The Invasion: Again?
Smitten x Kitten
Prologue and Chapter One
((Author's Note: Gee, don't you hate these stupid things? Damned disclaimers. Anyway, for this ENTIRE STORY so I don't have to put these idiotic things on any more chapters, I do not own any ideas that originated from K.A. Applegate's series, Animorphs. That includes Yeerks, Andalites, any other aliens she came up with, morphing power, ideas revolving around that, yada yada yada. I do, however, own the claims to my original charries. So there! P Everyone else.. well, they're K.A.'s, and I better not be sued. . Btw, review it! I love reviews! Also-These characters are aruond the age of FIFTEEN, not the thirteen K.A. had originally intended. So sue me, artistic liscence!))
I showed her. My life, my mistakes, my triumphs, everything that had led up to what I have become. She demanded to know, needed to know if she had made a difference... If she had mattered. That her life wasn't just another casualty in this sick, twisted war.
"Yes," I told her. "You were brave... You were strong," The war for Earth had been won.. but so had Crayak. "You mattered." Oh, and she had! She'd been the key piece all along, though Jake had done a wonderful job of distracting Crayak's attention. He'd done his role as leader, had played his part in attracting Crayak's animosity. Yet despite all my intricately deceitful tactics, Rachel had still managed to get herself killed. The evil menace had won the hidden chess game I alone knew we played. For beneath the war, beneath the victory of these courageous youths who called themselves Animorphs, was this human girl's loss. Had she lived, the universe would have had an entire new beacon of light. I could imagine it now, the life that would spring from her, that warriar spirit bringing hope to so many races, allowing others to live. Far off in the threads of time, hundreds of different races faded out of existance, the uncertain knots this beautiful, spirited girl would weave no longer given even the opportunity to support the many others... to save those thousands of lives.
I'd played with her life until it broke. Now all that was left was a mess of broken dreams and heartaches.
"Yeah. Okay, then. Okay..."
A small strand in space time faded, leaving only the blazing, fiery trail that told of her magnificent history... There was nothing I, despite the great powers I possessed as Ellimist, could do within the rules of the game. The final, critical game had been played, and I had lost...
Or had I? The braids of time.. could they be rewoven? There was nothing in the rules about loosening a knot, allowing another individual to make an appearance... The only term that could possibly cover that was the fact that I wasn't allowed to turn the wheel of time back. I wonder.. Would Crayak notice? Does he know about time's delicate weave?
The first knot slipped away as the threads slowly folded back into themselves. I had found a loophole. The tiniest adjustment would make all the difference...
CHAPTER ONE
It all started with a stupid book. Can you believe that? I got dragged into this stupid war all because of one lousy "Home Veterinarian's Cat Care" book. Dragged into this battle for no reason other than dumb luck and a dumb book.
By the way, I'm Sari. That will have to do for now, since I'm not too fond of slugs. Especially the ones that are shoved into your brain and control your body. That sounds so "Invasion of the Body Snatchers", doesn't it? Guess what! It's real, and it's worse. See, instead of dying after they crawl into your head, you begin living death. That probably doesn't make much sense to you right now, unless you've been taken. But it will.
The Yeerks are a parasetic species. They worm their way inside your head, wrap their grotesque, disgusting slug bodies around your brain, attach themselves to your nuerons, and control your body. Want to know the worst part? You're still conscious through all of this. But suddenly, you're paralyzed. You can't scream for help; you can't raise your hand to claw at your own head to pull that slimy body from your brain. You know those tiny little things that no one ever notices? The ability to focus your own eyes, concentrate on one certain sound? Or even to pull your own memories from your own brain?
You'd appreciate that once you become a controller.. That's what we call people who've been infested by yeerks. Prisoners trapped inside the glass cage of their own minds. Unable to move, unable to scream a plea for help. Unable to warn loved ones and all the while getting the front row seat as the parasites take your family, one by one... Well, now you know what I mean by living death.
But at the time I was reading the stupid book that dragged me into this whole mess, I didn't have any inkling of the existance of aliens. As far as I knew, we were alone in the universe. Wouldn't it just be so much simpler that way? Too bad life doesn't work out so nicely. I was just worried about my cat, and not pondering over whether or not some Andalite Prince was going to waltz into my life and leave a devastation that we, my friends and I, alone have to face. My dad doesn't exactly like paying for veterinary care, so I often had to figure everything out myself. Naturally I didn't have the first clue about how to take a cat's temperature. Ick. Nor did I want to figure out any more. You stick the thermometer where?
The five minute bell rang, and I slid the thick book under my desk. Other students were beginning to fill the classroom now, and it was probably a good idea not to look like the biggest "new kid nerd" that ever walked the face of the Earth... Did I even mention I'm new here? Though as I glanced up, it appeared I'd already labeled myself as just that. Yeah, I was definitely doing an excellent job of failing at my attempt of looking 'cool'. Not that I cared.. or so I told myself.
I sank back in my desk and noticed this short black girl eyeing me with sympathic interest. Silently, I groaned. I could only hope it wasn't pity. Oh jeez, anything but pity! No one but her was really taking an interest in the tired-looking new girl, and most of them appeared to be druggies or idiots that I didn't particularly want to get to know. Especially the ones who were shouting obnoxiously. Somehow, I didn't think they'd appreciate me informing them that no matter how loud they got, it wouldn't make up for their intelligence, or lack thereof. So, wisely, I remained quiet.
"Did you just switch into this class?" The girl who had smiled at me was talking to me now. A rude, snappy remark was on the tip of my tongue, but I bit it back. No, I was just in your blind spot for the whole year. She was only being nice. I guess I get a little angry when I can't control my environment.
