(A/N) Qwerty, thanks for reviewing again. Simply Sara, thanks for reviewing
again. It's not quite the end yet. And don't worry. I don't kill people for
making suggestions. A little constructive criticism is healthy. But I do
kill people who flame for no good reason. I got that a lot on the last fic
that I wrote. Someone even had the nerve to send me an anonymous review
that said "COMPLETE AND UTTER FILTH". That person didn't even give a name.
Dissing me and then hiding. Can you believe that!? Things like that just
piss me off! Sabriel, thanks for reviewing again. BMW, thanks for
reviewing. Tivor Goodwin, thanks for reviewing again. Qenies9, thanks for
reviewing. Tabatha, thanks for reviewing again. I believe that much of the
riddle will be answered in this chapter.
Written in the Stars
Chapter 8: The Burden
I paced the bridge angrily, waiting for the computer to give feed back on the vital statistics of the human girl, Stella.
I had implanted a small probe into her system that allowed me to keep track of her life signatures. I could tell whether or not she lived. Unfortunately I had not had the foresight to place a tracking device on her. Now I waited to find out if she had died in the explosion.
Finally the computer came online. I received the transmission into my host brain. As the computer reported Stella's vitals my eyes burst open in anger. I turned to the Hork-Bajir controller who stood by my side.
{ As usual, you have managed to botch up another simple assignment, Inar 601. The girl is still alive. }
"You're wrong Visser. No one could have survived that explosion. I had it all worked out perfectly."
Too late, the foolish creature realized his mistake in contradicting me. Before anyone could even react, the Hork-Bajir's head went rolling away.
{ Does anyone else wish to try and prove me wrong? } I asked the other controllers that stood on the bridge. I raised my tail menacingly over my head.
"No Visser." They all spoke as one.
Meanwhile I turned my thoughts back to what I had learned from the transmission. Stella still lived but she was very weak. She was fading fast. Yet she was still holding on, still fighting. It was even possible that she might recover.
Any other human would have died. Why was she so different? How could she possibly have escaped me? There was definitely something not human about her.
Suddenly a thought struck me. Something in the very back of Alloran's mind. Something that I had not considered in a long time.
{ Computer, is the name Stella a word in any of the known Earth languages? } I asked.
It took a few moments but the computer eventually responded.
{ There is a language that the humans refer to as a "dead" language. It is no longer spoken among the humans but it still exists. It is called Latin. Stella is the Latin word for star. }
{ No. } I whispered to myself. { It cannot be. It is happening. }
For a long time I just stood there. Stella was the one who had been spoken of in the prophecy that had been uttered all those years ago.
Not that I was one who believed in the prophecy, but here were all of the facts unfolding right before my very eyes.
{Ah, the last pieces fall into place. The girl must die. You were a fool to defy me Stella.}
I vowed then and there that the star would fall.
* *
*
As the sun began to rise I demorphed once more. I had sat by Stella's side all through the night. The other Animorphs would soon return. They would not return to good news.
{ Hey Ax-man. } I heard Tobias saying as he took a perch on a tree branch that hung over my head. { How is she? } he asked.
{ Not good. She awoke once during the night. She said that she deserved to die and she bade me farewell. She has not stirred since then. }
{ Isn't there anything that we can do for her Ax? }
{ I'm afraid not Tobias. It is up to her now. }
The pain tore at my hearts like a Hork-Bajir on the rampage. No sooner had I found the one being in the entire universe that filled my soul with joy, then she had to die and leave me alone.
{ Tobias, if she dies I-}
{ Don't talk that way Ax. She is not going to die. }
{ What makes you so sure? All of the odds are against her. }
{ I'm not so sure. I guess it's just that stubborn human will of mine. I've just got to believe that she's gonna be okay. }
I didn't reply to this. I had grown up hearing the phrase that grace is the acceptance of the inevitable. How could I just stand back and accept that Stella was dying? How could I ever say goodbye to her? I couldn't! She had been in my life for such a short time.
"Is there any sign of improvement?" I heard Cassie asking me as she led Gwyn into the clearing.
I pulled my eyes away from Stella's ashen face and stared at Cassie.
{ None. }
"You don't mean-"
{ No, she is still alive. But not for much longer. } I answered brokenly.
Just then I heard the other three come running through the forest.
"How's she looking?" Prince Jake asked me.
"Not now Jake." Cassie scolded him as she led him, Marco, and Rachel away from Stella. I saw her gather them together in a small circle.
"Ax is a bit closer to Stella than you three realize. Don't bother him. He's probably in a lot of pain right now."
I didn't give any sign that I had heard what Cassie said to them, but as I stared at them with one of my stalk eyes I saw the realization hit Rachel. She quickly walked over to me.
"Oh....Ax, I'm so sorry." She whispered as she placed her hand on my shoulder.
I didn't answer. I simply pulled away from her and began to morph human again. As soon as I had gotten my bearings on the two human legs I lowered myself to my knees by Stella's side. For a few minutes I fumbled with the strange device that my friends called a zipper. When I finally managed to undo it I pulled the blanket off of Stella. I brought her to a sitting position and I held her upper body in my arms. I let the tears fall once more.
"I failed you Stella." I cried into her black hair.
"No Ax, you didn't fail. This is Visser Three's doing." Prince Jake said.
"But I did. If I hadn't fallen asleep she wouldn't be like this. I should be the one to die, not her."
"Ax, Visser Three would have found her eventually. Besides, if there's one thing that I've learned since I've known her it's that she's loyal. She wouldn't abandon her family to the Yeerks. At the same time she remained true to us. Stella would never desert us. Even if it means her own down fall." He told me.
I barely heard his words. I was far too distracted by the fact that Stella's pulse was failing ever faster. I simply held more tightly to her. It wouldn't be long now. I could almost feel my own anguish gnawing away at my insides.
