Chapter 4
"So ... Do you have any news?" I asked.
It was late in the afternoon. We gathered together in the Cassie's barn. Many wild animals are housed there because the place was also an animal rehabilitation clinic. Most of them in injured condition. After being treated and cured, then they are released back into the wilderness. This is not surprising since Cassie's mother works at the zoo, The Gardens. Our adventure begins with a lot of animals in that place that we tap their DNA.
The weather outside is not much different from yesterday. Black cloud covered the sky. The sunlight did not appear. The trees that grow around Cassie's house looks strong, though upright branches and branches moving increasingly as strong winds pushed around.
I look around. All members of the Animorphs present there. Marco leaned on one pole. Originally Marco does not want to join the fight, but after knowing the fact that his mother was in fact Visser One, he was determined to join the fight to the end. In a group of Animorphs, Marco is often making joke. Unfortunately, the jokes do not sound funny to me. I actually think Marco is more annoying than funny.
Perched at the top, I saw a red-tailed hawk Tobias image. He seemed alert as usual. Cassie sitting on a pile of hay. Jake was standing not far from her. If you want to know how the appearance of Cassie, you can imagine the figure of a girl with worn jeans and boots. I always failed to convince Cassie to look more feminine. Because for me, the appearance is number one. Many friends in my class who told me that I look like a model. Yeah, they are not wrong anyway, because I always keep my appearance. So, I want Cassie to change little by little. Anyway, Jake also has a crush on her, and I think Cassie's feeling is also the same.
Last members of Animorphs, standing in the corner of the room. Virtually invisible. But if you look through, you will know that he is not a creature that we usually encounter on earth. Aximili-Esgarrouth-Isthill or Ax, young Andalite who are trying to survive on planet earth while waiting for reinforcements to arrive. Ax body shape like a mix of a deer blue and scorpions. Andalites have extra eyes can move in any direction. Andalites also had no mouth. That is why, if Ax is in human morph, we must be careful and control him in terms of food. There had been, Ax eat something that should not be eaten.
"There will be more missions, guys ..." said Jake.
"Ohhh that's good ... It seems like we have not on a mission, you know? All of my body has been sore all. Why do not we stop by the masseur before we act?" Marco said.
"Shut up Marco!" I snapped as I glared at him. He just grinned.
I motioned for Jake to continue his speech.
Jake said, "Yesterday Mr. Chapman came to my house. She met with Tom and they seem pretty serious in conversation. Although I did not hear clearly on the whole, but I know they are talking about supply Kandrona beam thinning. So it is probable they make some Yeerk pool again to overcome this crisis. "
I remembered my encounter yesterday with Mr. Chapman. Apparently he was on his way to meet Tom at Jake's house. I decided not to tell my story and Tobias met Mr. Chapman to the other.
<Do you know where it is located?> Tobias thought-speak heard by us.
Jake looked at him and nodded.
"I do not know the exact location, but it looks like they make it in the woods, a little outside the city. I think, if we could investigate the site and if it is true they make Yeerk pool there, we have to destroy it!"
"So what are you waiting for? Let's do it!" Marco shouted.
I punched Marco arm and said, "That's mine!"
"Are you sure Jake?" Cassie frowned. "Isn't there some point scattered across the city to the Yeerk pool? How could they run out of Kandrona rays?"
Jake shrugged.
"That is the information I heard anyway. What do you say, Ax?"
<If that information is correct, we should be there to check it out, Prince Jake.>
"Do not call me Prince," Jake said for the umpteenth time.
<Very well, Prince Jake.>
"So what were the plans?" I asked.
Jake cleared his throat before saying, "We're leaving tomorrow night. Morph into birds fly to the location."
Just then, I heard a voice in my mind.
<Rachel! Do not do this mission!>
I immediately realized that the language-mind that is directly addressed to me. I turned around. It did not look anything suspicious. She can use whatever morph.
"What 's the matter Rachel? You look anxious" Cassie said.
