A/N- I was just reading a book with science fiction poems and stories in it, and this poem stuck out to me for some reason. It reminded me of Zantar, so see what you think. It was written by Babette Deutsch, so no, I don't own it. I don't own Andalites either, in case you wanted to know. Just saying this because I realized I didn't put a disclaimer at the beginning of my story.
Space-manJetted like the circus's
Human bullet, he'll face
A public privacy
For the space of his throttled jaunt.
Returning,
Will he be implacably displaced?
Craving the unknown, he endures,
Abides its brood of dangers,
Even this one of being
Always a stranger
To those riding at our planet's pace only around
The simple sun.
DH- Thanks for the compliments! I'm glad you liked the chapter.
Korean Pearl- Sorry FF.net was acting up on you. And thanks for adding the idea about the police!
Panthergirl- Good for you! Did you like to movie better after reading my story? Just wondering.
Morph- Thanks!
* * *
We were walking back to my house, and I had never been so excited in my life. Yeah, it had stunk being a prisoner of the Andalites, but I guess they had their reasons. I had felt slightly depressed then, but now it seemed like everything was going perfectly.
Before we were in the thought-speak range of the house, the older male Andalite whose name I had yet to learn turned to Alanthi and told her to watch us. He and the younger male would go up to the house to verify our story with my parents before we had a chance to communicate with them. I felt a little impatient that they still didn't seem to trust us, but shoved the feeling away as the males disappeared into the forest.
I turned to Alanthi and said, I have told you why I am here. Will you tell me your story?
Alanthi looked slightly surprised at this, but said, Well, this mission is mainly a scouting mission, but it has several other purposes as well. We were also supposed to find out what happened to your parents, who never returned from a similar mission twelve years ago. We feared this meant Yeerk activity and went to check it out. We are also collecting samples of earth foliage, soil, atmosphere, and DNA. That is my job.
Really? We can help you with that. Bri knows a lot about plant and animal life.
Maybe. Alanthi said distractedly. I turned to see what she was looking at, and saw the two males come through the trees.
We decided this was not a good time to approach the house, the older one said, explaining. There were several vehicles parked outside, with lights on top. We gathered that they are forming a search party.
Bri snapped her fingers in frustration. "Darn! I'd hoped we'd get back before they called the police! Now I'll have to explain where I've been this whole time." At the Andalites' shocked expressions, she hastily explained, "Well, I'd make up a story, of course. I don't think the police would think being abducted by aliens a good explanation. I'll just say I got lost in the woods, which is what they expect anyway."
Bri tossed some dirt and leaves in her clothes and hair and turned to go. Wait! One of the Andalites called. How do we know that you are not going to tell anyone about us? Especially those you claim already know of our existence, he said with distrust.
Bri smiled deviously. "I guess you'll just have to trust me, won't you?"
The younger male, who had been speaking, leapt to block her way, but the captain said, Let her go. Otherwise we will never be able to approach the house. He stood still, controlling his anger by clenching his firsts. I looked at Bri with admiration. She had so much courage to be able to speak to that Andalite that way! I wondered if I would ever be able to act so fearlessly.
We waited for many minutes without any sign of Bri or the other humans. I got worried; perhaps they hadn't believed her, maybe they were searching the woods at this very moment, maybe, just when it seemed I would be able to go home I would be captured and taken to the government for testing. The minutes turned into a half hour, and the captain had suggested we go back to the ship for now when Bri, Sam, and Mom burst into the clearing.
"Zantar!" my mom exclaimed, and rushed to pull me into a hug.
After hugging her back for an awkward minute, I said, Mom, I'm fine. Bri's fine.
"Yes. I know. I'm just so relieved…" She let go of me. I turned a stalk-eye toward Alanthi, who had been looking on with interest.
We must talk. The captain interrupted.
Mom wiped her eyes and said, "Yes. I understand. Yes…" She led us back to the house with a dazed expression.
* * *
We made it back to the house without anyone fainting, thankfully. The Andalites were slightly skeptical of entering the house, but we finally convinced them because it was getting colder by the minute outside. Inside, Dad had a fire going, and hot chocolate on the stove. He looked annoyed at being told to stay home and wanted to start the conversation right away.
"More aliens. Just what we need. What happened this time?" he demanded.
"Mark!" mom scolded. "Let us at least get inside. And don't speak to our visitors that way!"
Everyone got settled- Mom, Dad, Sam and Bri on the couches drinking hot chocolate, and us Andalites standing by the fire. I looked at the hot chocolate longingly, but I had tried before to drink human drinks and it had caused me to do the Andalite equivalent of throwing up.
We should be introduced, said the captain. I am Captain Mendanosh, and this is my technical officer, Tremain, and Aristh Alanthi. He then looked expectantly at my parents and Sam.
"Oh, I'm sorry; I am Jessica, and this is my husband Mark," said mom.
"I'm Samantha Johnson," said Sam.
Now, how did you say you met this Andalite?
Once again, we had to go over how my parents had found and raised me, and how Sam and her family had been in on the secret. I told mom to say nothing about Sam and her mother being Kelbrid in private thought-speak. After she and Dad were finished telling the story, and the Andalites had stopped asking questions, a silence stretched over the room. What did we do now?
I think, deep inside, everyone knew there was a decision to be made. Me more than anyone. See, while everyone was talking, it had suddenly come to my mind that the Andalites weren't going to stay here forever. Soon, probably within the week, they would be leaving. They'd go back to the home world. And I would be forced to decide- stay on earth, or go home?