The capital of the Yeerk

Okay, how do we settle down? Asked Rachel.

What we really need to know is where we land. How are we going to find Visser-One in this giant anthill? commented Tobias.

He must be somewhere in the administrative sector. Knowing the ego of the visser, he might have even settled in the imperial palace. I replied.

Who is there?

Somewhere at the equator, on a gigantic platform located near the surface and surrounded by towers equipped with laser defense systems and state-of-the-art detectors. That's all I know. I specified.

Okay. Ship, can you descend and circle the equator while staying as far away from the towers as possible? Jack asked. But nothing happened.

What it was worth trying. He justified himself.

Right away, we heard what sounded like a childish giggle in our brain, then the ship moved, and additionally, the bay window started displaying zooms on the surface. After 3 turns, Cassie exclaimed:

There, look.

Immediately, the 4 pixels she pointed at enlarged, and we could see a large luxurious construction on a platform several hundred meters from the toxic marshes that covered most of the planet. Around this construction was a magnificent garden made up of the most beautiful plants of the Yeerk empire, including the very rare exolia4 trumpet (which was a small tree less than a meter tall producing ball-shaped purple leaves). But the splendor of this park was spoiled by the presence of an immense metallic sphere that covered a third of its area. Its distinctive shape indicated to me that it was the control sphere: Visser One's personal ship. Legend has it that its distinctive shape was due to Visser One's desire to optimize the efficiency of the shield projectors and to be able to maneuver very easily in all directions. In any case, it was reputed to be the ship with the best defenses in the Yeerk empire. It is even said that it is capable of withstanding the shots of an Andalite world-ship without flinching.

No doubt, this is the place. Ship, land discreetly in the imperial garden without being detected, ordered Jack.

<It would be fun, but I might hurt the occupants of those shuttles>. Reasoned a childish voice with canine accents in our head. At the same time, the many highways filled with delivery drones and warships that dotted this part of the planet's sky were highlighted in red.

Vessel, it's a matter of life or death. Can't you try? Jack insisted.

Sorry to hear such sad news, but my programming strictly forbids me from risking the life of another sentient being. Here is the nearest area where I can land.

Immediately, a large area located about 300 kilometers to the north was highlighted in yellow. It was one of the many brown spots scattered across the celestial body that had been deliberately left free of any construction, to allow the planet to retain the minimum biosphere necessary for it to remain habitable.

At what altitude can you descend to the maximum and hover? I asked.

If the traffic remains under current conditions, I can descend to a minimum of 50 km from the surface. Below that, the traffic is much too dense.

Too high for us to go out in the form of a bird. Commented Tobias, who had perfectly grasped my thought.

We could jump and transform into a bird once we reach a sufficiently low altitude. Jack proposed.

You are crazy, it's way too risky. I jumped.

We've already done it. Declared Jack nonchalantly.

He forgets to say that this time we didn't all voluntarily jump out of that damn helicopter. Are you starting to understand that they are completely crazy? Let's get out of here before they manage to get us killed. In this ship, we could live like kings. You wouldn't even need to leave my body. David pleaded with terror.

With his permission, I explored his memories to see what he was talking about and I had to suppress a violent urge to slap Jack when I saw the kind of suicidal plan they usually followed. Good god, didn't these kids have any survival instinct?

Instead, I objected, convinced that it would be easier to change his mind with rational arguments:

But we would no longer have any way to return.

Unless we steal one of his shuttles, he added.

And how do you plan to steal a shuttle? We don't even know where it is or what the security measures are. It's a high-security area, I remind you. There must be all sorts of guns ready to shoot us down in mid-flight as soon as its disappearance is discovered. I understand you want to finish quickly, but a few kilometers in the form of a bird is not that big of a deal.

In the form of a bird perhaps, but on foot, that's another story. He replied.

Why on earth would you want to walk that distance? I asked exasperatedly.

Jack, the mission comes first. Marco replied in a harsh tone.

I then understood that it was not the going, but the return that he wished to be able to do in human form. He wanted to try to capture Visser-One and bring him back to the ship to force him to release Marco's mother. If we landed at such a distant location, even by stealing a shuttle, our chances of succeeding were considerably reduced.

The gravity and atmosphere of this planet are probably different from those of Earth. Ship, can you calculate the maximum altitude a falcon can reach here? Cassie asked.

2198 meters maximum, but the traffic is too dense for it to be fun to fly in this area.

Where is the closest place where you can stay at an altitude of 2000 meters? She asked.

