JTL's Animorph Series!

by James the Lesser

Because of the blizzard I was snowed in with no power. So I got out an old book series and started reading! I read through and as I did I got the ideas for my own series! I start at book 27, so 1-26 happen, and then 27 is where my series starts!

4. Chapter 4

Animorphs 30 The Missing (Marco)

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

My name is Bond, Marco Bond. Suave super Animorph for the… Well, actually, my last name isn't Bond. But I am a suave Animorph. I have more enemies, less training, but just as good a record of success as James Bond. At least when it came to fighting the bad guys and saving the day.

The spring dance was coming and I was trying to get a date. "Come on Michelle you know you wanna go with me."

"No."

"Why not?"

"Remember third grade when you," I put a finger on her lips.

"Don't finish that sentence." That was a pretty terrible thing I did. But it was funny so worth it. "Can't you forget what happened all those years ago?"

"Never jerk." Another strike out.

At lunch I saw some one handing out flyers. "What are these for?"

"My sister. She went missing. Have you seen her?" I looked at the picture. Yes I had seen her. During our last attack. "No, sorry. But I'll see if my friends have." I took a flyer and looked for Jake.

He was sitting with Cassie. "Hey you two not in the lunch room we'll lose our appetites." I sat down and showed them the flyer. "Look familiar?" Jake takes the flyer from me.

"No, should she?"

"She was in the," I leaned forward and whispered. "Yeerk Pool during the last attack out east. Remember? She is a Controller."

"Oh, well, not a lot we can do about it now."

"Yes there is. The Yeerks are kidnapping people now. They aren't waiting for people to join the Sharing any more. They're just grabbing and forcing slugs in people's ears." Cassie takes the flyer from Jake.

"That sucks. But what can we do? We can't exactly fly back out there and save her if she's even still there." She was right. But I had an idea.

"Why not turn the tables on them? Why not kidnap some Controllers?" I could think of a few I'd love to kidnap." I look around the cafeteria and see Vice Principal Chapman.

"That, that is a good idea. We could focus on high level ones at first. Strike fast and kidnap them and hold them until the Yeerk dies." Cassie seemed on board but Jake saw the flaws.

"Where do we keep them? How do we make sure they aren't voluntary hosts? And we'd need the highest targets because after one or two they'd raise security. And what if the rest of the family isn't infected? They would want who ever we took found."

"Um, well, we know Melissa's parents are both involuntary. Only did it to protect her. And if we get them we could take her."

"Take her where Marco? Jake's right we don't have any place to put them."

"Um, give me time I'll think of a place. Tell the others and meet at the barn after school?" I hadn't grabbed food yet so got in line.

At the barn I waited for the others. Bird Boy and Ax were still out where ever and Rachel was looking for them. Leaving me with the two kissy kissy members of the Animorphs. "So do you two always kiss after shoving pills down a wolf's throat?"

"We didn't kiss Marco."

"You did it with your eyes." Ha! Jake was blushing and I'm sure Cassie was you just couldn't tell because of her skin color.

Jake and Cassie, I knew it would happen. The way the two acted even before we met Elfangor showed they liked each other. But throw the two together in an epic fight against the Yeerks and the two could do nothing but get closer.

Then there were Rachel and Tobias. She was a blonde gymnast and he was a bird. I don't really remember the two hanging out before this all happened. But some how they ended up together. Sharing mice under the moonlight in the meadow.

And then Ax. The local Andalite. The only survivor of the Dome Ship crash. He was interesting too say the least. When in human morph he was dangerous around food. You see, Andalite's don't have taste buds. So when you get him around some thing like cinnamon buns he goes crazy. But man you get him around computers and he'll make you the best system on Earth.

The shadow overhead let me know Tobias had made it. The sound of hooves let me know Ax was right behind.

The, don't let Rachel know I said this, beautiful blonde in a leotard doing a cartwheel let me know she had made it. "So this is Marco's party?"

(A party? Will there be cake? I had some before and it was very sweet.)

"No Ax, sorry." Normally Jake would take the lead but this was my party as Rachel put it. "People are being kidnapped by the Yeerks. So I think we should kidnap them."

"Like who?" Ah, Rachel couldn't hide her excitement. Of course she'd think kidnapping Yeerks was a good idea.

"Chapman to start. We know he is high ranked and would be a blow to the Yeerks if we got him. And we'd have his wife who is a Controller and we'd grab Melissa so she wouldn't be taken by the Yeerks."

"Who else?" Jake was rubbing Cassie's elbow in a way I'm sure hid it from the others. But from where I was standing I could see it.

"We know the Chief of Police is up there. He might be well defended so he would be first and we'd grab him at home."

"And then what? Where do we take them?"

"Two choices. The Chee or the Hork Bajir. That valley is well hidden and the Chee holograms make it even harder to find. We just call Erik and see what they can do."

"Ok a good start but what about the actual kidnapping? We can't just go in guns blazing. Marco the police chief is married and we don't know if his wife is a Controller or not."

"Why we grab both. Or even better make it look like they just left." I thought it was a good idea but Jake, being our leader, just had to one up me.

"Or make it look like they were still there. The Chee can just take their place. We'd have the Controllers but the Yeerks would never know."

"And Tom. We could rescues Tom." I'm glad Cassie brought it up. I didn't know how Jake would react. "And just replace him with a Chee. It would make Jake safer at home."

"Unless my parents are also Controllers. My father was head of the hospital a few months back when I got infested. Maybe he was innocent maybe he wasn't." Another thing I didn't think should be brought up because it meant telling him no.

"Either we replace the whole family or we leave them alone."

"But, Tom would know. We get him just before he goes back to the Yeerk Pool and when the Yeerk comes out we can ask him if your parents are or not." Cassie was holding Jake's hand now.

"We could try that. But seriously we gotta be careful. We kidnap the police chief and things go wrong we may not be able to cover it up with the Chee. I know Rachel would just go in as an elephant but if the Yeerks hear about the zoo visiting the house of a known Controller they might get suspicious."

(And if some one calls your Earth police we would have to flee.)

"I want you and Tobias scouting his house for a couple days while we wait for the weekend. Check his patterns. When he leaves for work and gets back. And follow his wife. If she is a Controller then we'll need to, to, secure her. Marco call the Chee. I'll think of a way we can grab them with out raising suspiscion."

"Why not just use the Chee for cover and use a stun gun?"

(Those are highly ineffective. If we could get a Dracon Beam and set it for stunning it would also give us range.)

"I doubt we could get one Ax. Or a stun gun. Maybe we should go with brute force. Use the Chee but have them cover a gorilla breaking in and taking out the Controllers."

"I'll knock on the door and say trick or treat so they think it is a costume."

(Marco it is no where near Halloween.)

"It could work Tobias. Maybe Yeerks won't know."

