Dedications
I'd like to thank my friends Lindsey and Sophia for helping me come up with the battle scenes and supporting me in my ideas. I'd also like to thank my friend Caitlin, even if she didn't help me in any way, except to say that se liked my story. Finally, I'd like to thank Forlay for posting my stories. Thanks Guys!

Present History

Playing Hero

By Cassidy

Chapter 1

My name is Cynya.
    Actually, my whole name is Cynya-Yatril-Sonal. Really, that’s my name. What, don’t you recognize it?I can’t say I blame you.. I’m supposed to be dead.
     Do I have your attention yet? I know what you’re probably thinking right now. It’s got to be something like: Oh, man, this girl sounds like she’s an escapee from a loony bin!And if she’s supposed to be dead, how’s she writing this? And who wouldcurse their child with a name like Cynya-Yatril-Sonal?
     Well, to tell you the truth, I’m not human. I’m an Andalite. In case you don’t know what an Andalite is (And I truly doubt that you do), I’ll tell you.
     Alright, Andalites look like centaurs, with a few exceptions. One exception is that we have four eyes, not two. Yeah, two are where you’d expect them to be, but the other two are mounted on flexible stalks on the top of our heads. Picture those bumps on a giraffe’s head, only picture them flexible, and longer.Also, we would have what humans, like yourself, would consider ‘elf-like’ ears. You know, they’re somewhat long, and are pointed at the tips? Not to mention that we have no mouth and three slits for a nose. Did I say that Andalites are covered in fur? Blue and tan if they are male, while if they are female, they are purple and blue. Not me. I’m a female, but I seem to be purple and green. Poor me. Andalites also happen to have cloven hooves. The best part about us Andalites is our tail. Long, formidable, and with a wicked blade on the end. Our blade is razor sharp and can slice through about anything.
     Earth is in trouble. Big trouble. The Yeerks are here. A Yeerk is a parasitic slug that crawls into your head through the ear canal up to your brain. Once there, the Yeerk wraps itself around your brain and then it is in complete control. The Yeerk eats for you, sleeps for you, even says good morning to your parents for you. And you can’t do a thing about it.
     And I was there. I was there the day the Yeerks invaded. The Yeerks tore my family apart. But they also gave me a chance to prove myself as a warrior.

Chapter 2

Andalite Homeworld

My tail flashed back and forth as ten Hork-Bajir came charging toward me. I took a swipe at the first one within range. Hah! His right arm fell to the floor as he howled in pain.
 < Take that, and that and THAT! Haha, that’ll teach you Yeerk scum to mess with me, the mightiest warrior in the galaxy! > Left, right, up, down, parry, parry, strike! My tail was a purple streak as I battled my imaginary foe.
 Then I had him. Visser one. I prepared to strike when…
 < You’re not playing hero again, are you, Cynya? >
 The images vanished as I turned to face the speaker. First my stalk eyes and then the rest of me.
 < Teaghan, why is it that you always manage to sneak up on me in the middle of a battle? > I said. Teaghan was my best friend. She was my age, eleven, and we had known each other since we were really little. Teaghan rolled her eyes.
 < Come on, We’re going to be late for school. Didn’t you remember? Today War-Prince Jeran is going to give a presentation! That’s something I’m not planning to miss! > Teaghan spun around and took off at a gallop toward school.
 < Hey, wait for me! > I demanded as I broke into a gallop. Teaghan was of average build, average color, and average height, but she was extremely smart, like me.
 * * *
 I caught up with Teaghan as we neared the building that was known as a school. It had once been a control tower for landing spacecrafts. My hooves were pounding the earth and in a few minutes, I would out distance Teaghan. I decided to rub in the fact that I was faster than her.
 < Race you, Teaghan! > I then poured on the speed. I left her to eat my dust. I was so preoccupied with winning, that I didn’t realize how close I was to the school building.
 < Cynya, look out! > Teaghan shrieked in my mind.

Chapter 3

< Cynya, look out! > Teaghan shrieked in my mind. I snapped out of my trance just in time to see the
door. Right in front of me.
 < Uh-oh, > I moaned. I stopped my feet but I still kept moving
 KA-BANG!
 I hit the doors! They flew open and I stumbled in. Everybody began to snicker and giggle and laugh quietly, while at the same time, trying to pretend that they weren’t.
 Teaghan stepped through the door as our teacher looked up. Meekly, she went to stand by her assigned computer. He glared at Teaghan before turning to me.
 < Decided to add another dent to the doors, Cynya? > He asked skeptically. Our teacher, Orin, was a really strict teacher. He was of medium height, neutral coloring, but had a glare that could kill. He didn’t like troublemakers. And unfortunately, he considered me a troublemaker. He was using that killer glare of his on me again.
 < Yes Sir…I mean, No Sir…uh, I mean…. > Looking at the ground with my main eyes, I scratched the ground with my hoof and played with my hands. I wasn’t afraid of him or his killer glare, I was more afraid that he’d think maybe he should talk to my parents. Again.
 Orin sighed, then returned his gaze to me. < Go to your place. I’ll speak with you later. > Then, he added in privet thought-speak, < And don’t try and pull anything when the War-Prince arrives. Understood, Cynya? >
 I slowly walked over to my computer. I walked slowly because I knew it bothered him that I didn’t fall all over myself to do whatever he said.
 I said, reaching my computer. War-Prince Jeran wouldn’t do his presentation until after lunch, so I had some time.
 In the morning, we did all of the usual classes, only they were way shorter than usual. I paid attention to make up for hitting the doors that morning, but the teacher kept calling on me, always expecting to catch me on the unawares.
 < Cynya, What is the main function of the second heart? > or < Cynya, what happens to your mass when you morph? > and once he asked < Cynya, what does it take to build an Escafil Device (Morphing cube)? > So I surprised him by knowing the answer.
 At the lunch break, I did the usual. After eating, I talked to Teaghan and did some tail fighting with the boys.

Chapter 4

< Today’s the day that you’re gonna lose, Cynya! > That was Gamter, of course. You see, he has this
little idea that he is a better tail fighter than me. I say he’s dreaming.
 < Is that a challenge? If it is, then you can forfeit now, and save yourself the disgrace of being beaten by a female.> I said with confidence. I hadn’t lost a fight in my life. I’m a pretty good tail fighter, if I do say so myself.
 Teaghan, standing next to me, looked at me with pleading eyes. < Cynya, not again, It’s not nice to beat up the males, especially with those warriors over there looking for Arisths! This could ruin their future as warriors! Leave them be. > Teaghan really didn’t approve of me wanting to be a war hero. She thought it was okay to play fight in private, but she also thought that I wasn’t being practical. Everyone knows females aren’t allowed in the military.
 < What, scared? Too afraid that I’ll win this one, Cynya? Maybe you should forfeit. > Gamter pawed the ground as he and his friends laughed, as if he had made a joke.
 < Are you dreaming again, Gamter? Lets get it over with! > I stepped forward to face Gamter. He was taller, older (by about two years), and almost as good-looking as me. His tail was long, with a big blade, his eyes were a yellowy-green, not to mention that he was stronger and taller than me. He was also the second best fighter in the school. I was the first.
 < Put some tail into her, Gamter! >
 < Don’t hurt him to badly, Cynya! >
 < Gamter, give it up! You don’t stand a chance! >
 < Better give in, girly, Gamter might accidentally hurt you! >
 Other people added other calls to their preferred victor.
 I guess that’s when the warriors on the hill realized what was going on. A young, strong male was going to fight a delicate looking female in a mock battle. They thought that maybe it was time that they intervened. They began to walk steadily toward us.
 They had made their move a minute too late. The fight was already engaged. Gamter struck. I dodged and parried his next strike. He took another swipe at me, which I parried and then aimed my small, nimble blade at his shoulder. I direct hit! The crowd cheered or mumbled about dumb luck, depending on who they wanted to win.
 The lumbering oaf known as Gamter was easy to avoid and had slow reflexes. Well, compared to me, that is. I parried, lunged, struck, chopped, came from the sides and below, dodged and went for the stalk eyes. I was winning.

