Author's Note: This was written in response to the Visser Three's Journal's chapter 10 challenge. (( and )) denote thoughtspeak.

"I'm going out." "Where are you going to?"
"To Cassie's place, if that's okay with you."
"Oh, Cassie's. Well, of course then it's okay."
I hate it when that slug creep talks that way,
Making jokes from within my brother's head.
Wings won't be safe: I ride my bike instead.
The things I have to say to her alone
Won't be appropriate to say by phone.
Once I get there, I hear, "I knew you'd come."
"No, really? For the record, I'm not dumb
Enough to not come here, after-" "Jake, you
Know this is hard enough-" "You bet I do."
"Come back, we're waiting." "We? Who all is here?"
"Rachel and Ax, and Marco-" "Getting near."
I point dully as he bikes up our way.
"Hey, Jake." I roll my eyes. "What's there to say?"
"Dude, we have got a mission to complete."
Cassie's stern eyes are difficult to meet.
I look down at the ground, mutter, "He's right,
Then brace myself for her reply. Not spite
But worry seems to guide the word she speaks.
"There will be other days-" "And then what? Weeks?
And months?" "Jake," Marco says, "It's fine to wait.
I mean-" Cassie tips her ears- "maybe fate
Is telling us that Visser One has to
Go on and pull this off?" Of course, I knew
Who Visser One was. "Maybe, it could be."
I say, head downwards, mechanically.
"Rachel, of course, still wants to go ahead."
Says Cassie. "Though if all of us were...dead,"
She pauses bitterly. "Her own attacks
Would still continue." "And what about Ax?"
"He'll follow you." Of course. "Has Erek told
Us new information?" "Nope, just the old
Reports to go by. Maybe we should wait
Until we know more?" "It could be too late
By then." "Thanks, Rachel," Marco is sarcastic
As usual when faced with something drastic.
"For what?" she calls. "Hey, Marco, is that you?"
"The one and only," he says. "Jake's here too."
We trudge back to the barn. "So what's the plan?"
"I'd like to go ahead," I say. "We can,
So let's do it." "Sure, if we can convince
Cassie and Marco." "Ax?" ((I will go, Prince
Jake.)) Too jaded to argue, I nod. "Why
Are you afraid?" "I'm not afraid, but I
Don't think it would be right so soon." "That's fair."
"And don't ask when I will be ready." There
Went my next question. "Cassie," Rachel's in
A zombie-like state. "We can't let them win.
If we back out now, we give up the fight."
"How confident are you that that's not right?"
She's too incensed to speak, so Rachel tries
(With difficulty) not to roll her eyes.
I try to tell Cassie it only was
A fluke, but she won't listen. "So because
An Earth creature, and not a Yeerk's at fault
You have no reason to declare a halt?"
"Correct." She flops onto a hay bale. "Jake,
I can't convince you this is a mistake.
Neither can Marco." "Do you think I need
You?" Stunned into silence, even to plead
Is beyond her now. ((Prince Jake, I don't think
We'll make much progress here.)) Each on the brink,
I turn to Rachel. "Your call, if you'll go."
"I won't morph dolphin." Cassie says, "You know
That dolphins do what dolphins...do. They fly
Through water like in bird morph you and I
Fly through the air, or like...well..." They
Look nervous. No one really wants to say
The obvious conclusion. Somehow I've
Seen this squad grow to six, then fall past five
To this, when finding two becomes a chore
I doubt that I can handle anymore.