THE HUNTED




Chapter 8 Marco

Once Ax had gotten sick. Seriously ill. He had been dying. Turned out, he had this infection in a gland in his brain. Cassie had to perform brain surgery. She had been scared to death. You see, Cassie is the one who's parents are both vets. She was the only one with any knowledge in the surgery field. And she was also the only one who wasn't sick. But she didn't know where in Ax's head the gland was. So she let Aftran, a Yeerk that was on our side but now is a whale and is living in the ocean, into Ax's head. Just to find the gland. With Aftran's help, the surgery had gone fine. But when Ax woke up, he had had a Yeerk in his head. He went coco pretty quickly.

I, for my part, regained conscience slowly. My mind was foggy and confused at first. But I had this horrible headache. So I tried to bring my hand to my forehead. My mind barely registered that no hand ever reached my forehead. So I tried again. When it failed, I tried to open my eyes and sit up to see if I still had an arm. That didn't work either.

Then the memory of what had happened hit me like a hammer blow. Jake. Ax. Cassie. The Yeerk.

The Yeerk!

Sub-Visser, for your information. Treat me with the respect I deserve, slave!

It took me about half a second to realise who that was.

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

I went 100% wacko. I screamed. I roared. I even begged. But mostly, I cried. And cried. All in my head, for only me and the Yeerk to hear.

I watched in horror as the Yeerk who had taken over in my head went over the plan with Ax's and Jake's Yeerks. The plan to trap Cassie. My Yeerk contributed with my knowledge that Rachel would probably be there, too. That changed a few things. For one thing, we called in the Hork-Bajir to stand watch. The Yeerk couldn't use my memories that much yet… but already I felt horrible. Worthless. Broken.

Beaten. They, the Yeerks, were winning.

Yes, beaten, the Yeerk gloated. You and your thoughts of victory. Animorphs vs. Yeerks. No wonder you had your sorry butts kicked in the end.

Rachel and Cassie are still free, I reminded him. And I'd like to see you get a Yeerk into Rachel's pretty ear. She'd probably…

I know that Rachel is a problem! the Yeerk hissed. That's why we've got Tobias neatly locked up in a box. She'll cooperate. Believe me.

The worst part was that I thought so too, after this was revealed to me. Cassie, I reminded myself, determined not to give up yet. Please, let Cassie make it out of this…

But the plan was flawless.

Jake and Ax walked into the woods to give orders to the Hork-Bajir. I stayed behind for a few minutes. Or my body did, on orders form the Yeerk.

All my clothes, together with my shoes, except my silly morphing outfit, were stuffed under a bush. I was going to morph.

The Sub-Visser made me morph the great horned owl, my best nocturnal bird morph. I like being an owl. I mean, I can see anything at remarkable distances during pitch-black nights. I can read the license plate on cars that are almost too far away to even see with the human eye. I can hear a mouse crawl over leaves a hundred meters away as if it was on loudspeakers right next to me.

And I'm flying! Flying is great. It's more than great. It's fantastic! It's the best. You can't imagine!

But it was all spoiled by having a Yeerk in my head. Especially as he was enjoying the morph in my place and marvelling about its senses.

You'll never succeed in this, I told the Yeerk, trying to keep my own hopes up rather than his down. Cassie's smart. She knows Jake too well.

So you think she'll be able to stop us? I don't agree. Perhaps Rachel will, but Cassie? No.

Don't underestimate her, I couldn't stop myself from thinking. Even though he wasn't meant to, the Sub-Visser heard it.

And he laughed at me.

As soon as I - or the Yeerk, depending on how you look at it - was up in the air, I noticed the other owl. Or maybe the Yeerk did. I don't know. He decided when to turn my head and when to focus my eyes, but I still saw through them. It was a silent, beautiful great horned owl.

Rachel has a great horned owl morph, as all of us. I excluded the others immediately because they were supposed to be in other places. Cassie, waiting for me at her barn. Tobias, in a box.

And the rest of us were Controllers.

I had to warn Rachel.

Rachel? the Sub-Visser called with my thought-speak voice.

Marco? Oh, goody. I thought I was the only late one.

You're actually happy to see me? the Yeerk asked.

I was trying to take control, but not succeeding. The Yeerk pushed me easily back into place. I mean, it was as if I was trying to stop the tide. I kept trying to push it back, but it slipped through my fingers. And it swept me with it.

