Animorphs 38 The Strike(Ax)

Author James the Lesser

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

Sorry for the long delay between updates!

1

It was early morning as I fed. The dew on the grass allowed me to drink as I fed. I had woken late and would be missing some of my favorite these messages if I had to drink after feeding.

I noticed a shadow and looked up with one of my eye stalks. I saw the red tail hawk that was my friend Tobias. (Hello. Would you like to watch these messages with me?)

(I would if Rachel hadn't sent me out here to get you.)

(Not Prince Jake?)

(He called her and I was already there.)

(This early?)

(Saturday, man. Movie matinee is only four dollars for first showing. That got canceled since Jake says big news is here.)

(How big?)

(He got up early on a Saturday when he didn't have to big.)

I start running for Cassie's barn.

Tobias and I were the last ones to make it.

Marco looked tired. They all did, except Cassie. She was used to getting up early. She was the weakest of the group. Prince Jake cared for her even though her weakness could get us killed.

His brother was leaning against a stall looking bored. He had been my enemy. Prince Jake had almost killed him numerous times. Now he was helping us.

If Visser Three was ripped out of his host would my people accept Alloran so easily? I have read about the history of Earth. I have read about the wars, genocides, and worse. I also read about how humans would unite. They would fight to save others as much as they would to kill others. My own people...

"Hey, Ax? Are you paying attention?"

(Sorry Prince Jake, I was, distracted.)

"Don't call me Prince."

(Yes Prince Jake.)

"The Chee who plays me when we're out doing what we do said the Energy Detector will be here in two days. We have two days to figure out how to take it out."

"Go in, smash things, howl, rip it apart, leave. How hard is that?"

Prince Jake gave his cousin, Rachel, a stare that I knew meant he was annoyed. "Or we can make it look like an accident. If we attack and destroy it they might wonder how we knew about it. This thing is top secret."

"We have to attack and destroy it. Who cares if they wonder how we knew about it?"

Prince Jake sighed and shook his head. "Also, I was thinking, if we could make it look like it blew up because of a defect they may not try again. I'm not sure how to do that but if we get more information maybe Ax could figure out how to make it blow up on its own."

(Depending on the energy source for it I could simply overload it, Prince Jake.)

"If that's possible then do it. The easier the better. The faster the better."

Tom cleared his throat. "If it is like any other Yeerk technology it will be built as cheaply and quickly as possible. Shouldn't be too hard to make it malfunction."

(What if we attacked some where else? Have Ax and Tom go in and make the Energy Detector blow up while the rest of us attack a Pool entrance or something?)

"I don't like the idea of splitting forces but that could work. Tom and Ax know the Yeerks and technology the best so we should,"

Tobias cut Prince Jake off. (Hey, Cassie's dad is coming out here. Scatter every one.)

"We have two days to figure this out. I'll keep you all updated as they keep me updated." Prince Jake and the others, besides Cassie, start to morph while Tobias takes off through the rafters.

I could probably make it through the back before he saw me but I didn't want to take the risk. Instead I morphed in to a small bird I found laying in the woods with a broken wing and took off myself.

I knew there was some thing wrong when a Chee was at my Scoop even before I landed. They were using very advanced hologram technology to camouflage themselves but I knew the meadow I settled my Scoop in well enough to tell. (I can see you.)

"I forgot just how hard it was to sneak up on an Andalite." They appear as a middle aged woman. "Aximili, I heard you would be one of the Animorphs to go after the Energy Detector."

(I am.)

"Then you will need this." They reveal a disc. "This has all the information we've been able to gather about the Energy Detector." They seemed cautious as they walked over to me. "I was wondering..."

(Yes?) Was it afraid of me? I doubt I had any thing that could harm it. The Chee were very durable.

"The Energy Detector could detect us but it could also detect the Pemalite Crystal. If we could find it we could end this war."

We had dealt with this before. Prince Jake was against using the Chee as weapons.

The Chee had been created by the Pemalite race. A peaceful race. Too peaceful. They had all been wiped out by the Howlers. They could have crushed the Howlers if they had turned the Chee in to weapons. Instead all that remains of the Pemalites are their creations.

