Shattered Hopes
*4:13:00 REMAINING*
Marco swooped wordlessly down from the ledge on osprey wings before the Visser had even finished speaking. Now, when all enemy eyes were aimed on Larynia, he demorphed in the cover of some empty host cages and morphed his very special morph; the Andalite.
As soon as he had four legs and a finished tail - and that awful scythe blade at the end of it - he bust out from his hiding place at a full gallop.
Not towards Larynia. Even when he was terrified that she would get hurt, he knew better than to charge that many Hork-Bajir alone. He had one chance. He couldn't afford to mess up. And he wasn't completely stupid, after all.
Or maybe he was.
He ran full-out towards Visser One.
Visser One was tired. He was hiding it pretty well, and now with his wounds morphed away he looked as fit as ever. But an Andalite would know the signs; the stalks and tail were carried just a finger's width or so lower, he was shifting his weight from hoof to hoof, and his back wasn't as straight as it usually was. He had all four eyes on Larynia and the army of Hork-Bajir that were leading her towards the pool.
He didn't notice until it was too late when Marco came charging through what remained of his Hork-Bajir guard.
Not until Marco had made him fall again, place a hoof on his head and a tail-blade against his throat and growled Let the Andalite go in a terrifying voice did Visser One realize he had unexpected company.
Everything happened at once. Suddenly every dracon in the place was aimed at Marco. The Hork-Bajir tensed, then hesitated. Caged hosts cheered. Unarmed human-Controllers pulled back, knowing that they would be of little use against an Andalite threat. The guards around Larynia stopped where they were, eyes on their Visser. Larynia, still bleeding badly from her wounds, slumped together in a pile where she had been standing.
Larynia! Marco called. Larynia! Morph, now! Morph!
Visser One somehow managed a smile. You could kill me, he said flatly. And then you… and that female… will both be dead before I draw my last breath.
Not if I can stop it, Marco growled. Tell them to let her go. Tell them to move away from her. NOW! DO IT! his tail-blade quivered at Visser One's throat. His hoof was pressing downwards on the Visser's head.
The Visser grimaced. Listen! he called to his Hork-Bajir. I want you to leave… leave the female alone. a short pause, the Hork-Bajir hesitating, not wanting to be the first to obey the forced order, but not wanting to be the last. Then Visser One roared; BUT KILL THIS FOOL WHO THREATENS ME!!!!
Hork-Bajir launched at Marco. His tail left the Visser's throat to defend himself against a bladed arm, and then Visser One took his chance and got up again, his own tail ready to strike.
Marco was attacked from two sides. He might have had eyes enough to keep a few on both sides, but he didn't have tails enough to keep both sides back.
Shortly said, he was in trouble. But fight fire with fire; right then, more 'trouble' arrived.
"RHHHHHHHHOOAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRH!"
A shaggy grizzly swept five Hork-Bajir away with a single swipe of her paw.
Okay, the cavalry is here! Rachel announced. Who requested backup?
No-one, Marco said, ducking as a dracon beam flew past him. But thanks anyway. Where's Ax and Tobias?
Went to try and pick up your girlfriend, Rachel said. Now don't run off on me, or thins will get unpleasant. I'm stronger than you.
For the moment.
Visser One charged Rachel. But the strike was badly aimed; he might as well have tried to stop her with a needle. She grabbed hold of his tail and slung him over her shoulder. He flew through the air, landed on his side, rolled around a few times and stopped, sprawled against the wall. His guard split up; half rushed to protect their fallen Visser and lead him somewhere safer, and the other half stayed behind to deal with the grizzly and Andalite intruders.
Marco sliced air with his tail, stretched his stalk-eyes up and tried to see over the heads of the Hork-Bajir. He had lost sight of Larynia, and it bothered him.
Rachel rumbled forwards into the Hork-Bajir and three of them fell like bowling pins. She turned, ran them over again, and then grabbed a fourth Hork-Bajir's leg in her jaws. Rising on her hind legs, she swiped at him with her sledge-hammer of an arm and he sailed away through the air.
Okay! she thundered at the remaining Hork-Bajir. Who wants to play with me?!
A few decided to stay loyal to their Visser. The rest, who thought that their Visser wasn't there to protect anyhow, fled.
Marco and Rachel took care of most of the loyal guards before the rest changed their minds and thought that being loyal had its definite drawbacks. They ran away as well.
I hate when they do that, Rachel complained. Can I chase them?
Go right ahead, Marco said. Kick some butt. Kick some extra butt for me. I'm going to the others.
Sure, whatever, Rachel said. Just make sure you don't get us all hemmed in. We're outnumbered, you know.
We've always been outnumbered, Marco replied, and pranced away on light hooves. Rachel turned her attention back to the Hork-Bajir, roared, and charged.
Marco began looking for Tobias, Ax and Larynia. There was a problem; he didn't seem to find them.
So he decided to ask for directions.
He sneaked up on an important-looking Hork-Bajir that had been watching the scene from a safe distance in a remote part of the pool area and placed his tail-blade against the Hork-Bajir's throat.
Don't scream, don't move, he ordered. The Hork-Bajir froze. Marco moved closer, letting both stalk-eyes circle to look out for assaults. I'm going to ask a few questions. I want nice, easy, straight-forward answers, or you'll get to experience how it is to lose one's head - literally.
