Chapter 20

Before They Came

(Jamie's POV. A few minutes before the Animorphs came down into the Pool.)

(Yeerk! What are you waiting for? Open the door!) the Visser yelled at my mother.

"Yes, Visser," she answered humbly - a little too humbly in my opinion. She stepped forward and grasped the lock between her hands while bringing out a silver key with a purple ring on the end of it, which was held by my mother's hand. She placed the key into the keyhole to turn and thus opened the cage. We all swayed to one side as everyone moved to the back of the cage so as not to be taken and made into a host once again. Tom and I joined them at the back, where only the ones who climbed in could reach us.

"Just stay close to me," I heard someone whisper to a little kid, who was holding on to who I supposed was his mother. "Just stay close, OK? Don't let them get to you, or they'll hurt you. You'll be fine with me." The little kid whimpered and huddled closer to the woman for dear life, and I didn't blame him. At this moment, I wouldn't be so mad if my mom was as clingy as she normally was. If she was actually here with me… would it be so bad?

The cage swayed once more as someone climbed up - probably a Hork-Bajir or another alien - though I couldn't see who or what it was from where I stood amongst the crowd. They were all taller than I was, which sucked for me.

"Part!" ordered a Hork-Bajir's voice right on cue. Everyone made a pathway to the end of the cage, separating me and Tom; great, now I really was alone. The Hork-Bajir continued: "Bandit. Forward."

My breath caught in my throat. Did he just say "bandit forward"? My heart throbbed and I stood still for a few moments, the tension in my mind building to a cloud. What was about to happen? They wanted me, I knew, but I couldn't even see where the part in the crowd was, let alone where to go.

"Bandit," the alien repeated, "Forward."

I closed my eyes and forced myself to breathe. OK, just stay calm James, there is nothing huge to worry about here. And if there is, you know you can get out of it. They already know you can morph, so if they try anything stupid, you do the same thing. OK? I opened my eyes and changed them back to normal, so I wasn't seeing Gotika-style anymore, and if they saw my eyes, they would know I was blind. I had to wait for someone to say something else now, so I would know where to go. For a few moments, there was silence, then I heard my mother's voice.

"Jamie! Wherever you are, come out now! We're done playing games. Just come out and your punishment won't be as horrible as planned."

I scoffed quietly and decided to call out, " 'Won't be as horrible as planned'? What, do you think I'm stupid, slug? You're going to make me a Controller again, whether I like it or not! It wasn't a choice for these poor suckers and it's not a choice for me!" Ultimately, I was just trying to make her continue talking so I would be able to follow her voice to the middle of the path and stop there, only to be face to face with her.

"Oh?" her voice inquired. I took a few steps forward and waited for her to continue. "And what makes you think that?" During that sentence, I took the liberty of shoving through a couple people, which resulted in me landing right in the middle of the path.

"It wasn't my choice the last two times," I said, moving toward her. I stopped right in front of her, hearing her breath and feeling it faintly on my face. I backed up a little so I couldn't smell her breath anymore; it was disturbing.

"Well maybe it's changed," she said as she grabbed my arm to take me to Visser Three.

"Oh please," I said, reluctantly cooperating. I wanted so badly to strike this slug down and get my mom back, but that would be stupid and it would mean I had horrible timing. "He's monotone. Guys like that never change."

"I meant your options," the woman seethed. I rolled my eyes.

"Oh of course they have. I have one more now: die or become a Controller... hmmm... wait a minute, wasn't that there before though?" I purred sarcastically. With that, I was shoved out of the cage, falling face-down on the floor, presumably in front of Visser Three. I grunted in pain as my ribs hit he cement floor.

(Stand up, filthy Bandit,) he snapped. I deliberately took my time standing just in case he decided to kill me on the spot. (Stand up,) he cried, his voice harsher this time.

A Hork-Bajir grabbed my stomach under me and hauled me up crudely. It placed me roughly on my feet, letting me wobble there for a moment before letting me go. It then grabbed my arm and pushed me forward. I had to bring my feet up to match my front because I hadn't been ready to walk yet.

OK, I realized what I had to do now, and I couldn't hear many creatures around us, only about five or so Hork-Bajir, which were "escorting" me to my destination. So much for different options.

My tail slowly emerged from my spine and my vision came back in a hurry. Everything was clear now, and I could see that we were on our way to the Yeerk Pool, as I suspected. Great. I had to do this quickly then. I felt scales climb up from my feet to cover my entire body. I made the wings come very slowly so as not to attract too much attention--

"Visser! She's morphing!" I heard a man's voice cry out. He turned his stalked eyes on me and I immediately ripped myself away from the Hork-Bajir escorting me. He wasn't ready for it, so it caught him off guard when I shoved him aside and backed deliberately into the next alien. As my hair lightened into the smoky-blue-green colour, the creature grabbed me to hold me still, as the Visser advanced on me as if to show what he could really do. Unfortunately, the alien I rushed into had been ready for me.

