The Vortex

I am the vortex. There is more of my kind, and we have a long history so I'll give you an edited version. At the beginning of time, a huge power wave formed reality. The center of that reality was the Vortex Crystal, a natural computer core that possessed the blueprints of all forms of life. The Crystal sent out great bands of energy that forged planets, stars, and lesser creatures. But all was not good. The planets were barren wasteland, the stars were faint torches, and all the lesser creatures could not move for lack of energy for body and mind. So, after contemplating and planning for seven centuries, the Vortex crystal created the power of all life, the souls. The first three of creation were the Vortex. I was the first born of the souls, and the most powerful. I called myself Anoth, and soon became fluent in the ways of science, technology, and magic. My "brother" came next, and was named Aroth. He soon had mastered weaponry and war making, becoming an unstable element of life. The last Vortex created was my "sister" who took the title of Celesta. She focused on the art of culture, or, as she would put it, " The glue that binds Chaos. After our creation, the crystal had assumed that we would settle inside the core of a planet. However, it was shocked when we joined with a lesser creature of flesh, called a human. After revising its plans, the Crystal forged weaker souls and was content. However, we were not. The reality that we inhabited was swelling to capacity with magic, ideas, and creatures. So we labored to create a fluke into the program of The Crystal, and came up with a plan. We created a loop of reality that would focus on events and warp space to accommodate a new reality or dimension if you will. This settled the Vortexes renamed all reality under one name, the Dimensional Grid. Then, we lay claim into three, separate areas that we claimed as our kingdoms. This didn't all take overnight, but the Vortexes were very long lived, ten thousand years to a lifetime, and reincarnated with all previous memories intact. However, as powerful beings sometimes do, we began to observe the different realities in our realms and join in. It is about them I speak to you about. The name of this story shall be The Animorphs.

Chapter One

I was bored. This was not a usual event, so I had trouble deciding what to do about it. As I sat on my high-throne, my mind wandered to my recent adventure with the jedi twins Jania and Jacen of Yavin 4, and the thought struck me. Why don't I go to another reality in my realm were kids were the biggest cog? So I activated my holo-scaner and surfed the dimensions of my realm for about a week, (don't laugh! I possess over seven billion dimensions, several which I have not yet visited), and came up with a very interesting story. On a certain Earth, the planet where I had gotten my latest host life, there was an invasion going on by an alien species of parasite. The only ones who could and were fighting this threat were four human children, one half bird half-human child, and another alien child. Intrigued, I debated weather to be on the side of the aliens, or the side of the humans. After deciding that the parasites were too vain, I started a plan to join the combat by first examining the situation of the dimension. After exhausted study, I concluded that it would be wise to rely mainly on my technological powers. The area was barren of magic, so most of my spells would be not enough to help me. However, I took along my staff of magic so I would not be helpless. I had designed the staff many years ago in one of the more powerful sorcerers and it was a great power source. After much thought, I decided to also bring my dragon of four hundred years, Ger-nek. Satisfied, I readied for my journey, picked the time and place to appear, and walked into an interesting development.

Chapter Two = Jake

We were in the barn discussing a new tactic of the Yeerks.

" All I am saying," Marco said, " is that this time they are going to far. It's one thing to own the Sharing, another to own most of the town, but now they are going after the Mall?"

Yes, it was true. According to what I had over heard Tom, my brother, saying on the phone, the Yeerks felt safe enough to grab people out of places in the mall for the horror of being a host. Apparently, the Yeerks had been building a series of tunnels that led to the Yeerk pool underneath the mall. These tunnels were located in the bathrooms of the stores in the mall. We guessed when they saw someone they wanted, they would have some sort of trap door behind the stall, where they probably had a small pool for the infestations. Then the new host would be able to use the area for feedings. It was a slick set up, and what was worse was the fact that we couldn't decide what to do about it. Normally, Rachel would have been telling us to go and destroy the plan, however, the mall was a second home to her so I doubted that she wanted to do so. Cassie didn't like the mall, but she was Rachel's best friend so wouldn't vote against her. Tobias, up in the rafters as usual, had no real comment. Even though he could morph human and could join us in the Mall, he still wasn't comfortable with large groups. Ax wasn't there, since he would follow any of my orders, calling me as usual Prince Jake. But he liked the mall, especially the food court, and will usually go crazy there every once in a while. Recently, he had managed to make a deal with the manager of Cinnabon to work for cinnamon buns. That wasn't very pretty, especially when he attempted t o eat an entire tray of the things!

