Jake
It was nearly eight o'clock in the morning when we got back to the Blade Ship. Fortunately, that was French time. We were headed back to Washington, where it was six hours earlier. Since the Yeerk attack was scheduled for nine o'clock Pacific time, which was still eleven hours away, we'd all get a chance at some rest before life as we knew it changed forever.
We put the Blade Ship into a parking orbit above D.C., and slept in shifts. There were nine of us to rotate the watch shift, so we all got a reasonable amount of sleep. Or at least close to it.
I was a bit nervous to be away from the White House for so long, but Erek, Eva, and Ray were with the President, and we had left them a z-space transmitter, so we weren't completely out of contact in an emergency. They could relay a coded distress signal, or at least let us know that it was time to switch to plan B. I also knew that the likelihood of a Yeerk attack on the President was microscopic, with 'the Visser' on our team and Chapman under wraps. And the Secret Service could handle anything else.
I still felt better when we were back in the Oval Office. Loren and Tom remained on the Blade Ship while the rest of us gathered for a final meeting.
"Alloran has to remain on the Blade Ship as 'the Visser' and we can't spare anyone to cover him," I said. "We'll have to leave that to Loren and Tom."
"Now, we need to fill a few positions. One: Someone needs to handle communications between the Air Force and the Blade Ship after the initial strike. Two: Someone needs to be ready to rescue Toby's pilots as they bail out. Three: We need a team ready to infiltrate the Yeerk Pool and liberate the caged hosts.
"Erek, I'll need you to stay in contact with the other Chee. We'll need their help in coordinating the evacuation of Peace Movement members. If they bail too early, it might blow our cover."
"Cassie's the best at morphing in water, and she's got the most useful morph for ocean rescue," Marco pointed out.
I silently thanked him. He was right, but if I had been the one to say it, it might have sounded like I was trying to protect Cassie from the more risky assignment. In truth, the more dangerous job could turn out to be recovering the Hork Bajir pilots. I hated that she couldn't have backup.
"That's settled. Eva? Could you handle communications between the Air Force and Alloran? You and your husband have been in the most contact with the pilots."
"Absolutely," Eva answered.
The Air Force Commander seated beside the President nodded. He approved.
"And that leaves the five of us for Yeerk Pool duty. Erek? When Alloran gives word, have your people send the Peace Movement members out of the Pool area. When we see Tidwell leave, that will be our cue."
"And what am I doing with my forces during all of this?" the General asked. "Shouldn't we be the ones infiltrating this pool facility?"
"When we give word, we'll need them to move quickly. Northern California must completely cut off from the rest of the world. That means no one leaves by car, plane, or boat. Or even on foot."
"Easier said than done," Rachel commented. "Former controllers are going to want to get as far away as possible when they are freed."
"I agree," I answered. "I can tell them to go home and wait, but I don't think I can count on full cooperation."
"I suspect you'll do better than you think," Cassie countered. "We're the 'Andalite Bandits,' after all. You're a hero to most of those people."
"Mr. President, what level of force am I authorized to use against those attempting to leave that territory?" the General asked.
The President looked at me.
"Force, and threats of force, may be necessary, but deadly force is not acceptable." I answered for him. "Newly freed hosts will have every reason to believe you are Yeerks, and not acting on true military authority."
"Then how can we hope to succeed?" the General questioned, frustrated by the seemingly impossible situation.
"Assure those wishing to leave the territory that you are working under the authority of the Andalites." I replied. "If necessary, you can use force. Just don't kill anyone. Remember, even if a Yeerk does try to get through your forces, there is still an innocent human host involved."
One of my biggest concerns was loss of life due to friendly fire. I hoped we could convince people not to flee California.
(What do we do with newly freed Hork Bajir?) Tobias asked.
"We'll secure the hangar deck first. We'll send them in there," I answered.
"And Taxxons?" Cassie demanded.
"If there are Taxxons waiting to be reinfested, we'll order them into the host cages. I doubt that will work, but that will be their decision."
Everyone voiced agreement. That was pretty fair treatment for the Yeerk allies.
"Now, as for the issue of public awareness: Obviously, once we start the military operation in California, we can't hide what's happening any longer. We'll need the President on the air to reassure people, prevent mass panic, and hopefully to convince people in California to stay in their homes.
