Korjig: The Second Andalite

By: Korei

CHAPTER ONE

   Korjig ran over the grass and jumped the stream. He turned around and faced Fortet.  He was enjoying his last days on the Home-World before he would be called to go to war.
    {Ha! Beat that!} He said happily to Fortet.
    {Sure} She ran delicately but fast over the grass and leaped over the stream and landed gracefully.
    {Aww!) Korjig complained. Then as an afterthought, {I bet when I defeat the Yeerks and come back as a hero, I’ll jump higher and better than you!} He walked away, staring at her with his eye stalks. He could see her distaste. He stuck his tail up at her and started running. {I’ll show you! Just wait!}

    {Father?} Korjig arrived home as his father woke up to feed.
    {Yes? Is it about the war?}
    Korjig sighed. {Yes. I don’t want to leave you and mother here alone. And I’m frightened about what happened to Zakira. You know, how he was caught and tortured. Then survived and escaped. Then was killed.}
    His father smiled. He stepped to his feet and looked down on his young and strong son. {Hahaha! Listen, Korjig! You are strong, clever, fast and deadly! If I was a Yeerk, I’d fear you greatly! You WILL survive.}
    At that very moment, six warriors and a captain walked in to his scoop. {Who is Korjig?} The captain demanded.
    {I am.} Korjig stuck his chin up and broadened his shoulders.
    {You have been called for. You must come now. Dome Ship YeerkDeath was destroyed. It’s twin model, YeerkBane, is ready. For you.}
    Korjig’s father ushered him forward. {Go.} That was the last Korjig ever saw of him as he was taken away.

    The YeerkBane was huge. Larger that Korjig’s family’s territory. He gazed about in awe as he was brought into it and shown his quarters. They were tiny and he could only just fit himself in. He turned around and set up
his parent’s holograms, then planted his Wish Flower for a little brother in the small area of dirt in the corner.
Zakira would have been proud of his brother, he thought.
    {Aristh Korjig! Report to Prince Allinto in the Dome immediately!}
    The thought-speak voice startled him and he jumped. {I’ll be there soon.} He yelled back.
    It was a fairly long walk to the Dome. Corridor after corridor after corridor.  He arrived about five minutes later,
running all the way. {Where is Prince Allinto?} He panted.
    {Hmmm. Not a good way to start your tail-fighting lessons Aristh Korjig, eh? Allinto’s over there.} The Dome guard pointed with his tail to a small area where another Aristh was finishing training.
    {Hello, Prince Allinto.} Korjig said calmly.
    {About time. You are five minutes late!} He sneered. Korjig got the impression that his teacher was NOT going to be a nice person to be with.
    {Hi.} He said privately to the other Aristh. {I’m Korjig.}
    {I’m Neveti. I’ll meet you over at that Hala Fala tree over there after your lesson.}

CHAPTER TWO

    The lesson was worse that he had thought. Allinto had tormented him and hit him over the side of the head with the flat side of his tail. He walked bruised, dazed and thinking joining the military was a REALLY bad idea, over to Neveti.
    {What’s your name, Korjig? Anyway, come over here!} It was Neveti. {About time. You are five minutes
late!} She imitated Allinto and they laughed.
    {Did he whack you over the head?} Korjig, still giggling, asked his new-found friend.
    {No. Why? Oh, he hit you.} She spotted his bruises and ran a finger over them.
    {Oww!} Korjig slapped her fingers away. Neveti looked stunned, but relaxed a few seconds after.  Korjig’s stomach rumbled.
    {I’m hungry. Wanna go for a run?} He ran fast over the ground, gathering speed, then leapt high over the river... and crashed into a tree.
    {KORJIG!!!} Neveti ran over the ground, exactly the same way as Fortet had done, and leaped over the river like Fortet. {Korjig.}
    He could see stars now. {Lots o’ pwetty staaws. Me feel... uuhhh.}
    Neveti yelled at everyone. {Jeez! Would somebody come over here and help my poor friend here! If you want him to fight one day then I need you here NOW!}
    {Not that he’ll live through my training to fight.} Somebody mumbled.
    Neveti shook her head. {Three guesses who that was.}