(Sure Marco. But in case that doesn't work I'll go over and watch before night comes. No thermals at night make it hard to stay airborne.) I see Tobias fly out of the barn.

"Well looks like I won't be watching the Full Metal Alchemist marathon this Saturday." I check the time. "I still have homework to do. See you guys later."

"Don't forget to call Erik."

"I won't. The first thing I do when I get home."

2

I forgot my father would be home with his new girlfriend. "Oh, hey, I have home work."

"Yes you do." Why did he start dating the math teacher? "Don't forget order of operations."

"I know. PEMDAS."

"Very good. I guess that nap didn't get in the way of my teaching."

"I'm sure he was just resting his eyes."

"And head." I'm glad they could laugh about it. I had been up the night before burning through the new Mortal Kombat. Almost had my favorite unlocked.

Once I was sure they were busy watching television I grabbed the phone and went to my room. Jake and I were the only ones who knew the Chee's secure line. Every one knew about them but if any one else was captured they couldn't reveal the only secure way we knew of contacting them. "Hey, is Erik there?"

"This is him Marco. I'm always connected. What do you need?"

"Holograms."

"Of course. But for what?"

"We're gonna go out and kidnap a few Yeerks. We want it so no one notices they are gone."

"How many? We currently have about forty or so Chee free."

"We'll do two this weekend. The police chief and his wife." Hmm, Erik would know right? "Hey, is his wife a Controller?"

"Yes but not a very high ranking one. What else do you need?"

"A place to secure them. If you guys can't hold them we'll take them to the Hork Bajir."

"Please do that instead. The fewer who know where one of our bases is the better."

"Ok. I'll call you in a couple days when I know more."

"Got it. See you soon dude."

"Yeah, you too Erik." An Android so old that he knew Moses when Moses was just a baby calling me dude. If only that would be the weirdest thing I did this month.

School, homework, school, homework. The dance getting closer and closer. And Agent Marco was striking out again. "Kelly it would be great. I'd pay for dinner and your dance ticket."

"No."

"I'll pay for uh, what else would you want?"

"How about you pay me twenty dollars and I'll tell people you turned me down." The nerve of some girls.

"Well, actually, seriously?"

"Sure. No one will believe it."

"Never mind." There must be one girl at this school who would say yes. There must be!

Friday, one week and one day from the dance. But the others who already had dates were focused on some thing else. "So he gets home every day at seven. And his wife always greets him at the door."

(Yes Prince Jake.)

"Don't call me Prince."

(Yes Prince Jake.)

(Yes Jake. Every night. Pretty boring actually for a police chief and a Yeerk. They both went to the Yeerk Pool yesterday. So if we get them tonight we would only have one more day before the Yeerks starve.)

"So I just morph gorilla and knock on the door."

"Actually I was thinking we just break in. He'll come to the door and you knock him out." Seemed simple enough. But we're the Animorphs nothing ever goes that easily.

Erik had me covered with a hologram. Walking as a gorilla was easy on grass but on the cement of the sidewalk it was rough on the knuckles. (I'm almost there.)

"The other two Chee are ready. Just make it fast I can make people see what we want but I can't really hide noise."

(I know I can do this.) I was just in front of the door.

I turn the handle and can hear the lock break. A normal human could never do it but for a gorilla it might as well have never been locked.

I accidentally knocked a table over. I needed them to come to me any ways so that worked out.

Except I wasn't planning on them being ready. This was a total surprise right? How could they have know… David! That bastard must have found some way of warning them. Or they were just paranoid. Either way the police chief had a shotgun. "Andalite! Even better than some foolhardy burglar." He pumped the first round in to my gut.

I was a gorilla. I was about five hundred pounds of muscle. And now some of that muscle had metal rattling around in it. It phased me but I had a mission.

(Go to sleep!) I hit him on the head. I may have done it a little harder than I should but I was in a hurry now. Some one would report the gun shot. And now his wife knew not only some one was here but they deserved a shotgun blast.

I heard footsteps coming and waited. The second she came around the corner I tapped her on the head. Ok, tap may be a little light. (Come on guys get them out of here and clean up the blood.) I was already demorphing.

I was demorphed and morphing in to an Osprey as the Chee cleaned the place up. "Good job Marco. By the time the police, who I'm sure will be Controllers, it will look like nothing happened." I went out through an open window leaving the Chee to do their thing.

Erik could carry the two Controllers easily and a lot faster than any of us could to the Hork Bajir colony. He beat the rest of us there and by the time I landed the Controllers were already tied up and being looked after by the Hork Bajir. "So now what?"

"Erik says you might have held back a little more." I shrug my shoulders.

"I was shot and trying to do it as fast as I could."

"Anyways now that we have them we just wait for the Yeerks to die."

"You sound disappointed Xena."

"I sat there and watched you do all the work."

"See? I told you she'd just go in as an elephant and smash every thing up. And since we didn't she's disappointed." I stick my tongue out at her.

"I could have done it with out getting shot."

"And you would have lead elephant tracks up to the door. Sorry Rachel but Marco had the best morph for the job." She couldn't argue with Jake.

"Now what? We just wait and see if any one notices the police chief is different? I'm actually with Rachel this is not exciting." But after getting shot maybe nothing exciting would be nice. "And I still have time to go home and see some of the marathon."

"Not so fast. We need Ax and Tobias here to help guard them. But both need to eat eventually."

"I'll take first watch with Tobias."

"And hope for some thing exciting? Or just wanna stick around your Bird Boy?"

"We have to discuss the dance. You know the one you'll be going to, alone."

"I still have a few girls to ask."

(And all will say no. Maybe you can have Ax take a bunch of DNA from girls and mix them together to form a new human morph that is a girl.)

(I do not think that would be appropriate.)

"I'll get a date. I just haven't asked the right one."

"Ok, Rachel when you get done with watch get Cassie. And when you're done get me. I'll get Marco."

"And I'll get the dog who gets the cat who gets the rat who gets the cheese."

"Are you the rat or the cheese Marco?"

"I think we all know who the cat is." I took a step back before Rachel could hit me.

3

I was on watch when the Yeerks starved. It was horrible watching how much pain the hosts were in as some thing died inside of their skulls. "Who are you? What are you? Andalite?" The police chief recovered quickly while his wife slept.

"No. A friend. We replaced you with others."

"A two hour limits what you can do as me. You'll be found out soon."

"No we won't. Now what kind of Controller were you?"

"High ranked."

"I meant did you volunteer."

"No, not at first. But after awhile you just give up. Better to walk around free in the Yeerk Pool then be stuck in a cage for the few minutes you had those damn slugs out of your head." Wow that was sad.

"Well, ok. So just sit tight and I'll get the others."

