Chapter 19

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Well, as it turned out, Donnie actually did need my help with making some equipment, and the extra hands while Ithiell was gone proved useful. The part before it was just... to help relieve stress, or so he let me believe.

The rest of the night and day passed fairly quickly. The base was full of noise and bustle, and even though Ithiell gave us time to rest before the night came, I think for the most part, we were all just too wired up to sleep properly, as tired as we probably all were.

Rtaia had discovered that Kristiana had definitely been experimented on, but couldn't really explain her memory loss about it. We could only guess it was the Yeerk who had done it. From what she could work out, Kristiana now had Tahjemm blood in her. Which meant that she possibly had the same if not similar abilities to what Sequae did. Only... not as advanced. Although, why we hadn't found out about it before now was confusing. Perhaps she wasn't fearing for her life? Or her abilities had just started to come to the surface, we couldn't be sure. Even though Kristiana was determined to be part of the fight, I had a good idea why Ithiell had told the two that they could join us.

We all ate together again, feeling oddly calm before the storm that was to come, all of us probably hoping this plan would work. If it didn't...

Well, it was all or nothing this time around. Every piece of equipment we'd made... everything else we'd done to prepare...

And before I knew it, it was time to go.

I stepped into the slightly crowded fighter, looking around at all my friends. The looks on their faces... worry, fear, determination...

Serah was biting her lip, looking over at Ithiell like she was having second thoughts. I caught Kristiana and Mikey having a small talk, and a little kiss every now and then. Mikey's giggle assured me a little, looking over at his brothers and Splinter.

Leo and Splinter were half in the small bedroom, both talking in low voices. Splinter put a hand on his sons arm, smiling up at him. Leo returned the smile half halfheartedly. I knew he was worried, but I also knew it was Splinters choice to come, and I knew he wouldn't be alone in this.

Raph was, as I suspected, holding onto Rachel as tight as he dared to. She was returning the pressure, both of them looking vulnerable for a moment, before pulling away and seeing utter determination in both their eyes. They were more than ready, and would give their all. Something I knew we'd all have to do to get through this night.

Donnie... my big, sweet turtle... was standing near the console, beside where Ithiell was, pointing down at something on the screen. Rtaia and Mihra were also there, discussing something in muted voices. I saw Donnie nod at something, and then Ithiell pointed at the another spot. For once, they both seemed to be agreeing on something.

I noticed Robert and Amanda weren't far from them, both of them looking like they were in a deep discussion about something, their eyes locked and their hands moving about wildly. To my surprise, Amanda suddenly laughed, pushing Robert slightly back and watching he let out his own kind of laugh. It was good to see, after knowing what they had to endure. I wouldn't wish it on anyone...

Ax, Cassie and Marco were all on the floor in the corner, looking over something on one of Donnie's borrowed laptops, Marco pointing at it occasionally. Tobias, his wonderful hawk self, was beside him, seeming to survey the situation around him. He seemed to catch my eye, and I held out an arm for him to sit on, which he seemed grateful for.

(How you doing Jade?) He asked as he landed on my arm, then inched his way up onto my shoulder so he didn't dig his claws in too deeply. I hummed, stroking the feathers on his chest a little.

"Okay I guess. I still can't believe we're about to do this. I mean... even with... how many of us are there?"

I tried to count us all off on my fingers, but I found Tobias was quicker.

(Eighteen)

I was taken aback by how many of us there were, but continued "Even with all of us, I still don't think it'll be enough. Not even with Sequae, and our... friends... I just keep getting a bad feeling"

(To be honest? Me too) I heard him sigh (But... if we don't do it, who else will?)

"Andalites?" I supplied, trying to smile and look at him out of the corner of my eye. His hawk body seemed to be enjoying the scratch, as he was unconsciously leaning into my touch.

I heard him make a strange sound, then (Ha! As if! They've known about this planet being taken over for years, but haven't done a thing to help. Even now... I think Elfangor was the only one to really care what happened to us... um, and Ax, of course)

"Thank you for correcting yourself Tobias" Ax replied kindly, looking up from his work "I am afraid you are right though. My brother... he..." He trailed off, looking almost upset, seeing Cassie put a comforting arm around him. It seemed to help, as he soon returned to his work, Marco now pointing at something on the screen.

