Part one
Chapter 1
My name is Tobias.
I don't know what's going on now. It seems like I can't expect anything to be right. That I'm sleeping in a good tree. That Haven's only an hour away. That is, If Haven still exists.
It started when we were walking through the construction site where we met Elfangor for the first time.
And the last. After he gave us the morphing power, Visser Three, the only Andalite-controller, came and killed him. We've been fighting the Visser since then, and I always felt like I was doing it for Elfangor. Taking his place. Finishing what he began.
You have no clue how right that last sentence was. About six months later, I had this dream. I guess it was from that first night, when I got information from him. It finally made sense. Found out he was my dad. Since, I've gotten an Andalite morph, and even adopted an Andalite name.
Yeah, I know Tobias-Sirinal-Xertos sounds a little weird at first, but I've gotten used to it. Besides, Jekkal says Xertos means 'on wisps of wings.' It's usually meant to mean a dreamer, but I think it still fits.
So anyway, that's me. Now the others. Jake is basically our fearless leader, Rachel is..., well, she's cute, but she's also the first one to go into a fight. Marco isn't exactly one of my favorites, but he's definitely come in handy. Cassie is the sensitive one, and our main outlet into morphs. Ax, our Cinnabon-chomping aristh, and probably one of our best sources. Jekkal is an Andalite doctor, and a lady warrior, so she knows how to handle herself. Rae is a fighter pilot, so he hasn't been one of the biggest helps. Alli was just freed from the Visser by Cassandra, so we don't know how he acts (except me- I have access to dad's memories) but we expect for him to have information on the Yeerks. Casten... well, I never really learned much about him.
Anyway, being a hawk isn't as bad as you think. No bullies (except for golden eagles), no need for admission price if I want to see a baseball game, the best eyesight in the world, and my wings. I mean, how many kids get the chance to fly?
Well, flying was how it started. I was up in the air, checking out the ground like I usually do. See, while the others are at school and the Andalites are doing their things, my job is to find new entrances to the Yeerk pool. That way we can get a feel for how big it is, and how to tell which people are controllers. We used to get our way in from there, but now we can't.
This time, the problem wasn't on the ground.
Chapter 2
I focused on the sky, but I didn't see...no, wait,... there was a ripple in the air. I would've thought it was a bug fighter, but too small and maneuverable. And there were lots of them.
Dust started to appear, and it showed what looked like Semites playing, They were sort of like Cassandra, with the one color, but they were different. There was a red one, a blue one, orange, green, yellow, purple, black.
The red and blue were winged, orange and yellow had arms, green and purple had legs, but the black one had a body I hadn't seen before. He had legs, but the arms - or at least the forearms - stuck out of the wings. He couldn't really use his arms too well to play, or he'd fall like a stone.
A pack of Semites, playing around in the air like they were dolphins.
What are you doing?!? They ignored me, chasing each other by the tail. Get out of the sky! Everyone can see you!They dove down.Okay, That'll d-
Cassie!
Get away from her! Veer off! She's not prey!
I chased the last one down, hoping maybe I could distract them.
"Tobias! what are y-"
WHAM!
I hopped up, dazed. Sorry.
"Why'd you go and ram me like that?"
Okay, there was this group of Semites diving in on you and-
"I haven't seen a Semite in days. And always in Haven."
Fine. I hope the Center takes insane birds, then.
I flew back into the forest, hoping maybe I could forget my troubles in the form of a plump rabbit. A golden eagle was flying overhead, which took some of the fun out.
Oh, no.
Tobias, I told you I swore off birds, remember?
Nothing against you getting some crows or jays with me. Phew. It was only Alex.
Alex was this bird that could use thought-speak. That was useful when the Semites kept a global net around the world. Now all he did that was special was talk, since the Semites decided to stay here. At least he doesn't take a shot at me.
Um, Alex? You know a lot about Semite culture, right?
I oughta. Why?
Well, I saw seven Semites flying around. They were like Cassandra, but in different colo-
WHAT?!
I say something dirty?
No, no, but... Oh man, I hope I'm right on this!
What?
If you weren't lying, there's a ruckus over an egg in Haven!
Chapter 3
What's this about an egg in Haven?
You saw Guardians. They only show up if there's something so bad that we need their help, or if we just need protection. Seeing as we haven't spotted any English Dragons around, it's gotta be an egg.
You didn't understand my question: What's with the egg?
