Inbetween: The Darkening 10

Killing, I found, was best done at night. Your victims couldn't see you and people tended not to be as active during the night. It was also best to have your victim not suspect that they were about to die as that caused problems. Minor ones, but any slight changes to the plan would mean that the victim could escape. Not likely for my victims, as Hannibal was usually with me and I had his training to back me up, but I couldn't take any chances.

Hannibal and I had been keeping track of Rick Carver for a week. I decided Carver was suitable to kill as his treatment of his family made it likely that their lives might one day be in danger. There were signs such as his wife flinching at small sounds and his son was distant. Hannibal had agreed to Carver dying as the man had annoyed him in some manner.

At the current moment, Hannibal's car was out of view of the road while we were kept out of sight by some bushes. Because it was winter they were barren, but they still would keep us hidden long enough to surprise Carver. It was cold but the excitement of the hunt kept me warm. Hannibal seemed to have his usual inner warmth working.

Finally headlights could be seen coming towards us. I took out my gun and Hannibal nodded. We had both recognized Carver's car soon after the headlights had come into view. The now usual thrill was coming to me. The thrill that would calm me soon after I killed Carver.

When Carver's car was close enough I shot the front wheel and Carver had to stop due to his car going out of control. Carver got out and started waving at us.

"Hey!" Carver shouted angrily to Hannibal and me. "What the fuck do you think you're doing?"

 I was first to get to Carver and Hannibal was close behind. Carver was like most of my victims in that he didn't think he was about to be killed. That his death had been decided a few days earlier. He merely thought I was a man playing a prank on him.

When he could see my face he saw a killer. He saw a killer and tried to run away but Hannibal was there to stop him. Carver turned to look back at me and I saw the loss of hope. One of the perks of killing was seeing the evil people of the world lose hope.

I went to slice his throat, my preferred method of killing, when I found myself somewhere and somewhen else.

It was night like it was in my dreams. But I could tell it wasn't a dream as I couldn't choose my actions. I was in a memory. A memory I didn't remember doing. But it was still a memory.

I was driving to Alana to make sure she was okay. To make sure that Gideon didn't get her. I didn't trust those who were there to protect her. I didn't trust anyone with her safety but myself.

No, that wasn't true. That was what I wished I had been thinking.

I was going to kill Alana Bloom. I had just been to Hannibal's house and he had said to kill Alana. Not in a straightforward manner, but I was sure that's what he meant. Gideon had been in the room and so I had to move quickly. Gideon was also going to kill Alana and her life was mine to do with as I pleased. And right now I wanted to make Hannibal proud.

The scene changed and I was entering Alana's house. She looked at me with such trust and I felt nothing. I only was concerned with when I could kill her. Alana talked to me but I wasn't listening. I guess my face made the right expressions, but I felt none of them.

Out of the corner of my eye I saw movement. Gideon broke through the window and we looked at each other. I turned to look at Alana and knew I had to act now. I shot her in the head. Alana had had enough time to have a look of betrayal on her face be her final expression. Gideon looked at me and went back out the window as those protecting Alana rushed in.

I chased after him.

I ran after him for many minutes but he finally gave up. Gideon stopped and looked at me.

"You did it." Gideon said right before I shot him in the head.

Carver's blood sprayed on my face and my usual happiness wasn't there. It was me who had killed Alana Bloom. I had killed the woman I loved and had felt nothing while doing so. I just wanted to please Hannibal and nothing else had mattered.

"Something wrong, Will?" Hannibal asked and I shook my head.

"Blood doesn't taste good." I replied and spit some of Carver's blood out of my mouth. I smiled and Hannibal focused on how to clean up the scene.

As he did his work I thought about the memory that had just come to me. I had killed Alana and Hannibal had known. He had made me kill her and afterwards he hadn't told me the truth. He was truly a monster to lie to me and then make me into his protege.

But I liked killing and it was a drug to me now. It had become more than just a way to honor Alana.

