This story takes place about 5 earth weeks after THE DRIFTING.
The Second Invasion Part 2:The Discovered
Chapter 1
Tobias
My name is Tobias. Wow it has been a long time since I have had to say this. I can't tell you my last name or the last names of anyone mentioned in this story. But I can tell you where I live. I live in a meadow with lots of mice.
Normal people don't live in meadows or are happy about having lots of mice around. But I'm not normal. Do you want to know what I look like? I have brown feathers, a blood-tipped tail, sharp talons, and a cruel beak. I am a red tailed hawk.
But I'm not really a hawk either. Hawks don't have names, hawks can't read or feel bad about what they must kill. You see, I was not born a hawk. I was born as a human. I know what you're thinking; this guy needs to be in a nut house.
You really don't know half of it.
It all began when I was a human boy. I met up with some people that I barely knew and together we walked in an abandoned construction site. There we met a dying alien…. My father it turns out. He told us about the Yeerks, alien slugs who crawl into people's brains and take over their body and mind while the poor creature is helpless.
Then the alien gave us a power. The power to morph, to become any animal. There was one big rule however, you must not ever stay in a morph for more then two hours or you stay that animal. Now you know why I'm a hawk. Later I got my power back, but I'm still a hawk.
So the other kids and I fought and fought and fought and fought and fought until we finally drove the Yeerks away from this planet. The old slaves to the Yeerks tried to go the media, but know one believed them.
Everyone went back to his or her normal lives except for me and my Andalite friend, Ax. We all drifted apart. Then, about 5 weeks ago Jake, our leader found out that the Yeerks are back. So now we get to relive the nightmare again.
My story begins as I was winging my way toward Rachel's apartment.
Hi Rachel. I said in thought speak.
" Hey Tobias. What's up?" She said strangely calm even though a big old bird just flew in her window.
Umm. Do you happen to have some clothes I could use for my human morph? I asked just slightly embarrassed.
She grinned. " You're in luck. The last tenant left some clothes here." She went to the closet and opened a box. " Here it is." She pulled out some dusty pants and a moth eaten shirt.
I focused on the morph. my wings became featherless first followed by the rest of my body. I started to grow while my golden eyes became blue. My ears made a popping sound as they burst from my head. My tail feathers sucked back in. Finally I was all human except for my beak which quickly became soft lips.
Rachel was staring at me.
" What?" I asked. My voice seemed a little deeper, but of course it's been a long time since I have done this.
Without a word Rachel pulled me into the bathroom. At first I thought some guy was looking at me, but then I realized that it was me! I must have aged ten years!
I had a long beard and my hair had grown out a lot. I was a foot taller, and my shoulders had become broader.
" How?" I asked.
Rachel shook her head. " I don't know, ask Ax when you see him."
" The beard is a little long." I pointed out.
Rachel went through her bag and took out a razor. " You do know how to use this don't you?" She asked sweetly.
Chapter 2
AX
" Ax, stay right here." Marco said. " I'm gonna find the others. Don't go crazy." With that he walked away. I did intend to not eat anything, but the smell of fresh cinnamon bun was over whelming. Surely Marco would not mind if I only had a taste of just one cinnamon bun.
I searched around with my weak human eyes. Then I saw a barrel that humans kept food in. I raced over and right inside there was half of a creamy, warm, cinnamon bun!
I reached down and brought it to my mouth. Incredible! It was even better then I remembered. I was about to put the whole thing in my mouth when I felt a hand on my shoulder.
" Just what do you think your doing?" Said a voice. I turned and faced a human with tan artificial skin on.
" I am eating. Ting ating." I said as I swallowed he last of the bun.
The oversize human glared at me. " What did you just say?"
Something in the way he looked at me made me nervous. I felt adrenaline rush into my system. " I said that I am eating your delicious cinnamon buns. Buns monbon cinibons." I like the sound that buns make.
The human grabbed me on my left arm with surprising strength. " Andalite!" He hissed.
" Yeerk!" I said with hatred in my voice.
The controller aimed a hand held dracon beam at my back. " Don't say one word Andalite scum" He whispered. Then he started to pull me to this shop called the S.P.C.A.
I don't know if it was the unfamiliar rush of alien adrenaline, or if it was the after effects of the cinnamon bun, or maybe if was the fact that I was out of practice of being a human. The point is; I lost control of my morph.
" You will never take me alive!" I screamed and hit the human with a balled up fist in the face. I think I stunned the human. His grip on my arm loosened, so I broke out of his grasp and ran.
Chapter 3
Rachel
I looked around. " Wow not many people around here."
" Well a new mall was built about a mile away" Tobias commented.
" How are you doing on morph time?"
" Oh, I'm fine." Tobias assured
Then Marco came walking up with an ice cream cone. " Hi Xena, hi Tobias…. Hey you've grown!"
Tobias nervously smiled. " Yeah"
Just at that moment we heard a scream " You will never take me alive!"
