Hey everybody! Thanks so much for you reviews! Also, just in case ya'll are wondering... yes I DO accept flames, and they are just as appreciated as reviews (just as long as they're aimed at my story and not at me, that is). When I write things, the whole reason to post them is to get ppl's reactions (yes, I've got a lot of things that I write that I never post), so it really means a lot to me when ya'll tell me what you do like as well as what you don't.
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Answering your questions/comments:
Jedsel: wow, that was quite a few reviews! You really were serious about reviewing all the chapters that you hadn't, weren't you? Anywho... thanks for those! And thanks for all the input on this chappie! I love you!
Silent Bob 546: A Cassie fan? BOOO! Do you think I might be able to bring you to the Dark side? Anywho... glad that you liked the fic! Thanks for the review!
The Mutant Goldfish: Mach 9? That's kinda fast... wouldn't something be melted at that speed if you were in the atmosphere? I hope this is a good "humor" chappie for you. Tell me if you enjoy it, k? Did I get Marco's humor here? Also, I'm not sure about the Yeerks in the peace movement. I just assumed that they all became their respective morphs and then lived happily ever after. But if that really bugs you a lot, then I'll try to write a blurb about them. Thanks for the review!
DID: Yeah, they're pretty scary with the religion. I dunno if the Andalites exchange currency, but if they're trading with Earth, they'd have to have some sort of exchange, even if it wasn't with "money." Say something along the lines of "x amount of Andalite gizmos" for "y number of Krispy Kreme stores." Yeah, I'm not sure about Ronnie either yet. Basically Ronnie is Cassie's ideal guy if she hadn't met Jake. (like her ideal guy she would have ended up with if she'd never fought in the war and never really been brought that close to Jake). Did you get that when you read the last chappie, BTW? Anywho.. hope you like this chappie! And thanks for the review!
Apocalypticvortexofdoom: Yeah, I'm thinking that you mean the Prologue? I re-read it after I got your review and I totally agree with you! In fact, I'm going to go back and fix it after I post this chappie. Thanks for the review. I hope that you forced yourself through those first two rotten posts to get to these better ones.
Dragon: Yep, you've got it covered in a nutshell. I think that Tobias definitely should have been at Ax's party, however he didn't show b/c he's still being a butt. I'm glad that you thought Marco wasn't too mean. Tell me what you think of him here, k? And of COURSE Rachel's coming back. Unfortunately we won't hear from her again for a bit, but she'll be back (trust me). And also, yeah after I got yours and Apocalypticvortexofdoom's reviews about the prologue, I re-read it and I totally agree with ya'll. The writing in those first two updates really blowed. I'm going to go and re-write those actually. The content will still be the same (b/c its important stuff there) but I'm going to fix the writing. But thanks much for that comment, b/c it really got me thinking . : ) also to join the Cassie Hater's Club, you just have to recite the pledge on my bio page, and tell me what position you want to be in the club. Thanks for the review!
KP: man, where did you disappear to? I think I might have actually updated faster than you! (that's never happened before... I'm suddenly feeling very odd). How's your PSAT's going? I'm stuck in the middle of mid-terms right now, but I don't have as much willpower as you do, b/c instead of studying or writing my lab report (like a good girl), I'm doing this. Ah well, this is always more fun anyways! Anywho... glad that you liked the One, and that you thought that Cassie was Cassie. Sometimes I inadvertently start writing myself when I write and so I loose the characters. (I did that really bad in this chappie and it took me almost 10 drafts to fix it before DH disappeared and some sort of Marco character surfaced). Anywho... talk to you later!
Anni Morph: Jake and Cassie getting together? Heck yeah!
Miss Piratess: Glad you liked the Yellowstone bit. I figured since Cassie's chappie was going to be about nothing but her speech, I'd better write it well and make it as realistic as possible. So I had to do a lot of research on a bunch of junk for that. (and info wise, that chappie happens to be my fav), so I'm glad that you liked it. Also yeah, Ronnie is perfect for Cassie. A little too perfect... Thanks for the review! And please hurry with Kat! I'm so worried about her right now!
Tobias1452: I will promise you right now that Cassie won't be sucked up by the One. No I'm not that mean. (even if Cassie is an annoying, whining hypocrite). Yeah, and I saw that with writing 55. Don't ask me what I was thinking at that moment. I think I was having a brain freeze or something. Anywho.. thanks much for the review! Hope you like this chappie!
