Animorphs 31 The New (Jake)

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 Jake. I can't tell you my last name. If you've been reading what I wrote you know why.

The Yeerks are every where. They had my brother at one time. I kept fighting hoping one day I could free him. That day came several weeks ago. "So now what? I'm getting tired of Ten Penny." I pick up the cards and put them away.

"I don't know. We haven't been given any missions recently. The Andalites have been doing it all themselves." He still didn't know. I hated lying but I wasn't sure how safe it was telling him.

He was my brother. He hated the Yeerks. But he wasn't one of us. And what if the Hork Bajir Colony was found? Well, except for Tobias and Marco, Tom and the others we freed know every thing else. Maybe it was time he knew more. "Tom you've told us a lot."

"As much as I know brother. Any thing that helps you hurt the Yeerks."

"I know." His inner knowledge of the Sharing helped us grab the President of it and the Head of Media. The Chee who replaced them hacked the bank accounts and funneled millions to an off shore bank account then bought plane tickets. As far as any one knew they were evil corrupt people who stole from the Sharing and fled. The Yeerks weren't sure what had happened from what the Chee could find out.

The Chee are our closest allies. They are a race of androids made by the Pemalites. The Pemalites were wiped out by the Howlers. I helped destroy the Howlers. Since then the Chee have given us all the help they could give.

"I better leave soon. The house is almost ready for moving back in. Mom and dad have been repacking things and I should get my stuff packed."

"Are you moving in to my room? It was bigger than yours."

"I wasn't planning on it. It is still your room in my eyes. Even if every one else thinks you're dead." It was hard some times thinking of it. My parents were still a mess and had gotten a little over protective. If it weren't for the Chee who would take my place I'd be stuck at the hotel all the time.

"Well you have my permission. You freed me it is the least I can give you back."

"Thanks."

"But I could give more." What?

"Uh, what more?"

"I wanna join you. I want to morph and fight and kill Yeerks. I want revenge. I want Visser Three cowering in fear as I stand over him as a lion or bear or what ever and rip his head off." He pounded his fist on the table. "If you have any pull with the Andalite prince or what ever you call the leader get me in."

"I, I don't really. I'm just a human after all." He laughed. It was strange hearing him laugh. He didn't do it when he was a Controller.

"Yes, the Andalite arrogance. Yeerks have a lot of arrogance too. Mix that with an Andalite and you can't get any more arrogant then Visser Three."

"Well, it can't hurt if I ask. We could use the help. But no lion."

"Why not?"

"Uh, I'll ask if I can tell you." I was still in my morphing outfit and it was getting dark out. The spring had been getting warmer as it turned in to summer but it still got cold at night. "I'll see you tomorrow." I focus on my Peregrine Falcon morph.

At school I told the others we had a meeting. I wasn't sure how they would react. No, that's a lie. I knew exactly how they would react.

Rachel would be for it. Marco would debate the pros and cons and decide adding some one we knew and could trust would be a plus. Cassie would be against it. Tobias would side with Rachel. And Ax would call me Prince Jake and vote the way I wanted. Tom would be a new member of the Animorphs.

Cassie's barn had been mostly rebuilt after the fire. But they had no animals yet. Cassie still had nightmares about it. The sound of her horse screaming as the fire raged. The other animals screeching, howling, barking, it was enough even I had a few nightmares and I got there near the end. "My brother hates the Yeerks. He wants revenge. He wants the power to morph."

"Really? Jake is that such a good idea?" Cassie grabbed my hand and squeezed. I knew she would object.

"Yes. We know we can trust him. He hates the Yeerks. He wants revenge and will help us." Marco raised his hand.

"And unlike David he won't betray us for the Blue Cube so he can make little Animorph thieves. I'm for it. But no lions."

(We will need him keeping silent on who we really are. He still thinks we work for the Andalite fleet and stuff.)

"But you're for it?"

(Yes Jake. We need the help and this time we know the person.) So I had Marco and Tobias. I looked at Rachel.

"Well?"

"Another member of my family getting involved."

"Tom's already involved with out us doing any thing." Would she really vote no? And here I counted her as the first one who would vote yes.

"True. And we can trust him. Let's do it."

(He is your brother Prince Jake. My older brother tried protecting me and did what he thought was best. You are the younger brother but you are in the same situation. If you think it is best he be let in then he will join us Prince Jake.)

So that made it every one but Cassie. Just as I knew it would be. I wasn't always the best leader but I knew my friends.

But this also meant we would need to expose every thing. No Andalite fleet just us teens fighting the mighty Yeerk Empire. Would he follow my lead? Or would he try and take over? Maybe I should have voted no.

2

We waited until Saturday before taking Tom outside of the Hork Bajir Colony making sure no one else would see what we were doing. I had Marco demorph first. "Hey Tom."

"Of course you're one of them. I guess they told you about your mother?" Marco shook his head.

"We found that out the first time we were on the Pool Ship."

"Really? I figured the Andalite fleet would have used that to get you in on this." Now was time for the truth.

"There is no fleet. We're it. Ax and Visser Three are the only Andalite's on Earth."

"What? So you mean all those attacks have been you?" I nodded. "Wow. So you, Marco, Rachel, Cassie, and one Andalite have done it all?"

(And me.) Tom looks up seeing Tobias.

