Here it is, chapter five, I know I've been a little late at uploading this, I have a reason *head bounces up and down* its been hard writing this since I have no clue whatsoever about where it is heading...and besides, this chapter is longer than any of the others. Anyway, here it is!
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Green Eyed Girl: David didn't exactly chew on wires or anything, you'll find out what he's been up to in this chapter. And yeah. I know that Rachel was cremated, but remember the part about this being a dream? And remember the part about Rachel being taken away? As in, she doesn't know what happened to her when they found her 'dead'? In any case, it wasn't really Rachel's dream, you'll find out what that chapter meant right now, this chapter...
Alikat: I am fond of surrealism, but have never really found out the artists names...I find that part tedious...I just look at the pictures and move on...hehehe...
Andre: *cringes* the worms didn't eat her...it's a dream....and then, I mention that part about her Yeerk...did you miss that?
Phoenix: you're gonna have nightmares? *chuckles* I gotta do this more often. Hehehehe.
Myst: Hehehe, power? Who said anything about power? I continued the conversation so that no one thinks Salvador is falling for Yalleen or anything, because I made it sound like he was *shrugs* you'll get more about those two...in this chap. As far as my contradictions...I like contradicting myself, it makes you people o confused *smiles innocently* oh, and btw, I dont see chapter three, where is chapter three? *glares* I thought you said you had most of it done...I want to reeeeead.
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I stared. I knew nothing about clinically depressed people, so naturally, I would know nothing about clinically depressed rats. But I knew enough about it to know that David was depressed.
At least that's what I thought in the beginning, and now, whatever he has; its way beyond me.
He was lying on his back, little rat front paws stuck in the air, his crooked tail bitten and gnarled. His nose twitched –which was nothing new- but it wasn't nervous twitching. It was mad insane twitching, his tail would flip and he'd stop moving all together, unless you poked him, which was what I did, he would start the whole process again.
Even Kat was intrigued, she cocked her head down at him and looked at him with that quizzical feline stare. She poked him with one of her paws and stared in fascination as his legs motored and his tail twitched. I thought maybe he was in shock or something, so I brought Kat out to see if she'd bring him back from the dead.
No such luck.
She bent down to sniff but I grabbed her and put her back in her carrier, "that's about close enough."
I gazed helplessly at David. I tried talking to him, but he was dead to the world. Kat wouldn't eat him she figured he was diseased or something, so she laid off.
"Common'" I muttered, "are you a man or a mouse?"
David's eyes stared at the ceiling, he had a disturbingly human expression on his eyes, a distant expression. I never thought....
"What?" I asked, I crouched down so that my head was a few inches away from his face, I whispered back to him, "I cant hear you, speak up man."
David went on whispering, I never...
Exactly what are you doing?
I jerked away from David, stood up, put him in my pocket and turned around. "Detrax, what a...pleasant surprise."
You really are crazy, eh? Detrax snorted, Why do human talk to their pets as if they expect them to answer?
I smiled weakly, how long had he been listening to me? "Well, all humans do that, even though we don't expect them to answer..."
Detrax shook his head, if xeno-biology was not a compulsory subject for Arisths to study then I would never have signed up for it. Especially if it was studying humans.
"Huh," I said, "maybe you're looking at it the wrong way around."
What?
"Maybe you're too thick in the head to get what humans do. I mean, jeez, you're always on about how primitive we are, well, if we're primitive, how come you cant understand us?"
To this Detrax calmly said, humans are primitive, I would not deny that. As far as human behavior goes; it is purely illogical.
I shook my head, "what do you want Detrax, I don't think you came all the way here to trade insults with me."
That's funny, I didn't think you would consider 'illogical behavior' as an insult. Detrax laughed at his own wit.
I just stared at him.
Well, I live next door. He snapped, and I'm bored.
"Why is that my problem?" I snorted, "besides, I seem to remember that you have a 'busy schedule' what happen to that?"
My personal combat trainer is currently off the ship and my flight instructor is recovering from a minor illness. I have nothing to do.
I laughed, "that's a new one."
