Chapter 9
Rachel wakes up screaming from a nightmare. She checks if she is still human and then races to the bathroom. She is so spooked that she can't turn on the lights and, instead, just starts puking in her toilet. We also find out that the bathroom connects to the bedroom Rachel's sisters share.
Jordan says she better get their mother and Rachel replies not to because she's fine. Rachel cleans up and tells Jordan that she just had a bad dream that made her sick. Jordan asks about the dream and Xena Warrior Princess says that she can't remember. Aw, Rachel, say it a lot and maybe it'll suddenly become true.
Jordan points out that Rachel's nightmare was so bad that she woke up screaming and then vomited. Rachel replies that she's just not good at remembering dreams. Jordan asks if Rachel would tell her if anything really bad was going on and Rachel says yes. Of course that's a lie.
Rachel thinks, "I trusted Jordan. I knew in my heart that she was not a Controller. Of course, that's just what Jake had said about Tom."
Rachel moans the fact that she isn't be able to fully trust Jordan. Rachel thanks Jordan for waking her up from the dream that she TOTALLY CAN'T REMEMBER. Then Jordan says that Rachel was yelling something about maggots before she started screaming.
Rachel says goodnight to Jordan and then tells the dream to the reader. About the cat carcass with maggots that vermin were eating. One of the vermin was Rachel in shrew morph.
Chapter 10
Jake and Rachel takes the same bus, so he asks her how she is doing. He says that she looks tired and then asks if the shrew morph creeped her out. She gets all defensive and says that he just thinks she got creeped out because she's a girl.
Jake says that he didn't mean he thinks less of Rachel for being creeped out since he had nightmares when he did his lizard morph. He says that he had good dreams when he morphed the tiger, though. Dreams of chasing something through a forest at night, but not wanting to catch whatever it was since hunting was so much fun.
Rachel said that she had felt invincible after morphing the elephant. She brings up the theory that some animals are better for people than others. She then goes off on how she doesn't want to ever morph bugs. I'll be over here laughing my ass off again.
When the bus pulls up to the school there is a joke about 'normal life'. Rachel says goodbye to Jake, who says they're all in this together, and she goes over to Melissa. Rachel notices that her old friend has been crying. Rachel realizes that she doesn't know how to comfort Melissa, though she would've known in the days before she became an Animorph.
This causes Rachel to ask 'What' as she wants to know if Melissa has figured the truth about her father. However, Melissa goes away before Rachel can know for sure.
Rachel then walks into Chapman since she is so caught up in her thoughts. Chapman tells her to watch where she's going. Rachel recalls that Chapman was the one to tell a Hork-Bajir to get the Animorphs' heads for identification.
The Controller asks what is wrong and Rachel says bad dreams. Chapman reminds her that nightmares aren't real. Rachel tells herself that's not true all the time.
Chapter 11
The Animorphs couldn't go to the Chapman house the next night because of normal high school life. It's nice that the series doesn't glance over the fact that the kids are in school and can't easily escape to their secret life. The fact that sometimes they have to let normal life affect their war on the Yeerks.
A few nights later they are by the Chapman house, ready to infiltrate the Chapman house. The Animorphs don't lock Fluffer up. I see NOTHING going wrong because of that. I'm sure Fluffer won't suddenly pop up suddenly. I'm sure Fluffer will stay away from the house until the mission is over.
His exact words are: "You're supposed to be finding some way for us to get at the Yeerks, so
that we can all turn into wild animals and get ourselves killed."
I am loving you, Marco!
Rachel signals Tobias down and he says that things are good for the mission to truly begin. Fluffer is nowhere near the house. Marco makes a joke on how Tobias and himself could make good burglars. Adding that Jake could be Spider-Man and catch the two of them.
Rachel again says she's ready and Tobias privately tells if she runs into trouble to get out of the house and he can fly her away to safety.
Rachel starts to morph Fluffer and remembers clearly him trying to kill her. Aw, such pleasant memories!
Rachel again says she's ready and Tobias privately tells if she runs into trouble to get out of the house and he can fly her away to safety.
Rachel mentions that the first time you do a new morph you can't control how it happens. Even Cassie, the Master Morpher, can't control the first morph. The others agree that her morphing Fluffer is looking good so far. Marco suggests her doing cat food commercials.
Why the fuck are you still morphing without first removing your clothes first? Why? Why? Why?