If we were to unleash them on the Yeerks we could win. We would win. Of course, if the Chee decided not to stop with the Yeerks, how could we stop them? They could use their hologram technology to hide their ships and blast any one else before you even knew they were there.

(How do you expect to find it? We are going to destroy the detector.)

"It will be you and Tom. While the Yeerks are distracted by you two I could gain access, find the crystal, and then allow you to destroy it."

(Why do you think you would have time for that? Yeerk technology is slower than Andalite technology. Compared with your technology it will be even slow.)

"I will connect directly and run it off of myself." The Chee seemed smug. As much time as I had spent with them it still seemed strange for a machine to show emotion.

(From what I remember, Cassie dropped it in a whale. Even if the whale expelled it I am sure it would be some where deep in the ocean.)

The Chee smiled. "We heard that story too. We also know it is a lie. Cassie did hide it but not like that. We have narrowed it down to the Hork Bajir colony."

(If you know where it is why aren't you looking for it now?)

"Not all of us agree with using the crystal. Those of us who don't will notice if those of us who do are snooping around there."

(Prince Jake does not agree with turning you in to weapons. I am unsure if it would be safe as well. As powerful as you are you may become an even bigger threat.)

Now I saw the Chee frown. "Andalite's find it hard to trust others after what happened with Seerow. Not all are like that. Fewer than most. Even those who seem violent like the humans are more kind than cruel."

(They are already advancing faster than any race I've ever studied. Marco's father was close to detecting and managing Zero Space even before I accidentally modified his program.)

"Do you support your people's plan to wipe out the humans?"

(You don't know that is the plan. They are spread thin across the galaxy and must prioritize where and when they send forces. They must not understand how dire the situation is here.)

The Chee shook their head.

Suddenly the meadow I was in changed in to a room on a ship.

I didn't recognize it. It must be a Yeerk ship. Some where on the Pool Ship most likely.

I saw a human, no, it was a Chee, connected to a computer.

I heard the message as the hologram I was in changed to show my War Prince. (We are unsure of why they have started attacking each other but it does not change our goal. If we can move them towards Earth we can wipe out both threats in one shot. Visser Seven was killed after being attack by his fellow Yeerks. A Civil War between them has weakened them and those remaining will seek safety. Already we have detected four main fleets based around Visser One, Two, Nine, and Twelve. Other fleets have disappeared in to Zero Space but we suspect several of them are going to Earth. The amount of hosts available there makes it a prime target.)

(Yes my Prince. We will let the Pool Ship escape to Zero Space and focus on the moon it had been targeting.)

The hologram disappeared and I was back in the meadow near my Scoop. (They could be planning on ambushing the Yeerks in space and not attack Earth.)

"Maybe. Except the history of the Andalite's makes us bet on them taking out the Yeerks and the Earth. They fear the humans as much as they do the Yeerks. Humans number in the billions. They aren't weakened by a need for Kandrona rays. They already posses weapons that could wipe out all life on the planet. If one was fired at a Pool Ship, or Dome Ship, the shields may hold. They may not."

(We would not seek a war with them. We have tried to keep the invasion as much of a secret as the Yeerks have.)

"And what happens if the Yeerks lose? I find the Pemalite Crystal and evacuate the Pool Ship, fire on the Blade Ship, and then send others to destroy all the Kandrona's on the planet. Will the freed hosts all stay quiet? What of the Hork Bajir or Taxxon and others? The humans would learn eventually and the former hosts who wanted would know enough to build the engines, the ships, to get man in to the farthest reaches of space."

(You sound as scared of them as you claim my kind are.)

"I have been here and witnessed the horrors you could only read about. I trust those you trust but they are a very small circle. If all were like your Prince Jake we could have revealed ourselves centuries ago. Unfortunately, I fear, his kind are rare."

I wanted to deny this but couldn't. I had read many of the books the others had given me. I read of the holocausts and genocides they committed against their own kind. (I won't help you.)

The Chee finally hands me the disc. "Too bad. I could have saved them. Saved you."