There was something, something he wanted, I knew it. I saw it in his eyes, he wanted to ask me something but he couldn't quite bring himself to it. Was the banter his way of stalling? I didn't know. I turned away from him and made up my bed. Detrax entered my room uninvited.
He looked around, at my bed, at my personal belongings, but he didn't touch anything. Then, in an offhand way he said, I heard Yalleen's voice here yesterday, I was in my quarters, she was in your room?
I grinned crazily, my back was to Detrax so he couldn't see me. "Yeah, unlike some Andalites I know she's keen on learning all about humans." I stood up and turned to face him, "why do you care?"
Nothing. He said hastily, I was just wondering.
"Yeah?" I inquired, "where I come from, when a guy asks about a girl, it's never 'I'm just wondering' there's always a reason."
Detrax stared. Like he couldn't believe I said that. Very slowly he said, what?
"You like her." I said, I grinned idiotically, "I noticed you looking at her a lot during the last lesson."
My computer counsel malfunctioned. He snapped, I had too look over her shoulder. It means nothing.
"Riiiight." I flopped on my bed. Maybe he was just thick in the head, maybe he just liked her and nothing more. Maybe he was just wondering why Yalleen spent a few hours in my room. And maybe pigs can fly.
Humans, Detrax muttered.
"Yaa-ouch!" I jumped about a foot in the air, I felt tiny teeth nip at my thigh. A slurry voice snarled in my head, get.him.OUT!
It was David. I must have sat on him when I flopped on my bed, I rubbed at my thigh and yanked him out of my pocket, I set him down on the bed.
David chased his tail, he tried to nip at it. To avoid him embarrassing himself in front of Detrax I tried to grab him. David bit my finger.
"OWwwww!" I wailed, "what' your problem?!"
Detrax shook his head, he left my room, his stalk eyes trained on me. remember the part I said about being bored? Well, forget I said that, I couldn't be this bored.
I had bigger problems, I locked the door and turned on David, "what's your problem?! What is it?!"
She's aliiiiive! David howled in my head, she's alive!
"Who?" I snapped.
I thought you were just joking! I thought you were crazy! But you're right! You're right!
"I am?" I asked puzzled. "about what?"
About RACHEL! David screamed in rage, she's alive!
"Isn't that a good thing?" I ventured.
David stopped breathing, he looked at me with insane beady rat eyes.
I felt my blood freeze.
A good thing? David's voice trembled, his voice seethed with dark rage. A good thing?!
I don't know what happened then. All I knew was that David lost it. He lost it and turned on me.
Clawing and biting he turned on me. I yelped in panic, tried to catch him, but he was so fast, he bit and bit and bit and I couldn't grab him. Kat stared in horror as the mad rat attacked her owner. Her tail swished and her eyes opened wide in alarm. She leapt at me, to try and get David, but I pushed her away. I tripped on her and tittered backwards, I grabbed at the air and missed, I fell backwards bumping my head on the wall, I slumped against the cool hull and slipped into blissful sleep.
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Rachel's mind was defeated. The mental torture had finally broken her, for years she had fought, it seemed like it was endless time. Her mind was numb with pain. But what was more horrible was the emptiness.
Everyone who loved her thought she was dead. No one knew of her suffering. No one appreciated her will to fight. She would never see her friends again. She would never fight along side them. Why not give in?
Rachel may have entertained the thought of giving in but she would never do it. She had hope. And she clung to it.
She barely knew how old she was, she practically forgot her looks. And every time her brain strained to remember the faces of those she loved they would be replaced by faces from this ugly reality.
Jake. Cassie. Marco. Ax...and Tobias. Her heart ached for him.
Over and over, her Yeerk would play his dreams for her, he would place her in his dream. He imagined what it would be like for her to die, to be left floating in space. He made up what the Andalite's reactions would be. By looking into her memories he made up her mother, sisters and friends. He made her live in that dream, everyday. Every night. Until she felt like earth was pressing in all around her, until she started to scream for air. Then he would stop, and she would emerge from the dream in a haze of pain, she was disoriented, confused and lost. She was nothing more than a shell. A mere fraction of what she used to be. The Yeerk wanted her weak. He wanted her to be under his complete control. He didn't need a rebel. He had to break her completely before the time came; the time to tell the world that Rachel was alive.
