Jake
I woke up early, relieved to have slept at all. My brain was racing. Marco would have appreciated the irony of my thoughts. Here we were, about to undergo a series of bizarre mutations in order to kidnap an alien, thus allowing us to save the planet, and I actually felt that we were getting back to normal.
Morphing, fighting yeerks, and facing death were normal to all six of us. Leading a Presidential Task Force through three days of boardroom meetings was downright unnatural.
In the back of my mind I kept worrying that it was all a trap. They were all Yeerks, and now they had us; I had finally lost the game. Despite all the evidence I had presented, I still marveled at the fact that the President had believed me. Yet I had morphed the Leeran. I had seen into his mind. That was one doubt I could push aside, although I would remain cautious. Today was the day of Alloran's liberation; There was plenty of real danger to ponder.
I could have grabbed another half-hour of sleep, but instead I wandered around the White House and gathered my thoughts. Only Cassie had a Yeerk morph, which meant we were forced to either risk exposure or break our rule about using human morphs. I had already used Leeran morph recently, and I hated crossing that line. Ax had the ability to alter his own human morph, and he had taught Marco as well. I had Tom's permission. So, it was just Rachel and Tobias who had to break our policy. Somehow, that failed to make me feel better. Morphing humans, using human bodies without permission, was too close to what the Yeerks did. Different. Not as bad. But over the line.
I looked up at the portrait of Lincoln. The Great Emancipator. He had ended human bondage forever, or so we had thought.
George Washington looked down at me from a different wall. He had won his war, with only a handful of poorly equipped men, and in doing so had given democracy a chance. That he had succeeded against such odds had given me hope over the years.
Other presidents occupied the walls as well. I had studied all of them. I knew their strengths, their weaknesses, their successes, and their failures. I had read their speeches. I had studied their decisions. It had become an obsession of mine, to study the lives and careers of leaders throughout history. I read about them all; the great leaders, the infamously unsuccessful leaders, and those who had been merely adequate. There had been lessons to be learned from every one of them. And I knew that every lesson I had learned from another man's life would potentially save me from learning it the hard way myself.
The cruel irony was that for security reasons, I had no choice but to hide my knowledge and deliberately miss questions on history quizzes. I was an average student before this war, and that meant I could not afford to suddenly look like a history buff. Of all the injustices in this war that was certainly the smallest; it would make an entertaining story for the grandkids someday.
Grandkids. How I hoped that someday I'd have grandkids, and that they would live in a free and peaceful galaxy. Today the future freedom of Earth depended on my success.
I heard a sound, and turned to find Cassie approaching. Words weren't necessary. I hugged her, and we walked together to the morning meeting.
Tobias
Ax and I had shared the last watch shift, so we were the last ones to arrive at the meeting. It was just the eight of us; the Animorphs, Erek, and Tom. Besides us, only the President knew the objective of the day's mission, and even he didn't have the details. That Jake had managed to enforce such a strict 'need to know' policy here that he had essentially pulled rank on the President was almost unbelievable to me. I always knew Jake was a natural leader, but the last few days I had been tempted to follow Ax's example and call him my Prince.
Jake wasted no time in starting.
"Erek and Tom, you will remain with the President at all times until we return. If the Yeerks get to him, we need to know immediately, so we can switch to plan B."
Jake handed a dracon beam to his brother. "Tom, do whatever you can to see that an attack is not successful, and that no Yeerks return from such a mission with news of failure. But do not risk getting captured. You know too much."
No one mentioned how little a chance Tom would have under such circumstances. I knew Jake wasn't happy with the situation, but he couldn't risk infiltrating the Yeerk pool with less than our full force. Besides, if the White House was the focus of a Yeerk attack, an Andalite defense would compromise security; the Yeerks would know that their activities were exposed.
"I think the odds of Yeerk activity here are microscopic, since it would risk compromising their security and accomplish very little, but I don't want to be caught unprepared."
"That's our Jake. Always be prepared like a good little Boy Scout," Marco joked. The unnatural sense of formality was broken.
"I've always admired their motto," Jake replied evenly, "Now, people, we have work to do."
