Disclaimer: Yeah, I own nothing…don't remind me, but please don't sue me either…
Chapter 5
Tobias
You've got to be kidding me. Who actually names a town Smallville? I asked.
Apparently the people who live here. Can we please try and focus? Jake begged us all. He was a little testy, but hey, flying non-stop for eight hours will do that to a person. I know I was tired, and I was the best flier in the group.
Alright. So…what now? I think Marco was just trying to fill the tired silence, but it turned out to be a very relevant question. Guess there's a first time for everything. We were almost…well, where we were supposed to be. Then what did we do?
Um…Ax, how close do you think we are to the area Erek told us about? Jake asked.
We are approximately within the area he described Prince Jake.
Ax? he started to say.
Yes
Prince Jake?
Don't…never mind.
Hey I have a question, Rachel interjected. I glanced up and to my left. She was flying almost a mile above me, working the thermals for all they were worth. We were flying over the narrow stretch that passed for a road in this town. From this angle it appeared to be the only road in town, but we were still pretty far in the country, so that could change.
Doesn't anyone think it's a little strange that we're looking for an unknown alien race in a town dubbed the meteor capital of the world? What's up with that?
Rachel does have a point, Cassie added, I mean, how do we know we're not on another Zone 91 wild goose chase?
A little late for that kind of talk, don't ya think, I muttered. I mean, we're here I informed her.
Yeah, you're right, but still…
Maybe there's a connection between this meteor thing and the 'supposed' aliens here, Ax suggested. It was too big of a coincidence for there not to be a connection I decided. The only question was how the two events were connected.
Happened a while ago, Jake pointed out, 1989. Must have been the only event this town's ever had.
Actually, now that you mention it, I think I remember seeing an old magazine my mom had, that mentioned it. Think it was Time…might have been People. Well it was one of the two. Had a really sad cover picture, some little kid crying her eyes out, Rachel said. It was amazing how cold her voice sounded, despite the sadness I'm sure that event originally caused. These events, this war, had hardened us all, it scared me to admit. But then Marco interrupted my train of thought.
Hey, either I'm crazy-
No arguments there,
Rachel added helpfully.
-or that bald spot down there looks really familiar.
What are you talk- Oh my God!
Holy Foreshadowing Batman!* It's Chapman! No way can it be this easy, I muttered darkly. But Marco was right. It was defiantly Chapman.
Um…why is he hanging out in the middle of a cornfield? Cassie was circling the field, using the light headwind for all it was worth. Then I noticed something.
Look! Left and further down the field, I ordered. The field was lush and green with corn taller than the average man. But there, in the middle of the green expanse, was a large circle of bent stalks. Perfectly healthy, but bent to ground.
Now that is a crop circle! Marco declared. The gap in the foliage was hidden from the road. In fact, it was probably only visible from the air. There was very little breeze, but the stalks lining the circle were blowing like there was a 20 mph headwind.
What do you think? The blade ship, fully cloaked? Jake suggested, guessing like I had, that the blowing of the corn was caused from the idling ships engines.
Yup, it's the perfect hiding place. I don't even think it's visible from the house. I glanced back at the house, a bold yellow beacon among the miles of green that stretched out in every direction. Jake then resumed his role as the leader of our little troupe, suddenly all business.
Okay. Ax, what time is it.
Seven forty-eight, Prince Jake.
We need to find a place to demorph soon then. Man, we got here later than I'd hoped. There's no telling how long the Yeerks have been here for.
Well if the ships engines are running, maybe they've just arrived, Cassie suggested, the eternal optimist.
Yeah, or just returned. Or planning on leaving soon. Or one of a hundred different options. But why here, why this house? he asked, not wondering so much as he was asking for our interpretations on the situation. I let the conversation continue on without me and I flapped for altitude and wheeled back towards the main part of the property: the large yellow house and classic red barn. There was a slightly orange truck parked in the long drive next to a wooden mailbox reading 'Kent'. 'Yeah, that truck just screams extra terrestrial,' I thought to myself. Still, the house looked to be empty. Well most families now-a-days had multiple vehicles. Maybe the inhabitants weren't here. I could only hope, because if they were, their lives as they knew them were now over.
The Yeerks must have been pretty confident that they wouldn't be spotted because they were walking about the property openly, setting up lights as the sun went down, and exploring the barn and house. But out here in the country in a well concealed farm house it was unlikely that they'd be bothered. But why this house, why the Kents? And that's when I spotted it. The largest group of controllers was clustered behind the barn. As I wheeled overhead, I saw that they were peering into a tornado shelter, or cellar-call it what you like. What it held was far more interesting than it's name. When two controllers exited at the right time, I got my first look inside.
Jake, guys, I think you need to see this, I called to them.
What? What's wrong? Rachel demanded, powering her big wings in my direction.
Nothing. I just found our ship, that's all. Yep. Right there, in the storm cellar on a farm belonging to the Kent family, was the strangest object I'd ever seen. And it was defiantly unidentified and designed to fly.