"Who are you?"

(Tobias. I was trapped on our first mission to the Yeerk Pool. But I later gained my powers back.)

"And you stay as a bird?"

(Red Tail Hawk. And yes.)

"What about, wait, Tobias? Not the same one who is the son of Elfangor are you?"

(Yes. I didn't know until it was revealed a couple months ago.)

"If Visser Three hadn't been so arrogant and made you a Controller right then and there this war would have been over. And I would still be a Controller."

"Yes but you aren't. And if you still want to join us we have the Blue Box." A Chee drops his hologram and reveals the Blue Box in his hand.

"Of course I do Jake. If I only get one thing done that hurts the Yeerks I hope it is me ripping Visser Three's throat out." He makes a motion across his throat with his hand. "And I'm guessing you've been hiding more from me." He looks at the Chee.

"Yeah, we have some allies." He would be one of us. He should know every thing.

"Man I thought maybe more ceremony this time. Banners, balloons, and maybe a cake." Marco was nervous, so was I. The last time we added a new member it didn't go well. But this was my brother I knew this was the right thing to do.

"Just do it. The Gardens closes soon and it will be hard running around getting him morphs."

"Why not just go as birds?"

"Because Tom has no bird morphs. Or will we carry him Marco?"

"If he gets a fly morph he can latch on to one of us." Marco smacks one. "Hey, still alive. Here Tom." He drops it in Tom's hand.

"How do I do it?"

"Just focus on the fly. Imagine becoming the fly." Cassie was the only one who voted against Tom becoming a member but now that he was she was helping. Like I knew she would. I liked her, a lot, and felt bad for knowing exactly what she would do. Was it manipulation?

I watched my brother close his eyes and soon he started morphing. You could hear the bones grind. It was always gross watching some one morph but the sounds were worse.

"Aaaa!" Tom's eyes opened when they started becoming more like a fly's than human's. His panic made him stop morphing.

"Keep focusing. Calm down and focus. You can become the fly." Cassie patted what remained of his left hand. "Just focus and become it." Tom continues changing until he was a fly.

(Whoa, whoa! I can fly!)

"We can hear you."

(What was that?) He didn't know how to hear as a fly.

"Tobias talk to him."

(Tom calm down we can all hear your thoughts.)

(All of them?)

(The ones you project as thought speak. Focus and you can send it out to only those you want. Jake and the others will morph birds soon.) I was already becoming my Peregrine Flacon when Tobias flew down so my brother could land on him.

The Gardens was just closing when we landed on the roof the the aviary house. (Ok every one demorph.)

(Wait!)

(What Cassie?)

(Uh, Tom can't morph clothes yet. Rachel and I will scout the park while he demorphs and morphs back to fly. Get him a bird morph first while we look for a good battle animal.) She was right. That would have been embarrassing.

(Ok you two find a battle morph for him while we get a bird morph.) Cassie and Rachel took off while we all demorphed.

Inside of the aviary house Tom was wearing the tatters of what he tried morphing. "Sorry I can't be as awesome as you two." Marco and I looked around with him while Tobias staid outside watching for security.

In one section was a Broad Shouldered Hawk. "What do you think?"

"Not too big. Bet it is faster then Rachel's Bald Eagle but still big enough it could do some damage." He touches the glass. "So how do I get back there?"

"Open Sesame." Marco pulled a door open setting an alarm off. "Uh, hurry?" We run through the door hoping we could acquire it and get out before security showed up.

We got lucky. By the time security showed up we were just some flies going up to the roof. (Tobias did they come back yet?)

(Yes. Tom what do you think? A Water Buffalo, a Hippo, or a twenty one foot crocodile?)

(What about some thing awesome? Seriously I am not morphing a cow.)

(Hey don't diss the Water Buffalo. They hunt and kill lions for fun.)

(What?) My thoughts and words were shared by the others.

(Saw it on Nat Geo. A heard of Water Buffalo attacked a pride of lions for no reason. Since lions have a history of attacking the weak, old or really young, Water Buffalo have learned to attack lions when they have numbers.)

(Still not morphing a cow. And a Hippo? Really?)

(The Hippo kills more people every year than lions and crocodiles combined.) That's Cassie for you.

(Well, I don't know. I was thinking a lion.)

(No!) We all shouted it at the same time.

(What, why?)

(David.) Even in thought speak you could hear the disgust Rachel said his name with.

(Ok so why not like a Polar Bear?)

(We already have a Grizzly Bear. We like different morphs in case a situation comes up where one or two morphs aren't right.) But what would be a good morph? (I don't know what would be a good morph for you.)

(Hey Cassie, what is this re-living the past?)

(That's just a new exhibit Rachel. They found some old Wooly Mammoth and Saber Tooth Tigers frozen and have been touring with them. Or was it a Mastodon and Cave Lion? Some thing like that. It is really cool cause they look like they should still be alive just standing really still.)

(So they have two animals not seen alive for thousands of years here? Could we get DNA off of them? Ax, is it possible?)

(It depends on how well they were preserved and maintained Prince Jake.)

(Don't call me Prince.)

(Yes Prince Jake.)

(We gotta do it!)

(I'll take a Saber Tooth Tiger.)

