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LilManiac: You're so right. It is so not her day. However, I wouldn't say it's the Elimist's fault. Since, after all, I am the writer.
Well, onto the STORY!
Meet and Greet
I followed the bird into a neighborhood. It was a nice looking neighborhood, with its back to a forest. Not surprising, since most people seemed to be linked to a forest in one way or another.
(I'm going to go talk to him. Do you mind waiting here?) The bird inquired, landing on the roof of my truck.
"Tell him I'm going to park along the dirt road back over there," I said to…Ax? Az? The name didn't seem that important to me.
When the Andalite had relayed the information, Tobias replied, (Ok, sure. I'll let you know what he says.)
I started the truck up again and drove back to a dirt road, near the neighborhood. I'd lived in California my whole life and knew the area like the back of my hand. The dirt road was still here, the ashes of my old house still lying there off to the side of it. Looking round, I inquired, "Mind if I drop the seat?" The Andalite nodded, sliding over so I could. He seemed almost…distracted. I shrugged and put my feet on the steering wheel, leaving the car on enough to get some music and a bit of air flowing. Images drifted across my semi-conscious mind…
--Page Break--
The thermals were wonderful, I noticed, as I landed in a tree behind Mertil's house. It was quiet in the house, but to the trained eye, you could almost see the shadow of someone, or rather some thing, moving. (Mertil,) I commented, trying to keep my voice low. He jumped, slightly startled, and dropped the can of water he was gardening with. He swung round, standing in a lighter area of the greenroom, and lifted his tail.
Now Mertil is…disabled. He had his tail blade chopped off in a crash and couldn't recover it through morphing, since his body rejects the morphing cube.
He blinked up at me, (You are one of the Animorphs, correct? Tobias, I believe.)
I did a sort of "birdie bow" as Marco might have called it, were he here. (That's me. Listen, um,) I ruffled my feathers uncomfortably, looking at him, (would you mind if I asked a question?)
He blinked again, looking slightly confused. (What do you wish to ask?)
(You know Elfangor, right?)
He gave me a "duh" look. (Yes. May I ask why?)
(Uh, yeah. I was asking because Ax, err, Aximili.) I took a deep thought speech breath. (Ax,afriend,andIwantedtoknowifyouwouldhouseElfangorforusbecausehe'sbackbecauseofaweirdmishapeand…) Mertil was laughing lightly at me.
(If I have understood correctly, you wish for me to house Elfangor for you, Aximili, and a friend. I would gladly do it, for it has gotten quite lonely.)
I nodded, flustered. If I were still human, I'd probably be flushing.
(I will gladly do it, Tobias. Please invite them here.)
I nodded. (Be right back.) Spreading my wings, I took to the air. I finally found the dirt road the—woman? She looked at least eighteen, so I guess woman would apply—had parked. She was standing outside of the truck in a pair of black underwear and holding her pants in one hand. In the other she held a Dracon Beam. (What's going on?) I questioned Ax and Elfangor.
(Tiamate said she wished to "kill her pants". She mentioned fumes making her sick.) Elfangor seemed quite calm and not at all disturbed by the woman's weapon. As I watched, she shot the ends of both pants, causing the pants to burn. She let them burn for a minute, until they resembled shorts rather than pants. When they were sufficiently short, she nodded and shook them off. Then she pulled them on and turned, slipping the weapon into the shorts.
"So, what's the verdict?" she questioned, raising an eyebrow.
(Well, he's agreed to let Elfangor stay. He wants to speak to all of us.)
Shrugging, she leaned into the truck. "We walking or driving?"
(I believe driving would be faster,) Elfangor commented.
She climbed back into the truck and leaned out, holding onto the door. "You riding or flying?"
(I'll fly.)
"Ok, just be sure to give me some directions." She closed the door and turned to the two Andalites. After saying a few words to them, she threw the car into reverse.
I guided her to the house from my aerial view.
Mertil stood in the house, waiting patiently for us. Ax and Elfangor came in first. The woman, however, seemed to be taking her time. (Hey, Mertil,) I said in greeting, (This is Tia, the friend I mentioned.)
Mertil smiled an Andalite smile. (Welcome, Tia.) He cocked his head to the side slightly. (Have we met before?)
The woman was staring back at him, frowning. "I don't know. You seem familiar somehow…Did you ever face Visser Twelve's Blade Ship?"
He nodded. (Yes, once. Were you on it?)
"Running it, actually."
(I see; then you are Visser Twelve.)
Elfangor—my dad, I guess you could call him—had finished demorphing. He blinked his main eyes at her. (Yes, I remember now. You were the girl next to Visser Three.)