"The others? The blonde, the black girl, and the white kid? Who are they? Who are you? Are you the ones causing so much trouble for the Yeerks?"

"No." I didn't think it was safe to tell the guy too much. Let Jake decide how much he should know.

I told Tobias who told Rachel who called the rest. Soon Jake took charge of the situation. He didn't ask, he just did it. He just knew that he should. "Hello, I'm Jake. These are my friends. We help the Andalite Bandits." See? I wouldn't have come up with that.

"Good. I'm sure they would need human help keeping a low profile. Although they must be desperate if they gave you morphing abilities."

"They are."

(We needed an insight on the world that one couldn't get by simply watching.)

"You look familiar."

(Yes. I have attacked before with the rest of the group still alive.)

"Not many of you left if I remember correctly. And the others use Earth animals."

(We need diversity as we don't have weapons. And the varied species of this planet give us plenty of choices.) I see Ax flanked by two adult Andalite warriors. I knew they were holograms but the former Controllers didn't know that.

"Earth is amazing. Too bad the Yeerks simply want it for our bodies."

"Yes, well, we need names. What hosts do you know of that are high ranked Yeerks?" Jake brought paper and a pen. Again some thing I wouldn't have thought of.

"Oh well, the Vice Principal of the local high school, Chapman I think. He deals with different parts of the invasion. I provide security he deals with the Sharing crap."

"Who else?"

"Well the president of the Sharing Michael Boeing. If he disappears it not only eliminates a Sub Visser but hurts the Sharing's image. And the media director for the Sharing Sharon Peters. Pretty much focus on the upper crust of the Sharing." If we replaced them all with Chee we could dismantle the Sharing!

He listed off a few more names, including Tom's, before his wife woke up.

"What's going on? Honey, I, Honey!" She seemed too realize the Yeerk wasn't in her head. "Are we dead or free?"

"Free. We're free." Watching two adults cry was a little disturbing.

"Um, did any one warn you? You were kind of quick with that shotgun." He shook his head.

"No. The Yeerk thought you, the Andalites, might come for him sooner or later. And in the end you did." He was staring intently at the two hologram Andalite warriors.

(That we did.)

With the success of the last mission we planned for the next one. "Thursday night we go and get Chapman."

"And Melissa. She isn't a host or any thing and she won't understand what is going on until her parents are free. Maybe it would be better if we left her with the Chee as her parents." Maybe Cassie was right. Melissa would be a third person to grab and get out of there.

"The fewer the better right? I'd hate to hit her knowing she wasn't a Controller."

"I've thought of that. And it is a toss up. Rachel what do you think? She's your friend. Do we take her?"

"Not really, not any more. But I don't think it would be a good idea. Until the Yeerk left her parent's head she'd think we were crazy. And even after that it would mess her up. Maybe it would be better if we left her at home." Was the Warrior Princess about to cry? "Keep as many people out of this as we can."

"I don't know. Maybe she could join us and then I'd have a date for the dance."

"Shut it Marco."

"Snippy aren't we Xena?"

"We didn't choose this but now that we are what we are we should make things as easy as we can for others."

"And I figured you'd want more warriors for kicking butt."

"She's not a warrior." Rachel gets in my face. "And half the time neither are you. If you're that hard up for a date maybe we should have Ax morph a girl for you."

"Hey don't get so upset Rachel I was just joking. Geesh, mood swing much?"

"Shut up."

"Marco, Rachel, cool it. So is it agreed? We leave Melissa at home." We all nodded. "Then Thursday night we switch out her parents."

"If I get a gorilla morph can I have the fun part?"

"No way Rachel I'm the only one who gets to morph a gorilla. How would you feel if I morphed a grizzly bear or Bald Eagle?"

"I, well, fine." Being protective of our morphs seemed weird but hey they were our morphs.

"Now we just need a way of getting her out of the house. Rachel could you invite her to go clothes shopping or some thing?"

"No, well, it has been awhile. Maybe just hang out for a bit."

"Maybe she'll want to buy a new dress. For the dance and stuff." Rachel rolls her eyes. "Hey she might say yes."

4

The next day at school I hunted, er, ran in to Melissa. "Hey, you got a date for the dance?"

"No."

"No you don't or no you're turning me down before I even ask?"

"First one. As for the second part if you're asking me only a couple days before the dance it means all the other girls you asked turned you down."

"Hey I was just making sure the other girls had a date. But you were my first choice. So what do you say? You could go get some thing cool at the mall later with Rachel."

"Now how did you know she asked me to do just that?"

"I didn't. But she was hanging with Cassie while I hung with Jake."

"And Cassie and Jake have been dating so you were all hanging out. Why not ask Rachel?"

"No way. I'd rather go with you."

"Ok, sure. Eat and stuff before right?"

"You got it." Ha, Suave Animorph Bond, Marco Bond.

We watched her house. Rachel walked up to the house and knocked. (Make sure you talk me up Rachel.) I see her roll her eyes.

"Hi Rachel! I'm so glad you asked me earlier. Are you sure you didn't ask Marco to ask me?"

"Of course not. I can't believe you said yes."

"Why not? Marco can be cute if you forget all the childish stuff he's done." Well, not exactly a ringing endorsement but I'll take it.

(Just wait a few minutes. I see Erik with the two Chee replacing the Chapman's coming up the street.) I look and see Jake, the Peregrine Falcon, land on a tree branch.

(Guys,) Tobias lands across from the front door. (I saw a Gold Eagle flying nearby. It could be David.)

(Or a Gold Eagle. But keep an eye on it just in case. We can't have David messing things up.) I thought maybe David tipped off the Yeerks before but he hadn't. But maybe he was this time.

(Jake we might wanna call this off. If that is David and he tips them off I could end up with another gut full of lead.)

(Tobias is it acting weird?)

(No. It is flying away. Riding the thermals. Lucky for a couple local cats.)

(Then we go through with it. In five minutes I want you to fly down and morph in to a gorilla. Be careful but be fast.)

(I was just gonna climb up the side and wait for the Bug Fighters too shoot me down but I guess I could be careful.) I start slow circles going lower and lower with every one. I must look like your every day Osprey.

On the ground I demorph behind some bushes. I see Erik walking two dogs. Those dogs were other Chee throwing up holograms. He winks at me letting me know it was safe to morph.

Again the cement of the sidewalk scraped my knuckles. I walked up to the door and knocked before turning the handle. "Melissa did you forget some thing?" I could hear his footsteps before I could see him. I just had to wait for the right moment. "Melissa did you hear me? Did you forget," He came around the corner and saw me. "Anda," I hit him on the head knocking him out.

I could feel the rush of air as the Chee ran by me. "Marco I can't knock her out but I can grab and carry the other one down here for you."

(Thanks Erik.) He ran up the stairs and came back down with her in what seemed like less than a second.

