DISCLAIMER: I am a nutcase. Do not believe whatever I say. I own the Animorphs.
NOTE: Phew, I'm back. And it's crazy hot. **sweats buckets** And I TOLD my dad to take the local lane but nooo, he had to take the EXPRESS, making our already uncomfortable 2-hour drive stretch out to 5 HOURS!!!! Why I'm telling you this, I don't know. But, uh, read on!
F-RECAP-LE: We see Jake's plan in action. They all get their butts kicked. Until in an unorganized example of DRAMATIC IRONY (my English teacher will be proud. . .) Kevin the yeerk saves the day by waking the unconcious Casseratops. Yep, they blow up Motroveld. But then what happens? I don't know. Hee hee, just playin. On with the show!
Cassie –
I bolted upright from my place on the hay-strewn floor. The others were all in their usual places in my barn, all of them had eyes as big as saucers. But the instinct was gone. The wild, predatorial rage was gone. I was alone in my head. My body was fully human. I was. . .me.
"What the f – " Rachel broke the stunned silence. Then she saw me. "CASSIE!!"
The Sario Rip, I think it's over. Tobias said in awe.
"How, WHAT!? What happened to Bobby and the others? The Nisk? Where they – " I was interrupted by the fact that Jake had engulfed me in a hug tight enough to break some ribs. " – Jake. . ."
I saw Marco and Rachel bite back a few smart remarks. Instead, Marco said, "So what time or day or whatever is it? I mean, well, I don't know what I mean. Ax?"
Ax had been standing by the door, looking like he was piecing things together in his mind. I believe it is over. Cassie must have penetrated Motroveld's stomach, unleashing the energy and sending us back. . .back to when we had our very last vision of the Sario Rip.
"So it's right after school. Today, or yesterday? Before? Aw hell, it's over, I'm home!" Rachel said. She walked over, pushed Jake away, and gave me a hug. "You. How are you?"
"I'm fine. I saw everything. Like. . ." I thought for a moment. "Like I was in morph and I couldn't control it." Rachel hugged me tighter.
"But what about the combins? And the Nisk? Why aren't they here? Did they go through a Sario Rip too? Or did they just. . ." I trailed off.
I do not know. Ax said simply. No one said anything for a while.
"So everything is as it was. Before the two Nisk ships came and blew us up." Jake said. "Like it all never happened. Just like before with the rainforest. . ." (Note: In case you guys forgot, he's talkin bout Book #11)
"Wait. The Nisk ships. Are they still on their way right now?" Marco asked. "I mean, we're back here. . ."
No, we were sent to the past, thus we have changed the future. I believe those ships will not come back. They were the rebel Nisk ships, and they were submerged in that ocean. Ax said.
So we were okay. Nothing to worry about anymore. No more alien civil wars, no more threats of impending death by self-annihilation, no more being trapped in a body I could not control as it tried to tear apart my best friend. . .
KEVIN! Tobias cried suddenly. Then my blood froze in my veins. Kevin must still be out there, a controller who knew our secret.
"Go." Jake said. Tobias took off for the forest. "Everyone go wolf. We have to find him."
We all morphed as quickly as we could and used our wolf senses to guide us through the forest. The part of the forest were this all began.
I smell a human. Ax said. I think it's him. . .and the other one.
The other - Then I remembered. There had been two controllers. Kevin and the one in the green shirt. And they both had guns.
Jeez. Rachel muttered.
We broke into a clearing. I caught sight of Kevin, his red shirt much brighter and cleaner than it had been on the Nisk planet.
You guys, look. Tobias called from above. He was circling above Kevin, who was looking down at something. We all rushed toward them.
Yeerk. Ax said hotly.
"Andalite." Kevin sneered. He was holding his gun upside down. The butt of it was bloody.
What did you do? I asked. Then I saw him. The controller in the green shirt. Last time I saw him he was literally just pieces on the Nisk planet.
"He remembered." Kevin explained. "He remembers seeing you all, he remembers being sent to the Nisk planet, he remembers everything up to the part where he was killed by the Nisk. I had to knock him out, he was going to go try to capture you."
I sniffed at the fallen controller. He wasn't dead, just unconsious. There was a nasty looking bump on his forehead.
Do not think we will let you go so easy. Ax said. I know it is not below a yeerk to take out one of his own for personal gain.
"I know you know that." Kevin rolled his eyes. "But. . ."