"It is happening Prince Jake." I whispered.
All four of them looked stricken. Tobias turned his hawk head away from the scene. Cassie turned away too. I was certain that her sobs could be heard throughout the forest. Prince Jake went to her and wrapped his arms around her. Rachel was pacing the clearing. An expression of sadness and anger was splayed across her face. Marco just stood and stared. For once, the sardonic grin was gone from his face.
The moment seemed to last for hours. Stella's heartbeat grew steadily slower, until it did not resume.
"No." I whispered. I was suddenly awash in a new wave of grief and pain. My face was wet with tears. I rested my forehead on hers. I shut my eyes, trying to block out the shock.
"She can't be dead! She just can't be." I heard Rachel shouting.
"Stella, please come back." I cried so that none of the others could hear me.
Suddenly I felt a hand upon my cheek. I opened my eyes and found myself staring back into Stella's gray ones. I jerked my head back in shock. It was her hand that was on my cheek. I pulled away from her and she sat up on her own. The others pulled back right along with me. Suddenly she began to morph. The bandages that held her wounds burst and fell away. Purple fur sprouted all over her skin. Her wild, black hair receded into her scalp and the two stalk eyes sprouted from her head. She was morphing to an Andalite female. I started to demorph right along with her, almost without thinking.
When we were both fully Andalite I took a step towards her, afraid that it was some cruel trick of my eyes.
{ I thought you were dead. Aren't you? }
{ No, it's me. I'm alive. } she said calmly.
Without wasting another word I went to her and wrapped my arms around her in a loving embrace. I held her tightly and she hugged me back just as hard. It is not something that Andalites normally do but in my time on Earth I had picked up some of these strange human habits.
{ How can it be? }
{ It doesn't matter. I'm back. } she whispered to me as she brought up her hand and began to fiercely stroke my face.
{ I couldn't have lived without you Stella. } I said as I brought up my own hands.
When we finally separated I saw that the other five were still standing there staring. With the exception of Tobias, who was perched up in one of the trees. Marco was the first to speak.
"What kind of Andalite is that? I thought they were all blue."
"Isn't it obvious Marco? It's a girl Andalite." Rachel answered.
{ Exactly. } I confirmed.
"How did you get that Stella?" Cassie asked her.
{ The Ellimist. } she answered simply.
"But- but how can you still be alive? You were dead a minute ago. Is it really you Stella?" Prince Jake asked. He was clearly baffled.
{ Yes, it's true! I'm really alive! } she shouted in pure elation. As she shouted she started to prance around us. She finally ran back to me and embraced me again. Then she whispered so that only I heard her thoughts.
{ I'll never leave you again. }
{ But Jake's right Stella. How can you be alive? It's almost like you came back from the dead or something like that. } Tobias said.
{ I guess that would be the case. I think I was dead for a few seconds back there. But where there's a will, there's a way. } she answered, suddenly becoming serious.
"This calls for a celebration. Lets all go over to the mall." Marco suggested.
{ Hold on, I can't go out in public. Remember? }
"Oh, right."
{ I think that you can. Stella, did you know that you can mix DNA? We could create a new identity for you. }
{ What do you mean? }
{ You could try acquiring Cassie and Rachel, with their permission of course, and blending the DNA with your own to create an alternate face for yourself. It is called a Frolis Maneuver. I learned it during military training. It shouldn't be too hard for you to perform. }
"You know, that just might work. I'm willing to let you try it Stella" Rachel said enthusiastically.
{ All right. } Stella replied as she began to demorph. When she was human again, I was relieved to see that all of her wounds were gone and her right hand had re-grown. Gwyn immediately ran to her older cousin. Stella bent down and hugged her.
"Gwyn, I'm so sorry."
Gwyn didn't answer. I guessed that she was too young to comprehend the situation.
{ I'll see you guys later. I've got to go catch some breakfast. } Tobias said as he flew off.
I felt guilty that he couldn't join us but I was eager to try my idea. Besides, I could practically smell those cinnamon buns and nachos.
Stella went to Rachel and placed her hand on her face. Rachel's face suddenly had a blank and far off look on it. Stella had acquired her. Then she did the same to Cassie.
"So what do I have to do?"
{ It is quite simple actually. You just blend the DNA with your own. Picture a being that is a combination of Rachel, Cassie, and yourself. }
"Oooookay. That shouldn't be too hard." She said. I noticed a hint of sarcasm in her voice.
She closed her eyes and the changes began almost immediately. Her skin began to darken to a pale brown shade. She grew a few inches and her hair grew shorter until it stopped at the nape of her neck rather then just past her waste. The hair was now a strange brown color, almost red. When she opened her eyes again they were brown instead of gray.
"How do I look?" she asked. She no longer sounded like herself. There was a trace of both Rachel and Cassie's voices mixed in with hers.
"A cross between Rachel and Cassie. What's that gonna lead to? A tree hugging, animal loving, shop crazy, super model?" Marco said.
"You look good Stella. It's definitely a good combination." Prince Jake said.
"I think we've solved the problem of the Yeerks recognizing you. You can just use this morph." Cassie said as she looked Stella over.
"But we need a new name that we can call her when we're out at the mall or somewhere like that." Rachel noted.
"How about Cassandra? Or Rochelle?" Marco put in. Then he started laughing.
"That isn't even funny Marco."
At first I could not tell who had spoken. Then I realized that both Stella and Rachel had spoken at the same time.
"I'm starting to like this new morph of yours already Stella. It's got the right style." Rachel said.
"I don't know. I just hope that the Rachel in me doesn't talk me into doing something stupid." Stella said with a giggle.
"But seriously, she needs a new name." Cassie interrupted Rachel and Stella.
"How 'bout Gabriella?" Marco suggested again.
