Title: The Created

Author: A.S.Amalon

Rating: PG

Chapter: Thirteen

Spoilers: If you haven't read the last book by now…

Disclaimer: All characters, sans Serenity and Kym, belong to the wonderful, glorious, awesome K.A. Applegate

A/N: I'm deeply sorry I haven't posted in a while. My life has changed a lot in the past few months. There are a few things that I refuse to mention, and there are a few that I will, namely finishing up my senior year and graduating. I haven't been doing fanfiction whatsoever, only my original works. I've got a nine-book original series I'm trying to finish, and a novel that I'm trying to rewrite, and fanfiction hasn't been high on my list. I've been very detached from the world around me, and detached from the world on the net. I feel really bad for that, and I'd like to offer my apology. I'm hoping that I can be a part of the world again and get back to doing the things I love. Thank you. Alisha (Alara S. Amalon)

-[]-RECAP-[]-

It's 2050, and the Yeerks are back. Serenity, once known as project Four-Six-Three, is a genetically created human designed especially to fight the Yeerks. Due to the odd mixture of DNA strands from the living Animorphs, she has acquired superhuman powers, such as levitation, the ability to melt things with a single touch, and a whole other form to change into. And, somehow, from the mixture of DNA, she's become very Rachel-like (she thinks it's from Jake's DNA, since they were cousins, but I believe that Rachel's attitude was a combination of all of the Animorphs' personalities, so that's my new theory on where her Rachel-ness came from). So she now lives with Jake as his "daughter", met Erek, went for her first day at school, hung out with Marco, met a blind girl named Kym, made Kym an Animorph, fought Taylor, ran off, returned, and went to the mall…well, the three went as identical triplets, with Jake feeling horribly uncomfortable the entire time. Then Visser One shows up with his cronies, and all hell breaks loose. After a mild display of her abilities is caught on camera, Serenity decides to go with the Yeerks to meet their esteemed leader, Visser Four. We're just about to meet V4, who Serenity seems to recognize. Who is it?

"No," I stammered. "It's not you."

She laughed. "Of course it's me."

I almost fell out of the chair. "But—how? You're supposed to be—"

"Dead?" she supplied. She got up out of her chair and sat in one near me. "Yes. I was dead. But thanks to the miracle of genetic manipulation, I'm alive and serving the Yeerk Empire." She smirked. "You of all people should know of the miracle of genetic manipulation, Four-Six-Three."

I feigned a look of confusion, hoping she thought she was wrong and would let me go.

It didn't work.

She leaned close to my face. "Don't play stupid with me, Four-Six-Three. I know what you are, where you were created. Why? Because I'm just like you. I was poor Jake's attempt to resurrect his dead cousin. Project Three-Seven-Nine, they called me. I was the first and last successful project before you came along."

"You're not Rachel, then. You're just a clone."

"Not a clone, exactly. What I am is a product of computer programming, just like you. All they did was scan in a picture of the old Rachel and take DNA from a relative. For you, obviously, they had a bit more fun. A click here, and you can sprout claws. Another click, and you can levitate things. You're just like me."

"No I'm not. I'm not a Yeerk."

The smirk disappeared from Rachel's face. "Old Jake has taught you not to take people at face value. Good for him. But he's not around right now. So you're going to listen to me, okay?"

"Whatever," I replied. "So how come you're not on our side if you're one of Jake's projects?"

"I was stolen as an infant, raised in the ways of the mighty Yeerk Empire. It was only fitting that I be made Visser Four. And I shall be Emperor someday."

I held up my hand, stopping her. "So you're a human? You're not a Yeerk?"

She slammed her fist on the long table. "I am most certainly not a human. In appearance, perhaps. But I would never degrade myself like that. It's already bad enough that I have no need to feed on Kandrona rays like my brothers and sisters. It's bad enough that I cannot swim in the pools of my people. You do not need to rub it in."

What kind of sick, twisted being would denounce their humanity and claim to be a Yeerk? Who would want to be a Yeerk in the first place?

"You're insane," I said.

"And you're just a pathetic human. And pathetic humans can be made to do anything. Aren't I proof of that? Aren't I proof of human weakness and willingness to conform just to fit in? I can make you do anything I please."

I shook my head. "Nope. Sorry. I'm one-hundred percent Yeerk-proof. None of your people can get to my brain, especially not you."

"Ah, but I can get to your emotions. I can manipulate you, turn you against all that you know and love. I can make you my host, my slave. I can do it all."

"No, you can't."

"But I can," she insisted. "You will be my slave, lost forever to the Yeerk Empire. I can do it. I don't need one of my brethren to do it for me. I'm capable of breaking you on my own. And poor old Jake will never know, until I tell you to kill him."

I could feel the rage boiling up inside of me. I wanted so badly to attack her, to murder her on the spot. But I couldn't bring myself to do it. Not out of fear of the guards outside, but because of who she was. This was Jake's cousin, even though she was evil. She was Rachel, and I couldn't kill her. But if I could turn her against her people, she'd be returned to Jake, and he'd finally be happy. Maybe it was a naïve hope, but it could happen. All I had to do was let her believe she was taking me as her slave, when in reality, I was taking her as my own.

"Okay," I agreed. "Try me. You'll never do it, filthy Yeerk-human."

"I can, you arrogant fool. And I will."

The battle of wills had officially begun. Who would break first?