What is hidden inside a phone
Jeanne paused once again, blinking through the rain and glancing behind her. Menderash almost stumbled into view, face nearly as grey as the rain. But his entire left side was red with blood, and the hand that clutched at the wound was covered with the same.
Are you okay? Jeanne asked, for maybe the twentieth time. She leaped up next to him and spied in amongst the trees. No signs of pursuers. Should we stop and rest?
Not until we reach the others, Menderash replied in a voice sounding as if it came through gritted teeth and continued forwards at a merciless speed.
Whoa, at least we could slow down a bit! Jeanne said, joining him and then shortening her strides. He sank gratefully back to her pace, and she asked; How far is it?
Shouldn't be far, Menderash muttered. It was his instinctive Andalite sense of direction that had led them towards the place Jake had decided on. But considering that the former Andalite could barely keep on his feet, Jeanne was not so sure of how trustworthy his instincts were.
To her surprise, there had been no pursuers. Not that she was complaining – but it did make her suspicious. The rain had basically eliminated any sense of smell, or hearing, and most of sight as well, and she wouldn't have been surprised if someone was following them and had managed to remain unnoticed. She had to trust her panther morph, which always before had become tense and wary even before she herself noted the danger.
The panther told her there was nothing to worry about.
Despite Menderash's brave front, it was soon apparent that he wouldn't be able to go much further. Jeanne slowed their pace again, wondering quietly what she would do if the former Andalite collapsed. Her panther couldn't carry him – she had no morph that could, and although dragging him through the mud might have been effective, it was probably not an alternative. Well – not a good one. She was more or less sure that her own human form would be strong enough, if it came to that, but the idea of barging around blindly and slowly through these woods, unprotected and with such a heavy burden, did not appeal to her.
Not far now, said Menderash finally. He peered forwards, swaying where he stood. Just a few… thirty, maybe forty meters. Straight ahead.
Jeanne, who had been playing with different ideas in her head, came to a decision. Sit down, she ordered.
He gave her a killing glare. I am perfectly able of –
Sit! Down! Jeanne repeated harshly, snarling lowly, turning towards him with teeth bared. The weary Andalite backed away and sank meekly to the ground, near a tree, almost hidden by the mass of bushes.
Good.
I am going to make sure the rendez-vous point is secure, she informed him firmly. In case it is, I will return within five minutes. If not, it will take longer. You are to remain here, and –
Menderash made an attempt to get back to his feet, using the tree to support him, but Jeanne shook her panther head.
Stay here. If hostiles have infiltrated the rendez-vous, I will have to flee. I do not want you there in that case, because you would slow us down. You might be captured – or worse, you might get us both captured.
Menderash glared at her with eyes as sharp as an Andalite tail-blade, and made another attempt to stand up. You can't give me any orders, he spat. You're but a soldier, a human soldier, and I am a First Officer of the Andalite –
A severely wounded First Officer, in no condition to fight, flee, make decisions or give out any orders, Jeanne countered. Now sit! Do not avert from location! And whatever you do, do not fall asleep.
If only I'd been Andalite… Menderash growled in response, his anger causing his thought-speech-voice to quaver.
If you'd have been a non-morphable Andalite and this badly wounded, the only difference would have been that it'd have been harder to hide you. Being human isn't that bad, Menderash, but for almost any creature being wounded is being weakened – although Andalites don't seem to realise it. she let her voice soften. Don't worry. Just stay here, and stay awake.
Menderash gave her a glance, the anger fading out of his expression, replaced by fatigue, and he nodded wearily. His eyes were already beginning to close. His breathing was unsteady; rasping and irregular.
Jeanne regarded him, herself worried despite her brave words. I'll hurry back, she promised. She made sure the former Andalite was safely hidden among the bushes, and then turned to leap away. Alone, it was easy for the panther to keep to a good speed, and soon she was closing in on her destination, slowing down, crawling together and starting to grow cautious.
