Animorphs 28 The Deception (Ax)

Author James the Lesser

I do not own the characters, Applegate and her many Ghost Writers do! But I do hope any who read this will enjoy, even if I change things up!

1

The others were waiting for Erik the Chee. I hoped he would be here soon because tonight I was waiting for a brand new episode of an amazing Earth show. It was filled with scientific fallacies about space but the story it told was captivating. Like most Earth shows they had faster than light travel which is impossible. Although the show never explained how they did it so at least they didn't try making things up. But the humans and the machines they fought told such interesting stories!

When Erik the Chee showed up he looked like a normal human. But I knew underneath he was a machine. He was built by a race long dead after being exterminated by another. Technology even more advanced than my own kind could develop.

"Hello Animorphs."

"What is it? Another suicide mission? Oh please tell me it is another suicide mission." Marco considered himself the funny one but I did not see it.

"No. In fact it may be the easiest thing you've done yet."

"So another suicide mission because that's all we ever do."

"No Marco. As you know the Yeerks use the Sharing and other secret groups for invading Earth. If they went towards open war they would win but could lose billions of potential hosts."

"And?" Prince Jake raised his eye brow. I learned that this meant he had a question in case one could not tell by the tone of his voice.

"And they may decide that open war and losing a couple billion hosts would be better than getting wiped out by the Andalite fleet."

(They are coming?)

"They don't know. Several Dome Ships disappeared from the Leera planet and they suspect it is coming towards Earth."

"Is it?"

"I don't know, maybe. But if they are then the Yeerks will unleash all it can on Earth so it can capture as many hosts possible before the Andalite fleet arrives. Make sure the Andalite's can't do to the humans what they did with the Hork Bajir."

"Uh, what did they do?" They all turned towards me.

(They unleashed a Quantum Virus killing as many Hork Bajir as possible so they could not be made hosts.)

"So if the Andalite fleet does show up instead of saving us they'll wipe us out?" Cassie was the one I got along with the least. She was soft, too soft. If she were the leader we would have lost months ago. She did not realize what was at stake.

(If that is what is deemed needed then yes. But we are hoping we can wipe out the Yeerk fleet with out your kind ever knowing we were here.)

"So what now? Thanks for the warning but then what? Are you saying we should kick more Yeerk butt? Or less? Cause I'm up for more." Rachel was the true warrior of the group. If she had been an Andalite it would be interesting seeing how far she could have gone.

"We have an idea. We will save lives if it works."

"What?" Jake got closer to Erik.

"We send a fake message, intercept it, pretend we are Andalite's, and claim the fleet will be gone for several more years. Hopefully this will buy us time."

"And how will the Yeerks get it?"

"We'll have one of our own on the Pool Ship intercept it and deliver it. This will hopefully hold off on any overt actions from the Yeerks."

"And then we must step things up. Right Ax? If a group of Andalite Bandits found out they had no help coming they'd do more damage so they could buy time."

(Yes. We would not back down like the cowardly Yeerk.)

"Then it is settled. How long will it take before you can have things set up Erik? I'm sure Ax can do it as soon as you're ready."

"Not long. I think Ax shouldn't be the one who is on this end of the message though."

(Why not? I am the only real Andalite here.)

"Exactly. Visser Three has seen you in battle but the others always use Earth animals. If they get confirmation of another Andalite, an adult one, then it will help settle down the rumors that the bandits are actually human."

"Good thinking. Um, well, what do you need from us then? This sounds like the Chee can do this all on their own."

"You are our allies and we figured we should consult you first. You did us a great service in wiping out the Howlers and we could never do enough in repayment."

"Thanks."

"Yeah, thanks Erik. Maybe if we get the Yeerks off Earth and you still wanna repay us you could use your connections and advance tech so we could all win the lottery. You know, as payment for saving the Earth and the dogs."

"Yes Marco we will use our advanced technology so you can win the lottery. Then maybe after that we will cure cancer but first the lottery for you."

(You do not pass off your technology to the humans.)

"We have a little in the past but never any thing major." Erik looks at a hologram watch on his wrist. I am sure the Chee could tell the time with out needing a clock. I guess he was used too passing himself off as a human and couldn't break certain routines. "It is getting late I have homework."

"Couldn't you take a minute and do all of it?"

"I must make sure I get some of the answers wrong or they will think I am the next Einstein. Nice man by the way who only needed a few nudges here and there when working on his Quantum Theories."