"At the same time, we need to keep this information out of France if at all possible. The Blade Ship will be feeding false information to the Yeerks in Europe, and we'll have a much easier time liberating the French government if we retain the element of surprise. Suggestions?"
"Mr. President, can't you stop international communications?" Marco asked.
"I have the authority to do it, but I'm not sure we really have the practical ability," he replied.
"We'd have to shut down television networks, radio stations, telecommunications, even the internet. It would be nearly impossible," a Secret Service agent explained.
(That would cause as much panic as the military movement will cause, if not more) Tobias added.
(We do not need to cut all communications from the United States,) Ax mused. (We need to cut all communications into France.)
"How is that different?" Rachel asked.
(It's smaller) Ax answered simply.
"Good point," I told him. "So, can we knock out French communications?"
"We'd have to take out a few satellites," the Air Force commander answered. "But we couldn't hide a missile launch."
"We won't have to use missiles," I answered. "Just tell us which ones, and we'll nudge them out of orbit. That should do it, right?"
"That will do it," he confirmed. When we left, we had the orbital addresses of the satellites in question. More importantly, we had an understanding of what they meant.
"Finally, have you picked a scandal, Mr. President?" I asked. "You'll need to keep America distracted for about an hour."
"We've got a story so hot that the press wouldn't notice a bug fighter on the White House lawn," Eva answered.
"Well?"
"It's a secret," she laughed.
I rolled my eyes. "You wouldn't be related to Marco, would you?"
"Seriously, our President has gallantly agreed to confess to losing the plans to the stealth bomber in a poker game," Eva explained.
I choked. "Well, that will be unexpected. Will they buy it?"
"Possibly not," the President answered wearily. "But if they don't bite, I'll tell them I was trying to impress Tyra Banks. Then I'll refuse to comment on whether it worked."
"Odds are good that the press will gloss over the national security breach and run with the Tyra Banks angle," Eva explained. "But either way, it will be easy to prove false after the fact, and it will delay news of the Yeerk attack."
(Humans are not always logical) Alloran commented.
"Thank you, Mr. Vulcan," Marco said.
Everyone laughed.
(Vulcans are fictitious aliens...) Ax began to clarify.
Alloran interrupted. (Yes, Aximili. I have seen Star Trek.)
That threw me for a moment.
"It came up during Edriss's trial," Eva explained somewhat dismissively. "Anyhow, I checked and Tyra Banks is in the jungle somewhere right now, so she shouldn't here of this, or be tracked down by the press, before we announce that it was just a cover story."
"Very well. You'll start the press conference here as the bug fighters launch on the West Coast. We'll get into position in the Yeerk pool, and Erek will know when to stop the charade and report on the events in California. You don't need to mention the aerial battle over the Atlantic at all. I think that covers it. Rachel?"
My cousin met my gaze. "Let's do it!"
Tobias
We flew back to the Blade Ship again. It felt natural, which was odd. Two weeks ago, the sight of the Blade Ship would have made our blood run cold. Now, it was ours.
I morphed human and joined Loren at the helm. She still didn't know I was a nothlit, and I had decided to save that little gem until after the battle.
"Let's take care of those satellites. Then we'll get Cassie into position and go," Jake ordered.
We located the first satellite, locked on to it with tractor beams, and dragged it out of orbit. We repeated the exercise twice more, then towed all three satellites well out of the way. We gently bumped a few more out of perfect alignment. It would be days before all the signals could be redirected.
"If all goes well, we'll come back and fix those once we have taken France," Jake said.
"Taken France..." Marco whistled. "Just an average afternoon. So what did you do today, dear? Oh, played some basketball, invaded France, the usual."
Everyone ignored Marco. We reentered atmosphere and hovered over the Atlantic ocean, off the coast of Maryland. Jake and Cassie slipped off the bridge, and I took the opportunity to talk to Rachel for a moment.
"Ax, could you take my place for a moment?" I didn't wait for an answer. I caught Rachel's eye, and we ducked out for a minute ourselves.
"What is it?" she asked, worried.
"Nothing specific," I admitted. "I just wanted a moment alone with you before the battle."
She smiled. "I don't mind that at all myself."
I wrapped my arms around her. I didn't want to let her go. I wasn't afraid of death, but I was afraid of losing Rachel. I wanted to make her promise to be careful, but I knew better. Asking Rachel to use caution would probably have the opposite effect.; first she'd get offended, then she'd do something completely insane at the first opportunity. I hugged her harder.