Jake
This was bad. They Yeerks were defiantly one step ahead of us. Each of us took a turn passing over the open cellar door, getting a glimpse at the ship within.
Ax, do you recognize it?
No Prince Jake. From what I was able to see, it is like no other ship I've seen or heard of. But I would need to inspect it to be sure. Ax turned and headed back towards our little pow-wow in the sky.
Look, everyone get across the street. Into the field for a quick demorph. Then were splitting up. Tobias, keep an eye out for us, will you?
No problem Jake, he replied as he pushed for more altitude. The rest of us skimmed into the neighboring field, landing at different times and several feet from one another. I have to admit thought, a corn field in mid-July is a perfect hiding spot. I was mostly human, with a few lingering gray feathers, when Tobias shouted.
Guys, the blade ship is on the move! Chapmen just got in and a few other random controllers, and they're booking it out of here. Heading south, but they're out of the corn and with the cloaking up, I can barely see them. We gotta move! Now! I was morphing top speed, and for once was thankful that my mouth went early
Tobias, STAY ON THAT SHIP! We'll follow behind quick as we can, was what I told him. Then I changed my mind. Something about this wasn't right. Cassie, Rachel, I want you two to stay here. Keep and eye on who comes and goes. If anyone comes back or anything changes, let me know, kay?
We've got it covered here Jake, Cassie said as she rose into the air, fully morphed. She'd gone owl instead of osprey because the sun was half down and the owl was a better night flier. Rachel was less amiable about the situation.
What?! Marci gets to go off and have all the fun, fighting brain stealing aliens and solving a small town conspiracy…. Marco, Ax, and I finished next, me in my peregrine falcon form, Ax a northern Harrier, and Marco an osprey. We headed south, but by that time there was no sign of Tobias. I hoped that was because he was far away, and not because something had happened.
Where exactly are we going? Marco asked.
South.
Gee thanks, Capitan Brilliant! What's south though. I was about to answer her when Tobias's thought-speak voice penetrated our conversation, faint and desperate.
Guys, we got trouble, he called
What happened? I put on an extra burst of speed.
Well nothing, and that's what worries me. It's over the town right now, the Blade Ship. There is some kind of event, people everywhere. I don't know what's going to happen, but right now it's just flying in circles, he sounded puzzled and slightly worried. Almost…almost like the Yeerks are looking for someone.
Or something, Marco muttered. Decision time.
Tobias, are they still cloaked? I demanded.
Yeah, I just know what to look for, he explained.
Alright Tobias, just hang tight, I told him. We're on our way. As soon as we get in there I want Marco and Ax to get down and go human. Tobias, you and I are pulling aerial duty. Don't take your eyes off that Blade Ship, understand?
Gotcha, Paton!, Marco muttered. I didn't have time to respond to his cyniscism though, because I could just barely make out the people flooded town from my altitude. Not long after Marco and AX spiraled down and I watched them come to rest behind a darkened hardware store. They'd be safe morphing behind there. I waited to make sure that they completed the transition without being spotted before spiraling off to join Tobias. He was right, the Blade ship was cloaked and flying around it tight circles. And let me confess something to you: it's the most boring thing that the Blade Ship has ever done.
In fact, twenty minutes later it was still circling. Marco and Ax had met me behind the hardware store again, and I was perched on Marco's shoulder. I had stopped him to ask if he had learned or seen anything relevant while they walked around. Marco was, however, babbling on about some cute girl instead. That's when Tobias delivered the news that made my blood run cold.
Jake! Get back up here! he called, desperetly. We got trouble!
What happened? I hopped off Marco's shoulder and began flapping like a madman, cursing myself for having left Tobias on his own.
Jake, they're blowing the streets apart. He was depressed and angry at the same time. So was I. Usually the Yeerks were silent and quiet killers. It just made their sporadic acts of senseless violence all the more terrible. I flapped for all I was worth, and as I crested over the top of the building, what I saw made me sick with anger. What had been a people-filled, happy town square minutes earlier, was now a smoldering and flame-ridden massacre, clouded with black smoke. No sign of Tobias in the poor visibility, but his voice was still there in my head.
Jake, there's something else, he admitted.
What? What is it? I yelled in reply.
I think I found our alien..
A/N: Hey there guys! Taking a little while to update, but I'm still here. I know this chapter isn't exactly action packed, but I have the middle of the story written as well as the beginning, and this chapter just severs as a bringer-together. And yes, I know I've been doing a lot of Ani chapter lately, but I promise, I have the later chapters written and they're Smallville heavy. So keep reading and reviewing (you have no idea how much they mean to me) and I'll keep writing. Catch 'ya on the flip side J…Oh yeah
*Tribute to Kryptonsite.com – one of the greatest Smallville resources on the web. Check it out if you're a little confused about the character or if you're a WB junkie, whichever you prefer.
