Matrix Trilogy

Part One- Remembrance

Chapter 1: Kara

     We were all gathered by the beach.  The strangepart was, I didn't know how I got there.  Seriously, I mean, I was justpunching the heck out of a punching bag, watching a late night viewing of JerrySpringer, when suddenly, I saw a big flash, and I was at the beach.  I lookedaround me, and saw Cassie, Jake, Ax, Marco, Tobias, Ax, and a sleeping Rachel. Marco looked very annoyed.
    "You know Kara," he said.  "We people of Earth,have this thing called a telephone!   You know the thing that you pick upand dial a code and it automatically connects you to that person?  It'sa lot more efficient than
waking us all up!"
    "I didn't do this!" I said, wondering how many inches thick his skull was."I think I know what's going on,"  Just then, my suspicions were confirmed.
    < My fellow yeerks! > a giant thought speak voice boomed out.
    "Is that Visser 3?" asked Rachel, who had just woken up.  I nodded.
     "Stay here," I whispered to all of them.  Then I crept slowly through the woods.  I came to a small clearing.  There stood Visser3 with several controllers around him.
    < Today, is the day, we celebrate victory!  By using the time matrix, I will go back in time, find out information about the andalite bandits location.Then when I come back, we destroy them!!  I have the time matrix programmed so that it will show me every bandit's past.  I will have more information onthem than they have about themselves! >  He continued on a little more, but I didn't stay to listen.  I flew through the woods, running as fast as Ipossibly could.  I reached the spot where I had left the others.
    "MORPH TO BIRD NOW!!" I screamed, halfway in morph.  "Don't ask, just do!!"The second they were completed I told them to follow me. We all flew at top speed.  I was so thankful the wind was working with us.  I saw Visser 3 still making his speech.  Thank GOD  yeerks have to make a bigspeech out of everything.
     < listen guys, >  I said in a rush.  < When I giveword, fly top speed into the portal you see down there, ok? >  They all muttered their agreement.  < Good, >  I said.  < GO >  we dove.
    < What on- NO! >  I heard Visser 3 scream as I entered the portal and felt itclose behind me.  Suddenly, I was on the ground, demorphed.  A blue cave typething surrounded me.  I saw the others, also demorphed scattered at randomplaces around the cave.
     < Princess Kara > Ax said.  < Do you believe thatwe are in- >  I didn't' let him finish.
    "It's just Kara" I said.  "and no I don't think,I know.  We are in the crossroads of the time matrix.  Visser 3 reprogrammed it so its shows are history."
    Ax widened his eyes.  < are you saying that he has reprogrammed the time matrix to go back to our memories? >
     "Actually," I said.  "More correctly, I'm saying that he had reprogrammed the time matrix to show our most painful memories,you know, so he can use it against us."
    "Wait a minute," chimed in Tobias.  "Are you saying that everybody's going to revisit everyone's most painful memories."  He looked like he was going to beslightly sick.  I knew he hadn't had an exactly sugar coated childhood, butstill, it was nothing compared to what I had gone through.
    "No," I said.  "Actually, we'll all revisit our memories privately.  We'll bein this alone,"  That fact made everyone sick to their stomach.  You know theold saying "When you become captain, don't forgot what it was like to be a skipper," was not always true.  I knew where I had been, and I never, EVER,EVER want to go revisit that.  But I couldn't tell them that.  That justwouldn't do at all.  "But look on the bright side," I said.  "They'll show themost important moments in your life.  Some of those things have to be good,"Not for me, but maybe for the rest of them.
     < Princess Kara > Ax started again.  Then I had an idea.
     "Ax, I Princess Kara command you to stop callingme Princess Kara.  From now on, I will be referred to as Kara, understood?" Isaid using my royal voice I got when I directed the high armies back at thestation.
     < As you wish Kara > Ax said.  Jake gasped.
     "How did you do that?" he asked, eyes wide.  Iknew how he felt.
     Ax answered him.  < Kara is a princess by faith. It was known long before she was ever born.  She gets to choose her title. You, Prince Jake, have had to work to get your title, therefore, it cannot be removed. >  Jake took a deep breath.  All of a sudden, a big flash of lightsmothered Rachel.
     "What the?" she screamed.  Suddenly, she wasn'tthere anymore.
     "Rachel?" Tobias gasped.  Suddenly, the samething happened to him.  A few moments later, only Ax and I were left. Suddenly, I felt a sharp pain, and saw a bright light.  Then I realized, I too was to embark on my journey.

