CHAPTER 25

Rachel

I was standing as still as I could, trying not to make eye contact with that human-Controller. If he recognized me, we were in big trouble.

Jake was at the front, facing the human-Controller. Cassie and Ax were standing some distance away, hopefully far enough away that the Controllers here wouldn't realize they were with us.

In private thought-speak, Jake said, Marco, call Susan. Tell her to hurry up and get out of–

That was when the ceiling split.

A massive hole opened in the top of the Yeerk pool dome. It went straight up, all the way to the surface.

And descending through the hole was a Bug fighter.

Three guesses who that is, Tobias muttered.

Marco, now, Jake ordered.

Got it, Big Jake, Marco said. Uh, Susan? he called in thought-speak that he was leaving open for all six of us, plus Susan. If you're going to get that Hunter out of there, now would be a very good time. Right now.

An instant later, we heard a thought-speak yell from inside the shed. Go!

And then two Hunters hurtled out of the shed. They looked like wolves, just with long, curved claws extending from the backs of their feet over their toes. One, Susan, was white-furred. The other was larger, and its fur was dark gray.

Susan hit one of the Hork-Bajir, knocking it off its feet. The other barreled past and slammed into the human-Controller, knocking him off his feet.

At 'em! NOW! Jake yelled.

We charged, blades flashing. I swung one arm, my wrist blade slicing open the throat of the first Hork-Bajir in my path. Susan sank her teeth into the throat of the Hork-Bajir she had knocked over and bit down, tendrils extending from her gums and sending the Hork-Bajir into spasms until it stopped struggling. The other two reached for their Dracon beams, but Jake, Tobias and Marco were faster. Both Hork-Bajir went down fast.

Remember me, Rasant? the second Hunter snarled in thought-speak. You invaded my brain. You took over my body and made me into a slave. The only consolation was that you felt the pain that I had been feeling, instead of me. But now I am free, and you are the one who is powerless. Now leave this human, or I will rip your host body's throat out and watch you die inside it.

The human-Controller's face worked desperately. Then his eyes twitched to the side.

And he laughed. His laughter rang out, long, loud and harsh.

"I haven't lost, Hunter," he said coldly. "You have." He indicated something behind us.

I turned.

About ten feet behind us were about twenty Hork-Bajir with Dracon beams leveled at us. There were also about two dozen Taxxons, gaping mouths snapping at the air as they stared at us, and the dead Hork-Bajir, with ravenous hunger in their eyes.

And standing behind them, instantly recognizable, was Visser Three.

This wouldn't be a contest. This would be a massacre, even with the two Hunters.

So, Visser Three said silkily, what do we have here? Another Hunter, and, of course, the Andalite bandits as well. This is just perfect.

You think you've won, Visser? Jake asked, keeping his voice cool and focused, trying to sound as much like an Andalite as possible.

Yes, Andalite, I think I have. I have all of you here now, plus another Hunter for my collection. With six Andalite host bodies and two Hunters, I'll be Visser One before the week is out!

That's what you think, Visser, the other Hunter snarled, one of his front paws still placed against the human-Controller's throat, his additional curved claws pressed against the skin.

Ah, 'Awkx Txepiva, Visser Three said. Such a proud warrior, but so terrified of being imprisoned, of losing your free will again. So weak, although you seem fearsome to anyone looking at you. Except me, of course. Me, and Rasant there, he said, indicating the human-Controller. Him, perhaps, even better than me, because he has actually been inside your brain.

The human-Controller, Rasant, smirked coldly and chuckled.

You won't win this, Visser, Jake said.

On the contrary, Andalite. I already have.

The other Hunter, Txepiva, snarled at Visser Three, but it was clear he knew we couldn't win.

Unless…

I spoke to Jake in private thought-speak that only the six of us, plus Susan, could hear. Jake, he doesn't know that Ax and Cassie are with us.

Right, Jake said. Ax, can you demorph without them seeing you?

Yes, Prince Jake. They are all focused on you. I think I can demorph without being seen if I do it fast enough.