"How 'bout no, Marco. I would never call myself Gabriella."
"What about Kendra?" Cassie asked.
"No."
"Nikki?" Prince Jake suggested.
"No."
{ How about Kim? }I asked her.
"Kim? Where did you get Kim from?" she asked me.
{ When Prince Jake and Marco took me to the movie theatre one of the previews was for a fictional character called Kim Possible. It said that she could do anything. It sort of reminds me of Stella. What do you think? }
"Well personally, I'm insulted at be compared to a cartoon character on a children's show. Besides, I can't do everything. But yeah, I kind of like the name. I think I could go with Kim." She replied.
"All right then, Kiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiim." Marco said.
"You're pushing it Marco." Stella said, raising a threatening fist. I don't understand why. I do not see how humans can possibly fight using their fists.
"What if anybody asks who she is? How do we explain that?" Cassie asked.
"Well she can't be mine or Rachel's relative. So Stella, do you want to be Marco's or Cassie's cousin?" Prince Jake asked her.
"She can be my cousin." Marco offered as he put his arm on Stella's shoulder.
Stella visibly cringed.
"Oh boy."
"That's how it's going to have to be Stella. You don't look like you could be my cousin. But you do look like you could be Marco's cousin." Cassie said.
"Oh, the inhumanity. Woe is me." She moaned in despair. Her eyelids fluttered and she slumped to the ground.
"There's no need to be so dramatic Stella?" Prince Jake said to her.
{ Are you all right Stella? } I asked fearfully.
"Not with Marco for a cousin I'm not. But don't worry. It's not that serious." She said as she got to her feet and dusted herself off.
"In that case Marco, Ax, and I will head over to the mall. We'll meet you there in half an hour." Prince Jake said.
* *
*
"Man Gwyn, you've gained a lot of weight since last Christmas." I grunted as I tightened my grip on my little cousin. She was wearing a sweater that was much too big for her. Cassie had leant it to me. We had to keep her covered while we were out in the open in case a controller saw her and recognized her. The hem of the sweater went all the way to her ankles and the sleeves extended about an inch past her fingertips. The hood was pulled up over her head but I still kept her face out of sight. I was paranoid, but hey, who could blame me?
"Rachel where exactly is the food court?" I asked her as she, Cassie, and I walked through the mall parking lot.
"Do you mean to tell me that you have never been to this mall before?" Rachel asked me.
"I've been here before but you try carrying this girl around. She's heavy."
As we entered the mall I didn't bother to watch where we were going. I just followed Rachel. I had been to the mall once or twice but it was still a strange environment for me. I was nervous around crowds.
"How can you not enjoy shopping Kim?"
"It's possible, you know. There are other hobbies on this planet." I replied.
"Welcome to my world Kim." Cassie said as we finally approached the food court.
I spotted Marco and Ax in human form almost instantly. Marco finally spotted us and waved us over.
"Where have you guys been? I was starting to wonder what kind of torture you two were subjecting Kim to."
"Sorry we took so long Marco. Rachel was just showing me around the mall." I replied innocently.
"Hey Phillip, have you met my cousin Kim yet?" As Marco said the word Kim a wicked grin split his face.
"No. Hello Kim. Kuh- im. I am Jake's cousin from out of state."
"I'm sure you are." I said as I sat down next to him.
"So where's Jake?" Cassie asked.
"He went to go pick up some lunch. I'm just holding down the fort." Marco answered.
No sooner were the words out of his mouth then Jake appeared with a large tray. He was loaded down with nachos, pizza, and sodas.
"Well, this will be interesting." I giggled as my gaze drifted over to Ax. There was a small trail of drool dribbling down the right side of his mouth.
"Hi Kim. It's good to see you back in town again." Jake said as he set the tray down.
The conversation itself was pretty dumb but we had to keep up the pretense that I was Marco's cousin for the benefit of any nosy controllers.
Ax immediately reached for the tray but I shot my arm forward and held him back with a glare.
"Whatever happened to ladies first?" I tried to sound stern.
Apparently Ax couldn't tell that I was joking. He pulled a puppy face on me. Bambi eyes and everything. I burst out laughing.
"I'm just kidding Phillip. Go ahead." I said through my laughter.
We all ate but we left most of it to Ax. As I sat there nibbling on a nacho and holding Gwyn, I remembered the strange rhyme that I had heard in my dream. The union of an Andalite and A star will bring great things. With the warrior that fights from afar, the bladed seer takes wing. I kept repeating it to myself over and over again. What did it all mean?
Suddenly Ax looked up at me. It's hard to take Ax seriously when he's in human morph. Especially when you can see the remnants of his last meal dribbling out of the corners of his mouth. But when he heard me saying those words he went all stiff and he got serious really fast.
"That rhyme. Where did you hear it?" He spoke as if he was afraid to hear the answer.
"Why do you need to know?" I asked, barely paying attention.
"Please Ste- Kim. I must know." He begged me.
"Last night, in my fever. I guess I was dreaming. I heard this voice saying those words. Then I heard another voice in my head telling me not to be afraid and that it was time for me to go back. Then Visser Three appeared out of nowhere. He said that the star must die and he tried to kill me."
"Not so loud Kim." Jake reprimanded me.
"Everyone on the home world knows that prophecy. Oh no, not now. This can't be happening now." He moaned.
"Prophecy? What do you mean prophecy?" Marco asked him.
"Prophecy! As in a vision of the future." Ax replied angrily.
"I still don't see what it has to do with us." Rachel said.