"Let's do it!" Rachel responded with genuine enthusiasm.
Rachel
We were flown to Area 51 by the same Air Force commander that had fetched Marco's parents. Jake fussed about whether the Yeerks would catch wind of the increased air traffic at the secret base.
"Increased traffic?" I asked incredulously, "Jake, they can't possibly notice two flights!"
"Well, the Yeerks might not notice directly. But what if someone at Area 51 makes a comment..." Marco stopped mid-sentence, "No, I guess those guys aren't really the type for gossip. Sorry, Jake, I'm with Xena on this one. I don't think we have to worry."
(Besides, we have enough to worry about) Tobias added.
"A little bit of caution never hurt anyone," Cassie countered.
Jake settled the matter. "We're meeting the Chee at Crazy Helen's; we're leaving the base in flea morph; short straw plays taxi. We morph before we land. If anyone is at all suspicious, at least they won't see six birds."
I rolled my eyes as Jake held out a fistful of pretzel sticks. Not that I'd argue with his order; Jake's caution had kept us alive for years.
"Please, Jake, tell me we're using bird-taxi, not dragonfly-taxi," Marco groaned. We rarely used the dragonfly for flea transport duty. Positioning five fleas on an insect wasted too much precious time.
"Don't worry, Marco, there's too much ground to cover for dragonfly," Jake assured him.
I drew the short straw.
"You'll have to go seagull..."
"I'll have to go seagull..."
"Jinx on you both!" Marco cried with childish delight, "And now that our fearless leader is stricken mute, I order us all to the beach."
Everyone laughed nervously. Marco had told a bad joke, and now it was my line. "Let's do it!"
I flew to Crazy Helen's, noticing just how little garbage there was at the military base. Our Chee contacts were buying tee shirts:
"Aliens are among us!"
(Marco, you'll like this: The Chee are buying alien conspiracy tee-shirts.) I informed my passengers.
(Any other signs of life down there?) Jake asked.
(All clear. I can fly right in their car window.) I answered.
(Prince Jake, the vehicle may be a hologram; I'd advise caution.) Ax warned.
(Hey, caution is my middle name!) I responded, not waiting for Jake's routine objection to Ax's use of the royal affectation.
I wanted to dive recklessly through the open window, but I restrained myself. Gulls don't dive; gulls are more casual, and I needed to be inconspicuous. I landed, then fluttered up to the window.
(We're in.)
Cassie
Once the Chee had us safely on the highway, we demorphed. Everyone was very quite. Rachel was visibly chafing at the bit to get to the action. Jake looked thoughtful, no doubt running possible scenarios through his head, trying to make sure all the bases were covered. Ax was probably worrying over Alloran's cooperation as if he were personally responsible for the old prince's behavior.
I was more than a little worried about Alloran's state of mind myself. I was going to be inside his head, unwilling witness to every horrible memory, every dishonorable thought, every painful longing for home. Worse yet, I had no choice but to take complete control of that tortured soul. I could not allow him free will until we had him alone; I would be using Alloran as my slave just as the Visser had.
"OK. I don't like it any more than you, but we've all acquired different people over the years. Use them. Cassie? It's time." Jake was already morphing his brother as he gave the orders.
I began to shrink, and my entire body oozed a noxious slime. I couldn't breathe. Forcing down my revulsion, I raced through the unpleasant morph. Jake/Tom reached down and picked me up. I would travel to the Yeerk pool in a ziplock bag.
(Don't forget, we can all use thoughtspeak while in morph, even human morph. Take advantage of that.)
With that final reminder, we headed for Hell on Earth, the Yeerk Pool. I was blind and deaf, trapped in a sandwich bag, and I was the lucky one. Jake's thoughtspeak reassured me. Five Happy Meals had been ordered, one at a time, with extra happy. One at a time, we entered the walk-in freezer and descended the metal staircase.
Rachel, Tobias, Marco, and Ax all found hiding places. They morphed Hork Bajir, and waited. Jake and I headed for the Visser's private Kandrona. I couldn't hear what was happening around me, but I knew Jake was following Tom's instructions to the letter as he played his part.
