Animorphs: The Black Death
2: Deadly Alliance
The Ellimist's Domain
No one said anything for at least a minute. The Animorphs and the Predators just stared at each other in disbelief for about a minute before anything was said.
"Someone tell me this is a nightmare!" Ryan said in horror.
If it is, it's one you will not awaken from! Vorka snarled.
The Animorphs gaped in shock. They had never heard thought-speech from a Predator before. Then again the one they had fought before had never seemed interested in conversation, only in killing them.
So you can use thought-speech too? I never knew that, Ax said.
Yes. But you will never tell anyone of it! With that, Vorka drew his wrist-blades.
The Animorphs braced themselves, preparing to morph if necessary. Ax raised his tail-blade.
ENOUGH!
The Ellimist materialised between them. He did not look happy. The Predators stopped short. They seemed to know what he was.
I DID NOT BRING YOU HERE TO FIGHT EACH OTHER! YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO FIGHT TOGETHER!
Everyone looked at him in amazement.
"Fight together? Is that what he actually said?" Marco asked in shock.
"With them? Have you gone INSANE?!" Rachel screamed.
The Predators didn't seem to like the idea either.
We ally with no one. Especially prey! Vorka retorted.
"Why don't I show you what this 'prey' can do?" Rachel sneered.
ENOUGH! DESPITE WHAT YOU THINK, YOU DO NEED EACH OTHER.
"What do we need them for? They'll kill us the first chance they get!" Marco said.
I don't see a need for them in this hunt. What need have we for humans? Malarnex asked, speaking for the first time. He sounded a lot less hostile than Vorka.
THE PREDATORS HAVE HONOUR, MARCO. THEY WILL NOT BETRAY YOU AT THE FIRST OPPORTUNITY. THEY KNOW THIS SPECIES' CAPABILITIES AND WEAKNESSES; THEREFORE YOU WILL NEED THEM.
The Ellimist turned to the Predators.
…AND YOU NEED THEM TO INCREASE YOUR NUMBERS AND YOUR CHANCES. REINFORCEMENTS FROM YOUR HOME WORLD WILL NOT ARRIVE IN TIME, AM I RIGHT? BESIDES, WE BOTH KNOW THESE ARE NOT ORDINARY HUMANS.
What if we refuse this offer of yours? Ax asked.
YOU ARE BOTH FREE TO DECLINE. I WILL SEND YOU BACK TO EARTH ALONE. HOWEVER, I BELIEVE THAT IF YOU DO WORK ALONE, YOU WILL FAIL.
With that, The Ellimist stood back to allow them all breathing space and time to think it over.
The Animorphs quickly huddled together.
"What do you think?" Jake asked.
I do not trust this. An Ellimist proposing that we ally ourselves with two Predators? Ax said in disbelief. You know what I feel about Ellimists. I vote against this.
"I vote yes," Rachel said. "Think about it. It'd be better trying to work with them rather than fight them and this new race and the Yeerks all at once. If they're so keen on hunting, we might even convince them to join us permanently and give the Yeerks a real hard time!"
Marco grinned. "Why don't you go propose to one of them now? You'd be a real cute match!"
Rachel punched Marco lightly in the arm and rolled her eyes as everyone else smirked.
"I'm with Ax. I don't trust those Predators at all," Cassie said. "That one won't rest until he's tried to kill us." She was pointing at Vorka as she said this.
"I'm with that," Ryan put in. "I still have nightmares about the fight with the first one. I'd rather take my chances alone and not have to worry about a knife in my back."
"I don't usually agree with Xena but I'm for it," Marco said. "Those black things scare me far more than those guys do. I say we team up."
So do I, Tobias said. I'd rather work with the Predators and keep them where we can see them than have them hunt us again.
Everyone then looked at Jake. His was the deciding vote.
"Sorry Cassie, but I'm voting yes as well. I don't like the Predators but Marco's right, those black things could be far worse. We know what the Predators can do but we can't say the same for this new race. If the Predators can give us an edge over them then we should do it. The Ellimist has never lied to us before either. He may have played with us a little but he's never betrayed us. We'll team up, for now."
Ax, Cassie and Ryan looked far from happy with this but they said nothing.
"We've decided to go for it if they will," Jake finally said to the Ellimist.
GOOD.
The Ellimist turned to the Predators again. Vorka still did not look happy but it was Malarnex who spoke and surprised everyone.
Done.
Vorka was enraged. Leader, we do not need…
You question me? There was no mistaking the threat in his voice.
No, Leader, Vorka sighed.
