AN: Here we are, first chapter since Aoi LawLight asked so politely :P.
If your new to this story, you need to go back and start at "The Only One". BTW, I noticed, finally, that fanfiction takes out my breaks in chapters, so ignore that random jumps in time until I can find a way to fix that.
Chapter 1
My name is Marco Reed. Maybe you already know who I am, maybe you're learning about me in school right now.
But in case you've been living under a rock, or out in space, for the last five years, I'll recap.
I am one of the six Animorphs, you know, the ones who saved Earth from the Yeerks?
Oh yeah, now you realize it. A little slow aren't yeah?
Nah, I'm just kidding. Really.
You know, I've read those history books that have our story in them. I'll admit, they're pretty close. But they do glaze over a few... uncomfortable aspects.
Of course, they don't tell you about what happens after the war. I remember reading about World War II and never giving much thought to those soldiers who had survived the war, besides how lucky they were.
Unlike my friend Jake, I actually went to a psychiatrist. We talked about everything, from my mother, to Rachel, from some of the things I had done in the war to my relationship with Ax.
Yeah, Ax. I had been thinking about him a lot in the last four years. I realized how unreasonable I actually had been, especially when not long after I shot down a helicopter with human controllers in it. I had been scared. Scared that if Ax could do that, then what would I do? His actions seemed to be an almost turning point where everything began to fall apart.
And I was too scared to go say sorry. I was scared he would reject me.
So I tired to move on with my life. And what a life I have. Almost instantaneously I had become almost as rich as Bill Gates. I'm an actor, working on a pretty popular Sci-Fi series. You'd think I'd be sick of Sci-Fi. I've had... Well a few girlfriends. Okay, a lot. I haven't been able to keep one for more than a couple of months, and there was always someone waiting there in the wings.
In the year that followed the war, Jake hit a depression so hard, he cut off from everyone even his parents, and drank himself to sleep every night. Two years ago, Cassie got married to a man named Ronnie, and for some reason that snapped Jake out it, he called my physiatrist, and managed to clean himself up. He didn't work, but the Military had begun to call him, and he was beginning to seriously consider it.
Actually, the Military had been calling me too. I never let them actually explain what they wanted, simply telling them as politely as I could that I was retired from being a soldier and it was going to stay that way.
You see, Ax wasn't the only one who got promoted. Because of our efforts in the war, each of us were given a title, our records stamped with retired. Even Ax got one, though I'm not sure if he knows it or not.
Jake was rewarded the rank of General. Cassie, Tobias and I are now Captain's, Rachel recieved Major and Ax had been given the title of Colonel, the Military stating they figured it was as close to Prince as possible. The Military didn't expect us to fight for them, as I said, we were all officinally retired, but that didn't stop them from calling.
They even called Cassie, but Ronnie is a bit overprotective of her, and soon they got the hint she would have nothing to with them.
And Tobias? Well, I hadn't seen him in five years.
Ax in four. Even Cassie hadn't seen or heard from him since he left with the fleet. Not that I blame him, Cassie made it clear how horrible we all made him feel, despite our own problems.
"Mark?" My girlfriend, Candice, whined from the other room. "Do we have to go to this ceremony?"
I hated that she called me Mark. Actually I hated everything about her.
"Actually Candice. I was thinking you just leave." I said simply, continuing to stare at the computer, tapping a symbol on my desk switching to the next screen.
"What?" a sharp reply. Her heels clicked on the floor as she entered my study.
"I said: I was thinking you should just leave. I hate your voice, I hate the massive amounts of perfume you wear, I hate your friends, I hate your parents. You're nothing but a gold-digger, and I think you really need to leave."
She stared at me, her wide mouth gaping open. "Are you trying to be funny?"
"And you're really stupid."
Something smashed into the wall beside my head, pieces of porcelain scattered around the desk.
"You asshole! You are gay after all, aren't you? You disgusting pig!"
She screamed at me, stomping around the house, smashing anything she could. I simply ignored her. I wasn't into antiques or anything so everything was replaceable.
Maybe this was why I couldn't keep a girlfriend.