O.K., by now you are probably very confused, so let me back up. First, my name is Jake. I'm big for my age and the semi leader of the group. Rachel, my cousin, is also tall. I guess she is considered pretty, but it's hard for me to picture her like that. She is a real warrior and is always ready to fight. Cassie is the environmental nut that is really into animals which is good because both her parents are vets Her mom works at a big Park/Zoo called The Gardens, while her dad runs a animal rehabilitation center for sick animals out of their barn (they live on a farm). I sort of like Cassie as in LIKE, and we've gotten fairly close.

Then there is Tobias, who was in the rafters above our heads. Tobias is a human trapped inside the body of a hawk, with all the needs that come attached. Finally there is Marco, the crazy one and the last human of the group. We argue, debate and talk about the dumbest things in the universe. We also are friends forever and would do anything for each other.

Now you're probably wondering what I'm talking about. A human in a hawk body, non-human member, a morph, and warriors? Well let me explain. You see, about a year ago, Tobias, Rachel, Cassie, Marco and I happened to hook up at the mall. It was getting late, and we needed to get home quickly, so we took a shortcut that crossed through an abandoned construction site. It was not the smartest thing we have ever done, in fact it was downright stupid. But instead of worrying about some psychopath cutting us up into little pieces, we had to worry about space. An alien spaceship landed right in front of us, and with it came a heavy dread. The ship contained an Andalite named Prince Elfangor. He told us of an alien parasite that was taking over our planet by wrapping around and controlling the brains of humans, the Yeerks. He knew that he would die, and that Earth was doomed because the ship that he had flown had been part of a fleet that tried to stop the Yeerks. They lost and he knew the next fighting force would take to long to get here. So he gave us a biotechnology. The power to morph. To absorb the DNA of other animals and to change into that animal. It had one drawback, however, if you stayed changed for over two hours, you would not be able to change back. This is what happened to Tobias.

After we left the Andalite, he was killed by the one filthy Yeerk to absorb into the brain of an Andalite, Visser Three. Heto possesed the power to morph and knows it's limits better than any of us. A few weeks after we met the Andalite, we found another survivor of the battle. Prince Elfangor's little brother, Aximili-Esgarouth-Isthil, who joined us. Since he thinks I'm the leader, Ax always calls me Prince Jake which can get very annoying at times. Anyway, back to the situation at hand.

"Now this is just the sickest plot yet," Marco said, "I mean, the Yeerks will have free rain of their hosts and there is nothing we can do about it. "

"For once we agree," Rachel said flipping her long golden hair," The Yeerks can get anyone in that mall that needs to go, and with this power, they could infest the entire town in a few days. "

" There is nothing we could do to hurt the Yeerks enough to stop them for more than a few days," added Cassie in a worried tone " Even leveling the mall wouldn't do much good."

We all settled back <What about raiding Tom's room?> said Tobias in thought-speak.

"No good for two reasons," I said wearily " First, I won't put Tom in danger. Second, the blueprints are at The Sharing's headquarters."

"So what do we do?" asked Rachel, apparently frustrated.

I never got a chance to answer, because an unknown voice said, "I might be able to answer that."

Chapter Three = Tobias

What? Every one yelled at once. However the voice seemed not to notice. "This IS an interesting development. Maybe I can be of assistance." I noticed that he had quieted down a bit. Since I have the better eyes, I was the first to see what appeared to be a cloud of dust gather in the middle of the floor. However it was hard to miss, so the others quickly noticed and got out of the way. Where there had just been a empty patch of floor, was a guy who looked like a character right out of a wizard and warlock game piece. First of all, he was HUGE! Man, the guy was shaq size easy. Then there were his clothes. Purple, dark green, black, and violet robes billowed around him like a storm. Under the robes was some sort of armor that looked almost like fluid. His hands were covered with what looked like claw motif gloves that held a large gilded staff, that was covered with jewels. Surprisingly, his face was unlined and boyish, but his eyes held a power that scared me.

" Who the heck are you? " Marco blurted out.

The figure smiled " Allow me to introduce myself. The name is Vortex, Anoth Vortex." He said like James Bond. "Why I am here has a simple answer. I came to help."

