Animorphs Re-Read: #1 The Invasion (Chapters 5-8)

Chapter 5

A Hork-Bajir starts to search for the kids and Elfangor tells them to be silent. The space cows can't see well in the dark but their hearing is wonderful.

The Hork-Bajir is very close to the kids and Jake is more than afraid. He imagines how the creature will kill him. He goes on to describe what fear can do to you and says everyone is the same way. That no matter how brave you think you are, everyone experiences extreme fear the same way.

To help the children, the dying Andalite gives them some of his strength. Jake says the feeling is beyond words.

When the Hork-Bajir goes away Jake sees the Taxxon and Hork-Bajir Controllers turn towards the ship. He says that they're standing at attention and Marco points out that none of them knows anything about aliens.

Visser Three appears and the kids notice him and Elfangor look alike. In other words: Visser Three has an Andalite host. Elfangor says that Visser Three is the only Yeerk to ever take an Andalite host.

Jake remarks that Visser Three and Elfangor feel different though they look similar.

Cassie and Rachel are worried that the Visser can hear their thoughts. Elfangor says that if you don't direct your thoughts to someone then they can't be heard. I would like to point out how thought-speak works changes after the first book. It is common knowledge that Applegate changed her mind after The Invasion was published. So what Elfangor is talking about here was probably meant to mean something more than using thought-speak in morph.

Visser Three shows himself to be a little drama queen. He pretends not to know Elfangor to show how much he hates the Andalite. He goes on and on about how much he rules.

Elfangor asks why the Yeerks would bother with humans as the parasites already have Taxxon allies and Hork-Bajir slaves. The Visser replies that the reason is because there are billions of humans and that they have no idea of what's happening.

Elfangor stands up since he refuses to die lying down. The Visser continues to taunt the Andalite by saying he'll hunt down Elfangor's family and have his most loyal lieutenants infest them. Elfangor strikes Visser Three with his tail-blade! AND Elfangor's fighter shoots a bug fighter!

The Visser angrily orders for the Andalite fighter to be destroyed.

The children see the outlines of humans and they wonder if the humans are prisoners.

The Visser orders some Hork-Bajir controllers to hold Elfangor. They could kill him but that 'pleasure' is for the Visser only.

Jake remarks that they all saw why a powerful Yeerk would inhabit an Andalite. I'd like to point out that Visser Three wasn't that rank when he got Alloran's body.

The first morph of the book and it'll probably give children nightmares!

Cassie is the only one to say anything and she just keeps repeating 'no' while Jake is busy whimpering. Cassie takes comfort by taking Tobias' hand.

Even when Elfangor is picked up by the monster Visser Three has turned into, he keeps striking with his tail-blade.

The chapter ends with the Visser opening his mouth.


Chapter 6

Jake finally snaps and starts to make a move to try and stop Visser Three from killing Elfangor. It takes Elfangor and Jake's friends to not get himself killed before he can become a fearless leader.

Visser Three eats Elfangor and at the last moment Elfangor cries out. His scream haunts Jake and the boy doesn't think that nightmare will ever go away.

The Hork-Bajir Controllers laugh and the Taxxon Controllers go to eat any piece of Andalite that falls down.

I think it's telling that Tobias is the only one who has to cover his eyes. Since Elfangor is Tobias' father and they seem to have a strong connection to each other.

The Human Controllers are also laughing and Jake seems to recognize one of the voices. At least he thinks he does...

Visser Three demorphs and reveals that the creature he had morphed into is called an Antarean Bogg. The Human and Hork-Bajir Controllers laugh again. Jake hears the familiar laughter and Marco vomits.

The teenagers start running and Jake says to split up. Rachel and him are the fastest runners so he decides they should be the distraction.

I love how in this book and the Harry Potter series curse words are always described in a funny manner. Jake hadn't realized Rachel could cuss.

Jake, our fearless leader, falls down. Rachel doesn't realize he's down. When she does he tells her to keep going.

Jake runs into an unfinished building he remembers and hopes that the others escaped alive.

Navigating the buildings is harder than usual when scared, Jake finds out.

Jake hears a human voice that sounds familiar telling the Hork-Bajir Controller to just kill whoever it finds.

Jake bumps into a homeless man whose fate is uncertain, but most likely dead, and then runs away once the Hork-Bajir Controller is distracted with the man.


Chapter 7

Jake makes it home and checks up on the others. Good man, check up on your friends even when all you want to do is curl up in a corner and forget everything.

That morning Tobias comes over to visit. Jake is confused as to why bird boy has come over. When Tobias enters Jake's room, Jake notices that his friend is very excited.

Tobias said he had become his cat (Dude) earlier. Jake, not having had his morning coffee, is very confused.

