EIGHT: RACHEL


Jake was hopping mad. Really mad.

It can be scary sometimes when he takes the leader thing seriously. And I didn't blame him for being angry. None of us did. And especially with what happened in the restaurant.

But this was Ax. When there's food, there's no stopping him.

(I cannot believe you, Ax!)

(I apologize, Prince Jake.)

"No! It's not alright!"

From the first floor, kitchen window, we could hear El shouting.

"He ate our pastries! Our pastries! And he freaking ran out of the fire escape naked!"

"What? I said he was an oddball but I didn't mean he should take it literally."

Jake wasn't the only one angry at Ax. And honestly, El sounded a bit scary.

And Jake wasn't done with Ax yet.

(Do you know what I had to do so that Hanan wouldn't go to the kitchen?!) Jake continued. (I jumped. I jumped on a table and did the Twist! In public!)

(You did?) Marco uttered. (Whoa, didn't know you had it in you. Good job, leader.)

(Don't even, Marco. I'm never showing my face there again!) His piercing eyes turned back to Ax. (The same goes for you. From now on, you're not stepping a foot there! Even if there is a Yeerk.)

(I understand,) Ax whimpered, his head dropping lower and lower.

(So what should we do now?) Marco asked. A little distraction on Jake so that Ax could have some saving grace. (We can't go back unless we wanna invoke this girl's wrath.)

(Hmph. We shouldn't be afraid of this Yeer-)

(Ax,) Jake warned and Ax hunched back down.

(Why don't we just morph into something small and sneak in?) I suggested. (Like cockroaches.)

(I don't think we should. If one of the customers see us, that could hurt their business's reputation,) Cassie pointed. (And they have cats.)

Oh. Right. I remembered El saying not only were their cats one of the reasons for the restaurant's popularity but also in her own word, "better than pest control".

And to do the cockroach idea to an old man's restaurant, that wouldn't sit well with me.

Creak!

We heard the door open. Sharing the second floor of the fire escape were two rooms - the one Ax escaped out and a girl's bedroom. Well, I couldn't call it that. More like a kid version compared to the next room, an explorer's study. The study was brimmed with old photos and books while the bedroom had Christmas lights, art stuff and Polaroid pictures.

Both were clustered but they had their own charms in a way. Like two different time capsules.

The one who entered the bedroom was El, shutting the door behind her.

"Ledger, ledger," she repeated, searching through the artsy mess.

For a moment, it was almost like this was an ordinary girl going through her normal life.

"It's where I left it, El."

Then came that tone. That condescending, brooding tone.

"Yup, got it." El's voice changed back to her cheery one. Like that was normal to her.

She picked up a tattered book with Chinese writing from her dresser, glancing up to a large mirror. She then scowled.

"Seriously, all that work we did and some idiot goes and eats them up. Without paying!"

Her expression changed, an indifferent one with her left fingers curled around her chin.

"I'm more surprised someone would attempt to steal from Liang. Your relative is a visually-terrifying human."

It switched back to anger. "Kong Kong is the least of his worries. He's got me now!"

Switched. This time, cold irritation. "Include me as well. I put a lot of time and effort helping you with those pastries this morning."

I could not believe my eyes and hearing. All of us couldn't.

(I was right,) Marco gasped. (She does have a Yeerk.)

(I'm sorry, am I seeing this right?) I asked. It was a crazy thought. This host was talking freely with her Yeerk.

Or the Yeerk was reenacting how the human would respond to her. Disturbing and sickening.

(What's going on?) I uttered. (Why is this Yeerk talking to her host like they're friends?)

(It wouldn't,) Ax continued. (There is nothing for a Yeerk to gain from a free-moving host.)

(Exactly! This doesn't make sense. They're the bad guys here.)

"I mean...what kind of nitwit is he?!" El hollered, pitching her right hand up. "He literally left his clothes!"

"I cannot answer that if stupidity is an inheritance of his."

(I am not stupid, you ignorant Yeerk!) Luckily, we were too far for El to pick up direct thought-speech.

"However, I will agree that was an odd choice of action. And without reason. For a human."

