Animorphs: The Black Death
5: Victory and Death
The Yeerk Pool
The Animorphs and Predators quietly entered the cavern without being seen. They immediately noticed the Queen and the egg sac.
Man! We have to take on that thing? Marco exclaimed.
She must die or your world will, Malarnex said coldly.
Tobias, you'd better check this place out, Jake suggested.
Right! Tobias had been perched on Malarnex's shoulder. He quickly flew high up to the roof of the cavern.
Can you see much up there? Cassie asked.
Yeah, a lot of corpses. They've hatched a few more warriors. There's still some others alive near that egg sac. Visser 3's there and Tom's there too!
Is he ok? Jake asked in concern.
I can't tell for certain but he looks ok. OH MAN! Rachel…
What is it, Tobias? Rachel asked. She didn't like the sound of this.
It's Jordan! She's down here too!
How'd she get down here? Marco asked in amazement.
The prey has been taking hosts from the town as well as using Yeerk ones, Malarnex explained. How many of the prey are there now?
Tobias quickly looked around, counting the warriors who were guarding the hosts and working on the eggs. About 25, including the big one.
I'm gonna rip their throats out! Rachel roared.
Take it easy Rachel! We'll get them out, right? Ryan looked at the others as he said this. They all nodded.
If they're not infested, we'll free them. Malarnex agreed. If they are, then we'll give them a quick death.
How can we tell if they are infested or not? Ax asked.
I will check the hosts. I will be able to tell if they're infested or not. The rest of you will have to fight the prey while I do this.
Finally! Vorka said in pleasure. He pulled what looked like a grenade launcher from his back. Let's hunt! Vorka fired at five warriors at the edge of the hive. All five were blown to bits instantly. The Queen roared in rage and signalled the rest to attack.
So much for the quiet approach, Jake muttered. Nobody was listening however. Ryan and Rachel had already hurled themselves into battle. Rachel was like a whirlwind as she sliced two aliens open with the spear she held. Ryan was just as fired up as he slashed at the aliens with his wrist-blades. Marco and Cassie were close behind them, ready to back them up. They were outnumbered but this time they were not outmatched. The aliens' numbers did not help as Vorka still had the grenade launcher. He blew apart another seven as they tried to charge as a group. This meant the aliens were forced to fight one on one with some very fired up Animorphs in Hork-Bajir morph. They never stood a chance.
Whoo-hoo! I love this! Rachel screamed as she slashed another alien across its throat.
Rachel! Look out! Cassie shouted as another alien rushed her from behind.
Rachel heard a sickening crunch from behind her and turned to see Vorka standing over the remains of a dismembered alien. One who had nearly killed her.
Thanks! She managed to say.
Don't mention it. No one's going to kill you but me! Vorka sneered as he flung himself back into the fight.
Meanwhile Malarnex, Jake and Ax had managed to reach the trapped hosts and were starting to free them. Malarnex scanned each one with his vision before they cut them out. Occasionally they came across one who was infested. Where this was the case Malarnex knocked them out and then plunged his spear through their chests, killing them and the new-born alien inside them. Jake and Ax covered him, killing any alien who tried to interfere until they reached the area where Tom was held.
"Over here! Get us out!" he was screaming. He couldn't figure out where these Hork-Bajir had come from but right now he couldn't care less.
Is he…? Jake was almost afraid to ask.
No. He is not infested and the Yeerk is gone. Malarnex said as he started to cut him out.
YES! Jake ran over and started to cut Tom free.
Ax had demorphed to his Andalite form to face what he thought was still Visser 3. Finally! Your life ends here, Abomination!
I can not stop you if you wish to kill me. But even if you do, the real Abomination will still remain free! Alloran managed to reply.
No more tricks, filth! This is for my brother! Ax was raising his tail-blade to strike but Malarnex blocked his way.
He's not lying. The Yeerk is gone.
Ax was incredulous. Are you certain?
My eyes never lie. He is uninfested also. I suggest we free him.
Can you morph? Ax asked as they cut Alloran free.
Not yet. I think I can walk though.