(My people will wipe out the Yeerks and from what I have seen the humans who claim they see aliens are considered insane.)

"Sure, when it is one or two. When millions make the exact same claim?" The Chee did what the others called chuckling. "We'll see what happens, won't we?" The Chee disappeared behind a hologram and left.

I said no but now that I was left alone I had to think. Would the fleet really show up and unleash the Quantum Virus? Was that the plan ever since my brother and the original Dome Ship failed? I had to deal with these questions as I put the disc in a computer I made and went over the details of the Energy Detector.

2

The Energy Detector was clearly stolen from some one else. I could not believe that the Yeerks would invent the fine technology needed to run it. What race had they met that could create it? Had they traded for it or were they invading another planet?

I tried to push these questions from my mind as I remembered as much as I could.

If it had been Yeerk technology a simple overload would have destroyed the machine. This stolen technology was far more refined and sound than any thing the Yeerks could create.

I wasn't sure if I could make it look like an accident. Prince Jake's plan only worked if it looked like an accident.

I was going over the schematics again when some one caught me off guard. (Hey Ax. What are you reading?)

Normally no one could sneak up on me but Tobias was flying and I was distracted. (A Chee brought me the plans they have on the Energy Detector.

(Ok, good. Any ideas what to do to make it boom?)

(No. It is built better than any Yeerk technology I have seen. They stole it or traded for it from another race.)

He lands in a nearby tree. One of his favorite spots as it gave him a good view of the area. (That's not good. Can't just hit it with a hammer?)

I had read several books provided by the others and knew what he meant. (No. Especially if Prince Jake wants it to look like an accident.)

(I think we should just attack like always. Who cares if they wonder how we knew. The Chee shouldn't know and got lucky. If any thing they execute a couple Yeerk slugs.)

(And the hosts.)

(At this point one or two fewer hosts won't bother me.)

This was troubling. As the invasion seemed more and more inevitable I noticed the others seem to get less hopeful. When they learned of how my people dealt with the Hork Bajir and that the same plan may be used on them... It was understandable.

(There will be a way. I am looking at this as Yeerk technology when it clearly isn't. I need to change how I look at this. If this was Andalite technology how would I make it self destruct? If I look at it that way I may find a way.)

(Is it Andalite tech...)

(No! There is only one Andalite host and that is Visser Three. This is clearly some other race.)

(Sorry man. I didn't mean to imply any thing.)

I needed to focus and while Tobias was my shorm I needed to continue going over the plans. (Tobias, go ahead and watch these messages if you want but I need to focus.)

(I said I was sorry.)

I ignored him as I tried changing the way I looked at the blueprints.

3

It was the next morning as I fed when I saw the shimmer. It was a Chee. I waited to see what they would do. If they noticed that I noticed.

As I had my hoof in the stream near my scoop, the Chee finally revealed itself to me. "Hello Ax." It was Erik.

(Do you have more information on the Energy Detector?)

"No. I have a disc." He reveals what was called a CD. Held far too little information for its size. If it were of Andalite design it would have held thousands of times more. "It has a virus on it. You upload it to the Energy Detector and it will cause it to overheat and melt."

(Melt? It won't explode?) He shook his head. (Then why are we needed? It doesn't sound like it will harm any one.)

"It could. The overheating should make it melt."

(How do I get that disc inside?)

"You won't. This is a copy for you to study so you know what you are doing. We'll place one inside the facility."

(Why don't you just upload it yourself?)

"Again, if it doesn't melt and instead does explode we can't risk that. I can't let any of my kind be responsible for the death of another. Not after what I did."

The Chee could win this war. I knew that. Erik knew that. They could also realize they were unstoppable.

(What you did saved us.)

"I know and it still hurts me. I know as an Andalite you may not believe in it but I feel I hurt the soul of my creator. He wouldn't have been mad, just sad, about what I did. I let him down. Even if it saved you and the others."

(If he and the others had unleashed you they would still be alive.)

"Yes, yes they would." He disappeared behind a hologram.

