Prologue: Origins

[Brad the Brit]

Brit caught up with Damien and Alice. He had stopped to watch Eddie and the others disappear in the car. He couldn't hep wondering weather or not he had made a bad decision by staying. He sighed and shoved his hands in his pockets. It couldn't be helped now...
He looked over to Alice. "So paranoia aside whats the plan?", he asked. "I mean we carnt just go up to the front entrance and say. Hi we're the kids who escaped infestation, any chance we could see the bloody list with our names on?". He grinned at his own joke. "But then again you where in morph and Dame over here had loo-roll wrapped around his face. They probably dont know who you are..."

[Breekan1]

Reece offers Kasey a small smile, but otherwise offers no expression. He listens to Jenny intently, and slowly nods. "Yeah, I'm in. Certainly I'd rather skip to the Bahamas or something but, well, options are limited." He grins. "Besides, who doesn't like presents?"

[Seryna]

"It has always been a war." Jenny frowned. "Alice told us that she explained that to you... I do hope that you realize that the Gift is to be used for the war against the Yeerks.  It is why we have kept it, hoping that the Andalites shall return and aid us..."

The woman was quiet for a moment, digesting Kasey and Reece's comments.
"As I said, that is your decision, young lady. We aren't dictating any thing to you. If you choose to work with our Operatives, you and your friends will need to decide how and when you will need to use them. They will go to meetings and to the Yeerk Pool for you, but beyond that- you need to come up with a plan.  When you are ready, I can introduce you to some volunteers.

"But I digress. You two are ready, please excuse me."

Jenny left the room and returned a few moments later holding a small glowing blue box.

"This is the Andalite's Gift." She stated, setting it on the coffee table.  "It will allow you to acquire animals and then assume their shape for short bits at a time. The maximum duration seems to be two hours- any longer and one is trapped forever in the morph of the animal.

To acquire the Gift, place your hand upon it."

[Breekan1]

Reece bites his lip, before bursting into laughter. He cackles loud and strong, water running down the creases of his face as he shakes for breath. After a few moments he begins to calm down. "I'm-" he chuckles. "I'm sorry. Just, when you say it like that, so..." he snickers "so straight-up, like it's just some thing it sounds so..." he sighs loudly, and manages to sit still for a moment. "Oh, oh I needed that." He smiles. "Sorry, it's just... hot damn, this ****'s just so goofy. Animals? Really? Really? Who does that?"

[Seryna]

"You're friend Alice, for one." Jenny replied, not smiling. "She's still out by the Yeerk front organization, isn't she? With your other friends who don't have the ability to morph, right?"

An expression of concern passes over her face as she turns to check out the clock on the wall, guessing how long Alice and the others had been attempting to get the list.

[Breekan1]

Reece squints, unsure whether or not he's being lectured to. He lets out a tiny, calculated chuckle as he places his hand on the glowing blue box. He keeps his eyes on Jenny.

[Kit Cloudkicker]

Kasey nods at Jenny's comments, and stares silently at Reece's outburst. She quickly reaches out and places her hand on the cube. She stares at her and Reece's hands in silence.

[Seryna]

Torrence let out a deep breath as the box was brought out.  This was no longer some abstract idea or future decision-- it was right here, in front of them.  In the here and now.

"Definitely didn't think I'd go Bambi when I woke up this morning." She admitted quietly, reaching her hand and placing it on the top above Reece and and Kasey's hands.

"Oookay. Is this gonna hurt?"

Autumn moved over to the other three, placing her hand upon the box as well, beside Kasey and Reece's hands.

"It won't hurt." Jenny promised. "Just close your eyes."

As soon as every one closed their eyes, Jenny placed her own 'hand' on an empty side. Through what the Chee had unlocked about this device, a morph capable individual could 'activate' the cube this way, giving all others the Power. Instead, Jenny the Chee tapped into her internal power source and applied the bit of technology they'd unlocked about the Andalite's Gift. To anyone who peeked, they'd assumed her hand upon it was activating the power, when instead she was conducting the activating power into the Cube.