But first things were first, to weaken her more, he would allow her to embrace a comrade. And then, he would sacrifice him.
Rachel knew nothing of this, she knew nothing of Ax's capture. And as Devono 2056 of the Sulp Nairra pool reentered his host, he smiled to himself. He looked forward to this. The Andalite Prince had been caught and detained in Yeerk custody for almost three weeks now, he had been hassled and weakened by the Yeerk endless love to antagonize Andalites. They were particularly thrilled to successfully capture The Beast's Brother. The beast being Prince Elfangor. The brother would be Aximili.
As he entered the holding room his Yeerk brothers nodded respectfully. He was The Great One. The one who fooled the universe, the one who had planted new seeds for the Yeerk Empire, he was the one who followed in The One's footsteps.
"Is he still alive?" Using his stolen voice he asked his brothers of the Andalite's state.
One of his brothers, Kelit 2016 nodded, he had a human host, "yes, Devono, he is stile alive."
Devono nodded, he did not use Tom or Visser One's aggressive manner in controlling comrades and subordinates. He believed that treating the lesser as an equal would help him conquer the Yeerkish instincts of betrayal. Maybe showing these Yeerks a new way would help him to achieve his goals.
Devono nodded. He aroused his human host; Rachel, from her endless sleep, she was half aware of what was happening, and, as the awesome profile of the Andalite prince appeared in view, he felt her inhale sharply, he was slowly giving her control. Slowly allowing her to function normal, she found that she could move her eyes again, concentrate on any sounds. He still held her standing. And he snapped that control just before the Andalite noticed him.
Rachel collapsed in a heap, his Yeerk brothers hauled her up and tossed him/her in front of the Andalite Prince.
"Ax." Rachel breathed heavily, she was down on her knees and hands, her head lowered to the ground and her hair dangled around her face, she was still disoriented. Shocked and awed, she thought she was dreaming. She struggled to stand up.
The shackled Andalite stopped struggling, he stared at the human in front of him. Devono supposed that he perhaps found something familiar about her. Rachel was struggling to control her body, it had been too long for her. Too long since she had to stand up on her own.
The Andalite's hands were not shackled, only his tail was. With his hands he helped Rachel to her feet, he still did not know. He did not understand.
Rachel gasped in ragged breathes. Panic was caught in her chest. She was happy, sad, and guilty all at the same time. Devono watched her emotions from far away. Human emotions had always fascinated him.
"Ax..." Rachel had whimpered at his touch.
You know my name. He sounded confused. And Devono thought him to be stupid. Of course she knew his name. Every Yeerk in this sector of space knew who he was.
Rachel grabbed the Andalite's hands. They were soft and delicate, nothing like human hands, Devono observed this from a corner in Rachel's mind.
"It's me..." She chocked out with a great sob, "its me Rachel."
The Andalite tilted her head back, Rachel's long hair dropped away from her face, she looked into his eyes. His main eyes were green specked with gold. And his stalk eyes had a hint of purple. His ears were larger and smoother than human ears. And his nose consisted of three vertical slits. Devono was fascinated.
But he allowed Rachel to steer. After all, she was entitled some control. But he watched her carefully, he would not allow her to destroy herself, he had noticed her eyeing his shackled blade.
You're alive? He wondered. But then he grew suspicious, a Yeerk trick?
"No." Rachel managed, she shoved away a bunch of emotions. All of a sudden she was remembering the times she spent fighting. Her days when she was Rachel The Animorph. She began to cry, silent tears raced down her cheeks.
But how can that be? How could you be alive?
Deveono noticed how the Andalite's amazement affected her, a wave of self pity washed over her. Her eyes misted, she spoke with a broken voice. "they held me Ax, they took me."
No, that can't be possible we watched you die! Ax took hold of Rachel, she swayed at his touch, her memories spilled faster. She was drowning in her past.
"Is he alive?" She sobbed suddenly, "Is Tobias still alive?"
Ax searched Rachel's eyes, he was looking for something.
Devono knew what he was looking for. He seized his moment, he took back all of his control, he allowed an indifferent look to cross his eyes, he allowed a coldness to seep through her broken blue eyes. He allowed his ruthless personality to sharpen her broken spirit. "Yes, I am here."