I had gone too far. The Chee had been allies for almost as long as I had been with the others. I should not let my frustrations with their limits get to me.

I put the disc in the computer and read over the virus. It was simple but made for the Energy Detector. The Chee knew more about it than they were letting on. They would probably know where it came from. Who it came from. What it came from.

With the virus and the blueprints I would have no trouble with destroying the Energy Detector. I would just have to hope the others would be safe while attacking as a distraction.

That distraction would be...

An attack on a Pool entrance. The group had destroyed multiple Pool entrances and the Yeerks were working on rebuilding them. One that was close to being completed was away from the rest of the town. It would be an easy target and that's what they were looking for.

Prince Jake had called the meeting. "Tomorrow we attack. The entrance near the hiking trail will be remote and easier to attack than others. Since my brother has used this one before he will be with the attack team instead going with Ax."

"So who backs up the Ax Man?"

"Tobias."

I preferred that. He was my shorm and even knowing how much Tom hated the Yeerks, he had still once been the enemy. The others could forgive him and trust him. I still held prejudices against him. One of the many differences between my kind and theirs.

(I won't be your eyes in the sky this time, Marco.)

"Hopefully we won't need it. Just go in, make an appearance, and retreat. The Energy Detector gets destroyed and they can't suspect us since we clearly weren't any where near it."

I hear Cassie clear her throat before she speaks. "Um, if we attack at the exact same time wouldn't that look weird?"

The reaction of Prince Jake worried me. "I, well, I mean, if we aren't close then it can't be us."

"But they'll notice the only one who attacks as an Andalite is missing?"

(Crap, she's right. If Ax isn't seen they'll suspect some thing.)

Marco laughed. "I could do it. Hi, I'm Ax, I love Cinnabon and burnt cigarettes out of ashtrays."

(No. If any one were to morph me I want it to be Tobias.) My shorm and technically my nephew.

"He's supposed to be your backup. I can do it."

(No. Tobias can morph me, no one else.) I turned one eye stalk to Tobias. (I give you permission.)

The others did not like to acquire from those they considered different from animals. Even the smarter animals like dolphins they had no problem acquiring. Hork Bajir were probably near the same intelligence and the others had no problem acquiring them.

But when it came to humans they wouldn't. Unless they had express permission.

"Ok, Tobias goes as Ax, Tom comes with us, Marco is Ax's backup."

(I could go alone.)

"No way Ax. This is all about sneaking in and out but if you get caught you need backup. Even if it is just coming to us to come back and rescue you. Marco, be eyes only unless he needs you. I don't want them thinking we had any thing to do with this."

Marco simply nodded and it was understood.

4

It was dark still. The Sun just starting to peak from the horizon. Marco and I were fighting for air as there were no thermals for us to use near the building.

Inside was the Energy Detector.

The building looked calm, peaceful. Did the Yeerks not expect an attack? After all, how would we know of it? This was a top secret project. For us to know about it would mean a leak. I doubt Visser Three would take that information too well.

(Ax-Man, the others should be attacking soon.)

(In twelve of your minutes.)

(Our minutes. Again, you're here, so they are your minutes.)

(There are now eleven of your minutes until they attack.)

(I'd sigh if an owl could but I can't so I'll just tell you that this is it.)

Marco was right. A door on the roof opened as a cloaked Bug Fighter appeared.

We dove in behind it as the door started to close.

I wasn't sure how long it would take so we searched for a place we could demorph.

Thankfully the Yeerks were using a limited staff. The fewer who knew of this project the fewer chances it could be leaked.

We both morphed Dragon Fly and took off when we heard some one coming to the room we had been hiding in.

(Ax, how long until they attack?)

(Prince Jake and the others should have started attacking four Earth minutes ago.)

(Meaning, if the Chee information is correct, we have... Uh, how long until they get ready to press the button?)

(Forty seven Earth minutes. There is a lot more than a single button. There is in fact a lengthy sequence requiring,)

(Forget I said any thing about a button. Erik said they would hide the disc under a desk with a red lamp.)

(I see the desk but we need to demorph and I need to morph in to my human morph.)