(We'll see what they have and if it is possible.) I flew until I saw what I thought was Tobias and landed. (Every one who is a fly land on Tobias.) This was cool. Could we really morph some thing that had died so long ago? (Ax, any ideas the chances of this working?)

(It is possible but remotely unlikely Prince Jake. Studies have been done and research shows you can obtain DNA off of some thing that is dead but it must be very recently dead or well preserved.)

(Are you sure Ax-Man? You weren't distracted in class were you?)

(No Marco. She wasn't in my, I, there was no reason I would be distracted in that class.)

(Is it dangerous? Could we be hurt?)

(No. If you can't absorb the DNA then nothing happens. The research wasn't very important so funding was cut for other more important studies. It was only covered for a few classes.)

(But it is possible.)

(Yes.)

(Awesome! I want both!)

(I want both too! Xena can't be the only one rocking the past.)

(I bet she'd look better in a fur bikini.)

(Tobias!)

(Guys focus. We don't even know if this will work. Cassie any idea on size and stuff?)

(Uh, there were several different members of the Smilodon family. They weren't actually part of the tiger family but uh, some thing else. Biggest were about seven hundred to one thousand pounds and like four feet tall at the shoulder.)

(So bigger then a tiger?) I directed this at Cassie only.

(Depends on the species. Your tiger was kept in captivity so it got a bit bigger than a wild tiger and this could be a female, or a juvenile. We won't know until we're in.)

(Does it have a mane?)

(No. And the bite of a Smilodon is thought too be about a third of a lion based on the shape of the jaws.) Then I could take him. Why would I even think that? Tom is my brother and he hates the Yeerks. I can't let paranoia throw me.

(I would say ladies first but I think Tom should have first go. He needs a battle morph and until he can morph clothes the weaker sex should stay back.)

(Weaker? Marco, I'll morph elephant and you morph gorilla and we'll see who is weaker.)

(I meant it in the nicest way of course.)

When Tobias landed in front of the doors. (I think you can get in through the keyhole.)

(I'll go first. Guide me please.)

Tobias got me to the door and I found the keyhole. (I think I can make it.) It was strange seeing the inside of a lock. A couple rods that made the shape for the key that went in. But is was largely a clear path. (I'm in.)

We demorphed, Marco donating his shirt to Tom so he could wrap the shirt around his waist, and found the exhibits. "Wow. Ax are you sure?"

(Yes Prince Jake. If there is not enough for absorbing you will simply not absorb.)

"Well Tom what do you think?"

"I'll try it." He stepped over the velvet rope that visitors would normally be kept behind. "Just like with the fly?"

"Yes." If this worked it would be the coolest morph any of us had done. I mean sure we once got dinosaur morphs but that was a Sario Rip and didn't count.

Tom places his hand on the nose of the Smilodon. It looked so alive. I half expected it too bite him. "Try it." Tom stepped away.

It was silent. I could hear my heart beat. Tom stood there for a few seconds. Did it fail? "Tom are," He shrunk and fell on to all fours.

His mouth had two giant teeth shoot out. "Ih wahk!"

"Keep focusing Tom you stopped mid morph." A few seconds later he continued.

"Amazing." Marco started walking towards the Smilodon when Tom growled.

"Tom control your morph." He looked at me and growled again. "Ax can you knock him out if he attacks?"

(Yes Prince Jake.) I saw his tail twitch.

"Tom control the morph." He took several steps towards me still growling. "Tom!" He flinched.

(Ok, I got it. I got it. Yeah, I got this. He's scared and confused.) He laid down on the floor. (But I'm not. I'm in control. Man I can hear stuff. And smell, and see, and feel. Really I can feel Marco behind me.)

"Then I guess we all grab it and the Mammoth." Marco and I walked over to the Smilodon and acquired it.

After we got the Mammoth we called for the girls and Tobias. Tom staid in morph as they came in. "Whoa! Do you have any idea what we could do with this? Once this is all over? Scientists could study a long extinct creature first hand. And maybe draw some blood? Or get what is needed for cloning and make new ones!"

(Your cloning techniques are primitive.)

"But it works. Some times. Dolly is still alive." Cassie touched the Smilodon and absorbed it.

We had both morphs and after some musical morphs had every one as birds flying back to the Hork Bajir Colony.

3

After another week we got him a few of the morphs we all had. Cockroach, goose, freshwater fish, dolphin, and wolf. But now what? We never really went this long with out attacking the Yeerks. But what would we do? The Chee told us the Kandrona was under heavy guard on a different ship that was not only shielded but would fry any thing that got too close.

And a blind attack on the Sharing HQ was pointless. Funding and membership had dropped after the news about the President and head of Media funneled money and fled overseas.

So now what? We had a new member who wanted revenge but we had nothing for him. I thought about maybe another kidnapping but who would it be? And we would need the Chee, a cover story, and would risk being killed. If we attacked it would need a good reason for it.

And then one day the Chee who played me when I would be gone for a long time or seeing Tom made me wish I had kept my big mouth shut.

I was in my room when he knocked. At first I thought it was my mom or dad then realized both were at work. "Uh, who is it?"

"Your friendly neighborhood space android."

"Come in." He opened the door and looked just like me. Really weird because unlike a reflection in a mirror he could move differently from me. "What is it?"

"We just got a message on the Pool Ship from the Yeerk Main Fleet." That did not sound good.

"And?"