The Hork-Bajir nodded.
First of all. What happened to the other Andalite?
"She… was taken to the pool," the Hork-Bajir said in unusually perfect English.
No, she wasn't, Marco said, pressing his tail-blade closer to the throat of the Hork-Bajir. My friends went to get her. Where are my friends, and where is the Andalite?
The Hork-Bajir lifted a shaking arm and pointed at Rachel, who was raging about, throwing Hork-Bajir, Taxxons and human-Controllers into the pool.
My other friends, Marco said, getting more and more annoyed - and more and more worried. A third Andalite and… Marco realised he didn't know what Tobias had morphed. He might have stayed hawk after flying down from the ledge… gone back to human and stayed human… or morphed something else. And another friend. Where. Are. They?
"I don't know," said the Hork-Bajir. "I don't know! I didn't see them!"
You must have seen them! They were right there!
The Hork-Bajir swallowed hard. Marco's tail-blade was quivering, very just about to cut through skin and deeper. "I… saw… nothing! I promise!"
Marco began swearing.
There was a big drawback for the spot where Marco was standing. He had used the nearby stacks of crates as cover to sneak up on the Hork-Bajir. The problem was that the same stacks of crates presented an excellent opportunity for anyone who wanted to sneak up on Marco.
Which, unavoidably, someone did.
Marco kept a stalk-eye on the edge of the stacks of crates. So he saw the human-Controller in time to do something about her.
She held a dracon aimed even as she leaped into view. But Marco's Andalite reflexes were fast enough to save him. He saw the Controller, noted the presence of the dracon, and whipped it out of the Controller's hand before she had any chance to fire.
She opened her mouth to scream for help, but Marco flat-sided her head with his blade and she fell.
Unfortunately Andalites aren't the only beings with fast reflexes. As soon as the blade was away from his throat, the Hork-Bajir was back in business, his blades whizzing furiously through the air.
Marco blocked a strike at his head, another heading for his shoulder and snapped his tail at the Hork-Bajir's face.
The Hork-Bajir cried out, and his blades stopped whizzing as his hands flew up to protect his face. Marco struck the Hork-Bajir's head hard with the flat of his blade and he slumped down.
"Good one," said a voice from behind him.
Marco turned his stalks and looked behind him. The Controller was on her feet again, standing at a safe distance, and aiming her dracon with a determined look in her eyes.
Marco had forgotten about her.
"Twitch that tail one millimetre and I'll scream," she declared. "Then you'll have every guard in the place here."
Marco eyed the dracon, and saw that it was set on low power. It'd only stun him, not kill him. But that was bad enough. He noted her finger, resting tensely on the trigger. She was right; at the moment the slightest movement would make that finger press harder.
Marco lowered his tail.
The Controller swallowed, hard. A thin, forced smile appeared. "Good Andalite," she said. "Just do as you're told, and you'll be fine."
And what am I told to do? Marco wondered bitterly. His mind was working on a way out.
"I'm getting to that," she snapped. "Shut up!"
The Hork-Bajir on the floor suddenly moved again. His arm flew up, and fell down. He turned to lie on his side, his hand grabbing at the floor, trying to push himself up. Then his arm folded, halfway up, and he fell down with a moan.
A Yeerk slithered out of his ear.
Marco's hoof flew down automatically to squash it.
The Controller, startled by the movement, fired and hit him straight in the chest.
Tobias noted something at the corner of his field of view which made him feel much better. He hadn't found Larynia yet, but Ax was working on that. Rachel was keeping the Yeerks busy enough. She was looking a bit tired by then, but he had just talked to her and she said she'd be fine for at least ten minutes. But - avoiding another dracon - he angled his wings, swooped down and landed on the ground. He began to demorph.
Marco, he said, prodding with a beak at the Andalite that lay almost hidden by stacks of crates in a corner. Marco, get up.
Tobias wasn't that worried about his friend. He was alive, and not hurt badly. Only stunned.
There was more proof; a dracon was lying on the floor, set on low power. A human-Controller on her side, next to it, hands protecting her face. A dead Hork-Bajir. And a squashed Yeerk near where Marco had fallen. Probably a little fight had taken place.
But staying in that place too long was risky.
"Marco," Tobias said again, grabbing the dracon from the floor; just for safety. "Marco, get up. Get up!"
An eyelid tremble briefly. Then his eyes opened. Stalk-eyes scanned the area, and he was quickly back on his feet.
What? What happened?
"You got stunned," Tobias said. "That's my best guess. Demorph. We're getting outta here."
Okay.
Tobias raised an eyebrow. No questions about Larynia. Maybe being stunned had affected to Marco's brain.
Everybody okay? Marco asked. No-one missing?
"Everyone's fine," Tobias said, and added: "Larynia, too. As soon as we find her."
"Still missing?" Marco sighed. "Maybe she's playing hide-and-seek with us. She might consider it amusing."
Tobias laughed silently, nodding. "It sounds like something she might do."
Larynia thought it was too easy. She had gotten away so simply. She had just fallen down to the cover of being close to the floor and morphed while the Hork-Bajir were distracted. And not just any morph.
If you want to hide a tree, put it in a forest.
If you want to hide in the Yeerk pool, morph a Hork-Bajir.
