The Animorphs Alternate Universe Series
The Faith
Chapter 11 - School's Off
(Sarah)
The sun made a square pattern on the white wash wall. It took me a moment to register where I was: a bedroom, on a bed, but not… school. I remembered sitting in history, watching the video and… and… those monsters. Those monsters that brought the memories… I had left the room. I could not stand it, to see... that. The memories were painful, too painful to handle.
But after that, after leaving the class, I did not remember anything. From standing in a hallway at the school, to lying on a bed in a strange bedroom - and I was not alone. Someone else was on the bed with me. I tried to get an idea of who it was without looking - they were relatively close to my back, and not moving, but breathing evenly, so they were alive. Whether that was good or bad, depended on who the person was.
Suddenly, they gave a soft groan, as if they were regaining consciousness. I shifted my shoulders and craned my neck to see over my shoulder. A sandy blonde head turned and blue eyes stared into mine for a moment before realization dawned on the both of us.
"Kith!"
"Damn!" I tumbled off the bed and faced off against Jake, who was crouched like I was on the opposite side of the bed. We were caught in an interesting stalemate - the confusion of our surroundings and position warring with the need to look like the one in charge. Weapons have an issue with relationships beyond friends - we have an instinctual need to be in charge. But this was the first time Jake and I had ever spared off for that position - I wanted it, because I had more experience and he wanted it because he needed to prove himself. Being a Weapon is a wonderful thing...
"Good afternoon, children, I see you slept well." We both jumped and I whirled to face the person who was in the doorway of the bedroom. Healer Caster Daniel shook his head slowly, and sighed. "Never trust a newly raised Weapon."
"Psht. You never said it was important they know the side effects." Now it was Jake's turn to whirl around in surprise. Alay was perched on top of a set of drawers, looking absolutely bored. "See, here I was hoping that you'd, like, spoon or snuggle or something that I could blackmail you with. Unfortunately, you both just kinda…. laid there. You're so useless, the both of ya."
"What the hell are you doing here?!" I will give Jake credit, it did not take him long to recognize Alay. And I will give Alay credit for not being a shena about his blatant observation. She only shrugged at him and made a face at me. I returned the favor as Healer Caster Daniel took over the conversation.
"Alay forgot to mention several things to you two, regarding the tea I gave you this morning," he stated flatly, giving mi itala a flat look. "It's a special brew that I make for my children on days when they can't get out of school, but are needed for training reasons, or are just too sick or tired to attend."
"But..." Jake rubbed his forehead in thought. "Why don't you just call them in absent, or whatever?" Healer Caster Daniel rolled his eyes.
"Mr. Chapman and I have never really gotten along, for various reasons. Every time I would call the children in sick, back when they first began training, Chapman would tell his secretary to mark it as a skip. Now, he never admitted to it when I confronted him, but a Truth Cast on his secretary told me otherwise." Jake and I exchanged a glance and I saw his lips twitch slightly - Chapman lying on school files - the old Chapman, anyway, before he was a Controller. Supposedly, anyway. Although, why would a Yeerk feel the need for revenge? "In any case, I figured this would work on you two, except Weapon Alay failed to inform you of the side effects, as she was supposed to."
"You brought it over there," Alay shot back. "Why didn't you tell 'em?"
"And worry Jean? I think not. She's twice as scary as Steve and that's on a good day and not involving her children," said Daniel flatly. "No, I asked Alay to tell you because I figured she could."
"I can," protested Alay. "I just don't much feel like it, that's all." She crossed her arms over her chest and set her jaw stubbornly.
"You're hopeless!" cried Jake. "I fear for your world if it's full of Weapons like you!"
"Don't make me kill you, Trainee," warned Alay. My body was relaxing slowly after the sudden wake up had I had received. The effects of the tea still hadn't warn off - I was beginning to feel drowsy again and I actually yawned while Alay and Jake traded vague threats and insults back and forth. Because, yes, I was that interested in their conversation and because, yes, Alay is just like that with everybody. While, not everybody. Mostly men. Pretty much all men... pretty much. That's why she's nec'rinae, after all.
"Weapon Sarah, if you would like, the couch in the living room is a great place to take a nap," said Daniel from behind me. "And I can lock these two in here, so it will be quieter." I giggled and nodded.
"Veraha, Healer Caster Daniel," I answered politely. "I would like that a lot... including the locking them up part."