"It has to do with us, with me, because that prophecy was first uttered on the night of Elfangor's birth. My own mother was the one who spoke those words. When I asked my father about the whole thing he seemed reluctant to speak of it. I had people talking about it at school but my own family had never bothered to tell me the story until I asked. My father told me that only moments after my brother was born my mother went completely stiff and her main eyes sort of rolled back into her head. Her stalk eyes faced skywards and she spoke in a voice that was not her own. Then she spoke those words. The union of an Andalite and a star, will bring great things. With the warrior that fights from afar, the bladed seer takes wing. Joined with the four who have lost all, the champions of the human race. They shall see the plague fall, by the word of time's face. Afterwards she had no recollection of having ever said such things. My father wanted to keep the whole incident quiet but somehow it got out. No one understood what it meant. That revelation was something that haunted both my mother and Elfangor. My father tried to ignore it. My mother's words became so famous that they became known as "The Prophecy". I haven't heard it mentioned in years. Now only the most superstitious of my people believe in it. Not that I believe it or anything like that."
"If you don't believe it then why are you getting all bent out of shape?" Cassie asked him.
"Because now that Elfangor is gone, the burden of that prophecy falls to me. Whether or not I believe it, it will be pinned on me when word that Elfangor is dead gets out." As Ax finished his story his hands fell limply at his sides and he completely ignored the remaining food.
"Wow, spooky." Marco commented.
"So what does it all mean?" Rachel wondered out loud.
"I do not know. No one does. Uz." Ax told her.
"Guys, I think it's time for us to leave." Jake said solemnly.
"Yeah." We all replied half-heartedly.
Jake and Cassie went to throw away the remains of our lunch and the rest of us made our way out of the food court.
When we finally reached Cassie's we headed for her barn. I unwrapped Gwyn and Ax and I demorphed.
"Back to business. What are we going to do with Gwyn?" Jake asked us all.
"I think that we should make her an Animorph." Rachel said.
"No, we can't do that! Gwyn's only a year old. She doesn't understand." Cassie practically shouted.
{ Gwyn must learn to understand sooner or later. In this war it must, unfortunately, be sooner. } Ax said serenely.
"Gwyn is too young to decide for herself. Therefore it should be Stella's decision whether or not we should expose Gwyn to the morphing cube." Jake said.
"Gwyn may be too young to use the morphing power now, but I think we should give it to her before it's too late." I told them.
"That is your decision then?" Jake asked me.
"Yes."
"You can't do this! It's like giving a gun to a baby. Gwyn can hardly speak. She has the right to a normal childhood. She's not some weapon that we can use against the Yeerks. We can't just drag her into this. It's not right!" Cassie was almost crying now.
"It may not be right Cassie, but nothing is normal anymore. I would rather do this now than later. For the day may come when she can no longer have a choice. I don't want that to be her future. It may not be right and it might not be fair, but Gwyn will know war very early in life. She must learn to fight now. Gwyn will receive the ability to morph. That is my decision." I told Cassie harshly.
In that moment a strange look crossed Cassie's face. She stared at me in horror and revulsion. As if I was some terrible monster that must be hated and feared. As if I was no longer human. That I would do such a thing to a child. It scared me, the way she looked at me in that fleeting instant. It was almost like she was casting me out of the Animorphs, out of humanity. In her own silent way, Cassie was condemning my choice.
"Fine." She whispered.
She walked over to a secluded corner of her barn and emerged with the morphing cube. Ax took it from her and he stepped towards me. He held out the cube and I held up Gwyn's small hand.
I felt her tremble in fear as her hand made contact with the cube. Yet she would not cry out so long as I held her. She trusted me completely. It nearly broke my heart to know that such pure love and trust could still exist in this world. I only hoped that she did not trust blindly. She was so young.
Ax finally withdrew the cube and Cassie hid it once more.
{ It is complete. }
"I guess that's all for today." Jake said as he headed out of the barn door.
"Yeah, just a typical day in the life of an Animorph. Escape the clutches of Visser Three. Almost die from your injuries. Come back from the dead. Go to the mall for some lunch and find out about some prophecy of doom. Give a one-year-old the ability to change into any given animal. The usual." Marco rattled off as he followed Jake.
"Right, fun stuff." Rachel said. Then she left too.
Cassie and I stood staring at each other for a long time. Ax morphed to human and stood behind me.
"It's wrong Stella."
"Maybe, but we're at war here. War isn't exactly fair. People die. children grow old before their time. People are killed unjustly. But you haven't seen that yet Cassie. Have you watched the members of your family murdered right in front of you? Watched them die in agony and known that it was your fault. When you have suffered as much as that, then and only then, will I listen to your opinion on this matter." I could hardly believe that it was me saying these things but I did not back down. Cassie needed to understand what I had seen before she could judge me that way.
I could see the hurt in Cassie's eyes as she brushed past me and out of the barn. I wanted to run out and apologize to her but I couldn't take those words back. I had meant every single one of them.
I simply picked up Gwyn and Ax and I walked out into the darkening forest.
"You did the right thing. Ing, Stella. Morphing capability might be the one thing that can save Gwyn. I don't see why Cassie is against it."
"It isn't something that's normally done on our planet Ax. I guess Cassie just has a greater sense of morality than the rest of us."
"But sometimes the only way out is to fight."
"True enough, but on Earth we are taught that fighting isn't the answer. I learned the hard way that that isn't the case. Sometimes all you can do is fight."
"What do you mean by that. Tha-tuh? You learned the hard way."
"I guess you could say that I was against fighting before this whole thing with the Yeerks. But now it's all I think about. I'll make him suffer for what he did to them."
Ax didn't ask me what I meant by he and they. He already knew.
When we reached the clearing I laid Gwyn in the sleeping bag. She had fallen asleep during the walk. Ax demorphed.
"Ax, you know those tail blades that Andalites have?"
{ Yes. What of them? }
"It's possible to use them in close combat right?"
{ Yes. Arisths in the military are taught how to tail fight. }
"Could you teach me?"
{ I suppose I could. But why? }
"My Andalite morph is no good to me unless I can use that tail blade in a fight."
