Jacob Nyles:

"Somehow I don't think he really sells fish," I said, suspicious.

"Of course he sells fish," Tin man said, irritated.

[The fish appear… unhygienic] Esplin commented, eying the rows of plastic bins through the binoculars.

I didn't see any kind of refrigeration beyond melting ice. And clouds of flies.

"He sells other things too though," Tin man grunted.

"Interesting things, I hope," I muttered. Just not good fish, apparently.

It was also very hot on the partially shaded roof. Even with the sun setting, the surface was shimmering.

"And how do you know where the container is?" I asked again, hoping my boots weren't going to melt to the roof.

"Because I memorized the shipping label. We just need to get into that office, and the shipping records," Tin man explained.

"I understand that, but how do you even know what's in the container?" I asked, curious. He was a car thief, not a dock worker.

"I've got a friend who handles cargo. He gives me… tips… sometimes, on new stuff, and we split the profits," Tin man shrugged.

"And no one notices?" Esplin asked through my mouth.

"Notice what? The product that just happened to fall off the back of a truck?" Tin man asked.

It was my turn to grunt.

"Sam should be finishing up his shift soon… and Karl's a pussy," Tin man said.

I'd neglected to inform my "partner" that I had a pistol. (The hoodlum's handgun. I'm not sure what kind, and neither was Esplin) It was heavy and solid feeling, but the grip wasn't very thick, and the magazine only held nine bullets. We're not sure what kind… but bigger than .22LR pistol rounds.

It was tucked into my back pack.

Tin man was still "unarmed" but I was guessing that would change soon… since the security guard in question, Karl the Pussy, had a pistol on his belt, in addition to the keys, radio, flashlight, etc.

[Karl the Pussy appears to have rather large arms] Esplin said nervously, and I had to agree. The white dress shirt appeared to be having difficulty concealing the bulging… oh, that's just not fair

[And he has abdominal muscles] Esplin noted, amused by my jealousy.

[As do we] she continued.

[Yeah… but…] I sighed. Mine could be felt… but not seen. Especially through a dress shirt.

[For muscle to show that clearly, he must have a dangerously low muscle to body fat ratio] Esplin continued, distracted.

"Who the hell are you talking to?" Tin man demanded suspiciously. He'd noticed our conversation.

"I've got two dead yeerks in my head. You just have one. I'm allowed to hear voices," I said calmly.

Tin man stared at me, uncertainly.

"Just snippets of memories and thoughts, right?" I asked.

Tin man shrugged.

"Each time is different," I said quietly.

"You're not going to snap, right?" Tin man asked.

"Relax. I only listen to the good ideas," I smirked.

[All of my ideas are good] Esplin asserted confidently.

I started humming the Sesame Street theme song under my breath… but 25% faster.

Which sounded disturbingly demented… like Elmo was hiding a handcannon under the blood-red fur… trying to lure the children in closer before the carnage.

[You never did like Elmo] Esplin pointed out.

Those damned, soulless eyes… and that maniacal giggle. I clamped down on the shiver that trickled down my spine.

[List of things that scare Jacob: Spiders. Ex-girlfriends. Mist. Cages. Elmo…] Esplin muttered quietly, bored.

"Hey… Karl's leaving…" I said, startled, as the male-stripper-Hulk stunt-double fiddled with a machine, and headed for the door.

"That's Sam. Not Karl," Tin man sneered.

"So… which one's Karl?" I asked.

"The pussy," Tin man elaborated.

Another security guard wandered into view of the wide observation window.

"Dear God. You were being literal."

Apparently, in Tin-man speak, pussy meant female. Like, any female.

"Like I said. Karl's a pussy," Tin man repeated… the words taking on new meaning with that translation.

I decided I really didn't like Tin-man.

((()))

"Look, ma'am, I'm really sorry about this," I said.

"Ma'am? Do I look like your mother?" the guard demanded. She was pissed… but we had her gun. So that was probably a natural reaction.

She wasn't pretty, her face was too hard for that. Memorable though, like a pistol in your face. And she wasn't old enough to be my mother. Older sister, maybe.