(You really are pathetic. You'll stoop to anything that can get you out of this, won't you?) His voice seemed to echo in my head as he stared at me with all four eyes, black and hollow.

"Anything that'll stop me from becoming a Controller again? Obviously, idiot. Just ask your host; does he enjoy being-- ah!" I cried out in pain as the scythe-like blade on the end of his tail struck deeply into my right shoulder and stayed there. I gasped as the pain elevated as he dug his tail in more.

(You will cooperate,) he ordered slowly.

"And if I don't?" I grunted.

He leaned in now, putting even more pressure on the gaping hole he had just placed in my shoulder. I hissed in agony and turned my head the other way when he shoved his face in mine. (What do you think, human?)

I didn't bother answering, but stared right into his eyes, challenging him. He took his tail out of my shoulder, not pestering me for an answer because he knew I knew the answer, and I grunted and hissed in agony as he turned away after telling the Hork-Bajir to let go of me. Visser Three stepped out of the circle of five Hork-Bajir as they all surrounded me toward the Pool.

I couldn't take this anymore. I knew what kind of danger I was in, but I would rather die than give away the secrets of the Animorphs. I had to do something stupid right about now, before they took control.

We stopped, and I felt my body being shoved forward, toward the Yeerk Pool. I hadn't morphed back yet, so I still had all the features of the Gotika I'd had before the Andalite attacked me.

"Get down," a Hork-Bajir ordered me. I struggled to stay up, and managed to elbow the creature in the stomach, but no matter how much it hurt my elbow, it did absolutely nothing to the Hork-Bajir. Crap.

I gave another one a vicious roundhouse to the waist, but it still did nothing, and it was getting frustrating. The creatures were all ganging up on me now, and I knew Visser Three was watching this and laughing inwardly, if not out loud. I was really mad by now, having fought and failed at fighting with the Hork-Bajir, which were now trying to hold me down so I would become a Controller again. But that wouldn't happen. I wouldn't let it happen!

I struggled with everything I had, but it was completely futile! This wasn't working, and I would become one of them again!

A flare of hot coals erupted inside me and I found myself screaming in mixed emotions as my tail involuntarily whipped round and sliced all of the creatures in half. I could feel their lime-green blood spatter on my wings as they wrapped around me and the aliens all fell, dead, on the floor.

(Rachel's POV)

We stepped down onto the concrete of the Yeerk Pool floor and the first thing we saw was definitely not pretty. There were Hork-Bajir and other unmistakable alien races lying dead on the floor, blood pools forming around them, having died gruesome deaths.

There was a creature crouching in the middle of the perfect circle formed by dead aliens, neon blue wings wrapped tightly around its body like a shield, so we couldn't see what it really was. Visser Three was standing on the outside of the circle, looking terrified for someone with hardly any face.

(Jake…) I heard Cassie gasp in horror.

(I see it,) he replied, just as horrified. (What is that thing?)

(It appears to be a Gotika,) Ax offered, (But they are said to be a peaceful race, unable to do something so horrible unless under attack.)

(Well then I guess we know why it happened,) Marco said, (She didn't want to be a Controller, so she… well, you know…) he finished awkwardly.

"Yeah," I said, slinking into the shadows and morphing a grizzly bear. (Now what?) I asked no one in particular. Possibly Jake.

(Rachel, you go talk to James, while the rest of us hold off the Yeerks,) Jake answered.

(Got it,) I replied without argument, while the rest of them left to hold off the Controllers. I ran toward Jamie just as she stood up and unfurled her wings to reveal the real Gotika. This was the real Jamie? I had to admit, it was… impressive, at the least. I stopped when she did this, but I had no idea why. Maybe I was intimidated... funny.

When she spoke her voice was metallic, and rough. She was speaking to Visser Three. "I'll die before I let you kill the Andalite Bandits and take over the Earth!" she yelled, her metallic voice echoing throughout the area.

(Fool! Do you honestly think you can beat my species? We have been around so much longer than you can even imagine and we are stronger than anything you have ever encountered!) Visser Three screamed back at her. (And it does not matter what you do, because no matter what, I will find them! Do you understand?)

"Of course I understand! But I don't believe you!"

(Why--) he began, but she cut him off by yelling at him.

"Your arrogance will be your undoing!" she screamed. "I just killed five of your Hork-Bajir in half a second! You really think you're stronger than me? Try me!"

Oh no, bad move James. He'll pummel you with your own words! I thought desperately, moving forward to stop whatever was going to happen next. I had to be fast.

The Andalite screamed the Yeerk's rage and moved forward to kill her. He raised his tail to gain momentum, and brought it down in a flash, and I was completely unable to see it.

(Nooo!) I found myself screaming, and rushing forward to save her, but at the same time, I knew it was no use!