CHAPTER THREE

    The doctors on board the ship took Korjig to the medical centre. Neveti followed them all the way through the
massive ship. {PLEASE! Tell me if he’s going to be okay!}
    One of the doctors stopped and swivelled his eye stalks around and leered at her. {Listen Aristh. Go away. If you want your little friend here to get well again go back to the Dome. Or your quarters. Or where ever you go off to.} He said sternly.
    Shocked, she stepped back and ran off. She ran a few hundred feet then thought Where am I? Walking slower now, she peered round a corner and gasped.
    The Bridge.
    How could I have been so stupid? She asked herself.
    One of the Andalites heard her arrive. {Captain Frinthsic, I do believe you have a visitor.} The captain turned around and glared at her.
    {Ahh. You are Aristh Neveti-Sumalot-Fitsak, is that right?}
    Neveti trembled. Shaking with fright, she managed to say, {Y-y-yes. I-I am.}
    Captain Frinthsic laughed. His old eyes twinkled. {I remember when I did that too, Aristh. It was my first day in the military and I forgot how to get to my quarters so I ran around and ended up at the bridge.} He showed her a large scar on his left foreleg. {At least ONE captain is kind enough to let you off. And if you need any assistance some other time, just ask somebody.} He turned back around. {Off you go.}
    Neveti lowered her torso in an awkward bow and crept off backwards. She turned back around at the nearest turn and continued down the hallway. A few minutes later she ran into a Warrior.
    {Uhh, can you please tell me where the sick bay is?} She smiled at him and he sneered back.
    {Why should I tell you?} He asked way-too-up-himselfly.
    {Captain said. Exact words: And if you need any assistance some other time, just ask somebody.}
    {Ahh. Continue down this hallway. Turn left at the cross-section. Just go down there a little way and there. You’re bound to see it. Bye.}
    Neveti followed her instructions and went to see Korjig.

CHAPTER FOUR

    Korjig was almost fine when she got there. Almost. He thought he was Visser One. Bad. Very bad.
    {Aha! I am the second Andalite-controller! I will be promoted into the Council of Thirteen!}
    A horde of warriors rushed into the sick bay, mystified about Korjig’s cry. {Have we captured Visser One?!} A young warrior asked.
    The doctor laughed. {No, no! A careless Aristh jumped into a tree. Poor thing, thinking he’s one of the worst people existing.}
    {Neveti, take him to his quarters and don’t let him come out for ten hours. He needs sleep. Bring him some water and liquefied grass every four hours.}
    {Yes.}
    Neveti struggled to take him to his quarters. He was kicking her all the way and after she had locked his door she thought, he’s almost as bad as Allinto.
SSSSCCCCREEEEEEEEEEET!!! SSSSCCCREEEEEEEEEET!!! The alarm startled her.
    {WARRIORS AND PRINCES TO THE FIGHTER BAY. YEERK SHIPS HAVE BEEN SPOTTED ONE
HUNDRED THOUSAND MILES AWAY.}
    Suddenly the corridor was alive with rushing warriors and princes, rushing to the Fighter bays. They were NOT going to lose the YeerkBane without a fight. No way.
    A shout from Korjig’s quarters. {Umm, hello? I seem to have locked myself in.}
    Neveti sighed and opened the door. {Okay?}
    {Yes. I had this strange dream that I was Visser One and I had taken over myself. Then I was dragged through the hall of the PoolShip by an executioner and I was almost crushed by very tight walls. What? Why are you
laughing? It seemed too real to laugh at.}
    Neveti was guffawing away madly. She fell over with laughter. {Oh. Sorry.} She got up and brushed the dust from her arms.
    {I’m still hungry. Even after the tree incident.}
    So together, they strolled into the Dome, unaware that a great adventure had just begun.

