Jason>
My name is Jason, you already know my last name, but you don't know where I live. I know there is no point in secrecy since the war with the Yeerks is actually over. But now there is a new threat. A friend of my father's was caught by the remaining Yeerks and turned into some kind of abomination of evil. It was up to us to stop him. The new Animorphs: Stacey, Travis, Nicole, Michael, Cheyenne, Darrax, Ketara, and me. The original Animorphs are our parents, except for Darrax. Darrax's mother is Toby, leader of the Hork-Bajir colony. Our morphing power is more advanced than our parents'. We can morph actual clothing instead of skin-tight spandex, at least I can wear my Tommy's on a mission. Morphing only takes seconds to do, and we can stay in animal guise for three hours instead of two. If only we could go from one animal form to another so we don't have to demorph and morph again.
We had gone back in time and saved my dad's cousin and his brother from dying. In doing so, we changed the present. Rachel married Tobias and they had a son named Michael, and Tom was back to his old self. But we couldn't do anything to save Ax from the fate that awaited him a couple years later. Later that day we buried the Time Matrix deep within the Sahara Desert where no one would ever find it. We kept the bracelets in case we had to do some time traveling. Things went pretty slow for the first two weeks; school and homework, vidoegames, blind dates. The usual. Cheyenne tried to set Stacey up with some guy, but she thought he was bad news. Apparently she liked someone else but she wouldn't say who. Anyway, it was your average slow day. I was channel surfing when something on the news caught my attention.
"An unidentified spacecraft has landed on top of City Hall. Citizens have been advised to remain clear of the area in case of any hostility," the reporter said.
The camera showed a large spaceship sitting on top of the city hall building. The front was long and had a round tip, from the back extended long whiplike tentacles which I assumed were used for propulsion. Basically the ship looked like a giant squid or octopus. The phone rang.
"Hello?"
"Are you watching the news?" Cheyenne asked.
"Yeah. I wonder what's going on."
"I don't know. Maybe we should be on our toes just in case there's trouble."
"Good idea. Call Travis and I'll call Michael. I'll have Stacey alert Ketara and Darrax."
I quickly called Michael and told him what was going on then ran upstairs to Stacey's room. She had seen the report on her tv. Nicole came in behind me.
"Did you see that news broadcast?" she asked.
"Yeah, weird. What do we do?" Stacey asked.
"Stacey, go alert Darrax and Ketara. Tell them to be on standby. I've got a bad feeling about this."
Something about that ship made me feel uneasy. Stacey morphed to golden eagle and flew to find Darrax and Ketara, maybe she would know what race of aliens these were. Hopefully they would be on our side. If not, they would have to face the Animorphs. Nearly two hours later Stacey returned with Darrax and Ketara. I described the aliens to her. A look of shock flashed in all four of her eyes.
Calamarians.>
"What are Calamarians?" Nicole asked.
A very aggressive species from the planet Aquaria. Their only rival is the Octarians.>
"Yeah, well they're about to have one more," I said.
We need to be on guard in case the Octarians do not arrive in time.>
"Lead the way Stacey."
"Me? Wait a minute, why me?"
"Because you're the leader," I told her.
"I didn't ask for this!"
I didn't know how everyone else felt about me appointing Stacey as our leader, but I felt she was most qualified for the job. There have been plenty of times where she has gotten Nicole and I out of some majorly tough situations. She had the ability to remain cool under severe pressure, so of course, she would be the commander on the battlefield.
"Come on, I'm not Dad. I couldn't possibly do this."
"I believe in you," Darrax said. "You have the characteristics of your father. How will you know for sure unless you try?"
Stacey thought for a moment. "Okay. I'll do it. Jason, call everyone else, have them meet us at City Hall."
I relayed the message to them and we headed towards City Hall. The scene wasn't pleasant. People were running in panic as the Calamarians slithered along the streets. Some of the citizens were held captive in force field cages. They had to be allied with the renegade Yeerks. We stood in the middle of the street gazing up at the massive ship before us.
"First thing, we've got to free those people," Stacey said. "Then we take care of the walking sushi bar."
Stacey ran over to one of the cages with Darrax and Ketara following. Ketara lashed out with her tail blade and struck the invisible wall. A jolt of powerful electricity coursed through her body and sent her flailing backwards.
"Ketara, are you okay?" Darrax asked.
There is no way to penetrate the force field. There has to be some sort of generator on board the ship. If we can destroy it, we can free the people.>
"Jason and Nicole, you find the force field generator and trash it. The rest of us will try to stop this freak show."
"We're on it."
Nicole and I went inside the city hall building and took the elevator to the top floor. Once on the roof I realized how big the ship really was. It was the length of two school buses and nearly as wide. It hovered a few feet above the roof. I looked for an entrance and found a small shaft that looked like it was used for ventilating the engines.
"Bird morph."
I began to morph to bald eagle. First thing to happen was the shrinking. I wanted to scream but my mouth had already turned into a beak. Brown and white feathers covered my body and the morph was complete. Nicole had morphed to a prairie falcon. We flew up to the opening and walked along the shaft until we came to an opening into a large room. There was what looked like a large swimming pool embedded in the floor. Calamarians swam gracefully through the water.
