Author's Note: Okay, here's the full zebra thing….Although pretty much everyone already got it from last chapter. ^_~

Sharina: Thanks. Lol….You'll be assuming correctly.

SD: Really? Thanks…I have the most trouble with Ax.

DH: Okay, now it is getting creepy. ^_~ Thanks muchly…I hoped I was getting Ax okay. Hopefully, this is soon enough for you.

Liaranne: Oh, good, I'm glad it's making sense…They'll get together soon, and you'll find out in this chapter. ^_~

bionicle0727: Yeah, Daniel will narrate some more, and Sam and Reese will get more, too. I'm having them all take turns, although the order may change in the future.

Ojichristain: Yes! Haha, we will suck you in….;P

Disclaimer: "Picture this: Boppity-boppity-boppity SPLAT!"

Chapter Sixteen – Marco

aka They're Taking Over What?!?!

There was a long silence when Jake finished telling Chapman's reaction. Finally, Cassie asked, And?

And then, while Jake was shaking like a little baby, Chapman starts walking towards us. Only when he shoved pass us and told us to get out of here did we realize he was talking to the pair of zebras having the time of their lives smashing things behind us. So, of course, we followed Chapman's advice and got the hell out of there. I finished the story so everyone would know Jake's real reaction to Chapman.

Riiight. I was shaking like a baby. Who was the one who started running around screaming that the zebras were going to eat him? Jake asked.

That is so not what I said. It was distinctly, 'I don't want to be lunch for a zebra.' But I already had my last words planned out. They were going to be a confession of my undying love for Rachel. I lowered my mental voice to a mock whisper. And for you, too, Cassie. But don't tell Jake or else he really will feed me to the zebras.

That got a laugh from everyone, except maybe Ax. We were flying towards Erek's house right then. School had let out early because a pair of zebras got loose and started rampaging the school. I repeat, a pair of rampaging zebras attacked us. The school was closed because all of its staff and students decided there were other places they'd much rather be. Plus, they needed to see how much damage the zebras caused.

So, we used the extra time to fly over to see Erek. Jake had told us about his phone call, and we were all just dying to hear what wonderful news Erek had for us. Cassie and Ax told us about their discovery, too, but by the time we finished arguing about what to do and got to the warehouse, everyone was gone. Which meant all of our leads were gone, too. Samantha still hadn't called Cassie back, and no one was answering at her house. So it was off to Erek's with us.

We landed, one by one, in his backyard, then demorphed. We had called ahead, so he was expecting us, and even if we hadn't, no one would have minded. The Chee are programmed against violence. That tends to make them very understanding people. We trooped in through the back patio door and were met by Erek. He was frowning. Or rather, his holographic image was frowning. In reality, he wasn't much more than metal and plastic with a human mind.

"That wasn't a very smart thing you did back there." He told us as he closed the door. "We could have easily talked after school."

"Yeah, we know. It wasn't us, dude." I replied.

Erek blinked. "It wasn't you?"

Jake shook his head. "No. We don't know who it was."

Erek frowned again. "Well, then, we have more problems. The Yeerks are going to think it was you."

"I know." Jake said tiredly. "Which is why we can't use today to do anything more than plan."

"Whoever set those zebras free really screwed us over." Rachel muttered darkly.

Did someone have to set them loose? Could the zebras not have simply escaped their cage? Ax asked.

Cassie shook her head. "Nope. Well, not likely anyway. Besides, the Gardens staff said the zebras were there all night and when he checked on them in the morning, but when he came back because he thought the padlock looked a little loose, they were gone. The cage was unlocked."

"There's pretty much nothing we can do about it, though. Let's hear your news, Erek." Jake requested.

Erek nodded. "I'm afraid what we've discovered is a bit worse. We haven't found any news of Tobias, first, but we've still got some people looking."

Jake nodded.

"We've found out the Yeerk plans for the next infestation location. They plan to take over a currently existing facility and use it to bring people right to their slimy pools. We got this news a bit late, so preparations have already gone under way and there are some Yeerks already working the site." Erek said with a slight sigh.

"So, what's the place? All we have to do is sabotage it, right?" Rachel asked.

"I'm afraid it's a bit more complicated than that. You guys aren't going to like this…." Erek paused. "Disneyland."

"What?" Cassie said.

"The place is Disneyland." He repeated.

"Wait, what? They're trying to take over Disneyland?!? That…that's inhumane!" I shouted indignantly. "You can't just take over Disneyland! It's the happiest place on Earth!"

"Not anymore." Rachel replied.

"Well, actually Marco, it does make sense. Disneyland is one of the biggest attractions in the US…How many thousands, no probably more like millions of people go there? Plus, there's all sorts of rides with dark places. All they do is extend the ride time. People think, 'Hey, cool, Space Mountain is like seven minutes long now.' And once they go in, no one coming out is going to say otherwise." Jake commented.

