Ok, I tried writing this story along time ago but my computer crashed and I lost it. (Death to my sister and her laptop.) But it's mainly about Elfangor and the Animorphs, and Loren. Set before book fifty, take your pick when but expect to see Loren. P.S. I do not own Animorphs. And to every one else, ELFANGOR IS A SEXY BEAST!!!
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Ellimist's POV
I watched them fight, I watched them suffer. Crayak was pleased, but Crayak had cheated. The one called David was to have never been found his roll had called for death. It had worked to my advantage though, his love for Rachel and his hatred for Jake, so for a time I waited planning my next move with utmost care. As the humans say timing is everything. Crayak knew what my move would be if I ever got the chance, some believe in luck, I believe that sometimes if you ask a question the universe will give you the answer.
The Andalite had always been a favorite of mine. Finally his time had come, if Crayak could bring one from death then so could I. The evil knew I was laughing, but I knew that his arrogance would be his down fall. So I summoned him.
ELFANGOR, I called to him and like a wrinkle in time and space he answered.
You called Ellimist. His contempt for me was hidden behind a polite mask. He was raging, seething.
I HAVE A PROPOSITION FOR YOU ANDALITE. YOUR HUMAN CHILDREN, THE ANIMORPH ARE STILL FIGHTING IT'S BEEN NEARLY TWO YEARS SINCE YOUR DEATH. THEY ARE TIRED, SO I AM SENDING YOU BACK TO THEM.
I thought you said this was a proposition?
I DID ANDALITE, BUT YOU WILL NOT REFUSE.
Why? Why won't I? There is no reason to help you, no reason for you once again to use me the way you like then to discard me just in time for you to hurt those I love the most. Not again, Not ever.
WELL THEN DON'T SEE YOUR SON, DON'T RESCUE LOREN FROM THE HELLISH LIFE SHE LIVES. SIT HERE AND ROT IN ETERNITY AND DEATH. BUT ONLY WHERE THERE IS LIFE IS THERE HOPE. WAS THAT NOT YOUR OWN WORDS ELFANGOR?
I had him trapped and he knew it, but that was always one thing I admired about Elfangor. He had the ability to reason, to see a different way when necessary, ability not seen in so many of his Andalite comrades. He wanted life just as much as I needed to win this game. He stood there in silence for a few moments.
What do you want of me?
The gamer in me was excited because I was about to unleash one of the greatest weapons in the galaxy. Elfangor was a brilliant war-prince and was very intelligent even by my standards. But now he was returning to earth with a vengeance.
YOU ANDALITE WILL BE SENT TO EARTH TO HELP THESE CHILDREN, BUT JUST AS DAVID FOUND RACHEL SO MUST YOU FIND THEM, OR THEY FIND YOU. YOU WILL HAVE THE ABILITY TO MORPH ONCE AGAIN WITH ANDALITE BEING YOUR NATURAL SHAPE. YOUR HUMAN MORPH WILL BE RESTORED TO YOU, AS WELL AS A JOB AND LIVING ARRANGEMENTS. YOU WILL LEAVE NOW.
I watched as he disappeared. I could not help but laugh; I felt a disruption in time and space. The enemy was afraid for the first time in a millennia because I had brought back Elfangor for the same reason he had killed him. I laughed, oh yes I laughed.
Tobias POV
The day was perfect for flying, and even better it was so sunny I had no problem spotting my prey or any one else that happened to be in the forest. I had been designated the group's air force along time ago, but now I was working harder than ever. For two days our families had been moving into the valley, well everyone's except Jake's. I felt sorry for him but at the same time I was so happy, I had my mother back. It was true she didn't remember me or knew what I had lived through, the point was for the first time there was someone other than Rachel caring for me. Last night was had talked about my past, and in clear blue eyes I saw sorrow. She hugged me as we sat around the fire and promised that she would never let me be hurt like that again. She said all the things that a mother was supposed to say. Yes we did have a long way to go but she tried and I already loved her for it. Finally I turned my thoughts back to the forest below me and that's when I saw him.
On a rock all alone with some camping gear sat this little old man. He didn't look threatening, just lost. I flew over him some time, and searched the woods for any family that might be looking for him. After an hour it seemed nobody was and dark was coming, I couldn't just leave him there so I flew to down to a clearing about a hundred yards away from him. There was a rangers' station about two miles away, as long as he wasn't injured I would take him there.
Landing with a soft thud I began to morph human. It always sickens me to hear myself shifting and changing like so much gravel and goo, but tonight I was on a mission. Doing something for someone, no yeerks included. Standing up to my full height was weird since I was so used to a different perspective. I began walking toward the old man; he didn't see me yet. I just hoped that he wouldn't notice my skintight leotard and shoeless feet.
