I know, I know, I'm a bad awful person who doesn't update in forever. But I have a nice long chapter for you? I really am going to finish this story, promise. It just might take a while.

Thanks to all of those who stuck with this story and reviewed the last chapter…There were quite a few scattered over my absence, and since I've only got time for a quick upload, I'm afraid I can't search for them all to respond to them.

But I did read them! Thanks a lot, you guys, you're the reason I keep writing this thing. Well, and it's fun. That, too. ;P

Chapter Thirty-three Part One – Ax

The next morning, while Prince Jake and the others went to school, Tobias and I went to go meet Erek.

Prince Jake had been planning on doing it, but Tobias had said that it would be more time effective if we went during the day.

So, we were flying towards the house that the Chee known as Erek currently inhabited.

So, Tobias. I asked as we flew. What is Disneyland?

What? Oh, I guess no one's explained it to you, yet. Tobias replied. Well, Disneyland is sort of like the Gardens, only bigger and with a lot more rides…And no animals.

Ahh. It is quite popular among humans? I asked. From the reactions of the others, I had gathered that, but thought it best to ask, just in case.

Yeah, it's very popular. The Yeerks couldn't have picked a better place to invade. Tobias replied bitterly.

Have you ever been to this Disneyland? I questioned.

Me? Nah. Too far away. Always wanted to, though. Tobias said.

We landed in the yard behind Erek's house and I demorphed.

Erek came out to meet us and the three of us went inside.

"We've got some more information." Erek told us. "Apparently, the Yeerk in charge of the Disneyland invasion is Visser 97. His host body was a Hork Bajir, but he got a new human body for this assignment…He'll be leaving for Disneyland in two days."

So, wait, he's here? Tobias asked.

Erek nodded. "He came here to meet with Visser Three. We don't, however, know what his human host looks like."

Great. Tobias muttered, then, Jake wants us to leave tomorrow…He asked if you could have Chee ready to play them by then.

"That will be doable." Erek said. "With your three new allies, you need seven, right?"

Actually, only five. Sam and Reese can get permission to leave. Tobias answered.

Do you have any other information? I asked.

Erek shook his head. "Unfortunately, no. There's a lot of secrecy about this project."

I nodded.

Thanks, Erek. Tobias said, spreading his wings.

Erek nodded. "Only wish I could do more. Good luck."

I morphed into my harrier morph and Tobias and I flew off.

Chapter Thirty-Three Part Two – Marco

Jake and I stopped by Reese and Sam's house before we went to Cassie's.

It had been more of my idea, really, but Jake had come along so it wouldn't be too obvious why I showed up there.

Although, if Rachel had noticed my interest in Reese, it would probably be obvious anyway.

Reese was out in front of her house when we came up. She gave us a smile in greeting.

"Hey, Reese." Jake said. "Where's Sam?"

Reese tilted her gaze upward. Jake and I looked up, too, and spotted a red-tailed hawk flying in loose circles above the house.

"How long has she been up there?" Jake asked.

Reese shrugged. "I dunno. She was like that when I got home about fifteen minutes ago."

Sam must have noticed us, as she swooped down to land on a lamppost. Hey, guys.

"How long have you been in morph, Sam?" Jake asked.

Only a half an hour or so. Sam replied. I'm watching time, Jake, don't worry.

He nodded, but looked a little troubled.

Tobias had been like that when he first got the morphing power, always in hawk morph.

"Should we go, then?" I said, to take Jake's mind off his thoughts.

The three of us walked towards Cassie's barn and Sam flew above us.

This is the coolest thing ever. She commented cheerfully.

"So you've told us." Reese replied tolerantly. "We're good for the plane tickets, by the way. Our flight leaves at 8:45 tomorrow morning. I told Marco during seventh period, but I dunno if he got a chance to tell you yet." She said to Jake.

Jake nodded. "Yeah, he told me on the way here."

Hey, did anyone watch Two and a Half Men last night? Sam asked.

"No, I missed it…What happened?" Jake asked.

"You missed it?" I demanded.

"Last's night's episode was great." Reese agreed.

Our conversation kept to such normal topics as we neared the barn. Everyone else was already there by the time we arrived. Ax was in human morph, face smeared with red juice that had probably come from the cherry Popsicle he was eating. Cassie was shaking her head at him, and Rachel was snickering. The koala currently sitting on Rachel's shoulder had to be Danny, and Tobias was up in the rafters.

I shook my head. "What is your obsession with koalas, man?"