(Erik said there was a side room from the main lab where they put lab coats and stuff. Get there, I'll keep an eye out, and you do what you need to.)

It took a couple more minutes of flying to find the room Erik had mentioned. It was cramped once I demorphed but once I morphed to human I had enough room to get changed.

The facility was sparsely populated. I had to go to the main computer facility and get the disc and hope I'm not noticed. The Chee information said I should have at least twenty Earth minutes between...

Some one was already there. (Marco, I can't get close to the console.)

(Ax-Man, it's a Chee. What are they doing here? Erik told me they couldn't risk doing this themselves since it could cause an explosion hurting or killing people.)

(They aren't inserting a disc.) I knew what they were doing. I had to warn Marco. (They're using the Energy Detector to find the Pemalite Crystal.)

(Didn't Cassie says she dropped it in a whale?)

(That was a lie. She gave it to a Hork Bajir who hid it at the Colony.)

It wasn't like I or Marco had any thing that could stop a Chee. Even a low or medium level blast from a Dracon Beam would only annoy them.

The Energy Detector shouldn't be ready for use yet. Some how though I knew the Chee was using itself to use the machine.

I grabbed the disc from where it was hidden under the desk. I walked over to the Chee calmly. "Hello."

He turned around and saw me. "You're not one of the facility scientists. One of the humans who fight them. Or the Andalite."

"Yes. Why are you here?"

"I am finding the Pemalite Crystal."

Exactly what I thought. "Are we hidden by a hologram?" He nods.

I should try and stop him. But I couldn't. (Marco, warn Prince Jake and Cassie. They must move the Pemalite Crystal.)

(I don't know Ax-Man. They could end the war.)

(And if they decide they won't stop with the Yeerks? We were in China, I saw what they did to dogs. What if the Chee decide they don't like that? They take control of the Yeerk Fleet and enforce their power on Earth. How would you stop them?)

(Damn. I didn't think of that.) I saw the Dragon fly that was Marco fly away.

"Once you are done I need to place the disc in."

"Of course." He stepped away. "All clear."

I inserted the disc in and it auto loaded. When the Yeerks went to activate the Energy Detector it would overheat and melt. Or explode.

When the virus was uploaded I took the disc out and destroyed it. "Are we still hidden?"

"Yes. If you'd like we can simply walk out."

"You could have helped us sneak in."

I saw the smile the hologram was projecting. "It takes a lot to hide some thing from another Chee. Why I can't simply use the Chee-Net to tell those who are like minded of the location. I had to disconnect well away from here so as to not raise suspicion. Some I am sure will still suspect but we will be gone soon."

It was different walking behind the Chee. Marco and I snuck in successfully but now I would simply walk out. Walk out and hope Marco reached Prince Jake or Cassie before this Chee made contact with his fellow Chee or went to the Colony himself.

5

I demorphed and then morphed and flew off as soon as I could. I wasn't sure how far Marco had gotten but we were to meet near Cassie's home.

When I landed I saw Rachel, Tobias, and Marco. (Did you tell them?)

"Yes Ax."

Rachel threw her hands up. "Which is stupid! I know for a fact they will win this war!"

"And when they decide they don't like China eating dogs? Or shelters here putting them to sleep? Ax is right. The Chee turn violent and decide they don't wanna stop, we get stomped."

(If they turn violent. We don't know they would. They could be so appalled by it they stop, like Erik.)

"I'd rather not take that chance Hawk Boy."

"So you'll let us get killed instead?"

"The Chee could kill us and unlike Visser Three they know who we are. No morph could stop them or did you forget when your bear was put in a sleeper hold?"

Rachel screamed and stormed off. (I better keep an eye on her.) Tobias took off in the air after her.

I waited with Marco until Prince Jake, Cassie, and Tom came back. "Thanks for the heads up."

"No problem Jake. What did you do with it?"

Cassie responded. "I told Toby to take it and run. Hide it away from the Colony where no one will ever find it." She looks around. "Where did Rachel and Tobias go?"

(They left.) I was in my normal form and stepping on some grass. (Rachel does not agree with stopping the Chee.)