2

The next morning I was flying with Tobias. We were scouting for possible Yeerk Pool entrances. (So what do you think of Erik's plan?"

(It may work. Right now your population could be killed off in the billions and still leave billions of hosts behind. So if Visser Three is delayed by a false message it will help.)

(Will it be false though? What if they don't come here for several more years? By then even in secret the Yeerks could have billions of hosts.)

(Then we would wipe out as many hosts as possible.)

(Like you did with the Hork Bajir?)

(And would have done to the Taxxon homeworld if we had gotten close enough in time for it too matter. This is war and we must win. If the Yeerks win the galaxy is doomed.)

(Is there no other race out there more powerful? Like a Pemalite race mixed with the Howlers? Or are you guys really the end all be all?)

(There is a race we do not make contact with. After a slight skirmish we decided we would stay out of their space if they staid out of ours. They are powerful enough that so far the Yeerks have avoided them as well. But if they gained a billion or two hosts they could over run any others with sheer force.)

(The Quantum Virus affects all life or just certain ones?)

(We program it so it would only take out a specific type.)

(So if all the free humans morphed in to animals it wouldn't affect them?)

(The logistics of giving billions of humans the morphing power would be too much. What about those you consider criminals? Or unwanted? Should they all get morphing powers?)

(It was just an idea. Not that we need any more with the power or morphing after the last one went bad.)

(Yes it did.) We continued flying for a bit.

When we were close to the EGS Tower I felt a sudden thermal lifting me. (Tobias there is a great heat increase near the EGS Tower.)

(Where they held the Kandrona? You don't think they rebuilt one back there do you?)

(It may be the only place for it. Or it may be a back up in case we found and destroyed the other one. Or it could be they moved it back here after increasing security.)

(That is a lot of maybe's. I think we should tell the others after school and see what they think.)

(I think that as well.) I flew away from the building for the nearest forest. I had already spent over one and a half Earth hours in morph.

3

When Prince Jake and the others made it to the barn Tobias and I had already scouted the EGS Tower again. "Really? So what? They slapped some duct tape on it and put it back?"

(I doubt your silver tape is what they used.)

"Our tape. You're here on Earth so that makes it your tape as well Ax."

"In any case what you're saying is that they moved it back or put a back up there."

(Or the back up is elsewhere and this is the main Kandrona.)

"So even if we destroyed it we wouldn't do any damge."

"Um, and last time, the hosts who couldn't get and rays were killed. Do we really want that happening again?"

"Cassie we all agree better dead then a host."

"We made that choice they didn't."

"If we can hurt the Yeerks then we hurt them. I say lets smash the Kandrona again even if they have a back up one. It will at least annoy them."

"Let me guess Rachel the next words out of your mouth will be let's do it?"

"No, that comes after I say at least this time I won't be the only one pushing. You all have rhino or elephant morphs now."

"So now?"

"Let's do it!"

"Hold on guys. We should wait."

"What, why Jake?"

"We wait for the Chee and their false message. This gives us time for scouting and asking Erik if he has any idea what added security there might be and if there is a back up and where it is. Also gives me time for trying out a new morph."

(A new morph? I did not realize we would need a new one.)

"No Ax this morph I did once before. I've been thinking about it and the Howler morph is super powerful, fast, and tough. And it is some thing the Yeerks haven't seen before. I could even grab and use a Dracon beam."

"It is some thing they haven't dealt with before. And how would a human grab a morph even Visser Three hasn't seen? If only I could have grabbed one."

"Jealous Xena?" Rachel gives a stern look to Marco. I understand what they do is friendly even though an outside observer might believe it not.

"If we all had one we could really tear the Yeerks up and make them think a new race was moving in."

"Well we don't. But I think it could help a lot and maybe even change the momentum. We got a real victory with the Howlers and I want another real victory here."

(Prince Jake I think this time we should try stealth. If we go for force they could stop us. They nearly did last time and I am sure they will have tougher security.)

"We have time so I want you and Tobias scoping it out. See if you can't get near the windows and look in. But be careful if the Yeerks notice a red tail hawk and a harrier snooping around it could only increase the security."

(I was thinking we should get some pigeon morphs. They are every where and shouldn't be noticed. They won't have as good of eyes but we could get closer.)

"Good idea Tobias. Um, well, any one with homework get home and get that done. My grades are getting bad enough I might get grounded."

(Guys, company, Cassie's mom.)

"Well, she knows about this."

