Disclaimer: K. A. Applegate blah blah blah blah... *does anyone even read
these disclaimers?* I don't blah blah blah... And ect, ect, ect...
~ * ~ * ~ * ~
Everyone got serious right away. It was like cold water over our heads or something. Why was Charlotte so important that Visser Three himself was personally involved in her infestation? Questions, questions, questions.
I kept watch while the others began to morph. They rapidly became seagulls, except for Erin, who strangely, for all her time here, only had a horse morph, a hamster morph, two human morphs and a hawk morph. No insect morphs or even battle morphs. I could see why an Andalite doesn't need a battle morph, but no insects? Where would she hide?
And not knowing what a cockroach was. That had to be pure ignorance.
Then I remembered how clean the house she lived in was. The walls almost sparkled. Clean. Too clean, maybe? Like some detergent commercial.
Erin? Join the meeting. Act like you're just a curious onlooker. Do not attract attention. Jake said as he took off from the ground.
Hey! Marshmallows! Marco piped. What I'd give for one of those...
I still don't see why you're not letting me go with her. I grumbled. My job was the stay in the trees and keep watch on Visser Three, reporting his movements to Erin. I mean, I'm good at not attracting attention.
Visser Three's seen you before, remember? He asked.
Oh yeah. Aria. Visser Three as a woman. Visser Three as my 'cousin'. Visser Three who had seen me face to face and decided not to 'waste' a Yeerk on me. He was going to regret that one day.
I flew between the trees lining the beach. There weren't many, but enough to give me cover. The Yeerks knew that one of the 'Andalite bandits' had a red-tailed hawk morph. Me. So it would be in my best interest to stay out of sight as long as I was a bird.
I watched Erin take a seat beside two other girls, who shifted to give her space. She smiled and then wrapped her arms around her knees and looked down at the floor. Her hair covered most of her face, but her eyes were fixed on one person.
Visser Three.
He looked haughty. Other than Mr. Bloyd, who, by the way, was sweating profusely, no one else sat next to him. There were plenty of people behind him and in front of him, but those kept a safe distance, out of his reach. I wondered idly if any of the other Vissers produced such a reaction from their subordinates.
"Welcome to The Sharing, everyone!" It was Tom, Jake's brother. He had a Yeerk inside his head. One day, Jake was going to rip that Yeerk out and chop it into little bits. Either that, or something similar. Everyone started singing a campfire song and clapping along. It was pretty silly to watch them sway and cheer to the tune. Adults with teenagers.
Yeerks with humans.
Visser Three's standing up. I reported. Erin tilted her head slightly, as if she was swaying to the music. Mr. Bloyd's bringing Charlotte along.
Erin, stay where you are! Jake ordered. We'll check it out first!
Erin got up. Jake cursed. She spoke a little to the girl next to her. The girl laughed and pointed to a place opposite of the circle. I didn't dare to take my eyes off Charlotte, in case we lost her. Erin made her way around the circle. She was following Visser Three.
Erin! For God's sake, stay where you are! Jake pleaded. A seagull swooped out of the sky and raked its claws over Erin's hair. Erin ducked and glared at the seagull angrily. Visser Three turned and stared at the seagull. His eyes narrowed. He mouthed something even I could understand.
'Andalites'.
He called to Erin, who froze to the spot. She looked at him. I couldn't see her face, just her back. I prayed she'd stay calm and not rouse any suspicion. Visser Three actually smiled. It was a malicious, calculating smile. Then he beckoned to Erin.
Erin, what's happening? Cassie asked.
I have things under control. Erin replied steadily. Visser Three believes I am a controller. Jake did well to attack me. They are taking me to the Yeerk Pool.
Erin, once you get in there, you'll never get out again! Jake yelled.
Jake! Haul butt! I yelled. Jake rose into the air just as someone swung a stick at him.
Neither will Visser Three. Erin replied calmly.
I flew further away from the campfire. I'd seen where Visser Three was heading. A small building guarded by two men with guns. Landing on the white sand, I did a quick check to make sure no one was looking, then I demorphed. Recognition or not, I wasn't letting Erin go in there alone.
I rummaged through the bag we had hidden. Put on Jake's clothes. Then I realised the dracon beam was gone.
