Disclaimer: I don't own Animorphs. All I have is a computer and an
obsession with writing. Animorphs belongs to K.A. Lucky sod.
Name: The Revival
Author: Kitai
Author's notes: WARNING: Alternate universe and major spoilers for the final book. I wrote this because I can't just let the Animorphs die. I refuse to let them. I really appreciate reviews so you guys do just that. I won't continue unless I get at least five. Constructive criticism welcome.
Rating: G for now. It might change later 'cause there's likely to be some violence.
My name is Jake. For a long time I was not able to tell you my last name. Now I wonder if I even deserve it. You see, I am a murderer. Ok, maybe not directly. But it was I who helped cause the death of my brother, Tom and my cousin, Rachel.
It was the final battle against the Yeerks and if you're reading this, you already know all about them. Tom was one of them as you know, and the others and I had learned that he was planning on overthrowing Visser One and taking over the Yeerk invasion of Earth. We couldn't let that happen and I had sent Rachel to stop him…at all costs. She had followed my orders and killed him. Then she was ambushed. Her bear morph was badly hurt and she demorphed to save herself. A controller had killed her while she was helpless in her human form. I had killed the two people I loved the most.
After Rachel's funeral Tobias left. I haven't seen him since and it's been a year. Cassie went and got a job working in Yellowstone Park with the colony of free Hork-Bajir. Marco got an acting job just like he wanted when this whole thing began. His show became really popular and he had all the babes after him. Ax became a Prince and now has his own ship, the Intrepid. After his brother. Me? I'm the depressed screw-up who can't be bothered to get a job and takes so much Prozac my blood flows with it. People offer me jobs, scholarships, acting careers. No thanks. I don't deserve the recognition I have. I don't want people hanging around me all the time. I prefer to be alone. Just me and my Prozac.
We still get together. All of us except Tobias. Ax doesn't come here that much any more. He's busy scouting around the galaxy looking for Yeerks and destroying them. Although we all planned to get together one day, all of us together once again. If only Tobias was still with us. If only Rachel was alive. If only…
*
Today was the day. We'd decided to all meet at Cassie's. In the barn just like old times. Cassie and I haven't been very close since the final battle. I guess it just wasn't meant to be.
I approached the barn. Marco was already there. I could hear him. He was talking with Cassie. They were laughing, joking. I didn't want to be there. But I had no choice. I knocked an walked inside, faking the smile I used all the time now. "Hey guys!" I said.
"Greetings, oh Fearless Leader!" Marco. Always the joker.
"Jake." Cassie said simply. I always got the impression that she'd never forgiven me for Rachel's death. I could understand that. I couldn't forgive myself. "Where's Ax?" I asked, noticing the Andalite's absence.
"He'll be here." Marco said. "You know Ax. He probably stopped by at the Seven Eleven, brought himself a years supply of chocolate and Cinnabons and decided to eat the whole lot on the way here.
"Hello all!" Said a familiar voice. Ax had walked in right at that moment. He was in human form, something I hadn't seen in a while. He usually preferred to stay in Andalite form. I guess he wanted to fit in amongst us and not startle anyone with his own body. I stepped forward. "Greetings Prince Aximili." I said, bowing my head in greeting. Ax smiled and tilted his own head slightly. "And to you, Prince Jake."
I frowned. " Ax, I am no longer a leader. You do not need to call me 'Prince' any more."
Ax still smiled. "And you do not need to call me 'Prince' either. We fought side by side for a long time. I am your comrade. Not your superior."
"Hey, what's with all the formality?" Marco demanded. "We're here to have fun! The Animorphs. Together again." I once again felt myself sinking back into depression. "Not all." I said softly. Marco put his hand on my shoulder. "Her death couldn't be helped, man." He said. I shook my head. "Yes. It could have. I could've gone in her place. It was my crummy idea. I should've gone."
"We couldn't lose you, Jake. And you know it." Cassie said softly. For the first time in a year I met her eyes. I saw pain. I saw heartache…and I saw forgiveness. And love. She still cared about me.
Suddenly I heard a flutter of wings. I looked up wildly. A bird had flown into the barn and perched on the rafters. It was a hawk. A red-tailed hawk. A red-tailed hawk that looked awfully familiar. "Tobias?" I asked tentatively hardly daring to hope. In answer the hawk flew down to the ground and began to morph. Feathers melted away leaving pink skin behind. Hawk legs sprouted into human legs and the beak was sucked up into the face. Soon I was looking into the face of the boy who'd once been one of my closest friends. Until I'd betrayed him. Until I'd become a murderer.
