Chapter 26

Visser Three smiled wickedly; a strange expression using only his eyes, due to the fact that he possessed no mouth. And then, he began to morph. His blue-tan fur became black, melting together and forming a shiny outer layer of his skin, rather like as exoskeleton. He grew taller and wider, going from about six feet tall to at least twelve. His four horse-like legs and weak humanoid arms became long and spidery, multi-jointed and covered in thick, bristly black hairs. His face transformed from Andalite to that of some kind of giant insect - complete with gnashing mandibles and globular, compound eyes. His deer-like became pinched and elongated, the legs stretching out around him, until he resembled a giant ant. His tail had grown with him, and for the majority of the morph, had retained it's blue fur and scythe-like blade. But for the final change, it became black and thick like the rest of his body. The blade disappeared, to be released by what I knew was a curved, needle sharp stinger. It arched over his back, making the whole creature look like some mind of giant cross between a tarantula and a scorpion. The rest of us watched in terror. Not one of us made a sound. You could cut the atmosphere with a knife.

--What do you think of this morph?-- laughed the Visser, scuttling on his six legs towards the other group of morphers. --I acquired it in one of the forests of the planet T'Yestinah-Yai. It is called a Buthida. Meaning 'poisoned one'. Quite a finding, I'm sure you'll all agree. I have yet to test out its' abilities. But you, I am sure, will make fine targets.--
Just then, one of the other morphers spoke to us. It took me by surprise to hear them thought-speak directly to us.

--Since three of you possess identical bodies, I guess you guys are the human fugitives we've been hearing about,-- the voice said breathlessly. I had a feeling it came from either the Andalite or the tiger, although I couldn't be sure. It's not always possible to tell exactly from whom thought-speak originates. The voice was young and male, and possessed the same air of certainty and confidence that both Sam and Philip encompass.

Sam addressed the speaker.

--Yes,-- she said simply. --We are not real Andalites, as you might have guessed, but humans. You must be the human resistance? We are- --

But she was cut off by the other guy. --Look, there's no time for your life story now,-- he said impatiently. --Yeah, we're the resistance, say hi to all six of us. But there's no time for that now. And I don't care what you came here for - we can talk about that later. But I think you should know that we're in a pretty serious situation right now. And if you want to survive, I suggest you follow my orders.--

For a moment, Sam looked like she was going to say something rude in response to being ordered about, but she kept quiet.

--We're with you on this,-- she said eventually.

--Then I hope you guys know how to fight,-- he replied soberly.

With that, the cavern exploded with action. Twenty or thirty Hork-Bajir whipped out their Dracons and immediately began firing at Sam, Ferdie and Philip. Sam was straight into the action. She galloped at the nearest Hork-Bajir, effortlessly dodging the rays of sizzling heat, striking with her tail over and over again. Her aim was perfect. It was almost as if she had been born an Andalite.

Fwap! A Hork-Bajir stepped back, injured from a gaping wound that Sam has left in his leathery chest. His partner pushed him out of the way, raising his bladed arm, ready to strike a blow.

Fwap! The second Hork-Bajir no longer had an arm. The severed wrist fell to the floor, a Dracon beam still in it's clutch.

--Philip!-- I called, him being closest to the weapon. --Get hold of that Dracon! It's by your left hoof!--

Philip, who was sparring with a Hork-Bajir almost twice his size, gave a casual flick of his tail to the lizard's neck. It slumped, then fell forwards, almost certainly dead. Philip leant down and picked up the Dracon beam. He held it in his two Andalite hands, firing expertly at both human and Hork-Bajir Controllers, like the trained marksman he was.

--Where do I get one of those?-- Ferdie called. He was battling it out with a bunch a human Controllers, easily winning, clearly having the time of his life.

--Any Hork-Bajir,-- I called, watching the battle unfold beneath me. Feeling slightly guilty for not taking part, I performed a wide, slow circle of the chamber, calling out hints to Sam and the others, and watching the human resistance in their amazing animal morphs fight their own battle on the other side of the pool. The tiger was pouncing and dodging Dracon like some kind of supernatural being. The bear was bellowing and growling, loping towards anything in it's way, knocking them unconscious them with one swing of it's giant paws. They were all so fast, so natural, so entirely in control, I realised. I saw the wolf jump over four feet upwards into the air to clench its' jaws around the neck of a Hork-Bajir. I had never been able to do that as a wolf. I guessed forlornly that these guys had had more practice with their battle morphs, and thus were more acquainted with their abilities than we were.

--Jake! Behind you!-- The hawk called out to one of his fellow comrades. I was surprised to hear him include us in his thought-speak, but then he addressed Philip directly.

--Human fugitive with the Dracon beam - try shooting to your right!--

Philip span round, face to face with another group of Hork-Bajir. He pointed his weapon, fired, and down went the aliens.

--Good shot,-- I called down to him before circling up to join the hawk. --But there's still a lot more to your right.--

--That was just a warm up,-- he replied, spinning on his back hooves and taking aim at the five Hork-Bajir coming towards him. He nimbly dodged their Dracon, then returned fire immediately, just like he was trained to do. The battle raged on, the ten of us against an army of Controllers.