(TWENTY-ONE) - RACHEL
Rage boiled within my veins. I felt like a chump.
Not only had the Andalite spies gotten away with the Yeerk weapon, but we'd gotten ourselves cornered by Visser Three and his goons again. I really don't like the feeling of being trapped. I like losing even less.
(We can't just keep standing here,) I growled.
(Agreed,) Marco said nervously.
(The Chee,) Cassie said. (They can put up another hologram. Get us out of here. The Yeerks won't know where we went.)
(Calling all Chee!) Marco cried. (Clean up on aisle three!)
I saw a flicker of shimmering light surround us, and through the nearly invisible liquid air, I could see the look of frustration on Visser Three's face. We were back inside the hologram!
(Come on!) Jake commanded.
(We can't leave without Tobias!) I countered.
(Don't worry about me,) Tobias said to us from his unseen position. I quickly glanced around, trying in vain to pierce the crowds with my meager bear vision. He'd said he was in Hork-Bajir morph. I could barely make out over thirty of the bladed beasts surrounding us on all sides.
I did notice one slinking back, growing smaller and smaller.
I smiled inwardly. Tobias was demorphing. He would be fine.
(Time to go!) Jake said.
With that said, we took off running, the hologram keeping us hidden from the Yeerk forces. The ones who got caught in our wake were repelled, bouncing off the outside of the hologram as if it were a force-field. Visser Three pointed after the invisible force making its escape.
(Follow them!) he bellowed.
We bounded up the impossible long and winding staircase leading out of the Yeerk pool, a freak circus of wild animals plus a blue centaur alien, moving at top speed. Within moments, we burst from the school, tearing across the front lawn. If only Vice Principal Chapman had been here to see this. We'd definitely get detention. If he knew who we were, at least. Scratch that - if he knew who we were, we'd be dead. Or worse, Controllers.
(There they are!) Cassie called out to us.
There was no question which "they" she was referring to. In a clearing just beyond the school, the three Andalite spies were crowded around the Burrower. Xinaya was busily punching her fingers across a handheld computerized device.
(What is that thing?) Jake asked Ax.
(They are calling the Star Streaker to them,) Ax explained.
A billowing gale of wind rushed over the school grounds, as if a helicopter was approaching for a landing.
(We've gotta stop them!) I cried.
(I've got this!) Tobias called from above. I looked up, and in the darkness through my dim grizzly vision, I could see a tiny rust colored figure dart through the air, speeding towards the three conspiring Andalites.
"TSSSSEEEEEEEEER!"
Tobias screeched down out of the sky like a bullet, snatching the device from Xinaya's hands. He immediately switched directions, bolting back up into the night sky. Nimili unsheathed his Shredder Beam, firing off a bright green burst of energy after the escaping hawk.
TSSAAP! TSSAPP!
(Tobias!) I screamed.
(I'm okay, I'm okay!)
That's it. I couldn't take this anymore. I got down on all fours and barreled forward, a moving wall of fur and flesh, seven hundred odd pounds of pure, cold-stone grizzly bear fury.
(Rachel, no!) Cassie called after me.
I wasn't listening. Hard-headed? Sure. But nobody messes with my boyfriend.
(Hey, you!) I called to Nimili.
I burst out of the hologram's protection, and Nimili spun to face me, too slow to react. That tends to happen when a grizzly bear running at full speed appears out of thin air right behind you. It's what I like to call the sneak attack.
I pummeled the beefy Andalite, sending his Shredder Beam flying.
(Remember me?) I asked.
(Pitiful human!) the Andalite warrior gasped. (You understand nothing!)
(Nimili!) Isklin cried out, racing over to intercept me. Xinaya had upholstered her own Shredder Beam, aiming at the skies, hoping to bring down Tobias.
Jake and Cassie entered the fray, tackling Isklin.
(Your sacrifice will stop the Yeerks!) Isklin roared to us all in open thought-speak. (An Andalite would die with honor and dignity!)
Ax appeared out of nowhere, slashing Isklin across the face with his tail blade, leaving behind a large, gaping gash.
(You possess neither quality,) Ax said coldly.
Isklin stared at Ax in shock as blood trailed down his face. He froze, completely caught off guard by the sudden and vicious attack.
(You would wound another Andalite with your blade, aristh?) Isklin intoned.
(You are just as bad as the Yeerks,) Ax said, words dripping with acid. (You don't even deserve to call yourself an Andalite.)
(I am your elder, child!) Isklin roared, his anger replacing his shock.
(You are a traitorous spy!) Ax countered, edging his tail back for another blow. (You are a disgrace to our people!)
(It doesn't matter,) Isklin said icily. (This is not a council approved mission. We are taking matters into our own hands. This is about stopping the Yeerks. The humans are just pawns in this war. You would do well to understand that, Aximili.)
(Funny thing about humans,) I said, tossing Nimili aside, unconscious. (We tend to be persistent little things.)
With that, I clocked Isklin across the face, and he tumbled to the ground.
Xinaya rushed to his side, aiming her Shredder Beam directly at my chest. Jake, Cassie and Marco circled in behind me. Tobias came to land on my shoulder, still clutching the Andalite device he'd stolen from the female warrior.
(You can't stop us,) Xinaya seethed. (This planet is doomed. Pray your final moments are painless.)
A blast of light engulfed us as the Star Streaker's cloaking device disengaged, revealing the wide open hatch at the ship's rear. The three Andalite spies were lit up by a column of light as a makeshift drop shaft appeared around them. I realized numbly that she must have been using thought-speak controls on the ship.
Like backwards lightning, the Andalites zipped up into their ship.
We watched them sail off into the night sky.
Loud voices from behind us caught my attention. I lumbered around and faintly saw dozens of shapes beginning to emerge from the school. A cadre of armed Hork-Bajir Controllers were escorting Visser Three out of the building towards a Bug Fighter that appeared out of nowhere above the campus.
(You guys,) I said slowly. (I think I have an idea.)