Rachel remarks on how she feels the strength of Fluffer. Of how she feels like only the strongest parts of her will remain at the end of the morph. Rachel says the overriding emotion of Fluffer/a cat is confidence.
Rachel says that it looks like daylight to her. Cassie says that a cat's night vision is better than a human's. Cue a joke from Marco. Rachel says cat night vision isn't just about what you see. It's about what you notice. The only thing a cat really notices is movement.
Rachel doesn't care about Jake's voice, she is totally focused on the sound a mouse is making. Cassie asks Rachel if she can hear them. Rachel replies she can, but it's hard to concentrate. That's about my state of mind right now.
Tobias flies and Rachel instantly goes into fighting mode. There is really no transition here. One second she is calm and the next second she is ready for a fight. Cassie tells Rachel to calm down since it's just Tobias. Cassie then tells Tobias to stay away since cats are genetically programmed to fear large bird.
Rachel says her fear of Tobias as a cat is the same but different from the shrew's. There is anger in the Cat Rachel's fear of Tobias.
I think this quote not only sums up what that means, but is very Rachel:
And the message I was trying to communicate was, "Don't mess with me. You may be bigger than me, you may scare me, you may make me run away, but if I have to I am ready to fight."
Cassie asks how being a cat feels and Rachel replies that it feels like she's Clint Eastwood. Marco reminds Rachel to still be afraid like a human, to have caution. He makes a joke that includes saying Rachel is fearless and that he's scared shitless at the moment. Cassie seconds that Rachel still needs to be cautious.
Rachel is able to tell, by smell alone, who lives in the house. She mentions that cockroaches were fun to watch but they weren't prey. Rachel notices the sound of Melissa's mother and also the annoying sound of the refrigerator. She also takes notice of the birds outside. Finally she notices Melissa's voice but it's muffled and they're not in the same room.
Rachel says everything is fine and decides to let the mouse live because she's not hungry. Cassie says that they'll be there for backup if need be.
Rachel mentions that she doesn't want to take full control of her cat mind since she's not fearless. Whatever the others may think: she's the not fearless person the others think she is.
Cassie reminds Rachel of the time so Rachel will know when she has to demorph.
Chapter 12
Rachel is enjoying her cat morph. A lot. She talks about how a cat is more graceful than a human. She leaps three feet onto a fence, says it's like a human leaping a two story building, out of reflex. She doesn't even have to think about it.
Rachel continues to do whatever she wants and remarks that the best human gymnast is nothing compared to a cat. Her fun is broken when the others ask what she's doing. She had forgotten about the others being there.
Rachel says that she was just practicing and then mentally tells herself that she can have fun as a cat later.
Rachel sniffs some cat piss and smells that it's from another tomcat. One that could kick her ass and so she'd have to submit to it. She says she's not afraid of the tomcat, just a little less arrogant than she had been before. When Tobias asks why she sniffed cat piss she lies and says that she was just playing the part. Tobias tells her that being an animal for a little while is fun, not so much fun when you have to live every second of every day as one.
Tobias seems to be saying that he regrets his decision to be trapped in morph. That whatever he thought before, being permanently a red-tailed hawk isn't as fun as he thought it was going to be.
The reminder of what will happen if Rachel goes over the time limit smacks her into reality. It shows that she is frightened of Tobias' fate happening to her. She then tries to control the cat mind and finds it hard. The cat mind doesn't know what it means to obey. Rachel then uses the memory of the tomcat's piss to scare the cat mind into submission.
Tobias says that Rachel is almost there and that she's in the right yard. Rachel says she knows and uses the word 'me' to describe Fluffer's territory. Tobias reminds her that this is the Chapman yard. And the Chapmans are Controllers that work for Visser Three.
I love Rachel's response and so am putting it here:
Here to Rachel's ego becoming bigger while being in cat morph!
Chapter 12
Rachel is enjoying her cat morph. A lot. She talks about how a cat is more graceful than a human. She leaps three feet onto a fence, says it's like a human leaping a two story building, out of reflex. She doesn't even have to think about it.
Rachel continues to do whatever she wants and remarks that the best human gymnast is nothing compared to a cat. Her fun is broken when the others ask what she's doing. She had forgotten about the others being there.