An area located just 70 kilometers away appeared in yellow.

Very well. We make the journey in bird form from there. Not forgetting to note landmarks to find our way back to the ship. Once there, we go with a classic plan. We acquire some insects living on the planet, transform into one of them, then latch onto a guy heading to the palace. Once inside, we find another quiet corner to demorph before the two-hour limit, then change into a cockroach to explore the place through the air vents. As soon as we find Visser-one, we split into two teams. One will follow him until finding the right moment to abduct him while the second will look for a way to grabone of its shuttles. No one separates from the group or acts without consulting the others through thought. If separated, meet at the ship tomorrow at noon at the latest. Jack declared solemnly.

Yes, supreme leader. Marco joked while giving a military salute.

And if we have an opportunity to kill him or we can't find a way to steal a shuttle quickly enough. I asked so that things would be clear from the start.

He looked at Marco, embarrassed:

<Then we will have to kill her.> Tobias declared to spare Jack from having to give that order.

oOoOoOo

"I'm starting to get tired," declared Cassie.

"One more effort, I'm sure we'll find it," said Rachel.

<I too am starting to reach my limits and I have more experience than you. We need to take a break. Anyway, if we continue, we risk exceeding the two-hour limit.> Tobias declared, glancing at the tiny watch attached to his paw. In the absence of Aximili, one of us had to wear one, to be able to measure our time in morph.

We land near the tower with the closest entrance and demorph, ordered Jack without further comment.

I said nothing, but I was relieved by this decision. Initially flying in the atmosphere of this low-gravity planet turned out to be a true pleasure. We weren't flying, we were levitating. Before the arrival of the empire, this celestial body must have been a paradise for all kinds of flying species (which probably hadn't been able to adapt to the appropriation of the sky by the various machines of the empire).

However, I had started to become disillusioned when halfway through, a violent pain seized me. I felt as if I were being pierced from all sides with a knife. I screamed with all my might and lost control of my flight and began to fall. In a final surge of consciousness, I flapped my wings to escape the area and suddenly everything disappeared. I stabilized my altitude and looked around to see that the other animorphs seemed to have undergone a similar experience.

What happened? asked Rachel

"I don't know, but something tells me we better turn back..." I replied.

"It looks like the security setup that visser-3 had put in place around the Mariot hotel," added Tobias.

You're kidding, it's nothing like that. Visser-12's device hurt a lot less. That's it, I've officially gone crazy. I'm starting to miss that evil larva. Objected Marco.

Maybe, but Tobias is right. We must be dealing with a similar device. A weapon or force field must inflict this pain on anything flying without authorization in the area. Thévenin, any idea on how to detect and avoid it?

Not the slightest.

Well, we take a wide detour and try to approach the palace again.

But each time we were stopped by the same barrier of pain. It seemed impossible to get too close to the imperial palace from the air. Once on the ground, I demorphed and savored the silence in my head. These sessions of pain had at least had the positive effect of tiring David enough for him to stop haranguing me or trying to betray the Animorphs. Although it would have been more accurate to say that they had traumatized him. But it wasn't the right time for my thoughts to drift.In that direction (no matter what he says, I had no choice but to make him go through that).

Is everyone okay? Jack asked once the last of us had demorphed (except Tobias whose natural form was a hawk).

Yuck, it stinks. Complained Rachel, trying to keep her balance on one of the few rocks painfully emerging from the stagnant water of the swamp where we were all wading barefoot (none of us had found a way to keep our shoes during the transformation).

I think it's sulfur. It stinks, but apparently, it's not dangerous. Cassie declared.

We would still do better not to linger. The capital is known for its toxic swamps. I said.

Charming. You could say that the Yeerks have taste in choosing their world. Marco commented.

First, we didn't choose anything at all, we took what we were allowed to have after the Andalites drove us from our home world. Second, the more hospitable planets of the empire are primarily intended for the breeding of food for the Taxxons and our other hosts (and also as vacation spots for the highest-ranking Yeerks, but I won't mention that). Third, our planets may not be as beautiful as Earth, but at least we respect them. I fumed.

Calm down. I know everyone is tired, but we're all on the same team, in case you forgot. Stop Jack immediately.

Sorry. Marco apologized. It was just a remark to lighten the mood.

It's okay, I shouldn't have gotten upset just because of a bad joke. I apologized in turn.

Hey, that was supposed to be an apology. Marco complained with a smile.