"Tobias, we'll make it through this," she whispered. We stood there holding each other for a moment. I gave her a long kiss. "Remember, you promised to marry me. I'm holding you to that."
She laughed. "Don't worry, you're not getting off the hook. I love you."
"And I love you," I answered. I kissed her again.
Cassie
It was time to go, but Jake pulled me into his arms and held me so tight I almost couldn't breathe. I could feel him shaking.
"Oh, Cassie, I'm so sorry," he whispered. I could barely hear him.
"Jake?" I questioned. I pulled back to look at his face.
His eyes were full of tears, and he was powerless to keep them from tumbling down his cheek. "This is it. The cave. This ocean is the cave."
"What cave?" I was puzzled.
"It's...I have this nightmare. I've had it for years. Over and over...I...I order you into this cave...I know that the cave is death. But I give the order." Jake's words were barely audible. He was pale and trembling. "Cassie, I'm so afraid that this is the cave. I'm such a jerk."
"A jerk?" I asked. "Jake, what on earth..."
"Cassie, I'm probably sending you to your death. I'm sending you into the middle of a war with no backup. I love you, you mean more to me than anything in this world, but I'm sending you to your death. How can I not hate myself?"
"Jake, you're not making me do anything. And this is a rescue mission, not a battle. You're the one risking your life today, not me. I'll be fine."
"You better be fine, Cassie. I love you. I don't want to lose you."
"You won't. You be careful today," I ordered. "I love you, too."
Jake crushed me against his chest again, and kissed me. I pulled away, squeezed his hand, and moved towards the door.
"I'll see you soon," I said, diving into the cold ocean. Then I was alone.
Marco
It seemed everyone had disappeared. First Jake and Cassie had stepped out, and then Tobias and Rachel snuck off somewhere. Alloran was watching the communications console intently. I was sitting at the weapons station beside Tom. Ax was at the helm with Loren. I leaned towards her.
"Looks like everyone else has snuck off for a makeout session. What do you say you and I give it a try?" I winked at her.
"You do realize I'm old enough to be your mother, don't you?" she laughed. "At least I think I am. I seem to be younger than my own son."
I smiled. "So he told you?"
"Yeah, he did. Elfangor would be proud of him. Do your parents know about the war?"
"My dad's the one providing the air force with shielding. And my mom's been at the White House all week. She's a former controller. Her Yeerk was Visser One."
"Wow. I guess she knows."
Jake walked back onto the bridge. "Let's go."
Rachel
Tobias and I stayed in our little nook until we landed in the hangar bay. Not that it was a long flight. The Blade Ship could cover the distance from Washington, D.C. to Northern California in about five minutes.
(Prince Jake would like to request that the two of you join us) Ax called.
I smiled at Tobias. "I guess it's time."
"Yeah, I guess it is. Give me a kiss for luck."
I did, and then we hurried back to the bridge, morphing as we went.
"Well, well, well. What have you two been up to?" Marco teased. "I've never seen Hork Bajir blush before."
(If I wasn't busy morphing I would kick your butt.) I answered.
"Save it..." Marco's lips disappeared. (Save it for the Yeerks.)
"This is it, gang. We all know what we have to do." Jake looked at each of us in turn. "We've survived much tighter spots than this, so I know that we'll succeed. Stay sharp and watch each other's backs."
Having given his short pep talk, Jake morphed to Hork Bajir. We moved out.
Cassie
I morphed to humpback whale. I needed to be big enough to carry multiple Hork Bajir. It was one of my favorite morphs. The feeling of freedom and joy that comes with swimming through the ocean as a whale is hard to describe. Yet today was different. I was terrified for Jake and the others. Jake was usually so confident, even under fire. But earlier he had frightened me. If he let his emotions get the better of him, I feared he'd be seriously injured or worse.
He's Jake, I told myself. He'll pull it back together. Once the mission is underway, he'll be able to push aside the emotions and focus on the job at hand. He'd pulled it together many times before, despite impossible odds. I could remember dozens of examples without even trying. I tried to let the memories reassure me.
Another memory came unbidden. One other time, I had swam alone in this ocean. Due to a bizarre set of circumstances, it had been in 1805. The Battle of Trafalgar was being fought, but I didn't care. Napoleon's forces could have destroyed the British Navy, and I wouldn't have noticed. I was busy trying to lose myself in my dolphin morph. Jake was dead.