Tom and Alloran looked very shaky on their feet. The alien venom still hadn't worn off completely. Malarnex and Jake were just freeing Jordan when another alien tried to jump down on them. Malarnex swung his spear and cut the alien in two. The rain of acid blood missed Jordan by mere inches as Jake finished cutting her out. She was still out cold.
I will escort the War-Prince out, Ax said as soon as Jake had finished.
War-Prince? You mean he's…
Yes, Prince Jake, he is free as well. I will take them all back through the entrance.
Ok. We'll finish it here.
With that, Ax picked up Jordan and led Tom and Alloran to the exit. Malarnex and Jake remained behind.
Those were the last hosts. Now we just destroy the remaining prey! Malarnex hefted his spear again and ran back into the fray.
However there wasn't much of a fray to get back into. All that was left of the warriors were several piles of blood soaked bits. There were only the eggs and the Queen left and she was still attached to her egg sac. She was flailing about in rage at the deaths of her warriors.
Rachel was still furious. Shall we give her something to really cry about?
Good idea! Vorka sneered and fired two grenades. The first burst the egg sac and exploded inside it, ruining it completely. The second landed right in the middle of the remaining eggs, blowing them all to hell.
The Queen went berserk as her children were destroyed. She pulled hard until she ripped the ruined egg sac away and then she advanced on the Animorphs.
Uh-oh, I think she's pissed off! Ryan exclaimed.
Uh, shouldn't we run? Marco asked, shaking in fear.
Lead her outside, We'll destroy her there! Malarnex advised.
With that they ran out of the cavern and through the entrance tunnel with the Queen only seconds behind.
Any ideas? Jake asked as they came out of the woods entrance. The Queen was again struggling to move her vast form down the entrance tunnel.
I have! Follow me! Tobias took to the air again.
Where's he going? Cassie asked.
Don't ask me. Let's just follow him, Marco screamed as the Queen let out another enraged roar. She wasn't far behind.
Everyone ran through the woods after Tobias. Two minutes later the door was blown off its hinges as the Queen charged through after them.
Where are we going? Rachel asked. She then realised they were headed toward the ravine where they had helped free two Hork-Bajir a few months ago.
What's the plan, Tobias? Jake asked.
We can't outfight that thing, right? So we try and outthink it, see if we can force it off the ravine.
Good plan, but I don't think she's going to stand still while we try and push her off, Marco said.
We need some sort of bait, Cassie suggested.
Oh good. Marco's perfect for that then! Rachel crowed.
WHAT! You've got to be kidding me! I've got to play chicken with that thing? Marco wailed.
Like I said, you're perfect for this. Playing chicken's what you do best and you're so annoying she's bound to run at you! Rachel sneered.
Thanks Xena, not! Marco snapped.
Better make up your minds quick, we're almost there, Tobias put in.
They soon reached the ravine. It was thirty metres deep and had a river at the bottom. It had been dry when they had freed the Hork-Bajir but now it had swelled into a fast flowing torrent.
What now? She can't be far behind! Cassie said in panic.
In reply Marco demorphed.
What are you doing? Ryan asked in amazement.
"Morph to birds and fly behind her, quickly! Trust me on this, ok?"
You have a plan? Malarnex asked.
"I think so. You have to get behind her as well. Whatever happens just blow her off the edge, got it? Now go!"
The Animorphs quickly demorphed and morphed to birds and flew up and behind the advancing Queen. The Predators quickly vaulted out of the way into the treetops. Marco stood alone in human form and waited for her. He didn't have to wait long. The Queen ran into view after thirty seconds.
"Hey, you wanted me? I'm right here!" Marco screamed, waving his hands around.
The Queen roared in rage and charged at him full speed. As soon as she did, however, Marco started to morph. By the time the Queen reached him he was in bird form and was flying beyond her reach.
NOW!
Vorka quickly jumped down from the trees, aimed his grenade launcher and pulled the trigger. Nothing happened. Vorka had used up all his grenades at the hive. Cursing, he tossed the launcher aside and ran at the Queen with his spear. The Queen sensed his approach, caught him in mid-lunge and hurled him straight over the edge of the ravine. He bounced off the opposite side once before plunging into the river below.
VORKA!
