Chapter Six: Marco
I didn't trust the Yeerks. I don't think any of us did. But it was obvious that these Kelbrids weren't going to leave us alone. And from the news Cassie had just given us, I really didn't feel like dying again. I stepped forward, addressing Jake in private thought-speak so that the Yeerk wouldn't hear me.
(Jake, you know I really don't like this thought anymore than you do,) I said. (But I think we should take the Yeerk up on his offer.)
Jake nodded slightly, thoughtfully. (Yeah, I know. I don't think these Kelbrids are going to stop tracking us, either.) I watched as he twisted one stalk-eye towards the others. (Okay, guys, I'm going to agree with the Yeerk's offer. Everyone be on high-alert once we enter the ship.)
No one objected because no one saw any other way out of this mess. The only issue with going into a Yeerk craft now was the fact that we didn't have our morphs. The first thing I had tried when I became conscious in the back room was demorphing to human, until it became painfully obvious that I wasn't going to demorph. That was a horrible moment. For a split second, I was horrified, scared, angry. I didn't know what was going on, but all I knew was that I was stuck in an Andalite body. And then, Cassie told us about how we had died. And I knew that I wasn't ever going to be human again.
I guess, the hardest thing about it all at this moment in time, was the fact that I didn't remember dying. I remember Jake giving the order to ram the blade ship. I remembered powering the engines. I remembered actually colliding with the ship. But, dying? No, I didn't remember that. And now I was alive, in a body I wasn't used to. And I was about to put myself at the hands of one of the creatures that had caused my death.
Of course, this all made it very complicated. Once we were on the ship, we couldn't hide or escape by means of insect morphs, which had been our usual way of escaping. Now, I could only assume that we were morph capable, and our only hope of getting out would be to acquire the DNA of some personnel onboard. And now I was scared in a way I had never been before. I always had a fear of dying, but always came to terms with that to get the mission done. But, now I was going to be on the ship with the creatures that had helped to cause my death. And if they could kill me once, they could certainly kill me again.
(We accept your offer,) Jake said. I guess, now he was going to full-blown play the roll of an Andalite officer, which I guess was fine. I doubted that the Yeerks would expect to find the Animorphs out here in Kelbrid space, especially after we had died here. So, we didn't give them any information, except for the fact that somehow, Andalites had become lost in space, ending up in the very part of space that they weren't supposed to be in. And from the looks and sound of it, we were way far in.
I guess we just had to hope that years in space would make the Yeerks clueless and wouldn't put two and two together. We had to hope that they didn't guess we weren't really Andalites.
"A wise decision," the man commended. "We shall now dock on your ship, and you shall be allowed to board with no fear of dying."
(He better keep his word,) Rachel warned, (or I'm gonna see what this blade really does.) She raised it a bit, poised for action, and then let it drop. (I can't believe that our survival is really going to rest on the word of a few slugs taking refuge in Kelbrid space.)
I watched through the computer consol as the Yeerk ship, similar design as all the rest, came rapidly closer to ours. (Well, if they're still out here in Kelbrid space, safe from the Andalites, they might still have hopes about restarting the war and their conquest.)
(We might be able to use it as an advantage,) Tobias suggested. (I mean, we might be able to trick them or something?)
(So long as we keep up our guise, maybe,) Jake warned, as I felt a slight rumble go through the ship, which was the Yeerks docking with us. (So, remember, we're Andalites. Play the part.)
A door on the far end of the area we were all standing in, and the human controller whom we had talked to through our ships computers stood before us in person. I guess he was average in height, average looking. But, behind him were two Hork Bajir controllers and that made me a little worried. That was, it made me a little worried until I realized that we had six Andalites, and they had two Hork Bajir. Of, course, that wasn't to say that he didn't have more Hork Bajir on board the ship.
He smiled, gesturing towards the doorway that now connected our two ships. "After you, my dear Andalites. Unless, of course, you want to change your mind. The Kelbrid ships will be here in just moments, if you want to stay instead."
(We still accept your offer, Yeerk,) Jake snapped, stepping forward to lead the way for the rest of us.
The man held up his hands. "I just thought I'd ask."
Jake started through the doorway, and I followed him, the others behind me. The man watched as we passed by him and the two Hork Bajir managed to stand off to the side, making sure we weren't going to do anything dangerous. This was a joke really because obviously the Yeerks in their heads knew that we could easily take them out. That was, until I passed by, and on the side of the Hork Bajir that had been facing away from me, I saw a dracon beam attached to his waist. Okay, that made me a bit more nervous. I swiveled my one stalk eye to see if the others noticed as they walked by. They all did. Now the situation was a bit more desperate. We were walking onto an enemy craft, with no advantages, and the enemy was completely armed.
(Jake…I don't like this guy,) I warned. (He's way too smug.)
(Yeah, I noticed,) Jake responded, stepping into the helm part of the Yeerk ship. It looked almost like a mini blade ship. Obviously the Yeerks still liked to ride in style. Maybe the ship could hold twenty people, if not less if there were more Hork Bajir on board. (He's thrilled to have Andalites at his mercy.)
(A bit too thrilled,) I amended. (I mean, I was less excited at Christmas when I was five than this guy is now.)
(Cassie, what do think?) Jake asked, once again stepping into his roll of trusting members of the group for their natural strengths.
