Rachel:
"Send who into a death trap?" Jake raged.
Yeah, it was that bad. I can't believe Cassie thought of this plan. It was a good plan, mind you, but...Cassie? I think that was what was unsettling Jake the most. I didn't blame him.
Anyway, we were sitting around on the porch of some cabin. The one we were sitting on when we met Shan, the really big one. Marco was standing up, leaning sideways against the cabin, being quiet and calculating. Cassie and Carman were standing a few feet away from the few feet of porch Jake had started using for pacing. Jordall was his Andalite self, standing on the grass, his arms crossed. Even as an Andalite he did not look happy. Shan was standing next to him, thinking and listening. Ax and Estrid were with them, just listening to the plan. Toby stood with them, because she was too tall for the porch, and listened as well. I was sitting on the floor of the porch, knees brought up in front of me, casually and comfortably leaning against the outside of the cabin. Tobias was standing in hawk form next to me, I was casually - and without anyone noticing - petting him. I know, it's weird to pet a red-tailed hawk.
(Rach.)
"Sorry," I said quietly. I moved my hand.
(No. That was cool...)
I laughed. "Okay." I started petting him again, he laughed.
(This is weird...)
I smiled at him, then looked back at Cassie and Carman.
"If we do it right, no one will die." Cassie was saying.
"So let me get this straight," Marco said. He stood up straight, and looked at Jake, Cassie, and Carman. "You're sending Carman up to the blade ship. Like Rachel did LAST time, except Jordall and Shan are going to be hidden in morph and watch her back. While me, Cassie, Jake, Ax, Estrid, Rachel, and Tobias will do what we did last time. Toby will bring some free Hork-Bajir to help us, and ta-da, no more Yeerks. Am I right?"
"Pretty much." Carman said. "But it'll be fine. I can do it, for one. I have to be human, yes. But I'm stronger and faster.than a normal human, and I'll have Jordall and Shan to help me."
"They won't be expecting the same attack twice." Cassie said. "Which will give us the element of surprise, once again."
"They'll have tightened their security, but we've got five Andalites instead of just one. Which is a better chance of hacking into their network." Carman said.
"Five?" Jake asked. "Do you know something I don't?"
"Actually, I do." Marco said.
(Me too.) Tobias added.
I laughed. "And me."
"What? Is it everyone but me?" Jake asked.
"No." Toby answered.
(I do not know either, Prince Jake) Ax said. He'd taken to calling Jordall, Shan, and Jake 'prince'. Which made sense, Jordall and Shan are war-princes while Jake has been 'prince' for three years.
(I know...) Jordall said.
(Of course you know.) Shan shook his head. (But I know too, and I have a feeling Estrid does as well)
(Yes, I do) Estrid said.
Jake looked at Cassie, who nodded. "Anyone gonna tell me, Toby, and Ax where a fifth Andalite is hiding?"
"Try in front of your nose." Marco said. He walked up to Carman, and gestured semi-dramatically.
"You're kidding." Jake said. "She's human."
"Yeah," Carman said. "I'm human. But my parents were Andalites. Human nothlits."
(Don't tell me you've never wondered why she's human with an Andalite brother) Jordall said.
"I never really thought about it." Jake said. "But it makes sense."
(Yes, I would have to say it does) Ax said.
"I think we should get back to the subject at hand. It was important to know of Carman's heritage, but we need to focus on defeating the Yeerks." Toby said.
"Okay. 1, they've moved the blade ship." Jake said. "Problem #2, Carman, Jordall, Shan, do you need small morphs?"
"I've got a cockroach and a granddaddy longlegs spider." Carman said.
(I've got some random spider I picked up.) Jordall laughed.
(I don't have a small morph) Shan said.
"And that's it?" I asked. "Every base covered?"
"I think so."