Author's Note: Bleh. Yay for the holidays and my inability to get online. Sorry about this chapter's shortness…Hopefully, I'll have the next one up tomorrow. Or maybe even later tonight, if I'm lucky. Happy belated holidays, everyone!

Liaranne: lol. The last one was from The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen…I got it for Christmas. No, I'm not obsessed. Really. Thankies! I'm glad you like Reese and Sammie okay. ^_^

Sharina: O.O Eee! Yay! I got a chocolate cupcake!!! *dances* Chocolate for meeee. *^_^*

Dslguy14: Yeerk Peace Movement, huh….Hmm. I never though of that. I've already got the way this one's going, but that's a good idea….I'll have to remember it. ^_~

DH: lol! Thankies, I thought it was amusing, too. ^_~ Weeellll….I'm sort of going off Megamorphs 2, when Tobias broke his wing and couldn't morph out of it….But that may change.

SD: lol. Thankies!

Scimitar Nyx: Thankies! Lol! Hey, having a crush on bird-boy isn't weird. ^_~

Disclaimer: "This is a lovely spot. Does Jack the Ripper live here?"

Chapter Twenty – Daniel

a.k.a. The Reason I Have No New Video Games

Forty-eight hours into the Animorphs universe and was kinda disappointed. I hadn't talked to one of them outside what would have been my normal day. And no, that didn't include talking about morphing or Yeerks. So, I searched for Cassie to talk to her. I had even decided how I was going to do it. I was gonna walk up to her and tell her the truth. That or ask her if you still get the toy when you ask for a Happy Meal with extra Happy. Is it wrong that I just wanted to se her reaction?

Unfortunately, Cassie wasn't at school that day. It had me sort of worried. Not as much as when rabid zebras attacked our school, but still a little worried. I was just sitting in my class when screams came from outside and this zebra kicks in the door, stomps into our classroom, kicks over a few desks, and runs back out. Go zebras.

Now, why were zebras attacking our school? At that point, I had no idea. Of course, I was sort of suspicious of the Animorphs considering that Cassie wasn't around, but how badly do they want to ditch school? I mean, geez, what happened to just pulling a fire alarm?

Like everyone else, though, I got the rest of the day off. So, I sat in my room for a bit, then finally decided to go talk to Cassie. If I didn't do it today, I'd probably lose my nerve. So I looked up her address in the phone book. It wasn't too hard, considering that her father ran the Rehabilitation Clinic. After some more debating, I rode my bike out there.

Her mother answered the door when I knocked, so I smiled and did my best to look harmless.

"Hi, is Cassie here? I'm in her English class and wanted to get some notes from her…" I lied.

Her mother frowned slightly. "No, Cassie isn't here….She went to the Gardens. Would you like me to tell her you came by?"

I considered, then shook my head. "No, thank you. I'll just call her later."

I thought about that as I rode back home, then finally changed directions and headed for the Gardens. If that wasn't a lie, then maybe I could catch her there….And if it was, well, then, I wouldn't be opposed to spending a day at the Gardens.

I bought my ticket (there went my video game buying plans) when I arrived and headed in, wandered around for awhile and tried to find Cassie. After a bit, I decided this was stupid. Cassie probably wasn't here. Then, though, as I walked by the bear exhibit, I saw her. And not just Cassie, either, all the Animorphs. Well, all but Tobias. They were talking with a guy that looked really familiar. I couldn't place him for a moment, but then I realized he had to be Erek. Also with them were two of the girls I hung out with at lunch, Sam and Reese.

It kind of surprised me to see them all together in such a public place. I wondered what they were talking about, so I moved closer to try and hear them. When I could, though, all I heard were conversations about school and classes. Somehow, I doubted they would all be together just to talk about last Friday's English test.

Decision time. A very good chance that Erek is projecting a hologram. So, do I break through the barrier of photons and talk to them? Or do I ignore them and talk to Cassie somewhere else?

I took a deep breath and entered the holographic field, interrupting what seemed to be a meeting. I coughed out loud causing a bear, Andalite, gorilla, wolf, hawk, and four humans to snap their eyes at me. "Um…hi?"