The whole gay thing? Well, shortly after Ax left Earth I woke up to a newspaper article telling every little detail of mine and Ax's year long relationship in the war. The details were so accurate, I might as well have wrote it myself, every detail from how we started dating to our break up.
My parents had been shocked, my mom most of all, who had formed her own opinions of Andalite's, and placed it on all of them. In short, she didn't like the species as a whole. In the end, they ended up being supportive, especially when they realized the feelings had not gone away, but only got stronger.
I didn't write the article. I would never do that to Ax, no matter how mad I had been. I interrogated both Jake and Cassie for months, both denying fiercely each and every time. I never talked to Tobias about it, but I had hoped he cared enough about Ax to never do that. If Ax knew the story got out- well, he'd probably blame me for it.
I looked at the digital clock built into the desk, the glass reading the weather as well. Sunny, not a cloud in the sky. I felt a bit cheated, I believe it should have been raining.
Sighing, I pushed back from the desk, setting about getting showered and dressed in my new tux. Leaving my suite, I apologized to my maid who was cleaning up Candice's tornado, promising her double pay as I left. My limo was waiting to take me to the ceremony.
A year ago, the government seized the property the abandoned construction site sat on. This, they declared, was a historical site, where the resistance against the Yeerks began. Which was true.
Over the year, workers took down all the half finished buildings, turning the run down site into a beautiful patch of land, nice grass, a few newly planted trees and gardens. I hadn't been there in a month, so imagine my surprise when a representative from the government came to my door two nights ago telling me there was going to be a special ceremony there, and they asked me, and the other Animorphs, to be there.
I talked to both Cassie and Jake, we all agreed we would go. This would be the first time in five years the remaining team would be together, excluding Ax and Tobias.
My house was at the farthest end of the city, I bought over 100 acres of land in the forest, building my house there, the best security devices we had on Earth. Call me a bit paranoid, but I like my privacy when I want it.
"Captain Reed?" I sighed, all the people who worked for me had a sense of humor, and insisted on calling me Captain no matter how many times I told them not too.
"Yeah?"
"We will be arriving in a few moments. Shall I stop now or go around the block once more?"
I smiled. This man, Randolph, was old enough to be my grandfather. Acted like it too. He had been my driver for four years, my parents begging me to hire one after my third car accident (Thank Elfangor for the morphing powers!). There were many times where I didn't want to go to one ceremony, interview, even the really bad days at therapy and I would make him drive around while I got my head sorted out.
"No. Thank you. I'm alright."
He gave me a crinkled smile, pulling to the side of the road, placing my door by the cobblestone path leading into the site.
"I will be watching from the wings then." He said simply, turning off the ignition. Nodding I got out of the car, looking around at the people gathered. I had no idea what this was about actually, Jake and Cassie were just as clueless, but there were already four news groups here, set up behind a special line, keeping them away from the crowed of people gathered. Men from the Military and their families mingled with people who I knew used to be controllers, and their families. I was startled to suddenly spot my dad and my mom and Nora, who all waved at me.
"What are you doing here?" I asked them, surprised and I came to stand in front of them.
"A man name General O'Neill invited us." My dad said, his eyes shifting away.
"You know what his is about don't you?" I asked him suspiciously.
"I might." He shrugged.
The years after the war had been great for my parents. Nora had been found, and freed. She, my mother and father all sat down one night, and in an amazing act of kindness, Nora said her goodbyes to my father, wishing him and my mother the best. They all stayed friends though, every Sunday we all got together for dinner, even Nora's new husband joined in.
Two years ago, out of the blue, a member from NASA came to my dad, offering him a job. Which he excepted instantly. Problem was that what he was working on was top secret so I didn't get any cool stories. But still, it was amazing to see my dad in his dream job.
"Are you going to tell me?" I asked him, raising an eyebrow.
"Nope."
"Marco!" Cassie's voice exclaimed and suddenly she plowed into me, her round belly squishing into my stomach.
"Cassie! How are you?" I said, turning to hug her properly. "Man, you look like you're going to pop."
