Chapter 1
My name is Cassie.
That's it. Nothing more that'll help you find me. We can't trust you. We can't trust anyone.
I know it seems cruel, but we have to. You see, The Yeerks are among us. They are a parasite, like a flea or a tick. Instead of just taking some blood, they take your freedom. They take your body. They take total control.
I know. For a few hours, I was a controller. Fortunately, she took her old body back.
They are taking over Earth in secret. They are even hiding a huge Yeerk pool under our city. Of course, if you are one, you already knew that.
We're the only ones who resist them and actually win a few battles. Me, the animal nut, Marco, the comic, Jake, who's our leader, his cousin, Rachel, who is a fashion freak/warrior, and Tobias, our red-tailed hawk (and Elfangor's kid). Then there are the Andalites: Rae, the norm, Tashe, the one with the technology brains, Jekkal, the princess(as in rank), Ax, the aristh, and more recently, Alloran, who the only thing we know about him is that he was Visser Three's host, so he knows about Yeerk secrets.
More about me? Okay, picture a kid, about average height for me, wearing mismatched clothes covered in various animal poop, trying to get an angry wolf to take his pills.
Yeah. I'm basically a lot into animals, since my dad runs the Wildlife Rehabilitation Center, and my mom's head vet at the Gardens. So I learn a lot about animals, how to take care of them, and so on. So learning what they do or how they mate or whatever doesn't really gross me out too much.
That doesn't make fighting any easier.
Chapter 2
Doing fine, but remember, It's still your first time. You've a lot to learn.
I'm not used to this tail yet, all right? Ever since Tobias found out he was Elfangor's son, the others have tried to help out a bit. The Andalites even lined him up with an Andalite morph to use. It's what their human morphs are to us, except this time, You see bits of Rae, Tashe, and Ax in there.
It's smaller than Ax, since Tobias's younger, (I've no clue just how old Ax is, but older than we are.) But he still looks like any other Andalite. He's had some new things to deal with. I mean, there's the stalk eyes, the hooves, and the extra fingers. But the single biggest thing is the tail.
That's what they were working on. Jekkal was helping him get through the basics of tail fighting, but she was still going easy on him, acting like she was trying to teach a kid to read. I guess since Elfangor and Jekkal were dating before he died, she has to act like a stepmom to him. You could almost tell, even if you were just watching on the log like we were, and didn't know what each Andalite look was like.
Keep your eyes on mine. My main eyes! Keep contact with my main eyes, your stalk eyes on my tail. She sighed, Try not to concentrate so much. Only instinct can tell when to strike.
FWAPP! Tobias moved in on his target.
SHOOP! FWAPP! FWAPP!
Jekkal knocked the blade away, and threw two blows of her own. One was right in front of his stalk eyes, and the other stopped a millimeter from his throat.
Not bad. You're just lucky it'll only matter in fighting Hork-Bajir. She relaxed her tail. I'd only seen tail fighting done once, and it wasn't for too long. She turned away and ran into the forest. The others followed her. Tobias moved calmly over to a small maple.
FWAPP! He sliced the tree in half, then ran off in the other direction. I guess he wasn't feeling too good.
I morphed into wolf and ran off to catch him. Look, Tobias, it was just your first time. You can't expect to be perfect.
I know. But it still hurts. I mean, If things haven't been the way they were, you know, if all Semites fell to the Yeerks, if Visser Three never lost Alloran... We'd be in deep trouble. You heard what she said.
She was just trying to be a teacher. He started demorphing. The first thing that happened was that his arms transformed into wings, giving him that A Wrinkle in Time look. Then he shrank down, while his front legs withered away, so he didn't fall over. He stared back at me. Wow. That was cool, for the fact it just happens. He still had an Andalite head and tail, which disappeared in ten seconds, replaced by pure hawk.
Cassie...I can't really explain it. I mean, I've been through a lot lately. First I find out who my parents are, the Andalite morph, And now I'm... I don't know. I'm starting to look like you and Jekkal with this morphing. I'm serious. You should have seen it earlier today. He flew off.
What did he mean, look more like Jekkal and me? He should be glad! I mean, we were the best at morphing.
I met back up with the others at the outskirts. "Bird-boy's ticked?" Marco asked.
"No, just frustrated, That's all."
I headed back home, ate some dinner, did a little homework, all that was normal.
What happened next wasn't.
Chapter 3
Cassie?
I jerked. I know it's bad for security, but no one saw me do it.
Cassie?! It was Ax. We need you. Tobias got in a massacre!
I jerked open the window. "What?" I had to keep it down so my parents wouldn't hear.
There was this flock of crows that were going after Tobias's dinner and-
"Okay!" I quickly put my shoes back on and ran out. I saw a huge flock of crows attacking him.