Oh, shut up. Don't get your hopes up, Rachel warned. I'm just happy that I wasn't the only one detained by tedious chores. Even if that person happens to be a real pain, and probably on his way to receive another knuckle sandwich.

Okay, so Rachel isn't really my best friend. We always argue, and she always tells me to shut up. But still, I had to warn her…





Chapter 9 Rachel

My name is Rachel.

I used to be just a normal kid. Although they say I'm too beautiful to ever be normal. I have two sisters, called Jordan and Sara. My parents are divorced. I get good grades. And I go to the mall, and I take gymnastics classes.

But ever since we five normal kids saw the space ship on our way home, cutting through the abandoned construction site, none of us are normal any more. We go around fighting evil slugs and changing into the coolest and the grossest of animals, and everything in between.

"I'm Rachel," I tell people. I can't tell them, "I'm a Yeerk-butt kicker." That'd put me in too deep. Not that I'm not in too deep already. I just would rather to stay alive. So I, as all we Animorphs, keep that part of our lives well hidden. Very, very, well hidden.

I saw the farm in front of me. Cassie's farm. I could see all the details clearly. I mean, I had super vision. I was, at the moment, a great horned owl, with all the eye power that came along.

Let's land, I said to Marco. He was also a owl, floating on a draft a little behind, and higher up than me. We were flying high enough to avoid the treetops, but not much higher.

Not yet, he replied.

I floated in closer anyway.

Not yet! he repeated urgently.

Then I saw it.

Cassie was standing in the doorway to her house, talking to Jake. She was smiling. But around the corners of her house, and in amongst the trees… Hork-Bajir. And with them, waiting patiently, stood Ax.

Ax?

I looked again. Yes, it was Ax.

I didn't pause to think that much.

Marco! I cried to him. Marco! See that? That's Ax, with the Hork-Bajir!

Maybe they're from the colony, Marco speculated - hastily, it seemed.

I tried to see if I recognized any of them. When I didn't, I did a quick count. No, I replied. They are too many. Marco, we have to warn them! We have to warn Cassie and Jake!

We were beyond thought-speak distance to speak to either Cassie or Jake at the time. I tried to fly in closer.

Wait! Marco hissed suddenly. How can we be sure that Jake and Cassie are clear?

I hesitated. He was right. Marco isn't stupid, I must admit. But his jokes certainly are. And his ego is way out of control.

Marco… I said, starting to fly in a tight circle. Do you think Ax is a Controller?

I don't know, he replied. But I'm afraid so.

Let's charge him! I said in a moment of anger. We'll ruin his eyes.

With that tail of his? Marco commented. Go ahead, Xena. Be my guest.

I thought feverishly. But my mind couldn't think properly. I kept circling, out of thought-speak range, but I could see Cassie and Jake clearly enough.

They were unaware of the present danger. They were talking. But then, they stopped talking, and started walking towards the barn, hand in hand.

Cassie didn't notice the Hork-Bajir. She couldn't have. They were hidden well enough in the dark, even though it was a moonlit, bright night. Neither could Jake. But yet, he glanced in that direction.

In Ax's direction.

He couldn't have seen Ax or the Hork-Bajir by mistake. Only by especially looking at them, and knowing they were there. And he saw them. I was very sure about that. He had definitely seen them, for when Ax waved, he raised his free hand - if only slightly - in response.

Marco! I said alarmed. Jake's definitely a knows something. Did you see that?

What? I didn't see a thing.

Shut up, Marco, and let me think.

I thought quickly. Hork-Bajir, too many to be from the colony. Definitely Controllers. They were at Cassie's barn, so they had infiltrated at least a part of our group. Otherwise, they'd have no reason to be here, right? Ax was with them. He wasn't a prisoner, for he wasn't surrounded by them, so he must either be an ally or a Controller. Ally? They'd let one of the "Andalite Bandits" go free as an ally? Would Ax ever sink that low? No way. He had to be a Controller. And knowing Ax, not a voluntary one. So they knew about us. Jake could be a Controller…

Cassie is clear, I told Marco.

How do you know that? he asked grumpily.

For once; think, I told him. Look at those two. They're playing up perfectly. In love and all as they are. If both of them were Controllers, their Yeerks wouldn't bother about that. So either one of them is free, or both of them. And Jake… well, sorry, but I think your buddy has been infested.

