Chapter Text
~Just kill me.~
"I'm one of the good guys…"
~Then do the right thing.~
When I came to, I saw it in my hands—a white rat with wide pink eyes. Blood leaked from its muzzle. Its neck was very obviously broken. I threw it away from me with a cry of shock as my stomach contents shifted. I turned barely and was able to avoid throwing up all over myself, my body trembling as I helplessly lost my lunch. When everything was out, I shakily got to my bare feet. I was just wearing my leotard.
I must have been on a mission. I looked around, even glancing up into the sky, but I didn't see anyone. Where are my friends? I shook my head and backed further into the alley. I took another glance at the dead rat. I felt… I felt…
I gave myself a shake, trying to clear my head and focus on my bald eagle. If we got separated, I was sure we'd all meet up at Cassie's barn. And if not… if not…
I took to the sky with a few flaps of my wings. My best plan was to go to Cassie's and just wait.
I thought about taking the rat as a snack for Tobias, but… I just left it there in the alleyway. It took me maybe twenty minutes to reach Cassie's. The thermals today were amazing! Maybe once the others arrive, I can convince them to take the afternoon off and fly for a while… Or maybe just me and Tobias could. It was a good thing that bald eagles couldn't blush. If Marco saw how red I thought my face would be if I were human, he'd never let me hear the end of it!
I landed behind the barn and glanced around to see if Cassie's Dad was nearby. When I knew the coast was clear, I demorphed and walked into the barn, where I began digging into one of the boxes. Cassie had promised to keep a change of clothes for us because walking around in just a leotard or bike shorts and a skin-tight tee shirt was really noticeable. And the bare feet. I couldn't forget that.
After a few moments, I pulled out clothes that had to be mine. But I didn't recognize them. I frowned for a moment at the pair of jeans and a T-shirt. I was almost positive I hadn't bought these. Maybe Cassie did? If Cassie had bought clothes for me, I would have appreciated it, but we had very differing opinions about what looked good. But beggars can't be choosers. I pulled the jeans on, thrilled that they were the correct length. Cassie seems to think that one should be able to see one's socks when wearing jeans. I pulled the V-neck t-shirt on and paused.
Did my boobs grow while I was in morph?
Was that even possible? I glanced down at my chest and hummed. They definitely looked bigger. Maybe Cassie might know? Or I could ask Ax? I frowned at the idea of asking Ax. I still wasn't sure what to think about the Andalite we had rescued from under the ocean a few days ago. But he wanted to fight with us, so he couldn't be that bad. Still though… Not gonna talk to Ax about my boobs, no way in Hell. I dug through the box and found a pair of socks and a pair of sneakers. I pulled my socks and sneakers on and tied them. I had just finished tying them when I heard the barn door open, and I spun around to see. Cassie!
Cassie closed the door behind herself and hurried over to me. I saw that her chest had also… matured, so maybe it was just something that happened to human girls when they morphed during puberty? I shook myself mentally; I was sure we'd talk about it later. Maybe Mom would let me have Cassie over for a sleepover. That would be nice. We'd be able to forget the War for the night, and I could show her the new floor routine I had been working on.
"There you are!" she said, wrapping her arms around me tightly. "I got really worried when I couldn't find you!"
I wrapped my arms around Cassie and squeezed her. Cassie froze as I returned the hug and frowned. Sure, we didn't hug that often, but if we got separated on a mission, of course, I was going to hug her when I saw she was okay. Right?
"I'm alright, Cass. I'm really thankful for the clothes, too. I've got to give it to you. I would have definitely chosen this outfit for myself." I smiled at her, and she pulled back from me with a frown.
"Cassie, what's wrong? I was just complimenting you. Is it really that rare that I compliment you anymore?"
She shook her head slowly as if not wanting to believe something. Cassie swallowed hard and looked me straight in the eyes. "Rachel, where is David?"
David? I tried to think if I had ever met someone named David whom Cassie would also know. But after a moment, I came up blank and shrugged. "Got me, Cass." I turned away from her to start digging back into the box, which was obviously mine. "I don't suppose I left my backpack here, too, did I? Mom is going to have my head if I come home without my homework."