Mostly though, I noticed her eyes. I'd always had a thing for green eyes, I don't know why—

[Courtney's eyes are green. So are your mother's] Esplin interrupted flatly.

"Just being polite… or at least, as polite as I can be," I shrugged.

Tin man was clacking away at the keyboard… and from the sounds of it, he was a two finger typist. A very foul mouthed, hen picker.

Possibly due to overly large fingers. Karl started talking in a calm tone of voice. Bit slower than normal though, "I don't know what you're after, but if you give me the gun, I won't—"

"You know I snapped your radio antenna thingie off, right?" I interrupted, curious.

Karl blinked, then twisted around slightly, to look at the radio on the back of her belt.

It had been an accident, during the tussle for the sidearm.

Karl knew Judo.

I hate Judo… or rather, I hate when other people know Judo.

And are better at it than me.

[You don't know Judo] Esplin snorted.

[Yes I do] I retorted.

[Three months of informal instruction from Saul doesn't count as actual training] Esplin said dismissively.

[I won, didn't I?] I pointed out.

[Because you cheated] Esplin shrugged.

[A surprise attack isn't cheating. It's just being proactive] I said stiffly.

[Cheater]

Karl was glaring at me… and it made me more than slightly nervous.

"So, you aren't actually transmitting our secret plan to your boss," I apologized.

"You're starting to irritate me," Karl told me.

"I tend to do that. It's not always on purpose though."

"Ha! Stupid sonofabitch," Tin man snarled. This was the signal that Tin man had finally navigated through the simple and very user-friendly network. It was also the signal for Karl to try and jump us, apparently.

But I'm a little faster than normal. Not much faster… just enough.

[Gloat later] Esplin advised, as we handcuffed Karl's wrists behind her back, after looping the links through the back of her belt… and almost got bucked off and beaten to a pulp twice, even with Tin man helping us (and he was pretty strong). We did lose the pistol though, somewhere under a nearby desk.

And I managed to do this without touching anything I wasn't supposed to.

[You weren't as concerned about the Doctor's… virtue] Esplin noted.

[Touching is different from looking] I said defensively.

And it felt wrong, restraining a resisting woman. The feeling was tempered by my swelling eye, and throbbing lip. I really didn't like making someone vulnerable like this. Especially a woman. Not around Tin man.

[Enough. We understand, you have intimacy issues] Esplin growled, wrinkling her nose.

"Let's gag the pussy, and leave her in a side office," Tin man grunted, wiping at the sweat on his forehead, panting. I had a death grip on her knees, while Tin man was using the laces from her boots to tie her ankles together.

Karl called us many indistinct names, for that, even with her mouth smashed into the cheap carpet, since I was currently sitting on her back.

We did manage to gag her, although Tin man's finger was still bleeding, and he was still muttering about the bite.

"Don't be such a girl," I sneered.

"I am not a pussy," he growled.

"Meow," I snorted, as we climbed back into the borrowed pick-up truck, and Tin Man started the engine, manually (since we didn't have a key).

((()))

Tin man opened the shipping container, and stepped inside, using Karl's stolen flashlight.

"Okay…" I said, impressed.

"Technically, I think this stuff is illegal right now, since it's not July," Tin man grunted.

"And technically, I think alien body snatchers from space might also be illegal," I retorted.

"There has to be a law for something to be illegal," Tin man said.

I was only partially listening, looking at the boxes of Fireworks… but there were so many kinds…

"I want something loud, flashy, but prolonged… something that sticks around for a while," I said, looking at the boxes, a little lost.

"Over head, or general mayhem?" Tin man asked, investigating the back of the shipping container.

"How about a little bit of both?" Esplin suggested.

"Well… a Catherine Wheel will keep their attention for a while… especially if it's not secured properly, and mobile…" Tin man said, indicating one of the boxes.

"Catherine wheel?" I asked. We weren't familiar with fireworks beyond ooh… pretty.

