Reubren:

Reubren you must desist!Aximili shouted , helping Sabrina and M.C. hold me back. You're not completely recovered.

I've been recovered since last night! Let me go!I said struggling towards the door.

" You don't even know where you're going - Erek, help!" M.C. cried.

Erek eyed me nervously. "I ask that you please keep me out of this."

Maybe holding down a frenzied , desperate , Andalite bothered him somehow. He could have done it , but the Chee aren't capable of any kind of violence , however slight.

I had to find my shorm. This was no time to be lying around! Why couldn't they see that? Plus I was fine.

" You'd think something was going on between them." said M.C .

Trust Eustace to guess. I think I went a slightly darker shade of blue in the face.

" Don't tease him, man." Matt said. " This is not the time."

See? Finally someone agrees with me. This ISN'T the time!I said. We have to find Melissa and get her away from that foul -

The door opened and a woman dressed in rags came into the house.

" Lourdes!" Erek looked relieved to see another Chee. " Find anything out?"

" Yes. Plenty in fact. I used the Chee net and learned some very good news."

I stopped struggling. Sabrina , M.C. , and Aximili let me go.

" Melissa's going to be okay. She escaped last night." Lourdes said happily. " It's rumored that the Peace Movement was involved."

I was torn between relief and fear. I was happy she was away from the Visser. But was she okay? Was she scared? And the fact still remained -

She's with Yeerks.I said heavily. I wonder what their motive was?

M.C. looked angry. I guess he had guessed what I'd been thinking. " That's not fair. They're not all Visser Three. They put themselves at great risk to save Melissa."

Again I was divided in emotions. This time it was defensiveness and shame. Why shouldn't I be suspicious, given what Yeerks have done in the past? Yet , they did save her...

Madison came to my defense. " He wasn't trying to be cruel. The Yeerks have been at his people for years. Reubren and I have experienced them differently than you have , M.C. . So I can understand why he feels that way."

Of course he feels that way!Aximili snapped. Look at them!

Sabrina laid a comforting hand on my shoulder. " It's okay , Reubren. M.C.'s a good judge of character, so they can't be all that bad. At least we know she's not in danger."

Actually, we don't know that.I said bitterly. We don't even know where she is. She could be hurt. She could be scared and wondering why we're all sitting around and not doing anything!

I closed my eyes. I knew I was being difficult. I didn't care. How could they understand? They weren't feeling what I was feeling. None of them were in love with Melissa. And it wasn't their fault it happened either , it was mine.

" He is right about one thing." Eustace said , breaking an embarrassed silence. " Everyone has a motive , even us. But not all motives are necessarily selfish or evil. We're not trying to save this planet for our self gain , but because we simply want to save it."

" I'm sure she's okay." M.C. said more gently. " They wouldn't harm her."

They were trying to reassure me. I wasn't. I needed to see her.

In a slightly calmer voice I asked , You stay in touch with these people?

M.C. replied , " Yeah. I have Tidwell's number. He probably knows something."

My hopes lifted a bit.

" Tidwell?" Lavender asked.

" He's a teacher. His host is with the Peace Faction."

Okay. So let's call him.I said eagerly.

They all looked at me.

" I almost think Eustace is right." Lavender said. " Something probably is going on between you two."

M.C. dialed the number. He waited patiently.

" Oh , why yes you can use my phone." Erek said sarcastically.

M.C. looked embarrassed. " Sorry."

But I think the Chee were glad to know they'd be rid of us.

" Um yes , this is M.C. . I wanted to know.are you still in charge of the Spanish club?"

We always have to speak in code over the phone , because primitive human devices are so easily bugged.

" Great! A friend of mine , Melissa ,might have dropped by to ask questions about it , the problem is she never came back." M.C. said cleverly. " You wouldn't happen to know anything about that would you? Like where she went?"

A pause. I watched as a relieved expression grazed over M.C.'s face.

" Great." he said again. " Don't mind if I meet her there? Alright."

Where is she?I demanded.

" Well she's at a woman's house , not too far away from Tidwell's block. The woman's name is Cara. She's a controller , a Peace Movement Yeerk." M.C. said. " That's where they're hiding her , where Visser Three will be less likely to look. She's resting. I don't think the Visser was too gentle to her."

My eyes narrowed , and my hands went into fists. But I didn't have to time to plot a fitting death for that evil demon. I began to morph.

Reubren!Ax said in alarm.

I changed into my human form. A boy with dark brown eyes and blonde hair. " I'm going to this place. I must see Melissa. Call me impatient , call me childish , it doesn't matter , I must see her."