"The Council of Thirteen is coming here for a trial."

"Whose trial?" Stupid question. It was obvious who would be put on trial. Any one below Visser Three would just be executed by him.

"Visser Three's of course. He has botched this invasion after it was pretty much gift wrapped for him by Visser One. Countless deaths of valuable Hork Bajir controller's, Kandrona losses, and not dealing with the Andalite Bandits. Incompetence is not treated lightly in the Yeerk fleet and Visser One is pushing for putting herself back in charge."

"Whoa, wait, Marco's mom is coming here?"

"Yes. And the trial will be held on the Pool Ship." Crap.

"That doesn't do us much good unless we can steal a space shuttle from NASA."

"Or a Bug Fighter. We have several pilots who could escort you there and back."

"But we would be on the Pool Ship. The last time we were on there we did little more then flee. It is even more dangerous then the Yeerk Pool. We'll talk about it. When does the trial start?"

"The Council should be here in about two weeks. Z Space is never consistent. If you decide you will go after them let us know."

"We will." He disappeared behind his hologram but I could hear his footsteps as he left.

It would be dangerous. It would be more than dangerous. As Marco would say it would be suicide. But if we could get to the ship and to the Council... Well, how big a deal were they? I'd heard Ax mention them before but wasn't really sure what they were. Were they like the Andalite Princes? Or even higher? I'd ask Ax as soon as I found him.

I flew out to his Scoop and found him watching television with Tobias. (Hey guys.)

(Jake.) Tobias didn't turn away from the screen. I looked and saw it was Jerry Springer.

(So this is what you do during the day?)

(Hey this stuff if funnier then any sitcom.)

(I am fascinated by the way some humans act. This Steve person is a body guard but is on the show not guarding.)

(Tobias you shouldn't let Ax watch that crap.)

(His television he chooses what we watch.) Tobias flies up and lands near me. (So why did you come out here?)

(I needed some information on the Yeerks. About the Council of Thirteen.) Ax turned the mute on.

(Yes? What is it you need too know?)

(What are they? Are they the leaders of the military?)

(No. Yes, sort of. The Council is like your congress and your president combined. The thirteen members are equal in power except for one who is what I guess you would call supreme ruler. Few know who he is, even some of the council don't know for sure who the supreme ruler is for fear of assassination.)

(So if we killed them it would hurt the Yeerks bad?)

(Yes but I don't see how any one could. They are part of the main Yeerk fleet that even though technologically weak the numbers they posses keep the mighty Andalite fleet from attacking it.)

(What if they came here? For a trial?)

(If they did that...) He put it together. (Visser Three is being put to trial? If he is found guilty and executed we would have a new Visser in control of the invasion.)

(Visser One. At least that's what I put together from what the Chee told me.)

(The Chee are sure of this? The entire council is coming? For the trial of Visser Three?)

(Yes. From what I understand they will be here soon. The trial is on the Pool Ship which means we would need a Bug Fighter. The Chee said they can fly one for us and get us on the Pool Ship. But we would be on the Pool Ship.)

(Which as Marco would say is suicide. That first time was bad enough and if the Council of Thirteen is there then security will be even higher. Jake we might be passing this one up.)

(Tobias I know it is dangerous. Trust me I've been debating it the entire way here but can we pass it up? Could you imagine if during WWII Washington D.C. Had been bombed and wiped out our government? A whole lot more people would be speaking German.)'

(Actually Prince Jake from reading your history books it appears that once the NAZI forces attacked the nation now known as Russia the war was over. Yes the other nations distracted and helped but the Russian forces would have won eventually.) Once again letting Ax have all those books and cable channels gave him more knowledge we didn't need.

(History Channel?)

(Yes.) That was better than Jerry Springer.

(Jake's right. If we take out this council we could cripple the Yeerks. I'll speak for Rachel and say let's do it!) I was still uneasy about this. It could be the most dangerous mission ever. No chance for a simple escape. No way off but by Bug Fighter and I'm sure the Pool Ship could shoot us out of the sky.

4

We met at Cassie's barn which was mostly rebuilt. Tom was in his hawk morph. He loved flying saying the freedom of it after being trapped in his own mind for years was the greatest feeling. "So the Council of Thirteen is coming. They are like our government but more important. If say, some one crashed a plane in to the capitol and wiped out the congress we could just vote new ones in. But Ax says that the Yeerks could have a civil war fighting for who should be on the Council."

(Correct Prince Jake. The top Visser and Sub Visser Yeerks would fight for control.)

"Top Visser? My mom is Visser One. You're saying she would fight for a spot on the council? If that happens and she gets the spot would she stay Visser One?"

(No. She would be a Council member. She could give commands to any Visser once it is voted on by the Council.)

"So she would be Visser Three's boss. And she could make sure he doesn't go for open war."

(Unless he too made it on the Council. It could be an all out war between the Visser fleet's. Visser Two would also make an attempt as would others.)

"The civil war could be a huge distraction for the Yeerks. The Andalite fleet could pick them off as the Yeerks took each other out. It could slow them down here enough that when the Andalite's show up the Yeerks will be too weak for fighting back."

(This trial will be a major moment for the Yeerk forces. Visser Three is the only Andalite host. If he is found guilty and given death he may try and fight back right then and there. They would try saving the host as it is a valuable one but the Yeerk itself would be disposed of.)

