Animorphs: The Reanimation

Chapter II

The Day After

RACHEL

Despite being Saturday, my alarm went off at 7:30 a.m. today was no ordinary Saturday. Today I would be driving half my friends to a cabin in the woods to meet the other half of my friends and an actual alien, to discuss what we plan to do about another race of aliens enslaving humanity. Yeah I know sounds crazy like Rob Zombie meets Spielberg crazy, but it's the truth. I just found out about it last night, when the alien crashed his fighter in the abandoned construction site my friends and I were hanging out partying in. The others, except Julius, were probably very apprehensive about our futures, me I couldn't wait to start kicking alien ass. I took a long hot relaxing shower, I love hot showers they are the only thing that can remotely relax me. I'm a pretty "Gung ho" high strung person, and I have a temper to rival Emperor Nero's. I'm very pretty I don't say that in a look at me sort of way, on the contrary, I don't like people staring, and I will mutilate anyone who touches me without permission. If you saw me shopping in the mall, (which is my favorite hobby), then you'd assume I'm some blonde air head bimbo or a snotty rich girl slut, actually I make straight A's take advanced courses love gymnastics and martial arts. Oh, and I'm not rich, but I'm not exactly impoverished either, I guess the politically correct term these days would be dwindling upper middle class. My mom is an attorney and my father is a reporter/news anchor for a local affiliate.

When I got out of the shower I went down stairs to make some breakfast, taking notice of how empty the house felt. On the refrigerator, was a note scribbled in my mom's hand writing.

Rachel my firm just landed a huge client, I had to fly to D.C. immediately. I would have told you this if you had come on time last night, your sisters are staying with your father I knew you would want to stay alone. Lucky for you I think your mature enough, so don't mess up this opportunity to prove yourself honey. P.S. I left you $200 in the freezer I'll be gone for a week, call me every night and call or (take the car if it's not too late out), to your father's apartment if you get lonely or scared.

Love,

Mom

Cool I thought, now I wouldn't have to worry about getting caught coming home late tonight. My thoughts drifted to pondering which high profile client my mom was getting as I fried some bacon on the hibachi grill my dad had installed; before the divorce.

Ring, Ring brrrrrnnngggg.

I reached into my back pocket and pulled out my I-phone caller ID didn't recognize the number, but I answered anyway thinking it might be my mom calling from an airplane phone.

"Hello" "Hi uh Rachel, its, its Tobias."

I could hear yelling and the sound of glass and other things breaking in the background

"Would it be alright if I came over early, you don't have to let me in if your mom is awake or whatever I understand? I'm happy with a garage or basement attic hell even a dog house would be better than…" he trailed off, I got the idea he was dodging fists and could hear something thrown at him and breaking against the wall. It made me very angry. I took a few deep breaths and when I could hear him breathing into the receiver again I said.

"Tobias pack a bag you're going to stay for at least a week, my mom is out of town and my sisters are at my dad's, the place is mine. I'll come get you if you want."

"No that's ok I'll be there in half an hour." "Cool see you then." "Ok later Rach, and thanks." "Don't mention it just hurry up before I end up in jail for killing your uncle."

Tobias had the toughest life I knew anyone in real life could have, his mom was dead, and no one knew what became of his father. His guardians were two siblings of his mother who couldn't care less about him. One of them treated him like a servant; the other did too but added random beatings into the mix. At first I pitied him, then I began to admire him, he never faltered only grew stronger more resilient. Tobias was so easy going and thoughtful… i found my thinking about him more and more lately. When time ran down to ten minutes I began cooking bacon and eggs for Tobias as well, he'd say he wasn't hungry but I'd make him eat. I smiled mischievously saying those last few words over to myself, and quickly pushed any thoughts like that to the back of my mind. We would not be going there, not yet anyway, I didn't have to worry Tobias would never push himself, or the issue. It just wasn't in his nature. A short while later the doorbell rang, announcing the arrival of Tobias, I let him in and lead him to the kitchen breakfast nook. Two plates sat waiting with two glasses of orange juice and two pieces of toast; he hesitated only for a moment before sitting beside me and eating breakfast.

"Thanks Rachel this was really nice, you didn't have to go to all this trouble for me though."

"Ha don't be silly, I was already making breakfast I just threw in some extra that's all, don't flatter your-self Tobias."

