February 6th 2008
1:55 am
My night terrors woke me up again. I didn't go to see Karen though, I just went for a walk in order shake them off. It was dark and the moonlight was all that guided me. I walked along the river bank. Looking at the moon reflected by the water. I walked into someone.
"ummf" Rachel said.
"opps sorry." I said embarrassed.
"You're up late." She observed.
"Look who's talking, why are you up so late."
"Thinking, why are you up so late?"
"Night Terrors, basicly I wake up in a cold sweat and with a racing heart and can't get back to sleep."
"You think the fight with Karen may have caused them."
"Good lord!" I said. "Is there any privacy here?"
"Nope," Rachel said I saw she was smiling in the moonlight. "Hork-Baijar are almost always up and climbing around, not to mention you picked Tobias' favorite sleeping tree to have your fight, but don't worry about it, I think deep down Karen knows your right, I mean there are maybe seven guys like you on earth, most girls would kill to have a guy with your views."
"Thanks."
"Um, Erik, can I ask you something about the experiment."
"Yeah, I don't have a sample yet but I will soon, I have all the materials I need to make it. But I think we should wait until after we win the war."
"Why?"
"Too risky, Tobias can't go and acquire animals easily and once the war is over you'll be able to be together with out Damocles' Sword hanging over you."
"What is it with you and blade analogies Damocles' sword, Glass Dagger, well I guess those are the only two." I had to laugh at that. The whole conversation had calmed me down.
"How did things go with Jake?" I asked.
"He's mad at me, said I wasn't to go on anymore missions, well I say shit on that, he can't tell me what to do, I lost my father to his caution, and if he continues this then the Animorphs will become one dimensional. We don't need that, we have to strike fast and hard, or we'll never win another battle, Erik we have another meeting tomorrow, I want you to bring up your idea, maybe Jake will take it up."
"I guess I will."
"How's Anna?"
"I haven't seen her for awhile but when I left she was looking a little better. I hope she won't be out long. Morphing shock seems to only strike once, and you can never tell how long it will last. Anna's strong though, I know she'll pull through, she always does."
"I hope you're right." I said. Rachel yawned.
"Think I'll go to bed now."
"Me too," I said. "night Rachel."
"Night Erik"
I woke up early the next morning . I went straight to the tree where Anna was sleeping. James had beat me there, he was slumped over in his chair asleep still holding her hand. I almost broke down and cried but I was able to control myself. Hortana wasn't there, he must have been tending to other things at the moment. I cleared my throat. James' head snapped up.
"What, huh? Oh it's you Erik." He said.
"How is she."
"Well the doctor went to get some more of certain type of medicine, it's almost like a smelling salt for Hork-Baijar. He said that it almost brought her out of it. He's giving it to her using the IV." I noticed there was a dark red liquid in the IV bag. As if on cue the doctor returned.
"James," He said. "thought I told you to go and get some sleep." James looked at him.
"I'd rather be in the bed next to her doctor…
"Crekenan."
"Whatever, I can't leave her, I want to be the first thing she sees when she wakes up."
"I understand, Erik, is it, I heard that you are studying to be doctor for your species, so maybe you could give me a hand with changing this IV?" I got up to help him. We pulled the needle out of Anna's right arm and put a new bag with a new needle on the IV stand, but when I grabbed her wrist to put the needle in she pulled it away.
"There won't be a need for that older brother." James was kissing and hugging her in a heartbeat.
"Oh thank God," He paused every few words to kiss her on the lips and cheeks. "Thanks God, I thought, I thought you were, gone, don't, scare me like that." He finally, backed off and let me talk to her. I hugged her and then asked her how she was feeling.
"I feel like someone threw me in a dryer filled with bricks and put it in spin cycle." She said glumly. Then she sat up in bed and stood up on her own.
"Wait a minute…" Hortana said. "You need to lie down a little while longer I…"
"I've been lying down for what 12 hours now. I need to get moving again.."
"Anna you just woke up from a coma." I said.
"A twelve hour long coma, I feel fine." She walked out of the tree stumbling slightly.
"Good lord what a woman." Hortana said.
"You don't know the half of it." James said, and he followed her out. I followed soon after. Karen was waiting for me at the bottom. She was wearing an orange sweater and blue jeans. She was also wearing her green coat (Erek had picked it up for her). She walked up to me and took my hand.
"Erik," She said. "Sorry about last night, I didn't mean to get mad, I was kind of emotional, I was still recovering from seeing Anna in shock, and seeing that building blow up without knowing whether or not you had gotten out. I know how you feel about sex, and I respect that. I'm just afraid we won't get married before we die, I mean right now we're not entirely sure whether or not we'll even be able to get a license or anything, and something as public as a marriage it would attract a lot of attention.