All right, do it, Jake said. Cassie, you're with us. Attack when we do. Got it?

Yeah, I do, she answered.

I am demorphing, Ax announced.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Ax beginning to change, going from Hork-Bajir to Andalite. Cassie, meanwhile, was standing in a position that blocked any of the Yeerks from seeing Ax as he demorphed.

I have finished demorphing, Ax called.

And now, Visser Three was saying, you have two choices, Andalites. Either you can surrender, or you will–

NOW! Jake yelled.

We charged while Visser Three was still talking. At the same time, Cassie and Ax, now in his full Andalite form, sprang forward and hit the Yeerks from behind.

FWAPP! Ax swung his tail and removed a bladed Hork-Bajir arm that had been swinging towards him. Cassie parried a blow from a Hork-Bajir's wrist blade and slashed in retaliation, taking the Hork-Bajir down.

I sprang forward and slashed, splitting open a Taxxon down one flank.

"SKREEEEE!" it screeched, as its innards spilled out all over the ground. I turned and landed a kick with the talons on my feet, ripping open the abdomen of another Hork-Bajir.

Susan and Txepiva hurled themselves into battle. The human-Controller, Rasant, scrambled to his feet and hurried around the edge of the battle, towards the rest of the pool complex and safety.

Not so fast, Yeerk! Txepiva snarled.

And the gray Hunter jumped into the air, slammed his paws down atop a fallen Hork-Bajir, and hurled himself impossibly high into the air, soaring over the other Hork-Bajir and dropping down just a few feet away from Rasant.

And as the human-Controller turned and raised his Dracon beam to fire, Txepiva lunged forward, knocked Rasant off his feet, and sank his teeth into his enemy's throat.

Rasant's brief scream was abruptly cut off. Txepiva raised his head and snarled, the human-Controller's blood on his teeth, before he hurled himself back into battle.

The battle raged. Five Hork-Bajir, an Andalite and two Hunters against about two dozen Hork-Bajir and Taxxons.

But, sheltered behind his Hork-Bajir guards, Visser Three was morphing. Becoming some hideous alien creature that would kill us all.

We had to hit him in mid-morph.

Marco! I yelled. Let's go for the Visser!

On it! he yelled, taking down a Hork-Bajir who had been attacking him.

Marco, Susan, Txepiva and I broke free of the fight and charged towards the Visser and his Hork-Bajir guards.

Marco, Txepiva, you take on the guards, I snapped. Susan, let's take the Visser down.

Yes, let's, she agreed, her eyes turning yellow. Txepiva's were still black.

We charged. Marco and Txepiva slammed into the guards, engaging them head-on, while Susan and I headed straight for the Visser.

Unfortunately, some of the Hork-Bajir got in the way.

Susan leaped forward and knocked one of the Hork-Bajir off his feet, sinking her teeth into his neck. I slashed with my wrist blade, carving through the flesh of one Hork-Bajir's chest. He dropped, and I turned to take on the next one.

Meanwhile, Visser Three was still morphing. I didn't know what it was, but it was big, reptilian, dark-colored and had more arms than it should have.

I fought my way towards him, but I couldn't get close enough to strike.

Then the whole thing started falling apart.

AAAHHH! Marco yelled.

MARCO!

Marco and Txepiva were completely surrounded by Hork-Bajir. I saw blades slashing and heard a snarl followed by a cry of pain.

Marco! Susan screamed. She turned and hurled herself at the Hork-Bajir. She slammed into the nearest one and knocked him sprawling to the ground, sinking her teeth into the back of his neck. She sprang off the Hork-Bajir she'd just killed and launched herself into the group of Hork-Bajir attacking Marco and Txepiva.

But now Visser Three was fully morphed. And even as I watched, one of the Hork-Bajir slashed at Susan's flank and she staggered in a spurt of blood. Another pulled out a Dracon beam and pressed the barrel against her head.

Surrender, or she dies, Andalites, Visser Three hissed.