Then just to be sure I didn't completely deter his advances I gave him a gentle shove, looked deep into his eyes and smiled a come and get me smile. I think he got the hint, at least he returned the smile with one of his own.

After breakfast Tobias and I sat down to watch some T.V., but there was very little on aside from cartoons this early on a Saturday. So, instead we amused ourselves by telling each other all about each other. Eventually I moved the conversation to the car; first we picked up Cassie, (which ended the intimate conversation), then we filled up on gas, finally we hit the road following the navigation to the coordinates Julius provided. I had planned on listening to the news on the radio, but forgot to turn it on during my conversation with Tobias. Now that we were through talking for the time being, I moved to hit the power button too late, Cassie plugged in her IPod. Great now it will be U2 for the entire trip, somehow that IPod is getting "accidently" lost in the woods, I thought maliciously.

000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000

JULIUS

Birds chirping their conversations to each other aroused me from my slumber, looking around I noticed it was still dark just before dawn. My father still hadn't made it home. I remembered the txt message and tried to check my phone, the battery was dead so I plugged it into the charger in the truck and took my crossbow out hunting for breakfast. I passed Elfangor along the way; he looked like he was sleeping so I didn't bother him.

The forest was waking up as I crept silently through it, as my father had trained me to do; I used the ambient noise to suppress my own. It took longer to get where I was going, stopping to wait on the wind before moving again or letting the bird chatter mask my breaking of a twig or crunching of leaves. In the end it was worth it, most of the time. This morning, I was headed to a familiar meadow about half an hour away on foot. I snaked my way along till I reached the outskirts of the meadow. A small stream ran along the opposite edge of it, it was usually a great place to find small game, rabbits in particular. Fortune was mine on this day, when I stepped into the meadow instead of a rabbit I found a small female yearling doe. Normally I would not take one out of season, much less one that is illegal in season; However, I had mouths to feed including my own. I felt certain that the others except Cassie would appreciate fresh venison.

I stepped out of the tree line the doe froze I put the crossbow to my shoulder and fired. The wind blew my arrow off course; it hit the doe just to the right of the heart. The doe jumped about five feet in the air, and took off racing through the meadow to the nearest tree line. I loaded another bolt and aimed, she was thirty meters from the trees, and I inhaled deeply adjusted so that I was aiming slightly in front of her front shoulder. Ten meters from the trees I slowly let out half my breath, and loosed my arrow. This time it hit its mark, the doe bucked one last time causing her to crash into the brush. She gave a mighty sigh and I saw the life flicker from her eyes. Just in case Cassie or the others were weak of stomach, I decided to skin the doe where she dropped and hurry back to camp as fast as I could. Not carry about the noise I made now I could cut my time in half.

Elfangor

I observed the two human youths called Jake and Marco; they came out of the cabin arguing with one another. I had been human before, long enough to know that this was typical behavior. It seemed the argument was about breakfast, Marco felt it was inhospitable not to have any food except MRE's, Jake felt it was rude to assume other were responsible for feeding you. I waited till the discussion died down and interjected…

(Good morning Jake Marco, please inform me when Tobias arrives I require a private conversation with him.)

"Oh, as a matter of fact Rachel just text me a few minutes ago, Tobias is staying with Rachel for the week so he's already with her, and Cassie is with them they are about an hour away."

(Thank you Jake.)

"Hey Mr...Uhh, Prince Elfangor have you seen Julius, I need to have a public conversation with him about breakfast." Marco jeered

(Yes, I saw him leave with his primitive weapon and artificial skins that mimic these woods. If I remember correctly this activity is known as hunting. Though I did not realize it had become a necessity again, are the stores no longer in service?)

"Nah, the stores are fine Julius is not your typical human to say the least, he's idealistic like Cassie but not in the same way. Julius was raised by a warrior to be a warrior, he personally believes that grocery stores are sacrilege, that you should hunt kill and skin your own meals otherwise starve." Jake explained

"Yeah well let's just hope he gets back before Cassie gets here, and with something for breakfast."