Not trying to take his food. Attacking him. They were ripping feathers out like a lawn mower.
"Get away from him!" The crows stopped. Then they turned toward me.
"Woah!" I ran up for the barn. I tried to shut the door, but they were coming too fast! I grabbed the mucking rake and flung it around. That scared him off.
I went back out to Tobias and a now human Ax, cradling the bird in his arms. Tobias looked like one of those chickens you see at the grocery, mainly because he had every feather plucked out of him except around the head.
STUPID CROWS! I mean, I've had a mob of 'em try to steal a kill, but never pluck me! When I find that pack, I'm gonna... He waddled along to the barn, grumbling and cursing all the way. Ax decided he should head back out into the forest. I followed Tobias back to the barn. He went into one of the open horse stalls and morphed into a human. I showed him where there was an extra set of clothes.
"Something's wrong."
"Yeah. I try to get a decent meal and then five crows slam me during my dive. Then this huge cluster surrounds me and-"
"Wait! I thought Ax said they were coming to take your food."
"He came after I was on the ground and the second group came, so that's what he probably thought. "
"Okay, but that's off the subject. I'm talking about crows don't act like that."
"Maybe it's something new. I mean, there were too many for it to be a trick from you guys. And yet..."
You're right. It was too many. Raeolin flew overhead and roosted in the rafters. Tobias, I think I know who they were. There was a pack of wolves, twenty of them, and they were chasing me. I went down a mile in the river, they were paddling behind. I jumped out, tried every trick I had, they were still following. Then they stopped. One hour, fifty-five minutes after the ordeal started. I morphed to Merlin, and flew to here. That was thirty-five minutes ago.
"What does a pack of wolves have to do with the crows that plucked me?"
They are the same.
Chapter 4
"WHAT!?"
It's the only logical explanation. Before we got any further, I called over an emergency meeting. I figured this was big enough news, so everyone should be on alert. Everyone was in the barn, in some shape or form. The animorphs were in the barn, getting ready to fly off. Tobias and the Andalites were already in Canadian goose morph so not to bring about attention that we were a group. I had a female who was shot in the wing, so we all acquired her. Including Tobias, although she bit him for putting his wing on her. We left our clothes under one of the tack boxes.
The first change came suddenly, with out any warning.
SPROOT!
"Ahhh!" My neck suddenly shot up like a ladder. It was already covering in feathers, while my face bulged out to become the smooth head and beak. I had it so it was the first thing to change, but it was still creepy. I was a girl with a four-foot long neck and a goose head!
It was kinda cool. I could turn my head and bend my neck in almost any direction I wanted to!
Oh, no! Dad's coming! We ducked into the empty stall. The others were about halfway done and I was over the door when Dad came in.
He saw seven not-too-happy geese.
HONKHONKHONKHONKHONKHONKHONKHONK-
"HEY!" He ran out of the barn. I know we shouldn't have, but we needed privacy. And I didn't trust my dad not to look.
Are you done yet? Jekkal asked.
Sure. Let's fly.
We hopped along and flew out. We needed a morph that wouldn't be too susceptible, but also allowed a close watch.
The goose had okay senses. Good eyesight. Good nose. Low ground speed, but excellent flying. That V formation they do? Gives them great mileage.
So, what's up, Cassie? You didn't call us all here just for trying out a new morph. Jake said.
I wish it were. I think the Yeerks just flattened our chances of winning.
How? This time it was Rachel.
Remember when our biggest problem with the Yeerks was Visser Three, because of his morphing?
What does tha- Jekkal started, but ended up finishing her own question. They can morph!
WHAT?
That's impossible!
You're nuts!
It's the only thing that could make sense. She replied.
Hold it!Jake cried. He went down to an elm. Awww, man!
You don't think- Tobias remarked.
They found it! I demorphed and looked around for any sign of it. "It's gone! The blue box! It's gone!"
Chapter 5
How could it be any good? They can't morph. They would need one of us to do it. All it would do is stop us from passing it on to anybody else. Marco argued, still demorphing.
No. You remember, we had to give powers back to Alloran, because Cassandra didn't bring them along. Visser Three still had them, but they were useless. Now, if they do have the Escafil device, who knows how many Yeerks can morph. She almost seemed to have an edge of distress to her voice. She gave me a worried look, with a glare, as though it was all my fault.
But I thought the device-
"Nope. we found it again in an earlier mission. This was were we hid it."
So. we have about twenty morphing Yeerks around. I think we have to find out where the box is, get it back, and get rid of their morphers. Tobias summed.
"No. That box is the biggest weapon in the galaxy. They probably have it stashed up in the mothership , And you can bet they've given it to the Yeerk elite." Marco noted. Great. Our biggest power over the Yeerks was that we could morph. Now they could go do the same thing and we wouldn't be able to tell. Except they had a tendency to morph something in packs, since any single animal could be easily defeated by a tail blade.