 Tobias says that he didn't know exactly how to morph so he made sure his door was locked. This leads Jake to talk about Tobias' messed up family life. Tobias never knew his father (remember, he doesn't know Elfangor is his real father), Loren left bird boy all of a sudden, and he's now moved between his aunt and uncle.

Why do I always have to love the hurt ones?

Tobias says that he just had to concentrate on Dude to become him. He mentions Dude getting freaked out and clawing him. This is confusing as Tobias still has an injury from that little attack.

Jake is still confused and tells Tobias that he probably imagined it happening.

Tobias then goes on to describe what being a cat felt like and how much he enjoyed that morph.

Jake still insists that Tobias dreamt that he turned into a cat. Bird boy says that Jake just doesn't want to believe they can morph now. Jake replies that of course he doesn't want to believe the truth.

 Tobias then brings up Elfangor. Jake realizes that he can't just dismiss the Andalite.

Tobias then decides to morph into Dude to help Jake decide what is real. It takes a few seconds for the morphing to have any big effects. Jake says that he feels like laughing but if he started he couldn't stop.


Chapter 8

Jake and Tobias learn the general rules of thought speak. Such as you have to direct your thoughts to someone so that they can hear you.

This is a problematic scene if you put it up against the rest of the series. In this scene Jake is able to talk telepathically to Tobias (while bird boy is in a morph), but that's not the case in #2 The Visitor. This was very confusing to me upon first reading the second book.

While Tobias is in cat morph he starts experiencing some of the instincts of one. He wants to play with string. Such a cat stereotype!

Jake points out to Tobias that he's playing with strong and that makes bird boy stop for a second. They then discuss the fact that Tobias hasn't just assumed the form of a cat but has BECOME a cat. With all the instincts of a feline.

Jake tells Tobias that he should demorph and bird boy agrees.

Tobias then tells Jake that maybe they can figure how to make it so when they demorph they aren't naked. Jake is taken aback by the assertion that he's suddenly included into this saving the world from the Yeerks business.

Tobias explains that Jake has to be the leader. He is the only one who can be.

I like the line about Jake only being able to see Tobias' human eyes in memory. I know Tobias will eventually regain his ability to morph as well as his human form, but I doubt Applegate knew about this when writing the line. However, it still foreshadows that Tobias will become a nothlit by the end of this book.

And with Jake accepting his role of leader he decides to try out the morphing ability for himself. He decides to morph into his dog Homer.
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Animorphs Re-Read Table of Contents

The World's End (2013) Ending

This post will be spoiler filled so if you haven't seen The World's End I'd suggest doing so now. I wouldn't want to spoil the awesomeness.

Now onto the main show:

As I said in my written review of the film (don't worry, the vlog with revrezner has been filmed and will be edited and released on the interwebs), the ending is both hilarious and sad at the same time.

It is hilarious because Gary King refuses to consider The Network's offer. He does his gag of never admitting that he's wrong. The funniest part of that scene, at least for me, is The Network giving up arguing with King and agreeing to leave. As The Network leaves it whispers, "Fuck it."

Looking at the conversation between Andy, King, and The Network brings up some good points in humanity's favor. Even though King is an idiot because he never admits he's wrong, the fact is that I found myself agreeing with his point that humanity should be free. King says it because he's shitfaced and he won't let an argument go. But, really, the only way humanity can thrive is if it is free.

If the world is going to be peaceful it should be because humans made it that way and not because some outside force made it so. This is why I think Stephenie Meyer failed in The Host by making the invading aliens into saints.

Humanity will probably never achieve world peace (all the sexist, racist, transphobic, ect. people out there that don't even seem to realize what they are outnumber the sane people), but I would never bow down to alien overlords that seek to manipulate and force the world into peace.

It's even brought up that The Network hasn't been able to achieve peace without the methods shown in The World's End.

So I'm glad that King argued so fiercely for humanity's freedom, even if it wasn't his real intention to do so.

After The Network leaves Earth, the world ends. Every technological thing seems to go away. In the NBC show Revolution the electronics don't work because of nanites, but The Network just stopped humanity's technology in a bid to stop humans from causing problems for the rest of the universe.

When the world has ended, Andy gets back with his wife. Sam and Peter get it on. And King...doesn't change at all. Well, he drinks water now but that might just be because that's how the world is now.

I find the outcome for King to be the most heartbreaking. Over the course of the movie you learn that King has cut and was trying to use the pub crawl as a way to get what he couldn't in his youth. I've heard people bring up the theory that if the pub crawl went the way he wanted, that he would have committed suicide.

So King does succeed in getting to The World's End (but doesn't get to drink that final pint) and lives his fantasy of being in his youth. He takes the Blanks of his friends as they were when they were younger and goes to different pubs.

Why I consider this heartbreaking is that King is shown to be unable to grow and develop. He will be the same person to the day that he dies. While you should keep yourself young at heart, you also have to realize that sometimes growth is good. It might not be easy, but it will be for the best.

