Chapter 5

They thought it was an acting audition as well, but soon came around to the idea that there was more to the story than just an interesting plotline. Heads were in hands, and mouths were wired shut in disbelief.

My friends weren't offered the cube until Bert had used a strange machine to 'examine' them. He waved it around their heads for a long while, one at a time. He said they were clear, and then Isaac gave them the same offer I'd received, even though he looked repulsed by the idea.

"This was never agreed upon," He seethed as Kiani finished acquiring the squirrel DNA. "It was only meant to be Ms Harwood."

"I still don't believe a word of it." George grumbled. He'd gone through the acquiring process, begrudgingly so, and now leaned back in his seat with arms folded.

"You believe it enough to sit here and accept such grand technology." Isaac retorted, putting the cube and tabs away.

"Because I want to get out of here," He said. "This is bloody stupid."

Bert stepped forward and tapped nonchalantly on the desk. "Sceptical, huh? I get it. I'm sure Isaac does, too, but he's an incredible bore. You've probably found that out."

"Must you?" Isaac sighed.

"Accept the truth, my grouchy friend," Bert laughed. "Now, I'm happy for you to be a bit… uncertain. Things haven't gone entirely to plan today, but we can make this work. You all look like upstanding people, and I can bet that you'd do what you could to help out if you realised the true scope of what's going on out there."

Oliver said, "We get that, mate, but you haven't actually proven any of this stuff. This all just seems to be…" He looked to me. "Sure this isn't still some acting thing?"

"You know what? I think it might be. That money can't be real." Kiani speculated.

Bert raised his hands. "Okay, okay. We haven't proven it. Okay," He turned back to Isaac and shrugged. "What do you reckon? Got something to show 'em?"

"They can show themselves," He huffed. "They have the morphing capability."

Oliver laughed abruptly. "Are you saying that if I concentrate on a Staffy, I'll become one? Well, okay…"

He closed his eyes and put on a fake, almost mocking smile.

Kiani prodded his arm. "Still looks like a big ape to me!"

Isaac leaned his head into one arm. He was bored, but he kept his eyes on Oliver, almost expectantly.

Oliver opened his eyes and shook his head.

"Fee? –Othin'!"

Kiani blinked. "What did you say?"

Oliver's mouth opened, and out lolled a flat, waggly pink tongue. "-Othin'!"

Kiani almost fell from her chair. Then she screamed! George grabbed her by the arms and helped to lift her back up, but his eyes were bulged and his skin had gone the palest white.

Oliver realised something was wrong. His hands fiddled with his tongue, and he too began to change to white. "-Oleh fhit! –Oleh fhit!"

Isaac exhaled with disinterest. "Just think of your Human body and you'll change back."

I only then realised that my chair had moved away from Oliver a foot or so. My right hand was clasped to my mouth. Instinctual movements. All I could think of was that sight. Oliver with a dog tongue… It was grotesque!

But that meant it truly was all true! It couldn't have been a magic trick. It was too real!

I rocked a little in my seat and whispered some choice words to myself. I clasped onto the mug of tea I'd recently been given and perched the rim on my lips without taking a sip.

"Fhit! Fhit!... Shit!"

He was returning to normal. He continued to examine his tongue with scrambling fingers. Even when it was fully Human again, he played ever more with it.

Bert giggled. "Calm now. Didn't think it would cause such chaos!"

George panted and glared at him after he'd helped Kiani back onto her seat. "Okay. Okay, we get it. Whatever weirdness this is, it exists. What now? Why us?"

Isaac groaned. "We've gone through this! Do I have to explain a third time?!"

Bert waved a hand at his disgruntled colleague and spoke to George. "Don't mind him. You weren't chosen. Amy was. You just happen to be in the wrong place at the right time. Now that you know what's going on, we want you to help."

Kiani, still shaken, asked, "You want us to kill these Yeerk things?"

"Not quite," Bert said, shaking his head. "Not kill. That's not what we do. You will gather intelligence on our behalf."

"That doesn't explain why we're involved," I said. "Why not chose some trained agents? MI6 people?"

"Their roles don't allow sufficient… space. They are also liable to becoming targets or suspects. Students, on the other hand… Art students… Well, let's face it, you don't actually do much, do you?"