"So he must have really messed up this invasion if they're doing this." Rachel pounded a fist on the wall. "We gotta do this. We could destroy them with out fighting any more."

"Whoa Xena you don't want more fighting?"

"Shut it Marco."

"Rache's right. I, we could stop fighting. But we could die before we even find the Council." Cassie grabbed my hand and leaned against me. "The Chee can only do so much for us."

"We have time for planning things out." I looks up and see Tom walking across the rafters. "Tom, demorph and remorph we should talk."

(Ok. I think I got the hang of clothes now.) He landed in a stall out of view. "Yep!" He stepped out wearing much the same as I would be after demorphing. "And I gotta say I'm all for this. We take out the Council we destroy the Yeerk Hierarchy."

"Yeah, well, every one we are doing this. Normally I would ask for a vote but this is too important. This could change the war in our favor. Another win that would be more than any other win."

I morphed in to my Peregrine Falcon morph and took off over the woods with Tom. (So little bro what is it?)

(Tom you've never been in a fight. I don't think you should come. This will be our most dangerous mission ever. I can't let things go wrong because you aren't experienced.)

(Who says I am? I've been practicing all of my morphs and picked up a couple more. I don't know what good a raccoon or bee would be but I got them.)

(I'm not just talking about morphing. In a fight when you have lasers and Hork Bajir running around will you be able too keep a cool mind? Or will you panic? Don't say you won't because you don't know yet. Will you let anger get the best of you and ignore orders? I know you want Visser Three but this is about the Council. We kill them and then retreat. I don't care if you think you have a shot or time for taking him down we don't. Once we kill the Council we run as fast as we can.)

(I get it. The Council is a bigger target. I can do it little bro.)

(No, Jake, not your little brother. I can't explain how it happened but I am Jake, the leader, of this group. Get it?) He must understand how important it is that my orders are followed. I can't have him go off on his own.

(I get it Prince Jake.)

(Don't call me Prince.)

(Seriously dude I've been on the inside. I've tried killing you guys. I know how serious this is. We fail and the Yeerks win.)

(But we take out the Council and we could spark a civil war. We could win just because all the Visser's are out fighting each other.)

(Yeah, and Visser Three will go for Emperor of the Council. But so will Visser One and Two and all the rest. Having a big ego is part of being a Yeerk.) Even in thought speak I could hear the despair.

(You're free now big brother. And now you'll fight back.) We would need every one we could get. Even if he was inexperienced.

We landed in the Hork Bajir colony and demorphed. "Man that must have been embarrassing."

"What?"

"Not morphing clothes. Rachel is our cousin so no big deal but you and Cassie are dating aren't you?" I couldn't help but blush.

"I, well, we made sure we were hidden or far enough away we couldn't see. Morphing clothes was one of the first things I worked on." His laughter made me feel better. Tom laughing was still an amazing thing. He hadn't laughed for real for so long I'm sure it was even greater for him. "I better get back home. It is almost dinner time."

"Yeah, you do that. The Chee bring amazing food but it isn't the same as Chinese takeout dad brings home."

"Maybe you can ask them for some. I doubt they would mind." I started morphing my main bird morph and took off.

I stopped at Cassie's barn first and saw her stocking shelves. (Hey, Cassie, need any help?)

"No." She sounded mad, why?

(What's wrong?)

"Jake this is too much."

(I said I would help.)

"No this mission. We're going to the Pool Ship again. We got lucky last time. If Visser One hadn't helped us we would have been killed."

(And this time we have the Chee which I think is better. They fly us and use holograms covering us. The Yeerks never know we're there until we strike. And then we're out and on a Bug Ship for home.)

"But so many things can go wrong. And unlike most missions we can't make a simple escape or hide for a few minutes. We'll be on the Pool Ship."

(I know. But the Chee will cover us. Heck we could just morph flies and sit on the Chee and have them walk us in to the room.)

"Then maybe not every one should go if it will be so easy."

(We need every one.)

"Then it is more dangerous then you're telling me." She had me there. How could I comfort her? Or better yet convince her? This could be the biggest turning point of the war. Not just on Earth but the entire galaxy.

(Cassie I don't, I mean, I can't make you go. But I'll need you. We all will.)

"I know Jake, I know."

"Cassie? Jake?"

"Oh, hi Mom." I had been so distracted I hadn't seen or heard her come in.

(Hello. I'm up here.) She looks up and sees me.

"Oh, well, dinner will be ready soon. Jake you're welcome if you want you can join us."

(No, I better get home soon.) I speak directly to Cassie so her mom can't hear. (I'll see you tomorrow. I'll miss you.) She simply nodded and I took off.

I couldn't sleep. I tried but my mind was racing. It was planning and seeing the possibilities. A Yeerk Civil War could end the war here. I was sure Visser Three would take off and fight for a seat on the Council. But Cassie was right it was the most dangerous mission ever. Maybe I shouldn't risk every one. Yes, if we failed and were killed it was over. I should leave some on Earth, including Tom.

If I left Cassie and Tom on Earth then what? Cassie was no leader and Tom was new. I needed a good leader on Earth. Rachel? Too risky. She seemed too get off on the violence. I could see her going nuts and attacking in broad daylight.

