Disclaimer I do not own Animorphs or Ben 10

Chapter 21: Discovery

Marco's POV

"I still don't understand why we gotta do all these preparations." I said, rolling a fallen log with Jake towards the small clearing near the cave. "I mean we pretty much winged it when." I paused, we pretty much never brought up the subject of the time Jake was infested. It wasn't a pleasant experience, especially for Jake.

He nodded and understood what I was gonna say. "We weren't expecting it at that time." He said. "Unlike now, we have time to prepare some supplies, as well as the fact that we can interrogate him properly, is gonna be a huge game changer in the war." He was right, if we could find out more about the Yeerks' plans we could slow down the invasion much more than what we've done so far.

We got the log to the camp and placed it next to the small fire pit that Cassie had dug out. The camp was starting to take shape. It took a while to find the cave that Cassie had been talking about, but we eventually found it. It was pretty far from town, as well as being away from any hiking trails, so we didn't really need to worry about any random hikers coming and discovering our camp while we held Ben captive.

"Where's the food?" I asked Cassie when she got out of the cave with a small flashlight. She didn't answer me, but pointed up to the canopy. I looked up and saw a duffel bag hanging on a tree by some rope, swaying in the breeze. "Oh." I said.

"We wouldn't want a bear to get our food." She explained.

"You mean Rachel?" I joked.

"Oh haha, Marco." Said Rachel, walking up to us.

I nudged Jake with an elbow. "Hey there Boo Boo, let's go get us a pic-a-nic basket." I said imitating Yogi Bear's voice.

Jake grinned and said. "That's a duffel bag up there, not a picnic basket."

"Hey, can you blame me? I'm just smarter than the average bear!"


Okay, so here's what's happening at the moment. All of us, the Animorphs, are back at the field where we first saw Ben turn out to be a morphing alien.

I perched on a branch in my Osprey morph on a tree at the edge of the field, waiting.

(You know, I don't think he's coming.) I said. (Guess we'd better head home.)

(We've only been here for fifteen minutes, Marco) Said Jake.

(Feels more like an hour.) I mumbled.

Here is the thing. We know that Ben is sided with the Yeerks, he could be a controller or even a Yeerk with morphing capabilities, who knows. We also know that he comes to this place often, and probably on the weekends, I mean we see him almost everyday at school. What we don't know is when he's gonna arrive or if he moved on to another area or even if he stopped coming. Sure we don't know everything, but we try to find out as much as possible, and with this waiting and hoping that he will come so we can ambush him in an isolated location is a hell of a lot better than trying to ambush him back in the city.

It was when Ben arrived that the action started. I wasn't really paying a lot of attention, my thoughts were kinda floating around, like the way I'd zone out during history class in school. I didn't really realize that Ben was there until Jake said.

(Alright, everyone get into your positions.)

I was shaken out of my reverie, and looked around trying to spot him, then to my left I saw Ben coming into sight from between the trees. Okay time to get down to business.

I left the field to a nearby spot to demorph and turn into my wolf morph. When I got back and found a spot to stay hidden, I kept my eyes on Ben wondering who was gonna go and jump him.

And at the moment of truth, it was Rachel.

It wasn't surprising, she was always the one to attack first, and now when it could've been anyone, by pure chance it was her. (Lucky you Rachel, seems like you'll be the one to get in the first hit.) I said, teasing her.

(Shut it, midget. I'm concentrating.) She replied.

Ben got closer to Rachel's position and turned around, away from the edge of the forest. Then I expected Rachel to jump out, guns blazing at him. But for some reason she hadn't made her move, was there something wrong?

So I called out to get her attention. (Hello? Earth to Rachel, get him while his back is turned!)

(Oh, right.) She answered, sounding distracted, then she bolted out of the bushes and straight towards Ben.

I ran out into the field and headed straight toward's Ben and Rachel. I saw Rachel jump into the air and landing on top of Ben, knocking him to the ground. They slid back a couple of feet, and Rachel jumped off him, he was already crawling backwards trying to get away from her. I reached them first, and the others were next to me within moments. We had formed a kind of half circle around Ben, someone growled loudly. Ben froze when he heard the sound.

Ax should've caught up with us by now, but where was he?

(Hurry up Ax!) Yelled Jake.

Ben's head turned, looking every which way. I felt a light breeze on my fur as Ax caught up with us and knocked Ben out with his tail. Ben collapsed onto the grass, and out like a light.

This had to be a joke, this was way too easy. When we had demorphed I said. "Well, that was easier than I thought. I actually can't believe it was that easy, can you guys believe how easy that was?" I looked at the others, none of them seemed to believe it either.

Tobias dropped the rope on top of Ben, commenting. (Man that thing's heavy.)

I picked up the rope and said. "Come on let's get this over with." I turned Ben over, so he was laying on his back and I started to tie up his arms, Rachel helped and tied up his legs. After checking that both were secure we helped carry Ben onto Ax's back and then watched him leave in the direction of the cave that we had prepped.

