Copyright 2001
Chapter 18
A wolf knocked me down and to the ground. I fell and gasped for breath. The wind had been knocked out of me.
What were you thinking? the wolf asked me. When a bear charges, you GET OUT OF THE WAY!
"Yeah," I muttered. "I'll have to remember that."
The wolf jumped off of me and faced the bear. Kid, wake up. The bear started to charge the wolf. As if it did this everyday, the wolf charged also and leaped onto Cameron. It bit into his neck.
AAHHHHH!!! Cameron shouted.
The wolf jumped off. That's better. Amateurs.
Cameron blinked. What happened?
"You lost control," I explained. "Nothing happened though, so don't worry."
Nothing happened? I almost killed you!
"But you didn't," I pointed out.
We stood there for a few seconds, and Cameron took out two Controllers who were pointing gun-like things in his direction.
I thought fast. We'd found another group of people who could morph. People? What if they were Andalites? Or Taxxons? Could Taxxons morph? I looked around the Yeerk Pool, where none of the Taxxons had morphed. It they had been able to morph, they would have done it by now. But there was one other thing I had to take care of. Visser Three had only been temporarily distracted by the onrush of other animals. I made my way to Alexis.
About halfway there, I realized that she wasn't there any more. I looked around. There! My parents were dragging her down some sort of tunnel. I sped after them.
"NO!" Alexis screamed. "Dad! Please!"
I sped up. Something stepped into my path. I bounced off and fell on the floor. I looked up. Was it just me, or was the world moving more than it should have been? No, wait. That was my eyes. I brought them back into focus and looked at what had hit me.
A Hork-Bajir.
Without saying a word, it stooped down and picked me up. I tried to kick him.
Hold on, Chris. I looked around. There was a cougar speeding towards us. Besides a few minor cuts, Samantha seemed fine.
Jerks. Did you know that these guys actually tried to cut me?
She jumped on the Hork-Bajir from the side. We went down, and I landed on my shoulder. I rolled away.
Take that! Samantha shouted. And that! And take this one for good measure!
"I'm okay," I told her.
She looked at me and then back to the Hork-Bajir who had passed out on the floor. Lost myself, I guess.
I didn't say anything. I'd lost myself before, but when I had, I hadn't been able to even remember the human language.
"I need to get Alexis," I said.
Behind you! Samantha shouted at me.
I turned. There were two more Hork-Bajir behind me.
Samantha yelled behind me. It was the closest I ever heard her come to a scream. I turned and looked. More Hork-Bajir were coming from that way.
They were surrounding us.
We're going to have to run for it, Samantha said.
I nodded.
You may have to morph.
I shook my head. "Can't. All I have is a dog. Besides. There are witnesses."
Samantha cussed. Cameron! she shouted. Hardy! Laurel! We really, REALLY need you guys over here.
I felt something wrap around my waist.
NO! Samantha screamed. I stared at her. She actually screamed? She jumped on the Hork-Bajir that had me. Let go of him! she yelled. Guys! NOW! Another Hork-Bajir came up behind her and hit her in the back with one of its blades. This time, she full-out screamed. She turned on the Hork-Bajir. NEVER HIT ME! she yelled. Then, her eyes went completely blank. I knew right away that she had lost control.
She leaped for something- I'm still not sure what. The Hork-Bajir had turned around. All I saw was where he was headed.
The Yeerk pool.
I opened my mouth to shout for help. If they got a Yeerk in my head- if they found out everything I knew- we were all dead. Except I couldn't shout out any names. If I did that, they would know everyone anyway, and if the others got me out of here without a Yeerk as a slave driver, then we were still dead.
"Bandits!" I shouted instead. Crazy. Why did Visser Three call them bandits anyway? Us. We hadn't stolen anything. We hadn't even done anything to him... yet.
"Any bandits want to help me out here?!" I screamed out at the top of my lungs.
Coming, man. I looked and saw Cameron hobbling towards me. One of his paws was nearly cut off, and his eyes were out of focus.
Forget it, Cameron. You can't do anything. Get out of here. Laurel didn't look much different than from when she came in. Big and ugly. Just joking. Really, she had maybe two scratches on her.
