June 24, 2000 5:40 PM
Melissa had been worried about me ever since I told her about the incident at the Pennsylvania warehouse. She was weirded out by my stories of the Korla and the Mak, but she was more concerned with the fact that I had left the Animorphs, and that there was a good deal of bad blood between myself and the Berenson Cousins.
With school being over, Melissa didn't have to worry about running into Rachel. And Rachel, being Rachel, hadn't so much as called to talk to her about her boyfriend. Melissa assured me if anyone of the Animorphs called her, she would feign ignorance. I warned her never agree to meet Cassie in public and, if it could be helped, to avoid talking to her altogether. Cassie would know instantly that she was lying.
I guess I was worried about her too. While Cassie may know, the other Animorphs never got a straight answer on whether or not Melissa was my girlfriend, and I'm not sure whether Cassie would tell Jake. She would if she considered it a security risk, and Melissa Chapman maybe the one person that we can trust Rachel NOT to kill first and ask questions later.
Huh. 'We can'. 'The Animorphs and I can.'
Melissa and I hadn't seen each other in a while, we were both so worried about the other, and so when I tapped on her window at noon when both parents were gone, we were so relieved to be with each other.
So naturally, we were making out. I was on top (take from that as you will), my large frame eclipsing my girlfriend's small body. Melissa had managed to break five feet in height, but still tipped the scales between ninety-two and one-hundred-eight pounds. Meanwhile I'm about 5'10. I'm taller than Rachel (5'9), but not Jake (6'2). However, my mid-to-final years of puberty had struck with a vengeance. My shoulders have grown really, really broad. I was broader than Jake, and with nothing better to do, I was working out a lot filling my large frame with muscle. Nothing impressive, but nothing to scoff at either. Of course, the resulting muscle has upped my weight to a possibly unhealthy 220, but whatever.
I lifted my head to take a breath and to gaze adoringly at my girlfriend. Being the shy type, not used to so much attention, Melissa turned her head and blushed.
"What?" she asked smiling.
"Nothing." I said, being totally corny. "You're just so beautiful."
Melissa rolled her eyes teasingly, still smiling. "If you say so." Her smile faded. "David?"
"Yeah?"
"Tell me again about my parents."
"Well, from all the information that I've gathered. Your father was . . . a real dick when he was fourteen, but I suppose he's all right now. After all, he became a voluntary controller to protect you from them."
"And my mother?"
"She became a voluntary controller before that, but she has rebelled against her yeerk when your safety was threatened. Why are we talking about your parents? You invited me over because they were going to be gone all afternoon."
"If the Yeerks try to take me, what would you do?"
"Anything. Anything to protect you from them. I'd go to hell and back. Which would be a short trip, because I have a space ship now."
"Ah yes, of course. You know, some girls date guys who own Porsches or a Lexus. My boyfriend owns a spaceship."
"Yes, but my spaceship is roomy. It's like a combination mansion and vehicle. White House with Air Force One. I have the world's best RV."
Melissa laughed at all crazy hyperboles.
I stroked her cheek with my hand. "I could show you it some time."
"Hmmm. I don't know if I trust myself to be alone with you in a big, empty spaceship."
"You're alone with me now in a big, empty house. It would only be better in a spaceship. After all in a spaceship, 'I can show you the world,'" I began to sing.
"No!" Melissa half-playfully, half-seriously protested. "No singing Disney songs!"
"'Shining, shimmering splendid." I continued undeterred. "'Tell me, Princess, Now when did you last/Let your heart de—'HEY!" I shouted in response to getting pelted with a pillow.
"I'm not sure I should ride your 'Magic Carpet'."
"I'd like to ride your magic carpet."
Melissa was amused, but shocked at my rather vulgar joke. She wasn't offended because she knew I was just being a smart-ass, but the fact I said it, didn't excuse me from the following pummeling by pillow.
The pummeling forced me to get up in evasive maneuvers. I decided I should sing again. "'You don't know what/We could find./Why don't come with me, little girl/On a magic carpet ride?'"
Melissa hit me again with the pillow, but because she was laughing at me singing Three Dog Night, I caught it and pulled her to me. I put my arm around her waist (an action that required me to bend my knees bow-legged like a cowboy) and proceeded to dance with her idiotically. "'Well, you don't know what/We could see./Why don't you tell your dreams to me?/Fantasies will set free.'"
We heard the front door open and close. My mind went immediately to alert mode. Melissa seemed to mirror my thoughts. She told me to shush and to stay in her room. Melissa went downstairs to see who had come in.
