Hallo, hallo. Yet another chapter written when I should have been revising for exams! Oh, the terrible draw of writing! Please let me know what you think of this :) Also does anyone have any questions about things which aren't clear? Do ask, I won't bite! :)
Oh and the song Jahar and Visser Three are dancing to (bet that spoiler made you jump!) is 'Kiss me' by Sixpence None The Richer, and I don't own it in anyway (as I don't own the Animorphs).

Chapter 11

No one else come out. I don't want to startle these four humans, I said.

We should come and help you, Farling said privately to me.

Stay where you are for now, I ordered. Only come if I need you. If we were attacked it would be better if they thought there was only one alien.

The humans stared at me. Four of them: three males and one female. And just in that four, the incredible variety within this race was evident. Their skins were different colours, as were their eyes and their head hair. Astonishing. I raised my hands in a disarming gesture. I had seen humans do it in the media streams to show a lack of threat. Perhaps it worked better for humans, though. It hardly countered the fact that my tail could have sliced through them in seconds.

Please do not be afraid. Did they hear me? They looked confused, but then they weren't used to thought speak.

Jahar, what's happening? Arbat asked. I'm going to...

No, stay put, I repeated crossly to my friends. Then I turned to the humans, who were still not blinking much at all.

"You're a real live alien?" one of them asked, using its mouth parts.

Yes, I said honestly. They rocked a bit, and three of them touched their heads with expressions which I supposed were wonder or surprise.

"Dude, did you hear it that time too?" one asked.

"It's like, in my head," the female said nervously. The biggest male, who I assumed was their leader, turned to me.

"Wait, how come you can speak English?"

How come you can speak alien? I replied, playfully copying him. He nodded seriously and said, "Fair point, fair point."

I walked forward slightly, down the ramp from the ship, and they came to meet me.

"Do you want us to, uh, take you to our leader?" one of them asked, and laughed shakily.

No, I am happy to talk to you, I said calmly. I sent waves of reassurance to them, and they visibly relaxed.

These humans would provide good morphs for us, Arbat said in my head.

Yes, I replied. I know. The female raised her hand.

"Can I, like, touch you?" I hesitated. Humans are a very tactile species, always touching. Andalites only really touch family members, keeping everyone else at tail's length. But I didn't want to spook them.

Yes, I said finally. She stretched forward, hesitantly, gently, and I felt her fingers flutter on my shoulder. She gasped.

"You're really furry!" The other humans followed her lead, reaching forward to touch (always humans want to touch!) the new thing.

Jahar, they are too close to you, Kipsing warned in my head. We can't stun them without risking hitting you.

I've got it under control, I replied. I smiled at those humans, grinning happily as they stroked me. And I struck.

FWAPP! FWAPP! FWAPP! FWAPP!

Four tail swipes with the blunt of my blade and they lay on the ground, stunned. It had happened so fast, the last one was still grinning as I took him out. I admit it, I was pleased with myself. It was very neatly done.

Everyone out, except Medrar. Medrar, stick to those sensors and tell us if anyone else is coming.

Will do, he replied.

Arbat emerged from the ship first, followed by the assassin Kipsing, my son Farling, my daughter Tirdellan and Lortif. The younger Andalites hesitated before stepping off the walkway onto the new soil, and I laughed quietly.

It's perfectly safe. Kipsing jumped down, and Lortif and Farling followed immediately, not to be outdone by the older male. Still Tirdellan faltered, but then carefully stepped onto the concrete.

No grass, she complained.

And the ground tastes horrible, Farling said, pulling a face.

Humans didn't make it for eating, Kipsing explained, with a superior expression. They eat through their mouths. Tirdellan stared at him and then laughed.

A funny joke!

They really do, Kipsing said, instantly annoyed at being doubted. You would know if you'd used any of the last week to learn about humans. Tirdellan's eyes widened at his insulting tone, but I warned her privately and she just moved away from him, shadowing her brother closely for whatever sense of security that gave her. Lortif, on the other hand, moved away from Farling and started an experimental trot. Farling laughed, and joined him, and Kipsing tried it too. The clattering of their hooves echoed around the deserted area.

When we have quite finished playing around, Arbat said icily. Lortif skidded to a stop.

This ground is not good for running on, he said, and gave it a kick to prove his point. Too hard. We could strain our tendons.

I ignored him and turned to the humans.

Concentrate, please. There are only four humans, so the more experienced morphers should combine the DNA to produce different combinations. We can't all look the same.

