No, vicky2nd, you won't have to kill me. I bring up Marco's humor in this chapter.

Sorry, Elwing, but I'm not good at writing longer chapters.

Thanks, Shadow Hunter Mashel. What do you mean by jazz
Chapter Two: How?

My mind was reeling. We had all seen Rachel die aboard the Blade Ship. There was no way she could be standing right there in front of us.

Had she had that evil smile before she died? Or before whatever had happened to her had? Because it didn't look familiar. She had always had a playful evil smile, but that was the sort of thing that made you laugh in amusement. This was more the sort of thing that made you cry in fear.

Was I just pulling at threads? Maybe it wasn't Rachel.

Yeah Marco. I thought. Rachel has an identical twin who happens to be your tormenter.

I couldn't focus. I'm sure there was a good joke in there somewhere, but I couldn't find it.

"You've looked worse," I said. But as I said it, I knew it was just a feeble attempt at a joke.

"Rachel" said, (This person was never amused by your pitiful attempts at jokes, human. Or should I say, Joxer?) She spoke with a deep resonance in her voice.

Well, that settles the question of whether or not it's really Rachel. But did she just refer to herself in third person? I thought.

"Rachel, we're your friends!" I said, standing up.

The man who had been bugging me earlier said slapped me and said "Bow before your goddess, Seshat!"

"Seshat?" I asked, confused. "But her name is Rachel!"

(That is the name of this human,) "Rachel" said. (My name is Seshat.)

"Mi lady, what course of action shall be taken on them?" asked the One.

(These three were Animorphs, they shall be taken as hosts like this one. I will kill the other three, said Seshat. Take them all to the holding cell for now.)

"Host?" I said, concerned. "You're a Yeerk?"

Seshat slapped me. (Don't you EVER compare me with those slugs again! I am a goddess!)

I was really sick of being unconscious. But I guess I had little choice.
I woke up in some sort of holding cell, alone.

"Okay, we need to talk," I said to the others, who were already awake. "I think Rachel's a Controller whose Yeerk is on the outs with the Yeerk Empire. And she wants to make us into Controllers too."

"No, I don't think so," said Jake, who appeared thoughtful. "Rachel, or Seshat, or whoever, spoke with a resonating voice. I don't think it's a Yeerk."

Santorelli spoke up. "Seshat. The Egyptian goddess of writing and measurement. Appeared as a women wearing a panther skin dress and a star headdress."

"A male Fred Flinstone?" I said. Everyone glared at me. "What?"

I suddenly noticed Jeanne looking ashamed of herself.

"Jeanne, what aren't you telling us?" Jake asked as I was still trying to put it into nice words.

Jeanne sighed and said, "I was working with a top secret organization before going to your class, Jake." She paused.

"Go on," I urged.

"This could get me into very hot water when, if, we ever get back to Earth, but, all right. We go to other planets through a device called the Stargate. I mean, went to other planets. A race known as the Goa'uld control most of the known galaxy. They are very similar to the Yeerks. A sort of souped up version. Their hosts have a deep resonating voice unless the Goa'uld doesn't want them to. The Goa'uld think that they're gods and goddesses."

"So? We'll starve the Go-whatever out of Rachel!" I said.

Jeanne shook her head. "Goa'uld never need to leave their hosts for anything, except changing hosts."

"Oh," I said.

"Only surgical removal gets them out."

"Oh boy," said four voices and one thought speak voice in unison.


If you didn't catch the Joxer reference, go read Animorphs 20. Rachel calls Marco Joxer when she asks what he is if she's Xena.

It appears Goa'uld don't like Yeerks. And let's face it, who can blame them?

Next time, on Rachel's snake: A race against time to save all six crew members of The Rachel. If they don't hurry, half will become Goa'uld hosts, and the other half will die. "'There's got to be a way out' Jake said."