Hey, it's not exactly like this meetings are human only. Danny replied. And it's not an obsession. They're just cool. Don't make me trundle over there, because I will.

I rolled my eyes as we joined them. I expected Sam to demorph, but instead, she flew up to perch on an unoccupied rafter.

Jake frowned slightly. Cassie, too, looked over with a thoughtful expression.

So? What did Erek say? Danny asked.

Everything's all set with the Chee. Tobias replied.

Oh, about that. There's this girl, Ashley in my choir class? Danny began before he received a glare from everyone. I'll shut up.

"We also have some new information, Prince Jake. Nu-ew. Een-form." Ax commented.

"Yes, Ax, we get it. So what is it?" I asked before he could play with any more sounds.

The Yeerk running this thing is here. He's trading his Hork Bajir body for a human host…He's also Visser 97. Tobias said. He's leaving for Disneyland in two days.

"Okay. Great. So now we've got the boss man there. This should be fun." I muttered.

Jake nodded, like he hadn't heard me. "All right. We'll go ahead as planned, then. Tomorrow, we'll all leave for school like normal. Instead of going to school, though, we'll head to the airport and the Chee will go in our place."

Except for us. Trent's taking us to the airport. Sam said.

"So, we're covered, but you guys have to find your own rides." Reese added.

Unless you want to morph and ride along with us. Sam offered.

Jake considered that. "Hmm. Well, that might work better than flying. Okay, we'll all morph flea and tag along."

"I am not letting a bunch of fleas sit on me." Reese commented.

"Oh, it's not that bad." Rachel muttered.

If you guys wanted to do bigger, like fly or roach, no one would notice. Actually, Trent wouldn't even worry about a spider. I sort of don't let him kill any bugs that end up in the car. Sam replied.

"Okay, well, everyone morph what's comfortable for them." Jake said.

"How, exactly, are we going to get into the car?" Rachel asked.

"We could morph in the woods and have Tobias fly us over…Then he could morph once we got there." Cassie suggested.

As long as there's a place for Tobias to morph where no one will notice. Danny said.

"He could just go in Sammie's room. She's always got birds flying in there." Reese offered.

"Well, that's settled, then." Jake said. "Next thing: how much money did everyone get?"

"Well, including the money I stole from my mom's purse…Which I feel sobad about…Around sixty dollars." Cassie said.

"My mom gave me an advance on my allowance. And my dad just sent me some money, too, so a little over a hundred." Rachel said.

"Meh…I sort of shaved some off the money my dad gives me for groceries." I admitted. "Plus my allowance, so about ninety for me."

Reese and I managed to get about two-ten, together. Sam thought.

About forty here. Danny put in. And that includes stealing from my parents.

"And I raided Tom's stash, so I got about a hundred." Jake finished.

Tom has a 'stash'? Danny asked with a barely suppressed laugh. 'Stash'!

"That leaves us with about six hundred of your dollars, Prince Jake." Ax said.

I was about to make some comment about them being everyone's dollars when I remembered they weren't. Even people on Earth had different dollars.

Good thing I didn't open my mouth.

Actually, I found about twenty bucks in change. Tobias offered.

Jake nodded. "Six hundred twenty isn't bad, I guess…We'll just use it sparingly. Hopefully, we can find that ten bucks a night place. Now…we have to decide who goes on the plane. I figured we can have one boy and one girl, to make it fair...Tobias and Ax are out, obviously, but the rest of us will draw straws."

Cassie picked up four straws of hay and broke one to about half the size of the others, then put them in her hand. "Short straw gets to ride in the plane."

Reese reached over and picked. It was long. "Oh, wonderful. It so figures."

"Sam? Rachel? Who wants to go next?" Cassie asked.

You go ahead, Rachel. Sam offered.

Rachel pulled the short one and grinned. "Looks like I'm riding in comfort." She paused. "If Marco picks the short straw, I'm demanding a re-do."

"Oh, you know you love me." I teased.

Jake gathered the straws for us, and I picked first. Long.

"Dang it." I grumbled. "Now who am I supposed to annoy during the flight?"

I pretended like I had hit sudden inspiration. "Oh, yeah, now I remember." I draped my arm around Reese's shoulders.

She pushed me away. "Rachel, please let me trade with you." She begged.

"I would, you see, but then I'd have to put up with him." Rachel replied.

"Danny? You want to pick next?" Jake asked.

Okay. Danny clambered down off of Rachel's shoulder and onto Jake's, where he selected a straw.

Of course, being the evil koala he was, he got the short straw.

Guess it's you and me, Rachel. I don't suppose I'll be able to sit on the plane as a koala? Danny asked.