"It's basically a wheel, with lots of little fireworks attached, that go off in sequence. It usually spins around on a screw, or nail, attached to a post… but if it gets loose… it can go anywhere," Tin man explained.

"What about bottle rockets, and roman candles?" I asked. Those were the only two I knew the names of.

"Mostly harmless. Might be useful, if we use delayed fuses to stagger launch them… organize them into batteries maybe… especially the whistling bottle rockets," Tin man said, scratching at his chin.

"Let's get to it," I said eagerly.

[Boys and their toys] Esplin snorted, amused by my excitement.

[It explodes, and makes pretty colors. What more could a man ask for?] I wondered.

Helaine-Mtalenon-Ashul:

I watched Jacob, and the human continue their foolishness, transferring containers to the back of their transport vehicle. I banked in the deepening gloom, my eyes seeing everything. Last night Jacob had asked why I did not acquire a bird native to this area. But the owl morph was sufficient for my needs. It had silent flight, excellent hearing, and superb night vision. Although the thick feathers were somewhat stifling in this oppressive heat. I landed behind a storage container, and remorphed the owl. When I returned to the air, everything had changed.

There were eighteen humans converging on the area designated by the metal fence for storage… and one carried a dracon beam.

[Jacob. Yeerks are approaching your position, thirty-seven degrees to your right, at a distance of two hundred meters] I said coldly.

Jacob tripped over something, nearly spilling the contents of his box. He spoke with the human for several seconds. Then he began to run, on foot, towards the center of the maze… while the human closed the container, and climbed into the transport, piloting it away from the approaching yeerks. Yeerks Jacob was rapidly approaching.

A diversion, no doubt. I trimmed my tail feathers, and fell into a silent stoop, losing altitude, until I was only a handful of meters above Jacob.

[I am overhead] I told the human, incase he had information to pass along.

"Is Jett here?" he panted.

[I do not believe so] I answered.

"Then get her!" Jacob snarled.

Esplin 1894:

[Tell me we aren't doing what I think we're doing…] I sighed. Jacob didn't answer, as we climbed through the window, into the building we had left Karl in. The building the yeerks would no doubt search first.

She wasn't here. Our eyes scanned the gloomy office, the door had been closed, where could she—

Something kicked our ankles, then cannoned into our belly.

"Oomf!"

Karl hadn't left, or gotten loose. She was the "earthworm from hell" (Jacob's words, not mine). And apparently very good at full body headbutts.

[Do you want me to… take her? Until we reach a safe place?] I asked.

[No!] Jacob snapped, still haunted by the police officer.

[It was only a suggestion] I said, annoyed.

Jacob managed to get Karl in a chokehold, until she passed out. It was a long nine seconds. Getting out through the window was tricky, with a woman that weighed the same as Jacob (although she was taller). We almost dropped her twice.

[Forklift] I said, pointing it out. Jacob couldn't outrun the enemy with the guard across his shoulders.

Jacob scrambled over to the vehicle, the keys were in the ignition still. He fiddled with the controls for several seconds, then grabbed an extra propane tank from the nearby (unlocked) propane tank cage. (The forklift wasn't a gasoline model), then turned it on. There were sudden shouts from the far side of the building, at the sound of the engine starting. Jacob wedged the heavy spare tank onto the accelerator, and got out of the way, as the machine lumbered off down the stacks of shipping containers.

[Not an escape vehicle?] I asked bemused.

[A fork lift can go what, twenty miles per hour? Max?] Jacob asked. Still faster than us on foot with a woman.

[I don't know. I only know what you know about Earth] I pointed out.

[Besides it was loud. And stank] Jacob muttered, as we snuck off to the left, away from the shouting and flashlights. There was a distant crashing noise, but no explosion.

"Huh. I thought the extra tank would—"

Jacob was interrupted by distant Dracon fire.

Then there was an explosion.

[Still want to try the fork lift?] Jacob asked smugly.

[Shut up and run] I grumbled.

We reached the waterfront, and skirted the dock fronts, moving to the right, and away from the commotion. Jacob heard the sirens from fire engines in the distance.