I couldn't save him. One minute he was alive. The next minute, I was hunting for his body in the icy Delaware River. Then time and space shifted. It was two decades later, and I was off the coast of Spain. Not that I knew, or cared, exactly where I was. Jake was dead.
I shuddered at the memory. I hoped that it wasn't a bad omen. I was back in this same ocean, alone, and if Jake died this time, it would be for keeps.
Perhaps that would be a just punishment for my actions on that mission. Normandy. A twisted version of the second World War. Death everywhere. Yet I committed an act more vile than any other on that wretched battlefield. What I did to John Berryman was cold blooded murder. I traded his life for Jake's. His entire life. I didn't kill him. I erased him.
I used the Time Matrix, a weapon more dangerous than any other in the galaxy, and I prevented his parents from meeting. John Berryman was never born. He never became a Yeerk host. And Visser Four received a different host. One that was not in a position to stumble upon the hidden Time Matrix. The artificial timeline Visser Four had created unraveled. George Washington lived to cross the Delaware. Lord Nelson won at Trafalgar. And Jake was alive.
I tried to tell myself that I had erased that man for the greater good. I needed to restore history, to prevent the horrible alternate timeline we had been shown from becoming reality. The needs of the many outweighed the needs of the one. But I didn't do it for humanity, or for democracy, or any other noble, global purpose. I traded John Berryman for Jake.
Ax
Alloran gave the Visser's version of a pep talk to the Bug Fighter pilots. It is a very good thing that Hork Bajir are not prone to giggling; I know that had I been in human morph, I might have made that error.
(Finally, Earth shall be ours!) Alloran bellowed. (Finally, the Council of Thirteen is allowing us to proceed with a proper invasion! By nightfall all of humanity shall cower before me, Visser One of the Yeerk Empire!)
Toby's forces stood stoically before the Visser. They weren't laughing at the phony Visser's egotistical display, but they also weren't cheering their leader's words as would have been expected.
(Cheer!) Prince Jake ordered privately.
We let out a shout of approval. Toby's forces caught on, and joined us.
(On to victory!) Alloran thundered. The Hork Bajir raced to their bug fighters. The Taxxon co-pilots hurried aboard as well. They were the wild card in Prince Jake's otherwise brilliant plan. If one of the Taxxons became suspicious before our virus took down the shields, there could be serious trouble.
Jake
I watched the Taxxons nervously. If they grew distrustful of either Alloran or the Hork Bajir pilots, our plan would be in jeopardy. Of course, a fight between a Taxxon and a Hork Bajir was no contest; a Hork Bajir's blades would slice through a Taxxon like a hot knife through butter, but still I worried.
A picture of Cassie, caught mid-morph and desperately trying to fend off a dozen Taxxons in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, floated through my mind. I scolded myself. First of all, if the Taxxons bailed out, they'd explode upon hitting the water. Secondly, I could not afford to let my emotions interfere with the current mission.
The aerial battle was out of my hands. I could not spare it a second thought until after we had taken the Pool. Lives depended on my ability to remain clear headed in the coming struggle. I pulled myself together and focused on the moment.
Controllers who had gathered to see the bug fighters launch moved back to their assorted jobs in the pool area. We took over guard duty.
(As soon as Tidwell heads out, we attack) I reminded everyone. (Stay sharp.)
Cassie
I heard the first explosion, and I jumped to attention. It had started. A fiery hunk of twisted metal crashed into the ocean not far from my location. I filled my lungs with air, and dived. I needed to start searching for our pilots, but I'd have to do that from underwater. I wouldn't be much good at search and rescue if part of a bug fighter actually hit me.
I followed the sounds of shouting Hork Bajir. Toby had assured us that while her people weren't the strongest swimmers in the galaxy, they would be able to tread water well enough. If the Blade Ship didn't come to my aid, I only wanted to make one trip back to shore.
I soon had ten Hork Bajir pilots, some of whom were wounded, gathered together and treading water. I still hadn't found Toby, and one other pilot was missing. I headed away from the group, searching the ocean for the remaining pilots.
"Cassie!"
Relieved to here Toby's voice, I turned and headed in her direction. High overhead, I heard another explosion. I didn't here Toby's cry of warning until it was too late. I was struck by the flaming debris, and my whale body was badly injured. My tail was missing. The pain was indescribable. I struggled to keep swimming, but it was all I could do to stay conscious. I was sinking. Dying. All I could think of was Jake's face when I turned and dived into the ocean. He'd live the rest of his life blaming himself for my death.
