Ch.8 Revelations
Well, well, what have we here?" I was so scared I couldn't breathe. My friends looked us over. The anticipation of a coming battle was in the air. Jake wasted no time. "Comrades, battle morphs," he said. There was an air of superiority in the Yeerk's voice. We watched fearfully as he made the transformation from human to siberian tiger. At the same time, Cassie and Marco went to wolf and gorilla respectively. Ax was the only one who didn't morph. He was dangerous enough in his natural body.
"What do we do?" Tobias hissed. There was a sense of urgency in his voice I'd never heard before. I stared ahead. "What do you think we do?" I asked. It was a rhetorical question. "Battle morphs," I ordered. "One problem," Tobias said. I realized what it was. Tobias would have to demorph. He would be a sitting duck in his hawk body. I began focusing on the grizzly bear inside of me. "I'll cover you," I said before I lost my voicebox. My sister began morphing to lion beside me.
I thought they'd rush us as Tobias turned back into a hawk. To my surprise, no one on either side made a move. [What are you waiting for?] I asked as Jake stared directly at me. He thought it over. [Just this very moment.] he replied. I thought he'd been referring to the upcoming battle. Cassie explained. [You have nothing to fear. My name is Tekra786.] I wasn't interested in introductions. A Yeerk was a Yeerk to me. [Why do I care what your names are?] I asked angrily. The wolf that was Cassie stared back at me with an equally emotionless face.
[For your information, you don't have any idea how fortunate you are. All of us are with the Yeerk Peace Movement.] If Tobias had been human, he would have smiled. I echoed the sentiment. [Wait a minute, the battle at my house, all the mind games?] Ax cut me off. [Were all a cleverly arranged act.] he said. I could have hugged the Andalite right then. [This is all well and good, but what about Visser Three?] Tobias asked. [That's part of the problem.] Jake took over explanations. [We've been stringing him along up to this point, and to keep it up, we're gonna have to fight.]
I admit at first, I hated the idea of the Yeerk Peace Movement. Mostly it was that Cassie had put all of us in jeopardy to start it. She revealed herself to a human controller named Karen. Then the two of them got lost in the woods. I realized now that if it ever was a good thing that it had been created it was now. [We'll relinquish control of our hosts.] Tekra said. For the first time since this began, my friends spoke as themselves, not the Yeerks who controlled them. Marco was first. [I feel I have to apologize, Xena.] he began.
[I hate that I had to say the things I said about you in that alley. I hate even more that I even implied that the Yeerks would take your family. But it was necessary.] I wished I could hug all of them. [No apology is needed.] I said. Jake cut in. [We need to make this look as real as possible. I suggest we try to not use claws or biting as much as possible.] he said. It felt good to hear the leader in him. He noticed Jordan right then. [Nice choice of battle morphs.] he complimented. More than any of us, Jake knew the advantages to having a lion morph.
He'd fought David in his tiger, and had been badly defeated. That mane made it all but impossible to inflict serious wounds. Tobias had morphed Hork-Bajir so that he could contribute. [I'll take Marco.] he said. I could almost hear Marco laugh. [I'll take that challenge, Bird-Boy!] he replied. With no further adue, the fight was on. Cassie went after my sister, and they began exchanging blows. Tobias rushed Marco, only to be thrown like a rag doll. That left me against Jake and Ax. I stood on my hind legs, looking as intimidating as possible.
Ax swung his tail. He aimed to use the side, and he hit me in a glancing blow that the bear didn't even register. I swung one paw and knocked him into next week. I hit with a backhand, because I couldn't retract my claws. Jake pounced. His tiger had the weight an power to knock me off my feet. He began lightly biting no vital areas. As we scuffled, we talked. [I'm so glad you're alright.] he said as he struck my chest with a paw. Even without claws, it still hurt. [So what about the Free Hork-Bajir colony?] I asked.
Now that I knew the truth, I was quite certain that Jake wouldn't destroy it. [We gave the Yeerks false coordinates.] He explained. I pushed him off of me and got back to all fours. [So what are we gonna do?] I asked. I heard Jake sigh. [I don't know. We're hoping to lure Visser Three there so we can finish him.] I liked the idea. [What's the problem?] I asked. I wanted to assist any way I could.
[Well first of all, Visser Three wants you captured alive. He wants the six of us to lead the attack, and he won't proceed any other way.] Jake said. I noticed Tobias coming out on top against Marco. What was of note was the fact that he wasn't using the blades the Hork-Bajir were famous for. [I won't be infested.] I said. I didn't care if it was a Yeerk in the peace movement. [It's too risky.] Jake replied. [It was blind luck that we didn't get shall we say, more willing Yeerks.] he said.
So he was vetoing me being infested. I was glad for that, cause I'd never let it happen. [Assuming we brought you in as ordered, it's too easy for you to not get a Yeerk in the peace movement, then everything would be for nothing.] I agreed. [So what are we gonna do?] I asked. [I have a special request for you.] Jake said. I would take any assignment he gave me. [Name it.] I said.
[Do you know where Eric King of the Chee lives?] he asked. I nodded. It was one of the only human things I could do in this morph. [I've been there once with Marco.] I said. [Get in touch with him if you can.] Jake instructed. [The place we told the Yeerks about is roughly fifty miles south of the actual colony.] he said. I understood what he needed. This was going to be quite a show. He needed decoys. With their holograms, the Chee could project almost anything.
Our conversation was cut off by a scream of pain. Jordan! Visser Three had made his way to the battlefield. He struck her from behind with his tail, severing a leg. Having no other choice, Ax put his tail blade to her throat. [How interesting.] the Visser commented. There was a noticeable cruelty in his voice. [Another morph-capable human. Why, this might make me the head of the Council of Thirteen.] I wanted to charge him.
[Ah ah ah!] he warned. He seemed to read my mind. [I would hate to kill her.] he said with a laugh. [What do you want?] I questioned angrily. He laughed again. [I think I have quite the bargaining chip here.] he said. [I'll make you a deal. You for her.] I exploded. [How do I know you won't infest her anyway?] I yelled. The Visser seemed hurt. [Are you implying that I'm not a Yeerk of my word?] he asked in mock sadness. [The truth is, you don't.] He let it sink in for a brief moment.
[Why don't I make this simple. I will keep her for twenty-four hours. You have exactly that long to go to the Yeerk Pool and turn yourself in.] I fought rage. [If at the end of that time, you don't show, I will infest her. And it will be your fault. Tick tock!] he mocked. Tobias had been knocked unconscious by Marco. He was coming to as the Yeerks pulled out, taking my sister with them. [What just happened?] he asked.