Disclaimer: (Shoots Disclaimer.) You guys already know the drill.

AllorNone: Thanks, I really liked that line myself.

LilManiac: Thanks. I'm trying to remember to update soon…notice how fast I updated this time…Not! Sorry, I discovered the joys of Role Playing till three in the morning.

Rules of Dating: Rule #1, Don't Date Your Boss

It was the big night and everything had to be perfect. So, of course my emitter was messing up. Just my luck. So, after spending over an hour trying to fix it and another hour trying to pick out the best thing to wear, I was finally ready. I walked down the stairs, spotting Darex in the kitchen. He was covered in dirt, as was Lily. "Do I want to know?" I inquired.

(No, I do not believe that it is necessary to explain.) Darex responded, glancing at Lily with a stalk eye.

"Ok…I'll just assume it's an Andalite thing and get on with my life. So, what do you think?"

(While I am not an expert in the human custom of wearing artificial skin, I believe that your attire is aesthetically pleasing.) Lily told me. She was a little more up to date with these things. By a little, of course, I mean that Erika has been over almost every day with fashion magazines for almost a week. Lily's a pretty fast learner and is…getting better at wearing colors that match, if not outfits.

"Thanks. I hope Erek thinks the same thing." I strolled over to his house and rang the doorbell. "Hello, Mr. King, is Erek home?"

"Come in, he's downstairs." He responded.

I smiled, "Thank you." Heading downstairs, I was attacked by large furry creatures. Dogs, to be more specific. I pet one, remembering the great-grandfather of the dog. He was such a gentle thing…I looked up at Erek. He obviously hadn't noticed my arrival, as he was conversing with four kids his age, an Andalite, and a bird. "Strange ensemble of friends you got there, Erek."

He turned, startled. "Oh, Kat. I wasn't expecting you till eight."

"It is eight, you moron."

"Eh, I'm busy; can you go ask one of the others to give you repairs?"

"No, I can wait." I promptly dropped my hologram and causally listened to their conversation. Erek was speaking.

"They call it a Mega-Pool. They tried to set one up in Massachusetts, but some rebels took it down." My ears perked up at "Massachusetts".

"There are Andalites in Massachusetts?" I inquired, slightly worried. If Tia found out, they wouldn't be there for long.

"No, they think it was an attack by the Andalites and are officially calling them the Andalite Shock Troops. Based on the information that we have gathered, though, we have reason to believe that they are truly members of the Yeerk Peace Movement, that Cassie informed us of. There were three humans who were spotted at the attack, that the Yeerks have assumed are allies." He proceeded to bring up a holographic image of three people running. One had her head turned. It was Tiamate wearing a wig. I almost died on the spot. She looked good in a red wig.

"Erek, you can not sit there and tell me you don't recognize the girl on the left."

"Do you mind, Kat? I'm trying to debrief them on this."

"But, come on! Give the girl glasses and brown hair and you'll have Visser Seven!" The entire group stared at me. "Former Visser Seven, of course. By the way, who are these guys?" I finally inquired. It had been bugging me ever since I arrived.

"The Animorphs. Andalite Bandits," he corrected.

"These are the guys giving Visser Three so much trouble? Wow, I've been out of the loop for longer than I thought. Well, at least I know for sure, now, that Darex and Lily aren't the only Andalites here."

The only actual Andalite there, blinked at me. (Darex? Do you mean Darex-Isama-Uristhel?) ((Don't remember if I actually gave him a full name. If I did, feel free to tell me and I'll change it.))

"Yes." I responded, unblinkingly.

"Ax, do you know err…them?" The taller of the two guys there inquired of the Andalite.

(Yes, Prince Jake. He is my cousin, in your terms.)

"Would you like to meet them?" I asked, a little bored with the conversation.

"If you don't mind helping us, yes." The kid, Jake, responded.

"Then I'll call them." With that, I produced a cell phone and called them up, inviting them down. Within about a week, we were official members of the Animorphs.

That's when the real confusion began…

A/N: Ok, this is sad, depressing, and very short, in my humble opinion. I swear that there's going to be more fun in the next few chapters…when I get around to writing them. Well, ta ta for now. And don't forget to R/R!