Problems, everywhere. Cassie. Gone. Jake a Controller, Ax and Tobias acting strangely. Who knew where Marco was these days. Probably frolicking with the Hork-Bajir in their valley. I had to admit it- I was jealous. Marco had no problems but the occasional visits from the battle-prone Animorph gang. And, of course, the Yeerk invasion.
But whatever Ax and Tobias thought, I wasn't crazy. I had been standing in the doorway of Jake's house, about to ring the doorbell, when I heard shouts from inside. They didn't sound human. I leapt into the bushes in front of the house and morphed to cat as fast as I could. I then witnessed the whole ordeal, Jake being forced out of the house by Tom and his parents, with two Hork-Bajir backing them up. Forced out by his own parents. The thought of it made me shudder. His muffled cries resounded in my mind. What was the last thing he'd said to me as a free person? I couldn't even remember. After his family had viciously dragged him into the minivan parked a few houses down and drove off, I'd shakily demorphed and walked home. I didn't want to know what had happened afterward, but it wasn't a hard guess.
He was one of Them.
Flying, apart from being the coolest thing in the world, is good thinking time.
My thinking had worked me up into a self-pity mood, but I didn't let it get into the way of my one man— wait, woman— mission. I was approaching the area near Tobias' meadow where he and Ax often talked or just sat around. At the moment, it was quiet, meaning no one was there. Oh well, it wouldn't be long. I landed on the ground, demorphed, morphed into a fly, and waited. I did not enjoy it.
Finally, after about fifteen minutes of being generally grossed out, I heard Ax come crashing into the scene. A minute later, a flapping of wings indicated Tobias' arrival. Right when Tobias arrived he went human. Unusual. I made myself nice and comfy on a tree branch, waiting for the answers to come.
When Tobias had finished morphing, he looked at Ax and said, "Greetings, Shiia two seven one. It seems we have a crisis involving the human Rachel."
Yes, Mejn three nine five. Hept eight eight four's host's cousin will be trouble. I can sense it... she has a fire not unlike that of my host.
I was shocked. I nearly fell off the tree branch. I nearly screamed at those filthy slugs to get out of my friends' heads. I nearly demorphed and ripped them out.
But I didn't.
Controllers? Tobias and Ax? Jake as well? But what about Cassie? Oh no. Not Cassie. Did that mean I was alone? Alone in the midst of a bunch of Controllers. Who, it sounded like, were out to get me. I'm no fool. I knew I had to hide, and fast. The Yeerks would waste no time getting me to that hell of a pool. The Yeerk Pool. As I thought the word, I sneered inwardly. All of my problems, caused by the Yeerks. My friends, gone. Because of the Yeerks. Why me? Why? I half expected the Ellimist to answer. But, nothing. Figures, I thought. Right when I need him he's gone.
After the questions came anger. I seethed inside, knowing those disgusting worms were inside Tobias' head. Inside Jake. Ax. Cassie, even. I can't go on like this, I thought desperately. I've been through so much with them; they're not leaving me now. Not if I can help it. My insides were burning. My fly body buzzed uncontrollably. I screamed to no one in thought speak.
Needless to say, I'd heard enough. I hauled my gross self as fast as I could back home. I had so much trouble finding the right house in the fly body that I stopped at the edge of the woods to demorph.
This feels so weird, I thought. I have no one to tell about this... no one... they're all gone... friends to enemies, in minutes...
Then came the third stage of shock, after confusion and anger— sadness. Wallowing in my sorrow I walked back to the house. I was too tired to morph, anyway. At home, I collapsed pitifully on my bed and sobbed. After a few moments I suddenly stopped and sat up. What was I doing?! Rachel doesn't cry, I told myself. Rachel thinks of a plan. What happened to Xena, Warrior Princess? I smiled a little at that, remembering Marco. Good old Marco. Maybe he can help. I decided that before I got a few hours of sleep, I would ask Erik to send a Chee to take my place while I hid with Marco and his family until we could think of a plan. A battle plan would be best; an escape plan might work as well. The thought of escaping and leaving my friends made me sick. I thought of what they were all going through right now. Being enslaved, unable to control themselves.
Okay, I said to myself, So we make a defensive battle plan.
What's gonna happen!? Review and tell me! LOL!