"That means we may not be able to get married until the end of the war, and if one of us dies, Erik I don't want to die a virgin, not when I've found a love like I have with you, that's why I've been pressuring you so much. I'm afraid I'm running out of time." She bowed her head.
"Kare," I said. "I feel the same way sometimes, but I try to hold on to my faith, knowing that there is a higher power on your side it just makes this war easier, you've told me it does for you too, that's why I'm trying to hold on to most of the ideals of my faith, so I can hold on to a little bit of hope, the hope that it's God's will that we win, and Karen." I tilted her chin back up. "don't be afraid, your not going to die."
"Pardon me," Hortana had climbed down the tree. "I don't like to get into other peoples business but… I could marry you."
"What?" Both me and Karen said at the same time.
"I am actually an ordained catholic priest, I was being held prisoner with a cardnial and he ordained me, so I could become a missionary. If you want I'll marry you two, there is a Hork-Baijar wedding in three days, I could do it there. Would you like to take part in the Hork-Baijar ceremonies, if you do then the Hork-Baijar are honor bound to protect your union, and you will be afforded privacy by the colony, which as you know is a rarity here.
"You aren't kidding," I said. "Karen, you want to do this." She kissed me.
"Yes, yes I do." She was smiling, it was the best smile I had ever seen her give. "I can't wait to tell everyone!" She ran off laughing happily.
When I got back to the main part of the colony word had already spread. Sevral Hork-Baijar held their arms up and rubbed their blades together which I learned was a gesture of congratulations. When I reached my cave I found Jerry outside waiting.
"Hey good going man! Where you two registered? The Fatyville Gun and knife show?"
"Har, har, Jerry."
"Not there eh, what about Crab Shack Firearms and Explosives?"
"Um, no."
"Seriously what do you want for a wedding present?"
"Not much you can do, is there? You can't exactly walk into Wall-Mart."
"No, not exactly…" He said. "But I'll get Erek to pick it up come on man it's not a wedding if I don't get to empty someone else's bank account."
"Fine, I'd like some kind of momento, you know like a crystal plaque with our names and wedding date on it."
"Consider it done." Jerry said with a smile. "You old rascal you." He punched me in the arm. "You tell me all about the honeymoon night now."
"Um, no and I'm going to have four Hork-Baijar gaurds outside our cave for the duration so if you try and sneak in you'll likely loose an important body part." We both chuckled. I thought of something. I went to the other side of the valley. I saw Karen giggling with Rachel and looking at some of Rachel's clothes apparently trying to find a way to make a wedding dress. I pulled Karen aside and ran my idea past her. She loved it, I told her I would take care of everything.
I walked past a large hydroelectric genorater (more Chee technology) that supllied power to the colony. I went into a hut known as the lounge. There was a TV a PS2 and a computer, and a satillite phone.
I picked up the phone and dialed a number. After four rings I heard a familiar voice.
"Hi this is Jade, I'm not home right no, so leave a message and I'll get back up with you, oh and if this is Marco calling imitating that guy from Scream: no ones laughing, I know it's you give it up already… there was a beep.
"Hi Jade it's me Erik, I was calling to tell you something. I'm getting married to Karen in three days. I know it's kind of short notice. But I talked with Karen and well we'd like you to be the maid of honor. If you can't make it I understand but if you want to go I'll have Danny hang around by the warehouse, you know the one I mean I'm sure, tell him your answer and he'll take care of transportation. I've got some stuff to tell you anyway, long story short lets just say we'll be having an outdoor wedding. You know the drill don't try and trace the call. See you later bye." I hung up the phone.
When I walked out of the hut I was met by Erek.
"I have something to tell you," He said. "Do you know why your parents were killed?"
"Yeah, I know that, they're research would have made the Yerk's job a lot harder…"
"Well that is why, but they were also killed, because we failed you."
"Huh?" I said.
"Erik Danny Estern is not in the CIA, he's one of us. He's been instructed to help you in any way he can to make for the fact that he couldn't save your parents."
"Why are you telling me this?"
"I wasn't sure if you knew or not, I just thought you should." This revelation explained a lot. How Danny was able to gain so much information on the Yerk's activities, his opposition to my requests for guns and the fact that he didn't seem to have a regular job.
"Erek," I said. "If that's the case then can you get him to start meeting me here. And make sure he meets with Jade tonight at the regular meeting place."
"Done."
"Hey do you know how Jade is?"
"She's doing fine, but your going to see her soon anyway aren't you?"
"Were you listening in on my conversation?"
"Sorry, but congratulations on your marriage, a word of advice: put the toilet seat down." It was a pretty good attempt at humor and I laughed.
Jake begrudgingly cancelled his meeting because most everyone was still giddy about Karen, and me getting married. Over the days that passed. I was hoping that I would be able to relax a little and enjoy the last few days of my bachelorhood, but the day before my wedding all hell broke loose.