As it turned out, only Arbat, Tirdellan and Kipsing were up to that standard of morphing ability, but that was all right because that left four for the rest of us. I chose the female, the one who had wanted to stroke me like some pet. I didn't feel so bad about touching her, since I had let her go first. Lortif took the biggest male, Farling the one with the darkest skin and then Medrar switched places with Lortif and came out to acquire the final male. After we were done I ordered the Arisths to take the humans and, ensuring they remained unconscious, fly them to the other side of Earth and put them down in an area of human habitation. We couldn't have them running around talking about the blue aliens with tails, but I was loath to kill them. That seemed too much like a Yeerk, to come to a new planet and destroy the existing life. Also, I could tell the boys appreciated the responsibility in the way Lortif and Farling puffed themselves up importantly before leaving.

We kept the artificial skins the humans had been wearing. Perhaps that was harsh, but since I knew the importance humans attached to these artificial skins I decided we needed them more than they did, if we were going to fit in.

Although the many layers were very confusing.

Whilst the Arisths were away Arbat, Tirdellan, Kipsing and I tried out our new morphs. Tirdellan went first, as the best morpher amongst us. She had chosen to be female, although with darker skin than the female of the group.

Humans really are the most ridiculous creatures. In becoming one Tirdellan lost every natural advantage or weapon Andalites have. Her tail vanished, sucked into her spine. Her stalk eyes retracted, limiting her to just two facial eyes. Her front legs disappeared, and it was only because we caught her that she did not fall over. Her fingers melted into just four on each hand. Still, at least humans had opposable thumbs.

And a mouth, like a cut, opened in her face.

How is it? Kipsing asked. She frowned her human face.

"I am cold. Colduh. Duh." She laughed in astonishment at the sounds her mouth made. I handed her some of the human clothes. "Thank you. Thh. Thankuh. Yer. You."

Any reason you're speaking like an addled fool? Kipsing asked sneeringly.

The mouth is very interesting, Tirdellan replied, hurt and using thought speak to avoid the temptation to make more sounds. It feels strange. I have a tongue and teeth. "Tongue and teeth." There. I can use it perfectly. She wobbled, and stretched out her arms for balance. Be careful. It is very precarious. And you can't see behind you. I don't like being human much.

Kipsing didn't wait any longer, but immediately started his own morph, and Arbat and I followed suit.

It was so strange being human! I lost so much of my body mass I felt unbearably unbalanced. The two feet were not very stable, with no tail for balance, and although the two eyes had better depth perception than Andalites would have just using their facial eyes, they were very limiting being set in the face. My hearing was not noticeably changed. My hands strangely heavy. No fur worth mentioning meant that I felt very cold, as Tirdellan had commented, and I used some of the artificial skin to cover up. There wouldn't be a huge amount of it between seven of us... no five! Kipsing had managed to morph with the layers of artificial clothing on, and so, with a look of extreme concentration, had Arbat. Tirdellan looked at them jealousy.

I didn't realise we could do that, she said crossly. Next time I will. She repeated her words, using her mouth, and managed to avoid the temptation to play with the sounds.

The mouth. So strange. I blew my lips out and they made a rasping sound. I laughed at it, the giggle vibrating my throat.

"What strange devices mouths are," Kipsing said, looking pleased with his precise pronunciation.

"Very tempting to misuse," I agreed, running my tongue over the hard teeth. Arbat squinted up at the sky.

"Here come the boys," he said, and his teeth were clenched. It made him sound angry. "Why are the fools not bothering with shields? Do they want us to be seen?"

High spirits, I said quietly. But I was angry. They were acting too carelessly!

The Arisths hadn't waited for their return to try out their new morphs, and as soon as the ship landed three human males bounded out, laughing hysterically.

"Mother, Mother, thhh, look, kuh, look at me. Mmm. Eeee," Farling cried, dancing madly around the ship. I laughed, my anger evaporating, as Medrar and Farling joined in in trying out their mouths, and then ended up falling over as they attempted to run too fast. Arbat glared at me, but I stepped close to him whilst Tirdellan and Kipsing mocked the Arisths together for failing to talk properly.

They're young. If no harm is done, why be angry?

Do you want warriors or children? Arbat asked shortly, and he strode away crossly into the Starwave. I sighed inside as I admonished the Arisths for their foolishness. Arbat was right. They could not remain children any longer here.

