AN: Thank you to those who started to follow my story, almost means as much as a review xD
Now, I know I'm not supposed to respond to reviews in here, but as the reviewer was not signed it I can't respond in a Private Message and I wanted to respond:

So, for one, thank you even if it was anonymous. As for the rating, you might be right, and thank you for pointing that out. It's doubtful I'd have to change the rating at all, but you never know, and anyways it'd be easy enough to edit the chapter for Fan-fiction's guidelines.

Chapter 3
Marco

Well, Monday. Back to school, back to math. I hate math. Ax would say something smart, and uptight about how math was really important and blah, blah blah.

Miss. Robbinette droned on and on about the Pythagoras theorem, and my mind was wondering away, staring out the window. School was almost over for the summer, and summer was already here. The sky was bright blue, a few fluffy white clouds hovered in sky, moving as lazy as Marco felt.

His eyes wandered down to the field, where the last gym classes were stretched out on the lawns, dozing in the sun, the teachers relaxing in the shade of the trees.

The grass was fully grown in. An emerald green in color, and I couldn't help but wonder what Ax would say if he got to run across the lawn. Probably something weird like how delicious it was.

A pen jabbed him in the arm and I looked over at Cassie who jabbed that pen up towards the teacher. Clearly telling him to pay attention. I looked up at Miss. Robbinette who was busy drawing formulas on the board, and quickly looked around the room, and saw that the only person who was actually paying attention was Cassie. I shot her a look and went back to staring out the window.

I sighed. What was wrong with me? I shouldn't be thinking about my friend so much, and not just my friend, but my friend who is from a planet 82 light-years away. Who didn't look anything like a human. And he was a guy.

I jumped as the bell rang. End of class, and end of school. Until tomorrow.

Cassie stood up slowly, taking her time to pack up. I was stuck and couldn't move passed her.

Everyone had pretty much left and Cassie leaned over to grab the last textbook.

"My barn." she said simply and turned and left. I sighed. Great, back to work.

I wandered out into the crowded hall, weaving through the bodies to get to my locker. Putting in the combination I opened it and started taking out homework and putting away the books I didn't need. Jake would wander around at some point, make up some excuse to walk together. Rachel and Cassie have probably already left.

"Thought we go out and hang with Cassie and Rachel." Jake said, coming up beside me.

"Yea, okay man," I said, putting on the exasperated best friend face, "You just want to drool over your girlfriend some more. What your science class not long enough?"

Jake blushed, and glared at me. I simply laughed and slammed my locker door shut, "Yea alright, whatever. We'll go hang out with you girlfriend and cousin."

Jake punched me, but we headed down the hall together, shoving each other playfully.

We grabbed our bike's, and headed out. Taking the long way, giving Rachel and Cassie enough time to get there before us. And sure enough, Cassie was already elbows deep in who knows what, covered in dirt and whatever's poop.

Rachel was standing in a patch of sunlight shinning through the door.

"What's up girls? Marco's in the house!" I yelled, bursting into the barn. Rachel sneered, and tossed her head at me. Cassie smiled and stood up, "Hi Marco, Jake." She said, her smile getting brighter when she looked at him.

Oh, now THAT was interesting.

((Everything is clear.)) Came a voice, and I looked up at Tobias, perched up on one of the rafters looking through the windows, ((Ax is on his way.)) he added for our benefit.

I swallowed thickly, but grinned anyways, "So, this isn't a tea-party then?"

No one answered, but that was nothing new. Outside though, the sound of running hooves got louder and louder, and Jake moved to open the door, letting the Andalite in quickly.

"Hello Ax." Cassie greeted brilliantly. Gee, she seemed to be in a great mood didn't she?

((Hello Cassie.)) Ax replied, giving her that weird smile Andalites do with their eyes.

"Alright, guys," Jake said, clapping his hands, gaining control of the group. He hated it when we got off topic, "Look there's still been no news. The Chee said that they've heard nothing. Tobias says there no extra activity at the Yeerk Pool entrances."

"They're up to something." Rachel said firmly.

"They might not be," Cassie said, her arm still deep inside a dirty cage, "Maybe the council is mad at Visser Three. Maybe for now, they're not letting him do anything but infesting. Not letting him be in charge of anything?"

((That is doubtful,)) Ax said, ((If the Yeerk Council was that angry at Visser Three, I don't think he'd be here still.))

"You think the Yeerks would demote him?" Rachel asked, her hands on her hips.

Ax shrugged, something he picked up from us, ((I do not know. I think the more likely aspect is: Visser Three might not be here.))

It was silent.

"Wait. Your saying, that Visser Three is gone?" I finally said. But Ax shook his head.

((No, not gone. But perhaps he's up in Orbit, or perhaps had to go somewhere, to a close-by planet for the Yeerks. He'll be back, the Council wouldn't let Earth be unsupervised.))

