Author's Notes: My DEEPEST apologies for not updating my most popular fic for more than seven months (!!). I could blame a combination of lack of Internet, a chronic health problem, lack of inspiration, and my new forays into the Harry Potter fandom, but ultimately there is no excuse. I will do my best to see that it doesn't happen again. I don't think this chapter is worth waiting seven months, but I hope you like it anyway.

POV: Visser Three

At long last, victory is within my grasp. In one human week, the final, all-out offensive will begin. Finally the Council of Thirteen will see the truth: my way of direct violence is superior to Visser One's way of subtle infiltration.

However...though I hate to concede it even to myself, subtley has its uses. Already the head of state of Russia has been subverted, as well as five United States senators, 15 congressmen, three Cabinet secretaries, and 21 governors. The last are most important, since they control the National Guard for each state, and thus are what humans call "first responders." By the time they realize that many authority figures are "traitors", it will be too late.

I leave my "office" and walk into the main part of the Kandrona Dome. Everything seems normal: the involuntary Controllers sit slumped in their cages; the voluntary ones chatter among themselves; the Horik-Bajir wrestle hosts to and from the Pool. Everything is going according to plan.

Looking back on it later, I realized that while humans may be inferior, their many sayings can be quite salient...especially the one about "Murphy's Law."

A loud crackling sound draws my attention. I turn my stalk eyes to see a rainbow of colors turn into six human figures (they have to be human; only that species balances soley on two legs) in tight-fitting uniforms and helmets. Before anyone can react, bolts of energy start flying.

I quickly duck behind a corner, watching everything with eyes pointed in three different directions. Horik-Bajir are falling everywhere, caught by surprise and...outgunned?? I am not familiar with these weapons; they are neither shredders nor Dracon beams. But they are impressive. One of the (few) missed shots blows a foot-deep hole in the ferrocrete wall of the dome.

Now two figures (by the way they move, they are females) are sprinting for the cages, while the other four lay down covering fire. I command my surviving Controllers to stop them, but their numbers are severely diminished. Two manage a clear shot, striking the red figure. Sparks fly, but to my shock the enemy merely staggers slightly. The sight breaks the morale of my Yeerks, and they retreat and head for cover despite my yelled threats.

The pink figure grabs the cage door by the bars and rips it off its' hinges with no discernible effort. The yellow figure begans pulling the stunned involuntary Controllers to their feet.

I must stop them, but how? I mentally run through my battle morphs. None of them are suited for combat with six heavily armed enemies in an enclosed area. Discretion is the better part of valor. (I'm using human sayings again. I have to watch that.)

I morph the Earth insect known as the fly. As I do so, I send telepathic messages to the Controllers on the surface above the entrance masquerading as fast-food employees, telling them that we are about to be exposed and to alert the rest of my troops.

I am fully transformed now, and my compound eyes show multiple images of the former prisoners scrambling for the exit. The voluntaries, I note with disgust, are backed up against a wall by the green figure, who holds his pistol menancingly.

I shift my attention back to the other five humans, who have holstered their weapons...only to draw melee weapons. I have only a moment to wonder what is going on. Then they cry out and begin slamming their weapons together. I have a very bad feeling about this. I think it is time to leave.

As I fly towards the exit, the red figure fires the compound weapon at ceiling, shattering everything in its' path. The multiple rays move downward, destroying the critical support beams. An ominous rumbling sounds as cracks appear on the walls.

Buzzing my wings to the utmost, the last thing I see is the entire Dome caving in, as the six figures disappear the same mysterious way they entered.

Even the Andalites can't do that.

Andalites...six Andalites...six humans with amazing power...

Perhaps humans are a bigger threat than I thought.

But this victory will be brief. Already a entire squadron of Bug fighters are inbound, ordered to kill the escapees and anyone else in the vicinity. On the surface, I will have more room for my battle morphs. It appears Exposure will happen sooner than planned.

I will be victorious...but I can't shake the nagging feeling that my plan isn't as perfect as I thought.

Next time:

It's the Animorph Rangers' to be outgunned as the Bug fighters and a transformed Visser 3 close in. But they're not out of tricks yet...