"It's all metal and asphalt though, what's going to burn?" Jacob muttered.

[The yeerks will have to scatter… unless they have control of the emergency services] I said thoughtfully.

Which was when Karl started to wake up.

"I'm the good guy," Jacob snarled, our ear stinging from Karl's knee. We were also slightly less gentle getting Karl onto the ground.

[Jett is approaching. I will guide her to your position] Helaine told us, from wherever she was.

[Sneaky owl-andalites] Jacob griped.

Jacob looked down at Karl, a vindictive gleam in his eyes. The hit to our ear hurt.

"You believe in aliens?" he asked, smirking.

Karl looked angry, and tried to verbally express that anger. But could not, due to Tin man's gag.

"Yes. Jett see Jah-kob."

[Well, at least she's whispering] I pointed out.

"Jett, get over here!" Jacob faux-whispered. He hadn't seen where—

Something large landed beside us.

"Holy shit!" Jacob yelped. The Hork-bajir had clearly been standing on the roof… of the warehouse we were hiding next to. That was a… seven meter drop.

Karl's eyes were very, very large.

"Believe in aliens now?" Jacob sneered. Our ear hurt.

"Jett, carry the woman, okay?" Jacob said, gingerly touching our ear.

"And I wouldn't advise kicking," he told Karl sharply.

[I would advise haste. More controllers are approaching, searching the area. The nearest group consists of three individuals, four hundred meters behind you] Helaine told us.

"You heard the owl. Let's get moving," Jacob grunted, still rubbing our ear. It was very distracting. And why did it still hurt so much?

Jacob Nyles:

[This room again…] Esplin sighed. At least it didn't still smell like piss.

[It's secure. Besides, we don't know if Karl is a controller] I pointed out.

[I agree… I'm just tired of this room] Esplin sighed.

[The human is here. He looks angry] Torfan reported, still hidden in the "surveillance" room.

"What the hell? I thought you were going to draw them off?!" Tin man demanded, as he barged into the room, and drew up short, "Why'd your snatch the pussy?"

Then he saw Jett standing in the corner.

"Hork-bajir!" he snarled, terrified, snatching at his waste band. She got there first, carefully pinning the man to the wall, without cutting him, or letting him get his hands free.

"Jett is on our side," I said wearily, kneading the bridge of my nose.

"If you don't behave, I'm tying you up again," Esplin threatened.

"Mother fu—!" I clamped a hand over Tin man's mouth.

"Watch your mouth. There's a woman present," I admonished. Not a pussy.

"Now, you might not like Hork-bajir, but if you hurt Jett, I'll kill you," I explained carefully. I let a little of Esplin 469 show, for just a second. It was enough to make the crook behave. That, and I had his gun (he didn't know it yet).

"Okay Jett, let him down," I said, "But keep an eye on him,"

"Jett do that," the Hork-bajir promised.

I turned back to Karl, and removed the gag.

"So… any questions?" I asked pleasantly. Which seemed to make the woman warier than if I'd been shouting.

"That really an alien?" she asked, calmly. Too calmly.

"She doesn't have a green card," I said snidely.

[Don't you love a lack of hysterics?] Esplin chuckled.

Karl was studying Jett in the light of the hanging bulb.

"Animatronics aren't that good. The neck's too long for a human in a suit… and the feet aren't right either. Same for the tail. Too mobile," Karl said, thinking out loud. She shrugged, "I'm willing to extend the benefit of the doubt. For now."

"In case you wake up?" I snorted.

"Something like that," Karl agreed, studying us now.

"You're different too," she said.

"Nah," I smirked.

[You're enjoying the big reveal a little too much] Esplin complained.

"Your form is sloppy as hell. You shouldn't have been able to beat me, not twice. But you're fast, and a little too strong," Karl said, poking a few holes in my balloon.

The room was silent for a couple seconds.

"Why are you here? First contact?" she asked.

[Just tell her. Stop stringing this along] Esplin growled.

