Chapter 10

"I've read it three times. You're my biggest role model."

I grinned, a little more genuinely this time. The red-haired girl couldn't have been much older than sixteen, yet she had an outward maturity far beyond her years. "Thank you," I said. "That means a lot to me."

"Everybody always talks about what you did during the war," She continued. "But I like the chapters after that stuff mostly. What you do now."

"Like sign books?" I chuckled.

"No, I mean what you do in Washington and Yellowstone. I love it."

I smiled again, touched. "What's your name?"

"Rachel."

The name brought back memories and feelings that would often remain repressed. I became aware of my own hesitance, and shook it off to write a personal message on the inside cover of the book laid before me in thick black ink.

To Rachel,

There is no enemy greater than our own shame. Be proud of what you can and will do, and you will overcome any obstacle. Become your own role model.

Your friend, Cassie.

I closed the cover, only to stare into an inky mirror. The War in My Words, the title said, and it was indeed a title of many meanings for me. It was an autobiography I was practically forced into writing, but once the deal was done I insisted on writing every last word myself, without edits. I laid it out truthfully, including every thought and feeling that would trespass my consciousness at the best and worst times. The guilt and shame, the hurt and the numbness. But also the triumph. The gratitude I had for friends.

Rachel left, and soon the line of people began to shorten as the book store headed towards closing time. I was tired of signing, and my hand had started to cramp up from hours of torment. Just as I felt the need to take a break, the last person in line said a thank you and wandered off with his very own signed copy clutched faithfully to his chest.

I must have signed a few hundred. After the few years post-war, I expected a drop in attention when the War became just another memory, but it never did. I was still Cassie the hero. Cassie the saviour of Earth. Cassie the Animorph.

We all were, and perhaps it would always remain. It explained why I'd become something of a political force, but only Toby had taken anything close to an official title. I'd been told by several that I should consider running for some political party when I reached a more mature age, but I wasn't sure if I wanted to bog myself down in that. I felt that, somewhere down the line, I'd become just another sell-out.

I put aside the remaining unsigned books and the daydreaming, and took a deep breath, like I'd forgotten to take one for a minute or so. Only then did I realise that somebody was casting a shadow from the opposite side of my little table. The deep-red hair and blue eyes took only a moment to recall.

"Amara?" I gasped. Then I looked around, seeing if anybody was paying attention. I shouldn't have blurted out her name. I sat closer. "What are you doing here?"

The Andalite in Human morph smiled. "I came to see how you were doing. I haven't seen you since we solved your little problem."

"Isn't there a better time?" I asked.

"When is there ever a good time for you?" She asked sincerely.

"Good point…" I said with a sad chuckle. "It's just a little dangerous."

"My Human morph is unknown to the military," She reassured. "I acquired it under Caysath's guidance back on Andal from blood samples. No military involvement. It's safe."

"Well, okay…" I said, nodding. I was still curious, though, why she wished to visit. "Did you want a signed book?

She laughed haughtily and shook her head. "A signed book? Please… What a primitive tradi-… No thank you. I came for something more serious."

"Yeah?" I said. "What it is?"

"My training came to a break, recently. I'm technically on a holdover, which means I have very little to do for quite some time until I am given a position aboard a Dome Ship. I have spoken to Caysath, and I would like to offer you my ship. Whenever you require it."

I was shocked, it was fair to say. I certainly didn't expect it from her. "Really? Wow, that's… Thanks."

"And before you say anything, yes, Caysath did help persuade me. He calls me brutish and stubborn and arrogant. I guess this is my way of trying to reshape myself. Is that something Humans do?"

"Make amends? Sounds about right," I replied. "I think you'd have to say a few things to Toby and Clarissa, too, but yeah, this is a great way to start."

She rolled her eyes. "Ugh… Do I have to?"

"No, but it would be good if you did."

She accepted that begrudgingly. "Very well. Here, I have a communications device for you." She reached into a scruffy brown backpack and pulled out a typical, bland Andalite communicator. Like a phone, but… well, you know how advanced Andalites are. It would be vastly superior to any Human phone. I took it and quickly shoved it into my denim jacket pocket. "If you need me, my friend, you can call. If those officers give you trouble again, or you need to get somewhere fast."

I stood up to appear less formal to her. "Thanks, Amara. Really, thanks. I'm not sure how much I'll need you, but you can always come visit sometime."

"Yes, so long as there is good food. You Humans are very good at that, just as you're very good at having the most mysterious and unfathomable charm…"

I laughed. "Never heard Humans described like that before, but I'll take it."