"Where did Cassie and Rach even find him?"

"It would be best to ask them next time."

The Controller stomped her right foot. "I'd rather demand all of them to pay for the food!"

And now it just got worse. We owe money to a Controller.

(Oh no,) Cassie groaned.

(Ugggh, why Ax, why?) I grumbled.

Birds don't have any way of expressing faces like humans do. But Jake's stare was getting darker by the second, all on Ax whose head was sinking into his chest.

El balled up her right hand into a fist. "When I get my hands on him, I'll make him wash dishes for a whole week."

"I wonder if that's wise. He seemed to have difficulty in mobility-based tasks."

"Then I'll make him stand with a bucket of water for six hours!"

"Hm. Interesting choice-"

"On his head!"

"Ah. Yes, that is very much you."

(Honestly, I kinda want to see that now after what you did, Ax-Man,) Marco droned.

(Ditto.) Jake sighed. (Beats having to pay her back.)

(I do not understand. Why are you agreeing with the enemy on this?)

(Ax. One of these days, you got to learn more self-restraint in public.)

(I do not see the point of this 'bucket'. It sounds like a flimsy attem-)

Knock, knock!

El quickly wheeled around just to see the old man, Mr Liang, walk in. She lifted the book to him. "Here, Kong Kong. I'll let V'trix know she'll need to update the numbers for the losses."

For some reason, he had a disapproving expression but not towards El.

"What's up?"

"Your group leader is downstairs."

Oddly, the Controller's face stiffened. The book lowered.

"His name is Tom?"

We flinched.

Tom.

Jake's brother. My cousin.

The last person we expected to be there. Or anywhere that had to deal with Yeerks. Because he was a Controller.

(What is he doing here?) Marco uttered. Good question.

(They are Yeerks,) I said. (This has to be an important meeting or something.)

Because if Tom was here, it couldn't be good.

"I do not like him." I couldn't agree more with Mr Liang. That wasn't Tom anymore.

Just like El wasn't El anymore.

"Oh...him..." She lifted her head up with an assuring smile. "Probably community work again. I'll go check what he wants."

Mr Liang really showed that he didn't like this, folding his arms. But he nodded and left the room.

El didn't leave yet.

"V'trix," she called worriedly.

Then she glowered.

"What does he want?" the Yeerk hissed. She then left the bedroom.

(What should we do?) Cassie asked.

(I don't like this.) Without a word, Jake flew upwards. It was something he'd never do, go off like that but this was Tom. We followed, joining him on a window sill of the building.

Sure enough, Tom was outside.

Ding!

And El stepped out, glaring daggers.

"Hey, Sal," Tom greeted with a casual wave. "Sorry to drop in unannounc-"

"Back. Now," she said abruptly and was already off into a thin alley between the restaurant and an acupuncture shop.

That was the perfect place for two Yeerks to secretly talk together. She kept an eye out until Tom trailed after her. But birds stayed above and Yeerks didn't think to look up.

"What do you want?" El snapped with that strange tone. This time, she wasn't hiding it.

"Are you still mad about last week's outing? It was an accident. But hey, everyone had a good laugh out of it."

Tom patted her on the shoulder. But she quickly shrugged it off with a step back.

"No hard feelings. Let's put it behind us-"

"Cut the act. No one is here, you Y'shol."

Tom's facade dropped like a needle, with a dark, smug smile.

This was a Yeerk to Yeerk conversation.

"You should watch your manners, Orekor. Can't help you if someone were to come after you."

(Orekor? Didn't El say her name was V'trix?) Cassie said.

El was unfazed. "That a threat?"

"I'm only looking out for you. That's all. Someone needs to keep an eye on you."

Hostility between their own wasn't uncommon. We've seen a few backstab one another.

"Is that your reason to be here? To check up on me?"

"Well, that's one. After all, you're infamous. The little grub prodigy fallen from grace, stuck in half of a host. That never gets old."

The first sentence got Marco's attention. (Wait, could this Yeerk have been a Sub-Visser or something?)

(So this Yeerk's important,) I stated. I wondered if we could use that.

