Author's note: Thanks to everyone who reviewed. Glad people like it. No, it
ain't a Sith Lord I based his lines on, but a good guess. AARGH...WHY WON'T
THE STUPID THOUGHT-SPEECH THING WORK!??! How can I sort that out? What is
QuickEdit? For this chapter I'm going to try putting it in brackets (like
this). Grr...I hate computers. Especially my one. Anyway, I'm updating this
story a lot quicker than my others. I guess it's good fun to write with a
lot more characterization in it than my usual stuff.
THE YEERK POOL ON EARTH BENEATH THE SCHOOL
"To the pool, you slugs!" a Hork-bajir roared.
Black-uniformed Hork-bajir yelled and jeered at the red-uniformed kindreds that had no choice but to stand still and receive the abuse from the Controllers at the command of the Emperor.
They snarled and snorted at them, mocking them for not having their own private Yeerk pools. The red troops outnumbered the black ones by at least two to one, but they knew they were no match for the elite soldiers of the Council Lord. Between the ranks of the red troops they marched, and at the end of the corridor of blades was Visser Three.
Bowing.
The Emperor strode between his followers, towering over them. One armoured foot crashed down in front of the Visser and the Andalite Controller dared a glance upwards.
(Rise.) the harsh voice ordered.
Shakily Visser Three did so.
(Come, let us talk alone for a while) with a wave of his armoured hand everyone else in the room left in a rush of stomping feet.
(My Lord , it is an honour to have you on Earth) the Visser ventured.
The Lord ignored the formalities, (Earth is not in your control. You are behind our schedule. You are being delayed by a rabble of Andalites).
(They...they are elusive my Lord).
(They must be stopped. I will deal with it. They have not met the likes of myself before. And they will never have the opportunity to do so again after our first meeting).
MARCO'S POV
I woke up. I got out of bed and dressed automatically, headed down stairs, muttered a quick explanation to my Dad to where I was going, and headed outside.
I started heading for the woods. All the while I was thinking about Rachel and last night.
Jeez...what had happened? I couldn't believe it. What had I been thinking asking Rachel to the cinema? I had expected trouble, but THAT was the last thing I had expected. I was so certain she liked Tobias...she even said she did. Didn't she? I was so confused...
I drifted unconsciously towards the wood. I heard a fluttering above me. I looked up and saw a red-tailed hawk perched in a tree.
(Marco) it said.
I glanced around. No one was nearby.
"Hi".
I really was not ready to talk to Tobias. I mean, yesterday was a very good reason not to.
"Look", I muttered, "I'm not really in the mood to talk right now, okay?"
(Why not?)
That struck me. It didn't sound like Tobias usually did. He normally respects people's personal space, as long as we give him his.
(Any reason why not?) he pressed.
"I'm just not in a good mood", I insisted, "Rough night. That okay with you?"
(What happened last night?)
Then it hit me. He had seen it. Oh, man...
"Tobias dude, before you jump to any conclusions, I...I..."
I couldn't think what to say. I mean, what could I say?
He "spoke" again. This time, he sounded choked up.
(How could you do that to me, Marco? I thought...I thought you knew. How could you do this to me?).
There was a flutter of wings and then he was gone. I stood staring at where he had been for a long time. Then I yelled several words I won't repeat. I shouted and kicked a rock. It smashed against the tree with a satisfying crunch. I kicked the damn tree until my foot screamed with pain. This just wasn't fair.
I don't know how long I was there, kicking and cursing and eventually crying. At least an hour. I don't like crying. Most of the time I can't see the point. Why bother tearing yourself up about something? But this time I couldn't help myself. I had been through a lot lately. We all had. I mean, there's nothing like getting chased by hundreds of walking two meter salad shooters armed with dracon beams to get you upset. But for some reason I couldn't put my finger on this was worse. Much worse.
JAKE'S POV
I could tell something was wrong with the others. Me and Cassie had been studying for the last few days, whilst all was quiet with the Yeerks. Now more news had popped up, and I had rallied them all to the usual place of Cassie's barn.