Chapter 5

The warriors chose that moment to barge in and stop the mock battle. They pushed their way through the crowd toward Gamter and me. When they reached us, it must have look like Gamter was going to kill me, because instead of yelling at us to stop, one of them fended off Gamter’s tail as it came at me and dealt him a stout rap on the side of the head. I could hardly keep myself from laughing, Gamter looked so shocked.
 < If you are looking to join the military to become a warrior, Fighting females is no way to go about it. > The tall one standing between Gamter and I said.
 < If anything, > The second one said, < It proves how weak you are, having to fight females to win battles. >
 Boy, did that wipe the smile off my face. Were they insulting my fighting abilities? Were they saying that because I’m a girl, I’m weaker than they were?
 Then, from the back of the crowd, someone yelled out, < But Cynya’s the best tail fighter in the school! >
 The warriors turned their stalk eyes in the direction of the speaker. The tall warrior then spoke up. < Well, then we had better look elsewhere for Arisths, since the best champion of this school is a fe- >
 < I am too a good tail fighter! If you had been watching rather than pushing your way over here to save a damsel in distress, you would have realized that! My brother even says that if I had been a male, I would already be an Aristh! > I had had it up to my ears with insults, and when that warrior said that the tail fighters here sucked because I was the all time champion, I just exploded.
 Everybody was looking at me. I could have fainted. The warriors looked amused. Teaghan was pretending that she didn’t know me. Then the crowd burst out laughing. The warriors joined in. I was steamed and embarrassed at the same time. I didn’t know what to do.
 Then I noticed that all of the students were beginning to move off toward the school building. Lunch was over. That’s when Teaghan made her move. Stepping between the warriors and myself, she said:
 < Excuse me, but it’s time for class, and our teacher hates it when we’re late. So, we’d better be going, > And then grabbed my arm and hauled me off to the classroom. As soon as we reached our classroom, she let go of my arm and turned to face me.
 < What were you thinking! You don’t just go up to a warrior and tell them that they’ve made a mistake and that you’re a better tail fighter than the males, especially not like that! I only hope that our teacher doesn’t get wind of this, ‘cause if he finds out what you said and how you said it, you’ll be in BIG trouble! > That was Teaghan, of course. I think that she should be an actress. She was very dramatic and emphasized the highlights of her speech. That’s my best friend. Very dramatic.
 < Well what was I supposed to do? Stand there and listen to them say that I was a weakling and couldn’t tail fight?! No way! And besides, if I did that, I would have no chance what-so-ever of becoming a warrior. > I crossed my arms across my chest, swished my tail from side to side, and shifted my weight from hoof to hoof as I said this.
 Teaghan tapped my head with her index finger. < Duh, Cynya, you’re a female, and females aren’t warriors, so you should get your head out of the clouds and back into reality. > With that, she turned and walked into the classroom.

Chapter 6

What Teaghan had said had shocked me. She had always supported me and my dreams, just as I had supported her and her dreams. I followed Teaghan into the class a few minutes later. War-Prince Jeran was waiting, so I hurried to my place. During his presentation, I just stood there, listening with half of my mind. The other half just kept going over and over what Teaghan had said. < …get your head out of the clouds and back into reality. >
 The rest of the school day passed uneventfully, and before I knew it, it was time to head home. I met my little brother Janix outside. He was still excited about what happened at lunch.
 < Cynya, that was some great moves you used today! That was way cool! Gamter didn’t stand a chance. I bet the only reason that the fight wasn’t over in a minute was because you wanted to make him feel like he was doing at least kind of good! > Janix was skittering from side to side, jumping up and down and literally having as good a time as any seven year-old could. < If those warriors hadn’t broken it up, you definitely would have won! I can’t believe that they didn’t ask you to be an Aristh, though. >
 Janix was the only one who really believed that I could someday become a real warrior. So every time I won a mock fight, he had me teach him my moves.
 I smiled at him. < Well, with the way you tail fight, Janix, I wouldn’t be surprised if you became a Prince one day. > Yeah, even if I never made it to be a war hero, I knew that someday, Janix would be. We were about half way home when Teaghan stepped out of the brush.
 < Hey, Cynya, I’m sorry about what I said earlier, it’s just that….can we still be friends? > She said in a hopeful voice as she walked next to me.
 I thought about what she said as we walked. Janix scampered ahead, playing some game or another with himself. I decided that I should still keep Teaghan as a friend. I also decided that I’d keep the thought of being a hero to myself.
 < Okay. We’ll always be friends, alright Teaghan? > I said.
 < Oh, I’m so glad. I guess that I’ll see you tomorrow then? > And with that, Teaghan galloped off toward her scoop. At the time, I didn’t know that that would be the last time that I ever saw Teaghan. Ever.

Chapter 7

By the time Janix and I reached our family’s scoop, Janix had forgotten all about the tail fighting that I did at lunch and I was in a better mood. As soon as Janix saw the scoop, he kicked into a gallop and ran to tell Mother and Father about his day in school. I just kept to my jog. Then, through the trees, I saw it. I stopped dead in my tracks. There, next to our scoop, was an Andalite fighter.
 Why would anyone want to come here? They must be from the space station that permanently orbits the home world if they came in a fighter. I thought.
 I quickened my pace. As I reached the edge of the scoop, I could see my parents talking to two warriors. I sighed with relief. They weren’t the two from school.
 They were introducing Janix to our guests as I continued to approach. My Parents looked like they could have burst with pride because of a comment that one of the warriors made about Janix. In another minute, I’d reach them, so I slowed to a walk. Bits of their conversation floated back to me…
 < …Planet in the… >
 < What exactly…do?… >
 < Why do…need…Biologist? >
 < You are…study life forms… >
 Almost before I realized it, I was standing next to Janix. My parents didn’t seem to notice me. But the warriors sure did. The younger one, who looked about twenty, was the first to notice.
 < And who is this? > he asked in an amused voice. I may have been eleven, but I was beautiful. I am beautiful. And not even a bit vain. Although I must admit, when he said that, I blushed.
 My father introduced me. < This is our daughter, Cynya, she will also be accompanying us. > This
was a statement, not a request.
 < A ship will pick you up tomorrow, and take you to the transport. All of the equipment will be provided by
us. > Of course, that was the older one speaking. And with that, they turned and headed toward their ship. We watched them board the fighter and take off.

Chapter 8

When the fighter had disappeared from sight, my parents turned to confront two very confused Andalites. Janix and I glanced at each other and then shot my parents a questioning look.
 < You’re both probably wondering why a Prince and a Warrior would come here, to our home. > My Mother began.
 < Uh-huh, > Janix said, nodding.
 < They were here because we have accepted a mission, > Continued my father.
 My eyes lit up. < Really? What kind of mission? And why are they gonna send a ship to pick us up? Where are we going? > I could hardly contain my excitement. My parents are scientists, and to send a scientist on a mission meant that we were going to study something.
 My Father picked up where he had left off. < We are going to leave the home world to be taken to another planet two hundred light-years away. On this planet, we will be studying plant and animal life. > He said all this with a calm, neutral tone to his voice. But I knew he was excited. My parents had always hoped for an opportunity like this.
 < Also, there is a scientent race that lives there, and we are to learn as much as we can about them. We will be leaving on our voyage to this planet tomorrow morning. > Mother said excitedly.
 Janix was thrilled. He couldn’t wait. < Will we be all alone on this planet that we’re going to? > he asked as my father led him off to bed.
 I didn’t hear the answer because Mother was talking to me. < Cynya, aren’t you excited? > She asked
 < I’m not ever going to see Teaghan again, am I? > I asked. The fact had just hit me. We were leaving. Going to another planet. I probably wouldn’t be able to use the Z-space communicators. I didn’t know how to react.
 < Oh Cynya, don’t worry, we will come back here eventually, and just think of all of the stories that you’ll have to tell her! > Mother said optimistically.
 < Okay > I said. I headed off to where I would sleep. Mother had already packed my belongings so all I had to do was sleep.

Chapter 9

My Mother woke me at the crack of dawn. The ship had already arrived. I’m telling you, those guys like to get an early start. I was only half awake when I boarded the shuttle. The flight to the space station took only five minutes, and I still wasn’t quite awake as we headed to the docking bay where we would meet or transport. By the time I boarded the transport, I was mostly awake.
 I was walking next to my Father when it occurred to me to ask if my older brother, Enbron, would be joining us. < Father, is Enbron coming with us? > I asked.
<No, Enbron is a warrior, and he is needed on his ship.> Father said. I could tell that my father didn’t want to talk about it, so I headed off to my quarters.
 Enbron is my older brother. He’s about twenty-four, and I think that he’s a really good fighter. Enbron is in the military and serves on a Domeship as a warrior. It would have been nice if he had decided to join us on this little adventure, but he’s probably got enough to deal with.
 When I stepped into the space that would be mine for the next few months, I wasn’t at all very surprised. My cabin wasn’t very big, but it wasn’t very small. The bulkhead could become transparent if I wanted it to. There was grass on the floor and a small pool of water in the corner. My belongings, a few trinkets that I had made and a shredder that I was repairing for my father had been placed in a compartment in the wall. If I looked up at the ceiling, I would see a sky full of clouds that made it possible to believe that I was looking up at the sky of the home world. If I looked at the walls I would see grassy meadows and forests off in the distance. It almost looked real. This would be a very long, boring trip.
 Not long after I got settled, we left the docking bay. As soon as we were far enough away from the space station, we entered Z-space. We spent an entire month in Z-space, a very boring month. My parents gave Janix and me the same talk over and over. Don’t inter-act with the scientent beings. Don’t do this, don’t do that. Blah blah blah.
 When we finally came out of Z-space, It would take another five months to get there! The going was very slow.