The Hork-Bajir started sprinting. Now I could see everything- or at least everything about the pool. Laurel was sprinting behind it, but I knew she wouldn't catch up in time. Oh, God. Everything. That pool. When I got to that pool, everything was going to be over. My family. My friends. Our entire world! And it was all because of me, too. I hadn't had enough morphs. Oh, God. It was all because of me. My fault. Me. The entire destruction of the world was only ten feet away. Nine... Eight... Seven... Six-
I don't think so, said the elephant as it butted the Hork-Bajir. The Hork-Bajir stumbled. We were only five feet from the pool. Desperately, the Hork-Bajir threw me. Was he crazy?! I could hit the wall and bust my skull open! But if it was my death to the destruction of the world, wouldn't my death be better? Then everyone could keep making changes, fighting.
I landed with a splash. I surfaced as fast as I could, gasping for breath. It was hard to swim in this stuff. It was... heavy. There was stuff, besides the Yeerks, swimming around in it. I tried to swim to a wall to haul myself out.
One hand up. Two. Head. Hork-Bajir right in front of me, tapping its fingers patiently.
"Oops," I said. "Guess I took a wrong turn."
I dropped back into the pool, with every intention of swimming across to the other side.
The Hork-Bajir simply leaned over the edge of the pool, grabbed my hair, and pushed me down.
I closed my eyes and tried to shout out for help. My mouth filled with pool water- not the kind with chlorine. I tried to spit it out without having to breathe any water in.
I felt Yeerks swimming around me. They were hitting my entire body softly. One swam under my shirt. I splashed around, trying to hit them and keep them away from me, but there were too many of them! Or at least it seemed that way. Some of the things I hit were smaller than the larger, squishier things. The nutrients, I remembered. The Andalite had said that. But the Yeerks... There were too many of them! I couldn't keep fighting them off! I couldn't even see what I was hitting.
Another arm reached down and grabbed my arms. I struggled some more.
Chris, hold on, man. Hardy's coming to the rescue. Regular all-around super-hero. Just hold on.
Something hit my ear. It kept hitting my earlobe for a while, and then it found where it wanted to go.
Swallow the water, I told myself. Just swallow it. You can't let them catch you.
Under the water, I screamed. The Yeerk was crawling into my ear, and it hurt like sticking your arm through the blades of a lawnmower- with the lawnmower turned on.
God, I thought. GodGodGodGod.
Something lifted me out of the water. The Hork-Bajir, I guess. I couldn't focus. I felt the water-like stuff dripping down and off and through my clothes. The Yeerk that had been in my shirt slid out. I opened my eyes, trying to make the world still again.
There was a gorilla standing in front of me, holding the Hork-Bajir like a doll.
"Thanks, man," I told Hardy.
Suddenly, the gorilla punched me right under the jaw. I went down. I think I might have flown first, but I really don't remember. I looked back at the gorilla. Okay, so it wasn't Hardy. I opened my mouth to say so, but I passed out before I could say a thing.
Chapter 19
Hardy
I looked at Chris. I didn't have a doubt as to whether or not he'd have a headache tomorrow.
I ran, or technically waddled, since gorillas really can't run that well, up to the other gorilla.
What the hell did you do that for? I asked him.
He's one of them, now, the gorilla said as if I should know that already. He's a Controller.
So? That's no reason to knock him one.
It's a very good reason to 'knock him one'- unless you want him to shout out who you are.
I stood there for a few moments. It did make sense. Chris could have gotten us killed if he were a Controller.
Keep him someplace for three days. That'll kill the Yeerk.
You're actually helping us? I asked, slightly shocked.
The gorilla looked at me like I was an idiot. Yeah. You know, I mean, if you guys get turned into Controllers, we're going to have our hands full.
Yeah.
Rookies. The gorilla started walking away.
Wait! I called after him.
He turned around.
Honor calls for me to do something real fast. I jumped on him and punched him in the jaw. I got off of him and waited while he clambered to his feet. Don't hit him again, I said simply. I started walking off to get Chris. Oh. And another thing. Don't call us rookies.
I picked up Chris and started walking out. We hadn't been able to get Alexis, but that was too tough. I wasn't going to risk my neck like Chris had. I didn't want to become a Controller. We'd just have to wait for some other time to help his little sister. He'd nearly gotten us all killed.
Laurel, Cameron, Sam: Come on.
Where's Alexis? Laurel asked as she galloped over. I think galloping is the right term.
She's one of them now, I think. Chris is to.
What? Sam asked, shoving her way. I don't- She saw Chris and blinked a few times. But-
I shrugged. One of them knocked him out. Sam turned and looked like she was about to murder someone.