(The Visser is already feeding,) Jake told me. (Either I'm late or he's early. Here we go.)
I felt Jake's hands around my slimy body. With a soft plop, I fell into the small pool. I was alone with the Visser. He was unaware of my presence. I don't know how long it was before there was a disturbance in the pool. Then Jake spoke again.
(The Visser is dead.)
More silence.
(I sent the Hork Bajir guards to fetch Alloran. You need to move quickly to get to the briefing room. We're short on morph time.)
I mentally shuddered at the thought of being trapped as a yeerk. Then it was time. My yeerk body sensed Alloran's head being thrust into the pool. As I entered his ear, I could tell he was unconscious. I touched his mind. He woke up and struggled. Gaining control was much harder than I expected. This slave had not given up the fight.
(Weakening, Esplin?) Alloran thought hatefully, (I'll win one of these days.)
(Esplin is dead) I replied privately. Then, in the shouting thoughtspeak of the now deceased Visser One, I demanded that Tom accompany me to the briefing room.
(Dead? Who are you?) Alloran was hopeful. He was also afraid to hope.
(One of the so-called bandits. I'm here to rescue you, and recruit you. But I'm closer to life as a nothlit then I'd wish to be, so we must hurry.)
I felt his joy, among other things; I tried to ignore his thoughts as I raced to the private briefing room. "Tom" and I entered, and found that everyone else had already snuck in. Three Hork Bajir were seated around a conference table. Ax was fully Andalite, hiding behind the door.
(All clear, Cassie) Rachel told me.
I was confident enough of Alloran's cooperation to bail. I would not spend life as a Yeerk. I released his brain, and slithered from his ear. Demorph! That was my only thought as I fell to the floor with wet thud and began to grow.
Alloran spoke his first word in freedom. (Human!)
Ax stepped out of hiding. (War-Prince Alloran-Semitur-Corrass, welcome. I'd like to introduce my prince.)
Ax
(I have long wished to meet your prince, Aximili.) Alloran responded. He looked around expectantly. Jake demorphed. I was worried. Other Andalites had been highly critical of my loyalty to a human. But Alloran surprised me pleasantly. He barely hesitated.
(Prince Jake, leader of the Resistance.)
(I am honored. I thank you for my freedom. I swear my allegiance to you.)
Jake made the appropriate Andalite response, an action I knew that Alloran appreciated.
"Now, we need to take the Blade Ship. Alloran, get us on board and off the ground." Jake ordered, "Everyone else, Hork Bajir."
Cassie and I morphed, and we all followed the "Visser" to his ship like obedient Hork Bajir guards. I was glad we had succeeded. But I was just a little...is "jealous" the right word? Not really. Part of me felt that the Visser's death should have been at my hands, not Jake's. I had failed to avenge Elfangor as honor demanded. But had I met him tail to tail, Alloran would have died, and I suspect I would have as well. And what did it matter, really, who squashed a slug? I suspect Elfangor would have been glad that Alloran lived to enjoy freedom and fight for his people once again. His life had been honored appropriately.
Jake
Alloran ordered the Blade Ship into orbit. Taxxons, humans, and Hork Bajir scrambled to obey his every wish. The Visser's tyrannical nature worked to our advantage. Alloran could have behaved in any suspicious manner he chose, and these underlings would have been too terrified to suspect a thing.
Ax disabled the ship's communications system; if we were suspected, no loyal yeerks could warn their comrades. Despite Rachel's desire, we had no need to take the ship by force immediately.
The seven of us gathered in the Visser's quarters.
"We need as many allies as we can gather. I don't want any Hork Bajir or human controllers seriously injured as we take over the ship." I looked at Alloran. "I assume most yeerks would leave their host on direct orders from the Visser?"
He looked surprised. (I doubt the yeerk lives that would disobey any order from Visser One, but it would be an unexpected command.)
"I know," I replied. "It would give us away if we didn't move with extreme caution, but it will work. We simply don't have time to starve out these yeerks."
The liberation of these hosts was a tedious process. We started with the humans. Each was summoned in to a meeting with the visser. Alloran would then bluster and bellow, questioning their loyalty. The Controller would cower and plead. Alloran would then give his shocking order, (Prove your loyalty. Leave your host.)