It must be used to keep them from dehydrating,> Nicole said. We need to find the main controls.>
We flew out of the shaft along the ceiling of the pool room, unnoticed by the swimming Calamarians. Once in a clear hallway we demorphed. Silently, we headed towards to bridge of the ship. Hopefully, the main switch for the force field cages outside. There was a faint sloshing sound ahead of us. A Calamarian came from around the corner. We hid inside a room to the side and waited for it to pass. As soon as the hallway was clear we continued on our way. After a few more minutes of walking, turning corners and hiding, we finally found the main control room. I went over to the panel studied all of the buttons and levers.
"Which button is it?" I mumbled.
"Try the one marked 'force field generator'," Nicole said.
"I knew that."
"Sure you did."
I pressed the button and a computer animated voice asked for the authorization code.
"Great. One thing we weren't prepared for," I said.
"Now what?"
"Not to worry, I'm a professional hacker. I'll crack this baby like an egg."
I punched in an array of numbers and waited.
"Access denied." Lights flashed and an alarm sounded.
"Nice going Mr. Professional!" Nicole yelled.
We had to get out of there before we got caught. The doors whooshed open and four Calamarians with weapons sloshed in. They surrounded us and slowly closed in. It was then that I got a good look at them. A regular squid, except bigger than a man and with two large black eyes. Six tentacles, two for arms and four for legs. They had large pointed heads with tentacle like mandibles for mouths and light orange skin covered with a slimy mucus. We would be either captured or killed. Either way, I wasn't about to go down without a fight. Especially on my first real mission.
"Time to rock and roll," I said. "Battle morphs!"
Nicole went to white tiger and I went lion. One of the Calamarians lashed out with a tentacle and wrapped it around her throat.
Nicole!>
I am Klaptar. Who are you? one of them asked.
We're the Animorphs,> I said defiantly. Release those people and we'll let you live.>
Klaptar laughed. Yes. I have heard of you. You must be the one they call Jake.
Jake's my father. Release my sister if you know what's best for you.>
I am not afraid of puny beings such as yourselves. This planet will be ruled by the Yeerk ordinance. I think they would love to start with you. Surrender!
Never!>
Very well... KILL THEM!
I jumped onto the one holding Nicole and bit down on the tentacle. The Calamarian shrieked as his limb fell to the floor with Nicole. It twitched as goo oozed out of the end. He still had one good arm left, and it seemed the other four tentacles they had as feet could be used in place of a lost arm. We attacked quickly and savagely. I was bruised and bloodied but still continued to fight. Half of Nicole's tail had been cut of by a Calamarian's sword. She began to stagger from the loss of blood. I clawed at my attacker's eyes and left a mass of blood where his face once was. Nicole lay on the floor now, weak from the loss of blood she suffered.
Nicole morph!> I yelled.
I'm... too... tired,> she gasped. I... need a... nap. Just a... few minutes. That's all.>
STACEY!> I yelled. STACEY! Hurry!>
Minutes later. "ROOOWRR!"
A solid black figure leapt onto one of the Calamarians inching Nicole's way. She swiped at his head and his body collapsed lifelessly.
What happened?>
Nicole's hurt bad. I can't get through to her.>
Nicki? Come on Sis, wake up! Don't quit on me now.>
Who said I was quitting?>
Demorph,> Stacey ordered. I'll take care of the rest of these jerks.>
Stacey took down the remaining Calamarians. Klaptar was standing off to the side as we demorphed. The three of us approached him cautiously.
You fight well... for humans. It won't matter anyway, the Yeerk ordinance will control everything on this pathetic planet.
"What's in it for you?" Stacey asked.
The humans that are undesirable for infestation will be displayed in museums or annihilated, whatever appeases us.
"We'll never let that happen."
Stacey! We need help out here!> Ketara called.
"Release the civilians and we'll let you go peacefully."
And if I don't?
"You die," Stacey said bluntly.
Agreed. Go before I change my mind.
We headed outside to help the others. I didn't like the way he let us leave that easily. Too easily. Stacey had to realize this as well. Outside the Calamarians were attacking the civilians walking freely in the streets. Ketara's tail flashed and sliced a Calamarian in half. Darrax drove his wrist blades into another's head. Travis was in cheetah morph fighting three Calamarians at the same time, while Cheyenne's elephant morph tossed, speared, and trampled one Calamarian after another. Dracon beams blasted citizens, paralyzing and rendering them helpless. Obviously Klaptar had no intention of keeping his word.
Destroy the Animorphs! Kill them! Klaptar ordered.
The street erupted around us as Dracon beams fired. The force fields were still functional, I guessed the only way to take them down was to destroy the ship.
AAAAHH!>
I turned to see Stacey in panther morph lying on the ground with a large hole in her side just behind her left front leg. I knew her lung was hit. She wheezed painfully as blood gushed from the wound. I felt the rage of the lion surge through my veins. I was blinded by anger and hatred. They would all be punished. They would all pay. Six Calamarians died before I came to my senses again. Carnage and gore was scattered around me. Stacey was now unconscious, her breathing was swallow and slowing. She would die if we didn't get her somewhere safe.
Darrax!> I yelled. Get Stacey out of here!>
Darrax bounded over and scooped her up in his arms, being careful not to cut her with his blades, and bounded off. Things had gotten worse with each passing minute. We were losing fast. Then I had an idea.
Ketara? Can you fly that ship someplace where it can be blown up without hurting anyone?> I asked.
I believe I can find a place.>
Good. You take Michael and Cheyenne and blow that thing to oblivion.>
That should be no problem,> she said.
Michael and Cheyenne followed Ketara up to the ship. A moment later it zoomed out of sight. These Calamarians picked the wrong species to mess with.