 Chapter 2: Cassie

    I really didn't have anything to fear.  I had always had a good childhood,unlike Tobias.  I was getting slightly cocky.  I really was counting on this being a very short  mission.  As the light engulfed me, I closed my eyes.  Igrabbed  my stomach.  I twinge of pain passed briefly through me.  Suddenly, Iblacked out.
     When I awoke, I was sitting in my barn.  Fromthe animals I saw in there, I figured it was about a year ago, about the timewhen we started fighting the yeerks.  Just then, I entered. I sat very still, hoping that this past version of me wouldn't notice me.  To my surprise, she walked right through me.
    "Good," I muttered to myself."people have no awarity of me here,"  Then I heard a car pull up.  I lookedout the door.  My parents car were gone.  In place, was a police officer.Then I recognized the officer, the controller who
had been suspicous about me,and took me to the yeerk pool right after we had been given the power tomorph.  I remebered what had happened to him.  Uh oh.
     The old Cassie looked slightly scared, but hidit very well.  "Can I help you?" she asked.  Without speaking, the policeofficer pushed her to the ground, and handcuffed her.  She tried to scream,but It was no use.  He
gagged her, and pushed her to the car.  I jumpedinto it.
     "What are you going to do to me," Cassie asked,as the gag came off.
     "Taking you to a place where you'll never maketrouble again," he said turning around. We drove for about fifteen minutes, until we reached the back of a building.Then the controller pulled out a dracon beam.
    "This can kill you in a slowand painful way, so you don't make any noise, and you'll live,"  Cassie noddedher head quickly, staring at the Dracon beam with a new fear.  He grabbed herwrist roughly, and dragged her through the door.
    I remember being there.  Oh, Lord I was soterrified.  I thought for sure that I was going to be made a controller, andtell the secret of my friends, making them into controllers as well.  That wouldbe the end of the world as
we know it.   Plus, I was scared I was nevergoing to ever see the people I cared about again.  My parents, My best friendRachel, Jake.  At that moment, I felt more sick than I did when I was actuallyin that situation.  When I was first put in the situation, I didn't have time tothink about what was going to happen, or what might happen, or what didhappen.  I knew the outcome, and let me tell you, I still have night mares overthat one.
     Cassie stopped crying as she reached the doorsto the yeerk pool.  I remember that I stopped because I didn't want to give themthe satisfaction of knowing that they scared me. She was lead down to the infestation dock.  I closed my eyes, trying to shutout the terror.  When I opened them, I saw Jake and the other animorphs inmorphs coming to rescue me.  I watched myself join the fight.  I won't go intodetail on that one.  It was also something I don't want to remember.  But evenworse was what followed.  I noticed that the police controller who had broughtme here had escaped up the stairs.  I followed him in horse morph. He ran out the back door, through the woods. Cassie followed him easily.  Itwas no challenge.  She was a horse, he was human.
     They both stopped when hecame to a dead end at the dam overlook.  He turned to stare at her. "Human!" He cried.  "I saw you morph.  I'll get an upgrade from the Visser for this one!"  I remember the sick feeling that
came with all the fear.  Isaw my hind quarters bunch up, then I charged.  I saw the controller fall backinto the dam.  I burst into tears at that point. I remebered not being ableto take my eyes off  him, as he tumbled down into
the dam.  The fall alonekilled him, but what the body went through is to disgusting for words.  I felldown now, sobbing.  It was so horrible!  I didn't even notice as the imagesfaded around me into the blue cave.  I waited
anxiously- waiting to see if anew picture, a memory, formed again.  My questions were soon answered.