"Of course she doesn't." I saw the look of worry and frustration on Tom's face. "I'm not sure I agree either."

"The Yeerks can be stopped. We have slowed them down and even stopped them a few times. The Chee are too powerful and would crush us if they felt like it."

"If they go nutso. I'd rather wipe out the Yeerks and hope for the best than deal with an actual threat. The Chee I've talked with seem like good guys."

(Good guys by programming.)

"I don't think it is just the programming. They respect the Pemalite who created them. I know the ones who want to fight go against what the Pemalite believe in but they wouldn't just go nuts and kill every one."

(You can't know that.)

Tom smirks. "Andalite's have one bad experience with trusting another race and you never have since. Maybe if you trusted us you would have had help and taken out the Pool Ship."

(There was no way we could have been prepared for the Blade Ship! It ambushed my brother!)

"Whoa! Hey, calm down, both of you." I guess Prince Jake noticed my tail twitching. "Right now we have some one who knows where it is. If, god or what ever forbid, every thing goes to hell and there is only one way to save Earth, we can unleash the Chee. Until then we continue to do what we can to slow them down and prevent the Yeerks from winning."

Tom ignored his brother and stepped closer to me. "Even if that means the Andalite fleet shows up and wipes us out with a Quantum Virus?"

(There is no reason for you to believe that will happen.) I had not told them about what the Chee showed me. There had to be hope for them, and my own people, that they would not do that. (The Yeerk Civil War will hurt them and allow my people to spend more resources of fighting them elsewhere. When they can they will come and destroy the Yeerks.)

"Let's all hope you're right." Tom started walking away before morphing and taking off.

"Well, this was fun and all, but I'm going to hit the ol' dusty trail." Marco morphed and flew off.

I was left with Prince Jake and Cassie. (I am glad your attack went well and no one was harmed.)

"It was a quick in and out. I was more worried about you and Marco."

(It was as quiet as the Chee said it would be. Marco staying in morph allowed him to see the Chee.)

"The Chee have gotten lucky Visser Three never morphed any thing that could see them." I saw the light touch between the two. "I'm tired but if you need any help Cassie I'm already here."

"Yeah, thanks."

(I should get back to my Scoop.) I didn't need to morph and simply ran through the woods.

A Chee was waiting for me. He was the one who was in the room of the facility. (Hello.)

"You warned them. You let them take the Pemalite Crystal and hide it again."

(Yes.)

He shook his head and slumped his shoulders. "You could have ended the war today."

(I could have unleashed some thing worse than the Yeerks.)

"We aren't like that! We want to protect not conquer!"

(And what limits will you place on your idea of protect? Wipe out the humans who harm dogs? Or just certain ones?)

"No. Just the Yeerks. We have lived with the humans for several millennia. There is no reason for us to war with them. Or the Andalite fleet."

(Words are words. Some one gave us their word and betrayed us before.)

"How uncouth of you to compare us the the Yeerks."

(We learn from our mistakes. I will not repeat them.)

"Your brother broke the rules when he gave humans the power to morph."

(Yes, he did. So far it has not turned poorly.)

"You still have doubts?"

(If any of them are captured then the Yeerks gain a new morph capable host. Could take several of them.)

"Yes, and that would be unfortunate. An event that would never happen if we had the Pemalite Crystal."

(An event that would be nothing compared to your kind waging war on the rest of the galaxy.)

"Also some thing that would never happen." The Chee took a couple steps back before disappearing behind a hologram.

Left alone in my Scoop, I turned the television on and tried to relax but the thoughts of what could be stayed.

On the news was a report of an forest fire started by an unknown workplace accident. The Energy Detector was destroyed. Several injuries were reported but no deaths. How long until Visser Three killed them for failing?

The war could have ended today. It could have ended for the best. It could have gone far worse for Earth and the others as well. It was some thing I would think about and wonder over until the day the war ended.

A/N Long delay as usual. So much going on. Also, I gave up trying to write as Ax and just said screw it, type/write how I want and get this episode done. Now I'm done with Ax for several episodes.