"Exactly." Erek said. "Now, they're no where near that far along, so they haven't gotten control of any rides yet, but they're slowly filling the staff with them. Also, they're trying to get the Disneyland hotel. That they're farther along with. I think that's their first goal, so they'll have a headquarters, so to speak. Probably also where they keep the pools."

"So, what do we do?" Cassie asked.

"Well, obviously, we've got to go." Rachel replied.

"Go to Disneyland. Just pack up our stuff and go to Disneyland." I paused. "Wait, why am I arguing against this?"

I believe I am correct in saying there shouldn't be any real problem, seeing as the Chee will most likely be willing to fill in for you, Prince Jake? Ax made it a question, his stalk eyes moving onto Erek.

Erek nodded. "Of course. We can play you for as long as necessary."

"There's still the question of plane tickets, and where we'd stay when we got there…" Jake trailed off at the sound of the phone ringing.

Erek stared at it for so long that I asked, "Gonna get it, man, or let the machine have it?"

"That one doesn't have a machine." He said, sounding a bit worried. "That phone only rings when someone dials the number I gave you. The untraceable one."

Jake was instantly alert. "But we're the only ones who know that number…Tobias?"

There was silence, except for the phone ringing.

"Want me to answer it, Erek, or are you going to?" Jake asked.

"I will. Don't want anyone to recognize your voice." Erek said, then picked up the phone. "Hello?" There was a pause, then, "Yes, this is Erek King." Silence again. "How did you get this number?" He asked, his voice barely above a whisper. He must have hit a button for speakerphone, for suddenly, a female voice answered his question.

"I..umm…Well, I'm not sure I'm supposed to tell you that." There was the sound of shuffling, then a muffled, "Can I tell 'im?" followed by, "Tobias."

Almost instantly, Rachel leaped upwards. "Let me talk to her." She hissed.

"What?" The female voice asked, then, "Do you have me on speaker phone?" "Yes. I do." Erek replied, giving her nothing else. I guess he was as suspicious as the rest of us.

"Oh. Okay. Well, uh, yeah. This is gonna sound stupid…The bird told me to call you?" I suddenly realized where I'd heard the voice before. Sam.

"You have Tobias?" Jake asked, rather coldly.

It didn't seem to bother her. "Yeah. His right wing is busted up…Damn Graham's Circus…" The last part was muttered, then she quickly started up again. "Okay, well, he didn't actually tell me to call here. When I couldn't reach.…Wait, who's there? Is everyone there?"

I sure hope I wasn't the only one panicking right then. She said she had Tobias and that he had told her the number. Did that mean she knew who we were? What we were? There was silence for awhile.

Finally, Jake said, "That's a matter for only us to know."

There was a pause, as if she just now realized we were exactly being friendly. "Oh! Oh, of course. Sorry about that, I forgot…Well, never mind. Look, I don't want to say everything I have to say over the phone, especially since you'll probably think I'm insane for awhile. Tobias did. Can we meet somewhere? I'd invite your over, but I think you'd prefer to be someplace public, just in case. How about the Gardens?"

Jake looked around, taking a silent vote, then he said, "All right. The Gardens. When?"

"How long do you need? I'm ready when-ouch! Hey, easy with the claws, Killa!" She muttered. "Sorry. Anyway, whenever you want."

Another look around from Jake, to which he received unanimous nods. "Forty minutes? And where in the Gardens?"

"In front of the bears?" She offered.

"Okay. Forty minutes in front of the bears. See you there." Jake replied.

Erek hung up before she could say good-bye, then looked at us. "Well. It seems we have several situations now."

"We're actually going to go meet her? Jake, man, it's looking like she knows about us. What if this is a trap?" I asked.

"We won't all go in human form. Ax and I will be human. We'll talk to her and see what's up. Rachel, Marco, and Cassie will have to be in morph…" Jake said.

"Jake? Why doesn't Rachel hide as a bear? That way if things go wrong, she can charge out and the media will call it a bear escape. Marco and I can be seagulls. We'll have to go through an extra morph before we'll be any use, but…" Cassie suggested.

It is the best suggestion, Prince Jake. Ax commented.

Jake shrugged. "Works for me."

Erek cleared his throat. "Well, actually, I might have an easier solution. I can go along and hide any morphs you guys need."

There was silence for a moment, then Cassie made a mock hmphing noise.

"Well." She replied. "Fine. Upstage my plan making." She winked at Erek, though, to show she was teasing.

Erek laughed. "It's what I do best."

Jake nodded. "All right, Erek, if you'll come along with us, that'll work great."

"Oh, goodie. Let's go meet the insane girl who may or may not be controlled by aliens but already knows all about us because the talking bird told her so." I paused, then added, "You know your life is weird when that isn't the plot to a movie or video game."