Wary, I said <Ellimist?>

"No. Comparing me to an Ellimist is like comparing the employee to the manager." He said, with a slightly hurt look in his eye. Then, with a big smile he said, " I am a Vortex. I was around before the Ellimists were out of the chemical soup. In fact I was created a mere seven millennium after all creation."

"Yea, and I'm David Lettermen." Marco sneered.

Sighing, the creature said" Well I can think of only one way to prove it to you." Suddenly, we weren't on Earth anymore . . .

**********************************

"What?" I said. Suddenly I realized that the word had been spoken, not thought. "Huh? What's going on?" lifting myself up with human hands.

"Well, it seemed that the best way to prove my power was to take you home with me. " Said the Vortex. I noticed that he was talking in his super power voice again. " Sorry for the headache, but It is always rough the first time."

I looked around and saw that every one, including Ax, was there. But when my eyes rested on this guy Anoth, I nearly got an eyesore. First of all, his staff had turned into a small star, with all its jewels glowing very brightly. Also, his robes fluttered in an unfelt wind, shimmering in the darker colors of the rainbow. It reminded me of an artist's representation of a black hole. The armor that I had noticed was slivering over his body like a snake. But he looked more relaxed here than in the barn.

"Where are we. " Jake asked, visibly shaken. Anoth smiled like he was as happy as he had ever been. "My home. Welcome to planet Cybex"

Chapter Four = Cassie

"Cybex?" Jake said confused. " What sort of planet is named Cybex?"

"The artificial sort. Cybex is a planet I created from technologies of the Empire. It is metallic throughout the core and has no organic life except my gardens and zoos. " Then smiling, the self proclaimed ruler of the universe said, "But I always like showing it off, come on!" then he looked like a kid at Christmas as he lead us through a large sweeping corridor onto a amplified balcony and I felt my mouth drop.

We stood over what appeared to be a football-field sized room. The entire ground was covered with a sprawling city of what appeared solid silver. But there were numerous types of design but they flowed together like a river of beauty. I saw large sweeping towers with needle-like points, thick squat buildings that looked like the coliseum, and many more. But I also saw large gardens with all sorts of animals that looked right out of a fairy tale.

"Where do they all come from!" I blurted out.

Smiling, Anoth said, "Well, the buildings I had built by worker drones, there are many styles here from a multitude of worlds. The animals I take after they have played out their part in a story. Often, after this happens, their natural powers start to fail. This makes them vulnerable to predators."

As he talked, the platform started to lower into a different chamber. Its design was clearly made as a sitting room. It had a large throne with steel spikes, but a comfortable looking plush seat. It was a the head of a large table that had been set up for us because A. there were only five regular seats, and B. there was a large space and a raised platform for Ax. Sitting he said "Now, let me begin by telling you my history, (note = this part is the Intro at the beginning). When he had finished, he said" I just recently completed an adventure (see chapter. 1) and I have been bored since, so I decided to try out our adventure and see what happens."

Tobias suddenly burst out " I HATE you lofty to powerful to care types! This is all a big joke to you isn't it! "

Looking at Tobias, Anoth, suddenly enraged, said, "Whenever I do these things I always make it a point of honor to reduce my power! After years of absorbing the emotions of humans, don't consider me a zealous lord. "

Suddenly he looked drained. Then Rachel said, " Absorb our emotions? What do you mean by that? "

Looking up, Anoth said " Oh, I guess I had better elaborate about that." Then, a barely audible electric whine sounded and there was a diagram of a human body covered with a white field. Pointing to the white, he said, " This is a basic representation of a human soul. When I die (which takes ten thousand years a pop) I surf the astral waves looking for a soul in infancy that seems to call to me. Then , I absorb a small piece of my own soul into the infants soul." A blue tinge appeared in the diagram, " Now watch closely as I accelerate the aging process to one year" the blue spread thinly " two years" the blue became darker, " and so on. Now let's fast forward to, say around fourteen. " Suddenly, the white were intertwined as a single soul. "There you go. After you get to this age, I fully reincarnate and retain the body" Suddenly, the white and blue were intertwined in a bright pulsing motion. "I then am in the physical plain for ten thousand years.