A-Cat: hey nothing wrong with long reviews! They're much enjoyed! Yeah, I figured that you must identify with Cassie... wouldn't join my club (pah!) I used to identify with Cassie way at the beginning of the series, but then towards the end she just got a bit tooover-the-top for me. Like in 54 when Jake told her that he'd killed all the Yeerks and he felt guilty that he took pleasure in it. Then she made him feel guilty for feeling guilty! I thought that was a riot, especially considering that she'd killed a buncha ppl and didn't feel all that guilty for it (at least not the way that Jake did, and then she made him feel guilty b/c he couldn't 'disasociate himself from the war'). shrugs whateva. Anywho... I wanted to say thanks for the flame on my other story. I was being a lazy author-person when I wrote that... I actually remember thinking "this doesn't sound very IC for Cassie," but then I didn't want to go back and fix it b/c I didn't think anyone would notice. But when you did, then I felt like a really irresponsible writer and I went back and redid about three pages of that chappie. (I don't know if you saw that or not, but I just wanted to say thanks, and also plz, plz continue to gripe on things that you don't like about what I write in the future, k? I really really really appreciate the griping! And I won't be so lazy next time! I've learned my lesson, honest!) Anywho... thanks for the review!
Yrkh8tr(who is now Aldrea) and Al fangor reviewing together because Al came over to visit : GOOD LORD YOU GUYS! I was totally kidding about the recruiting thing! LOL!!!! When I saw what you guys did, I was cracking up!!! LOL!!! Anywho... hope this Marco chappie will suffice for the humor. I did read the Mersang thingie you were talking about. And so I guess I'd better start changing my disclaimer to "I do not own Animorphs, Mersang does," huh? Anywho, thanks for the cookie, it was scrum-diddly-umptious! And thanks for the reviews, ya'll!
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Disclaimer: As Mersang owns the Animorphs now, I don't own them. Also, I do not own Habitat for Humanity, the Waldorf Astoria, the White House, Lafayette Square, the Treasury Building, People Magazine, Ralph Lauren, Pauly Shore, Jay Leno, Foghorn Leghorn, Gameboy, and the Department of Homeland Security. I also do not own the Goodyear Tire Factory.
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My name is Marco Sanchez.
Yeah, the Marco Sanchez. I'm sure that you've heard of me.
But just on the off-chance that you've been stranded on a deserted island for the past year and a half, I'll elaborate.
I'm Marco Sanchez, the Animorph. Yeah, Animorph. As in animal-morpher. As in, I saved your butt from the Yeerks about a year and a half ago. Yeerks being mind-infesting slugs from outer space. They invaded Earth, but we stopped them. We being my fellow Animorphs--four teenagers, a bird, and an Andalite aristh-- plus the Auxiliary Animorphs, the Taxxon resistance, the free Hork Bajir, and an army brigade commanded by General Doubleday.
Sounds like some B-rated sci-fi flick, I know, but it's true.
Anyways, after we won the war and freed Earth from inevitable Yeerk subjugation, things settled down a bit. And I finally had the time to devote myself to my true calling--acting. And I'm at natural at it, if I do say so myself. Already, I've starred in two blockbusters; I've been on every big late-night talk show at least three times; I was on People Magazine's Best Dressed List twice; I was named People's Hottest Bachelor; I've got my own TV show, my own best-selling book, and my own Ralph Lauren fragrance, Eau d'Gorilla, scheduled to hit the markets next spring.
But for all the ways that my life has changed since the war ended and I became a celebrity, I don't think that I've changed that much. I'm still the same charming, loveable, and downright humble guy that I've always been. Now, I just happen to have a four-story mansion (complete with butler, chef, and chauffeur of course), a car collection to rival Jay Leno's, and my own Marco the Animorph action figure--not that it bears much of a likeness to me; I'm much cuter in person.
Anyway, so what would you ask was Marco the Magnificent doing in the middle of the overly serious and extremely boring National Alien Security Conference? Well, I was here to listen my mom speak. (FYI: My mom is the Under Secretary for Planetary Threats and Alien Goodwill Relations for the Department of Homeland Security). And not that I'm biased or anything, but Mom's speech was the only good part of the entire night, and that includes listening to Cassie's speech. I mean, Cassie is a good friend of mine and a fellow Animorph, but she can be really boring sometimes.