Now it was Malarnex's turn to go berserk. He fired his shoulder gun and blew off the Queen's top left arm in a fountain of yellow acid. Jake and the others were back in Hork-Bajir morph. They surrounded the Queen and attacked her from all sides.
This is for Tom! With that, Jake cut into her right side with his spear. The Queen screeched in pain and started to turn toward him.
Cassie and Marco then cut off her tail from behind causing her to turn in that direction.
You're going down, you BITCH! Rachel then leapt up and slashed her across the throat with her spear.
In the space of a few seconds, the Animorphs and Malarnex had come up with an unbeatable plan of attack. They simply alternated blows on the Queen, bringing her closer to death with each cut. Confused and physically exhausted, the Queen had no chance. As she collapsed, Malarnex calmly aimed his shoulder gun at her neck and blew her head clean off her shoulders. Then he ran to the edge of the ravine but he could see nothing. Tobias flew down to the bottom but he couldn't find anything either.
I'm sorry. I can't find him, he finally said.
Malarnex nodded, turned and picked up the severed Queen's head and began walking back to the pod. The Animorphs followed behind silently. There wasn't much they could say.
The Yeerk Pool
Chapman and a small group of controllers had returned to the pool shortly after the battle. All had dracon beams, no one was taking any chances this time. They managed to find Visser 3 in the dark corner he had slithered into. Chapman quickly had one Yeerk leave his human host and Visser 3 took his place. Even as a human he still emanated an aura of evil and Chapman was still nervous around him.
"Are you all right, Visser?" he managed to ask.
"I was nearly killed by those aliens, our pool is ruined and I'm now stuck in this pathetic body. NO, I AM NOT ALL RIGHT!" he roared.
"The pool can be rebuilt, but it will take some time," another controller reported.
"Then you'd better get started, hadn't you?" Chapman snapped.
"Where is Alloran?" Visser 3 asked menacingly.
Chapman sighed. "I'm afraid your old body has eluded us, Visser. He escaped in the confusion. The Andalite bandits apparently teamed up with some Predators and freed him."
"Andalites and Predators working together?" Visser 3 couldn't believe it.
"At least they freed the pool for us, Visser. We will have it running again," Chapman promised.
"See that you do, Iniss 226, or we will all be suffering soon."
Another controller ran over to Chapman with a small communicator.
"A message from the shuttle, sir. Says it's urgent."
Chapman took the communicator. "Yes?"
"We've found a Predator washed up on the riverbank, sir. He's still alive. What should we do?"
Visser 3 grabbed the communicator from Chapman. "Take him up to the Pool Ship. I'll be up there soon to infest him myself." He then cut the connection.
"It seems you'll get some compensation after all, Visser," Chapman grinned.
"Yes. I won't be able to morph again but with the knowledge and power of this new host I'll be more than compensated!" Visser 3 smiled nastily and started to walk out of the cavern.
A Yeerk shuttle above the earth
The two human controller pilots were not in the best of moods.
"I told you the Visser would grab this Predator for himself," the pilot was muttering.
"Did you seriously expect anything else?" the co-pilot chuckled in reply. "I'd better go check on our guest and make sure he hasn't died on us. I don't fancy having to tell the Visser that, do you?"
"Fine. Just don't be long, we'll have to dock soon."
With that the co-pilot went down to the cargo hold to check on Vorka. The pilot then concentrated on manoeuvring the shuttle out of the atmosphere toward the Yeerk Pool Ship. Five minutes later the door to the cargo hold opened again.
"About time! You certainly took long enough didn't…uuuurrrrrrkkkkk!"
The pilot's sentence was cut off, literally, by the blade that was rammed through his neck from behind.
The Yeerk Pool woods entrance
Visser 3 and Chapman were waiting for another shuttle when they received another message through their communicator. It was from the Pool Ship.
"What is it now?" the Visser asked irritably.
"Something's wrong, Visser. The shuttle with the Predator is coming toward us at full speed. It's not responding to our hails and our sensors are detecting strange energy readings from it."
"Energy readings? What…" the visser's eyes widened as he realised what this meant. "OPEN FIRE! DESTROY THAT SHUTTLE NOW!"
