Animorphs fanfic: Jake: after the war

 Hi everyone! I hope you fans of Animorphs enjoy this short fanfic, this is to honour K.A. Applegate's work. If I made any errors with the dates, please let me know :)

Chapter one:

    A faint tap interrupted my thoughts, drew me away from the dark world I had once lived in. Away from the pain, the grief, the responsibility. 

   I was in the staff room at the university I taught in. Wow, that made me sound like I'd been here for at least a decade. I wish. I'd only been a teacher about three weeks and already I was the most sought-after.

My name is Jake Berenson, I was the leader of the Animorphs. Not that was  really feels that appropriate, I only ever think about those times. Though the war's over, it still doesn't feel like it. 

   I am, and forever will be, the leader of the guerrilla group that fought the Yeerks, in my eyes and everyone else's.

   'Yes?' I asked.

   'Sir, we're waiting for you.' called a student, I think his name's Carl.

   I looked at the clock, confused. Waiting for what? It was five O' clock, I had no more lessons today.

   'We're in the gymnasium, as you asked.' he continued, obviously realising his teacher was having another of his blank moments.

   I groaned, it was my class's first lesson in morphing today and I had asked them to meet up with me after school. How could I have forgotten! 'Just coming!'

   I sprang up from the nice, comfy chair and grabbed my bag. It was strange, having a leather teacher's bag instead of a kids one, after all, I'd only stopped being a student just over a year ago.

   Pushing through the doors to the gymnasium, I noticed my students were all sitting in a semi-circle around the bench most often reserved for their sports teacher. Their excited chatter died away as I entered.

   'Hello class. Sorry for being late. Did you all bring what I asked?'

   'Yes sir.' came the chorus. So unlike my school days where at least a fifth of the class could be relied upon to 'forget' to do their homework, myself included.

   'Then you'd better go change then.' 

   'We already have, sir.'

   I looked more closely and realise they had.

   'Well done. I asked you to come here because it is the most secure place I could think of in case you loose control of your morph.'

   A young man snorted.

   'Yes Steve?'

   'Sorry sir. It's just I can't quite imagine loosing control of a mouse.' He gave a pointed look at the cage in the corner of the room that had been brought under my request. Along with a screen for the people demorphing in case they didn't manage to include the cloths as well.

   'Trust me, you'll see what I mean.' I swept the class with my gaze, I had their utmost attention. 'There are no cracks, gaps, air vents or doors that haven't been sealed, make the use of it, you might not always be so lucky. When you morph into that mouse, you'll be flooded with its instincts, most dominant will be to run. On your first morph it's unlikely you'll be able to stop it immediately, but you must try.'

   I brought over the cage. 'Steve, you first.'

   He got up confidentially and swaggered over, he may have been at least five years older than me but he certainly didn't act it.