Chapter 3: Kara

     I wanted to die.  My god, the pain was sointense!  It felt like the time I had my stomach ripped out in the battle againstthe Yerdts. I morphed, of course, and made it all better, but it waspainful all the same. And at the same time, I was feeling almost guilty.  I hadomittted some very important information while talking to the others aboutthis whole thing.  See, Visser 3's engineers really didn't know what they weredoing.  So they all would get
one painful memory, and the other memory theywould get would be one of the better things that happened to them, only it showa future of pain.  For instance, if Tobias saw the day he met Rachel, hemight see a possible
outcome, a very….shall we say, grosteque lookingone.
     The images as well as the pain stopped.  Irecognized it perfectly.  It was the space station at which I lived.  You see,most andalites lived on the Andalite Home World. However, some of the higher Prince's live on a war base located in orbitaround one of the moons.  That's where I lived.  Every generation, one girl is born strictly for war, human girl that is.  She's taken from her family when she is very young, erased from their memory, and then is raised, knowing exactlywhat she's here for, but never really knowing who she is.  I was only toldthe story of my parent's love.  Nothing else.  Until I got moved to earth,I didn't even know I had a brother.
    I watched as I entered the space station.  I  nearly laughed at myself.  I waswearing an outfit that made Cassie's wardrobe look like Kate Moss's.  It was two pieces of "my-Easter-egg-threw-up green material, sown together to looksomething like a skirt.  I had a really long, matching top.  The whole outfitlooked like a three-year-old had made it.  My long hair, which was even longer at the time, was brushed neatly, and hung down myshoulders.
     < Kara > Alloran's voice rang out.  This was before Alloran left, and was made Visser 3.
    "Yes," Kara said coldly.  I cringed.  I had such an attitude at this point.I knew where this was going.
     "And who told you that?" Kara demanded snottily. "One of your little spies? Or did the general snitch on me again?"
     < Kara > Alloran's voice warned me sternly.  < Youhave been told many times not to use your powers against our people.  Why! I've also had reports that you've sent artish's flying into the waste holderusing telepathic powers. >
     Kara's mouth widened with shock, her facedripping with innocents as she said, "They were saying that girls didn't belongin the military, what was I going to do, sit and take it?"
    < Part of a war princess's responsibilities are too- >
    "Oh, wait, I know this one!" Kara interrupted him, counting off her fingers,a sarcastic look on her face.  "Lets see here, protect the innocent, respectall living things, self control, Letting people walking all over you,"
    < Kara! > he said again, his voice stern.  < You cannot control your destiny.  Awar princess must either follow the rules, or be put to death! >
    "Go ahead then," Kara said, pure challenge in her eyes.  She stepped up tohim, glared at him.  It was a staring contest. She was giving him a chance tostrike.  He raised his tail, then lowered it and looked away.  Kara had won,she knew it.  I remember knowing it.  I was never afraid.  Always bored.  Thewarrior's never let me do anything.  All I ever did was train and give outorders.  Anybody would get restless under those circumstances. Kara turned and walked out of the space station.
     I remember hijacking theblade ship, and flying to Tetra. You see, all the humans that are on the eartharen't the only humans in the universe.  Hundred's of other people live on thisplace called Tetra.  Its just like Earth, crime ridden, with thousands ofpeople hating one another over small differences.  I landed there, andthat's when everything wentwrong.