Chapter 10 Earth, 1986

Five months later, we came to a steady orbit around the planet earth, my new home. We were scheduled to land on the planet’s surface that very day, and I couldn’t help but take one last look at the blue and green orb from space.
 < Transparent. > I ordered. The bulkhead immediately became transparent. What I saw before me was beautiful. On the view screen I saw a royal blue planet, with clumps of greenish brown continents
scattered here and there. And covering some of the planet was swirls of white clouds. This planet was
capped by icecaps, and its single moon was a silver orb that shimmered with the reflected light of the
sun.
 < Such a beautiful place… > I whispered as I stared, awe struck by the beauty before me. Then I
heard the cabin door trill. < Opaque. Come in, Janix. > I said.
 Janix leapt through the door. He was eight now, and my birthday was only a month off, then I’d be
twelve. < Come on come on Come On! The surface ship is waiting! Hurry up! > And with that, he turned
and headed off at a trot to the surface ship. I turned and galloped out the door to catch up with him. But
as soon as Janix heard me coming, he too began to gallop. We raced all the way to the surface ship, but
slowed down right before we got there. Mother and Father said that it was against the rules to run on
the ship. So we didn’t tell her that we did.
 Janix asked me eagerly as we
pushed our way into the small surface ship.
 I told him.
 It took only a few minutes to reach the surface. But instead of exploring, we had to unpack first. The
surface ship left us to sort through the boxes of stuff we would need to stay here and study. Janix and I
also discovered that we were supposed to keep up daily logs. Finally, after two days of unpacking, my
parents let Janix and I go exploring.
 < So where to first, oh brave and fearless leader? > I asked him. We had decided to pretend that we
were on a dangerous mission, and Janix had wanted to be the team leader. Prince Janix. He was trying
really hard to look the part of a prince, too.
 Janix squinted and shaded his main eyes with his right hand. < This way, toward the mountains. > He
said in a commanding voice. I had to be careful not to giggle at the sight of him.
 We headed up the mountain, still playing our game, when we saw it. We hid behind some trees as
we watched them pass. The creatures stood on two legs, had long or short hair on the top of their
heads, only had two eyes, had billowy, bright skin, and decorated their hooves with cord.
 < What are those? > Janix asked me quietly.
 I told
him. But we then decided that maybe it was time to head back to our scoop.
 My birthday passed in a flash. I learned more and more about humans every day. But the biggest
surprise came a day before my thirteenth birthday. Janix was holding an animal native to this planet, I
think that it’s called a house cat. I trotted up to him to see what he was doing.
 < What are you doing? > I asked my nine-year-old brother.
 < I’m trying to acquire this…this…this whatever it is. > Janix said as he struggled to hold the creature.
I began to laugh. Janix couldn’t morph any more than I could! Neither of us had ever used the Escafil
Device. I stopped laughing. The cat had gone still and quiet. Janix dropped it and then began to
concentrate. Then he began to change.
 First his stalk eyes and ears grew together to form cat ears. Then he began to shrink. And as he
shrank, his tail lost it’s blade, his arms were sucked in and his upper body became a cat neck and head.
His hooves became paws and long brown fur replaced his usual blue. He was a cat.
 < How’d you do that?! > I demanded. I was confused. How? Who let him use it? How come I
hadn’t been asked to used it?
 < Wow! This is so cool! I can smell everything! As for how, it was Father’s birthday present to me!
This is so cool! > He said.
 I was furious. This wasn’t fair. I should have gotten to use the Device! I was older! Why hadn’t they
let me use it?! I shot off at a gallop toward our scoop. Soon it came into view.
 I skidded to a stop next to my parents. < How come Janix can morph?! > I demanded.

Chapter 11

For a moment, my parents looked puzzled. < What ever gave you that idea?> My mother asked.
 I was shouting. I was really upset. You couldn’t be a warrior unless you could morph.
 < You don’t understand- > Began Father.
 < Yes I do! You think that letting me use the Escafil Device will only encourage me to be a warrior!
Well guess what! I still want to be a warrior! I’ll always want to be a warrior! > Then I spun and headed
off into the forest. I could hear them calling for me to come back.
 < Cynya! Cynya! Cynya Come Back! Cynya! >
 < Cynya come here right now! I mean it! Cynya! >
 I ignored their calls and pleas. I would come back in a few days. But first I had to deal with the fact
that Janix could morph and I couldn’t. I ran for miles and miles, and didn’t stop till the next morning. I
was really close to the human town, so close that I could sometimes here what they were saying. I slept
all day.
 It was about 9:00 P.M. when I finally woke up again. I slowly stood up and peered through the
bushes that concealed me. What I saw I will never forget. I saw the most terrifying thing in the entire
universe. A Visser’s Blade Ship. But I didn’t want to run. I wanted to fight. But no, that would have
been dumb, I wouldn’t have stood a chance. So I watched. And I listened.
 About ten Hork-Bajir and two Taxxons stepped out. One of the Hork-Bajir was definitely a Visser.
I could tell by the way he carried himself. I listened in on them for a while. Translated, they would have
said something like…
 “Stun the next ten humans that you see. I want more of these hosts. They can see better than these
Hork-Bajir,” the Visser said.
 “Yes, Visser,” The others repeated, one after the other. Then they split up. The Visser stood next to
his Blade Ship. Then a human walked right up to him. The controllers seemed to ignore him.
 “Visser, we have discovered a team of Andalites,” said the human.
 “What?! I want them destroyed! Or better yet, have them captured and brought to me for
infestation!” The Visser practically screeched.

Chapter 12

I didn’t hear the rest. I wasn’t paying attention. All I could think was: They’ve found our scoop.
They’ve found our scoop. Over and over. I knew I had to get home. Boy, isn’t this the nicest thirteenth
birthday. I thought.
 As soon as all of the controllers were out of sight, I ran home. No one followed me home. I was
lucky. It took me three hours to get to our scoop at top speed. I didn’t stop for anything. When I
reached our scoop, I woke everybody up.
 < Janix! Mother! Father! Wake up! Pack up everybody! Call the Home world! The Yeerks are
here! > I had gone over to where I kept my shredder. I wasn’t ever going to let that out of my sight.
 < What?! > Screeched my Father.
 < Yeerks? Here? Where? > asked my mother.
 < Huh? > Janix said, getting sleepily to his feet.
 < Yeerks! I saw a Blade Ship! They have already infested some of the humans! They want more!
And they know where we are! > I said as I began packing stuff up.
 Father set up the Z-space communicator. < You’re sure? I’d like you to tell the Electorate everything
you saw. Everybody else, pack only what we need and can carry. > He was done setting up the
communicator. I came to stand next to him. He opened a channel. I stepped in front of the
communicator. Father had gone to help pack.
 The face of a young Andalite appeared. A very suspicious face. You see, It’s not often that a female
gets on a military channel.
 < Who is this? This is a high security link. You are not an authorized sender. State your name and
location. > He said.
 I stamped my hoof. I didn’t have time for this. The Yeerks are here. I said. I was in a hurry. A big hurry. I didn’t want to have to explain anything to him.
 He eyed me. He obviously thought that this was some kind of a joke. I decided to tell him the truth.
< I’m Cynya-Yatril-Sonal, daughter of Ceron-Slynnal-Yatril and Janya-Maheen-Coutuer, we were sent
to the planet Earth to study the life forms out here, and the Yeerks have ARRIVED! > that got his
attention.
< Wait a moment. > he said.
 An older Andalite’s face appeared on the screen. I knew that he was the head of the Electorate, but
I wasn’t intimidated.
 < Are you the one who saw them? > He asked.
 < Yes, I saw a Yeerk Blade ship land, and I saw a human controller. I also heard them say that they
wanted more of the human hosts. And that they knew that there were Andalites, us, on the planet. When
can you get someone out here to help us?! > I practically shouted this at him. He was slightly surprised
that I wasn’t over-awed by him. But the part about the Yeerks snapped him to attention.
 < We will send a Domeship immediately. It will arrive in two months. > he said in a neutral tone.
 < Two months! > With that, I killed the connection. Then I aimed my shredder at it and fired. I
incinerated it.
 < Cynya! Why’d you do that?! > My Mother asked.
 < Now they can’t trace our call. > I said.

Chapter 13

From that day on, we didn’t stay in the same place more than one night at a time. I worked on
repairing the escape pod that we had been given when we had arrived on this planet. I finally finished it,
one and a half months after my first encounter with the Yeerks. We had no place to run. No place to
hide. There was no turning back. We, my parents and I, had decided to let Janix have the escape pod.
Today, we would put Janix in the pod, create a distraction, and then I would launch him into space,
where he would hopefully be picked up by the Domeship.
 As soon as I launched him, I was to run. Run far and fast. That wouldn’t be too hard. I walked over
to Janix. In fifteen minutes, I’d help him board the Escape pod.
 < I’m gonna miss you, Cynya, > he said. Mother and Father were almost ready. In one minute, the
diversion would begin.
 < Yeah, I’m going to miss you too. But hopefully, the Domeship will arrive and all of these good-byes
would have been for nothing. So don’t worry. When you reach the ship, show them all how brave,
strong and smart you are. And hey, don’t forget to have some fun. > I said, trying to cheer him up.
 The diversion had started. I led the way over to the escape pod. I arched my tail over my shoulders
and reached out to Janix. He arched his tail forward and we touched blades.
 < Bye, Cynya, > Janix said to me.
 < Bye Janix, > I replied.
 Then I helped him board the pod. I waited for the signal. I didn’t have to wait long. I saw the bright
flash of light that we had agreed would be the signal. I shut the airlock, trapping my brother inside. I
backed up to stand behind a pile of rocks to shield me. I pushed the button on a pad that I was holding.
Janix’s pod flew out of the atmosphere with a WOOSH! I clutched my shredder and took off into the
forest.
 I galloped at top speed over logs and rocks, and around trees. A lot of things were running through
my head. Would I really ever see my brother again, and what would happen to my parents and me. I
was so preoccupied, that I didn’t see the human in front of me.
 I nearly trampled him. I skidded to a stop right in front of him. He pulled a Dracon beam from behind
his back. “Good bye, Andalite,” he said calmly.
 I whipped out my shredder and we both fired. There was a bright flash of light. A very bright flash.
When my eyes cleared, I was alone, without my shredder. I was in the same place that I had been in
when I fired the shredder. Only, it looked different. The forest was older.