"Mmm ... No. No nothing," I said.
"So we're going to do a reconnaissance first. Once it is possible, then we destroy the Yeerk pool in there. Hopefully the guards are not too tight," said Jake.
<Rachel! Can you say to Jake to cancel his plan!>
I'm getting nervous, as Jake continues to explain his plans.
"To be safe, Ax will also morph. So far as possible we do not attract attention, because Yeerks very vigilant and always be suspicious when they see a group of animals in a large group."
<Rachel! Please, DO NOT GO!>
The words out of my mouth before I could stop myself.
"SILENCE ... JERK!"
===
Bab 4
"Jadi... Kau punya berita apa?" Aku bertanya.
Saat itu menjelang sore. Kami berkumpul bersama-sama di gudang Cassie. Banyak hewan-hewan liar yang ditampung disana karena tempat itu juga merupakan klinik rehabilitasi hewan. Kebanyakan mereka dalam kondisi terluka. Setelah dirawat dan disembuhkan, barulah mereka dilepas kembali ke alam terbuka. Hal ini tidak mengherankan karena ibu Cassie bekerja di kebun binatang The Gardens. Banyak petualangan kami berawal dari hewan di tempat itu yang kami sadap DNAnya.
Cuaca di luar tidak jauh berbeda dengan kemarin. Mendung pekat menggantung di angkasa. Sinar matahari sama sekali tidak tampak. Pepohonan yang tumbuh di sekeliling rumah Cassie tampak tegak berdiri sekalipun dahan dan rantingnya bergerak-gerak dipermainkan angin yang semakin kencang.
Aku melihat sekelilingku. Semua anggota Animorphs hadir disana. Marco menyandarkan tubuhnya pada salah satu tiang. Awalnya Marco tidak ingin ikut berjuang, namun setelah mengetahui fakta bahwa ibunya ternyata adalah Visser One, dia bertekad untuk ikut berjuang sampai akhir. Dalam kelompok Animorphs, Marco yang sering bercanda dan melontarkan lelucon-lelucon. Sayangnya, leluconnya bagiku tidak kedengaran lucu. Aku justru menganggap Marco lebih menyebalkan daripada lucu.
Bertengger di atas, aku melihat elang ekor merah penjelmaan Tobias. Dia tampak waspada seperti biasanya. Cassie duduk di atas tumpukan jerami. Jake berdiri tidak jauh darinya. Kalau kau mau tahu bagaimana penampilan Cassie, mungkin kau bisa membayangkan sosok cewek tomboi dengan celana jeans lusuh dan sepatu boot. Aku selalu gagal membujuk Cassie untuk berpenampilan lebih feminim. Soalnya bagiku, penampilan nomor satu. Banyak teman-teman di kelasku yang bilang kalau penampilanku seperti seorang model. Yeah, mereka tidak salah sih, karena aku selalu menjaga penampilanku. Makanya, aku ingin Cassie berubah sedikit demi sedikit. Lagian, Jake juga naksir padanya, dan kurasa Cassie juga suka sama Jake.
Anggota Animorphs yang terakhir, berdiri di sudut ruangan. Hampir tidak kelihatan. Tapi kalau kau melihat sekilas, kau akan tahu bahwa dia bukan makhluk yang biasa kita jumpai di bumi. Aximili-Esgarrouth-Isthill atau Ax, Andalite muda yang berusaha bertahan di planet bumi sambil menanti bala bantuan tiba. Bentuk tubuh Ax seperti campuran dari seekor rusa berwarna biru dan kalajengking. Andalite mempunyai mata tambahan yang bisa bergerak ke segala arah. Andalite juga tidak punya mulut. Itulah sebabnya, jika Ax sedang dalam morf manusia, kami harus berhati-hati dan mengontrol dia dalam hal makanan. Pernah terjadi beberapa kali, Ax memakan sesuatu yang seharusnya tidak boleh dimakan.
"Akan ada misi lagi, guys..." kata Jake.