Marco, you will have to admit the horrible truth. Your jokes are atrocious. Rachel teased him as usual.

If even Princess Xena is siding with the Yeerks now, replied Marco.

Fine. I suggest we go inside and from now on, we continue on foot. Any objections? Jack interrupted them.

"Humans, won't he risk being noticed?" Tobias asked.

No. Millions of humans have been deported to the four corners of the empire to serve as hosts. They are still rare, but it shouldn't seem strange to see them in the capital. In any case, the empire has enslaved so many different species that no yeerk can claim to know them all. On the other hand, in his bird form, Tobias is likely to attract attention. I replied.

Immediately, Tobias began to change to take on the appearance of a young brown-haired boy the same age as Jack. And we passed through the airlock where we had the unpleasant surprise of having to undergo a scan. After a few anxious minutes, the inner door of the airlock opened and a voice declared in Galard (the common galactic language):

No Andalite detected. No weapon detected. Eradication of unknown pathogens completed. You are authorized to enter block568. May the Kandrona be gentle with you.

We can go. I explained.

We entered a vast steel corridor with a neglected appearance, scattered with dwellings and depots where the inhabitants came to help themselves to various objects and provisions for their host. The further we went, the more I asked myself questions.Already, I did not understand why everything looked so dilapidated. We were in the center of the most powerful empire in the galaxy, for heaven's sake. I expected the interior to be as flamboyant as the majesty of its incredible constructions suggested, as smooth and flawless as if it had just been built. At certain moments, we even had to slalom barefoot between puddles of a liquid that I hoped was only water.

But over time, I stopped looking at the places with a critical eye to focus on the inhabitants. Contrary to what I hoped, we did not go unnoticed. The crowd, composed of various species of which I recognized only half, turned as we passed and gave us threatening looks. To accentuate this distressing atmosphere, all seemed more or less maimed. Among the species I recognized, I did not see one without a hand or tentacle replaced by a prosthesis or that did not bear a hideous scar.

We continued to walk along the main avenue, doing our best to ignore them until the path opened onto a huge intersection with a large basin in the center, from which an intense light emanated from the ceiling. We had arrived at the Yeerk pool of this sector. All along were various aliens whose heads were encased in collars forcing them to keep their heads in the water. Some were crying and screaming, but most were resigned to their fate. We hastily turned back, trying to ignore what, even without understanding the language, we all interpreted as cries for help, when a crippled Hork-Bajir blocked our way.

— So the high-ranking officers. Our pool is not good enough for you. You know, I'm not sensitive, but my friends might take it the wrong way.Threatens him in reward.

As soon as 3 gedds equipped with knives looking menacing and a sirtlin (a kind of giant serpent with 4 arms) emerged from the shadows and surrounded us.

What do they want from us asked Cassie.

(That's it, we're going to die.), shouted David in my head.

I have no idea, but they'll see what she's drinking, we're warming up. Declared Rachel as she began her transformation into a grizzly.

Rachel, stop. The Yeerks must not know we are here, Jack ordered. Thévenin is trying to negotiate.

You are mistaken. We are just lost soldiers.I was explaining, but the Hork-Bajir Controller interrupted me.

Yeah, that's it. Take us for fools. You thought you could strut around the underworld with your human hosts without consequences. Apparently, it's true what they say. The higher up in the hierarchy you go, the more stupid you become. But you're lucky, we're not looking for trouble. Just to improve our daily life. Head gently towards the pool and maybe we'll leave you a host on the edge of the pool so you can return to your sector. There's no reason we should have to settle for a host damaged by war, when some use their privilege to grant themselves luxurious hosts at the expense of our soldiers.

Replied the Hork-Bajir while showing his blade. Meanwhile, the others started to laugh wickedly.

I don't know what you told them, but it didn't seem to convince them.

They want to steal our hosts. Apparently, humans are very valuable. I believe we won't be able to avoid a fight. I explained to them.

Rachel begins to transform you into your most powerful form. The others, move in a way to hide her as long as possible. Thévenin keeps them waiting. Ordered Jack.

The talking is over. We're starting to get impatient. If you want to chat, do it in a way that we can benefit from it.

Please wait. We will obey you. It's just that my friends don't speak Galard, so I have to translate your instructions for them and get them to agree.

What do you mean, he doesn't speak Galard? Where did you say you came from again?

Before I could make up for my blunder, a siren wailed and the corridor suddenly emptied of all the inhabitants.

— Damn the militia. You're lucky, you slackers. But we'll meet again.