    Chapter 4: Aximili

    When I stopped spinning around in small circles, I found myself on theAndalite Homeworld, in the housing area where I previously lived.  I saw mytwo parents occupied with a bulletin on the Megashift, 456995-versioncommunication transmitter.  Just than, I saw my brother, Elfangor, walk in.My parents stopped what they were doing.
     < Mother, Father > he said, In a proud voice. < I'm to embark on a mission >
     I remember this conversation.  He had just beenback home briefly, after he disappeared for many years. < I'm to fight in the opposition against the yeerks > he continued.  Just than, I took notice to a small andalite, listening veryquietly to the conversation. Myself. My brother Elfangor took more time, approximately fifteen of earth's minutes, detailing what he would be doing.  Then hedismissed himself to his chamber. I noticed Aximili following him.
    < Elfangor? > he questioned.
     Elfangor looked surprised.  < You will someday >He said, moving about the room, nervously.
    < No, I want to become an Andalite Warrior now, >Aximili said.
     Elfangor was silent for a long time.  Hesearched around the room with his stalk eyes, and kept his main eyes focused on thefloor.  < You are too young > he said at last, decisively.   I could see theopposition rise up in Aximili's eyes.  he said, his voice full of hurt pride.
    < Kytrewu-Iopesn-Errikson is only .5 years older than me, and already is he a warrior! >  Anger was rising in the eyes of my brother.  < Everything I need to know I could learn fromyou! > Aximili exploded, hurt that his brother wasn't supporting him in hisdream.
     < Do believe this is some game!? > Elfangor hissedin a low voice.  < Great Warriors and Prince's are killed everyday!  I'mnot going to allow my own kin to embark on some sort of suicide mission just toprove his capabilities to Andalites! > I remember being so very mad.  I couldn't seestraight.   I exploded.
     I never meant it.  I stormed out of his chamber,in a blind fury.  Elfangor never told our parents what I had said.  He and Iboth knew it would cause me great dishonor. Suddenly, the background dimmed.  When it lit up a new scene, I found myselfsitting in my chamber, a little time later.  I had just got through telling myparents that I would be going on the dome ship. I was very close tocompleting my training.  I was then going to find my brother, and apologize.Every thought, every dream, which plagued my mind, was about those horriblewords.  I cast shame on myself, and determined to see Elfangor again, set outon my mission to become a warrior.  Then time sped up.  I saw myself in thedome of the ship when it crashed, I saw myself being rescued by my humanfriends.  Then time slowed down again, just in enough time for the words,"Elfangor is dead," to come into play.  That's when I collapsed in the sobs. I had wished my own kin's life away, and now it had come true.  I would neverget to tell him how sorry I was, and never fight the yeerks at his side.  Hewould never be proud of me, never see me become the warrior I wanted to be.The pain of guilt flooded over me.  It hurt so much, driving in and out of myentire body, squeezing my internal organs to a pulp.  I then saw the death ofmy brother, played out, part by part in front of my eyes.  That's when Icollapsed.  A blanket of peacefulness fell over me.  I slipped in to unconsciousness.

Chapter 5: Tobias

     When the pain stopped, I was standing on thesidewalk near where Rachel lived.  I really didn't understand what time zoneI was in.  It looked pretty recent, maybe about one to two years ago. Suddenly, two familiar images came into view- Rachel and me, walking to her house. Then I knew where this thing was going.  Just then, the image's voices cameinto earshot.
     "I don't know," Tobias said.  Rachel just looked at him, then shook her head like she didn't understand.
    "I don't get it though. Why do you put yourself down all the time, there mustbe some reason!"  Rachel said, stepping out in front of him and walkingbackwards, smiling up at him, trying to get him to smile.  If people didn'tknow Rachel any better, they probably would have thought she was flirting. Her plan worked.  Tobias smiled.
    "I don't know," he said again.  Rachelraised an eyebrow, the twirled back so she was walking beside him again.  "Iguess, I just haven't had the best childhood," Rachel looked concerned, and Icringed.  That sounded SO wimpy.  Rachel didn't really care though.
    "Oh," she said, sympathetically.  Then she lowered her voice.  "So what arewe going to do about the yeerk pool?" she asked, changing the subject so Iwouldn't have to go through the embarrassment of explaining my rough life toher.
    "I guess we go in and destroy it?" Tobias said, asking it like it was aquestion.
    Rachel shook her head like she didn'tknow.  "I have no idea," she said matter-of-factly. They both stopped walking, and stood in front of Rachel's house.  "This is myplace," She said looking up at Tobias.  "You want to come in or something, hangout for a little while?" she offered, sounding hopeful.  Tobias lookedtempted, but shook his head no.
     "Nah, I have to get home," he said, soundingsuddenly tired.   She looked…disappointed.  That's odd, I never noticedthat before.
     "Oh," she said, trying to be cheerful.  "Look,give me a call, or something. Maybe…I don't know, we could go see a movie orsomething.  You have my number?" she asked. Tobias nodded and smiled.
    "Yeah," he said.
    Rachel smiled again. "O.K. Great!"  then waved good bye and wentinside.
     I remember being so happy then.  It never was apossibility to me that a girl like Rachel would be interested in a guy like….well, me.  Suddenly the street faded into the background. I was suddenly in Rachel's room.  She was sleeping peacefully.  By thecalendar on her bulletin board, I could tell it was the day that I had gottenstuck in morph.  Suddenly, a rustling on her window interrupted the stillnessof her room.
     < Rachel > Tobias said.  < It's me, open up >  I sawRachel jump awake.  Then she groggily got up out of bed and open her window.
     "Tobias," she said clearly angry.  "Where haveyou been!!  You know I've been searching everywhere for you!!" I heard a thought speak laugh echo in my head.
    < Sorry.  It took a littlelonger than I'd expected getting out of the yeerk pool.  I guess I lost trackof time. >  Then turned the fierce glare from the carpet to Rachel's eyes.< Two hours worth of time. >  Rachel looked away
for a moment, trying to figureout what he was saying.  Then a look of realization crossed her face.  Shelooked back at him.
     "No," she said, scared  now.  "You're notsaying, I mean…You aren't-"
     < stuck in morph >  he finished.  < Yup.  Guessthis will be me from now on. >
    Rachel squinted her eyes tightly. "Guess that movies off then huh?" she said softly, still keeping her eyesclosed.
     < What? > he asked, not sure if I heard her right.
     "Nothing," she said, continuing to have her eyesclosed.  "You probably need to go tell the others.  They're not the only onesthat are worried,"
     < Yeah > Tobias agreed.  Then he flew off. < Later > He called over his shoulder (well, sorta).  Then Rachel opened hereyes, and began to sob.  She forgot how good hawk ears are though. They don't miss much.
     I remember the utter pain of listening to hercry.  It was so hard.   I remember being so frustrated-  I had finallyfound a girl interested in me, and now I couldn't go anywhere with her.  It wasso horrible.  There was also
a part of me that was mad at Rachel.  I had neverasked anyone to care about me.But she did.That just made me guilty. I barely had been able to fly straight.  Suddenly, the images faded intodarkness and I was left alone
with my pain.