"Let go of me wha," I tapped her on the head knocking her out.

(Good job now get them to the Hork Bajir colony. We'll meet you there.) Jake had another successful mission! This one was even easier than the last one!

(Too easy. I mean sure a shotgun blast to the guy sucked but this was a little too easy.)

(Then let me make things more interesting!) That didn't sound like Jake, or Tobias.

(David! Guys he used the holograms to hide. I didn't fly low enough to see through it. He must have been one of the cats I saw.)

(And now?) I was still inside the house and I wasn't near a window.

(He's an elephant.)

"I can hide him inside the same hologram but I can't hide the noise or damage he does." I jumped when I heard Mr. Chapman's voice. Of course it was a Chee.

(Marco get out! A gorilla is strong but an elephant is out of your league.)

(I'll give him a great big opening!) I heard the crash of elephant in to wall. I turned and saw David barreling in through the back of the house.

I was a big strong gorilla. He was even bigger and stronger. And with those tusks he could skewer me. (I'll take the front door thank you very much.) I turned and ran as best a gorilla could.

I got out the front door and down the sidewalk as fast as I could. (Guys this is bad!)

(I know, I know! Just give me a minute.)

(Now what will you do? I've just ruined your plans! The Yeerks will be on to you now!) I turned around and saw him coming near the front door. But I also saw the floor bending under his weight.

(Hey, David, I think you should lose some weight.)

(What are you talking about? Calling me fat? Really?) He stopped. He shouldn't have. (Is that the best you have Marco?)

(I wasn't calling you fat I was calling you heavy.) The floor gave way and David fell in to the basement.

(Jake what do we do?)

(New plan we grab Melissa as well and replace her. No, we, no we just make the Chapman's disappear. New plan Tobias go find Rachel and tell her Melissa is going to the Hork Bajir colony and no one is replacing them.)

(She won't like that. She doesn't want Melissa pulled in to all of this. We should just replace her parents and let them try and explain what happened.) Jake and Tobias argued for a few minutes while I hid and demorphed.

One of the Chee came over to me still disguised as Mr. Chapman. "What do we do? Are we sticking around or should we leave?"

"I have no idea. Jake will figure it out." I looked up. "Hologram is still up isn't it?"

"Yes." He lowered it and I could see Tobias circling in the air.

I waited a few minutes when Jake flew down. He demorphed as Tobias landed nearby. "So what's the plan?"

"Same as before. The Chee make up an excuse about what happened here. But we stop the kidnappings until we stop David."

"Then we better get to the Hork Bajir Colony."

"Right. But first we let Ax meet the Chapman's. We don't let them see us until the Yeerk's are out of their heads. No contact with them unless you are in morph and no talking. We talk through Ax."

"Got it Jake."

"And keep an eye out for Golden Eagles. None of us are as big as he is but we can be faster. He doesn't have a two hour limit like we do. Don't morph or demorph alone. We're at our weakest then." He starts morphing back to his Peregrine Falcon morph.

We were near the coastline following up before cutting towards the mountains when I saw a shadow. It saved my life. (Watch out!) I turned as sharply as I could. The Golden Eagle that was David dived past me.

He clipped a wing and I lost control. (Marco!)

(Keep going I can handle him!) I spread my wings and catch a thermal off the warm sand.

He was flying back up towards me but I had the advantage and a plan. (Come on David is that the best you can do?)

(That was just a warm up!) I keep gaining height off the thermal and turn towards the ocean.

We were a few hundred feet out over the water when he caught up to me. He was big and those talons could rip me apart. If he caught me. (Come on Marco fight me!)

(Catch me first.) I turned sharply and dove for the water.

I could tell by his shadow that he was right behind me. (You're too slow David.)

(I'm right behind you! Nothing but the water below so either drown or let me tear you apart!) David forgot one thing.

The Osprey prey mainly on fish. They can get wet and still fly. A Golden Eagle wasn't designed to hunt fish and so was not exactly waterproof.

I flew for a large wave and turned just enough that I was under the crest. David tried following me but his large size made his turn slower and he hit the wave. (No!) I turned up towards the sky leaving him behind. He would demorph and swim to shore but that would mean the rest of us wouldn't be dealing with him.

5

It took two days before the Yeerks starved. Jake made sure we staid in animal form as he talked with Mr. Chapman. "So you're part of the Andalite bandits?"

"Sort of. They do the fighting. We go in and spy and report back when they need us."

"Us? More than one human helping them."

"Yes. But you'll deal with me for now."

"That's fine. But I have to ask what happened to my daughter?"

"She's fine. We have two replacements looking after her."

"That's good. Tonight is the dance isn't it? Saturday if I kept my days straight."

"It is."

"And you'll be going with Cassie who I'm sure is another part of all this. Her knowledge of animals would be helpful to the Andalites."

"It is. But about you. You did it for Melissa right? At least that's what the big one says."

"Big one?"

"Andalite's have really long names. When they aren't around we call them by nicknames. So is it true?"

"Yes. We kept her safe. Even if it meant giving up our freedom." He looked over at his wife. It was like he was seeing her for the first time. "We did it for her."

"Yes we did. But now what? Are you sure she will be safe?" Jake simply nodded. "How are you planing on keeping the Yeerks from finding out?"

"We have our ways. At least the Andalite's do. If we let your restraints go will you cooperate?" Both nodded.

It was strange seeing them in the Hork Bajir colony. And when they met the police chief and his wife you could see the relief. "We had no idea you two were taken. If the Andalite's are that good then I'm sure our daughter will be safe."

"They have done a good job I'm sure."

Thankfully I had an excuse to leave. I had a dance to ready for. Except...

"No!" Melissa was going back on our date.

"Hey it isn't my fault your house collapsed or what ever. And wouldn't you like a night away from it? Before going back to your hotel room."

"I just want to go home." Oh great now she was pouting.

"But you can't. So go to the dance with me. I didn't eat earlier cause I figured we'd be going out." I reached for her hand but she pulled away.

"Well now we aren't. Just leave me alone. I'm going back up to my room."

"Well hey they have a pool here right? How about we go swimming and skip the dance? Or maybe soak in the hot tub after eating here. They have a restaurant in the hotel right?"

"Well, I am hungry and it is a free meal." Alright!

"Free meals are the best." I follow her inside.

Relaxing in a pool after a good meal was awesome. And swimming with Melissa wasn't bad either. "Any idea what happened?"

"Nope. Mom says the house just caved in like an elephant ran through it." Well at least they told her the truth even if she didn't realize it. "It just sucks. I salvaged some things but the insurance is gonna be paying for all new clothes and stuff."

"Did you make sure to tell them about losing the Picasso you had hanging on your wall?" Got her to laugh. Am I good or what? Just call me Bond, Marco Bond.