" Wait!" said M.C. . " Don't go alone. I'll go with you."

" Be careful M.C.." Sabrina said.

M.C. gave her a wink , and turned to walk with me out the door.

Did any Yeerk actually posses the kindness or the integrity to treat another creature with dignity? I just knew this , if they had mistreated Melissa in even the most insignificant of ways , I'd make them sorry.

Melissa:

The way out had not been fun. I had been wrapped in a sheet , and rushed into the storage room where they found an empty box to shove me in.

I wasn't even sure I knew who 'they' was. Controllers? Humans?

They abandoned their black guises and changed back into their normal clothes. Judging by the screams , they took a short cut through the Yeerk pool.

I was 'extra parts' for the ship. At least that's what 'they' told a suspicious Hork-Bajir controller.

When we arrived at the designated place it was dark outside. The woman lifted put out of the box and unwrapped me. I couldn't even sit up , I was so weak with blood loss. I was in a living room.

I could morph! My head spinning and I forced myself to focus. I went into my cat morph. Fluffer. It took all of my energy to demorph back to my old self. But no wounds! I collapsed as soon as I was done. I thought my strength would be restored too , but apparently it that wasn't going to happen.

" You been through a tough ordeal." said the woman lifting me and carrying me again. " You need to rest."

She reminded me of someone...Mom.

It sounds insane , but I could feel the memories of my mom taking care of me when I was sick come rushing back.

Almost unconsciously , I leaned against her. She looked down , surprised. But she didn't say anything.

She laid me on her bed and began pulling my shoes off. " You can sleep here tonight."

I mumbled a thank you. When I wasn't so tired , I'd pour my gratitude.

The teenage guy said he had to head back to his own home to get back to.

" Er..Mark? Leave the room please." the lady said.

" Huh? Oh." He walked out.

The woman pulled out a gown. " You'll sleep more comfortably in this."

" I.can't dress myself. I can barely move." I said.

She looked at me for a moment , thoughtfully. " You'll have to let me dress you then."

I was too tired to argue , so I just nodded and let her undress and dress me.

"Don't worry , you'll feel better." she said gently.

The soft material did feel better. I closed my eyes. They burned with sleepiness.

She took away the tattered , bloody remains of my clothing. " Would you like me to wash these? Too be honest , if I were you , I'd just throw them away."

" You sound like a mom." I mumbled.

" Yes. My host has two little children. I've been taking care of them for well over a year , though it doesn't seem like that long." she said.

I felt my stomach contract , and I backed away. " You're a Yeerk."

" Yes , did you think Cara could have gotten you out all by herself? We are in the Peace Movement together. And no , I'm not going to hurt you , or try to infest you." she sounded bitter and hurt.

I felt my face go hot with shame. If it wasn't for these people , I'd still be with Visser Three getting the crap kicked out of me. " I'm sorry."

" Forget it." she said , casual again.

" So um , where are your kids?" I asked.

She went quiet again , and seemed to be listening to something in her head. Then finally , " Since Cara doesn't mind telling you: her kids are with their father right now. They're divorced , so she only gets them on certain days of the week. The divorce was really bad for her , so she joined the Sharing to forget about her problems , thus she met me , and here we are."

" I see. Well thanks , you saved my life back there." I said.

" Thanks? We should be thanking you." Cara looked shocked. " If Visser Three had found out who we are , he would kill our hosts and us."

" I don't deserve any thankyous. It' not like I could have told him something worthwhile."

" But you went through all you went through because us." The lady said.

I smiled. " So let's call it even."

She smiled back. " Alright. I'll leave you alone now so you can rest. We'll make you some food while you sleep. You're probably hungry."

She walked out and closed the door as she turned out the lights.

I lay there. I was safe , but I couldn't relax. I kept telling myself it was a delayed reaction. I was safe , the movement was safe. My friends would be worried , but I could go back to them as soon as I was rested and better.

Plus this group of Yeerks were okay people. And Visser Three was light years away either still conked out with a bump on his head , or just waking up to terrorize the poor crew responsible for letting Cara and Mark get into my cell. His wrath would probably turn on me next , but how would he ever find me? So why -

Then it hit me. Reubren. I would never see Reubren again. And the tears I'd been holding back for so long began to flow .

( It wasn't my greatest , most attention capturing chapter , but I had writers block and still made the attempt to update. I thought it was about time we brought Reubren back. He's a protective little Andalite , ne? If only the male species was ALL like that. laughs But Melissa still thinks he's dead. So next I get to write about the joyful reunion. Suggestions are very welcome.)