So did I really want to admit Hannibal had abused me or lie to myself so I could keep on killing and be with the man I loved?
-----------------------------------------
Inbetween tumblr

Animorphs Re-Read: The Andalite Chronicles (Chapters 20-27)

Chapter 20

Elfangor stops like I used to stop at stop lights (only reason I don't now is because I'm not supposed to drive) and is thrown across the deck. But Arbron doesn't waver as his many Taxxon legs keep him stable.

Arbron manages to shoot all three Bug Fighters down like more experienced Andalites would have trouble doing! Arbron says it's because that's what Taxxons are good at. Only problem I have with this is it seems the number of Bug Fighters chasing them has changed.

Elfangor and Arbron are both able to now really think about what it means that Arbron is a nothlit. When Elfangor turns the ship around and talks about getting Alloran, Loren, and Chapman back, Arbron panics. He brings up the Time Matrix but Elfangor tells him about the heat signature. Arbron doesn't care and attacks Elfangor. Arbron seems to do this in the hope that Elfangor will kill him and end his pain. Elfangor disarms him (literally) instead. I really want to talk about this scene more in depth, but there's no time for that now.

Arbron reveals both he and Alloran had eaten the Taxxon that had fallen. Poor Arborn, he has to be stuck with that hunger forever now.

Elfangor threatens to stun him and Arbron fools the aristh into putting the Dracon beam on full power. Luckily Elfangor doesn't hit Arbron, but ends up sending the ship crashing down. I'm just stuck wondering why Elfangor trusted Arbron. The trick shouldn't have worked because Elfangor knew Arbron wanted death and so whatever Arbron said about the Dracon beam shouldn't have been trusted. Knowing the trick had zero to do with knowing about the technology at hand.

Chapter 21

Elfangor wakes up from the crash and doesn't remember where he is. He remembers events but the thing he remembers best is Arbron tricking Elfangor into killing him.

Elfangor looks for Arbron and explores the wreckage. Some things seem to be off.

Elfangor finds the Time Matrix and is in awe at the sight of it. He remarks that it looks so unremarkable and you couldn't tell how powerful it was by merely looking at it.

Elfangor is still worried about Arbron but looks around the ship some more. He finds a photo album from Earth. He delights in the pictures. He thinks of being on Earth with Loren because his current situation is so horrible. He falls asleep looking a photographs and wakes up when there is daylight.

Elfangor realizes that Taxxons have taken Arbron and thinks it's more likely the Mountain Taxxons (aka the rebel Taxxons) took the nothlit.

Elfangor decides not to go after Arbron because he's probably dead anyways. He decides to go find Alloran. I really am pained now as Elfangor is in so much pain and now he has to go after the one who hates him instead of the one who he feels friendship for.

My fiance, revrezner, really likes Mustangs and now there is one in this book. Was this series predicting not just my fandom life but my real life to? Or is it just a weird coincidence?

Elfangor learning how to drive is amusing. Makes me feel better about my driving abilities and shows that Andalites aren't confused about primitive technology. I remember from the Animorphs tv show, the few episodes that I did watch, an episode where Ax doesn't realize how doors on cars worked. Either Elfangor is smarter than his brother, or the tv show was being disrespectful to the books.


Chapter 22

Elfangor is just reveling in the feeling of driving a convertible (I'm assuming that as Elfangor doesn't know that much about human technology at this point and so can't tell the reader) across the Taxxon home world. He does remark that all isn't right but he's still enjoying. This little bit of happiness pleases me so much.

Elfangor had collected some of the human objects from the Skrit Na ship. He's drinking Dr Pepper and I so wish he was drinking beer. Both are brown liquids. But, then again, this is a kids book.

Elfangor remarks that he is never going to morph into a Taxxon again even if it's a smart option. And who can blame him? He had horrible experiences in the morph and his friend is now a nothlit in that morph.

A hole opens in the ground and Elfangor and the Mustang go down it. Applegate chose to say "slid and rattled and rolled" when she could've used "shook and rattled and rolled".

Turns out Elfangor has fallen into a Taxxon cavern system thing. The mountain is alive and talks through thought-speak. Elfangor remarks that it sounds like a planet talking which makes me wonder how really awesome the Animorphs universe is if planets can speak.