Cassie ran up to him and threw her arms around his neck. "Tobias!" She cried. She then pulled away and held him at arm's length, her expression changed from relief and happiness to one of relief and anger. "Tobias, where have you been?" She demanded.
"Yeah, dude. We've been worried sick!" Marco said, patting Tobias on the back. Ax walked up and shook his hand, a human greeting he'd learned after being around humans so much. "I've been surviving on my own." Tobias replied. "I didn't want to be around anyone. Not after…" He stopped and looked at me. The pain in his eyes was almost too much to bear. "I'm sorry." I whispered. I couldn't meet his eyes. Tobias stepped away from the others towards me…and hugged me like a long-lost brother. He broke away. "it wasn't your fault." He said. "She would've gone on the mission even if you hadn't asked her to." I felt tears starting to well up behind my eyes and I turned my head, blinking them back. "It doesn't change the fact that I ordered her death." Tobias forced me to meet his angry gaze. "You didn't. It was a mission. One that went horribly wrong. It wasn't your fault." I wanted to thank him. I wanted to believe him. Maybe that's what he really felt. Maybe it's really what the others felt. But it wasn't what was going through my mind. They didn't know how it felt…couldn't know…how it felt after someone died when you gave an order.
*
We'd laughed and joked and talked about old times and screwed up missions that we laughed about later. I left early. I said I had a dentist's appointment. I don't think they bought it though. Why go to the dentist for a filling or a broken tooth when you could just morph and demorph and be right as rain.
I ended up walking because I'd parked in a no parking zone. My car had been towed. I was halfway home when it started to rain. Great. Just perfect. I suddenly felt a surge of hot anger against…against anyone who'd toyed with our lives. Yeerks. Andalites. The Crayak. The Ellimist. Especially the Ellimist. He'd shown up when we'd been fighting for about a year. Since then he'd basically manipulated us to do practically everything for him. I blamed him for everything.
"Why, huh?" I yelled in the middle of the street so loud that people were looking out of the window to see who was being murdered. "Why did it have to end this way?" I breathed heavily. There was no answer from the Ellimist. Of course there wouldn't be. He only answered when it suited him. "Answer me!" I yelled. "Answer me you coward!"
Suddenly, the rain stopped falling. I mean, it was still there, but frozen. Like a photograph. "This routine again." I muttered to myself. Then aloud, "You know, Ellimist. You think you're so impressive but you're not. We know you."
I DO NOT TRY TO BE IMPRESSIVE. Came a voice from all around me and inside of me. I knew that voice. " 'Bout time you showed up." I said. A figure of an old humanoid creature appeared in front of me. He looked just like he had the first time we saw him. The Ellimist spoke with a normal voice that sounded old and frail, but strong and powerful at the same time. "What is it you want, Jake?"
"Why?" I asked, my voice cracking with emotion that I had tried not to show for over a year.
"Why what?"
"Why did it have to end this way? Why did Rachel have to die?"
"She died. There is nothing either you, or I can do about it. The war between the Yeerks ended because you fought. Not because I interfered."
"Bull." I said. "You were interfering from day one. You were interfering long before any of us were even born."
"You wish the war had not ended?" The Ellimist asked.
"No. I wish the war had never begun." I replied. "I wish I didn't have to be here. I wish I could go somewhere where no one had ever heard of me or the war against the Yeerks for planet Earth."
"I can grant that wish." The Ellimist said, meeting my eyes with ones that shone and changed colour with every second. I looked at him.
"What do you mean?"
"I can take you to another planet. The people who live there are accepting of other races. But they do know of the Yeerks, and would understand you. You would be happy there."
"What's the catch?" I asked.
"There is no catch. If you refuse, everything will remain exactly the way it is. Including the car that's about to hit you." I looked up the road. There was a car about three meters away. The driver had a look of total alarm. I looked inside the car. The car was going at 40 kilometres. There was no way it would stop in time. "So basically, you're saying: Accept and go somewhere safe, somewhere where I can be alone. Refuse and become road kill."
"In a manner of speaking, yes." The Ellimist said simply. I cracked then. I broke down laughing. I was laughing hysterically. I sat down on the road and howled with laughter. The Ellimist just stood there, waiting for me. I took a deep breath and climbed to my feet. I hadn't laughed so hard in a long time. "Why do you laugh?" The Ellimist asked.
"Well, firstly, that's the first time you've ever given me a straight answer, secondly, you already know what my answer is."