Take Cassie's speech for instance. She talked for a good thirty minutes, and all I heard was: blah blah blah morality. Blah blah blah ideals. Blah blah blah. Yada yada yada. I mean, watching old Pauly Shore movies is more interesting. Not that I watch them, or anything.
But so after Cassie's speech finally ended, Cassie was ambushed by a bunch of convention people who wanted to talk to her about it. (As if the speech wasn't long enough? Why extend the torture?) I, being the incredibly understanding guy that I am, decided to leave Cassie to her moment.
Anyways, while Cassie was off with her groupies, I tried talking to the some of the other NASC people.But for some reason they just didn't seem too interested in comparing the Joker's character flaws to the Penguin's or discussing whether Cameron Diaz or Penelope Cruz had the better body. Instead, the boring convention people only wanted to talk about boring things like politics.
If you wanted to know, I'm not too interested in politics. I mean, it's just a bunch of people throwing out hypothetical after hypothetical situation and arguing about the outcomes. I mean, I understand that voting is important because it's an "impetus for change" and all, but what do I want to change? I mean my life is perfect right now. I've got my mom, my house, and my career. Plus first choice at the ladies. What's there in my life to improve? And, I don't think that I'm really being an "irresponsible citizen" by abstaining from the electoral process either. I mean, talk about "what you can do for your country." I already saved planet Earth from total domination. Somehow, I think that writes me off from performing my "civic duty" for a while.
Anyways, since Cassie was off talking to the big-shots about the Ship-Sandlers or Chip Candles or whatever that bill was called, and since none of the NASC people seemed interested in talking to me,I just ended up at my mom's table making a fort out of extra desert plates and listening idly to my mom's conversation.
"What in the Sam Hill you thinking, woman? How can ya possibly think those Andalites don't pose no real threats ta Earth?" snapped General Wallace, a prune-faced old man, with a cherry red bald head, and a huge vein under his left eye that throbbed when he got angry. "For us to simply sit by and watch them Andalites dominate Earth is madness!"
I was sitting next to my mom, trying to look mildly interested in the conversion between my mom and the five star general from "good 'ol Looziana". And considering I've heard this particular "discussion" six times before, that wasn't easy.
"No, General Wallace, as I've said over and over again the Andalites are not our enemies." my mom forced politely through her gritted teeth. "When I spoke of vigilance in my speech earlier, I was referring to other hostile alien races. I was not referring to the Andalites. We have formed peace treaties and trade pacts with the Andalites, and they are our allies."
And I'm guessing the General will remark with the "Soviets were our allies" comeback.
"Yea, and those Soviet-bastards were our allies during th' Second World War," the general replied smugly. "And we all know how well that turned out."
Told you so.
I released an inaudible sigh. It was the same old thing; the same old argument between General Wallace and my mom over the Andalite agenda: my mom always trying to convince the general that the Andalites were our allies, and the general always insisting that Earth was undergoing some massive Andalite invasion. Oh, and me not participating, not because I don't care about the Andalites-- on the contrary, I have some very close friends who are Andalite--but mainly because talking with General Wallace was about as productive as talking to a brick.
"General, look at the figures. Look at the Andalite track record. Look at Prince Elfangor-Sirinial-Shamtul. Look at Aximili-Esgarrouth-Isthill."
"Sonavabitch woman! They're damned anomalies! Nuttin but damned statistical anomalies!" The general snapped, and the vein under his left eye started pulsing.
Man, for about the tenth time that night I really wished that I hadn't left my Gameboy in Mom's condo. I could really use some quality gaming time about now.
"Just the first Andalites to have ever truly integrated into human culture," my mom argued. "The first Andalites to have been exposed to humanity on a personal level."
"So did anyone catch the Lakers game last night?" I suddenly threw out, hoping to see the vein under the general's eye pop even larger.
General Foghorn Leghorn flashed me a dirty look, and I was rewarded when his vein swelled to the size of a wet Ramon noodle.
"Hey, just asking," I cautioned.
