Side Note: I would just like to say, I'm glad Caitlin seems to be a hit. I know a lot of people don't like OCs, including me actually (unless I write them, lol). I never expected this story to become such a big hit, so thank you all for you're support, and I'm sure Caitlin would thank you too.

Disclaimer: I do not own the Animorphs, or any characters except for Caitlin.

Chapter 11: Marco

The first Hork-Bajir out of the box-elevator stepped out slashing at me. Gorillas aren't the most graceful creatures in the world, but I managed to dodge the blow, bringing one of my own up to connected with the alien's gut. Believe me, you never want to be sucker punched by a gorilla, the Hork-Bajir went flying. He hit the wall, but he wasn't out just yet.

As two of the three creatures still in the elevator charged at me, the one I had sent flying climbed to his feet, only to have a tiger launch itself at his face.

The two who had charged me lashed out at the same time with their wrist blades. I managed to dodge on, but the other clipped me across the arm, causing blood to seep into the shaggy dark fur.

The Hork-Bajir still in the elevator found himself face to face with Ax, and muttered what I assume was a Hork-Bajir curse word.

I didn't have too much time to think about it though; I still had a two on one fight to worry about. I stepped back, trying to decide which opponent to attack first when suddenly a wolf leaped at the one on my right, catching it in the chest and knocking it to the floor. The Hork-Bajir on my right was distracted by the surprise attack, and I used that moment to ram him with my shoulder, using all the gorilla strength I could muster.

I managed to get him cornered, and he lashed out, a streak of blood appeared on my leathery snout. I hauled of and punched him, a little too hard, because I heard the sick sound of his neck snapping.

I looked around the warehouse. Four dead Hork-Bajir lay on the floor. Jake was standing by the body of his opponent, a red stripe standing out against the black and orange of his flank, only a shallow cut, he was lucky. Ax hadn't had any trouble getting his opponent taken care of; an Andalite tail is a force to be reckoned with. The dead Hork-Bajir's head lay next to his body. Cassie was panting slightly, a bloody gash across her muzzle dripping on the floor; she must have gotten slashed while tackling the Hork-Bajir she was standing near.

(That was way too easy…) Jake muttered as he looked around.

(Yeah.) I agreed, (No way they just send four of them after us…)

(They didn't send them.) Cassie padded her way to the box-elevator as she spoke, (It was a coincidence. But there's going to be a lot more where those came from, after all, it's the Yeerk Pool.)

There was a moment of silence. We were dreading what came next. The Yeerk Pool was as close as it got to hell on earth. The smell, the screams, the images. They're the type of thing that gives you nightmares, real nightmares. The kind that makes you wake up screaming in a cold sweat.

We made our way to the box, (Well,) Jake commented quietly, (Here it goes. Remember, in and out, quick as possible.)

I looked at Rachel; we all knew what she would say next, it was ritual, like my nervous jokes. She didn't let me down, (Let's do it.)

An ape, a tiger, a bird, a wolf, a bear and an alien managed to cram into what looked like an oversized refrigerator box. There was a stomach churning lurch as it began its descent. We scarcely breathed, we were not looking forward to this battle, except maybe Rachel, she lived of the thrill of the fight.

Another lurch as the elevator stopped moving and the doors slid open. We al piled out of what looked like a normal cave wall, and as we did a shout went up from a nearby human controller, "Andalites!"

He was quickly taken care of by the flat of Ax's tail, and we raced out of the elevator. Tobias flapped towards the roof of the giant cavern that was the Yeerk Pool. Dozens of Dracon beams were fired at him, barely missing. It was chaos. Five seriously out of place animals and an Andalite, lost amid the shuffles and screams of the involuntary hosts.

I barreled past a cage of humans and Hork-Bajir, temporarily free of their Yeerks. One pitiful blond woman reached out and grabbed a handful of my fur, "Help me! Please! Save me!"

I wished I could, just save all those people. But there were two humans we had come for. And the fate for escaped hosts was dismal.