Arbron turns out to be alive!

Arbron also turns out to be serving the Living Hive (aka the mountain creature). He says it's the mother and father of the Taxxons. Elfangor, understandably, thinks Arbron has gone nuts. Arbron replies that the Living Hive saved him and tells Elfangor about the vast tunnel system.

Arbron says that the Living Hive is angry and Elfangor just about shits his britches. Well, that would be true if he wore pants. Arbron reassures him by saying that the Living Hive is angry and mad at the Yeerks and is going to launch an attack. It couldn't do so before now but now it has Arbron. Elfangor asks about that part and Arbron seems sad when he remarks what better option does he have. Arbron has accepted that he is now a Taxxon.

Arbron's reasoning for it makes me want to break down in tears. He remarks that since he didn't successfully die he finds that he is glad for life. He remarks that there is always hope. As someone who thinks, sometimes on a daily basis, about killing herself this hits me so hard. Yes, Arbron is going on a suicide mission, but he isn't without hope now and his reason for going isn't to end his own life. Instead, he's doing it for a greater good.

Elfangor doesn't understand about Arbron accepting life as a Taxxon or thinking that Taxxons are good creatures, but he decides to help because they are opposing the Yeerks.


Chapter 23

Again Elfangor is left with only his thoughts (and this time no Loren). Arbron is busy being a general and he has changed emotionally. I believe it's because of his new found outlook on life and finding a worthy cause to fight for.

Arbron tells Elfangor the plan. He reminds Elfangor that getting the Time Matrix to safety is the most important thing. He says that rescuing the humans and finding Alloran is secondary. Elfangor offers to tell Arbron's parents about his fate. But Arbron insists to lie to his parents and say he died in battle. So I guess that Arbron is fine with his situation but it'd be embarrassing to his parents. Or he doesn't want his parents' pity. Arbron ends their talk by saying that the spaceport will be absolute chaos and Elfangor won't be able to tell which Taxxon is on what side. Arbron, therefore, gives Elfangor the okay to kill whichever Taxxons get in his way.

Elfangor blasting down the tunnels in the Mustang feels very different to him than driving the Mustang previously. Before it was fun and now he's more concerned about not hurting himself.

Elfangor arrives on the scene of the spaceport bloodbath by hitting a Taxxon and having it burst open (yes, blood does get on the Andalite). He remarks that he can hardly think with all Hell unleashed in one spot.

Elfangor spots the humans and Arbron. He asks the nothlit which side is which.

Arbron replies, [There's no difference anymore, Elfangor! Don't you see? Blood has been spilled. The hunger...the hunger! Stop me, Elfangor! Stop me!]

After he gives that heartbreaking bit of dialogue, he can't help himself and goes after the two humans.

Elfangor gives this description of it: And with that, Arbron, aristh of the Dome ship StarSword, lost his last shred of control.

Why the hell am I attracted to such heartbreaking series?


Chapter 24

Elfangor goes into panic/savior mode. Before he thought of the bloodbath, but now he's only concerned about Loren's safety. Elfangor is able to stop Arbron by reminding the nothlit that he's an aristh and has a duty.

Some Hork-Bajir Controllers approach Elfangor and Sub-Visser Seven is among them. The sub-visser remarks that he is glad that Elfangor escaped so he could use the Andalite as a host.

Arbron ends up standing beside Elfangor in this hopeless fight.

Elfangor makes a speech that would normally work in fiction, however it doesn't hear. The classic "In real life it doesn't work that way" line. That kind of line is both funny and problematic. Funny in that there's the whole "oh shit, this isn't going the way I planned" element. But it's also problematic as it's a line in a work of fiction.

Sub-Visser Seven sends his Hork-Bajir Controllers after the arisths and humans. Since only two Hork-Bajir Controllers can attack at a time Elfangor thinks he can deal with the situation. However, the fighting quickly escalates.

Suddenly Alloran appears in Hork-Bajir morph and threatens Sub-Visser Seven. Loren rushes over to check on Elfangor's wounds.