Rachel sniffs some cat piss and smells that it's from another tomcat. One that could kick her ass and so she'd have to submit to it. She says she's not afraid of the tomcat, just a little less arrogant than she had been before. When Tobias asks why she sniffed cat piss she lies and says that she was just playing the part. Tobias tells her that being an animal for a little while is fun, not so much fun when you have to live every second of every day as one.
Tobias seems to be saying that he regrets his decision to be trapped in morph. That whatever he thought before, being permanently a red-tailed hawk isn't as fun as he thought it was going to be.
Tobias says that Rachel is almost there and that she's in the right yard. Rachel says she knows and uses the word 'me' to describe Fluffer's territory. Tobias reminds her that this is the Chapman yard. And the Chapmans are Controllers that work for Visser Three.
I love Rachel's response and so am putting it here:
I trotted to the cat door. Chapman. Visser Three. Big deal. I was a combination of Rachel and
Fluffer. What did I care about Chapman and Visser Three?Here to Rachel's ego becoming bigger while being in cat morph!
Rachel starts to go over to where she hears Melissa's voice. The human part of her mind knows she should be afraid, but the cat/Fluffer part is reassured because it's his house. There are no other smells besides Fluffer's own and human smells. I am laughing a little at the fact that Fluffer doesn't consider human smells important.
Rachel sees that Chapman is just sitting on the couch. He's not watching tv or listening to music. He's just sitting there. Almost like he's not human!
Ms. Chapman is just cutting vegetables without any background noise. She's not even humming to herself. It's almost like she's not human either!
Rachel has to force herself to concentrate on Melissa's voice instead of the more interesting sounds of birds. She hears her former friend doing math homework and feels guilty because that's what she should be doing. I wouldn't feel guilty, I'd rather face Visser Three than do math homework. But maybe I'm just insane like that.
Rachel looks around for a clock so that she knows when she has to demorph. She finally finds a clock and sees she has more than enough time to get the mission done. She is startled when Chapman gets up. Rachel knows watching Chapman is the reason she is in cat morph in enemy territory, but she has to fool the cat part of her to be interested. She does so by saying that Chapman is their prey.
Is he prey? The cat brain seemed to be asking.
Yes. Yes, I told the cat brain. Chapman is our prey.
Rachel then proceeds to follow Chapman. He opens a door and Tobias asks how Rachel is doing. This spooks Rachel and causes her to make a movement a real cat wouldn't make. She knows that he must be close to be able to talk with her and she hears birds being silent since a big hawk is outside the house.
Rachel replies that she is fine but that he scared her half to death. Tobias says sorry but that he was worried about her. She reassures him and tells him that she's following Chapman to the basement. When Tobias asks why, Rachel says that it's because that's where the Controller is going.
Rachel makes mention that Tobias talking to her is annoying her since the cat part of her didn't care. This makes concentrating on what he's saying very hard to do. All the cat part of her wants to do was go down to the basement.
Rachel says it's weird walking down stairs as a cat. It gives her a sense of vertigo. Rachel says that she's thankful that Tobias is concerned, but that she's busy right now. Tobias says he understands and that she's starting to reach the limits of how far Tobias' thought-speak can reach. When she calls out for him, he doesn't reply.
I am loving Tobias' concern for Rachel in this scene.
The cat part of Rachel's mind concentrates on the fun things in the basement that there are to chase. Rachel has to remind herself that she is here to follow Chapman. That Chapman is the prey. Rachel smells that only one part of the basement seems to have been used and is full of Chapman's scent.
Chapman walks down the path that is full of his scent and opens a door. Beyond that door is a door that's similar to a bank vault's door. Chapman puts his hand on a panel and the second door opens. Rachel remarks that it's like a door in Star Trek. I can't believe I didn't realize how much of a Trekkie Applegate was when I first read this series!
Rachel and her cat mind are in agreement that following Chapman is a bad idea. Rachel because she has human fear and the cat mind because it doesn't understand why they should go into the dark place.
But she has to remind herself that following Chapman is the whole point of this spying trip and Chapman is prey.
Rachel goes into the dark room at the very last second. When Chapman turns on the lights, she remarks that cat eyes work better in the dark than they do in the light.
Chapman sits down at a desk that has some odd equipment and just waits for something to happen. Rachel stays out of Chapman's sight in case he realizes that she's not really Fluffer. She does this because she remembers Jake's warning about how a Controller, like Chapman, would notice if an animal was acting oddly. They would know that the animal isn't an animal but someone in morph. Since the Yeerks don't know Elfangor gave humans the ability to morph, they'd assume the Animorph was an Andalite.