"Sorry Cassie but the less she knows the better. Ax, Tobias, go and eat or what ever and prepare for tomorrow."

(I'll catch a pigeon for us in the morning.) Tobias flew from the rafters and I went out the back way of the barn.

4

The bird called pigeon was not fast, powerful, or in any way threatening. This made it the perfect morph for spying on the building. (I can see two Hork Bajir.)

(I see three more up here. They packed the building with them.)

(It may be better if we sneak in instead of barreling through like we did last time. Take out the Kandrona and escape before they even know we are here Tobias.)

(Yeah that's what I'm thinking. I'm ready too get out of this morph and and gain some real eyes and feathers.) We split from the building and fly towards the woods.

Tobias and I were waiting for the others when Erik showed up. "Hello Tobias, Ax, how are you two today?"

(A little tired. We found the Kandrona and have been scouting it out.)

"I think you guys should avoid that. The security has been more than tripled since the last time you guys took it out. That and it wouldn't do much good."

(What do you mean? The Kandrona is needed by the Yeerks.)

"Yes Ax but they have more. They opened several Yeerk Pools in other cities and nations as they've expanded their invasion. If you destroy this one they can just move people too other Yeerk Pools. It may inconvenience them but it won't do much damage."

(It will annoy them and that's all I care about. And maybe it will keep them from putting it back in the same place. So other cities? Do you know which ones?)

"Of course Tobias. When the others get here I'll give you the details."

When Prince Jake and the others arrived Erik told us the rest. "Wow. So even if we win here it doesn't matter."

"They still want this area. You are in the middle of several major cities. This town is far enough away they could do the construction needed for the Yeerk Pool but near enough the major cities that they could take tens of millions of hosts."

"Well we can slow them down still. Where is the back up?"

"On the Pool Ship. But if you destroy this Kandrona they would move the back up to the Yeerk Pool. At least until they found a new place for setting it."

"So then we could go in to the Yeerk Pool and attack it."

"Right Rachel as soon as we take out the hunter robots and get by those filers."

"Don't be a wuss Marco. We can find a way around them." Erik raised his hand.

"Yes?"

"We could take them down. Let us know when and where and I'll have one of our agents turn the filters off."

"Wow having you guys are awesome. We should have gone to Dr. Seuss world months ago. And with Jake trying out the Howler morph," Suddenly the hologram of Erik flickered.

"What? Jake, you can still turn in to one of those?"

"I think so. It wasn't like a Sario Rip so I should still have the DNA in my system."

"Why? Why would you use one of those monsters? Aren't the animals of Earth enough?"

"Um, well, no. The Howler could take out a dozen Hork Bajir with out breaking a sweat. If we all had Howler morphs we could probably destroy the Pool, hijack a ship, then fly up to the Pool Ship and destroy it from the inside. I'm sorry it upsets you Erik I know what they did to the Pemalites and many other races but if I can take that evil and use it for good then I will."

"Yes, you saw their memories." It was strange thinking this android had emotions that a human or Andalite could understand. But one could feel as well as see the change. "And yes using that evil for good is spitting in the face of their creator."

(The Ellimist may have made it so you could keep that morph and do just that. It would be the way they think.)

"Tonight we send the message. So any time after tonight will be a good time for increasing the pressure. If the Council of Thirteen knows the fleet is not coming then Visser Three can not pressure them for all out war."

(If Visser Three is in charge why did he not start with war? A Yeerk certainly would not choose a slow invasion like this when they have superior firepower.)

"Visser One started it actually. It is what made her Visser One. She found this planet and handed it over to the Yeerk Empire. She was rewarded and sent too take another as this planet had been deemed ripe for the taking. Unfortunately for Visser Three the Andalite fleet appeared and attacked. While he got the jump on them with his Blade Ship he then had a small group of Andalite Bandits on Earth slowing things down."

(And you will make him think my fleet is not coming for several more years preventing an open war.)

"Exactly. Tonight a little after midnight we're sending out the signal. We also thought it might help if they could trace it to the ocean."

"Why?"

(It is obvious Marco. The Yeerks believe they know where I live. If they trace it out in the ocean they will be confused.)

"Exactly. You're on the ball Ax."

(I am on no ball as far as I know.)

"Yeah, well, I'm off. Good luck with your other missions and if we have more information or ideas we will bring them too you. And when you plan on going to the Yeerk Pool let us know so we can turn off the filters."