('Half a host'?) Cassie repeated.

El's Yeerk rolled her eyes away, slipping her left hand into her pocket. This treatment was something common. And she was blocking it all out.

Tom kept pushing.

"Aren't you sick and tired to be called, what is it humans say? The 'black sheep'? It doesn't hurt to ask for my help. We have to stick together-"

"Is that all you have to say?"

That shut Tom up. With her bored stare drilling into him.

"Are you trying to enlist me to be your scapegoat or use me as a stress ball to take your frustration out?"

"What?" Tom's voice darkened.

"If anyone is a black sheep in the Empire, it would be you. Seven-and-three-quarter dronak cycles out in the field and a low-levelled Yeerk like you is still trying to surpass my achievements just like Temrash did? How immature."

(Temrash?) Jake uttered.

Thump!

It went fast. Tom's hands lashed onto her jacket, nearly taking her off her feet and slamming her to the wall.

I almost leapt. We all did out of reaction. But we couldn't give our positions away.

So we had to watch.

If this wasn't about Yeerks, this would look like Tom was bullying El. And I'd probably jump in and stop him. I guess a part of me still wanted to. This was a friend I knew from school.

Tom's body was a teenager, taller and stronger than El. He could easily hurt her to make a point.

But she simply looked unamused. Like he couldn't do a thing. And as crazy as it sounded, that was reassuring.

"You're unwanted, Werch," he hissed. That word, Werch. He exaggerated it with ill intent. "One of these days, that attitude will be the end for you."

"I should say the same to you too, Y'shol," she rebuked back.

Tom's face scrunched up. He looked ready to attack. No, the Yeerk was.

But El added more salt to the wound.

"You are nothing but a replacement for your previous predecessor, Sarric. Just as I was for mine."

That got Tom riling. To the point of grounding teeth.

Then it was like he was losing it. He gave a cracking smile, his eyes telling her he wasn't to be messed around with.

It was almost...scary.

"I'll show you. You and the Empire. I'm no one's replace-"

"Are you done?"

His maddening expression immediately died out. El didn't care what he wanted to say.

"Good." She shoved him off, spreading out the wrinkles of her parka. "Now leave. I have work to do."

Tom stood still with shaking fists. You could tell he wanted to have the last say but got nothing. Seeing that he wouldn't budge, she turned to leave.

"I want to know," he demanded, stopping her. "Were you near the construction site?"

She raised an eyebrow. "No. I was here."

Tom didn't look convinced.

"If you don't believe me, ask the humans inside."

The two Yeerks kept on the stalemate for another few seconds.

It was finally Tom who gave up, giving a "Tsk!" at her. "Don't go causing our people more trouble, understand?"

As if that was enough for a final word, he left.

(Wow. Now that's tense. Tom's Yeerk versus this girl's. Looks like they got some history,) Marco pointed.

(What should we do? We got Tom here to worry about,) Cassie asked.

Jake thought for a moment. By now, Tom had already disappeared around the corner. (We're here for El. Not Tom. Stick to the plan.)

I knew Jake. He didn't mean what he said. He wanted to go after Tom, find a way to save him.

Maybe one day, we could. But not that day.

"You're thinking."

El was in an intellectual kind of pose - like a detective. Once she said that, she relaxed her arms down to her sides.

"What makes you say that?" El asked herself. No, the Yeerk asked El.

"You always make that face whenever you're thinking. Penny for your thought?"

"El, you cannot buy thoughts-ah. Right." She beamed softly. "He's the second one to assume we were at the site today."

"You're talking about that weirdo kid, Marco, right?"

Marco jumped, feathers ruffled. (Excuse me?!)

El frowned. "He was acting strange. Think he's connected?"

"It's a possibility," the Yeerk chimed. "But it was clear he had interest in you. Human attraction-"

"Pffft!" El made a raspy sound. "Please. I know his type. He's an insecure Casanova who thinks he's hot but the only thing he can turn on is the microwave."

Oh!

Oooh!

I couldn't contain it. Because that was the best insult ever to hear on Marco.

(Oooooh. Burned,) I boosted.