Jake gave a sigh of relief and said. "Well, that went better than I thought." Then he sat on the ground. "I really thought that he was gonna put up more of a fight."

"Yeah, I'm surprised that he actually didn't morph and just kill us." I said, giving a strained laugh. Ben is, was our friend. I'm not sure about how I should feel about the situation we're in right now. I kinda felt alienated from the guy after we found out that he was the one that was causing all the damage here. When we hung out with him it was kinda awkward at first, like when we found out that Tom was a controller. But we had to keep face, our survival depended on it.

"I'm just glad that we didn't have to really hurt him." Said Cassie.

"Yeah, well come on. Let's go and meet up with Ax at the cave." Replied Jake and held out his hand and I helped him to his feet.

X

We got to the cave about two hours before Ax. Jake and I carried him inside the cave. He used a flashlight to light up the inside of the cave. I brought along the camping lamp and some matches. Jake held the flashlight in his mouth like a spy in an action movie. We laid Ben down against the cave wall, Jake adjusting him so that he was in a better sitting position. I on the other hand lit a match, it flared up in the dark cave, and I lit the lamp. The inside of the cave filled with a soft orange light, I hung it on one of the stalagmites to let it light up as much of the cave as possible.

"You know I was really hoping that he wouldn't be involved in the war." Said Jake quietly, kneeling down facing Ben. His voice resounded in the cave.

I turned to look at him. "Yeah, he's a cool guy." Then my tone became serious. "But we've got to do what we've got to do to win this war." I gave a short pause. "And to whoever is involved."

Jake didn't say anything, but gave me a small nod and we both went out of the cave, crouching low and walking through the tunnel and back into the sunlight.

For the next couple of hours we all chatted, munching on some chips and stuff. It was almost like we were a normal camping trip. We had a small fire, even though it was the middle of the day and we brought some snacks. But the small illusion of the camping trip disappeared when Ax called our attention.

(Prince Jake, he's waking up.)

We stopped whatever we were doing and froze. The camp immediately became quiet. Jake and I walked over to the tunnel entrance and we began morphing flies. Cassie and Rachel also started to morph into their battle morphs. When we were done, we flew into the tunnel. The girls stayed back at the entrance, just in case he got past Ax.

Jake and I zoomed through the dark tunnel at top speed. We were both like fighter jets flying in some giant underground cavern. If you see how fast flies fly, to you it might look pretty slow, but to the fly it was like we were going at mach 5. It took a little while to get to the cave, but when we got in, Ben was already awake and from what I could see he was struggling against the ropes.

"What the hell?" He growled.

Being a fly has quite a few advantages. No one really notices you for one, and they have really good eyesight compared to things like roaches. They have okay hearing, and their eyes aren't really that suited for dim places, but I could see well enough to get an idea of what was happening.

Jake and I landed on Ax's body, probably somewhere on his back. It was like a giant cornfield of blue fur.

(Prince Jake, it that you and Marco?)

(Yep, you got two passengers of the small, flying kind back here Ax.) I said.

Then Ben looked up and saw Ax. "You! Who are you? Where am I? What happened to the wolves?" He demanded.

Now this was getting stranger by the minute. I honestly thought that his first reaction would be something like "Andalite scum", but he didn't say anything like that.

(Jake, something's not right here.) I said.

(I know.) He was probably just as surprised as I was.

"I'm asking you again, who are you?" Ben asked, his voice echoed inside the cave. The fly's brain was getting uneasy with all the sound and air movement that I felt in my wings and hair. Another thing, his voice didn't seem afraid.

(I am Aximili-Esgarrouth-Isthill, and I know that your name is Benjamin Tennyson or at least it's the name you gave to the humans to call you by.) We told Ax beforehand to do his best menacing thought-speech voice, so he'd make a convincing veteran Andalite Bandit. And he was doing a really good job.

"Are you the one that's talking in my head?"

(Yes.)

"So what are you supposed to be? A kind of blue centaur with four eyes, without a mouth?" He didn't sound scared at all, he was so cocky, I've never heard the guy talk like this before. If it was me, I'd be scared shitless. Ax slowly raised his tail into view of the lamplight. "Cool tail." He said.

(I am an Andalite.) Then he said directing it towards me and Jake. (Prince Jake, he does not seem like he knows about the Andalites. If so, then it will also be unlikely that he would know about the Yeerks or even be be affiliated with them.)

(Yeah, I was thinking the same thing Ax. But don't put your guard down yet, he could just be pretending and even if he isn't he might still be a threat.) Answered Jake.

This was something that we never expected. We were all so sure that he was one of the Yeerks, but to find out that he might not be on the Yeerk's side kinda got me excited. If we could convince him to join our side, with all his morphs we might just be able to win the war.

"So what do you want with me?" He asked. "Are you looking for the omni-" He stopped mid-sentence, then asked again. "What do you want with me Aximili?"

