Chapter 19

I sat up strait in my bed. I was panting and my sweat was cold. It had come again. My dream, or more rather my nightmare it was. Only it left off from where the last one was and kept going. Like is was a never ending story.

I looked at my hands. Was there something the Ellimist wasn't telling me? Surely not all of this is due to Crayak. There had to be some higher force that was showing me this. The more I thought about it, the sickened I became. Why was someone trying to control my life, my destiny? Didn't I have a right to do that on my own.

I shook my head. I couldn't let my thoughts cloud the importance of the mission. We were to take out the Yeerk's main kandrona now. All the Animorphs and the two Andalites had eventually agreed to our plan. Apparently my little wolf can be very compromising. Then again why would that surprise me? I knew him well enough to know. Didn't I?

I went to my dresser. It's been 2 weeks sense the incident I had with him. There hasn't been too much contact between us sense then. Was he avoiding me? No, I had to be avoiding him. He was just keeping his distance in respect for me.

I nearly wanted to slap myself across the face. I had to get out of this self blame I kept myself in. I was going to loose my focus if I kept this up. It would've bee a lot better if I stayed for the completeness of my training when I had the chance. That way I wouldn't been so mind boggled. Today was a day to fight.

I couldn't help but smile to myself. I was going to fight today. I was going to taste blood today. It thrilled me. The beast that caused me so much pain and weakness in the past was finally going to meet his end today. I could see him now. The slug would most likely trying to escape from that Andalite body once I killed the body. It wouldn't matter, I'd just squosh the little devil like the filth he was. I was going to kill today. I was going to fight today.

"Hmm?" Marco glanced over at me. Some of them members were having a last second meeting. "What's up with you?"

I gave him no answer.

"She's going to fight," Silverbolt said. "She always has that same look every time we come close into battle."

"What's that mean."

"When Rip fights," he began. "She becomes someone totally different. There is no morale left in her being. She a pure fight. Her only desire will be to kill whom she has to kill. When Rip fights, she is a true killer."

You did not have to tell us that, Everstin, Reubren commented. We already know that.

"Ah, but you have not seen the transition," he said. There was a quirk smile on his face. "You have to know that other side."

As they talked I didn't hear them. I didn't listen to them. It was as if they were a television in another room that was on and I was watching my own. I could hear but I didn't listen.

"Copper," Silverbolt noted.

"Yes?"

"Careful," he warned. "Her look is different today."

"That it is."

I stood up. "Time to layout the plan."

I walked forward.

"Alright then," Marco said. "What's step one."

"Step one," I said. "You make a public announcement to who you are."

"Are you insane?!" he demanded. "That would drive every Yeerk to us!"

"Exactly my point," I said. "Don't worry, you won't become Controllers because all those who attack will die."

"And what if they don't want to control us," he pointed out. "What if they want us dead?! Have you thought about that?!"

"Some people may die," I said. "You can't fight a war without expecting that. One of your people may die; one of my people may die. You or I may die. If no one does, the kudos for the both of us. The end of your invasion ends today."

"Jake, there is no way in hell that we're letting them do this," he said. "We did not sign up for this."

"I have to agree with Marco."

"Fine," I said. "If you won't announce it, then I will."

"She truly is crazy!"

"If you don't shut your mouth then I will kill you myself!" I yelled. The energy flown from my body. It made the ground and the walls shake. "I don't need you to do my dirty work, human. I just thought being it's your planet perhaps then you'd like to be the heroes of it."

You are having consideration for them?

"Not anymore."

"Hey don't push her!" It was my dear rat friend. "Don't you guys get it. The Rip you've all seen is just a nice part. Look at her eyes. She ready to kill. Do not push her. Just do as she says."

"Are you serious?" Rachel asked.

"Dead serious. Notice she's not even commented on what we're saying," he pointed out. "We're zoned out. All she knows is that fade memory she has for the taste of blood and how she needs it once again."

"And why have u failed to tale us this in the past?"

"You didn't ask."

"ENOUGH!"

"Rip?!"

"You all waist time simply talking about me," I sneered. "If they want to see it, then they will. If they don't want to see it then they still will. Now, are you going to make that announcement or not?"

"Alright then," Jake said.

"Good," I said. "We'll do it aboard my ship on the way to Japan."

"Japan? Why Japan?" Jake asked.

"Because, I've always wanted to see it."

They all gave me a look.

"Okay, actually, the major Pool for Earth is located in Tokyo," I said. "I've had Rat Trap do some research for me and he pulled it up."

"So what are we waiting for?" Rachel questioned, standing up. "Let's go kick some Yeerk ass!"

***********

"Well, this was a great idea," Jake said. He kept his arms folded across his chest and looked down upon the ground from my ship. "I think we just cause havoc on the entire planet."

It had been 4 days sense the plan started and well, to me it was just going as I suspected. It was obvious that the humans and Andalites didn't expect the same thing.

"Don't worry about it," I said. "If worst comes to worst then well, I'll just blow up the planet."

"And how many times have you done that to a planet?"

"Hmm, that's a good question," I replied. "I began to count on my fingers. Out of the 67 planets that were Yeerk infested I only blew up 60."

"Gah," he nearly fell over.

"Don't worry, Earth has Japan," I said. "It won't blow up."

"I have you know that the plan as resulted in the Visser finding our that we're not Andalite but humans, the Visser is not even Three any more he's one, and should I leave out they have a hold of the Escalif device."

"Now, that part wasn't my fault now was it," I sneered, folding my arms across my chest. "But your little girl friends."