I was walking her up to her room when some thing crazy happened. I heard a voice in my head. Gee, isn't that strange? Unless you're an Animorph. (Marco! I just saw you walk by a window! David attacked the dance. Jake sent me to get you and Ax. The others are dealing with him but the Yeerks must know it wasn't some random elephant attacking the school.)

"Well Melissa tonight was fun. Hope I took your mind off what happened." Like I could respond to Tobias. Even if I wanted to which right now I didn't.

"You did. Thanks. Tonight didn't suck as much as I thought it would."

"Well I'm glad you got a good memory of me then. Help you forget about all the childish stuff I did when I was younger."

"Six months ago count as younger?"

"I've really matured since then." Ha, another laugh. Make a girl laugh and you're in. At least that's how it works in the movies. "Night Melissa. I'm sure Jake is waiting to tell me all about the dance."

"Oh Marco I danced with Cassie, we had some punch, and danced some more. I'm glad I skipped the dance."

"I'm glad you did to." I leaned down to kiss her but she pulled away.

"Not that good a night. Maybe next time."

"Next time? Well then it's a date." She closed the door in my face.

(Marco! Dude get out here!) I walked to the nearest window and waved. (About time dude by the time we get back he might be gone.)

And he was. (Sorry I was busy.) Jake and Cassie were still in their dance clothes so they obviously hadn't morphed. (Tobias says it was really bad.) Jake could only nod in response. (Any one hurt?) He holds up a hand showing three fingers. (Bad?) He shakes his head. (Well we got off easy right? Chapman is on our side.)

(And so is the police chief. Ax do you see them?)

(Yes Tobias. He's keeping things under control.)

(Jake any idea where David went?) I saw him mouth Rachel. (What if she goes after him alone? She might kill him.) He looked over at Cassie. (Oh. Right.) Was Jake really planning on having Rachel kill David? Or was he just hoping she would do it? David was annoying and dangerous but could we really kill him? He was working for Crayak so he was an even bigger enemy then before.

We met back at Cassie's barn and waited for Rachel. It was past midnight and she still hadn't come back. "I kinda missed curfew an hour ago. We can't wait forever Jake." I kept checking the time. It was all I could do in here.

"Same here. But we must wait. Thankfully I made a call to Erik and they sent our copies home." That was Jake being Jake. If I had been more focused I probably would have thought of it.

"And it gives me a chance to look after this owl. It broke a wing a couple days ago. Jake can you help me?"

"Of course." I don't know if Jake was lucky or not. Sure Cassie really liked him but he was going to take a claw or two from an injured owl because of it.

Two o'clock.

Three o'clock.

I had fallen asleep when a Horned Owl flew in screeching. "What?"

(I know where he is staying! Get up I know where he is!)

"Rachel? What time is it?"

(Doesn't matter! Wake up!)

(Aaaa!) Tobias was not happy. The bird part of him saw a predator flapping at him and attacked back. (Die! Die! I won't let you kill me!)

(Tobias stop!)

(Rachel?) He nearly hit a rafter as he flew back. (Don't do that! How many times have I told you not to do that? You'll either kill me with a heart attack or I'll kill you!)

(Sorry! But we gotta go. I don't know if David will stay there for long or not.)

"Ok every one morph and follow Rachel."

(Should I get Ax?)

"Yes, no, Rachel where is it?"

(Remember where we were attacked by the monster Visser Three trained to hunt morphing energy? Those houses were rebuilt but people aren't buying them. So it gave David a place to stay.)

(I know where that is. I'll get Ax then meet you there.)

"And I was just getting to the good parts of my dream." I start morphing in to an owl.

6

David was sleeping. It would be so easy. I could morph in to some thing like a wolf and get him. A wolf could walk so silently even the most alert deer could be caught off guard. (What do we do Jake?)

(I don't know. We can't trap him can we? Unless we kept him in the cage for the rest of his life.)

(I'll do it.)

(Rachel no! We can't kill him.)

(Then don't do it Cassie. I'm tired of having a Chee around so I can take a shower.)

(I don't even notice Bobby any more. And unless I talk to her first she is just a chair in the corner.)

(That's nice for you but I notice. But I want it done and over with.)

(Jake! Tell her no.)

(Rachel we know where he is staying now.) Jake then went silent.

If it was me I would be giving Rachel orders directly. If I were the leader I'd be giving her the go ahead. But I wasn't. And I might have been wrong.

We watched for a few minutes. He didn't look like the threat he really was. (Jake, I think we should go.)

(Yes Cassie. Every one we should go before any one notices a bunch of birds sitting here.)

(Prince Jake he is a threat. He should be eliminated.) Jake didn't respond. At least he didn't broadcast it so we could all hear it.

I started flying home when I saw Rachel and Tobias land. They weren't near her house so why did they do that?

I flew back and landed nearby. They were talking directly to each other so I couldn't hear. When they took off again I knew where they were going. I should get Jake. I should tell him what they were planning on. I didn't do what I should have done.

Tobias kept watch as Rachel demorphed then morphed in to a wolf. She had the same idea I had. I flew and landed a tree behind Tobias. (What would Jake think about this?)

(Marco? What are you doing?)

(What do you think Tobias? And no I'm not talking with Rachel. I'm not here to stop her. I should be.)

(David scares her. He scares me.)

(He scares me to. But what will happen when Jake finds out?) Rachel was already in the house. Soon she would go up the stairs and find David.

(We'll hide it.)

(And let the rest of them think he is still out there?)

(I, well, I don't know.)

(You didn't think this all the way through. You still have time to stop.)

(No. This is our best chance. I'll tell them I did it to protect Rachel.) Wow. That must be what it is like too care for some one.

(And I went home and saw nothing.) We would be responsible for this. Was it murder or self defense?

(Help!) Rachel was in trouble? But David was sleeping wasn't he? (He must have heard me!) I heard the growl. He had morphed in to a lion.

I dove and went through a closed window. The glass cut me up but it gave Tobias a clear path. He was the better flier and would be more of a threat as a bird. I would demorph and morph... No, Hork Bajir would be better.

As soon as I was human I started morphing in to a Hork Bajir. Blades growing out of my body. Soon I was so tall I had to hunch over so I wouldn't hit the ceiling. I could hear the whimpering of an injured wolf. I had to get in there and help. (Here I come to save the day! And I look like a nightmare.)

I charged in to the other room and see Tobias riding David like a cowboy on a bull. His talons digging in to David's flesh.

I leapt forward and slashed David across the flank. He roared and swung a paw at me. He got me on the arm. My blood dripping on the floor only enraged me even more. I slashed again and again. (Marco watch out I got a talon stuck in him!) I realized I had nearly cut Tobias.

(Marco? What are you doing here?) Rachel was bloodied and wounded. Half her front left leg was gone.