5

I was in my bird morph watching Rachel sneak towards the back door of the building as a rat. (So far nothing. When they open the door I'll try and run in and see what they do.)

(The door is opening go!) I watch her run through as a man takes out a bag of garbage.

(Aaaa! Taxxon right in the entrance!) I see her run back out before the door closed.

(Rachel move back down the alley and behind the dumpster before demorphing. Tobias and Ax keep an eye out for extra guards until Rachel is out of there.)

(Yes Prince Jake.)

(Don't call me Prince.)

(Yes Prince Jake.)

We met on the roof of a building where we could demorph. "Ok so we know they have the place packed with Taxxon and Hork Bajir. I think fly morph would be the best."

"We could just follow the stairway up until we reach the top floor. But demorphing then will be a problem if there are guards."

(I would demorph first and distract them.)

(I could cover Ax since I'd just go back to being a hawk.)

"If we did it in the stairway then we could demorph and morph in to combat morphs in safety. I'm the fastest so I could go in and help Ax and Tobias while the rest of you finish."

"If they don't have guards there. We can't be sure of any thing until we go in."

"So we go now? Or should we write a suicide note first?"

"Let's do it!"

(Yes we should go now. There is no point in delaying this.)

We morphed in to flies then went under the door and started flying. (So any one see a sign? I can't see the stairs.)

(I think I see a sign. Let me get closer.)

(And hope no one notices a flock of flies buzzing around.)

When we found the stairway we got silent. I always felt nervous about a mission. If we succeed we hurt the Yeerks but if we fail, if we die, this planet was lost. The Andalite Fleet would have no choice in using the Quantum Virus. But even then the Yeerks would have billions of hosts.

(Ax how much time has passed?)

(One of your hours.)

(I've been counting the doors and I think we're almost there. The EGS Tower has how many floors? I've counted fifty four doors.)

(Uh, sixty some? I think. I didn't count.)

(Tobias, Ax, demorph and tell us if it is safe for us.) I landed on a stair and demorphed.

(The door says fifty nine. I see no cameras.)

(No hunter robots or Hork Bajir tearing us apart. But be quick we can't know how long we have.) I kept my tail ready as the others demorphed and morphed in to their battle morphs.

Seeing Prince Jake morph in to the Howler was strange. A Howler is shaped much like a human except for the skin color and eyes. He may have even morphed faster than Cassie who is the best of the humans.

(I'll take the lead. They might not know what too do if they see a Howler for the first time.)

(Hey Jake try not using that howl unless it is a last resort. It won't hurt just the Yeerks.)

(I know Marco.) I shuddered at the thought of Prince Jake using that howl. I had never felt such pain before. I don't know if any pain could be inflicted that was worse.

It was difficult working our way up the stairs. They were meant for humans not for bears or gorillas or an Andalite.

(Ok I've been working on a plan.)

(At least some one has.)

(Be quiet Marco. The Howler is fast. I think I can rush in and get as far away from the door as possible then use the howl. That will cripple any Yeerks guarding the Kandrona. Then you come in and help me knock out any human hosts.)

(I'll go down a flight or two since I'm the only one here who can't cover his ears.)

(Burying my head between my paws might not be the best at blocking the howl.)

(I know why I'll go as far as I can.) I watched Prince Jake put a hand on the door handle. (Get ready. Once I stop howling come in after me.) He swung it open and rushed in.

I braced myself and covered my ears with my hands. Even then I could hear his howl. It make my brain vibrate but didn't hurt any where near as badly as it could have. (Now!) Rachel squeezed her grizzly bear morph through the door and charged in.

I used the flat of my blade on a human controller knocking him out. I could see the blood of a Hork Bajir on the far wall with one eye stalk and see Prince Jake ripping a Taxxon open with the other. This was the first time I watched a Howler in battle. Before I was crippled by the pain of the howl. It was terrifying. Prince Jake was unstoppable.

A Hork Bajir had recovered and fired at me but missed. (You can't sneak up on an Andalite.) I cut the arm holding the Dracon Beam off.

(Ax kick that over to me!)

(Yes Prince Jake.) It skidded across the floor and he picked it up. The Howler morph was deadly enough as it was but now it had an advanced weapon.

The battle was over quickly. Six human controllers, several Taxxon controllers, and nearly a dozen Hork Bajir. The howl crippled all of them and made it easy for us. Prince Jake may have done it alone.

(Wow, that was easy. Maybe I should edit my suicide note and save it for later.)

