After we had ate and rested a while we were taken to the landing site and briefed by the police chief. "We have no idea where it came from so we thought you would know."
"Ketara what do you think?" I asked her.
I am not certain. I've never seen this type of craft before.>
"It's Iguadon," Darrax spoke up. "They resemble Earth reptiles like iguanas and komodo dragons. They are as tall as a full-grown Hork-Bajir and twice the size."
"Are they dangerous?" the police chief asked.
Darrax nodded. "Extremely. They love nothing more than carnage. I advise that we use caution when dealing with them."
"I've called in the SWAT team for backup."
"Put them on reserve. If we can't handle it then blow the hell out of them," I said.
He shouted the order into his walkie-talkie. We started walking across the large field. The grass was up to my waist which would provide us with cover if we had to hide. It seemed relatively small for a transport ship. What I found cool about it was the design. It looked like a giant metal dragon. The wings, which must have been the engines, flared out to the sides. The front was in the shape of a dragon's head, the eyes were the windows to the bridge while the mouth opened into the entrance. It rested on four clawed feet. It kind of reminded me of the Ragnarok in Final Fantasy VIII.
As we set out toward the ship Darrax held up one clawed hand. "Wait. Something's not right," he said as he looked around.
Ketara was overlooking the area as well. He's right, it's too quiet. They should have guards posted to protect the ship.>
The grass began to rustle all around us. Then they attacked. Twenty Iguadons leaped from their hiding places among the tall green blades.
"Battle morphs!" I yelled.
I changed to panther form, Cheyenne morphed to wolf, Jason to lion, Michael to jaguar, Nicole to white tiger, Travis to cheetah, Ketara to snow leopard, and Darrax to rhino. The first Iguadon to attack me looked like a buffed iguana, only uglier. He lashed out with his giant clawed hand, I ducked and ripped four deep gashes in his chest. They were strong. Very strong. One of them lifted Darrax over his head and threw him more than five feet. I ran over to check on him, he was breathing but one of his legs had been broken.
I'll be fine,> he assured me, help the others.>
I heard Cheyenne scream and saw two Iguadons tearing at her thick hide. I promised Marco and Mei I would get her home and that was what I was going to do. I let loose a shrill cry that sounded like a screaming woman and ran to her rescue, biting and slashing anything that dared to get in my way. I bit into the throat of one of her attackers and felt his body go limp. The second one received a blow to the head that would knock a hippo off its feet.
Chey! Morph now!> I ordered.
The fur melted and became flesh and within seconds she was human with no trace of injuries. She lay there catching her breath before she tried to morph again.
"Thanks," she said. Then a look of horror crossed her face. "LOOK OUT!"
I felt the massive blow on my spine and heard a disgustingly loud CRACK! My hind legs went numb and I fell to the ground. I was paralyzed. Cheyenne was wolf once more and attacking my assailant, distracting him long enough for me to demorph, heal my spine, and morph again. But I wasn't going to get the chance to get back in the fight. Cheyenne was thrown from the Iguadon's back and landed on top of Jason. He reached down and grabbed me by the arm, lifting me off the ground to where I was face-to-face with him. His breath smelled really bad too, like rotting carcasses were stuck between his teeth.
"Someone wants to meet you," he said.
"Get a tic-tac," I snarled.
He put me down and proceeded to take me to the ship. I struggled and kicked, trying to get free, but his grip was too strong for me to break. He twisted my arm around behind my back so hard I thought for sure that it was going to snap in half. I closed my eyes and started to concentrate, absorbing his genetic code. I hoped he would go into the acquisition trance so I could escape but it didn't have any effect on him.
"Let me go!" I screamed. "Help me!"
No one could come to my aide, they were all being held at bay by the rest of the Iguadons. I was carried into a room in the ship where I was strapped down to a metal table. Weapons of all sorts were trained on me, I knew that if I tried to morph they would not even hesitate to kill me. A door opened and in walked an Iguadon that resembled a komodo dragon. His beady red eyes focused on me as his tongue flicked in and out of his mouth.