She was more than a little proud of herself when she, without having been spotted, came to just behind where a large gorilla loomed. She knew how watchful Marco and the other Animorphs usually were, and admitted it was probably only because of the rain she was able to get so close.
Still, she couldn't help playing them a little joke. She crouched down, keeping near the ground, head lowered, and crept closer to the gorilla with all the panther's silent, deadly stealth. She aimed for Marco's shoulders and prepared to leap.
Movement.
The next second she was sprawled on her back, a very angry tiger standing over her, snarling, his fur bristling. Marco turned around, not looking the least bit surprised. Behind him, KEdi'ir dropped down from a tree. Santorelli, a human, looked at her from beside Marco, arms crossed over his chest and eyebrows raised.
She'd obviously been seen.
Damn it, she commented.
The tiger stopped snarling and instead scowled down at her. Jake had chosen a good morph, she noted; tigers were excellent for scowling.
Grow up, Jeanne, he said, voice more than slightly reprimanding. No games when I'm on watch. I might have killed you.
He took a step aside to let her go, and she rolled back up on all four. You didn't.
Pure luck. Where's Menderash?
A few meters back. He can barely keep on his feet, and I thought that if this place had been infiltrated by hostiles, we'd have to flee, and he's in no condition to do any running.
The tiger eyed her critically. So you basically left a wounded friend unattended in the middle of hostile territory.
Way to go, Jeanne! Marco cheered. Jake glared at him and he decided it might be a good idea to keep quiet. And to take a step back.
Jeanne sat down, lifting a muddy paw and surveying it critically. I made a tactical decision, Jake, she said as she lifted the other and nonchalantly inspected her claws. She had not chosen badly herself; panthers were experts at nonchalance. I'm not sure he'd have made it even this far without collapsing. And then I'd probably have had to leave him anyway, at least for a few moments. I was just going to make sure you were here, safe, and go straight back. It is the right thing to do in such a situation. she put both paws back down and met the tiger's gaze.
After thinking it over for a long, silent minute, Jake nodded. Too late to do anything about now, anyway. Go back and get him. Marco, go with her. Don't argue. You'll probably need to carry him, if Jeanne isn't exaggerating.
Wouldn't do that, Jake, Jeanne said.
Marco huffed. That Andalite is proud enough to keep on his feet even if someone chopped them off. He won't accept being carried, no matter if he's so weak he needs a respirator to keep him alive.
Shut up, Marco, Jeanne growled, leading the way back in the direction she had come. Marco grumbled sourly in thought-speech but followed without complaint.
Cassie surveyed her surroundings, landed, and demorphed once again. She had – as usual – seen nothing. Nothing suspicious – nothing leading to those who were still terrorizing her Hork-Bajir friends.
Jake's morphers were a lot of help in keeping the Hork-Bajir safe, true, but their different schedules formed an effective limit to how much they were able to help. It was only rarely more than one of them was there at the same time, and even more rarely that any of them were able to stay more than a few days.
At the time, none of them were at the habitat, and Cassie was the only one available to do surveillance. She was very tired, having spent the entire day on wing, and came out of her morph already yawning. She put her constant companion, her mobile phone, in a pocket on her new, morphable jacket.
"I thought you might land here," said a bemused voice from right beside her.
At first she was alarmed, but then calmed down as she recognized the voice; a voice tainted with a metallic clang that you heard only if you knew it was there.
Erek King's hologram flickered from a young tree to his normal, human appearance. His holographic face was smiling, but still he seemed annoyed.
"I'm happy to see you, Erek," Cassie said, relieved, sinking down to sit on a large stone. "I –"
"Wait." The hologram disappeared, leaving his true android form standing before her. She guessed that the hologram was not gone, but had just reshaped to conceal them both. "You contacted me. Now what do you want?"
