(That was easy enough,) Rachel said, and Shara silently agreed. (Lets go ahead and do this.)
(Dont forget,) Ax reminded them all. (The Leerans are psychic at close range. Whatever we do, we have to stay clear of them.)
Privately, Shara thought that she and Slade would have an easier time dealing with the Leerans. Still, she wasnt sure; a few flukes and a hunch werent really enough to go on, so she wasnt going to mention anything. It would be better to be right and not tell anyone, than to be wrong and have people counting on you for something you couldnt do.
If she was right, then shed tell the others.
(Well, now what?) Tobias asked. (Weve gotten past the guard sharks, so what do we do next?)
(Now, I guess we go take a look inside,) Jake said, not sounding particularly enthusiastic about the prospect of doing so.
(Two of the three big hatches are open,) Rachel pointed out. (Eenie, meenie, minie, moe?)
(Heads or tails?) Marco suggested.
(One potato, two potato?) Cassie added.
(Rock, paper, scissors?) Shara put in.
(What do these things mean?) Ax asked.
(These are some highly advanced human methods of for making choices,) Marco explained sardonically. (How about the middle door?) he said, sobering.
(The middle door, then,) Jake said.
XXX
As they all made for the middle door, Marco tried not to think about just what it was that he was going to face when they all made it inside. The tunnel, once they got close enough to truly appreciate the sheer scale of it, was clearly big enough to accommodate the submarine that theyd not-quite-seen a few days ago. More than that, he knew that she was here; hed seen her in the private office just back from the main areas of the base.
Once theyd gotten deep enough under the water that the light from the surface no longer interfered with their vision, they found that there were lights on inside the tunnels themselves. It figured that there would be, since there was no real way to get natural light this far into the water, but it was vaguely interesting all the same. Once they were through the tunnel, passing more guard sharks on the way in, the eight Animorphs spread out slightly.
Circling upward, Marco breached the surface of the water with his dorsal fin, and then rolled over onto his left side so that he could see out of the water. The eyes of his shark morph werent made for seeing through air, but they worked well enough for his purposes. What he saw was another matter entirely.
The wall of corrugated steel that formed the boat dock, and the high rafters of the curved ceiling, were the only things visible from his currant position.
(Were not going to be able to see much more than this if we stay in shark morph,) Rachel pointed out reasonably. (We need to get out of the water and look around.)
(As what, though?) Jake asked. (Wed need something thatd fit in, something these Controllers wouldnt notice. And, also something with decent senses.)
(Flies. Everyone except Tobias has a fly morph,) Cassie said.
(I dont,) Shara pointed out. (I dont think Slade does, either.)
(I didnt even think of that,) Cassie said sheepishly.
(Well, at least I wont be the only one left behind this time,) Tobias said, and Marco couldnt quite tell if he was just trying to be upbeat, or if he was honestly glad not to be alone.
(I think the bad guys might notice a Red-Tailed Hawk flying around in their underwater facility. Not to mention a raven, and- whatever kind of bird that Shara morphs,) he said. (Although, there are probably rats in this place, too. So the Controllers just might appreciate having you three around to eat their pests.)
(My bird morph is a Swallow-Tailed Kite, Marco,) Shara said indulgently. (I dont think it eats mice, though. Im pretty sure I remember reading that they eat insects.)
(Wed have to morph back to human underwater,) Jake pointed out, before Marco could say anything. (Then morph to fly, or bird, all without drowning.)
(Or being caught by those sharks,) Shara muttered.
(Well, at least we have you with us, oh mighty shark-slayer,) Marco said, chuckling.
Before Shara could think up a suitable retort, a sharp, high-pitched sound began reverberating through the water.
(Whats that?) Slade asked, turning his body so he could try to pinpoint the source of the noise.
(An alarm!) Marco exclaimed. (Oh man, they know were here!)
A large force of hammerheads came down the tunnel, lashing the water into foam behind them as they thrashed their long tails.
(Shara, I hate to have to ask-)
(I know, Jake. Thanks, but I think I can handle it,) she said, hoping that she honestly could even while turning to face the sharks head-on.
To the surprise of all involved, and to the secret relief of Shara herself, the sharks swam right past them. Passing through the small school of Animorphs, on their way to places unknown. The grinding of a mechanical door as it opened wasnt even that surprising when compared to the previous not-attack.
(Those are definitely not normal sharks,) Cassie said.