"Mom?" I heard her say. "I thought you would be at the salon."
"We had a little problem with . . . vandals. Pranksters who are endangering people's lives." Mrs. Chapman said.
The front door opened and closed again. Even from upstairs, I could tell that whatever came through the front door reeked of pipe tobacco.
"Tough day, Dear?" Mrs. Chapman said in the aggravated tone that would be expected of woman trying to sincerely greet her husband.
"You could say that. Honey, there's going to be a meeting at the Community Center to discuss these . . . problems. We should be there." Chapman said to his "wife".
"Have you eaten, sweetie?" Mrs. Chapman said lovingly to her "daughter" without any love whatsoever.
"I'll be fine, Mom." Melissa said.
With that, the Chapmans left. Melissa came back upstairs.
"What was that about?" I asked her.
"I'm not sure, but my father ruffled this out of his hair." Melissa said holding up a feather.
"One of Tobias's feathers."
"So the Animorphs are involved?"
"Yeah. I got to get back to the Proteus."
"David! Wait! Why do you need to leave? You're not a part of them anymore."
"I'm trying to save the Universe here. I depend on the Animorphs to keep Terra Firma safe while I work on the Big Picture. If something big is going down, then I need to keep an eye on it in case it goes south."
"You told me yourself. Jake's a talented and formidable leader. He can take care of himself."
"I know . . . just . . . . something about this doesn't feel right." I said as I opened Melissa's window and morphed into a Golden Eagle. I'll come back. Don't worry.
I flew away from the Chapman's house a few flaps and I flew right into the open belly hatch of the Proteus. A stolen Blade Ship right above a Yeerk Honcho's house, complete unbeknownst to him thanks to wonderful Dayang and Pemalite technology.
A few days ago, I found the Pemalite ship. Working quickly, I took a few spare parts to modify the Proteus with useful Pemalite technology. I was confident I now had the most powerful ship in the known galaxy. Now, just what to do with that.
I entered the belly hatch and demorphed. I drove a golf cart I recently stole toward the Bridge. As I drove to the Bridge, I began talking to Ayla.
"Ayla, is something strange and Yeerk-related happening?"
"You could say that." She replied.
"Numerous attacks on businesses in California, Newark, and Gartenburg, New Jersey by 'escaped animals'. All businesses have a connection to a controller."
"Of course, it does." I said as I reached the hallway that led to the bridge. I ditched the golf cart and ran in. "Punch up a list."
"5:40am: WKVT TV station in Newark. 99% chance that the Yeerk target was Christine Kaminsky. One half of morning show team 'Get up with Christine and Bobby.'
"9:02 am: Barnes & Noble in California. 85% chance that the Yeerk Target was Bayton Second, the store manager.
"9:26 am: Style-a-riffic in California. 99% chance that the Yeerk Target was Susan Chapman, co-owner.
"9:40 am: All That! Sporting Goods in California. 97% chance that the Yeerk Target was Jason Tasset, owner and manager.
"10:08 am: Bank of New Jersey in California. 98% chance that the Yeerk Target was Arthur Arundel, bank manager.
"10:32 am: Mr. Bert's in California. 94% chance that the Yeerk Target was Vladimir Bertzal, owner. 72% chance that secondary target was Hedrick Chapman."
"Mr. Bert's is a tobacconist shop?" I asked.
"Yes." Ayla confirmed. "11:10 am: Fred's Fitness Center in Gartenburg. 78% chance that the Yeerk Targets were Kirk Braff and Kristen Chalke, employees with popular followings.
"11:23 am: Kinko's in Gartenburg. 78% chance that Yeerk Target was Edrick Wolchik, day manager.
"11:56 am: Law Firm of Gaines, Volok, & MacFarland in Gartenburg. 99% chance that Yeerk Targets were Latham Gaines, Elias Volok, & Grant MacFarland."
"12:18 pm: Uton County Government Building in Gartenburg. 82% chance that Yeerk Target was Judge Sally Forensik."
"Ayla, has this been going on all day?"
"Yes. There have been five more attacks, the last one having occurred more than two hours ago."
"That's too long, the attacks are close together. Hard and fast. Something must have happened. When was the last attack?"
"Two attacks happened almost simultaneously. 4:18 pm at Empire Vending, Inc. and 4:20 pm at Pottery Barn."