Chapter 14 Earth, 1999

     I looked at the ground for clues of the controller’s whereabouts. I saw nothing. No foot prints
leading away or to where he had been. I looked behind myself. There weren’t even skid marks where I
had slid to a stop. Everything looked older.
     I walked around the forest for a wile to see if my hypothesis was correct. I came back to the place
where I had launched Janix into space. There was no trace of a launch. I checked the spot where we
had once made our scoop. It should have been only slightly over grown. It looked like it had never been
touched. I was very confused. I trotted off down to the river for a drink. Maybe I’d find something
there.
     I stuck my hoof in the stream and watched the cool water swirl around it. That’s when I noticed a
hoof print in the dust by the stream bead. It looked like a deer’s print, but bigger. I pulled my hoof out
of the water and made my own print next to the one I had discovered. They looked almost identical. It
could only mean that there was another Andalite in this forest. And whoever that was came here often,
judging by the amount of hoof prints that there were. I decided to do a stakeout at the stream and find
out.
     I leapt over the stream and behind a bush so I wouldn’t be seen when you-know-who came looking
for a drink. I waited for hours and hours, this was bor-ing. I mean, you’d think that maybe that Andalite
would get thirsty, and maybe they would decide that it was time to get a drink, but noooo, they had to
make me wait till it was 1:00, three hours after I decided to do this little stake-out.
     I had just about given up when I heard something come crashing through the trees. It sounded like a
dog chasing a raccoon. Then he burst on to the scene. Another Andalite. He had light blue fur, green
eyes, a nice looking tail blade, hooves that were larger than mine, but still delicate looking, a longish tail,
a slightly muscular upper body with a lower half to match, and his stalk eyes were alert. As he gently
placed one hoof in the stream water, I couldn’t help but notice how strikingly handsome he was.   That
thought happened before I could suppress it. I hadn’t seen anyone my age in two years! So what was I
supposed to think?
     He turned and headed back off into the forest. I scrambled from my hiding place as quickly and
quietly as possible, then leapt over the stream, careful not to make any noise to alert him. I made the
decision to follow him, which I later learned was not an easy task. Careful to keep him in sight at all
times, I wound my way through the forest.

Chapter 15

I followed the Andalite through the forest and to a meadow. I was forced to stop as we neared the
meadow because of the lack of cover. I watched as he reentered the forest on the other side. I decided
to chance it. I carefully looked in his direction to be sure that he wasn’t looking before I dashed across
the clearing.
 I soon reached the other side. Oh, was I relieved that he hadn’t spotted me considering all the noise
I made. I looked up to find out how far ahead of me he was, when I realized that I had lost sight of him.
I looked down to find his tracks when…
 “Tseeeeeeer!”
 I had been caught off guard when a red-tailed hawk swooped from the sky. I glanced up just in time
and managed to avoid my stalk eyes being ripped from my head. The hawk only managed to rake my
shoulder with his talons.
 < Ahhhh! > I shrieked in fear and confusion. The bird was desperately trying to gain altitude to make
another attack. I swung my tail up over my back and hit it with the flat of my blade, preventing it from
flying out of there. I was about to make a remark about birds, when to my astonishment, I heard…
 < Ax! It’s trying to kill ME! HELP! > Apparently, it was the hawk talking.
 < Thought-speak? > I hesitated as I said out loud what I could hardly believe. Then I felt the sharp
edge of a tail blade pressed against my throat. I decided to play it out and surrender. If the blade had
belonged to anyone but an Andalite, I would have done anything but.
 I said in a sarcastic tone, as I lowered my
own tail and raised my arms toward the sky. I turned a stalk eye to see his reaction.
 The Andalite behind me was about my age, the same one I had seen at the stream. He had a very
surprised look on his face, which soon disappeared when he saw that I noticed. His expression quickly
changed to an emotionless one.
 < Who are you? How did you get here? > the Andalite asked in a harsh tone.
 I said. The hawk had landed on a near by tree branch to
watch. I think it was amused.
 Aximili said in a stern but no longer harsh voice. Oh, he came on a Domeship. A
Domeship! But there wasn’t a Domeship close enough to get here so fast! What’s going on!?!? I
thought to myself.
 < I’m Cynya-Yatril-Sonal, and I am here because my family was sent to study the life on this planet, >
I said. 
I added. Aximili lowered his tail and I turned to face him. He had a confused expression pasted across
his face and seemed to really notice me for the first time.
 < So who’s the attack bird? > I asked indicating the hawk that had attacked me with the swivel of a
stalk eye in it’s direction.
 < Tobias, I’m Tobias. > The hawk, who I now knew was a he said.
 < Tobias. An unusual name. It doesn’t sound Andalite. > I commented. No, it doesn’t sound
Andalite. I agreed with myself.
Aximili spoke up just then. < The last study team of Andalites to visit this planet was Ceron’s family.
There was only one survivor after they discovered that the Yeerks were here. But that was thirteen
Earth years ago. > he said, waiting for my response.
 I couldn’t believe it. I was dumb struck. Rooted to the spot. I know that I must have looked it,
because both of them gave me a puzzled look. I had gone through a Sario Rip, or something like a Sario
Rip thirteen years into the future. I now knew what had happened to my family, but I knew nothing else.
I felt I should explain.

Chapter 16

< Oh man, > I said. I felt weak. I decided that I should explain immediately. < You mean to tell me
that I’m thirteen years after I was yesterday? Oh no. I must have created a Sario Rip or something like
one when that controller and I shot energy weapons at each other. > A Sario Rip is a rip in the
space-time continuum, that can send you back in time one to one million years. I moaned to no one in particular.
 < You almost sound like Marco when you say that. > said Tobias as he stared at me curiously. Aximili
began to interrogate me almost instantly, so there wasn’t much time for idle chit-chat.
 And then another thought struck me. Janix. What had happened to Janix?
 < Janix, > I whispered.
 < What’s a janix? > Tobias asked curiously. I turned to Aximili. < My little brother, Janix, what
happened to him? Was he rescued? And my parents? > Duh, of course Janix would have been rescued,
but my parents?
 < Janix-Therin-Octair was found in an escape pod orbiting the planet, but his parents and older sister
were never found. Janix is now a fighter pilot on the Domeship Sierra Venture. > Aximili stated
uncertainly, and then he began to question me. I know I didn’t show it, by I was crying inside. My
parents were dead. I wasn’t there when my little brother grew up, I wasn’t there to support him when
he became an aristh. I wasn’t even his older sister anymore.
 After about an hour of answering questions, I finally got some information on them. As it turned out,
Tobias was human, not Andalite, and is also the resident nothlit. Aximili was an aristh that crashed after
his Domeship was destroyed in a battle above Earth. His brother gave some humans the power to
morph (Which didn’t make me very happy considering that I couldn’t morph,) so that they could fight
the Yeerks and defend their planet until the Andalites could return. The problem was that it would take
the Andalites one or two years to get here. Until then, they were on their own.
 I soon discovered that Aximili was the last to join their little group called the Animorphs. They
apparently discovered him on the bottom of the ocean and had to go rescue him before the Yeerks
could get there. Tobias had also mentioned the fact that they had destroyed the ground based Kendrona
a while back but the Yeerks built another one. Then they said that they’d call a meeting to introduce me
to the other Animorphs in four days, just to make sure that I wasn’t a controller. As if! How could
anyone think that I was a controller! Oh well, I forgive them.
 Lucky for me, they never asked me if I could morph. After all that talk, I asked for them to show me
around the forest because it looked so different than it had earlier, I mean thirteen years ago. It was
strange, as we walked (or flew, in Tobias’s case) it felt like dayjavu. I knew the place, but I didn’t know
it.
 Later, as night began to fall, we arrived at Aximili’s scoop. I parked myself on one side of the
clearing while Aximili settled down on the opposite side of the meadow. The next few days passed the
same way. I had Aximili update me on Andalite and human technology and continued my tours of the
forest.
 Finally three days had passed and Tobias had flown off to tell everyone that there would be a
meeting in the morning and I was to get up early and hide in the scoop. Not that I wanted to, but that’s
what they said to do. I drifted off to sleep with those thoughts in mind.