I fought desperately to morph out, to grow legs where my severed tail had been. I tried feebly to rise to the surface, but everything was growing black. I wasn't going to make it.
Suddenly, I wasn't alone. Another whale appeared, and began pushing me towards the surface.
I heard a voice in my head. (Morph out, Cassie. You can do it. Picture your legs...arms...human.)
I struggled to follow the instructions as I was pushed back to the surface of the ocean. I felt as if I was separate from my body, yet connected. Arms grew from the wounded whale. Then a head. And I could breathe!
I gasped for air. I was dizzy, and disoriented. But I was alive. I realized that I was draped across a whale. I had heard thoughtspeak. But the others weren't here, were they? Had Jake come back?
"Who..." I coughed.
(Cassie, it's Aftran. You just had a close call. Rest for a few minutes.)
"Aftran! How...thank you. You saved my life. Thank you." My head was clearing. I had no idea where Aftran had come from, but I didn't have the time or energy to really question my good fortune. "We've got to find Toby and the others."
I needed to remorph to humpback whale. I slid from Aftran's back and began the changes.
(Aftran, there are twelve Hork Bajir somewhere in the water. We have to get them to shore.)
(Hork Bajir?) she questioned.
(Some of the free Hork Bajir are helping us. This is the big one, Aftran. The Council ordered a full scale invasion, but we've got a plan.)
We set out together to find Toby and the rest, and bring them back to shore. Hopefully, the Blade Ship would pick us up. I wanted to get back to the others.
Rachel
We watched as the Controllers moved around the Pool complex. Although it seemed an eternity, it was probably less than fifteen minutes before I saw Mr. Tidwell on the steps leading to the McDonalds.
Jake had seen him as well. (This is it. Move casually to the cages, and start unlocking them.)
We headed across the complex. How many times had we been forced to ignore the pitiful sobs of those trapped in those cages? How many times had I wanted to race to the cages and destroy them? Yet before, setting someone free would only condemn them to death. Now, we had a chance.
(Everyone stay calm. Don't alert the Yeerks yet. We're getting you out of here.) Jake told group after group in private thoughtspeak. (When I give word, leave quickly and head for home. Tell no one what is happening. Not yet. This will be over soon. Watch television. The President will give further instructions. If you see other Controllers out there, play the part of your yeerk.)
The Hork Bajir among them received different instructions. (I was sent by your seer, Toby Hamee. Go to the hangar bay. Secure it. She will come for you.)
Once again, I admired Jake's natural leadership ability. None of the desperate prisoners questioned his orders. They waited patiently until he gave word, then they moved swiftly once we were in battle morphs.
(Now!) Jake ordered. (Go up and out through the McDonalds.)
We dashed between the freed hostages and the Yeerk captors. They hadn't gotten far before the fighting began. We were outnumbered, but we were ready.
(Yeerks: This war is over. The air strike has failed. Visser One is dead.) Jake announced in public thoughtspeak. (Abandon your hosts if you wish to live. I will spare the lives of those in the pool or in the cages, but those of you who still fight will not survive.)
A few Controllers headed for the Pool. Most, however, choose to ignore the threat. Jake leapt at the nearest Hork Bajir, bowling him over backwards. I let loose a ear-splitting roar and attacked as well. I charged right through a line of Hork Bajir, using the grizzly's weight to knock them flat. I did not hesitate to use my claws and teeth. I ignored wounds from Hork Bajir blades and fought with every ounce of strength I possessed.
Ax's tail moved like lightning as he used the flat side of his tail-blade to render Hork Bajir after Hork Bajir unconscious. Marco's huge gorilla fist had much the same effect. Tobias had morphed an elephant, and he guarded the stairs that led to McDonalds. He had grabbed a Hork Bajir with his trunk, and was using him as a weapon against the others. I could barely see him with my dim grizzly eyes.
I turned my massive weight against another Hork Bajir. Dracon fire scorched my fur. A human-Controller was firing madly into the fray. I charged. Just as I knocked the dracon beam from his hand, I stepped in a slippery pile of entrails. I slipped. The struggle to keep my balance slowed me down for a moment.
