The Stranger

by K. A. Applegate

  . I felt the weight come down on me again. The weight of uncertainty and guilt and fear. I looked at the picture of my dad and smiled. "What would you think of me, Dad, if I walked away, when I still had a chance to win?" And then I morphed. My arms shrank. My skin began to flow into patterns of soft feathers that could ride silently on the night breeze. In a few more minutes, I was ready. The moon was bright in the sky. Dawn was still hours away. A perfect night for an owl. But I paid no attention to the juicy prey below me as I flew at top speed toward the woods. less-than Tobias! It's me! Don't panic, but wake upffgreater-than less-than What the . . . to Didn't I tell you about zoom ing up in

  - greater-than less-than Come onffgreater-than I yelled. less-than Come on, where8greater-than less-than Don't argue, just come on. I know you don't like to fly at night, but just come on, anywayffgreater-than less-than Rachel, have you lost your mind? Where are we going8greater-than less-than We're going to be butterflies, Tobias. We're going to Cassie's barn, and then we're going to change history. greater-than He opened his wings and flew alongside me, just a few feet away. less-than Whatever you say, Racheleagreater-than Tobias said grumpily. less-than But what makes you think -- greater-than less-than like know where it is, Tobiaseagreater-than I interrupted him. less-than Where what is8greater-than less-than Tobias? I know the location of the Kan- drona. greater-than

  * C-H-fl-Ft-E. Okay , it's three forty-seven in the morning," Marco said. "And I'm here, thanks to the fact that my dad is a sound sleeper who doesn't notice when I wake up screaming because an owl and a hawk have just flown through my window. So now maybe you can tell us all why we're here?" Everyone was there in Cassie's barn. Jake looked sleepy but interested. Cassie was using the time to check on some of the sick animals. Ax just stood to one side, waiting to see what Jake told him to do. Tobias perched on an over head beam, tired from having flown too much. We were lit by a single small bulb that never even touched the shadows in the corners of the barn. We didn't want to take the chance that Cassie's parents might notice a light on and come to investigate. "Yes," I answered Marco, "I'll tell you why you're here. I know where the Kandrona is. I know where it is." That got his attention. But he was still skepti cal. "What makes you think you know where the Kandrona is?" "The Ellimist. He showed us. We all thought it was unfair when he appeared in the Yeerk pool and asked us to decide when we were about to be eaten, right?" less-than like told you, Ellimists care nothing about fairness caret Ax said. "No. You're wrong, Ax. At least this time. The Ellimist appeared when we were about to be swallowed by the Taxxon. But then he showed us the dropshaft." "We saw the dropshaft because it was there," Jake argued. "It wasn't about him showing it to us." "Are you sure?" I asked. "He waited till

  we had walked out of the Yeerk lunchroom to ap pear. He waited till we were standing where we were sure to notice the dropshaft." I saw Jake raise an eyebrow thoughtfully.

  He and Marco exchanged a look. "What if we're wrong about the Ellimist being unfair? What if Cassie's instinct is right

  - that he is telling the truth? That he's trying to do what's right? He tells us that in the future we lose the fight. That the human race is enslaved. That he has a way to save a small number of us by tak ing us to a safe place. And it's all true." "If he's telling us the truth, that we lose in the future, what's this all about?" Marco asked. "We've seen that future. Nothing we do will matter." I shook my head. "No. It will matter. If it didn't matter how we decided, why even bother to ask us what we wanted to do? See? It does matter what we do." "Yes," Marco said. "But the answer is obvious. We can only change the future by agreeing to the Ellimist's plan to take us to a safe planet." "Yes, that's one way. He offered us that. But when we finally accepted, he didn't act. He didn't take us instantly away. Why? Why, after

  we agreed, did he leave us here?" "Because he wanted a different answer," Cassie said, nodding at me and giving me a wink. "That's what's been eating at me." "What different answer?" Marco asked. "He's in a trap," Cassie said. "The Ellimist is trapped. He wants to save Earth. But he can't interfere directly. Supposedly all he's allowed to do is offer to save a small number of us. But he

