Disclaimer: I am taking the characters and plotlines of the great KA Applegate for my own uses. But I'm not getting paid. So no one can do anything about it. *meh*

AN: This chapter took FOREVER, even though it's short. I just couldn't get it started. I had some serious writer's block. So if it sucks, I'm sorry. I'm running out of ideas rapidly, and I don't really know where this is going...

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Part 11

Cassie

Two minutes to destination.

We all looked up. Then we looked at each other. Then, as one unit, we all moved towards the viewport. I was thankful that this Bug was twice as big as the others we had encountered, or we would never have fit. Hooray for officers pulling strings to save their own asses.

Toshida said something in Japanese. He sounded confused.

"He says that this isn't the right neighborhood." Erik translated.

"What?" Marco asked, his tone just barely calm. Toshida answered, and Erik translated.

"This is about a mile from his office building."

"Is it possible that the coordinates were off for a reason?" Jake asked. Erik frowned.

"I suppose it's possible, but I can't see why. The shield would have cloaked us no matter where we landed. Why would the Yeerks have wanted a mile's worth of walking? Besides, we weren't informed of a change."

We have company.

I looked at the viewport in alarm. Sure enough, another Bug fighter was off to the side of us.

Enemy Bug preparing to fire. Ax said tersely, his eyes locked on the readouts.

"What?! On their own ship?"

That's when it hit me.

"No! They know we're the Andalites because we tried to land in the wrong place. They must have programmed the computers to go the wrong way in case we took the ship! And they sent two ships, so one would get through!"

Everyone stared at me for one whole second.

"Cassie, you're amazing." Jake said. I blushed. Hard. But before I could respond, Jake had dropped into Fearless Leader mode.

"Ax, out fly them as best you can. Tobias, you take the weapons for now. Erik, you and the other Chee protect Toshida. Everyone else, battle morphs. Marco, you take over for Tobias as soon as you're done morphing." Before he had finished, he was already becoming a tiger. I went to wolf, and the others went to their favored morphs. Erik, Matt, and André, the three Chee, surrounded Toshida in a back corner.

Toshida-san, can you tell me how to get to the right place? It might be possible to fool them.

I could feel Jake smacking himself.

Oh. Yes. If you can do this without a fight, that'd be great. he said ruefully. I rubbed his shoulder with my wolf ears, reassuring him. He leaned into me. Marco started making kissy noises with his gorilla lips.

Oh, shut it, Marco. Rachel said in annoyance. Just get to your station.

You haven't seen anything until you've seen a gorilla flicking off a bear.

Under Toshida's guidance, we landed on the office building. The other ship had stayed behind us, watching. Suspicious.

We're going to have to get rid of the other crew. Tobias said quietly. They're going to be watching us. I think he was keeping his speech from the Chee. They might be forced to stop us if they knew.

Yeah, you're right.. Jake sighed. Ok. We wait until they come out, then we gun them down. Marco, you know what you're doing?

I'll manage. It's no different than before.

Good.

The other crew was apparently not too bright. A human and two Hork-Bajir came out of their ship and walked towards us.

Weapons powered up. Marco reported.

Do it. Jake said. Three blinding flashes of light later, the three living beings were gone.

That was easy. Marco said.

Don't say that! Rachel warned. Sure enough, the other fighter began to turn towards us.

They're preparing to fire! Ax exclaimed.

Marco! Jake yelled. He didn't have to ask twice.

TSEW. TSEW. TSEW. Three shots – one to each engine, one to the cockpit. The Bug fighter became a smoking hulk.

They might still be alive. Jake said. We need to go over there and make sure they don't --

He was cut off by the massive explosion that rocked the ship. We all flew backward, into each other. Various exclamations and expletives ensued as we untangled ourselves.

When that was done, we fell silent.

This is not good. Tobias said.

Marco, what did I tell you? You jynxed us! Rachel exclaimed.

Hey, I just saved your life!

Cut it out. Come on, we haven't got much time before we have the whole Yeerk Empire on our asses. And we've got to find that Andalite ship.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Reviews!

Gil: Thank you! ^.^ This one took a bit longer, as you can see. And of course I want your opinion – why do you think I mentioned it?

Tabatha: ^.^ Why, thank you.

Hell-Flame-Narf: Short chapters? What about short reviews? ^.~ I'm glad you're enjoying it.

qwerty: You'll just have to find out! And no, I don't know what happened to James. I never actually read the last book. This story takes place somewhere around the 30-40 range in the series.

Mistress of Dragons: The only one who responded favorably to the slash thing! OH! And, I read "The Cover". I'll leave you a review as soon as my stupid compy stops being stupid.

Dark Ice Dragon: *evil laugh* Oh, the things I have planned...

JulyFlame: Stiff? Ooh, ma bad. I hate stiff writing. *blech*

StargateFan14: Longer review, plz. ^.~

Baranth: *funny look* Dragons? No, actually, I wasn't planning on having the Animorphs acquire dragons. Where in heaven's name did you get that idea?

Baranth (again): *snerk* You know, I have been wondering about Andelite sex myself. Marco-Ax I like, but not in this fic, it won't fit. But Marco-Erik? I would say it would work, except it CAN'T. The whole android thing kinda gets in the way.

:((( : I'm sorry you feel that way about slash. I'm also sorry you didn't honor me with your name. Did you think I would send you angry e-mail? I promise, I respect your opinion. And thank you for the complement – I think it's the biggest one I've ever gotten. If you still are reading this, would you become a regular reviewer? I like to hear what my readers think.

J-MaC-29: erm...you reviewed at the first chapter. Why, may I ask? Did you ever read the rest?

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Holy jeez – look at all the reviews! Waiiiiii!!!! *does happy 'people like me' dance*

And since most people have expressed a dislike of the slash thing – well, let's just say that it won't ever become explicit. Don't get me wrong – I love slash – but I know that it's easy to go overboard. (That, and I've never actually written a slash relationship before.) The rating will stay at PG, unless I raise it for violence. In fact, nothing may ever happen – but please don't blame me if there's tension. My characters have a tendency to get away from me.

Oh! And also, I'd like to thank you all for ignoring the horrible, flaming inconsistencies that plague this poor fic. Someday I'll go back and fix them, but for now, please continue to suspend your disbelief? I really appreciate it. ^.^'