How did I end up on the second page!
Here's the penultimate chapter of part one of my fic, hope you guys like it! Post in the feedback thread or PM me with any comments.
CHAPTER 15: The Truth is Revealed(MIKE’S POV)“What do you mean?” Rachel asked me suspiciously. “How on Earth could you have known it was going to happen?”
“He knew that those Taxxons back there were cannibals.” Marco stated.
“Now that I think about it,” Jake said. “Just before the Andalite landed you said something. ‘He’s here.’ Like you knew he was coming.”
“And Tobias told me you found that Harris Hawk you acquired out in the woods, but they don’t even live in this state.” Cassie added.
“Not to mention that you don’t go to school and none of us know where you live.” Marco pointed out.
“Maybe he’s a Controller,” Jake suggested. “Like- like Tom.”
I laughed.
“Sorry, but if I was a Controller, then I’d probably be the worst double agent of all time. A Yeerk would have had the rest of you killed or infested by now.”
“Well then how can you possibly know about things before they happen?” Rachel demanded.
I guess it’s time to tell them, I thought.
I knew I had to tell them sooner or later, I just hoped I’d have time to gain their trust first. They’re going to think I’m nuts…“Okay, I admit I haven’t been entirely honest with you,” I sighed. “The truth is I’m actually from a parallel universe where this world is all part of a fictional book series that I’m a big fan of and I was brought here to help you guys.”
“Well when you put it like that it all makes perfect sense!” Marco replied sarcastically.
“Right, he’s probably escaped from the local nut house or something.” Rachel said.
“Or he could have suffered brain damage from his injuries.” Cassie said worriedly.
“I appreciate the concern, but the morphing process heals all wounds suffered while morphed and I’m definitely not crazy. I really am from another universe.”
Marco laughed.
“Do you really expect us to–”
“Your mum went missing in a boating accident almost 2 years ago and your dad is an electrical engineer.” I told him.
“How did you know that?!”
“Jake, your dad is a doctor and Tom sometimes calls you midget. Rachel, you have two younger sisters, Jordan and Sara, your parents are divorced and your mum is a lawyer. Cassie, both your parents are vets, your mum is a great shot with a tranquiliser gun and your dad was once sprayed by a skunk.” I pointed to each of the Animorphs in turn as I revealed personal facts about them. “Do you want to hear more? I’m sure I can think of a few embarrassing details if you aren’t convinced yet…”
The others just stared at me in amazement. I didn’t blame them either, it took me a while to get used to the fact that I was living in a world I thought was completely fictional only a few days ago.
“If you really are who you say you are, then how did you get here?” Jake asked.
“Let’s just say a friend sent me, somebody who wants to help.” I explained. “I wish I could tell you more, but it’s against the rules.”
“Screw the rules, you’re supposed to be helping us and you can’t even tell us how you got here?” Rachel said angrily.
“If I give any of you direct information about the future, then I get sent home and all my time here will be erased.” I told her.
“Oh so that’s how it is? We all risk our lives but if something happens to you then you just get to click your shoes together and go home?” Marco sneered.
“Not exactly,” I admitted. “That’s another one of the rules in fact. If I die here, then that’s it, I’m dead.”
“So if you hadn’t demorphed in time earlier?” Cassie wondered aloud.
I nodded.
“I’d have ceased to exit in my universe as I died here in this one. I can’t go home unless I help you guys.”
“Well, I’m still not completely convinced you aren’t crazy, but you’ve helped us so far and if you were a Yeerk then you’d have killed us already. I guess we can trust you for now.” Jake said.
“Thanks Jake,” I replied gratefully. “Now I suggest we get moving. You guys have families to get home to. Tomorrow I can take you to my place and maybe show you enough to convince you.”
“It’ll have to be pretty impressive us to prove to us that you’re a traveller from another dimension.” Marco laughed.
“True, but I’ll try my best.” I smiled. “Meet me by the edge of the woods after school tomorrow. If you see Tobias, tell him to come with you.”
My fellow Animorphs didn’t seem to think they could entirely trust me yet, but I was sure they would be there. They knew I wasn’t a Controller and they could hardly deny the fact that I knew personal facts about each of them. With any luck, I would be able to persuade them soon enough.
It was only as Jake, Rachel, Marco and Cassie walked away that I suddenly thought to ask them something.