Chapter 17

< They’re coming! Cynya, get in position before they get here! > Tobias said to me from above. I
groggily got to my feet and trotted over to the scoop where Aximili was waiting.
 < Mornin’ Tobias, Aximili. Sleep well? > I asked a bit to sweetly. As I reached Aximili, I stretched
everything from my stalk eyes to my tail. This was going to be a very interesting day.
 Aximili looked startled at my asking and Tobias sounded annoyed. < Cynya! They’re almost here!
And yes, we slept just fine, right Ax? > he asked.
 < Yes, I slept very well. > Ax said hesitantly as he opened the scoop for me.
I prance inside and turned to face him.< Okay, lower the hatch! I’m ready! > I called to Tobias and
Aximili. They shut the scoop and everything was dark. Now I would wait.
 I strained my ears and mind to hear what happened outside.
 < Hey Tobias! >
 < Hi guys! >
 < Eaten any good mice lately? Stepped on any snails Ax? >
 < What’s this emergency meeting about? >
 < Nobody got hurt, did they? >
 < Neither Tobias nor myself have been injured. >
 I heard a sound like four pillows hitting the ground beside the scoop. Then I heard the
bone-crunching, squishy sound of four people de-morphing. I felt my insides twist as I thought of what
they must look like in the middle of de-morphing.
 “So, what’s this all about?” I heard a leader-like human say as I heard footsteps approaching
Aximili.
 < We have made a discovery. > Ax said in a mild manner. I rolled my eyes. I had found them, not the
other way around.
 “Did you discover a type of chocolate bar that doesn’t melt in your pocket?” Said a mischievous
sounding voice. This got a laugh from everyone but Aximili. If I had known what a chocolate bar was, I
would have laughed too.
 “Cut it out, Marco. What’s the big secret that you had to bring us all the way to the middle of
nowhere to show us?” this voice sounded macho.
 “It must be important to bring us here rather than have it in our barn” This voice sounded gentle, but
willing.
There was a pause, and I guess that Tobias and Aximili were trying to figure out how to present me.
 “Is this supposed to be a guessing game?” asked Marco.
 < We might as well get it over with. Ax, open the scoop. > said Tobias hesitantly.
 Aximili opened the scoop for me to come out. They most likely thought that I’d be the timid type
around strangers, and I startled them all by leaping out of the scoop and arching my tail high over my
shoulders in a very impressive way.
 “Visser Three!” Said a super model blonde in a Ms. Macho voice. The others, a Hispanic boy, a
leader-like boy with sandy blonde hair and hazel eyes, and an African America girl all began morphing
their battle morphs, a tiger, a bear, a gorilla, and a wolf. Ax looked shocked and Tobias seemed
dumbfounded. A Visser is a Yeerk general, and Visser Three is the Yeerk currently in charge of
capturing earth. That, added to the fact that Visser Three is the only Andalite controller in galaxy was
probably why they thought that I was the Visser.
 < Of course Visser Three! You fools, did you think that I would never catch you?! Now I finally have
the so-called Andalite Bandits! > I shouted in a very Visser-like fashion. After that and seeing the looks
on their still changing faces, I couldn’t hold back my laughter any longer. I laughed so hard that I shook
all over. I couldn’t stand up any longer, so I fell down and rolled onto my back, thrashing the air with my
hooves. I was like that for maybe five minutes.
 Tobias said as I laughed helplessly from the ground. The
others had de-morphed and were staring at me in a very confused way. Every time I looked at them I
only laughed harder.
 “So this is what you wanted to show us? A hysterical Andalite? Put ‘im back where you found ‘im.”
Marco, of course. I continued to laugh, although by that time I was back on my feet.
 < Come off it Cynya, > said Tobias. I was only half way over my laughing fit.
< I’m sorry…It’s just that the way you looked when you thought I was Visser Three…ha ha ha! > I
started laughing all over again. This time I managed to stay on my feet. I could tell that no one thought
that my little prank was very funny.
 A smile tugged at Marco’s lips as Jake decided that it was time to speak up. “Look, that wasn’t very
funny, but we’ll get over it…” I continued to laugh, but quietly, “I’m Jake, this is Cassie, Rachel, and
Marco. You’ve already met Ax and Tobias. So now that you know who we are, who are you?” Jake
asked me.

Chapter 18

After reducing my laughter to a giggle that only happened every three or four minutes rather than
continuously, I replied < I’m Cynya-Yatril-Sonal, > That was all I could get out before having another
laughing attack. I kept thinking of the astonished look on their faces when they thought that I was Visser
Three.
 “Do you often have laughing attacks, or would you like to have us call the nearest Alien Mental
Asylum?” asked Marco, getting a laugh from everyone, including Aximili.
 Tobias turned his gaze on Aximili. < Ax-man, I think we should have left her to wander the woods. I
had no idea that we’d be getting the equivalent of an alien Marco. > he said. Everyone laughed once
again, and Marco was the first to notice.
 “Wait a second, did you say her? Did I here you right?” Marco said this as he looked from me to
Ax, me to Ax, me to Ax. It surprised me a little that he didn’t know that I was a girl from the start.
 < Yes he said her. Duh! Are you blind or something? > I asked as I walked over to him. I looked into
one of his ears and waved my other hand next to his other ear. < Ah, now I see! No brain! I can see my
hand waving on the other side! > I stood back and shook my head piteously at him.
 Everybody but Aximili laughed. I guess he didn’t get it
 “It didn’t take her long to figure that out,” said Rachel as her laughter died down.
 Marco quickly got over my comment. He probably wasn’t expecting me to make a joke. “Okay, so
we find another survivor from Ax’s Domeship and it turns out to be a girl Andalite. So what? Is that the
only reason you brought us out here?” he asked in a skeptical voice.
 < Females are not allowed in the military, therefore Cynya was not on the Galaxy Tree. > Aximili
stated. Not that he meant to, but I felt like he was rubbing in the fact that since I was a girl, I couldn’t
fight in the Military. I scratched the ground with my hoof at the thought.
 “So you were a stow-away?” Cassie asked as she turned to eye me, trying to see if I was the type
who would stow-away on a ship.
 Before either Tobias or Aximili could answer, I answered the question. < No, I didn’t stow-away
onboard Aximili’s ship. I came here with my family to study the life forms on this planet. > I said.
 “So there are other Andalites here? On earth?” Jake asked hopefully.
 < Thirteen years ago there were. > I said.

Chapter 19

“So, according to Ax, you’re supposed to be dead, but in reality, you were bumped forward in time
by thirteen years?” that was Marco. He wasn’t quite sure about what to think. Put yourself in his place.
What would you do?
 < Pretty much. > I said. I was really beginning to like the Animorphs. This would be sssoooo cool to
help them fight the Yeerks. And hey, if I played my cards right, I’d become a hero! Ye-Ha!
 < Either that or you were held in a place in between time and space for thirteen years. > added
Aximili.
 I nodded in his direction. < True, > I said thoughtfully.
 “Aw, isn’t that sweet?” Marco said as he sighed and gave Aximili and me a dreamy look.
 < What? > asked Tobias.
 “Ax and Cynya sitting in a-” Marco began singing. I had been teased like this before so I was ready.
As soon as he said “…and Cynya…” I scooped up a clump of mud with my tail, threw it in the air and
wacked it just as if I had been playing Drift-ball. Marco never got past Sitting in a- because a clump of
dirt mysteriously hit him in the face.
 “Hey! What was that for?!” shouted Marco as he wiped the dirt off with both hands. I gave Marco
an innocent look. Everybody but Ax laughed. He had obviously lived a very sheltered life.
 “It was only your just desert,” Rachel said with a grin. Then turning to me, she added “Cynya, lob
another dirt clod at him for me!”
 “Hey, now that’s not fair! Now they’re gonna gang up on me! Ahhh!” teased Marco, throwing his
hands in the air and jogging in circles around Jake saying “Ahhhh!” Rachel scowled in his direction.
 “Um, guys? Has anyone thought of where we’re gonna keep her?” Cassie asked, silencing Marco.
 Aximili, Tobias, Jake, Rachel and Marco looked back and forth form one another, eyes finally
coming to rest on Cassie.
“Maybe with Ax?” Suggested Marco.
 < Oh Please. > I said, crossing my arms across my chest and giving him the evil eye (made all the
more evil by the fact that I had four eyes).
 “O-kay, so that’s out.” Said Rachel with a grin.
 “Where have you been staying the past few days?” Jake asked me.
 < Over there, under Tobias’s tree. They’ve been watching me for three days to see if I was a
Yeerk. > I could see that Aximili was about to object, so I added < But that’s not how they put it. I’m
not blind you know. > I said as I looked at Aximili and Tobias.
 For a wile we just thought of places that I could stay at. Finally after nothing good had been
suggested, I said 
 Jake glanced down at the watch he wore on his wrist. “I gotta go. I told my dad that I would shoot
some hoops with him today. See ya.” And with that, he began his morph to a peregrine falcon.
Everyone agreed that it was time for our human friends to fly home, so they morphed their bird morphs
and left Tobias, Aximili, and me to find some way to entertain ourselves

Chapter 20

< So? > asked Tobias, < What do you think of them? > Both Tobias and Aximili looked at me
expectantly. They thought that I would say something like: ‘I will be honored to serve under Prince Jake,
may he live forever’ or something like that.
I pictured the Animorphs as they realized that I wasn’t Visser Three and started laughing all over again.
 said Ax, his tail swinging lazily from side to side.
My laughter soon faded away and I was able to give them my opinion. < At the moment, I’d say that
this planet is doomed. After a few missions, that might change. But until then, I say that this place is
doomed! > I skipped and hopped and bounced and jumped and made a complete idiot of myself to
emphasize my point.
 Aximili blinked in surprise at my antics while Tobias sighed. < Boy, if all Andalite girls are like you,
Cynya, I can see why Ax joined the military. > Tobias said in an amused thought-voice.
 I slowed down my bouncing and decided to switch the subject. < So what do you guys do with all
your spare time? What can we do? > I asked.
 Aximili stated.
 commented Tobias.
 < Would you like to go flying with us? > Aximili asked me.
 < Uh, no thank you, not today. I think that I’ll just go familiarize myself with my surroundings
bye! >and with that, I made a dash for the forest at the edge of the meadow.
 < Wait a second! How do we find you? > called Tobias.
 < If you fly over head long enough, you’ll find me! > I replied, turning my stalk eyes at them before I
disappeared from their sight.

