Cassie ranted.
"Hey, now let's get the blue box. For Tom," Jake declared. Making Tom the sixth human Animorph was obviously the first thing they'd do with the Escafil device if they had it. He would be a sorely needed weapon in the Yeerk war, one with as much passion for the fight as they had. Moreover, by moving in morph, his body could be free again now that his mind was reliberated.
If the device had survived the annihilation. If the Yeerks didn't get to it first. If that happened...another 'game over' situation the Animorphs didn't want to think of.
Flying back towards the city, Jake whispered to Cassie. ((Tom figured out I was going on dates with you after missions and meetings. His lips are sealed, but he figured I should tell the parents before they hear it from someone else.))
((That is sweet that you admit they're dates,)) Cassie said first. ((And he has a point. I should probably tell mine.))
((But no need for details,)) he added, to which she readily agreed.
They abandoned construction site was empty. Certainly the Yeerks could move at least as quickly. Maybe they didn't want to risk operating in daylight, even for this. The Animorphs started searching in other human morphs. "I have found it!" Ax had honed in on a slightly disturbed pile of bricks. The cube shape didn't quite blend in. Jake stuffed it in a backpack with their non-morph clothes and captured Dracon beams. Ax joined Tobias in the air. The rest walked out of the site, pretending to do so calmly. They'd had more horrors piled upon them, but also were given another opportunity.
"I'm fourteen and I'm glad I survived." Jake found it tragic that he had to say such things and his parents understood why. They knew they had to leave him to his work, as much as it pained them. "I found some stuff for Tom, though," he added, going to the basement alone.
"Hey, midget," Tom greeted.
"We found the morph device before the Yeerks!" Jake said as he dug out the box with his hand underneath it. Tom reached for the top side. "That's what it takes, touching it at the same time as someone who already has the power."
"Wow! So I'm a morpher now," Tom said, amazed.
"Welcome to the club, here's a membership card," Jake said as he handed Tom one of the Dracon beams. A macabre celebration.
Knowing how much they meant to each other right now, they broke into an embrace that only Homer saw. "That furbucket did make me feel a little better about being stuck down here," Tom said as the dog came down the stairs.
"They are such happy animals. There can often be a certain joy in morphing," Jake said proudly. Homer would be Tom's first use of the power as well.
"Upstairs, boy," Jake called, and the dog followed his example.
"I have some other news too," Jake told his parents. "Cassie and I have been dating."
That didn't shock them much after what he'd had to tell them these past few months. "I feel better about that than fighting aliens together," Mom admitted. "This kind of growing up I can deal with."
"Good for you…two," Dad offered.
"Yeah, I didn't mind missing that great Raiders-Chargers game," Jake said happily.
"At least someone thinks women are more important than football," Mom said playfully. Such things might've been a serious argument with Dan and Naomi. "As long as you're a gentle man with her, I suppose."
Jake spoke in code when he called Cassie. "Did real well with the homework, you have any luck?"
"Yeah, but my parents want to meet yours," she replied. Mostly good news.
"Your birthday's coming up; we could all talk about it then," Jake said. "We could spend a whole evening being sweet to each other."
Her parents would come over to his house. Pasta was easy to make vegetarian; they just didn't put meat in the sauce. "Home court advantage," Tom observed. "Better not tell them about the Yeerks yet. 'I'm getting serious with your daughter...while we fight an alien invasion together.' … Yeah, that goes too far, one thing at a time."
"Thank you for your wonderful daughter," Jake said as he offered a handshake. He pulled Cassie close with his other arm to give her a peck on the cheek. They ended up holding hands most of the evening. Your arms, where she should feel safest, Jake had recalled reading. It made sense, since they cared so much about protecting each other.
"Watch out for the furry ballistic missile," Jake joked as Homer came running.
"Don't worry, I work with big cats, not the little ones," Michelle told the excitable dog.
"Oh, he doesn't care about cats as much as UPS truck drivers," Jake explained. "He likes everybody, but can tell when someone's an animal person."
"I heard about Tom... That's the worst thing in the world," said one parent to another
"Sure is," Steve said tearfully. "Seen it happen, didn't think it would happen to us."
"Lot of things are like that," Walter pointed out. "Maybe Cassie is helping Jake deal with it," he guessed. He was right in a way; it was something else that they faced together.
"There are worse coping mechanisms..." Steve figured.
"Can I call you Steve?" Walter asked.
"Yeah."
"Steve, got any beer 'round here?"
"It's in the regular fridge over there," he answered, pointing towards the kitchen.
Walter picked out a bottle. "Glad to see you got the good stuff. I want to heal weasels, not drink their piss," he commented approvingly. Both of the men found this highly amusing.
The dinner itself went over well with all concerned. "Nice bread," Walter said, as he ran a piece through the sauce remaining on his plate. "But you gotta try my chili sometime."
"Me and Jake yes, Jean probably not," Steve figured.
"Too much flavor for her?" Walter joked.
"He puts hot sauce on his oatmeal. Instant maple, ginger and Sriracha," Mrs. Berenson said with exasperation, the only one to not sprinkle red pepper flakes on the current meal.
"Probably would taste even better with ghost pepper," Walter suggested.
"Don't encourage him," Jean responded.
Walter and Michelle seemed to grudgingly admit their little girl was growing up, though they didn't know the half of it. "If she gonna be running around with a boy may as well be that one," Walter announced. "He's got his head on straight." The Yeerks are doing their damnedest to change that, Jake thought wryly.
"I do intend to make her feel like a princess," Jake explained. Cassie smiled, 'Yes, Prince Jake' on her lips and wanting to press those lips closer to him.
"I hear he like cooking for her, caint complain 'bout that!" Michelle added. Tom or Marco might have said something about Jake eating Cassie. Dirty jokes aside, the Berensons weren't ready to explain what had really happened to Tom. Even without either of those things, Jake and Cassie wanted to keep the crowd small, and would spend time with the other Animorphs later. Being so absorbed in the Wildlife Rehabilitation Clinic and then the Animorphs, and being who she was, Cassie didn't really know many other people.
"Yeah, that's a good sign. He even missed a football game for her," Jean agreed, it being the women's turn to share laughs. The two sets of parents seemed to be getting along as well as their children were.