  * knows that won't save Earth. It will save a few humans, yes, but when he showed us visions of Earth, he wasn't talking just about humans. He said Earth was a work of art. He wants to find a way to save it." "Without interfering directly," I agreed. "But what if we just happened to see another way? What if the Ellimist showed us the future, trying to convince us to let him take us away, and we just happened to see a way out?" "What way out?" Jake demanded. "The Kandrona. He let us see where the Kan- drona is," I said. "That Yeerk pool downtown, that's the key. Why build a Yeerk pool downtown? Why level so many buildings to make room for it? Why leave the EGS Tower still standing? And why is there a glass dome on the top floors of the EGS? A x is the one who said it

  - the Yeerk pool is the center of their lives. That Yeerk pool? I think it's a shrine. Almost a holy place to them. It's where they located the first Kandrona to be placed on planet Earth." Jake snapped his fingers, "The EGS Tower!" "That's what's under that dome on the top floors. The Kandrona. That's what the Ellimist wanted us to see. Just the way he let us see the dropshaft we used to escape. He wasn't interfering ... technically. The choice is still ours." Marco laughed out loud. "You mean maybe the Ellimist is bending his own rules? So he can say 'hey, I didn't interfere," but at the same time he's putting us where we can figure it out? I can't believe it! The Ellimist is a weasel! He found a loophole! I think I like that guy." "But even if you're right about the Kandrona, Rachel," Jake argued, "what does it prove? If we destroy it, are we sure it will change the future?" Cassie looked at me and smiled. "Maybe yes, maybe no," she said. "But things are connected in millions of ways. They say a single butterfly, beating its wings in China, can start a tornado in America." less-than Yeseagreater-than Tobias said, less-than but how does the butter fly know when to beat its wings8greater-than "It doesn't," I said. "I guess it beats its wings the best it can, and hopes it will all work out. It's a butterfly. It just does what butterflies do." "And what do we do, Xena, Warrior Princess?" Marco asked mockingly, knowing the answer I would give. "We kick Yeerk butt," I said with a grin. ft. t five-ten in the morning, the EGS Tower's windows were almost all dark. From the deeply shadowed plaza in front of the building, we could see a sleepy, uniformed guard inside the lobby. "There are dozens of businesses and law firms and stuff in this building," Jake warned. "Most of them are probably just normal people. Fortunately, at this time of day, almost no one will be here. But the guard is probably just a nor mal guy." "How do we deal with him without hurting him?" Cassie asked. Suddenly Tobias swooped down out of a dark sky. less-than like can't see anything useful through the win dows up thereeagreater-than he said. less-than Too bad that glass dome is still in the future. But I can tell you one thing. Something up there is giving off some heat. I'm getting a beautiful updraft from the building itself. greater-than "Let's do this, already," I grumbled. I started morphing into the bear. "Okay, but take it easy on any innocent by standers," Jake said. "Tobias? I know you're wearing out, but stay up and keep an eye out while we morph." less-than No prob, Jake. greater-than He flapped his wings and slowly gained altitude. "These doors will be locked," Cassie pointed out. "Not for long," I said. Ax was already demorphing, coming out of his human body and resuming his Andalite shape. Jake's eyes were glittering, his body was lengthening, and striped orange-and-black fur was spreading like a wave over his skin. Cassie was already on all fours. Rough gray fur grew thickly around her shoulders. Her mouth bulged out further and further to form a wolf's muzzle. less-than Hey! A guy's coming up behind yeagreater-than Tobias called down. less-than like think he's drunk. He's carrying a bottle. If it were daytime, I could read the label. He's definitely staggering. greater-than less-than Keep morphingeagreater-than Jake said quickly. less-than Cassie? See if you can get rid of him. greater-than Cassie trotted off, already fully morphed. And a second later we heard, "Grrrrrr, grrrrrr, grrrO
VVWWRR!" followed by "Whoa! No way!" and the sound of a crashing bottle and running feet. Cassie returned just as we were finishing our morphs. less-than He decided to go in a different direction caret Cassie reported. less-than 0kay, so let's go ineagreater-than I said. I was fully the grizzly now, and feeling invulnerable. less-than Actually, how about if Marco tries it first8greater-than Jake suggested. While the rest of us lurked in the shadows, Marco, now an extremely large, powerful gorilla, knuckle-walked to the glass door. He stood up