"And what is your answer, Jake the Yeerk-Killer?"
"Yes."
Name: The Revival
Author: Kitai
Author's notes: WARNING: Alternate universe and major spoilers for the final book. I wrote this because I can't just let the Animorphs die. I refuse to let them. I really appreciate reviews so you guys do just that. I won't continue unless I get at least five. Constructive criticism welcome.
Rating: G for now. It might change later 'cause there's likely to be some violence.
My name is Jake. For a long time I was not able to tell you my last name. Now I wonder if I even deserve it. You see, I am a murderer. Ok, maybe not directly. But it was I who helped cause the death of my brother, Tom and my cousin, Rachel.
It was the final battle against the Yeerks and if you're reading this, you already know all about them. Tom was one of them as you know, and the others and I had learned that he was planning on overthrowing Visser One and taking over the Yeerk invasion of Earth. We couldn't let that happen and I had sent Rachel to stop him…at all costs. She had followed my orders and killed him. Then she was ambushed. Her bear morph was badly hurt and she demorphed to save herself. A controller had killed her while she was helpless in her human form. I had killed the two people I loved the most.
After Rachel's funeral Tobias left. I haven't seen him since and it's been a year. Cassie went and got a job working in Yellowstone Park with the colony of free Hork-Bajir. Marco got an acting job just like he wanted when this whole thing began. His show became really popular and he had all the babes after him. Ax became a Prince and now has his own ship, the Intrepid. After his brother. Me? I'm the depressed screw-up who can't be bothered to get a job and takes so much Prozac my blood flows with it. People offer me jobs, scholarships, acting careers. No thanks. I don't deserve the recognition I have. I don't want people hanging around me all the time. I prefer to be alone. Just me and my Prozac.
We still get together. All of us except Tobias. Ax doesn't come here that much any more. He's busy scouting around the galaxy looking for Yeerks and destroying them. Although we all planned to get together one day, all of us together once again. If only Tobias was still with us. If only Rachel was alive. If only…
*
Today was the day. We'd decided to all meet at Cassie's. In the barn just like old times. Cassie and I haven't been very close since the final battle. I guess it just wasn't meant to be.
I approached the barn. Marco was already there. I could hear him. He was talking with Cassie. They were laughing, joking. I didn't want to be there. But I had no choice. I knocked an walked inside, faking the smile I used all the time now. "Hey guys!" I said.
"Greetings, oh Fearless Leader!" Marco. Always the joker.
"Jake." Cassie said simply. I always got the impression that she'd never forgiven me for Rachel's death. I could understand that. I couldn't forgive myself. "Where's Ax?" I asked, noticing the Andalite's absence.
"He'll be here." Marco said. "You know Ax. He probably stopped by at the Seven Eleven, brought himself a years supply of chocolate and Cinnabons and decided to eat the whole lot on the way here.
"Hello all!" Said a familiar voice. Ax had walked in right at that moment. He was in human form, something I hadn't seen in a while. He usually preferred to stay in Andalite form. I guess he wanted to fit in amongst us and not startle anyone with his own body. I stepped forward. "Greetings Prince Aximili." I said, bowing my head in greeting. Ax smiled and tilted his own head slightly. "And to you, Prince Jake."
I frowned. " Ax, I am no longer a leader. You do not need to call me 'Prince' any more."
Ax still smiled. "And you do not need to call me 'Prince' either. We fought side by side for a long time. I am your comrade. Not your superior."
"Hey, what's with all the formality?" Marco demanded. "We're here to have fun! The Animorphs. Together again." I once again felt myself sinking back into depression. "Not all." I said softly. Marco put his hand on my shoulder. "Her death couldn't be helped, man." He said. I shook my head. "Yes. It could have. I could've gone in her place. It was my crummy idea. I should've gone."
"We couldn't lose you, Jake. And you know it." Cassie said softly. For the first time in a year I met her eyes. I saw pain. I saw heartache…and I saw forgiveness. And love. She still cared about me.
Suddenly I heard a flutter of wings. I looked up wildly. A bird had flown into the barn and perched on the rafters. It was a hawk. A red-tailed hawk. A red-tailed hawk that looked awfully familiar. "Tobias?" I asked tentatively hardly daring to hope. In answer the hawk flew down to the ground and began to morph. Feathers melted away leaving pink skin behind. Hawk legs sprouted into human legs and the beak was sucked up into the face. Soon I was looking into the face of the boy who'd once been one of my closest friends. Until I'd betrayed him. Until I'd become a murderer.