He clinched his fist, gritted his teeth and looked away. "That is true. That part was out fault."

"Other than that, my plan is still working out," I said. "Have they caught us, no they haven't. There is no need to worry. Besides, the dangerous part is coming up. Jessie has already volentered for it. I was wandering if you can one of your men into it, if not Silvy will. The thing is I may need him later."

"Is there a chance the will die on this mission?"

"I'm not going to lie to you," I said. "On every mission there is a chance. This one a tad higher being that Yeerk host can not morph, but I'm not worried. I trust that Jessie will get the job done. And, get it done right."

"In that case I want Rachel to be with her."

"Jake, there is a chance that your brother will be there too," I said. "There is a chance in the battle that he'll get killed."

"You're caring?"

"I have an older sister and a younger brother," I said. "I stay in this war to protect them. I know what it's like."

"The reason Tom is there is the reason why I am sending Rachel," he said. "Because I would never have the heart to kill him if the time came."

"I understand."

"Is it all really wise?"

"Sometimes, the wisest isn't always the smartest."

"Ah, I understand."

"You both know what you have to do, right?" I questioned.

"Leave it to us, Rip," Jessie said. "We'll get the job done no sweat at all. We're just wandering if you can get yours done." She and Rachel both laughed.

"Oh, don't you worry," I said. "Mine is already in the pot and ready to eat."

"Good thing," Rachel said.

"Good luck to both of you, and be careful."

They both left.

"Are you ready Andalite?" I asked.

Why am I paired with you? he questioned.

"Because I need an Andalite with me," I replied. "And I promised Tobias that I'd let Ax go with him."

And why do you need an Andalite?

"To teach them how to fly."

I began to walk off motioning for him to follow. "You see, you Andalites, really need to use ur ki more effiently for just morphing. and well, you know I fly much faster than any bird, so we can get faster to where we're going. Plus, you can fly in your human form as well."

I don't want to learn your ways, he sneered. We will travel by space ship to where ever we are going.

"Oh we'll see about that."

You crazy Everstin! he yelled. By all the cosmos put me down!

"I told you we were getting there by flying, without using a ship and without morphing." I said. "Just don't look down."

I have four eyes!

It was a rather funny seen it was. Here I was in all my glory flying through the skies of Japan , carrying a whining Andalite by the tail. It was a funny seen, but Reubren's wining was getting on my nerves. I don't think I would've been able to teach him how to fly anyway. "Listen big guy," I snapped. "The place we're going to Rat Trap and Zane had checked up on. It's filled with morphing sensors and they would be able to track a ship if it came in. That's why we're flying my way. Alright you little piss? Now stop wining before you learn how to fly the hard way."

You actually looked into things before you went barging in?

"No shit," I said. "I've never just barged into things. I always make sure that it can be done when my crew is involved. I have a heart, I'm not just going to send someone into their death bed. Unlike you think I would."

Nothing came from his mouth for a long time.

"Look," I sighed. "I'm sorry about Esplin. I really didn't mean to kill him, and despite rumors, I didn't eat him. After you ran your tail away we buried him. Andalite kids shouldn't have been running around Trium forests anyway. Not only was the Visser loose but other things could've gotten you."

There was always Andalites there!

"But I wasn't always there," I said. "That was the first time I was let from that base in 4 years. Plus, I just gotten a beaten from the Visser, so that wasn't fun either. You think in my state I would have been able to tell the difference between a free Andalite and an enslaved one?"

No, now that I think about it, you couldn't have.

"And I really am sorry, Reubren," I said.

Suddenly my communicator went off.

"What's up?"

"Rip, abandon mission," Rat Trap said. "Rachel and Jessie need our tails now. The Visser is there."

"Shit I'm on my way."

What is wrong?

"Change of plans," I said. "Our target was at the wrong place at the wrong time."

I was running down the stair way of some Yeerk pool, it was a minor one. The Andalite had trouble keeping up. Damnit, of course the Visser wouldn't be where he'd expect me!

"Rip!" It was Copper. He stopped me in my tracks.

"Move," I said. "I have to help Rachel and Jessie."

He grabbed my shoulders and shook my head. "You don't want to go down there."

"What's down there?"

"Jess is..."

"Move!" I shoved him over.

I could hear him call to me again but I kept going. Protection of my crew was first. Besides Jess was...

I stopped. "Jess...?"

It's about time you got hear, Rip Raptor, the Visser said. I saw the think Andalite legs start to walk towards me.

"Rip?" I heard my few comrades come from behind me.

You see, you petty little girl, the Visser said. It does not matter what you send and how you fight. I will always win. And all you'll experience is more death.

"No!" I screamed.

"Rip?"

"Jess!" I ran to her. "Jess, you're alive."

"Rachel went up ahead while I tried to ward off a few..." she coughed. "I didn't expect the Visser to be here. If I did, I would've called you. That way you can kill him and we could all..." She coughed again. "That way we can all go home back to our families. . . . Sindel, I'm sorry I failed you..."

I passed my hands over her face to close her eyes. "You didn't fail," I said. "You fought very bravely. Braver than I could've ever done. I was the one who failed."

I slowly stood up. I could feel it, I was inevitable now. My rage was peaking and I could not control it. The tears were streaming down my face. I could feel Copper starting to walk forward but I held out my arm. I looked up at the Visser, whatever number he was now.

"Monster," I told him. "Don't get cocky. You mad the biggest mistake of your life."

It's about time.

You don't get cocky either.

I'm not, but I want to have some fun too.

I could feel my feet slowly coming off the ground, and I closed my eyes and felt myself fall asleep.