A/N:  This chapter may sound a bit familiar….

Chapter 4

Sixty-five million years ago, the sun of our home planet was drawn into a black hole and destroyed, destroying our planet.  We managed to escape, but I do not know if any other Murkra were able to.  For thirty generations now, we have unfrozen ourselves for one year every one hundred years, waiting for the time when we would find a planet suitable to our needs.  We have never found one, so we remain frozen for most of the time. said the leader of the Mercora, or Murkra as they seemed to call themselves.

            "Hmm," I said.  "So it seems that we stole your ship."

            "Quiet, Marco," Jake warned.

            "What?" I asked.  "It's only fair that we give it back."

            Rachel looked at me, already realizing that there must be more to what I was saying than I was letting on.  "Why would we give it back, Marco?"

            "It would be good manners!" I exclaimed, not wanting the Mercora to hear.  "My mommy always told me to mind my P's and Q's.  I'm a good little boy!"

            Rachel rolled her eyes, and Sandra laughed.  She had a beautiful laugh, musical and light-hearted, but still loud and hearty; she was not afraid to show that she appreciated a good joke.  Unlike some other people, such as Rachel.  I gave a snort of disgust.

            We would be willing to take you to your planet, as long as we can have our ship back afterwards, the leader said.

            "Well, sure, we woul-" Jake started to say, but I cut him off.

            "NO!  I mean, thank you very much, but I'm sure we could make it back by ourselves," I blurted out.

            Jake gave me a very strange and searching look, but Tobias fluttered his wings and privately told me that her understood.  Then, he spoke to all of us, not including the Mercora.

            We cannot allow the Mercora to see earth, because if that other colony liked it sixty-five million years ago, and there are still some areas with the same climate and types of plants as there were then, of which there are, then they may want to stay.  And I know that some humans will not be very partial to that.  And in case you haven't noticed, but they have some serious weaponry here, unlike our other buddies that died sixty-five million years ago.  Humans were already nearly wiped out by the Yeerks, and we don't need the same to happen because of the Mercora.
            Jake, Cassie, Rachel, Ax, Sandra, Tom, Santorelli, Jeanne, Yahal, Menderash, General Doubleday, and Toby stared at him.

            Act normal, Tobias said.  They can't know.

            Suddenly, the ground below our feet shook, and things started falling off the walls.  Looking at the view port, I saw the Garatron ship.

            "Oh, man!" I complained.  "I am really getting sick of those guys.  They just don't know when to hold their fire!"

            Captain Barvaritun Larumian Hartar's ugly face filled the communications screen.  As soon as he saw the Mercora leader standing with us, his face twisted an expression of pure hatred.  Murkra, he said in a low, menacing voice.

            The leader had taken on a similar expression, although it was hard to tell because of his strange feature.  Garatron, he said equally menacing.

            Blowthemoutoftheair! Baravaritun Larumian Hartar ordered.  IwantridoftheseMurkraonceandforall.

            There was another blast, and we hurtled toward another unknown planet.