Okay answers;

~Phoenix

All this happens just before Marco's dad is pulled into the fight; that would be before book…45 I think...? And Visser Three (Esplin) is still Visser Three -can't remeber when he got premoted....

~Jinako-chan and Lauren

The answer to your questions is in this chapter. And oh, Lauren, Scyeth is going to join the military, it could be chapters until he gets to Earth…or as it may go in my story; Earth gets to him *coughs loudly* forget I said that.

THE THIRD BROTHER

CHAPTER FIVE

Your Secrets Are Mine

Are you ill? Lumnar asked hesitantly.

No. Why do you ask?

Lumnar nodded at two colleagues as we walked casually across the field, we had a free forty-five minutes session before our next class. Lumnar turned back to me. You aren't acting like yourself.

Yeah?

Yes, I have now been in your company for eighteen minutes, and you know what's strange?

Kindly inform me of your observations.

It is very worrying. Lumnar sighed, you haven't said a word.

Yeah?

Not a word. he stopped and then looked at the way I was staring at him. Okay. You did speak –but not in your usual manner. You are quiet. I bet I've talked more than you did for today. This worries me, the fact that I am speaking and you are not.

So?

So, Cathydor said something about a fighter landing on your property, did something happen yesterday?

Not really. I muttered.

Ah, I see, you do not want to talk about it. Lumnar was no idiot.

Lumnar, I said suddenly, What do you know about Earth?

About earth? he sounded puzzled, well you…you grow things in it…?

No, no, not that sort of earth I was talking about the planet Earth.

Oh, Lumnar said, he thought about it, I know just a little bit.

Like?

Like it has a sentient species. Lumnar said slowly, what were they called…humans?

Do you pay any attention in class? I wondered. I thought I heard Cathydor say you people take Xeno-Biology or whatever, you must have had something about it.

Well, we could check it out in one of the planetary encyclopedias. Lumnar suggested, then he gave me a side glance and muttered, I really don't know what interests you about this insignificant planet.

It's insignificant? I wondered, why was my brother sent there anyway?

Lumnar shrugged, Look at it this way. If it were significant, I'd have heard about it.

Unless it was a secret, I thought privately, unless the military doesn't want us to know what was going on in that distant planet.

* ** *** ** *

Blood pooled down over my tiger-eyes, my previously white fur was stained in blood. Lost between the black stripes that covered my body. The tiger was a predator, it was not physically beaten –yet- but it was tiring, the floor was slick with blood making it difficult for me to collect enough tract beneath my paws, so I couldn't run very fast.

I perused my prey silently enough –except for my heavy panting- and all my tiger senses were keyed on to capturing the prey and locating possible dangers.

Such a beautiful dangerous predator. It really didn't belong in this laboratory. As I ran I pictured myself leaping over fallen logs and sliding down valley walls. I'm told I'm talented at morphing, that I understood animals. Nothing I've ever been matched the tiger's confidence. Nothing. The wolf feared stuff. It was cocky but sly. The tiger was a creature of ambush. It calculated, planned and succeeded. Nothing –in it's territories, except for a rivalry tiger- could defeat it.

I suppose that's me exaggerating. The tiger fears man too because man threatens his existence. And now, on the narrow list of the tiger's enemies are not just other tigers and mankind. Now there are the Yeerks.

That thought did not shake the tiger's confidence. But it shook mine. It's a weight we carried, my friends and me. We didn't ever want to be in this situation. But we had not choice.

And we had our duty. That's very important.

My newest morph did not help me banish all the fear and worry from my thoughts, there was simply too much going on. I was worrying about a lot of things; about whether or not Jake was okay or that Rachel, Marco and Ax where out of trouble. I also worried about the Yeerks newest plan; they were creating –with the help of technology stolen from another race just recently conquered by them- a technology similar to that of the Andalite's morphing technology, we found out that the research was real and almost finished.

Jake, Tobias and I were the distraction team. Rachel, Marco and Ax went off to find out as much as they can and try to get help from the Andalites. I don't know what happened there.

And of course, my mind was racing. I was chasing down my prey. I didn't want to think about it. Didn't really want to catch up. I was scared exhausted and frightened. You see, it finally happened.

The Yeerks got one of us.

I felt a sick feeling of dread. No one knew –or suspected- except for me. Only I knew. I was running back to the lab. Maybe Ax was still there. Maybe if I told him…maybe we could figure something out before it was too late.

I burst through the doors.

NO! I screamed. I watched as a Hork-Bajir and an Andalite struggled. Watched as the Andalite blade pressed against dry Hork-Bajir flesh. Ax!

Ax turned one of his eyes towards me, Cassie. I do not understand. This Hork-Bajir is identical to the one Tobias had morphed but he clams that he is not Tobias.

The Hork-Bajir laughed a dry laugh, "You really are dumb Aximili-Esgarrouth-Esthil. Brother of Elfangor. Do you not recognize your foe?" the Hork-Bajir laughed again. "You're even dumber than your brother was."

Anger flashed in Ax's eyes. He pressed the blade in even harder. The Hork-Bajir yelped.

Prepare to die Yeerk. Ax sneered.

Ax. My voice broke as I talked, I felt sick, just sick, what had happened? Why did it happen?! Why us? Ax, this is…this is-

Ax looked genuinely surprised. What is it Cassie?

The Hork-Bajir laughed. My heart sank as he morphed. Feathers replaced skin. Ax drew back alarmed, How could you morph, Yeerk? Your research is not developed enough to duplicate the technology!

Ax, the research is not finished.

What? Ax looked confused.

The Hork-Bajir/bird laughed in our heads. A familiar voice edged with evil spoke. Hey, Ax-man. You having trouble recognizing me?

Tobias.

No longer Tobias.

Ax's eyes widened. No… he whispered. it can't be!

The bird opened his wings, a red tail flashed between his legs, you only succeeded in killing poor mad Alloran. You really didn't get me fool. I am far smarter than any of you 'Andalite' bandits.

No! Ax yelled. Cassie-

The wings opened. If you excuse me, I have business to take care of.

Not if I could help it! A voice seethed with rage and anger. Rachel lumbered in from the entrance, her dim bear eyes locked onto Tobias. No. Visser Three.

Ah, yes, Rachel. Tobias/Visser Three turned his head towards her, his voice dripped with false sympathy, in the short time I've been in your comrade's head I have heard so much about you. -Visser Three laughed- I have also learned that you wouldn't kill me.

You! Rachel shrieked, I'll rip you apart Yeerk filth!

Visser Three laughed, yes, you would like that very much. But just one problem, I'm in here. He gestured with one wing at his own head. You'd have to kill him first to get to me. And none of you would do that.

Rachel slumped. She was silent for a while. Then she said. You know what, you're right. We wouldn't kill Tobias. But we'll get you, I'll give you my word, Yeerk.

I don't think so. Visser Three said smugly.

Hork-Bajir guards streamed into the lab, somehow, Visser Three must have told them who he was, one of them held out a hand and the Visser flapped towards it, digging his talons deep into the flesh of the wincing Hork-bajir.

And then, he uttered one small command. It was even colder than I have ever imagined, hearing it told via Tobias's voice.

Kill them. Kill them all.

You are all welcomed to review. I wouldn't press charges -just answer your questions.