She stared at the both of them for a moment. "I was there and I was the Visser Twelve you knew. However, most people more commonly know me as Visser Seven, if they even know I still exist. I escaped a few months ago, and a high-ranker escaping is never something commonly known." Pursing her lips, she continued, "Now, if—" She stopped as her cell phone rang loudly. "—you'll excuse me; I have a nervous bride to deal with. Have a nice day."
With that, she turned and left, clambering into her car and driving away at top speed. I vaguely wondered if we would ever see her again.
--Page Break--
"Hey, Jess," I said to the phone.
"Where are you? You said you'd go to your lawyer's and then come strait to the rehearsal. Mom and I called the office, so we didn't disturb you if you were in a meeting, but they said you haven't even arrived."
I muttered a few nasty words under my breath. "Sorry, I got side tracked," I told her. "I'll meet you there."
She seemed to calm down after that, and insisted on talking about her day. Something about her seemed…off…Like in a Yeerk-like off way. But, being a complete moron, I ignored my gut. Which, in the end, landed me in a whole lot more trouble, but I'm getting ahead of myself.
Anyway, I arrived at my lawyer's office only an hour late. Walking in as if I owned the place, I stared down at Ingrid, Mr. DeGroot's personal assistant. "I have an appointment with Mr. DeGroot," I told her.
"He's in his office. He was expecting you earlier, but—."
"Thanks." I cut in, stalking down the hall towards his office and burst in without even knocking. "Mr. DeGroot. How are you?" I smiled a "you know I'm your superior" smile and sat down, raising an eyebrow.
He cleared his throat. "M-miss Komathera, how nice to see you." He was perspiring, which meant he either feared me, or he feared Visser Three. I was really kind of hoping he feared me.
"Yes, yes. Let's skip the pleasantries. Now, about my house…"
"I'm sorry, Visser Seven, but the bank insists you don't have formal ownership. They claim it is still under your mother's name and since she was arrested, they now formally own it."
"I DON'T CARE!" I roared, standing up and slamming my hands down on the desk. He shrank back in fear, which told me he was still very oblivious to my new status. Either that or a very good actor. Needless to say, I was hoping for the former.
"T-they've agreed to allow you to keep the house if, ahem, if you can find a job in the next 72 hours."
"Those fools," I smirked, playing up the whole "Visser" thing. "They think they can outwit me? Ha! I shall show them. Now, subordinate, find me a job. I shall await your call."
With that, I turned and left, leaving him to sit there, mouth agape. I walked back into the reception area. Footsteps followed me. I turned to see DeGroot following me. "Yes?"
"I'm sorry, Miss Komathera. I forgot to tell you that Ingrid has a few papers for you to look over and sign, once you have a job."
"Thank you," I replied. "Please keep trying to work with the bank to see if they can extend the deadline, will you?"
He blinked, obviously thrown off by my sudden mood change. "O-of course, ma'am."
"Ok, thanks so much!"
I walked out of there, leaving the lawyer to stare at me, mouth still agape.
--Page Break--
"I'm here!" I shouted, running into the wedding rehearsal. Jess smiled at me.
"Better late then never, I suppose," she teased. "Love the dress, by the way." She indicated my outfit, and I looked down, blushing furiously.
"Sorry, forgot to change."
"It's ok. Just get into position."
I nodded and stood at my place.
--Nifty Scene Change--
"You may kiss the bride." The pastor smiled as Dan and Jess kissed passionately. I smiled, forgetting for the moment that I was in a pink dress that itched like mad. Everything was perfect. Nothing could ruin this day.
--Page Break--
"Ok, we'll see you when we get back!" I smiled at Jess, waving them off as they boarded the plane.
I was elated. I had the whole house to myself for a few weeks. Just as long as no Yeerks attacked, we'd be fine.
DeGroot had, fortunately, managed to get an extension on my deadline, too, which meant he had more time to find me a good job.
After watching their plane depart, I headed home. It was getting dark as I approached the house the bank had been "kind" enough to let me use.
I guess I should have noticed that my house was too quiet…that all my lights had been turned off…the strange scuffling noises in the kitchen.
I was just too tired, though, to notice or care. I walked into my living room and yawned. A crash in my kitchen made me whirl around. I knocked into something blue and…furry. White lights danced in my eyes as I felt something hit the back of my skull. The world went black.
--Page Break--
A/N: Ooh, what next? What devious plot do I have for my poor character? Well, review and I'll update. Promise! (If only because I actually have inspiration for the next chapter…)