Chapter 11

Danielle

There was something about this that spelled insanity and suicide. Maybe it was because I was new to all this, or maybe, even though I really didn't want to believe it, the others were right. What if Kayla was really one of them? What if something went wrong? Would these yeerks know if I was spying on them? Would they kill me if I was caught?

By the time I woke up the next morning, I can say I was genuinely terrified. I had hardly slept all night, imagining the extensive ways our plan could go wrong, even if there were no yeerks in The Sharing.

I decided to take it up with the others at school that morning.

"Sarah," I hissed, coming up behind her and poking her in the back. She turned around, startled. Her face was pale, though she was doing a good job of keeping her expression neutral. Her locker was open beside us and Jennifer was there, still wearing huge sunglasses. Sarah communicated with her one handed, her fingers moving quickly to form shapes.

"What?" she asked me.

"This is a bad idea," I said. I had to be careful. What if people were listening? Could they guess what we were talking about? Enemies could be everywhere.

"I know. That doesn't mean we're going to chicken," Sarah said.

"Yes it does! Do you know how many things could go wrong?"

"You're not the only one who was up all night thinking of all the ways this could blow up in our face," she said. I realized that she was talking for Jennifer now. Could she really do that? She was saying this stuff as if she'd actually thought of it. Wasn't that plagiarism or something? On the other hand, maybe Jennifer was okay with that. She seemed like the kind of person to not mind stuff like that.

"Then why are we even doing this?" I asked.

"Because we need to know. If we don't do this, we'll never know. We have to."

I was about to point out that there were other ways to get information, but someone piped up behind me.

"Have to do what?" Kayla asked.

"Go to the Sharing," Sarah said cheerfully, closing her locker a little louder than necessary. "We wanted to see what it's like." She grinned a very fake grin. "We're going ahead," she hissed in my ear. "Come or don't come."

Well, it wasn't as if I had much of a choice now.

"Cool," Kayla said. "It'll be really great to have you back. It's kinda boring without you."

She was so… normal. She couldn't be infested. The others had to be wrong about the Sharing. Not ALL the elite members were hosts. I looked at her. She didn't look any different. Her voice hadn't changed. Her smile wasn't any different. She still talked the same way. Her walk was still like a casual march. She still fell in step with whomever she was by. She still laughed the same way. Her eyes were still gray-blue. She was still nice to everyone. Caught up in thought, I forgot to respond.

"Earth to Danielle," Kayla said.

But they weren't supposed to seem different, were they? They were supposed to talk like the person, walk like the person, act how the person would act. Their appearance wouldn't change, would it? They wouldn't change. Not much, anyway. So why was I letting myself be fooled? This was just way too far over my head. How was I supposed to know?

"What was that?" I asked.

"I said it's been boring without you. You're really out of it today, aren't you?"

Was that something she would usually say? Was she using different words, different expressions?

"Yeah," I said. "I guess I didn't get enough sleep."

She shrugged. "Okay, well I'll see you later," and headed off to class.

I didn't talk much all day, thinking about this. I badly wanted it to be a nightmare, but somehow I knew that wasn't the case. This was real, whether I liked it or not.

Definitely not.

When the end of the day bell finally rang, I had at least three hours of homework to do, considering that I had done nothing in class all day. I walked to my locker and noticed Kayla hanging out with another girl from the Sharing.

"Hey Danielle," Kayla said. "Are you going to the Sharing right away? We'll walk with you."

I looked around. Where were the others? I didn't know where Cassidy's locker was, and Sarah wasn't at hers down the hall.

"Actually, I was supposed to walk with someone else," I said.

"Who?" Kayla asked curiously.

A little voice at the back of my head asked if Kayla was always so inquisitive. I smothered it. She was just curious, that's all. "Cassidy, Sarah and Jennifer," I said, taking another look.

"Really? I saw them leave a minute ago," the other girl said.

"Oh," I said. Even if she was lying, I was cornered now. "Okay, I guess I'll walk with you guys then."

So I did. The other girl introduced herself as Leah. "But you can call me Lee," she said.

"Lee's a full member too," Kayla said. As if I needed to be told. I'd been looking to become a full member for a long time when I was in the Sharing. I knew all their faces.

But I didn't say that. Instead I said, "Cool. What's it like?"

Ah, good girl Danielle. Keeping yourself on task, I praised myself.