Marco? His mission was saving his mother and protecting his father. He was vicious but calculating. He might actually be a good pick. Maybe I should leave him behind and have Cassie show him where the Cube was. He could create more of us just in case they needed it.

Tobias? He would never stay while Rachel went.

Ax... No. Either we all went or no one went.

5

It had been a little over a week. Cassie and I were still arguing over it. I had hoped over the weekend we could have hung out but she kept bringing it up. And now as we left school I saw Erik King before any one else did. "I think it's time."

"Huh?" Marco sees where I am looking. "Oh, hey Erik."

"Hey back." He looks around then leans in towards me. "The ship landed about an hour ago. The trial will be held tonight. Every thing it pointing too execution of Visser Three. The Yeerk, not the host."

"They already decided? Then why have a trial?"

"Make it look like they followed what few laws they have. Get some sleep, we'll do the homework, and have a ship ready at ten. Meet us near Ax's scoop." I nodded and Erik walked away.

When we were away from others I told my friends what was going on. "So yeah, sleep, eat, what ever you need for tonight."

"Jake, I, this is too dangerous." I could only shake my head in frustration. It was the same argument and we didn't have time for it.

"This is too important. Sleep, eat, shower, and meet at Ax's scoop a little before ten." I knew Cassie would try arguing some more so I simply turned and walked away.

At home I ate what ever I could microwave and went to bed. One might think as nervous as I was about tonight's mission I wouldn't sleep but maybe some thing inside of me must of known I would need it.

My alarm woke me up and I tried turning it off but my hand was a paw. I had started morphing in my sleep again. It was rare and only happened when I was extremely worried, scared, or thought I was going too make a huge mistake. Was I? No, this would be the greatest win we've ever had. Ever since we helped the Ellimist...

Was that it? Ever since we helped him save a race every thing had gone our way. David? Taken care of with out one of us killing him. Tom? Freed. We took out several Kandrona's and hurt the Yeerks badly with out any of us being hurt badly back. Was the Ellimist doing this? Or were we just getting that lucky?

I had a hard time flying out to Ax's Scoop while thinking about the Ellimist. It would be like him. Not directly interfering in a way we'd notice. If we noticed then Crayak would notice. And if Crayak noticed he might call foul. Having two god like beings use you as pawns was almost as scary as what we were about too do.

The others were all there except Cassie. (Jake I don't see her.) Rachel was above us in her Great Horned Owl morph. (We should go get her.)

(We don't have time. The Chee should be here soon with the Bug Fighter. If she is backing out of this then maybe it is a good thing. If we die then she can continue the fight.)

(Her? If that is your plan then maybe Tobias and I should stay here.)

(Really Rachel you'd miss this? We'd need a leader not a soldier if we leave some one behind it should be me. Cassie knows where the Cube is I could make new warriors.) Just like I was thinking about earlier.

(You're right.)

(What? Jake I was kidding.)

(No you weren't. Marco you are cold and calculating. You could make the life and death decisions I make. Maybe you should stay here.)

(Dude you need me.)

(Yes but if we die we'll need some one here who can continue. Marco, stay here.) Now we would be down two members. (Go to Cassie's and tell her.)

(Tell her what? That I'm the new leader and thanks for not showing up?)

(That her idea of keeping people here was a good one and I should have realized it earlier.) Already I could see the Bug Fighter coming down. (And dude, tell her, um,)

(I know Jake, I know.) This mission was going to Hell. But it was a good idea leaving some one like Marco behind.

(Wow are you guys like this before every mission?) Oh God acting like this around Tom. He must think I'm a horrible leader.

(Every one stop. When the Chee get here we must be ready. Marco, go to Cassie's.)

(On it.) He took off as the Bug Fighter was landing.

We got on and demorphed. "Where are the others?" The Chee was using a Hork Bajir hologram.

"They're staying behind in case we're killed." The Chee simply nodded.

"Ok. Well, I'm a Hork Bajir when around the Yeerks so I won't be talking much once we land on the Pool Ship."

"How will we know where we should go once we're there?" The Pool Ship was massive. We could run around for hours and not find the Council.

"We have a friend waiting on the ship. They will throw up a hologram and lead you to where the Council is. Once there you are on your own until you retreat."

"Thank you." I looked out the window as the ship took off. I could see Cassie's house as we went higher and higher. I should be mad she bailed on us but really I was relieved, happy, she hadn't come. "Please be safe." Soon I could see the coastline, then the state, and then we left the atmosphere.

The Pool Ship hung above the planet like a menacing predator. "I think we should all morph flies and land on the Chee so they can just walk us there. No point with battle morphs just yet."

"Land on me first. I know who it is disguising themselves as a Taxxon. Good luck. These Yeerks threaten peace, the human race, and what remains of our former friends and creators." It was strange hearing what sounded like love from an android. But I'm sure they did love the Pemalites.

(We will need more than good luck for this. Prince Jake if this is our last mission I must tell you it has been an honor fighting by your side.)

"Thanks Ax." We all started morphing flies.

A fly can see every thing around it as long as it is within a few inches. We could only hope the Chee took us the right way.

The longer we were morphed the more nervous I got. How much longer would it be before we attacked? (Jake,)

(Rachel?)

(If this is it, thank you for keeping me alive this long.)