There would be shock, then obedience. Tobias or Rachel, as Hork Bajir, would move swiftly to keep the newly free human from slaughtering the slug. For the most part, they were successful. Ax would reveal himself. I would explain what was happening to the suddenly free human. Cassie would take them aside for some brief counseling. And once we were sure we could trust them, we sent them back to their duties. Those that were too upset to cope quite yet, or seemed otherwise untrustworthy, were temporarily locked up.
With the humans, it was easier. They were for the most part smart enough to grasp the situation, capable of playing the parts of their yeerks, and willing to follow the orders of the "bandits" who had been fighting for their freedom.
The Hork Bajir, however, were harder. They were terrified of Alloran, slow at grasping the concept of our deception, and relatively incapable of complex planning. "Jara Hamee" and "Ket Helpak" (Rachel and Tobias) worked hard to reassure them. But I wouldn't trust any of them to leave the room until we had them all. It got crowded.
Then it was time to deal with the Taxxons. They were Yeerk allies, not slaves. Here was the first disagreement between Alloran and I. Rachel, Marco, and Alloran wanted to simply slaughter the giant cannibalistic worms. I suspected that Ax and Tobias possibly agreed, although they remained silent. Strategically, keeping the Taxxons alive was risky. But Cassie didn't approve of outright murder, and ethically she was right. I was tired of compromising my morals on this mission, and I held firm. They would have to be herded into the brig.
Rachel
I was annoyed with Jake. We had a planet to save, and he didn't want to kill some worms? How many thousands of Taxxons had we killed over the years, and now it was wrong? But then again, I understood that Jake didn't want to become an executioner.
We went to the bridge, and Alloran ordered two Taxxons from their posts. The moved along obediently, for about two minutes. The fouls things then turned and attacked the nearest Hork Bajir, which just happened to be Tobias. I reacted without thinking, and my blades made short work of the Taxxons. The stench of Taxxon guts immediately attracted the others on board. To a Taxxon, the death of a fellow Taxxon meant only one thing: a feast.
Alloran barked orders at the Taxxons, but was ignored. One turned on Cassie, and any chance of preventing a battle was gone. I slashed and hacked my way through the mass of Taxxons, sliding on spilled guts and ignoring the pain of needle-sharp Taxxon teeth. I could morph away the injuries, and a Taxxon was little match for a Hork Bajir.
It was over in minutes, and I was oddly disappointed. Ax and Alloran both had gore on their tail blades. Cassie and Tobias had both killed their attackers. For a moment, I was jealous of their kills. Then I was horrified at my thoughts. Jealous of their "kills"? When had I become so bloodthirsty that I took pleasure in massacring Taxxons? I looked at the gore on my wrist blades, and I suddenly needed to be Rachel again. I demorphed.
Jake and Marco raced off in opposite directions, searching for any remaining Taxxons. Cassie had a bad bite on her leg, and was demorphing to repair it. Tobias had demorphed, and was on his way back to Hork Bajir.
"Tobias, go human, please?" I asked. He looked at me, and reversed his morph. Once he was human again, I pulled him into an empty room and hugged him.
"Rachel, are you okay?" he asked.
"Tobias, am I bloodthirsty?" I questioned, looking him in the eye.
He looked back at me with such a look of love that I started to feel better instantly. "Reckless, maybe. Impulsive. But I wouldn't call you bloodthirsty."
"Just now, when the battle ended, I was disappointed."
"I know. You've been tense. You don't like to wait. You like to jump right in and get things done. Now you finally got something to do, and I think it was over a little too quickly."
"I was annoyed that the rest of you had done any fighting. Like you stole my kill or something."
"You just weren't through blowing off steam, and you know that if you had taken on the Taxxons alone it would have taken another three minutes."
"What really worries me is that part of me wished for Hork Bajir to fight instead."
"A good sign. You don't want to hurt any Hork Bajir; you just like a fair, honorable fight. This was too close to pure slaughter, and that bothers you."
"When did you become so wise?"
