Chapter 20

Me: Welcome, readers, after a VERY long absence, once again to

AnimorphLand. This is the beautiful land that belongs to me, and the land that I live my crazy, make-believe, life when I get tired of the real world. Due to my weird, new fiction obsessions I've decided that this little bit before the chapters will be a…. Ahem! Drum roll! Where is my drum roll?! HEY! Crayak! My drum roll! *the eyeball somehow manages to create a drumroll without hands* Thank you! We have a… MAZE!

Keiko Reine Frost (Vendetta): Eldest, I thought I had taught you better. My young padawan learner, we, as fanfiction authors do not do or write things that ruin the reputation for other writers. A maze? Could you have chosen anything more boring?

Me: But this is a very special maze! It is my most evil author torture maze ever! *thunder claps and lightning ensue as I throw out my arms*

But before we get to it I have several very special announcements, we have newcomers to my wonderful nerd-land. Please open you eyes and minds (since your reading this) to my newest reviewers, who specifically asked to be involved… sarlovessoccer! Gameguy20100! ckelly333! *Sound of Audience applauding*

ckelly333: * innocent eyes widen in amazement* Where is that clapping coming from?

Me: Oh, it is just an optical allusion. You'll get used to it soon enough. *Evil laugh…cough…..cough* I really should stop doing that.

Keiko Reine Frost (Vendetta): Tsk Tsk Tsk, you are too far gone. I will be back soon with someone else to train you. *exits the room with a loud popping sound*

sarlovessoccer: Is it just me or did that sound like the noise before the fire spouts in the Fire Swamp in Florin?

Me: Yes, yes it does. Now that we know which one of us is the hopeless romantic, we can continue. Now your assignment today is to enter that maze and get to the end of it. Any questions?

Gameguy20100: *hesitantly raises hand*

Me: * I roll my eyes* Yes, Gameguy20100, we are no longer in class; there is no reason to use your hands….or your heads for that matter.

Gameguy20100: *sheepishly puts hand down* Oh sorry. How long will this take? I only need a rough estimate; I mean we all have school tomorrow.

Me: …. Well to be honest I have no idea… I sent my sister Grace in there as a test dummy but….Um…..she has come out yet….. She went in about 20 hours ago….soooooooooo have fun. *Push all three participants into the maze entrance and hurriedly make the shrubs grow to cover the opening* It is so quiet around here… what to do, what to do?

Random Voice Hiding in the Shrubs: I'm going to KILL you Elly!

Me: Is that you Gracie?

Gracie: How did you ever convince me to try out your, *mimicking me* 'most evil author torture maze ever!' I'm sick and tired-...Oh my word! YOU ARE THE BEST OLDER SISTER EVER! *goes running past me to a tall man with curly black hair* You invited Benny Boy! I have to call Shirley IMMEDIATELY!

Benny Boy: *with a confused expression* Where am I?

_:_:_:_:_:_:_

Cassie sat alone at Tibby's in a four-person booth, sketching animals in the condensation of her water glass. Glancing at her phone on the table she noted the time. 6:10 pm. Rachel had texted letting her know at six that she was running a bit behind because she had to put on makeup still. But it was odd that Jake hadn't showed up yet.

Cassie's stomach clenched instinctively, fearing something had happened.

The instinct must have remained from the war. Having that much adrenaline coursing though her veins at least once a week, killing, fearing if you would come back alive. She wasn't as carefree anymore. She was often more paranoid, which was Marco's department.

A voice called her out of her thoughts, keeping her imagination from creating ridiculous deadly scenarios for her boyfriend to encounter. "Miss?"

Cassie glanced up at the waiter. He was cute. Actually all the guys that worked in the diner were cute. What made it weird though was that they all had nicknames and that's all they used. Her waiter's name was apparently; Mush. She didn't understand what it was for, but that's what he had introduced himself. He was tall, and tan, with a really sweet smile. But the smile couldn't compare in the slightest to Jake's slow one. And if she really thought about it, Mush was too cute for her tastes. Basically, he was cute but she wasn't interested.

"Miss," he asked again. "Can I get you anything else while you wait?"

Cassie smiled back at him.

"No thank you, Mush. My friends should be here soon."

"Okay, just call me ovah if you need anything," that was another thing. For some reason, part of the staff's job was to speak with a New York type of accent. They all did it. She had come to Tibby's often enough to know several of the guys well. Cassie sipped at her water, and started tapping her fingers on the table in a rhythm.

Tap, tap, tap, tap. A commotion at the front caught Cassie's attention.

"Yes, we're the other people with a friend of ours, Miss Cassie Mouindi. If you could just point us in the direction of our table?" Rachel spoke confidently her excellently applied make-up shimmering in the light of the cafe.

