Yes... Sarah with English skills. Mostly.

The Difference

Chapter 3

Freelancer

(Marco)

"This is not happening. Ia nin caraona le nendehsha."

My name is Marco, last name not applicable. See, a lot of people would like to get their hands on me, so they could shove a parasite into my head and take over my body. Why, you may ask? While my amazing natural charm and kick ass wit would cause anyone to want to be Mighty Marco, there's a different reason. See, right now, the Earth is under invasion from these aliens called Yeerks, parasites, like I said. But don't go calling the government or anything - most of them are already infested. No, your only hope lies in us - six human kids and one other alien, an Andalite (think blue centaur with lots of fingers, too many eyes and no mouth). My buddy Jake, sort of leader, his girl Cassie, his cousin Rachel, Rachel's bird-boyfriend Tobias, Sarah Don't-get-me-started-on-her, Ax the Andalite, and me, Mr. Cool.

Unfortunately, things are little weirder then that. Sarah, our little freelancer, was acting stranger then usual. She was there with us the night we got the morphing power, which is what we use to fight the Yeerks, but after that, she wasn't with us so much. We're not sure why, but she isolates herself from us, fights on her own more often then with the team, takes stupid risks and yet, is still alive to grace us with her cynical presence.

Except for this given moment in time, when she seemed more confused and disoriented then anything. Tobias asked her something in her own language and she waved it away before burying her face in her hands.

"Ia nin caraona le nendehsha!"

She says, and I quote, "I have not fallen into this hell", translated Tobias. Jake sighed and shook his head. It was hard to face the inevitable, really, that Sarah had lost her mind. She may not have fought with us, but she could be counted on to join in on missions or score a well-timed entrance just when we needed her help. Not that she ever came to meetings to know when and where missions were, but Tobias filled her in. He was her little confidant, the reason he could converse in her language and translate her ramblings. Jake, something's definitely wrong with her. You don't think she's... He trailed off and Jake shook his head.

"Any thing with her memories wouldn't be here. A Yeerk would have tried to fight its way out by now." He didn't add what we all thought - 'unless it was a really cunning Yeerk who would wait until we weren't looking to make an escape.' But against my better instincts, even I didn't think that and I was the paranoid one. Something was wrong, yes, but just with Sarah herself and no outside forces helping.

Prince Jake, if I may make a suggestion. Ax shifted slightly on his back hooves. Sarah is obviously tired. Perhaps we can take this up later and let her rest. Then he added in private thought speak, Tobias and I will watch her here, but we cannot let her go home. No, that was a major bad idea. Sarah's parents were Controllers, the last people we wanted her to go to if she was one too. So Jake nodded.

"All right, we'll deal with it later. Sarah, stay here and get some rest. We'll meet back here at seven, all right?" He looked around at us and we nodded our agreement, even Rachel, who honestly didn't like Sarah at all and would have loved any reason to announce her a traitor and end it. But Sarah was still an Animorph and deserved the chance to prove her innocence.

As I followed Jake and the others out of the barn, I risked a glance back at Sarah. She was no longer standing, but curled up on the hay with her face buried in her arms on her knees. I could tell, even from this distance, that she was crying and that worried me more then ever. Sarah didn't cry, period, but now she was, for some reason none of us knew.

"Jake-" I started, but he only nodded.

"I know, Marco, I know, but we have to assume the worst about this. We can't trust her not to be a Controller."

I'll stay, said Tobias. Even if she is Controlled, it's a bad idea to let her think she's alone. Besides, she may let something slip and I'll call Ax if she does.

I will be close by, said Ax with a nod. If she is Controlled.

"And I'll be just up at the house, so call me too," said Cassie. Rachel turned her head up to Tobias, who had flown out to a branch by the barn door. I could see the green-eyed monster very present on her face and she snarled quietly before stalking off. Rachel was jealous, incredible jealous, in fact, of Sarah's relationship with Tobias, even though Sarah had reassured her a thousand times over that her and Tobias strictly plutonic. For all the time those two spent together, Rachel had every right to be jealous, except for that fact that the only thing that came out of it was the fact Sarah and Tobias had someone who understood to talk to. Sarah was adopted and had never known her real family, same as Tobias, and with her foster parents as Controllers, what she needed was a brother to turn to. So she had Tobias and he had her and they both had Ax as a shorm to talk to if and when they couldn't talk to the other. Small miracles do happen, people, and I had a feeling the only reason Sarah ever came to fight with us was so that she wouldn't have to see Ax or Tobias die.

I sighed before I morphed Osprey to fly home. What I wouldn't have given to have that kind of relationship with Sarah...

Whee. There's that. Short again.