Again Alloran makes mention that he was involved in what happened on the Hork-Bajir home world.

Arbron demands to stay on the Taxxon home world and help with the Taxxon rebellion. This part is so heart breaking as Elfangor basically begs the nothlit to come with him. Elfangor didn't begin liking Arbron, but through all the pain and confusion he formed a friendship with the Andalite. Alloran ends the debate by calling Arbron a Warrior. To get Alloran's admiration and approval seems to be a VERY rare thing.


Chapter 25

The Jahar is able to leave the Taxxon home world without problems. Elfangor is relieved when he sees Alloran demorph. Alloran seems arrogant when he comments on the aristh thinking that he had become a nothlit like Arbron.

Chapman is "unusually quiet" but Elfangor doesn't pay attention to this as he hates Chapman and figures the human is just afraid of what will happen to him.

Alloran starts talking how now Elfangor wants orders when he disobeyed flushing the Yeerks into space. Alloran then talks about doing the job and finishing it this time. Elfangor reminds him that the Time Matrix is their first priority. Alloran replies that he's spent all his time on the Taxxon home world watching the ship that held the Yeerks. Alloran turns to Elfangor and the aristh can see that the war-prince is mad. Alloran says the most important thing in war is to destroy the enemy.

Alloran may have gone mad, but the point of war is to win. However, how far you should go to win is a whole 'nother discussion.

Alloran says to throw the Sub-Visser into space. Elfangor makes mention of how it seems Chapman and the Yeerk seem to talk to each other through glances and signals. He then thinks he must be imagining things. The Hork-Bajir that the sub-visser is in seems to relax. That seems to be a huge warning signal to me. Elfangor obeys Alloran's orders but doesn't look as he does the deed. He isn't relieved when the ordeal is over because he knows that they still have to destroy the Yeerk transport ship.

Alloran is cheerful as he'll finally get to destroy the ship he's watched for the past few days and be able to also get the Time Matrix. Elfangor is too tired to argue after everything that has happened.

Elfangor asks why Chapman agreed to come with them. They get into a short discussion where Chapman tries to defend his actions.

Alloran aims the shredder but orders Elfangor to take the shot as it'll erase the aristh's act of cowardice.


Chapter 26

Elfangor makes his choice and decides not to shoot. Alloran berates the aristh as he believes that war should be won at any costs. And says that Elfangor is one of those people that doesn't mind if immoral things are done in war as long as other people do it. Elfangor brings up the point that the Yeerks are helpless. Alloran counters by saying that the Yeerks are the enemy and that Elfangor is a hypocrite. He goes on to say it was wrong for him to be disgraced and to be sent on missions with arisths.

Alloran continues by saying that it doesn't matter how you kill an enemy and brings up that he had used a quantum virus on the Hork-Bajir home world. A quantum virus is something that breaks down something on a subatomic level and a species affected will be in agony as it slowly dies. This type of virus is highly illegal and the high ups in Andalite hierarchy had denied it. The common Andalite had been told that the Yeerks had lied about the Andalites using a quantum virus. So this is a real big shock to Elfangor to say the least. So we finally find out why Alloran is disgraced!

At this moment Chapman goes to attack Alloran. Now Elfangor can attack Chapman as obviously the human is now controlled by the sub-visser now! But, nope, the aristh knocks the mad war-prince out. Chapman is very happy about this and Elfangor still doesn't get it. What the bloody fuck? Elfangor, honey, I love you but sometimes you are really dense.

Elfangor is shocked about knocking Alloran out and decides to pick up the Time Matrix and then leave the Taxxon home world for good.

Elfangor makes a joke and Loren remarks that's a first for him. He then talks about Arbron. I need to give both of these heroes a hug! Loren asks about him driving a Mustang and Elfangor remarks that it was primitive but fun to drive.

Elfangor goes to get the Time Matrix and while he's getting it he realizes that he's been a dumb ass. He FINALLY realizes how much luck was required for their mission to succeed. And that it was TOO MUCH luck to happen by chance.

