This story takes place a human year after the Yeerks have been defeated on Earth. It is meant to be canon. I love hearing from readers, as it helps me improve. This is my first fanfic so please, don't hold back. ^^
Warnings beforehand -
Descriptions of mental torture, panic attacks and suggestive themes.
This story is almost finished so please review:) It means the world to me! If you like this story, please review. If you hate it, heck, review it anyway. Happy reading.
((Working all night again Estrid?)) I said, leaning my torso around the door frame to her lab. It was late, past midnight, and the sun would be rising shortly.
Estrid jumped slightly, dropping a vial she was carrying. There was an audible shattering sound as it crashed to the floor.
((Inara! I didn't see you there!)) Estrid knelt down to clean up the shattered vial. ((Come in.))
((Sorry about that, Estrid.)) At least the vial was empty. I clopped inside, kneeling down opposite her with the mess. ((Everything alright?))
((It has been a long night.)) She said with a sigh.
((It's almost morning, you've been working all night. Anything I can help with?))
We stood and she disposed of the glass in silence before turning to me. ((So have you, apparently. I need some delavayi.))
I followed her out of her lab into the small corridor. It was still dark outside, and I could barely see through the heavy rain outside.
((I didn't think you used Delavayi. I have never seen you drunk before.)) I murmured.
We stood in the small entryway for this cluster of labs. It held three others apart from Estrid's and my own.
((There is a first time for everything.)) She said bitterly. ((Koren stood me up.))
((That was tonight? He is a fool, Estrid.))
She scuffed her hoof against the grass in annoyance. ((It's alright. I wasn't that into him anyway. I'm more upset that Alinar ditched me. He was supposed to help me tonight.)) I placed a hand reassuringly on her arm.
((At least you had a date.))
((What about Zoran?))
((What about him?))
The rain had begun to lessen now, becoming barely a drizzle.
((Zoran is handsome, even if he is a little too stiff and proper. You should...))
((No, Estrid. He is only a friend. Besides, he would never...)) It was a sore subject for me to talk about. ((You know who my family is. No sane male would marry me. It is impossible.))
((Don't be ridiculous. You are very pretty. Even my brother has mentioned it. Males look at you all the time and...))
((Just drop it, okay?)) I said in frustration.
The University was usually very quiet this time of night. Only Estrid and I bothered staying so late. Which was why it was strange to see another Andalite heading towards us.
((Fine.)) She retorted in exasperation as the male came closer. I did not recognize him through the rain.
((See, even he is staring at you.))
He was in fact staring, only it was not a look of admiration. His features were a mixture of recognition and annoyance. It was as if he knew us from somewhere.
((Let's go home.)) I said and hurried past the male. I turned my stalks backward curiously.
He was still watching us and a shiver went down my spine. I broke into a gentle trot to get more distance from the male.
I didn't like the way he looked at me, and I found my hearts were racing and the fur on my shoulders and lower back was standing on it's ends.
No. I did not like the feeling the male gave me at all.
I was home, running across the blue-green grass of our feeding grounds. Eliphas, the second sun in our system was just peering over the horizon, adding more gold to the bright red sky.
((Inara!)) My mother called to me in thought-speak. ((Would you assist me please?))
((I will be right there!)) I called in response.
I circled around, picking up speed, passing the derrishoul trees that were clustered around the edge of the meadow. I leapt swiftly over the stream that ran nearby our scoop, just like I did every morning. I passed under the purple-plex awning that ran along the north third of our scoop. The awning kept our belongings out of the rain.
My mother was in a large fenced in garden with a high clear domed ceiling near the east part of our scoop. My father had expanded it when he had returned, and my mother spent much of her time tending to her plants. I disliked the fence and the ceiling as it felt almost like a building, but it kept the djabalas from eating our plants. The outside was lined with various flowers in all shapes and sizes my mother had cultivated.
My mother was a Botanist. Our family was responsible for growing medicinal plants for the western spaceport along with two other scoops.
She grew dozens of plants, from delavayi. A large pink or light blue flower that can be used as anesthesia or ingested as a mild intoxicant, to the small clusters of aurmis, mushrooms used to disinfect wounds.
I entered the greenhouse, ducking my head so I would not bruise my stalk eyes. Mother stood next to a cluster of plant pots in the center of the greenhouse, an expression of concentration and peace on her face as she looked lovingly down at her plants. I clopped over to her, picking up a small pair of shears next to the pots.