Well, they don't consider it a big deal if just any egg was about to hatch, but Cassandra's... I think at that moment my jaw was going to drop to the ground and go five miles further. If it could.
I made a nosedive into Haven, then flared. Everyone was concentrated in about a five-yard radius, mainly because Cassandra took up a lot of the room.
She needed to.
Who's in there?
I wouldn't be able to tell right away, but I think the temperature's about male.
Congratulations, It's a prince!
"You think so?" She cocked her head up to me. She also moved away a wing, revealing the quivering sack.
Wow. So, who's the dad? Almost as I said it, a legged Semite, blue and yellow, showed up.
"He is."She spoke, pointing a finger at the newcomer. Five merlins flew thorugh the gaping hole at the roof, a giltter with some of last week's leftover snow.
Tobias? Are you sure you're all ri-... Oh my. Jekkal said, with a wavering tone in her thoughts. I didn't even think she was old enough.
"Show's how much you know about Semites."
We decided to stay for a few minutes, then head back to tell the news to the others. But before I left, one thought stuck back out at me. Cassandra, do you know anything about some Semites called Guardians?
She fainted. Right then and there.
Chapter 4
Wake up! Wake up!
"S-sorry. It's just that I never thought anyone... and certainly not a hawk... Would ask me that question."
Well, what's with the Guardians?
"They're my father Dione's siblings. You see, when the royalty was first established among Islanders, there were eight in the litter. Not uncommon among Semites at the time to have so many at once. They all had the single color mark, one for each color of the spectrum, black, and white. They were all unique for this, but the black one, Seramea, was the first... or I guess only... Demont, for his arms in his wings.
The others all took one aspect or the other that was normal. Dione was a pack, or as you put it, winged, Semite. And you obiously saw what the others were." I nodded, and she continued with the story.
"They were considered above the others and would rule when they all turned fifteen. Unfortunately, some terrorists never let it happen."
What did?
She seemed to choke on the last words, yet they came out smoothly. "They murdered them. All except for my father, who only by a stroke of fate was saved. He claimed that Seramea helped him hide in a cave, then died. The smell of rotting flesh made the plotters discard the thought that he was still there. After they found out what had happened, Dione was made the first king. I have long since taken his role."
So? This is what, ten, twenty years ago?
She sneered at me. "Two hundred, for your information! It's been a delicate topic since the incedent, and I'll have you know it's no little matter." I backed off instinctively. Cassandra never sneered at anybody, no matter how much they ticked her off. Not even Visser Three.
Don't worry about it. Everyone gets cranky guarding an egg. Alex comforted. I almost forgot he was still there.
Thanks. I flew off to grab lunch. It was more difficult, since the winter drew most rodents to hiding, but the leafless trees helped me.
I tried to get an early nap. It was totally the wrong time of day, but I needed a retreat to hide from the snow. I also had plans tonight.
I morphed to human, pulled out the small bag of clothes I always kept in the forest, and headed out towards Rachel's house.
No big deal, I thought, Just go to ring the year in.
VEEEROOOO! VEEEOOOOOO!
"Stop!" I jerked my hed around to find a police wagon right behind me.
"Son, you're under arrest."
"For jaywalking? I thought you guys only gave tickets for that." I knew the routines- seen them from the sky long enough.
"No. According to this report, you were involved in a smuggling ring with illegal aliens, and if you're who I think you are, not having a legal guardian."
I was pushed into the back. The other Animorphs were there. I couldn't do anything. Not here.
KLANGG! Click.
"Jake, what the heck is going on?" I hissed. For all I knew, they were taping this.
"I don't know about what's going on, but when my mom hears about this, she is gonna sue the pants off them for false arrest." Rachel said. her mom's a lawyer.
"No Miranda rights... I doubt it'll get that far."
"You're right, Bandit. This won't hit the police records. In fact, this arrest never even happened as far as your lives are concerned."
"Bandit? You were calling us smugglers earlier."
"Both, then." He sneered. "It's illegal to keep Andalites."
Chapter 5
I watched helplessly, barred by the harness, as the second policeman stared in delight at us. "Which one is Jekkal? I've been wanting my revenge and host."
We kept silent. As long as we didn't act different than we usually acted around the Visser, he wouldn't think of us being humans.
"Come, come now. I know you're humans. You think I didn't steal the blue box just to use the morphing power? I remember that Andalites keep their Hirac Delest in there. Every memory your father ever had, Tobias, was in there. And now it's finally paid off. I'm keeping that promise I made. I belive you remember, about the infestation?" A chill went through my spine. No, he couldn't have found it. No, he coundn't have known. No. No. NO!