Definitely annoyed. Cassie sighed mentally, eyes darting to the side before turning back to the Chee. She ran her fingers through her short hair. "I was hoping I could ask you a favour."
"I knew it. A favour. Just like Jake wanted a favour. I'm not sure I want to be around you Animorphs any more, and I'm not that eager to do you any more favours, either."
"If you knew that's what I wanted, and you're planning to refuse, then why did you even show up?" Cassie wondered, wanting to get past this stage of the conversation as quickly as possible.
"Excellent question." The android glared at her – as much as a pacifist robot ever could glare. "So what, exactly, did you have in mind?"
"I need someone to help me with the Hork-Bajir. They're in trouble."
"They're still being killed?" Erek wondered, voice now soft, his anti-violence programming spurring him to be concerned.
"Fewer killings over the last few days. But since last month we've lost nine. Kidnapped. Alive or dead, I don't know. And I don't understand it. They've got orders to stay close, and if they're gone they'd have had to have left freely. Even if someone could have come close enough to grab one, that'd have alerted the others. I don't understand it."
"And what can I do?"
"I was hoping you Chee could help me with surveillance. I know that you can't interfere if something should happen, but you can watch, you can alert security, and I'd feel much safer, because I know I can trust you. I need to find and bring down those bastards, those –" she proceeded with a list of more colourful descriptions. She was very eloquent, and very creative, until…
"Watch your language, Cassie," chided the Chee, making her mouth snap closed with a guilty expression. He peered at her with his dark eyes. Hard to believe when you saw those eyes and how expressive they were that they were artificial. "You seem nervous. What is it? And why do you ask this now? Has it something to do with you being shot?"
"Not… exactly," Cassie said, staring down at her hands for a few moments before looking up again. "I'm leaving Earth."
Erek did not look surprised. "You are," he simply said.
"I hate leaving the Hork-Bajir and Toby like this, but Jake's morphers will be around whenever they can, and security here is the best available, and there's always Ronnie, and... I was hoping you could help."
"We… the Chee… can't tell anyone what we are… you know that."
"Toby knows. You can work with her. No-one else needs to know."
The dark, artificial eyes studied her further, seemingly looking straight through her and into her very soul. "Cassie?"
"Yes?"
"What about Ronnie?"
Cassie bit her lip. "What about him?"
"Does he know? Or is he perhaps coming with you?"
"Ronnie wouldn't be happy leaving Earth," Cassie stated quickly.
"Does he know?"
"Only Toby knows. She'll tell the others. When I'm already gone." She gave the android an exasperated look. "I can't stay here any longer. It's driving me insane. I… I have to know what happened to the others. To Jake, and Tobias, and Marco, and Ax, and… Jake."
"You already mentioned him."
Cassie looked flustered, but she threw her hands out, shrugged, and continued; "I just have to know. I have to. They're my best friends, my family, even, and… I can't sit here and wonder. Maybe they need my help. Maybe –"
"Cassie, calm down. I'm not a judge – at least not during this century – and you don't need to explain yourself to me."
Cassie took a deep breath, shoving her hands into the pockets of her jacket and pulling her legs up further on the stone. Her bare feet looked frozen in the chilly evening air, but she didn't seem to notice. Maybe she was used to it. "I'm just nervous, Erek. Nervous. That's all. I hate leaving Ronnie behind like this, to begin with, but…" she sighed.
"You value the Animorphs higher than him."
Cassie nodded, sadly. "I feel terrible about it, but… I don't know. I'll be back someday, and I just have to hope he'll understand. Don't think he will, though. And in that case, maybe it's for the best."
"Maybe it is." The andriod made a wry face. "Well, I need to go find Toby –"
"Thanks, Erek, it really means a lot," Cassie interrupted, looking greatly relieved.