"This is not their leader!" he bellowed.
"Sir, she was the one giving out orders," another said.
He came closer. "There seems to be a slight resemblance. Where is Jake?"
I jerked in surprise. "Jake? He's not here."
"Then who's leading the Animorphs?"
"I am."
He looked at the Iguadon who captured me. "Was there an African female and Hispanic male with them?"
"No sir, only an African male."
"What about a bird? A hawk in particular?"
"Just an Andalite and a Hork-Bajir. The rest were mere children like this one," he said.
"What do you want with my father?" I deplored it as soon as it was out of my mouth.
The Iguadon leader appeared aghast. "Your father you say? Well this is a surprise," he laughed viciously. "I want revenge!"
"Revenge? Why? Who are you?" I demanded.
"I, my dear child, am Esplin Nine-Four-Double-Six."
"And that means what to me?"
"Perhaps the name Visser One would sound more familiar?"
I gasped. It couldn't be! It wasn't possible. But I knew deep down it was him. He knew about my father, and now that he knew I was related to the one who had killed so many of his soldiers and ruined his plans for total enslavement, he would do anything to get revenge. Even if it meant using me to get it.
"I see you've heard of me."
I struggled against my restraints. "Yeerk scum!"
"You even sound like your father," he sneered.
"He said you were in prison."
"The Iguadons have come to liberate me. They are some of my more powerful and intelligent allies. They just weren't aware of my demise until recently. Now, we can either do this the easy way or the hard and painful way: Tell me where your father is."
"Suck my ass you slime," I mocked.
"Have it your way."
He drew back his fist and struck the side of my head. I fell into blackness. I don't know how long I was out but I was awakened by the scuffling of a fight. I opened my eyes slowly and saw the others standing over the bodies of the Iguadons. Ketara walked over and cut my restraints off. I swooned as I climbed to my feet, my head was throbbing from the blow sustained by Visser One, especially my ear. Where was he anyway? I searched the room and found him in a corner concealed by the shadows. He approached us. I jumped between him and the others.
"Watch out, it's Visser One!" I yelled.
"That's right my little Animorphs. I have returned! After I dispose of you pathetic little twerps, I'm going to personally hunt down your families and TEAR THEM APART!"
Not if I have anything to do with it,> Ketara stepped past me. You killed my uncle, Elfangor. Now I shall finish what my father, Prince Aximili, started.>
Her tail lurched forward and the vissser's head came to rest at my feet. I cringed at the gory sight and kicked it to the other side of the room. Visser One was no more. Dad would love to hear about this.
Indeed he would,> a voice said.
Who was that?
"Are you okay Sis?" Nicole asked.
"Fine. Thanks for saving my ass," I said.
Wait... I didn't say anything! My mouth spoke on it's own. But how?
Still haven't figured it out?> the voice said again. While you were unconscious I took the liberty of making you my new host. I must say, your body will prove to be quite effective.>
It hit me in an abrupt wave of terror. He was in my head! That slimy worm was inside my head! I wanted to warn the others but the words never reached my lips. He had me in his complete control.
That's it,> he hissed, surrender.>
No! I won't give in! I refuse to!> I yelled.
Then you will watch your friends and family suffer great pain and anguish. How would you like to see your mother and sister raped and beaten while your brother and father get tortured relentlessly? I might even serve your lover Hork-Bajir and Andalite friend to them as their only source of nutrition.>
You leave them alone!>
Then do as I say without renitence and no harm will come to any of them but->
Alright! I'll do what you want! Just please don't hurt them.>
You have my word.>
I didn't believe him. I knew he would go after them and do worse things than what he said. But what could I do? He controlled an Andalite for many years, a human would be no match for him. But that didn't mean I would give in completely. I could still annoy him with my thoughts. I cried in my mind and in my heart, for I had betrayed my friends, family, and the world. I was now public enemy number one. Visser One kept his composure up surprisingly well. He sounded and acted just like I normally would. I felt him search through my memories as we rode home. The SWAT team had impounded the ship and captured the remaining Iguadons.