I was there with Cassie, sitting on a straw bale. Ax was over to the left, keeping an eye out with his four eyes in case of a passer-by. Rachel was there. She looked didn't look like her normal self. She seemed restless, nervous even. She glanced back and forth to the barn entrance, awaiting the arrival of Marco and Tobias.
I didn't know what was going on. When I had phoned Marco he didn't sound pleased at the prospect of meeting up with us all. He had mumbled and grumbled something, then said ,"Yeah, I'll be there". And he had slammed the phone down, cursing while he did it. Tobias too had only grudgingly promised to come. And Rachel had seemed unusually wary.
"Rachel, are you alright?" I asked as she glanced at the entrance again.
"Huh...what? What?" she see muttered, "Yeah...yeah I'm fine. Everything's fine..."
She stared at the entrance again. I looked at Cassie and shrugged my shoulders. She mouthed 'Tobias' at me. Is that what it was about? Tobias? It was hard to imagine those two upsetting each other, they got on so well...
Marco entered. He didn't step in, pause and crack a joke or say something snide like he usually did. He just entered, walked over to the most distant bale of hay and sat down without a word.
I arched an eyebrow at Cassie, who just shook her head. What was going on?
"Marco, you all right?" I ventured.
"Fine", came the mumbled respone.
I sighed, "Okay, what's going on here? What's going on you aren't telling us about, because whatever it is..."
There was a flutter of wings and Tobias entered the barn and flew to the rafters.
"Hi, Tobias", Cassie said.
(Hi) came the short reply.
I growled under my breath. Something was definitely not right here.
"Okay, what's going on?" I asked.
Marco looked up as if in a trance, "What?"
"You heard. What's going on? What's up with you three?"
"I'm fine," Rachel denied quickly.
"No, you're not. Something's wrong with the three of you. What's going on?"
"Nothing", she muttered again.
(I am most perplexed by this behaviour), Ax ventured (This is uncharacteristic of you all. Am I not correct, Prince Jake?)
I nodded grimly, "We're not carrying on until you tell us what's going on. OK?"
I felt a hand touch my arm. I looked at Cassie and she smiled at me and shook her head.
"Leave it for now, we'll sort it out afterwards", she turned her head away from the others and gave me a slight wink. So that was it. She had an idea.
Sweet, gentle Casse. I don't think we'd have gotten half as far as we have if it weren't for her.
(We have urgent things to speak of) Ax continued (And I have a confession to make. Yesterday I went to the observatory and uploaded software to it again so as to communicate with life not on this planet).
Okay, that did it. Everything else was forgotten and everyone snapped to attention.
"You did what?!?" I yelled.
"Why?" Rachel screeched, "You know what happened last time?"
Cassie said quietly, "Were you lonely again?" Ax began to look agitated. He shifted his weight from hoof to hoof.
(To be honest I don't know why I did it), he glanced around with his stalk eyes, (I...I felt drawn to. Almost directed to.)
(The Elimist) Tobias voiced what I was beginning to feel.
(No...no I don't think so. It did not feel like his interference. It was a different feeling completely), he seemed to reassert himself and gain control of the situation, (Do not worry, I deleted the software afterwards. But I detected a presence of a huge Yeerk battle ship circling the atmosphere).
"The Blade Ship?" I wondered.
(No, far larger than that. Ten times the size, but the same basic shape. A Council of Thirteen vessel).
"The Council of Thirteen?) I had heard that before, "Who are they, the Yeerk leaders?"
(Yes, in a sense. Very little is known about them by us Andalites, only a few isolated reports. But what we do know is the Head of the Council is the Yeerk Emperor).
"The Yeerk Emperor", Marco echoed, "Are you saying that's the guy coming to visit Earth?"
(Yes. The ship had his signature on it. A twisted crown. He is on Earth, no doubt, to oversee the operation Visser Three is running).
"Woah, this could be a big opportunity", Rachel enthused, "If we can take out their leader, who knows what that would do to them? Maybe..."
(We have a very precise idea about what would happen. He is there leader, inspiration, personal terror and possibly creator. Without him they would most likely shrivel and die).
We all kind of stared for maybe half a minute. A stunned silence. Then everything went crazy.