The young man standing at the front smiled a winning smile at Rachel, "Actually I believe our table will be unavailable, until of course, I get off of woik." His smile faded quickly when he noticed the condescending glare on Rachel's face and the glare on Tobias'. Somehow Tobias' predatory Redtail hawk glare had been transferred perfectly to his human features when the Ellimist had changed him. Cassie felt sorry for Kid Blink, but knew that it probably would do him some good, maybe he would be a little more careful wabout who he flirted with. Kid Blink called to another guy behind. "Racetrack, these people go with that girl, Cassie."

Racetrack righted the chair he was leaning back in, knocking his hat so it tilted up more on his head. Calmly removing the stub of a cigar from his mouth he spoke, "I don't got any tables today, Blink. You should know that, you was there."

Kid Blink rolled his eyes. "Where was 'there,' Race?"

"At the pokah game; Mush made the mistake to bet against me. Obviously he lost. Since I didn't want to take his money, so he offered to wait my tables today."

Blink glared at the shorter guy shoving his fists on his hips. "We weren't playin' with money anyway, Race. And if I'se remember correctly we caught you cheatin.'"

Race stood up and looked around the café. Seeing no one except for Tobias and Rachel, he placed a hand cupped around his mouth. "Look, Blink. Give a guy a break, a'right? I gotta make a living." Blink looked ready to back off but Rachel was not. A look of disgust came over her pretty features.

"Wait, you're taking advantage of your friend and coworker? So you don't have to work?" She crossed her arms. "I can understand if it was just a joke but this is just…" She looked about ready to punch both Race and Blink. Cassie quickly decided to save the poor guys who didn't know what they were in for. She waved Mush over.

"Those are two of the three coming. Could you show them over here? I think Rachel's upset at your friend over there." Mush glanced toward the front and nodded smiling.

"I wouldn't mind if she busted Race for me. He cheated in a pokah game and thinks I'm waitin' tables for him. But actually I'se gonna get paid for his tables today. I talked it ovah with our boss, Mr. Denton." He grinned widely, walking over to lead Rachel and Tobias to the table.

As they were passing the front podium a limo pulled up. Cassie saw the door open and Jake climbed out. He waved the driver of the limo and entered the café. Cassie waved at Rachel to get her attention, pinting and mouthing 'Jake.' Rachel swiveled waving her hands to catch Jake's attention. When she had caught it, Jake trotted to catch up to his cousin and her boyfriend. Mush led Rachel, Tobias, and Jake to Cassie's table. Cassie scooted over to make room on her bench for Jake, Tobias and Rachel slid in the booth across from her.

Mush placed menus in front of everyone, saying he would be back to collect their orders. Tobias picked up his menu looking automatically at the meat choices. Rachel looked at where he was looking and laughed. Jake rolled his eyes at his cousin. The conversation between the four of them started off with regular small talk; how they were doing, what they were doing, how the weather was. They ordered their food. Salads for both girls, Rachel's with meat, Cassie's without. A bacon burger for Tobias and a roast beef sandwich for Jake.

"So Jake, we all know why Tobias and I were late, but you only told me you would be late and that you would explain it later." Rachel took a sip of her water without smudging her lipstick. Cassie looked expectantly at her boyfriend. He hadn't sent her any message about his being late. Jake began his tale.

"So, y'know how Marco and Michelle turned down dinner with us because he wanted to do something special for her. Well, apparently their special day went wrong." Jake related to the others about the attack by whatever it was, how Marco did not think it was a freak accident, and how Michelle and Marco had parted ways after arguing. After Jake was done speaking, he watched the reactions of some of the people he held closest to him.

Cassie looked saddened by the fact that her two friends' relationship was in trouble. Tobias' expression hadn't really changed; it usually didn't after so long as a hawk with only one expression, except for a harder glint in his eyes. Rachel, who was not, if truth be told, the same 'Xena Warrior' after her death and return, still showed slight excitement at the prospect of kicking butt.

"What do you think, Jake? Just an accident or something more," Cassie asked with a quiet patience. Jake ran a hand through his hair.

"I don't know. Marco's convinced it was a blatant attempt at killing him,"

"Of course Marco's always been paranoid," Rachel cut in. Jake gave her a 'stop it' look and continued.

"As I was saying, Marco's also angry that he put Michelle in danger by dating her."

Tobias repeated Cassie's question, "but what do you think?"

Jake used his fork to move his last French fries around his plate. "I—you guys know I don't want things to come back from the past. Especially stuff about the Yeerks. You all know what that did to me, to all of us. But I'm thinking that it's too convenient for Visser One to escape and then shortly after there's an attempt on the life of one of the Animorphs. I think it's too much of a coincidence. Since the search for Visser One has come up short, even with the help of Ax and Ani; I think we should be on alert; just in case this whole thing isn't an accident." His three listeners nodded slowly, each deep in thought. "But that's what I think, I want to know what you guys think, so we can make a more complete and wise decision. So let's go to my apart—"Jake was cut off with a loud commotion form the back of the diner, where the kitchen was located. After a few seconds the noise stopped. Tobias was the first to notice that the café was empty, no customers, no wait staff; no one.