I say we tie him up for 3 days. Both of them. Starve the yeerks. Rachel said harshly.
I'm with that. Marco agreed.
No. I said. I felt four wolves, a hawk, and Kevin stare at me.
No? Marco repeated incredously. No!? Are you HIGH, Cassie? He's a controller! And he KNOWS!!
You wouldn't tell, would you? I asked Kevin. The staring got more intense.
Cassie, are you serious? You can't believe a word he says! Rachel said to me.
Kevin raised an eyebrow and stared at me indignantly. "Why wouldn't I tell?"
Because you saw Bobby and the others. And the Nisk. How they fought for freedom. Jake said, speaking for the first time. I looked at him. He sensed what I did. Kevin must have been changed throughout all the chaos. He was the one who brought us back home. He saw everything that Bobby had done. Everything Pickles had done. The Nisk against Motroveld. Reality had slapped him in the face and he learned that yes, people would die for freedom. Freedom that he currently was taking away from another sentient being.
Are you INSANE!? You and Cassie must be smoking the same stuff, because he's a YEERK! Marco almost screeched.
Jake, listen, I think it's kind of cruel too, but we really can't trust him. We don't know for sure. . . Tobias said.
"I'm not going to beg for my life." Kevin said arrogantly. "But, here. . ." He raised his hand to his ear. A couple seconds later a gray-green slug poked itself from his ear and landed in his palm.
Kevin? I asked tentatively.
No way. Rachel whispered.
"I believe him." Kevin, the real Kevin, said. "He's changed. He was a little guilty in the first place, but after the Nisk thing. . .after seeing everyone fight to stop enslavement, after watching that combin Pickles die, and after the boy Marco saved him from falling off that bridge. . .I think it pushed him over the edge." He held the yeerk carefully, as if he were afraid to squish it.
No way. Marco echoed Rachel.
Are you sure, Kevin? Jake asked.
"I am."
So what do you think we should do? You're a part of this as much as that yeerk and we are. I said.
"I – we – Pubar 233, the yeerk, he said something about a peace movement. . ."
I nodded my wolf head. A secret yeerk peace movement had been started by a yeerk we saved named Aftran. They didn't help much, but it was almost as useful as having the Chee on our side. Once in a while they gave useful information to us.
Are you sure the yeerk. . .Pubar. . .isn't just going to turn on us? Rachel said suspiciously.
"I'm positive. He is risking it already by removing himself from me."
I still do not believe him, Prince Jake. Ax said.
Me neither. How do we know your not just a voluntary controller who wants to get rich by having a technologically superior alien in your head? Rachel accused.
"Well, I don't like to say it, but I'm kind of. . .rather wealthy already. I live at Premium point. My father owns Freak Apple Records. So I really don't need anything more. Trust me, I would usually be the last one to give up my personal life."
Your dad owns Freak Apple Records!? Whoa. Marco said, sounding impressed. Wait. Gordon Kane owns Freak Apple Records. And he's only got one son. I forgot his name, but I remember it was a weird name, NOT Kevin.
We all turned to Kevin. He blushed a little. "Actually, the yeerk wasn't too fond with my name. Neither was I, actually. He lied when he told you my name was Kevin. But you would have too, if your name was Arbuthnot."
This strange piece of information brought forth an awkward silence.
Well, Ax, I think we vote. Jake said simply. Kev- I mean Arbuthnot, you're sure you want to stay a controller?
"Actually, he's a bit arrogant, but he was pretty good company." Arbuthnot said. "I actually like him better than my partner over here." He pointed at the green-shirted controller. "Now this guy is just annoying. The human AND the yeerk."
Okay then. All for letting Pubar back into Arbuthnot's head to join the peace movement, raise your hands, uh, paws I mean. Jake said.
I raised mine. So did Jake.
Oh, um, I think I have to voice my vote, me not having paws and all. Tobias said. Three to three. Split vote.
You guys, this might benefit us. Having another ally. I urged the others. Marco hesitated before slowly raising his paw.
Fine, but damn. Arbuthnot? Ar-buth-not? For real? Marco said.
It's decided. We're letting you guys off, Arbuthnot. Jake said. He nodded and brought his hand to his ear.
"Pubar is getting pretty dry. It's not good for a yeerk to be in open air for too long." We watched as Pubar made his way back into Arbuthnot's head.