Loren had been a controller! I forgot about that particular reveal. Chapman being a controller I had guessed but...maybe I hadn't wanted to imagine her having a Yeerk in her head. But, yeah, she being a controller makes a shit load of sense and it would've been odd if she hadn't been one.

And now Alloran has Sub-Visser Seven controlling him. Shit!


Chapter 27

Was thinking of ending this post on Chapter 26 as I'm staying up later than I should to do this but I just have to read this tonight or I'd die in anticipation...or any period cramps that decide to say hi tonight (and I had some that lasted for five or ten minutes last morning).

Elfangor had to remind himself that Alloran is now really Sub-Visser Seven. The sub-visser reveals that another Yeerk had been in the Hork-Bajir host, he had really been in Chapman all along, and another Yeerk had been in Loren. The sub-visser compliments Elfangor on knocking Alloran out. Elfangor is in utter shock and horror that it was him that allowed the sub-visser to take an Andalite body.

The sub-visser says that it was lucky that the Mountain Taxxons had attacked when they did because the Andalites hadn't been very suspicious. Sub-Visser Seven also remarks that if Elfangor had decided to shoot the transport ship then he and the Yeerk in Loren would have been forced to reveal themselves. The Yeerk remarks that it's one thing to sacrifice one Yeerk life for the mission, but another to risk ten thousand Yeerk lives. So Yeerks do have some form of morality.

Elfangor threatens to kill the sub-visser, but the Yeerk mocks Elfangor's morality. Sub-Visser Seven even brings up the fact that the young Andalite won't kill a helpless foe. Can I just ask why mock this as it's what allowed Sub-Visser Seven's mission to succeed? But, then again, Yeerks hate Andalites beyond reason so that's probably the reason why.

Elfangor doesn't kill the sub-visser but stuns him. He drags Loren's body into the Jahar and reluctantly drags Chapman too. Before he can drag the sub-visser in there are Bug fighters. Elfangor hopes to fool the Yeerks by assuming the fact they can't tell one Andalite from another. He pretends to be Sub-Visser Seven and leaves the sub-visser to die. I am loving seeing Elfangor pretending to be a sub-visser!

While I enjoy this scene I must say that it shows that Elfangor has it in him to be cruel. Maybe not Sub-Visser Seven or Alloran cruel, but cruel nonetheless.

Sub-Visser Seven realizes instantly what Elfangor had done and immediately starts to run away.

Elfangor's bluff lasts long enough for him to escape into Zero-space.
-----------------------------
Animorphs Re-Read Table of Contents

Pretty Little Liars "The Guilty Girl's Handbook" Review

I review the latest Pretty Little Liars episode!

Inbetween: The Darkening 9

Killing used to make me feel unclean. I thought the act of taking a life was something only a god should do. The fact that it made me feel so powerful sickened me because I used to think killing shouldn't make someone feel good. But now I knew better.

I watched as Hannibal made dinner. It wasn't a normal dinner, though, it was a celebration. I had killed Beverly and, in doing so, had begun a new part of my life. My life would now become richer as I had broken out of my cage.

Though this dinner was a special one, I couldn't help but cringe at the thought of what I would be eating. What was even more surprising was the fact that Abigail didn't have any problems with eating it.

"Are you sure this is the right thing to do?" I asked Hannibal.

"You're still having doubts?" He replied without a hint of annoyance in his voice. I had learned, shortly after I had killed Beverly, about how he mostly stuck to killing the rude. So I knew that all the moments I had been rude he had restrained himself because he loved me. And I also knew that he was restraining himself right now.

"I don't mind killing, but eating a person just seems wrong to me."

"If Beverly was not worthy to keep her own life, why should she get any say as to how her body is used now?"

I thought about Hannibal's words. He didn't kill without reason and hated killing to keep himself safe. I now understood killing was not always wrong and you shouldn't feel bad because you took a life. I had been naive to fear killing before.

But it being okay to eat another human being and becoming a cannibal? That was too much for me to understand. Was it because I was weak or that I was right?

"Beverly didn't deserve her life and I took it." I replied, trying to form my thoughts into words. "Her threat is gone and eating her would be going a step further than we need to go. Eating her won't stop a threat that has already been stopped."