((Help me with these eurayle.)) My mother said.
The eurayle is a very difficult plant to grow, naturally they appear in small numbers and it takes constant attention and care to grow. They have small yellow and gold leaves and very sharp green-tan thorns. The eurayle leaves can be ground down into a salve to treat burns and cuts.
I helped my mother begin to trim the leaves from the mature plant. It was hard work, but this many plants would create enough medicine to last a month.
((Carefully now, if you puncture the leaf it will be useless.)) Her fingers moved gracefully and expertly, trimming and removing the leaves.
((I know, you remind me every time.)) I complained, turning the stalk and carefully trimming a leaf from the plant. I was careful to avoid a particularly sharp looking thorn. The leaf landed gently in my palm.
((Inara?)) Zoran clopped into the garden. My hearts skipped and I clumsily dropped the shears. Embarrassed, I flushed, turning my attention back to the plant in the hopes that no one noticed. I turned my eyes to him when I had composed myself, smiling brightly.
He bowed to my mother, spreading his arms slightly in the general fashion. He kept his tail respectfully low. ((Jahar-Nahele-Etrath, it is an honor to see you again.))
My mother smiled at him the way Andalites do, with our eyes. ((Such a polite male. The honor is mine.)) She turned her stalk eyes to me. She admired Zoran. I knew she wanted more for us than mere friendship.
Zoran turned his main eyes to me now, moving beside me. ((I hear congratulations are in order. Your father sent me along to deliver the good news. Your team has been awarded the Amyrys-Elamaus award. You are to be presented the award by none other than Ellitran-Vaalyur-Adris himself.))
((Ah!)) I had carelessly looked away from the plant and had cut my finger on a thorn. A cut on my smallest finger bled blue. ((Ellitran-Vaalyur-Adris? You must be joking.)) I said, looking up at him.
My mother practically beamed at me knowingly.
Amyrys-Elamaus award? Only a handful of Andalites had received such an award. It was reserved for those who had contributed greatly to the people.
Ellitran headed the Electorate. The highest of the peoples' government.
Zoran had deep blue fur, a contrast to my purple. His upper body was heavily muscled, but not overly so. His body was strong, and it flexed threateningly when he moved. Zoran's tail was as strong as it was fast, as I had seen many times. He was almost a half a head taller than me and walked with an aura of pure control and confidence, which I envied.
((I assure you I am not.)) Zoran replied.
He took my hand, moving closer and examining the small cut. My hearts fluttered a moment. Mother was pretending not to watch us, busying herself by storing the small leaves for transport. She had one stalk eye trained on our every movement.
((It is just superficial.)) I said, flushing again and dropping my hand. ((When?))
((In two days.)) He explained.
((Inara. You should let Zoran escort you.)) My mother asked hopefully.
Zoran smiled at me. ((It would be an honor.))
((Of course.)) I said. ((I should head to the university. Alinar must be overcome with nerves. This has been what Alinar had wanted. I never expected... I must find Estrid. Mother will you be alright to finish here?))
((Yes, Inara. Go.)) She said brightly.
Alinar was a teacher at the university. He had been my mentor for the past year and I considered him a very close friend as well. Estrid and I were closer. We had been friends ever since I started at the university. She was brilliant of course. We worked together for a short time at the university, but I had decided to pursue a different path.
((I would like to accompany you.)) Zoran said.
Zoran bowed again to my mother and we left the garden.
((Why would they give this award to me?)) I asked inquisitively as we clopped towards the Mag-Hover station. ((I am just a scientist. Not nearly as important as someone like Escafil-Sahar-Amlaural or her comrades.))
Escafil had invented our morphing technology. It had changed so much in our society. She was the last to receive the award over four years ago.
Zoran laughed. ((You are much more than a scientist.)) He hesitated, his eyes lingering on me for a moment. ((But I suppose it would have to do with your research. And this new project you are working on so secretively.))
I turned a stalk eye to him as we approached the mag-hover craft.
((My project has been lowered to security access level Five, down from Six.)) I stated as we stepped gingerly onto the artificial floor. I hated riding on these crafts, but it was much faster than running.
((What a coincidence, I possess level Five access.)) Zoran hinted.
((Would you like to see what I have been working on? It may bore you.)) I muttered.
Zoran laughed.
((I would very much enjoy seeing your work. It does not bore me.))
((Alright, this project is quite simple really.)) I said embarrassed.