She beamed at me, as she stepped back, folding her hands over her stomach, "No not for another two months." She said. Suddenly her husband, Ronnie, appeared behind her.
"Ronnie, man, how have you been?" I asked holding out my hand which he shook.
"I'm doing fine Marco. Trying to keep up with this one." he wrapped an arm around Cassie's shoulder, squeezing her tightly. She slapped him on the chest, blushing lightly. Suddenly her eyes lit up, "Jake!" She called, and I turned to see him, gazing around the crowd. At her shout, he looked and began making his way over to us. I pulled Jake into a hug as soon as he was near, stepping back as him and Cassie stood in front of each other, Ronnie hovering at her back.
Finally, then tension broke when Cassie reached forwards and hugged him. "It's great to see you again." I heard her whispered, and his agreement back.
They stepped back from each other smiling, as something caught my attention. I turned to look and-
"No way." I breathed, making Jake and Cassie turn, "Look who's here."
"I found him." Cassie said, "A couple of months ago. He's been living with the Hork-Bajiir this whole time."
Tobias looked around him, catching sight of us as Cassie waved to him, he paused before moving through the crowed.
"Cassie." he said stiffly, not used to his over mouth any more, "Marco."
He turned to Jake unblinkingly. Cassie and I held our breathes, releasing them as Tobias held out a hand, and Jake clasped it.
"I will never forgive you." Tobias stated, and Jake simply nodded and they released hands.
"Well." I said, "We're all here."
"Except Ax." Cassie said sadly.
"And Rachel." Tobias said softly. We all stood in silence a moment.
"Has anyone heard from him?" Cassie asked desperately. Tobias shook his head.
"I doubt he'd ever call me Cassie." I said bitterly. Jake shook his head, but an awkward look came over his face, before he wiped it away.
"General Berenson? Captain's?" A lady with a headset and dressed in a pant suit came sliding up to us. "We're about to start. Your seats are in the front there."
"Well," Jake said, "Let's get this over with." he sighed. We moved towards the seats set up around a large podium. I didn't really pay attention when I first got here, but behind the podium was a large... Object. I don't know what it was since it was covered but it was a good 15 to 20 feet high.
Helping Cassie to her place we sat down as the large crowed settled into the seats around them. When a sufficient time passed, a man dressed in a military uniform got up behind the podium, and the crowed settled down.
"For those of you who don't know, my name is General Jackson O'Neill. I have been asked to represent the Government of the United States." He paused for a moment, "Today, we stand on the grounds were the rebellion against the Yeerks began. Today, we have restored this piece of land, and are officially marking it a historical site." He paused for the applause that rang out through the crowed. Jake and I exchanged glances, smirking to each other.
"Six children took up the fight all those years ago. Ladies and Gentleman, I'm not good at speeches, so I'll just get to the point. We are all here today to not just thank them once more, but it has come to our attention that we have not done anything for the man- sorry, Andalite, who started it all."
I heard Tobias take in a breath of air. I turned to look at Cassie, who pressed a hand to her lips.
General O'Neill gave a signal, and the large tarp behind him fell to the ground.
It was a statue. An Andalite stood, his tail raised behind him ready to strike. It looked exactly like Elfangor. In front of him stood five humans, no older than thirteen, in various poses. A smaller Andalite stood beside the figure of me, standing side by side with Elfangor. The morphing cube, carved in perfect detail, stood at Jake's feet. Along the bottom, each of our specific battle morphs were carved, along with our names.
"Shit-" I breathed, completely lost for words. I felt Cassie's hand in mine, looking over I saw her clasping Tobias', who eyes focused on Rachel's perfectly carved face.
I don't know what the General said through the rest of the speech. I started from Rachel and slowly to Ax. Memories rushing back, bringing tears to my eyes.
I snapped out by a thundering applause reached my ears, and I looked around as Cassie pulled me to my feet. Apparently, we had been asked to stand.
At the very back of the crowed something caught my attention. My throat closed up, my heart thudded as I looked harder, but couldn't catch sight of-
"Marco?" Cassie whispered to me, "Marco are you alright?"
"Ax-"