"It's really fun," Leah said. She began listing all the wonderful things I already knew about the Sharing. "We go on ski trips, camping trips, there's an opportunity for scholarships. We even get discounts," she said as we approached the building. I spotted Cassidy, Sarah and Jennifer already standing outside. Good, that meant I didn't have to worry about them looking for me at the school. But then again, why did they leave without me?

"Really?" Sarah asked as we came into earshot. "Did you guys just say that you get discounts when you're an elite member?"

"Yeah," Leah said. "We get discounts at all sorts of places. The Gap, Mickey D's, even some hair salons."

"She sounds like a walking, talking television commercial," Cassidy whispered as we walked in the door. Kayla heard her and laughed.

The Sharing hadn't changed much since I'd last been there. The white couches were still spectacularly spotless, there was still a small table in the corner covered with junk food and small, random plates of fruits or meat and cheese. The room still buzzed with friendliness. There was the sound of music playing, partially drowned out by the clatter of the pool tables and the chatter between the most unlikely people. Lower class people spoke to spoiled rich people, teenagers to adults, preps to social rejects, everyone seemed equal. It should have made me happy, and it used to. But now, I was creeped out. Why were these people from completely different worlds interacting normally?

"Wow," Cassidy said.

"Cool, huh?" Leah asked. Cassidy gave her a rude look, but she had already turned away, heading to a bookshelf. She picked up a book and handed it to Sarah. "Here, you can read this to your friend."

Sarah clenched her fists. I saw the storm coming on and interjected. "It's Jennifer," I said.

"Sorry," Leah said, obviously not sorry at all. I shot Sarah a warning glance. If anyone was going to get us kicked out and ruin the plan, it was Sarah.

"Actually," I said, "I've got to go to the washroom. Sarah, Jennifer, come with me?"

"No thanks," Sarah said. "I'll wait for you out here." She sat on the white couch and opened the book. Jennifer sat beside her.

What? Was she chickening out on me? Wasn't she the one who told me not to?

"Okay," Kayla said. "Well, Lee and I have to go to a private meeting. We'll be back in about an hour. Make yourselves comfortable."

"See you," Sarah said. When they disappeared behind a door, she looked back up at me. "Now I'll go with you," she said. "We can't be suspicious."

The four of us went into the washroom. Sarah locked the door behind us. "I love these stupid washrooms," she said cheerily. "There are stalls, but there's still a lock on the front door. They'll be so useful."

"You looked pretty pissed back there," Cassidy said. "Why the change?"

"Oh man, I was so ready to punch that chick. Seriously. Does she ever shut up? And she even had the nerve to completely ignore the fact that Jennifer has a name."

Jennifer was already shifting, and therefore had no idea what Sarah was talking about while making the change. I was glad. I didn't want to hear her ball Sarah out for trying to protect her. I had to look away though, it was by far the most disgusting thing I'd ever seen.

"Jennifer's got the idea," Cassidy said. "You guys should follow suit."

"Don't start with me," Sarah growled. "You have no authority. I decide when I shift, got it?"

"Whatever Barbie."

Fortunately, Sarah ignored that.

I concentrated on the rat. The changes began almost immediately, but they were long and drawn out. I purposely kept my eyes closed, so I didn't have to watch my body change. The sound and feeling alone made me sick to my stomach. It was really weird, to change out of the familiar body that has always been yours. It was a couple of minutes before I was a full mouse, and I looked up at Cassidy.

DANGER! DANGER, my mind warned me. Humans were large, clumsy and liable to attack. I rushed for a hiding place. In my panicked scramble, I ran straight into another rat. It jumped back and made a half-frightened, half-threatening noise that meant it was ready to fight. I braced myself to attack it, pulling back my lips to expose small, but razor-sharp teeth. I could take this guy down. The other rat bared its teeth at me as well, and I leapt at it.

((DANIELLE! What the hell are you doing?)) a voice screamed. I was too preoccupied with the other rat. It fought back, biting my front right leg hard. I lunged at its neck and felt teeth sink into my own. I froze. Now I heard a booming human voice yelling.

"Sarah! You're going to hurt her!"

((Shut up or you'll attract attention! Danielle, you're acting like a real rat. Snap out of it!))

It took me a little while to figure out what she meant. ((Oh,)) I said, taking another minute to understand the scene. Sarah had to be the rat biting into my neck. In front of me was another rat who had to be Jennifer. She had been the one I fought with. Her eyes were still fixed on me and her teeth were still exposed, confused by the addition of another rat to the scene but ready to fight both of us if she had to. ((Crap.))