Then I had a thought. Yeerks can't survive more than three days without visiting the pool to regenerate.> I thought at that moment I had him. I was wrong.
I've already taken care of that minor problem,> he said. My natural body was injected with a genetic supplement of Kandrona rays when I was released. I am now independent of the Yeerk pool.>
No! DAMMIT!>
It was almost sunrise by the time we arrived home. I was mentally exhausted and just wanted to go into a coma for about six months. Dad was in the living room after he heard us come inside. Visser One must have been smiling outwardly because Dad asked why I was so happy.
The grin faded. "You remember Visser One right?"
"Wish I could forget," Dad sighed.
"That ship came here to free him-"
"He's loose?!"
"Dad, you didn't let me finish."
"Sorry."
Visser One resumed. "They did manage to free him and he took one of them his host. He said that he was going to kill you for what you've done and then he lost his head."
"He's dead?"
"Dead as a doornail."
"Thank God! I'll call everyone tomorrow and deliver the good news." He started down the hallway but stopped and turned. "I'm glad you're all okay. Get some sleep."
Visser One took me to my room and laid me down on my bed where I pretended to be asleep. I think I actually fell asleep because he mocked my dreams. Especially the ones of me and Darrax swinging through the trees together. He also showed me pictures of the things he had planned for his nemeses: the past and present Animorphs. He showed Jason being stretched on a torture rack as my dad was beaten almost to the point of being dead. My mom and sister, I don't even want to describe what was being done to them. I felt someone shaking my leg. My eyes focused on my father's face. Visser One hissed silently.
"Hey Dad, what's wrong?"
"Why didn't you tell me you were captured?" he asked.
"What? Who told you that?"
"Jason said you were strapped down to a table and unconscious when they finally found you."
"Sorry. I didn't want you to spaz out," Visser One told him.
He was good. He had my father wrapped around his/my little finger. He would wait to make his move. And I would only be able to sit and watch it happen.
"What I don't get is, he had you unconscious and knew you were morph-capable, why didn't he make you his host?"
Yes! That's it Dad, get suspicious, I thought.
It won't do any good.> Visser One laughed.
"I think it'd be best if you stayed home for the next few days so I can keep an eye on you."
"Fine with me as long as I get to miss school."
It was around nine that next morning. Visser One/I sat on the couch watching TV while Aunt Rachel and Aunt Cassie kept watch. Visser One was playing his part to absolute perfection, they were beginning to have doubts about me being a Controller, let alone Visser One. Noon came and they began to fix lunch.
"Hungry Stacey?" Rachel asked.
"Starving," I said.
"Get over here and sit down."
I went to the kitchen bar to sit. Rachel looked at me warily as if she were trying to see past my eyes.
"Aunt Rachel, I know that you wouldn't hesitate about morphing to grizzly and ripping my head off if I so much as think of trying anything stupid. If I were a Controller of course."
"True. But I'd be taking a huge risk of having my ear bitched off by your father because his daughter's dead for sneezing the wrong way."
I see she hasn't changed,> Visser One said. Didn't she get killed in battle?>
Why don't you check my memory? You've been doing that since yesterday.>
He thumbed through my mind like a book until he came to where we went back in time to save Rachel and Tom using the Time Matrix.
So it was you? But now I know the location of the Time Matrix as well.>
You think you do.>
What do you mean by that?>
After we buried it in the Sahara we returned home and called some military officials and gave them the coordinates. They were to excavate it and bury it in a new location. They had strict orders not to tell anyone.>
You are clever... for a human.>
After I/He ate a sandwich I played some video games. When I/he got bored with that he pretended to read a book. A few hours later Dad came home from work and Jason and Nicole came home from school. Dad stood behind the counter across from Rachel and Cassie.
"How's she been?" he asked.
"Not a bit of trouble," Cassie said.
"Are you sure about this Jake?" Rachel asked.
"Yes. It won't hurt to make sure."
Soon Animorph, your time will come. I guarantee it.>