We arrived at Rachel and Tobias's home first. Tobias was in the den
watching TV. Rachel answered the door.
"Hi Melissa. What a pleasant surprise," she said.
"If only it were pleasant," Melissa said. "I just came from the hospital,
my father passed away."
"I'm terribly sorry. My condolences," Rachel looked at me. "Does Jake
know you're not in school?"
"He will."
Rachel invited us in. I stood against the wall while Melissa sat on
the couch next to her. Visser One was ready to make his move now. Tobias
got up and walked past me to the kitchen.
"If it isn't the bastard son of Elfangor," he sneered.
Tobias stopped and turned. "What did you say?"
"Your father was foolish to think that he could trust the fate of the
world in the hands of a bunch of children."
"What has gotten into you Stacey?" he asked.
"I have. Take them!"
Tom burst through the front door and grabbed Tobias. Rachel jumped
to her feet and started to morph. Visser One took out the pistol and pressed
it against Tobias's head.
"Go ahead Rachel. Morph. But you'll have to repaint your walls after
I've blown his brain matter everywhere."
She reverted to human. Melissa shoved her down into a chair as Tobias
was handcuffed. Visser One strode over behind Rachel and squeezed her shoulder
so tight that I could feel the clavicle begin to crack.
"Yeerk," she snorted.
"I prefer to be called Visser One," he told her.
"But we held you for over three days. There's no way-"
"I no longer need the Kandrona. I'm immune. Do you have any idea how
many Yeerks would just love to get inside that pretty little head of yours?"
He snatched her head to the side and inhaled the sweet scent of her shampoo
and perfume as he leaned close to her ear. "I know I would." He kissed
her on the neck then slapped her face. "Get them out of here."
Melissa took her by the arm and escorted her out to the van where an
anti-morph collar was placed around her neck. Next would be Cassie, then
Marco. Visser One made sure that their homes were trashed as a call sign.
Our last stop was my dad's house. He was in his office down in the basement
going over some of his patients' medical files. He looked upset that I
had skipped school until Visser One pulled out the gun and pointed it at
his chest. Melissa put the cuffs on him as Tom placed the anti-morph collar
around his neck.
"What is the meaning of this?!"
"You'll soon see Animorph," Visser One smirked. "Put him in the van."
As he was shoved in the back of the van my mom pulled into the driveway.
Visser One of course didn't want any witnesses. Tom and Melissa moved in
to seize her.
"Shannon run!"
She put the car into reverse and began to back out. Visser One aimed
the gun at the front of the car and fired. The bullet pierced the altenator
and the car died. He walked over and held the gun to her head. "Get out,"
he ordered.
Don't drag my mother into this! She isn't the one you're after,>
I pleaded. You said you'd leave her alone if I cooperated.>
And you believed me? Hah! You are just as feeble-minded as your
father.>
I was mad now. I knew what his true intention was and I wouldn't sit
back and watch it happen. I refused to. My hand began to tremble as I fought
to regain control of my body. The gun began to lower, then I dropped to
my knees screaming in agony, clutching my head as I struggled for every
breath I could get. If he was going to be inside my head he was going to
have his work cut out for him. I could hear my father shouting for me to
fight him.
Give it up human. You can't win.>
I was sweating by the time he regained control, but he knew I could
resist him when I wanted to. I was a lot stronger than he expected me to
be. My mother was thrown into the back of the van with my dad and the others.
All of their homes had been ransacked so that when Jason and the rest of
them got home they would know that something had happened to them. They
were taken to the abandoned building and locked in a room until Visser
One decided to deal with them personally.