"And da you know why those alien bastards been integrating into human culture?" General Wallace continued, ignoring me entirely. "ta become more familiar with our defenses, and ta assess our weaknesses. And when they have identified those weaknesses, then they'll strike us."
"General the Andalites could wipe out our planet in a single blow, if they so chose--"
"Hey mom," I tapped my mom on the shoulder. "I think I'm going to go get some air," I said, getting up from the table.
"Huh? Oh, sure thing hon." My mom replied somewhat distractedly. She turned back to the general's cherry red bald head. "Now, as I was saying General..."
I got up from my seat and headed across the ballroom in search of the sweets table.
You know, sometimes I don't know why my mom bothers with that jerk. Mom says that she needs to convince people like General Wallace about the Andalite intentions because it is important for her to trust the high-ranking military personnel around the aliens.
Me, I say forget trying to placate the old prune and force him into early retirement.
"Hey, what's this white stuff?" I asked the caterer as I neared the sweets table. I indicated a white lumpy pudding-like substance with black specks of what I thought was chocolate.
"Oh, its very good Mr. Sanchez," the girl replied. She was really hot--stylish blond hair, blue eyes, and a nice body.
I shot her my Mr. Suavé Smile. "Call me Marco."
"Ok." She giggled, obviously overwhelmed by meeting yours truly. Then she looked around, trying to remember what she was supposed to be doing.
"So tell me about that fine-looking confection," I prompted her.
"Oh, ok. Its called --," and then she said some French word that I couldn't even pronounce. "You'll like it. Here," she ladled a little of the white goop onto a plate and handed it to me. "Try some."
"Thanks," I said as she gave it to me. I picked up a spoon and scooped some of the white pudding into my mouth.
It tasted like dish detergent mixed with pickle juice.
"Do you like it?" the girl asked hopefully. "I made it myself."
I forced myself to swallow another goopy spoonful. "Oh yeah, it's really good." I said, trying hard not to gag.
The girl beamed. She was really hot when she smiled. "I'm glad you like it," she said pleasantly. "Would you like me to give you a full serving?"
"Oh, no that's alright," I replied hastily. Then I turned on the charm. "The dinner was so good, that I don't think I have enough room for a full serving of this delightful confection. But you know what I wouldn't mind having?" I began, oh so smoothly.
Two minutes later, I was holding a small piece of paper with Ms. Nikki Parker's phone number scrawled on it. Oh so slick, no? I'm not People's Hottest Bachelor for nothing, you know.
"Yeah, so I'll give you a call next time I'm in Washington, and you could maybe give me a few pointers in the kitchen," I was suggesting to Nikki.
Nikki giggled. "Yeah, I'd like that."
Yeah me too. She was really hot.
"Hey Marco, there you are!" I heard a familiar voice exclaim from a short distance behind me.
"Talk to you later," I flashed Nikki one last dazzling grin, before I turned to meet the owner of that familiar voice: my most favorite hippie, tree-hugger, and good friend Cassie.
Cassie smiled happily and greeted me with a quick hug. "Wow, Marco, I'm so glad that I finally found you! I would have found you were earlier, but I just spent half the night talking to all these people about the Alien Security Bill," she explained. "But when I was giving my speech and I saw that you were here, I was so surprised! I had no idea that you were going to be at the National Alien Security Conference!" she chirped.
"Well I didn't expect to find you here either, so that makes two of us," I replied pleasantly. "I came to hear my mom speak. I should have guessed that you'd be here too."
Cassie beamed.
"But you know, I almost didn't recognize you. You're wearing dresses now? And is that make-up I see?"
Cassie looked sheepish. She had always been so adamant about dressing comfortably, that it had almost become her mantra.
"She looks beautiful, doesn't she?" a deep male voice asked proudly. "I keep telling her that she should wear dresses more often."
Cassie blushed. "Marco, you remember Ronnie?" she asked indicating, the blond haired, brown-eyed man who'd just joined us.
"Yeah, we met a few months ago at Cassie's house warming party, right?"
"Yeah, that's right," Ronnie affirmed.
"So did you ever finish building that thing for that place you were telling me about--what was it again?"
"The Habitat for Humanity project?" Ronnie supplied.
"Yeah, that's right."
Ronnie nodded. "Yes, and those kids were so excited about having their own rooms." He gave this goofy looking lopsided grin.
