"Rachel?" I moved Erin's mouth to speak.
"Are you two okay in there? Erin's eyes are moist." Rachel held Erin's hand and squeezed it reassuringly.
"I did something I shouldn't have. Rachel, I can't stay in here." Erin's voice shook, just as mine would have.
"Tobias, you have to. At least until Erin goes to the Yeerk Pool to let you out. Jake's been thought-ordering me around. Once you're in the pool, Erin demorphs, you demorph, I morph to elephant to pick you out. Erin..."
"Will attack Visser Three." The voice was cold. Erin had regained control of her body. I was too weak to fight her. Too upset. Too guilty.
"We're only here to save Charlotte, not to launch an attack on Visser Three." Rachel paused. "Trust me, I want him dead as much as you do, but this isn't the right time for it. Will you work with us?"
"I will." erin replied. But in her mind, I felt her stubborness. Visser Three was going down. Honestly?
I wasn't about to stop her.
Jake? I called out.
We're ready when you are. Jake replied.
Let's go. I told Erin. She opened the door and walked out. Almost immediately, Visser Three zeroed in on her. His voice boomed in our heads.
My dear friend! I have been searching for you! I shuddered when Visser Three laid a hand on Erin's shoulder. She flinched. I prayed Visser Three would brush it off as the usual fear his subordinates had for him. We have a new host, in need of a master.
"My host is voluntary. I have no need for another." Oh no. Erin's Andalite haughtiness was coming to the fore.
Ah, but the Andalite bandits seem to know your identity. Visser Three's good mood was terrifying. So having a new host will throw them off your scent.
"What will become of my present host?"
We have many others willing to accept such a worthy partner. Visser Three gestured towards the Yeerk Pool. Thousands of slugs, waiting for a host.
Oh. God. I whispered.
Come, we cannot waste precious time. Visser Three said. Two Hork-Bajir led Erin to the side of the Yeerk Pool. She shivered, kneeling down and tilting her head directly over the pool.
I do not envy you, Tobias. Erin said as I moved towards her ear.
Be careful, Erin. I said. Good luck. For a moment, I felt the cold air hit me, a shock after the warmth of Erin's head. Then I crashed into the waves and was swallowed under all the other Yeerks. I fought the urge to panic.
NOW! Jake hollered. I couldn't see anything. Couldn't hear anything.
Eternal darkness.
Tobias? Where are you? Rachel. I heard her in my head. I tried to remember what I was supposed to do. But I knew nothing except the bodies pressed against me. The feel of water surging around me. Tobias! Hurry! The others need us!
Need? How could I possible help anyone? I was a slug without hands or feet. Without a mouth. I didn't have the vision of a hawk, the powerful eyes that could spot a mouse a mile away.
A hawk!
My slug body began to seperate into parts. The sides became fleshy, then stretched out. My back elongated and thinned. My head frew smaller. My mouth split and harded. Legs shot out from my belly. My eyes developed. Misty water. Yeerks! Everywhere! I couldn't breath!
Rachel! I screamed, beating my fully-formed wings desperately, trying to force my way tp the surface. The surging waves. I felt suffocated.
I'm on to you, small guy. Rachel said. I felt something reach under me and wrap around me gently. I was lifted out of the water. I spluttered, hawk-sounding splutters. I thought you'd drowned.
Probably had my brain fried by the kadrona rays for a while. I replied. The sounds of gunfire, of draco beams, of animal roars.
The fight was on.
"Are you two okay in there? Erin's eyes are moist." Rachel held Erin's hand and squeezed it reassuringly.
"I did something I shouldn't have. Rachel, I can't stay in here." Erin's voice shook, just as mine would have.
"Tobias, you have to. At least until Erin goes to the Yeerk Pool to let you out. Jake's been thought-ordering me around. Once you're in the pool, Erin demorphs, you demorph, I morph to elephant to pick you out. Erin..."
"Will attack Visser Three." The voice was cold. Erin had regained control of her body. I was too weak to fight her. Too upset. Too guilty.
"We're only here to save Charlotte, not to launch an attack on Visser Three." Rachel paused. "Trust me, I want him dead as much as you do, but this isn't the right time for it. Will you work with us?"
"I will." erin replied. But in her mind, I felt her stubborness. Visser Three was going down. Honestly?
I wasn't about to stop her.
Jake? I called out.
We're ready when you are. Jake replied.
Let's go. I told Erin. She opened the door and walked out. Almost immediately, Visser Three zeroed in on her. His voice boomed in our heads.
My dear friend! I have been searching for you! I shuddered when Visser Three laid a hand on Erin's shoulder. She flinched. I prayed Visser Three would brush it off as the usual fear his subordinates had for him. We have a new host, in need of a master.
"My host is voluntary. I have no need for another." Oh no. Erin's Andalite haughtiness was coming to the fore.
Ah, but the Andalite bandits seem to know your identity. Visser Three's good mood was terrifying. So having a new host will throw them off your scent.
"What will become of my present host?"
We have many others willing to accept such a worthy partner. Visser Three gestured towards the Yeerk Pool. Thousands of slugs, waiting for a host.
Oh. God. I whispered.
Come, we cannot waste precious time. Visser Three said. Two Hork-Bajir led Erin to the side of the Yeerk Pool. She shivered, kneeling down and tilting her head directly over the pool.
I do not envy you, Tobias. Erin said as I moved towards her ear.
Be careful, Erin. I said. Good luck. For a moment, I felt the cold air hit me, a shock after the warmth of Erin's head. Then I crashed into the waves and was swallowed under all the other Yeerks. I fought the urge to panic.
NOW! Jake hollered. I couldn't see anything. Couldn't hear anything.
Eternal darkness.
Tobias? Where are you? Rachel. I heard her in my head. I tried to remember what I was supposed to do. But I knew nothing except the bodies pressed against me. The feel of water surging around me. Tobias! Hurry! The others need us!
Need? How could I possible help anyone? I was a slug without hands or feet. Without a mouth. I didn't have the vision of a hawk, the powerful eyes that could spot a mouse a mile away.
A hawk!
My slug body began to seperate into parts. The sides became fleshy, then stretched out. My back elongated and thinned. My head frew smaller. My mouth split and harded. Legs shot out from my belly. My eyes developed. Misty water. Yeerks! Everywhere! I couldn't breath!
Rachel! I screamed, beating my fully-formed wings desperately, trying to force my way tp the surface. The surging waves. I felt suffocated.
I'm on to you, small guy. Rachel said. I felt something reach under me and wrap around me gently. I was lifted out of the water. I spluttered, hawk-sounding splutters. I thought you'd drowned.
Probably had my brain fried by the kadrona rays for a while. I replied. The sounds of gunfire, of draco beams, of animal roars.
The fight was on.