"Okay. We'd better go scout out the situation in Semite morph. Big enough to fight, fast enough to escape. You guys need to stay as Andalites. Tobias, You can decide which one you want to morph. " I said.
I quickly made the changes, and ran out into the woods, looking for wolves, deer, or just anything that grouped together. There! a herd of deer. Except it was all males, and the antlers were unusually similar.
Guys, I said, trying not to attract attention.That's them. That herd of deer.
Are you posit-
WHUMPF! The leader (Very difficult to tell apart form the rest, except during the fight) Ran his antlers straight into Alli. Green blood oozed out of the wounds.
AHHHhhhh!the last part sounded like a whine, as though it sank into vital organs.
He's hurt! Jekkal rushed over to his side, seeing if there was any real damage besides puncture. Forget the deer! He needs help!
Serves him right. Jekkal sprang up and charged for the leader. Aximili charged, too. We closed in as backup, because we knew who it was. Even with the change in his voice, you could tell who he was.
Visser Three.
Chapter 6
You... you piece of filth! I'll make sure there isn't enough of you left to shoot with a dracon beam! Ax shouted. He has this pact of revenge that he has to kill Visser Three to make up for the Visser killing Elfangor.
Unfortunately, They weren't getting the chance. Deer move just as fast as Andalites, maybe more. So not only could they keep out of range, but they also went in antlers first, which didn't have the vital spot we needed.
I said it before, forget the deer! Alloran'll die if he doesn't get attention now! Jekkal shouted, the others turned on her signal. I think Jekkal is kinda like Jake in these situations, shooting out orders like a machine gun.
We hurried over and picked him up at different sections. I kept his upper body high so blood wouldn't be so much there. But I could see one of the hearts losing blood. At least I think it was a heart. I guess Andalites have more than one. It would make sense.
Great, I said to myself, holding him up won't do a thing if his heart is hurt.
I ran out to a small clearing. The Andalites' campsite, actually. I laid him down on his side and sent Jake to get the tools and bring them here. Actually, I would've gone, but Jekkal said she might need my help understanding human medical supplies.
You might not want to see this. She sent the others away.
"Jekkal, what's going on? I could've gotten the supplies and still helped you."
No. I need immediate help keeping this heart from losing all the blood. Most doctors aren't estreens for nothing.
"What?"
Listen. There's a special extra chromosome that not only gives estreens their talent, but also as a sealer in surgery. It's too subtle for humans to tell, and too little of it for me to seal alone. I need the extra energy, Cassie, along with your help. She grabbed my hands tight, over the unconscious Alli. Focus. Let everything else slip from your mind.
It felt... strange. That's the only word for it. For a minute, I could swear I saw the little jolt, like a tiny needle, patch up the wound. Even with my eyes closed, I could still see.
Thank you.
I opened my eyes again. The heart was pumping normally, with only an inch-long scar where the cut was.
Jake showed up out of the bushes, carrying the case my dad keeps in the pickup. "Well? Is he okay?"
"We still have to patch these wounds and make sure there's no infection. Now pass me the gauze." I checked around for anything else, but there really wasn't much to it. I woke Alli up after I bandaged him up so it looked like he was wearing a tank top, to put it in easy-to-understand terms.
Alloran? Are you okay?
Am I okay? You're asking the Andalite who lived with a Yeerk in his head for twenty-one years, who dealt with the horrors on the Hork-Bajir world, am I okay?
He has his sarcasm back. That's a good sign. Tobias fluttered down to us, having demorphed already.
Chapter 7
Hold still! This is a precision cut, and I don't want you to need another bandage. It had been one week since our run-in with the deer. We would have struck back sooner, but Alli had his wounds. Besides, we couldn't think up a decent idea anyway.
Figures. I've been through everything else in this war. May as well get the medical bit over with. after she cut the bandages off, we all headed for the barn and tried to decide what to do next.
"Do like we did with the Pemalite crystal. Bust in, grab it, get out." Rachel suggested.
"No way. We almost ended up dead that time. How about Tobias does that Yeerk morph of his-"
I am not doing that morph again! sneered Tobias just as a little white drop landed on Marco.
"Yuck!"
"Good one." Rachel, of course.
Personally, what's wrong with the original method? Find that little band of Conmorphs, get rid of them, and grab the box?
Good in theory, but not reality. You forget, we tried that one and almost got Alloran killed. Aximili spoke up. Actually... I do have a plan. The way I see it, they would be keeping the Escafil device up in the mothership. We could morph known controllers, try to pass for them, and bring the box back here were we can hide it. They would also have some idea of where the "Conmorphs" are posting base.