((Are you good now? Can I let go?))

((Yeah,)) I said, feeling a little foolish, but frightened by what had happened. Sarah let go of my neck, leaving small, though painful puncture marks in my skin. ((Ow…))

((What about you Jennifer?)) she asked the other rat. Jennifer just stared, still braced for an attack.

((Jennifer?)) I asked. How were we going to snap her out of it?

((Jennifer, it's me, Sarah. I won't hurt you. We're on a mission, remember? You're not a rat, you're a person.))

It was a few tense moments before Jennifer relaxed. ((I'm sorry,)) she said. ((It's like I really was a rat.))

((I think that's the point,)) I said. ((Maybe our minds are rat minds. Or at least partly.))

((Makes sense,)) Jennifer said. ((Fundamental instinct. Animals wouldn't survive without it.))

((Well it didn't bother me much,)) Sarah said. ((I mean, I—the rat was sort of scared at seeing Cassidy, and a little angry to see the other rats, but all I had to do was remind myself that my name was Sarah and I was a person and it went away.))

That annoyed me a bit. Was she bragging that she was stronger than we were? It wasn't fair. I didn't even have a chance to think, I was so caught up in being a rat.

"Why is Jennifer even coming?" Cassidy asked. "It's not like she'll understand anything anyone says anyway."

Sarah relayed the message to Jennifer.

((Sarah can translate for me,)) she said.

"But the more of you there are, the more likely you'll get caught."

((What are they gonna do,)) asked Sarah, ((throw us out?))

"Unless aliens kill rats," Cassidy said. "Whatever, just be careful. And if you get caught, don't you even dare tell them that I'm well, one of you."

((Awwwww…)) Sarah teased. ((You admitted it. I'm touched.))

"Whatever, just don't rat me out." She paused. "No pun intended."

I laughed, but no one else did. I still wasn't sure if I was willing to believe that the Sharing was full of aliens or not. But heck, I was a rat, right? Why not?

Cassidy opened the door, checked if the coast was clear, then pointed us down the hallway where the private meeting was supposedly being held. There were voices coming from behind only one of the three doors, so it wasn't hard to figure out where to go.

((Only one of us should go in,)) Jennifer said. ((The other two stay out here to listen. Then we have one pair of eyes and three pairs of ears and a way less chance of being seen.))

((I'll go,)) Sarah and I said at the exact same time.

((It's going to be dangerous,)) Sarah said. ((You stay here with Jennifer and I'll go in.))

I thought about that offer, but I wasn't excited about letting Sarah play the hero and go in on her own. From what I'd seen of her so far, she was likely to attack someone, even as a rat. And she probably wouldn't even bother to hide either. I shook my head. ((No. Bad idea. Maybe Jennifer should go in.)) Sarah was opposing me going in, so I was trying to compromise.

((No, that's a worse idea,)) Jennifer said. ((I'm new to two of five senses. I won't understand half of what's going on. It should be Danielle that goes in.))

((But--)) Sarah began. She must have been cut off by Jennifer's telepathic whisper, because I couldn't hear what was being said, sort of like a disturbance in the distance that I couldn't quite place. It ended as Sarah said, ((Fine. But if you get into trouble I'm coming in after you.))

((Okay,)) I said, and poked my nose at the bottom of the door. ((But how am I supposed to get in?))

Sarah rolled her eyes mentally. I could feel the expression the way that I could feel Jennifer's thoughts. ((You're a rat. Duh. Collapsible skeleton?))

((Oh,)) I said, pushing my head under the door. There was a sensation almost as disgusting as morphing, and soon, I was under the door and then out the other side, my skeleton snapping back into place. There were a few boxes underneath a school desk in a corner, and I hid behind them. It was beyond perfect, because I had been worrying about where I was going to hide. There were people sitting around the table, including Kayla and Leanne. About seven more people were sitting around. Nobody spoke. Finally, someone walked in from an adjacent room and sat down, and the meeting began.

Leah stood up, and everyone looked up at her respectfully. I couldn't believe my luck. I could see every single person at the table clearly, excluding two at the back. The only part of them I saw was their legs. Maybe if I climbed a little on the boxes…

"Baro five-eight-nine. Report," Leah said.