"Sir?" He didn't seem to hear me maybe he was slightly deaf. "Sir?" This time he heard me, a smile came to his face along with a look of relief.
"Thank the Lord," he said. This guy no longer looked frail although he wasn't much bigger than I was. Quite possibly it was his eyes, they were almost black and reminded me of a summer sky. I quickly shrugged off the thought.
"Are you okay? How long have you been out here?" I had to find out if he was my enemy or just a lost old man.
"I am just very thirsty, other wise in good health. And I've been out here all afternoon but wasn't lost until about two hours ago when I dropped my compass down the ravine. Tried to follow the sun but I couldn't get a good view of the sky because of the trees."
His story sounded innocent enough but no sixty something year old should be wandering these woods alone.
"What were you doing out here alone?" My guard was raised, but I didn't want to have to hurt this nice old man with thinning gray hair and callused hands. He was probably somebody's grandfather. With a twinkle his eye he must have read my thoughts.
"I'm out here visiting my son, and the hiking here is so much better then where I'm from. You don't see many mountains in Miami." He smiled. "Anyway I could ask you why a boy so young is out in the woods by himself?"
Defiantly a grandfather, the thought made me smile.
"I'm out her with some friends we're having a campout. I saw you sitting here alone and figured I'd walk you to the rangers' station. It's only about two miles away."
He didn't reply, just stood up and put his gear back on. I offered to help but he insisted that he was fine. With nothing else being spoken we began walking to the station. After about a half an hour he finally spoke again.
"So what's your name son?"
I was hesitant at first to tell him, but if it was an ambush he could have killed me ten times already. "My names Tobias."
"A good name, Mine is Anton Sweeten. I can't thank you enough for helping me, if there is anything I can do for you just let me know, okay? I don't want to seem too forward but I notice your not wearing any shoes or decent clothing. If you would like any of my hiking supplies…" His voice trailed off. I think he noticed the look of embarrassment on my face.
"There's the station," I pointed to a building not a hundred yards off. "There are officers there all the time, they'll be happy to get you back to your son's, or where ever you parked your car. Good luck." I started walking back into the woods when he called me back.
"Here," he handed me a piece of paper with an address on it. "Come here in three days, you'll be expected. I might have to go back to Miami but I'll leave a reward for you with my son. Can you be there in three days?" I shook my head yes, I don't know why. Then the thought crossed my mind that if the man gave me money I could go buy some decent food for the others… And toilet paper, Marco would be so happy. More enthusiastic now I shook my head.
"Good then," he smiled and shook my hand. "Thank you Tobias, I expect to see you again." With those words we each went our own ways, me back to the Hork-Bajir valley and he to the station. What I never saw was him fade away into blue mist. When I got far enough away from the squat building of the station outpost I demorphed and flew to what was now my home.
When I arrived at the valley Toby Hamee, seer of the Hork-Bajir was waiting for me.
Hello Toby.
"Hello Tobias," It was obvious she wanted to say something to me but didn't know how. Apparently she decided to just spit it out. "Friend Tobias, perhaps you could convince Rachel's mother to be more quiet. I fear her mouth alone will reveal us to the yeerks." This of course was said with the frightening Hork-Bajir grin, but the point was clear, get her mother to shut up! And to say Rachel's mother was pushy, demanding and loud was like saying water was wet.
"Don't worry I have some news that will cheer everybody up."
Morphing human I walked over to where Jake, Cassie and Marco sat. They were all watching Rachel and her mother in yet another argument.
"In five minutes we're sending Ax in." Marco whispered to me. I knew at this point he was highly amused by the actions of Rachel and her mother, but Toby was right they were most definitely annoying.
"Guys and Cassie, Get everyone together I have good news."
Cassie's POV
Well the meeting started about ten minutes later, and it was only after Rachel and Naomi noticed that all the humans had gathered and were waiting on them that they stopped fighting. Even then though the compromise was a cold one with each of them sitting on opposite sides of the fire. I looked at Jake, poor Jake, he had just lost his family and still had to lead us. Putting my arm around him I gave him a quick squeeze and whispered some words of encouragement then watched as he stood to speak.
"Tobias called this meeting tonight, so I am willing to bet that whatever her says will be important. I don't know why so wait till he's done before you start asking questions." That last part was said mostly for the benefit of the parents that had so recently joined us. Many of them had not yet adapted to being parents only some of the time and letting us have our way when it came to the yeerks.