On one hand I'm glad that King is now happy (even if the world has ended), but also sad that he'll never grow or develop.

The World's End (2013)

Title: The World's End

Director: Edgar Wright

Starring: Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, and Martin Freeman

Rated: R

Released: 2013

Personal Rating: 5/6

Oscars: N/A

Plot:  Five friends who reunite in an attempt to top their epic pub crawl from 20 years earlier unwittingly become humankind's only hope for survival.
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Great Humor
I am not a comedy person. Comedies are just hard for me to either watch or enjoy because I am confused on what is supposed to be funny about the movie or show I am watching. Hell, even in the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy book series the humor was hard for me to pick up. No disrespect to the great Douglas Adams intended. In this movie, however, I was able to fully enjoy myself. In fact there was one scene, can't recall it now, where I laughed so loudly that people in China heard me and the dead awakened. But the nearly packed theater's audience was laughing too so I wasn't noticed. Though I was embarrassed for my outburst.

Ending Both Sad and Funny
I can't say much about the ending here as I don't want to spoil the movie for you. Suffice it to say that the final confrontation between Gary King and the robots (though the movie's terminology for them are Blanks) is hilarious. Throughout the movie King has been painted as someone who you can't argue with and that is played up to great effect in the confrontation. But after you leave the theater you start to realize the implications about King's arc and it made me a little sad. I might make another post talking about the ending so that I can talk without fear of talking about major spoilers.

End of the World
In the trailers it seems that reaching The World's End is an end goal to save the world. In the trailers the plot seems to be that if they reach the that pub then they can work on saving the world. While reaching that pub does bring along the final confrontation, King's reason/obsession to getting there isn't to save the world. I don't think he really cares about saving the world at any point during the movie, really. He wants to get to the pub to do something he couldn't when he was younger and to bring solace to himself.

Final Thoughts
Out of the few movies I've seen released this year, this is my favorite. I haven't seen Iron Man 3 or Man of Steel yet so I can't say for certain what my favorite movie of the year will end up being. For now, though, this is my number one. The humor is done extremely well and fans of the Cornetto Trilogy will be happy to note the presence of some returning gags. Being a fan of Simon Pegg and Nick Frost's works I had expectations that had to be met. They were.

The Green: Last Chance

It seemed like a lifetime ago that I woke up in the lab and didn't know what I was. I knew what I was now and that scared me at times. But that was to be expected. I was a clone and so was I really me? That question had to be set aside as Plague and myself were making a report to our superiors.

We were in an elementary school classroom. That's what it used to be, at least. Now it had been assigned as a base for the army and those who fought against the people infested by Gralg.

I looked at Plague and calmed myself down. It wasn't that the people frightened me as much as what our report contained. The world had been ending and now there was only time to throw one final punch before everything crumbled. I didn't mind the odds when there was hope, but there didn't seem to be any of that now.

"We have a solution." Plague said and our superiors just looked at him with interest. "The scientists in Winchester, Kentucky are just about to finish their work. Once that is done we should have a shot at curing the infected and immunizing every one."

Our superiors started talking in hushed tones to each other before turning back to us.

"And what do you think, Clohn?" One of them asked.

I was proud at having my new name being used. It was an honor to have my past recognized. Not because my past was good, but because I know knew it. I knew where I came from.

"I believe that is our best option." I replied. "These scientists will be our last chance against stopping the end of the world. If you're worried about the risk, Plague and myself can go. That way you won't lose a lot of men."

"Though I am loathe to single out any one person as being important," A different superior said. "You and Plague are two of our best men. I would think it would be more prudent to consider the fact that both of you might die on this mission."

"With respect, sir," Plague replied and moved closer to the front of what used to be a classroom. Already the effects of the Gralg infestation could be seen here, though the actually Gralg had not yet been spotted on the premise. "We are hardly the most useful people you have at your command. There are other more experienced people that would be able to take our place."

Our superiors again talked to each other before saying anything to us. These moments were the most stressful as having to wait for an answer got very stressful quickly. If Plague and I weren't allowed on this mission then I'd have to twiddle my thumbs wanting to do something. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad for Plague, but it would be torture for me.

"Matthias, don't worry." Plague looked back and whispered to me. I gave him a half-hearted smile and he turned to face our superiors again.

Finally our superiors turned to us.

"We will let you get the scientists out of Kentucky. If you know you are about to fail the mission, turn back. We won't risk you if you purposefully put yourself into harm's way." The one who had spoken first said.

We saluted our superiors and then left to go back to the small office that we were using as a bedroom. Upon entering I sat down in a chair.

"You're nervous?" Plague asked me.

"I'm excited." I said. "But, yes, I'm also nervous. What if they're right and we're risking our lives for nothing? Wouldn't it be better to just wait for the end of the world than dying trying to stop it?"