Cassie ran up to him and threw her arms around his neck. "Tobias!" She cried. She then pulled away and held him at arm's length, her expression changed from relief and happiness to one of relief and anger. "Tobias, where have you been?" She demanded.
"Yeah, dude. We've been worried sick!" Marco said, patting Tobias on the back. Ax walked up and shook his hand, a human greeting he'd learned after being around humans so much. "I've been surviving on my own." Tobias replied. "I didn't want to be around anyone. Not after…" He stopped and looked at me. The pain in his eyes was almost too much to bear. "I'm sorry." I whispered. I couldn't meet his eyes. Tobias stepped away from the others towards me…and hugged me like a long-lost brother. He broke away. "it wasn't your fault." He said. "She would've gone on the mission even if you hadn't asked her to." I felt tears starting to well up behind my eyes and I turned my head, blinking them back. "It doesn't change the fact that I ordered her death." Tobias forced me to meet his angry gaze. "You didn't. It was a mission. One that went horribly wrong. It wasn't your fault." I wanted to thank him. I wanted to believe him. Maybe that's what he really felt. Maybe it's really what the others felt. But it wasn't what was going through my mind. They didn't know how it felt…couldn't know…how it felt after someone died when you gave an order.
*
We'd laughed and joked and talked about old times and screwed up missions that we laughed about later. I left early. I said I had a dentist's appointment. I don't think they bought it though. Why go to the dentist for a filling or a broken tooth when you could just morph and demorph and be right as rain.
I ended up walking because I'd parked in a no parking zone. My car had been towed. I was halfway home when it started to rain. Great. Just perfect. I suddenly felt a surge of hot anger against…against anyone who'd toyed with our lives. Yeerks. Andalites. The Crayak. The Ellimist. Especially the Ellimist. He'd shown up when we'd been fighting for about a year. Since then he'd basically manipulated us to do practically everything for him. I blamed him for everything.
"Why, huh?" I yelled in the middle of the street so loud that people were looking out of the window to see who was being murdered. "Why did it have to end this way?" I breathed heavily. There was no answer from the Ellimist. Of course there wouldn't be. He only answered when it suited him. "Answer me!" I yelled. "Answer me you coward!"
Suddenly, the rain stopped falling. I mean, it was still there, but frozen. Like a photograph. "This routine again." I muttered to myself. Then aloud, "You know, Ellimist. You think you're so impressive but you're not. We know you."
I DO NOT TRY TO BE IMPRESSIVE. Came a voice from all around me and inside of me. I knew that voice. " 'Bout time you showed up." I said. A figure of an old humanoid creature appeared in front of me. He looked just like he had the first time we saw him. The Ellimist spoke with a normal voice that sounded old and frail, but strong and powerful at the same time. "What is it you want, Jake?"
"Why?" I asked, my voice cracking with emotion that I had tried not to show for over a year.
"Why what?"
"Why did it have to end this way? Why did Rachel have to die?"
"She died. There is nothing either you, or I can do about it. The war between the Yeerks ended because you fought. Not because I interfered."
"Bull." I said. "You were interfering from day one. You were interfering long before any of us were even born."
"You wish the war had not ended?" The Ellimist asked.
"No. I wish the war had never begun." I replied. "I wish I didn't have to be here. I wish I could go somewhere where no one had ever heard of me or the war against the Yeerks for planet Earth."
"I can grant that wish." The Ellimist said, meeting my eyes with ones that shone and changed colour with every second. I looked at him.
"What do you mean?"
"I can take you to another planet. The people who live there are accepting of other races. But they do know of the Yeerks, and would understand you. You would be happy there."
"What's the catch?" I asked.
"There is no catch. If you refuse, everything will remain exactly the way it is. Including the car that's about to hit you." I looked up the road. There was a car about three meters away. The driver had a look of total alarm. I looked inside the car. The car was going at 40 kilometres. There was no way it would stop in time. "So basically, you're saying: Accept and go somewhere safe, somewhere where I can be alone. Refuse and become road kill."
"In a manner of speaking, yes." The Ellimist said simply. I cracked then. I broke down laughing. I was laughing hysterically. I sat down on the road and howled with laughter. The Ellimist just stood there, waiting for me. I took a deep breath and climbed to my feet. I hadn't laughed so hard in a long time. "Why do you laugh?" The Ellimist asked.
"Well, firstly, that's the first time you've ever given me a straight answer, secondly, you already know what my answer is."
"And what is your answer, Jake the Yeerk-Killer?"
"Yes."