Rachel stared at him.

Oh, fine. Be that way. Danny muttered.

"All right, everyone, go home and rest up. We've got a long flight tomorrow." Jake said.

"Very, very long." Reese added, looking at me.

Hey, Marco, will you walk home with Reese? I wanna fly. Sam said.

I glanced up at her, startled.

Like I didn't notice. Sam told me in private thought-speak.

"Oh, what, so now I need a baby-sitter?" Reese demanded.

Sam looked at her. Need I bring up any microwave incidents?

"Shut up." Reese muttered, then stormed off. "If you're coming, Marco, let's go."

"See you later, guys." I called, heading after her.

Chapter Thirty-Three Part Three – Tobias

"Why can't we just fly? This is so not cool." Danny muttered.

We were in the woods, minus Sam and Reese, and everyone was getting ready to morph bugs.

Well, except for me. I got to stay hawk until we got to Sam and Reese's.

"Because, Danny, flying might take too long." Jake replied.

"Besides, we have a ride, so we might as well use it." Cassie agreed.

"You're saying that driving would take under two hours, but flying wouldn't make it?" Danny demanded.

"No, it's just faster driving." Rachel muttered. "Jake, why don't we just let him fly by himself?"

"Oh, and then we'll just sit there and wait for him to finally get there and end up missing our flight? Right." Marco said.

"Hey, I could make it." Danny countered.

I see nothing wrong with the current plan. Ax commented.

"Enough, everyone…Just morph." Jake said.

Danny grumbled, but began to morph with the rest of them. When they were finished, Jake was a roach, Rachel, Cassie, and Ax were flies, Marco was a spider, and Danny was a pillbug. A roly-poly.

Where'd you get a roly-poly morph? Marco demanded.

From my backyard. Where else? Danny asked.

There will be no Flaming Roly-polys of Doom in the car. Marco replied.

Flaming Roly-polys of Doom? Rachel echoed.

Oh, we'll see. Danny muttered.

All right, people, our time limit's going, so come on. Jake said, then scampered over to me.

Cassie, Ax, and Rachel flew over and landed on my back, and Danny crawled on top of Marco. I scooped Marco up in my other talon, then took off.

Sam and Reese were in Sam's room when we got there. Sam spotted me and leaned out the window, waving so I would know which one it was.

I swooped in and dropped Marco, Danny, and Jake onto the bed, then landed on a small wooden replica of a branch. I looked around and noticed a couple more.

"I told you I had room for birds." Sam said, noticing me looking.

About then, Reese noticed Marco. "Ahh! What is that doing in here?"

I am so offended. Marco said indignantly. I am the best-looking spider there ever was.

"I am not riding in the car with that." Reese hissed.

Sam rolled her eyes and picked Marco up. "Fine, he'll sit in the back."

We better hurry if we're going to make it to the airport before the limit is up. Jake said.

Sam nodded. "The car's all packed. We're just waiting on you guys."

All right, then. Tobias? Go ahead and morph. Everyone else? Hitch a ride on Sam or Reese. Jake thought.

I nodded and began morphing roach.

"Where's Danny?" Reese asked.

Danny rolled off Marco. I'm down here.

Reese grinned. "Okay, now that I'll sit with."

Note: you said 'with' and not 'on'. Daniel reminded her.

She picked up Danny and put him in the palm of her hand. Sam leaned over and grabbed Jake with her other hand. Rachel and Ax went over to sit on Reese's shoulders, and Cassie zipped down to land in Sam's hand next to Jake.

I finished morphing. Done.

"I'm not holding that, either." Reese informed us.

Sam rolled her eyes and picked me up, then set me on her shoulder. "Okay, we're going, then." She commented cheerfully.

"Yeah, me and my passengers." Reese muttered. "You know how hard it is not to swat you two?" She asked, looking down at Rachel and Ax.

Please refrain from submitting to the impulse. Ax said.

Yeah, and don't smack us, either. Rachel added.

With my limited roach vision, I saw the scenery changing and finally we went out into the light. I ignored my roach brain's idiotic panicking until I heard a door slam and the light dimmed a bit.

Are we in the car? Rachel asked.

Yup. We're in. Marco replied.

"You girls ready?" A male voice asked.

"No, Trent, we're not ready to miss school and go to Disneyland." Reese replied.

"Oh, very funny." Trent muttered.

A loud rumble told me the car had started.

Still. I don't see why we couldn't fly. Danny started.

Not this again. Rachel muttered.

"Sam, you do know you can't take them on the plane with you, right?" Trent asked.