A Hork Bajir blade cut into my back. Suddenly, I could not move my legs. Despite blinding pain, I continued to fight. I slashed at Hork Bajir legs with my claws and bit down on the nearest ankle. If I was going to die, I was going to die taking down all the yeerks I could.
(Rachel!) Tobias shouted. (Demorph!)
Demorph. It would heal my injuries. But I would be defenseless, out of the fight, until I could remorph. Could I keep my grizzly claws and just demorph my lower half? Cassie could do things like that; she had a natural talent for morphing. I tried to focus half of my mind on my human legs. The other half of my mind was busy fighting Hork Bajir. Or Hork Bajir ankles, anyhow.
Something grabbed me. I tried to struggle.
(Relax, Rachel. It's me) Tobias had his elephant trunk wrapped around me. He dragged me away from the Hork Bajir, then rejoined the battle.
I finished demorphing. As my vision sharpened, I could see the horror of the fighting. Dead and unconscious Hork Bajir and human controllers were everywhere. Blood. Entrails. Taxxons devoured their own dead and wounded, and anything else they could get into their hunger crazed mouths.
Jake battled desperately, although he was missing a hind leg. Marco was fighting one-handed. He hadn't lost the limb, he was just using it to keep his guts from spilling on the floor. Ax was a bloody mess. So was Tobias.
I remorphed as quickly as I could, and rushed to help my friends. This time, there could be no retreat. We had to win. I barreled into the Hork Bajir Marco was fighting.
(Marco, back off and demorph!) I shouted in thoughtspeak.
Next, I tore into Jake's opponent. (Go fix that leg. I'll keep your seat warm for you.)
Marco returned, a new gorilla. The three legged tiger noted his arrival and dashed into the shadows. Human controllers continued to fire dracon beams. In the melee, they hit their own people more frequently than they managed to hit us. Tobias was the biggest target, and he had a bad burn on his side. But that didn't take him out of the fight. He used Hork Bajir as projectile weapons, flinging them at those with the dracon beams.
I heard a new ruckus break out in the direction of the hangar bay. Some controllers had made a break for it and headed in that direction. They had met the newly freed Hork Bajir there, no doubt.
(Surrender if you wish to live!) Jake ordered again. (Those in the pool will be spared. Those in the cages will be spared. Those who fight will die.)
The tide had turned in our favor. Ax had morphed an elephant. Due to the illogical nature of morphing, he had briefly been an Andalite the size of an elephant. The sight had sent a number of Controllers scrambling for the cages.
Tobias demorphed and flew around the complex. (Jake, we've got trouble. There are Yeerk reinforcements coming down through the Gap entrance.)
(How many?)
(Dozens. One of the Controllers must have got a message out.)
(Everyone, move! We need to attack before they all get down those stairs. Tobias, get into a battle morph. Ax, I need you as an Andalite.) Jake shouted.
I charged forward, racing towards the Gap entrance. Jake and Marco were right beside me. Tobias and Ax weren't far behind. We seemed hopelessly outnumbered, but I wasn't willing to quit without a fight. And neither were the others.
(Remember Agincourt!) Jake shouted.
(What's that, your new battle cry?) Marco asked.
(No, remember Agincourt? The English won because the French couldn't use their superior numbers.) Jake explained. (The battlefield was too narrow. We have to keep the Yeerks on that staircase!)
Agincourt, which we had visited on a time-traveling mission, was not a pleasant memory, but Jake was right. Not that I had seen much of the fight. I had spent most of it stuck in the mud, bleeding to death under a wounded horse.
We kept the battlefield narrow. So narrow, in fact, that all five of us couldn't fight at once.
(Watch the other exits) Jake ordered in private thoughtspeak. (Eventually, they might get smart enough to split up.)
He was right. It took a while, but a group of Controllers came racing down the McDonalds entrance. Ax and Tobias, both in Andalite form, raced to cut them off. A new group raced down from the Sharing headquarters.
(Stay here!) Jake told Marco and I. He raced towards the third force. It was a suicide mission. The Yeerks had weapons storage in the Sharing building. Jake could not take on that many armed Controllers alone.
Jake
The Controllers on the first two staircases couldn't use their weapons. Not all of them were armed, and those who were couldn't risk shooting each other. But if the third group made it down into the complex from the Sharing, then all was lost. They'd box us in.
I lost a front paw almost immediately. Dracon fire singed my fur. It probably would have killed me if not for the human obstructions who took the brunt of the blast. A gray haired woman aimed a dracon beam directly at my head. I was going to die.