"That doesn't sound too bad at all." I mused. It seemed easy enough.
"So. We find our little band, get some morphs, and hope we can steal that box." Jake summed.
If it was that simple.
Chapter 8
They're camping out in the blade ship? Tobias pondered at the sight. Yeerks don't exactly like to rough it, do they?
I don't think most of them would mind. But Visser Three would. Jekkal noted.
Great. We need to knock out at least ten Conmorphs, go find the blue box, and get back under the limit and without being found out. Fine. As long as it's nice and simple. Marco joked. At least, I think it was a joke. Very dry humor.
That group of Hork-Bajir looks like they're getting some dinner. Do you guys think we could knock them out?
Will this work? Jekkal flew by us, dracon beam in foot. We were all in bird of prey morph, outside of the small clearing.
Perfect. Let's go. Rachel was the biggest, so she had the job of aiming it on stun to stop the Yeerks. Ten minutes later, There were twenty Hork-Bajir, ten in red uniforms, the other half unconscious.
A blue-yellow head peered through the bushes, "Come back now. We need to dock with the mothership in ten minutes." Visser Three sneered. We marched into the blade ship, no one the wiser about what would happen next.
"Well? Get to your station, idiot!" he turned for the bridge. Then he stopped, and turned for me again, this time, fangs open. "Andalite!"
Yikes! I snapped for the floor, giving the Visser plenty of room to fly over me.
I tried to head back for the way out, but I was confused. Which way?
I was in a three-way corridor. One would lead the way out. The other would take me deeper into the blade ship.
Left!
I ran, Dracon beams at my heels. I saw an engine, along with what looked like a ship's dracon beam. I saw it.
The blue box!
I groaned. There were almost a dozen Controllers that would be here in two minutes and I'd just found the blue box. How was I going to get out?
Oh.
I needed to do the change quickly. If any of the Yeerks saw me, I was toast. See, they think we are a group of Andalite guerrillas. If they ever found out we were kids, they'd have us in a heartbeat.
I waited for them to come.
And I hoped the Visser was with them.
Chapter 9
Now, normally I wouldn't want the Visser with them, but he would know what I had become. He would keep them back, or if I was lucky, bargain with me so I could grab the box and go.
I looked to the entrance. Nine Hork-Bajir and ten Semites (the Visser being one of them,) surged into the engine. My friends had decided to play along and act like normal controllers. When they entered, what they saw wasn't a wolf, a Semite, or any fearsome species.
They saw a skunk.
For about ten seconds everyone stared at me, then broke out in laughter. The Semites sounded like a clique at school with a higher pitch. The Hork-Bajir laughter was harsher. They tried to hold it in for a few seconds, since the Visser was not laughing, but they couldn't help it.
"What are you laughing about?"
"Vi-he-he-he-sser, You told us this was a tough Andalite, and he-sspe hemphh! I eat those for breakfast! He-emphh!" She was obviously trying to stop, but it wasn't working.
"Quit laughing! And he's more dangerous than he looks." That shut everyone up. But I could still hear small snickers running through the crowd.
Quite. Visser, you know what this body can do. Now let me leave with the device or I will use it.
His eyes narrowed dangerously to my threat. I could see the impact it made on him. His muscles relaxed. Hie eyes almost left a stare of mercy, but it was halfway impossible. "Fine. But I warn you, once you step out of this ship, we liftoff. If you're not away from the discharge by then... "
We walked away from the engines. I turned off for the exit, One of the Hork-Bajir staying behind with me so I got off. But he was still worried. Close one, Cassie. Jake replied, Very close. I waddled, with the box on my back, to the exit, followed ten seconds later with eight more Hork-Bajir running down the hall. One scooped me up.
C'mon! We gotta blow! Rachel replied. We ran out the door, making sure I was the last one to leave. We were about twenty feet away when the ship flew off. Jekkal was demorphing and Tashe was checking the box to see if there were any bugs.
He peeled off something on one side of the cube and sliced it into pieces with his other wrist blade. Okay. It's safe.
We had already left the uniforms behind and draconed them. As it turned out, the trip to the mother ship was for Kandrona rays, so the Hork-Bajir were free. The Andalites directed them over to Haven, while the rest of us went home.
"Okay, so we didn't get rid of the Conmorphs, but we took down half of them. And we stole the box, so they can't make more. " Jake summed.
"Good enough for me. Today, anyway." I muttered.
"Maybe so, but we still have ten to deal with. Including the Visser. How are we gonna do that? Plus, those Hork-Bajir still have the power and those morphs. Do we help them use them, or not?"
I say we don't. They're a peaceful species. They don't need to get in this war any further then they already have, unless they wanted to. And to answer your first question, you handle the other nine. Ax'll see to the Visser personally.