"It will be more difficult finding your comrade Aximili from your memories. But when I do, I'll practically be on the Council of Thirteen. I'll find where you've hidden all those escapees. And don't think the others are okay. I've seen Jekkal here. She has to be one of you. How many others? If you tell me now, I may only take one bandit."
"You're not going to get away with this." Jake leered.
"An empty threat, Jake. I already have. In fact, I seem to remember your brother Tom identified you at the last meeting. The arrangmets have been set. After this ride, we'll be in the Yeerk pool. My lieutenents are waiting." He turned his head toward me. "Or at least five of them are. Because of you, my best laid plans have been ruined countless times. Another Andalite host? Alloran is too old to be of much help. I know Aximili is an idiot with his tail blade. And I would get much more satisfaction from you than any of the others."
"Don't bet on it." As the words spewed out, my beak came in alarmingly. I switched over to thought speak. You'll never get that filthy slug body in me. Never!
"I don't think so. The pool's been at top security for three days already. There's no way you can escape. And I want a morphing body back. Thanks to your friend Jekkal, we had to leave our old ones, since they were too young to be any good."
I was demorphing at top speed. Unfortunately, the harness shrunk with me.
"Not a good idea. Those primitive restraints were made with ramonite. I can make them adjust to whatever body is in there." he shut the little door on us.
"Now what? We obviously can't get out, and I don't think Visser One is going to get us out of this mess." Marco complained.
We have to!
"Tobias's right. We need to find some way to get out before we end up on the pier." Jake noted.
Besides that. He was talking about those Hork-Bajir we helped, and Haven. We can't let him find those places. Especially not now.
"How come?"
I sighed. Not really, of course. Birds can't sigh. Cassandra's got an egg. Even if we gave them fair warning, She couldn't leave. And I'm really the only one who knows where the valley is for the Hork-Bajir. I sent out a new call. Jekkal! Rae! Tashe! Alli! Ax!
What?
Ax, do you remeber where the valley is?
Where Jara and Ket are located? I think so.
Go and get them outta there!
Why? The Yeerks think they're dead.
Ax, listen. We were captured. When the Yeerks do find out... go warn them! Send Alli to Haven. The rest try and follow the police wagon, so there might be a chance.
That's suicide! Tashe said. You can't be serious!
It's too late. They know we're human.
Chapter 6
"Just a few more minutes." The Visser announced.
Okay, we're in fly morph, and hanging on to the vehicle's back. We'll demorph in the dropshaft, assuming there is enough clearance to do so. Jekkal stated.
Bump-pah! Bump-pah!
"Okay, that must be the dropshaft." Jake said. "Everything all right?"
Jake wants to know if you guys are still there.
Yes. Proceeding to demorph... No!
What?!
We were outside of the drop shaft! Lousy fly eyes.
"Awww, man."
Try to get into battle morphs in here. Maybe there's enough room.
"No good. We'd still fit inside the harness, which means we couldn't do any good. and when we morphed back to human, they'd have us." Marco explained.
"You just going to give up ?" Jake said in that low, silky voice he uses when he gets mad.
"No, I want out of here as much as Birdboy does. And he definitely wants out."
I'll vouch for that.
I started to morph back into human. There were advantages and disadvantages to each body. As a hawk, I could read a book a thousand yards away. As a human, Id be able to hold that book and have something tasty, but not see stuff that's far away. I wanted to see if I could undo the straps.
"Where's the buckle?" I asked, quivering.
"I never thought there was one." Cassie answered.
CHA-KLANG!
A Hork-bajir stood guard as the Semite yanked me out of the car. The buckles broke away.
"Let go of me!"
"Famous last words, Tobias."
Chapter 7
I tried to run, but the Semite-controller held me in place as Visser Three shuffled over.
"NO!" Too late! The Visser was right next to me to and already making the transfer.
I was losing myself. Losing myself over to a slug. I kept screaming No, no, but I couldn't stop the onslaught. He was forcing himself into me, taking my body. My mind.
I almost got this flash of myself, having done the same thing about two months ago.
"Well, this should speed up infestation." I recognized the words. I reconigzed the voice. They were mine. But they weren't.
It was the Visser's. I was just a little fragment of my own brain, paralyzed from the world.