" Oh no." Marco moaned.
I heard footsteps and down the mostly empty hallway came a running teenager who kept loosing his balance and falling, followed by a worn out cop screaming "Andalite!"
" Just leave this to me." I said calmly as the stumbling Ax passed us. I stepped right in front of the cop and he plowed right into me. It didn't hurt in fact it felt like being hit with a big pillow. Hitting the ground, however, hurt.
" Watch it!" I growled.
I thought that the cop would be rude, but he got up and smiled. He even gave me a hand up. " Sorry about that miss." Then he tipped his hat and walked away.
Marco and Tobias walked over to me " Well that was strange." Marco commented.
Tobias looked around. " We better find Ax." He said. " What made that cop chase after him?"
" Don't know," I said. I felt distracted. I couldn't get rid of the feeling that something was wrong, like I was missing something. Every part of me was screaming 'Trap!' but I had no idea what the trap was.
I shook off the feeling. I had probably gotten hit too hard anyway Tobias and Marco were staring. " Lets go." I said.
Chapter 4
Marco
Yes it's me and I must say that I have gotten even cuter over the years. All of these fine women could not keep their eyes off of my manly body as I walked down the mall looking for our local alien. Wow, even Rachel was looking at me.
" Marco, did you know that you have ice cream on your nose?" She said.
I wiped my face and to my embarrassment a smear of mint ice cream appeared on my hand. " Oh man!" Well so much for that.
" Look there he is with Cassie and Jake." Tobias commented.
They were all hanging around the Pizza Hut. As we walked closer I saw that Jake and Cassie were holding hands.
"Hey! What a surprise to see you all here!" Rachel said as we walked up. It was part of an act that we had always done in case any controllers were around.
I rolled my eyes. " Rachel, there is no one around here to hear us!"
" Marco is right for once." Jake said. " But we should get out of this mall in case that cop comes around again looking for Ax."
"Yes, thank you for stopping the Human." Ax said
" No prob." Rachel said.
As we all walked out the huge mall doors Cassie tried to make conversation. "So Marco did you find a job here?"
I smiled " Yep, got a nice computer job at Acme. It pays twice as much as my other one did. Oh yeah and Jake you got my vote."
" Well I need everyone of them," Jake said grimly. " I'm still behind on the polls."
" Oh cheer up." Cassie said. " You just announced that you're running."
" Hey, when you get elected could you pass a law that protects red tails?" Tobias asked. "I was almost shot by a crazy farmer the other day."
We were walking along a sidewalk now. Just a bunch of 20 year olds and a guy that looked like he could be anyone of our younger brother.
" Here is a private spot." I said pointing down an alleyway.
When we were some way down the ally, Tobias said. " So Ax, why did my human morph age like everyone else's but yours didn't."
" I was wondering that myself." Ax Admitted. " It maybe that the Ellimist made it so you aged, or maybe it is because it was your original DNA. Igan orangen in."
"So what's up O fearless leader." I asked Jake. " I know that Xena can't wait to kick Yeerk butt."
" Shut up Marco." Rachel said .
" Can we stay on track please?" Jake asked.
I saluted him. " Sir, yes sir!"
" I think we should go down and spy on the Yeerk pool to see what were up against." Rachel said.
" Rach, what's that?" Tobias said pointing at her back.
When she turned to face him she had her back to me. I saw a little gray ball of medal about the size of a pea attached to her. I reached out and plucked it from her shirt. It looked like it had little medal legs that grabbed hold of things. I held it up for everyone to see.
Ax went pale. " Destroy it!" He yelled.
I quickly squished it under my shoe.
" We need to get out of here NOW!" Ax ordered.
Chapter 5
Cassie
I was shocked. Ax rarely yells.
" Bird morphs." Jake said.
I focused my mind on a picture of an osprey. My feet changed first, forming into ripping talons. " What was that thing?" I asked, as my arms became featherless wings.
" It looked like a transmitter, but it could also have been a listening device." Ax said as he returned to his Andalite form.
" You mean the Yeerks could have heard everything that we-" At that point Marco's lips became a beak.
Yes. Ax said tersely. He was an Andalite and was starting to morph into a Harrier. Marco and I were now ospreys, Jake was a falcon, Rachel was a Bald Eagle, and Tobias was himself.
If the Yeerks ever found out that we were human… I quickly shoved the thought out of my mind.
I hear sirens. Tobias warned.
Ok everyone on the roof. Jake said.
I struggled to get out of the shirt that I was wearing. Luckily I had worn my morphing suit under my clothes just in case. Finally I was out. I beat my wings and rose the roof. After a minute Ax joined us.
We should wait here and see if anyone comes by. Jake said grimly.
Jake, what if they heard us? I asked privately.
I don't know Cassie. I just don't know.
30 seconds later we spotted a van racing it's way toward us. Sure enough it stopped in front of the ally and about a dozen guys carrying Uzi's spilled out. I held my breath, because I knew what would happen next.
