Chapter 52- Visser One
"Have you been watching her actions carefully?" He questioned the human-Controller.
"Yes, Visser. Very carefully. The only unusual activity she seems to have engaged in is…"
"Is what?" He demanded, eyes narrowing dangerously. He began to demorph.
"She seems to be a bit...ah, how to put it-obsessed with some human girl." Fannaer explained, twitching nervously as he saw the Visser's tail emerge from the mass of shifting flesh.
Who? He asked, his guards moving back a little, just out of reach of his deadly tail.
"Ch-, I mean, Iniss-Two-Two-Six reported that she called asking for information on one 'Lauren ******'."
What did she want to know? He inquired.
"Where she lived."
I see. Well. Continue your investigation. If she does anything else that involves this girl, capture the human. Make her one of us. But don't let her know we are on to her. If she becomes suspicious, her loyalties may…wander.
"Yes, Visser."
Leave me. He commanded, and Fannaer backed away, and left. We have a situation we must deal with. The Visser told his guards. I want extra security around the pool area.
One of the guards walked off to explain the Visser's orders, while the other stood nearby the Visser.
We must be prepared. The Visser murmured to himself. Yes, prepared…
Chapter 53- Tobias
We flew on, spying two hours per Controller. We watched pool entrances, and heard smudges of conversations as we went. We learned for some reason, security was being raised, that there were twice as many Hork-Bajir warriors guarding the Pool, the piers, the involuntary Controllers, and that they were even starting to guard the entrances more. It was hard enough, one Controller complained, to get into the pool through a secret entrance, but now they had metal detectors at the bottom of the stairways.
Not a pleasant thought. Now there was Gleet-BioFilters at the doors, hunter robots, metal detectors, and twice the Hork-Bajir. Wonderful.
But we heard nothing else useful. The Yeerks were being careful, especially since the security of the pool had been raised. So we had less and less time to figure out a plan. We had no useful information to plan from, and Jake could practically feel the gears in Estreen's head turning. She had the upper plan. So we decided to do something dumb, reckless, and completely last-resort.
We were going to "negotiate" with the Yeerks.
Chapter 54- Ax
We met in my scoop. We were going to try and contact the Yeerks, and we could not use Prince Jake's or Cassie's computer. Besides, with mine, I had more 'features' than my human companions.
Erek, the Android was also with us, because none of us knew the Yeerks' 'E-mail'.
"Alright, Ax? Get online and get it ready to send an e-mail. Make sure the Yeerks won't be able to trace it back to you."
Yes, Prince Jake. I told him. Prince Jake went on.
"OK. Erek, what's the address? And how soon do you think we'll be replied?"
"Well, you could write "Andalite Bandits" in the subject line and that would probably speed it up." He said after he gave me the address, which I quickly entered into the "to" box. Then I typed "Andalite Bandits" in the subject box, and signed "From the Andalite Bandits" at the bottom of the message.
"OK, Ax? Make a message. Tobias, help him make it sound convincing."
Tobias fluttered over and landed on top of my computer. He told me what to type, and after I finished, I read the letter aloud.
Prince Jake nodded. "Great. But don't use human words. Change the mall name to something…like, 'the big human structure where humans go to by artificial clothing and other products they assume necessary', or something."
I made the changes to the letter and read it aloud again.
"Excellent. The Yeerks will meet us at 4 o'clock on Saturday at the mall. Be ready for tomorrow, fellow Animorphs. We've got a date with a freak." Marco rubbed his hands together. "What should we do to kill time? Hack into the FBI files? Search for alien life?"
"We already know aliens exist. Why do we need more proof?"
Marco seemed lost for a comeback as they call it, and shrugged sheepishly. "Just a suggestion."
Rachel rolled her eyes, and Erek said good-bye. We talked for a while longer, and then Prince Jake, Rachel, and Cassie left. Marco and Tobias stayed and we watched a movie on the television about some human secret service in 'Great Britain' where a man seemed to be bent on 'world domination' and was trying to wipe out some valley. I lost track immediately of the plot, and even "These Messages" didn't cheer me up.