I froze. What did she say? That didn't sound like a normal name. Maybe I was mistaken.

"Recruitment is down five percent. At first, it was just a small change, but it's starting to become a problem. We've been thinking it over for a while, and Tim has come up with a brilliant idea." The man smiled, though several people at the table did nothing to hide disgusted looks.

I was still trying to climb up and listen at the same time.

((What's going on? Are you okay?)) a voice hissed. I jumped a little in surprise. Luckily, no one noticed. I had completely forgotten that Sarah was waiting on me for information.

((Daijobu,)) I said, distracted. I wanted to hear what they were saying.

((What?))

I stopped climbing. ((Sorry. I'm okay.)) Okay, so call me a dork. I have this love of Japanese anime, and I'd picked up a few sayings through reading English subtitles. Hence, I had a fairly annoying habit of responding to simple questions in Japanese. Kayla did it too, though she was doing it less and less lately.

"What is that?" Leah said. It had been a long silence. I wondered if she had heard me, until I realized that she was prompting the man called Baro.

"We think that the Sharing should have a concert. It would really attract high-school attention, and they're the ideal members."

Leah smiled. "Yes, that is a very good idea. You, you and you will organize," she said, pointing out three of the younger members. "Get a good band. Or a couple. It'll be cheaper if they're ours too, so shoot for that."

"Yes, sub-visser," the three said. All my hair stood on end and I felt sick.

((Did she just say what I think she did?)) Sarah asked.

((Yes,)) I said. ((I think she did.))

((Who's all there?)) Sarah prompted. ((We should start noting who's all in this thing.))

((There's Leah, Kayla, that guy she called Baro and…)) I finished my climb and nearly fell off the boxes.

((And?)) Sarah asked.

((I can't recognize the other two,)) I said. I don't know why I didn't tell them. Maybe it was my better instincts, or maybe I just plain didn't want them to know. They might have hurt him or something.

((Are you sure?))

((Yeah,)) I lied. My heart was beating very fast, because at the back of the table sat Mark. My brother. I had trusted him. I was even playing with the idea of telling him about it earlier in the day. But I couldn't even trust the big brother that I had grown up with. I was so upset that I nearly missed what happened next.

"Now we have some fantastic news!" Leah said. "The andalites have been thwarted as of today. Visser three would like to inform us all that he has personally taken care of Elfangor-Sirinial-Shamtul, hailed andalite prince."

A cheer erupted in the room. Leah made no move to quiet them, only smiled a strangely sadistic smile that scared me stiff. When the noise died down she spoke again.

"It's even better. Another andalite has been captured… alive." This time there were no cheers. Everyone stared politely at Leah. "The new host was given to its captor, the former sub-visser twenty-two. Now known as Visser Nine!"

This time the cheer was a roar. Only three of them didn't seem so happy about it, but they faked smiles and clapped anyway.

"Does this mean that the bug ships overseas will be operational?" Kayla asked. I shuddered at her use of a term that only a yeerk would know.

"Most of them, yes," Leah replied. "Some are still in for repairs, but we shouldn't need to risk anyone's starvation. How many days has it been?"

"Two, on my good friend's part, but she told me this morning through the human electronic connection that others are on their third and final day of starvation. I was concerned that if the ships were not arriving before noon—"

"There is no need for that. Obviously the Vissers would not risk any of their people, nor would they want any hosts running around free because their yeerks died of starvation. You can rest assured that all meeting places were covered by ten-thirty this morning by this area's time."

"Thank Kandrona," Kayla breathed.

"Have we any other news?" Leah asked. There was no answer. "Dismissed, then. You three!" She pointed in the general direction of the three assigned to the concert. "Begin work on this show immediately! When you waste time, you're wasting the entire Empire's time." With that, she walked briskly toward the side door.

I relayed the whole thing to Sarah and Jennifer. Not much had to be said, seeing as how Sarah heard everything and translated for Jennifer immediately.

Slowly, people emptied from the room. I was concerned that Sarah and Jennifer would be discovered in the hallway, but it seemed as if they were going to be fine.

Finally, only Mark and the man named Baro were in the room. Before they could leave, I hopped down from the boxes and slipped out the room, leading Jennifer and Sarah back to the washroom without a word. Cassidy saw us approaching and pushed the door open for us. We all scurried into different stalls and Cassidy passed us our clothes from inside her backpack. We left the building as fast as we could, insisting on the need to finish homework.