Chapter 9-Rachel
The next few years, I didn't do much. There wasn't much I could do. I was dead, and there's only so many things I could do.
I talked with Elfangor a lot. When we had first met, there hadn't been any time to talk. He was dying, and the Yeerks were coming to kill him. Now, we spoke every day.
His life's story was amazing. He told me about his days as a young aristh. The first time he encountered humans. How he had defied War-Prince Alloran-Semitur-Corrass. The mission on the Taxxon home world.
It was amazing, the things we never knew. Elfangor had actually been responsible for getting Alloran infested. He had done so many things that should have disgraced him a million times over. Yet, he still became a huge hero to the Andalite people. His story had never been revealed to them.
I dearly wished I could talk with others. It was interesting talking to Elfangor, but having only one person to talk to can get boring.
Sometimes, I talked to myself. It was all I could do to avoid being swallowed up by the loneliness, the boredom. If I didn't talk, I would forget who I was. What I was. I would become a wandering essence, moving around space aimlessly.
My mom and my sisters were doing fine. Jordan was in high school, and she looked almost like I did, except she was a little shorter. She had become an excellent gymnast, like I had always wanted to be. I had been too tall, anyways. Sarah was in junior high school.
I wanted so much to be there with them, with my family. Yeah, I was with them, but I wasn't able to see my sisters off to school, to roll my eyes as my mom talked about her cases.
Jake suffered. For a year after the war, he would do nothing except hang around his house and go to my memorial. I was mad at him.
Before he sent me with Tom, I told Jake not to blame himself if I died. I didn't want him to spend his time thinking if he could have done it any other way.
Eventually, he pulled out of his funk. He taught at some military base in the middle of nowhere. Still, he didn't seem the same. The Jake I had known had disappeared, replaced by a tired, old copy of himself.
Marco seemed to be doing pretty well. He lived in this huge mansion. I didn't know exactly what he did, but I knew he was an actor of some kind. He even had a girlfriend. I would have laughed. How had any girl thought that he was remotely cute?
Cassie was an assistant to the President in alien affairs, or something like that. She spent most of her time at Yellowstone, keeping track of the Hork-Bajir. At night, she took veterinary courses at a college.
Although Marco and I were never close, I was happy for him, as well as Cassie. They had been able to move on past the war, to become what they wanted to. Yeah, they'd always be famous, part of the Animorphs. But they were living their life the way they wanted. For the most part, their lives had become normal.
Tobias didn't do much of anything. He had a nice area in Yellowstone where he lived. No one visited him, except for Cassie. He probably swore her to secrecy, because none of the others visited him.
I would have yelled at him. He wasn't happy, and he probably spent his time wondering how he could have saved me. Tobias should have faced the reality he didn't want to accept. No matter how much he thought about me, I was dead, and he should move on.
Ax was a big hero with the Andalites. No longer was he Elfangor's little brother, he was Aximili, the legend. Whenever Elfangor spoke about Ax, his voice swelled with pride. Brotherly love, I guess. I didn't have any brothers.
I saw Ax get captured by the Blade ship. Elfangor was very upset by Ax's actions. He never should have gone with the boarding crew! Usually the captain sends his first officer or tactical officer with the boarding crew. His inexperience nearly got his ship destroyed.
Jake, Marco, and Tobias stole some Yeerk ship and went to go rescue Ax. They searched for what seemed like forever for the Blade ship. Eventually, the Blade ship found them. Elfangor and I watched as the Blade ship and my friend's ship circled each other for a long time.
Elfangor, what would you do now? I asked the prince.
I don't know…undoubtedly, the Blade ship's defenses have been upgraded since the end of the war. It can destroy an Andalite Dome ship, so it can surely destroy this ship. He paused. I am not sure. It's an interesting situation. I guess we will have to watch and see how this plays out.
Suddenly, the ship my friends were on headed straight for the Blade ship. The Blade ship tried to retreat, but the other ship was faster. The two ships collided and broke apart.
NOOOOOOOOOO! I yelled to no one in particular.
I saw my friends float helplessly in space. It was horrible, watching them suffocate. Then, I saw them talk to the Ellimist.
How can we see them? I asked Elfangor. If the Ellimist stops time, we shouldn't notice it, should we?