Out stepped Visser 3. Of course he was in human morph, but even then you could just feel the evil that was inside his head. He was the leader of the invasion of earth. He looked around and started yelling into the ally. " I know that you all are humans. You stopped us one time, but there is nothing that you can do now. I do promise you that when I find you I will place my most trusted lieutenants in your head." He pointed to the six piles of clothes. " Get these."
Let's go. Jake said.
We flew in silence until Marco said what we were all thinking. We are so screwed!
What do you mean? Rachel demanded.
They know that we are human! Don't you get it? Were dead. Marco shrieked.
Clam down, we aren't thinking clearly. Jake said.
I tried to be rational. They know our first names and the fact that Marco got a job that's it. They can't find us.
Then Tobias spoke up. They also know that Jake is running for something.
So Prince Jake and Marco are at the most risk right now. Ax mused.
Don't call me prince. Jake said. Marco and I should go back to our apartments and try to look normal. If we suddenly disappeared then the Yeerks would know for certain.
We aren't going to leave you alone and hope for the best. Rachel said. We could take turns guarding your places.
Yeah this could work. I thought. We weren't beaten yet.
Chapter 6
Jake
I jumped as the apartment creaked. I was more afraid then I wanted to admit. "Relax Jake" I told myself. " Cassie and Tobias are watching over me." I closed my eyes and drifted off to sleep.
Then, what seemed like 5 minutes later I heard urgent thought speak in my head. Jake, get out now! There's a bug fighter over your house. Get out!
I sat strait up in bed. Was it a dream? Jake? Wake up! I turned and saw a great horned owl fly by my window. The plan was for me to morph a fly and get away, but I was mad. I focused my mind on the tiger DNA that was in me. Out side I heard ragged cries of Hork-Bajir and humans. The battle had started!
Orange and black fur began to grow out of my skin. My useless fingernails began to sharpen and grew to become wicked claws. My ears turned round and moved to the top of my head. I fell onto all fours as my hipbone turned into a different shape.
I was still about half tiger-half human when the first hork-bajir burst into my room. " Roooowwwrrrr!" I roared with a tiger's voice. That made the hork-bajir hesitate. In a flash I leapt on him and started slashing.
More hork-bajir came in. I was seriously out numbered. There was only one hope; that Cassie and Tobias could somehow win… The other hork-bajir ran to defend they're brother. I was cut many times in a few seconds. Then something hit me hard on the back of my head and I blacked out.
Chapter 7
Tobias
" Tsseeeerrrrr!" I screamed as I clawed the eyes out of a hork-bajir. To my left Cassie, in her owl morph preformed an exact maneuver. I still had enough speed to race my way back up in the sky. I was wearing out. Hawks like me need thermals to give lift, but in this part of dawn the thermals had not formed yet.
Tobias, they're sending hork-bajir in the apartment! Cassie warned.
There was no way we could win. Dozens of hork-bajir and human controllers were around the house. Jake should be safe Cassie. They can't find him in his fly morph. I said.
Then, to my horror I saw hork-bajir come out of the house carrying a tiger. They got Jake. I couldn't tell from the angle that I was in if he was still breathing or not.
Jake! Oh god, Jake wake up! Cassie screamed in my head.
I dived down and aimed for the closest hork-baijir. But before I could claw the eyes out of my target someone shot a dracon beam at me.
Ahhh! I yelled in shock. It missed my body, but it got a few tail feathers. It was at that moment that I realized what was happening.
Cassie, there's nothing we can do now! They're going to go after Marco next! If they already haven't. I added silently.
Jake, Jake, Jake. Cassie kept moaning.
They have already got him. If we hurry we can still save Marco. That seemed to snap Cassie out of her daze. With out a word she turned and headed south for Marco's place. I felt like the slime of the universe leaving Jake, but there was nothing I could do.
Nothing.
Cassie ended up getting there a little before me. The sun was just coming up from the east. So I saw the ruin that was left of Marco's place. Policemen had taped off the entire apartment. In the lawn I saw the remains of hork-bajir tracks. Onlookers crowded around and whispered to each other. And off to the side two people were sobbing. It was Rachel and Ax in human morph.
No. I whispered. Not Marco too! Cassie was in the bushes and demorphing. I landed in a branch above right above Rachel. What happened? I managed to say.
It was Ax who got himself together first. " We were flying above the house when a bug fighter landed and about 20 hork-bajir controllers came out and went into the apartment. We tried to warn Marco, but it was too late, he…he." Ax couldn't finish.
" We heard a gunshot." Rachel continued. " He ended his own life rather then become a controller."
To be continued
And now a small part of…
Book 3: The Brother
Tom glared at us. " So who are you and what to do want."
Tobias smiled. " Well Tom, we call ourselves Animorphs and we want you to return a favor."
" And what favor was that?" He sneered.
He looked at him in the eyes. " Your freedom Tom. We were the ones that set you free."