CHAPTER SEVEN

Once I took human form, we made our way to Tobias's home. Oddly, his neighborhood was not much different from the construction site. Broken liquor bottles lined the road. Many of the buildings appeared to be falling apart, coming in on themselves. One even seemed as though it had been recently set ablaze. These characteristics, combined with the barred windows, made it a very depressing neighborhood, indeed...

Knowing that Tobias called this place "home" brought me great sadness. The Tobias I knew was a gentle, caring soul. He did not deserve to live in such a harsh environment...

We stepped onto the porch.

"You guys wait here," Tobias said. "I'm gonna check things out."

He creaked open the screen door and carefully walked into the house.

"Where the hell you been, boy?"

"I'm.. I'm sorry Uncle Ray. I was just.."

"Don't back talk me. Now get up in your room." There was a pause. "NOW!"

I heard the pounding of footsteps as Tobias raced upstairs.

Tom and I creeped around the side of the house, careful not to be seen.

((What should we do?)) I asked.

"Let me think," he whispered. I noticed him looking at the ground, searching for something.

((What is it?))

He bent down and picked up a strange creature. An insect.

"Okay... These things are nasty. But we don't have much of a choice... I think they're called cockroaches."

((Ah. That is not a pretty name.))

He smiled. "These aren't pretty bugs."

He focused on the insect, acquiring its DNA. Then, he passed it to me.

"Your turn, Aliana."

I nodded, taking the foul thing into my hands.

Morphing the cockroach felt odd. And...for lack of a better word...gross.

But it would do the job.

It took awhile to "get the hang of it," but we managed to crawl beneath Tobias's windowsill.

((Tobias!)) Tom shouted. ((We're outside. Cockroach morph.))

Tobias slid open the window and looked down.

"That is seriously gross," he whispered.

((Yes. I agree,)) I said.

"I never thought I'd say this to a couple of roaches, but... Come on in."

Tom and I fluttered inside the room and demorphed.

"I was getting worried about you guys," Tobias whispered. "Sorry about my uncle..."

"No problem, Tobias."

"So... Now can you tell me what's going on?"

Quietly, Tom told our story. Told him about the Yeerks, the Animorphs, the Time Matrix. Not every detail, but most. Part of me was unsure as to whether this was the right course of action... But after everything the young boy had witnessed, he deserved to know the truth.

"I can't believe it," he gasped, finally. "We have to do something... We can't let this happen to Earth."

"It already has," Tom sighed.

Tobias stood, a determined look on his face. "No. It happened in your future. We can change things. We can make them right. Because of you guys, we can warn Jake and the others about everything. It'll give the Animorphs a new edge, a new advantage."

I smiled. ((Tobias does have a point...))

Tom stood there, considering.

Suddenly, there was a slam on the door.

"Boy! Open up!" his uncle said.

"Coming!" Tobias yelped.

I began to morph, but it was too late. Tobias's uncle kicked the door open and saw me. An Andalite.

I expected him to run. Scream, even. But neither was the case...

"Andalite!" he hissed. "Filthy, stinkin' Andalite scum!"

He reached behind and revealed a Dracon beam, leveling it at us.

"What are you doing?" Tobias yelped.

"I should've known you were with them. You always were a strange kid."

I stepped forward, tail ready.

((Tom, get Tobias out of here!))

Tom grabbed Tobias's arm, pulling him towards the window.

"You want a fight, girl? You've got one."

I was not afraid. I knew the Dracon's blast could not harm me. But even if it could, I was willing to take the blow. I was willing to do anything if it meant saving Tobias...

The Controller pulled the trigger.

I closed my eyes...