Andalites are a smart species, but most Princes are fools. Devono was mystified as to why the Andalite would try to whip his tail, the metal restrain held. The Prince glared angrily into his eyes.
Then his curiosity was satisfied, he felt Rachel's reaction. His action had provoked her. It had ensured a false sense of security. He cared for her as a comrade.
Devono pitied the creature. And he remembered briefly, a time when he had killed a copy of her, when he had forced one of his brother Yeerks to morph Rachel and kill him. And after removing the Yeerk in her head, they ejected her body. To fool the Humans and the Andalites. To fool the universe.
Yeerk filth, The Prince spat.
Devono waved his hand at his face, dismissing him, "save your insults Andalite, I have no use for them. I have my plans for you."
The Andalite feel silent, his intelligent eyes watched Devono every move, he tried to read his body language, to see if he could spy out any clue that would save him.
Devono laughed silently. He knew how hopeless Aximili's situation was.
But as an answer to the Prince's probing he allowed a small cold smile to flicker on his face, then he turned and walked away.
He still needed to break Rachel. When that was done, he would happily hand the Prince over to The One.
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Salvador? Salvador?! Open the door.
"Wha...?" I muttered. "Who is there?"
It is me, Elymphia, will you unlock the door?
I stumbled to my feet, feeling a little bit woozy. I pushed the button that unlocked the door, I blinked stupidly at her, I couldn't believe it was night. My lights were dimmed –something that happens naturally at 'night' on the ship, of course, this is no problem for Andalites as they can figure out where all the walls are and avoid walking into them, but unfortunately for me, I had a lot of stuff to trip on, and just as I turned to open the lights, I tripped on one of the many items that littered the floor.
And bumped my head, again. Thankfully, I didn't pass out.
Elymphia heard the bump and reckoned I tripped over something. Salvador, are you alright? You had me worried.
I didn't answer her, I felt around my skull, trying to figure out if it was broken or just smashed.
Computer, lights on.
Light flooded my room, and to my horror, I noticed Detrax and Yalleen standing behind Elymphia, I could take Elymphia when I was alone, but not when Detrax was around, he just made me feel embarrassed. Elymphia knew I was an orphan, and she knew everything about my personal history, I didn't want anyone to know I was an orphan or anything about my life on Earth, it was embarrassing. But my point is, Elymphia acted like this she was my parent or something, and it seriously embarrassed me. Never mind that she was responsible for me and I was under age, but the way she caries on sometimes...
What happened to you? Elymphia gasped.
I didn't get it at first, but I guess the number of scratched on my hand brought back the memory.
And I wondered how exactly would I be able to explain what happen.
"Er...well...I... " I looked around. Kat was awake, she was sitting on top of her carrier and her blue eyes watched me, David was in the carrier obviously seeking protection.
"I bumped my head." I said lamely, I was going to say I cut myself shaving but I couldn't have pulled that off. No one shaves their palms and fingers. No one.
Detrax was looking at me very strangely, he didn't exactly have a worried look on his face or anything, and it wasn't that annoying sneer he carried in his eyes every time he saw me...it was, I don't know, he looked confused. Like he was trying to figure something out.
Yalleen looked genuinely concerned.
You poor thing. I felt my ears go red as Elymphia came into my room and grabbed my arm, she tugged me out, And exactly how did you bump your head?
Yalleen and Detrax followed curiously, I guessed they wanted to hear an explanation too.
Either that or they lacked drama in their lives.
I didn't know where Elymphia was taking me, but I walked with her, "um...I don't know, I can't seem to remember..."
Detrax snorted loudly, Elymphia gave him a warning glance.
What was wrong with your pet? Yalleen asked me, Detrax told me that something was wrong with it.
"Which pet?" I muttered, trying to brew up a lie as fast as I could.
Mouse. Yalleen said.
"Er...Mouse? He's a rat." I was confused.
Yes, I know he is a rat, but Detrax told me you named him Mouse. Is mouse some other species on your planet? Why would you call a rat a mouse?
"Head ache..." I muttered, "I have a head ache."