Marco must've noticed I was lost to the plot, and nudged Tobias gently. "Ax doesn't understand the plot."
What? This is like, the best James Bond movie. With Rodger Moore as James. Not to mention Mayday. And isn't that the guy from Batman Returns?
I do not understand. Who are 'May Day' and 'James Bond'? I questioned.
"He's a spy from Her Majesty's Secret Service. You know, in England? Anyway, this guy wants to blow up this valley so he can control the distribution of electronics." He noticed my blank look. "Never mind. You better stick to the soaps."
Chapter 55- Estreen
"Quickly," Fannaer snapped at me. "Emergency meeting at The Sharing."
"Why?" I glared. I didn't like some lowly Yeerk ordering me around, no matter who I was employed to, or what it would mean later.
"Shut up, they're sending some one to pick us up. He'll explain on the way."
We slipped out of the house with our coats, and headed towards a black car that was parked on the street. We climbed in, and the man-Yeerk-sped towards The Sharing.
"Why are we going off to a meeting?" I demanded again.
"Something important…" Muttered the guy in the front seat, but he promptly shut up when Tom gave him a look.
I narrowed my eyes, but said nothing. The st-
"We're here. Get out, I have to park the car."
I got out and slammed the door hard enough to make it shake and explode in the silence. Tom gave me a nasty 'what are you, nuts?' look. I glared back, and went into The Sharing building.
Tom raced after me, and led me to a lit room. I walked in, and grabbed a seat closest to the door. Tom sat down next to me.
Visser One sat at the head of the table, in human morph. Ten other Controllers, besides the Visser and Tom were already seated at the table made for fifteen. Just then, our 'chauffeur' walked in with some other Yeerk. Plus the Visser's guards, there were seventeen, maybe eighteen people in the room.
"Everyone here?" The Visser asked.
A man next to him nodded.
"Good. This evening, at precisely 7 o'clock human time, we received an e-mail. And not just any e-mail. It was about the Andalite Bandits."
Everyone but me straightened up immediately. They wanted to know who, what was now known about the Andalite guerilla warriors.
"It was from the Andalite Bandits themselves. They request that Estreen, my employee meet them at the mall at 4:00 P.M. tomorrow, and plan a battle area and make rules of engagement."
I raised an eyebrow, intrigued.
"They require that only one human Controller meets with her-if she decides she wants one. Two of the Andalite Bandits will meet her at the food court, and from there they decide the rules."
"With all the other Andalite scum in morph around her." One Controller near me muttered under his breath. I smiled. At least the Visser had one or two smart minions.
"As Estreen requested, and I promised- the next time she attacks the Andalite Bandits, she can do it the way she wants. But I think it would be in her best interest to bring one of my trusted lieutenants with her."
"No." I said.
"No?" I could see the Visser trying to regain his composure.
"If the Andalite Bandits learn that you sent a high-ranking Controller with me, they will certainly mark it down on their list. It would be much safer to send some low-ranking Controller, or one they know."
"That is wise. Yes, you may take one of my lower-ranking soldiers. He will arrive at the mall entrance at 3:30 P.M. and contact you there."
I nodded. Just as I suspected.
Chapter 56-Cassie
I watched the computer screen. Erek was beside me, along with Ax. We were checking for a reply to our e-mail. Erek was also giving us a bit of an update.
"One of our people has notified me, and said the Yeerks received your message yesterday. Estreen was there. She's taking a low-ranking Controller with her, and will meet you. But we'd better check to see what they said in reply."
I nodded. Ax clicked the 'mail' icon, and brought the reply up on the screen. I smiled. Ax had built his computer out of a bunch of junk. It was amazing.
We have one message. Would you like me to read it aloud?
"Yeah," I told him.
We have received your message, Bandits. Estreen will meet you with one of our people. You will be watched closely-
Suddenly, a noise.
"What was that?" I asked, semi-alarmed.
We have received another message. Shall I continue, then check?
"Yes," I said, fear fading away, but keeping my guard up. Erek stood, silent by my side.