"While eating won't give you the same sense of release, Will, it does have another use that killing doesn't."

I looked at him and asked. "What is that?"

Hannibal found a point where he could pause in his art. He met my gaze and I knew that I had failed him in my lack of understanding. But as he wasn't making any indication he was going to kill me, I realized that he was willing to take the time to help me understand.

"Killing gives you a sense of release that you can't get anywhere else." Hannibal explained. "But eating another human makes you realize that people are just animals. They can be as easily manipulated as a pig. Being a cannibal gives you strength."

"Is there another reason?"

Hannibal paused as if lost in a memory. I realized that he wasn't as strong as I thought. While he could stand up against things others would crumble from, he was still human. He still felt. For some reason that both humanized him and made me afraid.

I was about to ask him what the memory was when he came back to reality and returned to cooking. Thinking that the conversation had come to an end, I started to walk out of the kitchen. Abigail must be getting lonely sitting all alone at the table.

"The other reason is that we're making sure the meat isn't wasted." Hannibal said and so I took up my former position in the kitchen. "Beverly's body would just be hidden in the ground and the only use it would have had would be to be found by the police or FBI."

"Which wouldn't be good." I replied. "But you don't cook every piece of a human's body."

"Every person has certain parts that are actually good to cook. Though the cheek is the exception as every one's cheeks make a good meal." Hannibal said. "So to eat an entire human body would also be wasteful as you would be making time for parts that are better left uneaten."

"So we're eating Beverly just to have a meal?"

"We're eating her as to not waste her most precious parts."

As the smell of Beverly's flesh drifted into my nose I started to get hungry but tried to push the feeling away. Hannibal was trying to make me eat another human and, at the same time, make me think that it was a good idea. Not just a good idea but a noble one. He was beginning to look like a monster.

But then I started really looking at my own thought process. Why was it disgusting to me? If someone killed a deer it wouldn't be wrong. If someone killed a deer it was to provide food and hunting it was a reward in itself. So why would eating a human be all that bad?

I had hunted Beverly and the hunt had been its own reward. Eating her, like one would eat a deer, would just be a celebration of the hunt. Hannibal was right, she hadn't deserved her life so why should I empathize with her now?

When Hannibal finished making the meal I helped bring out the food to the table. We brushed lightly against each other at one point before sitting down. Hannibal, Abigail, and myself were happy as we ate together.

I took my first bite of Beverly and smiled as the taste and smell combined itself into one exotic feeling. Hannibal looked me in the eyes and we both smiled. I had pleased him by being a good student. After I ate the meat of Beverly Katz, there'd be a different kind from the man I loved.
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Previous (and Current) Inbetween: The Darkening Chapters

Inbetween tumblr

Fifty Shades Darker (E.L. James)

Title: Fifty Shades Darker

Series: Fifty Shades Trilogy

Author: E.L. James

Released: 2012

Rating: 1.5/5

Basic Plot: Ana learns more about Christian Grey and their love deepens.
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The Abuse
My hate for this book doesn't come from me being a prude and only doing the missionary position in bed. Instead, my hate for this book comes from the fact that it shows an abusive relationship as the ideal relationship. Christian Grey is controlling of Ana to the point that he buys the company she works for. While he is able to tell Ana to put his past relationships to the back of her mind, lord help the man who even glances at her. Other people have pointed out the fact that he is taking away her connection to people piece by piece. Those more familiar with abusive relationships will be able to point a lot of things out. I don't think any reader, even the younger ones, will get fooled. The fact is that the less mature you are, and the less experience you have with the real world, the easier the mindset that 'being in a relationship with someone like Christian is okay' is to get into. That is what scares me about books like these getting published.


The Sex Is Meh
If you are thinking of checking out this book because the sex scenes are awesome, don't bother. Even though Ana and Christian have sex like rabid rabbits, it's not really as extreme as people talking about it say it is. The sex scene in the elevator at a restaurant is really the only one I was interested in (and that due to the fact that having sex in public is interesting to me). There are maybe two other scenes, at most, that would be worth talking about.