Laughably simple. She'd had to acquire one in the process, but that didn't matter. And as a Hork-Bajir, all she'd needed was a dracon and a watchful look and anyone would mistake her for just another guard.
She had hung around a group of Hork-Bajir, watching the scene and guarding an exit. All the exits were guarded. But the guards talked too much among themselves to do a very good job guarding.
And, by a stroke of luck, the guards were discussing - in low voices - the Visser's big attack on the resistance.
Larynia found out that the attack would come with half the force from the east, a fourth from the north, and the final fourth from the south. It all would drive the resistance towards a dead-end valley, where they'd be sealed in from above by bug fighters and the blade ship itself. With the bug fighters letting no-one and nothing leave the ground, and half-circle formed by the Yeerk army letting no-one and nothing break out of the trap (using BioFilter Vehicles to be sure), every single member of the resistance would be caught or killed.
There were details, of course. Nothing which helped; they only made Larynia realise how long the Yeerks must have been planning the entire thing. The plan had only been made public among the Yeerks that morning, and the guards didn't even know all the details.
Besides, Larynia was smart enough to realise that asking too many questions would put her in a tight spot.
Larynia, time to go, Aximili called again from where he had hidden. We need to leave.
Not yet, Larynia objected. She was about to hear something which might be of value, and she told him so.
Larynia, we are running out of time. Your gathered information will be wasted if it is too late.
Larynia sighed, and began fading into the background. It was a trick her mother had taught her; if you pretend not to be there, those around you can look right at you without noticing you. It took some practice but filled its purpose.
Larynia stepped backwards slowly, wearing an expression of doing nothing wrong. She had taken three steps when she backed straight into another Hork-Bajir.
"Hey!" he cried, turning angrily towards her as Larynia spun around.
Oops, Larynia thought. No eyes behind me. Forgot that.
"What are you doing?" the Hork-Bajir demanded. He was standing at the edge of the group, and he asked the question Larynia had hoped to avoid; "Are you trying to sneak away?"
All eyes turned towards her. Sneaking away was out of the question, now. Only one thing to do.
Run.
Larynia pushed her way past the Hork-Bajir and sprinted away as fast as her Hork-Bajir legs could carry her. To her relief, that was pretty fast. But the Hork-Bajir guards were pretty fast as well. And they could call for backup even faster.
Time to demorph.
Demorphing in plain sight wasn't a safe thing to do. But Larynia needed her Andalite legs and Andalite speed. And her Andalite tail. And, from Andalite she could morph bird and (finally, Aximili would say) fly up to that ledge to join the others. They probably had some plan to get out.
Shouts followed her as she ran, beginning to demorph at the same time. Her stalks appeared first. That returned her much-missed 360 degree vision.
Controllers were coming at her from all directions. More and more of them. It began to worry her for the first time when she had to stop and cut her way through a group of Taxxons. Taxxons weren't so bad, but if it had been a group of Hork-Bajir she'd have been in trouble.
Larynia, is that you running? Aximili called suddenly.
Yes, I should think so, Larynia snapped. Who else?
Keep running. Turn right. That's where Marco and Tobias are. Rachel can keep an eye on your pursuers.
Where is Rachel?
Up here on the ledge, Aximili said. With a dracon. And she is well aware of how to use it.
And sure enough, the next second a dracon beam made a Taxxon coming at Larynia explode.
Larynia turned right and blew through a crowd of human-Controllers, leaping over - and on, perhaps regrettably - their heads and backs as they tried to get out of her way, flashing her tail at those who tried to stop her.
Then she was joined by a trigger-happy gorilla with a dracon. His left shoulder was burnt raw by dracon fire and he had a slash across his chest, but the wounds didn't slow him down. Larynia followed him to a room in the wall of the pool area and he locked the metal door behind them, moving a huge crate in front of it.
The room was small and inconspicuous. A few crates and a few boxes stood along the walls, and there was a single lamp in the roof. There was the metal door on one side, and… there was an exit on the other. The room was perfect for escaping the Yeerk pool.
Marco demorphed, checked that the crate was staying where it was, and took the three steps towards Larynia. She took a gentle hold on his head, leaning his forehead against hers and smiling weakly. He closed his arms around her and hugged her tight… again, for maybe the millionth time, forgetting that Andalite arms and upper bodies are weak, and definitely not made to be hugged.
"Why do you keep getting into trouble?"
Why do you keep getting me out of it? Larynia snapped. Now stop hugging me. One of these days, you'll break my arms.
Marco smiled at her, which made the annoyance of being hugged evaporate. She let a stalk-eye circle the room and saw Tobias, standing by the exit door.
Tobias didn't smile. He looked grave. "Time to get outta here," he said. "Rachel and Ax already are gone. We've got a defeat to prevent, and we're almost down to three hours."
Marco nodded, suddenly looking just as serious as his friend. "Since you're missing a cockroach morph, we need to use a real exit. This is Visser One's emergency escape route. We're borrowing it. We're leaving. And this time, Larynia, I'm keeping an eye on you."
*2:32:00 REMAINING*
"Okay," Tobias said. "Here's the plan; we've got a rough draft, but we're pretty much making it up as we go along. I had a talk with Jake and he gave the all-clear. His job is alerting the resistance. Our job, my friends, is calling the Andalites. And delaying the Yeerks. We're going ahead, and we've gotto do it fast. Ax, what's our time?"
