Author's Note: We're in rushed-land again. But, on the bright side, this part of the story is over (after the next chappie, anyway) -- and now the really juicy stuff can begin, possibly next weekend. Yay!
Hope you guys enjoy it and I wish you all a happy Turkey Day.
Chronicle One
"War is not nice." - Barbara Bush (1925 - )
Chapter Eighteen
-Cassie-
Well, I wasn't expecting Erek to call me, let's just say that.
But I picked up a jacket, some shoes, jeans, and morphing suit and started working my way outside.
Or that was the plan.
"Where are you going, Pumpkin?" Dad slurred.
It took every bit of will I had to stop myself from jumping in the air.
Dad's eyes were half-shut with eye boogers and he was rocking back and forth.
From lack of sleep, though, not booze or something like that. My Dad doesn't drink. Ever. Not even on holidays.
"I'm gonna go meet a friend." I told him. Which was true.
I snapped my fingers, trying to think of who would sound the least suspicious. "Um, Rachel!" I shouted. "You remember her, right? Blonde? Tall?"
"Yeah, I remember her." Dad murmured. "She's a firecracker."
I laughed as his mouth ripped open for a big yawn. "You go have fun, I think I'm gonna go take a nap." Dad told me.
I smiled and opened the front door. "You go do that, Dad."
Then I kissed his forehead. "Goodnight."
I walked outside and heard Dad shut the door behind me.
Watched him turn off the lights.
Then I sprinted for the barn.
The doors groaned in the night as I opened them just wide enough for me to fit. Then I hid my jacket, jeans, and shoes in the rafters.
After that, I morphed.
A feather pattern broke out over my skin, followed by a pair of tiny wings that sprouted from my back. My fingernails and toenails metamorphosed into claws and talons moments before my mouth grew into a curved beak.
When I felt the osprey's mind emerge under my own I knew the changes were done.
And so I flew out into the night.
I'm going to admit, right here and now, that I was really tempted to spend my night joyflying. Forget what Erek had said and enjoy myself.
I didn't want to get big bad morphs. I mean, I'm not stupid. I knew what we would be using them for -- to fight.
To fight slaves who would've left us alone if they'd had better luck.
But like I said, I'm not stupid. I know someone has to fight.
I'm just not sure I'm the one for the job.
But I still kept on my way. Because I couldn't forget her.
I couldn't forget seeing the lady Visser Three, aka Victor Trent, had shot.
He killed for no reason other than to test his gun. It made me sick inside.
And I thought, as I flew into the Gardens, I'm gonna do something about it.
Rachel was already there, waiting for me in the bird exhibit.
We caught the boys near the lion and tigers and bears moments later.
What's-- Jake asked Rachel before his beak sucked back into his brain.
Moments later lips emerged his bird face. "Going on?"
I turned my (now human) eyes to Rachel. I wanted to know what was up, too.
"Mel--Melissa Chapman--called me about half an hour ago. She's, um, the host body for that freaky Yeerk chick at the construction site." She said.
"Which one?" Ax asked, almost all human except that he had wings instead of arms.
"The one without the heels." Rachel said. "Anyway, you guys remember how she and her buddy wanted to start seeing how good their new pool works? Well, Mel called me up. Asks me if I want to go to the mall, tell the construction workers what I think of the place. Says I can bring along all my friends too."
"Wait, wait." Marco said, holding up a clawed hand. "Does Mel know about us?"
We all turned to look at Ax, who was shaking his head. "No." He whispered.
"There's no way she could find out, even with her Dad trailing Tobias. Miss Smith won't let him within fifty feet of our house." Ax said.
"Who?" Marco asked.
"My foster mom." Ax explained.
"Oh." Marco replied.
"Um, back to the point?" Rachel asked. We all turned back to her.
"After I called Erek I hit my laptop. Did a little research. Turns out the jamboree is tonight." Rachel said.
"So then, big strong morphs and now." Jake said. He looked at me.
"Cassie, your parents work here, so you show us the way."
I led them to the wild animal exhibits. "Wildlife to your left, bathrooms to your right." I said.
Ax was the only one not getting a morph. His Andalite morph was enough.
The six of us creeped through the "back doors", so to speak. There was no way we'd get to the animals through the cages, so we went through the feeding area.
"Okay, question." Tobias said. "How are we going to do this?"
"Put our hands on these babies and pray for the best." Marco murmured.
Just as we stepped in front of the tiger exhibit.
