A/N: wow, I think I've forgotten what the word "update" means. I just wanted to finish this thing to get it out of my hair. I hope you guys like this… I'd hate to disappoint anyone. At the same time, I have tons of fics going on right now and I just don't have a lot of time. I'll see what I can do for you.
It was 8:00, and everyone met at Cassie's barn. It wasn't very dark outside yet, but Jake had no idea how long the mission would take, so he wanted to get it started early. So many things could go wrong, and he was incredibly worried. This plan just had too many holes for it to go smoothly. Maybe it would work out in the end, but not without untieing a few knots first.
"I still don't like this," Jake told everyone. "They might have a password or something."
I was thinking about that, Tobias replied from the rafters. What about if we flew in as owls like we did before, but then demorph, morph some other humans, and then just walked up to the house and told the current guard to take a break? He'd assume that we already got past whatever security there was.
"That's a good idea," Jake answered. "But we don't have any other human morphs."
"And it should stay that way," Cassie spoke up.
Marco looked at her, maybe in frustration. "Then what? We're teenagers; they're all adults. They won't think we can do it alone. Do you have an idea?"
"What about Erek?" Rachel wondered. "He could just project a hollogram around us. It'd be easy to get him in; he could just blend in with the grass or something until we were ready."
Jake nodded. "I think that's the best way."
Anything else?
"I don't think so… no. Well, other than grabbing Erek."
"Let's do it," Rachel said as she started walking to the door of the shed. The rest of them followed her outside.
I can't believe I turned Cecelia down for this, Marco mumbled as him, Cassie, and Tobias flew away from the park. The three of them had morphed birds and were going to be just outside the park in case of an emergency.
Erek was using a hollogram to disguise him, cockroaches Rachel and Ax, and tiger Jake as a very tall, muscular man. They were going to tell the current guard to take a break, just as planned, and then Rachel and Ax were to enter the house and destroy the Yeerk pool inside. Jake wanted to be there because he would feel guilty leaving them alone, and also for firepower just in case.
Marco, what did you do with Jake that was more important than our date? he asked himself, pretending to be Cecelia. Then he took on his normal voice. Oh, that? I morphed into an owl and kept watch to make sure parasitic slugs didn't fight back in our effort to rescue the country. But all I really did, Cecelia, was sit in a tree and watch.
You complain an awful lot, Tobias noted. You don't have to do this if you don't want to… you had your chance to quit.
Quit? Marco the Magnificent does not simply quit, my good man.
If it was your choice, then why are you whining about it? I'm sure Jake would let you go back if you want. He wouldn't be happy, but in the end he'd let you.
You're sure testy tonight, Marco noted. Do you have something better to do?
I'm just irritated, that's all. Sitting in a tree, watching them do what they're supposed to, hearing you whine.
Well- Marco stopped talking when he started to get suspicious about what was going on below them. The house guard didn't seem like he wanted to let Erek and the others take over. Why isn't he leaving?
He just doesn't want to leave his post, Cassie answered. They're not suspicious – yet. That man just isn't tired.
"I can cover for a minute if your host needs to relieve himself or something," Erek said to the guard. He didn't use his normal voice; he distorted it.
"My host is fine," the man answered. "Go somewhere else where you can be of more help."
"I was told to guard here, and there's no use in having two guards for such a tedious job," Erek insisted. "But I will do as I was told." Then he took up a position by the door of the house. The man looked at him for a minute and refused to move, but in two minutes he finally gave up and walked away.
That worried me, Jake stated. Rachel? Ax? Go for it.
And hurry up, Marco called to them from his tree.
Rachel rounded a courner so that she wasn't visible to whoever was outside, and then began to demorph quickly, so that she could spend as little time as possible in that morph. Ax followed her, and soon they were both in their natural states.
"Okay, now where is this pool?" Rachel asked him. Ax shook his head – a human behavior he'd picked up.
I do not know. It would help if we were more able to see.
"Should we go owl?"
I will ask. Then Ax directed his thought-speech to Jake. Prince Jake? We did not think of everything when we planned this, and Rachel and I are unable to see. Do you advise we morph into owls?
Yeah, sure, Jake answered. Or anything else you think would be helpful. Your job is to destroy the Yeerk pool and not make a scene. Beyond that, do what you have to.
Yes, Prince Jake.
But Ax? I think you guys should try wolf instead. With the owl it'll be harder to get around.
Yes, Prince Jake.
The two inside started morphing into wolves. Once they were done, they went down a long hallway. They sniffed around for awhile, trying to smell Yeerks or a Yeerk pool. After some wandering, they found the way to get there. They crawled through a small opening and there, found the pool.
There aren't many Yeerks in here, Rachel noted. Maybe they were just going to test it out on a few people or something, because I can only see maybe ten Yeerks.
Just get rid of it, Jake ordered.
You got it. Rachel demorphed and walked over to where there were a few Dracon beams up against the wall. She paused for a second, tired because of the morphing, and then aimed it at the pool. "Bye-bye."
TSEEEW!
Beep!
What was that? Jake demanded.
You were able to hear that? Ax asked.
Um, yeah, some kind of beeping noise. Guys, get out now! People are looking over here.
"Hang on!" Rachel said as she started her transition back to wolf. Jake couldn't hear her, but she said it anyways. She was frustrated now, on top of being tired.
Beep! Beep!
We are trying, Prince Jake.
Anyone else hear a beeping noise?
I hear it, Tobias stated. And I'm way up here.
A bomb? Cassie demanded, astonished.
I think they rigged it so if anyone touched the pool, it would self-destruct, Marco said. You know, kill the Andalite bandits if they get nearby.
Rachel and Ax out now! Jake ordered. We're getting some eyes, and-
Beep beep beep!
We're coming! Rachel snapped. Hang on already!
Rachel, look! There is an opening here, and it is right by the fence!
Rachel looked over where Ax was looking, and he was right. It was the quickest way out from where they were. Jake, get yourself and Erek out. Don't worry about us; we found a way.
Rachel!
I know, I know! Trust me, Jake. Get out.
Let's go, Erek.
Erek walked away from the house, trying to look casual. Then a Controller walked up to him and asked him what he was doing.
"It's making a strange noise," Erek told the man. "It sounds like an explosive of somekind."
The man gave him a sideways look and then walked over to the house. He heard glass shatter and ran inside to see what was going on.
Beepbeepbeepbeep!
High-pitched beeping noises, that grew faster and faster.
Everyone run! Jake ordered. Erek, get us out of here.
Erek looked around to see if anyone was watching. When he didn't see anyone, he changed the hologram to look like the scenery around them and then ran, with Jake running beside him.
BOOM!
The haunted house suddenly burst out into flames, Yeerk pool, Controller, and all. All of the Controllers guarding the park looked over there to see what had happened, but all they saw was a house on fire.
Rachel? Ax? Jake asked.
Jake! We're okay; we got out. Rachel's voice. Both of us.
Good. Back to Cassie's.