Erek nodded. "I'm sure I'm going to regret this, but you're welcome. Now you've probably got surveillance to take care of…"
Cassie nodded, slid down from the stone and drew her hands out of her pockets. The mobile phone fell out as well, slamming into the stone and falling to the ground in two pieces. Cassie bent down to pick it up, but Erek – looking alert – was quicker. He took one part and lifted it, surveying it carefully.
Cassie lifted the other, and then sent the android a glance. "What is it?"
"That's what I'm wondering," Erek said. He removed a small, green chip from the side of the phone – the part that had been the inside – with surprisingly nimble fingers and held it out on his palm. "Seen this before?"
Cassie frowned, and shook her head. "I'm not very technological, Erek. I'm not even sure I'd be able to put the phone back together just now. Isn't that supposed to be there?"
"This is a tracking device, Cassie," said Erek, who suddenly looked very serious. "And no, it's not supposed to be there. Unless you want whoever calls your mobile to be able to pinpoint your exact location."
Cassie took the tiny chip between her fingers and studied it. "Is that a bad thing?" she asked, knowing it was a stupid question but not being able to help it.
"That depends on who's calling. But one thing's for sure – it was not put there by the phone company." He retook the chip. A niche opened under one of his eyes, and he inserted the chip there. It took only a moment before he spoke again; "It's not been used often, fortunately. You have to call from a special number to it, so I was wrong – anyone wouldn't be able to tell where you were. The number wouldn't show on screen, either. Very simple, but ingenious, in its own way."
"What's the number?"
"Whatever it is, it's not in any phone books I have access to. Can't trace it that way – and if I can't, it probably won't help you, either. I'll have a closer look over Chee-net later."
Cassie nodded. "How long has it been there?" she wondered.
"I don't know." The android had taken both parts of Cassie's broken mobile phone, examined them, and put them back together. "Do you want the chip back as well?"
Cassie shook her head, taking the phone Erek handed her with a noticeable degree of reluctance.
"Keep an eye open, Cassie," Erek warned. "Something's not right here."
Cassie shrugged. "That, I already knew. Probably the same madmen who are after the Hork-Bajir."
"Or the ones who tried to kill you."
Cassie gave him a short look, realising he was right. "Could still be the same people," she pointed out.
Erek nodded. He switched his hologram back to surround only himself and at once disappeared from sight. "That doesn't make me feel much better – be careful. I'm going to find Toby. Good luck with your surveillance."
Cassie didn't bother to wonder if he was still around, or if he actually had already left. She began morphing back to osprey. One last shift, she thought, and then she'd go back to camp and call it a night. She wanted to spend some time with Ronnie before her departure, too.
Grumbling, Jeanne led Marco back to where she had left Menderash. The rain was still falling heavily, and her senses were worse off than ever. After having been knocked over by Jake she was – involuntarily – wearing a heavy layer of mud in her black panther fur. No matter – the rain would soon wash it out. That didn't stop her from complaining.
He just had to push me into the worst mud pile in the forest, did he? she muttered, again drawing a paw across her face to remove the mud from her eyes.
Even being in gorilla morph didn't stop Marco's apparent grin. Well, you asked for it. You should've known better than to sneak on an Animorph. Sorry – did I say sneak? I meant try to sneak. Try to. Try. And fail. Haha.
Most amusing.
It was, wasn't it? he sighed, obviously working very hard on keeping a straight face. But you shouldn't complain. That mud goes great with your eyes.
Jeanne bared her fangs at him. Marco leapt a step aside. And your teeth, too, now that you point it out. But I think you need to brush those things more often.
Shut. Up.
You know, I've been told that so many times I think I'm growing immune. Are we there yet?
Jeanne glanced around. It was hard to localize herself in this constant rain. But she managed and continued forwards. Just a little further.
That's what you said the last time.
Oh, shut up.
Marco nodded importantly to himself. Yep, definite immunity coming on. That didn't affect me the least.
So I noticed. Here we are. Menderash?
