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At 0915 hours
Thursday 13th May
JAKE
I woke with a start and got out of bed. As I got dressed, I remembered about the dream I had. It was the same one I had the night before
Crayak was surrounded by his Howlers. I was alone in tiger morph, as the Howlers advanced on me. The ones closest to me unfolded their wings. Wings? The Howlers had bat-like leathery wings folding out from their shoulder blades. I was roaring and slashing, but a Howler opened its mouth and howled that ear-splitting scream. I was stunned. A Howler lunged with its claws ready to cut me down. Another Howler lunged, but it wasn't at me, it was at the other Howler. And as I faded away, I saw Crayak's surprised look in that blood-red eye
I opened my eyes, realizing that I had fallen asleep again. I left Cassie in bed, seeing that she had fallen into bed twenty minutes ago
I jogged down the stairs and entered the meeting room, eager to hear Adam and Sam's report. While they had found something, we found nothing
Everyone was there, except for Cassie, Rachel and Tori, all three who were asleep. But Adam, Sam and Ashley were yawning, unlike everyone else
"What's the report?" I asked
"Good morning to you too," greeted Sam as he yawned
"We know what kind of body the Yeerks are in," said Adam, "we met a group of five sneaking towards the fortress"
"Oh goody, why didn't you tell us?" asked Marco
"Because we wiped them out," answered Sam
(What body are they in?) asked Ax
I was actually surprised at how well Ashley had gotten used to Ax being an Andalite, but then again, so has many people with the Andalites. And Adam is of Andalite heritage
Sam described them as a strange, bug-like creature and I turned to Ax
(I have heard of these creatures. They're called Chatrè, a species that were once noble and strong warriors. But war was brought to their home and although they fought, a disease spread amongst them, making them what they are today: decayed husks of their former lives)
"Nice story," said Marco, "but that doesn't tell us why they've been taken over by the Yeerks and why they're fighting for Crayak"
"They've been take by the Yeerks who are fighting for Crayak," said Tobias
"But why?" asked Leah, "Why would they let them themselves, unless they're not voluntary"
"Ax, could you tell us who it was that brought war to the Chatrè?" I asked
Ax looked away and I suddenly got the feeling I knew who
"It was you guys, wasn't it?" asked John, "You fought these Chatrè"
(Yes, it was, over a hundred of your years. They are slowly dying out)
"My god, why was there a war?" asked Melissa
(The Chatrè had faster-than-light ships. We had our own ships, but the morphing technology was still on the drawing board. They had wiped out a primitive war-like race called the Antrose) continued Ax (We were next, so we fought them. We drove them back to their planet, but it wasn't enough. A disease was created and used on them)
"Why didn't you just called the Howlers?" said Marco, "hey, we've got a problem with a warrior race, could you come and whack 'em for us?"
(I don't think the Howlers were around them) said Ax
"I think I know why the Chatrè were chosen for the Yeerks," said Sam, "they had lost a war with the Andalites. You're an Andalite in this war, Ax, and we were the Animorphs"
"A symbiotic creature, perhaps, the Chatrè because they hate Andalites and Yeerks, because they hate Andalites and us," suggested Leah
"The two are perfect together," agreed Marco
"Okay, we know the enemy, we fully know them," I said, taking the role of the leader once again, "we have used one day, we've got thirteen left to plan, fight and win this battle. We need to find their fortress and take it out fast"
"I just so love it when he does that," said Marco
The doors opened and in came Rachel, rubbing her eyes
"Did I miss anything?"
"No, we're about to plan something that's totally suicidal, there'll be lots of mayhem and I'll wake up screaming for the rest of my life," answered Marco
Rachel brightened up at that
"Cool, when do we begin?"
She sat down between Tobias and Adam. Marco just stared at her
"You…are…insane!"
"So you've told me for the last, oh I don't know, nearly thirty years"
"Maybe I should send you a text message saying you're insane, everyday, just so you get the idea"
"The only idea I'm getting is that you're plainly annoying"
"But Melissa loves me"
He turned to her and grinned
"You love me, right?"
She rolled her eyes and smiled, before leaning over and kissing him
"Told you"
"I'll show you a real kiss. Tobias, come here"
"Maybe later"
"Guys, can we focus?" I asked
I rubbed my hands together
"Let's make a plan and get this started, okay?"
"Yes sir," said Marco in a military voice
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