Chapter 17
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We all stood stock still, staring at the screen as the message repeated itself over and over. I don't think any of us could believe our eyes... or our ears.
"Andalites!" He boomed in what seemed to be a normal voice over the broadcast, which made it sound even stranger.
"I know you will receive this! I request an alliance with you! I will be at the following co-ordinates. I am aware you will believe this is a trap, so I have retrieved the families of the human females you have with you" He moved to show both Serah and Kristiana's families, then continued "We will wait for two days at the mentioned coordinates"
Then it repeated again.
"But... why would he send a message on a Yeerk frequency?" Amanda finally said what we were all thinking.
"At least my mom and dad look like they're okay" Kristiana spoke up, and I saw tears brimming in her eyes. She must have missed them dearly...
"We have to go get them!" Serah cried "My dad... my brothers... they're..."
"It's clearly a trap" Marco growled "How stupid does he think we are?"
"Everyone, settle!" Leo demanded, sharing a look with Ithiell "We aren't doing anything just yet, not until we figure out what's going on"
"Agreed" Ithiell nodded, looking back up at the looping message on the screen.
"Maybe April... I mean Visser Two... mentioned something about the frequencies?" I offered, my eyes still half on Kristiana and Serah. Serah seemed to about to loose it, starting to pace. Kristiana...
Kristiana was always one to keep how she felt or any problems to herself mostly. To see her looking like she wanted to break down meant it was really getting to her. She must have been so upset and torn, seeing her parents and little sister again on that screen.
"That's definitely a good possibility" Rachel frowned a little "I mean, its not like we told anyone else we were listening in on them"
"But... if he knows we can hear it... surely he's aware so can the other Vissers!" Marco looked angry now.
"So... could he be trying to trap them too?"
"Guys, think about it" Robert spoke up "You said you hadn't heard a peep from Visser Three in a very long time... maybe something happened where he's been... I dunno, booted... from their ranks or something?"
"Well, Yeerks do have a way of turning on each other... and quickly" Cassie shrugged, looking just as wary as the rest of us.
"Even if we trust this message is genuine, how can we believe that he wont turn on us?" Tobias looked at Ax, who was now demorphing.
(I do not believe we should trust anything Visser Three says. It is clearly some sort of trap)
"Dudes, what if hes just like... mad about getting kicked from the big leagues and just wants some, like... payback?" Mikey suggested, and we all looked at him. He had a surprisingly serious face on for him.
"Sometimes... you scare me bro" Raph slapped his back a little. His response was a goofy grin.
"Well, Mikey actually has a point" Marco looked from him to Ithiell "Plus, we really haven't heard anything from Visser Three for over six months. It's all been reports about Visser One's activities, and then... well, now... Visser Two"
"So what could have happened to him? Demoted?" Amanda suggested "Maybe even on the run cause he didn't want to give up his body?"
"Plausible" Ithiell muttered, turning back to the screen "But... the question still remains... why on the Yeerk frequencies?"
"Is he trying to piss them off somehow? To like... show them he's still got some power?" I shrugged, not knowing what else it could be.
"Donnie, Ithiell" Leo spoke up "Could that message have some sort of virus, to get into our systems and find out where we are?"
I saw Donnie and Ithiell share a glance, before both were back at the computers, working away again.
After a few tense minutes, they both stopped, looking back at all of us.
"No, we haven't found any subroutines or... well... anything suspicious. Not even in the co-ordinates" Donnie shifted his glasses, looking confused.
"So... what do we do?"
"We have to get my dad and brothers!" Serah cried, almost pleading with Leo and Ithiell. I saw Leo put an arm around her shoulders, pulling her close as he spoke to her.
"We will. But this time... it could be a trap, and they could be trying-"
"Leo, my mom is unconscious and my dad could be-"
"Serah" Ithiell moved to stand in front of the two "You need to listen to us. If this is a trap... it could be the end of all of us. Even you... even Leo. Do you want Leo to be hurt?"
She shook her head, tears streaming down her cheeks "No, but-"
"We need to think this through carefully, okay? Just know... no matter what... as part of your family, I will make sure we get them back safe"
She nodded, staying quiet, and Ithiell turned back to us.
"Suggestions anyone?"
"I suggest we take precautions" Marco.
"We should go and do some recon first. It's possible, that even if this isn't a trap, the Yeerks could still probably converge on the location... wherever it is" Robert.
"It's in an abandoned warehouse, from what I can tell" Donnie was working away again "Big place, could be-"
"Unless... we could go in looking like a smaller group than we actually are" Rachel smiled, her face lighting up. I think Raphael got the idea, grunting as he smirked as well.