"I just know you, Rachel. I love you."
We decided to stay in the closet for just a few more minutes and blow off steam in an entirely different way.
Cassie
"Was it awful?" Jake asked, when we were finally alone.
"What?"
"Being inside Alloran's head. Are you alright?"
"Yeah. It wasn't a picnic, but I'll survive."
He hugged me. "Cassie, I hate to ask you this, but I need to know. We can trust Alloran, right?"
"Yeah, we can. He has admired you for years; he assumed you were Andalite, of course, but I don't see why his opinion would change after learning differently. He swore his allegiance, and I believe he was sincere. He followed your orders during the Blade Ship takeover, even when his own instincts ran in different directions."
"That was my take on it, too."
"He's made some mistakes in his life. Big ones. I think he'd rather not lead anything for a while."
We were quite for a few minutes. Jake broke the silence.
"I murdered him," he said. I didn't ask who. He meant Esplin. The Visser.
"And he murdered Elfangor," it wasn't the most brilliant reply, but for once I was unsure as to what to say. I considered telling him what I had done to John Berryman, but somehow I doubt that knowing my greatest sin would have made Jake feel better.
"And countless others. But two wrongs don't make a right."
"No. No they don't. But Jake, we've all been forced to do things we aren't particularly proud of. The Visser's death is hardly a tragedy."
"I know. If he had died in battle it would be different. But I killed him in cold blood."
"I understand. Yet if it had been a fight, Alloran would be dead. You did what you had to do."
"I didn't have to kill him. He was defenseless. I could have stuck him in my pocket."
"And done what? Risked getting caught? Risked giving us away? Doomed the planet? All so that an evil slug could have a chance to survive in a plastic tub somewhere?"
"I know. He'd have starved in three days anyhow, and I'd still be responsible for his death. Maybe I'm wrong to indulge my guilt like this."
"It would be more of a problem if you didn't feel some regret. That's what makes you one of the good guys."
"I hope I really am, Cassie, I really do. Sometimes I don't feel that sure."
"You are, Jake. I'll tell you if you ever go too far."
Marco
We re-entered atmosphere on the east coast. Ax restored communications, and Alloran informed his underlings that he would be in Virginia preparing for the invasion. They didn't question him.
We left Ax in command of the ship. The rest of us morphed birds of prey. As the ship flew above D.C., we bailed out and flew back to the White House. Ax would remain in stationary orbit above the capital.
Alloran morphed a kafit bird.
(I can't believe that after all this time on this planet, that arrogant fool never acquired a single native animal.)
(Just stay above Rachel, so the birdwatchers can't get a clear look at you.) Tobias advised.
(We'll get you some Earth morphs) Jake assured him, (But first we need to check on the President and make some concrete battle plans.)
(Check on the President... Jake, what happened to our lives?) I asked, (Normal guys check the oil in the car, or check on dinner. They do not need to check on the safety of the President.)
Jake ignored me. (Battle morphs when we arrive. Just in case.)
(E-mail. That is something normal people check.)
(No elephants or alien monsters. Just be ready to defend yourselves. Andalite. Grizzly. Gorilla.)
(The score. Normal, average people check on football games. They walk through the living room, and say, 'Hey, Dad, what's the score.' Normal.)
(We're here.)
Fortunately, everyone was fine. Not that we could take their words for it. But Erek confirmed that they had not had Yeerk visitors.
To his amazement, my mother was among those who greeted Alloran.
(The host of Edriss!) he exclaimed. (I'm sorry, but Esplin never bothered to learn your name.)
"Eva" she supplied, shaking his hand. "I'm pleased that I may finally speak to you. I trust Esplin is dead?"
(You may rest assured that the abomination no longer plagues the galaxy.)
"Alloran, we are ready to begin," Jake called.
(Yes, Prince Jake) he answered.
"Oh, no. Not another one!" I groaned.
Tobias
We all listened intently as Alloran described what there was of the Visser's current battle plan. He would continue to play the part of the ruthless yeerk, so we would be able to coordinate his doomed attack with a crippling defense.
