By: Rhi Marzano
Chapter 1
My name is Erek. I am a Chee- an android, if you will, created by the Pemalites. Although our creators are long gone, we remain. We've remained through the ages, disguised as humans. Few know our secret.
We have infiltrated the Sharing, a front organization for the Yeerks. Because we cannot fight, we turn the information over to those who can. Yeah, you know who I'm talking about. The Animorphs.
In fact, on this particular day,I had some news for them. From what I had overheard from a high ranking controller, Crayak's daughter Aryn was in town. And Aryn's powers coupled with the Yeerk's technology could be used to make many more controllers. Which, on the whole, is not good.
I was adding the image of tennis shoes to my hologram when the doorbell rang. To my surprise, Tobias and Rachel were standing there with three small children.
"Well," I said mildly, "haven't you been busy."
The two blushed furiously. "They're not mine," Rachel protested.
"Please don't tell me that they're new Animorphs."
"They're not, Erek. They're Ellimists."
I gaped. "What are they doing here?"
"We're not sure, but we've run into a problem. Apparently Crayak has a daughter."
"Aryn," I said, nodding.
"She found out that our little buddies here were staying with Rachel,"Tobias said seriuosly.
"So we need you to take care of them," Rachel said quickly. And without even so much as a reply, those two left.
I resisted the urge to curse. "Hi, kids," I said grumpily. "Do you have names, other than 'little Ellimist children'?"
~yes,~ one of the little girls retorted. ~i am rhi.~
~i'm mette,~ the other little girl said.
~i'm ajay,~ the boy responded, grinning. ~you're a chee, aren't you?~
~oh, he is, isn't he!~ Rhi exclaimed. ~i suppose i wasn't looking hard enough. The chee are so cute!~
"C...c...cute?" I sputtered.
~you look like little doggies,~ Mette beamed.
~I always wanted a doggy,~ Ajay said thoughtfully.
"I am not a 'doggy,'" I seethed.
~and i am not a 'kid' or a 'little child',~ Mette remarked. ~we will soon be full ellimists.~
It caught me off guard. "Alright," I said calmly, "I am not a doggy and you are not kids. Truce?"
~truce,~ all three said in unison.
"Now, would one of you like to tell me why you are here?"
~because we weren't safe with them, duh,~ Rhi replied.
I sighed. "They really owe me for this."
***
It was dinner time before I broached the subject again. "Why aren't you safe?" I asked as I placed plates in front of them.
~we're in our developing stage,~ Rhi said as she helped herself to the marcaroni salad on the table. ~we should be fully developed in a week.~
~until then, we're vulnerable,~ Mette explained.
~we should be entering the second phase any time now.~
"Second phase?" I repeated, questioning. "What would that be?"
~you'll see,~ Rhi said mysteriously.
Chapter 2
It was well past midnight. The Ellimists were tucked away in bed. I made certain all the doors were locked, and then I headed back to my room. I was almost ready to give my systems a break when I heard muffled crying. In an instant I was up, trying to find which one it was.
I found Rhi clutching her covers and weeping.
"Rhi?" I said softly. "What's wrong?"
~my last night as a child,~ she said bitterly. ~in the morning i will be a teenager.~
"Why does this bother you, hon?"
~i don't want to grow up,~ she sniffled, smiling wanly. ~i'm a toys r us kid.~
I chuckled, and ruffled her hair. "Getting older isn't so bad. I've lived for thousands of years."
Her gaze intently focused on the stars. ~the yeerks will be after me,~ she said distantly. ~in the 2nd stage i will be vulnerable to infestation.~
"Have any of you buddies back home been infested when they reached this stage?" I asked pointedly.
~no,~she admitted, tears welling up in her eyes. ~but then, none of them reached the second stage.~
I was puzzled. "How's that?"
~the only time an ellimist can be killed is in the first stage. they're all dead,~ she said flatly. ~crayak was massacring us. that's why my father and mette's and ajay's parents sent us here. to protect us.
~and now,~ she said softly, ~it seems we are in more danger than before.~
Not knowing what to say, I tucked her back into bed and turned off the light.