Jahar, come and see this, Arbat called to me when I'd finished telling them off. As if I was the mother of all of them. I used my two legs to walk into the ship and found him accessing the human 'internet' on the main computer screen. He pointed towards the display. "This is the website the Sharing uses to promote itself. And look." He highlighted some text. "They are having a meeting tomorrow night, on a beach near here." He moved the curser so that it pointed to the words at the bottom of the announcement.

'The Sharing is about inclusivity. Anyone is welcome to attend'

"Do you think that includes Andalites?" I asked, trying to keep the tremors of excitement out of my human voice. Arbat smiled using his new mouth.

"It says 'anyone' Hak Bhajeesh. I'm sure that incorporates us."

I used the day before the meeting to go into the centre of the human 'city' with Arbat and Kipsing, to get human currency (Arbat fiddled for a few minutes with an 'ATM' and then it started vomiting 'dollar bills' at us), and more human clothes. The variety of their clothes was astonishing - they all insisted on dressing in a myriad of colours to distinguish between themselves. We found 'jeans' – the blue coverings used on the human lower half, and 'tops' too, for our upper halves. It was not too difficult to watch the humans already there buying the clothes and mimic their choices.

And we discovered a 'food court'.

Here's a thing about human mouths. They have something called taste. It is the most powerful, most incredibly wonderful sensation ever. Rather unsuspectingly I walked up to the counter and asked for a 'brownie'. Exactly forty seven seconds later I was back.

"Another brownie, now, please, oh yes, another brownie, now!" The human gave me an odd look and handed it over in its paper bag. I tore it open and stuffed it into my mouth and it was just as amazing as the first time! The sensation! The explosion of 'flavour'! Oh yes! "Mmmmmm," I moaned incoherently.

Jahar seems to be enjoying herself, Arbat commented snidely from where he was sitting at the table. He hadn't tried the food yet. I turned to the man behind the counter, and I suppose I must have looked a little frightening. He visibly backed away. "What is that sensation? Tell me now!"

"Um, I guess that's just a very good chocolate brownie, miss."

"Chocolate." I grinned hungrily. "Give me everything you have which is chocolate. Now!" He raised his eyebrows, but I didn't know what that meant.

"Are you sure?" I pulled out the 'dollar bills' we had acquired and handed some over to him.

"Is this enough?" He laughed and gave more than half back to me.

"It's not going to cost you five hundred bucks!" I watched predatorily as he scooped up the rest of the brownies from their display case, and then selected other items, all of them unified by their rich brown colour. Was that what chocolate was?

I practically ran out of the 'mall' with my bags, not trusting myself to have any more of that deliriously wonderful substance in public. Arbat and Kipsing joined me in the empty alley I chose.

"Jahar you are acting extremely strangely," Kipsing said worriedly. I handed him a brownie.

"Put it in your mouth." I gave another one to Arbat, and watched them closely as, suspiciously, they ingested the brownies.

"Oooohhh!" Kipsing's eyes rolled with pleasure. Arbat gobbled his and reached for another.

"More, Hak Bhajeesh! NOW!" I laughed and held them out with one hand, stuffing more into my mouth with the other. Kipsing snatched at another bag, cramming its contents frantically into his maw.

I think we had better not let the Arisths near these, Arbat said solemnly in my mind. I nodded, agreeing with his wise judgement. The effect was rather spoiled by the fact that he had the brownie bag over his head at the time and was chasing crumbs frantically with his tongue.

The Sharing meeting had a banquet of food at the side. We stood on the beach, under floodlights and the solitary Earth moon, listening to Sharing leaders (who were no doubt vile Yeerks) talking about their vision for the Sharing (which no doubt included infesting every single human there with a slimy parasite) and all I could think was FOOD! There was even a chocolate 'fondue' and I didn't know what that was, but it had the magic word 'chocolate' and it smelt good. I had forbidden the Arisths and Tirdellan from touching food, telling them solemnly that it was very distracting, but I couldn't help the fact that I was salivating madly.

At the end of the speeches the humans applauded (a very odd human custom!), and a man who had been standing behind the speakers approached the microphone. Instantly my appetite vanished.

It was him.

I don't know how I knew. I just knew.

Visser Three, Arbat hissed unnecessarily to me. Around me I saw my comrades stiffen slightly, and knew he had told them too. I kept a close eye on Tirdellan and Farling. I could not predict how they would react to seeing their father after so many years.