(Cassie) I whispered.
(What?) she asked, tumbling to the ground beside me. Her wolf jaws were locked around the woman's arm. The dracon beam clattered to the ground.
Loren picked it up. "Drop your weapons or I'll incinerate the staircase!"
Tom was shouting a similar threat somewhere else in the complex. Toby's forces poured in from the hangar bay and raced to back up the others.
(What has happened here?) Alloran thundered.
"Visser! We're under attack!"
(And you thought that retreating up the stairs was the solution?)
"No, Visser. We were..."
(Silence!) Alloran bellowed.
(Alloran?) I questioned privately.
(Your armed forces are moving to surround the exits. We need to keep these Yeerks occupied for just a couple more minutes.)
(Excellent. And I must compliment your timing.)
With some help, we herded the Controllers into the Yeerk Pool cages. The Yeerks were told that if they left their host, they would be returned safely to the pool. Some chose that option. Most did not. I suspected that once they were faced with Kandrona starvation, the story would be different. Yeerks are not exceptionally brave. Once they were sure they had lost, there would be little resistance.
All twelve of the Bug Fighters that had been part of the East Coast air strike were destroyed. Several of the Hork Bajir pilots had been injured, but all would recover. Four more Bug Fighters had launched from the hangar bay after our attack on the Pool Complex had begun. All four had been destroyed.
The Chee helped gather up the wounded and transport them to hospitals. They would remain under restraints until they were no longer Controllers.
Phase One was complete. We had prevented the destruction of Washington, D.C., and we had retaken Northern California. Next, we had to take control of the Pool Ship. Then would come the liberation of France.
Ax
We had won. Doubtless there were still Yeerks scattered among the human population in California, but they wouldn't last long cut off from the Kandrona. Tom stayed in the Yeerk Pool complex to assist the military in dealing with the prisoners. We boarded the Blade Ship, along with Mr. King, Toby and a number of Hork Bajir. We managed to communicate with Eva and the President through the Chee's intranet system. We could not yet afford to use z-space communications; the Yeerks in France might intercept the signal.
"There are several large pieces of bug fighters out in ocean. Ask Erek if they have been noticed," Cassie requested.
"Not yet, although the Coast Guard has reported at least one explosion off the coast of Maryland." Mr. King answered. "The Air Force told them it was a weapons test. The press has not picked it up."
"Is everyone ready for the Pool Ship takeover?" Prince Jake asked.
(The Pool Ship should already be disabled, due to our virus, so gaining control is not likely to be too difficult.) I replied.
"I hope not, but don't get cocky," Prince Jake warned.
"It's pretty much just Taxxons and Gedds, right?" Rachel asked. "How many Hork Bajir are on board?"
Tobias looked up from preening a wing. (Five or six, at most.)
"You're sure there are no humans on board?" Prince Jake asked.
Cassie sighed. "I'm not sure, but we didn't see any the other day."
(Visser One was smart enough not to waste human hosts to assignments on the mother ship.) Alloran assured us. (They were more useful to him on the planet. So were the Hork Bajir; I know of only five on the mother ship.)
"Then I hate to sound cocky, but this should be easy," Rachel laughed. "It has to be easier than what we just went through."
"Fighting a Gedd is somewhat less challenging than battling a crippled Chimpanzee." Marco added.
Prince Jake smiled, but he was too wise to be overly confident. "That may be, but don't let your guards down. Those Gedds will have dracon beams."
(Yeah, and terrible aim) Tobias commented.
"Here's the plan: Alloran will storm onto the ship, and order the entire crew into the brig. He will refuse to release any of them until someone comes forward with information about some missing weapons. Once we've secured the ship, we'll reveal that the war is lost, and offer terms of surrender."
"And if that fails, we'll kick some Yeerk butt!" Rachel added.
It sounded simple. Too simple. I should have known that something would go wrong. Which it did, almost immediately.
"Jake, I think I'm picking up another ship on sensors," Loren said.
Alloran and I both moved quickly to look.
(That's an Andalite power signature!) I exclaimed.
"Now the Andalite fleet shows up?" Rachel asked sarcastically. "What kind of timing is that?"
(It appears to be a single fighter. I see no evidence of other vessels.) Alloran replied. (If the fleet is here, they've concealed themselves well.)