I'LL SEND YOU BACK. FROM NOW ON, YOU ARE ON YOUR OWN. I CAN NOT RISK INTERFERING DIRECTLY AGAIN.
"Fine, but what if we can't pull this off?" Marco asked.
FIND A WAY OR WE ALL LOSE. ME TO CRAYAK, THE PREDATORS THEIR HONOUR AND HUNTING GROUNDS AND YOU YOUR LIVES, YOUR PLANET AND EVERYTHING ELSE.
The Animorphs then found themselves in Cassie's barn.
"Someone please tell me that was all a dream," Cassie said.
Suddenly Malarnex and Vorka appeared in the barn also.
"Nope, no such luck," Marco snorted.
What's wrong? You don't want us as allies, Marco? Malarnex asked.
The Animorphs, especially Marco, stared at him in shock.
"How did you…"
…Know who you are? My entire race does. They have done since you defeated one of us. You're considered very worthy prey now. I am Malarnex, leader of the Fenris Tribe. We've also met before. At least, you and I have briefly. Vorka has not had the pleasure.
"When did we meet before?" Jake asked with a puzzled expression.
I watched you defeat my warrior, 'Prince' Jake. You fought well. It's one of the reasons I agreed to this alliance in the first place.
Ax broke in. You were one of the Predators at the ship?
Correct. I watched Jake and your other friend Dutch defeat one of my best warriors. By rite and tradition I was forced to make him commit self-death. Dutch is not here with you?
"No," Jake said.
Unfortunate. He could have been a valuable ally also. Still, no matter. Malarnex then turned to Vorka. Is there a holo-emitter aboard the pod?
Yes Leader.
Bring it here then. Our new allies must learn what they have to hunt.
Allies? Vorka spat in contempt. These are no allies of mine, Leader! As they will learn when I rip out their throats!
He then activated his cloaking device and ran out.
"What's his problem?" Rachel asked.
Simple, Malarnex replied. Vorka has a blood oath against all of you.
Chapman's House
Chapman was not having a good day either. He was reporting to Visser 3 on current events, or rather he was trying to as he had little solid information. Fortunately for him, the Visser seemed more intrigued than angry.
Burst out of a human's chest? Visser 3 was asking incredulously.
"Yes Visser. As absurd as it sounds, it is true. I saw it myself. This boy was not the only victim either. Others have been found in various sectors of town."
No idea as to the cause?
"None that has yet been seen, Visser. However I believe it is a dangerous new life form. We discovered the remains of three police officers in the school. They had been dismembered."
Even Visser 3 looked stunned at that development. Well, Iniss 226, I suggest you try and find this life form before it becomes even more of a problem. I have enough of my own up here. A Predator ship entered Earth orbit a few hours ago.
"The Predators? Do you think they have something to do with this, Visser?"
It would be the most likely explanation, Iniss 226. However, I am not about to ask them about it. You must find this life form and stop it before it destroys our invasion plans. Any more deaths will make it exceedingly hard to operate in your area without scrutiny. We can not afford any more delays. Use whatever troops you need, but end this problem!
"Yes Visser," Chapman groaned as Visser 3 cut the communication link.
He had no idea what he was going to do. How was he to stand against this new race and possibly the Predators as well? Feeling distinctly ill, Chapman left to meet with his lieutenants.
Cassie's barn
"A blood oath? What for?" Cassie asked in horror.
It has something to do with the first Predator that hunted us, doesn't it? Ax asked.
Malarnex nodded. His name was Varkan. He was Vorka's elder brother.
Ax felt a sudden feeling of sympathy for Vorka and, to a lesser extent, so did Jake. They knew what losing a brother meant. But, needless to say, they didn't fancy dying for it.
"So he might betray us after all? Hunt us again?" Rachel asked.
While this alliance holds, he will not hunt you. He knows that if he does his own life will be forfeit. I will see to that! Malarnex growled. However once we are finished, it will be out of my hands and Vorka will have free rein to hunt whatever he likes. You will, no doubt, be his first choice of prey. If I were you, I would be ready for him when he comes for you.
"Why are you telling us this? Aren't you going to help Vorka or whoever he is hunt us too? And why were you so keen on helping us?" Marco blurted out rapidly.
Unlike Vorka, I have no personal stake in this. I won't be helping him hunt you. I never liked Varkan anyway; he had too much pride. He would have been destroyed sooner or later. I must admit, however, I was surprised when you were able to defeat him. But that is beside the point. The main reason I formed this alliance was curiosity.
"Curiosity?" Ryan sounded confused.