"WE CAN WIN!" Rachel cried, "The end's in sight! We can finish the slugs off for good!"
"Woah, cool it, Rachel", Casie said, "We don't know that. What if..."
(We must strike soon!) Tobias interjected, (We can't pass up this opportunity. This war could be over in days).
I could feel the flush of excitement. Was this it? Had the end come? Were we going to...win at last? "Calm it down everyone!" Marco yelled.
We all looked at him.
"It's got to be a trap", he continued, "The Yeerks aren't stupid. They wouldn't have uncloaked their ship for Ax to see. They would never have risked it."
(It would not have been possible for human technology to pick it up. Only Yeerk or Andalite detectors could have found it. They would not be concerned with that. They are an arrogant race. They would have wanted all Yeerks to see the arrival of their Lord".
Marco didn't have an answer to that. He seemed to consider then nod slowly.
"Yeah, yeah you could be right".
(I traced lesser heat signature from a smaller personal transport to the Yeerk pool beneath your human school. It seems likely to me that the Emperor is there), Ax concluded.
"Oh yes!" Rachel gave that crazy laugh that scares me a little, "We've got the scum this time for sure! All we need to do is kill their Emperor".
(Yes, it is a great pity it is impossible), Ax said.
"What do you mean impossible?" Rachel snapped, "We can whip his butt anytime? We can morph, remember?"
(The Lord of the most powerful Empire in the galaxy did not get there by being weak) Ax retorted.
Rachel looked like she was going to say something then faltered and stopped.
I groaned. Looks like I had to make the decision again.
"Look, we can't just pass this opportunity up, Ax. We've got to do something. Let's leave it a few more days. See if we hear anything else, maybe do a little covert work. Then we work out what to do from there".
There was a series of nods.
"Good, now I gotta get home before my folks fry me for being late for dinner. Marco, you coming?"
Marco got to his feet and followed me out of the barn. Tobias flew off to his meadow and I watched him go into the distance. Ax galloped away. I left Cassie and Rachel behind to themselves. We walked on until we were out of earshot and then grabbed Marco by the shoulder and spun him around to face me.
"Okay, we're alone now. So what's going on?" I snapped harshly.
"Nothing", Marco yanked himself away angrily from my grip, "Lay off me man. What's your problem?"
"No, what's your problem? And Rachel's? And Tobias'? What's going on your not telling us all?"
Marco groaned in anger.
"Marco, please", I said more gently this time, "I've been your best friends for almost all our lives. We've almost died together. Please tell me what's going on".
He paused and then looked away, "Alright, fine. I went out the other day. I was bored, you weren't around. Nobody was. Except Rachel. So I asked if she wanted to go the cinema. So we went and had a good time".
I nodded, "And?"
"Well...well, I walked her home. And then we kissed. Outside her house".
I felt like somebody had struck me in the stomach. Rachel, my cousin? And Marco my best friend? And what about Tobias... This was wrong. Very wrong. And they had always been tense around each other, digging at one another. Sometimes you could see they were joking and other times they weren't.
What I said was, "Back up here. Who kissed who? And what happened then?"
Marco glanced over my shoulder to see if anyone was nearby, "She kissed me, I guess. Then I backed off and went home without another word. Then the next day who do I discover saw this than the amazing Bird Boy?"
I moaned. Not good. Not good at all. Jeez...of all the dumb things Rachel could do...and Cassie was certain she liked Tobias. I had begun to be too. And now this?
"What did he say?"
"Not much. Just talked about me ripping his heart out and flew off before I could explain. I...I haven't had chance to speak to either of them since".
He started to stammer. I blinked. I think I've seen Marco cry about twice in my lifetime, and never about stuff like this. His face crumpled and tears flowed. I put my arms around him and hugged him and then his shoulders started to shake as he cried.
"It's okay, man. Let it out", I advised.
"Why...why can't I ever find any...anyone who won't screw my mind up. I don't...don't even like Rachel in that...that way".
"I know, I know".
He stood there sobbing for a while before he pulled away from me and wiped away the tears with the back of his sleeve.
