Chapter 4

Jake

Jaaaaaake... I was stirring in my sleep when I heard that voice again, inside my head. Jaaaaaake, time to get up. Wakie Wakie! I opened my eyes. There was a high purple ceiling above my head. What? My house does not have a purple ceiling, I thought to myself. I sat up on what felt like a leathery couch when the strangely familiar voice spoke again. I felt it as if the voice read my thoughts. Nope, you're right. It doesn't. I was looking around frantically. The voice kinda sounded like Rachel's.

"Rachel?" I wondered. Nope, this is not Rachel. the voice replied. I got off the couch, feeling bewildered, asking, "Who...What are you then?" Jake, listen. I mean you no harm. the voice continued. It sounded like somewhat of a kid's voice. I only want to talk with you. You must now promise to not morph, or do any kind of physical harm at any time. Otherwise I won't reveal myself... "Ellimist?" I wondered. Good guess, the voice said. But nope.

This was indeed strange. Someone that sounded like a kid was hiding in this large room with purple walls. Other than the couch I seemed to be sleeping on, there was a TV and a bunch of video games in front of me. There was a telephone on a vertically rectangular table at the far wall to my left. This seemed to be a cool place for someone to hang out.

"What is this place?" I asked. Another dimension I call the Purple Cube. One I discovered before anyone else did. 3D cube shape on the outside, in a huge form. Its hidden location is somewhere between the moon and Earth. I teleported the both of us here the strange kid voice answered. I added all the inside accessories myself. You like?

During all this, I really felt no hostility. But I definitely was a little freaked out. I was in my room before that voice said to me, Goodnight Jake. Sweet dreams. Now I awoke in this "dimension" that my strange captor took me to.

Well? Answer me please. I only want to talk to you about some things. Do you promise not to morph at any time? I was still looking for where the voice was coming from. As I recognized it, this kid-like voice in my head sounded a bit older than I was. Could it be another Animorph?

I can read your mind like a book, Jake. Could an Animorph read the thoughts inside your head so easily? Could an Animorph or Andalite teleport? Hmmmmm? "No..." I said after thinking about that for a second. That sounded human, I added to myself silently. Ax would have revealed if he did have teleportation powers. He promised to keep no secrets from you. I ask one last time, yes or no answer, will you promise not to morph or cause any threat of any kind when I reveal myself to you?

The voice knew Ax. That couldn't be possible. No one other than Crayak or Ellimist could be more powerful than him. Right? "Wait a minute," I said to the thought speak voice. "Why bring only me? What about the others?" Jake! Is it a yes or no?

The voice emphasized "yes" and "no" just like a human would. I could tell that he/she was getting annoyed. I stopped trying to look for the source of this voice and said, "Yeah. Okay. I promise I will not be a threat."

As I turned to look at the purple wall on my right, a human body seemed to emerge from it, or just plain appeared out of thin air. I became breathless. It was a girl, not very pretty looking, but among the average really. She was almost as tall as I was, and also a little overweight. Her hair was curly and dark brown. Her clear blue eyes focused on me with some friendliness. Along with some seriousness too.

I jumped back, surprised. I surely didn't see it coming. "There's no need to be afraid. My name is Marianne Elizabeth Barbara Markham." She gestured toward the couch. "Let's sit down and chat." "Are you human?" I asked as I sat down with her. She smiled, almost laughing. "Yeah, I'm human, but as you saw, not a completely normal human. I have many abilities with the power of only using my brain. I call myself an Ultra Being. More powers than any superhero. Bigger than Spider Man! Bigger than the X-Men!" She laughed. "Any Marvel character you can think of."

She did not seem hostile in any way. I was curious. "Where and how-" "Did I get my powers?" Marianne jumped in. "About a year ago. This is crazy, but I found this card one Easter morning..."