{ All right. We will start tomorrow. }
"No. We'll start now."
{ Now! }
"Yes. Visser Three must learn who I am. He doesn't recognize me as a threat now. But he will know someday. He isn't afraid of me now. But he will be. He will be."
With that I began to morph.
* *
*
(A/N) Don't worry, it's not over yet. But can I ask you guys out there who have read the entire series. What happens in book #34?
Written in the Stars
Chapter 8: The Burden
I paced the bridge angrily, waiting for the computer to give feed back on the vital statistics of the human girl, Stella.
I had implanted a small probe into her system that allowed me to keep track of her life signatures. I could tell whether or not she lived. Unfortunately I had not had the foresight to place a tracking device on her. Now I waited to find out if she had died in the explosion.
Finally the computer came online. I received the transmission into my host brain. As the computer reported Stella's vitals my eyes burst open in anger. I turned to the Hork-Bajir controller who stood by my side.
{ As usual, you have managed to botch up another simple assignment, Inar 601. The girl is still alive. }
"You're wrong Visser. No one could have survived that explosion. I had it all worked out perfectly."
Too late, the foolish creature realized his mistake in contradicting me. Before anyone could even react, the Hork-Bajir's head went rolling away.
{ Does anyone else wish to try and prove me wrong? } I asked the other controllers that stood on the bridge. I raised my tail menacingly over my head.
"No Visser." They all spoke as one.
Meanwhile I turned my thoughts back to what I had learned from the transmission. Stella still lived but she was very weak. She was fading fast. Yet she was still holding on, still fighting. It was even possible that she might recover.
Any other human would have died. Why was she so different? How could she possibly have escaped me? There was definitely something not human about her.
Suddenly a thought struck me. Something in the very back of Alloran's mind. Something that I had not considered in a long time.
{ Computer, is the name Stella a word in any of the known Earth languages? } I asked.
It took a few moments but the computer eventually responded.
{ There is a language that the humans refer to as a "dead" language. It is no longer spoken among the humans but it still exists. It is called Latin. Stella is the Latin word for star. }
{ No. } I whispered to myself. { It cannot be. It is happening. }
For a long time I just stood there. Stella was the one who had been spoken of in the prophecy that had been uttered all those years ago.
Not that I was one who believed in the prophecy, but here were all of the facts unfolding right before my very eyes.
{Ah, the last pieces fall into place. The girl must die. You were a fool to defy me Stella.}
I vowed then and there that the star would fall.
* *
*
As the sun began to rise I demorphed once more. I had sat by Stella's side all through the night. The other Animorphs would soon return. They would not return to good news.
{ Hey Ax-man. } I heard Tobias saying as he took a perch on a tree branch that hung over my head. { How is she? } he asked.
{ Not good. She awoke once during the night. She said that she deserved to die and she bade me farewell. She has not stirred since then. }
{ Isn't there anything that we can do for her Ax? }
{ I'm afraid not Tobias. It is up to her now. }
The pain tore at my hearts like a Hork-Bajir on the rampage. No sooner had I found the one being in the entire universe that filled my soul with joy, then she had to die and leave me alone.
{ Tobias, if she dies I-}
{ Don't talk that way Ax. She is not going to die. }
{ What makes you so sure? All of the odds are against her. }
{ I'm not so sure. I guess it's just that stubborn human will of mine. I've just got to believe that she's gonna be okay. }
I didn't reply to this. I had grown up hearing the phrase that grace is the acceptance of the inevitable. How could I just stand back and accept that Stella was dying? How could I ever say goodbye to her? I couldn't! She had been in my life for such a short time.
"Is there any sign of improvement?" I heard Cassie asking me as she led Gwyn into the clearing.
I pulled my eyes away from Stella's ashen face and stared at Cassie.
{ None. }
"You don't mean-"
{ No, she is still alive. But not for much longer. } I answered brokenly.
Just then I heard the other three come running through the forest.
"How's she looking?" Prince Jake asked me.
"Not now Jake." Cassie scolded him as she led him, Marco, and Rachel away from Stella. I saw her gather them together in a small circle.
"Ax is a bit closer to Stella than you three realize. Don't bother him. He's probably in a lot of pain right now."
I didn't give any sign that I had heard what Cassie said to them, but as I stared at them with one of my stalk eyes I saw the realization hit Rachel. She quickly walked over to me.
"Oh....Ax, I'm so sorry." She whispered as she placed her hand on my shoulder.
I didn't answer. I simply pulled away from her and began to morph human again. As soon as I had gotten my bearings on the two human legs I lowered myself to my knees by Stella's side. For a few minutes I fumbled with the strange device that my friends called a zipper. When I finally managed to undo it I pulled the blanket off of Stella. I brought her to a sitting position and I held her upper body in my arms. I let the tears fall once more.
"I failed you Stella." I cried into her black hair.
"No Ax, you didn't fail. This is Visser Three's doing." Prince Jake said.
"But I did. If I hadn't fallen asleep she wouldn't be like this. I should be the one to die, not her."
"Ax, Visser Three would have found her eventually. Besides, if there's one thing that I've learned since I've known her it's that she's loyal. She wouldn't abandon her family to the Yeerks. At the same time she remained true to us. Stella would never desert us. Even if it means her own down fall." He told me.
I barely heard his words. I was far too distracted by the fact that Stella's pulse was failing ever faster. I simply held more tightly to her. It wouldn't be long now. I could almost feel my own anguish gnawing away at my insides.
"It is happening Prince Jake." I whispered.
All four of them looked stricken. Tobias turned his hawk head away from the scene. Cassie turned away too. I was certain that her sobs could be heard throughout the forest. Prince Jake went to her and wrapped his arms around her. Rachel was pacing the clearing. An expression of sadness and anger was splayed across her face. Marco just stood and stared. For once, the sardonic grin was gone from his face.