"Okay, is everyone ready?" We all looked over, seeing Ithiell looking back at each one of us.

"As ready as well ever be" Leo answered, glancing at his brothers.

"C'mon Ithiell, get this old bucket movin" Raph grunted, folding his arms and leaning on the wall opposite the Animorphs, looking almost annoyed.

"This aint no bucket" Ithiell responded, but the hatch closed and the hanger door finally started to open.

We all fell silent, watching as Ithiell maneuvered the fighter once again out of the hanger, hearing the large doors clunk behind us. Possibly for the last time...

We rose slowly above the mountaintop, seeing the cage on the top of the mountain.

"Dudes, does it look empty?" Mikey wondered, looking over Ithiell's shoulder now, almost falling over if it wasn't for his brother catching him. Donnie muttered something, pulling his younger brother back slightly.

"Yeah, it does. He's probably playing coy again... " Ithiell muttered, and now Marco was there, moving to get in front of the turtles.

"We don't have time for him, we need to get moving before it's too late"

"Agreed" Ithiell slammed his hand down, and we jolted forward.

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It was a tense half an hour, waiting for Leo, Marco and Ithiell to come back from informing our... friends... about the plan we'd put in place. In that time, I'd managed to get in some kind of strange mental contact with Sequae, letting it know what kind of part we needed it to play. From what I could tell, it agreed, and then it fell silent. I knew it would have to get into position, and wait until we were ready to strike. The first part all came down to timing.

Finally, our leaders called to be picked up, and we discreetly got them on board, keeping the fighter cloaked just in case. We checked all three over just to make sure the two hadn't planted any bugs or anything shifty on them, before we were off again.

"How'd it go?" I asked as Ithiell moved to the controls, watching as Leo moved to lean against the door of the room.

"They're in... but, whether they'll... perform... like we want them to is another matter"

"Well, Sequae is in" I told him, seeing him smirk a little.

"Good, his... it's... co-operation is more important right now"

"I have the... antidote... to his condition, in the room" Rtaia said "It took time, but I managed to make just enough to do what he has asked"

"Weeell let's not get shot at and break the box anytime soon" Robert snorted a little, then his face changed, and he shook his head "I still can't believe we're doing this"

"Yeah... feels surreal" Amanda added, and I shared a look with my oldest friend. At least I knew we'd be doing this together.

"All right, drop off one... you guys ready?" Ithiell suddenly lowered the fighter, turning back to the group again.

"As ready as well ever be" Leo stepped forward, and Splinter nodded respectfully. Raph and Mikey said a quick goodbye to the girls, before joining Leo and their...our... Sensei...

"Hey, whoa" I grabbed Donnie as he went past, making him turn and look at me quizzically.

"I'll see you soon... no dying" I told him, moving to give him a quick kiss. He nodded, smiling and taking a moment to pull me close, giving me a quick hug and a kiss on the forehead before moving towards the others.

"Leo?" Serah looked worried, moving towards him. She let out a strangled sound as he pulled her close, hugging her tightly.

"You be safe, I don't know what I'd do if I lost you"

I heard her gasp a little, before she hugged him back, and they shared a quick kiss, before letting go of him.

"S-same to you" She managed to get out, and Ithiell finally opened the hatch.

"Stay safe guys" Marco called after them, but they had already disappeared.

"Bloody ninjas" Rachel shook her head, but I saw the worry in her eyes.

"All right, you guys next" The fighter moved upwards, heading towards the next drop off point.

"Ax-man, time to demorph" Marco instructed, and he was soon his big blue self, slinging the laptop over his shoulder. He would need it for what he needed to do once we were inside.

"Donnie will want that back too" I added, seeing Cassie give me a sidelong glance.

(See you guys) Tobias opened his wings, following the others towards the now opening hatch as we flew.

Soon, the Animorphs were dropped off as well, and I found we could now move more freely through the fighter.

"I hope they'll be okay" Serah muttered from beside Kristiana, who nodded as well.