“By the way, how many people did we save tonight?” I asked.
Cassie turned to look at me with sadness in her eyes.
“Two people. One of the women I carried out and a man who managed to avoid the fire balls.” She told me solemnly.
Tom was still a Controller, Tobias was presumably trapped as a hawk again and I had barely made it out alive. All that effort only to rescue two people, it seemed unbearably unfair. I felt like screaming at the Ellimist for help, but I knew that even if he heard me, he would not do anything.
After all, I thought bitterly.
He has the ‘rules of engagement’ to abide by… *
The next day…“Hey guys, you took your time. I’ve been here for half an hour already.” I told the others as they finally arrived at the edge of the woods. Jake, Rachel, Cassie and Marco were here, but there was no sign of Tobias and I was afraid to ask. Maybe the others had asked him to fly overhead to keep an eye out?
“Don’t they have schools where you come from?” Rachel asked with annoyance.
“Sure they do, but one of the perks of being here is that I don’t have school until I go home.” I replied with a grin.
“Okay, now I’m jealous.” Marco muttered.
“Yeah it almost makes up for being stuck in another universe and the fact that it could a while before I get to taste proper English fish and chips again.” I pointed out.
“Wait, you’re English?” Marco asked.
“Of course he is, can’t you tell by the accent?” Rachel said.
“What accent?” I wondered aloud. “Never mind. Anyway, we better get going, my place is still a decent walk away.” I turned and walked off into the forest, with the others following close behind.
“You live in the woods?” Jake asked.
“Yeah he’s Tarzan.” Marco rolled his eyes.
“Hey, I’m not the one with the Gorilla morph.” I protested.
“But Jaguars do live in forests.” Cassie stated.
“Amazonian Rainforests perhaps, not the woods of North America.” I said. “There’s not enough heat or humidity here for the average wild Jaguar, not to mention the lack of sufficient prey animals.”
“You know your zoology.” Cassie acknowledged with a nod.
“I’m no expert,” I replied modestly. “But I know a few things. Interestingly, the Animorphs books in my universe are what first got me into learning about animals.”
“So we’re really just a book series where you come from?” Rachel asked.
“I wouldn’t say just a book series,” I answered. “You guys have a big fan base and a bunch of active online forums, one of which I’m a member of. Also, you had a TV show for a while.”
“We have a TV show? Cool!” Marco grinned.
“Either way we’re just a few fictional characters to you.” Rachel said.
“Maybe to some people, but not to me.” I insisted. “Especially now that I’ve actually met all of you! It’s almost a dream come true… except for the brain stealing alien slugs of course.”
“Yeah, they’re a pain in the butt aren’t they?” Marco agreed.
“How much further is it to wherever we’re going?” Jake asked.
“We’re going to my home, which my friend kindly set up for me.” I answered. “As for how much further it is well–” I stopped in mid-sentence. My eyes had started drifting away from the direction I was heading towards. “It’s not too far now. Keep following me no matter what. Your eyes will start to move away from where we’re heading, but it’s just a trick set up to stop the wrong people finding me.”
“What is it, a Jedi mind trick?” Marco commented sarcastically. “Wouldn’t a cloaking device have been better?”
I laughed.
“That would’ve been cool, but my friend tends to be more subtle than that.” I replied.
“What could be more subtle than being invisible?” Marco muttered quietly.
I didn’t really know what to say to that. He did kind of have a point there.
*
About ten minutes or so later, we finally came to my new forest home. Good thing the Ellimist had warned me about the trick protecting my house, otherwise I’d never have found my way back to it again!
“Nice place.” Marco nodded approvingly.
“Seems kinda big for just one person to be living here.” Jake commented.
“Ah, well it’s not that big really. Most of the space comes from the extra guest rooms my friend provided in case I needed them.” I explained.
“Why, you planning a party?” Marco of course.
“Yeah I thought I’d invite Visser Three and his gang over for tea and crumpets.” I rolled my eyes.
“Okay, now you sound English.” Marco admitted.
“I told you.” Rachel said smugly.
“Well I’m sorry to destroy your image of the British stereotype, but I don’t actually like tea or crumpets.” I told them with a smile.
“My vision of England is shattered!” Marco exclaimed. “Next you’ll be telling me your secret agents don’t really have cool gadget spy cars!”
“What is it that you wanted to show us then?” Jake interrupted my response to Marco’s joke.
