A/N- I meant to update sooner but didn't have the time- school and life got in the way. Thanks to all my reviewers! Most of you didn't say anything I can really respond to, but thanks anyway to DH, Korean Pearl (whose fics are great!), Birdie num num, panthergirl, morph, and Tabatha 51.

Intelligent fangirl- thanks for reviewing! You meant a frollis maneuver, right? Yeah, I had that in mind from the beginning. I'm going to have to bend the rules a little though, because his parents are a lot older than Zak. So, in this story, morphers can choose the age of the DNA they morph.

I couldn't stop tossing and turning that night. My own bed felt great, after 3 nights in a steel spaceship cell. But tired as I was, my mind wouldn't stop flitting from one thought to the other. I tried to push away my thoughts, but that didn't often work. Especially when I was concerned for a friend.

What would Zak do now? I knew that Andalites wouldn't be coming by for a long time, after these ones left. And I knew how much Zak hated being cooped up on Earth. I mean, he can't go out in public, so he is confined to the woods. He had only spoken to five people before the Andalites came. Now that they were here, could I really expect my friend to stay? He deserved to see more of the world, or galaxy, than he had so far. Who was I to hold him back? Maybe…just maybe he'd decide to stay here. If I asked him, maybe he'd stay here for me. No! That was selfish. I couldn't expect that of him. No, he would go on to the Andalite home world, and I, little human girl, would stay here on Earth. I'd go on being the supportive friend I've always been, instead of being selfish, no matter what he decided. After firmly resolving to do just that, my mind drifted off to sleep.

In spite of the restless night before, I was up early the next morning. Pushing all thoughts of Zak leaving from my mind, I poured a bowl of Rice Crispies for myself. Breakfast done, I looked at the clock to see it was only eight-o'clock. It was a Wednesday, but because of my 'kidnapping', I was excused from school for a while. Good. It was going to take a while to get things sorted out, and I wanted to spend as much time with Zak as I could. In fact…neither mom nor Sam was up yet, and I really didn't feel like waiting for them. I had to see Zak as soon as possible. I threw my coat on and rode my bike up to Zak's place.

Zak was outside of his scoop when I rode up. He looked tired too, yet I sensed he hadn't been able to sleep anymore than I had. Well, think about it. He's got a life-changing decision to make, sister! I gulped, and said, "Hey."

Hey, Bri.

"I see you didn't get much sleep either." After he was quiet for a few minuets, I asked, "Wanna talk about it?"

Not right now, no. I have to admit, that hurt. Zak's never refused to talk to me before. Sure, he's shy, but he usually opens up to me. And I pride myself on being able to make him feel batter, usually.

"Uh, okay," I said, trying not to show any of my feelings. Then I saw that he was holding a small blue box in his hands, studying it like he didn't know what to make of it. "What's that?"

It's a morphing cube.

A morphing cube? I'd never heard of such a thing. Mom and Sam never use cubes when they morph. "What's a morphing cube?" I asked, forgetting my feelings in a wave of curiosity.

It gives you the ability to morph, like your sister.

"Really?" I was confused. "How do you know this? And where did you get it?"

Zak sighed. It's from the Andalites. Alanthi…let me borrow it.

"Oh!" I said, like that explained everything. Then I had a thought. "You mean- you can morph now?"

Yeah, I think so. Haven't tried anything yet, though.

"Wow. That was…really nice of Alanthi." I wasn't quite sure how to respond to this. I felt a little jealous, which is really weird, since Zak's just a friend. And this would be great for him, being able to morph and all…there was lots of stuff he could do. A thought came to me. He could become human! Maybe, just maybe, he could morph human and stay here on earth! Then he wouldn't be so depressed all the time, I would get to keep my friend, and everyone's happy all around.

I became business like, using my no-nonsense voice. Now that I had something to say, I wasn't going to spill it slowly and cautiously. No, I was going to let it go in a tidal wave. "Zak, you have to snap out of this funk!"

That took him by surprise. Huh?

