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Authors Note: This chapter is dedicated to lilmaniac for being the longest consistant reviewer. You rock! Also, sorry for the haitus but I am really lazy and I have had some mild writers block. If there is ANY ideas AT ALL then either tell me in a review or email me at okay? Thanks!

Reviews:

lilmaniac- tricky? brilliant? since when?

bb47- glad to have you reviewing again! was the update fast enough? the world may never know.

krazi little aus- umm...your welcome.

Quillian- thanks. I live to please, and make cool action stuff! wOOt!

Traycon3- I was waiting for your review. I'm glad that that is taken care of. (phew!) Enjoy the chapter.

Now, let's proceed to the newest installment, Chapter 18!

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I stared her down. She was beautiful, but on the inside so tormented. I was lost in her presense.

And she shot me down.

Time slowed down as I hit the floor. A grim smile spread across her face. She started to laugh. It was high and cruel, not like Meghan at all. The world around me grew dark. I was beyond pain. The gaping hole in my chest told me I was dying. I knew it too. Then I heard it.

((Oh my god!)) George. He must have followed me after all. I cocked my head in his direction. He looked from me to Meghan. He said it in private thought speak, so she hadn't noticed him. Then Meghan started to speak again.

"You know, Andalite, my host has been fighting to take control ever since I first infested her. Thanks to you she might finally have broken. Thank you." Now I was mad. I demorphed while George came out of the shadows and lunged at her. When I was finished I took her Dracon that she had discarded and aimed it at her point-blank. George backed away.

"But- this doesn't make any sense!" Said the Yeerk. It paused for a moment, searching through it's host's memories to try to find an explanation.

I grinned. "Don't worry Meghan, that slug will be out of you in no time. Hang on." I assured her. "George, mind making us an exit?"

((No problem)) He said as he slammed into the front glass and making a large hole in the pane. He demorphed and we made our exit, Meghan at hand.

"You know, yeerk," I said as we made our way to the forest I had began to know so well," normally I would try and reason with you to get out of there peacefully, but I want to make an example of you and kill you slowly."

"What did I ever do to you?" It asked. George gave her a look.

"C'mon! Look through Meghan's memories and you'll see why." He explained. She paused, and then a look of realization spread across her face. She remained silent for the rest of the trip. Soon we made it to Cassies barn for the post-mission meeting. The others were all there, now wide eyed at our companion.

"Michael! What did I tell you about freeing Controllers left and right! There are major consequences!" Jake ranted.

"Jake, for once you're wrong. I took a passage leading into the mall and on my way to the exit, this yeerk attacked me. I can't just kill her!"

"Why not, you didn't seem to care about killing all those yeerks in the pool and all those controllers as well." Said Meghan. I had to admit, she was right. Had I really become that radical to selfishly take human life? Had I become the very thing which I hate? No! She was wrong! She had to be!

"I think I know why you spared my host." she began. "You have a crush on her! You disgusting human! This is why you fools will lose. Although, in Michael's case the line is blurred, you all have too much compassion for others. Pitiful." she spat.

We tied her up, much to the yeerks discomfort. Rachel insisted on knocking her out. Naturally, I stopped her. I mean, George was one thing, but Meghan? I have ethics after all, even though they showed less and less each day.

We took her home with us, and on the way I thought, George and Meghan now. At least we'll have some company at the scoop. I wonder if she's any good at playing video games? After that I just kept my thoughts pretty abstract, but I couldn't ignore a nagging feeling in my heart. I knew what it meant, but I didn't dare speak of it, let alone think about it. I just tried to ignore it.

We got home in a few minutes. I felt emotionally and physically drained, so I left George and Ax to worry about Meghan while I dropped onto my newly acquired bed. It was actually much nicer than my old bed, so I couldn't complain. I fell asleep easily.

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I woke up to screaming in the main part of the scoop. I jerking awake and sat up. I grabbed the dracon from inside my night table and burst into the main 'living' room. What I saw was Ax backed into a corner, tail-blade twitching, and george trying to secure Meghan, who was screaming and writhing in pain. George had a black eye.

"Back away George. I think the yeerk is dying. Ax, can you tell?"

((Yes, I do believe that the fugue is taking place. Might I ask what you wish to do with her? Prince Jake said that she's your responsibility.)) That's Jake for you. I wrote myself a mental note to scream at him later, right now we had to do something. I walked behind meghan and set the dracon to stun. As much as hated to hurt her, I knew I had to.

"Nighty-night." I said as I shot her in the back. She fell in a heap on the floor. "George wasn't like that. What happened?"

"I dunno. About ten minutes ago she started to go ballistic. Literally. I know what the end is like, but I don't remember Visser 21 going into a siezure."

"Ax, do you have a possible explanation?" I asked politely.

((As far as Andalites know, all yeerks experience the fugue differently. Some more extreme than others.)) he explained in his usual tone.

Suddenly Meghan regained conciousness and started to writhe, then a final jerk and the yeerk was expelled from her ear.

She passed out for several minutes, myself at her side. When she finally opened her eyes (on her own accord) she saw me and a few moments past before anyone did anything, but then she sat up and wrapped her arms around me, myself doing the same. We took a second to get lost in each others presence, until I broke the hug and kissed her lightly on the lips.

I guess the first kiss always makes time slow down, maybe not. All I know is that for the breif moment in each others arms, to me, was all that mattered, and all that would ever matter.

I felt whole again.

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Well that was fun. Thanks to everyone who reviewed, so don't forget this time guys (and girls). Another special thank to lilmaniac, and to everyone else out there.

Ciao.