"That could work. But..." Ithiell now turned to the cage "We need to sort him first, and make sure this place is secure. Also, we need to choose the right people to go into the warehouse first"
"I think we do recon before anything" Leo sounded determined.
Ithiell nodded "You're right"
"So it'll be... chuck Jake outside" Marco was checking them off on his fingers again "Make sure anyone we leave behind is safe, choose teams for recon and then for the first encounter. And hold everyone else back, just in case we need to mount a rescue mission"
Leo and Ithiell both nodded.
"We really are insane" I muttered.
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After some preparations, and making sure that the girls and Splinter would all be safe while we were gone, Donnie fixed us all up with those little medical monitors on our necks, and the rest of us piled into the fighter... after dealing with the Jake matter.
"Remember... do not leave the lair unless it's an emergency" Leo hugged Serah, who looked reluctant to let him go, seeing her nod.
"I'll be back soon babe" Mikey ruffled Kristiana's hair, and she sighed, instead grabbing his shoulders and giving him a quick kiss. Before she pulled back though, she yanked at his bandanna, making it half fall over his eyes. He whined a little, and I watched in amusement as Mikey fixed his bandanna and Kristiana patted her hair down.
"You be safe sweetheart" She finally said, and he nodded, joining us in the fighter.
"I still can't believe we're doing this" Rachel muttered, sharing a look with Marco and then Tobias. Leo finally finished saying goodbye to Serah, entering the fighter last before turning to wave at the others standing there.
"We will be waiting for your safe return, my sons and daughters" Splinter nodded respectfully, and we all nodded back in return.
Soon, the hatch shut, and I saw the doors to the hanger open, Ithiell gently moving outside, waiting for the doors to finally close again.
"I just hope Jake can't get in there" I muttered, worrying about the girls and Splinter. Now Mihra and Rtaia were out of commission, Splinter was the only one there who had half a chance of fighting Jake, and after seeing what he'd done to two-
"I'll be monitoring their life signs the whole way there and back" Donnie assured me, and I moved up to stand beside him.
"Don't worry, we have a plan in place if Jake does get out again" Ithiell said, his eyes narrowed as the fighter finally picked up speed, and I watched as Donnie entered the co-ordinates into the console in front of him.
"Destination entered"
"Cloaking" Ithiell rose higher into the sky, tapping something above his head and seeing a small shimmer just outside the window in front of us. The sun was starting to set slowly, and we all fell into a short silence as we moved higher above the treeline.
"I really hope this isn't just one big trap" I heard Cassie mutter.
"Don't worry... if it is, we'll be the first ones to find out" Robert sounded almost cheerful, and I turned back to see him put an arm around her shoulders, smiling almost happily.
"You know, that's not very comforting" Amanda shook her head.
"Robert, you shouldn't even joke about that" I told him "I don't want you guys to... well..."
"We won't, don't worry" Now he came over to me, a strange gleam in his eyes "I'm not going anywhere for a while, anyway"
"Well that's a relief" I half leaned back on Donnie's shell, hearing him grunt a little, but not say anything else "Last thing we want is to loose you guys"
"Agreed. Don't take any risks you don't think you can handle alone. We don't know what Visser Three has planned" Ithiell added, his eyes still locked on his tasks.
"We're almost there" Donnie announced, and I moved out from behind him, all of us now on alert.
"I'll do a fly by and a quick scan" Ithiell started "Just to get a basic idea of the place, then Amanda and Robert can do recon"
"Sounds like a plan" Robert cracked his knuckles, then starting to shift with Amanda.
I saw Ithiell fly over the warehouse, both Donnie and Ithiell's fingers flying madly over the controls. Soon, an image popped up over the screen in front of us, looking like a blueprint of the building. The two were working furiously. Then, something else layered over the top of it, and I could see almost like little figures moving around in it.
"There are several heat signatures, one seems to be Visser Three" I heard Donnie say, watching as the figures moved around.
"Looks like Visser Three got a few more people in there. Probably more controllers" Ithiell muttered, not sounding happy.
"Could be loyal followers? Or other people hes... 'saved'?" Rachel made gestures with her fingers, and I knew she didn't believe that message was genuine any more than Marco did.
"Wait... what's going on down there" Leo suddenly moved forward, looking past them to something outside.
Instantly the blueprint was gone, and we could see what looked like several other figures starting to creep up to the warehouse, weapons in hand.
