Chapter four

April

>Why are you singing 'Wounds?'> I asked Temrash.

>I don't know, shut up, human.>

>The thing John took… was that that transmitter thing?> I inquired.

>No; it was the Kandrona.>

>Ah, so the transmitter it is.>

>Argh! Shut up, human!>

>You know, I have a name.>

>Shut up, April.>

>That's better.>

>Do you understand the concept of 'quiet?'>

>No, actually.>

>Johnny-boy… You like him, don't you.>

>Don't call him Johnny-boy.>

>Yes, it's all right here…> Memories began to flow back.

John walked into Mr. Clifford's room.

"Okay, settle down, people. This is John…" Mr. Clifford said his last name. "He moved here from Washington DC."

"Oh. My. God." I said in a whisper, then began speaking in sign language to Shelly, 'How cute on a scale from one to ten?'

Shelly signed back. 'About twelve.' She winked.

>How cute.>

>Shut up, Temrash.>

>You humans and your 'crushes' as you call them. You are quite possessive of your secrets, aren't you?>

"You have a crush on John."

"No way."

>While others know, you still deny the facts of what is.>

>Shut. Up.>

Temrash did the Yeerk equivalent of rolling his eyes. >But you didn't.>

>You said you didn't care what I did.>

>Ah, but you care.>

>What's that supposed to mean?>

Temrash laughed out loud, and began to walk toward the living room. I had always thought that was an ironic name, because we pretty much were assuming or hoping; I didn't know which, we would live.

My body stepped into the 'pipeway,' as I called it, where all the paths meet. Two steps in, I felt like something was wrong. Temrash felt my uneasiness, and began to turn back.

A soft 'Fwapp,' and a stepping noise. An Andalite tail blade met my throat. Temrash looked up. An Andalite, cobra, lioness, two Hork-Bajir, a rhino, and a panda blocked our exit.

>Really, Yeerk. You think you could fool us?> Shelly snapped.

"What do you mean?"

>A transmitter in your room?> John asked. >Yeah, Yeerk. We know.>

>Told you,> I snickered.

"And I know you know, however…" Temrash grabbed the Dracon from my pocket. "April never took the 'free or dead' oath." He pointed it at my head.

I could tell, even on John's python face, that he was worried. The Yeerk realized what I had not; I had never given them permission to kill me if I was infested. And John wouldn't want me to die anyway, I just knew it.

>Free or dead!> I called out, though I knew it was of no use. Free or dead!

"And I have never lost a Dracon out of my hands. Not even to an Andalite tail. So don't even think about tying me up."

>Tell us, what have you told Sarah?> Nikkei demanded.

"Not much," He said innocently. "Only that I would deliver the ones she wants most… the Animorphs. The password to the cavern we are in, the morphs you all possess, your strengths, weaknesses."

>Oh, there's more you can tell?> Jeff asked sarcastically.

"Remember, I am not poor, innocent April any more. I am Temrash 249, recently promoted to—"

>Yeah, I think we get it, Yeerk,> Allison snapped.

"Or do you?" Temrash asked, raising my eyebrow. "See, I may or may not be lying. I could have already let Visser Three in here, to get the box. I could have not told the sub-visser any of the aforementioned info."

>Could… but haven't, have you?> Stephanie guessed.

"Ah, Minnesota's Cassie. Guess you caught me," Temrash lowered the Dracon. "Oh my god, what a shocker," He said, with mock amazement. My face created a serious expression. "Look. Little April wants to talk, but remember, I'll be back."

"Whoa!" I stumbled a bit after regaining control.

>April!> Seven thought-speech voices said in unison.

>Watch it,> Al said, catching me.

"Okay, first off, free or dead. Also, remember, the aliens are animals." I said that? Geez, I'm way too much of a Star Trek fan. But at the time I hadn't realized what that meant. "When they get here, it's best to be in morph, whether or not they know we're human. So just morph battle morphs, regular old animals."

What I hadn't realized? Part of my brain was going Star Trek, like in 'Star Trek II: Wrath of Khan,' Spock used the code 'Hours could seem like days." He then relayed his message, swapping hours with days. I had pretty much said, 'Morph Hork-Bajir.' But, again, I hadn't realized that, so therefore the Yeerk didn't.

>And you are saying this in front of your… Oh.> Shelly got it, at least.

"Look guys, take the Dracon while you—" Temrash snatched back control, and I fought, distracting him.

>I'll take that…> Al said, flicking the Dracon back with a twist of his blade, then depositing it in his hand. He aimed it at me. >Walk. Slowly.>

"Where?" I asked, barely hanging onto control with all my mental strength.

>April, is that you? You're struggling,> John pointed out.

"Barely…" It was getting harder to resist. "Just do what you… have to…"

John reverted to private thought-speech. >I will. But… I just… I don't want anything happening to you.>

"I know…" I struggled to hang on. "I know what… you want to say…"

>Hold on, April.>

And then the last ounce of what control I had dropped; I fell back into the depths of my own mind.

YAY! (Streamers everywhere) (confetti) It's my B-day today, April 5! And I've been evil. See, one of my friends (cough) Sarah (cough) gave me a bag of Pixi Stix, and I was eating a bunch. So, of course, people were asking for them. I told them if they danced around stupidly singing 'Happy Birthday,' they could have one. Well, by the end of the day, I had no more pixi stix. However, two boys came up to me, and did the stupidest dance ever. Then, when they asked for pixi stix, I said I didn't have any! It was hilarious! (laughs) Anyway.

Janika: I'm trying. But we've tried two different burners, six different cds and three different computers and it's still not working.

Elwing: Yep to both questions.