Marco muttered something about noticing or not noticing unimportant details.

Don't blame yourself, I told him with one of those sweet smiles - if I hadn't at the moment had a beak, that is. That's something only a girl can notice.

Jake and Cassie had sat down near the barn, looking up at the stars. They were still talking in low voices, but I couldn't hear what they said. The wind was blowing in the wrong direction.

I didn't fly in closer. But I watched. I wanted to be sure. A part of me still didn't believe this.

Cassie leaned her head on Jake's shoulder, with that typical dreamy expression of a person in love. He put his arm around her…

And that's when I noticed his other hand. Lying perfectly still, between his fingers, was a Yeerk.

Marco! He's got a Yeerk! We've gotto warn Cassie!

I beat my wings as hard as I could to get into thought-speak range. I didn't care if Marco objected. This was too…

But then a shadow swept down on me from above. It hit me, and caused me to lose control. It didn't hurt me seriously, but it took a few second for me to get air under my wings again.

Sorry, Rachel, Marco's voice said. But I won't let you ruin this…

I then realised that there was another Controller. One I had overlooked. One who could be trouble.

I tried again to fly in closer, and get some altitude, but Marco, who still was flying higher up than me, aimed, dove and hit me again.

Anger boiled in me. Marco attacked ME?

ME?!!!!!

He wouldn't get away with that.





Chapter 10 Cassie

I had been so relieved when Jake came. He was just fine. They were hunting him, and Tom knew about him, but otherwise there was nothing to worry about. Of course, he had made sure nobody had followed him. He had to find a new place to live, to hide, but the Yeerks knew nothing about me, or Rachel, or Tobias, or Marco, or Ax.

So he told me.

And I trusted him.

I had been so worried.

We were sitting by the barn, discussing the "old days". Before the Animorphs. discussing whether it was for the better or the worse that we had been pulled into this battle.

We even discussed the future. If we were going to win or lose. I had very different feelings about that. Especially now, when Jake just barely had avoided capture.

But we ran out of things to talk about, and just sat together, gazing at the sky.

That's when I heard Rachel's voice screaming, from the limits of thought-speech;

Cassie! ---- Controller…

"What?" I cried. "Where?"

I leaped up from my seat. I couldn't reply in thought-speak, for I wasn't in morph, and I couldn't know if she even had heard me… but in any case, there was no reply.

"What is it, Cassie?" Jake asked, grabbing my arm. "What's wrong?"

"Rachel…" I said, looking around, and up into the sky. But I saw nothing with my lame human eyes. "She tried to tell me something…"

"I didn't hear anything," Jake said, looking alert. Ready to morph. "And why would she thought-speak only to you?"

"But…"

"Calm down. If it was important, she'll be sure to repeat it…" Jake smiled his slow smile. "…or, knowing Rachel, demolish the threat and all signs of it."

I sat back down, slowly. I trusted Jake. And he was right. Rachel has two specialities; shopping and demolishing enemies.

Cassie!

"There it was again!"

"Yes," Jake said…

Then his expression flashed and he flew up, pulling me to my feet, and let go of my arm. "Cassie! Run!! Can't you see it's a…" His expression flashed back, from horrified to calm. Confident. Evil.

All in barely a second.

Trap! Rachel roared in my head.

I looked around. Confused.

Then I saw Jake bend down, and pick something up. He held it gently, but didn't let it crawl out of his hand. He must have dropped it when he had flown up like that.

I didn't see well in the dark. But I'd recognize such a creature anywhere…

Yeerk!

I turned to run.

No! Morph! I commanded myself. Morph morph morph!

But I couldn't focus.

I ran as I tried. But Jake was faster. He caught up with me in a flash. He gave me a shove and I fell forwards, landing face first on the ground.

But I had finally started morphing. It started with my face. I grew a nuzzle. My eyes turned a golden yellow. From my nose and outwards grey and white fur was spreading.

So when my head was yanked up out of the dirt, the face that Jake saw was the face of a wolf. And my ears were sliding up the sides of my head, growing pointy.

I felt the sharp teeth grow in my mouth.

I snarled.

Jake let go. He pulled out a water filled box from a pocket, and quickly placed the Yeerk in it. Then he started morphing, too.