Around two and a half hour, Ax said. We might make it if we hurry.
The group of five was gathered at the spot where they first had come back in time. Rachel had fetched the transponder from the ruins of Loren's house, and Larynia was holding it, fingering at the switches, preparing for transmission.
"Then I'm only going to say this once," Tobias said. "We do this in two groups. Group one is Rachel, Ax, and myself. We're heading to the area north of the resistance camp. We're going to arrange a little waterfall smack in the middle of their line of attack. You know that river there? We'll redirect it. And thanks to Mommy Nature for cooperating with us. That river will be easily moved. The first fourth of the Yeerk army will have troubles crossing, and their BioFilter Vehicles won't get across at all. Then, we fly south."
Rachel grinned and rubbed her hands together. "You know that rocky, steep cliff there? Well, turns out, that's from where the second quarter of Yeerks are coming. We're going to start a nice, old-fashioned rockslide. Most of them won't make it. Others will. And those, we'll just kick right back down again. And when they start trying to get their BioFilter Vehicles up, the real fun begins… they'll be smashed to little bits and pieces and…"
"Enough, oh mighty rockslide-starter," Marco said. "We all have faith in your talent for destruction, Rachel. No need to prove it." He sighed. "Bird-Boy? What's Larynia's and my mission?"
"You're going to stop the remaining half of the Yeerk forces," Tobias said and Marco made an ugly face. "That passage up to the east of camp. You've gotto block it. And block it well. There aren't any rivers around, and the cliffs there aren't made for any rockslides."
"So that's where 'make it up as we go along' comes into the picture," Marco muttered, rubbing his forehead. "What's the terrain like? Oh, yeah. Bushes, right? Not that many trees. A few rocks, but nothing useful. Except for that cliff wall there… you can climb it. We could use it as an escape route, it'll bring us straight to you guys and your rock tumbling."
"An escape route is always good," Tobias admitted. "But how about a plan?"
A fire? Larynia suggested. A proper fire could delay the Yeerks for hours.
Rachel grinned. "I like it."
It may work, Ax said. And if it does, it works well. Let us hope it does not rain.
Marco looked up. "It looks like rain," he said. "But get a fire warm enough, and it'll burn anyway."
"That takes care of our plan," Tobias sighed. "Good. And any last-moment extra strokes of genius are perfectly acceptable. Anything that works."
We've only got one chance, Larynia agreed. We better do this right.
"Only one chance." Marco rolled his eyes. "Oh, goody. I feel so much better."
"Come on," Tobias said. "We've got work to do." He began morphing his hawk.
"We'll see you two later," Rachel said and feathers began growing all over her body. When her talons appeared, she gripped the dracon lying on the ground in them. If we survive. If not, then I've really liked working with you… well, with Marco as the exception.
Marco grinned. "Love you too, Rach."
Good luck, Ax said as he also began morphing. And Marco? Take care of my cousin.
"I will, Ax-man," Marco promised. "Have a good time kicking Yeerks down those cliffs. Larynia? Call those blue scumbags."
I am trying very hard not to be angry about that last comment, Larynia said as she initiated the transmission.
A very stressed Jaruili replied almost instantly.
Larynia? Is that you?
Yes, Larynia said, at the same time waving as three of her friends took to the air. We escaped the Yeerks. Now…
Jaruili interrupted immediately. I am sorry, Larynia. I contacted the War Council after our last talk and confirmed a few things. My orders were to head for Earth, in the company of a total of nine Dome Ships and a few smaller ships.
"Then why the 'sorry'?" Marco asked.
I was contacted just moments ago by the War Council again, Jaruili said. They… they told me my planet is under attack. My new orders, as those of all the others, are to head home.
"You can go back, it doesn't matter," Marco muttered. "Your planet is doomed. We warned you. You don't have the numbers to kick Yeerk butt. The Yeerks took Earth; they have the numbers."
You need to knock the Yeerks were it hurts, Larynia said. On Earth. They are strong here, but at the moment their fleet is gone. You should attack here, swipe at them from behind, and then you can retake our planet later.
I know! Jaruili replied. I ran a simulation through my computer. If we had acted sooner on the Earth situation, the Yeerks would never have been many enough. Now, we are too late. Too late for anything! I am truly sorry, but my orders… there is nothing I can do. My orders are to protect my home. I cannot ignore my orders!
Marco sighed. "Thanks anyway, Jaruili. Ending transmission. Good luck." Marco switched off the transponder and placed it on the ground.
Marco, Larynia said. His Dome ship… the River's Promise. It was one of those destroyed in the battle.
Marco nodded, nudging at the transponder with his foot. "We've got no use for this thing now. Can you cut it up?"
Larynia FWAPPED her tail at the transponder. It split neatly into two pieces. We have work to do, she reminded Marco. But first, we need to tell the others about the Andalites.
Marco began morphing the osprey. Larynia followed, slowly, deep in thoughts.
Marco? she said as the two rose to the sky. I feel like we already lost this battle.
Yes, perhaps we have, Marco said. Perhaps we have.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Author's note;
???
Hey! That wasn't a cliffhanger! *Slams head onto keyboard* Stupid story! Stupid story! Stupid stupid stupid!
Anyway. I got big plans for the next one... *grins evilly and rubs hands together*
Review. Pleez?