"Jake!" I called. A seagull flew nearer. "Erin's taken the bubble blower!"
~ * ~ * ~ * ~
Everyone got serious right away. It was like cold water over our heads or something. Why was Charlotte so important that Visser Three himself was personally involved in her infestation? Questions, questions, questions.
I kept watch while the others began to morph. They rapidly became seagulls, except for Erin, who strangely, for all her time here, only had a horse morph, a hamster morph, two human morphs and a hawk morph. No insect morphs or even battle morphs. I could see why an Andalite doesn't need a battle morph, but no insects? Where would she hide?
And not knowing what a cockroach was. That had to be pure ignorance.
Then I remembered how clean the house she lived in was. The walls almost sparkled. Clean. Too clean, maybe? Like some detergent commercial.
Erin? Join the meeting. Act like you're just a curious onlooker. Do not attract attention. Jake said as he took off from the ground.
Hey! Marshmallows! Marco piped. What I'd give for one of those...
I still don't see why you're not letting me go with her. I grumbled. My job was the stay in the trees and keep watch on Visser Three, reporting his movements to Erin. I mean, I'm good at not attracting attention.
Visser Three's seen you before, remember? He asked.
Oh yeah. Aria. Visser Three as a woman. Visser Three as my 'cousin'. Visser Three who had seen me face to face and decided not to 'waste' a Yeerk on me. He was going to regret that one day.
I flew between the trees lining the beach. There weren't many, but enough to give me cover. The Yeerks knew that one of the 'Andalite bandits' had a red-tailed hawk morph. Me. So it would be in my best interest to stay out of sight as long as I was a bird.
I watched Erin take a seat beside two other girls, who shifted to give her space. She smiled and then wrapped her arms around her knees and looked down at the floor. Her hair covered most of her face, but her eyes were fixed on one person.
Visser Three.
He looked haughty. Other than Mr. Bloyd, who, by the way, was sweating profusely, no one else sat next to him. There were plenty of people behind him and in front of him, but those kept a safe distance, out of his reach. I wondered idly if any of the other Vissers produced such a reaction from their subordinates.
"Welcome to The Sharing, everyone!" It was Tom, Jake's brother. He had a Yeerk inside his head. One day, Jake was going to rip that Yeerk out and chop it into little bits. Either that, or something similar. Everyone started singing a campfire song and clapping along. It was pretty silly to watch them sway and cheer to the tune. Adults with teenagers.
Yeerks with humans.
Visser Three's standing up. I reported. Erin tilted her head slightly, as if she was swaying to the music. Mr. Bloyd's bringing Charlotte along.
Erin, stay where you are! Jake ordered. We'll check it out first!
Erin got up. Jake cursed. She spoke a little to the girl next to her. The girl laughed and pointed to a place opposite of the circle. I didn't dare to take my eyes off Charlotte, in case we lost her. Erin made her way around the circle. She was following Visser Three.
Erin! For God's sake, stay where you are! Jake pleaded. A seagull swooped out of the sky and raked its claws over Erin's hair. Erin ducked and glared at the seagull angrily. Visser Three turned and stared at the seagull. His eyes narrowed. He mouthed something even I could understand.
'Andalites'.
He called to Erin, who froze to the spot. She looked at him. I couldn't see her face, just her back. I prayed she'd stay calm and not rouse any suspicion. Visser Three actually smiled. It was a malicious, calculating smile. Then he beckoned to Erin.
Erin, what's happening? Cassie asked.
I have things under control. Erin replied steadily. Visser Three believes I am a controller. Jake did well to attack me. They are taking me to the Yeerk Pool.
Erin, once you get in there, you'll never get out again! Jake yelled.
Jake! Haul butt! I yelled. Jake rose into the air just as someone swung a stick at him.
Neither will Visser Three. Erin replied calmly.
I flew further away from the campfire. I'd seen where Visser Three was heading. A small building guarded by two men with guns. Landing on the white sand, I did a quick check to make sure no one was looking, then I demorphed. Recognition or not, I wasn't letting Erin go in there alone.
I rummaged through the bag we had hidden. Put on Jake's clothes. Then I realised the dracon beam was gone.
"Jake!" I called. A seagull flew nearer. "Erin's taken the bubble blower!"