Chapter 21

Several days had past and I had managed to find a nice and green meadow to sleep in but had seen
nothing of Aximili, Tobias or any other Animorphs for quite some time. I had managed to get over the
fact that I was thirteen years ahead of the time I should be in and had re-familiarized myself with the
terrain.
 With all that tiring work finished, I had decided that I would get a drink at the stream that ran through
my meadow while I complimented myself on how well I remembered the forest and the fact that my
scoop was coming along very well when I heard…
 < Cynya! Cynya! >
 I pointed one stalk eye skyward in time to see Tobias swoop down and perch on a tree limb to my
right. I sighed. I never seem to have time to congratulate myself, I thought. That wasn’t entirely true, but
it didn’t matter at the moment.
 < Hey Tobias, > I said.
 He cocked his head in my direction while he fought to catch his breath. < Cynya, I’ve been looking
everywhere! I’ll tell you one thing, you sure pick a good hiding place. Had to take a double take up
there to be sure that it was you I saw. >
 I stepped out of the stream and went to stand by the tree he was perched on so I could stare up at
him. My tail
swung from side to side and I stretched my long, deer-like legs.
 < You’re right. We got some information about a Yeerk scheme to catch the ‘Andalite Bandits’ from
the Chee, and we have a mission tonight. We’re meeting in Cassie’s barn and I’m supposed to meet
them there with you. So just fallow my directions and we’ll be there shortly. > With that, he leapt off the
tree and flapped skyward again. I envied the fact that he had wings and I didn’t, but before I could think
another thought, I heard…
 < Alright, head strait! >
 I leapt into action. The ground fell away beneath my pounding hooves as I galloped through the
forest. Trees loomed up in front of me. Tree, swerve, tree, swerve, tree, swerve.
 < You’re drifting a little to the right! > called Tobias from above.
 Immediately I swerved to the left. < That better?! > I asked.
 < Yeah! Perfect! In a few seconds, you’re going to reach a clearing. In that clearing is Cassie’s barn.
No one’s outside at the moment, so as soon as you see it, make a dash for the barn, got it?! > Shouted
Tobias.
 I swiveled my stalk eyes to try and catch a glimpse of what was ahead. Tree, swerve, tree, swerve.
In front of me I saw a fallen log. I began picking up speed, the log was twenty feet in front of me, fifteen
feet, ten feet, five feet, three feet and jump!
 I was up and over in a flash. On the other side I landed only to stop dead in my tracks. I was in a
clearing. Also in that clearing was a house, a barn, and several animal species. Every part of me
screamed to get back in the woods before anyone saw me.
 < Cynya! The barn! Before someone sees you! > Tobias, of course.
 That reminder was enough to kick me back into action. I ran full tilt at the barn. I was about ten feet
away when I remembered the last time I had ran full tilt at a building. Let me rephrase that. Last time I
ran full tilt into a building. That had been with Teaghan back on the home world when we had been late
for class.
 Luckily for me, one of the barn doors was open.
 < Cynya, don’t you think that you should slow down about now? > Called Tobias from above.
 I’m way ahead of you, I thought. If I slowed down now, I’d hit the barn. If I swerved for the open
door to my left, then slowed down once I was inside, that might work.
 I dodged left, raced through the door and put on the breaks. My front legs stiffened and my back
hooves dug into the ground. I was now beginning to spin sideways and was beginning loose my balance.
I whipped out my tail and sunk it deep into the side of a stall. With a jerk I came to a sudden stop. My
tail felt like someone had tried to rip it right out of me. Ouch.
 Tobias flew in and settled down in the rafters of the barn as I tried to pull my tail blade out of the stall.
I finally had to use my hands to help pull it out of the wood. When I got my tail out, I let go of it with my
hands and gently lowered it to the ground.
 “Now that’s what I’d call a dramatic entrance!” said Marco.

Chapter 22

As it turned out, the Animorphs were standing just a few feet away, or sitting, depending on if they
were human or not. Aximili was also there. He was in Andalite form, but I couldn’t tell if he was
impressed or not. I knew he’d make ‘Prince Jake’ aware of how dangerous my little stunt was.
 “I wasn’t informed that you had another member,” said a voice to my left. I turned my head toward
the speaker only to see a stranger.
 < And I wasn’t informed that we had another ally. > I mimicked.
 I looked the stranger up and down. He was a human male, High School student, if I knew my human
xenobiology. He had brown hair, that fell just a little below his ears. At about five feet tall, he still
somehow managed to look taller. A kind of a shorter version of Prince Jake, you get the picture.
 I picked my tail up off the floor and began to stretch and move it. I was unconsciously trying to
intimidate him. Stretching did make it feel better, though.
 “Cynya, this is Erek. He’s got some information for us.” Said Prince Jake.
 I didn’t have time to come up with a clever comeback, because Erek immediately got back down to
business.
 “Now that your all hear, I’ll bring you all up to date. We have just recently discovered that the
Yeerks suspect that the ‘Andalite Bandits’ are posing as students at your school. So they decided to try
and discover if that was the case by making the entire school write essays, for a contest, on aliens, and-”

Marco cut Erek off in mid sentence. “I knew there was something weird going on when my English
teacher asked for us to write that essay.” He said snidely.
 < How is that supposed to tell them who’s an Andalite or not? > Tobias asked patiently.
 “As I was saying, then the Yeerks would determine who were the most likely candidates to be
Andalites and would then pronounce them as the winners of the contest.” Continued Erek, “There
would be a party thrown for all of those students, a Si-Fi party, where they will have-”
 < What is Si-Fi? > asked Aximili.
 < It’s not mentioned in the Almanac. > I said helpfully.
 Everyone sighed one of those ‘Why me?’ sighs, everyone but me and Ax, that is.
 “Si-Fi means science fiction,” Explained Prince Jake.
 < Ah, > said Aximili and me at the same time. Marco snickered.
 “Uh huh, now getting back to where I left off, the Yeerks are planing to throw a Si-Fi party,” Began
Erek. “And at that party, they are going to have state-of-the-art alien robots…”
 “So the Yeerks are having a Yeerk sale? Buy one get one free?” Marco asked innocently.
 “Finished yet Marco?” Asked Rachel in an oversweet voice.
 “Quite.” He told her.
 “Can we let Erek finish?” Asked Cassie. Jake just sighed.
 “Yes, can I finish?” Questioned Erek.
 “Alright, let’s get down to business, people. Erek? Could you continue?” said Prince Jake in his
I’m-in-charge-here voice.
 < Yes, Mother, > I said before I even knew the words were out of my head.
 Everyone but Ax giggled. Mentally I sighed with relief. What was I thinking, insulting Prince Jake? On
the other hand, why not? Marco does it all the time, so why should it be different if it’s me instead of
Marco doing the teasing?
 “I don’t know how you ever manage to survive.” Commented Erek.
 I replied. Another giggle arose from the Peanut Gallery.
 “Can we stick to the subject here?” asked an exasperated Prince Jake.
 “Okay, like I said before, at the party, the Yeerks will have state-of-the-art robot aliens, or as we all
know them, Hork-Bajir. Who ever reacts strangely at the sight of them-” Erek was cut off once again.
 “So you mean that if someone tries to stick straws up the Hork-Bajir’s noses that they’ll win a free
Yeerk?” asked Marco, being sure to give Erek his puppy-face of innocence. Everyone snickered, even
Jake.
 “Ha ha, very funny. Shall I continue?” asked Erek.
 < You may carry on, > I told him in a queenly fashion. Prince Jake shook his head while the others
laughed.
 “Like I was saying, anyone who acts strangely when the Hork-Bajir lumber in will get Yeerked. The
party is tonight in the gym, as your Vice Principal Chapman probably already told you. Did I already
mention that this party is to be hosted by the Sharing?” finished Erek.
 “Oh, how nice. Not only do we have to break up the party, but we get to have an audience of
innocence. I have only one question. Is the pizza going to have anchovies on it again? Last year that
ruined my appetite.” Said Marco, drawing a laugh from everyone but Aximili and me.