"They'll be fine. We just need to do our part as well" Robert told them, sharing a look with Amanda.

"Mihra, do you mind flying for a moment? I need to.. speak to my team" Ithiell looked at her, and she nodded, surprised when he took Rtaia's arm gently, leading her into the room and indicating the three of us follow. We did, now all standing in an awkward circle next to the bed.

"Ithiell?" Amanda wondered, but he just shook his head, instead taking her hand.

"I have something to say, please... let me say it" He looked sadly at her, and she frowned, nodding and squeezing his hand a little.

I was surprised when his other hand reached out and took mine, and I found Robert was taking my other hand. I looked up at him, and he smiled at me, realization dawning on me... this could be our last mission together. This could be...

His other hand took Rtaia's, and it surprised me when her and Amanda linked hands, a sad look in both their eyes as we all looked around at one another.

"Eight years ago, all our lives changed. Some things have changed for good, others... well..." Ithiell took a deep breath, then continued "We became a team. We fought together, and in turn we learned to trust each other, lean on one another when things got hard... even started to care deeply for one another..."

He moved Amanda's hand up to kiss it, and she smiled sadly, nodding at him. When he turned back to us, it was then I saw tears in his big eyes.

"I just... I wanted to say, no matter what happens... I am so proud of all of you. And I am so... so happy to have loved and cared about each and every one of you and called you my friends and now family... I don't think..."

"I think I speak for everyone when I... we feel the same Ithiell" I told him, tears brimming in my eyes and squeezing his hand. He returned the pressure, looking at me and smiling.

"Let's go kick ass like we always have, and win this" Roberts determination reverberated through the room, and we all made noises of agreement.

"We must believe our plan will be successful" Rtaia smiled at each of us, and we nodded.

We were all soon in a big kind of group hug, and I was so grateful to have known these four wonderful people around me for so long. Yes, even Robert. As much as I hated him sometimes, I knew... if it wasn't for him, I probably wouldn't have pushed myself as hard as I had. Wouldn't have fought to be stronger... wouldn't even be alive...

"All right, now that's done" Ithiell pulled back, and we all did the same, looking at each other.

"As Rachel says, let's do this!" I grinned madly, pumping a fist in the air.

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"Whoa" Serah gasped as the Pool Ship loomed below us.

"It is truly massive" Mihra added, her eyes locked on the screen. Even being a few hundred feet above it, I still felt like a tiny speck. Nearby, Bug fighters zoomed around the ship, or heading up into the atmosphere, possibly going to the rest of the forces they had above us.

"Team one, are you in position?" Ithiell touched his headpiece.

"Affirmative" I heard Leo's reply through my own headpiece "And it looks like Visser Three and his followers are set up as well"

"Good" Ithiell tapped away at the console, then moved Rtaia forward, and she took over as the four of us headed to the hatch.

"Team two, are you in place?" He asked, the four of us standing at the closed hatch now.

"We're here. Shredder was setting up himself and his goons up when we passed him too"

"Good" Ithiell looked around at the three of us, and we all nodded. No other words needed to be said, we were all ready.

"Be safe, Ithiell" Mihra looked at him with big sad eyes.

"I will, nothing is going to stop me from taking this thing down"

"Agreed"

"Oh don't any of you die or I'll... I'll..." Serah stomped her foot a little, looking both angry and upset, and then suddenly seemed unsure of what else to do or say.

"We'll be fine little cousin" Ithiell winked at her, and she watched as loaded ourselves up with our gear.

"I'm with her" Krisitiana jabbed her thumb in Serah's direction "No dying"

"Don't plan on it" I muttered, hefting the strap over my shoulder and getting myself sorted.

"Weapons aimed and at the ready" Rtaia confirmed, and Ithiell now looked at me.

"You're on"

I nodded, shifting just enough so I could thought speak.

(Sequae, if you can hear me, it's time!)

We heard the earth rumbling even from so far up, and within the enclosed fighter.

"Structural integrity of the earth below the Pool Ship is weakening" Mihra reported, and at that point Rtaia opened the hatch, all of us now hearing the ground below us cracking and shaking.