You will be watched closely, and if you try to attempt a ruse, you shall be eliminated.
"That's a pleasant thought."
Establish your rules of engagement, then leave the establishment.
"That's it?" I asked.
Yes.
"Boy, that didn't sound very…Visser-ish I guess would be the word. He doesn't seem to try and trick us, he's all open. Weird."
Ax turned a stalk eye to face me. Prince Jake was correct then.
I nodded. "What about the other message?"
Ax's nimble fingers flew over the keyboard. It is- He looked surprised. It is from Estreen.
"Read it!" I snapped, surprised at myself.
Andalite Bandits. The Visser is a fool. There is something odd of your methods, but I will agree. Do not expect a guard; they are almost as stupid as their leader and easily tricked and lost. I will gladly meet you in combat. Signed, Estran.
"Estran?"
Ax shrugged. That's what it says.
"She seems to have contempt for the Yeerks. We may be able to use that against her."
Exactly. Shall we report?
"Yeah. Let's go tell the others; it's almost one."
Erek nodded. "I will return home, and contact you if we receive information."
"OK, Erek."
"Good luck, Cassie, and Aximili."
Chapter 57- Lauren
I stood in front of my mirror. Something was different in my room. I didn't see anything out of order, but something… I could feel it.
My mind drifted to the Animorphs. They were friendly, I guess. Most likely because they didn't know who I was. But that was alright. They acted like friends, and that was enough. I suppose.
I saw each one in my mind, and then I thought about the morphing. The pain still struck me. I didn't know what to do. I lowered my eyes, and spotted my hand.
And jumped about four feet off the ground. I nearly screamed.
My hand was changing color! I was growing feathers, shrinking down down down…
My eyes saw my nose and lips bulge out into a wicked beak, the feathers were becoming 3-D, and my legs were becoming 'scaly' and yellow-ish, my feet becoming wicked talons. My arms and hands became wings.
My eyes changed colors to a fierce brown, and I could see the cracks in the wood of my floor! I could see tiny dents and scratches in it! Dust in the corner.
I was a bird! And I felt no pain!
"Hah!" I cried triumphantly. It sounded more like "TTTSSSEEERRRR".
I fluttered up onto the desk, feeling the hawk mind in me. It wanted prey. I shook my head, and gained control. I looked in the mirror.
I was…what was his name? I was To—To—Tobias! That was it; Tobias. But I hadn't acquired him.
Lauren? A voice in my head! Familiar. One of the Animorphs!
Lauren. It said again. I know you can't answer me, but we're coming. Open your window! It's Cassie and Ax.
But how did they know where I lived? It didn't matter, I told myself. How to open the window?
I recalled what Cassie had said when I was a wolf. Picture yourself as human. Focus. I squeezed my eyes shut, and focused hard.
I sprouted up! I was demorphing at warp-speed. Or at least, I was becoming human faster than I had become a hawk.
"Coming!" I said after a few seconds, even though they couldn't hear me. I ran to the window and opened it. Two hawks flew in. One had grayish-white feathers, and the other had…Well, gray-brown feathers. They demorphed immediately, the gray-white one become Cassie while the other became an Andalite. Ax immediately crouched down out of sight of the window, and I drew my flimsy curtains shut.
"Even though you can't morph, Jake wants you to trust us," Cassie began. "Look, we're meeting that Estreen at the mall today, alright? Just some of us. Tobias will be in Taylor morph, and Ax will be in human morph, and Jake will be a fly buzzing around with Rachel in fly morph too."
"Look, Cassie, Ax, I-"
"Would you like to try morphing again, Lauren?" Cassie interrupted.
I considered. I had felt no pain when I was a hawk.
"O.K." I said, and concentrated.
"Wait a second." Cassie said, eyes narrowing. "Last time, you morphed with clothing, and it became part of your morph. And then when you demorphed you had the same clothing."
"Is there a problem with that?" I asked, confused.
"Yes. We can't morph anything but skin-tight clothing, and it takes practice."
"Well-I-I…" I stuttered.