I believe we can see when the Ellimist stops time because we are no longer part of the space-time continuum, Elfangor answered. Therefore, when the Ellimist stops time, it does not affect us, or any of the essences of the dead.
When they were dead, I saw their strands of space-time coil up, and their essences were released from them. I heard new voices. The voices of my friends, except now they had joined me in death.
Whoa, Marco said. Are we dead?
Look! We can see our own bodies! Jake exclaimed.
Yeah, I guess we are dead, Tobias said grimly.
Hey guys! It's me, Rachel! I shouted to them.
Rachel's talking to us! Tobias said excitedly. His mood picked up instantly. Hey Rachel! What's up?
Hey Tobias, I said. If I were human, I would have hugged him. Unfortunately, nobody has bodies when they're dead. I missed you so much. Why did you run away from the others? I said, a little angrily.
I don't know… Tobias' thought-speak trailed off. I guess I thought I was alone, and no one out there cared for me.
But you know that Jake, Marco, and Cassie care for you!
I know…me, Jake, and Marco had a talk on the ship. He sighed. I know I made mistakes, Rachel. We cleared up our differences. Everything's okay between us.
Tobias! Elfangor cried out. Tobias…this is Elfangor. I wanted you to know that I care deeply for you, every day as an Andalite, I prayed for you and your mother. I'm sorry I couldn't be there. The Ellimist…he removed me from my place on Earth. I would have stayed if I could.
Elfangor…Father, Tobias said, I…I know. I found out from a Controller that you were my father. He laughed ironically. I have a question. When you landed that night in the construction site, did you know that…that I was your son?
Yes, I knew, Elfangor replied, his voice low. I did not tell you then, because I did not think you were ready to deal with that fact. I hope you understand.
Yeah. It's okay, Tobias said.
What happened to my brother, Aximili? Elfangor asked. Wasn't he on the Blade ship?
He had been made a slave, Jake replied gravely. A slave of The One.
Slave? The One? Was it a Yeerk? Elfangor questioned, concern and hatred in his voice. Even though the Yeerks were no longer a threat, he still hated them with a vengeance.
The One was some kind of evil alien, Tobias said. I'm don't know much about it.
Where is Aximili now? Elfangor demanded.
I have joined you, Elfangor, a new voice answered.
Ax! Jake called out.
Yes, it is I, Prince Jake, Ax said. I was assimilated into The One. It is even worse than being controlled by a Yeerk. I saw his evil plans, and I saw all the other aliens he had assimilated over the years. I never hoped to be free. But in death, you have liberated my soul. Again, Prince Jake, I am grateful to you.
No problem, Ax, Marco piped. We just had to commit suicide doing that.
It's only been a few minutes, and I'm already tired of Marco's humor, I complained.
Well, I'm gonna be here for a while, so deal with it, Xena, Marco replied, giving my old nickname back to me.
Why don't we go see Cassie? I suggested.
How do we do that? Tobias wondered. It's not like we can exactly travel straight back to Earth. We're out in the middle of nowhere.
Simply think Cassie's name, Elfangor said. You will immediately be taken to wherever she is currently located.
Ah. Okay.
Suddenly I was with Cassie. She was on the top of a hill somewhere. She appeared to be crying. Some man was comforting her.
She's at Yellowstone right now, Tobias declared. I lived near this area before we left to find Ax.
I noticed the diamond ring on Cassie's finger. Jake! Cassie's engaged to that guy! How'd that happen? I inquired.
Jake sighed. He had always been uncomfortable describing his feelings. I don't know…he's some guy who works for the governor of California. A pretty good guy, actually. I didn't know they were engaged. It must have happened while we were searching for Ax. He fell silent. I don't think he wanted to talk about it.
The man said something to Cassie. She looked at him, and said, "Yes, Ronnie. I am the last of the Animorphs."
She must have just found out we died, Tobias said soberly.
But how would she find out? You didn't talk to her after you left, did you? I asked.
I told the Ellimist to tell her, Jake whispered. I barely heard him. I figured she should know what happened to us instead of wondering for the rest of her life.
We all just watched as Cassie and this Ronnie guy walked down the hill. There's nothing we could really do.
Well, Marco began. I guess we have some time to spend. Anyone up for a game of Twenty Questions?