Chapter 23

Erek had to leave after he told us about the party. He said it was because he had signed up to help at
the party. He left saying that he wouldn’t miss our little side show for the world.
 < So, any ideas on how to bust up this party? > Asked Tobias.
 “I say you let me morph my elephant and I go stomp the gym flat. Problem solved.” Rachel said
optimistically.
 “And while your at it, make sure you stomp the school to, okay? ‘Cause I have a math test on
Monday that I’m not ready for.” Commented Marco.
 < Have you people ever heard of the word ‘subtle’? > questioned Tobias.
 “Even if we let Rachel wreck the gym, it wouldn’t stop the party. They’d just have it somewhere
else.” said Cassie in a calm voice.
 < And wouldn’t it look suspicious if an elephant stomped the gym before the dance? It’d only make
them think that the ‘Andalite Bandits’ really were posing as students. > I said. I had to add something to
this conversation. I only wish I had known what a gym was.
 “You have a point. If we all just make an appearance, you know, like we morph battle morphs and
break some tables or something, with all six of us there, they’ll think that we just don’t want them to get
more hosts. They’ll also think that we might not be posing as Jr. High students, because how would an
Andalite know what Si-fi is?” This was Prince Jake, of course.
 < What will happen to the humans who see the Hork-Bajir? > wondered Ax.
“The Yeerks will probably let them go, because they’ll be expecting state-of-the-art robots.” Said
Cassie.
 “But how are we going to get in? I thought that you had to be invited, and you can be sure that
they’re not going to say ‘Animorphs, party of seven, Animorphs party of seven please come to the front
desk.’” Said Marco in an announcer’s voice, drawing a laugh from his audience.
 All of the other Animorphs looked at Cassie expectantly. But before she could say a thing, Rachel
cut her off.
 “Melissa invited me to go with her, and I told her I was busy. But I could call her and say that I can
skip shopping for one night, and it wouldn’t be unusual if I dragged Cassie with me. The rest of you
could go in bug morph and we’d carry you to the bathroom or something.”
 “There is no way that I’m de-morphing in the girls bathroom, just no way.” Said Marco, eyes wide
and backing away in mock horror. But I wasn’t paying much attention, because I had heard the life
threatening word. Morph. I couldn’t morph. They had assumed I could. I should have done the smart
thing and told them I couldn’t morph. But I don’t always do the smart thing.
< If you’re going to be in bug morph and humans, then you should have back up. It’d take Ax at least a
minute to de-morph, so since I know humans better, I shouldn’t morph, I’ll sneak in. > I told them this
like I knew what I was talking about.
 Jake nodded. “Okay, Cynya will be back up, and the rest of us will morph bugs and de-morph after
Cassie and Rachel take us somewhere out of sight. Cynya will go through a classroom window and
fallow the hall until she gets to a door that says ‘Under stage storage’ When we go into battle morphs
she’ll go out of the stage door that leads into the gym and after we do some trashing we leave. Simple.”
Finished Jake.
 Marco groaned. “Every time a plans supposed to be simple, something terrible happens.” Everyone
laughed. Everyone but me.
 “Alright, we meet in the trees by the field half an hour into the party. I gotta go, my parent expect me
to eat dinner with the family tonight, and I have to find some way out of it.” Said Prince Jake, and left.
Rachel and Marco soon followed. Tobias flew out the rafters as Ax and I broke into a gallop. I had two
hours to come up with a bazillion excuses of why I wouldn’t be morphing.

Chapter 24

It was strange going to Prince Jake’s school, because one and a half weeks ago, or in reality thirteen
years ago, this has been a grassy meadow. It was the meadow that my parents created the diversion in
so I could launch Janix to the stars. Not that I told them that.
 “We have to hurry, I told Melissa that we’d be right back, and that was five minutes ago!”
whispered Rachel.
 < It’s not my fault that I got lost! You know that I can hardly see in this light! > Tobias whispered
back.
 “Now that everyone’s here, let’s get started.” Said Prince Jake.
 “Let’s do it!” Rachel yelled quietly.
 “We’re doomed.” Stated Marco.
 Then Marco, Jake, Tobias, and Aximili began morphing. They were going into their bug morphs.
They had decided on Fly morph, incase they needed to bail. Tobias shrunk to fly size immediately, so I
didn’t have to see him morph. But as I pointed a stalk-eye at Marco, his mouth became the mandibles
of a fly. Ooh, that was gross. I decided not to watch them morph.
 < I’m going in. > I said, and dashed across the field.
 I ran all the way to the classrooms, and then began looking for an open window. It didn’t take long,
but the window was awfully high up. I stretched my tail up as far as I could, and pushed the window. It
was the kind of window that’s on hinges, so it swung in toward the building.
 I backed up about fifty feet and then ran all out toward the open window. When I was only seven
feet away, I leapt! Up and through the window. And then down! I fell maybe five and a half, six feet.
When I hit the ground I froze. Had someone heard me?
 The halls were dead silent. No one had. I walked out of the room that was lined with books. When I
reached the hall, my hooves clicked quietly on the linoleum floor as I walked. I began to hear music
playing. The longer I walked, the louder it got. Before I knew it, I was at the door that said ‘Under
Stage Storage’ I turned the handle and stepped in. I closed the door and wound my way around boxes
and stage props until I was at the door that lead out to the gym. All I had to do now was wait.

Chapter 25

There was a small peephole in the door that I could see out of but no one could see in. When I
looked out, I saw anywhere from a hundred to a hundred and fifty people dancing in the dim light. In the
corners, I could just barely make out the shadows of the Animorphs, all of them more animal than
human to be recognized. Or in Aximili’s case more Andalite than human. Was that part of the plan? I
asked myself. But just then two adults approached the door.
 I backed away from the door and leapt into a corner behind a box just as the door creaked open.
 “Iniss 226, I know that we said that the top ten essay winners would be picked by the Hork-Bajir,
but what about the prizes the students were promised?” asked one of the adults.
 “They will be controllers Illum, they won’t need prizes.” Said the other. “And while were on the
school campus, I’m Chapman, got it Tidwell?”
 “Yessir. But the other students will be curious.” Said Tidwell.
 Chapman turned to glare at Tidwell. “Well, I’m sure that you you’ll figure something out. Now, let’s
check the pool entrance and get back out there.”
 With my stalk eyes just barely peeking over the box, I watched the two humans calmly walk over to
one of the walls facing away from the gym. Chapman put one of his hands on a wall panel that pushed
out of the wall. Why hadn’t I noticed that earlier? I wondered.
 As I watched, the side of the wall pulled back and to the side. I could see a dim glow emitting from
the place where a wall had once stood. And to my horror, I could hear the cries and pleas for help,
wafting up from what I knew must be a Yeerk pool below.
 Chapman gave an order and the door closed. The screams were cut short.
 “Come on, let’s go.” Said Chapman. Tidwell followed him back onto the gym.
Several minutes passed as my mind raced.
 A Yeerk Pool? Here? Right under the very floor I stood on? I found myself suddenly wishing I had
wings. Did the other Animorphs know? Should I tell them? My thoughts were cut off when I heard the
crash sounding from the gym.
 BANG! KA-FWAP! Yip! Rrrrroooooaarrrrrrr! FWAPP!
 < The Animorphs are coming, the Animorphs are coming! > Shouted Marco.
 < Yee-Ha! > That was unmistakably Rachel.
 < Careful not to hurt Anybody! > Cautioned Cassie
 < Here come the Hork-Bajir! > Definitely Tibias.
 <T hey Have Dracon Beams! Try not to make them shoot, they might hit a bystander! > said Prince
Jake.
 I jumped over the box that I had been hiding behind and over to the peephole. As I peered through,
I could see the Animorphs and Aximili smashing tables and decorations, and I also saw the controllers
with their energy weapons raised as ten Hork-Bajir raced into the room. And surprisingly, the crowd of
humans was going wild with applause and excitement as they watched ‘the most life-like robots they had
ever seen,’ perform an amazing act before there very eyes.
 I was itching to join in on the demolishing of the equipment, so I searched the room for an opening so
I could slip out of my hiding place. I saw the controller. He looked a little like Jake, maybe they were
related or something. And this controller was aiming a Dracon Beam….strait at Prince Jake’s head.