Cassie shook her head. "It doesn't matter. It's better anyway. It'd be a hassle having you in the group without a morphing suit and the guys around."
I nodded in agreement, then focused.
The changes were immediate! A tail popped out. I grew fur. My ears moved! My face bulged out into a muzzle, my teeth became wolf teeth. Eyes changed to cat-yellow, knees reversed direction. I shrank and grew more powerful as I did. I was a wolf! Lord of the forest! I raised my nose to howl, but Cassie grabbed my muzzle and held it shut tightly.
I quickly gained control after that. Sorry about that.
You are not experiencing any pain? Ax asked me.
No. I replied. I'm…I'm okay. Nothing hurts. I swished my tail, walked back and forth, testing.
This is an unexpected development. What shall we tell Prince Jake? He asked Cassie.
"We need to get her a bird morph. Uhh… Go get-"
No! Wait! I already have one!
"WHAT?!" Cassie exclaimed. "How did you do that?!"
I…Just watch!
I demorphed, then pictured Tobias in my head. Deadly talons, a ripping beak, red-and-brown feathers. Fierce eyes.
And I felt the changes begin.
Chapter 57- Rachel
"What do you mean she can morph?" I asked. We were at my house, since Jordan and Sarah and my mother were at the mall. The others were all there, Ax and Tobias in human morph, with Lauren.
"I can. I don't know how. I just did."
"That doesn't explain it. Look, we've got a mission coming up. I don't want to sound nasty, or like a jerk, but Lauren, you don't have experience." Jake held up a hand to stop her from speaking. "We don't know what the Yeerks are up too, and we need you to stay here. But first we need to get this explained. So you morphed Tobias? When did you acquire him?"
"I didn't." She said calmly. "I was just thinking about him in my room, and all the sudden I was morphing him! And that's when Cassie and Ax got there."
"You can't morph someone or something without acquiring him!" I shouted. "It's impossible, isn't it, Ax?"
"It is certainly improbable. Prob. Able. It is unheard of. It sounds like-"
"Like that Estreen thing!" Marco exclaimed. "She morphed without acquiring, didn't she? Or… Well, we don't have proof of that. But she DID morph clothing."
Marco and I narrowed our eyes and looked at Lauren. It's funny how we agree on most points.
"Look! I don't know, alright! I'm in the dark as much as you are! I don't even know what's real anymore, ok? I've been 'Lauren the orphan bully' all my life as long as I can remember, living in a dump of a home with Foster Mom and Foster Dad avoiding me all my life as well! I! DON'T! KNOW! I'm either part of the team, trusted, or I'm not! But I don't know! I don't know, alright?" Her voice was quaking, and she was shaking. She sat down on the floor, holding herself.
Cassie kneeled down by her, and put a hand on her shoulder. "We know what it's like. We didn't believe it either. Not until later. We know you can't possibly know who to trust anymore. But you have to deal. We believe you about not knowing. We need you."
Lauren nodded. She seemed instantly calm, maybe embarrassed. She wiped her eyes, and leaned against the wall, still on the floor.
"Look, Lauren. If you don't know; you don't know. But you're still staying here. This is important. We'll all be back in two hours at most. Or, at least, one hour and fifty-nine minutes."
She nodded, cool and collected now. I glanced at Marco. He was calculating it all in his mind, Cassie was thinking of motives, egos, everything. And Ax was just being Ax with a human mouth. Tobias was silent.
"Are you sure you'll be okay? We can leave somebody to pass the time, help you with morphing."
She shook her head. "That's alright. You say this mission is important, and you need all the help you can get, well, go. I'd be useless on this mission; all the morphs I have are Tobias and a wolf. Not exactly spy material, you know?"
I nodded. "Alright. You'll have to leave here though, mom and my sisters will be home in an hour, maybe a half hour."
"O.K."
We left, one by one through the window. Tobias and Ax demorphed, and Ax went first, then Tobias, Jake, Marco, then me, and finally Cassie.
Chapter 58- Estreen
The Controller I was stuck with was an imbecile. I killed him in an alleyway near the mall, and entered the building after shifting my features. The human-Controllers wouldn't know me until I was in place. And by then it would be too late.