Lucky for us, all the big cats were dozing off. How long they'd keep dozing, well, that was something I wished I knew.
Jake was the one who stepped up to the plate. He tiptoed into Tigerland, doing his very best to not make a sound. Then he walked up to one of them and brushed his fingers against its fur.
For one horrible moment he stood there, unblinking, with his fingers on the tiger. None of us even dared to breathe.
Then Jake drew back and backpedaled out of the exhibit.
His face was white, and he was trembling, but he turned to me and smiled. "That wasn't so bad." He grinned, then leaned on me to stop his shaking.
About twenty minutes later, we'd all acquired our battle morphs--except for Tobias. We were headed off to the lions when the sirens started blaring.
"What the hell?" Rachel shouted. "How'd they know we were here?"
"No time to ask!" Jake shouted back. "Everyone, bird morphs, now!"
In a matter of minutes our mishappened flock took the skies.
And flew to the construction site.
There's two guys with those laser beam things in the parking lot.
Tobias and Marco were circling the area around the mall, trying to scope out the situation and more important, find us a safe place to demorph.
And two ladies with guns, well, dunking people's heads into the pool.
Then Marco groaned. I think that's how they get infested.
Looks like it. Tobias said. But they're hiding it pretty well.
"No, no, no, nooooo!" A woman's scream ripped through the night.
Except for that part, of course. Tobias amended.
Found any place to demorph yet? Rachel asked the boys.
Nope. The place is pretty well guarded. Marco told her.
Wait! I think I see a place. Tobias said. You guys see those cars off to the side, in the parking lot? It's out of their range. Go there.
We all flew behind a cluster of cars with Marco and Tobias following us.
Then our human bodies emerged from our bird morphs.
I felt exhausted before I even started focusing on my next morph. It seemed like this morphing stuff took a lot out of a person.
Especially if you had to do it, oh, two or three times.
Then I started my second morph. Sharp claws jutted out from my fingers and my mouth filled with sharp teeth. Grey fur started running down my back.
My ears became pointed, more acute. I could hear people screaming.
Soon I had become full wolf, with the speed, grace and teeth.
And everything that came with it.
When the wolf's mind appeared under my own, I found it pretty easy to control. But that might've been because the wolf was surrounded by animals that were a lot bigger and dangerous than him.
A tiger, a grizzly bear, a gorilla, an Andalite, and a red-tailed hawk.
The wolf considered eating the hawk, but I quashed that thought quick.
Our little troop of mismatched animals marched up behind the Human-Controllers. Marco, in gorilla morph, tapped one on the shoulder.
"Whaddya want, pal--oh my god!" He shouted.
What, what? Is there something on my face? Does this suit make me look fat?
Then Marco knocked both men upside the head with his huge hands.
They were out cold. Wow, that was easy. Marco commented.
Then we started getting shot at.
"Keep firing, Trillim!" Shouted Melissa Chapman, firing at us with another Dracon Beam. "Kill those Andalite scum!"
Andalites? Jake wondered. Do they think we're Andalites?
"Die, you Andalite bastards!" Shouted one of the Human-Controllers.
A volley of bullets flew in our direction. Rachel took the brunt of them. I was learning quick that it'd take a lot of bullets to take a grizzly down. Jake let loose a growl that made my whole body shake.
Still, the Human-Controller with the gun kept firing. Maybe out of fear.
"Niskish, take the humans. Get them out of here!" Tom ordered.
I saw a woman Controller, with long dark blonde hair, walk into a cage full of humans. I ran in after her.
And as soon as she was in my range, I locked my teeth on her leg.
As soon as I heard her howl of pain, part of me wanted to stop.
But as soon as I remembered the screams I'd heard from the humans, I clamped down even harder. The Human-Controller dug her nails into my back.
"Get off, please!" She cried. "I'm not going to kill them, you Andalite fool!"
The voice sounded familiar to me. But I didn't think about that.
No, but you're going to enslave them, aren't you? I asked her.
"I--" The Human Controller whimpered. Then she slammed her body against something. I heard the sound of bodies hitting metal. The trapped humans.
"I've just knocked them out. Please, please, let me go. I'll free them if that's what you want." The Human-Controller begged.
Why should I believe you? I asked her, my teeth still pressed into her.
"Don't you know the wrath of Visser Three, Andalite? I'd rather become a traitor than face that. He'll kill us all if this project fails!"
I wanted to believe the Yeerk. I wanted to trust her.