Tobias looked a little nervous as he stood to speak, but I couldn't help but notice the bright smile that crossed Loren's face when he looked at her.
"Well it seems to me we came her with little more than the cloths off our backs and a few supplies. But I think we might be able to get some things in a few days, toothpaste, toilet paper and for you parents some coffee." By the time Tobias had said those words everyone was listening. He recounted the meeting with the old man and his promise of a reward.
"Now we must decide to we go in and try to get it assuming he's a yeerk or do we take it at face value and try to get what we can out of it?"
It was Eva, who spoke, "If it was the yeerks they would have captured you when they could have, not risked you figuring it out and not coming. I mean in all actuality they only need one of us to find the others."
"My mom is right, if they wanted us they could have had us."
Maybe Marco, but why go through all that trouble of having to look for the rest of us when they could have us all come to them. After they captured us then all of your parents and the free Hork-Bajir would be a slaughter waiting to happen. At least Ax had seen what I saw. I suggest Prince Jake if we go we should give the illusion of only Tobias arriving, much like what we did when saving Mertil.
Finally Jake spoke.
"We go, Tobias goes in with Ax and Rachel in his pocket in fly morphs. The rest of us wait outside for clearance. If there is any trouble Ax and Rachel can let us in." With a wiry grin on his face Jake got up and left, tonight's meeting was over.
Elfangor's POV
BEEEEEEEEEEP! BEEEEEEEEEEP!
I reached over and shut off the alarm clock, I swear it had been ringing for ten minutes. Sleeping felt so good and I felt like I hadn't had any rest in years. I looked at the clock it was nearly seven thirty, I stretched. And as I rolled over I realized I was human. I looked at my hands they weren't the dainty, weak seven fingered hands I remembered. No these were powerful human hands capable of knocking another man down, or carrying a child. I struggled to remember what had happened to me but all I could remember was waking up. It would come back to me, it always did.
I sat up and looked into the mirror. Don't get me wrong I love my people and am very proud to be an Andalite, but to be human was a completely different experience. I looked at my human face, I never saw what was so attractive about it but it made Loren happy. I probably needed to demorph , but first a quick trip to the kitchen would be nice.
Walking in felt like deja-vous, there was the Ellimist once again sitting in my house. "You're probably going to tell me what to do next aren't you?" I said sarcastically. Reaching into the fridge I grabbed eggs, milk and fruit a suitable human breakfast and began to cook. Amazingly enough I still remembered how.
"Actually Andalite I came to remind you of some things, things I forgot to tell you."
How conveniently you forget to tell me things Ellimist. I used thought speak even though I was in human morph, it came so much more naturally. I tried to concentrate on my food more then him but he was hard to ignore.
" The human children will be here tomorrow. I have made arrangements for them to find you. I have also provided you with a laptop, I am sure you'll know what to do with it. As for your human morph I have mad it so you can stay in that morph as long as you need to with no fear of being a nothlit. The yeerks have had their guard up and there is no sense of putting you in more risk then you are already in, especially since Visser One is already looking for you."
Again I say, so much for not interfering. Visser One?
"Oh yes, Visser Three was promoted."
Great I though, just what I needed. I looked at my food, it was done for. With a look of disdain I emptied the skillet in the garbage can and grabbed the fruit I had set out. On my way up to take a shower, a very hot long one, I devoured the peach I believe it's called.
I stood in the shower for over a half an hour just letting the water run over me. Such a simple pleasure, me letting the water run in my eyes and touch my human skin. I was so astounded, this joy of being alive almost seemed unreal. Maybe it was just too normal, I hadn't slept this late since I was a child and it was only eight o'clock. Too many years of waking up wondering if I was going to die that day really mad me appreciate this morning of nothingness. Yes I thought, life after so much death was refreshing.
Getting out of the shower I looked in the mirror, I had yet to demorph. I didn't want to see what I looked like, my last memory had been of being eaten alive. That can't be good for the skin. I closed my eyes very tightly and began to demorph. I felt my tail grow out, a long solid muscle and my self lean forward onto two strong legs. My organs moved and shifted and two more eyes emerged and blue fur covered my body. When I felt the morph complete its self I opened my eyes. That was the me I knew, green eyes blue fur and skin, for legs and eyes, the other me that was the illusion. Either way I feel as if I am pretending to be what I'm not.
It's because you're not human, no matter how much you have pretended. You're here for a reason War-Prince. it's funny but the sound of my own voice seemed to echo thorough my soul and reassure me. I remorphed human and got dressed. This was a war of intelligence and the only way I was going to stay alive was to be one step ahead of everyone else so I better get started on my homework.