I twisted back and started running even before I had gotten up on my feet. My arms were growing fur, and my nails were thickening into claws. As I morphed, my clothes were shredded and ruined. They fell off as I ran. We can only morph skin-tight stuff. So all my clothes except my morphing outfit - that I wore under everything else - was ruined.

I did what must have been the quickest morph of my life. In only seconds I was completely wolf. And running for all I was worth.

Ax! Jake's Yeerk - for I was now sure he had one - called in open thought-speak. The wolf! Get that wolf!

Hork-Bajir came rushing at me, and nimbly running in the lead; Ax.

I couldn't outfight that many. But I was a wolf. I could outrun them. Oh, could I outrun them?! I could run forever!

I could smell the tiger that was Jake in morph. I could smell a lot of Hork-Bajir. I could smell Ax. And the barn, and… I could smell anything.

I looked over the situation; it was hopeless. Jake behind me, in his very deadly tiger morph. Ax in front. Hork-Bajir on all sides.

Rachel? I called. Rachel?!

I was barely aware that it again started to rain. I had more important things to worry about.

Then I shadow blew down, over my head.

A large owl struck Ax's stalk eyes. When the owl silently flapped away, there wasn't much left of them. Ax's cry of pain tore all our minds.

Cassie! Rachel said in thought-speak. She was the owl. Jake and Ax are down, they're on the Yeerk side. Marco is, too. I kicked his feathery owl butt and he crashed, but he's still alive. On our part, we better haul butt outta here!

I couldn't agree more! I said, pleased not to be totally alone.

But I was still surrounded.

Ehm… Rachel? I need to bust out.

Right, she replied, turning in the air. She eyed the situation. Let's see. The Hork-Bajir two Hork-Bajir to the right of Ax. Three seconds.

Got it, I confirmed. Three…

She aimed. I tried not to, since it would ruin the surprise of it all.

Two… One…

I spun around to face the Hork-Bajir…

Go!

Rachel went for his eyes. I waited a millisecond until she was clear, then I leaped. I sank my wolf fangs into his throat as he fell, screaming. Then I leaped away from him before he hit the ground and I was running as soon as I landed.

Go go go!Rachel urged.

I ran full out.

"Me cjanda," a Hork-Bajir called in their weird mix of languages. "Me cjanda! Simal Eket get! Simal Eket cjanda!"

Many other Hork-Bajir voices joined in.

Ax was still crying in pain from his stalk eyes, but my excellent nose could smell his scent changing. He was morphing!

I could also hear the tiger running after me. Jake wasn't in a hurry. He had all the time in the world.

Yes, Jake's voice called, sounding pleased. Let's make a game out of it. Let me chase. Come here, wolfie. Here, doggie doggie. Run all you like. We'll get you in the end. One way or another…

He was right. I could run far. I could cover some serious distances in very little time. But my chances were severely limited…

Rachel, I called to the owl, who was flying in front of me. I think we better split up.

What?! Rachel protested. We'd be safer together.

The mass of Hork-Bajir, the tiger and Ax, the… polar bear(!!) weren't gaining on me yet. I could run away from them all, I hoped. But Jake was right. He could call in Bug fighters, small Yeerk space ships which look a lot like cockroaches, from anywhere. I couldn't outrun the Bug fighters. And two against that many was already an impossible situation.

Don't argue with me, Rachel, I said sharply. We split up when we reach the trees! Period!

But..!

No! We will SPLIT UP.

Maybe she realised that I wouldn't give in. Well, she said. Good luck, Cassie. You know you're my best friend.

If I had been I human, I would have cried. She was saying goodbye. Yes, Rachel, I said, trying to sound braver than I felt. You too.

We split up when we reached the trees. Rachel got some altitude and turned. I continued running, jumping over logs and bushes and stones when I had to.

I was scared. Even more scared when again I was on my own. But I was trying to give us some hope. The best we could get.

Together, they'd hunt us both down and catch us both. If we split up, one of us might get away. There was no doubt about who'd get away.

See, I knew who the Yeerks would chase.




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Author's Note;

*continues stupid habit of jumping up and down* Another cliffhanger! *evil laughter*

I like this story. Since it's already done and all I ahve to do is to write a silly little note and put the next chunk up, the next one'll be up the next time I feel like putting it up. Review! *or else... or else... well, I'll get back to you on that one.*