"All right, attach grappling hooks!" Ithiell instructed, attaching his and jumping out of the hatch, sliding slowly down the rope. Robert went next, then-

"Shields are down! Their instruments should be down too! Everyone... GO!"

Instantly there were explosions below us, at four points, and I could see the Pool Ship start to tip slightly screeching loudly as it did so. At that point I latched my grappling hook onto the roof of the hanger door and slid down my own rope. The other three were now slightly below me.

"Rtaia, do it!"

I saw the fighters weapons start to power up, then shot at the very top of the pool ship, seeing a small explosion below us.

"GOGOGOGOGO!" Ithiell yelled, and we all slid down the ropes as far as possible, finally jumping through the newly made hole below us, all of us hitting the floor roughly.

"Rough landing" Amanda grunted as we got up, looking around and not seeing anyone for the moment. The lights above us were flashing red, and sirens were wailing all through the hall we'd landed in.

"Sequae is now in... action" Rtaia reported as we looked around, hearing something like footsteps at the left end of the hallway.

"Move!" Ithiell yelped as a shot went past us, and we took positions on the sides of the hallway as we finally saw a group of controllers coming at us. I grabbed a little device I'd helped make, throwing it at the controllers that were now running madly. It hit the ground just past the first two, and they all screamed as an electric current exploded out, zapping each and every one of them. We watched as they all now collapsed to the floor, all of them smoking.

"Why didn't we think of those before" Robert panted, and we shared a look, smiling.

"Cause we weren't going to go all Kamikaze on their asses" Ithiell replied, indicating we all get a move on.

The plan was to damage the Yeerk ship just enough so that it couldn't possibly take off into space. Also... so we could get into the areas we all needed.

The Animorphs would go after the weapons. The turtles would go after the engines. Shredder and Visser three had the tasks of being the diversions, keeping the Yeerks distracted. How they'd agreed to it, I'd never know... but for now, they were doing the job.

Sequae would keep their shields and other systems down so we could complete our tasks. As well as... join in by smashing any controllers or bug ships that came close. It would give us more time.

Our task was the hardest one out of all. We had to infiltrate the bridge, and make sure we got both Vissers to surrender. Hopefully, with all the commotion, they would both be automatically moved to the bridge. If not... we'd have to go looking..

(We're in!) I heard Marco cry, then a yelp from him, guessing he'd run into trouble.

"Us too! I don't think the controllers are happy" Leo said as we dove around the corner, stopping for a moment as Ithiell worked out which way to go. He pointed, and we continued towards another corner as we heard Raph say "No, they're fucking pissed!"

"Holy-" Amanda yelped, ducking as a shot went past her head, then something sharp went over her head, finding a Hork-Bajir had appeared out of no where.

"Hang on!" I leaped over her bent form, kicking the Hork-Bajir in the gut and making him stumble back. I yanked out my dagger, pulling out the other spare from my belt and holding them forward. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw the others dive past me, Ithiell yelling "You take big guy, we'll take these idiots!"

"Right" I saw the Hork-Bajir smile, coming at me again, his blades now flashing. I managed to deflect each hit coming at me with the daggers, ducking out of the way of others, back flipping to get some distance between me and him, finding it was a bit harder with the gear I was now carrying.

"Smart little human" It muttered, coming at me again but I ducked out of the way, throwing the spare dagger into its side as it went past, hearing it shriek and try and flick its tail towards me, but I was already gone.

It turned, ready to come at me again, but it was too late. I hit him, fully tigress, knocking him down and clamping my jaws around his throat, biting down and feeling him start to squirm madly.

I bit down harder, and his form went limp, jumping back of him and turning to the others, who were now all animals themselves.

(Time to move)

(Hang on) I shifted back, grabbing my dagger from the floor, then yanking the other our of the Hork-Bajirs side, slipping them both safely back into their holsters. Now that was sorted, I shifted myself into a Jinnaw.

(All right, now, I'm ready)

(Move out!) Ithiell commanded, and we dove after him down the hallway.

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What do you guys think? Huh? HUH?!

Please feel free to tell me! I enjoyed this chapter!

Constructive Criticism appreciated!