Animorphs: The Hidden Trilogy- The Eighth

Chapter 7

A dark cloaked creature, so dark it seemed to blend with the shadows. Even the other Animorphs gaped at him.

"I presume you don't know this alien yet," Visser Two said, showing off the alien's face. It looked like an angler fish's head with four eyes. The alien uttered a shrill laugh, so powerful my jaguar sensed vibrations on the ground.

"This is a Xevroi-Murk." He said, removing his hood, revealing a glowing horn as long as my arm. "My loot after the Yeerks' successful defensive maneuver from the meddling Andalites over my command."

<You,>Ax advanced.

"And I presume only one of you is really an Andalite." He laughed again. It rang across the forest. "Only one of you are dumb and brave enough to get inside the Ereas-Murk."

<What?>Ax said, with one step backwards.<'Ereas' is 'area'. What is 'Murk'? >

"Oh, so even the Andalites haven't still fully understood their test subject." Visser Two said. "I found my host in one of the wrecks of the Andalite fleet. In their research ship."

<What is 'Murk'?>Ax said, now with his tail arched forward. Snake-like eyes lit in each tree, yet they disappeared at once.

Visser Two laughed, "Keep away, my subordinates. I can easily kill them by just standing."

<What?> Rachel demanded to others.

" 'Murk' is what the Andalite scientists added to the names of creatures who lived in a planet that strives in radioactive elements. I believe the planet is named Murakesis, X-1569002 Minor, hence the origin of the Xevroi's added name. It is a savage planet, full of radiation, bloodshed and disease. Yet this species survived. With this." With a bony, scaly and clawed pale grey finger he pointed at the horn.

Ax's legs shook. He tried to turn away and run but his knees buckled. <Prince Jake! Run! Run! Ruuuuuuuun!>

"Mwahahahahahah!" The Visser Two laughed with a deep voice this time.

<W-what's happening?> Cassie turned back for Ax.

<Cassie! No! Tobias! Get her!> Jake shouted. Tobias ran to get Cassie. Cassie was already there, pushing Ax away from Visser Two.

<Cassie,>Ax muttered, <Run away, please.>

<Cassie!> Tobias picked up Cassie and ran away, leaving Ax convulsing behind.

<Go on Tobias, I'll guard the rear.> Jake stood between the escaping Animorphs and Visser Two.

<Jake! W-what happened to Ax? Jake-> Cassie jumped off Tobias. She saw Jake looking intently at Visser Two, and, after a few seconds, decided to run away.

A minute later Jake ran away too.

When I'm sure they're gone. I landed from my tree and said, <Visser Two.>

"The deal, Caleb, or your parents. Sabotage Visser Three's reputation and a morph-capable host."

<Wait, do you have the same deal with Jake too?> I asked.

He ignored my question and said instead, "I fulfill my promises, so must you, Caleb." With that he cloaked himself again.

"Do not fail me." He said as a dark-green Hork-Bajir dropped from a tree and said, "Visser Two! Visser Three is coming!" He said.

"Hm," he grinned, "he'll see what he's worth of." He jumped to the hatch of his Blade ship and flew off.

I speed-morphed into a chameleon and waited Visser Three and his Bug Fighters land.

Park Rangers, presumably Human-Controllers, also arrived at the site. In a while an Andalite walked into the clearing where the battle took place. <WHO DID THISSSSS?!>Visser Three screamed over the blood-stricken battlefield.