Disclaimer: This is to once again inform you that I do not own Animorphs, because I am not KA Applegate. I do however thank Applegate for the books, and hope you enjoy Animen. Please read and review, as it boosts my self-esteem. Thanks in advance!—Koa
The First
Mark
One moment the ship was there, the next it disappeared in a flash of light and heat. Around me I saw Amy open-mouthed; Don was there too with wide eyes, as well as 2 other guys who looked somewhat familiar. No one wanted to say anything for a long moment. We all just looked at each other, daring someone to stand up and say that they actually saw the ship. Then Amy pointed at the bushes and asked, "What's that?"
Mostly hidden in the bushes surrounding the Lake, was a blue-ish blur. The bushes shook and it came running, or rather, galloping towards us. I couldn't focus as it came running, and the only thing I remember is a hard slap to the forehead and then darkness.
***
My head was groggy when I came to. I could feel that I was indoors, because of the warmth that couldn't have come from outside. I could also feel carpeting underneath me. Around me I heard breathing and realized that the others were there with me. I opened an eye and saw a blue-ish leg, much like that of a horse, except for the stunning pale blue, almost purple shade of its fur. Then I heard the voice that wasn't really a voice.
((If I let them go, the Yeerks will kill them.)) It said. Or rather, it thought. It's hard to explain it, but when it talked it came out like a thought in your head. It continued. ((That or infest them. Then they'd know I escaped. But I can't tell these humans anything. How would that help?))
I sat up and began to talk, but then I saw it clearly, and I suddenly lost control of my voice. She was what I would imagine a centaur to look like if it were blue, not that I'd ever imagined a blue centaur before. She had an almost human face, but no mouth. Her eyes were almost normal, except that she had an extra pair growing on stalks over her head. The strangest part was a scorpion tail ending in a sharp blade. This was what she instantly placed at my throat. She stared at me with her two main eyes, and I was sure that I would be dead within seconds. Then she relaxed, but only slightly.
((A Yeerk would have recognized me by now,)) she began. Her tail remained rigid, but she backed up. Then with thought she added, ((Human.))
"What is going on? What are you?" I asked. Around me the others were slowly starting to get up. Panic came in different ways. Amy's eyes were wide as she made her way slowly towards me. I reached out an arm and placed my hand on her shoulder. Behind me stood Don looking between me and Amy and then at the other 2 guys as if to reassure himself of reality. The other 2 were almost familiar. I had probably seen them around the dorms. One was short with brown hair that hung in curly flops over his head. The other was almost as tall as me, with black hair cut short. They both mumbled incoherently. Finally the creature spoke again.
((Enough. My name is Anellore-Imaroan-Philiir. I am an Andalite.)) She paused expectantly, but when she saw that we were going to say nothing she continued in her telepathic way. ((You humans are in danger. Your species and your world are at risk. The Yeerks are here.))
I don't know why, but I felt chills at the word Yeerk. I had no reason to be afraid of them yet, but somehow I sensed something in the word.
Amy
The next moments felt like hours. The alien, the Andalite, told us about the Yeerks. How they wormed their way into a person's skull and took over their brain and mind. She told us of the Andalites who would beat the Yeerks. The entire thing was impossible. It just couldn't be happening. Then, as she finished the arguing began.
"This is too crazy," said Don, Mark's roommate.
One of the other two boys spoke up, and I recognized him from my Humanities class the last semester. His name was Ben. He was the kind of kid who asked all the questions and answered all the answers. As he spoke he moved a curl of brown hair from his eyes. "So what can we do?"
((Nothing. The Andalites will be here soon, and once they're here this will all be over. Until then you just have to keep safe.))
At this the other boy, with the dark hair spoke in anger and offense. "Just keep safe? You tell us our world is in danger and then just want us to 'keep safe?'"
((There is nothing you can do.))
Ben looked at the alien for a while and then retorted, "What about that blue box you're carrying?"