Marco added his personality was hard to read, I decided I liked him less than the others. Jake I understood we were very similar despite our age and species differences, Julius I liked because he was a warrior and would do whatever it took to survive or win. But it was that whatever it took that also frightened me about Julius there was something in his eyes, coldness, eyes that told no story. Even though his eyes were bright and blue, they lacked the usual shine, or soul as humans called it behind them. That is not to say I believe Julius to without a soul, just that he might find the hard things to come the combat the killing just a little easier than the others in fact I feared he would downright come to enjoy it. Rachel was similar in this regard but she would only kill when absolutely necessary, Julius would kill for the sake of killing if not restrained. I don't mean to portray him as some serial killer, what uhmmm…. Ah Snipers, they require a certain skillset beyond the training they receive, I watched a documentary once, anyway it said that they must be able to look through a scope and watch their target die knowing they killed them and still be able to carry on as normal. That's what Julius would have been if he had been allowed entry into the human military, it's what would have barred him from entry if he were an Andalite; it's now what I would help him to become.

CRASH CARUNCH!

My tail jerked instinctively toward the sound of the threat, Julius stood crossbow pointed at me, he realized who I was and relaxed his weapon. I did the same and lowered my tail to the ground, to another Andalite this would be a sign of submission. I wanted Julius to see it was only a reaction as he had done, that I was not threating him in any way. So I humbled my-self, it's not like there were other Andalites around to see me.

He seemed to take it the way it was intended and stepped out of the bushes, slung over his shoulders was a small skinless deer. I had seen them eaten before but I couldn't help feeling that I might seem like a tasty meal to some humans.

"Whoo hoo breakfast!" Marco exclaimed clearly jubilant. It seemed he was more affected by his empty stomach than the events that had transpired the previous night, or perhaps he was putting on a front. Either way, I really didn't like Marco very much. His constant attention seeking attempts at humor, and his incessant whining ground my hooves. I would tolerate him for the sake of the other's should he decide to fight, but we will never be close like I might be with Jake or Julius. As an Andalite, humor is already lost on me but Marco was simply annoying to the point of laughter, rather than actually being funny. Julius ignored Marco's exuberance and busied himself breaking twigs and shaving bark from small sticks.

I observed with mild amazement as Julius created a fire in a previously used pit. The fire itself was nothing of note however, the way he created it was. Using a small metallic rod he struck against his knife, he showered two thousand degree sparks all over a bundle of dried grass igniting it instantly. With the grass bundle smoldering he placed it into the pyramid of small twigs and bark shavings igniting them in turn. Once the fire had been fed a sufficient amount of kindling Julius began adding larger pieces of limbs, establishing a base of coals in the bottom. With that done he moved a tripod of severed saplings over the pit, hanging from the center of the tripod was a bicycle wheel attached by a chain. I knew bicycles very well; it's the first human transportation I owned when I was a human. It was very clever of Julius to use it for a grille, a grille he promptly filled with butchered venison. At this point I took my leave, the smell and the sight of the gore was just too much for this grass-eater. I made myself useful by trotting down to the end of the drive to await the others. Of course I'd stay hidden within the tree-line, I wasn't a fool; despite this remote location, the drive ended in front of a farm road with plenty of freight traffic. The journey wasn't a long one, but with the sun and the humidity I was sweating and breathing heavy by the time I reached the road. Gravity and temperature were slightly more intense on earth than the Andalite world; it would take some time to acclimate. I leaned against a large tall tree with long green and red needles for leaves; (I believe Loren called them pine trees), and closed my main eyes. I hadn't meant to fall asleep, but I must've I awoke to see Rachel's car pass up the turn onto the drive. She realized her mistake fairly quickly, soon I stepped out far enough ahead that Rachel could slow down in time and waved them to a stop.

(Hello Rachel, Cassie, Tobias, I hope the trip was a pleasant one. I was wondering if you would care to walk back with me Tobias, I have some things I need to discuss with you in private. I will then address all of you at once this is a lot to absorb so I beg your patience.)

"Sure Prince Elfangor, I'll walk with you." Tobias answered without hesitation, the others nodded their agreement. Tobias got out. Rachel and Cassie drove on down the drive to the cabin. Unable able to stifle my ever thoughtful, curious mind, I noted that had it rained recently her car would not make it on the dirt path. I wondered if Julius's truck would make it, then assumed that was why it had oversized tires and a winch system.

