Recruitment.

[berserker09]

Paul couldn't help but show a sign of shock at the fact that she was still unaware of what the Yeerks were, but given the fact that many people were still blissfully unaware of the Yeerks presence it was not uncommon.

"Yeerks are parasitic aliens that take over another organism in order to survive. These controlled beings are commonly known as Controllers. They can be anyone around you and you wouldn't even know it."

[Ruby]

Ruby felt a twinge of guilt at seeing Paul's look of shock, but attempted to keep it hidden.

"... Do you think they could have taken my mum and dad...? And I was wondering why people in school started acting strange..."

[berserker09]

Paul didn't know what to tell her. It sounded like her parents may have got yeerked. He didn't want to say anything, but his facial expression gave away what had come into his mind.

[Ruby]

Ruby looked away at reading Paul's face.

"You... You think my mum and dad...?"

Macie, sensing forcoming distress, once again climbed out of the pocket and onto her shoulder, licking her face with the tiny rough tongue.

[berserker09]

Paul looked over at the girl and felt a similar feeling when thinking about his own mother.

"Don't worry Ruby. If they are, then we'll get them back. You can count on it."

[Ruby]

Ruby's eyes glanced at Paul, a small smile creeping onto her face.

"Thanks, Paul."

Her eyes closed and her nose twitched as she sniffed, the aroma of food reaching her.

"Mmm, whatever's cooking smells delicious!"

Macie raised to her hind legs, managing to keep her balance as she copied her mistress. The tip of her tail twitched excitedly at the prospect of food.

[berserker09]

Paul walked over to the fridge and pulled out one of his pre-made sandwiches. It was the custom of the school that the students make most of their own meals so that they would have some cooking experience when getting out into the real world.

"Help yourself to whatever is in the fridge. You must be starving after the flight."

[Ruby]

"Yeah, we are, thanks."

Ruby squatted down in front of the fridge to see what was in it.
Pulling bread and butter out of it, she stood up - Macie still hanging onto her shoulder - and went to the nearest-seen work surface, looking around to try and guess where the butter-knives would have been kept.
Macie jumped down to guard the bread while her mistress was walking around the rest of the room.

[berserker09]

Paul looked over at Ruby and noticed she was looking for something. She had bread and butter which meant she was probably looking for a butter knife. He should probably show her where all the utensils were in the galley. He walked over to a drawer on the left side of the sink.

"This is where the silverware is kept. The plates are in the cabinet above it. There are napkins in that little container over there and some cleaning stuff is under the sink. We all have to clean up after ourselves, so I thought you should know where everything was."

[Ruby]

Ruby headed over to where Paul was standing, retrieving a butter-knife from the drawer and going back over to where the she-rat was keeping watch over the bread.

"Thanks, Paul, I'll keep that in mind. Thanks, Macie."

Something slipped into her mind while she buttered the bread, cutting off the corners to let Macie have her share.

"Are there any events I should know about, or would I be notified before hand?"

[berserker09]

Paul continued to chow down on his sandwich and thought about if there were any events that happened at this place. He had not remembered anyone every officially telling them about an event which could just mean that this school was like a small town. If anything was meant to be a surprise, then the whole place knew about it by the next meal.

"I don't think you will have to worry about any events. Word gets around if something is happening, so everything important will be passed to you along the academy gossip line. Also, everything that is not important will get sent down that gossip line, such as who is fighting with who."

[Ruby]

A laugh slipped out of Ruby's mouth before she had time to react.

"Thanks for warning me about THAT! Seems there's some that find it hard to keep their mouths shut, eh?"

Completing the sandwhich, she started to eat it, taking big bites out of it to silence her stomach for the while.
She swallowed before speaking.

"I wouldn't participate in the gossip-sharing. I'm... not like that. I can keep secrets."

She looked around.

"I wonder, when there's not an event, what is there to do?"

[berserker09]

Paul had to scratch his chin about what is there to do besides major events. "There are classes that you have to go to like morphing, the obstacle course, and history. They are essential to becoming a well-rounded animorph."

It was odd saying well-rounded animorph since most of the time he felt no difference between his usual persona. It must be a gradual change that merges with who you are. "So is there anything in particular you want to see? The Obstacle Course? Morphing? The training room?"

[Ruby]

Finishing the sandwich, Ruby thought over the three options.

"Well, they ALL sound equally interesting... Maybe we could leave the best for last, so Morphing last? How about the Training room first? If there's time, that is..."

She stroked Macie as the she-rat finished, scurrying back onto her shoulder. Stopping stroking, Ruby carried her used plate and knife over to the sink.

[berserker09]

"There is always time for everything. You won't have to go to classes until after you get completely settled in."

Paul walked over to the door and turned back to look at her. He sensed a little sarcasm in her comment, but it would be truth once he got done showing her around.

"If we hurry, we might actually see some of the other students."