"I think the other Yeerks got the message" Donnie scratched his head, suddenly feeling the fighter shoot upwards, seeing Ithiell tapping away.
"Best to keep away from this fight... if, it actually is a fight" The blueprint came up again, and we watched as the little figures run around, looking like they noticed the ones outside. The ones outside started to fire, and to I think all our surprise, the ones inside were firing back.
I saw one or two inside fall, seeing more outside start to fall.
"Shouldn't we help? I mean... what if they hurt one of-"
"No" Ithiell cut Cassie off "We need to keep out of this one"
"Look at that!" Mikey pointed at the screen, and we all saw the little figure of Visser Three start to grow.
"Oh no... it looks like that fireball creature" Marco grumbled, seeing the larger figure now arc one of what looked like many heads back, starting to fire.
"Yep, it's that fireball creature" Rachel folded her arms, looking as unhappy as Marco did.
Soon the fight turned, and the intruders were soon taken down.
(Elred!) The Vissers Voice suddenly boomed in our heads (Make sure the families are not hurt!)
"What the...does he know we're here?" Raph looked surprise, holding one side of his head.
"No... hes just an arrogant idiot" Marco told him, watching as the figures now run around the warehouse, some of them huddled into one section.
(Good!) Came the voice again a few minutes later (If this alliance is to work they need to be kept unharmed!)
"I think he just loves to hear himself talk" I added, sharing a look with Marco.
(I agree) Ax seemed to sigh a little.
"Well..." Ithiell turned to all of us, his attention now on Robert and Amanda "You're up"
(On it Boss!) Robert said cheerily.
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I looked up at the now massive warehouse in front of me, suddenly not feeling as confident as I had when I'd offered to be part of the first contact.
It had been decided that Leo, Ithiell and Marco would be part of the first contact with the Visser. I offered to come along because I knew both Serah and Kristiana's families, and knew it would help them to see a familiar face.
We were all wearing an earpiece, so we could keep in contact with the others up in the fighter, as well as give them a way to hear what was happening down here.
"So... do we knock?" I asked Ithiell, seeing him send me a 'shut-up' look.
We kept moving until we were at the door, seeing Leo reach for his Katana's beside me.
"Just beat down the door" I heard Rachel suggest through my earpiece. If the situation hadn't been so tense, I would have rolled my eyes at her.
"I got this" Marco stepped forward, surprised when he started to morph, placing his growing gorilla fist on the door.
He finally finished his morph, and I jumped when he thumped hard on the door.
(Visser Three!) He boomed, almost as loud as the Visser himself had (We come to speak to you!)
It was a tense few seconds, before the double doors finally opened, seeing Visser Three at the other side of the room, with the families nearby. I could see several controllers, both human and Hork-Bajir, scattered through the warehouse. Two human controllers had been the ones to pull the doors open.
(Enter Andalites!)
"Are you sure that's a good idea? I mean..." I heard Cassie trail off, looking up at Leo, then over at Ithiell, who both nodded at me.
(How do we know this isn't a trap, Visser!) Marco boomed back at him.
(Weapons down, everyone!) He suddenly commanded, seeing everyone drop their weapons. He surprised us again when he started to morph, ending up as a human of all things.
He spread his arms wide, smiling a little "Please, do as you wish Andalites. My people and I are now unarmed"
"Let's do this" Ithiell was finally the one to step forward, walking into the warehouse, and we had no choice but to all follow him.
It was then that Visser Three's eyes turn to me, and I saw recognition on his now human features.
"You are the human Visser One let escape, are you not?"
"I do not believe that is the reason why we're here, Visser Three" Leo deflected before I could open my mouth.
"Ah... a turtle as well. So, you have... representatives... from each party... how delightful"
"Why did you send that message?" Ithiell asked, all of us now jumping a little as we heard the doors shut behind us.
"Don't worry guys, I've got the weapons trained on that roof... if he tries anything..." Donnie trailed off, and I think it calmed all of us a little, knowing our backup was ready for any slip ups.
"Well... as you have obviously heard in the message, I request an alliance"
(But why send it on Yeerk channels? Why did you-)
"Because, my dear Andalite, Visser Two's information stated that yourself and the creatures called the turtles were listening in on specific wavelengths. I thought I would use the opportunity to send a message that way, in hopes you would receive it, and it seems you did"
"Didn't you realise that every other Yeerk would now be after you for this? Or did you want to use them for back up in your moment of triumph?" I could hear that Leo was itching to pull out his Katanas, but restrained himself.
Visser Three suddenly laughed, and everyone's attention was now on him.