I heard the obvious sound of morphing behind me, but didn't give it a second thought. Cassie was always morphing. It was something she was gifted at and loved. And I was glad! I had tried to get Cassie to join gymnastics with Melissa and me when we were eight. And I gotta tell you, the mind was willing, Cassie's body, however. Let's put it this way. Some people are meant to do the splits, and some… like Cassie, wind up in the ER glaring at you after being told they can't ride a horse for four weeks.
~Rachel, I'm going to ask you again. Where is David?~
I sighed and stood up, speaking even before I turned around. "I told you, Cassie, I don't—" I stopped mid-sentence as I turned around to see a polar bear standing on their hind legs. All my mind could think was big… really big bear! "C-cas…" I couldn't even get her name out as I took a step back. When did Cassie get this morph? Did I have anything that could fight it?
The answers to those questions were, "I don't know" and "maybe my elephant?" I watched as the polar bear raised a paw and …
I heard voices as I started to come to. I recognized Cassie's voice. But the boy she was speaking with… kind of sounded like my cousin Jake, but more mature, closer to Tom. Maybe what Jake would sound like in a few years after his voice stopped breaking? I let out a small groan. My head was killing me. It felt like somehow I had been trampled by my elephant morph. Or, I guess, been hit by a polar bear, now that I thought about it. I tried to raise my hand to rub where it hurt the most, but I couldn't! I couldn't move. Was I paralyzed? Would I still be able to fight if I were?
I opened my eyes and immediately regretted it, quickly closing them again. As the pounding reduced a tiny bit, I realized I wasn't paralyzed. I was just tied up. The question had now become, Why was I tied up? And who tied me up?
"Stop pretending to still be knocked out. We aren't stupid." The boy's voice said.
"Not pretending… my head just really hurts. Do you have any aspirin? I'll even dry swallow them." I grimaced, wondering if Cassie had given me a concussion. I was sure I tasted my own blood. I tried to spit it out, but my mouth was too dry. How long had I been here? "My Mom is going to start freaking out if she gets home, and I'm not there watching Sara and Jordan." I paused. Maybe this was one of our weekends with Dad? "Or worse, my Dad will think Mom is trying to keep me on his day to have us." I wanted to ask Cassie when she got her new morph, but that would have to wait.
I heard a door open and close and attempted to open my eyes again. The throbbing increased, but less than last time. I stared up at our newest member. At Prince Elfangor's little brother. Was I tied up because Ax had… had he, I don't know? Brainwashed my friends into thinking I was too dangerous? I could feel it. Deep, deep in my heart, begging to be let out. But I wouldn't, no way! I'd just have to prove to Ax that I was, you know, safe!
"What do you think, Ax?" Cassie asked the Andelite boy, who was looking at me with his arms crossed.
~You said she acted out of character as soon as you saw her after your run-in with Crayak?~
I saw Cassie shiver before she nodded. Crayak? What's a Crayak?
"How exactly was Rachel out of character, Cassie?" The boy asked as I turned my eyes to focus on him and froze. It was Jake, it had to be, but... Okay, boobs growing in morph is weird, but sorta possible… Maybe? My cousin growing at least five inches is so not possible!
"She complimented me on choosing the outfit she's wearing, which I know she bought herself last week. She also hugged me. I mean, she reciprocated a hug rather than just standing there. And… she acted like she didn't know David."
"J-jake?" I squeaked out my mouth so dry I would have kil… done almost anything for some water.
He turned his full attention to me, and for the first time in my life, I was scared of my cousin. His dark brown eyes were brutal and unforgiving. I had no idea what I had done, but I was very, very sorry that I had done it!
~It does not fit for being a Controller, Prince Jake. A Yeerk, as you know, would play Rachel perfectly until the moment came that we'd all be taken. It would not be foolish enough to allow itself to be captured… so easily.~ He placed a hand lightly against my painful cheek, and I winced.
~As you can see, she is not showing displeasure due to my touch. But simply because of the pain. Odd.~ I felt one of his many-fingered hands rest on the top of mine. I kept my eyes focused on his. I was still very confused but thankful that he didn't think I was a Controller.
"If not a Controller… A servant of Crayak?" Jake asked, his arms crossed over his chest.
Ax forced my chin up and looked into my eyes before I saw him pause. ~No, that also does not fit. Cassie said he was trying to trick Rachel into agreeing to kill you, Prince Jake. Cassie, you said that he turned Rachel into a… monster?~
"Basically, yeah, almost a Godlike being. But Rachel rejected him. I know she did. I watched as she almost became a rat nothlit like David!"