Our Air Force people were off modifying their jets with the help of Marco's dad. Other recruits were off performing various functions.
"The real question here is how to keep controller casualties low." Jake said when Alloran finished. "Those bug fighters will be without shields or weapons; we are in a position to command their movements; and our own forces are prepared. In short, we now have the upper hand. And that means we have an ethical responsibility to find a way to save as many lives as possible. Suggestions?"
"We take the places of the bug fighter pilots. When our engines are disabled, we bail out. When we're clear, the Air Force finishes the job." Marco suggested.
"One problem. There aren't enough of us." Rachel pointed out, "We won't have enough pilots."
"We have pilots," Toby answered, "My people can do it."
I sent her a private thoughtspeak message. (It will be dangerous.) She looked at me as if I was an idiot.
Jake looked torn. He didn't want to endanger the Hork Bajir, but Toby's suggestion did solve one of his major problems. "Okay. But make sure your volunteers understand the risks. We'll have to help you get into position."
"What do we do with the real pilots?" Cassie asked.
(I'll arrange a training exercise the day before the attack. Toby's forces can take their places then.) Alloran answered.
(It won't be much different from one of our usual raids.) Toby assured us.
"That will give us a chance to put parachutes on board the bug fighters," Marco added.
(We'll have to do something with the Taxxon co-pilots,) I reminded everyone.
"Just throw them in a cage and let them eat each other," Tom suggested. "The yeerks won't notice a few missing."
"I can't say I like that idea, but I suspect its the best alternative," Jake agreed. "We can lock them up and worry about them after the battle."
"Hey, it's not our fault if they eat each other," Marco said, earning a dirty look from Cassie.
"Are we sure the yeerks won't miss those Taxxons?" Jake questioned, looking from Alloran to Eva.
"It is possible that one of the other Taxxons might notice, but that's unlikely, I would think." Eva assured him.
(I can silence any Taxxon that notices. But Taxxon disappearances are hardly unusual. It amazes me that the Visser has any Taxxons left in his organization at all.) Alloran added.
"I'd like to keep our pilots away from the general yeerk population, if possible. Can you do that?" Jake asked Alloran.
(I can arrange to isolate them on the grounds that I suspect the Andalite bandits will attack.) Alloran answered.
"Perfect," Jake answered. "Now, we need to plan our attack on the Yeerk Pool."
It went on for another hour. Sneaking in and out of our personal hell on earth was now greatly simplified. The "Visser" could come and go as he pleased. Between now and d-day, there would be several such trips.
Erek and the Chee arranged for Cassie to meet with Mr. Tidwell and Illim. We collaborated on a list of Controllers we needed to specifically free in the next few days. The issue of Chapman came up.
"He's a voluntary. We can't trust him. Period." Rachel stated.
"He has power. If he gets suspicious he could organize an overthrow of the Visser." Marco countered.
"We can't afford to eliminate him. It would be noticed." Cassie worried.
"Someone could morph him." Tom suggested tentatively.
"No. That would be a big risk." Jake decided.
(I could send him to France,) Alloran offered.
"Is that Andalite humor or a real possibility?" Jake asked.
(It would work, I believe.) he answered.
"Then we do it. And speaking of France, I need more information about the current situation there."
France was in trouble, basically. Jake rubbed his temples as he listened. "Well, it looks like we have our work cut out for us."
Throughout it all, the President was quiet. He had entrusted Jake with the safety of the planet. Now, having delegated authority, he seemed content to play a quiet role. I didn't know whether to respect him for knowing when to follow the lead of someone more qualified, or to worry about his lack of input. It made me very glad that Jake was the leader, and not me.
Jake
Our meeting ended. Alloran and Tom returned to the Blade Ship, relieving Ax. Ax, Marco, and I accompanied the President out to the Air Force base to check on preparations there. Tobias, Rachel, and Cassie took the opportunity to get some rest.
"Son!" Marco's father greeted him with enthusiasm. "Watch this!"
He pulled a quarter out of his pocket and threw it at an F-16. The coin didn't get within three feet of the aircraft, bouncing off of what appeared to be empty space.
"You've got the shields working!" Marco replied with enthusiasm.