Cameron waddled over. Hey, I'm here too, gorgeous.
Sam hissed. You're okay, I guess.
Yeah. Okay, and in serious need of a beer or something. I've never felt like I wanted to get drunk, but this is the time.
Oh, please, Sam begged. Kill off the few brain cells you have left. Please- I get your stereo, by the way.
I get his room! Laurel shouted. She raced ahead, paving the way for us.
I quickly followed her, Chris in my arm and buried by my hair. As Cameron put it later, I was "One freaky and hairy creature."
Cameron and Sam came last, shoving off anyone who wanted to pick a fight with us as we left.
Let's not do this again, Cameron said.
Agreed, Sam said.
You mean you are actually saying you DON'T want to go on a suicide mission?
Sam made a shrugging motion. Well, it's a definite turn-on, but we got taken- Well, we sucked.
I hear you on that one.
I mean, Chris didn't even have any appropriate morphs. You only had one. I'd hate to think what might have happened if those others hadn't shown up.
Well, you lost control of the cougar, just so you know.
I did? Silence.
Yep. I'm guessing that's as close as I'll ever get to having your drool on me, huh?
I didn't hurt you, did you?
Cameron did a bear's version of a shrug. No. Actually, I enjoyed having you drool on me.
Don't get any ideas, buster.
Yeah, yeah, yeah. I know. Chris is your man.
Silence. Huh?
Oh, come on. It's obvious. You two have liked each other since you two met. Don't tell me you haven't noticed...
It IS kind of obvious, Laurel agreed. I thought you two knew.
Guys, I ordered. Later. We have to keep Chris someplace safe for three days, remember?
How'd you find that out? Sam demanded.
The other gorilla told me before I jumped him.
You jumped him? Sam shouted. Still, she seemed kind of pleased.
Yeah. I don't think we can trust him, though.
Better safe than sorry, Laurel said.
We went up the stairs in silence. As we went out, Laurel looked up at a piece of machinery in the doorway. It looked as if it had blown a fuse. What's that thing? she wondered.
Who cares? Sam said crossly. Let's just get out of here. A few seconds later, we heard her ask Cameron, If you knew that Chris and I like each other, why are you hitting on his girl?
iMarco
The kid had punched me. Actually punched me. For protecting him. I'd only been trying to help!
I turned and hit a Hork-Bajir as Jake gave the order to bail. I felt almost like laughing. I would have done the same thing in his position, standing up for myself and my friends. The Ellimist was right. We were a lot like them./i
Chapter 20
Chris
Yep. I stayed for three days with that thing in my head. Cameron had found a spot in a ditch. Kind of like this hollowed-out room where erosion had made a little cave. I didn't ask how he had found it. The others stayed with me a lot. I think sometimes it was to make sure I didn't get away, but then I think that maybe it was also just to be with me. I don't know. Maybe both. I've forgotten most of that time. I've purposely shoved it to the back of my mind. I couldn't control myself while it was in my head. I said things, but it wasn't me who said them. I was afraid that maybe I would say something like "Get me something sharp," and the guys would get it for me. They had tied me up with shoelaces. Once, I morphed to Presley, but that didn't go over too well. Hardy had been on watch and brought a leash for his dog. It was waiting there, all ready for him to use.
I did get food though. Real gourmet stuff. Samantha brought me the stuff her grandparents had made since there were always plenty of leftovers. She was the one who was on guard the most. Probably because the others had school during the day and she could sneak out at night. She got me almost everything I asked for, as long as it was reasonable.
It was like that for three days. It was nice, you know, the part where I saw how much they cared about me and all. The first night, I supposedly spent the night with Cameron, and then I ran into Hardy at the mall and spent the night with him, and then Sam, Cameron, and Hardy, and I had hung out really late so the third night I just went home with Cameron again.
On the other hand, it was scary. I couldn't control what I did with my hands or my voice. I couldn't tell my eyes where to go, or get my feet to stop kicking people when they came close. Most of all, there was this voice in my head; all it did was laugh at me.
On the third day, it started to give up. It let Samantha get close enough to hold my hand, and I swear it even squeezed back. Samantha claimed that she didn't know. It also started talking to me that day, as if I were some sort of journal or something.
"We've been trying to get this world for nearly four years," it said once. "The Andalite bandits kept stopping us from total domination though. And now, if they team up with you, then it will be over for the Yeerks."