I let the others get around the bend and out of sight before I began, (Tobias, what I am about to tell you will probably be harder to accept than the Yeerk invasion, it will be much easier on the both of us if you allow me to transmit memories to your mind. In order to facilitate this, I must place my hands on your head. Please, do not be alarmed.)

"Uh ok go ahead I trust you, I'm not really sure why, but I trust you. It's been bothering me ever since you landed, I just… I, have this strange feeling like we've met before, like I know you. But that can't be…can it?"

"(Please, allow me to begin and all will be revealed, all will make sense again.)

I placed my hands on either side of his head, and muttered the words that would focus my mind. This was so that I could establish a telepathic link with Tobias's mind. Once the link was established the hirac delore, the transmission of selected memories from being to being, could begin. I allowed him to enter my mind, showed him the dome ship nearing earth, showed him the Skrit Na vessel leaving it. Our sensors detected the fabled Time Matrix aboard the galactic junk collector's vessel, as well as two human life signs. The captain ordered Abbron and I to a shuttle craft and we boarded the alien ship. I played my memories forward meeting Loren getting to know her as we raced after the Skrit Na, chasing the Time Matrix still aboard their ship. Briefly let him see the atrocities that took place on that hellish Taxxon world. Finally I showed him what was most important, how Loren and I had used the Time Matrix to hide on earth, how I had morphed human permanently, how we had gotten married and had a son. A son named Tobias, complications during labor took Loren's life but Tobias survived, I stayed with my son till he was four years old. Then the Ellimist came, a nearly all powerful being who meddles with other species for his own amusement, he came and told me I had caused a major imbalance in the timeline and must return to help raise my brother to help fight so that yesterday may seems you and your friends play a vital role in the outcome of this war the Ellimist wouldn't let me see that outcome, yet I understood the significance you all would have. The Ellimist used his powers to restore me to my original time-line, but kept the one I had created with Loren, kept the child.

(You're my son Tobias, I'm… I'm your father, I understand if you're angry or want time to think I'll be here if you need me.) I'm not sure what I expected angry outbursts or silence, he managed to surprise me.

"Wow… I don't know what to say to that, I mean I can tell that you're being sincere. I could sense your emotions, while we were linked, and I want to believe it then things would make a little more sense. But, right now I just can't maybe I just need some time." He looked me right in my main eyes when he said this then marched on.

We walked in silence the rest of the way back to the cabin, I wanted desperately to tell him more to tell him I loved him, I did not. To do so would only serve to damage any relationship I hoped to build with Tobias. I had to consider the fact that if I was still overwhelmed at the recent events, then the humans who were mere children had to be far more so than I. still I admired them six human juvenile's brave enough to charge the terrifying Visser 3 on my behalf, wise enough to retreat when prudent, the Ellimist was right the galaxy did not stand a chance without the humans in the fight. I knew from my time with Loren that humans were unpredictable, sometimes vile and malevolent, but also capable of great understanding and love. Truly one of the most adaptable species Andalites have ever encountered, humans built the first computer in the 1950's it was the size of a large house and had the processing power of a modern calculator. Sixty years later a device as small as the human hand has 100 times the power of the first computer. In 1903 humans made their first atmospheric flight, a pair of siblings created the first "airplane" again a mere sixty years later human are walking on their own moon. These same feats took Andalites, arguably the most advanced race in the galaxy, four and five times as long to achieve; indeed if allowed to continue at present pace the humans will surpass the Andalite in just a couple of centuries. I was torn from my thoughts of admiration when I noticed that the others were huddled around Rachel's car. Tobias hurried over to join them; I stopped once I got within auditory range. A voice carried from the car's radio…