(Yeah. It was almost no fun.)

(Fun? Rachel this was horrible. We, it, it wasn't fair. They could barely fight back.)

(And that's a problem? I don't have much room for flying and diving in here so I couldn't do much. We just kicked Yeerk butt and with the Dracon Beam can just blast the Kandrona.)

(Guys don't you feel bad at all? We are in a war but the Hork Bajir are slaves. We hurt them and the Yeerk with the howl and now they're dead.)

(Get over it Cassie. If they could they would do the same to us. Jake find the Kandrona and blast it. We'll keep guard for any more coming up the stairs.) Rachel moved over to the door.

(You're half blind I'll keep watch.) Tobias glided over and landed on her back.

I followed Prince Jake in to the next room where the Kandrona was stored. (Ax, Andalite's have rules of war don't they?)

(Yes Prince Jake.)

(If they lose they wipe out the planet?)

(Not until the Yeerks did we start doing that. Before when we fought with each other we had rules of what was acceptable and what was not.)

(So do we. I'm not sure what I did was a war crime or not under our rules of war. It wasn't a battle it was a massacre.)

(You are defending your entire planet from annihilation. And we did not kill the human controllers. From what I have read if you were brought up on trial for this you would not be punished as you killed non humans.)

(Would the Andalite's see it that way?)

(We committed genocide on the Hork Bajir what you did was nothing compared with that.) I shouldn't be telling the humans this. It was against the rules. But the fleet was gone and they were all I had. They trusted me with every thing they had if I could not share the same trust with them what was I doing?

(Did any oppose?)

(Yes, many. But it was needed or the Yeerks would have several hundred thousand more hosts.) The Kandrona was unguarded but we were wasting time. (Please Prince Jake destroy it so we may leave before more Yeerks arrive.)

(I know.) I watched him increase the power level of the Dracon Beam before firing.

The explosion was minor with the amount of damage we were doing. We were taking out the Kandrona again. Yes they had others and a backup would most likely be here in a couple of days but it wouldn't be stored here. The Chee would tell us where it was and we would destroy that one as well. (Are we leaving Prince Jake?)

(Yes. Everyone we're sneaking out of here as flies.) I kept an eye out for any more Yeerks as the rest demorphed and morphed in to flies before joining them.

6

Three days later it was what the humans call Saturday. Erik was meeting us and giving us an update and hopefully the location of the new Kandrona.

(He's coming and he brought friends.)

"Thanks Tobias."

(Friends? Other Chee? Why would he bring them? Prince Jake I would be on caution.)

"They're the Chee they can't exactly hurt us."

"No but they can send us on more suicide missions."

"Be quiet Marco."

It was the Chee known as Erik, his father, and one I didn't recognize. "Hello Animorphs, correct?"

"Yeah, uh, why so many?"

"We have a lot of information from the Yeerks. Shelia is from the Pool Ship, she got your transmission and handed it over to the Yeerks."

"And I got some bad news. News I wanted you too hear directly from me."

(Why? Could you not tell Erik?)

"I could but this, this is big, a huge step up." How an android could sound nervous didn't make sense in my mind. They were machines. "Um, well, don't freak." Her hologram changed.

(Visser One? This comes directly from her?)

"Yes. The Council of Thirteen is coming and checking on the progress of the invasion personally. Visser Three if you declare all out war and lose billions of hosts you will lose your head. The Andalite fleet is not coming for several years. Continue the silent invasion." I notice the Chee who played Erik's father change in to Visser Three.

"Your way is taking too long! You may fear these humans but I do not!"

"If even only a sixth of the humans fought back that would still be more than every Yeerk host on the planet. If you need help I will gladly assist. Making sure the Council knows how weak you are."

"Never! I will simply become more aggressive."

"Be careful if the humans find out about this you will lose the planet. The weapons they have may be primitive but a nuclear warhead or a bullet will kill as easily as a beam or virus." They change their holograms back.

"So Visser Three is ignoring orders and going for more open war?"

"Maybe. Or pushing recruitment in the Sharing and other groups. They may start taking more and more involuntary hosts."

"But if we destroy Kandrona's we can slow that down."

"Yes Jake. Speaking of which you wanted the location of the back up. Well, good news and bad news."

"Let me guess you know where it is but it requires a suicide mission?"

"Yes and maybe. Instead of putting it where you could reach it they have it on a Bug Fighter. It stays cloaked over the city. They refuel it when needed and worry about a plane hitting it but other then that it is working."

