Megan

I'd taken off after Sean, but I had lost him at about the forth or fifth turn. Since then I'd run aimlessly, not knowing where I was going. I came across a few stray humans, and a few Hork-Bajir, but after taking out the Hork-Bajir the humans suddenly didn't seem to want to stick around to fight me. They'd run off, probably to warn the others.

But I kept running, in a strange daze. I couldn't believe my dad was… one of them. I didn't want to believe it. Then again, this whole situation was unbelievable.

(It'll be ok. Mom will… and dad… oh god…) I stopped then, taking in deep breaths. I was probably close to hyperventilating, and my 'positive' attitude was lost. At that precise second, I knew everything was not going to be ok. Ever again. I was in a war. I'd killed creatures that had no true control of their bodies, and I'd done it… I'd done it without even a hint of remorse. I hated, and I'd felt myself kill and thought good, die! More than several times now.

Aerionna had been right the first time. We were kids, so what good could we do in this fight? Even with our newfound abilities?

Nothing. That's what.

I looked up, and found myself staring at a door. No, it was like double doors. Two massive, thick doors stood in front of me. And then I heard the voice.

"Don't move canat! You are surrounded" All of a sudden I felt something pressed against the side of my head, and as I used my eyes to look around I saw twenty-something Hork-Bajir and Terinans, all with Dracon beams, all pointed at me. There was no escape. It was hopeless.

(All right, all right. I surrender) I muttered.

"No surrender! You all be rounded up and killed" the one who had the Dracon beam against my head said, and I just sighed. Of course. I didn't want to die, but I knew… no other way to go.

(Please. Make it quick) I closed my eyes, ready for the final burst of pain that would end my life.

"Sub-Visser! I told you, if you catch them, bring them to me!" Came another voice, and then the gigantic doors began to open. I backed up, with the weapon still pressed against my head, and the others lasers pointed at me.

Inside, I could see several Hork-Bajir and Taxxons working at their stations. None of them even seemed to flinch when the gigantic doors slammed into the sides of the hallway, making a horrendous crashing sound. I almost jumped. And I mean almost, as in if I moved more than an inch I'd be sizzled within milliseconds.

"Visser Five, I apologise" A human stepped forward out of the tight group. He seemed old enough to be my grandfather. But the look in those steely grey eyes told me that he wasn't one to mess with and get away without a scratch.

"You'd better apologise you snivelling wimp. Now, bring the prisoner in here. It's obvious they are one of the children sneaking around here, since no Animorph, or shape-shifter would be that careless" I didn't see the new voice that was speaking, all I saw was the Taxxons and Hork-Bajir. And I doubted they could speak like that.

Something was slammed into the back of my head to get me moving. I walked forward, too numb and low to do any more. I was trapped, and there was nothing I could do about it.

I walked onto what I now thought of as the bridge of the ship. It was larger than I thought, and I took a moment to look around. Then I saw something that made my heart stop. Or rather, someone.

(Daddy?) I whispered. He turned to face me, and the look he gave me turned my blood cold. It was a look I'd never seen before.

"No I'm not your precious daddy you little twit! You will address me as Visser Five, if I ever wish for you to speak to me!" The tone was like a slap in the face. No, it wasn't my dad. It was the Yeerk controlling my dad.

(Oh daddy… I'll set you free! I prom-ah!) I was hit in the side of the head with one of the guns, and snarled in response, making the Hork-Bajir jump back as I snapped my jaws at him. The Yeerk, Visser Five, laughed.

"Oh it's you, isn't it? Megan, daddy's little girl. Daddy's sweet and innocent little girl who could do no harm intentionally. At least, that's what he used to believe" he laughed again, and I turned towards him and snarled.

"Go ahead little girl. Try to kill me. I can assure you, you won't get five inches before you're turned into a pile of dust"

As much as I hated to admit it, he was right. Damn slug was using my father to fight me! And what was worse, I knew he'd win.

I couldn't kill my father. Even if it stopped Visser Five from doing something more horrible to the others.