"Those are Andalite bandits?" I asked. I didn't have to say anything out loud; the thing had bragged about its power to read minds.
"There's speculation about whether or not they are truly Andalites. Knowing what you know, I'd say they aren't. But Visser Three..." The Yeerk laughed. "The Visser is too ignorant. He believes that they are Andalites. I'm sorry that I will not see him die."
"You want to see your own leader die?" I asked. I didn't care about what was going on, really; I'd seen enough war movies to know that you don't hate your superior enough to want to see them die.
"You don't know Visser Three," the Yeerk said carelessly, picking out some memories of movies I'd seen and watching them. "You have so many things on this planet," it told me. "I regret that I won't see them. But even your memories- You remember bright colors, loud sounds, smells, taste, everything!" It gave a sort of happy sigh. "You know, if I weren't such an upright Yeerk, I'd tell you about the new plan to destroy the humans. Make them slaves."
I settled back in my mind. I hadn't been expecting him to tell me.
"But then again, I never was a very upright Yeerk."
I was suddenly at full attention.
"It isn't much of a plan, if you ask me. I could've come up with a better one."
"I'm sure," I agreed, trying to keep the sarcasm out of my voice.
"I'm not kidding," the Yeerk insisted. "I could come up with plans that would blow Visser Three out of the water- the jerk. I could- If they would just give me the chance. I was going to get revenge on the Visser eventually. You know, kill him, make it look like he had missed his feeding by an accident- or even better, make it look like a suicide. That would have been good." He sighed dreamily. "But I guess I'll just have to settle on you, kid."
"Kid?"
"Whatever. Look, they're going to start taking kids at young ages. Possibly as soon as they're born. Make them grow up thinking that slavery is the only thing in the world. Of course, I don't know when they'll start. Visser Three still thinks that Yeerks should only take people of value. Oh well."
"That's the plan?" I asked.
"Pretty much. Seen any good movies lately?" The Yeerk dug through my memories and found one. "You like 'The Simpsons?' Not really a movie, I guess, but oh well." I started seeing episodes of Bart Simpson, Homer, Marge, Maggie, and Lisa flash before my eyes.
Chapter 18
A wolf knocked me down and to the ground. I fell and gasped for breath. The wind had been knocked out of me.
What were you thinking? the wolf asked me. When a bear charges, you GET OUT OF THE WAY!
"Yeah," I muttered. "I'll have to remember that."
The wolf jumped off of me and faced the bear. Kid, wake up. The bear started to charge the wolf. As if it did this everyday, the wolf charged also and leaped onto Cameron. It bit into his neck.
AAHHHHH!!! Cameron shouted.
The wolf jumped off. That's better. Amateurs.
Cameron blinked. What happened?
"You lost control," I explained. "Nothing happened though, so don't worry."
Nothing happened? I almost killed you!
"But you didn't," I pointed out.
We stood there for a few seconds, and Cameron took out two Controllers who were pointing gun-like things in his direction.
I thought fast. We'd found another group of people who could morph. People? What if they were Andalites? Or Taxxons? Could Taxxons morph? I looked around the Yeerk Pool, where none of the Taxxons had morphed. It they had been able to morph, they would have done it by now. But there was one other thing I had to take care of. Visser Three had only been temporarily distracted by the onrush of other animals. I made my way to Alexis.
About halfway there, I realized that she wasn't there any more. I looked around. There! My parents were dragging her down some sort of tunnel. I sped after them.
"NO!" Alexis screamed. "Dad! Please!"
I sped up. Something stepped into my path. I bounced off and fell on the floor. I looked up. Was it just me, or was the world moving more than it should have been? No, wait. That was my eyes. I brought them back into focus and looked at what had hit me.
A Hork-Bajir.
Without saying a word, it stooped down and picked me up. I tried to kick him.
Hold on, Chris. I looked around. There was a cougar speeding towards us. Besides a few minor cuts, Samantha seemed fine.
Jerks. Did you know that these guys actually tried to cut me?
She jumped on the Hork-Bajir from the side. We went down, and I landed on my shoulder. I rolled away.
Take that! Samantha shouted. And that! And take this one for good measure!
"I'm okay," I told her.
She looked at me and then back to the Hork-Bajir who had passed out on the floor. Lost myself, I guess.