"So it is invisible and way up there. And I'm sure if they see a bird they shoot it."

(I'll make sure I don't fly too high when going through the city. If it is invisible I wouldn't know I got too close until they shot me.)

"We have the location. Approximately five thousand feet above the high school."

"Directly above it?"

"Centered over the gym. I'm sorry we can't give you more."

"That may be enough."

"What? Jake it is invisible and a ship. We can't morph wolf or bear and attack it. And even the biggest bird morph couldn't damage it."

"I know Cassie. But what are they fearing?"

"Andalite Bandits, the fleet, the boogeyman in the closet?"

"No Marco, Erik already said they worry about planes hitting it."

"Why it is so low. Except for smaller single engine planes the majority of planes would be much higher."

"So what? We hijack an airplane and crash..." Maroc we cut off by Rachel.

"Let's do it!"

"Whoa wait no! None of us can fly a plane."

(I could. Your aircraft controls are much simpler then any on an Andalite ship. But we must know exactly where it is. We will only get one try before they move it.)

(Before you were here Ax we dealt with their cloaking. I could see ripples in the air as it moved.)

"But the ship isn't moving."

(No but the ships that refuel it are. Ax and I can watch for the ripples and see where it stops. We can be the ones who take the plane.)

"But you'd need a direct hit. You would have too get it lined up then jump out of the plane and morph in to a bird. I don't even know if I could morph fast enough."

(I could morph before leaving the plane. If Tobias is with me he could try and keep the plane level as I morphed.)

"Insane, suicide, nuts, crazy. Why not just drop a whale on it?"

"Not a bad idea but it is over the city and people might wonder where the whale came from."

"I don't know if I could demorph then morph in to a bird fast enough."

"I'm sure you could." I notice the looks between Prince Jake and Cassie. It reminded me of when back home and in class there was a, well, I was distracted from studies by a certain Andalite.

"Whoa, um, hello."

(Oh crap I got distracted.) It was Cassie's mother.

"Um, your friends, uh, Cassie I was coming out too tell you lunch would be ready soon. I don't think I have nearly enough for all your friends."

(I had a rat earlier so I'm fine.)

(I fed on the way here so I am also fine.)

"Hey, uh, we don't eat." Erik and the other Chee drop their holograms then bring them back up.

"Oh my Cassie you have some interesting friends. Are they also Yeerk or Andalite forces or some thing?" Erik laughed.

"We're a bit older than that. I helped build the pyramids." The Chee known as Shelia raised her hand.

"I helped with making the American flag."

"Ok then. Um, Cassie I need too lie down when your father gets home let him know lunch is ready."

(She handles this far better then I thought. We assumed your kind would react violently if they knew the true existence of aliens.)

"Don't base us off of our movies. Those are just for entertainment."

(We do not know that.)

"Well now you do. And don't you enjoy our entertainment?"

(I find it highly educational.)

(Is that why you make me watch the Young and the Restless every afternoon? For educational purposes?)

(I am young and often restless.)

"Ok you two can go back to your soaps tomorrow but for now we must figure out what we're doing. The closest airport with smaller planes is what, east of here?"

(Yes. But you guys realize people pay for these things. We're stealing some one's hard earned money and crashing it in to a Bug Fighter.)

"Well, UPS! They have planes right? The company probably has insurance and stuff. And I know where they fly in and out of."

"How do you know that Jake?"

"Before all this started I thought it would be cool working for them. Ax are you sure you can fly a plane? It is all manual no thought speak control."

(I have played a flight simulator on a computer I built. Your controls are rather simple you don't even need a co pilot one human can do it.)

"Ok well this is Saturday so we can all watch from different angles. If they don't refuel today or tomorrow then just Ax and Tobias during the day and we'll take turns after school."

"Wow even when we're out of school we'll still be going to school. Is this a nightmare? Am I wearing pink daffida? Is Rachel secretly my girlfriend who is actually a bear in disguise?"

"Only in your dreams would I be your girlfriend in any form." The others laughed but I was not sure of the humor in it.

7

It wasn't until Wednesday that I finally saw the ripple in the air. I was about a quarter mile from the school when it happened. (Tobias I see it can you?)

(Yeah just barely. Like the air coming off the road on a hot summer day.)

(It stopped. I think if one of us carried a rock then dropped it then it would land on the ship telling us exactly where it is.)