" But then I frowned " But what happens to the original soul? "

Smiling, he said " Well, the consciousness of the bean is retained into my memory and afterwards affects my judgement, and is forever a part of me. No one I bond with is dead, but still linked into my own intelligence in what you might call a psychic link. But it still retains it's own line of thought." Nodding satisfied, he said " Before we go on, let me ask you one question. Do you want my help? "

I looked around. Ax looked a tad awed and ready to fight. Both Jake and Marco looked like they had lost a ton of responsibility. But Tobias and Rachel looked uncomfortable relying on some one so much like the Ellimist. However, I was feeling up lifted with such an ally. If even half of this stuff was true, we could really kick Yeerk butt. Nodding my agreement to Jake , he said " Yes."

Chapter Five = Marco

Man this guy doesn't fool around. I thought as we took what looked like a shuttle to another part of the planet. " First, you will need weapons," he said, smiling " It was good of Prince Elfangor to give you a weapon, but I think that something more conventional is in order. " The shuttle pulled into what looked like a large wear-house and dropped us off. As the door opened, I saw that it was filled with a lot of nasty looking things.

"This is my trophy room." Anoth said proudly, " We will pick up some hard ware here." He guided us over to a large raised platform. As we stood on it, the platform rose slowly.

"Let us look at some of the more convenient to hide tit bits. Over here, " he said pointing to a weird looking gun, "is the icer. This will stop any moving molecule flat. " I picked it up, surprised at its lightness. I began to aim around. This weapon felt good, very good.

"I think I've found my match " I told the others. Frowning, Anoth said " If you want target practice, there is a firing range over there. A complete information guide can be activated by pressing the power stud on the side of that panel." He said pointing, " The Stud is a I.D. tag that will pull out easy access to related info. "

Taking the Icer over to the place he pointed to, I found a little dent that looked like a design on the side. I got a holographic display of the weapons parameters.

"While you try that out, I'll take the others on a tour for other weapons. " Smiling I headed for the target area.

* Rachel

I didn't really trust this Anoth guy, but I could see that he would make a powerful ally. As Marco went off to play with his new toy, I looked around for a weapon of my own. As we got farther down the corridor, I saw something that caught my eye. It was a flat disk, like a Frisbee, but it seemed to have some circuitry in it. It was blue with a green jewel in its center. Noticing where I was looking, Anoth nodded. " Yes, that would be an excellent choice Rachel. It's called a Slicer, and would suit you very well. Its training area is down the hall with a large yellow sphere. For it's information I would go to the computer over there and type in "Slicer info." It should give you what you need. "

" Where did it come from?" I breathed startled.

"Why, that's one of my own designs. When you are around as much as I am, you pick up a thing or two. It's modeled after a cyber disk from the game, Gladiators, which doesn't exist in your dimension. Anyway, it has a few quirks and will work out well for you. But learn how to use I first. "

Taking the Slicer, I looked for the door with the yellow sphere.

* Cassie

As we left Rachel, I wondered what would call to me. Normally, I was a non-violent person, so the idea of using something other than morphing to fight was a little hard to take. As we neared a corner, a large jar caught my eye. It was filled with a oily like substance, and seemed to be alive. When I pointed to it, Anoth nodded calmly. "Yes, that's an UN-bonded symbiotic creature. That breed is an amplifier of energy and emotion." Then he frowned, " I'm not so sure that bonding with you would be best. Let's try something else."

But I shook my head. " I think it would be perfect. Let me try to bond with it. " Again he frowned. "I'm sorry Cassie but that would be very UN-wise. This is a living creature that you accept for life. Do you really think it would help you?"

Jake looked like he was going to say something to me when I said, "I'm sure."

"OK," he said resigned, "but don't say I didn't warn you." He had me immerse my arm in the fluid. Suddenly, it crawled up my arm and was part of me. I felt different, but instead of amplifying my hate, I strengthened my happiness. I felt more at peace than before and was soon, I wasn't alone anymore.

Chapter Six = Ax

I watched in fascination as the oily creature quickly engulfed Cassie's arm. Prince Jake cried out in horror, "CASSIE!!!" and did not finish looking until the creature slid all over her and started to solidify.

Turning to Anoth, he shouted, " You jerk! Why didn't you tell her this would happen?!"

"I believe you are a Spider Man fan, correct?" Anoth said, as if he was in a private joke.

" What the heck does�" Prince Jake started to say, then he stopped.

A look of wonder covered his face as I asked <Prince Jake? What is a Spider Man? I've heard you talking to Marco about him but what is he?>

"He is a character of fiction on Earth. " Jake said in a mix of wonder and amusement, "A super hero that got the powers of a spider by being bit by a radioactive one."