(Ouch,) Jake murmured.

(Stop. I'm already wounded here,) Marco groaned.

"That's...rather a harsh statement for you to say, El."

(Oh, great. The Yeerk's defending me now.)

"Besides…" El cast her gaze down. Sullen. "He'll be just like everyone else."

"El…" The Yeerk seemed to stop herself just as the Controller's right hand shot up, palm up like a stop sign. "Alright… Still, it bothers me a human and Yeerk saw us in another place when we were working here..."

There was a moment of silence between them. Like they were dealing with their own thoughts. El was the first to break it.

"Say, V'trix? Do you think it's an Andalite?"

It was a suggestion that we had thought of, and one the Yeerk didn't seem to reject. Instead of the common fear we'd see Yeerks have when our presence was made, she was intrigued.

"Another possibility. It's been years since we've seen one. But...why pick you?"

She leaned back against the wall, deep in thought.

"You're thinking if they snuck my DNA off, we'd have seen them, right?"

"Correct. I have heard the DNA donor receives a cataleptic side-effect. Neither of us has experienced that?"

"I don't think so."

"Hm," Vtrix hummed. "I wonder if it includes temporary memory loss then…"

Another moment of silence.

"Come to think of it," El started. "There's that deal with the whole Andalite Bandits about."

"Yes. Everyone talks about them nonstop."

"Think it's them behind this?"

(Wait! What?!) Marco hollered.

(Hey! Don't go putting your assumptions on us! You're the one who did this!) I added defensively.

"So you believe the dangerous Bandits took your DNA and are acting as you?" Vtrix asked, finding that far-fetched.

"Well, how else can you explain it? We can't be in two places at once," El pointed "Maybe Andalites have some new way of getting DNA without being noticed. Like ninjas."

"Now that would be surprising if they've had that sort of abilities."

(Now hang on a second here!) Marco hopped closer to the edge out of frustration. (Do you know the kind of things we could have done if that was possible?!)

(Shh!) Jake hushed. (Get back here.)

"However, what bothers me is why they chose you. I'm a Werch, clear as Madra's moonlight. Why bother to pick us when we have no value?"

"That is true…"

Finally, some reasonable deduction. Though I had no idea what they were talking about.

"Moreover, if Andalites are involved, then that creates a problem for us. Their presence could endanger us. Your family too."

Are you kidding me?! She was turning this around!

(She's making us the bad guys here!) I yelled.

"You're right. This is kinda cutting close to home."

(She's delusional too!)

"First that strange human child, your school friends and now this. What is going on?"

She glanced at the ground, defeated before closing her eyes. Thinking.

"Hey, V'trix. Why don't we go to the site?" She opened her eyes, surprised on the suggestion. El continued. "We could look for answers."

The Yeerk was quick to disagree with a concerned face. "And what should we do if we encounter the Bandits? Tell them to stop morphing into you?"

"What? No way. It's like talking to a brick wall, right? They won't listen," she uttered. "I was thinking we could find out the reason."

(I hate to break it with you. But we're not the ones!) Marco hollered.

"So a recon… A bit dangerous. These are Andalites we're talking about."

"Then do you wanna leave this alone?"

"No. The faster we do this, the faster we can go back to our lives. If we find their targeted source, we could direct them away from us."

(This...this is all crazy,) I muttered. We were hearing our enemy strategizing on us. (This is almost laughable.)

"Got it. Under the covers like always?"

"Yes. The less my people know, the better."

"So this is our unanimous vote?"

"Yes."

"Alright, let's get going." El proudly punched her fist into her other palm. "But seriously, I thought we were done with those stuck-up centaurs."

"You and me both."

She collected herself and went back to the back door, first. I could see the resolve on her face. Whether that was the Yeerk or her. I couldn't tell.

(Okaaay,) Marco groaned before a couple of weak laughs. (What on Earth just happened?! We're being accused here!)

(Are you seriously buying this, Marco?) I asked. (That Yeerk has a few screws loose to think she can put the blame on us.)

(This has to be scripted, right? This Yeerk's trying to humanize itself.)