Heh, heh, heh. My, you certainly are quite an interesting host. And such information! Almost reminds me of Alloran. Except much simpler, yet more complex.
This isn't over yet. I'll still win. And you'll be no more than another dead pieice of filth.
Really? You think your pitiful band of Animorphs can stop me? Your Andalite friends? Never. You're too valuable to both sides. How would you put it? Oh, yes. Checkmate.
I held still for a few seconds. I needed to try and figure out what made him tick. what weakness still laid within him.
You'll find nothing. No weakness except for my morphing. And we both know that doesn't matter. Within the hour my little array of lower Vissers will be enjoying your friends. In fact, I think that's Visser Twenty-Four getting ready to unload now.
I saw Tavi-Lek, or at least I think it was Tavi-Lek, being led to the pier. His wrists were shackled and he was being led by a chain. What's with the-
Restraints after unloading. The little upstart is quite an ordeal without them. Might even escape, if they weren't there. The Visser doesn't like having to do that, of course. But he only wears them for a few minutes.
I saw the scene. It was fairly calm, that is, until Visser Twenty-Four was out.
"HAAAARRRRRIAHHHH!" Tavi-Lek lashed out, trying to escape through the cavetop. But the leash held him down. He flared, trying to melt the chain, but it didn't even glow. He kept pulling up, until two more Hork-Bajir bought him down and threw him into a seperate cage. Tavi-Lek kept trying to melt the cage, but it never wavered.
"Get the next host ready." I - he - waved my hand dismissivly to the Semite who held me earlier, ready and quite anxious to grab one of the others.
The Visser chose that moment to demorph. It was weirder than usual. Because I wasn't the one doing it. I watched from far away, my arms flatten out into wings. My legs grew thin and my toes were melding into talons again.
When "I" was back to red-tail, I could clearly see who was now being dragged out to the infesting pier.
RACHEL!
Oh, this is good. This is very good.
You, you ....! At that moment I was almost glad the others couldn't hear me, because I was using words that aren't exactly nice.
I tried to look away. I wasn't about to see what they were doing. Unfortunately, I couldn't control whether or not I saw, because Visser Three chose to. And he was not through taunting.
No! Please!
What? The brave little Birdboy can't stand an infestation? He morphed again, this time into Andalite. He preferred his old body back. Even if it was just a morph, he preferred it. Ah.
I peered through again, this time seeing a perfectly calm Rachel. Except it wasn't Rachel anymore.
Now, the leader.
Chapter 8
I kept trying to break free of the Visser as my friends were infested one-by-one, but I always lost. Now they were all doomed to the same fate I had. I didn't catch all of the other's names so I'll-
For your information, Visser Twenty-Four is in Marco, Thirteen is in Jake, Seven has Cassie, and Nineteen controls Rachel.
Whatever. A Yeerk is a Yeerk.
Maybe so. But I'm the Yeerk inside you. I'm the Yeerk inside one of the most wanted soldiers in the galaxy. And I'm the only Yeerk with a tail blade again. For now.
I saw this sequence, It was clear, yet had a few details left out. He saw himself, in hawk morph, watching in delight as he saw the infestation on the mother ship for other Vissers. His little squadron wasn't about to give up my friends yet.
Talk about an ego.
And why not? When you're as powerful as I am, in the Yeerk Empire, there's no reason why I can't.
Don't bet on it, Visser.
"Visser Thr-... I mean Tobias?" Visser Thirteen said. "We need to go topside soon. Someone might get suspicious if we stay away long."
Agreed. The Visser morphed my body into human, and put back on the clothes I lost with morphing.
"That should be the theatre exit, if I'm not mistaken." Visser Nineteen pointed out. Then she spasmed. "Get out of me!"
Yesss!
Don't celebrate yet. Simple host rebellion. We'll be able to calm her down soon enough.
Her? I struck!
I had gained control! I 'd run up the staircase, reach Ax, have him and the others hold me for three days, and get this filthy slug o-
Ahhhh!
Hah. Haha and also ha. No one has ever defeated a Yeerk. Not from the inside, anyway.
You'll never win, just the same.
Oh? Alloran thought so, too. But I beat him down.
And he escaped.
Yes, but your morphs are too good. Even if the thief could steal you away too, not only would I have an excellent body left, but you'd also be trapped again. As a hawk.
I've been one for over half a year, any more time won't make a difference.
"It doesn't matter."The Visser sneered as he boarded the dropshaft. "It won't ever matter again."
To be continued...