She looked at him for several seconds before saying, ((It's—Andalite technology. That's all you need to know.))
Ben smiled, almost happy to argue with this Andalite. "Listen. We're told by a blue horsewoman that the world is being taken over by aliens, no less slugs, and you expect us to cooperate peacefully? How do we know we can trust you? And supposing we do trust you, you need us."
((An Andalite needs nothing from 5 human youths,)) she replied snidely.
Ben looked as if he had already won as he answered, "That's where you're wrong. First of all you're nothing more than an Andalite 'youth' aren't you?" When she didn't answer Ben continued. "Secondly, if we're captured, the Yeerks know you're alive."
Her silence was taken by us to mean that she had not realized this point before. She stared hard at Ben and then slowly looked us all over, almost as if she was sizing us up. Then she said, ((You're right. I will need help. The Andalite fleet will be here, but until then I need to stay alive. You say you want to fight. All right then. We will work together; help each other. Press your hand onto the Escafil device, and you will receive the weapon of Andalite technology. The ability to morph any animal you touch.)) She held out the blue cube in her many fingered hand and waited.
I looked to Mark and saw confusion in his face. He also had no idea what to do. Ben and the other boy weren't as unsure, though. They quickly walked over to the box. First the black haired boy, placing his hand firmly on one side of the box causing the box to glow dimly. Ben carefully put his hand on a different side and the glow strengthened. They held their hands there for a few moments and then lifted them. They looked ok.
Mark squeezed my shoulder and we made our way towards the box. I looked at him and he put his hand over one side. It began to glow once more, and as I followed, it grew more brilliant for a few seconds. It gave off a weird and almost pleasant tingle. Finally we all looked back to Don. He stared quietly and then said, "I can't do it."
Don
"I can't do this. It's too much to take all at once. The power to become animals? All from an alien?"
"Don," Mark said calmly. "This is crazy, but—"
"But what?" I interrupted. "You can't fault me for not wanting to decide this now. I just won't."
Mark looked at me and I realized that even though we were roommates, we knew very little about each other. We had our own groups, and neither of us knew how the other would react to anything. Thinking about it none of us knew each other very well except maybe Amy and Mark. Finally he said, "All right. You don't need to decide anything. We'll talk at the room." I breathed out in relief, glad that he'd been so calm. He continued, "Right now let's just—"
BAM
Suddenly we heard something behind us. Everyone grew quiet. We heard loud arguing and a sound like a sharp whistle.
Tseew! Tseew! There was a bright flash of light and suddenly the door was gone. We started running through the building and I soon realized we were in Bocagra Hall, a large 2 story building on the East side of campus, just north of the Lake. We could still hear the shouts of the people behind us.
"You idiot! When the Visser hears about this we'll get it!" said a gruff male voice.
A woman responded coldly with "Visser 6 will care more if we let an Andalite get away from the attack!"
The male answered with annoyance, "You saw the ship blow up. Nothing survived."
We made our way through the halls and finally got to the exit. I opened the door and we ran towards the dorms. As we ran though, the Andalite stumbled on the 3 steps outside the building. The blue box fell from her hands.
"I got it," I said, while she tried to stand up again. She was quickly up and running with the others. I picked up the small box, no more than 4 inches on each side, and although I was sure it would be cool and metallic, it had warmth to it. I felt a tingle and the box glowed dimly. I looked at for a second when I heard the same female voice from inside.
"I'm telling you, there was something out here!" She yelled.
Her partner answered, "This is a very green campus. There are ducks and geese. There are foxes around. It could have been anything."
I ran as fast as I could, headed for a patch of trees that stood before the entrance to the dorm area. The others were waiting for me, out of breath and nervous. I can't tell you that a divine power led to this moment. That is for you to figure out as I did. What I can tell you is that there was something unsettling about that moment when we were all gathered under the trees. The moon shone in patches under the branches overhead. I leaned against a tree and felt the strange feeling pass through me. The 6 of us stood together, gathered, and unready for what was going to come.