"Those are both warehouses. They're far away from each other. They must have split up. All the targets are controllers who are prominent members of the community. The targets are usually close by. Ayla, find me any targets that fit this profile within thirty miles of both targets."
"Four targets around Empire Vending, Inc. Three targets around Pottery Barn. One common target."
"What target is that?"
"The California Community Center."
"That's a Yeerk Pool Entrance! Any reports from that area?"
"Someone reported to Police a disturbance at 5:37 pm."
"That was half an hour ago."
"Smells fishy." Ayla said colloquially.
"This whole thing stinks. These attacks are way too ballsy, even for Jake. Downright reckless and stupid."
"In other words, something you would do."
"Ha Ha Ha." I said indignantly, but then I began to realize. "Not me . . . Ayla, do we have any reports on what animals were seen?"
"Many reports list a gorilla, a hawk, a grizzly bear, a wolf, and a strange looking deer."
"The deer is Aximili. Marco, Tobias, Rachel, Cassie . . . . no tiger." I realized. "No tiger means no Jake."
"I am searching for Jake's whereabouts. I see that Dr. Berenson, his wife, and one son have checked into a Hotel in Hartford, Connecticut."
"Is that one son Jake?"
"99% chance. Tom Berenson can be identified from many security cameras at the mall. He's been there since around 1:00. He's still there now."
"So Jake's in Connecticut. Meaning the Animorphs have elected a leader in the interim. My vote would have been for Tobias, but from the looks of things, I'd say they elected Rachel."
"Incoming Instant Message from PsychoBitchBlonde84."
"Really? Secure Line. Block transmission."
When I transferred Ayla into the computer banks of the Proteus and moved all of my stuff from the colony into my new home, I left my old computer at the colony. I left it there with the AOL IM menu up with six screennames: FearlessLeader62, PsychoBitchBlonde84, BirdFeathers, Angel_Eyes_018, MonkeyBoyMouth, and BlueStar_SecondBorn. I left it up to them to figure out whose was whose and what their passwords were. It appears Rachel has figured out hers.I also assured that JadedLion would be the only one on their Buddy List
PsychoBitchBlonde84: David? Is this you?
JadedLion: The one and only. Kudos for figuring out your password.
PsychoBitchBlonde84: Like it would have been hard figuring out "letsdoit".
JadedLion: I've been following your handiwork. I take it that this has been your handiwork, eh, Rachel? While Master Jake is away, the Animorphs come out to play.
PsychoBitchBlonde84: I don't have the time. They got Cassie.
I was shocked. Rachel had royally fucked up.
JadedLion: What?? You royally fucked up this time, Rachel! They're going to infest her!
PsychoBitchBlonde84: You don't think I've thought of that! Tobias has figured out how they get spacecraft into the Yeerk Pool. Now all we need is a ship. I wanted to steal an airplane, but Marco said we should ask you.
JadedLion: Why me?
PsychoBitchBlonde84: Because you're you, David. Marco seems to think you could get a Bug Fighter.
Meaning Marco suspects I have the Sea Blade. That kid is too damn smart. I did have a Bug Fighter. In fact, I had twelve. They were in the Sea Blade. Three of them were already modified with the Dayang and Pemalite Technology, Ayla was still working on the rest.
JadedLion: I can get a Bug Fighter. One condition, no questions asked.
PsychoBitchBlonde84: Cassie's life is in the balance and you're bargining??!!!
JadedLion: I'm going regardless. Now you can agree to my condition and come with, or you can sit back and wait while I clean up your mess.I waited a while for Rachel's response. She and the other Animorphs were probably discussing it.
PsychoBitchBlonde84: We're at the colony. Get us a Bug Fighter. No questions asked.
Ten minutes later, I had picked up the Animorphs and we made our way to the empty building that was our way into the Yeerk Pool. The roof retracted for us and we flew down the shaft. The boys filled me in on some details, but other than that we flew in an uncomfortable silence. We were on a time crunch: we had to get Cassie out before she was stuck as a polar bear. That and the fact that I had a Bug Fighter at my disposal was kind of an elephant in the room. A pink elephant with purple polka-dots and dildos for tusks.
I only gave brief updates. "We should reach the Yeerk Pool in a few minutes. Since we're traveling in a normal-looking Bug Fighter, they won't scan for a reading and probably won't even notice us."
A Dracon Beam hit my Bug Fighter, but its superior Pemalite Shield protected it.
"What was that?" Marco asked.
"Um, they noticed." I said sheepishly. "Shit! They must have gotten a suspicious reading."