I entered the food court and drifted around, looking for a group of six, when I spotted two humans that looked out of place. I slid up beside them, my human form shifting again to what they would know me by.
"You're late," Said one. He was a bit uncomfortable, looking almost trapped or lost. The other looked like he was going to kill the other if he didn't get some more food. I saw the crumpled remains of a cinnamon bun wrapper by him, and frosting covered his face.
"I was delayed. The human they sent with me was…slow."
He nodded. He made no expression with his face, no flicker of recognition in his eyes. Nothing. Not at all like the other.
"May we begin?" I asked.
There was a long pause, while the Andalite thought.
"Yes. First terms: Where ever we fight, no Controllers. No security cameras. Nothing. Just you and us."
"Agreed. I can arrange that easily. My first terms are: Well, I have no qualms with you. Don't make it easy."
Another pause. "Second terms; no more than three shifts."
"Not agreed. You morph as many times as you want, as will I. I will only make…ten shifts. Yes, that's challenging."
Pause. "Fine. We will give you directions on how to get to our battle station."
"Very well. Anything else, Mighty Andalite?" I smirked.
The Andalite in human morph looked around, and shushed me. "We're being watched." He told me, and nodded to two 'ladies' with shopping bags talking nearby.
I nodded in agreement. "Right. Send directions, or anything else to this address, not the other." I handed him a slip of paper. "That's my terms."
Pause. "Excellent. See you at the field." He told me.
"May the battles begin." I told him, as I began to walk off. Then I realized- the pauses- his superiors- if he had any- we're probably there in morph! They could be humans around us, flies, bugs, anything and not be noticed.
I smiled. The 'Bandits' were smarter than I thought. But how smart? We would see.
Chapter 59- Jake
We met back at the barn. Tobias and Ax demorphed on the roof of the mall, while we demorphed in the bathrooms and grabbed our outer clothing. We walked out, and met outside, Ax and Tobias in the sky above.
Cassie called Lauren over, and she arrived as a copy of Tobias. A Red-Tail Hawk. It was discerning watching a hawk turn into a human girl that had clothing on, not a skin-tight outfit like we had.
"She should teach us how to do that," Marco said. "It'll be freezing in the winter. We've already experienced technical difficulties, you know?"
I nodded, distracted. Lauren quickly emerged from the hawk form, quicker than we usually morphed.
"Hope I'm not late," She said when lips formed. "Got hung up."
"Yeah."
"So, how did the mission go?" She asked casually.
"It was fine." I said carefully. "We got her to agree to most of our terms. We need to get our battle position ready. And she gave us a new e-mail address to send things to."
"Doesn't want the Yeerks interfering?" Lauren wondered. "I thought she was, like, evil or something."
She is, but she isn't. Tobias told her. She does her job to get stuff that she wants. She doesn't care what side she's on. The Yeerks have no interest in her as a host because they can't capture her. The Andalites can destroy her either. Everyone acknowledges she isn't on the Yeerks side or anyone else's. She's her own army, in a way.
Lauren nodded slowly.
"Anyway, we need to send her our "battlefield" map. We didn't give her directions or anything earlier in case of Yeerks."
"Where is it?"
"We aren't telling you. That's because if by the time it comes to fight her and you aren't experienced enough you can't sneak along. For extra measures we'll all be going a different way." I explained. "On the other hand, if you do seem ready to fight, we'll take you. But you'll need better morphs if you're going to even be partially ready."
I was still wondering how she could morph Tobias and not acquire him and morph normal clothing too. But we didn't have time for questions, did we? But still, it remained persistent in my mind. Why, why, why?
Lauren sighed. "All right. But when do I get a good morph, like a lion or a tiger or a python or something, other than a wolf? With all due respect, a wolf isn't going to be able to do much damage to a huge, shape-shifting freak, is it?"
Rachel half-smiled, and Marco nodded. "You're right. Cassie, take her to the Gardens. But first, do we have any bugs that we can use? Flies, cockroach-"
"I have to touch a cockroach or a fly?!" Lauren interrupted.