I didn't say anything. I'd lost myself before, but when I had, I hadn't been able to even remember the human language.
"I need to get Alexis," I said.
Behind you! Samantha shouted at me.
I turned. There were two more Hork-Bajir behind me.
Samantha yelled behind me. It was the closest I ever heard her come to a scream. I turned and looked. More Hork-Bajir were coming from that way.
They were surrounding us.
We're going to have to run for it, Samantha said.
I nodded.
You may have to morph.
I shook my head. "Can't. All I have is a dog. Besides. There are witnesses."
Samantha cussed. Cameron! she shouted. Hardy! Laurel! We really, REALLY need you guys over here.
I felt something wrap around my waist.
NO! Samantha screamed. I stared at her. She actually screamed? She jumped on the Hork-Bajir that had me. Let go of him! she yelled. Guys! NOW! Another Hork-Bajir came up behind her and hit her in the back with one of its blades. This time, she full-out screamed. She turned on the Hork-Bajir. NEVER HIT ME! she yelled. Then, her eyes went completely blank. I knew right away that she had lost control.
She leaped for something- I'm still not sure what. The Hork-Bajir had turned around. All I saw was where he was headed.
The Yeerk pool.
I opened my mouth to shout for help. If they got a Yeerk in my head- if they found out everything I knew- we were all dead. Except I couldn't shout out any names. If I did that, they would know everyone anyway, and if the others got me out of here without a Yeerk as a slave driver, then we were still dead.
"Bandits!" I shouted instead. Crazy. Why did Visser Three call them bandits anyway? Us. We hadn't stolen anything. We hadn't even done anything to him... yet.
"Any bandits want to help me out here?!" I screamed out at the top of my lungs.
Coming, man. I looked and saw Cameron hobbling towards me. One of his paws was nearly cut off, and his eyes were out of focus.
Forget it, Cameron. You can't do anything. Get out of here. Laurel didn't look much different than from when she came in. Big and ugly. Just joking. Really, she had maybe two scratches on her.
The Hork-Bajir started sprinting. Now I could see everything- or at least everything about the pool. Laurel was sprinting behind it, but I knew she wouldn't catch up in time. Oh, God. Everything. That pool. When I got to that pool, everything was going to be over. My family. My friends. Our entire world! And it was all because of me, too. I hadn't had enough morphs. Oh, God. It was all because of me. My fault. Me. The entire destruction of the world was only ten feet away. Nine... Eight... Seven... Six-
I don't think so, said the elephant as it butted the Hork-Bajir. The Hork-Bajir stumbled. We were only five feet from the pool. Desperately, the Hork-Bajir threw me. Was he crazy?! I could hit the wall and bust my skull open! But if it was my death to the destruction of the world, wouldn't my death be better? Then everyone could keep making changes, fighting.
I landed with a splash. I surfaced as fast as I could, gasping for breath. It was hard to swim in this stuff. It was... heavy. There was stuff, besides the Yeerks, swimming around in it. I tried to swim to a wall to haul myself out.
One hand up. Two. Head. Hork-Bajir right in front of me, tapping its fingers patiently.
"Oops," I said. "Guess I took a wrong turn."
I dropped back into the pool, with every intention of swimming across to the other side.
The Hork-Bajir simply leaned over the edge of the pool, grabbed my hair, and pushed me down.
I closed my eyes and tried to shout out for help. My mouth filled with pool water- not the kind with chlorine. I tried to spit it out without having to breathe any water in.
I felt Yeerks swimming around me. They were hitting my entire body softly. One swam under my shirt. I splashed around, trying to hit them and keep them away from me, but there were too many of them! Or at least it seemed that way. Some of the things I hit were smaller than the larger, squishier things. The nutrients, I remembered. The Andalite had said that. But the Yeerks... There were too many of them! I couldn't keep fighting them off! I couldn't even see what I was hitting.
Another arm reached down and grabbed my arms. I struggled some more.
Chris, hold on, man. Hardy's coming to the rescue. Regular all-around super-hero. Just hold on.
Something hit my ear. It kept hitting my earlobe for a while, and then it found where it wanted to go.
Swallow the water, I told myself. Just swallow it. You can't let them catch you.
Under the water, I screamed. The Yeerk was crawling into my ear, and it hurt like sticking your arm through the blades of a lawnmower- with the lawnmower turned on.
God, I thought. GodGodGodGod.
