Animorphs: The Black Death
4: Visser's fall
The Yeerk pool woods' entrance
Rachel, Tobias and the Predators had arrived to find the Yeerks already there. Visser 3 was in his Andalite form and at least twenty human controllers, including Chapman and Tom, were there too.
Oh great! They were the last thing we needed! Rachel snorted.
It might not be so bad, Rachel. They could do the job for us, Tobias said. If they win we get a crack at them when they're done with the aliens. If they don't, well…
Nice in theory, Tobias. But I can't see Jake being too happy about losing his brother.
And what are we supposed to do about that?
Let's just try and listen in, ok?
"The situation is not good, Visser," Chapman was saying. "We've sent two teams down already and neither have returned."
I don't care if you have to send a hundred teams down! We must retake the pool or our losses will be even more severe! Visser 3 snapped.
"We might not have to, Visser," another controller said. "We may have found a way around this problem."
What is it? the Visser asked impatiently.
"According to our sensors the creatures are behaving like insects. They've formed a hive over the pool area. They're also communicating with radio signals."
Radio signals? The Visser sounded incredulous.
"Yes Visser. Although there's no advanced equipment involved we are detecting two way signals between the creatures."
"Even if that's true how does it help us?" Chapman asked impatiently.
The other controller looked slightly smug. "If we could block the signal and transmit one of our own…"
The Visser seemed to like the idea. How long before you could arrange this?
"One hour, perhaps two? We still need to isolate the wavelength they're using but I'm confident we'll overcome that shortly."
Excellent! We'll fall back until it's ready.
Over the mountains
Meanwhile Jake and the others had acquired their Hork-Bajir morphs and were flying to the pool entrance.
How the hell did they reattach my arm without me morphing? Jake was asking.
I am not entirely sure, Prince Jake. However they did not reattach your arm, they… Ax struggled to find the right words.
They grew another one, er, I think, Marco said.
They what? Jake said.
Everyone tried to explain what Malarnex had done.
Sorry I asked! Jake said.
It's a good job you weren't awake while he did it, Ryan said. "It looked pretty painful.
Let's forget it, ok? Jake sighed, sounding slightly squeamish.
They soon arrived at the entrance and met up with the others.
What's happening? Cassie asked as she landed.
Rachel and Tobias were still perched on a branch and the Predators were waiting on the ground, cloaked.
Visser 3 thinks he can control the aliens. They're working on something now. Tobias said.
Is that possible? Ax asked.
I'm not certain. I don't believe so, Malarnex broke in.
Why wait for them at all? Vorka snapped. Why don't we just destroy them and then hunt the prey ourselves? Besides, what rewards would the Elders give for a prize trophy like the head of Visser 3?
We'll wait for now, Malarnex said firmly. I'm interested in learning what the Yeerks are up to. We'll let them make the first move.
How much time do we have, Ax? Jake asked.
Forty five minutes remain, Prince Jake. If they do not act soon we will have to retreat and demorph.
Let's hope something happens soon. I'm worried about what the aliens are up to down there, Cassie said.
Rachel's house
Cassie was right to be worried. The aliens were now getting bolder and were making more 'snatch' raids in the town. They used the more secluded pool entrances to come and go, stinging unsuspecting victims and dragging them back to the hive. With most of the population unaware of their presence it was easy. Rachel's sister, Jordan, was no exception. Rachel's mom was busy on the phone with a client and trying to watch Sara at the same time. Unfortunately that meant she never heard Jordan's scream and the loud crack of a descending alien stinger from the back yard…
The Yeerk Pool
Having your freedom from the Yeerks wasn't worth much when all you had to look forward to was another alien blowing out of your chest. The victims could only watch in despair as the Queen started to lay another batch of eggs through her sac and sent out five warriors on another 'snatch' raid. She would need many more bodies before her hive could attack openly. More victims, including Jordan, had just been dragged in and were being cocooned in ooze near the egg sac. Another victim nearby suddenly started convulsing in agony as another new alien burst through his chest. It was the thirteenth birth since the hive had been established. The hysterical screams of the prisoners were drowned out by the roar of pleasure from the Queen. Her brood was thriving!
The woods' entrance
The Yeerks almost had their device ready. The main part was a bulky gun shaped machine that required two controllers to hold it. Chapman still looked sceptical.
"Are you sure this contraption's going to work?"
"There are no guarantees but the theory is sound enough," the controller scientist replied. He was working on the small control unit for the device as he spoke.
Is that ready yet? I want to move soon! Visser 3 did not sound like he was in a patient mood.
"It's ready now, Visser. I just need to test it."
As he spoke, an alien warrior emerged from the entrance.
Well now's your chance! This had better work!
The controllers aimed the device at the warrior and quickly activated it, just as the warrior was preparing to charge at them. The scientist started punching commands into his control unit. The alien came to a dead stop.
Is it working? Visser 3 asked.
"I'm not sure. Give me a few more seconds."
The other controllers were taking no chances. They had their dracon beams levelled on the creature all the while.