Well that was almost disappointing.

"We should hit the Yeerk Pool." Rachel, of course.

"Oh yea. Just because Visser Three isn't here, doesn't mean the hundreds of other Controllers still aren't dangerous." I said in very sarcastic voice, "Let's go everyone, field trip!"

"Shut up Marco!" Rachel snapped.

"Alright, alright." Jake said, "Look, this is weird. Usually, it's: the Yeerks are up to something and we stop them. How do we handle them not doing anything? And with Visser Three not on Earth."

((If he was just up in orbit, it wouldn't take him long to get here if someone called up.)) Tobias added.

"Maybe," I said, "Maybe its a trap. You know, psychological. Maybe Visser Three thinks that if he lays low the 'Andalites Bandits' will get restless, exactly like we are now."

Silence, again.

((Well, this is certainly weird.)) Tobias piped up.

Rachel frowned, "Seriously? Guys this is perfect! With Visser Three not here, an attack would cause utter chaos!"

((Rachel, if Visser Three did leave, he would have left someone in charge.)) Ax replied.

"Who, I wonder." Cassie said softly, still scrubbing away.

"What sorry?" Jake said.

Cassie stood up, pulling off her gloves, "I wonder who would be in charge? Who does the Visser trust enough to put in his place?"

"Chapman?" I shrugged, "Hell it could be anyone. Maybe even some Sub-Visser nobody, sent by the Council if they ordered Visser Three off for a while."

"So what?" Rachel yelled, "We're going to do nothing? Just wait for them to get some plan together?"

"Rachel, I see what you're saying. But there's only six of us. We can't just go in for an all out attack, just because Visser Three might or might not be on Earth. That would be suicidal." Jake said, taking control once more, "And if Visser Three did put someone in charge, who? It's not like we know who's close to Visser Three. It could be one of the Hork-Bajiir and they all look the same to me." He shrugged.

We were silent. All thinking. I was somewhat in with Rachel, but not something as big as attacking the Yeerk-

"Hey guys, maybe Rachel is right. Maybe we should attack them." I said. Everyone looked at me (Ax used all four eyes), "Okay listen. What if we just cause some shit? Attack a couple known Yeerk places, a couple Entrances that are public spaces?"

"No, not the Entrances." Cassie said, shaking her head, "One, they are too well protected, and two, Tobias would have to find the replacements once again."

"Alright, fair. But I'm sure bird-boy here knows what stores are run by Yeerks. It'd be the same thing like what we did with the Garatron-Controller, the Inspector or whatever."

"See! There you go, Marco agrees!" Rachel exclaimed excitedly.

"I said cause shit. We're just making Visser Three pissed off, maybe get him in a little trouble with the Council."

"I still think we shouldn't do anything." Cassie said, "We just go around like we do. Keep our ears out, have the Chee check in once in a while. I mean, I'm sure Visser Three goes up to orbit all the time, he probably doesn't sleep down here on Earth."

"Well that settles it then." I said, clapping my hands and getting up, "There's a game on tonight and-"

((Quiet!)) Ax suddenly snapped out, and I fell silent. It wasn't everyday he gave orders.

We stayed quiet, and I strained my ears, trying to hear.. whatever it was.

((Tobias?))

((I'm looking Ax-man.)) Tobias was twisting his head, searching the skies around him, ((I can't see anything. But I swear I heard it.))

Ax nodded, ((I'm sorry Prince Jake, I thought I heard..)) Ax trailed off.

((An engine, like a plane? But I'd recognize that sound anywhere.))

((Bug Fighter.)) Ax finished, nodding to Tobias.

"Where did it go?" Jake asked, sounding all important.

((I'm not sure. It was probably cloaked or something. Even then sound was only there for a second.))

Jake almost looked disappointed. Couldn't blame him, the Yeerks not doing anything was kind of unnerving.

"Well-"

((Wait! The trees!)) Tobias suddenly exclaimed, ((There's one spot moving like its windy.))

"So?" I snapped, suddenly just wanting to go home.

((So? None of the trees around it are moving. And it could also be that there is barely any wind at all.))

"Alright, so we know where the Bug Fighter went." Jake said, "Can you see anything else?"

((No, they must just be hovering there.))

"Odd. Why?" Cassie said, "And aren't they a little close?"

"Yea, totally wasn't thinking about that till now. Thanks Cassie." I whined, but she was right.

((I know what they're doing.)) Tobias grumbled suddenly, ((We're going to assume a moment, what if Visser Three left someone in charge. What if, they wanted to impress the Visser, someone looking to get a promotion.))

"Get on with it Tobias." I snapped.

((Think about it? What would be the one thing that would instantly get a promotion?))

Cassie nodded, "An Andalite Bandit."