  on his hind legs and tapped with one massive finger on the glass. The guard jerked in his seat. He stood up and moved cautiously closer. Then he drew his gun. "Hey, get out of here," the guard said. less-than Hieagreater-than Marco said in thought-speak. less-than like just came from a masquerade party, and I was look ing for Visser Three. greater-than The guard's eyes went wide. "Andalite!" he hissed.

  ft less-than 0h, so you are a Controller. Good, That makes it so much simpler. greater-than With that, Marco punched straight through the thick glass of the door. CRASH! His gorilla fist connected squarely with the guard's chin. The guard crumpled, still holding his gun. less-than Move, move, moveffgreater-than Jake yelled. I barreled into the rest of the glass door. I was careful, but not too careful. I wasn't very worried about being hurt. Shattered glass flew everywhere. Cassie, Ax, and Jake leaped over the glass shards. Jake raced for the elevator. less-than There may be an alarm. We have to move fasteagreater-than Jake said. less-than We'll never fit in one elevatoreagreater-than Marco said. less-than Head for the freight elevator. That'll hold ueagreater-than Jake said. less-than Go for the top floor. greater-than Cassie and Ax kept an eye on all activity

  on the ground floor while they waited for the elevator to come back down. Jake, Marco, and I had the most firepower

  - so we went in first. We squeezed our combined bulk into the one freight elevator car

  - not an easy thing to do

  - but we managed it. less-than Can you press the button? I sure c'teagreater-than Jake said. He held up one of his huge paws to show me. It wasn't easy. Bear paws aren't exactly subtle tools. But after carefully lining up my first claw,

  I hit the top button. The doors closed and we rose swiftly upward. There was a safety inspection certificate mounted on one wall. I leaned very close to make out the letters, and read it aloud. less-than Says here the maximum load is twenty people. greater-than less-than How many bears, tigers, and gorillas8greater-than The ride seemed to be taking forever. I watched the counter tick off the floors. Twenty- one. Twenty-two. Twenty-three. less-than So. Seen any good movies lately8greater-than Jake asked. less-than like want to go see that new Keanu Reeves movieeagreater-than I said. less-than He's supposed to be cute, right8greater-than less-than Duheagreater-than I said. less-than like wonder if he'd ever want to go out with a girl like me. You know, lots of guys wouldn't want to date a grizzly bear. greater-than Suddenly I realized there was music playing in the elevator. The usual stupid elevator music. less-than Get readyeagreater-than Jake said. less-than Been ready. greater-than less-than Top floor. Ladies shoes. Children's apparel. Everyone oueagreater-than Marco announced in his best elevator operator's voice. The elevator stopped. The door opened. Just as three humans and two Hork-Bajir were racing toward the elevator. "Rrrrrroooowwwwrrrr!" Jake roared in a voice that could crack concrete. "Rrrrrooooowwwwrrr!" I echoed in my own muddier bear voice. I charged like an enraged bull. I went straight for the nearest Hork-Bajir. That meant running through the closest human. I felt a slight thump as his body was knocked aside. I slammed into the Hork-Bajir. The force of my charge just picked him up and carried him along till I hammered into the far wall. It didn't kill him, but he wasn't going any where. Jake took down the other Hork-Bajir with a lightning swipe of his claws. The remaining hu mans bolted. less-than l'm cuteagreater-than Jake said. less-than ls it bad8greater-than less-than lt isn't goodeagreater-than Jake said. less-than But I'll be okay for a while. greater-than Just then the elevator door opened and Ax and Cassie piled out. less-than About timeeagreater-than I said. less-than We've taken care of the welcoming committees less-than Sorry. Ax pushed the button for the wrong flooreagreater-than Cassie said. She glanced at the two Hork-Bajir. less-than You know they have more than those two up here guarding the Kandrona and. . . Jake! You're bleedingeagreater-than Cassie cried. less-than I'm fine. The human-Controllers ran down that hallwayeagreater-than Jake said. less-than Let's go. We haven't won this battle yet. greater-than I took off at a loping run. The others were right behind me. My claws gouged the carpeted floor with every step. I couldn't see well, but I could smell the adrenalin of the frightened human-Controllers. I knew where they had gone. I could smell them. I could sense them. They had challenged me. And I was going to show them who was boss. less-than Watch out, Racheleagreater-than Cassie called. less-than There's a door straight ahead of you. greater-than less-than Nah. There's no dooreagreater-than I said, and plowed all my eight hundred pounds into a steel door that popped open like the lid of a jack-in-the-box. Inside, eight Hork-Bajir warriors stood ready. Eight walking razor blades. Eight of them. Five of us. No way we could win. A sensible person would have seen the odds and run away. But I charged straight at them. Later, everyone thought I was being brave. But you know what the truth was? The truth was, with my weak bear eyesight, all I could see was a blur. I thought they were humans. I wasn't brave. I was just blind.