Yes. Your race intrigues me. Our prey archives describe you as 'weak and puny beings with little resistance to physical stress. Their only strength is cunning'. Yet, despite that, many of our hunters have been killed here in recent years. I've wanted to see what humans are really capable of. Now I have the opportunity. You have a slight advantage over the rest of your race with Andalite technology but that should just make things more…interesting?
Jake, to say the least, wasn't happy with all this. We've got to work with a Predator who wants us dead and another one who thinks we're a science project! Just great!
Just then Vorka came back carrying the holo-emitter. It was small, square and metal in appearance.
Malarnex looked pleased. Finally.
He took the emitter and set it down on the floor in the middle of the barn. He touched a control on its side and stood back as it activated. A hologram of a flesh-coloured hand-like creature appeared.
"What is that?" Rachel asked in amazement.
The prey in its first stage of development. It hatches from the egg, finds a host, attaches itself to the host's face and implants an egg into its chest. Malarnex showed no emotion as he said this.
"That must be what happened to Johnny and those others yesterday," Marco said, looking slightly green.
Correct. Once the egg hatches, it then erupts from the host and matures into this…
Vorka touched another button on the emitter and the hologram changed to the hideous black alien that they had seen at the school and crash site.
This is the warrior class. It's fast, aggressive and resilient. It is the greatest prey that we have ever hunted yet. It can produce eggs itself but only very slowly. We should have enough time to destroy them all before that can happen.
Ax broke in. So this is what we'll have to face? How many were in that ship?
Malarnex looked slightly sheepish. Twenty.
"Twenty?" Cassie said in horror and disbelief.
We wanted a decent challenge. We were supposed to be hunting these on another planet far from here. We didn't expect this to happen, Vorka said.
"Do they have any weaknesses?" Jake asked.
No special weaknesses. Blades and guns will kill them just like other species. But, as far as I am aware, nothing else will. Unlike us, they don't even need to breathe. I once hunted some on a dead planet with no atmosphere! Malarnex smiled, relishing the memory.
A nasty thought suddenly struck Vorka. Leader, I've just remembered something! You remember saying that you wanted a good challenge? I think I might have…
Malarnex did not like the sound of this. You might have what?
I might have put a special egg on the shuttle.
WHAT! Malarnex roared.
"Uh, what does that mean?" Ryan asked.
It means that we will have to face one of these, Malarnex touched another button on the emitter.
Another alien was projected. A BIG alien. It was at least three times the size of the warrior. It also had four arms and the head was very different; a large upsweeping frill backed it.
This is a Queen. The largest and most formidable of all the prey. I have only ever hunted one and it almost killed me.
So this is what the Ellimist meant, Ax said. I take it she is their principle egg-layer and controller?
Yes. Once a suitable area is found, the Queen will establish a hive cluster and begin producing eggs on a large scale. Their numbers will then increase exponentially until they control the whole planet.
Disbelief and shock were spread across the Animorphs' faces as they heard this.
"Is that really possible? Do they have that sort of power?" Jake finally managed to ask.
I've seen it happen on more advanced worlds than yours. They underestimated the prey and did not act against them until it was too late. Unless they are destroyed here, this world will fall as well.
"I'll go and phone Erek," Cassie said. "This sounds like something he should know about."
Jake nodded and she left for the house.
The prey will move slowly at first, Malarnex continued. They will establish the hive at a quiet and secluded location until they have greater numbers. Then they will make their presence known.
"We'll have to find and destroy the hive before that can happen," Jake said.
"I'm in for that," Rachel added enthusiastically. "We owe those things big time for nearly killing us!"
Oh, I almost forgot, Malarnex said. The prey has one other characteristic feature. One that makes close range combat difficult. Its blood consists of…
Just then Cassie ran back into the barn.
"Jake! Erek's in trouble. Five of those black things are at his house now!"
"Is he all right?" Jake asked with worry.
"He's ok but he's stuck in the basement. So are all the other Chee and the dogs."
It'll only be a matter of time before they break into the lift and reach them! Tobias said. We've got to go now!
Wait! Malarnex shouted. You're not equipped to face them yet! You can't…
His words fell on deaf ears. They were already morphing to birds and were starting to fly out.
Madness! They will all be killed! Malarnex fumed.
What's wrong, Leader? Vorka asked.
Have you forgotten what the prey bleeds? What we are wearing these for? Malarnex asked.
The Predators were wearing modified black armour. It had been moulded from alien skin and carapace.
We are protected. They are not! We must go after them or we will lose all our new allies in one battle!
Malarnex and Vorka activated their cloaks and ran out after the Animorphs.
Vorka was more fired up than usual. Don't worry, Leader. I'll make sure the prey won't kill them. No one's going to kill them but me….
TO BE CONTINUED.