Then the alien turned around and went back toward the entrance.
"Yes Visser! It works! I've got control!"
Excellent! You are certain of this?
In reply, the scientist punched a few more commands into the control unit. The alien turned right and moved forward again. Then it stopped.
"It's only basic control but it should be enough for us to retake the pool, Visser."
Excellent. Take the device and move in!
The Animorphs watched from their vantage point as the 'captured' alien went into the pool entrance followed by Visser 3, the scientist and his device and ten other controllers including Tom. Chapman stayed outside with the remaining controllers on guard.
They can control those things! Shit! Just great! Jake snapped.
So we have to fight them and the Yeerks together? I don't believe this! Cassie sighed.
Ha ha ha ha!
They looked round in surprise. The Predators were laughing their heads off!
What is so funny about this? Ax asked incredulously.
Malarnex answered quickly. We used devices similar to that one ourselves once. However they have since been retired from service.
Why? That one worked didn't it? Ryan asked, somewhat confused.
Vorka broke in. Yes. In limited circumstances it does work. But that was only one warrior. The more prey there is, the more strain will be placed on the device.
There is one other thing, Malarnex added. The main reason they were retired is that they are completely useless when a Queen is nearby. Her control of her children is too strong. No device can break through that.
But that means that… Rachel trailed off as she realised what it meant.
Malarnex chuckled again. Precisely. When the Visser gets down to the hive…. He's in for a shock!
The Yeerk pool
Visser 3 and his party moved cautiously down the stairs of the cavern toward the hive. It didn't take them long to notice the Queen and her vast egg sac over the pool. There were ten warriors in front of her and they were starting to advance on them.
The device, quickly! Visser 3 shouted.
The controllers quickly aimed the device at the advancing aliens but this time they did not stop or falter. The 'captured' alien wasn't responding either. It had turned around and was advancing alongside the rest, hissing menacingly.
"Visser, it's not working! They're not responding!"
WHAT! There was fear in the Visser's voice. It was the first time anyone had seen Visser 3 actually afraid. Fall back!
"Visser!"
Visser 3 whirled round to see five more aliens on the steps above them. They had crawled over the roof and had come down behind the unsuspecting controllers. They were now cut off and surrounded. He quickly went over his options. None looked good. Even with his morphs he knew he was outmatched. Not that they were going to give him time to morph anyway. There was only one thing left.
"Visser! What will we do?" Tom screamed in panic.
Visser 3 sounded quite calm. We? We do nothing, I retreat!
With that, Visser 3 bailed out of the ear of his host and slithered away into a dark corner.
The other controllers screamed in rage at the Visser's betrayal. These were quickly replaced by screams of fear as the aliens fell on them.
The woods entrance
Chapman did not take long to figure out that things were not going to plan. The fact that he had not received the all clear signal from the Visser's team was one good hint. Another was the five aliens that charged out of the entrance.
Chapman had no stomach for a fight. "We must retreat now!"
"What about the Visser?" another controller asked in panic.
"If he's still alive we'll come back for him later! For now fall back! Or do you want to face them?"
The others needed no further prompting. They ran like the wind. However they only got away because the Animorphs and the Predators attacked the aliens from behind. The Animorphs were in Hork-Bajir morph now and had some 'improvements': Predator wrist-blades and spears. Within two minutes the aliens were sliced and diced. Vorka roared in triumph as he sliced off the head of the last one.
Man, I could get used to this! Marco said, wiping the acid from his wrist-blades. These things are great!
I thought you'd appreciate them, Malarnex said. It had been his idea for the Animorphs to use the spare weapons; that was why he had suggested they use Hork-Bajir morph.
Come on, we've got to get in there now! Jake was really fired up. It didn't take much to work out why.
We'll get Tom out, Jake. We'll get everyone down there out, Cassie said.
We must go now then, Malarnex broke in. There is no cure for an infested host except a swift death!
The Yeerk Pool
Down below in the hive Tom was just regaining consciousness. He had been cocooned near the egg sac along with the others. Tom quickly realised the Yeerk in his head was gone. It had tried to bail out at the last second like Visser 3 had but it had been crushed underfoot as the aliens attacked. Tom just managed to turn his head to see his cousin Jordan cocooned alongside him. She was still out cold.
"Jordan? Oh man! Where the hell are we?"
In your hell I would imagine.
Tom then saw Visser 3 cocooned on his right.
"Visser 3?"
Not anymore. I am War-Prince Alloran-Semitur-Corrass, though for how much longer remains to be seen.
"Can't you shapeshift or do something to get us out of here?"
No. I think we were poisoned when we were stung. I can barely move a muscle. Most of my morphs are too large for this confined space anyway!
Tom sighed in despair. "Then we're dead meat!"
Don't give up. We are free of the Yeerk filth. We can only wait for rescue and hope.
Yeah right, fat chance of that! Tom looked around the hive and shuddered. However bad things had been as a Yeerk slave, he did not want to die like this. If ever he needed a miracle he needed one now…
TO BE CONTINUED…