CHAPTER FIVE

    Korjig and Neveti watched the battle in the Dome. Two Fighters were destroyed in the worst part of the fight. But Fighters 25B and 26B saved the day. Both of the wary arisths let out a sigh at the end as the Yeerks were
driven away. Again the dropshafts were full and the hallways were full. The Dome was suddenly busy with feeding and happy Andalites.
    Allinto sauntered came up to them. {So.} He said proudly. {Did you see the wonderful job I did? I burned some
slugs out there!} He boasted.
    {Were you in 25B or 26B?} Korjig questioned.
    {26B. I was the hero!}  Allinto crowed.
    Both the arisths swapped glances and raised eyebrows.
    {Fantastic! Prince Allinto? I owe you my life.} Korjig lowered his head. Neveti did so as well.
    {I grovel at your hooves, mighty prince. May you live long and win many battles.}
    {You may rise, and eat.} Allinto quickly hid behind a large tree before Korjig or Neveti could rise.
    {Hahahahahahahaha! Did you hear him! He believed our grovelling! Old fool!} Neveti squealed.
    {Hahaha! Shh, don’t call him a fool.} Korjig said quietly. {But I think it was pretty funny as well. I mean, I grovel at your hooves! Pff. He’s one gullible Andalite!}
    {HOW DARE YOU!} Allinto sprung out from behind the tree.
    FWAPP!
    {AAAAAAAHHHHH!}
    FWAPP!
    {AAAAAAAHHHHH!}
    As quick as a flash Allinto made a deep cut in Korjig’s left cheek and Neveti’s right cheek. {You...you...you prince of horribility! AAAAAAAHHHHH!!} Neveti screamed.
    {Medic!} Allinto yelled.
    A little team of doctors came running up. {What? You again?!} The head doctor asked.
    {Yes. AAAAHHHHH! I’ll get my own back Allinto! Just you wait and see, just you wait!}

CHAPTER SIX

    It had been a bad day, especially for Korjig. Both him and Neveti had to live in the sick bay for two weeks.
    {Thank you, for taking such great care of us. We wish to repay you one day.} Neveti thanked the doctors as they left.
    Slowly, since their muscles were stiff from barely moving for two weeks, they both trotted to the dome.
    {PRINCES AND WARRIORS TO THE FIGHTER BAYS!  YEERK SHIPS HAVE BEEN DETECTED COMING OUT OF ZERO SPACE ONE LIGHTYEAR AWAY.}
    {Get to the side!} Neveti cried as hundreds of Andalites ran past them, all yelling. Again Korjig and Neveti watched the battle through the dome. {NO!} They shouted in unison. In one big flash of light, there was then only
one fighter left. It was fighter 23E.
    The fighter belonging to Janaro.
    The most inexperianced pilot on the YeerkBane.
    {No, no, no. This CAN’T happen.} Korjig muttered in despair.
    {But it has. It has. Neveti? This may be the last time I ever see you. If so, good luck.} Korjig turned and ran.
    Wait! Where are you going?}
    {I’m going to save our lives! Goodbye!}
    Korjig ran along the corridors, following the red lights to the fighter bays. He had never been to the fighter bays
before. For a few seconds, he gazed around in awe at the last fighter remaining.
    {Oh, garn.[*Author’s Note: thanks for the word, DeathGrip!] If I ever get through this, I am going to be in deep trouble.} Korjig ran to fighter 2G, climbed in and got hold of the controls.
    {Computer? Power up. Prepare weapons. Prepare for ejection. Medium burn in ten, nine, eight...}