(I'll do it I'm the best flier.)

(Wait. If we do it now it may alert them. We should tell the others.)

(I think Jake is in math class now. I'll go tell him.) I kept watching where the Bug Fighter was as Tobias flew off.

When the human school ended I saw Prince Jake and Marco walking towards the nearby woods. I was close on my time and flew over so I could demorph. "Hey Ax Man Tobias said you saw where the ship was?"

(Yes Marco. And Tobias and I came up with an idea of knowing exactly where it is.)

"Yeah? How?"

(We originally thought a rock but now we have decided on paint in a balloon. It will splash on the Bug Fighter revealing the exact location of it. I can aim for it then and take it out.)

"Not a bad idea. I already had Tobias tell the others about the ship. We'll do it in a couple of hours." I saw movement coming from behind us.

(They are here.)

"So are we doing this or what?"

"Yes Xena we're hijacking an air plane and crashing it in to a Bug Fighter happy now?"

(I will be the one doing the hijacking and crashing. I think Rachel should be the one with the paint balloon since her eagle morph is the largest and can carry the largest load.)

"Paint balloon? I missed some thing."

(We're marking the ship so Ax and I can hit it easier. I already found some paint we just need balloons and an open plane.)

"They must have one standing by right? Or at least with enough fuel Ax can hit the ship."

"Well, I'm ready, I guess. Although I don't have much too do except distract any guards or pilots."

"Don't worry Marco I'm sure UPS won't have any Hork Bajir guards. Although if you really wanna distract them why not wear a frilly pink tutu? It would match your eyes."

"When I'm a gorilla or now?" The group laughs. I am not sure what a tutu is so am not sure of the joke.

I waited for the distraction. A gorilla and a wolf would dance near the tarmac while Tobias and I snuck on board a plane as birds. Prince Jake would watch out for any blocks while Rachel carried the paint balloon.

When I saw Marco and Cassie several humans had as well. "Whoa man I swear I'm not on drugs. Are you seeing this Steve?"

"Totally Ed. A monkey and a weird ugly dog are dancing. Waltz?"

"Not line dancing I think. Man maybe the fumes got us off our rockers."

"Yeah, fumes. No one will believe us."

I flew in to the nearest airplane and demorphed quickly. (Tobias be prepared for keeping the plane level. Once I let go and morph back in to a bird I can't keep the controls steady.)

(I know just get us in the air.)

(I will.) The controls were laughably simple. I just couldn't start it. (There is no key. I must wire it.)

(And how long will that take?)

(Several minutes maybe. I have never done this before.)

(Hurry! Marco and Cassie can only make those UPS guys think they are on some thing for so long.)

(I am hurrying.) The panel was sealed shut but my tail made easy work of it.

I had gotten several wires stripped when Prince Jake started shouting. (Ax! Two guards are coming for Marco and Cassie! What's taking so long?)

(There was no key so I must wire it. I am almost done.) I touched two wires together and the engines sputtered. (I got it.) I touch them together again and the engines start.

Now came the most dangerous part. Emergency take off and hitting the Bug Fighter. But I must do it. The Yeerk invasion was getting stronger. They were based in several cities and nations now. We were barely slowing them down. Destroying the Kandrona was all we could do for slowing them down in this city.

The plane was easy too control once I got it in the air. (Ax I think we clipped those trees.)

(They should not allow such tall trees near an airport.)

(We were about three hundred feet off the runway. I think we hit a deer as well. I'll go back and check. Hmm, I can't remember ever having deer.)

(I think we missed it.)

(Darn. Well lets hope Rachel marked the Bug Fighter.)

I flew in a wide circle then started coming over the city. (There she is. She's dive bombing it now. Ax you're going too far right and too high.)

(I can adjust as we get closer. Has she dropped the balloon yet?)

(Just now. She got a direct hit.)

(Any reaction from the Bug Fighter?)

(I don't think they realize it happened yet. We could have a clear shot. Just a little lower and to the right.)

(Adjusting now.)

I could see the paint now and adjusted again. (Tobias I will need too morph soon.)

(Yeah I'm ready.) I hold the control still as Tobias grasps it with a talon. (Ok I got it.)

(Keep it exactly where it is or we will miss.) I step back and go to the door. If I opened it all the way it could create drag. But I could cut a hole large enough for Tobias and I with my tail blade. (Let me know when we are an eighth of a mile away.)