"Guys, I think we may want to be more than alert right now." There was a huge crash, like several dish racks were tipped over. A scream was cut off, giving the imagination dark explanations for the abrupt end. Jake nodded once tersely, "Battle morphs." They all exited the booth spreading apart to give each other room.

Cassie was rapidly shrinking being almost wolf in under a minute. Jake, was next behind her with a tail growing, a black and orange pattern already shading his face and arms. Rachel's face was changing shape, a snout protruding and her ears crawled up the sides of her head becoming pointy. Her face sprouted the spotted fur of the cheetah. Tobias had ruled out his hawk form for battle inside the small diner. Eyestalks seemed to burst from his head, eyes appearing with a 'pop.' A deer-like torso ballooned from his posterior growing two legs and a bladed tail.

By the time whatever enemy it was came to do battle, with what should have been an easy, surprised opponent, a Siberian tiger, a Grey wolf, a cheetah, and an Andalite were it encountered. Two creatures exploded, through the wall beside the kitchen door, showering the room with plaster bits and wood splinters. The first seemed to be out of the Greek myths. It had the body of a horse, the head of a polar bear with the eyes of a fly. Its tail whipped and hissed spitting the venom of the cobra it was.

The second shook its wolf head. The head was in proportion with its African elephant body. Its roar sounded, starting with a growl and ending with a trumpet. Owl wings flapped wildly as if they could lift the massive hulking beast into the air.

The first monster blinked eyelids over its buggy eyes slowly. Silence dragged out, with only the ticking of a wall clock. Tobias shifted, stamping a hoof. It clattered against broken dish pieces, breaking the silence like a sharp pair of scissors snipping a strand of hair.

Rachel leapt into action going after the horse creature. She sped low to the ground, underneath the animal cutting the hamstrings with her razor claws. With a roar of rage the animal mutant fell forward barely missing Rachel as she rolled sharply out from underneath it.

The cobra tail whipped around and sank its fangs into Rachel's back leg. Ahhhh!

RACHEL! Tobias galloped up and with a lightning swipe of his tailblade decapitated the snake. Are you alright?

Yeah, I think I should demorph though.

Tobias nodded sharply. Just find someplace safe to do that.He walked to the head of the creature. It blinked at him through pain-clouded eyes. Tobias ended its misery swiftly. He saw Rachel poke her human head above a knocked over table. She gave him a thumbs-up; then she pointed behind him. Tobias turned around in time to see Cassie and Jake work together to take down the other beast. Jake, the bigger of the two of them, went after its throat, while Cassie distracted it with her snapping jaw at its feet. The creature fell with a thunderous thud as its life-blood drained onto the floor.
Rachel stood up from behind the table, "What was that?!"

Cassie shook her newly human head, "I don't know, but at least we know it's not just Marco, whoever-it-is wants." Jake agreed.

"I think this is bigger than it seems."

_:_:_:_:_:_:_

Me: Now that my pesky sister is back in the maze, we can get on with whatever it is that you are here for, Benedict Cucumberpatch.

Benedict: *In lazy Sherlock voice* That's Cumberbatch.

Me: That is what I said, Cucumberpatch.

Benedict: Right.

Keiko Reine Frost poofs back into my world and smiles happily: Oh, good he made it here alright. I am terribly sorry Benedict, but something went wrong with my remote here and we got separated. Have you assessed the damage?

Benedict: Do you doubt me? Of course I have assessed the damage and I can tell you there is plenty. Firstly, there is the matter of her obvious out-of-control obsessions; playing this fantasy in her mind. Second, she has a nervous tick in her right eye speaking to a set of oncoming insanity. Thirdly she has many sisters, I would say, five.

Me: Alright! How'd you know that?

Benedict: A simple matter really, I deduced it from how easily you removed a sister in a possibly dangerous maze, therefore you do not place a high value on your sister, which implies you have more than just her. *Turns back to Keiko Reine Frost.* Lastly, it is my conviction that she has no two brain cells to rub together and therefore is not fit to be a fanfiction author.

Keiko Reine Frost: Excellent, it seems I will just have to take over her little operation here. Thank you, Benedict. I told you, Eldest, I would bring someone to train you to be a better author. Guards, take Eldest to that fuzzy blue room we have specially made for her.

Me: What! He didn't' train me to be better! He insulted me and my writing, and you can't just take me away from my home. Even if the room is fuzzy and blue! *I stamp a foot* No! I won't go!

Keiko Reine Frost: You heard Benedict, you aren't fit to be a fanfiction authress, therefore it is impossible for even him to train you. Besides, I filled your room with tribbles.

Me: Guards, take me away! *Hold out hands to be handcuffed.* If I must leave it is only because I say so and because of my feels for tribbles. BUT! I will RETURN!