*4:13:00 REMAINING*
Marco swooped wordlessly down from the ledge on osprey wings before the Visser had even finished speaking. Now, when all enemy eyes were aimed on Larynia, he demorphed in the cover of some empty host cages and morphed his very special morph; the Andalite.
As soon as he had four legs and a finished tail - and that awful scythe blade at the end of it - he bust out from his hiding place at a full gallop.
Not towards Larynia. Even when he was terrified that she would get hurt, he knew better than to charge that many Hork-Bajir alone. He had one chance. He couldn't afford to mess up. And he wasn't completely stupid, after all.
Or maybe he was.
He ran full-out towards Visser One.
Visser One was tired. He was hiding it pretty well, and now with his wounds morphed away he looked as fit as ever. But an Andalite would know the signs; the stalks and tail were carried just a finger's width or so lower, he was shifting his weight from hoof to hoof, and his back wasn't as straight as it usually was. He had all four eyes on Larynia and the army of Hork-Bajir that were leading her towards the pool.
He didn't notice until it was too late when Marco came charging through what remained of his Hork-Bajir guard.
Not until Marco had made him fall again, place a hoof on his head and a tail-blade against his throat and growled Let the Andalite go in a terrifying voice did Visser One realize he had unexpected company.
Everything happened at once. Suddenly every dracon in the place was aimed at Marco. The Hork-Bajir tensed, then hesitated. Caged hosts cheered. Unarmed human-Controllers pulled back, knowing that they would be of little use against an Andalite threat. The guards around Larynia stopped where they were, eyes on their Visser. Larynia, still bleeding badly from her wounds, slumped together in a pile where she had been standing.
Larynia! Marco called. Larynia! Morph, now! Morph!
Visser One somehow managed a smile. You could kill me, he said flatly. And then you… and that female… will both be dead before I draw my last breath.
Not if I can stop it, Marco growled. Tell them to let her go. Tell them to move away from her. NOW! DO IT! his tail-blade quivered at Visser One's throat. His hoof was pressing downwards on the Visser's head.
The Visser grimaced. Listen! he called to his Hork-Bajir. I want you to leave… leave the female alone. a short pause, the Hork-Bajir hesitating, not wanting to be the first to obey the forced order, but not wanting to be the last. Then Visser One roared; BUT KILL THIS FOOL WHO THREATENS ME!!!!
Hork-Bajir launched at Marco. His tail left the Visser's throat to defend himself against a bladed arm, and then Visser One took his chance and got up again, his own tail ready to strike.
Marco was attacked from two sides. He might have had eyes enough to keep a few on both sides, but he didn't have tails enough to keep both sides back.
Shortly said, he was in trouble. But fight fire with fire; right then, more 'trouble' arrived.
"RHHHHHHHHOOAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRH!"
A shaggy grizzly swept five Hork-Bajir away with a single swipe of her paw.
Okay, the cavalry is here! Rachel announced. Who requested backup?
No-one, Marco said, ducking as a dracon beam flew past him. But thanks anyway. Where's Ax and Tobias?
Went to try and pick up your girlfriend, Rachel said. Now don't run off on me, or thins will get unpleasant. I'm stronger than you.
For the moment.
Visser One charged Rachel. But the strike was badly aimed; he might as well have tried to stop her with a needle. She grabbed hold of his tail and slung him over her shoulder. He flew through the air, landed on his side, rolled around a few times and stopped, sprawled against the wall. His guard split up; half rushed to protect their fallen Visser and lead him somewhere safer, and the other half stayed behind to deal with the grizzly and Andalite intruders.
Marco sliced air with his tail, stretched his stalk-eyes up and tried to see over the heads of the Hork-Bajir. He had lost sight of Larynia, and it bothered him.
Rachel rumbled forwards into the Hork-Bajir and three of them fell like bowling pins. She turned, ran them over again, and then grabbed a fourth Hork-Bajir's leg in her jaws. Rising on her hind legs, she swiped at him with her sledge-hammer of an arm and he sailed away through the air.
Okay! she thundered at the remaining Hork-Bajir. Who wants to play with me?!
A few decided to stay loyal to their Visser. The rest, who thought that their Visser wasn't there to protect anyhow, fled.
Marco and Rachel took care of most of the loyal guards before the rest changed their minds and thought that being loyal had its definite drawbacks. They ran away as well.
I hate when they do that, Rachel complained. Can I chase them?
Go right ahead, Marco said. Kick some butt. Kick some extra butt for me. I'm going to the others.
Sure, whatever, Rachel said. Just make sure you don't get us all hemmed in. We're outnumbered, you know.
We've always been outnumbered, Marco replied, and pranced away on light hooves. Rachel turned her attention back to the Hork-Bajir, roared, and charged.
Marco began looking for Tobias, Ax and Larynia. There was a problem; he didn't seem to find them.
So he decided to ask for directions.
He sneaked up on an important-looking Hork-Bajir that had been watching the scene from a safe distance in a remote part of the pool area and placed his tail-blade against the Hork-Bajir's throat.
Don't scream, don't move, he ordered. The Hork-Bajir froze. Marco moved closer, letting both stalk-eyes circle to look out for assaults. I'm going to ask a few questions. I want nice, easy, straight-forward answers, or you'll get to experience how it is to lose one's head - literally.