He said before fleeing. Just after, two shuttles arrived in the corridor and suddenly pointed immobilizing rays in all directions. Fortunately, I was able to dodge them and hide in a dark corner with the others. Unfortunately, this was not the case for Rachel, who now sported a disgusting appearance halfway between a grizzly and a human (not very effective for running). Nevertheless, she did not look out of place in the incoherent group of aliens that had been randomly caught by the ray (including one of the Gedd who had tried to rough us up).

— The administrative zone has undergone several attempted intrusions by air. The perpetrators are suspected of having entered block568 without authorization. For your safety, please cooperate with the authorities.Shouted a voice coming from the militia shuttle.

We have to go save Rachel. Shouted Tobias, ready to rush at the vehicle.

— What are you up to, you clowns? Don't you think you've already caused us enough trouble? Stop your nonsense, or the militia will be the least of your worries.Said the leader of the gang, putting his blade under Tobias's throat, who swallowed. Despite the heaviness of his Hork-Bajir, he had managed to sneak up behind us without me noticing anything.

— Are you going to let your friend be arrested without doing anything?

— He will get out quickly. We've been caught so often that we know the prison guards better than our assigned handlers.Ironisa is the Hork-Bajir controller.

— My friend will not have that chance. When they discover her identity, she will be sent directly to the dungeons of Visser-one.

I am beginning to understand. You are fugitives. Maybe even members of the Council of 13.He said with a covetous look in our direction.

— Not exactlyI said as I expertly pulled out the miniature Draco ray gun that I had carried attached to my falcon legs, then hidden in my underwear.

Phew! That's pro gear. Okay, slackers. Their shuttle is protected by a shield, but it's weaker at the back. If you wait for their shuttle to turn around to shoot at them, then you should be able to immobilize it. If you do that, my guys and I can jump on them. You stay back and cover us with your toys. Your fragile hosts would only get in the way.

Why would you want to help us?

Being able to take down an imperial is already a good reason. And as you said, I can't let them take my corassan without trying something. But don't get me wrong. It's just a fair exchange. If I see you on my territory again, I'll kill you. Is that clear?

Clear. I replied.

Listen, we might still have a chance to stay discreet. Our friends are going to attempt an assault. Let them get killed in our place and only transform if they fail. I explained to the animorphs.

(A plan worthy of a traitor) commented David in my head.

(I would have thought you would approve of any plan to avoid putting your precious body in danger)

I'm not saying otherwise. I'm just highlighting that despite all your fine speeches, you're no better than me.

(I never said otherwise. It's rather Jack and the others that should be convinced. If you hadn't tried to kill them, he would probably be more receptive to your arguments.)

(I consider that they started first)

(It is a bold interpretation of the events. And you know it perfectly well.)

(As you can read my thoughts, you also know that I...)

Enough! I need to concentrate. If you really care about life, then be quiet until we are out of trouble.

(That's exactly what I wanted to talk to you about. You forced me to risk my life for your cause, and then you complain that I resist.) Nevertheless, after this last objection, he fell silent again.

I took aim and waited. I held my breath as the shuttle entered the alley opposite ours in search of a new target. But its occupants had long since taken shelter inside the buildings or fled. Once it had passed us, I aimed and fired continuously until I emptied my magazine, trying to ignore the horrible noise of the impacts that would surely attract reinforcements. When I finally looked up, it was to witness a nightmare scene. The shuttle, deprived of its shields, was being stormed not only by our attackers but also by all the residents of the alley who seemed to have spontaneously joined them. They managed to tear off one of the metal doors and extract an alien in uniform who was torn to pieces by the vengeful crowd. Then one of them must have managed to reach the controls, as suddenly the tracking beam that was keeping the raid's victims paralyzed deactivated and the prisoners began to flee.

Tobias used his telepathic abilities to mentally shout to Rachel to flee in our direction without anyone else but us hearing. She took advantage of the confusion to become fully human again and ran to join us when a shot was heard. The rioters began to flee. A taxxon in uniform armed with an old model of Draco ray got out of the vehicle and started shooting at the crowd (particularly targeting the fleeing prisoners). If nothing was done, Rachel would never have time to get out. However, we were too far to intervene in time. He aimed his ray in her direction and was about to shoot. But he screamed in pain when a crow gouged out his eyes. Without me noticing, Tobias had resumed his normal form and, seeing Rachel in danger, rushed at her attacker without regard for his safety (or our secret).