Detrax was eyeing me strangely, like he figured something about me, and while I was pondering on that I felt the knife edge of panic hit me.
I didn't know why, but something, my brain was warning me about something. I looked at the cuts on my hand, they made me feel uneasy...maybe it was the sight of blood, but I didn't know.
"Hey," I said, "where are we going?"
To the sick bay of course, these wounds needs treatment. Elymphia said briskly, we do not have human blood in out blood banks so I think it would be wise to stop the loss of blood. We are here. Elymphia left me with Detrax and Yalleen.
I stopped dead in my tracks.
Then it hit me, I felt my face go pale.
"Oh no!" It was like a blow to m stomach, I stared emptily ahead, "he bit me!"
Detrax laughed, Is that how you got those cuts? Mouse bit you? Well, if that isn't stupid I don't know what is.
"No you idiot." I hissed furiously, "you don't get it!"
Salvador are you alright? Yalleen looked worried.
"Oh. I'll kill him!" I hissed, I marched down the corridor, I was going back to my room. "he'll pay for it! Pushing me around is one thing but this..."
Detrax and Yalleen exchanged a look. Detrax whispered, better not let him out of our sight, he appears deranged.
But I didn't care about Detrax, I started running down the corridor, Yalleen and Detrax took off after me.
Ahah, here it was, the doors opened automatically for me and I stormed in, "you!" I pointed accusingly at David –who was still being trapped by Kat.
Will you get your stupid Kat out of the room?! David bellowed in my head.
Detrax and Yalleen finally caught up with me, David froze. But I didn't care.
"You bit me!" I wailed, "I've been bitten by a rat! A RAT for goodness sake, you know how many...how many diseases you carry or not?!"
I AM NOT DISEASED! David screamed back at me, AND FOR YOUR INFORMATION I AM NOT A RAT!
"Hah!" I chortled, "oh right, I'm gonna listen to that. Sure. Okay, then exactly what are you?!"
You idiot they'll know! David wailed in panic.
"I really don't care!" I hissed, "You bit me you diseased psychopath!"
Detrax inched away from me, Yalleen looked unsure. Salvador...are you feeling okay?
"Yes, yes," I snarled, not exactly in my bet of moods, as my mind was coming up with graphical images of where David could have lived on in his life. I felt my skin crawl. "I'm fine."
Well, Detrax said testly, you seem to be engaged in a conversation with your pet... he paused and ventured, is that normal?
"Oh I so had it with you!" I screamed, "get out!"
Detrax looked startled, get a grip, you are scaring me.
Yeah, Yalleen agreed nervously, me too, Salvador, calm down.
"I probably have rabies now." I groaned.
Is rabies a frightening disease? Detrax wondered.
I don't have rabies, David sulked.
You know, maybe the Prince was right, Detrax muttered to Yalleen.
Shut up, Yalleen snapped. We should do what the professor asked us to do.
Detrax snorted, if you think I'm going to waste more time then you are seriously mistaken.
Suit yourself, Yalleen said, Salvador, we should really get you to sick bay, you may have a concussion...maybe that would account to your abnormal behavour.
Detrax snorted, if you ask me, I think he came here with a severe concussion.
Oh seriously Detrax, would you stop it? Yalleen said crossly.
Detrax -surprisingly- did not snap back at her. Yalleen was trying to help me stand up. Detrax watched he and said, my arms are stronger, I will help you.
I'm not heavy, and I guess the power Detrax had in his arms was equivalent to a seven year old human, nevertheless, he had the combined power of his back legs to help him. I was sure that it would be more than enough to roughly yank me up.
I declined his help and stood up on my own.
Detrax shook his head as Yalleen lead the way.
David stared emptily behind us. Whatever his story was, I was done with it. I had enough.
Just as I walked out of the door I heard David speak.
His voice was soft and low.
We had a deal Salvador, don't forget that.
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Btw, the other reason it took long was because I sat down and actually drew what Salvador looks like...that was an effort to help me over come the writer's block, if anyone wants to look at the sketch just e-mail me and I'll send it over...I've drew him leaning against the wall contemplating life without David...hehehe, that's why I've had David being overly weird in this chapter.
Don't forget to review!