The Yeerk Shuttle
A badly wounded Vorka now manned the shuttle controls. His wounds were almost mortal but he'd still had the strength to kill his captors and take control. Despite that, however, his wounds were too serious to do much more. He would not survive much longer without medical attention, which he couldn't get since Malarnex had the healing tools. Therefore he set the shuttle on maximum burn and set course for the Pool ship. Then he punched in a coded sequence on his wrist terminal, sending a quick message to Malarnex and activating his nuclear triggering system. He didn't want to die yet. His brother's death was still not avenged and now, he thought sadly, it probably never would be. He was starting to understand how his brother had been beaten, though. Those morphing humans were more worthy prey than they had first seemed.
It's a pity I never got a chance to hunt them, it would have been a good match!
Apart from that though, he had no regrets. If he was going to die then he would die as a Predator should, taking his enemies with him. His death would be glorious!
The Pool Ship
The guns on the Pool Ship fired at the shuttle again and again as the commander tried to shoot it down and steer the Pool Ship out of harm's way. The shuttle was starting to break up under the constant dracon barrage when Vorka's self-destruct bomb went off. A massive explosion rocked the Pool Ship. The commander was able to regain his feet and his composure after two minutes.
"Damage report!"
There was no reply from the other controllers on the bridge. Their mouths hung open in shock. The commander thundered over to them in anger.
"Didn't you hear me? I said…" He noticed the damage reports on the screen himself and gasped in horror and disbelief.
The Yeerk Pool entrance
"What happened? Pool Ship, report!" Visser 3 screamed frantically.
The reply came a moment later. "Pool Ship here. The shuttle has been destroyed but we have sustained heavy damage."
"What kind of damage?" the Visser asked in growing horror.
"Our shields have failed, our weapons are off-line and we have severe structural damage. The primary landing bay is completely destroyed! The secondary is still operational but we won't be able to handle many shuttles for a while!"
"But that means that…" Visser 3 trailed off in horror as he realised what it meant. With its landing capacity halved the Pool Ship wouldn't be able to take as many Yeerks aboard for Kandrona feeding and with the ground pool ruined also….
There was a moment of stillness and, for a moment, Visser 3 seemed calm to Chapman and the other controllers. His scream of rage proved quite the opposite.
The Predator Pod: main control room
Ax, Alloran and Tom had arrived at the Predator pod ahead of the others after dropping Jordan off back at her house.
"With any luck she'll think it was just a bad dream," Tom had said as they left her in the garden still out cold. After that they had fled into the mountains at top speed. Alloran and Tom had to be kept out of sight from now on.
Aristh, I'll ensure that you and the rest of your force are promoted when we get home, providing I'm still in a position to bequeath gifts, Alloran said.
War-Prince, I have to tell you something first… Ax started to say just as the others arrived back at the pod still in Hork-Bajir morph (except Tobias, that is, who was still a hawk).
Ah, here they are! Demorph and identify yourselves. You've all earned promotion ten times over!
Oh no, he still thinks we're Andalites! Jake thought.
Uh Jake, what do we do? Cassie asked.
What he says. We demorph. I just hope they can handle it.
They demorphed to their human forms. Alloran's main and stalk eyes widened in disbelief.
Tom gaped in shock. "Midget!?" he finally managed to say as he saw Jake.
Humans? The Yeerk invasion has been held up by six humans and an Aristh? If Alloran had had a mouth it would certainly have been hanging open.
I tried to warn you, War-Prince, Ax said sheepishly.
Incredibly, Alloran started to chuckle to himself. The mighty Yeerk Empire defeated by human children. Ha ha ha! If only everyone knew! They'd be the joke of the galaxy!
These children, as you call them, are no joke. They defeated one of my warriors sometime ago, Malarnex broke in.
The Predators too? Unbelievable. Alloran was having difficulty taking it all in.
Tom was having even more trouble. Not only was his brother one of the so-called Andalite bandits but so was his cousin and all of their friends were as well! "Jake, how did you…? How the?"
"Long story, Tom." With that they just pulled each other into a hug. Jake was trying hard to keep himself from crying.
Finally, no more nightmares about my tiger morph!