In the distance, I thought I heard the sound of another shuttle approaching. We fled running before we could find out if I was right.

oOoOoOo

Please choose me, I would make a good host.

By constantly fleeing, we had finally reached an anti-gravity elevator that had taken us to the upper levels (the only difficulty had been having to transform into an insect to get past the checkpoints). Once again, we attracted suspicious looks, but here it was because of our disheveled appearance and the dirt covering us from our visit to the underworld. Even though I spotted traces of decay in various places, the cleanliness of the area was impeccable. Not only were the hosts on this floor in good condition, but the closer we got to the palace, the more they wore clothes richly decorated with various shiny objects that the Yeerks favored.

The deposits were also increasingly well-stocked. If at the beginning he only offered basic items like food or clothes for the hosts, very quickly, we saw shops offering works of art, various leisure gadgets, or tools to train the host or immobilize them so that their Yeerk could safely leave their body. When Cassie, curious about everything, asked me what the sign indicated and what the objects were for, I pitifully invented a pious lie that did not seem to deceive her incredible insight. However, she acted as if she hadn't noticed anything and moved on, knowing that the other team members wouldn't have her restraint.

Nevertheless, when we reached this shop, she herself was seized with a violent disgust. Before our eyes stood a good dozen crippled humans in cages with labels in front specifying their characteristics. At the shop's front, there was a magnificent sign indicating in Galard: "Luxury event hostThen in chalk:This week, exceptional arrival of humans discarded by the army. Come test their incredible senses.»

If most stood immobile, zombified or traumatized by the conflicts, the few still able to move begged passersby (in English) to choose them as a new host, not knowing that the present Yeerks probably didn't understand them.

Pathetic. Rachel commented, pointing to a 30-year-old man who had literally knelt down to convince a Yeerk of his docility, as it had stopped to examine the contents of the cages.

For once, I agree with Xena. Added Marco, making an effort to tear himself away from the spectacle.

Before I could admonish them for speaking English in public, a taxxon with a cape decorated with the equivalent of a colonel's stripes in humans jostled us and hurriedly entered the shop. He spoke loudly without caring about being heard by all the passersby, using the taxxon language:

You have received a new shipment of his succulent humans.The faces of the Taxxons were not very expressive, but even from the distant place where we were, their greed was clearly visible.

One of the Yeerks busy cleaning an empty cage rushed toward the newcomer and answered obsequiously:

Pleased to see you again, Lord Oltri147. You are well informed. However, I would be grateful if you could prioritize choosing the unsold items from our previous shipment.

He remained silent for a few seconds then replied:

In recognition of your ability to procure the finest dishes in the galaxy, my taxxon grants your request. But it hopes that next time your stall will be better stocked.

The speed of the Andalites' advance no longer always allows us to recover our wounded.

Andalite scum. They talk about honor all day long, but they don't even respect the most basic rules of engagement.He said before rushing at the man whom Rachel had found so pitiful and devouring him alive (in the complete indifference of the numerous passersby).

Then he turned to the other occupants of the cage. The spectacle was so horrible that even David asked:

(Can't we do anything to help them?)

(Not without compromising our mission.)

(My parents?)

(It is possible. After our revolution, they had no value as hostages anymore. The empire probably sent them to the fronts. The more time passes, the less the chances of finding them unharmed.)

We resumed our journey in silence. None of us dared to speak about what we had just seen. We all felt guilty, but despite their youth, they already had enough combat experience to accept that they couldn't save everyone.

Quickly, we spotted the palace through a large bulletproof glass next to a guard post equipped with an impressive security system, which would undoubtedly be much more difficult to pass than the previous ones.

oOoOoOo

Surprisingly, infiltrating the emperor's palace had been the easiest part of the journey. Despite our initial fears, we encountered no difficulties. Better yet, luck seemed to be on our side for once.

We had barely begun spying on the premises when a large poster in the servants' break room informed us that starting at 9 PM tonight, Visser-one would lock himself alone in the east wing to rest and did not wish to be disturbed under any circumstances. This was quite unusual behavior for a visser. Usually, they spent their free time at parties where a whole cohort of admirers gathered to praise their exploits in the hope of obtaining various privileges. The smartest vissers (of which Visser-one was undeniably a part) were not fooled and politely rejected these solicitations, instead using their evenings to develop their network and forge useful alliances with powerful yeerks. But most drowned in compliments and ended up convincing themselves of the exceptional nature of their quality.