There Is No Real Conflict
Yes, things happen in this book. However, nothing really horrible lasts for long. If there is some conflict being hinted at, it's resolved quickly. The biggest betrayer of conflict comes near the end of the book when Kate finds out about the contract that Christian wanted Ana to sign in the first book (Fifty Shades of Grey).  Don't get your hopes up about it progressing logically or even lasting more than a few pages. This is what happens with any real conflict in the book. By the end of the book I knew that any conflict would be quickly resolved, but I wanted Kate to react to the news better. Well...better meaning she'd react to it worse but it'd be better because there'd be conflict.

Final Thoughts
I am glad to have finished this book. Though I know that one day I'll get to reading the final book in this trilogy. On my twitter I was tweeting last night about some of the comments I saw about this book. One of them said that since Fifty Shades Darker (as well as Fifty Shades of Grey and Freed) were originally fanfiction that of course it was going to suck. As a writer and reader of fanfiction I can promise you that there is some good stuff out there and that Fifty Shades is just one of the worst pieces of fanfiction out there. If you are one of my less mature (maturity and age being different) readers and are thinking of checking this book out: just remember that if you ever find yourself in a relationship with someone like Christian Grey you should get out!

GetGlue Stickers (7/30/2013)

I go over the latest stickers I've gotten from GetGlue!

Animorphs Re-Read: The Andalite Chronicles (Chapters 8-12)

Chapter 8

I like how Z-Space travel (imagine hyperspace from the Star Wars series) works. In that there is a reason why you can't always use it. So that's why Elfangor and company aren't using it in the start of the chapter.

Arbron's character is being expanded. He can take things seriously and that surprises Elfangor. Of course Elfangor realizes that he is biased because Arbron never was serious around HIM. Arbron is 'unraveling a mystery' and won't tell the egotistical Andalite aristh about it.

Elfangor is bored since Arbron is researching, Alloran is brooding, Chapman is brooding, and so the only one he's really talking to is Loren. He remarks that sitting looks very odd. So Andalites don't sit?

Loren and Elfangor talk about Earth and the talk quickly turns to Loren's mother. Then talk turns to war. It is saddening to see Alloran just starting to pay attention to Loren because of how she said her father couldn't cope with life after fighting a war. From this action it is safe to assume that Alloran can only really connect to fellow veterans since only they can understand his pain. The war-prince connects to Loren and even goes so far as to defend her from Chapman.

I like how Loren singles out Elfangor as a memory she's worried about losing.

Loren asks why Andalites don't have mouths and Chapman tells her that her question is stupid (fucking asshole) and tries to bribe Elfangor with money from Earth. When Elfangor laughs at Chapman's offer the asshole then tries to offer the aristh with power. Elfangor replies he's an Andalite and his species isn't bent on ruling others like the Yeerks are.

Before Chapman can embarrass himself anymore, Arbron calls Elfangor over. The suspense is killing me as neither character will say what the images means. No, they have to call Alloran over as the suspense is about to kill me. And whatever this master weapon is it was hidden in Egypt under a Pyramid. I'm guessing it's the Time Matrix.

IT IS THE TIME MATRIX!

So the Skrit Na picked up the Time Matrix or the humans first?

Now the mission has changed to getting the Time Matrix first since that is the higher priority.


Chapter 9

So now Elfangor and company is going to the Taxxon home world! And, of course, it's going to be full of butterflies and ponies!

The general consensus among the three Andalites is that the Skrit Na don't know what they have since they are going to the Taxxon home world and not to the Yeerk home world.

Chapman interrupts the discussion and demands to be noticed. He criticizes the Andalites because they are just dragging him and Loren across the galaxy. Elfangor reminds the asshole human that there is an emergency in progress.

So Loren didn't guess that there is danger involved in her trip now? Or is it her only trying to be kind to Elfangor (aka asking Chapman's question in a more polite manner)?

Alloran allows the humans to know what is actually going on and it appears that Loren is more naive than Chapman. This can be assumed when Chapman knows how a time machine can be used as a weapon while Loren doesn't.