No reply. He must have fallen asleep or fallen unconscious, despite all, Jeanne thought, walking over to the bushes behind which she'd left the nothlit. Her nose twitched futilely, trying to catch some sort of scent. Hello?
Those the bushes? Marco muttered, joining her. The Andalite probably fell asleep. Allow me. he brushed the bushes aside with a gigantic gorilla hand.
No Menderash.
You sure this is the place? Marco grumbled, letting the bushes fall back and giving Jeanne a questioning glance.
Jeanne nodded numbly. I'm sure… he can't have left, he could barely walk, and still… he wouldn't… wouldn't walk out on us – would he?
No, Marco said sourly. Wouldn't. Too damn proud. he shook his head. I don't like this.
Jeanne whisked the tip of her tail, panther senses suddenly alert. Are we being watched?
Yep, that too. He made an almost undetectable gesture towards a tree to their right, where one could detect a glimmer of green. But most of all, I don't like having to tell Jake that Menderash's gone. He will not be happy. Let's go.
Marco set a high speed for returning to Jake, KEdi'ir and Santorelli, and Jeanne kept pace easily with her loping panther run.
We'll be able to track him, right? she said.
Marco let out a gorilla huff. In this weather? Not likely. No scents, no traces, no witnesses, no evidence, no nothing. A wolf couldn't track a spraying skunk in weather like this. Feels like someone's pouring an ocean over us. I find myself considering my orca morph.
Then how…
If we're going to find him, we'll have to put our faith in old Lady Luck. But considering that Menderash disappeared to begin with, we are currently on the Lady's bad side. he shook his head again. Jake is so not going to like this.
Aralgo decided that this was an excellent opportunity to panic.
He had not panicked at any time since leaving the Home World (except for that slight outburst of claustrophobia at the first sight of his quarters, but that didn't count). He had remained calm throughout entering Kelbrid space, the rushed escape from the Daybreak, the (on his part very brief) encounter with the Kelbird on their planet, or at any other time.
But here he was, alone in the Phantom with two angry Andalites he was pretty sure were Controllers and wanted him infested. Or perhaps dead. He liked neither alternative. So he quickly decided that, yep, it was enough cause for a good fit of panic.
Having come to that decision, he was preparing to do so – when something completely unexpected happened.
The two warriors were advancing, tails raised and looking generally menacing, when suddenly one tripped and fell flat on his face.
One of Minalea's trip wires had caught his left front hoof.
Aralgo sent a silent and sincere thank-you to Minalea's over-done fondness for making people stumble, blessing it with a long and healthy existence – far away from himself, preferably, but still long and healthy.
Being smart enough to see an opportunity when it came, he abandoned his plan to panic and instead darted forwards, flashing his tail at the warrior's head to knock him out.
He didn't even have time to pull back before the other Controller attacked. At once he noted that the attacker's skills would push his own to their limit – perhaps further. There was no way he could win. He found himself in a defensive stance, working hard just to avoid being struck, with no time or energy to even try striking back.
He was forced to back away, step by step, and soon he was fighting with his back against the wall. And finding it highly uncomfortable.
Fortunately, his stalks detected the shredders lying sloppily abandoned (the crew consisted of youngsters, after all) on the counter to his right. He managed to drop and roll in that direction, getting up and grabbing a shredder as he passed them.
The warrior was at him before he could think. Aralgo pressed the trigger by pure instinct. The beam caught the side of his adversary's neck, making the Controller pull back with a sudden cry.
Aralgo shut the sound out. He calmly raised the shredder, just as he had been taught, aimed carefully, and fired.
It was a clean shot that struck flesh right on the middle of the warrior's forehead. He slumped together, falling backwards over his own tail. Aralgo didn't have the hearts to find out if he was unconscious – or dead. He tossed the shredder back onto the counter – just as sloppily as it had been tossed before – and quickly dragged both limp Controllers out through the Phantom's door. He left them on the floor of the docking station.