It was with confidence that we headed towards his quarters in the form of cockroaches. Our plan was simple. Knock out Visser-One by surprise before he could raise the alarm. Then, I would take on the appearance of his host (for ethical reasons that I had trouble understanding, the Animorphs forbade themselves from acquiring conscious beings without their consent, but they concluded that Marco could decide on behalf of his mother). Next, we would put Visser-One in a bag, and the other Animorphs would take on the appearance of Hork-Bajir guards. Thus, we could pass ourselves off as Visser-One accompanied by his escort and requisition one of the shuttles that were stationed in the gardens to return to the Pemalite ship. If everything went as planned, we would be back on Earth before the disappearance of Visser-One was discovered.

Maybe I could even take the opportunity to access Visser-One's terminal and make a copy of its data. In addition to the obvious military utility, we might have the chance to discover what David's parents were.become. If they were still alive, once back, we could try to mount a rescue mission.

Despite the cockroach's limited senses, we quickly found the only occupied room in this wing of the palace. I glanced through the ventilation grille and my heart skipped a beat. The room was plunged into darkness except for a computer screen on which the sole occupant of the room was typing: Visser-one.

"Jackpot," I exclaimed in thought, taking care to be heard only by my teammates. The thought-speak of the Andalites was definitely convenient. What a shame we had to be in morph to use it.

"Let's go," exclaimed Marco, just as enthusiastic as I was.

"Let's go," replied Rachel.

The situation is ideal, but let's remain cautious and patient. We must first surround her to be sure she cannot escape and ensure she has no way to raise the alarm before launching the assault. Said Jack before starting to leave.

"Wait," said Cassie.

<What?> Everyone asked in unison.

Don't you think it's too simple? That there are a lot of coincidences that go in our favor.

I am the first to say that when Rachel says let's go, you should run in the opposite direction. But we are not going to back down at the last moment, just because you have a hunch. Objected Marco with more impatience than he had ever shown.

We should at least take some time to think about it and examine the room. Besides, don't you find there's a strange smell? protested Cassie calmly.

Now that she said it, it was true that the cockroach's senses detected the presence of a fragrance that was not found in the rest of the palace. Despite my efforts, I could not identify it.

Maybe it's just the smell of Visser-one. Maybe my mother has... Well, maybe that's what a cockroach smells when a woman has her period.

Marco, it's okay, you can say the word rule. On Earth, we often took this form and I never felt that. It's something else. Something we've never encountered. Objected Rachel to defend her best friend (although it was clear she was eager to take action).

We are not going to give up because of a smell. Marco replied

No, but maybe we can sit down and think for 5 minutes, Cassie objected.

Think about what? We have a golden opportunity and if we wait too long it might slip away. What do we do if Visser-one decides to leave the palace in secret? Marco retorted passionately.

As usual in this situation, Jack intervened to decide:

Marco is right. We will never have a more perfect opportunity. We have to give it a try. But be careful. Tobias and Rachel, you will stay in the air duct and intervene only if necessary.

This seemed to satisfy Cassie, but much less Rachel, who found it difficult to stay away from the fights. However, it was a logical choice that she had to approve. She was the best warrior of the group and the one whose transformations were the most destructive. Therefore, the least useful for a mission involving capturing the target alive. And on the contrary, thebetter positioned to come to our aid in case of trouble. And Tobias and Rachel tended to lose their cool when the other was captured or in mortal danger. So Jack made sure to put them in the same group as much as possible when he had to split up during a mission (not to mention that he himself preferred to have Cassie by his side)

We cautiously exited the air duct and slid along the wall to reach the floor. Still not spotting any traps, we split up, running as fast as possible to opposite sides of the room. In the middle of the path, I felt something strange on my legs and asked the others mentally:

There is a strange liquid on the ground.

Barely had I uttered this sentence when a flash of lightning dazzled the room and I felt intense pain. My legs fused and my rib cage gradually expanded until it exploded. I thought I was dead, but reality revealed something far more terrible. Under the mocking smile of Visser-One and the shrill wail of an alarm that soon attracted an army of Hork-Bajir controllers, I was returning to my original form.

Help, stop them. They have killed the emperor. Hurla Visser-one in Galard.

I looked at the ground. The strange liquid I had stepped in was actually blood flowing from the emperor yeerk's savagely mutilated host.

Cassie was wrong. It was not a trap, but a plot. I tried to transform back, but I was unable to. I glanced around and saw that Jack, Marco, and Cassie were in the same situation as me.