"Foolish creatures! I have been banished by my bretherin! Even if I wanted to, I could not rejoin their ranks now! I was made a mockery by you and those idiotic female Vissers!"
"And how do we know you're telling the truth?" Ithiell folded his arms in front of him, his tail twitching slightly.
"I admire your distrust, Changeling" Visser Three laughed again, pointing a finger at him "It is what keeps us both alive"
"So?"
"We've been fighting our fellow Yeerks since we sent that broadcast" Came the voice of a female controller not far from us. She looked a little pale, and I could only guess she knew it was only a matter of time.
"Because now... no matter what happens... myself and my few loyal followers will starve in another day or so"
(So you figured you would side with us? Why?)
He suddenly looked sad, which surprised all of us, before he finally said something that had us all almost believing him.
"Because you Andalites have bested me at every turn, and now...when you allied with your turtle friends and the changelings... you thwarted even the great Visser One's horrid plans"
"Jade" I jumped when I heard my name, surprised to see Serah's dad approach me, stopping about five feet away and eyeing my three companions.
"I know you don't believe him, and I wouldn't either, especially when none of us have anything to loose"
I eyed him warily "So, it's still the Yeerk I'm talking to then. Is Serah's dad okay?"
"Yes. He's fine. I never wanted to hurt him, or anyone else. I just... we all just wanted to be able to see, to move... to talk..."
"And did you ever consider the people who's heads you're in? That all they want to do is to see with their own eyes, to move their own hands-"
"We're getting off topic here" Ithiell interrupted me.
"So... will you accept our offer to be allies?"
(Depends what you want in return, Yeerk) Marco sneered.
"To live, of course"
"He'll turn on you the second you agree to this! Or... at some other point!"
"Shush Rachel" Amanda's voice through the earpiece again "Let them handle it"
(Rachel, we're aware that he will. We just need to play this the right way) Marco said to the group only, looking at Ithiell, who looked up at him.
"So, what are you going to do after you... help us exactly" Leo asked, his hands balled into fists.
"Why, leave of course. I will take the pool ship and-"
"Nope, sorry, that isn't happening" Ithiell cocked his head a little "We need that ship to retake our world"
Visser Three seemed cut, but then his eyes lit up again.
"Perhaps you will allow us a cruiser ship then. We need a ship with a pool, and if you do not let us take that ship, another should be acceptable to you"
I saw Marco, Leo and Ithiell all share a look, then hearing Ax pipe up in our earpieces (Perhaps we could disable the ships weapons systems before they leave, so they could be harmless to us?)
(That's a good idea Ax) Marco said, looking at Ithiell again, who nodded slightly.
"All right Visser, you have a deal... but you move on our terms, understood? We will use you as we see fit"
"I agree to your terms, now... will you take the humans families?"
"Not until all the Yeerks are out of their heads" I perked up, seeing Ithiell look at me out of the corner of my eye as I continued "We still don't trust you won't betray us as soon as we turn our backs, and we need to make sure that they are safe and free before we take them anywhere"
(Nice move Jade) Marco spoke privately to me, looking up at the Visser. He was clearly annoyed, but nodded anyway.
"Andalites, believe me, I dislike this as much as you do. But I...we... must survive, and an alliance is the only way I see that happening"
"Uh...guys.. I'm picking up some really weird readings..." Donnie's voice in my ear suddenly had me on edge, even as I watched both families tip their heads towards a small bucket of water, seeing the Yeerks clearly falling out of each of their heads.
"Jade" Serah's dad finally came to me, looking a little shaky, but smiling at me as he put his hands on my shoulders.
"Are you okay? Did they hurt you?" I looked straight into his eyes, trying to catch even a hint of hurt or torture in his eyes. I was surprised to find none there... at least none that they could see.
"Jade honey, they're telling the truth, but... well, they did forget to mention someone else they have been uh... dealing with" Kristiana's mom came up to me now, looking worn but still strong and determined.
"Oh yes, my.. apologies" He smiled again, moving to the side and we could now see a shadow behind him. I heard Leo gasp as a figure now emerged from the shadow.
"Now, please don't be alarmed, he would like our... bretherin... gone as much as we do. And he has been a valuable ally over the last twenty four hours. He is... well, he has been the one to help us gather equipment to send out our message"
"It...can't... be..." Leo muttered, almost to himself, and we all looked up at him. If turtles could turn a paler shade of green, he was sure turning that shade now.