(Dad… I'm sorry. I… I can't kill you. I don't want to kill you. And… I love you daddy) I whispered, looking straight into my fathers eyes. I knew, somewhere in there, he'd understand.

(Don't you dare give up that easily!)

(Coming through!)

(Let's step it up a notch!)

Three voices, all at once, came to me and for a second I didn't recognise them. Then the roar from outside made me realise who they were, and seconds later a tiger, a cheetah, and a bull exploded into the fray, attacking and biting the Terinans and Hork-Bajir. Shots were fired, but all were just too slow.

(Come on Megan!) Nicole screamed, and seconds later I tore into the fray, something inside me igniting a rage, and giving me hope.

I bit and tore and attacked with everything I had, knowing I had to win for my friends. And my dad.

Two screams made me turn my head and see what had happened. Michelle had been hit in the side, and was shifting back as a Terinan pointed a Dracon beam at her head. And on the other side of the room I saw Alex was knocked out cold, a Hork-Bajir pressing a clawed foot on his stomach, levelling his own weapon at the tiger's head.

(NO!) I screamed, trying to get to him, but getting no-where. A Hork-Bajir slashed my eye deeply, then pressed a bladed wrist against my throat. I had no choice but to shift back.

(Don't you dare give up! NO!)

"Nicole, in case you haven't noticed, Alex is out cold, and Megan and I are human again. Give up, it's over" Michelle's tone sounded harsh, but I knew it was true. I fell into the depths of despair again, wanting to go to my brother and see if he was still alive. Maybe… maybe tell him he was a good big brother. Something corny, I guessed.

"Good. That's a good girl" Out of the corner of my eye I saw Nicole demorphing, looking at me with complete hatred.

"Now, what shall I do with the four of you? Hmm, what a tough choice. Either kill you or… well, kill you!" He laughed again, making me just want to smack him one.

Another explosion rocked the ship, and Visser Five's face turned from cruel mocking to something like stony anger.

"Shoot that damn fighter, you fools! And the rest of you! Get back to your stations! I want that second engine operational NOW!" He slammed a hand on a console near where a Taxxon was, and I jumped. I felt a slight sting and a trickle of blood, and when I reached my hand up I knew it wasn't as deep as it could have been.

I saw the other Hork-Bajir and Taxxons vanish. Or, what was left of them. Soon, there was a total of about five guards watching us. The last had another Dracon beam on me in case I escaped from this guy.

"Now, where was I? Oh yes. Now, I just have to pick the order in which I kill you" Visser Five came to stand in front of me, then walked over to Nicole, then around to look down at my brother. He kicked Alex's limp form, making Michelle and I cry out.

He rounded on Michelle, looking he was about to knock her one, then seemed to decide against it. Then, he came back to stand in front of me. Too far away for me to reach out and attack him.

Like I could though.

"I might start with you first. After all, this 'Marco' character seems to have a high opinion of you. Daddy's little girl, you are. This will be wonderful. I can get rid of you, and knock down this arrogant S.O.B a peg or two while I'm at it. Marvellous!"

All of a sudden his hand shot up and grabbed his throat, and it looked like he was fighting himself.

"Don't you dare touch her! I won-"

"You don't have a-"

"I'll fight you with everything I have before I let you take her!"

"Too late. You're-"

"You just watch and see-"

Then he straightened himself up, fixed his clothes, then rubbed his throat a little. Then, he smiled at me.

"Oh, don't you know? Hosts break through sometime, and they can get a bit of a handful if you don't beat them down once in a while. Not like this one was ever a problem"

"You creep!" I yelled, thrashing in the Hork-Bajir's grip. Another slice across my cheek made me stop in my tracks. My hand flew to my cheek, and I tasted my own blood. It had gotten close to the side of my mouth.

"Now don't worry, I'll take good care of your daddy's body after you're gone"

(No one touches my children) came the voice, and everyone on the bridge started looking for the source of that voice. Only I knew where it was coming from. And I watched as it grew from the floor in front of me.