Ronnie is a do-gooder, just like Cassie. He does all this volunteer work and things like that.
"Oh, that's fun for the kids then, I guess," I replied.
"Yeah it was."
"Yeah, that's good then."
"Yeah, it is."
Ronnie and I dribbled into silence, and I so I turned back to Cassie. "So how's things with you?" I asked.
"Busy." Cassie laughed. "Rebuilding the Hork Bajir Primary Habitat has not been easy."
"I'll bet."
"Yeah, we hired out private contractors to assess the damages of the fire and--"
Great, more fun politics to talk about. Joy.
Cassie suddenly laughed, as she noticed the drawn look that was beginning to glaze over my eyes. "I'm boring you, aren't I?" she asked.
"No, not at all."
Cassie laughed. "Yes, yes I am."
"Well maybe just a little bit," I allowed.
Cassie smiled. "Hey instead of talking about more NASC things, how about we go out onto the balcony. It's a bit stuffy in here. You wanna come?"
I took one last look around the room and all the men in tuxes prancing around like wind-up penguins. "Yeah, sounds good." I picked up my plate of French goop and followed Cassie and Ronnie out of the ballroom and onto the balcony.
The balcony was a solid marble platform about 30' x 30'. It was bordered by a decorative iron rail, and shielded by a large linen overhang. Patio furniture sprawled lazily around the balcony. There were delicate iron end tables and large padded chairs, oversized planters brimming with ivy and round tables with mosaic table-tops. Pink orchids in crystal vases and tiny twinkling candles stood atop each table.I'll have to get Weatherbee to fix my patio like this.
The balcony was deserted, so we had the whole area to ourselves.
Following Cassie and Ronnie, I walked past all the patio furniture and to the edge of the balcony platform. We peered over the iron rail.
From our vantage point about twelve stories up we could glimpse the White House, the Treasury Building, and Lafayette Square. It was dark outside, but spot-lights shone on the White House, illuminating its front, and so we could see the arch-shaped pattern of Roman columns proudly ringing the entrance.
"Wow, it's so beautiful up here." Cassie sighed. She leaned against the decorative iron rail. Ronnie stood on her left and I on her right.
"Yeah, the view is really amazing," Ronnie agreed.
"Don't you think the White House is lovely?" Cassie asked.
"Amazing," Ronnie chimed in.
I shrugged. "Yeah, I guess it's alright."
It wasn't really all that impressive. My mansion was bigger.
Cassie laughed. "You guess? You do realize that this is the White House, right?"
"Yeah, so?"
Cassie and Ronnie looked at it each incredulously. "So it's the White House!" Ronnie sputtered.
"And have you ever seen the Marco House?" I asked him. Ronnie shook his head stupidly. "Well there's really no comparison," I said. "Tell him Cassie, you've been to my house."
Cassie just rolled in her eyes and smiled.
"Tell him!" I urged her.
Ronnie stared at me, not sure if I was being serious or only kidding. Cassie shook her head in amusement. "Ron, he's just joking," she explained.
"I am not!" I protested. "The Taj Ma-Marco has its own spa and three indoor swimming pools! What does the White House have?" I asked.
Cassie giggled.
"What does it have?" I repeated.
"The President," she said simply.
"Big deal. My house has me. "
"And the fact that like 40 other Presidents have lived there."
She had me there. "Yeah I guess that's something," I grudgingly admitted.
Cassie laughed triumphantly.
I turned to set my desert dish down on a nearby table. As I did so, Ronnie noticed the dish and pointed at it.
"Hey Marco, man I think a bird pooped on your plate." he said, pointing to the white and black speckled pudding congealing in my dessert dish.
"Nah, that's just Nikki's special--well I don't know what it's called," I answered.
"Nikki?" Cassie questioned slyly.
"Yeah, I was hoping to pick up a saucy intern, but I couldn't find one." I explained. "I guess all the interns go to the White House. So I got that hot blond caterer's phone number instead."
"Typical." Cassie sighed.
"Anyway, this stuff is horrible," I explained indicating the pudding. "I just took some so I could get Nikki's phone number."
I looked over the balcony. "Hey, you see that pot with the red flowers in it? I bet I could hit it with some of this pudding-stuff."