"We won't die. Besides, do you really want to sit around here and just do nothing?"

"Thought it worked out well last time."

"I think we're recalling events differently." Plague said with a hint of a smile.

"But, yes, doing something is much preferable to sitting around and doing nothing." I replied.

"I need you to stay sane until this is all over."

Looking at his face I knew that tonight might be our last peaceful night together if the mission didn't go correctly. If it turned out the scientists didn't really have a cure then the world would continue to be taken over by the infected until all human life was gone. If Plague died then I didn't know what I'd do. At least in the first scenario I knew I could fight in place of thinking too deeply. But what was the point of living in a peaceful world without Plague by my side?

"Yeah, until this is all over." I said while trying to keep the pain from my voice.

"I'll be fine." Plague replied and took my hands in his own. "This mission will be a success and then we can start a life together."

We kissed and then spent the entire night without letting go of each other.
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I packed up what I would need for the mission. Food, clothing, and weapons. My excitement to be doing something was kept in check by the worry that things wouldn't go as planned. It was unlikely that this mission would go smoothly.

I sat down in the passenger seat and watched as Plague sat down in the driver's seat.

"We'll be back to normal soon." Plague said and started the car.

"And have all the pancakes we want." I replied with a hopeful smile.
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 The atmosphere in the car was tense. We had been driving for awhile and getting gas had been a chore. A little taste of the battle yet to come. If there was going to be a battle and not a massacre. Plague and I had come close to dying when we had stopped to go to the restroom. We both didn't want to stop but the drive wasn't short enough that we could make it without relieving ourselves at least once.

I looked at Plague and saw him remaining calm. I checked my own expression in the side view mirror and didn't like what it revealed. My face looked like it was holding back a breakdown. I tried to control my face and finally managed to make it similar to Plague's.

He turned to me and smiled, but then his face returned to his former calm expression.

A few minutes later I saw the town come into view and felt fear like I hadn't before. This was it. This was the final move towards humanity's salvation. And my first look at the city showed that our task was going to be far from easy.

Plague stopped the car and we quickly got our weapons as the screaming in the distance continued. I steadied my hands as I gathered my weapons for this venture. I looked at the food and reminded myself that Plague and I would have a picnic once this mission was over. I cocked my gun and looked at Winchester.

It might've been a beautiful city in the past, but now Gralg was all over the buildings and ground. Inspecting my surroundings I saw movements of the infected. We had been noticed.

Turning to Plague I saw him looking at me.

"This is it." He said and we kissed briefly.

"For good luck?" I joked and a hint of a smile was shown on his lips.

We then put on our masks to protect us from any airborne Gralg that decided to come our way. I hated the new rule of wearing masks as they felt uncomfortable on my face. But I knew that every one had to stay safe.

Plague set a slow and steady pace as we came close to entering the city, but I just wanted to run. I hated waiting because danger felt more real that way. Waiting allowed my mind to wander to places that I wanted to keep hidden. And those places were meant to stay hidden or else I'd lose my sanity.

After an eternity the waiting was over. An infected came towards me and I shot it. I yelled in joy as the possibility of surviving became real to me. I was reminded that celebrating too early is dangerous as a bullet flew inches behind my head and killed an infected.

"Tha-" I said and turned my attention to the infected that were quickly coming after us.

I hid behind a trashcan after battling more infected and rested for a second. I had to calm myself down or else I'd be useless to every one. I had to save the world so I had to focus.

Once an infected came up behind me I was drawn out of my own thoughts. I kicked it and it fell down while grabbing my leg. I shot it in the head and got up quickly.

Where was Plague?

I started running around shooting down the infected in my way. Blood filled the places where I walked, but I couldn't find him. When I thought he was dead or worse I heard a gunshot. There he was and I battled my way to the small store.

We nodded to each other and a woman's scream made us turn our heads to watch. The infected were backing away from this one woman. They were excited. Had I passed other uninfected people? It was possible because my mind was only focusing on the infected. It was those people that were dangerous.

As her screams increased and she fell down with her legs spread, I knew what was going to happen. I didn't want to focus on the future. I didn't want to focus on the thing that was slowly coming out of her.

The blur's head came out and fear increased in me. While the infected were dangerous, the blur was smaller and faster. It would be hell to make sure it didn't kill me or Plague while also focusing on the infected.
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 The screams were too loud to bare. I couldn't tell if they came from me or the infected chasing me. Every chance I got I shot back at them. I couldn't stop moving and focus solely on them or else I'd never arrive at my destination. The blur made its final battle cry as I shot it down.

I wanted to shout in joy and celebrate killing the abomination that had been chasing me for what seemed like eternity. But was probably only a few minutes. Minutes that would make it hard for me to sleep tonight. If I lived long enough to fall asleep. Or if I could find a bed that would allow me to become calm enough to dream.