Chapman pushes Alloran's big button and says that maybe the Yeerks are the better ones because 'they sound like winners'. This causes Alloran to bring up what he got disgraced for: something involving the Hork-Bajir home world.

Alloran says that they are now on battle alert and the two arisths appear nervous at the thought of an actual mission. This is caused by them having to morph into Taxxons (whenever you morph into something you get a bunch of whatever's instincts).

Elfangor remarks that his daydreams of being a warrior always went well but the reality wasn't like he expected. I feel like this is the same theme that happens with the Animorphs (although they weren't warned before they became warriors).


Chapter 10

So the first part of the plan is to capture a Yeerk ship and get morphs from that ship. Luckily there is a ship that's just arriving.

I am happy to see Elfangor abandoning his pride when he puts the mission first. He abandons his pride by telling Alloran that Arbron is the better shot. Elfangor, instead, pilots the Jahar and remarks that boarding the Yeerk ship will be different than the Skrit Na. He appears more afraid of the Yeerk ship because he doesn't know what will be waiting for them.

In his panic, Elfangor tries to recall everything Sofor had taught him.

The description of a Taxxon just makes me think of 'killer space worm'.

Elfangor's first real fight! It has been revealed that Taxxons will eat any fresh meat. This includes eating their own kind. So cannibalism was in my first fandom and now I'm a fan of Hannibal.

Arbron thinks there has been victory but Elfangor and Alloran have guessed that there is even bigger trouble coming.

Arbron makes a joke before he and Elfangor fight Hork-Bajir.

A lot of mention has been paid to saying how Elfangor doesn't think when he uses his tail blade, but now it's being mentioned like this is the first time it has happened?

Whatever is different has Elfangor going into super tail blade mode. Arbron is just shocked and Alloran seems to have respect for him. Elfangor is freaked out and finds comfort in Loren (no, they don't have sex).


Chapter 11

Elfangor becomes ashamed quickly. He feels he is not acting in the right manner. Pride?

Elfangor doesn't react kindly to Loren asking if he's okay. It's a rude action but his pride has been hurt badly (running into someone's arms after his first battle).  Loren is shown to be kind as after Elfangor says he doesn't need help she goes to help Arbron who had been injured in the fight.

Alloran gives Elfangor and Arbron orders but neither moves. Alloran is at first annoyed, then he realizes that this has been their first battle. He is harsh, but he is caring when he can relate to others. This is one of those instances as he tells them they did a good job but they still have work to do.

Loren first has Elfangor promise that she and Chapman will be taken back to Earth. She then warns the aristh that Chapman is trouble.

Loren says, "Chapman doesn't trust you."

And Elfangor replies sassily with, [I got that impression,]

It's almost like Alloran is telling Elfangor to get away from his girlfriend and focus on the mission. Love it!

Aw! Elfangor is worrying for Loren's safety!

I like how Elfangor defends Loren from Arbron's little rant.

Arbron compliments Elfangor's fighting skills. Elfangor is torn as he doesn't like to remember killing but his pride loves being complimented for his actions.


Chapter 12

Elfangor, Arbron, and Alloran have every one locked up. Alloran tells the Taxxons to not eat each other, but they don't listen. The war-prince then says the Yeerks have left them as they're acting like Taxxons in their natural state. Elfangor wonders where the Yeerks went but his question goes unanswered.

I like how the Yeerks are revealed. It is very well done. Alloran states that the Yeerks are being transported to the Taxxon home world so they can get hosts.

Alloran and Elfangor have a debate whether or not to kill the Yeerks. Elfangor argues that it's murder because the Yeerks are helpless. Alloran argues that the point of war is to kill. Arbron stops the argument, at least for now, by saying it wouldn't be a wise move to make at this time.

I like the line "I had made an enemy of Prince Alloran." as it is sort of foreshadowing later events.

Before Elfangor acquires his Taxxon morph Alloran jokes that doing so will breach Elfangor's 'high moral code'.

And the chapter ends with Elfangor starting to morph.
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Animorphs Re-Read Table of Contents