(Is it really?) Cassie asked.

(What are you saying?) I uttered at her.

"Kong Kong, I'm heading out for a bit."

El had opened the door and yelled inside. Her great uncle then stepped out halfway - his face was really hard to read.

"Does this have to do with your group leader?"

"Not really. I'm just gonna get something for the community. It'll be quick."

He said nothing at first.

"Kong Kong, I'm a big girl now," El assured him. "I'll be fine."

Mr Liang heaved a soft sigh. "...Alright. Be back by 9."

"Got it."

"Your bracelet-"

El raised up her hand. Around the wrist was a green beaded piece of jewellery. "Already wearing."

An emotionless nod was his final approval. Then he went back inside while El went to her bike, with a backpack slung over her shoulder she had taken from inside.

Wait...that looked familiar.

(Let's go,) Jake said.

We flew off, eyes on El as she rode into the street at her own casual pace.

(I don't think this is all scripted,) Cassie continued. (It's crazy but...I think this is a genuine friendship between host and Yeerk.)

I refrained myself from telling her that was crazy. But Marco got the jump.

(That is crazy. Is this another dimension we landed ourselves in, one where Yeerks are nice?)

(Everything about this is strange,) Cassie urged. (And this Yeerk...she's not like the others.)

(This isn't like before, Cassie,) I added. I knew the kind of person she was, sympathetic even to our own enemies. That side of her has helped us before. Once.

The only reason she was acting like this was because that Yeerk talked to her before she died back at the warehouse.

(There's no telling what this Yeerk will do if we all go friendly. She could do the exact same thing like before. Trick us. You can't let her get to you like before.)

(Yeah. But Aftran changed.)

(That's Aftran. This is a totally different Yeerk. We don't know a single thing about her. The only thing that matters is she knows us!)

(Uh, yeah. Rachel?) Marco called. (It's been already an hour since the incident.)

(Well...) I couldn't disagree with him. This was far too long for a Yeerk not to rat us out. But I was persistent. (Maybe she's the real patient type. She's just waiting for the right moment to tell the others about us.)

(I do not think she can.) That came unexpectedly out of Ax.

(Why do you say that?) Jake asked.

(Because of her Werch status.)

(Oh, right. I was wondering what that word meant,) Cassie pointed. (Sounded like a name you'd give if you hated someone.)

(It is for a similar reason,) he explained. (Werch is a Yeerk term for criminal.)

Criminal.

That was one word I never thought to hear.

We've learned a few Yeerk words and their meanings. Every time we heard the word, Visser, there was a sense of dread and alarm for us. Because it was a rank at the top, a dangerous enemy.

Werch had a different weight compared to Visser. The word, criminal, to me, didn't sound as dangerous as Visser but it was still unsettling.

El had a criminal in her head.

(Oh, greeeat,) Marco groaned loudly.


Hello all! It's a late update mainly because of one major thing and one small thing. Major thing: I completely forgot about this update! :'D I had been too busy with life and focused on my art stuff that I really forgot about the biweekly update. And small, I actually had difficulty in editing a small part that I had to ask a lot of help on it.

Soooo yeaaah, my apologies for missing the update. I actually do write pre-chapters so that in case of writer's block or time problems, I'd at least have some chapters prepared for updates until then.

Regardless, hope you'll enjoy this chapter with more Yeerks insight and a depth with my two OCs.

If something bugs you, please let me know. I am always striving to improve this fic to the best I can. I hope you enjoy it! I will make it up to ya by posting the next chapter next Sunday for the delay.

Also shoutout to Artisan219's fanfic, Animorphs Reboot #1. It's an awesome fic on his take with the Animorphs being older and in our modern time. Give it a whirl.

Additionally, I wanna thank Riviere Parley, an Animorph friend way back when I was still developing this story's plot on helping me out with Yeerk language, a big tribute to her own Yeerk language document that gave me insight how to create Yeerk words like Werch, Y'shol and y'xta (the translations for those two will be later). There are gonna be a lot more words I've created and it's a big thanks to her, I couldn't have done with her. :D You can also check out her fic in FFN, Symbosis!