"Plague!" I shouted and shot an infected that appeared from nowhere. It probably had appeared from somewhere, they weren't supernatural after all, but my fear was blinding me. Not good.

"Plague!" I shouted again and had to dodge an infected. My movements appeared slower to me but I still had to fight. I couldn't lie down and die. I still had to find Plague and get to the lab. I wouldn't fail this mission.

I continued to call Plague's name and look for the lab through the hoard of infected. Soon after the blur had been born we had been separated. I couldn't recall the exact reasons we were separated but knew that the infected had begun to attack in an increased fervor shortly before.

The lab seemed to be in sight and then I tripped. Three of the infected took those precious few seconds to attack me. I punched one, hit another, and shot the third. I wasn't going to die without Plague. Not even God himself could go against that one demand.

Standing up I felt my purpose renewed. I was going to get to the lab that was now very close to me and then find Plague so we could get out of Winchester. In the movies my lover showed me, there had always been a downpour to signify a dramatic scene or moment. But the weather here had become bright as the sun came out.

I ran towards the lab and shot at the infected. Now there was no fear in me as my goal was in sight. Another blur came at me and I barely shot it in time. I touched the lab's outer wall and felt happiness. Our Superiors were wrong to doubt Plague and myself. Of course we could get this job done.

We hadn't been involved in the majority of the fighting, but I was far from untrained. I shouted random sounds and shot at the approaching infected. Waiting was all I had to do now. Surely Plague would've figured out where the lab was and would be arriving shortly. There would only be a little more time until he arrived and then we could get out of this place.

What if he had gone inside? No. I knew he wouldn't go in unless I was with him. He was afraid I would get myself killed without him.

The temptation to go in was getting great. If I just got the scientists and their cure I could wait for Plague. He would be very proud of me.

Then I saw Plague's form coming towards me. But something seemed very off. The way he walked was like an infected. Maybe he was blending in. Yes, that was the logical conclusion. Plague was clever and I was surprised that tactic had never occurred to me.

In a few seconds I found my rationalizations torn apart. I couldn't deny what I saw. If I denied it I would be dead. But what was the point of living anymore if it was true?

Plague's mask was hanging off and there was a bit of green on his lips. Those lips I had kissed earlier with a good luck kiss. His face was contorted in an angry expression like Thomas Savan had had on his.

"You cheated on me with that whore!" Plague shouted and came at me.

My gun quickly pointed at his head and my mouth was unable to speak. If I shot him then I would live. But was living without Plague worth saving my life?

Plague didn't slow down and my gun kept its aim for a headshot.

Seconds dragged by as I decided what to do. Plague had been my guide, protector, and lover since the beginning. Not the exact beginning, but very close to it. I had grown with him in ways that mere time could not measure.

Before today he had been a human that would always be by my side. Even when in my lust, and stupidity, I had slept with someone else. A lovely woman who had made me feel something that I could never feel with a man. Not even Plague.

He had forgiven me, but now the rage in his eyes showed that memory as the one that was fueling him on. As Plague was an infected, he had become driven mad by the memory. It was hard for me to think of the infected Plague as anything but the rational Plague that I was used to. I thought I could say the right words and he would abandon his madness.

But that wasn't true and I had to learn to accept that.

Plague continued to scream about Jillian and my slip of loyalty. The words he said rung true and my gun started to shake. I had to make my choice now.

Pulling the trigger only took a few seconds, but the damage would last much longer. Plague's corpse fell down and I tried to look for a sign that he was thankful to have been put out of his misery.

However, he was like the rest of the infected in that his humanity hadn't been returned to him.

As I thought about Plague's death and the fact that I killed him, my gun seemed to shoot at the other infected without me controlling it. I didn't care about dying now and wondered why I had decided to shoot him. He who had loved me and didn't have any control over his madness.

While I wasn't a soldier by choice, but by necessity, I hadn't fully learned how to control my emotions. I knew those that did the majority of the fighting could hold back any feelings until after they were safely inside a base. I hadn't yet learned that particular trick.

For now tears came down my cheeks and I didn't think of wiping them away. There would just be more after anyways.

After a few minutes I was able to recall the mission and why I found myself in Kentucky. If I didn't get the cure then Plague would have died in vain. I would complete this mission for him and after that...the future would happen tomorrow and so I'd just focus on the now.

The infected had backed away, at least for the moment, and I noticed something. Of course I had been distracted before and so hadn't noticed it.

Signs that the infected had entered the building were there. Maybe there was better protection inside and so these signs meant nothing. Whatever the case was, I raced inside to make sure.

I realized after I entered through the doorway that my hope was short lived. The infected had broken through the windows and so the door being closed wasn't odd. However, the building was trashed. Blood of infected and non-infected alike littered the floor and walls.

I kept running to make sure that the scientists hadn't been killed. Well, the fact was that I needed to make sure that the cure was intact. That sounded callous to myself, but Plague was dead and I didn't care who else died now.