*BREAKING NEWS*

This is Fox news Breaking News as it happens; I'm Scott Tibido in the KCCRTKCH News Radio 940 weather and traffic station. In our top stories around 10:30 pm last night a large explosion rocked the sleepy Glendale community, the long since abandoned, but recently purchased construction project on the corner of Mac Arthur and Sunset, was the target of an apparent Domestic Terror Attack. Active duty Marine, NRA member, and Right Wing Extremist, Gunnery Sergeant Craig Roberts, with his 17 yr. old son drove a pickup truck loaded with stolen military and homemade explosives into the construction site where workers were unloading equipment and materials and detonated the device. Officials confirm that 13 people, including Roberts and his son were killed. Another 30 were injured when the blast went off. A Spokesman for the Department of Homeland Security says… "Roberts was a radical, he discovered that the company who recently purchased the site, Visser Technologies, is a subsidiary for Chinese owned Sulp Niar Industries Incorporated. Sulp Niar Industries are the leading innovators in computer technologies, Roberts and fellow Right Wing Nut-jobs believe the company is involved in some global conspiracy to kill and enslave humanity; clearly this delusion is what led him to take his life and the lives of so many others. Americans need more security, they demand it, that is why in light of these recent mass shootings and terror attacks, DHS will be hiring 50,000 new agents to patrol the streets, intercede our borders and protect the citizenry. We will be working closely in conjunction with the FBI and NSA to better track theses dissident radicals through social media, wireless and mobile technology. Military personnel will undergo intense psychological screenings after combat and before returning home. Rapid Response Teams are being deployed to every town, and every school will have no less than five on duty Police Officers. All medical, emergency, law enforcement, fire and education staff must complete three FEMA safety drills for active shooters, explosive devices, and chemical agents. All law enforcement will begin training will special forces operators to identify and apprehend suspected terrorists before they can carry out their heinous acts, we expect the full measure of our directives to be ratified by no later than next week, and total implementation over the course of the next year. Use of Drones for domestic spying is being authorized by congress as I speak to you, full nude body scanners will be going up in every bus, train, and subway station. Surveillance cameras linked to a network running facial recognition software, and high frequency microphones for sound and speech recognition will be positioned around D.C. first, then seceding metropolitan areas. We'll start with government buildings, courthouses DPS etc. then work outward to schools banks and so forth till they are on the street corners. Police are authorized to stop and search anyone without probable cause, arrest and length of detainment will be determined by an independent tribunal. We are taking great strides in the senate to implement a nationwide gun-ban, and are working diligently to alter or remove Habeas Corpus and Miranda rights. We need more troops on the ground here at home in order to effectively combat this growing domestic threat. If only those on the other side of the aisle would be willing to work with us, tragedies like this can be left to the annals of history."

Fox News spoke to Corporal Terry, a friend and longtime fellow service member who had this to say about Roberts… "Craig was a good friend, and a damn fine soldier, but he was being treated for PTSD. It is quite possible he simply snapped, he was always ranting about conspiracies and cover-ups. Know this, Craig was a patriot whatever he did, he did thinking it was in the best interest of the people and the constitution of this country. He…" I'm Scott Tibido with the latest news and now over to Katsumi Asuga with our traffic and weather. "Thanks Scott we have a lovely forecast for toda…

Cassie leaned in and turned off the radio, all eyes went to Julius. The color was drained from his face and his bright blue eyes had lost their shine, he looked like he'd been sucker punched in the guts. Still he said nothing; he turned and walked into the cabin. Cassie started to go after him but was quickly stopped by Rachel's hand on her arm. "Let him go. He needs to be alone." The way she said it was soft but emotionless, like a robot whispering to you. "but…" Rachel shook her head she understood that Julius was a warrior, and didn't want or need Cassie comforting him. A few moments later Julius came back out carrying a bottle of amber liquid, he walked back over to the group, removed the cap from the bottle, and poured a generous amount on the ground. "For Gunny" Julius held the bottle up to the sky, a small thin smile appeared on his face, "He went out Fighting, swinging till the very end. We should all be so lucky." He wiped a tear from his eyes with the back of his hand before taking a few deep swigs of the whiskey I recognized it to be. Rachel took the bottle when he passed it, "Amen" she whispered and took her swig. The others were more reluctant to drink the fiery liquid but each of them did in accordance with custom, in honor of Julius's father. With no mouth I could not share in the ritual instead I arched my tail over my head and proudly exclaimed, (We will never forget, I pledge my life and my honor to the destruction of Visser 3. Craig's name will be added to the list of fallen warriors it is the custom of Andalites to recite every morning.) Julius nodded his appreciation to me, but stayed silent.

It was Cassie who spoke next, "it isn't fair, your dad was a hero he died saving us all of us including Elfangor and they paint him out to be some kind of terrorist. That just isn't right."

"Uh, excuse me but no one seems to have noticed how much power they just acquired in one fowl swoop. That was DHS which means the Yeerks have friends in seriously high places, which means even talking about them is seriously dangerous. Guy's we need to turn our phones off and remove the battery, I'm dead serious." Marco stated boldly and intelligently, a welcome change from his usual whining.