He smiled, and it was terrifying because I could just see the evil squatting behind those eyes. And somewhere too, deep down, was my Alloran, hidden almost beyond reach.

"Well I don't know about you, but that's certainly given me something to chew on," Visser Three said. He frowned. "Speaking of chewing, do help yourselves to the buffet. There'll be a dance on the sand beginning shortly, and a game of midnight volleyball as well." He smiled again and I was felt as if he was sizing us all up, like small brownies for him to devour one by one. "Nothing else for me to say but to ask you to complete the greatest directive of the Sharing, that is, to enjoy yourselves!" There were appreciative laughs and again applause.

The humans started drifting towards the tables, but I only had eyes for the Yeerk Visser. He had stepped away from the microphone and was talking to the other speakers. I edged closer, desperate to hear what they were saying.

Not too close please, Jahar, Kipsing warned in my mind. I growled crossly. Of course, my bodyguard would try and ensure I maintained a nice safe distance.

I'll be fine. There are lots of humans around. Out of the corner of my eye I noticed both Kipsing and Arbat winding their way through the crowds before me, and I grumpily changed tack and headed towards the small bandstand. There, I'm moving away. Happy now?

We are here merely to observe, Arbat said gently. I was still grumpy, but my mood cooled as the band behind me struck up some music. Several humans moved onto a cleared space on the sand and started to dance in couples. It was so innocent I could almost forget that I was probably surrounded by controllers. I closed my eyes to listen to the music, as a member of the band stepped up to a microphone and started singing. I knew this song. I had heard it the previous week.

Jahar! Medrar cried in my mind. I opened my eyes quickly and realised that some humans were laughing loudly. I turned to the sounded, and realised with horror it was coming from the food table.

Jahar, you're nearest, Arbat called to me. The food table was to my left, the dancing couples between it and Arbat and Kipsing. I pushed my way through the gathering crowd and saw that the centre of attention was my little band.

Mother, Tirdellan screamed, spying me. Help me! She was trying to restrain her brother as he pulled towards the tables.

"I want it!" he shouted. "Let me go, curse you!" His shirt was stained with food. Lortif was at the table, looking quite delighted as he picked up various delicacies, took bites out of them and put them back down. The humans were laughing at Tirdellan, encouraging Farling on.

"Come on, let the boy eat something!"

Farling, get a hold of yourself! I screamed. He hesitated, and Tirdellan gave him a hard yank, pulling him back, and he lost his precarious balance and fell down. Medrar ran up to help Tirdellan and together they dragged Farling back into the crowd. I turned back to Lortif. Oh no, Lortif don't! As I watched, he dipped his finger in the chocolate 'fondue', brought it to his mouth and licked it. It clearly had the same effect on him as it had on me, judging by the sudden gleam in his eyes. Without hesitation he lowered his face right into the bowl of brown liquid and submerged it. I could tell from the sounds the humans were making that this was definitely not what you were supposed to do.

I managed to push my way through to his side just as he came up for air, his entire face covered in chocolate. It smelt incredible! It was all I could do not to lick it off him there and then, but I managed to summon enough self control to grab his arm instead.

Lortif, you need to leave now! He raised a hand and wiped chocolate out of his eyes, turning and spying me.

"Oh, hello. Have you tried this, Jahar? It's really quite wonderful!" I growled and dragged him away from the bowl.

Have you lost your wits? Don't address me publicly by that name! He giggled and wobbled, and anxiety flooded through me. This was worse than any of us had been with food.

"Why not call you Jahar? Your name is Jahar isn't it?"

Lortif shut up! I screamed. He knocked something off the table as I pulled him back, a placard. It said Vodka chocolate fondue. I didn't know what vodka was, but I didn't like the effect it was having on Lortif.

Somehow we managed to stagger through the crowd to the edge of it, and by the time we reached open space beside the dancers Lortif had calmed down a bit.

"I'm very sorry," he said formally, looking ridiculous with the chocolate dribbling off him. Tirdellan and Medrar came up to me and I gave him an angry shove towards them.

Take him and my idiot son away. Get them cleaned up. It was a mistake to bring them, clearly. Lortif hung his head at the disgust in my voice, but I didn't remit. His stupidity might have got us into trouble. I watched as they led Lortif away into the darkness. Fury still coursed through me. Fury that I was stuck with stupid children.

I sensed a presence behind me, and a voice said, "Jahar?"

"Yes?" I turned, and instantly an iron hand closed down hard on my arm and I was yanked, nearly off my feet, into the dance floor.