Without any delays, he hurried back inside the ship and locked the doors, barricading himself inside. He'd stay there until the others returned, and until he was certain they had not been infested.
The wait for someone to show up was short: Olana did. She was followed by two swaggering warriors.
Aralgo! she called, with more authority than he had ever heard her use, open the door!
Not so fast, Aralgo replied, privately. this ship is full of Controllers. You're not coming in until you prove you're not one of them. And those two behind you are not coming in at all.
But that would take three days! Olana complained.
Yes, well then too bad, huh? Aralgo said. No Yeerks in the Phantom. For I do not think Captain Kandion would approve of that. Do you?
Olana stared at him at first, and then simply laughed. Aralgo watched her through the Phantom's window, saw her walk up to the ship's door and place a hand on the pad next to it. Open door, she ordered the ship.
Computer; disregard, Aralgo snapped, slamming his own hand on a pad on one of the consoles. Keep all entrances closed, sealed and locked.
Computer, Olana's voice rang out, clear and with a touch of mocking confidence, this is aristh Olana-Soiru-Jinala. Activate control program 592-63-dalaf with access code; black ghost. Overrule previous command. Open door. Now.
Aralgo tried to counter the order, but the cruiser's database ignored him. The door opened, and Olana stepped daintily inside, looking very pleased with herself. Her stalks swept across the ship's bridge and stopped, focusing on Aralgo.
Computer, construct force field cage around location C5.
When Aralgo realised what that meant, the force field had already formed, effectively trapping him.
Very clever of you to figure that energy code out, Olana said, surveying the code where it still hung on the hologram, and assuming that he had done so. But too late, I'm afraid.
Too late for what? Aralgo asked.
Why, too late to save you, of course, Olana laughed. She walked past the force field and to a console – standing easily within tail's reach. Aralgo felt his blade twitch. If it hadn't been for that force field… whatever else Olana might be, she was not a skilled tail-fighter. He could have beaten her in two swipes. Or less.
And if he could beat her, she'd have been chanceless against whoever else had attacked her. She'd have been easy prey for anyone wanting to infest her… for infested she must have been.
And that meant she needed to be stopped.
As you probably realise, I made a few modifications to the computer earlier, she told him conversationally, one stalk regarding, amused, the calculating vehemence on his face. When we entered Kelbrid space, I made sure the ship was programmed to avoid being stolen. I've now activated that programming, and the ship listens to me – me, and no-one else.
She turned towards him, leering openly now in a way that was so unlike Olana it was almost scary. Unfortunately, she drawled in a haughty voice, My new host fell into her own trap: this ship will not be used by anyone other than members of its crew, yes, but what if the crew has been… converted?
Not all of us, Aralgo growled. That arrogant look stung his pride – and if there's anything an Andalite won't take, it is harm to his pride.
That, little aristh, sneered the Controller, is only a matter of time.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Author's Note;
I was planning to do something I do all too seldom, and actually answer to reviews *hurray*… more or less, that is.
J-Rae asked for romance between Minalea and Carali, *two of my own characters… am very happy someone actually noticed them*, which will be coming later on. Although not necessarily with a happy ending. Also, very happy that Alikat showed appreciation for *my* Tom – glad you like the beast. A warning; he'll be more of a "beastic" problem later on. And to everyone (well, two people; Angelofcloud9 and flying) who're hoping Tobias is still alive, I can tell you that, yep, he is. He survived that encounter, at least. Haven't killed him off yet. But I won't promise anything. That would ruin a good supply of possible cliffhangers. I'm very fond of cliffhangers.
And to the rest of everyone who's reviewed this story, thanks, I *love* reviews. A bit too much sometimes, perhaps. Hm. *jumps up and down hoping for more wonderful little reviews*
Now excuse me, must go write on chapter 30.
And, by the way, the next chapter may take some time. That depends on if I manage to get it up before I leave on vacation. Four weeks without computers. If I survive that, I'll survive anything.