(Anyone see the governor's wife?) Jake shouted in our heads, as we heard a roar that let us know he was doing battle.

(Or Caitlin!) I added, as I grabbed a Hork-Bajir that had been slashing at me around its neck and hurled it into the pool, (Don't forget Caitlin!)

(Got 'em!) Tobias said as he swooped low over head, blinding a Hork-Bajir that was attacking me from behind, (Caitlin is in the cages near old McDonald's entrance, and Mrs. Governor is in line for the infestation pier! We gotta hurry!)

(Right.) Jake leaped over the heads of a group of human controllers, and Rachel shoved them easily into one of the underground buildings, ramming it shut with a piece of iron tubing that the Yeerks for some reason had lying around. (Marco, you and Cassie and Tobias go and try and get Caitlin. Me and Rachel and Ax will get the governor's wife! But Marco, you should open the cages and let everyone go, so they don't know who you're after. Grab Caitlin on her way past, and get her out ASAP. We meet by the U-haul Tobias found!)

We split up. I'm not sure what Jake and his group had to face, they were on the other side of the compound. I plowed my way through a barrier of human controllers to get to Caitlin's cage. I ripped the door open, (Go! Get out of here everyone!)

The stunned captives didn't need to be told twice. They ran out of there like the hounds of hell were on their heels, and since they were being chased by various breeds of controllers, that was almost true. Caitlin was near the back of the cage, and one of the last ones out. She tried to run, casting me a terrified glance, but I reached out and caught her around the waist, (Oh no you don't.)

"Let go!" She screeched, pummeling me with her tiny human fists. As though that could hurt a gorilla.

(Not a chance, princess) I muttered, and I saw her expression change, as though she were trying to figure out if she knew the talking monkey.

The scene around was complete chaos. Tobias was dive bombing controllers, leaving them with bloody gashes across their scalps. Cassie sank her fangs deep into Hork-Bajir flesh. Dracon fire was every where.

I hoisted Caitlin over my shoulder; she was putting up considerably less of a fight now, although she still screeched in shock. We made a beeline for the elevator. I punched out a human controller who was foolish enough to stand in my way, but I only had one free hand, so Cassie took care of most of them, with some help from Tobias.

We made it too the U-haul. The Hork-Bajir hadn't followed right away, and we all hid out of sight in the back. Cassie whimpered as she looked at the door, (We should go back for Jake and Rachel!)

(No.) I hated myself for saying it, but someone had too, (He told us to get Caitlin out and go to the U-haul, we did. We can't just abandon her now and go back.)

(But, Marco, it's Jake!) She insisted, (And Rachel, and Ax!)

(We can't! Look, I'm worried about them too, but you go out there now, and you'll give away our location!) I insisted, sitting in a corner of the truck.

Cassie nodded her wolf head in understanding, but continued to look worriedly at the door.

I don't know what Jake had to go through with his half of the team. I remember that he was yelling out instructions to Rachel and Ax. And I know it took a turn for the worse because I heard Visser Three's loud thought-speak as the doors of the elevator slipped shut behind us, and he confronted Jake.

Ok, so I figure next I try my hand at a really short Jake chapter to let you all see how the gov.'s wife getting rescued is going, then back to Marco's POV. I should have just made this a megamorphs style story, oh well, too late now. It's a Marco story, with brief glimpses at other POVs. And I'm sorry, I'm not very good at fight scenes.

Brisk33: lol, glad to impress. Hope you like this chappie too.

Lily of the Shadow: Thanks, I hoped it was IC.

LucreziaNoin86: Yeah, uh-oh. A box of Hork-Bajir is never a good sign.

Qwerty: Yeah, sorry again this chap took so long. I'm having issues.

Traycon: Jake is my hardest character too write. So if he was a little ooc, I'm sorry. I just can't really pull off the strong leader image.

Attharun: I thought the box as the Pool entrance was pretty nifty too.

Krazi little aus: Sorry to keep you waiting so long! Thanks for the kind words in your review.