Chapter 17

My skin became rough and gray. I piled on muscle over muscle. My eyesight grew dim, but I was still able to make out a huge, sharp horn as it grew out from my forehead. I dropped forward onto all fours, my human legs no longer able to support the huge weight that my body was becoming. I was fast becoming a rhino - a morph I'd acquired not too long ago. This was only the second time I'd used it.

"Lucky it's dark," said Philip, who was growing shaggy black hair all over his body. "Otherwise we'd be seen straight away."

"I think we're going to get seen anyway," I replied. I started to say something else, but then my human mouth was suddenly replaced by the large, wide mouth of the rhino.

--Whoa,-- said Ferdie, who was still gliding above us in owl morph. --That is one frightening looking morph you have there, Jake.--

--You should take a look at Rachel,-- I said, glancing over at her. She too was growing huge and heavy, but a lot larger than I would ever be. Enormous ears, the size of beach towels were flapping around her head. Her skin, like mine, was becoming gray and leathery. Long, ivory tusks extruded from her mouth. Her short, dainty nose became a long, powerful trunk. She was, of course, becoming an African elephant.

--I love this morph!-- she trumpeted. --It's so wild and powerful!-- She took a step forward, waving her mighty trunk, almost hitting Philip, who had morphed a musk ox.

--Careful!-- he warned, stepping awkwardly out of the way. --I think you can do a bit more damage than you think with that pachyderm, Rachel.--

--Sorry!-- she called, gleefully. --It's just I feel so amazing when I'm in this morph.--

--Maybe we should get with what we came to do,-- said Marco callously. He was in his gorilla morph, which was also his main battle morph. Ax was himself. He might have looked rather small and puny compared with the rest of us, but I've seen the damage that boy can do with that tail of his.

--Yeah, let's go!-- Rachel cried, thundering off towards the tank, eyeing it happily.

--Don't go mad!-- I warned. --And keep an eye out for Controllers.--

--Don't worry, I'll do that,-- said Ferdie, who was now perched on top of the building, watching us with interest. The moonlight reflected off his creamy and white feathers.

We set to work, causing as much damage as we could to the tank. Rachel stampeded straight into the thing, causing it to topple sideways. The metal began to crunch under the pressure. I ploughed into it, head on. My horn just went straight through the casing, like a hot needle into butter. I barely even felt anything. Cold, clear liquid began to pour out of it and soak the surrounding grass.

--Yeee hah!-- Rachel was screaming, whacking the thing over and over again with her trunk. Ax was striking over and over again with his tail, as if it was a Hork-Bajir. Several gaping gashes opened in the tanks' side, and the chemical spurted out like water cascading from a burst dam.

--Try to keep out of the liquid,-- I heard Philip say. --We still don't know for sure what damage it can do.--

He was ramming the pipe work with his large, curved horns, trying to dislodge the connection. Eventually, he dislodged a pipe and was hit by another surge of liquid.

--That had better be the right tank!-- Ferdie laughed. Although, if I'm honest, I think he was feeling as little jealous. Ferdie seemed to have the same enthusiam for a little ramgaing as did Rachel.

--Cassie has heard what you are doing by the way, Jake,-- he said after watching the liquid run over the grass and into the bushes. --She's complaining that you are going to affect the surrounding wildlife.--

--Well, too late now. I think we're about done anyway,-- I said. --Everyone, back off! We've done plenty of damage here.--

Rachel gave one last whack with her trunk, then sank reluctantly away from the demolished tank.

--Guys!-- called Ferdie suddenly. --There's a bunch of Controllers coming! They're allcarrying Dracons!--

--They know we're here,-- I said.

--Well duh,-- aid Marco. --We've only been tearing the place apart for the last five minutes. I'm surprised it took them this long to get over here.--

--Ferdie? Can you go warn the others?-- I called. --Get them to go battle morphs, but keep everyone back until I say. You and Tobias stay as birds. There's five of us here already. We don't need to involve everyone.--

He flapped off towards the wood, and I turned to face the others.

--Philip - I need to remorph. Can't fight in this thing - the eyesight isn't good enough. Can you lead the team and keep any controllers away from me until I'm in tiger morph?--

--Absolutely,-- he said. I hoped his army training had prepared him well enough to carry out an attack against a bunch of Controllers. I ran behind one of the circular pools, which where raised a meter or above the ground. I demorphed as I ran, feeling the speed and strength leave me, but my eyesight returning.

--Rachel - to my left!-- Philip commanded. --Marco - get beside Rachel. Ax, get beside me. If there only a few Controllers, this whole thing shouldn't be too difficult. The main thing is to keep their focus away from Jake as he morphs.--

"Andalites!" shouted the first Controller, glaring at Ax with a look of pure hatred. "Let's go!"

The human Controllers poured into the action, their Dracon beams firing. They circled Philip and the others, signalling and calling to one another in a mixture of English and their own Yeerk language. There were ten or eleven of them. At least three of them were holding rifles as well as Dracons. I focused my mind on the tiger, feeling the changes begin.

--Oh yeah!-- cried Rachel, as she knocked down one guy with one casual flick of her trunk.

--I think our man power is a little over the top here,-- said Marco, as he picked up another controller and threw him against the wall. --I mean, an elephant, a tiger, a cow and an Andalite, for ten guys? That's not really a fair fight now, is it?--

--I am an ox, not a cow,-- snapped Philip. --But you're right, Marco. Everyone? The power is a bit one-sided here. Try to limit the amount of damage you all do.--

I finished morphing and launched myself into the action. My acute tiger senses immediately picked up another, slightly disturbing, scent. Another big cat. It must be Sam in leopard morph. I forced myself to ignore the tigers' urges to confront the animal and ran towards the nearest Controller.