"Yeah. I just moved here." I managed to flash my teeth back at her, thought it probably appeared more like a grimace than a smile. I hadn't liked leaving all my friends behind. Especially since I'd recently found some I felt could trust.
"Not many people read veterinary books for fun," She nodded knowingly, appearing to approve of my choice. So she didn't think I was a loser? "I'm Cassie."
"I'm Sari. My cat, Trini, is sick, and my dad won't take her to the vet. He doesn't want to pay for her." Not that she needed an explanation or anything..
"Maybe me and my dad could take a look," At my skeptical look, she rushed on. "We have a barn where we take care of injured wildlife, but I'm sure my dad wouldn't mind looking at your cat."
"Really?" I felt my heart lighten a little. Well, maybe there was some good in coming out here.. There'd definitely been something wrong with my poor cat ever since she'd escaped into the outdoors for a few days. She'd probably be happy to get out of her quarantine.. I didn't want her infecting my other cat, after all. "I don't have enough money for the vet, but I do have a little, so I could-"
"No, don't worry about it," Cassie cut me off. "We could look at your cat today, even. That is, if you don't mind being dragged through the mall with me and my friend, Rachel." She said, pleading with me silently to go, as if the mall was the worst hell she could imagine. I laughed.
"Alright, sounds fun." I managed a geniune smile that time. I had been really worried about Trini, my precious kitty. Things were looking up, I guess. "Is it alright if I hang out with you at lunch?" I asked, to which she shook her head.
"I promised a friend I'd help them with their lab project. Meet me after school at the bike racks, okay?" I nodded, and the bell rang. Maybe this first day wouldn't be so bad, after all. Or maybe she really didn't want me to tag along. I hate hidden agendas. Lately, it seemed nearly everyone had more than one face.
It was now 7:30, and I was in the food court clutching an oversized bag filled with smaller bags from various stores which I'd vehemently sworn to never set foot in. Cassie's friend Rachel could be pursuasive... very pursuasive. I'd spent the money I'd originally planned to pay Cassie for her assistance with my cat on clothes. As it turned out, Rachel was a very aggressive, very passionate shopper. She'd probably make a good sales person. Which is why I now had several items from Abercrombie and Fitch and the Gap. Both stores nauseate me... either that, or the people who shop there. No reflection on Rachel, though, she was actually a decent person, despite her acute addiction to shopping.
In the few short hours we'd spent dragging behind the tall, blonde goddess, she'd filled my head with so much fashion and weird calculations about her "art" that it had made me dizzy. It seemed kind of shallow, but now that we were just sitting and talking, much more depth was revealed in her character. Generally, there were few people I liked, and many people I tolerated. I definitely liked Rachel and Cassie.
"It's him! Don't look at him!" Cassie's gasp broke me from my reverie.
"Why shouldn't I look at my cousin?" Rachel asked. She was trying to hide a grin.
"Well, you can look, just don't LOOK." Cassie said, blushing ever so slightly.
"Wait, who are we talking about now?" I asked in confusion. Rachel totally ignored me, like I had asked empy space. I shot a glare hotly at her.
"What, don't look at him in a way that could somehow, in some way convey to him that you want him? That your lips beg to rub against his, that you want to be held in his manly man arms-"
"Yes, Rachel. That's exactly what I mean." She said, cutting her friend off in a hissed whisper through clenched teeth. I found this whole bit to be very entertaining.
"Oooh, Cassie has a crush!" I said with a laugh. "Would you mind showing me where this god among princes is..?'' Halfway through what I was saying, I realized Cassie's face had turned a vivid hue of crimson, which was actually quite becoming against her dark skin. Rachel was trying hard not to snort with laughter as her eyes focused right behind me.
"Hi, Jake." Rachel's voice cracked on the verge of insane laughter. Cassie looked like she wanted to melt into her seat and die, but I probably would have kicked the bucket first. I felt so stupid.
"Oh. Hi." I managed, lamely. Two other guys were with him. One was kind of short, just an inch taller than Cassie, but he made up for that by being cute. Yeah, he was definitely cute. Long brown hair, brown eyes, nice olive skin. And he was doing a great job of laughing his ass off. The guy behind him was standing a little off from him, like he didn't belong. He seemed almost as awkward as I felt. Very nervous and tense. He was the type who always looked over his shoulder.
"Cassie, could you possibly be admitting your feelings for me at last? I'm touched!" That would be the short, cute one. that Jake kid shoved the Fabio-wannabe behind him and smiled this slow smile at Cassie. There was definitely a sparkle of emotion between them.
"You guys going home?" Jake asked. "You shouldn't go through the construction site by yourselves. I mean, being girls and all."
Rachel put on this sickeningly sweet smile and moved foreward suggestively, eyelashes fluttering, though there was something dangerous flashing behind her sparkling blue eyes.
"Are you going to come and protect us, you big, strong m-a-a-a-n? You think that we're helpless just because-"
Cassie cut in with perfect timing. "I'd appreciate it if they did walk with us, Rachel. I know you're not afraid of anything, but I guess I am." That shut Rachel up pretty fast.
"And I'll get lost without you guys," I added helpfully. "What's this about a construction site? I don't exactly know the town yet." The short one who's name I still didn't know merely shrugged.
"Oh, you know, it's just the place where nightmares are born. Ax murderers, people with chainsaws, homeless guys with a smell so bad that it'll make you wake up screaming for weeks." How ironic he should mention the construction site as a place that nightmares were born. So we headed off to the construction site, AKA the biggest mistake of our lives.