Rosalie's pov:
For once everything seemed almost peaceful. Almost. I am still being hunted by the Yeerks and I currently do not have a family, but putting that aside everything seems to be ok. I have friends, a temporary home (aka: Cassie's barn), and a couple small things from my old life.
Like the stupid book I have, but never seem to actually read it.
I was currently at the mall. Don't ask me why, because I don't know myself. In fact I was never one to be seen in the mall, but things have changed.
I was obviously not myself at the moment considering I was at the top of the list of 'Yeerks most wanted'. I was right above my friends.
I used a morph of another girl instead of showing up to the mall as the real me. Instead of my dark brown eyes, I had cold blue ones. Instead of my usual curly brown hair, I had straight blonde hair. you get the picture, right?
I scanned my eyes over the next paragraph in my book. "I don't even know why I read this adventure stuff, my life is an adventure." I muttered to myself.
Suddenly I got the sense to look up from my book. I looked up just in time to see a crazed boy, shoving food from tables in his mouth.
He looks like he didn't eat in weeks I thought to myself.
He turned around so I could get a good look at him. I narrowed my eyes and felt the information flow through my brain.
He looks around my age, He is quite tall, doesn't play sports though telling from how lean he looks— wait he looks really familiar
I stood up abruptly. "What is Ax doing here?!" I asked myself quietly. "No wonder he looked familiar he has the DNA of the others in him "
I quickly ran over to the food court.
"Hey! hey, stop!" A woman yelled.
age about 26, works here obviously. She is the manager!— not the time for this
The woman rushed over to Ax. "What are you doing?" she cried.
"I amm glearing khe khables," Ax said as he still stuffed food in his mouth
The manager quickly turned to the people, who Ax was stealing food from.
"I am terribly sorry," She said.
"I'll get you two fresh buns. And you!" She said pointing to Ax. "You are coming with me."
She pulled Ax away and sat him down in the corner of the food place.
"Shoot." I mumbled as I started to walk towards them. As I was I met the gaze of a familiar face. Marco. Thats when it all went bad.
"So there I am," Marco said. "Cruising through the food court, minding my own business, thinking Hey why not snag a taco? When I notice the paramedics and this crowd all gathered around the Cinnabon."
We were in the forest that begins at the edge of Cassie's farm, where Ax and Tobias live. We as in the rest of the group.
Ax was back in his regular form as Marco continued to tell us what happened, even though I was already there.
"And I swear, it was like this sudden, psychic feeling. I knew, I mean, I knew somehow the Ax-man was involved. So I go over and I spot Rose in her morph making her way through the forming crowd. I was trying to make my way over to her, but this girl got in my way so I asked her what happened instead. And she says—"
"She?" Rachel interrupted. "Let me guess. Some good-looking girl who normally would never talk to you? But you figured since there's medical emergency that would be a good time to hit on her?"
"Exactly." Marco said.
I suddenly got kind of angry. Jealousy? No, can't be. I hoped he was joking though.
"Anyway she tells me 'some kid went crazy and ate an entire pan of cinnamon buns.' Now who do we know that would do that?" He finished. We all looked at Ax and the others smiled. I felt the corner of my mouth form into a small smirk. Tobias didn't smile though, considering he was a hawk at the moment.
i was not aware of the precise specifications for human stomaches Ax said. it seems there is some sort of limit on the quantity that may be consumed. Passing the limit caused an unpleasant sensation in the stomach are. It also caused me to become dizzy."
"The sugar rush of all time" Cassie said to him with a smile on her face.
We were waiting for someone i was told. I haven't met them so I have no idea what to expect.
"So who is this Erek character?" I asked.
Their attention was averted towards me.
"Erek is part of a race of androids. They are known as the Chee" Jake explained.
There was more to it, but to be honest it didn't really concern me.
"I was about to mention that Erek was late, but I guess it's still earlier than I thought it was." Jake said looking at the watch on his wrist.
He's coming now Tobias said. He can move very quickly very quickly when he wants to. But I can see him from up here.
The guy, who I was assuming was Erek arrived. He appeared to be normal, but apparently he is an android, so this time I shouldn't judge a book by its cover. Meaning I can't read him at all.
He is producing a hologram of a normal human. he is incapable of violence because of the programming of their creators Ax said filling me in on information, in private-thought speech of course. Even though they cannot do battle, the Chee have managed to infiltrate the Yeerk organization here on Earth.
I nodded slightly.
"Hi everyone" Erek said approaching. he stopped and turned toward me. "Who is this?" He asked.
"The newest members of the Animorphs of course" Marco said swinging his arm around my shoulders.
I tensed up at someone else's touch. Ax noticed my discomfort.
I do not think Rosalie likes other humans making contact with her. Ax spoke up.
Marco seemed to almost glare at Ax, but stopped when he saw me looking. He removed his arm from my shoulders.
"I'm just not used to it Marco, don't take it personally" I said. No emotion, as usual.
"So, uh hey Erek" Marco said. "What's up?"
Erek shrugged, a human gesture?
"Not much. Just something strange. Something that doesn't make sense. At least not as far as we can see."
Erek turned to me once again. "You know who we are right? He asked.
I gave a nod. "You don't seem to express much" He said.
I shrugged. "I'm not used to it I guess" I answered. He looked confused. "Fearless will probably fill you in later about my past" I said.
Jake nodded and looked where Tobias was. "Are we clear?"
Tobias dropped from the branch he was on, he flapped his wings and soared above the treetops out of sight.
"Sorry." Jake said to Erek. "I want to be sure we're safe."
Erek made an amused grin. "Do you think I came alone? Three of my people are spread out around us, keeping watch. Tobias will never spot them, not even with his eyes."
"Tch." I scoffed. "Tobias can find them."
"Want to put some money on that?" Jake said backing me up.
Tobias flew back and landed on the same branch he was on earlier. He began to preen his feathers calmly. All clear
"You didn't see anything at all?" Jake asked, sounding disappointed.
Well I saw two Chee protecting tree holograms and another one trying to pass himself off as a rock, but nothing to worry about Tobias said.
I clapped my hands. "Called it" I said. a small smile formed on my face.
We all laughed except for Ax. I KNOW these woods Tobias said smugly. You think you can just park some big old holographic willow tree where it doesn't belong and I don't notice? Puh-leeze.
Erek seemed to bow toward Tobias. "Remind me never to underestimate you, brother hawk." The suddenly serious, he told us what he'd come to say.
"The second-ranking guy in the Secret Service, a man name Hewlett Aldershot the Third, is in a hospital in a coma. he was hit a car while walking across the street. We don't know why he's here in this area. But we do know this: No one even know he's in the hospital."
"his family doesn't know?" Cassie asked.
"No. No one. Not his family, not his boss, Jane Carnegie. No one. The hospital is heavily infiltrated by Yeerks. Half the staff are human controllers. His name isn't even in the hospital computers. And, oh, by the way, the car that hit him? A minivan belonging to none other than out friend Chapman."
Jake and I both nodded.
"Well, well," Jake started.
"I guess we'd better check it out." I finished with a smirk.
