Chapter 8
"So, that's what happened when she was six…" Cassie said slowly, and sat down on the couch. I started to feel that way too, but I remained standing. She looked like someone had hit her hard. "Oh, my God. That's…" -(Horrible,)- Tobias finished, sounding just as shocked. Marco and Rachel grew pretty quiet. -(The Yeerks could snipe her out if she did too much damage to them all of a sudden, right?)- "Yes, Tobias. That's partly why," Erek answered him. Ax slumped his human form's shoulders. "…I lost a brother to the Yeerks. I know how Laura feels." "But she was so young," Cassie said, still finding it hard to swallow this. "Way before Elfangor came to Earth! It must have put quite a traumatic experience on most of her life!" "I'd suggest you'd not bring it up in front of Laura," the Chee advised. "She hates talking about it. It would just make her very angry to bring up the memory." I felt surprised. Erek and Laura must have been pretty close as friends after all this time. "So, the other part in why is because of what the Ellimist told her on what she can and cannot do. That's what Laura's told us," Marco said. Erek nodded, but I knew that wasn't the reason why.
"So," I said. "Where is she now if she's not here?" "Asleep, at her home," Erek began to explain. "A hidden dimension only she and I know of, located in between Earth in the moon. It's a very, very small fragment, a tiny purple three dimensional cube she's accessorized into a home. The Purple Cube, she says." "Sounds like some underground club," Marco muttered sardonically. "Actually, part of it is like an underground club," Erek complimented with a smile. "I've been there a few times. A large living room with the latest technology. Some of it from the future. There's also a kitchen and dining room, and a small bathroom. And some sort of basement built like a school gym." He sounded fascinated by it all. "Hey, that would be so me," Marco joked. "I'd get all the latest stuff and gadgets if I had that kind of power. I'd so own over any billionaire." "Only they're small comforts. She'd rather share them with a friend," said Erek.
"Must be a heavy sleeper then," I said dryly. "I tried calling her number and she didn't pick up." "That's because she somehow turns the phone off. She has a mute button installed by the ring tone," said Erek. I nodded. "And what did she tell you, exactly?" I checked my watch. Had plenty of time to listen to this. Good, because I didn't want to be grounded again. Erek looked to Tobias sadly. "Nothing pleasant. She claims that Tobias, was taking his anger from the Ellimist and projecting it towards her." -(Oh, man,)- Tobias moaned. -(Erek, you do know that I had no idea how…)- "Yes, I know and she knows," Erek said. "But she was still upset about that. She worries that each of you, besides Cassie and Jake, would dump something to add onto the guilt she's felt in not being able to undo what the Ellimist has done."
For a while, no one said anything. "So, that's it," Rachel wondered. "Just one more thing," Erek said, standing in between all of us. "I only strongly suggest that you'd clear up the misunderstandings and arguments with Laura. I'll let her know about what we've discussed by tomorrow morning." He looked a little nervous. "I don't think she'll be happy that all of you know about her parents, but I'll do the best I can to get her to give you all another chance. It's sometimes hard to keep secrets from her." Yeah, so I've experienced, I thought, silently agreeing.
"Great, we can all kiss and make up by tomorrow and then have a party at her place," Marco said, grinning. "I'm up for it." Everyone let out a little laugh, including the android. "Well, I guess if that's all you needed to say, Erek, and nothing about the Yeerks," Rachel began. "I'm going home." She started to leave. "Coming Tobias?" -(Yeah, sure,)- he said softly and left with her. I think he was still feeling pretty bad about his behavior that afternoon. Marco had been sitting in the couch, so he got up and stretched. "Hey, can't I walk you home," he called to Rachel on the way out. The door closed as I watched them leave. I couldn't hear what Rachel said, but I'm sure it was some sardonic remark like she'd always say to him in reaction.
Now it was just Cassie, Erek, and me. "I'd better head back, it's pretty late." I nodded. "I'll be going pretty soon too," I said. "I'll see you tomorrow." "Later, Jake," she said and left. I turned to the android. "You know about Crayak?" "Of course, ever since she first saw him in her nightmares, she's told me. She insists that it's up to you to decide to mention it to them though. She understands this because she doesn't like talking about him." "Why me?" Erek shrugged in confusion. A very human thing for a robot to have existed on Earth for as long as he did. He'd grown accustomed to it. "Who knows? I can't figure out everything Laura is. Sometimes she can be a little weird that even an old android like me doesn't understand." I smiled. "Well, thanks for letting us come over," I said. "Thank you for being so understanding," Erek said in return. "You're one of the first she can relate to. An actual human she could fully trust." In a way, it was sort of unsettling. I hoped I wasn't going to be the only one. It's good to know she could trust me, but I hoped someone like Tobias, Cassie, or even Marco would be someone that Laura could trust also. They had much in common, too, in their own ways.