A/N- Thanks to all my reviewers! Sorry if this took awhile to write, I didn't get any ideas for a while.
DH- Thanks for the review. Sorry about the confusing interrogation part. I don't know why I thought you were a guy; sometimes I just make random assumptions. You can't really know much about people when you've only met them on the web, so its kind of hard to picture people and you usually end up getting an idea that's way off center. I'm no exception!
Tigerlily-2250- Here's the update, and thanks for reviewing!
Panthergirl- I can't believe I keep making you want to watch Tarzan. I didn't know I had so much power! Anyway, thanks for reviewing!
Tabatha- Thanks for reviewing.
Korean Pearl- Zak's really confused right now. This isn't what he thought meeting his people would be like, and he doesn't understand why he's being interrogated, especially if they won't believe him until after three days anyway. I had written it so that he answered every question in robotic manner, but then I thought that was boring, and not the way I wanted him to act. So I sent him in the opposite direction. Sorry if that was confusing.
* * *
For three days I sat in my cell. Three whole days! My family had told me the Andalites were really furious with the yeerks, but I hadn't known it would be this bad! And obviously they didn't know that much about humans either. They stuffed grass through the little door in my cell, and expected me to eat it. After a while I was so hungry that I did, but it tasted horrible. No wonder dogs eat grass when they want to throw up! Yuck!
The girl Andalite kept asking me questions that I really didn't want to answer, especially not without talking to my sister or Zak first. I asked her what her name was, but she wouldn't even answer that! I guess they're more interested in Zak, anyway.
On the third day, I watched the camera in the top corner. I knew the Andalites were probably watching me without letting me see them. Watching Zak too, probably, but I didn't know because I had had no contact with him in the last three days.
After almost endless time, they opened the door and escorted Zak and me to a more wide-open space on the ship. The Andalites had both of us with tails at our throats, which wasn't too comforting. Boy, were these guys paranoid, or what?
I guess they asked Zak a question in private thought-speak, but he answered them so that I could hear as well. I'm glad you have finally decided we are not Controllers. I guess now is the best time to tell you why I'm here, huh? In private thought-speak, he said to me, I hope they believe me.
Then he told them the story of his parents' death, and how he was raised on earth. He also mentioned why I had been riding on his back that day, and I swear I saw an expression of mild disgust on the younger male's face. Thankfully he didn't mention that Sam and mom were Kelbrid! I had the feeling they wouldn't take that well.
When Zak was done explaining, the Andalites held a small conference amongst themselves, debating whether to believe him or hold us until a team could enter with a lie detector or a memory dump. At least they were so excited that they forgot to talk in private thought-speak. I didn't understand the language, but Zak translated for me later, when he had learned more of it and… but I don't want to get ahead of myself.
Then the female turned to Zak and I, and said, We have decided that there is no time to send for a lie detector or a more sophisticated way of finding out if you are telling the truth, and we must trust you. Your story adds up with what we know about the death of the two scouts who disappeared in this area. To confirm your story, we would like you to take us to the crash site. Let us go.
Zak looked relieved, and really grateful, but before he could spill his feelings about that I decided to take the inch and turn it into a mile, and asked, "Before we go there, how about telling us your name? We haven't been properly introduced."
I think I saw the shadow of a smile in the girl's eyes, and she said, I am Alanthi-Estana-Illinia, human. And you are?
"Sabrina Elizabeth Johnson."
* * *
I was allowed to ride on Zak's back on the way to the crash site, because the Andalites trotted fast and I could never keep up. When we reached it, the Andalites immediately started inspecting the ship. Zak stood there, watching them with all four eyes, and I could tell he was grinning the Andalite way. I whispered, "Zak, they are going to start staring at you if you keep that crazy grin on your face as if it were pasted there." He took the hint and tried to look more serious, but I could tell he was excited. And I started to get jealous. I mean, now he had met up with his own people and everything, would he want to hang around me anymore? Come to think about it, would he travel back to their home world with them?
I scolded myself and said it was too soon to think about that now, and anyway, Zak wouldn't desert me. And I filed away that thought, but wondered why I was reacting this strongly. Of course Zak would want to go home, who wouldn't? And if that was his decision, then I should try to be the good friend and support him. I made myself stop thinking about Zak leaving, and I concentrated on the event at hand.
When the Andalites were finished inspecting the ship, they brought out two delicately shaped green boxes, which had to be the remains of Zak's parents. I put my hand on his shoulder as I felt him tense, and thought, Wow, this must be hard for him. We held a small funeral service right there in the woods, as the Andalites quickly said some verses and scooped some small holes for graves. I slid off Zak's back as he placed the boxes in the holes, and covered them. I could tell that Zak was taking this much more seriously than the Andalites, except for maybe Alanthi who had a sympathizing expression on her face. The males just looked as if this was something to be done quickly and get over with, and I felt mad at them. But I didn't say anything about it, in respect for the dead and Zak.
When Zak was finished, Alanthi turned to us and said, I guess we had better return you to your families. We know Sabrina's sister must be frantic. I had to grin at that.
And we must speak to Zantar's adopted parents as well, said the older male. We must verify your story with them.
I sighed and rolled my eyes. How much proof did they need, anyway? Then I turned to Zak, and he was practically glowing. So I squeezed his hand, and grinned, and hoped things would work out the way he wanted them to. Life owed him that, I think.