(That is the way the Yeerks operate, never let a tragedy go to waste. They will use this event to further their agenda where possible. Portraying Craig as they have done serves to meet their human political goals, and curries supporters away from their political opposition. Unlike humans and Andalites, Yeerks have no moral compass they are guided by efficiency and their own greedy desires for power and control. They do not slay without reason, but it doesn't take much of a reason for them to slay billions. The Valanxians were a sentient nearly space capable reptilian race. The Yeerks sought to infest them for hosts because their skin secreted a neurological agent, and they could breathe in various atmospheric gasses. However it turned out that the cold blooded Valanxians were poorly suited to space travel, their bodies continued to freeze. With the losses mounting in space the ground invasion was suffering as well, and a few Valanxians had begun resisting the Yeerks; so the Yeerks cut their losses, they didn't even recall their own people from the planet before they fired continued dracon bursts into the Valanxians nitrogen-methane atmosphere, In minutes the atmosphere ignited instantly incinerating all life on the planet. That is the length the Yeerks are willing to go, that is why I will fight them till I draw my last breath.)

(When I gave you the power contained in the Escafil device, I did so because I thought I would die in a matter of minutes and you're the only humans I could reach. I broke the laws of my people so that you could have the fighting chance you deserve, but since I did not die I want to give you the option. You do not have to fight, after all you are just teenagers, but if you choose to fight you will be welcome. If you choose not to, you will not be thought any less of; there is no need to decide right now. Please take some time and make the best decision for yourselves and your families.)

"I don't need any time to decide, I'm going to fight." Julius stated passion rising in his voice. "Me too." Rachel chimed in.

(Decide nothing today, go home think about it, if you decide to fight we will meet at Cassie's Rehabilitation clinic Wednesday.)

"Actually if we meet Friday, that would be better because my parents won't be home, it's their anniversary so they should be out all night."

(Very well Friday then we will meet and discuss the next course of action, now then I am afraid that I must go and graze and we all need time to reflect, Rachel if you will see them safely home, I will see you Friday.) They all murmured and nodded their agreement, Julius went into the cabin, and the others piled into Rachel's car. (Goodbye Tobias, be safe…all of you be safe and remember don't say a word of this to anyone.)

"See you Friday" Tobias replied. I watched them till they disappeared from view then set about my grazing and scoop building needs. A scoop in case you don't know is a house dug out of the ground a sort of bowl with half a roof , it's what we Andalites sleep in.

TOBIAS

I tried painstakingly to think of something other than Elfangor as my father, the fact that I now had a father, but the two hour trip back to Rachel's made that impossible. I felt so confused, a myriad of emotions were coursing through me; anger at him for not being there all this time, for having to live with shitty relatives who never gave a shit about me. Elation, at having a father who cared about me and would care for me; despair at realizing my mother truly was dead, and my father a four legged alien. Hatred and rage at having this thrust upon me at the slugs invading my world. Pity and more rage for the people who died who were dying and who would die at the hands of filthy parasites. I didn't speak the entire trip, just sat in silence in the back seat. We dropped Cassie off first, then Marco, then Jake; finally, we pulled into Rachel's driveway just as the sun was setting. I followed her inside; she hung her keys from a hook by the door, and set her purse down on the kitchen table. She must've sensed something was up because before I could finish locking the door, she rounded on me… "What's wrong Tobias? I know something is up, you haven't said four words since you spoke with Elfangor. What did he say to you? Did he threaten you? I'll kill that big blue son of a…."

"Rach calm down, he didn't threaten me. He just told me something… something unexpected and I'm not sure how to accept it." I told her taking her hand in mine.

"You can talk to me about it… if you want that is. Just know that I'm your…your friend Tobias and friends are there for each other." She held my hand tighter and looked deep into my eyes, hers were like a vast ocean when she looks at me I drown.

"That's really nice of you Rachel, but I don't want to burden you with my silly problems especially when we are in the middle of an alien invasion right?"

"It's not silly Tobias, it's important to you, but if you don't wanna tell me I totally understand. Tell you what, nature makes me filthy so I'm going to go take a shower, feel free to make yourself at home eat whatever is in the kitchen, watch T.V. etc. When I get out we can watch a movie, and if you can't find anything to eat we'll order pizza."