(Saving the day as always.) I stuck my claws deep in to David again and slashed as far as I could. David finally fell from his wounds.

(Do it. Come on, do it. If you can.)

(I can.) Rachel limped over to him.

(Then do it psycho. Prove to every one how much of a maniac you are.) She stopped.

(Jake knew I would do it.) She growls. (He told me if I did it then it was my own decision too do so. He wouldn't order me but he wouldn't stop me either.) She started demorphing.

(Weak. I knew it.) He started demorphing.

(Xena might not be able to but I never said I wouldn't.) I raised a fist. The blades would be aimed for the heart. All I had to do was punch him in the chest. (But I won't this time. Get out of here David and leave us alone.) I stood over him giving time for Rachel to demorph the rest of the way and escape.

The three of us landed on top of Rachel's house. (Thank you for following us Marco.)

(No problem. I was thinking about going back as well. When I saw you two I knew what you were thinking, planning.)

(You don't think I'm a sociopath do you Marco?) She sounded really concerned. Did she care what I thought that much?

(Who says it is such a bad thing? If all wars were fought by Cassie's what would we have? NAZIs running things. We need warriors like us who are willing too do what it takes to win. But no you aren't a sociopath you just know what needs to be done and will do it.) I took off for home as she flew in to her bedroom.

7

Seeing Rachel at school on Monday was awkward. Knowing what we had almost done and knowing that Jake had planned it was disturbing. He played on Rachel's violent tendencies. Was she a sociopath? Maybe. But is that what we needed? Yes.

We sat apart from each other. I think Jake knew Rachel went back. He was probably waiting for Rachel to tell him the job was done. Well I'd let him know.

I sat down next to him. "It didn't happen."

"What didn't happen?"

"She went home. Tobias went home. I went home."

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"Yes you do. Do you think I didn't figure out that silence? It was only silent for those not named Rachel. She didn't do it."

"Ok." I got up and left.

I walked up to Melissa after last bell. "Hey, about that next time how does next Friday sound? Got the new Batman coming out. Heard the Riddler and Two Face are in it."

"Sure. Meet you at six?"

"Great! But I better get going. I have homework. And chores."

"One nice thing about living at the hotel is they have maids." Smile, close to a laugh.

"Can I borrow one? My room is a mess." And there is the laugh.

But I did have chores. And homework. And a visit. Any one else would freak out when a red tail hawk knocks on your window. But for me I was actually expecting it. "So Tobias is he still there?"

(No.)

"We did the right thing." I didn't sound very convincing.

(Maybe.)

"Rachel is ok. At least she was at school."

(I know. I hunted early so I could see her. It is nice having my vision. She can write her responses down so we can talk.)

"And give her the answers on the test."

(She didn't take any tests today.)

"I told Jake we all went home."

(And?)

"That I knew what he told Rachel. But that she went home."

(Thanks. I can't say I'm mad at him but he was using her. I'm glad she told me so I could follow her.)

"We should have done it. He won't let this go. He'll come back and hurt us some how."

(Maybe you should all get Chee. Maybe I should get one. That way I could sleep at night.) My phone rang. (Could be Jake.)

"Yeah, maybe." I go to the living room and answer. "Hello?"

"Marco, please, my barn, get here." Cassie? I didn't know she even knew it.

"Hey, Tobias is here."

"Just get here."

"We'll be there." I went back to my room. "Cassie, we're having a meeting."

(I'll wait.) I got down to my boxers then morphed to Osprey.

We could see the smoke long before we got there. (No, he didn't do that.) Tobias was wrong. Of course David had done it.

All those animals in cages and stalls killed by a fire. Birds, wolves, horses, and others gone in flame. Cassie was crying and Jake tried to comfort her. The fire department was putting it out but it was too late. (Jake, I'm sorry.) We were there. Rachel, Tobias, and I. We could have killed David. We could have saved these animal. Instead they were killed by David.

I watched the fire be put out. There was nothing I could do. Except hunt down David and kill him. (Tobias if you help me I think we can find David.)

(Rachel and Ax are already looking for him. Jake may not do it because of Cassie but we will.) He took off and I followed him.

I saw several Golden Eagles but they weren't David.

I was hovering above Jake's house when I saw it. A person turning in to an elephant. He was going after Jake's family. Tom was a high level Yeerk. It would make sense that after the Chapman's he would be next. (Jake's house! He's attacking Jake's house!) Were his parents home? Was Tom home?

I dove down and landed in the backyard. What could I morph that could stop an elephant? Even a Hork Bajir was weak compared to it. I needed more fire power now.

I was morphing in to a Gorilla when I saw two shadows. (He's going up the driveway now. As soon as we land we'll morph in to Hork Bajir.)

(Have Rachel morph in to an elephant. It is the only thing big and strong enough.) I went to the shed and ripped the door off. Inside was an axe and a sledgehammer. I would need both.

I was going through the backdoor when David smashed through the front. (Die!)

(You couldn't do it the first time you won't do it this time.) He was backing out so he could try another charge.

(I will this time.) I threw the hammer and hit him on the head. An elephant was strong but thankfully that dazed him long enough I could take a few more strides. I raised the axe over my head when I saw a red flash come from the second floor.

"Die Andalite!" Tom was home and he had a Dracon Beam.

"Hhhrrroooo!" David trumpeted in pain as the beam seared across his shoulder.

I swung the axe and struck him in the trunk. Blood shot out as I pulled the axe out. Another Dracon Beam hit David. (You may have won this time Marco but I'll be back.) I swung again but hit a tusk. The axe bounces back and almost strikes me.

I ran for the back as Tom fired a beam at me. He missed but set the wooden table on fire. I was out of the house and headed for the shed as the fire spread.

I was demorphing when I heard screaming. It sounded like a guy's scream. Was Tom in trouble? I couldn't save him he would kill me. Once I demorphed I morphed back to Osprey. I was tired from all the morphing but I had to escape.

I took off. The heat from the fire lifted me quickly. I looked down and saw two elephants. One was hurt badly while the other one was fresh. (Rachel! I see police coming. Get to the backyard and demorph.)

(I told her that already and she's ignoring me. She wants him dead.)

(If any of those cops are Controller's they'll kill her.)

(Fine!) She shoved David to the side and ran as best an elephant could to the backyard.

He was hurt. Burnt by Dracon Beams, cut by an axe, and gored by tusks. But he was demorphing as he stumbled towards a neighbor's house. (Tobias find the nearest Chee.)

(Why?)

(We're getting Tom.) I flew back down and landed on the neighbor's house. Tom was outside coughing from the smoke. He would be ok. Rachel was near the shed already losing weight as she became human again.

The police got closer and closer. Would Tobias find a Chee in time? This was our best chance. They would know it was another attack on a high ranked Yeerk. But if we moved fast enough they wouldn't know we switched out the real one again.