"I thought he called you that," my partner hissed, and I whirled around, already knowing what I was going to face. Visser Three smiled at me, the human face he presented to me as fake as the Andalite one he usually wore. He was a slug. A vile slug. And he held my husband prisoner.

Come, keep dancing or the humans will suspect that we have had a lovers' quarrel, the Yeerk laughed in my mind. His grip was very strong, to the edge of pain, and I skipped obediently to his beat, my mind frozen. By the way, don't even think about running, he added. You're surrounded by my people, so you may as well enjoy the moment.

Was he right? Of course. This was his organisation. How had I been so careless? This was Lortif's fault. I would have been angry, but I was too alarmed. There was something so powerfully evil about the Visser that it held you half under his control.

Arbat? I whispered, frightened. Kipsing? I couldn't see them. Visser Three spun me and I nearly tripped, unused to moving so fast on two feet.

So what brings you to Earth, my Jahar? he asked, and his voice was sickeningly familiar but at the same time jarringly wrong. Not that I can't guess.

Don't call me that, I warned as we jigged left. He snickered again.

So you can speak! Have you come all the way across the galaxies just to see me, little Jahar? We were still dancing, and I realised he was stalling. He knew what I was but he wasn't doing anything about it. Why wouldn't he? Couldn't he? Were we surrounded by enough free humans that he couldn't risk a scene? Most races reacted adversely to the sight of a male dragging a screaming female away, and I could only assume humans were the same.

So how many of these really are your people, Visser? I'm guessing if it really was as much as you say I'd be in chains by now. The song faded away, but we were in the middle of the floor, surrounded by other dancers. The two of us halted a second, glaring at each other, and new music started, slow and dreamy. Visser Three's hands dropped to my waist, pulling me close, again his hold too hard to break.

We dance this one slowly, like lovers, he mocked in my mind. Around me human couples swayed, intoxicated by romance. My skin crawled under his touch, but out of the corner of my eyes I caught a flash of movement. Had that been Arbat?

Prepare yourself, Jahar, Kipsing whispered. Arbat has bribed some humans to provide us with a distraction. More humans, running. Too obvious! I needed the Visser paying attention just to me. I leaned in closer to him and he laughed.

I looked up, meeting his gaze, staring deep into his eyes, searching for just a hint of my husband. I came alone, I lied. Let me speak to Alloran. Please. After that I don't care what you do with me. The Visser regarded me thoughtfully and then snorted.

How revoltingly sentimental! Even Alloran's stomachs are churning! Anger rose in me, anger at hearing my husband's emotions being flung at me like weapons by his slave master.

"I'll make you regret using him as you have," I snarled through my teeth. The Visser leaned in close, pressing our bodies together. In the background the singer had reached the chorus of the song.

'Oh, kiss me, beneath the milky twilight
Lead me, out on the moonlit floor'

The irony was powerful.

Listen to me, Visser Three began, but suddenly I heard a shout.

"SURPRISE HOSE!"

A wall of water hit us, and we were knocked to our feet, Visser Three on top of me. The sand broke my fall but I was drenched, the water obscuring my vision. The Visser pushed himself up to his knees.

What? He screamed, outraged, and the humans on the ground around me grabbed their heads, astonished by the thought speak. It was all I needed to see. The vast majority of them were not Yeerks. They were not running to help their Visser. As the water showered us he was hauled back, off me, shouting in rage, and I glimpsed Arbat.

Time to go, Jahar! I scrambled out from under the Visser.

"Stop her!" he howled, but Kipsing took control of the hose and directed it straight at him, the weight of the water knocking him down again. The Visser gave an outraged roar and we turned, racing through the crowd of spectators and controllers alike. Hands tore at me, but there was such a scrum that we could lose ourselves in it. All I was aware of was Arbat's hand gripping my arm, as strong as my husband's had only minutes ago, but Arbat was dragging me to safety whilst Alloran had been holding me captive, however unwillingly.

We emerged from the crowd, the three of us, and dived into the dunes. I didn't know where the younger ones were. I didn't care. I staggered and collapsed on my knees, my wet clothes clinging to me.

Jahar, we need to keep going, Kipsing said fretfully.

I didn't see him, I said miserably. Arbat and Kipsing seized my hands, pulling me to my feet and half carrying me between them as they ran. Hot trickles of water were running down my face, what humans call 'crying'. I looked into his eyes and I didn't see Alloran. He wasn't there.