(You kept me alive as much as I've kept you alive.) First Ax and now Rachel. Did every one really think this mission was that doomed?

(Jake,) And now Tom. (You ever heard the saying I'd rather die on my feet then live on my knees?)

(No.)

(Well, it is true.)

(Tobias?) I figured if the others thought we were doomed he would too. (Any last words?)

(Who said they'd be our last? No way they can expect an attack on the Pool Ship. We got this.) Wow, he had more confidence than the rest of us combined.

Unfortunately he was wrong.

6

The Chee stopped. (What? Are we there?)

"I can't let you do this."

(Why?)

"We, I, the security on the Pool Ship should be lax. But they have dozens of Hork Bajir in there. All with Dracon Beams."

(We can do it!)

(No, we can't Rachel.)

(Get me close to the Council and I'll take them out!)

"They aren't in there."

(What? They aren't here? We came here for nothing? Then give me a shot at Visser Three!)

(Tom, calm down.) Things were going worse than I thought they could. (Could the Council be elsewhere on the ship?)

"Yes. I am contacting one of our own who can tell me if any areas of the ship have been closed off." So they were split from the rest? Maybe they couldn't risk having the Council near Visser Three.

We only needed a few seconds before the Chee responded. "Two sections have been closed off. We suspect the Council has been split in half. They must be watching via hologram. We can take you to one or the other closed off area."

(Closest to the Bug Figher.)

"Very well."

Maybe having the Council split will split the security three ways with the trial. But if they were as heavily guarded we would abort the mission. I can't get every one killed for this especially if we would only get one or two members of the Council.

When the Chee stopped again I was ready for the news, good or bad. (What does it look like?)

"Bad. Seven Council members. Heavy security. You can't do this and live. It would violate my code if I let you demorph here."

(But we must do this! Come on Jake we go all out elephant and rhino.)

"No Earth animal could get more than a few steps before being cut down."

(No Earth animal? I, hey, I have an idea.) If I pulled this off it would be an even better plan then before. (I have a Howler morph. I can morph it and use the howl crippling the Yeerks. Grab a Dracon beam, blast the Council, howl again, and then we retreat. They never see the Andalite bandits but some new weird Alien.) No one else would be put in danger but me.

"Howler? Those evil vile things? Erik said one of you could morph in to one." An android being afraid? I must stop thinking of the Chee as machines.

(Yes. If I use them for good I turn them against every thing they stood for. If I save a planet from destruction I will be doing the exact opposite of what they were created for.)

"I like that. Go ahead I will use a hologram hiding you until you are ready." This was it. Using Crayak's creation against the Yeerks. I loved the irony of it.

The Howler is shaped like a human. Two arms, two legs, two eyes. But those eyes are bright blue and stick out from the face. They can see the insides of another being so you can see where the heart and other weaknesses are. But the most dangerous weapon of course was what gave the Howler its name.

I stepped out of the hologram and howled. Every Hork Bajir, Gedd, Taxxon, Human, and other Yeerk hosts I didn't recognize was crippled. I'd been on the receiving end of the howl before and I was in Tiger morph. The more advanced the brain the more damage was done by the howl. So having two brains, the Yeerk and the host, must be excruciating.

I grabbed two Dracon Beams off of the Hork Bajir and howled again making sure the rest were crippled.

The Council members were sitting up higher so every one could see them. It made them easier targets for me. I turned both Dracon Beams up to full and fired.

Some thing inside of me went off. I couldn't stop shooting. I cut down every one standing around me. I howled again when I thought I saw a Hork Bajir reach for his Dracon Beam. I heard voices in my head but they were distant. Like a whisper.

I fired a few more times until I realized there was no one left. I must find more! I could kill more. It was so much fun shooting the ones in here I should find more! I was so happy, happier then even a dolphin, and I wanted more!

Wait, movement, I got it! (Prince Jake stop!) Pain! Why was I feeling pain? I'd show this Andalite. No, I couldn't pull the trigger. Why? I looked down and saw both of my hands had been cut off. (Prince Jake you have lost yourself in the morph. Please demorph or I will attack you again.)

The voices were my friends screaming at me too stop. Those whispers were calling out too me so I would stop and I couldn't hear them. (What did I do?) I killed every Yeerk in the room. Hork Bajir, Gedd, Taxxon, and human. (Thank you Ax for stopping me.) If Cassie had been here she would be appalled about what I had done.

"Time to go. Become a fly so I can get you to the Bug Fighter." The Chee kept a calm mind thankfully. I was still reeling from what I had done.

When I was a fly on the Chee Rachel contacted me directly. (I won't tell her what happened.)

(I will.) I had become a monster. The Howler, the mind of a Howler, felt happy when it killed. It didn't know it was wrong. But I knew better. I knew what I had done wasn't playing. (I must.) I would have nightmares about it. I needed some one I could talk with and Cassie was the only one.

When we were on the Bug Fighter we all demorphed. "Jake, man, that was crazy. All we knew was what the Chee dude was telling us. It sounded like a slaughter."

"It was Tom, it was. It was horrible." I was still shaken by it.

"But you did it. Seven members huh? And a bunch of controllers. We hurt them bad. Now we just go home."

"Not so easy. Things have been locked down. We can't get off the ship."

"So we sit and wait. No big deal." Tom sat down next to me.