The police had just pulled up when I saw it. Even with a bird's vision I could barely see it. The Chee moved in and grabbed Tom. Another one was just behind it and took Tom's place. "About time you got here!" It must have known these were Controller cops. "They attacked my home. Thankfully no one else was here. That is two of us they've openly attacked."

"We're sorry Sir. We've increased security but we can't know who they will go after next." It was funny seeing a police officer cower in front of Tom. He had the badge and the gun but Tom was his boss. At least the real one was.

I saw a Bald Eagle fly away from Jake's house and followed it out to the Hork Bajir Colony.

We had done it. We had Tom. And Jake had no idea. He was still at Cassie's. Poor Cassie. Those animals were her life. They were her father's life. And now they were gone. And only a few moments later Jake's house catches on fire. Hopefully the Chee playing Tom could come up with an excuse. (Make sure the ropes are tight.) Mr. Chapman helped since Ax's hands were weak compared with humans and a Hork Bajir would have a hard time tying a rope with all those blades.

"I know I'm making them tight." I see a smile on his face as he tightens them again. "His Yeerk took great pleasure in ordering me around. Don't worry Tom I know it isn't you."

"How? I saw you after the attack. You aren't here you aren't helping the Andalite bandits." Tom struggled against the ropes but couldn't get out.

"I guess the people they have playing us are that good. I'm sure the one who plays you will fool every one." I hoped Mr. Chapman was right. Jake's life was in more danger now than ever before. If this Chee failed at playing Tom it could all be over.

I demorphed and remorphed in to a Hork Bajir. I wanted to stay close to Tom until Jake made it. This was big. He agreed to fight so he could one day free his brother. And now we had done it. If we could only do the same for my mother, Visser One.

When Jake landed and demorphed Tom went a little crazy. "No! No! You can't be one of them! You're the little brother! No!" He started rocking back and forth on the chair. I could see the wooden chair would break if he kept it up.

(Stop.) I put a blade under his chin. (He helps us.)

"No! I don't believe it! I can't have had some one like that living under the same roof as me!"

"Believe it. When the Andalite's told me about my brother I joined them." Jake looked like he was almost in tears. "And now they've done it. They freed you. I owe them every thing."

"I'm not dead yet! They'll look for me!"

(No they won't. We replaced you. No one will ever look for you because you aren't missing.) I pulled the blade away and spoke to Jake directly. (Sorry but it was all I could think of. Once your house caught on fire and we scared David off it just hit me.) He simply nodded.

"I'll get away and I'll bring the others here. I'll get a promotion! I end this free colony of Hork Bajir and I might get promoted past Sub Visser and straight to Visser!"

"You won't escape. Your Yeerk will die and my brother will be free."

"Never! I will escape!" He starts struggling against the chair again.

(We might need a metal chair.) Again he just nods.

8

Cassie was a mess. Her barn, her animals, her life were gone. She couldn't tell her parents why it happened. Her mother knew about the Yeerks but not David. She couldn't tell her parents it was partially her fault this happened. No, I can't blame her. She voted to let David in but she couldn't have known he would end up like this.

She couldn't kill him. She made a trap for him. We thought that would end it. But he came back. We trapped him again but we were fooled. And then... If we had just killed him in that house this never would have happened. She couldn't kill him because of her conscience. I didn't do it because I was weak. Rachel didn't do it because she knew she was being manipulated by Jake. And Tobias, well, I guess he was just protecting Rachel.

It turned out Jake's double from the Chee had taken over as Tom. And he had a plan. He couldn't be Tom forever. Tom gave orders to kill. Orders a Chee couldn't. So we would attack a Sharing meeting.

At the same time we would target the President Michael Boeing and Head of Media Sharon Peters. I would grab a Dracon Beam and kill Tom. This meant the real Tom, who should only be hours away from getting rid of the slug in his head, could never return.

We all waited. Jake was the only one who had revealed himself to be human so the rest of use were Hork Bajir or Andalites. The Chee again had holograms of adult Andalite's. "No! I won't die like this! I am close to becoming a Sub Visser! As soon as I escape I will lead them here and end this colony! I might even skip Sub Visser and be made a full one!"

"Keep it up you will be dead soon."'

"I still have time!"

"Only a few more hours at most." Jake was relishing this. He was getting his brother back. Even if his brother would be stuck living here he would be free from the Yeerk in his head. Would I one day get that with my mother? I could only hope.

A few more hours passed and the slug crawled out of Tom's head. It fell to the ground shriveled, dead. "Yes!" Cassie demorphed from her Hork Bajir morph so Jake could kiss Cassie hard. I guess I would be the one to let Tom go.

I undid the ropes and let Tom up. "Thanks. I think I remember you. Lok Laraa?" I nodded. I had no idea if that was who I had acquired or not. "Thank you again. And thank you Jake, Cassie, if you two could stop kissing I would like to hug him." They finally pulled apart.

"Yeah, sure Tom." Jake couldn't hide the tears as he hugged his brother.

As great as it was watching Tom be freed we still had a problem. The Chee Tom would have to die in a way the Yeerk see it. He couldn't order people killed which the Controller Tom would do. We were in luck. The Sharing was having an awards ceremony. Before it though would be rehearsals. We would attack it and I would kill Tom. Or at least it would look like it.

Tom was a fountain of information. He knew plans about the Earth invasion even the Chee didn't know about. He told us, wrote stuff down, and even gave us layouts of the inner sanctum of the Sharing headquarters. "I'm surprised Mr. Chapman didn't give you all of this."

"He's been busy being free."

(Yes. The act of being free has made him less than cooperative.) Ax being the go to Andalite staid around the colony a lot more than he probably liked. But we must keep up the appearance of us working with the Andalite's.

So far we had revealed Cassie and Rachel. Tobias and I were around but never revealed.

It was tough juggling school with Animorph business but now I was trying to date Melissa as best I could. That Friday I would be taking her to the movies. At least that was the plan. "Marco the rehearsals are on Friday. We must attack then."

"But dude Melissa might get mad if I break the date with her."

"Seriously Marco get over it." I knew Jake was getting angry but how could he not understand? "We do this on Friday no matter what other plans you had."

"Fine, what ever." I needed a really, really, good excuse. Wait a minute, I knew her parents.

When Friday came I got a phone call from Melissa. "I'm sorry Marco I can't go."

"What, why not?"

"I'm grounded. Sorry."

"Hey no problem. Just let me know when you aren't grounded any more."

"As soon as I am I'll let you know." We hung up.

"Crafty Marco, crafty." Now I was ready for tonight's mision.

9

The Chee playing Tom lead us in. We were flies resting on his android body. All the Yeerk security in the world meant squat compared to the Chee. "You're in. I'm almost to the restroom. I'll let you know when it is safe to demorph." So we sat and waited.