"Hey, leave me and my roach buddies alone." Sam replied.

"You're hopeless." Trent muttered.

Is he talking about us? Jake asked.

I tried vainly to see, and only managed to get a big blob above me and two in front.

Yeah. You're in the back, with me. Sam's holding you, Cassie, and Tobias. Marco told Jake. Ax, Rachel, and Danny are up front with Reese.

So, if I start flaming, it'll be Reese's hair I set on fire? Danny asked.

Reese made noise like she was going to say something.

"What?" Trent asked.

"Nothing." Reese replied sweetly.

Hey, ow! Pain! Quit it! Danny yelled. Okay, okay, I won't set your hair on fire. Geez, mention getting burnt and you get all defensive…

I would have grinned, if I had a mouth. Reese had probably started squishing him.

Apparently, everyone else came to that conclusion, since laughter filled my head.

This wouldn't have happened if we flew. Danny grumped.

Really, Jake. Just throw him out the window and let him fly. Marco said.

I'm tempted. Jake replied. I'm sure he'd have lots of fun avoiding the cars.

Come on, Tobias, back me up. Danny said.

I started to reply when I felt a gliding pressure on my roach back. It lifted, then stroked again. It wasn't uncomfortable, so I tried to see exactly what was going on. I could dimly make out a tube about the size of me above me and I realized what it was. Sam must have started petting me with her thumb. The movement seemed almost absent, like she wasn't aware she was doing it.

I guess I could have asked her to stop, but it wasn't like she was hurting me or anything. Besides…

Hello? Earth to Tobias? Danny asked.

Yeah, flying would have been cooler. I agreed.

Hah! Danny said triumphantly.

But this is faster. I added.

The argument continued until we got to the airport.

"I think this is the most bags you two have ever brought….Did you really need eight?" Trent asked.

"Yes. I have a lot of clothes, okay?" Reese said defensively.

Okay, they're loading the bags onto a dolly… Marco told us. Now Reese is taking the one we're going to sit in…Okay, now we're going inside.

"Okay, Trent, we can take it from here." Reese said.

"Thanks for taking us, bro." Sam added.

"No prob. Call as soon as you get there, okay?" Trent said.

There was a pause.

"Do you guys have any idea how annoying it is to hear a conversation and not be able to reply?" Reese asked.

What was with the squishing? Danny demanded.

"You were going to light my hair on fire!" Reese replied.

I was not. Danny denied. It was just a question.

"Okay, we're in the bathroom. I'm putting you guys down." Sam said.

I felt myself lowered onto the floor.

All right, everyone, demorph. Jake said.

In a few minutes, we were all our regular selves. The bathroom was one of those with multiple stalls, so it was big enough to hold us, but it also meant someone could come in at any minute.

So, to remedy that, Reese and Sam were standing against the door. It swung inward, so no one would be getting in anytime soon.

Unless, of course, they got airport security to force their way in.

"Let's make this quick, okay?" Jake asked, apparently thinking the same thing I was.

Jake and Marco stood by the door while Sam and Reese stripped down to their morphing outfits. They shoved their clothes in the duffel bag Reese had brought in and Danny and Rachel pulled their clothes out.

When Danny and Rachel were dressed, Sam handed them the tickets.

Danny and Rachel took their place at the door, and the rest of us began to morph roach.

"Hey!" Someone yelled as I was about three-quarters of the way done. "Something's wrong with this door!"

Banging sounded. "Hello, is anyone in there?"

"Uh…Yeah! We can't get the door open, either!" Danny replied.

"It's really stuck tight!" Rachel said, leaning more heavily into the door. "Hurry up you guys." She hissed.

We finished quickly and scampered into the bag.

"Maybe if you push and we pull at the same time, it'll open." Rachel suggested as Danny dashed over, zipped up the bag, and picked it up.

"One…two…three!" Rachel said.

I heard the sound of the door opening.

"Oh, good, I really have to…Wait! What are you doing in the ladies' bathroom?" A female voice demanded.

"Uh…Uh…My sex change isn't complete yet." Danny said.

"Yeah. But only two more surgeries and we can be together!" Rachel agreed.

There was a long pause, then the sound of laughter.

Sex change? Sex change? Jake demanded.

"Oh, you know it was amusing." Danny muttered.

"Okay, we're checking the bags, now. See you guys later." Rachel said.

"Have fun in the baggage!" Danny added cheerfully.

I hate you both. Reese muttered.

"What do you think the in-flight movie will be?" Danny asked Rachel, amused.