I tried to look over at Cassie, but Ax's hold on my chin was, well, I probably could have jerked away from it, honestly, but it wasn't on my list of ideas. Nothlit? What does that even mean? My heart sank as Cassie mentioned a rat, though. Was that David? Had I kil— I closed my eyes tight, trying to hold back the tears which threatened to fall.
"W-was David, a white rat?" I finally got out. My mouth hurt a lot. I think I was missing teeth, but it didn't matter.
I couldn't see it, but I was sure Jake and Cassie glanced at each other, having one of their silent conversations, because it was Jake who answered, not Cassie.
"Yes, he is. Do you remember now, Rachel?"
I went to shake my head before the pain, and Ax's grip reminded me that it was a bad idea. "I don't… remember, I just… I think I blacked out during the mission we were on? When I came too, I had a white rat on my lap. I… he was dead." I couldn't hold back the tears that rolled down my cheeks.
Ax released his grip on my chin, and I heard him step back as I squeezed my eyes tight. "I don't know what happened. I swear, Cassie, Jake, I don't!" I felt Cassie's arms around me. At that moment, I just lost it. I pressed my face into Cassie's chest and bawled. After a minute, I realized that I was being untied. As soon as my arms were loose, I clung to Cassie, wondering what they were going to do with me. Would they… trap me in morph like Tobias? The thought terrified me. And when I get scared, one of two things happens: I get upset or angry, and since I was already crying, what use is it to get angry?
"D-did I kill David, Cassie?" I whispered, knowing my best friend would never lie to me. Jake would, but never Cassie.
"No, Rachel, David was already dead, but you tried to save him." Cassie ran her fingers through my hair.
Cassie would never lie to me. It's not a lie. It's not!
No more words were spoken until I was finally able to pull myself together. I didn't have any Kleenex, so I just sat back in the chair I had been tied to, sniffling and quite miserable. But Cassie wasn't acting weird anymore. In fact, she was checking the left side of my head with a frown.
"I really got you hard, didn't I? I'm sorry, Rachel. Why don't you morph and fix your head?"
I blinked. "Can we do that? Wow, I wish you had told me sooner!" I went to untie my sneakers when Cassie touched my shoulder.
"What do you mean, told you sooner? Didn't… didn't you already know that?" Cassie sounded confused and… a bit frightened?
"I mean… I knew that our injuries in morph can be fixed by demorphing. I just think it's cool that injuries we get as us can be fixed by morphing and demorphing, that's all." I honestly decided I didn't care to wait anymore. I could morph Fluffer McKitty. That shouldn't destroy my clothes, right?
I began to morph, and Cassie took a large step back as if to get out of the way. "Relax, Cass. I'm not going to morph into an elephant!" I smiled as I began to shrink into my T-shirt. A few minutes later, I was fully morphed, and after a few more seconds, I was fully in control. However, I wasn't exactly thrilled when Cassie picked me up and looked at Jake.
"I… had almost forgotten she had this morph."
"Yeah… me too." I heard my cousin respond nervously.
I relaxed in Cassie's arms as she began to stroke me subconsciously—a purr built up in the back of my throat.
~I have never seen this morph of Rachel's peculiar. It would have been useful at times.~
"Yeah…" Cassie set me back on my discarded clothes and frowned. "Rachel, I'm going to ask you a really stupid question, okay?"
~Alright, Cass, I think I can handle a stupid question after all of this today.~ I licked my paw and began to bathe myself as I waited.
"Rachel, how old are you?"
Well, I mean, she hadn't lied; that really was a stupid question. ~Cass, I'm almost a year older than you.~
"Humor me? Just this once, Rachel?" She was kneeling in front of the chair, looking into my eyes. I wanted to sigh but couldn't, so I flicked my tail in annoyance.
~I'm fourteen, Cassie, if you want to be exact, I'm almost fourteen and a half.~
Cassie swallowed and stood up, looking at Jake. "We have a very big problem."
"Yeah… I'll go get Marco. Ax find Tobias... quickly," Jake said as he left the cabin. He was followed by Ax, leaving just Cassie and me. Cassie had begun to pet me again, this time purposely. However, I wasn't sure if it was for my benefit or hers.
~Cassie? What's going on? Talk to me!~
"Rachel… You… we're sixteen. You've forgotten almost three years."