(Hey Ax someone finally got your name right.) I said directing my thought speech to just him. And in the dim light, I thought I saw one of his eye-stalks turn to look at me.

(I want to know what your species is, what planet you come from, how you came to Earth and why, you are not human even though you pose as one.) Said Ax to Ben.

"What are you talking about? Look at me, I'm totally human."

(So I suppose all humans on earth posses a advanced form of the morphing technology, but they don't. So tell me the truth, where do you come from and what is your species?)

"I told you already, I. Am. A. Human. Being." Punctuating each word.

(I highly doubt that. But if you truly are what you say your are then tell me, how is it that you are able to morph?)

"Morph? What the hell are you talking about?"

(We have observed you at the field. You posses the morphing ability, the ability that allows you to become any animal.)

"You were watching me at the field? You saw me transform?"

(That's what you call it? A poor choice of words for the ability. So tell me-) Ax was cut off.

Ben had jumped up and looked like he was going to make a run for it, but Ax was quicker, I felt a sudden rush of air over me and Ax's tail was at Ben's throat. Ben stopped moving the moment the blade was at his neck.

(That was a foolish decision, I could kill you before you even can even reach the tunnel, so I would suggest that you won't do again) He said. (Now, sit back down.)

Ben slowly backed up until his back was to the wall and he slid back to a seated position, Ax's tail was at his neck the whole time. They were both silent until Ax slowly pulled away from Ben's neck.

(I ask again, tell me where did you get your morphing abilities? There is no other race, apart from the Andalites, that have developed the morphing technology. How is it that you are able to go from one morph to another as well as go over the time limit?)

"What are you talking about? I've always been able to do it."

(So you were able to do it ever since you were born?)

"Yeah."

(I think he's lying.) Said Jake.

(I don't believe you.) Ax said to Ben. (Now tell me the truth, where did you get the ability, and where is the technology responsible for it?)

"I already told you, there's no technology."

Ax didn't say anything for a moment, letting the tension in the cave build, until. (If you do not wish to tell the truth, then you will remain here until you do.)

"Ha!" Scoffed Ben. "You can't keep me in here."

(We'll see about that.) Said Ax, then at me and Jake. (Prince Jake, it would be useless to interrogate him any further as of right now. We should wait for a few hours and resume then.)

(I get you Ax, now get out of here.)

(I can't, Prince Jake.)

(What are you talking about Ax-man?) I asked.

(To enter the cave, I had to go into my human morph to get inside.)

(Go ahead Ax, but just wait one second.) Said Jake.

A moment later, I heard the faint sound of paws and claws in the tunnel, then a huge dark furry mass entered the cave.

(Is that Cassie?) I asked him.

(Yeah.) He answered. (Alright Ax, go ahead and morph. Come on Marco, lets get out of here.)

We both took off from Ax's back and left the cave, flying through the tunnel and back into the open. At the mouth of the tunnel there was a gigantic mountain of brown fur that was Rachel, and we demorphed.

(So what'd you guys find out?) She asked. (We heard him talking, but it was hard to understand what he was saying.)

"He hasn't given up anything yet." Said Jake, as I walked over to my clothes that were left piled up on the ground, shaking some dirt off and putting them on.

"Not exactly." I said. "So far we've learnt that he probably isn't a controller."

(How'd you figure that out?) Asked Rachel.

(Because he did not react like a Yeerk, when he saw me.) Said Ax, who had gotten out of the tunnel and demorphed back into his Andalite body.

(Oh, okay.) There was a kind of relief or something similar, when she said it.

(So that's all we got from him?) Asked Tobias.

"Yeah, it's not much, but we've got the next three days to find out as much as we can." Said Jake. "And after that, I'm not sure what we should do with him, if he's not a controller."

(We can't simply let him go, if he has contact with the Yeerks, he could put us in danger.) Said Ax.

Rachel demorphed and started to put on her clothes as well. "But he doesn't know about our real identities."

"Yeah, but even if he might not put us in danger, just the plain fact that he's had contact with us means that he might be in danger from the Yeerks if they found out about him."

(If they find out about his ability, he will probably be infested and be a controller for sure, also he will most likely be Visser three's next host.) Said Ax.

"We'll just have to think about it, but for now we should relax a bit. And remember to change shifts with Cassie in two hours. Rachel will be next, then Tobias, then Marco, then me, then Ax." Said Jake. We all nodded at that and we went back where we sat before Ben regained consciousness.


(Guys!) Yelled Tobias, and he bounded out of the cave in his wolf morph.

"What happened Tobias?" Asked Jake.

(He's gone!) His voice full of panic.

Author's Notes: Yay! In 2 weeks and 3 days I have finished a chapter! I'm so proud of myself. And let me tell you that the interrogation took almost a week to write. I mean, I've been building up to this for such a long time that now that I'm here it was hard to get it right. Anyway, I hope to release another chapter soon and I hope you enjoyed this one and that you will all be very excited for the next one. And don't forget!

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