(Unless they keep us here for days. I could get by on what ever food they have here but Ax needs grass or what ever.) Tobias was cleaning his feathers. (And if we don't get back in a couple of days the others will worry.)

"I can contact other Chee and they'll tell them where we are and why it is taking so long." I wasn't sitting on the Pool Ship risking capture.

"I have an idea. We take three ships. One blasts through and the other two chase it. Tom can you pilot a ship?"

"With help."

"And Ax can too. Tom, Rachel, and I will steal a ship. Ax and Tobias another. While you," I point at the Chee, wow, never learned his name. We just hit the ground running the second we landed. "Steal the one we chase after. We'll shoot but miss."

"That could work."

(Prince Jake If we blast through the doors it will create a vacuum sucking out any others inside the hanger at the time.)

"I know." I would be killing more but I couldn't risk us being captured. A Yeerk in any of our heads dooms the Earth Resistance.

The hanger was almost empty. Most had been called to the room where the Council had been. But there were still some Taxxon and Hork Bajir. "Every one wait. I'll take care of them." And make sure some survived. I killed every one in the room before. None could report what it was that attacked. But I must let some of the ones in the hanger live so they can tell the other Yeerks it wasn't the Andalite bandits.

I wouldn't howl. I didn't need it this time. I just ran from the back of the ship and ripped a Taxxon in half. When the other controller's noticed me I attacked the nearest Hork Bajir while the other Taxxon fed on the injured one.

I got cut but it didn't faze me. I could heal quickly. I ripped the arm off and used it as a bat.

I gave my friends two minutes to get on other ships when I turned and ran. I saw one Bug Fighter power on and hoped it was the one I should be on.

I saw Tom and Rachel, good, I picked the right one. (Go! I distracted them we can get out now!) I staid in morph since I had the hands needed for piloting and the though speak for talking with the others. (Ax blast us a door.)

(Yes Prince Jake.) Inside of the hanger was not the best place for blasting the more powerful Dracon Beams of a Bug Fighter.

"Crap, damage to the right engine from blowback. We can still go but we'll be slow."

(We're a chaser not a runner so it doesn't matter. Chee, you're the runner. Go as fast as you can.) I still hadn't learned his name. I'd ask Erik, maybe, if I remembered.

I worked the Dracon Beams on the Bug Fighter and fired wildly. "Jake you better hope that was a defense satellite and not a television satellite. The USC and UCLA pre season game is on tomorrow."

(Sorry!) I fired again missing the lead Bug Fighter but made sure I didn't hit another satellite.

(Prince Jake several more Bug Fighters from another hanger are being released.)

(Every one we crash in the ocean so be ready for going dolphin.) We had made it through the atmosphere and were nearing the water fast.

I fired several more times and I saw the Bug Fighter go under the water. (Tom can a Bug Fighter go underwater?)

"Yeah but not very deep and it won't go fast."

(Crash the ships but make it so you can still escape.) I started demorphing.

Once we slammed the Bug Fighter in to the water I started morphing in to a dolphin. The happiness took over, I needed it. Swimming in the water for the coast using echolocation was what made a dolphin happy. Not killing, slaughtering, a bunch of people.

We weren't far away when the other Bug Fighters started blasting the water with Dracon Beams. The water started getting warmer as the hot lances of energy seared through and destroyed the Bug Fighters we had fled. (Good job every one.)

(Hey we didn't do any thing little bro.)

(You flew the Bug Fighter and kept calm when crashing it. You did a good job Tom. Once we're at the shore go home every one. Tomorrow is Saturday so you can all sleep in.) We just kept swimming as the water got shallower and shallower.

Once close enough we demorphed and walked on to the beach freezing and soaking wet. "Like I said good job every one." I saw Rachel holding Tobias. His feathers were as wet as our clothes and he couldn't fly. "Tobias you should try morphing and demorphing again."

(I can wait. I'm in no hurry getting back.) He was being held by Rachel so I guess he was right where he wanted too be.

"Ok, well, see you all on Monday." I morphed in to a Peregrine Falcon and took off.

7

I should have gone home. But I wanted some one too know I was ok.

Her light was off. Maybe she was sleeping. I landed and found her window open. (Cassie? Are you awake?) She rolled over and saw me.

"Jake, I'm so sorry. The power went out! It's still out." I looked at her clock and it was blank.

(So your alarm didn't go off?)

"Exactly. When Marco flew in and said you guys had already left I was so mad at myself. You needed me there and I wasn't there. I'm so sorry."

(Don't be. I'm glad you didn't come, really.) I hopped on to her desk. (It went well. We made it there, got seven members, and left.) I should tell her what happened. I told myself I would, told Rachel I would. (I used the Howler morph so no one else would be in danger. I did it, myself, and got every one back out.)

"I'm glad every one else is ok. I'm sure they're mad at me they probably think I ditched the mission."

(It's ok they'll understand.) I started demorphing.

As soon as I was human I couldn't stop myself. I started crying. "Jake what's wrong?"

"I did some thing horrible." She hugged me and I hugged her back. I told her what happened in the room. It didn't make me feel better telling her but when she simply held me and said things would be ok I felt a little of the weight on my shoulders lift.

A/N Well, took me awhile too write out. I hope those of you following will read and review and tell me what parts you like and what parts you don't.