"What am I going to do?" he murmured.
"I don't know yet. Let's just see what sense Cassie can get out of Rachel".
We began the weary trudge home, my mind full of the possibilities of the war ending, meeting the Yeerk Emperor and, bizarrely, what to do with Rachel and Marco.
THE YEERK POOL ON EARTH BENEATH THE SCHOOL
"To the pool, you slugs!" a Hork-bajir roared.
Black-uniformed Hork-bajir yelled and jeered at the red-uniformed kindreds that had no choice but to stand still and receive the abuse from the Controllers at the command of the Emperor.
They snarled and snorted at them, mocking them for not having their own private Yeerk pools. The red troops outnumbered the black ones by at least two to one, but they knew they were no match for the elite soldiers of the Council Lord. Between the ranks of the red troops they marched, and at the end of the corridor of blades was Visser Three.
Bowing.
The Emperor strode between his followers, towering over them. One armoured foot crashed down in front of the Visser and the Andalite Controller dared a glance upwards.
(Rise.) the harsh voice ordered.
Shakily Visser Three did so.
(Come, let us talk alone for a while) with a wave of his armoured hand everyone else in the room left in a rush of stomping feet.
(My Lord , it is an honour to have you on Earth) the Visser ventured.
The Lord ignored the formalities, (Earth is not in your control. You are behind our schedule. You are being delayed by a rabble of Andalites).
(They...they are elusive my Lord).
(They must be stopped. I will deal with it. They have not met the likes of myself before. And they will never have the opportunity to do so again after our first meeting).
MARCO'S POV
I woke up. I got out of bed and dressed automatically, headed down stairs, muttered a quick explanation to my Dad to where I was going, and headed outside.
I started heading for the woods. All the while I was thinking about Rachel and last night.
Jeez...what had happened? I couldn't believe it. What had I been thinking asking Rachel to the cinema? I had expected trouble, but THAT was the last thing I had expected. I was so certain she liked Tobias...she even said she did. Didn't she? I was so confused...
I drifted unconsciously towards the wood. I heard a fluttering above me. I looked up and saw a red-tailed hawk perched in a tree.
(Marco) it said.
I glanced around. No one was nearby.
"Hi".
I really was not ready to talk to Tobias. I mean, yesterday was a very good reason not to.
"Look", I muttered, "I'm not really in the mood to talk right now, okay?"
(Why not?)
That struck me. It didn't sound like Tobias usually did. He normally respects people's personal space, as long as we give him his.
(Any reason why not?) he pressed.
"I'm just not in a good mood", I insisted, "Rough night. That okay with you?"
(What happened last night?)
Then it hit me. He had seen it. Oh, man...
"Tobias dude, before you jump to any conclusions, I...I..."
I couldn't think what to say. I mean, what could I say?
He "spoke" again. This time, he sounded choked up.
(How could you do that to me, Marco? I thought...I thought you knew. How could you do this to me?).
There was a flutter of wings and then he was gone. I stood staring at where he had been for a long time. Then I yelled several words I won't repeat. I shouted and kicked a rock. It smashed against the tree with a satisfying crunch. I kicked the damn tree until my foot screamed with pain. This just wasn't fair.
I don't know how long I was there, kicking and cursing and eventually crying. At least an hour. I don't like crying. Most of the time I can't see the point. Why bother tearing yourself up about something? But this time I couldn't help myself. I had been through a lot lately. We all had. I mean, there's nothing like getting chased by hundreds of walking two meter salad shooters armed with dracon beams to get you upset. But for some reason I couldn't put my finger on this was worse. Much worse.
JAKE'S POV
I could tell something was wrong with the others. Me and Cassie had been studying for the last few days, whilst all was quiet with the Yeerks. Now more news had popped up, and I had rallied them all to the usual place of Cassie's barn.
I was there with Cassie, sitting on a straw bale. Ax was over to the left, keeping an eye out with his four eyes in case of a passer-by. Rachel was there. She looked didn't look like her normal self. She seemed restless, nervous even. She glanced back and forth to the barn entrance, awaiting the arrival of Marco and Tobias.
