CHAPTER EIGHT
An escafil device.
A morphing cube.
A gift, a weapon...
And a curse.
I, of all people, should've seen this coming...
I didn't like to talk about morphing. It was a very big part of Andalite culture, but the thought of it had always creeped me out, to be honest...
Except when Aliana morphed. When she did it, it was beautiful...
This.. This was different. This would be morphing for battle. I was prepared for battle. I was prepared to cross enemy lines, Shredder in hand... I was ready to fly a Tail-fighter right into Yeerk air space.. I was ready for all of that. In fact, I was surprised by how much I wanted it. My time as an aristh had changed me...
But I wasn't ready to actually change...
I was scared.
((You know what this power means, Tom?))
I nodded.
((You know of its strengths, its limitations?))
"No one stays in morph for over two hours. Not without becoming a nothlit."
((Then you may place your hand on the device...))
I stared at it. It glowed slightly. A faint, light-blue color. Very similar to the color of Andalite fur, when I thought about it...
Was this what Dad would want for me? I knew he wanted me to be prepared... but did that mean becoming a little more like him? Did that mean having this ability?
In the end, I really had no choice. If I was going to fight in this war, I needed every weapon I could get my hands on.
So that's exactly what I did.
I put my hand on the cube.
Its glowing intensified. I felt a strange energy begin to course through my body, working its way through my fingers...
A jolt through my arm!
A surging rush in my chest!
Every limb felt as if it were pulsing, rattling, vibrating with power!
I could feel a tingle climb my neck, searching for my head...
There it was. Yes, there it was...
It was over.
I now had the power to morph, to acquire the DNA of any creature I touched...
I now had the curse of my father.
((Congratulations, aristh. May this power serve you well.))
I saw something small climb its way over one of the hills. It was dark blue and fuzzy, standing on four short, stumpy legs. Seeming to notice our presence, it waddled over, looking up with its round head. Two ears, almost as large as the head itself, perked up as the beady, black eyes grew with excitement...
"What is it?" I asked Algon.
((It is called a Yugosin. An odd species, but considered playful and cute...))
"Jabaaa!" the little thing exclaimed.
Suddenly, I knew what Algon had in mind. I was to acquire the Yugosin. Its DNA was to swim with my own...
"Are Yugosin good in battle?"
Algon chuckled. ((No, of course not. But this is your first morph. The Yugosin mind is simple. His instincts will not be difficult for you to overcome. And, these creatures do serve some purpose. Though they have no natural defenses, they are extraordinary diggers. The soil in this artificial field does not run very deep, but it will suffice...))
Suddenly, the little creature ran over to me, rubbing its head against my leg.
((You see? He already enjoys your company. Perhaps you two will be very close...))
"Ha ha. Very funny, Algon."
I reached down and began to pet the Yugosin behind its ear.
"There you go, buddy... Nice and easy..."
Suddenly, I felt a jolt rush up my arm. Just like the one I had experienced after touching the escafil device.
I had acquired its DNA pattern. I could become the Yugosin.
I looked down and saw the Yugosin sleeping at my feet. It made a strange sound, kind of like a snore...
"It's sleeping?"
((Most creatures go into a brief trance when you acquire them. These things seem to fall asleep instantly...))
It was cute. Weird, but cute.
"So.. Now I just morph it?"
((Precisely.))
"Okay..."
I stood there, thinking to myself. My first morph. Really cool in some ways. Really scary in others. I knew what to expect. I might lose part of myself to the creature at first. Then, I would have to fight its mind, overcome the instincts, regain control... Maybe it wouldn't be tough with the Yugosin, but what about the next time? What if I had to morph a Yimsill, or a Plagaton, or even a Hork-Bajir?
Never mind. Hork-Bajir were simple too. Those blades scared the crap out of me, though...
((Well?))
How long had I been just standing there? I felt embarrassed.
"Oh. Sorry."
((Concentrate on its form. Then, just let the changes happen. You cannot make them.))
He was right. I just needed to relax. Take deep breaths. Think about the Yugosin.
Think about its fuzzy, blue body. Its round ears. Those strange, little black eyes. Even the stumpy legs and the way it waddled...
I opened my eyes. And I was short!
I was never really tall to begin with, but now I was really short! My nose was level with Algon's hooves!
Had I morphed already?
No. I looked down at my hands. They were the same. I looked like a mini-Tom, standing on all fours. I looked ridiculous.
Suddenly, my hands started to turn blue. Fur sprouted out from my arms, running up my neck, spreading over my chest. My eyes separated a little and grew smaller. The colors around me dimmed and dimmed and dimmed. Eventually, it looked like the world was encircled by a black shadow. There was only a green space of light visible in the center, kinda like night-vision. Then, I noticed I could track movements. Algon shifted a hoof. I saw a million hooves behind it, following it like a ghost. My eyes were taking a brief mental snapshot of the slightest change in everything.
Cool!
Next, I felt a stinging pain. Something sharp hit my lip! Wait.. It was my teeth! I felt very short, very jagged teeth sprouting from my gums.
No natural defenses, huh?
My leg bones were shifting, changing, forming into the stumpy limbs of the Yugosin. My internal organs moved and sloshed around a bit, but not much. Their internal systems must be pretty similar to human ones.
None of this hurt, of course. If I could've truly felt one tenth of those changes, I would've been kicking and screaming like a baby...
But it was done. I was the Yugosin.
And I was... happy.
Yes, happy. As bizarre as it was, I was happy. I ran over to Algon and began to nudge my snout against his legs playfully.
Pick me up! I thought. Pick me up, silly! I'm right here! Play with me!
((Focus, Tom... Focus.))
That woke me up. Just then, Algon sounded exactly like his father.
Suddenly, it all came rushing back. Me, the real me. Tom. All my troubles. All my worries. Stress about my dad, my grades... Aliana.
I was away from everyone. On a Dome Ship. In the middle of nowhere. As a Yugosin.
Right then, I went from being very happy to very sad.