The Hork-Bajir nodded.
First of all. What happened to the other Andalite?
"She… was taken to the pool," the Hork-Bajir said in unusually perfect English.
No, she wasn't, Marco said, pressing his tail-blade closer to the throat of the Hork-Bajir. My friends went to get her. Where are my friends, and where is the Andalite?
The Hork-Bajir lifted a shaking arm and pointed at Rachel, who was raging about, throwing Hork-Bajir, Taxxons and human-Controllers into the pool.
My other friends, Marco said, getting more and more annoyed - and more and more worried. A third Andalite and… Marco realised he didn't know what Tobias had morphed. He might have stayed hawk after flying down from the ledge… gone back to human and stayed human… or morphed something else. And another friend. Where. Are. They?
"I don't know," said the Hork-Bajir. "I don't know! I didn't see them!"
You must have seen them! They were right there!
The Hork-Bajir swallowed hard. Marco's tail-blade was quivering, very just about to cut through skin and deeper. "I… saw… nothing! I promise!"
Marco began swearing.
There was a big drawback for the spot where Marco was standing. He had used the nearby stacks of crates as cover to sneak up on the Hork-Bajir. The problem was that the same stacks of crates presented an excellent opportunity for anyone who wanted to sneak up on Marco.
Which, unavoidably, someone did.
Marco kept a stalk-eye on the edge of the stacks of crates. So he saw the human-Controller in time to do something about her.
She held a dracon aimed even as she leaped into view. But Marco's Andalite reflexes were fast enough to save him. He saw the Controller, noted the presence of the dracon, and whipped it out of the Controller's hand before she had any chance to fire.
She opened her mouth to scream for help, but Marco flat-sided her head with his blade and she fell.
Unfortunately Andalites aren't the only beings with fast reflexes. As soon as the blade was away from his throat, the Hork-Bajir was back in business, his blades whizzing furiously through the air.
Marco blocked a strike at his head, another heading for his shoulder and snapped his tail at the Hork-Bajir's face.
The Hork-Bajir cried out, and his blades stopped whizzing as his hands flew up to protect his face. Marco struck the Hork-Bajir's head hard with the flat of his blade and he slumped down.
"Good one," said a voice from behind him.
Marco turned his stalks and looked behind him. The Controller was on her feet again, standing at a safe distance, and aiming her dracon with a determined look in her eyes.
Marco had forgotten about her.
"Twitch that tail one millimetre and I'll scream," she declared. "Then you'll have every guard in the place here."
Marco eyed the dracon, and saw that it was set on low power. It'd only stun him, not kill him. But that was bad enough. He noted her finger, resting tensely on the trigger. She was right; at the moment the slightest movement would make that finger press harder.
Marco lowered his tail.
The Controller swallowed, hard. A thin, forced smile appeared. "Good Andalite," she said. "Just do as you're told, and you'll be fine."
And what am I told to do? Marco wondered bitterly. His mind was working on a way out.
"I'm getting to that," she snapped. "Shut up!"
The Hork-Bajir on the floor suddenly moved again. His arm flew up, and fell down. He turned to lie on his side, his hand grabbing at the floor, trying to push himself up. Then his arm folded, halfway up, and he fell down with a moan.
A Yeerk slithered out of his ear.
Marco's hoof flew down automatically to squash it.
The Controller, startled by the movement, fired and hit him straight in the chest.
Tobias noted something at the corner of his field of view which made him feel much better. He hadn't found Larynia yet, but Ax was working on that. Rachel was keeping the Yeerks busy enough. She was looking a bit tired by then, but he had just talked to her and she said she'd be fine for at least ten minutes. But - avoiding another dracon - he angled his wings, swooped down and landed on the ground. He began to demorph.
Marco, he said, prodding with a beak at the Andalite that lay almost hidden by stacks of crates in a corner. Marco, get up.
Tobias wasn't that worried about his friend. He was alive, and not hurt badly. Only stunned.
There was more proof; a dracon was lying on the floor, set on low power. A human-Controller on her side, next to it, hands protecting her face. A dead Hork-Bajir. And a squashed Yeerk near where Marco had fallen. Probably a little fight had taken place.
But staying in that place too long was risky.
"Marco," Tobias said again, grabbing the dracon from the floor; just for safety. "Marco, get up. Get up!"
An eyelid tremble briefly. Then his eyes opened. Stalk-eyes scanned the area, and he was quickly back on his feet.
What? What happened?
"You got stunned," Tobias said. "That's my best guess. Demorph. We're getting outta here."
Okay.
Tobias raised an eyebrow. No questions about Larynia. Maybe being stunned had affected to Marco's brain.
Everybody okay? Marco asked. No-one missing?
"Everyone's fine," Tobias said, and added: "Larynia, too. As soon as we find her."
"Still missing?" Marco sighed. "Maybe she's playing hide-and-seek with us. She might consider it amusing."
Tobias laughed silently, nodding. "It sounds like something she might do."
Larynia thought it was too easy. She had gotten away so simply. She had just fallen down to the cover of being close to the floor and morphed while the Hork-Bajir were distracted. And not just any morph.
If you want to hide a tree, put it in a forest.
If you want to hide in the Yeerk pool, morph a Hork-Bajir.