We wanted to argue. We couldn't.

"And Amy here," He continued, holding a palm towards me. "Is proficient in the skills we require. Language, disguise. Loyalty. She fits our mould. We've studied her long enough to know these things."

George's anger seemed to have subsided. His fingers were clutched around his chin as he studied the mysterious pair. I could see what he was considering, and I knew that he was becoming convinced of their story. He was looking for the best option, what the best deal was for us. His words weren't what I expected to hear, and I was a little shocked. "Two million."

Bert and Isaac both drew their gazes to him. Isaac began to reply, only to be hushed by a hand wave from Bert. Bert narrowed his eyes in thought, and a stray pair of fingers dragged the briefcase to the edge of the desk and back into the conversation. "You wish to split four ways?"

George nodded. "Four ways, five-hundred each."

Isaac rolled his head on his shoulders and looked away with a loud grumble. Bert was a little more considerate of it, but gave a counteroffer. "Eight-hundred split four ways."

"One-point-two mil."

Bert paused in thought, but then relented. He returned his bright grin and offered a hand to George. "Done."

George looked to shake his hand…

"Wait." I spoke up. I sat forward in my seat. I had a winning position.

Bert's hand dropped away. "Is there some disagreement?"

"My original offer was five-hundred-thousand," I said. "I won't accept a two-hundred decrease."

I could see Isaac almost wanting to slit his own wrists. Bert, on the other hand, was still willing to find the right compromises. "So you take five-hundred thousand, and the rest of you split the remaining amount."

"I'm not doing the same job for basically half the amount," Kiani insisted. "We all get the same."

"And I get the amount I agreed to." I added.

Then George added another condition. "Or we tell the police about your little mission."

Bert laughed, and heartily so. He even slapped at the table, causing Isaac to flinch. "You really are a feisty bunch! Since when did actors become this stubborn?"

"Since forever." Kiani said.

He continued to chuckle. "Fine. Two million, but we will expect cooperation."

"Deal." I said.

"Deal." George agreed, confirming that there was no longer disparity. He and Bert shook hands, and the deal was finally done.

Bert strolled away with a gleaming smile. Isaac was yet unmoved. He said, "Your training will begin tomorrow. Derek will pass on the details on your way out."

"Tomorrow?" George said. "I'm not here. I'm going back to Somerset."

"Then change plans." Isaac ordered with an authoritative tone.

He shook his head. "But I've organised with-"

"We have just given you a very large sum of money," Isaac seethed. "You will change your plans."

As if to illustrate, Bert closed the briefcase stacked high with money and moved to George, dropping the heavy weight into his lap. George had no rebuttal this time, but his hands caressed the case ponderously.

"The rest of the money will be handed over tomorrow," Isaac continued. "We didn't expect this change of circumstance, so please grant us the privilege of patience on that front."

The weight of the decision was still descending on us. Nobody was at all sure about what was going on, and what we were doing. The temptation of money was certainly playing its hand. Questions were popping up everywhere, but only a few were being asked with the limited courage we had.

Oliver stuttered before asking, "Isn't there some contract? I mean… all this money. Seems like something like this should be more… official."

"There will be no contracts," Isaac answered. "This money is not to be seen in bulk. Do not bank it. Do not be stupid when spending it. What has happened here today is only for present ears."

A new thought popped into my head. No contract, vast sums of money… Was this some criminal organisation we were getting involved with?

What kind of criminal has the power to turn into animals at their disposal?

"Is this some government technology? The animal-change thing?" I asked. "Something secret? How do you have it?"

Kiani followed. "Yeah, are you from the government?"

"We are not. We have told you about the technology. I don't know what's not to understand: This is Andalite technology. Alien technology. Non-Human."

"So who are you?" George asked. It was the question on everybody's lips.

Isaac said, "We are your allies."

"That doesn't answer my question."

"It's the best you'll get. For now."

Bert clarified what Isaac had said. "We need to know if we can trust you before we get all cosy."

"If you can trust us?!" Kiani blurted.

"We aren't here for malicious intent," Isaac asserted. "We're here for justice. Trust us, and we can deliver you justice."