Something lifted me out of the water. The Hork-Bajir, I guess. I couldn't focus. I felt the water-like stuff dripping down and off and through my clothes. The Yeerk that had been in my shirt slid out. I opened my eyes, trying to make the world still again.
There was a gorilla standing in front of me, holding the Hork-Bajir like a doll.
"Thanks, man," I told Hardy.
Suddenly, the gorilla punched me right under the jaw. I went down. I think I might have flown first, but I really don't remember. I looked back at the gorilla. Okay, so it wasn't Hardy. I opened my mouth to say so, but I passed out before I could say a thing.
Chapter 19
Hardy
I looked at Chris. I didn't have a doubt as to whether or not he'd have a headache tomorrow.
I ran, or technically waddled, since gorillas really can't run that well, up to the other gorilla.
What the hell did you do that for? I asked him.
He's one of them, now, the gorilla said as if I should know that already. He's a Controller.
So? That's no reason to knock him one.
It's a very good reason to 'knock him one'- unless you want him to shout out who you are.
I stood there for a few moments. It did make sense. Chris could have gotten us killed if he were a Controller.
Keep him someplace for three days. That'll kill the Yeerk.
You're actually helping us? I asked, slightly shocked.
The gorilla looked at me like I was an idiot. Yeah. You know, I mean, if you guys get turned into Controllers, we're going to have our hands full.
Yeah.
Rookies. The gorilla started walking away.
Wait! I called after him.
He turned around.
Honor calls for me to do something real fast. I jumped on him and punched him in the jaw. I got off of him and waited while he clambered to his feet. Don't hit him again, I said simply. I started walking off to get Chris. Oh. And another thing. Don't call us rookies.
I picked up Chris and started walking out. We hadn't been able to get Alexis, but that was too tough. I wasn't going to risk my neck like Chris had. I didn't want to become a Controller. We'd just have to wait for some other time to help his little sister. He'd nearly gotten us all killed.
Laurel, Cameron, Sam: Come on.
Where's Alexis? Laurel asked as she galloped over. I think galloping is the right term.
She's one of them now, I think. Chris is to.
What? Sam asked, shoving her way. I don't- She saw Chris and blinked a few times. But-
I shrugged. One of them knocked him out. Sam turned and looked like she was about to murder someone.
Cameron waddled over. Hey, I'm here too, gorgeous.
Sam hissed. You're okay, I guess.
Yeah. Okay, and in serious need of a beer or something. I've never felt like I wanted to get drunk, but this is the time.
Oh, please, Sam begged. Kill off the few brain cells you have left. Please- I get your stereo, by the way.
I get his room! Laurel shouted. She raced ahead, paving the way for us.
I quickly followed her, Chris in my arm and buried by my hair. As Cameron put it later, I was "One freaky and hairy creature."
Cameron and Sam came last, shoving off anyone who wanted to pick a fight with us as we left.
Let's not do this again, Cameron said.
Agreed, Sam said.
You mean you are actually saying you DON'T want to go on a suicide mission?
Sam made a shrugging motion. Well, it's a definite turn-on, but we got taken- Well, we sucked.
I hear you on that one.
I mean, Chris didn't even have any appropriate morphs. You only had one. I'd hate to think what might have happened if those others hadn't shown up.
Well, you lost control of the cougar, just so you know.
I did? Silence.
Yep. I'm guessing that's as close as I'll ever get to having your drool on me, huh?
I didn't hurt you, did you?
Cameron did a bear's version of a shrug. No. Actually, I enjoyed having you drool on me.
Don't get any ideas, buster.
Yeah, yeah, yeah. I know. Chris is your man.
Silence. Huh?
Oh, come on. It's obvious. You two have liked each other since you two met. Don't tell me you haven't noticed...
It IS kind of obvious, Laurel agreed. I thought you two knew.
Guys, I ordered. Later. We have to keep Chris someplace safe for three days, remember?
How'd you find that out? Sam demanded.
The other gorilla told me before I jumped him.
You jumped him? Sam shouted. Still, she seemed kind of pleased.
Yeah. I don't think we can trust him, though.
Better safe than sorry, Laurel said.
We went up the stairs in silence. As we went out, Laurel looked up at a piece of machinery in the doorway. It looked as if it had blown a fuse. What's that thing? she wondered.