All right, Yeerk. I'll spare you. I said. There's an empty car in the parking lot. It should be large enough to fit all of these people. Take them and go.
Then I released the woman's leg. I could taste her blood in my mouth.
She picked me up and hugged me. "Thank you, thank you, thank you."
Then she threw me out of the cage and back into the fight.
TSEEW! TSEEW! Both Tom and Melissa were firing their Dracon beams at us.
Marco, now lacking an arm, was holding the gun-toting human-Controller in a deathgrip. Rachel was guarding him, swatting off the array of human-Controllers following them. Jake was busy roaring his head off at the oncoming human-Controllers while Ax was busy dismembering them with his Andalite tail.
Tobias was up in the air ducking and weaving between Tom and Mel's beams, trying his hardest to steal their weapons.
With my sharp vision I spied the blonde Controller carrying two humans on her back. She threw them in the empty car, just like I'd told her to.
My nerves started screaming. I could only hope she'd keep up with our deal.
If she didn't...
I'd do worse than tear up her leg.
"What the hell is Niskish doing?" Melissa whispered.
Rachel, go get that Controller! Jake yelled.
Which one? Rachel asked.
The blonde! The chick in the cage! Jake screamed.
No! I gasped, running after Rachel as she started lumbering after the stumbling Human-Controller, who was carrying another two people.
"Holy hell, that bitch!" Melissa hissed. "Temrash, gun, now!"
I sped up and got inches behind Rachel as the blonde controller threw two more bodies in the car. Then she turned around and faced Rachel.
No, don't! I screamed.
Rachel turned to me. Cassie, what--?
Then the bullet cracked through the night. The Human-Controller fell back into the car. Her white shirt looked like she'd split wine on it.
But that was no wine. It was blood.
They killed one of their own. Rachel said, dumbfounded. Bastards!
She ran back into the fight. I stepped inside the car.
Standing there, seeing her dead body, was the first time I got a good look at her. And then I realized why she sounded so familiar.
Ms. McClay? I whispered.
Then I ran out of the car. I couldn't stay in there another second.
We ended up retreating after Melissa and Tom called for backup. We had no chance against a whole organized group of Human-Controllers.
When I got home, I just laid on my bed and sobbed for the longest time.
For Ms. McClay, for the humans in the cages and in the truck, who were probably slaves by now. For myself and my friends.
Because I don't think I realized it until tonight. Until I felt my teeth dig into Ms. McClay's leg. We were at war.
Real, honest-to-god war. The kind where people died all the time.
And that had been our life, day-in and day-out, fighting for our lives and for the human race. That used to be my life.
And Jake, Rachel, Tobias, Marco, and Ax's lives, too.
I would never forget this night. The screams of the humans, their agony at being infested against their will. Being shot at.
Realizing I was willing to kill and hurt.
Even if the person being trapped by a Yeerk was someone I knew.
Because it was my duty. Because someone had to do it.
It was war.
And it had just begun.
Waaah, Tara! (Reader's Response)
Oedipal Kat - Glad to have you reading again, and I hope the fic's good enough for you stay this time. =)
Patrick Blah - It's been ages since I wrote Rachel, I'm glad you think I did a good job -- and I'm glad someone else liked Tobias' joke. (He's got a sense of humor!) And, hey, I don't mind if you keep writing the same review over and over, not that you are...and I'm also glad the Rach/Mel scene worked out.
*ROGUE* - Woohoo! Another person likes the fic! And I will try to add in some J/C soon, so don't worry.
freak show - Gah, flattery...**is at a loss for words** And I'm glad you like that the kids are more like real kids -- that always bugged me about the books, so that's why I have them act like they do here. And I will keep up the work!
LJstagflower4e - Hi, long time no see! Or write, or something like that. **hugs**
Tinnuelenath - You've reviewed this fic once or twice, don't worry. And I threw in the C/R as a treat for my anirarepair buddies. =) Plus I like R/C, though this fic will stay R/T, 'cause I like them more. And yes, it will become M/A...just wait. **evil grin**
Doctor Strangelove - If you like the word glorywhore, I've got one you'll LOVE -- manwhore. A term I will use in this fic someday. Probably by Rachel, to Marco. And, hey, I love it when people adore my fic. =P It's always a nice feelin'. And I'd love to see you write Rachel, myself. Glad you liked the line by Ax, and I'm very muchly into Marco holding a naked Ax, thank you very much. And expect more of the Tobias/Loren storyline in the future. And I'll try to remember to throw in Doctor Ben Glory again.