Chapter Five – Confessions and New Morphs

It didn't take them long to reach the barn where the meeting was taking place. Once there they quickly de-morphed out of sight before taking a seat side-by-side on one of the hay bales scattered around the barn, which was also the wildlife rehabilitation centre. Cassie's parents as Jack had found out were both vets, and ran the centre to help any injured wildlife that was found.

"So you finally decided to grace us with you presence" Rachel asked sarcastically as they both sat down; their thighs pressed together. Jack clasped his hands in his lap to stop himself from reaching over to grab Marco's hand in his. As Much as Jack knew Marco wanted the same thing Jack knew the other boy was just not ready to let everyone know yet; with the exception of Cassie whom Marco was going to tell when they went to the gardens.

Jack glanced over at Cassie, to see her looking at Marco and him with an undecipherable expression on her face. Catching her eyes Cassie smiled slightly at him before turning back to where Jake had started talking. Jack suddenly realized that Cassie had probably realized he and Marco were a couple. Sighing inwardly to himself, Jack turned his attention back to what Jake was telling them.

"Ok, Cassie and Marco can go with Jack to the Gardens so he can get some more morphs. The rest of us will stay here. Erik told me that he had some important information for us, I'll tell you three what he said when you get back, in the meantime you better get going to the Gardens" Jake said motioning for the three of us to get going.

Smiling broadly Jack concentrated on the Bald Eagle which was his morph; the first thing to change was his eyes. Suddenly Jack could see for miles on end, after that he felt his mouth and nose harden and move outward into the hard curves of the Eagle's beak; next to change was his height and feather's forming all over his body. Before long two ospreys and an Eagle took flight into the afternoon sky, quickly gaining altitude until they could soar gracefully between the thermals.

This is great, I love flying> Jack yelled out making a quick dive toward to ground, before regaining his lost altitude, to fly alongside his boyfriend and their friend.

Yeah, I agree. Flying would have to be on my top ten lists of things to do> Marco agreed.

Marco, you may as well tell her now while we're flying, before we get too busy to do anything else> Jack privately told Marco.

Yeah, wish me luck Marco replied laughing nervously. Cassie, I have something I need to tell you. Just don't freak out or anything like that please> Marco said trying to build up his quickly withering courage.

Sure, what is it Marco?> Cassie said in her soothing voice.

I'm gay, I've known for awhile, and I'm seeing someone Marco said pausing to think about what he was about to say I wanted you to be the first to know, because I figured you'd be the most reasonable and would be able to tell me how the other's would react>Marco said silently waiting for what his friend would say.

I think I'd kinda figured out you were gay before; But are you sure your boyfriend isn't a controller?> Cassie asked letting her concern for Marco show through in her tone of voice.

Cool and I'm sure he's not a controller. You know him> Marco replied.

Cassie thought about what Marco said silently putting two-and-two together, suddenly realization dawned on her You're seeing Jack. In the barn earlier I thought it was odd that you were both practically sitting in each others laps. It all makes sense now> Cassie replied.

Hey we were not sitting in each others laps; and you're ok with this?> Jack complained.

Yeah, and I think you'll be surprised at everyone's reactions. I think Jake will take it with a grain of salt; Ax wont understand; Tobias will accept it either way and Rachel, will be surprised but she'll be fine> Cassie finished diving down to land in a dark alley in the gardens.

Once they landed the three of them de-morphed.

Making sure they had not been seen, the three of them made their way into the back of the exhibits, so that Jack could acquire his morphs.

"This way, we'll go to the dolphins and water exhibits first" Cassie said leading the way.

The three of them spent most of the afternoon walking around the backs of the exhibits acquiring various morphs that would be useful in battle situations.

After Jack had acquired morphs of dolphin, shark, whale, wolf, seagull, fly, flea, cockroach, and various others Cassie suggested they head over to where the dangerous animals were kept so that he could acquire a battle morph.

"Have you thought about what morph you want?" Cassie asked as we walked over to one of the exhibits.

"Yeah, a Black Panther" Jack replied grinning at her.

"Ok we just got one in, she's over here" she said as she walked over to the enclosure at the far end of the corridor. Once she was standing in front of it she beckoned them over.

"Marco, and I will go to battle morphs so you can get close enough to her, just make sure you approach slowly and make no threatening movements, as soon as it goes into a trance run out of the enclosure as fast as you can."

"Ok, let's do it" Jack said, unknowingly imitating Rachel.

Jack slowly watched as his boyfriend and Cassie Morphed; Cassie to wolf and Marco to Gorilla. Once that was done the three teens entered the enclosure slowly.

It didn't take long for Jack to notice the large black panther laying sunning itself. With as much caution as he could muster Jack approached the sleeping animal, being wary as not to wake it.

Once he was within touching distance he cautiously reached out his right hand, laying it firmly against the animal's rump. Closing his eyes Jack concentrated on acquiring the sleeping animal. Once that was done the three of them ran flat out straight out of the enclosure.

The three of them wandered through the exhibits acquiring any morphs they thought would come in useful. Half of them Jack didn't even want to think about morphing.