“So the perception filter didn’t convince you I’m not from around here?” I asked.
“Perception filter?” Jake raised an eyebrow.
“That’s what I call it. I think it was in an episode of Doctor Who.” I explained. “Anyway, since you obviously need more persuading, let’s go inside.”
“You might want to hire a decorator.” Rachel said as she looked at my mostly empty and undecorated home.
“If you’re offering, I’d really appreciate some help. It’s going to take me ages to paint the walls by myself!”
“I’ll pass.” She replied.
“Worth a try,” I shrugged. “In any case, the cool stuff is in my room.” I led them into my bedroom and over to the wall with a framed picture of a Tiger attached to it.
“It’s a beautiful picture.” Cassie said.
“It was a gift from my mum,” I told her, forcing back a tear as I wondered about my parents for a moment. “And it’s one of the only things my friend let me bring here.”
“Yeah it’s a nice picture, but is there a point to all this?” Marco asked.
“Yes actually, the best part is behind the picture.” I explained as I lifted it off the wall and placed it gently on a nearby desk.
“But there’s nothing here!” Rachel snapped.
“Not yet there isn’t,” I replied, ignoring her angry comment. “Just you watch. You guys are going to love this.” I placed my hands on the wall. “Animorph.” I stated clearly.
<Finger print scan and vocal analysis: complete.>
“Who said that?” Jake asked.
“Technically, the wall did.” I informed him.
“What?!”
“It’s complicated.” I said simply as large camera lens emerged from the wall and I looked into it with both eyes.
<Retinal scan: complete.>
“So is like a super advanced security system I’m guessing?” Marco guessed.
“Pretty much.” I replied while punching an eight-digit code into the keypad that had now appeared.
<Input of correct security code: complete.>
“Seems very high-tech,” Rachel said. “Why do you need so much security?”
“Because the contents hidden here are incredibly dangerous in the wrong hands. If the Yeerks got hold of them, we’d all be dead. With all this security, I’m the only one who can open it.” I placed my right index finger against the small screen that came out of the wall.
<DNA scan: complete. Access granted.> The wall opened up to reveal the most well protected safe on the planet, if not the entire galaxy. Blocking the contents from view, I quickly grabbed the book I was after and closed the safe.
“I’m sure by now you’ve realised that the technology in this safe is way ahead of anything on Earth. Even the Yeerks probably couldn’t build a safe like this. However, if you still don’t believe me, then maybe this will convince you.” I held up
Animorphs #1: The Invasion.
The others gasped in surprise as they saw the title.
“That guy on the front looks a lot like you Jake.” Marco said.
“And that thing he’s turning into looks a bit like the Green Anole lizard he morphed the other day.” Cassie pointed out.
“They should,” I agreed. “This is the first book of the Animorphs series, published in my universe and brought here with me. It details you all meeting Elfangor and the events that followed, up until the end of our mission in the Yeerk Pool. I’m not in it obviously, but besides that it’s all in there, everything from the last few days.”
“Can we read it?” Jake requested.
“I’m afraid not,” I shook my head. “One of the rules.”
“Again with the rules.” Rachel growled.
“Believe me Rachel, if it were up to me, I’d tell you everything that’s going to happen, but if I do then I get sent home and everything I’ve done here will be erased from existence. I came here to help you guys, so I don’t plan on leaving just yet. Please trust me.”
The others all glanced at each other and nodded.
“Thanks guys,” I said gratefully. “I’d have told you all of this sooner, but I figured you’d all think I was crazy.”
“Really? What gave you that idea?” Marco rolled his eyes.
“I guess after the last few days, nothing seems impossible anymore.” Jake said.
“Not even Marco being able to stay awake though class?” Rachel teased.
“I told you I was only closing my eyes so I could concentrate on my algebra test!” Marco insisted.
Everyone laughed.
“So Mike, what’s the world like where you’re from?” Cassie asked.
“Well food comes in pills, we’ve colonised Mars and the world is ruled by giant space ants from Planet Zargon.” I told them calmly. I tried to keep a straight face, but seeing their reactions I burst out laughing and the others soon joined me.
“You almost had me going for a second there!” Marco laughed.
“Sorry, I couldn’t resist!” I said. “Actually my world is pretty much the same as yours, except we don’t have alien slugs invading the Earth. Not that I know of anyway!”