Rachel smiled that knock-em-dead smile of hers I felt my heart skip a beat, I mustered up every ounce of courage and said…

"I'll tell you what, you go take your shower take your time too, because while you're up there I'm going to cook you a gourmet meal. It's the least I can do for letting me stay here, and if you play your cards right I just might tell you over dinner." I smiled at her hoping it was convincing enough. She smiled back and walked up the stairs her golden sun-hair flowing like a veil behind her as she went.

Once I was sure she was gone I hit the kitchen hard searching for anything I could make a decent meal out of. In the fridge I found some boneless chicken breast a day past its expiration date, it should be fine as long as I cook it thoroughly. In the pantry I found the rest of my ingredients pasta, Alfredo sauce and red potatoes. I placed my ingredients on the counter and began searching for cookware and spices/herbs.

At 350 degrees, the chicken would take approximately two hours so I started it right away, placing it in a casserole dish and baking it with some bell peppers and some orange slices I'd found. The potatoes took an hour to become the level of softness I wanted, when they reached that level I placed them on the back burner and got out the sauce pan. Next to the sauce pan on the front right burner I had the pasta on a slow boil I wanted it to still be hot when I added the chicken and sauce. In the sauce pan I heaped several large spoons of butter and a few pinches of garlic/cilantro. Next i added salt, black pepper, just a dash of Chile powder, and a sprinkle of onion powder. I would have added real onions to both the butter sauce and the chicken but Rachel didn't have any. While that stuff was melting I set the table after a fancy restaurant id seen on a re-run TV show lately. I found candles some flowers for a center piece and a bottle of wine, I'm no connoisseur so I couldn't tell you if the wine was any good or not but I hoped it would complement the meal since it was a light white wine. I really had no clue if that was correct but I didn't think my light sauces and light pasta would be good with a dark wine, and in any case all there was were several bottles of this white zinfandel stuff. I took one that was already open and de-corked it, placing it on the table between the two glasses. What seemed like only a few seconds later, (busy as I was), the chicken was finished, so I cut it into strips and threw it into the now strained pasta pouring the Alfredo sauce over all that. With the potatoes in a bowl, I poured the butter sauce over them, and made two identical plates. Just as I finished pouring the wine she came walking down the stairs, my jaw dropped, my tongue rolled across the floor. Wow! She looked amazing, she had on these sky blue sweat pants with a white, (wife-beater) tank top and her luscious blonde hair pulled up into a tight pony tail. No makeup. None needed. My heart skipped a beat and filled with warm joy as she smiled appreciatively at my labor.

"Tobias how... where… how did you do all this… this is wonderful." She exclaimed her hands on her cheeks in surprise.

"Well, neither of my relatives cared much whether I ate or not so I learned to make my own meals, then the only time I could watch any TV was before they woke up or after they went to sleep, which meant all I could watch on basic TV was cooking shows at those times." I hoped I sounded as "matter of factly," as I did in my head the last thing I wanted was for Rachel to pity me. "Please Rachel, have a seat." I whispered pulling her chair out for her.

"Thank you Sir." She said with a (bigger than Dallas) grin on her face.

We ate in silence except the occasional outburst of pleasure from Rachel, when her plate was clean she sipped her wine and asked "So, are you gonna tell me what Elfangor said to you or is it none of my business?"

I thought for a moment chewing the last of my food and sipping my own wine "ok, but it's pretty crazy stuff Rach, promise me u wont kick me out at 10 o'clock when it's below sixty if I tell you ok." I said trying to sound amusing

"Tobias you know better than that, besides it couldn't be a whole lot crazier than meeting an alien race trying to help save you from being enslaved by another alien race can it?"

So over a couple glasses of wine I spilled my guts to her, I really can't say why I' normally such a private person but it's just so easy to talk to Rachel I feel like I've always known her and that she can see right through me. So I told her everything Elfangor told me, I expected her to ask me what I had decided to do, but Rachel was smarter than that instead she gave me her opinion and suggested we watch some TV. Regular TV held little to nothing of value so we ended up watching some romantic comedy from the 90's I'm not sure when it happened exactly but when i opened my eyes the next time Rachel was curled up on the couch next to me her head in my lap and the sun was just breaking over the horizon.