I finally got to the lab and stared at the sight. A lone infected was feasting on one of the dead scientists and it looked at me. I stayed as still as I could and looked around for the cure. My eyes found a small vial. That must be it.

I raced and grabbed it a few seconds before the infected turned its eyes on me and attacked. Killing it was easy and I felt glad that the mission was over. Well, it would be over once I got to the car and left Winchester behind for good.

Then the sounds of more infected came as I turned towards the lab door. I started shooting at them and running out of the building so that I could get to the car.
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The Green Links

Animorphs Re-Read: #1 The Invasion (Chapters 1-4)

Chapter 1

Well, here is the first book that was published.

Ah, the lovely smell of "My name is" along with the reason why the Animorph won't tell you their full name and where they live. The character narrating this book is Jake.

The way this book is written is like the Animorphs are writing down their adventures so that people will know what is going on in case of their deaths. However, this entire series can't be written after the series is over since that wouldn't make sense.

Right from the start the terms 'Controller' and 'Andalites' are given. You know that a 'Controller' is bad while the 'Andalites' who are the good guys are and will rescue humanity.

The first scene is at the mall. I admit I started going to malls because of this series. Don't look at me like that!

Marco is Jake's friend and Jake seems to be jealous of how good Marco is at games. Also shows why Marco becomes Jake's second in command/trusted adviser later.

Jake mentions not getting along like he used to with his older brother Tom. He hoped that some good would come with making his junior high's basketball team. This paints, from the start, how much he admires his older brother.

Tobias, my favorite character of the series hands down, met Jake when our narrator rescued him from bullies. They became sort of friends ever since.

Jake and Marco meet up with Tobias and Marco comments on Jake's gaming skills. Well...lack of them.

Tobias asks if he can walk home with the pair and Jake agrees.

Jake says that Rachel is very pretty and then comments that he doesn't think of her sexually. Those shippers who ship these two: I see your point.

And Jake has a crush on Cassie! I'm so glad that they got married at the end! Oh...wait...I'm trying to cover up the pain again.

I like how Jake describes how Cassie seems to view the world in a very different way than anyone else he knows. This is very true throughout the series.

Jake gives a comment how Rachel and Cassie should walk with the boys since they're girls and it's nice. Love Rachel's response. I didn't really understand feminism when I first read this series but this is a good example.

Jake comments on how things changed in five minutes. He reminisces how he wishes that the fears he used to know were as bad as his fears ever got.

Ah, the construction site. The spot where Jake's life changed forever.

When he entered he was only thinking of the homeless people that lived there. Not aliens from outer space.

Tobias spots the Andalite fighter first. Of course Tobias would spot it first.

Cassie blurts that it's a flying saucer. Ah, yes, the subtlety.


Chapter 2

Marco laughs at the idea of a flying saucer until he sees the Andalite fighter.

Jake spends some time describing the Andalite fighter.

Marco brings up the option of running home and getting a camera to record the real alien spaceship. Jake makes a Star Trek reference and Marco laughs it off. Yes, Marco, you are the expert on all things alien.

Jake mentions being scared but also thinking the event was beyond cool. I don't blame him as I'd be feeling that mixture of emotions too.

Tobias is really excited about this and Jake makes mention that it's the normal things that freak Tobias out.

The Andalite fighter lands by the group of teenagers who stay where they are because they feel they have to be there. That something big is about to happen.

Marco says they should get adults and that they'd get famous for reporting this. Of course Marco would be interested in being famous.

Tobias tells whatever is in the spaceship, and they can't see the alien right now, that they mean it no harm. Another Star Trek reference is made by Cassie who remarks that every one speaks English on Star Trek so that's the common language in reality.

Was Applegate a Trekkie?

The alien talks in thought-speak and Jake is surprised by this. He describes thought-speak as a sound that isn't a sound. The alien continues and says not to be frightened.

Jake sees the alien. He describes the Andalite as harmless looking until you saw the tail-blade.

Tobias tells his Dad hello. Of course he has no idea that Elfangor is his real father at this point in the series. So it's only in hindsight that you're able to feel all these lovely and painful emotions.

Elfangor mentions that he's dying and that there's no help for him now. Cassie is mentioned to work with animals and so sort of knows how to help him. It's here that Elfangor makes mention of the Yeerks though he doesn't mention the species by name. Just says they're on Earth to destroy humanity.


Chapter 3

This chapter begins with repeating the last line of the previous chapter. I don't get why this is done since readers should remember what happened at the bottom of the last page.

Marco brings up the point that an alien species would be noticeable and someone would've mentioned them in the past. Elfangor has trouble saying what he means and so sends an image into the kids' heads.

Elfangor then talks about how Yeerks needs hosts because they're powerless while out of one. He goes on to describe on how the Yeerks take over a person completely.