"Well, first off, there's more than just one group of aliens out there… and they don't all get along, or play nicely," I said.

"Sort of like humans?" Karl asked, unimpressed.

"Basically yes, and Earth is being invaded by body-snatchers," I said, equally blunt.

"Why?" Karl asked.

"Because they're basically mind-controlling tapeworms. Without a body, they aren't really a threat. They need hosts to fight their war… against a different species of alien, that is trying to keep them quarantined."

"So they aren't invading earth to escape their dying planet?" Karl asked, a small smile tugging at the corner of her mouth.

"They don't care about earth, they just care about us. They don't have enough hosts, but lots of tapeworms."

"Which kind is that one?" Karl asked, pointing her chin at Jett.

"Jett isn't either one. She was a body the tapeworms were using. Her species never even reached the stone age… and they're herbivores," Esplin said sharply.

"Yeah, well, somehow I don't think it really needs a stone knife…" Karl said quietly.

"My point is that both alien species are dangerous. The space-police might wipe out Earth, to prevent the tapeworms from using us to overwhelm the rest of the alien races," I said sharply.

"Are you an escaped alien, here to warn us puny Earthlings?" Karl asked, derisively.

"No. I was a host," I snapped, irritated.

"And him?" Karl asked, looking at Tin man.

"Also a host," I said.

"So… if you all used to be mind controlled… I'm guessing its short term then?" Karl asked.

"Every three days, the tapeworm has to crawl back out of the host's ear, and recharge in an alien pool. If it doesn't, it dies," I explained.

"Ah…" Karl said nodding.

"So, since we don't know if you're a host or not… we're going to play it safe, for three days," I said calmly.

"Terrific," Karl muttered. Her name badge had also gotten ripped off somewhere between stealing her gun, and carrying her to the warehouse.

"What is your first name, Karl?" I asked.

"Karl. I had it changed," Karl shrugged.

"Why?" I asked.

"It's easier to get a foot in the door, when the employer can't tell from a resume that you're female. At least, not until you arrive," Karl grinned.

"And then they're so frightened of a pussy with a gun they hire—" I glared at Tin man, and he shut up. But probably because Jett bristled. She knew a glare meant someone was doing something bad… and she probably didn't like Tin man either.

I doubted anybody liked Tin man.

Esplin 1894:

[You can't just leave her here] Helaine protested, [Who will stand guard?]

"Jett will," Jacob said. And feed her and walk her… Jacob thought sarcastically.

"And you can talk to Jett without directly showing yourselves," I pointed out.

"Or just morph human for a bit," Jacob finished flatly.

[Going alone is dangerous] Torfan said, worried.

"We need to gather information, or we won't know where to put the distraction, or where the generator is," I said.

[Yes but… by your self…] Torfan trailed off nervously.

"And what happens if the elevator breaks down, or something? You can only be human for two hours. Also, you suck at imitating human, and being in close quarters with excellent human imitators seems like a great way to get caught," Jacob said sharply.

Before we left though, we visited Karl again.

"Okay, I'm going out for a bit, but you'll be fine. Jett will keep you safe," Jacob said, scowling.

"From the pussy lover?" Karl asked, smirking.

"Yes. That guy," Jacob glowered.

"Oh, my poor, innocent virtue!" Karl mocked, amused.

"You're tied up. Doesn't that technically make me the villain with unreliable minions, and you the unwilling homicidal damsel?" Jacob grumbled.

"If he tried anything, duct tape or not, I'd still break him," Karl said confidently.

Considering how much of a handful she'd been as an earth worm, I didn't doubt her claims.

"Well, it won't come to that with Jett here," Jacob shrugged.

"Yes. The dragon," Karl said.

Jacob liked that image.

"Jett the dragon…" he mused… adding on some wings… and fire.

[First fire-breathing vegetarian scourge ever] I observed.

[Now let's go twist Tin man's nose, until he shows us the secret entrance] Jacob said brightly. Tin man's discomfort and pain brought us happiness.

[And warm fuzzies for all] Jacob added.

There was that too, I supposed.