When the Hork-Bajir that was holding me noticed it, he jumped back. So did Visser Five. It grew, and as it grew flowing chestnut brown hair sprouted from the top of its head, and disgusting fly wings retracted back into its body. Extra legs slurped back up into the still forming waist.

Finally, in front of me… stood my mother. Beautiful. Deadly. The only mother I could ever ask for.

"Megan, are you ok?" She turned to me, grabbing my arms. Then, she touched my cuts and smiled a little.

"Don't worry, we'll get that fixed up for you soon, okay"

"Ah, so it's Jade. The renowned shape-shifter. What a pleasure it is to finally meet you" The slug said in my fathers voice. Seconds later my mothers face turned hard and cold, and she spun around to face him.

"So, you're Visser Five. What an honour it will be to finally destroy you"

"You can't destroy me. I'm your husband"

"No, you're not. Marco would never threaten his children, or let anyone hurt them without severe punishment"

"Wow, you're good. Really, very good"

"You don't know anything about me"

"Why, of course I do. Do you forget? I'm in here" he tapped the side of his head "I know everything he knows. And he knows plenty about you"

"I'm not talking about that. And no, not even he knows everything about me" Mom began to shift, and as I watched she became a white tigress. The change itself was beautiful, but I knew why she was changing.

(Megan? Go check on your brother) she said, and I did as she bid, barely ale to rip my eyes away from the shocking scene unfolding. Was… was she going to kill my father? Could she?

Alex was alive, and that was enough for me. The guards attentions were now on my mom, and were advancing towards her.

I swear to you now, I have never seen anything move as fast as my mother did then. One second she was standing still, almost a statue. Seconds later four of the five guards were on the floor, either howling in pain or deathly quiet. No joke.

"So, it's this game is it? All right then, I'll play your game" my dad, or the Yeerk pretending to be my dad, morphed. He became a polar bear, standing at ready.

The fight lasted only a few seconds, but when they broke apart they were both bleeding and looking furious.

(Not my best work, but good enough. Soldiers! Advance and take the bridge!) My mother yelled, and seconds later there was laser fire. Michelle and Nicole joined me on the floor near Alex, all of us ducking to avoid the beams of light as they shot by our heads.

(What the… what the hell did you do Jade!) Visser Five screamed, looking like he was about to go AWOL.

(Told you, you have no idea what I'm capable of) she replied silkily as Chanaibens, and a few Andalites, came into the room. They had shredders and Jara guns. Each one of them waved them left and right, shooting any Taxxon or Hork-Bajir that dared to move.

(You… you didn't come alone…) Visser Five demorphed, looking deflated. My mother shifted back, then pulled something small out of her pocket and lifted it to her ear.

"Tobias, can you hear me?"

"Loud and clear" came the voice.

"All right. Bridge is secure. We'll hold this position until you've gotten the rest"

"Affirmative. I uh… I mean… yeah, ok"

"All right, Jade out" she turned and made her way over to us, kneeling down beside me and Alex, patting the top of his head. In her place was an Andalite guard, who made the War-Prince look puny. And let me tell you, it's hard to make him look weak.

He aimed the weapon straight at Visser Five.

"You… you did this! You… tricked us!"

"Well… yes" my mom suddenly broke into a grin, but that was lost when Alex started to stir.

"Alex? Hon, go human. Everything's all right"

Then she looked up at buff-Andalite.

"Ovatt, keep your Jara gun levelled at him at all times. If he moves, or starts to morph, shoot him. Actually, Mivinn, Senai, back up Ovatt. I'm not taking any chances. Skal? Shut those doors"

In seconds two Chanaibens were beside buff-Andalite, and another Andalite was going over to a computer console.

"I know what you're doing now. Omigod! Mom…"

"What? What are they doing?" I asked Michelle. She looked like she was about to topple over.

She looked down at me, wide-eyed "They're trying to take over the ship"

It's not ova yeeeet! More surprises to come! WHEEEE!