I didn't know what was going on. When I had phoned Marco he didn't sound pleased at the prospect of meeting up with us all. He had mumbled and grumbled something, then said ,"Yeah, I'll be there". And he had slammed the phone down, cursing while he did it. Tobias too had only grudgingly promised to come. And Rachel had seemed unusually wary.
"Rachel, are you alright?" I asked as she glanced at the entrance again.
"Huh...what? What?" she see muttered, "Yeah...yeah I'm fine. Everything's fine..."
She stared at the entrance again. I looked at Cassie and shrugged my shoulders. She mouthed 'Tobias' at me. Is that what it was about? Tobias? It was hard to imagine those two upsetting each other, they got on so well...
Marco entered. He didn't step in, pause and crack a joke or say something snide like he usually did. He just entered, walked over to the most distant bale of hay and sat down without a word.
I arched an eyebrow at Cassie, who just shook her head. What was going on?
"Marco, you all right?" I ventured.
"Fine", came the mumbled respone.
I sighed, "Okay, what's going on here? What's going on you aren't telling us about, because whatever it is..."
There was a flutter of wings and Tobias entered the barn and flew to the rafters.
"Hi, Tobias", Cassie said.
(Hi) came the short reply.
I growled under my breath. Something was definitely not right here.
"Okay, what's going on?" I asked.
Marco looked up as if in a trance, "What?"
"You heard. What's going on? What's up with you three?"
"I'm fine," Rachel denied quickly.
"No, you're not. Something's wrong with the three of you. What's going on?"
"Nothing", she muttered again.
(I am most perplexed by this behaviour), Ax ventured (This is uncharacteristic of you all. Am I not correct, Prince Jake?)
I nodded grimly, "We're not carrying on until you tell us what's going on. OK?"
I felt a hand touch my arm. I looked at Cassie and she smiled at me and shook her head.
"Leave it for now, we'll sort it out afterwards", she turned her head away from the others and gave me a slight wink. So that was it. She had an idea.
Sweet, gentle Casse. I don't think we'd have gotten half as far as we have if it weren't for her.
(We have urgent things to speak of) Ax continued (And I have a confession to make. Yesterday I went to the observatory and uploaded software to it again so as to communicate with life not on this planet).
Okay, that did it. Everything else was forgotten and everyone snapped to attention.
"You did what?!?" I yelled.
"Why?" Rachel screeched, "You know what happened last time?"
Cassie said quietly, "Were you lonely again?" Ax began to look agitated. He shifted his weight from hoof to hoof.
(To be honest I don't know why I did it), he glanced around with his stalk eyes, (I...I felt drawn to. Almost directed to.)
(The Elimist) Tobias voiced what I was beginning to feel.
(No...no I don't think so. It did not feel like his interference. It was a different feeling completely), he seemed to reassert himself and gain control of the situation, (Do not worry, I deleted the software afterwards. But I detected a presence of a huge Yeerk battle ship circling the atmosphere).
"The Blade Ship?" I wondered.
(No, far larger than that. Ten times the size, but the same basic shape. A Council of Thirteen vessel).
"The Council of Thirteen?) I had heard that before, "Who are they, the Yeerk leaders?"
(Yes, in a sense. Very little is known about them by us Andalites, only a few isolated reports. But what we do know is the Head of the Council is the Yeerk Emperor).
"The Yeerk Emperor", Marco echoed, "Are you saying that's the guy coming to visit Earth?"
(Yes. The ship had his signature on it. A twisted crown. He is on Earth, no doubt, to oversee the operation Visser Three is running).
"Woah, this could be a big opportunity", Rachel enthused, "If we can take out their leader, who knows what that would do to them? Maybe..."
(We have a very precise idea about what would happen. He is there leader, inspiration, personal terror and possibly creator. Without him they would most likely shrivel and die).
We all kind of stared for maybe half a minute. A stunned silence. Then everything went crazy.
"WE CAN WIN!" Rachel cried, "The end's in sight! We can finish the slugs off for good!"
"Woah, cool it, Rachel", Casie said, "We don't know that. What if..."