Chapter 6: Marco

    I found myself sitting in the house that I lived in with my mom and dadbefore she "died."  I saw my mom walk in.  I gasped.  This was the day she had "died."  Same day, everything.  She kissed me onthe top of the head.
     "I'll be back she said," then walked out thedoor, never to come home again.
    Suddenly, a bright light flashed.  I was sittingagain, this time at her funeral.  I remember being so sad then.  Thepreacher was going on and on about how nice she was, how she was a hardworker, etc. etc.  I just remember sitting there, thinking, "What the heck does heknow?  When did he ever meet my mother?"  It's so hard to grow up knowingsomeone loves you so much, then having to lose them.  I wondered about a lot ofother things too.  It was almost like my dad stopped being my dad when mymom died.  I had to fight for his attention.  He seemed so out of it.  Itscared me.   I had always relied on his strength before, and now I didn't havethat.
     It's really hard to make a joke when you'relooking at your mother's grave. I scanned my brain for every joke I couldpossibly think of.  Nothing came to mind.  It was a burning inside my soul, anunfulfillment that no body could
help me with.  Sure, Jake was really supportiveand everything, but he wasn't my mom.   I tried hard not to think about whatcame next.  The pain of seeing my mom alive again, the others finding out aboutit.  It's really hard.  You look try to look at the funny side of things, butyou don't find any thing comical.  I tried to shut my eyes to blur out thehorrible sights.  My mom dying…Flash….Funeral…Flash…Grave Site…etc. Suddenly, I plopped on my knees, and started crying.  It was so painful.  Theburning, I couldn't take theburning.
     Then I looked up again.  I was back in the cavefrom which I had disappeared. I stood up.  Cassie was hugging Jake.  Tobiaslooked really pale.  Ax looked Ashamed.  Kara suddenly seemed ages older.  Jake,and Rachel…well they looked confused. "It was  horrible," Cassie was sobbing.
     "I didn't see anything," Rachel said confused. Jake nodded his head.
     "Neither did I." He said.  Kara spoke up fromher trance.
     "That means the worse is yet to come," she saidsoftly.  They stared at her questionably.  She sighed.  "It means they'llhurt worse during the secondphase,"
     That's when I spoke up.  "Exscuse me…SECONDphase?"  She nodded.
     "We're caught up in a mistake," she said. "Visser 3's scientist don't know how to deal with Andalite Technology that wasused to program the matrix.  The first phase was our pain.  The second phase is atime in history.  Rachel and Jake didn't see anything.  That means, thereworst moment is yet to come during the second phase."  Rachel started to lookuneasy.
     "You mean-" she started.  Suddenly a white lightengulfed us.  Suddenly….we weren't in the cave anymore.

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