The moment seemed to last for hours. Stella's heartbeat grew steadily slower, until it did not resume.
"No." I whispered. I was suddenly awash in a new wave of grief and pain. My face was wet with tears. I rested my forehead on hers. I shut my eyes, trying to block out the shock.
"She can't be dead! She just can't be." I heard Rachel shouting.
"Stella, please come back." I cried so that none of the others could hear me.
Suddenly I felt a hand upon my cheek. I opened my eyes and found myself staring back into Stella's gray ones. I jerked my head back in shock. It was her hand that was on my cheek. I pulled away from her and she sat up on her own. The others pulled back right along with me. Suddenly she began to morph. The bandages that held her wounds burst and fell away. Purple fur sprouted all over her skin. Her wild, black hair receded into her scalp and the two stalk eyes sprouted from her head. She was morphing to an Andalite female. I started to demorph right along with her, almost without thinking.
When we were both fully Andalite I took a step towards her, afraid that it was some cruel trick of my eyes.
{ I thought you were dead. Aren't you? }
{ No, it's me. I'm alive. } she said calmly.
Without wasting another word I went to her and wrapped my arms around her in a loving embrace. I held her tightly and she hugged me back just as hard. It is not something that Andalites normally do but in my time on Earth I had picked up some of these strange human habits.
{ How can it be? }
{ It doesn't matter. I'm back. } she whispered to me as she brought up her hand and began to fiercely stroke my face.
{ I couldn't have lived without you Stella. } I said as I brought up my own hands.
When we finally separated I saw that the other five were still standing there staring. With the exception of Tobias, who was perched up in one of the trees. Marco was the first to speak.
"What kind of Andalite is that? I thought they were all blue."
"Isn't it obvious Marco? It's a girl Andalite." Rachel answered.
{ Exactly. } I confirmed.
"How did you get that Stella?" Cassie asked her.
{ The Ellimist. } she answered simply.
"But- but how can you still be alive? You were dead a minute ago. Is it really you Stella?" Prince Jake asked. He was clearly baffled.
{ Yes, it's true! I'm really alive! } she shouted in pure elation. As she shouted she started to prance around us. She finally ran back to me and embraced me again. Then she whispered so that only I heard her thoughts.
{ I'll never leave you again. }
{ But Jake's right Stella. How can you be alive? It's almost like you came back from the dead or something like that. } Tobias said.
{ I guess that would be the case. I think I was dead for a few seconds back there. But where there's a will, there's a way. } she answered, suddenly becoming serious.
"This calls for a celebration. Lets all go over to the mall." Marco suggested.
{ Hold on, I can't go out in public. Remember? }
"Oh, right."
{ I think that you can. Stella, did you know that you can mix DNA? We could create a new identity for you. }
{ What do you mean? }
{ You could try acquiring Cassie and Rachel, with their permission of course, and blending the DNA with your own to create an alternate face for yourself. It is called a Frolis Maneuver. I learned it during military training. It shouldn't be too hard for you to perform. }
"You know, that just might work. I'm willing to let you try it Stella" Rachel said enthusiastically.
{ All right. } Stella replied as she began to demorph. When she was human again, I was relieved to see that all of her wounds were gone and her right hand had re-grown. Gwyn immediately ran to her older cousin. Stella bent down and hugged her.
"Gwyn, I'm so sorry."
Gwyn didn't answer. I guessed that she was too young to comprehend the situation.
{ I'll see you guys later. I've got to go catch some breakfast. } Tobias said as he flew off.
I felt guilty that he couldn't join us but I was eager to try my idea. Besides, I could practically smell those cinnamon buns and nachos.
Stella went to Rachel and placed her hand on her face. Rachel's face suddenly had a blank and far off look on it. Stella had acquired her. Then she did the same to Cassie.
"So what do I have to do?"
{ It is quite simple actually. You just blend the DNA with your own. Picture a being that is a combination of Rachel, Cassie, and yourself. }
"Oooookay. That shouldn't be too hard." She said. I noticed a hint of sarcasm in her voice.
She closed her eyes and the changes began almost immediately. Her skin began to darken to a pale brown shade. She grew a few inches and her hair grew shorter until it stopped at the nape of her neck rather then just past her waste. The hair was now a strange brown color, almost red. When she opened her eyes again they were brown instead of gray.
"How do I look?" she asked. She no longer sounded like herself. There was a trace of both Rachel and Cassie's voices mixed in with hers.
"A cross between Rachel and Cassie. What's that gonna lead to? A tree hugging, animal loving, shop crazy, super model?" Marco said.
"You look good Stella. It's definitely a good combination." Prince Jake said.
"I think we've solved the problem of the Yeerks recognizing you. You can just use this morph." Cassie said as she looked Stella over.
"But we need a new name that we can call her when we're out at the mall or somewhere like that." Rachel noted.
"How about Cassandra? Or Rochelle?" Marco put in. Then he started laughing.
"That isn't even funny Marco."
At first I could not tell who had spoken. Then I realized that both Stella and Rachel had spoken at the same time.
"I'm starting to like this new morph of yours already Stella. It's got the right style." Rachel said.
"I don't know. I just hope that the Rachel in me doesn't talk me into doing something stupid." Stella said with a giggle.
"But seriously, she needs a new name." Cassie interrupted Rachel and Stella.
"How 'bout Gabriella?" Marco suggested again.
"How 'bout no, Marco. I would never call myself Gabriella."
"What about Kendra?" Cassie asked.
"No."
"Nikki?" Prince Jake suggested.
"No."
{ How about Kim? }I asked her.
"Kim? Where did you get Kim from?" she asked me.