Something like a shock, only pleasurable, seemed to run through the newly formed Animorphs

"There," Jenny said approvingly. "You have acquired the Gift."
She removed her hand and sat back on the couch.

"Whoa." Torrence breathed, retracting her hand from the cube. "Did you guys feel that? That was intense."

"Now what would you like to do?" Jenny asked. "I can have an Operative drive you back to the Center so you won't have to wait for your friend to return."


"Hey!" Christina hissed, tapping on the front door. The girls stopped talking and looked over.  One of them wandered near enough to be heard through the glass.

"How'd you get outside? The Lock in already started."
"Yeah, but we stepped out side for a smoke. Got locked out." Christina made a face. "I don't want these guys calling our parents and reporting us, though. Can you bring us that clip board?"

[Breekan1]

Reece gazes at his hand. Power felt staticky. "If we head back, it might arouse suspicion. Everyone that's supposed to be there already is, right? We might be better off testing this stuff out while we have the chance."

[Brad the Brit]

Brit looked at Christina as she casually asked to see the clipboard/ list.
"OK or we could just do that..." Brit said grudgingly. "Damnit i wanted something more spectacular. Like a James Bond kinda thing, wit explosion's and secret infiltration and stuff".

He walked up to her and looked through the window a the group of girls. "Yer if my dad finds out i smoke he'll kill me". Brit put on his accent alittle thicker than normal. "Please ladies, i would really appreciate it". 

[Seryna]

Christina gave Brit a knowing side glance as he laid it on for the girls. Whatever works. She told herself. These people had risked every thing for her, so she wasn't about to let them be found out.  She hadn't quite figured out what she'd do about herself yet...

"This one?" A blonde teenage girl walked over to the Receptionist's desk and lifted the clip board.
She carried it back over to the door, holding it up.
"Do you like, want me to scratch over your names, or something?"

[Brad the Brit]

Brit looked up at the attractive young blond.
"No that's OK just pass the whole thing through. Its gonna be pretty obvious we bunked off if our names are crossed off".
He grinned "Don't worry about the list, i saw Greg make a copy and put it in his files. If theres a fire or anything they can use that". Brit hated lieing but needs must. He hoped she wouldn't get into trouble as he reached out his hand for the list.
"So? Please may we have it?"

[Seryna]

 "I don't know if I should..." The girl wavered for a moment, looking between Christina and Brit. As Brit mentioned a copy, however, her face lost its conflicted expression. 
"Well, if you saw him make a copy of it, I guess it's okay."

The girl opened the door and offered the list to Brad. "You better hurry out, though. All the adults went to a staff meeting a few minutes ago, so they'll probably get back out here pretty soon."

[Brad the Brit]

Brit took the list
"Thanks alot your a lifesaver". He flashed her a grin as he walked backed over to Christina. "If i see you around remind me i owe you a coffee or something".

Leaveing the blond behind he flashed the list at Christina. "Just call Walsall, Brit Walsall. Now lets get the hell out of here and back to Alice's place".

[Seryna]

The blonde gave a smile in response to Brit's attentions, until her friends began to whisper. Her skin flushed with embarrassment as she let the door swing shut, moving back to stand with her friends and adopt the visage of indifference.

"Okay, got it?" Christina checked that Brit had kept ahold of the clipboard.
"Okay, come on! That girl said there were no cameras, but lets not wait to find out.  My truck's over here."

The girl with the frizzy, damp but slowly drying hair led the group to the parking lot. She pulled a set of keys out of her pocket and stopped at a red F10 Ford truck, unlocking the passenger door for Brit. 

"Three of us can fit in front." She stated, launching her short frame up into the lifted truck and sliding over to the driver's side.
"Get in. Where'd that girl wander off to?"  She peered out of the window, looking around for Alice. "Can you call your friends for directions or something?"