"Well," I mused, "Mette's right. They certainly aren't children."
Chapter 3
^AIEEE!^
^Mette?^
^Rhi, er-^
^Yeah, me too.^
^Ahhhhhh!^
^Ajay?^
^What the-^
Then all three screamed, ^EREK!^
I plodded through the hallway. "What?" I asked, outside the door. I reached for the knob.
^No!^ they squealed. ^Don't come in!^
"Why not?"
^Er, well...^ Rhi said uncomfortably.
^We're not decent,^ Mette said hastily.
"Well, unless you're completely naked, I'm coming in."
^Go get a girl Chee,^ Mette pleaded.
I sighed and poked my head in the basement door. "Jenny!"
Jenny climbed the stairs. "What?" she asked.
"The Ellimist girls have a problem, but for some reason they won't let me in."
"Ah," Jenny said knowingly. She took my place outside their door. "Did you enter your second phase?"
^Yes,^ the two said in a small voice.
"And are your old clothes two small?"
^Yes,^ they mumbled embarressedly.
"Is that it?" I said irritably. "You couldn't just tell me that?"
"You," Jenny said, waggling a finger at me, "have yet a lot to learn."
I ignored her and called Rachel up. "Hi, Rachel?"
"This is. Is that you, Erek?"
"Yeah. Er, our visitors need new clothes."
"What's wrong with the old ones?"
"Apparently they don't fit."
"Well, what size are they?"
"I don't know, hold on." I placed my hand over the receiver. "Jenny? What size are the girls, would you say?" I uncovered the mouthpiece and told Rachel the measurements.
"How about Ajay?"
"I have a few tangible articles of clothing in my room from when my hologram shut down."
"Oh. Well, I'll be by in an hour or so with some clothes for the girls."
"Bye."
"Bye."
***
Ajay was sitting out in the kitchen, munching on a bagel. I found it disturbing that yesterday he had only come up to my waist and today he topped me by at least a half a foot. ^Hey, Erek,^ he rumbled. ^Got any cream cheese?^
"Not to my knowledge."
^Dangit. Oh well. I'll just eat it plain.^
"Picky," I muttered.
He raised his eyebrows. ^I heard that.^
"When are those girls going to be ready for breakfast?" I asked impatiently. "They are way late!"
^No kidding,^ he agreed.
"Drumroll please," Rachel announced.
"Presenting," Jenny said grandly, "Rhi and Mette!"
"Color coordinated and in style!" Rachel added, making a sweeping bow.
"Which one is which?" I asked.
^The tall, pretty one is Mette, duh,^ Ajay said, rolling his eyes like this was common knowledge.
^I'm the short one, as usual,^ Rhi grinned.
I focused on Rhi. Maybe she hadn't much taller, but she had grown in more...interesting ways.
I coughed embarrassedly.
"Sorry guys, I have to go," Rachel said, looking at her watch. "I have a da- er I'm meeting To- er someone at the movies." Grumbling something about hoping she wouldn't have to keep up the act much longer, she left.
"Sometimes I wonder about that girl," I mumbled.
Mette sat down next to Ajay, and Rhi sat across from them. Both grabbed a bagel. ^What, no cream cheese?^
^Uh-uh,^ Ajay answered.
Both sighed.
Chapter 4
It was about 10:00 PM, and I was about to turn off all the lights when I thought I saw someone out on the balcony. "Rhi?" I asked.
^Oh, hi Erek,^ she replied.
"What are you doing out here? Why aren't you in your room?"
^Oh, Ajay and Mette are... er... making out again.^
"Again?"
^Or rather... still...^
I chuckled a little at that.
She looked at the stars. ^I wonder if they miss me.^
"Of course they do... just like I'll miss you when you go back."
She smiled. ^You will?^
"Well..yeah."
Don't ask me why what happened next happened. It just did. Maybe it shouldn't have happened. I know I'm a Chee, and androids aren't supposed to be able to feel. That's what they say. But brother, I sure felt this.
For a second I forgot that I was a Chee, and that she was an Ellimist. For a split second we were the only two people in the world, just a normal girl and a normal guy, sharing one amazing kiss.
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