(Eighth of a mile? I can kind of tell distances when I'm flying and looking down but I don't have any landmarks here.)

(Then prepare for escaping now.) I started morphing.

With my improved sight I could see we were veering left. (Tobias I need your help. We are going too far left.)

(I kept it steady.)

(The hole I cut created more drag than I thought.) I flapped up to the controls and my weight changed the flight path. (We better hurry we have about thirty seconds.)

(Thirty seconds?)

(Of your time. Not about twenty five seconds of your time.)

(Ax, go! I'll be right behind you.) I let go of the controls and fly to the hole. I had made it a little too small and forced my way through stripping some feathers off.

(Now Tobias!)

(I'm trying! I need too lay off the fatty rabbits and stick with lean field mice.) I was diving for the ground and couldn't look back. I knew Tobias would make it. My shorm would make it.

I was near the ground when the plane hit the Bug Fighter. I could hear the sound of metal clashing with metal. (Tobias!) He must have made it out. He could have morphed some thing smaller and gotten out. (Tobias!)

(Watch out!) He flies right above me. (I dived out of there and lost most of my tail feathers I'm having a really hard time controlling my flight!) I see him land roughly on the ground.

(I will protect you as you morph and demorph restoring your feathers.)

(I'm more worried about you. You better get far enough away no one can see you demorph.)

(I will as soon as you are better.)

8

We were meeting at the barn a week after the plane attack. Erik was coming with new information. We all hoped it would be good news.

(He's coming, alone.)

"Ok Tobias thanks for the heads up." Prince Jake was at the door waiting.

"Hey guys."

"Spill it. Did we do any thing or are the Yeerks ignoring this?"

"Oh they aren't ignoring this. Transporting Controllers back and forth from here to the nearest Yeerk Pool with a Kandrona is draining on resources and time. They are making a secured area in the Yeerk Pool here for the new Kandrona."

"Great. So we slowed them down here but every where else they're going strong. Unless you have another plane in to Bug Fighter plan."

"No they are raising security at the other sites. But one in the east could be the next target if you want. It is the closest and destroying that one would cripple all Yeerk activity in this area. It won't end it as there are tens of millions of potential hosts within a few hundred miles but could slow it down."

(Doing all we can may not be enough. If we could find the Pemalite Crystal maybe the Chee who wish a more active role could help.)

"Never Ax. What I went through I will never allow for the others. Never."

"Calm down it was just an idea. And it is some where in the ocean we couldn't find it if we tried. We'll think about it. Going that far we would need a plane or a morph good for that kind of travel."

(Geese.)

"Huh?"

(Geese, like those two.) One of the Geese honks at Tobias who got too close. (They travel for hundreds of miles in a single flight. I can't believe I didn't think of it before.)

"Yes! If we all acquire Geese we could fly for hundreds of miles with out tiring." Cassie goes over and touches one of the Geese.

(Are we going after the other Kandrona? It could be risky.)

"Maybe. I'll think about it. But for now getting a new morph could help." I watch Prince Jake touch the nearest Goose.

(You guys make sure one of them is calm. They won't like me getting that close.)

"I got it Tobias." I watch Rachel pick a Goose up as she acquires it putting it in a kind of trance. "Better hurry I don't want it waking up in my arms."

"Well if you need replacements just give me a call and we'll send Chee copies."

"I have a geometry test coming up and I need at least a B could you send a Chee for me then?"

"No Marco. I could offer tutoring since I do owe you one."

"For the Howlers?"

"When we were eight you let me borrow a toy and I broke it. I didn't control my strength and snapped it in half."

"Hey, I remember that! Yeah, ok, tutoring."

(I am getting a snack before dark.)

(And the newest episode of Seinfeld is on tonight. I have tried following it but it appears too have no story. Almost as if it were about nothing.)

"Go ahead. I'll help Cassie with a couple of the animals."

"I have homework and my mom is getting on me about my grades." I let Rachel leave before going out and to the woods for my Scoop.

A/N Wow this was hard. Writing as hard is difficult because he isn't human. I must remember that with every line. It isn't my best work I admit but thankfully I won't be back to him for a looong time. So yeah, took out two Kandrona's and Jake unleashes the Howler morph. I figure since it wasn't a Sario Rip just transported by the Ellimist it would still be in his system. Another reason why I start after Episode 26 so he would have this morph. Well, next is Cassie! But no idea when I'll get her episode done. So much going on but those who enjoy this know I will be writing and updating this series, eventually.