Ronnie wrinkled his brows skeptically. "It's like twelve stories down," he protested. "There's no way."
"O ye of little faith, why do you doubt The Marco?" I quoted.
"Marco you'd better not," Cassie said hastily. "What if you accidentally hit someone?"
I looked down at the hotel's lawn below. It was completely deserted.
"There's no one down there," I pointed out.
"But what if someone comes outside?"
"No one will," I told her.
Cassie frowned uncertainly.
"Marco's right," Ronnie put in. "No one's going to come out."
"Yeah please Mom! Please!" I whined. "Please Mom! Can I?"
Cassie sighed. "Well, go ahead, I guess."
"Thanks Mom! You're the bestest!" I turned to Ronnie. "Alright, prepare to be amazed."
Ronnie nodded. "Alright."
"Watch The Master at work." I scooped some of Nikki's special pudding into my spoon. "First I raise the spoon. Then I factor in wind resistance. I take aim, and I let the birdie fly."
A ball of white and black goo streaked through the air, and landed dead center on top of the planter.
Ronnie whistled. "That's impressive."
"What can I say? "I boasted. "It's all in the wrists. You've got to have the follow through."
Cassie laughed. "I didn't realize that throwing things off hotel balconies was such a sport," she laughed again.
"Art," I corrected her. "It's an art."
"I bet."
"No one ever takes me seriously," I lamented, sighing dramatically. I playfully stuck my noise in the air. "I have a gift, and no one will recognize it. It's taken me many long and grueling hours of practice to hone my skill. I've worked at the best facilities: the Waldorf Astoria, the--"
"Yes, because it is so hard," Cassie interrupted.
"Hey, let's see you hit that planter," I shot back.
Cassie hesitated.
"Oh come on," Ronnie encouraged her. "There's no one around, and its just some harmless fun, after all."
Cassie bit her lip, thinking it over.
"Cassie! Cassie!" I urged her. Ronnie joined in. "Cassie! Cassie!" we cheered.
"Oh, alright." She finally decided. I handed her the spoon, and she scooped out a glob of the white and black special pudding from my dessert dish.
"I raise the spoon," she began. "I take my aim."
"Wait!" I hissed. "Did you remember to factor in wind resistance?"
Cassie giggled. "I factor in wind resistance." She raised the spoon. "Now I take aim."
"Remember it's all in the wrists." I instructed.
"All in the wrists," she agreed and then she let the pudding fly.
The pudding streaked through the air. Down and down it flew, a white and black congealed glob.
"Oh no!" Cassie suddenly hissed.
As we watched, a cherry red bald head exited the hotel. Baldie strode over to the targeted planter, and then bent over to tie his shoes.
The white and black glob soared through the air. Down, down, down it flew. Closer and closer to that red bald head. Closer and closer to the planter.
And then it landed with a splat! Right on target.
Cassie cringed.
The bald man reached up and smeared some of the white and black pudding from his head to examine it. "Ack, bird shit!" he cursed. "Sonavabitch!"
Then, he turned and looked straight up. We ducked, but not before the man had met my eyes, and flashed me one of his trademark scathing looks.
"Oh man!" I hissed. "That's General Wallace," I choked, trying hard to laugh and breath at the same time.
Cassie looked mortified "Oh my god," she whimpered, but Ronnie was laughing just as hard as I was.
I was starting to like this guy.
"Guys, we'd better get out of here before that psycho General Wallace has us court-marshaled and executed," I suggested. "He's pretty vicious."
"Up to my room then, I guess?" Cassie asked shakily.
Ronnie nodded. "Sounds good." He gave Cassie's hand a comforting squeeze and she visibly brightened.
Then with one last look at the White House, Cassie, Ronnie, and I fled the balcony and headed back out of the ballroom. We found the elevator in the hallway and rode it down to Cassie's room on the sixth floor.
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hey ya'll! This took a while to write, b/c I wanted to make sure I got Marco's humor right. (My humor is a bit more dry than his, so that was kind of challenging. I ended up combining a bunch of "Marcoish people" that I know to write his character). So what do ya'll think? Did this seem Marcoish? And also, did this chapter seem slow or did it seem to stall anywhere?
Anywho... please review! Even if all you wanna say is "hello."
Thanks!
DH