A/N- This is the start of a sequel to You'll Be in My Heart, the story about an Andalite who ended up being raised on earth. If you haven't read it yet, you should probably do so to get an idea of what's going on. Thanks to everyone who showed support for my 'training' story; I'm hoping this one will be a bit better, and that I'll learn some more discipline in my writing. Oh yeah, this story is going to be written in first person, like the last chapter of You'll Be in My Heart.
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It should have been an ordinary scouting mission, the one I had been put on for my final stage of training. Training as a scientist, mind you, because females aren't supposed to be warriors. Instead, the mission ended up changing my life forever, and I still don't think I fully understand what happened during my time on earth. But back to the mission.
You could say it was never ordinary from the start, because usually females don't go on scouting missions. But I, Alanthi-Estana-Illinia, was there for special reasons. We wouldn't just be searching for Yeerk activity, we would also be collecting samples from the new, unexplored planet we would be landing on. Probes had shown there was a sentient race on it, that had even started exploring their solar system with probes or their own, but other than this we knew little about the planet. So we were sent to investigate, and I was needed as a scientist-in-training, since there were no others available at the time. Plus, records showed that another ship had disappeared in this system about twelve years ago. We were, if possible, to discover the fate of the two Andalites who had disappeared.
We came out of z-space just months after we had entered, and right away saw the beautiful blue planet called earth. I caught my breath, and stared. The planet was so similar to our home-world that it had taken me by surprise. Sure, we had less water, but other than that I couldn't see many differences.
Is something wrong, Aristh Alanthi?asked the captain of the scouting ship, Mendanosh-Selquith-Tysan. Although I was almost as good as a novice scientist, my rank as an Aristh remained, not something I was proud of. But soon I would put it behind me, if this mission was successful.
No, I am fine, sir. I replied, carefully. Just slightly shocked, is all.
Tremain-Westil-Kydorn, the ships technician and final crew member, said, We are receiving an emergency signal from a ship, captain. It appears to have crashed.
Well, that appears to be the fate of Kylaron and Aleera. Is it possible that they have survived?
It is possible, sir, but unlikely. They would have called the home-world for help if they were alive. Twelve years is too long a time. I would presume they are gone, captain.
Mendanosh sighed. That is too bad. Still, we do need to collect samples from the planet. Land near where the ship crashed, and perhaps we may give them a proper burial at the same time.
I shuddered. I didn't want to think of the dead at a time like this. And somehow knowing someone had died while attempting to land on earth didn't give me any comfort about the mission we would soon be carrying out.