CHAPTER SEVEN

    {Three, two, one, GAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARN!!!} Korjig screamed as he flew from the bay into space. His eyes opened wide. He was flying, flying!
    {Computer, open communication to fighter 23E.}
    A worried Andalite face appeared on a viewscreen. {Who are you?}
    {I’m aristh Korjig. I know I’m disobeying the law, but I don’t wanna die! Let’s get mean!}
    Then Korjig saw what he was up against. A black shape slid stealthily through the background. A little red flash told them the Blade ship’s weapons were powering up. {Janaro? Fire at that Blade ship. All weapons at
once. One, two, weapons power up, three! FIRE!!}
    {FIRE!}
    TTTTSSSAAAPPP!
    TTTTSSSAAAPPP!
    Eight twin green beams of light shot through space...and only Korjig’s four found their target. {VEER LEFT, JANARO!} Korjig cried as a red line shot towards them.
    {YAAAH!}
    The Dracon beam hit Korjig’s wing.
    {Help!} He yelled as the fighter spun through space.
    {Garn!} He screamed as a torn piece of metal ripped a hole in his side. Blood started spurting out. {Help me! Help me! I’m gonna die!} Korjig’s fighter drifted slowly past the dome.
    {Nooooo!} Korjig heard a faint cry.
    {Neveti? I love you...} He sobbed weakly.
    A flash of light!
    A tiny Andalite was lying on the grass, wriggling. And older female Andalite scooped him into her arms and rubbed her palm against his cheek.
    {Yes, little Korjig-Zaranki-Tepako. I see you!}
    {He-hewo?} The baby crooned at his mother.
    {Oh...}
    FLASH!
    {Come on Korjig! You can morph it!} Korjig saw himself morph for the first time into a Kafit bird. {Look! I’m Korjig the kafit bird!}
    FLASH!
    Korjig was at the present. {Huh? I-I’m morphing!}
    And he was. Green feathers grew from his skin. Eight bones flew from between his arms to his fore legs. Then he realised.
    {The pain’s almost gone!}
    He morphed the rest of the way. Then demorphed.
    He was fine.
    {Thank you!} He yelled out to everyone.

CHAPTER EIGHT

    Korjig and his fighter were rescued. Even though he told the doctors he was fine, they took him to the sick bay for the third time in those two months. He received a long check up and the doctors were amazed he had no injuries.
    {How did you manage not to have any injuries?} The head doctor, Hakeran, asked him.
    {I did have a huge hole in my side!}
    {That would have been fatal!} Hakeran cried. {And yet you have no mark! And your scar is gone! How did you do this?}
    {I morphed a Kafit bird. The hole just covered up and skin swept across it. It was...}
    {Amazing, Korjig! I think you have just discovered a way for fatally injured soldiers to recover! If they are too weak to morph, we can force-morph them. Incredible! I announce this treatment, Korjig’s Remedy!} [*Author’s note: This story is based about three years after the morphing technology was invented. So they didn’t know that
morphing would heal wounds.]
    The captain came in and asked for a private word with Korjig. {Korjig, do you realise what you did out there
was COMPLETELY INSANE!!!} He shouted. {AND BECAUSE YOU DID THAT…}
    {You’ll expell me from the military.} Korjig finished for him.
    {No. What I was going to say is you’ll be promoted to a warrior, Warrior Korjig.}
    {Captain? Um, don’t we need a ceremony?}
    {Well, because we have no crew, I don’t think so. But we are joining up with the VisserDeath tomorrow. We can have your ceremony there.} Captain Yarranj walked to the door. {Oh, and Korjig?}
    {Yes, Captain?}
    {You can call me Yarranj. I owe you my life. Also, I think you’ll be promoted again to a prince sooner or later, with fighting like that. Good luck, friend.}

    The joining with the VisserDeath was not happy, but sad. Only one hundred and three Andalites escaped death on the YeerkBane.
    {Aristh Korjig, do you accept the responsibility of being a warrior? Will you serve your captain faithfully? Will you serve the people?} Corim, the Promotioner asked solemnly.
    {I do.}
    {You have been officially promoted to a warrior, Korjig. We will record this in our logs so it is not forgotten.}
    The gathering of Andalites were dissmissed. Korjig saw the first of Neveti he had seen since the fight.
    {Korjig!}
    {Neveti!}
    They ran together and brushed each other’s cheeks. Neveti interwined her tail with Korjig’s. {I thought you were dead when you flew over the dome.} Neveti sobbed. {Korjig, I-I...}
    {I love you too, shorm.} [*Author’s note: Awww! Ain’t that sweet?!] They strolled together into the YeerkBane’s dome and watched VisserDeath glide away. Korjig was high in the clouds. He not only had found a cure to fatal
injuries, he had discovered the meaning for his life!

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