CHAPTER ONE

My name is Tom Berenson.

People tell me that I have a destiny, that I will be a great prince someday. Like my father. But I'm not like my father. I'm only 13, and already I'm sick of this war. Dad has been fighting it nearly all his life, and he doesn't seem to be slowing down any. How can I compete with that? How can I live up to those expectations? How can I fill the shoes of Prince Jake Berenson?

There's no way.

I wasn't born for war. As Mom always says, I'm a lover, not a fighter. She says I get it from her.

Ha. That's funny. Me, talking about love when I can't even confess my feelings to Aliana. Every time I look at her, I'm filled with this... I know it sounds mushy, but I'm filled with this warmth, this hope, this strength... There's no real way to describe it, really... But it's there, even if other people don't agree with it. That's the thing. I'm not sure if Aliana would agree with it either. It's not exactly "normal" for humans and Andalites to have... well... romantic feelings for each other.

((The stars are beautiful tonight, aren't they, Tom?))

"Yes. Yes, they are."

((Do you miss your home? Earth?))

I smiled. Aliana forgets sometimes. I'm not like the others here. I wasn't brought to the ERC. I was born here. This was my home.

The silence must have made her remember suddenly.

((I'm sorry, Tom. It must be very difficult for you.))

"No, not really. As long as I have..."

I paused. What was I thinking? Did I want to make myself look like a total dork?

((...As long as you have what, Tom?))

Thank God I'm able to think fast. That's something I got from my dad.

"As long as I have cinnamon buns."

I looked at her and together we laughed. No other Andalite smiles quite like Aliana. Sure, they all have a way of doing it with their main eyes, but hers were gorgeous. It's like the stars were stolen from the sky and used to make that gaze of hers that...

There I go again. Being the hopeless romantic. Mom says I'm gonna be married before I finish my classes at the academy.

Let me back things up, in case you somehow don't know what's going on..

My dad led a group of teens called The Animorphs. Sounds cheesy, doesn't it? I know, I know, but they were the first human resistance group on Earth. They fought the Yeerks. And, based on the stories everyone insists on telling me again and again, they fought well. For awhile, it seemed the war was over.

But the Yeerks made a deal with The One. At first they were just a rebel gang, hoping to cause some mischief somewhere out in the galaxy. But eventually, The One realized he needed Visser One for his plans, and so he was freed, returned to the body of War Prince Alloran. And that's when everything went downhill...

Earth was seized once again, this time with full Yeerk forces under control of Visser One. You see, The One helped him get rid of the Council of Thirteen and the Yeerk Emperor. Now, no one has power over The Abomination but The One himself.

Or itself. We're still not quite sure on that one.

The Yeerks destroyed everything. The buildings, the environment... the people. Massive Yeerk pools sit out in broad daylight. Hork-Bajir force humans into cages as they wait to be re-infested...

Well, not all humans.

My dad still leads an important task force to this day. With him is Marco and Tobias, two guys from the original Animorphs team, and a few other soldiers.

They managed to rescue a lot of humans before the Yeerks gained total control. One of those humans was my mom, Alicia. That's how they met. Somehow, in the middle of the war and carnage that is my dad's life, they managed to develop a relationship, get married, and have a kid. I don't know how they do it, how they keep up this life...

Well, they don't, really. Dad's always gone... Mom's the only one who...

Enough about me. The humans, all of us, the only ones who are left. That's what's important.

The humans my dad was able to rescue were brought here, on the Andalite home world. It was a tough adjustment to make from what I hear, but so far, both species have managed to get along well enough. Andalites don't really mind human culture, especially their foods. And humans don't mind the protection of the Andalites. They looked down at us for awhile, but a few years ago, they started letting humans enter the academy. I've been in it as long as I can remember. I didn't really have much of a choice. I'm expected to be the next great War Prince...

((You're scared, aren't you, Tom?))

I was surprised. "Scared of what?"

((That you'll let everyone down. That you can't replace your father.))

"Could anyone replace him? He's like a legend..."

((Yes. Your father accomplished much. This world would have been taken by now too, I'm sure, if it wasn't for him... The Yeerks fear him.))

Just then, I was filled with pride. My dad was feared by the Yeerks. How cool is that? Especially since Aliana said it... But then again, how could anyone ever expect the Yeerks to fear me? What was I gonna do, send them a lovey dovey Valentine's card?

"Tom? It's time for dinner." Mom called out to me from our small scoop. It was surrounded by a hundred more just like it. The last remnants of the human race. The Earth Refugee Camp, or the ERC as the military guys call it.

"Coming!" I looked up at Aliana from my spot on the ground. She stood, all four of her eyes looking at the stars. "I should get going... Talk to you later?"

She turned and looked at me with her main eyes. Her stalk eyes continued to gaze above. ((Of course, Tom. Goodnight.))

"Goodnight, Aliana."