If it were me and I were reading the summary and title, I would never read this story. Which is a huge mistake, since it is really good -my best action fic.

About: The main character is named Taylor, but she is not the Taylor from the Books. She has complicated ties to the Animorphs and a personal stake in the impending attack from a not-so-dead Yeerk empire. When she is assigned a story involving a subject she just wishes to forget, strangers from the past and present interfere with her life, making her face the person she once was...

Rating for language and sex scenes.

Chapter 1

Taylor

"Hey," Chalise said, coming up to my cubicle. "Meeting in five. You coming?"

I groaned. "Guess I have to. I bluffed my way out of the last one, don't think I can do it again.

Chalise looked at me sympathetically and left.

"Now where did I put…" I rummaged through the piles of paper, looking for my notebook and a spare pen. "Found it!"

"Ah, so nice of you to join us," Harry said, bowing a little.

I blushed, and took a seat at the long desk by Chalise.

"Okay people," Harry said, clapping his chubby hands together. "How are we on the water treatment story?"

"Close. Should be finished by tonight," a young intern volunteered.

"Okay, how about the feature with the local girl who won that gold medal in the Olympics?"

"Her family's on vacation right now. Won't be back until next week," Chalise said apologetically.

Harry sighed and sipped a glass of water.

He continued through the features, looking down at his clipboard sometimes to check a story.

"So, Jason, I've got yours on my in-tray?" He asked, and added a check mark when the affirmation was made. "Alright folks, I've got a little chore I need someone to do."

A round of groans rang up from the table.

"I hope he doesn't need the files re-organized again. I couldn't find anything for a week!" I whispered to Chalise.

"Now, now, people, it's not too bad. The editors just want a special-edition story out, and I need to see who's got room. Show of hands, who's full?"

"What's it about?" Someone called out before any hands went up.

"Animorph story. Anniversary is coming up. TV'll take care of most of it, you know, parades, speeches, that sort of thing, but the editors want a piece in, too. Nothing big, just a recount of the events. Talk to some major powers. Investigate a little on where the Animorphs are."

"We're not expected to find them, are we?" Jason asked.

"Hell no. That could take months. Nah, just a short, to the point notice. Shouldn't be too hard. Now who doesn't got time?"

Every hand except mine went up.

"Taylor?"

"Oh no, sir," I said. "I can't."

"Are you too busy?"

"No…"

"How many stories you working on?"

"One at the moment sir, but-"

"So what's the problem?"

I sighed. "I just can't. Personal reasons."

Harry sighed with me in exasperation, and fumbled in his pockets for an Alka-Seltzer. "Meeting dismissed. Taylor, stick around."

I sat in my seat, bouncing a pencil against the table, my face red, as everyone got up.

Chalise shook her head at me like I was being an idiot, picked up her purse, and left.

Finally, the room was clear.

"Taylor, Taylor, Taylor…" Harry put the capsule in his mouth and downed it with some water. "What's the problem?"

"I don't think I could do it."

"It's just a simple story. Basic. I could have an intern write it, it's so easy, and I would, but you know…it's the Animorphs."

"I know sir. That's why I can't do it."

Harry sat his large weight down in the fuzzy office chairs.

"Were you a Controller?"

"No sir," I said quickly, half-laughing nervously.

"Know someone?"

"That's not the reason."

"God, Taylor, what is the reason?"

"Harry, you know me. I've worked here seven years. Could we just leave it as 'I don't want to'?"

He sighed. "But everyone else is full."

"I know."

"Taylor," he shifted his weight, and reached for the water. "If we had more time, I'd be willing to consider loading it off on someone else, as long as I got a big thank you, and you took on a couple more stories to make up for it. But we have one week to get this story out, and the others are just too busy. You have to do it."

I slumped in my chair, hair in my face, for a moment. Then I straightened up and smoothed it back.

"Alright, Harry. I'll do it."

"That's my girl," he smiled and sipped the water. "So how is your other story?"

"Done by tomorrow," I said, standing up and straightening my office jacket.

"Good. If you need anything…"

"I know," I said, smiling at my boss and walking out the door.

Harry took another Alka-Seltzer packet out from his coat and opened it.

"Damn journalists…"