Laughably simple. She'd had to acquire one in the process, but that didn't matter. And as a Hork-Bajir, all she'd needed was a dracon and a watchful look and anyone would mistake her for just another guard.
She had hung around a group of Hork-Bajir, watching the scene and guarding an exit. All the exits were guarded. But the guards talked too much among themselves to do a very good job guarding.
And, by a stroke of luck, the guards were discussing - in low voices - the Visser's big attack on the resistance.
Larynia found out that the attack would come with half the force from the east, a fourth from the north, and the final fourth from the south. It all would drive the resistance towards a dead-end valley, where they'd be sealed in from above by bug fighters and the blade ship itself. With the bug fighters letting no-one and nothing leave the ground, and half-circle formed by the Yeerk army letting no-one and nothing break out of the trap (using BioFilter Vehicles to be sure), every single member of the resistance would be caught or killed.
There were details, of course. Nothing which helped; they only made Larynia realise how long the Yeerks must have been planning the entire thing. The plan had only been made public among the Yeerks that morning, and the guards didn't even know all the details.
Besides, Larynia was smart enough to realise that asking too many questions would put her in a tight spot.
Larynia, time to go, Aximili called again from where he had hidden. We need to leave.
Not yet, Larynia objected. She was about to hear something which might be of value, and she told him so.
Larynia, we are running out of time. Your gathered information will be wasted if it is too late.
Larynia sighed, and began fading into the background. It was a trick her mother had taught her; if you pretend not to be there, those around you can look right at you without noticing you. It took some practice but filled its purpose.
Larynia stepped backwards slowly, wearing an expression of doing nothing wrong. She had taken three steps when she backed straight into another Hork-Bajir.
"Hey!" he cried, turning angrily towards her as Larynia spun around.
Oops, Larynia thought. No eyes behind me. Forgot that.
"What are you doing?" the Hork-Bajir demanded. He was standing at the edge of the group, and he asked the question Larynia had hoped to avoid; "Are you trying to sneak away?"
All eyes turned towards her. Sneaking away was out of the question, now. Only one thing to do.
Run.
Larynia pushed her way past the Hork-Bajir and sprinted away as fast as her Hork-Bajir legs could carry her. To her relief, that was pretty fast. But the Hork-Bajir guards were pretty fast as well. And they could call for backup even faster.
Time to demorph.
Demorphing in plain sight wasn't a safe thing to do. But Larynia needed her Andalite legs and Andalite speed. And her Andalite tail. And, from Andalite she could morph bird and (finally, Aximili would say) fly up to that ledge to join the others. They probably had some plan to get out.
Shouts followed her as she ran, beginning to demorph at the same time. Her stalks appeared first. That returned her much-missed 360 degree vision.
Controllers were coming at her from all directions. More and more of them. It began to worry her for the first time when she had to stop and cut her way through a group of Taxxons. Taxxons weren't so bad, but if it had been a group of Hork-Bajir she'd have been in trouble.
Larynia, is that you running? Aximili called suddenly.
Yes, I should think so, Larynia snapped. Who else?
Keep running. Turn right. That's where Marco and Tobias are. Rachel can keep an eye on your pursuers.
Where is Rachel?
Up here on the ledge, Aximili said. With a dracon. And she is well aware of how to use it.
And sure enough, the next second a dracon beam made a Taxxon coming at Larynia explode.
Larynia turned right and blew through a crowd of human-Controllers, leaping over - and on, perhaps regrettably - their heads and backs as they tried to get out of her way, flashing her tail at those who tried to stop her.
Then she was joined by a trigger-happy gorilla with a dracon. His left shoulder was burnt raw by dracon fire and he had a slash across his chest, but the wounds didn't slow him down. Larynia followed him to a room in the wall of the pool area and he locked the metal door behind them, moving a huge crate in front of it.
The room was small and inconspicuous. A few crates and a few boxes stood along the walls, and there was a single lamp in the roof. There was the metal door on one side, and… there was an exit on the other. The room was perfect for escaping the Yeerk pool.
Marco demorphed, checked that the crate was staying where it was, and took the three steps towards Larynia. She took a gentle hold on his head, leaning his forehead against hers and smiling weakly. He closed his arms around her and hugged her tight… again, for maybe the millionth time, forgetting that Andalite arms and upper bodies are weak, and definitely not made to be hugged.
"Why do you keep getting into trouble?"
Why do you keep getting me out of it? Larynia snapped. Now stop hugging me. One of these days, you'll break my arms.
Marco smiled at her, which made the annoyance of being hugged evaporate. She let a stalk-eye circle the room and saw Tobias, standing by the exit door.
Tobias didn't smile. He looked grave. "Time to get outta here," he said. "Rachel and Ax already are gone. We've got a defeat to prevent, and we're almost down to three hours."
Marco nodded, suddenly looking just as serious as his friend. "Since you're missing a cockroach morph, we need to use a real exit. This is Visser One's emergency escape route. We're borrowing it. We're leaving. And this time, Larynia, I'm keeping an eye on you."
*2:32:00 REMAINING*
"Okay," Tobias said. "Here's the plan; we've got a rough draft, but we're pretty much making it up as we go along. I had a talk with Jake and he gave the all-clear. His job is alerting the resistance. Our job, my friends, is calling the Andalites. And delaying the Yeerks. We're going ahead, and we've gotto do it fast. Ax, what's our time?"