Rachel is shocked and Jake says that adults should handle this stuff. Elfangor then brings up the fact that the Andalites had tried stopping the Yeerks and that didn't go so great. And now the Yeerks will track Elfangor, kill him, and destroy all traces that he was there.

Cassie asks how the evil aliens can do that. Elfangor gives the pacifist a, "Aw, you're adorably ignorant" look and then explains about Dracon beams.

He also says that he has sent a message to his home world but help might not come for years. In that time the Yeerks will have had more than enough time to take over the world. Elfangor says that the children must tell the other humans.

This is odd as he must know, having lived life as a human and being a generally smart guy, that the majority of humans think of aliens as purely fictional. And five random children wouldn't convince an entire world of an invasion. Not by a long shot.

Marco brings up the point that Elfangor's plan of having them warn their people is stupid and Jake agrees.

After Rachel suggests trying to help the Andalite, Elfangor says for one of them to get an object from his fighter.

Jake is chosen, by every one but himself, to go into the fighter. It seems to be Cassie that makes it so that he can't back out.

Like that Tobias is staying by his father's side even though he doesn't know they're related yet. So heartbreaking in hindsight.

Jake takes note of the fighter and thinks of the purpose of its design. He spots the Escafil device easily and then looks at a picture of Elfangor's family. I didn't really realize that Andalite fighters were personalized and wonder if it's a common thing for Andalites to do.


Jake feels anger that the Yeerks caused Elfangor to die so far away from home. When he comes back out Elfangor confirms that the picture was of his family.

Yes! Elfangor is offering them the chance to get the morphing ability. He explains how the Andalites keep this technology to themselves. He is only offering it to them now since their need is great and he is hoping that they can help fight the Yeerks until his people return.

Rachel asks what Elfangor means. Upon the Andalite's explanation Marco laughs it off. I love you, Marco, but you can be annoying at times.

Tobias replies that Elfangor is not joking. Do all Andalite relatives share such a connection or is it unique to bird boy?

Marco, Rachel, and Jake talk about how this is too weird. Tobias reminds the others that Elfangor is dying.

I find this funny as I imagine him going, "Dude, we have a DEADline to meet. No offense, Dad."

Cassie is the one that is the first to say yes. Jake says they all have to decide to do it or none of them will do it.


Chapter 4

The decision is rushed since the Yeerks can be seen to be approaching. All the future Animorphs turn to Jake to make a decision. His need to make terrible decisions was started because he was forced into the position of leader. Poor baby!

Jake looks to his friends and looks at Tobias last. It is the bird boy that tells Jake that accepting the power and responsibility is something they have to do.

How Jake describes touching the blue box (aka Escafil device) makes me think of a sex toy. I am now imagining Andalites using the Escafil device as an expensive sex toy. I got a lot of problems as I grew up as I didn't even think about that when I first read the book or the other numerous times I read it as a child.

Once the kids acquire the morphing ability Elfangor tells them to go and says not to stay in a morph longer than two hours. This is because if you stay longer than that you won't be able to demorph.

Elfangor starts yelling about Visser Three and Jake asks what a Visser is. Elfangor answers that he is the deadliest of Jake's enemies.

Rachel says they'll stay and defend him but Elfangor points out that them helping to save the world is much more important than his life.

AW! Tobias and Elfangor share their last moments together. And he doesn't know the Andalite is his father!

The kids hide and Jake is scared. I don't blame them. They find an alien (cool). Then they find out not only are there evil aliens invading Earth but they are their planet's last line of defense (not so cool).

Once the Bug fighter lands Marco whines like a little baby. I find his remark funny and don't blame him for being scared out of his mind.

So Visser Three has the ability to cause fear in mere mortals?

The Blade ship lands it's described creepily. Holy shit, and now Jake has to stop Cassie from screaming at Hork-Bajir Controllers (yes, Elfangor is dying and is giving the children all the information he can. BAD ASS). Hork-Bajirs are 'good people' and are to be pitied.

I am insulted by Rachel not believing Elfangor, but she just met the alien and doesn't know the history of the Hork-Bajir. Otherwise she'd know that most Hork-Bajir are just cows.

A Taxxon comes out and Elfangor states that they are evil. This is strange since in The Andalite Chronicles it's shown that his dear friend Arbron is a nothlit in that form and that there are a rebel group of Taxxons. Either Applegate didn't know about that part of Elfangor's backstory yet or that Elfangor thinks the Mountain Taxxons have failed and so only the evil Taxxons are left.

A Hork-Bajir Controller comes very close to Jake and he is terrified about being found out.
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Animorphs Re-Read Table of Contents

The Green: Last Chance 4

Seconds dragged by as I decided what to do. Plague had been my guide, protector, and lover since the beginning. Not the exact beginning, but very close to it. I had grown with him in ways that mere time could not measure.