When it was safe we demorphed in the different stalls. "Well this is a bit uncomfortable." I had chosen the handicapped stall thinking there would be more room but Ax was also in it and he left no room.

"Ok every one battle morphs. The Chee said they would keep as many people out of there as possible. And remember Marco," I had to cut him off. He'd been drilling it in to us for days now.

"I know the weapons are kept in a closet behind a fake wall on the second floor right past the bathrooms. I'll head there and grab a Dracon Beam before going to the ceremony hall. In fact I'll head out right now as there are no security cameras in the inner sanctum of the building." I was already sprouting blades as I moved for the door.

"Just Tom. Sharon and Michael will be another time." I was too much Hork Bajir to respond verbally but hadn't morphed enough to use thought speak.

Normally I would be nervous. We were in the heart of the beast. But the Chee assured us there would be a light crew working on the rehearsals for the next night's ceremony. This should be easy. Just find the stairs and go up to the second floor and grab the weapons.

One problem. Hork Bajir can't exactly blend in. And I guess we weren't allowed in the hallway. "What are you doing here? What if a human sees you? We don't need any Hork Bajir tonight!" I didn't even try talking. Hork Bajir could talk in simple terms but I didn't feel like it. I slammed them against the wall knocking them out and kept going.

Once I found the stairs and took them up the only hard part was finding the right room. It was a fake wall in a storage closet next to the bathrooms. Unfortunately I had gone past two storage closets near a bathroom and tore out the walls finding nothing.

Third time was the charm. But I made too much noise ripping the wall out and two Controllers found me. "What are you doing in here?"

"Andalite!"

"It must be."

(Correct.) I pointed the Dracon Beam at them. (Turn around.)

"Just kill us already Andalite."

(I will.) I set it to stun and fired.

I ran through the halls as fast as I could. I could hear Jake's roar. But then I heard another roar. It must be David! I had the Dracon Beam. I could miss or I could hit.

I slammed through heavy wooden doors and saw the chaos. My friends were scaring away the Controller's. All except one. "Stop! I demand you leave this place now!" He couldn't say kill, or die, as it might be conceived as an order of violence. I lifted the Dracon Beam.

(Tom, up here.) He looked at me and nodded his head. The Chee was ready to fake his death.

I was pulling the trigger when David roared. It threw off my aim and I hit well above Tom. I aimed again and fired aiming just few feet in front of him. His hologram would make it look like a direct hit that vaporized him.

(Ok get out! Every one get out! Forget David.)

(You can forget David I won't.) Rachel, in her Grizzly Bear morph, went after David.

(Rachel no! We must leave before reinforcements come!) She stopped mid charge and turned around.

(Fine. But he deserves it.) Yes, yes he did.

I could shoot him from where I was. It would be too easy. Jake would yell at me. Cassie might hate me for it even after what David did. I raised the Dracon Beam and fired.

David must have been watching me and dodged the shot. I aimed again when I saw several Controllers come out of another room with Dracon Beams. The only one near them was David. He never stood a chance.

I dropped the Dracon Beam and ran. We were meeting in a bathroom where a Chee would cover us so we could demorph, morph flies again, and get out. Should I tell them what I saw? Did I really see it? Yes, yes I did.

No one was in the hallways. They were going to the ceremony room to deal with the Andalite bandits. They had even killed one of them. But Tom had been killed as far as they knew. Tom, Jake's brother, could never go home.

I made it to the bathroom and saw the Chee and my friends. (Guys, David, he didn't make it.)

(What? Marco, you didn't, did you?)

(No Cassie. The Controllers came out with Dracon Beams and fried him.) I started demorphing so I could join the others as flies.

We met back at the Hork Bajir Colony. The whole time they questioned me. I don't think they believed me about how he died. (Marco, did you do it?) I knew Rachel was talking directly to me.

(No. I wanted to. I really did. But they beat me to it.)

(I wanted him. I could have done it. But we did need to retreat.)

(It was a good thing he called it when he did. They came out less than a minute later with Dracon Beams. Jake's a good leader.)

(He knows his soldiers.) She went silent after that.

That Sunday we all appeared at Tom's funeral. There was no body. The Sharing headquarters had a fire and Tom, being a hero, had gone in and saved several people but couldn't get out.

Jake had to play the grieving brother. I played the supportive friend. I would have been depressed I guess if it had been real but I knew Tom was alive and well so it was really boring. "Uh, what's going on?" I looked up and saw Tobias in human form.

"A funeral. What are you doing here?"

"I was flying over my meadow when I blinked and was here."

"You know what that means." Rachel was by his side holding his hand. I guess she had to while he actually had a hand.

(Hello Animorphs.)

"Ellimist."

(Don't sound so rude Rachel. I'm here offering you all a gift.)

"A gift?"

"He must want some thing."

(Yes. The Ellimist would never give us some thing.) Ax had suddenly appeared. I looked around and saw that every one was frozen.

(Crayak overstepped himself when he gave David the power to morph outside of two hours. In return I can give one of you the same power.)

"Only one of us?"

(Yes Jake. Only one. I'm sure you must vote on it.)

"Not really. I think it is obvious who should get it." I saw Jake's gaze and followed it to Tobias. The one person who had been trapped by the two hour limit.

"Yes, Tobias should have it." Cassie was holding Jake's hand. She sounded nervous. Did she doubt her vote? I didn't know if I thought Tobias should have it. He messed up and got trapped but if you ask me he did it on purpose.

"Yes, Tobias." Of course Rachel voted that way.

"Well it doesn't really matter what I vote so sure Tobias."

(I feel the same.)

(Then it is unanimous. Congratulations Tobias. From now on you can stay in morph indefinitely. Use your gift wisely.) Tobias and Ax disappeared. Time resumed.

After the funeral we met up in the woods. "Well Tobias how does it feel?"

(I feel the same. But thank you every one for giving me the power.)

"You deserved it Tobias." Even if he got trapped on purpose I guess he did. "So now what? Where do we meet now that the barn is gone?"

"We're rebuilding with the insurance money." Cassie was still upset about it. I was too. It was our base and now it was gone.

"Hork Bajir Colony?"

"No Marco. They still don't know about you or Tobias and I want it staying that way."

"Then the woods. Just say hey, meeting, and look for the Bald Eagle, Peregrine Falcon, Osprey, Red Tail Hawk, and Harrier." It was weird not meeting at the barn and until it was rebuilt and it would remain weird meeting anywhere but there.

A/N Well that was a long one. Over 12k words! And a long, lengthy story it is. Start with kidnapping Controllers and end with David blasted by Dracon Beams, Tom faking his death after being freed, and Tobias being freed of the two hour limit. I hope you enjoyed it and review!