"Are the shields up?" Prince Jake asked. "Because if they aren't, then shields up. We don't know they aren't Yeerks."
Marco turned in his seat. "Does this mean something?"
(They are hailing us,) Alloran answered.
"Let's here it," Prince Jake suggested.
(Yeerk vessel. Surrender or be destroyed.) It was an Andalite, probably female.
"Tell them we aren't Yeerks," Prince Jake ordered.
Alloran did so. (Andalite Vessel, this is Alloran-Semitur-Corass. This vessel is not under Yeerk control. Please identify yourself.)
(Nice try, Visser. Surrender, or be destroyed.)
(There is no need for hostility. The Visser is dead.)
The reply was bitter. (You can't expect me to believe that. Lower your shields and surrender.)
Alloran turned to Prince Jake. (Prince Jake? I do not believe we should comply. But the decision is yours to make.)
"Stand firm," he replied.
Alloran did so. (Stand down your weapons and identify yourself.)
We sat in silence for several minutes.
(Your Pool Ship has not raised its shields. Surrender or I will fire upon it.)
"Is that a bluff?" Jake asked. "Would one lone Andalite take on a ship that size?"
(That would be a foolhardy move. She does not know that they are without weapons.) Alloran replied.
Jake thought quickly. "Tell her we took down the shields in order to take over the ship."
(While I would not mourn the death of those Yeerks, I would regret the deaths of their hosts. We went to a great deal of trouble to take down the shields as part of a plan to liberate those hosts.)
(And who is we? I detect only one other Andalite on board your vessel, yet I am reading five humans, more than a dozen Hork Bajir, and one unidentified life form. I know you are Yeerks. I repeat: Surrender or I will fire upon the Pool Ship.)
"How much damage can she do?" Jake asked.
(I do not believe she would destroy it. She would probably target their weapons systems first.) Alloran answered. (If we lower our shields, I suspect she will fire on us. And I do not believe she will target our weapons.)
"Ax, what do you think?" Jake asked.
(I am not certain, but I do not believe she would fire if we surrendered.) I answered.
Alloran looked deeply troubled. (That is because you have honor, Aximili. But I believe she will destroy us given half the chance.)
Cassie saw what the rest of us missed. "Alloran, who is she?"
(She is my daughter.)
Jake rubbed his temples. "Do not lower the shields. Let her fire. It may prove you are not the Visser."
(This is your last chance. Surrender or I will fire on the Pool Ship.)
(Then fire.) Alloran responded grimly. (We will neither surrender nor stand in your way.)
She fired. Twice. The disabled Pool Ship, with neither shields nor weapons, buckled under the punishment. The hull was breached. A number of Taxxons were sucked out into open space. It wasn't pretty.
(Surrender or I'll destroy it.)
(There are five Hork Bajir on board that vessel. Allow us the chance to spare their lives.) Alloran requested.
(Am I expected to believe that you care about the lives of Hork Bajir, Visser? You, who don't even care about the lives of your own people? You are only interested in saving yourself.)
She fired again. The Pool Ship exploded.
Jake
I looked away in horror. Cassie wasn't the only one bothered by senseless death. I had stood there and made the decision to risk those five Hork Bajir lives, and those of a number of Gedds as well, in order to save the lives of my own people. I, Jake the Yeerk Killer, was responsible for yet more tragedy.
I turned to Toby. It was her people we had failed to save. "Toby, I am sorry."
"It was not your fault, Jake," she answered. "At least they are now free."
(She would have destroyed the Pool Ship either way, Prince Jake) Alloran said gently. (Sadly, my daughter learned her moral code from me. And I have done things of which I am not proud.)
I didn't want to hear it. I didn't want the others to try to lift the blame from my shoulders. "I should have dropped our shields. Instead, I let her execute a ship full of innocent hosts."
(I would have killed you. And I would have been wrong.)
I jumped at the unexpected Andalite voice. Then I realized Cassie was sitting at the communications console. She had opened the channel to the other vessel.
(This is Filetta-Corass-Joroc. I have powered down my weapons and dropped my shields. I would like to request permission to board your vessel.)
I exchanged a look with Cassie. "Alloran? Your daughter, your call."
(I would like the opportunity to speak with her, Prince Jake.)
"Permission granted." I decided.
Alloran lowered the shields and opened the cargo bay doors.
"Ax, could you go down and escort our guest to the bridge?"
(Yes, Prince Jake) he replied.
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