"You said they couldn't read anything off this ship." Rachel accused.
"I think that IS the suspicious reading." I admitted. "You guys need to bail. I'm going to blow the dome!"
"Raptor morphs. Now!" Rachel commanded.
Four birds left my Bug Fighter as I fired its weapons into the dome, bursting it open. I flew through the resulting fire and crashed into the Yeerk Pool. And I mean, INTO the Yeerk Pool.
Splash!!! I was underwater. Yeerks clouded my vision. "Well, this was a fine idea." I muttered. "Well, no time like the present to test the Pemalite Technology."
I morphed into a Yeerk. BF-01! Water Bubble around me.
Much like when I was a squid inside the Pemalite Ship, I was surrounded by a bubble of water that allowed me to move through the air. I commanded the ship to preserve the dry environment in the ship as I exited the ship in my bubble. My bubble instantly burst and I was a Yeerk free-floating amongst other Yeerks. But I couldn't stay that way, and demorphing would have been trouble. So I made a morally questionable move. With Yeerk sonar I saw a Hork-Bajir head being forced into the water. Involuntary controller. I swam up and pushed aside the yeerk that was going to infest the Hork-Bajir and entered his host. As I became aware of what was going on, I felt the Hork-Bajir's despair. He had gone through this many times. He had given up. His name was Dral Tulag. He had been a host since his youth. He hardly remembers the times when he was free. He only knows that they were infinitely happier.
Dral Tulag. I am not your usual controller. I told Dral.
No. Dral realized. Yeerk feel sad. Bloch never feel sad for Dral Tulag.
From Dral's memories, I see that Bloch two-three-thee was Dral's controller. Yes, Dral. I am David Hunting, the morphing human. Did you see me crash into Yeerk Pool just now?
I already knew that he had in fact seen me, but I needed to make him aware of it. Yes. Bug Fighter go splash.
I became yeerk and took you. I need to rescue my friend. I need your help. After you help me, you will be free.
Dral Tulag help! Dral Tulag want to be free!!!!
"Hey! Bloch two-three-thee!" said another Hork-Bajir-Controller. "Visser Three wants us by the prisoner! Four more andalite bandits have appeared, and Visser Three has challenged Visser Seven to destroy them."
Tobias and Aximili told me about the Garatron. The Inspector who will soon be a member of the Council of Thirteen. Two mysterious vacancies opened up during the deliberation of Visser One's trial. Perhaps he was Visser Seven, previously.
The other Hork-Bajir controller gave me a Dracon Beam. Sweet. He escorted me over to the fight worthy of the Coliseum. A blue blur whizzed around Aximili. A wounded polar bear and a beaten Bald eagle lay close to the Yeerk Pool's edge. A red-tailed hawk flew overhead.
Woooaaaaaaaaaah! I heard Marco saw. I saw a cobra fly from the blue blur. Marco bit the Garatron!! But Aximili was still being beaten.
We've got to help Ax! Let's do it! Rachel commanded.
No. I said. I got it covered. You and Cassie get into the Yeerk Pool and morph something small that swims. Swim to the Bug Fighter and press your face or what-have-you against the green panel. Thought-speak the code "031899"
David, what are you . . .Rachel started.
Just do it! I commanded. Tobias, find Marco. I'm going to need some Hork-Bajir back-up here.
The Garatron began to slow down. He stumbled and fell.
Aximili, I commanded, get small and swimming. Same instructions as Cassie and Rachel. Only I need you to start up the Bug Fighter and get her out of the pool.
I . . . I cannot . . . move . . . said the Garatron.
Yes, and very, very soon you will not be able to breathe. Visser Three said, enjoying this yeerk's defeat a little too much. I will be sure to pass along your farewells to the Council. My dear Inspector.
I saw two Hork-Bajir run up. I recognized one as Ket Halpek. Tobias and Marco.
Okay, Dral, time to get ready. I said to my host.
Dral ready! What do you need me to do?
I ran up to the inspector and held his body to mine. I raised my Dracon beam at Visser Three. "Don't make a move, Visser." I said in Dral's voice.
What's going here? Visser Three muttered.
Tobias and Marco joined my side. That's not your usual Hork-Bajir morph. Tobias said.
It's not a morph. I replied back.
Say that again? Marco asked confused.
Ok, Dral, I said to my host, I'm leaving you now. I need you to keep the Dracon Beam pointed at the Visser. Do not fire.