Around two and a half hour, Ax said. We might make it if we hurry.
The group of five was gathered at the spot where they first had come back in time. Rachel had fetched the transponder from the ruins of Loren's house, and Larynia was holding it, fingering at the switches, preparing for transmission.
"Then I'm only going to say this once," Tobias said. "We do this in two groups. Group one is Rachel, Ax, and myself. We're heading to the area north of the resistance camp. We're going to arrange a little waterfall smack in the middle of their line of attack. You know that river there? We'll redirect it. And thanks to Mommy Nature for cooperating with us. That river will be easily moved. The first fourth of the Yeerk army will have troubles crossing, and their BioFilter Vehicles won't get across at all. Then, we fly south."
Rachel grinned and rubbed her hands together. "You know that rocky, steep cliff there? Well, turns out, that's from where the second quarter of Yeerks are coming. We're going to start a nice, old-fashioned rockslide. Most of them won't make it. Others will. And those, we'll just kick right back down again. And when they start trying to get their BioFilter Vehicles up, the real fun begins… they'll be smashed to little bits and pieces and…"
"Enough, oh mighty rockslide-starter," Marco said. "We all have faith in your talent for destruction, Rachel. No need to prove it." He sighed. "Bird-Boy? What's Larynia's and my mission?"
"You're going to stop the remaining half of the Yeerk forces," Tobias said and Marco made an ugly face. "That passage up to the east of camp. You've gotto block it. And block it well. There aren't any rivers around, and the cliffs there aren't made for any rockslides."
"So that's where 'make it up as we go along' comes into the picture," Marco muttered, rubbing his forehead. "What's the terrain like? Oh, yeah. Bushes, right? Not that many trees. A few rocks, but nothing useful. Except for that cliff wall there… you can climb it. We could use it as an escape route, it'll bring us straight to you guys and your rock tumbling."
"An escape route is always good," Tobias admitted. "But how about a plan?"
A fire? Larynia suggested. A proper fire could delay the Yeerks for hours.
Rachel grinned. "I like it."
It may work, Ax said. And if it does, it works well. Let us hope it does not rain.
Marco looked up. "It looks like rain," he said. "But get a fire warm enough, and it'll burn anyway."
"That takes care of our plan," Tobias sighed. "Good. And any last-moment extra strokes of genius are perfectly acceptable. Anything that works."
We've only got one chance, Larynia agreed. We better do this right.
"Only one chance." Marco rolled his eyes. "Oh, goody. I feel so much better."
"Come on," Tobias said. "We've got work to do." He began morphing his hawk.
"We'll see you two later," Rachel said and feathers began growing all over her body. When her talons appeared, she gripped the dracon lying on the ground in them. If we survive. If not, then I've really liked working with you… well, with Marco as the exception.
Marco grinned. "Love you too, Rach."
Good luck, Ax said as he also began morphing. And Marco? Take care of my cousin.
"I will, Ax-man," Marco promised. "Have a good time kicking Yeerks down those cliffs. Larynia? Call those blue scumbags."
I am trying very hard not to be angry about that last comment, Larynia said as she initiated the transmission.
A very stressed Jaruili replied almost instantly.
Larynia? Is that you?
Yes, Larynia said, at the same time waving as three of her friends took to the air. We escaped the Yeerks. Now…
Jaruili interrupted immediately. I am sorry, Larynia. I contacted the War Council after our last talk and confirmed a few things. My orders were to head for Earth, in the company of a total of nine Dome Ships and a few smaller ships.
"Then why the 'sorry'?" Marco asked.
I was contacted just moments ago by the War Council again, Jaruili said. They… they told me my planet is under attack. My new orders, as those of all the others, are to head home.
"You can go back, it doesn't matter," Marco muttered. "Your planet is doomed. We warned you. You don't have the numbers to kick Yeerk butt. The Yeerks took Earth; they have the numbers."
You need to knock the Yeerks were it hurts, Larynia said. On Earth. They are strong here, but at the moment their fleet is gone. You should attack here, swipe at them from behind, and then you can retake our planet later.
I know! Jaruili replied. I ran a simulation through my computer. If we had acted sooner on the Earth situation, the Yeerks would never have been many enough. Now, we are too late. Too late for anything! I am truly sorry, but my orders… there is nothing I can do. My orders are to protect my home. I cannot ignore my orders!
Marco sighed. "Thanks anyway, Jaruili. Ending transmission. Good luck." Marco switched off the transponder and placed it on the ground.
Marco, Larynia said. His Dome ship… the River's Promise. It was one of those destroyed in the battle.
Marco nodded, nudging at the transponder with his foot. "We've got no use for this thing now. Can you cut it up?"
Larynia FWAPPED her tail at the transponder. It split neatly into two pieces. We have work to do, she reminded Marco. But first, we need to tell the others about the Andalites.
Marco began morphing the osprey. Larynia followed, slowly, deep in thoughts.
Marco? she said as the two rose to the sky. I feel like we already lost this battle.
Yes, perhaps we have, Marco said. Perhaps we have.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Author's note;
???
Hey! That wasn't a cliffhanger! *Slams head onto keyboard* Stupid story! Stupid story! Stupid stupid stupid!
Anyway. I got big plans for the next one... *grins evilly and rubs hands together*
Review. Pleez?