Chapter 26

Well, you were looking for an excuse to leave this closet. I told myself. I arched my tail back and
brought it forward and cut the hinges right off of the door. I gave it a hard kick with my hind legs and the
door fell with a loud Ka-BANG!
 A few heads turned, but most stayed focused on the fruitless attempts of the Hork-Bajir to catch the
Circus Gone Mad. I broke into a gallop and ran headlong at the controller I had spotted. Easier said
than done. I could hardly stand up on the smoothly polished wood of the gym. I slipped and slided like a
lunatic, but never the less, I was heading toward the controller, and I was moving fast.
 < Cynya! Morph something small! This is our show! > called Prince Jake. Even if I could morph, I
would have ignored him. I finally got my feet together and leapt at the controller. He saw me at the last
minute. The last minute was too late.
FWA-THUNK! I brought my tail down on his Dracon Beam to chop it in half and—it suck! The
Dracon Beam was stuck to my tail blade! How embarrassing! But I did get it out of his hands, and
that’s what matters, right?
 < Cynya! I said Morph! > Prince Jake again. But he was the least of my problems.
 A Hork-Bajir advanced on me, just like I always imagined one would. Only in my dreams, my tail
had never been stuck to a Dracon Beam.
 < Uh-oh, > I said to no one.
 The Hork-Bajir attacked with a hoarse bellow. His wrist blade arced down, aiming for my head or
shoulders. But there was one thing he wasn’t counting on. I thank the galaxy females are more agile,
because if I had been a millisecond later, I would have been sliced in two. I dodged as quick as
lightning only to bring by tail down on the back of his head.
 < Ouch! I always knew Hork-Bajir had rocks for brains! Jeeze! I nearly broke my tail! > I
complained as the Hork-Bajir controller slumped to the floor. But as soon as he hit the ground, another
one came at me. Before I knew it I had been driven into a corner.
 < Alright! As soon as we smash the soda machine, I want Cynya to morph something small! Let’s
go! >
 < Right behind you, Fearless Leader! >
SSSMASH! A large box that had been a drink dispenser had mysteriously become pieces of a drink
dispenser. The Hork-Bajir turned their heads to see what had happened. I was desperate.
What should I do? I couldn’t follow Prince Jake’s order, that was for sure. Then the very small part of
my brain that’s sensible spoke up. Why don’t I just call for help?
 < Cynya, Morph! > Called Cassie. I guess she had been looking in my direction.
 < Uh….um…. > Like I said, a very small part, because just then I did something totally unthinkable,
totally stupid. I brought my tail around at knee-highth (knee highth for a Hork-Bajir, that is) and tripped
the two alien controllers. They fell back on they’re rears and I used them for a springboard. Up and
over the spectators, right into the center of the Animorphs.
< Lookie mommy! A flying Andalite! > Obviously Marco.
 I yelled.
 < What are you doing?! Prince Jake said to morph! > Ax said, in an almost hysterical voice.
 < Uh…. > I didn’t exactly know what to say. Should I tell them….?
 < What!? > They all sounded frustrated, defiantly not good.
 I shouted desperately.
 < Now you tell us! >Rachel yelled at me. Even if I survived this battle, I’d be dead before morning.
 < Do you think you could have told us this minor detail before we decided to go through with this
suicidal mission? > Asked Marco.
 < Uh…ha-ha? > I replied.
 < Run for it! > Screamed Cassie.

Chapter 27

< Run for it! > Yelled Cassie. It’s not like her to take command, but everyone agreed. The other
Animorphs began a mad dash toward the exit. All except Marco.
 Marco took advantage of the situation by throwing his hands up in the and running in circles. < I’m
running I’m running I’m running away! > He called out. Then I guess he noticed the charging Hork-Bajir.
< Ahh! Exit, stage left! >He turned and ran.
 Now probably wasn’t the time to laugh, but I couldn’t help it. The scene before me was just
unbearable. There was Marco, in his gorilla morph, Hands straight up in the air, running in circles, in a
Basket Ball court-turned-ballroom, surrounded by humans, howling with laughter at our near death
experience. Now tell me your not laughing.
 I had stayed to watch his performance, so when he ran past me, I couldn’t help it. < Marco, that
door’s that way. > I said, pointing in the other direction, toward the fleeing Animorphs. Marco stopped
in midstride.
< Oh, yeah, I knew that. > He said as he shot past me again. I cantered after him and would have
laughed, but now wasn’t the time.
 < Wrong way! > Yelled Jake as four Hork-Bajir blocked our only escape route.
 < Huh?! > Asked Rachel, in grizzly morph, and from what I’ve heard, grizzlies have terrible eyesight.
 I must have heard right, because Rachel didn’t even notice them until she ran into one. < Next time
tell me when there’s a Hork-Bajir in front of me! > She yelled as the Hork-Bajir controllers leapt at my
friends.
Marco and I were following behind the others, and by the time we reached the battle scene the rest of
the Animorphs were almost finished with the giant salad shooters.
 With his hands still held high over his head in the air, Marco ran straight through the fighting
Animorphs.
 < I’m outta hear! > he shouted above the wild cheering of the spectators.
 < Right behind you! > I called after him, dashing madly through the chaotic battle.
 < Marco, Stop! > Yelled Prince Jake.
 < Watch out for the- >
WHUMPH!
 < -Door. > Finished Cassie.
 < Door? What door? > I asked. I had been to preoccupied to notice that the Gym even had doors. I
had to ask. In mid stride my hoof got caught on something. I tripped and fell.
 < Oh, that door, > I said, staring at a dent that strangely resembled a gorilla with it’s hands held in the
air. I began to rise from where I’d fallen.
 < Duck! > Shouted Aximili from behind me. I ducked my upper body as low as it could go, and saw
a tail blade whip over me just centimeters above my back, only to slice a Taxxon in two.
 < Nice, > I told him in an impressed voice. I was rewarded by a quick flash of a smile. I could have
fainted.
 < Retreat! > shouted Price Jake, as he leaped over me. I scrambled to my hooves as the hoard of
Animorphs flew past. I dashed madly into the forest, hot on the heels of the circus gone mad.
 We stopped so that the humans could de-morph and re-morph into birds. As soon as they got into
the air, I began to gallop toward Ax’s Scoop, and Aximili ran ahead. I knew that what awaited me at
the scoop would not be pretty.

Chapter 28

At Ax’s scoop, I waited politely for the teens’ with a death wish to de-morph. Then I felt an
overwhelming urge to throw myself at their feet and immediately start begging for mercy.
 < It’s not my fault that I can’t morph! Ya’see, Daddyonlygave Janix theability an’ it’snot myfault that
Andalitesthink femalesare the weakerhalf of the spiecies! It’s not my fault, IT’S NOT MY FAULT! > I
babbled hysterically.
 I got up from my ridiculous position at their feet and regained my composure. Then, wiping an
imaginary tear from one main eye, I sniffed, 
 Marco had already lost it and was laughing hysterically, and from the look in the others eyes, they
had obviously never seen a groveling Andalite before. Behind them, Aximili had a distinctly
embarrassed expression on his face, and I couldn’t help but feeling sorry for him. I could see how I
must have looked, on my knees with my face in the dirt, hands thrown out before me, and my tail lying
limp on the ground. I wonder if there’s a new rule on the homeworld that forbids groveling before a
primitive species.
 “Ooooookay. I really hope that I only imagined what just happened.” Said Rachel, giving me the
‘evil eye’.
 “I..haha…saw i..haha..it too!” Marco was barely able to get that out before being consumed by
another laughing fit. All of a sudden I felt discreetly embarrassed. Here I was, the only female for the
next hundred light-years, in front of one of the cutest guys in the galaxy, and I was groveling to a bunch
of human teens. I tell you, my life is just a joke I don’t get.
“We have a blue box, you know. If you had told us before the mission, we could have given you the
power to morph,” Cassie said kindly.
I could have hit myself. They never told me that they had an Escafil devise! I’d have used it on myself
by now if I had known that they had one!
 < Cynya, What’s that stuck to your tail? > asked Tobias from a near by tree.
I pulled my tail around in front of me, so that everyone could see in the fading light.
 < Oh, I had forgotten all about that. It’s a Dracon beam. Someone had it pointed at Prince Jake and
was about to shoot. That’s why I left my hiding place. > I pried the offending weapon off of my tail and
examined it. It was much more advanced than the hunks of junk I was used to seeing. It then occurred
to me that the humans didn’t know it was broken.
I quickly spun the thing around and aimed it directly at Marco’s head. And fired.
 “Tsssst!” It sounded a lot like the bug zapper at the human campsites that I’d seen. That didn’t stop
Marco from screaming.
 “What do you think you’re doing! You could have blown my irresistible face into bits of an
irresistible face!” He shouted in an almost hysterical voice. I snickered, unable to stop myself.
Rachel shook her head and sighed wistfully. “To bad it didn’t work, you’d be a lot more popular with
the girls if you didn’t have a mouth to go ‘Yak yak yak’ with all of the time with.”
 “Well, tomorrow’s Saturday, so if we all go to Ax’s scoop, Cassie will bring the Blue Box and we’ll
use it on you.” Said Prince Jake. He was obviously tired, he hadn’t even bothered to tell me not to call
him ‘Prince’.
 I muttered, getting a giggle from everyone and another laughing fit
from Marco. I guess he still wasn’t quite over the groveling thing.
 “I have to go, I promised to feed the animals tonight, and they’ll be hungry,” The others soon came
up with their own excuses to leave and before I knew it, I was on my way back home. When I reached
my scoop, the last thing I remember thinking before I fell asleep was that I’d have to tell the Animorphs
about the Yeerk Pool entrance, before the Yeerks came up with another plan to lure students down to
the pool. In the morning. I’d tell them in the morning…