"Think about it! You can morph. Like Sam and mom. So go on, acquire a human! You can finally live a normal life. Have you're parents 'adopt' you, and you're set!" Although I didn't say it out loud, I was thinking, You can become human. You don't have to travel out to space to fit in. Stay here, with me!

Zak hesitated. Then, I can only become human for two hours. After that I couldn't go back to being Andalite. It seems that Andalite technology isn't quite as advanced as Kelbrid.

My hopes fell a little, but I plowed on. "Well, that would be too bad, but, I mean, you wouldn't mind being a human forever, would you?"

By the look on his face, I knew I had said the wrong thing. I don't think I could do that, Bri. I'm not ready to make that kind of decision. Not yet.

I gulped. "I…I'm sorry, Zak. I…"

Never mind, Bri. I'm sorry too. He paused, then handed me the box.

"What's this for?"

Now you can morph, too. Don't tell anyone though, especially the Andalites.

"I can morph?" This was confusing. "And why shouldn't I tell anyone?"

Only Andalites are supposed to have this technology. Remember, they don't know of the Kelbrid. I guess I'm breaking a major Andalite rule by doing this, but, I feel you should have the right, too.

Strange emotions swept through me. Zak was risking major disapproval from his people by doing this for me. And he had just met them! "Thanks, Zak."

You're welcome. Now, I think I have something to do.

We went into Zak's house, where his parents were just having breakfast. Before he could say anything, though, Sam burst through the door.

"Bri! Why did you run off like that? We were so worried…" She scooped me up into a hug.

"Sheesh, Sam, I always used to do this. Don't make such a fuss!" But secretly, I was pleased. My mom and sister had been worried about me.

Then Sam looked up. "What's going on?"

"That's what I'd like to know," said Zak's dad. "Why did you burst in here all of a sudden?"

I have something to tell you all, Zak said, a little shyly.

"What?" asked his mom.

Well, I uh, was given a gift by one of the Andalites. Now I power to morph, and… he didn't get to finish. His mom jumped out of her chair, and Sam threw her fist into the air.

"Go Zak!"

And I want to morph a human.

Well, that sent a hush around the room, as Zak continued to speak.

The Andalites morphing doesn't work as well as the Kelbrid, so I can only stay human for two hours. But this is something I want to experience. He turned to look at Sam.

"Well, sure Zantar, I could help you through this. Do you want to perform a Kacheet, or do you want to copy someone else's DNA totally?" Zak seemed confused, so Sam explained. "A Kacheet is when you acquire two or more types of the same species, and mix them together to make a new pattern."

Oh, Zak said. Then, after absorbing that information, he asked, May I?

His mom nodded, and his dad reluctantly did the same. Zak walked over to them, and then turned to Sam and asked, How do I do it?

"Just put your hand on your mother, and concentrate on her. Do the same to your father."

Zak did that. His mom became very drowsy as she was 'acquired', although his dad didn't seem to be affected. Now what?

"You'll want to mix the two DNA types together, plus specify an age and sex for the morph. It takes a great deal of concentration to do this, so I'll help you." Sam walked over and placed her hands on his shoulders. I had the feeling that she was talking to him, guiding him through private though-speech, but I wasn't sure. And then Zak began to change.

The first thing to go was all the blue fur. It ran together and melted into human skin as his eyestalks shrunk and disappeared. Two of his fingers on each hand ran together, leaving five fingers each hand. A mouth split open on his face. When his front legs disappeared, I turned around. Duh, he wasn't going to have any clothes on. My face was burning as Zak finished the morph and borrowed some clothes from his dad. Then I heard a new voice.

"You c-ca-an turn-urn around n-now, Bri." So I did.

There was a completely different person standing there. Sure, he had clothes on that were too big for him, but he was human. Human! A boy about my age, with blond hair like Zak's mom and a body like his dad. But a face that was all his own.

"Zak?" I asked tentatively, my voice shaking slightly. Then, just behind me, another voice, this time in thought-speak.

Zantar?

Uh-oh.