{ When Prince Jake and Marco took me to the movie theatre one of the previews was for a fictional character called Kim Possible. It said that she could do anything. It sort of reminds me of Stella. What do you think? }
"Well personally, I'm insulted at be compared to a cartoon character on a children's show. Besides, I can't do everything. But yeah, I kind of like the name. I think I could go with Kim." She replied.
"All right then, Kiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiim." Marco said.
"You're pushing it Marco." Stella said, raising a threatening fist. I don't understand why. I do not see how humans can possibly fight using their fists.
"What if anybody asks who she is? How do we explain that?" Cassie asked.
"Well she can't be mine or Rachel's relative. So Stella, do you want to be Marco's or Cassie's cousin?" Prince Jake asked her.
"She can be my cousin." Marco offered as he put his arm on Stella's shoulder.
Stella visibly cringed.
"Oh boy."
"That's how it's going to have to be Stella. You don't look like you could be my cousin. But you do look like you could be Marco's cousin." Cassie said.
"Oh, the inhumanity. Woe is me." She moaned in despair. Her eyelids fluttered and she slumped to the ground.
"There's no need to be so dramatic Stella?" Prince Jake said to her.
{ Are you all right Stella? } I asked fearfully.
"Not with Marco for a cousin I'm not. But don't worry. It's not that serious." She said as she got to her feet and dusted herself off.
"In that case Marco, Ax, and I will head over to the mall. We'll meet you there in half an hour." Prince Jake said.
* *
*
"Man Gwyn, you've gained a lot of weight since last Christmas." I grunted as I tightened my grip on my little cousin. She was wearing a sweater that was much too big for her. Cassie had leant it to me. We had to keep her covered while we were out in the open in case a controller saw her and recognized her. The hem of the sweater went all the way to her ankles and the sleeves extended about an inch past her fingertips. The hood was pulled up over her head but I still kept her face out of sight. I was paranoid, but hey, who could blame me?
"Rachel where exactly is the food court?" I asked her as she, Cassie, and I walked through the mall parking lot.
"Do you mean to tell me that you have never been to this mall before?" Rachel asked me.
"I've been here before but you try carrying this girl around. She's heavy."
As we entered the mall I didn't bother to watch where we were going. I just followed Rachel. I had been to the mall once or twice but it was still a strange environment for me. I was nervous around crowds.
"How can you not enjoy shopping Kim?"
"It's possible, you know. There are other hobbies on this planet." I replied.
"Welcome to my world Kim." Cassie said as we finally approached the food court.
I spotted Marco and Ax in human form almost instantly. Marco finally spotted us and waved us over.
"Where have you guys been? I was starting to wonder what kind of torture you two were subjecting Kim to."
"Sorry we took so long Marco. Rachel was just showing me around the mall." I replied innocently.
"Hey Phillip, have you met my cousin Kim yet?" As Marco said the word Kim a wicked grin split his face.
"No. Hello Kim. Kuh- im. I am Jake's cousin from out of state."
"I'm sure you are." I said as I sat down next to him.
"So where's Jake?" Cassie asked.
"He went to go pick up some lunch. I'm just holding down the fort." Marco answered.
No sooner were the words out of his mouth then Jake appeared with a large tray. He was loaded down with nachos, pizza, and sodas.
"Well, this will be interesting." I giggled as my gaze drifted over to Ax. There was a small trail of drool dribbling down the right side of his mouth.
"Hi Kim. It's good to see you back in town again." Jake said as he set the tray down.
The conversation itself was pretty dumb but we had to keep up the pretense that I was Marco's cousin for the benefit of any nosy controllers.
Ax immediately reached for the tray but I shot my arm forward and held him back with a glare.
"Whatever happened to ladies first?" I tried to sound stern.
Apparently Ax couldn't tell that I was joking. He pulled a puppy face on me. Bambi eyes and everything. I burst out laughing.
"I'm just kidding Phillip. Go ahead." I said through my laughter.
We all ate but we left most of it to Ax. As I sat there nibbling on a nacho and holding Gwyn, I remembered the strange rhyme that I had heard in my dream. The union of an Andalite and A star will bring great things. With the warrior that fights from afar, the bladed seer takes wing. I kept repeating it to myself over and over again. What did it all mean?
Suddenly Ax looked up at me. It's hard to take Ax seriously when he's in human morph. Especially when you can see the remnants of his last meal dribbling out of the corners of his mouth. But when he heard me saying those words he went all stiff and he got serious really fast.
"That rhyme. Where did you hear it?" He spoke as if he was afraid to hear the answer.
"Why do you need to know?" I asked, barely paying attention.
"Please Ste- Kim. I must know." He begged me.
"Last night, in my fever. I guess I was dreaming. I heard this voice saying those words. Then I heard another voice in my head telling me not to be afraid and that it was time for me to go back. Then Visser Three appeared out of nowhere. He said that the star must die and he tried to kill me."
"Not so loud Kim." Jake reprimanded me.
"Everyone on the home world knows that prophecy. Oh no, not now. This can't be happening now." He moaned.
"Prophecy? What do you mean prophecy?" Marco asked him.
"Prophecy! As in a vision of the future." Ax replied angrily.
"I still don't see what it has to do with us." Rachel said.
"It has to do with us, with me, because that prophecy was first uttered on the night of Elfangor's birth. My own mother was the one who spoke those words. When I asked my father about the whole thing he seemed reluctant to speak of it. I had people talking about it at school but my own family had never bothered to tell me the story until I asked. My father told me that only moments after my brother was born my mother went completely stiff and her main eyes sort of rolled back into her head. Her stalk eyes faced skywards and she spoke in a voice that was not her own. Then she spoke those words. The union of an Andalite and a star, will bring great things. With the warrior that fights from afar, the bladed seer takes wing. Joined with the four who have lost all, the champions of the human race. They shall see the plague fall, by the word of time's face. Afterwards she had no recollection of having ever said such things. My father wanted to keep the whole incident quiet but somehow it got out. No one understood what it meant. That revelation was something that haunted both my mother and Elfangor. My father tried to ignore it. My mother's words became so famous that they became known as "The Prophecy". I haven't heard it mentioned in years. Now only the most superstitious of my people believe in it. Not that I believe it or anything like that."