After they had finished they made their way back to the alley where they had arrived; checking to make sure there were no unwanted visitors. The three of them morphed to bird and flew back to the barn where the others were waiting.

Cassie when we get to the barn I'm going to tell the others about me and Jack before I lose my nerve> Marco told her as they saw the barn in the distance.

Ok, good luck> Cassie replied as she landed and started to de-morph.

Once they had all finished de-morphing Marco sat down on a hay bale next to Jack.

"Erik just left, how did you go at the gardens?"

"Great, Jack is now a Black Panther, and any other animal he wants, we got him to acquire a lot of useful morphs. Also before I lose my nerve there is something I want to tell you all, which is totally un-related" Marco told Jake nervously.

"Ok, what's the big secret?" Jake asked

"I'm seeing some-one"

"Are you crazy? She could be a controller for all we know" Rachel started to rage, loosing her tamper in her usual fashion.

"He's not a controller, I know that for a fact" Marco said looking at them all.

As he faced Jake he noticed him looking at Jack, Marco realized he'd probably figured it out. Trust Jake to notice everything.

"He?...what are you talking about?" Rachel asked genuinely confused. She'd never been exposed to many gay relationships and the concept that Marco may be dating someone of the same sex seemed foreign to her.

"I mean I'm gay, I like guys not girls" Marco explained seriously. For once not cracking any jokes.

"Wow, ok so who's the lucky guy?" Rachel asked trying to wrap her mind around the concept.

"Jack" Marco answered.

"Oh, I thought you both seemed to spend a lot of time together, but I still can't believe you are into guys, you've always chased every girl that graced the school" Rachel said.

"True, but that was mainly a cover, I didn't want anyone to find out" Marco said taking a seat beside Jack on a bale of hay.

"Ok enough about this. What did Robot-boy want?" Marco quickly changed the subject.

Picking up on what Marco was doing Jake quickly helped him out by starting to explain what Erik had wanted.

"Apparently there is a top-Secret government program that is capable of instantaneous travel to other planets. He's not sure how exactly they are doing it but at the moment that isn't our main concern. What's important is that the Yeerks have taken a sudden interest in the program. The program is located in Cheyenne Mountain in Colorado Springs, We need to go there, see if the Yeerk's have infiltrated or not and prevent them from getting in there." Jake finished.

Throughout Jake's explanation Jack had grown steadily pale "shit" Jack exclaimed.

"Yeah we have to figure out how to get in there though" Jake replied not noticing how pale Jack had become.

"No, ah I can get in there without too much fuss" Jack said.

"How, just walk up and ask for access to their top secret facility, they'll probably shoot first ask questions later" Marco Joked.

"Usually that would be true, but I know the commander of the base as well as the 2IC. I was there just before I moved here, I'm nearly one hundred percent sure it hasn't been taken by the Yeerks." Jack replied.

"There is something you aren't telling us" Jake said grimly noticing the way Jack kept fidgeting.

"Your right, but I can't tell you what it is. It would compromise National Security" Jack said hating not being able to tell his new friends.

"Stuff National Security, we won't tell. Don't you trust us" Marco asked looking genuinely hurt at the thought.

"It's not that, It's … Complicated" Jack sighed looking at his friends "Fine but it'll sound crazy. Just hear me out before you pass judgment" Jack said not believing he was about to tell one of America's best kept secrets.

"Deal" they all replied.

"Ok" Jack said taking a deep breath before continuing "I'm not exactly who I said I was. I used to work at the SGC which is the base we need to go to. I was a 43 year old colonel in the Air Force." Pausing slightly Jack took in their reactions so far. They appeared to be following so far and hadn't interrupted yet so that was a good sign. Right? "About a week before I came here I was kidnapped by an alien called Loki. Loki cloned me but it didn't work, I was supposed to be fully aged to 43 but I only aged to 17. I'm a clone. The 'Original' is still in Cheyenne Mountain. We traveled though a device called the Stargate to various planets looking for allies and new technology to defeat the Goa'uld who we are currently at war with" Jack quickly finished off.

"So your telling us your not really you. But a clone and the original is fighting aliens and going through a device called a Stargate. Is that Right?" Marco asked disbelievingly.

"Yes. Look I Know it sounds crazy, but I can guarantee it's the truth" Jack pleaded with his lover and friends to believe his unlikely story, though to tell the truth it wasn't that crazy considering who he was talking to.

"OK then if what you say is true we have to make sure the Yeerks never gain control of this facility no matter what the consequences" Jake Said looking at each of us in turn.

"Yeah, once we get to Colorado, I can get us into the base fairly easily" Jack told them.

"Ok we leave tomorrow. Every one make sure you get a good nights sleep" Jake told them all as they stood up to leave.

Looking around at the messy barn area Jack sighed. The shit was about to hit the fan quiet literally. He just hoped the Animorphs were ready to deal with whatever happened. Looking at Marco, Jack smiled broadly. Reaching out and taking his hand the two boys walked quickly from the barn. They were ready to face whatever the next day held.

TBC