(We must strike soon!) Tobias interjected, (We can't pass up this opportunity. This war could be over in days).
I could feel the flush of excitement. Was this it? Had the end come? Were we going to...win at last? "Calm it down everyone!" Marco yelled.
We all looked at him.
"It's got to be a trap", he continued, "The Yeerks aren't stupid. They wouldn't have uncloaked their ship for Ax to see. They would never have risked it."
(It would not have been possible for human technology to pick it up. Only Yeerk or Andalite detectors could have found it. They would not be concerned with that. They are an arrogant race. They would have wanted all Yeerks to see the arrival of their Lord".
Marco didn't have an answer to that. He seemed to consider then nod slowly.
"Yeah, yeah you could be right".
(I traced lesser heat signature from a smaller personal transport to the Yeerk pool beneath your human school. It seems likely to me that the Emperor is there), Ax concluded.
"Oh yes!" Rachel gave that crazy laugh that scares me a little, "We've got the scum this time for sure! All we need to do is kill their Emperor".
(Yes, it is a great pity it is impossible), Ax said.
"What do you mean impossible?" Rachel snapped, "We can whip his butt anytime? We can morph, remember?"
(The Lord of the most powerful Empire in the galaxy did not get there by being weak) Ax retorted.
Rachel looked like she was going to say something then faltered and stopped.
I groaned. Looks like I had to make the decision again.
"Look, we can't just pass this opportunity up, Ax. We've got to do something. Let's leave it a few more days. See if we hear anything else, maybe do a little covert work. Then we work out what to do from there".
There was a series of nods.
"Good, now I gotta get home before my folks fry me for being late for dinner. Marco, you coming?"
Marco got to his feet and followed me out of the barn. Tobias flew off to his meadow and I watched him go into the distance. Ax galloped away. I left Cassie and Rachel behind to themselves. We walked on until we were out of earshot and then grabbed Marco by the shoulder and spun him around to face me.
"Okay, we're alone now. So what's going on?" I snapped harshly.
"Nothing", Marco yanked himself away angrily from my grip, "Lay off me man. What's your problem?"
"No, what's your problem? And Rachel's? And Tobias'? What's going on your not telling us all?"
Marco groaned in anger.
"Marco, please", I said more gently this time, "I've been your best friends for almost all our lives. We've almost died together. Please tell me what's going on".
He paused and then looked away, "Alright, fine. I went out the other day. I was bored, you weren't around. Nobody was. Except Rachel. So I asked if she wanted to go the cinema. So we went and had a good time".
I nodded, "And?"
"Well...well, I walked her home. And then we kissed. Outside her house".
I felt like somebody had struck me in the stomach. Rachel, my cousin? And Marco my best friend? And what about Tobias... This was wrong. Very wrong. And they had always been tense around each other, digging at one another. Sometimes you could see they were joking and other times they weren't.
What I said was, "Back up here. Who kissed who? And what happened then?"
Marco glanced over my shoulder to see if anyone was nearby, "She kissed me, I guess. Then I backed off and went home without another word. Then the next day who do I discover saw this than the amazing Bird Boy?"
I moaned. Not good. Not good at all. Jeez...of all the dumb things Rachel could do...and Cassie was certain she liked Tobias. I had begun to be too. And now this?
"What did he say?"
"Not much. Just talked about me ripping his heart out and flew off before I could explain. I...I haven't had chance to speak to either of them since".
He started to stammer. I blinked. I think I've seen Marco cry about twice in my lifetime, and never about stuff like this. His face crumpled and tears flowed. I put my arms around him and hugged him and then his shoulders started to shake as he cried.
"It's okay, man. Let it out", I advised.
"Why...why can't I ever find any...anyone who won't screw my mind up. I don't...don't even like Rachel in that...that way".
"I know, I know".
He stood there sobbing for a while before he pulled away from me and wiped away the tears with the back of his sleeve.
"What am I going to do?" he murmured.
"I don't know yet. Let's just see what sense Cassie can get out of Rachel".
We began the weary trudge home, my mind full of the possibilities of the war ending, meeting the Yeerk Emperor and, bizarrely, what to do with Rachel and Marco.