  C less-than Rachelffgreater-than Cassie yelled a warning. less-than Too late to retreateagreater-than Jake said. less-than GOFFGREATER-THAN I figured out the eight blurry figures were Hork-Bajir when I was about three feet away fro m slamming into the first one. By then it was too late to stop. "Kill the gaffnur Andalites!" a Hork-Bajir cried in the weird mix of languages that they use. "Kill fraghent Andalite halaf kill all!" Suddenly, I realized I was cut. A searing pain radiated from my shoulder. I swung my paw and hit the Hork-Bajir in the head. He fell, but as he fell he slashed with his tyrannosaurus feet, and ripped a second cut in me. less-than Aaarrrgghhhffgreater-than From that point on, it was a nightmare of terrible images that seemed to float in and out of my hazy vision. I saw Cassie, with her bone-breaking jaws sunk into the throat of a Hork-Bajir. I saw Ax, his tail like a deadly bullwhip, lashing, cutting, lashing again, till one of the Hork-Bajir stood screaming, holding his own severed arm. I saw Jake and a Hork-Bajir locked in a deadly embrace as they rolled and slashed at each other with superhuman speed. I saw Marco fighting with one arm as he held his own sliced stomach together with the other hand. And everywhere, snarling, growling, raging, roaring noise. less-than Look out! Rachel, behind yffgreater-than "Die, gaferach, die!" "RRRROOOWWRRR!" less-than Help! He's on meffgreater-than less-than Aaaahhhhhhffgreater-than I couldn't tell who was winning. I couldn't tell who was hurt. It all became one long cry, one long scream of rage. Hork-Bajir and Animorph. Alien and animal. We were flesh-and-blood creatures thrown into a meat grinder. Thirteen deadly animals locked in a combat to the death. I felt the bear weakening as he was cut again and again by Hork-Bajir blades. I was losing blood. The human part of me knew that. I could feel my strength ebbing. I charged again and hit a Hork-Bajir in the stomach. I carried him along with my momentum as he slashed wildly at me. CRAAAASSSSHHHH! I'd hit something! Glass. It had shattered. A window! I had shoved the Hork-Bajir through the window. "AAAAAA-AAAARRRRR!" I heard the Hork-Bajir's cry, dying away as

  it fell. A sudden flash of movement, as something came zooming through the shattered window. "Tseeeeeerrr!" Tobias screamed as he spread his talons forward and struck the closest Hork-Bajir, raking his eyes. The battle had turned! The Hork-Bajir had had enough. Maybe it was hearing one of their fellows fall sixty stories. Or maybe it was Tobias's arrival, strengthening our side. But whatever it was, the remaining Hork- Bajir ran. Three of them ran. The rest would not be run ning anywhere. Marco grabbed the crumpled door and slammed it back in place. Then, with what must