Arbuthnot, or Pubar blinked. "Well, I see you've made a decision. But what about him." He pointed at the unconsious controller.
Jake around at everyone. Was he an important controller?
Arbuthnot/Pubar shook his head. "He is just the son of my father's friend. We don't like him, but he was infested at the same time as I was. He had no real purpose."
Tobias swooped down. So they won't notice if his yeerk is gone?
"I doubt it."
Then we only have to starve this yeerk. Rachel said.
Actually no. Tobias flew to our level, showing us that he had picked up a yeerk off the ground. I saw him slithering out of this guy's ear.
Arbuthnot/Pubar bent toward the controller. "I think he is dying. The yeerk instinct is to leave a host before it dies. I need to call 911 soon, I think you had better leave."
Right. Jake said. Let's go. See you around. . .both of you.
Arbuthnot/Pubar whipped out a cell phone to dial the emergency number. "See you."
We turned around. I was satisfied at what happened. Another small peace in our war.
What do I do with this yeerk? Tobias asked, still clutching it in his talons.
I know. Ax said. Good night Prince Jake. Cassie. Rachel. Marco. We will see you tomorrow. Ax went off in another direction, probably towards his scoop.
Tobias, we'll have to keep an eye on Kev-Arbuthnot. Jake said.
I'm on it. Tobias said, and he started after Arbuthnot.
What is he going to do? I asked, indicating Ax's retreating figure..
I don't want to know. Jake said, turning a blind eye.
- - -ACK! I know, I know, that was cheesy. . .but I don't wanna kill Kevin! Plus I don't know how I'd do that. I hate killing off characters. Killing off Pickles earlier gave me nightmares **nervous giggle** But my excuse was that I needed someone to be sacrificed for Kevin's yeerk to see how people felt about freedom. I was going to have it be Bobby since I used him the most, but, well Iceman in X-men (Bobby Drake) is REALLY hot! And the Nisk and combins aren't necessarily dead. Anyway, well, technically it could be over now but like my last story THE SOMETHING, I need a little closure chapter. So there is one more chapter coming up plus a special Reviewer's Chapter. Squeeeee! . . .Pubar **giggle** Poo-bar. . .
Super Hurricane – Hee hee, I wasn't thinking of Erek. Maybe what he don't know won't hurt him, right? And gosh-durnit I still don't have the guts to kill people off. Anyway, hope this chapter explained a lot.
Dark Angel60 – Thanks and yeah I plan to keep writing til my hands turn green and fall off. **get mental image** ewwwwww!
Silent Bob3 – o0o0o yeah, cliffies make things interesting. But my "cliffies" are nothing compared to this one person's cliffie. I forget who it was, but s/he left a cliffhanger and hasn't updated in like half a year.
Oedipal Kat – Hehe, well we don't exactly know if the combins and Nisk died. How come it's only the Animorphs getting sucked into these Rips anywhoo? I'm giving them a chance. Maybe they're all on some other time and planet too. And I still can't kill people, I need to take a leaf out of Rowling's book. . . o0o0o and for some reason I can't stop saying stabbity now. It's my new favorite word!
SaraMcGregor – Thanks, I know it's not perfect, but I'm okay with it. I'm glad so many of you are too. And I did have fun, except that deviously evil car ride home. . .if I hear one more Neil Diamond song I'm gonna crack. . .
DawnOfEast – Thank you, crazy is my middle name. Well not really, but I'd like it to be. My middle name reminds me of mopping solution.
Digimon-lover – Hehe, well, he didn't have much time to plan. But don't blame Jake, blame the idiot fanfiction author who couldn't think of a better way **points to self**
EsotericEric – You got it, buddy. That's also kinda creepy, can you read my mind? What am I thinking now? No! Not now, wait, read my mind later when the hot guys on the Herbal Essences commercial go away.
SouthrnBelle – Yep I got it. It's really cool. Aaaand, glad you enjoyed.
Jinako-chan – Yes you have left several cliffhangers in your day **glares** not to mention making us wait really really long for updates **glares some more** Hehe, just kidding. I can't expect everyone to be as big a loser as me, can I? And actually. . .this whole story takes place in like 8-9 hours. . .Hehe. All in the Sario Rip. And now they were snapped back, so it's like nothing happened at all. No time passed. Freaky, ain't it? But well Freak is my name, woo hoo! Anyway, that's what happened in Book #11 so I figured I'd do that.