"Leo, you okay big guy?" I asked him, putting a hand on his arm. As soon as I did though, it seemed to shock him out of whatever he had been in, and he grabbed his katanas, unsheathing them and getting into a fighting stance.
"Leo, who is it?" Raph now, and I could hear Donnie make a strangled sound.
"It's the Shredder"
"Wait...what?" My jaw dropped, looking at this person. It now dawned on me, as I looked at the armor of this person. It looked just how the turtles had described to me so many times...
I grabbed my dagger, unsheathing it and holding it in front of me, my eyes now trained on this new threat.
"But I thought the Shredder was dead?" I could see Ithiell looking from us to the Shredder "He fell from the-"
"He did. I don't... I don't know how he's here now" Leo told him, lowering his stance a little, suddenly hearing a deep laugh coming from under that helmet.
"Leo, are you okay? I'm coming down there" I heard Raph grunt, then Donnie yell "No, don't!"
I heard a struggle between the two as the Shredder now fixated his eyes on me, and I suddenly felt small. From what the boys had told me, this guy was pretty deadly...
"I did not come to fight you strange little human, or you... turtle. I have...other... concerns"
"Did he really just say that?" Donnie asked, and it sounded like him and Raph had stopped for the moment, just listening.
"I don't trust you" Leo said from beside me, finding this big metal maniac still seemed to be focused on me.
"I see...the rat... has now attempted to train a silly child... how humorous"
"So... what is your concern tin man?" I asked him, knowing my tiny little dagger probably wouldn't do anything to that shiny armor of his, but it was better than nothing right now.
"These pathetic creatures that are the Yeerks have taken over my empire. I want them destroyed"
(Ithiell man... what do we do? It's getting a little tense here...) Marco shifted uncomfortably.
"All right, everyone, weapons away and you two back up" Ithiell now stepped in between the four of us, making us all look at him.
"And what are you going to do, little alien?" Shredder boomed again, almost looking down at Ithiell. Ithiell himself didn't seem phased one bit.
"If you really want to be a part of this take back of the city, then we will meet tomorrow night at a new location. And you two will come alone, no... minions" He pointed from Visser Three, to the Shredder.
(You know, Visser Three is slightly unnerving when he's being agreeable) I heard Tobias say.
(He's being too nice)
(Wouldn't you be, if your only chance at living was siding with your worst enemy?)
(So he's just playing nice?)
(Exactly. He's just trying to grin and bear it. He's still the arrogant prick we've always known and loved) Marco finally said, looking at Leo and I, who were still in fighting stances.
"And where do you suggest we meet, Changeling?" Visser Three now spoke up, standing beside Shredder.
"We shouldn't trust them, they're up to something" Rachel said as Ithiell asked for a map, and in seconds it was in his hands.
"Here" He pointed, almost without looking at the map, seeing the two of them looking closely.
"This is acceptable" Shredder almost nodded, which looked strange. I shared a look with Leo. He still wasn't ready to put his katanas away.
"You both come here, alone, or the deal is off. Visser, I am aware you only have one more day until your cycle ends, so you need to be ready to move at a moments notice. Shredder... if you touch a hair on-"
"Foolish creature! I would not jeopardize the only chance I have to rid this place of... his...kind..." He pointed to the Visser, who almost glared back at him.
So, those two weren't exactly on the happiest of terms either. Good to know.
"As I was saying, one wrong move, and the deal is off. We will discuss the plan tomorrow night, and you will need to both be ready. If either of you even think of trying to betray us..." He let that hang in the air, moving away from them and half shoving the map back in the hands of the controller who gave it to him.
"Damn my man is sexy when he's in control"
"Amanda" I heard the others groan as Leo finally sheathed his katanas, and I put my dagger away.
"All right, we're out... let's move" With the families next to us, we all started to slowly back towards the door, half hearing the controllers there open them for us to leave .
"We will be there" Visser Three started to demorph as we reached the doors, continuing to back up slowly.
"Farewell puny creatures, we will meet again"
We didn't make a move to turn around until those doors were shut and we all bolted out of eyesight of the warehouse, guiding the families behind another set of buildings.
"Do you ever get the feeling everything is about to go horribly wrong?" Marco asked, now human, looking up as the fighter started to descend down towards us.
"Uh, well... we just agreed to team up with probably two of the worst people we could find" I said to him, looking at Leo "We are all kinds of screwed"
"Don't worry, I have a plan" Ithiell said confidently as we all finally entered the fighter, the hatch shutting behind us.
"Yep, we're boned" Robert muttered.
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What do you guys think? Huh? HUH?!
Constructive Criticism appreciated!