As Ax and the others began telling Alloran the whole story of the war, Malarnex began to walk away. Cassie noticed and went after him.
"Malarnex!" she caught up with him as he went out of the door. "I'm sorry about Vorka."
Don't be. He died an honourable death in battle. There is no greater end than that. Malarnex replied. You humans are a curious race.
"How's that?" Cassie asked.
Vorka hated you. Had he lived he would now be hunting you and yet you feel sorrow at his death. I can not fathom why.
Cassie shrugged her shoulders. "I guess we just care about anyone who fights with us; friend or not."
Malarnex chuckled. Like I said, you are a curious race. Go back to the control room. I have a reward for you and I'll be back to give it to you shortly.
"What is it?" Cassie asked curiously.
You'll find out soon enough. I'll be back in a moment.
Cassie nodded and went back to the control room. Malarnex watched her go and then hurried to the weapons and equipment storage bay. He picked up a bowl and went over to a giant storage tank, both of which were made from alien carapace. The tank was full of alien acid blood. He filled the bowl and added a vial of orange liquid. He then sent a signal to his orbiting ship from his wrist terminal. They would land in a few more minutes.
Still he hesitated. He had debated what he was about to do over and over during the walk back to the pod. Most of the Elders would probably have gone ballistic if they had known what he was thinking of doing. Vorka would probably not have approved either. Never before had the traditions of his Tribe been stretched so far. Malarnex finally shoved all of these doubts aside. They had destroyed a Queen and a hive cluster. Whatever the Elders might say, they had earned this. He picked up another device. This one was box-like and had three tubes of blue liquid resting on top of it. There was also a pipe-like opening on the bottom. Malarnex went back into the corridor near the control room, opened its ventilator shaft and placed the device inside. He then pressed a series of buttons on the device and then stood back. The blue liquid was drained out of the tubes and thick bluish smoke started to flow out of the pipe. All he had to do now was wait.
Back in the control room, the others had just finished filling Alloran and Tom in when Cassie came back with Malarnex's message.
"A reward? Wonder what it is?" Marco wondered.
The Predators are an unpredictable race. I have no idea what it could be, Ax said.
"Did you lock this door, Cassie?" Rachel asked. The corridor door had closed behind Cassie when she had come through and now it wouldn't open again.
"No, I didn't," Cassie replied, puzzled.
No one had yet noticed the blue vapour coming in from the ventilator yet.
"This one won't open either," Marco said, trying to open the door to the outside.
"Isn't there a switch or something?" Ryan started to cough and splutter as he asked this. Rachel and Tom also seemed to be having trouble breathing. Then Jake noticed the ventilator.
"What the hell!?" he then started to choke. "Gas! It's a trap!"
It was a fact they had realised too late.
Malarnex could hear all the reactions through the door. He waited until all the panic and pounding from inside had stopped and then he released the lock and entered. All of them were unconscious and would remain so for an hour. It was more time than he needed. He regretted having to use the gas but he doubted that he could do his work while they were conscious. Still carrying the bowl of acid, he advanced on Jake first…
In the mountains: one hour later
Jake was the first to come round. His head ached slightly and there was a stinging sensation in his upper right arm. He soon realised he was no longer in the pod. He and the others had been moved to the field outside the pod. The others were starting to come round as well.
"Ax, how long have we been out?" Jake asked.
One hour exactly, Prince Jake.
"What sort of a reward was that?" Marco snorted.
Rachel was just as indignant. "Yeah. Where is that double-crossing piece of…WHAT THE HELL HAS HE DONE?"
Rachel was staring down at her right arm. A thunderbolt, the symbol of the Fenris Tribe, was burned into her arm just below the shoulder. All the Animorphs checked their right arms to find they had been given the same treatment. Even Ax had one too. It was burned into his front below his arms. Only Alloran and Tom were untouched.
He's…marked us, Ax said in disbelief. He's given us his tribal mark! It looks like he burned it in with acid blood.
Alloran stared in disbelief. That's one of the greatest honours a Predator ever achieves. I've never heard of a non-Predator getting it!
"I'm flattered!" Ryan snarled. His tone suggested he was anything but. "My parents are going to so appreciate it when they see this!"