--Arrghh!-- cried Marco, suddenly. --I've been hit!-- I looked at him and saw a nasty semi-circular burn in his rubbery chest.

--Rachel - take his place!-- I ordered. Elephant skin is tougher than gorilla skin. A Dracon beam or a bullet probably wouldn't cause much concern.

--They have Hork-Bajir, Jake,-- I heard Ferdie shout. He was now soaring high above us, watching the action, keeping out of range of the Controller's weapons. Soon, I could make out a large, black vehicle making its way up one of the roads. The doors flung open and five or six of the monstrous bladed lizards jumped out onto the ground and formed up in front of the human Controllers. One of the humans who held both a Dracon and a rifle threw his Dracon to one of the Hork-Bajir.

--Tables are turning,-- said Marco anxiously, as he threw a heavy-fisted punch at the nearest Hork-Bajir. It fell back, stunned, but was not knocked out.

--Nah, they're not!-- cried Rachel, trumpeting and galloping towards three of the Hork-Bajir. They went down like pins in a bowling alley. One of the humans counter attacked, firing a stream of rounds from his automatic rifle. Many of them hit Rachel, who bellowed again, and ploughed further into the action. The fight was getting more and more bloody by the minute.

--Sam! Maggie! We could do with some more force!-- I called. --Just two of you, though,-- I added. I hoped that Cassie would see my point and stay back. Out of all of us, she is the most reluctant to attack another living creature, even Controllers. Especially Controllers, I should say, because they are not under their own control.

A movement to my right! I leapt towards a human Controller, knocking him onto his back. He kept hold of his Dracon, however.

--Ahhh!-- I cried, as I felt my shoulder explode in pain. I gritted my teeth and roared, knocking the guy's weapon out of his hand. I gave him a quick slap with the back on one frying-pan-sized paw, and he went out, cold.

--Jake - behind you!-- shouted Maggie. I spun round, face to face with a Hork-Bajir. I powered my legs and sailed towards him, burying my teeth in his flesh. Beside me, I saw Sam in leopard morph tearing at another Hork-Bajir's arm. Maggie was a slick black wolf, growling at the human Controllers and keeping them back. A bullet skimmed her flank. She collapsed in shock suddenly, howling in pain, but was soon back on her feet, albeit a little unsteady.

--Ugh!-- cried a voice, suddenly. I saw a small white shape fall to earth out of the corner of my eye.

--Prince Jake!-- called Ax, who was whipping his tail over and over again and another Hork-Bajir. --Ferdinand has been shot!--

--Flawless!-- cried Sam, leaping off the Hork-Bajir and running over to her friend's lifeless body. Philip immediately took over, swinging his powerful horns at the injured Hork-Bajir.

--We should get out,-- I called. --There are only a few humans and one Controller still standing. Ax and I will handle them. Everyone else - get to owl morph now! Sam - get Ferdie out of here!--

Sam didn't need to be told twice. She had already picked his owl body up gently in her mouth and was now running towards the fence. She slipped through a gap under the wire and began to demorph at top speed, running as she morphed.

Marco and Rachel were galloping off into the wood. Rachel, too big to squeeze under he fence, simply charged straight through, bringing the whole thing down. Marco followed her, and they disappeared into the trees to demorph.

I took down the last of the Hork-Bajir, and Ax used the side of his tail blade to knock the remaining humans unconscious, before making our way back into the woods. We were both seriously injured - Ax was bleeding severely from the wound in his flank, and I had endured several more Dracon burns.

--Where's Tobias?-- I asked, as we met up with the others.

--He's with me,-- replied Rachel, who was a disturbing mix of elephant and human girl.

--What about Ferdie?--

"Cassie is with him," gasped Sam, who was nearly human. "She's trying to get him to demorph."

I looked over at the wolf, who was leaning over the barn owl.

--Ferdie!-- she kept shouting, over and over again. --Ferdie - demorph! Do it! Do it now!--

Sam, now fully human, ran over to them and tried to wake him. Marco opened his mouth to say something, but closed it again as Maggie glared at him.

"Everyone else, get to owl," I commanded, turning away from the harrowing scene.

We morphed as quickly as we could, in case there were other Controllers on the scene. Philip was the first to morph. He took a quick look at his brother and flapped his wings and took off into the sky, circling above us with Tobias.

Finally-

"Oh, thank god!" cried Sam. "Ferdie - demorph! Hurry!"

Ferdie had at last awoken. Cassie gently encouraged him to demorph, guiding him through the process.

"Cassie! How…?" panted Sam, looking at awe at Cassie. "You got him to demorph!" She leaned over and embraced her in an enthusiastic hug.

--Ferdie! Good god, you're ok. Guys - you had better get to owl ASAP,-- said Philip, watching them. I could hear a note of intense relief in his voice.

Ferdie stood up, breathless and confused, but no longer wounded. A fantastic bonus of morphing is that it heals injuries. Very useful after a battle. He narrowed his eyes as he concentrated back on his barn owl morph, and I saw the chages begin. He was going to be ok.

--Great job, Cassie,-- I said quietly in private thought-speak. --That was amazing what you just did then.--

--Lucky you kept me out of battle,-- she replied modestly, taking to the air. She knew, of course, the real reason why I kept her behind. --Thanks, Jake,-- she added.

I watched as Sam and Ferdie finished their morphs and took into the night sky, flapping up to meet us. We flew back to Cassie's barn in a widespread formation, so as not to draw attention to ourselves. It was mostly in silence, although I had the feeling that Ferdie and Sam were speaking to one another privately.

Another blow for the Yeerks, I thought. Maybe not our biggest blow towards them yet, but it should certainly show their process. I powered my wings harder, hoping to get a little closer to Cassie.