Dral Tulag can do. Dral help David Hunting.
I left Dral's head. As a yeerk, I plopped down onto the ground. I demorphed quickly.
What the hell? Tobias wondered aloud.
You, treacherous human! Visser Three shouted.
"Good work, Dral." I said.
"Dral free! Dral move own eyes. Can Dral kill Visser now?"
"Not yet." I said. I bent down to the dying garatron. I placed my hand upon him and acquired him. My arm turned blue. I morphed him. As soon as I did everything felt . . . slow.
Aximili, where's the Bug Fighter? I asked.
After what felt like a minute, Aximili finally answered.
IIIII . . . caaaaaaaaannnn'tttt . . . ggggeeeeetttt . . . ooouuuuuutttt . . . . oooofff . . . tthhe . . . waaaatteerr. Ttttoooo . . . . dddeeeenssee.
He was speaking so slowly. Then I realized. I'm too fast.
You three, stay here! I said. Of course to them, they heard Youthree,stayhere!
I jumped into the water and ran through the water to the Bug Fighter, causing mini-whirlpools in my wake. I than began to run around the Bug Fighter faster and faster.
Wwwwhaaaaatt'sss gggooooiiiiiinngg ooooonn? Rachel asked.
Hheeeeeee'ss cccaaaaauuuuussiiiiinngg aaaa ffuuuunnnnnnneeeeelll! Marco realized.
Sure enough, a wall of water formed around the Bug Fighter until the Bug Fighter was actually laying upon dry land.
Can you get out now, Aximili?
Yyyyeeeessss. Aximili said as the Bug Fighter slowly hovered above the Yeerk Pool. I got out of the water and the whirlpool collapsed.
Tobias, Marco, Dral, and I got into the Bug Fighter and Aximli took us out the way we came in.
I demorphed and noticed a bubble not being used and two bubbles each holding a trout.
This is Pemalite Technology, David. Rachel said matter-of-factly.
"Yes it is." I said. "Are you going to ask a question?"
Aximili was himself at the helm of the Bug Fighter. Tobias and Marco were still Hork-Bajir, and Rachel and Cassie were Trout in bubbles.
Can I ask one question, David? Tobias asked me.
Not counting that one . . yes. But I do not guarantee an answer. I said tersely.
Fine. Tobias said drawing in a breath. Who's that? Tobias was pointing at Dral.
"Dral Tulag was an involuntary host. To escape the Yeerk Pool, I morphed a yeerk and infested him. Now he will be the newest addition to Jara Hamee's colony."
"Dral is free! Dral rescue andalites!"
Ummm, actually Dral . . Marco said as he began to demorph. Cassie and Rachel demorphed as well.
"You human folk. How human folk morph like andalites?"
"That's a long story, Dral." Cassie said lightly.
Dral pointed at Tobias. "You're a birdie!"
That's an even longer story.
I dropped the Animorphs and Dral off at the colony. They welcomed Dral with open arms.
There was an uneasy silence as I was about to leave in the Bug Fighter. I felt the tension as I walked to the ship.
"David?" I suddenly heard. It was Rachel. She looked at me and extended her hand. "Thanks."
I took it. "Anytime. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to save the galaxy. Keep Earth safe while I do so, would ya?"
I think we can handle that. Tobias said.
"Oh, and next time you need an interim leader . . ." I said waving my finger from Animorph to Animorph suggesting I was going to pick someone. Marco cleared his throat, expecting me to pick him. "Go with Tobias."
"What?!" Marco blurted.
I'm nobody's leader. Tobias said strongly.
"That's exactly what Jake said when you hand-picked him." I said remembering Jake's story on when they first got their powers.
Marco nodded his head in agreeing understanding. Than got a confused look on his face as if he were wondering why he didn't think of that first.
I got into my Bug Fighter and flew to the Proteus.
"Well, everything is just peachy now." I said to Ayla as I entered the Bridge. "I need you to find everything you can on the Yeerk's Seizure Campaign on the Garatron Home World. I'll be going to Melissa's and be back in about—"
"David," Ayla said, interrupting me, "there is some kind of message being transmitted openly, but the transmission is masked and coded. The Yeerks are having a hard time decoding it. If they did, they'd realize it's coming from one of there own Sub-vissers."
"Really? Which Sub-Visser?" I asked.
Ayla seemed to hesitate before answering. "Sub-visser five-hundred-nine."
I stopped breathing. My heartbeats were painful and constricting. I recognized the name.
"Stephanie."