Before today he had been a human that would always be by my side. Even when in my lust, and stupidity, I had slept with someone else. A lovely woman who had made me feel something that I could never feel with a man. Not even Plague.

He had forgiven me, but now the rage in his eyes showed that memory as the one that was fueling him on. As Plague was an infected, he had become driven mad by the memory. It was hard for me to think of the infected Plague as anything but the rational Plague that I was used to. I thought I could say the right words and he would abandon his madness.

But that wasn't true and I had to learn to accept that.

Plague continued to scream about Jillian and my slip of loyalty. The words he said rung true and my gun started to shake. I had to make my choice now.

Pulling the trigger only took a few seconds, but the damage would last much longer. Plague's corpse fell down and I tried to look for a sign that he was thankful to have been put out of his misery.

However, he was like the rest of the infected in that his humanity hadn't been returned to him.

As I thought about Plague's death and the fact that I killed him, my gun seemed to shoot at the other infected without me controlling it. I didn't care about dying now and wondered why I had decided to shoot him. He who had loved me and didn't have any control over his madness.

While I wasn't a soldier by choice, but by necessity, I hadn't fully learned how to control my emotions. I knew those that did the majority of the fighting could hold back any feelings until after they were safely inside a base. I hadn't yet learned that particular trick.

For now tears came down my cheeks and I didn't think of wiping them away. There would just be more after anyways.

After a few minutes I was able to recall the mission and why I found myself in Kentucky. If I didn't get the cure then Plague would have died in vain. I would complete this mission for him and after that...the future would happen tomorrow and so I'd just focus on the now.

The infected had backed away, at least for the moment, and I noticed something. Of course I had been distracted before and so hadn't noticed it.

Signs that the infected had entered the building were there. Maybe there was better protection inside and so these signs meant nothing. Whatever the case was, I raced inside to make sure.

I realized after I entered through the doorway that my hope was short lived. The infected had broken through the windows and so the door being closed wasn't odd. However, the building was trashed. Blood of infected and non-infected alike littered the floor and walls.

I kept running to make sure that the scientists hadn't been killed. Well, the fact was that I needed to make sure that the cure was intact. That sounded callous to myself, but Plague was dead and I didn't care who else died now.

I finally got to the lab and stared at the sight. A lone infected was feasting on one of the dead scientists and it looked at me. I stayed as still as I could and looked around for the cure. My eyes found a small vial. That must be it.

I raced and grabbed it a few seconds before the infected turned its eyes on me and attacked. Killing it was easy and I felt glad that the mission was over. Well, it would be over once I got to the car and left Winchester behind for good.

Then the sounds of more infected came as I turned towards the lab door. I started shooting at them and running out of the building so that I could get to the car.
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Main Links for The Green

Jobs (2013)

Title: Jobs

Director: Joshua Michael Stern

Starring: Ashton Kutcher, Dermot Mulroney, and Josh Gad

Rated: PG-13

Released: 2013

Personal Rating: 1/6

Oscars: N/A

Plot:  The story of Steve Jobs' ascension from college dropout into one of the most revered creative entrepreneurs of the 20th century.
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Ashton Kutcher is Great
I hate this movie with a passion. I could spend hours repeating what I find wrong with it and passing out would be the only way I'd stop. However, Kutcher pulls off a great performance here. He is the only good thing in this movie. As with a lot of the cast members, he looks very similar to Steve Jobs. Kutcher plays a convincing egomaniac who doesn't make many lasting friendships. Indeed, the real life Jobs was not a very easy person to work with.

The Plot Doesn't Care About Itself
Seriously, it doesn't. I love b-movies and even those kinds of films have a better idea of what makes a movie than this one. It gives you a plot point and then never mentions it again. The biggest example of this is Jobs' daughter Lisa. You see him thinking his girlfriend is cheating on him with a mutual friend, Jobs dumping his girlfriend when he thinks she's pregnant with their mutual friend's baby, denying that the baby is his, and then suddenly Lisa is on his couch.

The Soundtrack
I am not one to talk about music. As that's the case I usually don't talk about the soundtrack of a movie because it doesn't touch me or I don't feel I am adequate enough to talk about it. But for this movie I know enough to know that the soundtrack sucks. At first it was boring but by the end I was wanting to get out of the theater for the sake of my ears. I can't describe why I was so pained by the soundtrack, but I was. No, I'm not willing give it a second go to find out why I feel this way about it.

Final Thoughts
revrezner has said that this movie isn't accurate and has provided sources that also confirm this. So this film is neither a good movie nor is it something to see to find out about Steve Jobs. Aaron Sorkin is set to make a film about Steve Jobs that is supposed to be much more accurate than this crap fest. I would suggest waiting for this to come onto DVD/Blu-Ray if you feel you must see it. Even then I'd suggest renting it since you won't want to see it a second time.