A hologram of Visser Three appears on Chapman's desk. Rachel's fear the the Visser overpowers the cat part of her mind. She then gives a list of why she is scared shitless about seeing this particular Controller.
Chapman and the Visser greet each other. Chapman's Yeerk turns out to have the name Iniss two two six.
While Rachel is focusing on what is happening the cat part of her is more interested in the hologram. The cat brain realizes that it's not really there. Rachel remarks that Visser Three still seems solid. She doesn't want the Visser to look at her, not even a hologram version of him.
Visser Three asks Chapman how the search for the Andalite bandits is going. Chapman says they haven't been found yet and the Visser yells at the Controller for not finding them. He wants them found now. Rachel can smell fear on Chapman.
Visser Three says that if the Council of Thirteen finds out about the bandits they'll be angry at him. Then the Visser will be angry at Chapman. Rachel can smell Chapman sweating and she also thinks she can smell Iniss.
Visser asks what the creature (aka cat) is. Rachel freezes up at the Visser's gaze. Chapman explains that humans keep cats as pets. Visser Three asks why it's in the room and Chapman replies it's his host's daughter's pet. Visser then tells Chapman to kill it.
Well, Rachel seems to have a great night ahead of her.
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Yes. Yes, I told the cat brain. Chapman is our prey.
Rachel then proceeds to follow Chapman. He opens a door and Tobias asks how Rachel is doing. This spooks Rachel and causes her to make a movement a real cat wouldn't make. She knows that he must be close to be able to talk with her and she hears birds being silent since a big hawk is outside the house.
Rachel replies that she is fine but that he scared her half to death. Tobias says sorry but that he was worried about her. She reassures him and tells him that she's following Chapman to the basement. When Tobias asks why, Rachel says that it's because that's where the Controller is going.
Rachel says it's weird walking down stairs as a cat. It gives her a sense of vertigo. Rachel says that she's thankful that Tobias is concerned, but that she's busy right now. Tobias says he understands and that she's starting to reach the limits of how far Tobias' thought-speak can reach. When she calls out for him, he doesn't reply.
I am loving Tobias' concern for Rachel in this scene.
Chapman walks down the path that is full of his scent and opens a door. Beyond that door is a door that's similar to a bank vault's door. Chapman puts his hand on a panel and the second door opens. Rachel remarks that it's like a door in Star Trek. I can't believe I didn't realize how much of a Trekkie Applegate was when I first read this series!
Rachel and her cat mind are in agreement that following Chapman is a bad idea. Rachel because she has human fear and the cat mind because it doesn't understand why they should go into the dark place.
Rachel goes into the dark room at the very last second. When Chapman turns on the lights, she remarks that cat eyes work better in the dark than they do in the light.
Chapman sits down at a desk that has some odd equipment and just waits for something to happen. Rachel stays out of Chapman's sight in case he realizes that she's not really Fluffer. She does this because she remembers Jake's warning about how a Controller, like Chapman, would notice if an animal was acting oddly. They would know that the animal isn't an animal but someone in morph. Since the Yeerks don't know Elfangor gave humans the ability to morph, they'd assume the Animorph was an Andalite.
A hologram of Visser Three appears on Chapman's desk. Rachel's fear the the Visser overpowers the cat part of her mind. She then gives a list of why she is scared shitless about seeing this particular Controller.
While Rachel is focusing on what is happening the cat part of her is more interested in the hologram. The cat brain realizes that it's not really there. Rachel remarks that Visser Three still seems solid. She doesn't want the Visser to look at her, not even a hologram version of him.
Visser Three asks Chapman how the search for the Andalite bandits is going. Chapman says they haven't been found yet and the Visser yells at the Controller for not finding them. He wants them found now. Rachel can smell fear on Chapman.
Visser Three says that if the Council of Thirteen finds out about the bandits they'll be angry at him. Then the Visser will be angry at Chapman. Rachel can smell Chapman sweating and she also thinks she can smell Iniss.
Visser asks what the creature (aka cat) is. Rachel freezes up at the Visser's gaze. Chapman explains that humans keep cats as pets. Visser Three asks why it's in the room and Chapman replies it's his host's daughter's pet. Visser then tells Chapman to kill it.
Well, Rachel seems to have a great night ahead of her.
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Animorphs Re-Read Table of Contents