"If you don't believe it then why are you getting all bent out of shape?" Cassie asked him.
"Because now that Elfangor is gone, the burden of that prophecy falls to me. Whether or not I believe it, it will be pinned on me when word that Elfangor is dead gets out." As Ax finished his story his hands fell limply at his sides and he completely ignored the remaining food.
"Wow, spooky." Marco commented.
"So what does it all mean?" Rachel wondered out loud.
"I do not know. No one does. Uz." Ax told her.
"Guys, I think it's time for us to leave." Jake said solemnly.
"Yeah." We all replied half-heartedly.
Jake and Cassie went to throw away the remains of our lunch and the rest of us made our way out of the food court.
When we finally reached Cassie's we headed for her barn. I unwrapped Gwyn and Ax and I demorphed.
"Back to business. What are we going to do with Gwyn?" Jake asked us all.
"I think that we should make her an Animorph." Rachel said.
"No, we can't do that! Gwyn's only a year old. She doesn't understand." Cassie practically shouted.
{ Gwyn must learn to understand sooner or later. In this war it must, unfortunately, be sooner. } Ax said serenely.
"Gwyn is too young to decide for herself. Therefore it should be Stella's decision whether or not we should expose Gwyn to the morphing cube." Jake said.
"Gwyn may be too young to use the morphing power now, but I think we should give it to her before it's too late." I told them.
"That is your decision then?" Jake asked me.
"Yes."
"You can't do this! It's like giving a gun to a baby. Gwyn can hardly speak. She has the right to a normal childhood. She's not some weapon that we can use against the Yeerks. We can't just drag her into this. It's not right!" Cassie was almost crying now.
"It may not be right Cassie, but nothing is normal anymore. I would rather do this now than later. For the day may come when she can no longer have a choice. I don't want that to be her future. It may not be right and it might not be fair, but Gwyn will know war very early in life. She must learn to fight now. Gwyn will receive the ability to morph. That is my decision." I told Cassie harshly.
In that moment a strange look crossed Cassie's face. She stared at me in horror and revulsion. As if I was some terrible monster that must be hated and feared. As if I was no longer human. That I would do such a thing to a child. It scared me, the way she looked at me in that fleeting instant. It was almost like she was casting me out of the Animorphs, out of humanity. In her own silent way, Cassie was condemning my choice.
"Fine." She whispered.
She walked over to a secluded corner of her barn and emerged with the morphing cube. Ax took it from her and he stepped towards me. He held out the cube and I held up Gwyn's small hand.
I felt her tremble in fear as her hand made contact with the cube. Yet she would not cry out so long as I held her. She trusted me completely. It nearly broke my heart to know that such pure love and trust could still exist in this world. I only hoped that she did not trust blindly. She was so young.
Ax finally withdrew the cube and Cassie hid it once more.
{ It is complete. }
"I guess that's all for today." Jake said as he headed out of the barn door.
"Yeah, just a typical day in the life of an Animorph. Escape the clutches of Visser Three. Almost die from your injuries. Come back from the dead. Go to the mall for some lunch and find out about some prophecy of doom. Give a one-year-old the ability to change into any given animal. The usual." Marco rattled off as he followed Jake.
"Right, fun stuff." Rachel said. Then she left too.
Cassie and I stood staring at each other for a long time. Ax morphed to human and stood behind me.
"It's wrong Stella."
"Maybe, but we're at war here. War isn't exactly fair. People die. children grow old before their time. People are killed unjustly. But you haven't seen that yet Cassie. Have you watched the members of your family murdered right in front of you? Watched them die in agony and known that it was your fault. When you have suffered as much as that, then and only then, will I listen to your opinion on this matter." I could hardly believe that it was me saying these things but I did not back down. Cassie needed to understand what I had seen before she could judge me that way.
I could see the hurt in Cassie's eyes as she brushed past me and out of the barn. I wanted to run out and apologize to her but I couldn't take those words back. I had meant every single one of them.
I simply picked up Gwyn and Ax and I walked out into the darkening forest.
"You did the right thing. Ing, Stella. Morphing capability might be the one thing that can save Gwyn. I don't see why Cassie is against it."
"It isn't something that's normally done on our planet Ax. I guess Cassie just has a greater sense of morality than the rest of us."
"But sometimes the only way out is to fight."
"True enough, but on Earth we are taught that fighting isn't the answer. I learned the hard way that that isn't the case. Sometimes all you can do is fight."
"What do you mean by that. Tha-tuh? You learned the hard way."
"I guess you could say that I was against fighting before this whole thing with the Yeerks. But now it's all I think about. I'll make him suffer for what he did to them."
Ax didn't ask me what I meant by he and they. He already knew.
When we reached the clearing I laid Gwyn in the sleeping bag. She had fallen asleep during the walk. Ax demorphed.
"Ax, you know those tail blades that Andalites have?"
{ Yes. What of them? }
"It's possible to use them in close combat right?"
{ Yes. Arisths in the military are taught how to tail fight. }
"Could you teach me?"
{ I suppose I could. But why? }
"My Andalite morph is no good to me unless I can use that tail blade in a fight."
{ All right. We will start tomorrow. }
"No. We'll start now."
{ Now! }
"Yes. Visser Three must learn who I am. He doesn't recognize me as a threat now. But he will know someday. He isn't afraid of me now. But he will be. He will be."
With that I began to morph.
* *
*
(A/N) Don't worry, it's not over yet. But can I ask you guys out there who have read the entire series. What happens in book #34?