But as the Visser turned towards me, there was a blur of movement.

Like lightning, Ax leaped. His tail flashed as it struck, whipping the blade forward and pressing it against the morphed Visser's throat.

Tell them not to fire, Ax said coolly. If he pulls the trigger on that Dracon beam, I remove your head.

Everything stopped. The fight was frozen in place. Jake, Cassie and Tobias had been facing off against most of the Taxxons and the other Hork-Bajir. Now they stood facing their enemies, waiting for someone to make a move.

A standoff? Visser Three screamed. I won't allow this! I will not give up!

Then I will twitch my tail, and a moment later your head will hit the ground, Visser, Ax said, keeping his tail blade steady.

Txepiva was supporting Marco, who seemed barely able to stand upright. Blood was still flowing from a gash on his left flank, and his left arm hung nearly useless at his side from a slash on his shoulder.

Jake, what do we do? I asked.

Jake was clearly thinking as hard as he could of a way to get us out of this. Finally, he spoke. Ax, keep the Visser pinned down. Rachel, go help Txepiva with Marco.

What do we do then? Marco asked weakly. I can't demorph here. Not with all of them here.

We're going to get them to release Susan, Jake said, his voice even. Then we're slowly going to back off. Ax, you can catch up with us, right?

Yes, Prince Jake, Ax said, never taking his eyes off Visser Three.

Okay, Ax, you keep your tail blade against the Visser's throat while we back off. Once we've demorphed and remorphed to birds, I'll call you with thought-speak and you haul tail out of here as fast as you can. Got it?

Yes, Prince Jake.

I walked over to where Txepiva was supporting Marco. He placed his right arm on my shoulder to help support his weight, and we held him up as he limped over to the others. Jake, Cassie and Tobias quickly joined us. The Visser's Hork-Bajir and Taxxons didn't move. None of them were going anywhere as long as we had the Visser hostage.

Release the other Hunter, Ax ordered, pointing to Susan with one of his hands, while pressing his tail blade harder against Visser Three's throat.

Release her, the Visser hissed. The Hork-Bajir released his grip on Susan and lowered the Dracon beam. Susan dragged herself over to where we were standing.

Now what, Andalites? Visser Three asked, his voice cold.

Now, Jake said, we will leave. But to prevent your people from following us, our friend here will keep his tail blade pressed against your throat until we are far enough away. Do not try to follow us, or he will kill you.

To us, Jake said, Come on, guys. Follow me. Help Susan and Marco, and keep your eyes on the others. Ax, wait until we call you, and then run as fast as you can over here. Got it?

Yes, Prince Jake.

Ax? Have I mentioned don't call me prince?

Yes, Prince Jake, you have.

We started walking away, helping Susan and Marco, both of which were badly injured and barely able to stand up. Ax kept his tail blade pressed against the Visser's throat as the rest of us hurried away.

Once we were out of sight, we all demorphed except Txepiva.

Susan and Marco hugged as soon as they were both demorphed and their wounds were healed.

"Oh, boy," I said sarcastically as soon as my human mouth was back. "This is not the time, guys. We've got to get out of here."

"Right," Marco said, grinning sheepishly.

You are half human, child? Txepiva asked Susan.

"Yes," she answered. "My mother was human."

"Txepiva," Jake said, "do you have a bird morph?"

Yes, I do. A bird of prey, actually. A golden eagle. I hope that will suffice?

"It will most definitely suffice," Jake said, grinning. "Okay, everyone morph. Fast, fast, fast!"

We all began to morph. Tobias stayed Tobias, Jake morphed peregrine falcon, Cassie and Marco both morphed ospreys, Susan morphed Cooper's hawk, and I morphed bald eagle.

I also saw Txepiva morph, but watching him morph was odd.

Before my eyes, something that looked like a wolf was becoming a bird. A golden eagle, actually.

Once we were all fully morphed, Jake called out to Ax.

Okay, Ax, get over here. Run! As fast as you can!