(I don't know,) she said, looking around. (I think this guy, if the Yeerks are trying to create a new empire, will try to use us as hosts to gain leverage over any other opposing Yeerks. It's kind of like this guy is trying to be in charge.)
(Hey, Jake?) I interjected. (I vote we don't get infested.)
(Agreed,) He responded. There was a murmur from everyone else in my head. It was going to be difficult to get used to everyone thought-speaking for their normal voice. I was so used to how things used to be. I was still waiting for Jake to give the signal to attack, we demorph, and go home. Mission accomplished. World saved…again.
A few minutes later, the man followed us into the room. The Hork Bajir were on high alert, even though they knew they didn't stand a chance. The man spoke, "The matter at hand has been cleared. I have explained to the Kelbrids that you are our prisoners and that you will be dealt with accordingly. We are now on a course for a sector of space that will be more welcoming to the mighty Andalites."
No one spoke because we had nothing to say. Well, at least I didn't have anything to say. I had a whole bunch I wanted to ask. I kept my mouth shut for a change. This was a tense situation and my being smart with the enemy wasn't going to help.
"What? Have nothing to say?" He taunted. "As a species, you were never a talkative bunch. But, then again, I suppose your doing that private thought-speak in your head, plotting to over take the ship." He laughed. "Don't bother, I've armed this ship. All around on the walls are dracon weapons, which will fire the moment I command it. Why are you all so tense? I will uphold my end of the deal. I will return you to a safe sector of space, alive and well."
(Prince Jake,) Ax said privately. (I do believe we can easily defeat these Hork-Bajir.)
(Yeah,) Jake replied. (I was thinking the same thing. But we'd need to take out this guy before he orders the ship to fire any dracon weapons.)
(I think me and Ax should do it,) Tobias said. (We have the most experience out of anyone for dealing with these bodies. We take out this guy and the Hork Bajir, and one of you take out the last one.)
(That's good,) I agreed. (But once we do that, we need a plan. These aren't the only guys on the ship. We need a place to go.)
(I believe I can manage to close off the front part of the ship with the helm. We can disable life support in the remaining parts of the ship and render any Yeerk host unconscious. And then, we tie them up. When they revive, we can starve the Yeerk out. We will have allies.)
(Good idea,) Jake said. (Okay…wait for it.)
This guy, in the mean time, was still talking about whatever it was that he had been talking about. "Yes, we Yeerks are alive and well. And when we have the chance, we will try again to build an Empire. But, we will take you Andalites first." He smirked at us. "No, we won't leave you for last. You are our one competition. We will take you first."
He looked at us. That guy was calm. He knew we were going to kill him.
(Jake, I think we're setting ourselves up for something,) I warned. (I feel like this guy knows more than we do. We need more information.)
(We don't have a choice,) Jake said. (We aren't going to get answers from him. Our answers are with the Andalites. They can maybe help us get back to human form. We need this ship.)
(Shoot and then ask questions,) Rachel agreed. (Let's do it.)
(Now!) Jake commanded.
In a blink of an eye, both of the Hork Bajir guards were out. And the guy was unconscious on the floor. There was barely any sound. I didn't participate. Ax took out the guy. Tobias got the one Hork Bajir. Shockingly, I know, Rachel took down the other Hork Bajir.
(That was the easy part,) Jake acknowledged. He lifted up his hand and motioned we go into the helm part of the ship. (Let's go.)
We shuffled into the helm. It was a tight fit, but it would only be a temporary fix until we would move out and deal with the remaining Yeerks. Ax successfully shut the helm from the controls. He began to work at the controls.
(I wish we could morph something smaller,) Cassie said. (I'm beginning to really hate these Andalite bodies.)
(Yes,) Ax said, fingers moving at different buttons. (Now you see why we are a species who enjoy open skies and no walls.)
(I will never complain about the breeze in your scoop every again, Ax-man,) I laughed, trying to get as comfortable as possible.
After a few moments, Ax gave us an update. (Prince Jake, I have successfully managed to turn off life support. In a few minutes, I will turn them back on. We can then proceed with our plan.)
(Good work,) Jake commented, and then laughed. (I guess we still have it guys.)
(I wish to express some concern,) Ax said.
(What?)
(It appears that the Kelbrid are hailing us, and attempting visual communication with our ship.)
(Well, turn it off!) Rachel raged. (Do something. If they see us, they will kill us as fast as possible.)
(Well, yes,) Ax replied coldly, obviously offended. (I have tried that. But, it appears as if the visual communication is only one way, and there are access codes which are uncommonly difficult for me to handle. It was quite advanced.)
There was a silence.
(Ax, are you saying that the Kelbrids can see us?) Jake asked.
(That is precisely what I am saying.)
(Oh, man…) Tobias groaned in our heads. (That is so not good.)
(No,) Ax commented. He pulled up a transparent window for us to look out. The sight stunned me.
Outside were thousands of Kelbrid ships, and they were assembled, flying in the same direction we were heading. I knew. I knew what they were doing. I knew where all of those fighters we going.
(The Kelbrids believe that our arrival was an Andalite invasion. They have seen it as an act of war,) Ax said, calmly, off-handedly. (I believe that we have started yet another inter-galactic war.)
(Andalites verses the Kelbrids…) Tobias murmured.
(Yeah,) I agreed. (But the question is, who's gonna win?)