"I think I know one way of getting rid of it," Tobias said and demorphed to his hawk form. He then started to morph back to human.
That's good, Tobias, Ax broke in. But I think that…
Tobias finished morphing and checked his arm only to find the mark was still there!
…He would have thought of that already. Somehow he's put it into our DNA.
"So we're stuck with them. Just great!" Jake sighed.
There is one advantage, Alloran said. There's less chance of you being hunted now. Most Predators think twice before challenging a marked Warrior, so I've heard anyway. At least he didn't put them where they usually go. Alloran pointed at Jake's forehead as he said this.
"We'll just have to keep them covered up, I guess," Cassie said, resigned to the fact that they were stuck with them. "He's not coming back to remove them, is he?"
They all nodded. The pod was gone and so was Malarnex, back to his people and his hunting.
"Midget, what should we do now?" Tom asked. "I don't know if I can go home even! The Yeerks know me too well."
Jake quickly realised Tom was right. Tom couldn't go home or go back to his normal life. The Yeerks knew too much about him. It would only be a matter of time before he was reinfested or killed.
Prince Jake, he'll have to live in my scoop until the war is over, Ax said. He then looked at Alloran. So will you, War-Prince.
"What about our parents? They'll go crazy if Tom just goes missing!"
I THINK I MIGHT BE ABLE TO HELP WITH THAT. ASSUMING YOU WANT MY HELP, THAT IS.
The Ellimist materialised next to them in a human form.
An Ellimist?! Alloran said in confusion.
YES ALLORAN, AN ELLIMIST. ONE THAT'S ON YOUR SIDE I MIGHT ADD.
"Who is that?" Tom asked, his mouth hanging open again.
"We'll explain later," Rachel sighed.
"How can you help Tom?" Jake asked quickly.
I ALREADY HAVE. THE YEERKS ARE IN CONTROL OF THEIR WRECKED GROUND POOL AGAIN AND HAVE FOUND MANY BODIES. I'VE ARRANGED FOR TOM'S TO BE AMONG THEM.
"A fake body?" Marco asked warily.
OF COURSE.
"Will the Yeerks buy that?" Cassie asked.
THEY SHOULD. EVEN IF THEY DO NOT, THEY HAVE MORE PRESSING CONCERNS AT THE MOMENT.
The Ellimist then showed them Vorka's last moments.
"So that's what Malarnex meant," Cassie said.
Will the Yeerks survive? Ax asked.
UNFORTUNATELY I BELIEVE THEY WILL. THIS WILL CERTAINLY WEAKEN THEM, THEY WILL NOT BE OPERATIONAL AGAIN FOR WEEKS. BUT THEY WILL ENDURE.
"My parents will be even worse when they find out I'm 'dead'," Tom sighed. "Isn't there another way?"
"I can't think of one, Tom," Jake admitted.
"Better this than infested again, right?" Ryan said.
IT WILL CAUSE THEM PAIN. BUT YOU CAN RETURN ONCE THIS WAR ENDS.
"Will we ever win this war?" Jake asked.
LOOK AT WHAT YOU'VE ACHIEVED SO FAR. DO YOU REALLY NEED ME TO ANSWER THAT?
He vanished without waiting for an answer.
"Let's go home, shall we?" Cassie said, sounding tired.
"Jordan! Is she…?"
"She's safe. Don't worry," Tom told her.
Let's go to my scoop, Ax said. Tobias?
"Right!" Tobias started to morph again but not before Alloran looked at him more closely. His eyes widened again as he remembered who Tobias actually was.
Please don't tell them! Tobias quickly said to him in private thought-speak, recognising the expression Alloran was giving him.
As you wish, Son of Elfangor, Alloran replied with a smile in his eyes.
Is something wrong, War-Prince? Ax asked.
Nothing. Nothing of importance.
With that, they split up to go back home.
From his domain the Ellimist watched over them. He smiled.
YES JAKE, YOU WILL WIN. CRAYAK AND THE YEERKS WILL NEVER TRIUMPH SO LONG AS THERE ARE PEOPLE LIKE YOU WHO DEFY THEM!
THE END…FOR NOW