"We all have." I told her. "It's not so bad…"
"Wait 'til you morph it," Marco grinned.
"Anyway, after you get an insect morph, you can get a better battle morph. Maybe a seagull, too."
"No problem. Tobias can help with the seagull."
Exactly. Tobias said. Seagulls are like, moving in slow motion.
I smiled. "Great. Marco, Ax? Send Estreen the instructions, and give her a date. Maybe a week or two from now so Lauren has time to practice?" They nodded, and started to morph to fly to Ax's scoop. "Good. Rachel, you and I will help Cassie get a bug. I know just the spot for bugs. In the meantime, Cassie, get her a battle morph. Tobias, go with them so they can get a seagull on the way there or back. Let's go."
Chapter 60- Tobias
Cassie morphed Osprey, and Lauren morphed me. It was weird, watching somebody become me. Maybe not me, but an exact copy of my body. It was unnerving.
When they were done, we flew. Through the afternoon to the Gardens, amusement park-slash-zoo.
We decided to catch a seagull on the way back, because then we wouldn't have to make two pit stops right away.
The Gardens was open for a few more hours, and Cassie and Lauren spiraled overhead.
Should we wait until they're closed? Cassie wondered.
OK. It'll probably be easier to sneak into. I answered. Let's get that seagull instead.
I spotted one immediately that was over a grove of trees in the park, eyeballing some kid with an ice cream cone.
Try not to hurt it! Cassie called out to me as I dived at it.
That's all? Puh-leeze. You might as well be telling me how to fly!
I outstretched my talons, and grabbed the gull. I fluttered over to the grove of trees and made sure no one was there, and called up, [It's safe,] and waited.
Cassie appeared first, then Lauren. The landed on the ground and demorphed. Lauren stared at the bird, and I landed in Cassie's arms. Lauren walked over, and stared at the bird some more.
"A seagull. It looks like a big, snowy pigeon." She stated as she petted it. The seagull calmed as she acquired it, and then I released it and it flew off, squawking loudly.
Seagulls are pathetic birds, but they blend in. I told her.
"Yeah. I mean, look at all the seagulls around here. Or anywhere. They're everywhere."
"Exactly. Want to morph it?"
"O.K." She said, and I flew out of Cassie's arms into a tree to keep watch.
Lauren's first change was her color. She turned white, as if she'd seen a ghost. Her eyes became tiny, black, beady little things, and her hair disappeared into her head.
That's weird looking. Kinda pretty, but very weird.
A tail sprouted out, even though she had no feathers anywhere else. Her feet became talons, her toes joining together to make only three wicked 'nails'. (The only things she didn't seem to be able to morph were shoes). The rest of her, though, was a normal human girl. A girl with beady eyes, a tail full of feathers, T-Rex feet, and the rest of her, even her clothes, were white. Blank, paper-white. Or snow white.
Feathers appeared and popped out, becoming 3-D. Her hands melted into one big "hand" and then formed wings. Her face bulged into a beak, and her eyes moved a little.
She was a five-foot-something seagull.
Finally, she shrank. Down to a short kid seagull. A dog. Cat. And finally, normal seagull size.
There was silence for a minute. [Woah! Are those Lays? Or Doritos? Hey! Ice cream!]
Cassie smiled. "Seagulls are scavengers. They eat garbage."
I noticed. Hey! Those are Lays! I hope they aren't the BBQ kind. I hate them. Are they regular?
She bird-walked and fluttered over to the bag of Lays. Darn. They're BBQ.
Think you can handle the brain?
[Oh yeah, sure. Hey, popcorn!
Cassie stifled a laugh, and said, "You can demorph now. The park closes in two hours. We've got plenty of time to kill."
Lauren demorphed immediately. "Let's look at the exhibits! I never get to come here!"
I blinked. Even I had been to The Gardens once or twice. I shook myself mentally, then answered, We probably could check them out. Then you can decide what you want your battle morph to be.
Cassie nodded. "Let's go. The "Big Cats'" exhibits are closest."
"Alrighty then."