"Ohhh baguslah... Sepertinya kita sudah lama tidak menjalankan misi, kau tahu? Seluruh badanku sudah pegal-pegal semua. Bagaimana kalau kita mampir ke tukang pijat sebelum kita beraksi?" timpal Marco.
"Diam Marco!" bentakku sambil melotot ke arahnya. Dia hanya nyengir lebar.
Aku memberi isyarat kepada Jake untuk melanjutkan bicaranya.
Kata Jake,"Kemarin Mr. Chapman datang ke rumahku. Dia bertemu dengan Tom dan kelihatannya mereka terlibat pembicaraan yang cukup serius. Walaupun aku tidak mendengar dengan jelas secara keseluruhan, tapi aku tahu mereka membicarakan tentang pasokan sinar Kandrona yang mulai menipis. Jadi besar kemungkinan mereka membuat beberapa kolam Yeerk lagi untuk mengatasi krisis ini."
Aku jadi teringat perjumpaanku kemarin dengan Mr. Chapman. Rupanya dia sedang dalam perjalanan menemui Tom di rumah Jake. Aku memutuskan untuk tidak menceritakan pengalamanku dan Tobias bertemu Mr. Chapman ke yang lain.
<Apa kau tahu dimana lokasinya?> bahasa-pikiran Tobias terdengar oleh kami.
Jake menoleh ke arahnya lalu mengangguk.
"Lokasi tepatnya aku tidak tahu, tapi kelihatannya mereka membuatnya di hutan, agak di luar kota. Aku berpikir, jika kita bisa menyelidiki lokasi itu dan jika memang benar mereka membuat kolam Yeerk disana, kita harus menghancurkannya!"
"Jadi tunggu apa lagi? Ayo kita lakukan!" teriak Marco.
Aku meninju lengan Marco sambil berkata ,"Itu bagianku!"
"Apa kau tidak salah, Jake?" Cassie mengerutkan kening. "Bukankah ada beberapa titik tersebar di seluruh kota ini untuk kolam Yeerk? Bagaimana mungkin mereka kehabisan sinar Kandrona?"
Jake mengangkat bahu.
"Itu informasi yang kudengar sih. Bagaimana menurutmua, Ax?"
<Kalau memang informasinya benar, kita harus kesana untuk memeriksanya, Pangeran Jake.>
"Jangan panggil aku Pangeran," kata Jake untuk kesekian kalinya.
<Baik, Pangeran Jake.>
"Jadi apa sudah ada rencana?" tanyaku.
Jake berdeham sebelum berkata ,"Kita berangkat besok malam. Morf jadi burung, langsung terbang ke lokasi."
Tepat pada saat itu, aku mendengar suara di dalam pikiranku.
<Rachel! Jangan lakukan misi ini!>
Aku langsung menyadari bahwa bahasa-pikiran yang ini langsung ditujukan kepadaku. Aku menoleh kesana kemari. Tidak tampak sesuatu yang mencurigakan. Dia bisa memakai morf apa saja.
"Ada apa Rachel? Kau terlihat gelisah" kata Cassie.
"Mmm... Tidak. Tidak ada apa-apa,"sahutku.
"Jadi kita akan melakukan pengintaian terlebih dahulu. Apabila nantinya memungkinkan, barulah kita hancurkan kolam Yeerk yang ada disana. Mudah-mudahan penjagaannya tidak terlalu ketat," kata Jake.
<Rachel! Tolong bilang sama Jake untuk membatalkan rencananya!>
Aku semakin gelisah, sementara Jake masih terus memaparkan rencananya.
"Untuk amannya, Ax juga akan morf. Jadi sedapat mungkin kita jangan menarik perhatian, soalnya Yeerk amat waspada dan selalu curiga apabila mereka melihat segerombolan binatang dalam satu kelompok besar."
<Rachel! Aku mohon, JANGAN PERGI!>
Kata-kata meluncur dari mulutku sebelum sempat kucegah.
"DIAM... BRENGSEK!"
===
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