Not knowing how a radioactive spider could benefit someone by biting him, I asked, <What does this have to do with the creature?>

"There is another symbiotic creature called Venom in the series who has similar powers, only stronger. I think this guy is saying that this is the same breed."

"From his home world actuality. You forget, I transcend time and space. Reality slipping is a no-brainer. Don't worry though, look at them now."

Glancing over, I was startled at the new form that Cassie had acquired. The shape was tall and willowy, with long sloping arms and legs. The head looked like that of a Na, except for the fact that the eyes were white, not black. She looked like a piece of art. Her head glanced at us and smiled.

"How do you feel Cassie?" Prince Jake asked cautiously.

"We feel, liberated." She replied in a sing song voice. "In fact, there is no more Cassie, or Symbote, there is only Protector. "

"Wwwhat?" Prince Jake asked Anoth in a shocked voice.

He sighed, "When a symbote bonds with a person, there is no longer two organisms of different names, only one. From the way Cassie reacted, however, I'd say that she is better than most."

"But can she, err, they still fight?" Tobias asked suddenly, " That IS why we came, remember? For weapons?"

Hearing this, Protector said, "yes" And suddenly, their features shifted. Her arms became covered in blades, her mouth filled with fangs, her eyes became silted, and her feet became clawed. " When we must, we can fight." The bladed Protector said to the shocked people around them. "We don't like it but we can."

"Can you still morph? " Prince Jake asked stunned.

Another "Yes" and suddenly we were looking at a small Cat.

"But, but she never Acquired one of those, did she?" Tobias asked. "No, but I have upgraded the technology in our body. I am more of a shape shifter than a morpher, " The, now reformed, Protector said. Turning to Anoth, she asked, "Where might I practice?"

"Down the hall on the door marked with a black square." Said a slightly shaken Anoth Vortex. Nodding, Protector started down the hall, in the direction pointed out by our host. Turning to us, Anoth asked, "Shall we continue?"

**********************************

As we started for a different level, Prince Jake asked Anoth, " In the stories, a symbote made people insane. How does Cassie control it like that?"

"You forget. " Anoth replied," The Carnage and Venom symbotes were bonded with hardened maniacs. The symbotes amplify the most constant emotion, In Cassie's case, I'd say it made her more at peace than before. "

"But a lot of stuff has happened, " Said Prince Jake nervously," And it really got to her."

"She has never enjoyed killing," Anoth said simply. " That aspect was amplified, and the other parts were of her being. Those were integrated to create Protector. Now then, " he said as we came to the next level, " Let's see if what you need is in here."

We came to a long section filled with hollow shells. As we proceeded down the end, something caught my eye. It was a hollow set of gloves made from a shiny material. There appeared to be some sort of lenses attached to the palms and a series of wires strung to the fingers. Seeing my interest, Anoth said "Those are a pair of energy gantlets. They focus power and direct it against an enemy. They can also double as a cloaking device, if you direct light away from you."

Looking to Prince Jake for support, I asked him <May I?>

"Sure, go right ahead." He replied. Not wasting any time, I slipped the gauntlets onto my hands. I had forgotten that I had more fingers than a human. However, as they touched my flesh, they appeared to simmer and adjust. Looking at Anoth, I asked <How?>

"Like the Symbiote, they adapt to their host. Feeling the power in those devices, I trembled in anticipation. This feeling was similar to that of when I would use my tail-blade, only from a different direction. "Those don't have a private training room. However, the targets practice court with the sunburst design. The instructions are activated by touching the palms together and saying "teach"" Excited, I lowered myself for a lesson in light swinging.

* Tobias

I, at first, didn't like Anoth because it was all to simple. However, as I saw the wide variety of weapons he was willing to give and that we needed, I felt better. When we left the fascinated Ax-man to learn to use his new toy, I was feeling a little unnatural. The symbiote was the most powerful weapon that would have made Cassie happy. But the whole idea of bonding with a creature to become more was terrifying to me. However, we were there for a reason, so I started looking for something that was me. After we had been walking for about five minutes, something startled me back into reality.

"Oh my Gosh! How long have I been in morph?" I yelled as I started to de-morph.

Soon I was in normal form once more. <I could have been trapped!> I yelled, as I required my thought-speech powers once more.

Looking at me gravely, Anoth said, "No you wouldn't have."

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