CHAPTER THREE

"Well," Marco started. "This is going to sound a little strange, but could I acquire you?"

"What?" Jake asked, sounding confused. "Why would you want to acquire me? I wouldn't want you running around morphed as me. That would just be too weird."

"I wouldn't go around morphed as you," Marco said defensively. "At least not any more than Ax does with any of us."

"So what is it you have in mind?" Jake asked, but was already beginning to guess.

"Well, as far as the world is concerned," Marco said. "I'm dead. I can't even walk around town any more because there's too great a chance I'd be recognized. I want to create a morph kind of like Ax has: a mix of several people's DNA. That way I wouldn't have to feel like I was always hiding. I could walk down the street without being recognized by the Yeerks. I could get a Big Mac without being asked, `Would you like a slug with that?' I could hang out with you again. I mean, I know it wouldn't give me my old life back, but at least I wouldn't always feel like I'm in hiding."

Jake finally smiled. "All right, I guess if I let Ax have my DNA, I can let you have it too. Just be careful mixing those morphs. Remember what happened last time you mixed morphs. I'd hate to see what you looked like if you mixed me with a cockroach. That wouldn't be a pretty sight!"

Marco laughed. "You and a cockroach. I've already seen that, so no thanks!" He became serious again. "Don't worry. I've already asked Ax about it, and he said he'd coach me through the process once I acquire enough morphs."

"How many morphs will you need?" Jake asked.

"He said about three or four would work. Unless I want to look like I'm your brother."

Jake laughed. "Well, at least then I'd have a family member I could talk to about the Yeerks." Jake once again put on a more serious face. "So who are you planning on acquiring besides me?"

"I'd ask Tobias or Ax, but I can't acquire their human morphs." Marco said, "I think I'll ask my parents. That way my morph will still look a lot like my lovable true form, but not close enough for people to realize it's me."

Jake frowned. "How would this kind of morph work with your morph's age? Could you control the age? Or would it be some kind of mix between your parents' ages and mine?"

"I don't know," Marco answered. "I hadn't really thought of that before. I should probably ask Ax. I guess if it's possible, I'd want to morph something close to my own age."

Jake glanced up at a clock on the wall. "I've got to get back home. My parents are expecting me back. So let's get this over with."

"All right," Marco said. "Here goes nothing." He slowly moved his hand and placed it lightly on Jake's forearm, then closed his eyes and concentrated.

Jake grinned again as his muscles started relaxing. "You know, this is really relaxing. I almost never feel this calm." Marco removed his hand and Jake slowly started coming out of the trance.

Marco smirked at Jake. "One down, two to go. Of course I'll have to talk to them first. I hope that goes well."

"They've been in hiding too. They know it's not easy not having any contact with other people. I'm sure they'll understand." Jake looked at the clock again and then jumped up. "Whoa, I'm going to be late if I don't get going." He rushed toward the door, glancing back at Marco as he did. "Make sure you talk to Erek. We need to find out if..."

At this point Jake ran right into Cassie's father, who was walking though the door carrying a falcon in a cage. "Oof," he gasped, dropping the cage as Jake knocked the wind out of him.

"Walter!" Jake exclaimed, "I'm sorry! I didn't see you coming in. I'm so sorry! Are you okay?" He then looked toward Marco with panic in his eyes and mouthed the word, "hide." Marco slid back trying to stay out of view.

"That's okay, Jake," Walter responded, still trying to get his wind back. "I'm not hurt, but the bird looks plenty panicked." Jake started lifting the cage. Walter looked inside the barn. "Where did your friend go? Who were you talking to when I walked in?"

Jake once again looked panicked. Jake opened his mouth to speak, just as another voice said, "I'm right over here."

Marco stepped into view, except he wasn't completely Marco anymore. He still had his own dark hair, but he stood about two inches taller and now had some of Jake's facial features, including his brown eyes. He extended a hand toward Walter, "My name's Mitchell. Jake and Cassie were just showing me around the barn. I've always loved animals!"

Walter shook his hand and then looked curiously at Marco. "You look familiar. Have I met you before?" He looked around the barn. "Where is Cassie anyway?"

"She just left," Jake put in quickly. "I think she said she was going shopping with Rachel. We were just leaving too." He carried the cage into the barn. "Where did you want this?"

Walter walked over to Jake. "That's okay Jake," he said taking the cage. "I'll take care of it. Nice to meet you, Mitchell."

"Pleasure meeting you too," Marco said with excitement. "Thanks for letting me visit your animals. It was really fun!"

Marco and Jake quickly made their exit. "Wow," Jake said quietly, once they were out of earshot. "That was a close one. Nice morph, by the way! But couldn't you have done better than, 'I love animals. It was really fun'?"

Marco snorted, "Cassie shopping? You think her dad really bought that? But you'd better get home before you're late."

"Yeah," Jake said. "I'd better hurry. That was a great improv! Get in touch with me once you've talked to Erek." He started running.

"Okay," Marco smirked. "Just make sure you don't run into a tree on the way home!"

Jake laughed. "I'll watch for them. Talk to you later, 'Mitchell.' Have fun!"

**********

Author's Notes: I have a request for each person who just read this chapter: use the blue colored box below and tell me what you thought of my story. Now, is that so hard? Okay, thank you! Chapter 4 will be posted soon (more reviews may mean sooner)!