I smiled. This was good news, indeed. I had been afraid to count on the Air Force planes being shielded.
"Can this thing leave the atmosphere?" the President asked.
"We believe so, sir," Ray replied. "But if the shields were to go down the pilot wouldn't survive re-entry."
"Let's try not to test that theory," I interjected. "How many aircraft do you think we'll have ready in time?"
Morning came too early. I splashed cold water on my face and headed towards the oval office in search of coffee. Toby had left for the Valley the night before, but I wanted to go over the plan with Ax and Alloran one more time.
Toby and her team would stage an ambush. Ax was going along as backup, but the rest of us would remain behind. We had to infiltrate the Yeerk Pool for the second day in a row later today, and I had decided that my team needed some amount of rest.
Logically, there was no reason to be overly concerned. A dozen Hork Bajir Controllers and some Taxxons against twenty of Toby's people, Ax, and Alloran? No contest. But I worried.
Ax
I don't think Rachel was happy with me when I left the White House and headed for my rendezvous with the Blade Ship. She had wanted to cover backup on this mission, but Jake had given me the assignment.
I sat in the pilot's seat of the Blade Ship in Hork Bajir morph, and watched Alloran bluster at the pilots of the Bug Fighters. Those poor Hork Bajir Controllers were so terrified of their Visser they could barely follow orders properly. I was afraid they would crash into one another in their distraction.
When we all landed, we missed the mark by nearly a quarter of a mile. Shockingly, one of the pilots sensed that something was amiss when Alloran ordered them out of their fighters.
"Traitor! Andalite bandit!" he shouted. "You are not the Visser!"
The others believed him, and attacked Alloran. I demorphed and rushed to his aid. (Stay here.) I ordered the former Controllers on the Blade Ship. (Contact Jake if we fail.)
One of the pilots bolted for the woods, and Alloran took off after him. It was me against eleven Hork Bajir and twelve Taxxons. I battled desperately, but I knew I was in trouble. Hork Bajir blades cut me from all directions. Needle-sharp Taxxon teeth sought vulnerable flesh. As fast as my tail blade was, it wasn't fast enough to hold off attackers from all directions at once.
Suddenly, I wasn't alone. The human girl appeared as if from nowhere, baseball bat in hand. She made good use of the makeshift weapon, and soon the tide of the battle changed in our favor. Unconscious Hork Bajir littered the ground.
Breathing hard, she turned to me. "Elfangor? It can't be you, can it?"
The hopeful look in her eyes made me regret the necessity of telling her the truth. (No. Aximili. You knew my brother?)
"He's dead, isn't he," she whispered. Tears welled up in her eyes. I laid a comforting hand on her shoulder as she struggled to regain her composure.
(Loren!) Alloran had returned, and now stared in amazement at the blonde human girl with the baseball bat.
"Visser Three," she spat, wielding her weapon. Alloran blocked her swing, but barely.
(Esplin is dead) he told her.
"Alloran, you're free? That's the best news I've heard all day," she replied joyfully.
(I'm glad you feel that way. After what happened in Taxxon space...)
Toby's group appeared, and began hauling our unconscious prisoners towards the Blade Ship. We all pitched in; the girl didn't hesitate to grab a large Hork Bajir and start dragging. The curiosity was killing me. Who was this human girl who knew Elfangor, and apparently the Visser as well? She certainly didn't look old enough to have known Alloran before his captivity.
Alloran had a similar thought. (Loren, it's been twenty years. Yet you've barely aged. How is that possible?)
"Twenty years? I knew time had passed...but twenty years?" she recovered quickly. "Anyhow, long story. Are you familiar with the Ellimist?"
(Ahhh. Now I understand.) Alloran answered.
Tobias
I watched Jake pace the floor, rubbing his temples checking the clock every two minutes. Finally, Ax returned with news of the morning mission.
(Tobias, was your mother's name Loren?) Ax asked. I don't know what I had been expecting him to say, but that wasn't it.
Animorphs © and related properties are Registered Trademarks of Scholastic, Inc. No copyright infringement intended. No profits made here. © Spiletta42, October 2000.