Who cares? Sam said crossly. Let's just get out of here. A few seconds later, we heard her ask Cameron, If you knew that Chris and I like each other, why are you hitting on his girl?
iMarco
The kid had punched me. Actually punched me. For protecting him. I'd only been trying to help!
I turned and hit a Hork-Bajir as Jake gave the order to bail. I felt almost like laughing. I would have done the same thing in his position, standing up for myself and my friends. The Ellimist was right. We were a lot like them./i
Chapter 20
Chris
Yep. I stayed for three days with that thing in my head. Cameron had found a spot in a ditch. Kind of like this hollowed-out room where erosion had made a little cave. I didn't ask how he had found it. The others stayed with me a lot. I think sometimes it was to make sure I didn't get away, but then I think that maybe it was also just to be with me. I don't know. Maybe both. I've forgotten most of that time. I've purposely shoved it to the back of my mind. I couldn't control myself while it was in my head. I said things, but it wasn't me who said them. I was afraid that maybe I would say something like "Get me something sharp," and the guys would get it for me. They had tied me up with shoelaces. Once, I morphed to Presley, but that didn't go over too well. Hardy had been on watch and brought a leash for his dog. It was waiting there, all ready for him to use.
I did get food though. Real gourmet stuff. Samantha brought me the stuff her grandparents had made since there were always plenty of leftovers. She was the one who was on guard the most. Probably because the others had school during the day and she could sneak out at night. She got me almost everything I asked for, as long as it was reasonable.
It was like that for three days. It was nice, you know, the part where I saw how much they cared about me and all. The first night, I supposedly spent the night with Cameron, and then I ran into Hardy at the mall and spent the night with him, and then Sam, Cameron, and Hardy, and I had hung out really late so the third night I just went home with Cameron again.
On the other hand, it was scary. I couldn't control what I did with my hands or my voice. I couldn't tell my eyes where to go, or get my feet to stop kicking people when they came close. Most of all, there was this voice in my head; all it did was laugh at me.
On the third day, it started to give up. It let Samantha get close enough to hold my hand, and I swear it even squeezed back. Samantha claimed that she didn't know. It also started talking to me that day, as if I were some sort of journal or something.
"We've been trying to get this world for nearly four years," it said once. "The Andalite bandits kept stopping us from total domination though. And now, if they team up with you, then it will be over for the Yeerks."
"Those are Andalite bandits?" I asked. I didn't have to say anything out loud; the thing had bragged about its power to read minds.
"There's speculation about whether or not they are truly Andalites. Knowing what you know, I'd say they aren't. But Visser Three..." The Yeerk laughed. "The Visser is too ignorant. He believes that they are Andalites. I'm sorry that I will not see him die."
"You want to see your own leader die?" I asked. I didn't care about what was going on, really; I'd seen enough war movies to know that you don't hate your superior enough to want to see them die.
"You don't know Visser Three," the Yeerk said carelessly, picking out some memories of movies I'd seen and watching them. "You have so many things on this planet," it told me. "I regret that I won't see them. But even your memories- You remember bright colors, loud sounds, smells, taste, everything!" It gave a sort of happy sigh. "You know, if I weren't such an upright Yeerk, I'd tell you about the new plan to destroy the humans. Make them slaves."
I settled back in my mind. I hadn't been expecting him to tell me.
"But then again, I never was a very upright Yeerk."
I was suddenly at full attention.
"It isn't much of a plan, if you ask me. I could've come up with a better one."
"I'm sure," I agreed, trying to keep the sarcasm out of my voice.
"I'm not kidding," the Yeerk insisted. "I could come up with plans that would blow Visser Three out of the water- the jerk. I could- If they would just give me the chance. I was going to get revenge on the Visser eventually. You know, kill him, make it look like he had missed his feeding by an accident- or even better, make it look like a suicide. That would have been good." He sighed dreamily. "But I guess I'll just have to settle on you, kid."
"Kid?"
"Whatever. Look, they're going to start taking kids at young ages. Possibly as soon as they're born. Make them grow up thinking that slavery is the only thing in the world. Of course, I don't know when they'll start. Visser Three still thinks that Yeerks should only take people of value. Oh well."
"That's the plan?" I asked.
"Pretty much. Seen any good movies lately?" The Yeerk dug through my memories and found one. "You like 'The Simpsons?' Not really a movie, I guess, but oh well." I started seeing episodes of Bart Simpson, Homer, Marge, Maggie, and Lisa flash before my eyes.