HEY! Skye here. New story. New FANDOM. Lately I've been undergoing an Animorphs obsession, which is why my stories haven't been updated. I hate how short this chapter is but in the future I hope it'll be longer. As I've said I am NOT a length writer. So yeah. Enjoy! Also, I realize that in 'The Beginning' they find the blade ship. But, as this is a Cassie story, did Cassie know? I doubt it. SO YES! Without further ado, the story...

~Skye

*Note. I improved and lengthened this. NEW VERSION!

Jake. Oh Jake.

Jake. I can't say that name without shivers. He's as good as dead. He was depressed and I hadn't seen him for a year.

Key word hadn't.

I was in my new apartment in D.C. It was required to live near work. It was a relatively cozy space. It had four rooms; a tiny little corner kitchen, with only the essentials, a sitting area with a comfy-looking (and feeling) green couch, a bedroom, and of course, a bathroom. I was (for once in while) doing normal, human things, like watching television, doing the dishes, all that stuff. It was a pretty normal day. Until I heard someone calling me.

"Cassie."

I recognized that voice. I remembered that voice. That voice. That strong, powerful voice. The voice from my old life.

A life I had chosen to leave behind.

"Cassie."

I heard that voice again, and again ignored it.

"Cassie, I'm not stupid. I know you hear me."

Again. That voice.

"Let's go. Obviously she's too weak to fight."

Another voice, an old voice.

"C'mon, Jake."

Jake. Jake. A name that ran through my head every day, but was never actually voiced.

"Cassie." Jake said, his voice pained "Please, Cassie. I came back. I missed you."

I looked over at him on my fire escape. He gripped the railing so hard.

White knuckles. His palms were sweating. He was hanging on. Not just the railing, but his sanity.

Next to him stood another familiar face. That face was grinning.

"Hello, dear friend. Uh, Cassie? Can you unlock the door?"

I clenched my jaw "I've got another headache again. Not now, guys."

"Oh well. I guess I'll just go King Kong and break down the door. It is just a screen, Cassie. Here goes!" Marco said in his usual, cheerfully goofy voice.

"No!" I shouted. I'd rather not pay for the damage. "No, I'll let you in."

Jake breathed a sigh of relief and Marco grinned. "Great! So, Cassie, how's your life?"

"So with that, we found a proper city for the Hork-Bajir," I finished, about Ronnie's and my task, "Your turn."

"We have some rather bad news," Jake started. I shuddered. When Jake and Marco have bad news...it's pretty awful news.

"I can take it. I was an Animorph after all," I said faking a smile "Tell me." I saw Jake wince when I said was.

"We found the Yeerk home. And the blade ship. Annnddd we saved Ax."

What? "What? But you found the blade ship! And Ax!" Isn't that good? I thought to myself.

Marco started grinning like the idiot he is, "Look, we're special, right? That means...there's a catch! Nah, we can't just win like normal people. Oh, no. Someone has to get hurt or captured. This time bird-boy was the lucky winner for the second time in a lifetime. Gee, I would just love to be him."

"Tobias what?" I said, disbelieving, as Jake paced in his usual fashion.

"Yeah, he was captured by the Taxxon-controllers," Jake said, irritated. "Are you coming with us or not?"

Was I?

The war had hurt. All of us. But I had left that life behind. I had Ronnie and my government job. I had no need for any Animorph "fun time". Still, I felt obligated to help.

As they say, once an Animorph, always an Animorph.

Okay, they never actually say that, but they should.

"I need time to think," I told them.

Jake looked lost and forlorn. Marco narrowed his eyes.

"Look, Miss Peace-tree, as much as Bird-man irritates me, we've been through a whole lot and we're going to save him," Marco began "We need an answer. Like, in twenty minutes, tops."

I pondered this for a moment. "Fine," I said, "But I need to make a call first."

Marco's lip curled in a smile. "Alright, Cassie. But just so you know, Ronnie isn't all he seems. We don't trust him."

"But-" I started.

"You shouldn't either."

I realized what this is all about. "If it's about Ja-"

Again I was cut off. "No, it's not. It's about the fact that he is rude and inconsiderate to anyone, but you, the government, your family, his friends. Not your friends. We distrust him because he clearly hates us," Marco stated angrily, "When did you start being so selfish? Right, Ronnie."

"How did this change to Ronnie? I just said I needed to make a call."

Marco glared, " Cassie, I'm not stupid. I know you. I fought a freaking war with you. Jake isn't stupid either."

I glanced at Jake, who looked as fragile as a glass teapot.

"I know you're not stupid," I said carefully, "I know you think that I just changed because of Ronnie. I haven't," I looked at Jake,"You have, Jake."

Jake stood up, looking like the old Jake he was. "No, You did," He glared, "Because the old Cassie would have said it nicely. The old Cassie was nice. Go talk to Ronnie. But you know why we hate him? You know why? Ask him."

"Hi Ronnie."

"What? Who is this?"I heard his voice say.

"Me," I said, smiling to myself.

"Me who-oh hey, Cassie, what's up?"

"I need to ask you a question."

"Hit me," He said cheerfully.

I took a deep breath. "Why do Jake and Marco hate you?"

I could hear his face frown over the phone. "I was unaware that they did," he said sullenly.

"They said to ask you."

I heard his angry breath, "When have you seen them?"

"Today. They want me to come with them to save Tobias," I waited.

He didn't respond for a moment.

"Look, Cassie," He started, "You do what you need to. But then it's them or me. Bye."

I started to hang up, but then remembered my question,"Wait," I said softly, "Why do they hate you?"\

Ronnie sighed,"I'm not sure."

It was pretty obvious that he was lying. Ronnie is not exactly a great liar.

"Ronnie, you can't lie to me," I said, keeping my quiet tone, "Ronnie, why do they hate you?"

There was a long pause. "I wouldn't let them talk to you," he murmured, so quietly, I wasn't sure if I had heard him or not. "I told them to never talk to you again."

"Why?" I asked him, tears welling in my eyes,"What was so bad about them talking to me?"

He muttered something I couldn't here. Something about cake?

"What?" I demanded "What did you say?"

"Jake," he mumbled "You love, or loved him." I winced. Ronnie was...jealous? I thought about something. Did I really love Ronnie? It was obvious I love...or loved Jake, but for Ronnie? I wasn't sure if it was love or not.

Ronnie spoke again.

"Cassie," He said "You go, do your thing, and then choose. Them or me. Not both. You care about them too much to have both.

He was right.

But why was he fighting then?

He knew.

Ronnie knew that he'd never be Jake.

So he wouldn't let me speak to the threat.

I guess he isn't as nice as he comes off.

I guess Jake and Marco were right.

Ronnie actually isn't nice.