As gently as I could, I slid out from under her swapping my thighs for a pillow. I hit bathroom relieved myself, washed my hands and brushed my teeth with my finger. I hopped in the shower just long enough to soap and rinse, (not long enough for the hot water to reach upstairs), then changed into one of the five outfits I had brought with me. The dirty clothes I stored in a plastic grocery bag back inside my backpack. After I washed my hands a second time I headed downstairs to make a quiet breakfast. Rachel was still sleeping as I hurriedly fried bacon and scrambled eggs. I chopped it all up added a little shredded cheese, salt/pepper, and picante sauce, and served with tortillas. When the plates were set I went to the couch and softly whispered in her ear to wake up. Her eyes opened and she inhaled deeply through her nostrils rising to a sitting position as she did. "Bacon?" she asked

"Yes, and eggs too." I replied humbly wearing a face shattering smile.

"You are too good to me Tobias, we are going to have to move you into the basement when mom gets back, seriously just cook like this for her a couple times and she'll be sold." Rachel joked, but we both knew her mother would never allow me to stay. "So, got any plans for the day? Besides making mouthwatering meals that is." She teased twirling her fork in her hands as she spoke.

"Hey you're the hostess I'm just along for the ride. I pretty much have to follow you around. That's not so bad…I mean the view couldn't be better…" she threw a biscuit at me striking me square in the left eye we both laughed so hard we nearly toppled out of our chairs.

"Well in that case Fido, I'm going to go get dressed we got to hit the grocery store so you can keep feeding me like this…" she whipped her hair spinning on the spot and disappeared upstairs.

A few moments later I could hear water rushing through the pipes, knew she must be in the shower, suppressing a few R rated ideas that came with this knowledge. When she was finally ready she looked dressed to kill, I mean she could have just stepped off a Gulfstream from Tokyo night clubbing. We were only going to the grocery store, but that's Rachel she can walk through a tornado ad never need a hair brush. Man I like her a lot, liking her more each day that passes, still haven't said anything though. We hit the grocery store gathering much needed supplies on Rachel's credit card, I took notice she made a point of getting $40.00 bucks back in cash. After the grocery store we drove to a beer wine and fine foods store, a small mom and pop place, not the major chain with the drunken rabbit logo. Rachel's friend ran the store for her terminally ill father, she also knew which wines went with what meals and jotted down a quick reference guide for me. We left with two bottles of something I can't pronounce, we left behind the $40.00 bucks.

My time with Rachel flew by, it was Wednesday night before I realized I would be leaving in the Friday morning and I wouldn't be coming back. I still hadn't made a decision about Elfangor so I either had to return to my uncle's or I had to turn to the streets. That's not true I had made a decision a life with an alien father in a shack in the woods is better than getting the shit beat out of me for simply being there to take it. That night I called and asked Julius to tell my "father" that I would be coming home with him Friday night, he was happy to oblige. It never occurred to me that Julius might be lonely up there with only an alien for company. Poor Julius, here I was crying about my daddy issues and living like Dylan McKay, of 90210 at Rachel's house, whiles my friend was suffering the loss of his father alone. Some friend I was, when my friend Julius, a guy who had saved me from bullies as Jake had done, a guy who invited me to stay with him on the weekends, or go camping with him and his dad. A guy who would sleep in abandoned apartment buildings with me just so I wouldn't have to go home. A guy that when he needed me the most I abandoned for some attention from a girl.

I felt sick I wanted Julius to punch me; I wanted to punch myself, so I explained to Rachel what I was doing and went to the cabin Thursday evening. Rachel drove me out and gave me a kiss on the cheek before she left "See you tomorrow Tobias." She said with a wink that could charm the stars. "I'll be there Rach."

"Hey Tobias can I ask you something? How are we supposed to save the world I mean the whole fucking world come on it's too much?" Rachel never dropped her guard like this, I better be very careful what I say.

"It's impossible to save the whole world you'll burn yourself out trying. We can only try to save the ones we love." I told her.

"Then what are we trying to save?" she asked a single tear forming in her eye.

"I'm only trying to save three, you, Julius and Elfangor, just three Rachel.

A/N:::::: I hope you enjoyed more to come soon, PLEASE REVIEW!

THANKS FOR READING TJ MARC19