((Right, and where is the most likely place a group of Andalites would be hiding?))

"Yea in the forest." Jake nodded, "Alright, so their searching the woods. Looking for an Andalite." He shrugged.

((Prince Jake.)) Ax said simply. Blinking his main eyes at him.

Jake almost blushed, "Right, Ax. You can't go home tonight. Neither can you Tobias."

((Oh I'm fine. I can stay here. Cassie's barn always has tons of mice.))

"Oooh, yuck!" I shuddered, "Thanks bird-boy."

((Besides, now I know where they are, I can watch their movements, unless the wind picks up.)) He continued, ignoring me.

"That's fine Tobias," Cassie said in her soft, gentle voice, "but what about Ax? He can't stay here in case my dad comes out, and he's definitely not going back to the woods until the Yeerks give up."

Jake raised his hands, "I can't have him over. Not with Tom around."

Jake's brother is a Controller, it was one of the main reasons Jake agreed to fight.
"Neither can Rachel or I, our parents wouldn't let a guy sleep over." Cassie pointed out.

"Well Ax-man, looks like you're bunking with me." I laughed. He smiled at me, and I swear to every deity known to man, I couldn't stop the stupid, silly-ass grin from going across my face. No one noticed, I hope.

"Well then, we'll continue to keep an eye out. Don't do anything out of the ordinary Tobias, don't let them see you." Jake turned to me, "This could be a great thing. We're all so behind in our school work."

Rachel snorted, a little put out there was going to be no fighting soon I bet, "Please, summer is almost here, there's no point in worry about school now."

"Hey, just because you still managing to go into exams with an eighty-percent average doesn't mean you can rub it in." I grumbled, I'm barely passing this grade, and if I fail my exams, summer school it is for me. Again. To make it worse, my dad had pulled the whole 'Where did I go wrong?' and 'Marco, is everything alright? You know you can talk to me.'

I hate that one. All I want to do is scream, tell him everything. But, I'm not a hundred percent sure he's not a controller. So, I don't. I make the stupid excuses of a kid who just doesn't care about school anymore, and watched the disappoint fill my dads eyes.

Ax morphed into his human form, and Cassie grabbed the clothes Rachel bought for him a while ago, stuffing as much as she could into her now empty backpack.

"What about school? No offense Ax-man, we tried that once. Of course, now you don't do that creepy word thing, but I'm sure our school would be very boring" I replied, waiting for Ax.

"I caai-" Ax tried as his mouth appeared, "I can leave with you in the morning, and morph somewhere out of the way. I can stay hidden long enough."

"Yea, you can always fly back into my room when my dad heads to work." I shrugged, "We'll figure it out. Come on, we better go now then."

Jake headed out with us, Rachel was staying with Cassie for a while. Jake and I joked around as we walked, as usual, arguing about who was better, Spiderman or Batman.

I noticed Ax had moved to walk behind us a bit, tired of getting jostled along with us. I made sure he wasn't put out about being left out, but he had this sort of distant look in his eyes as he watched us. Not unhappy, in fact there was something-

"Anyways, see ya at school tomorrow Marco, and uh..."

"Alex, but I call him Ax, 'cause 'Al' is sooo ghetto."

Jake rolled his eyes at me and shook his head, "Sure, see ya Ax." and headed up his driveway.

"Man, soon I'm going to need a book for all your aliases." I laughed, falling into step with Ax. I was quiet please to see I wasn't as short as I used to be. Where Jake and all the others seemed to be stuck, I was still growing. Of course, Ax, Jake, Rachel, and even Tobias' human morph were still taller than me, but at least I didn't have to look almost a foot up anymore, and Cassie was now shorter than I was. Alright fine, I'm eye level to her eyebrows, give me a break!

Sorry, I ranted. Why, Marco? You asked. Well cause stupid me took my arm and placed it around Ax's shoulders. He had to lean down, just slightly, and his arm hung down between us, awkwardly.

"So, what shall we do. Hey I know! You can help me with my math homework."

Ax looked at me, that look in his eyes.
"I don't care if math is important! I hate it! Please help me?" I begged, "Please, oh brilliant Andalite."

Ax laughed, "Fine, I'll try."

"Oh great, thanks, I'm that hopeless am I." I grumbled, grinning at him, and I got another small laugh.

"No not that. It's just, I have seen Cassie's textbooks, most of the things you are learning I knew before school. It is a bit harder to explain something you know almost instinctively." He laughed again, "At least without sounding like a jerk."

It was my turn to laugh. Interesting, Ax was starting to get humor.

"I promise I will be you devoted student."

Ax snorted, but left it at that. I wonder if Ax noticed I took a wrong turn...

"What are you going to do about your Father?" Ax said suddenly.

"Hmm? What do you mean?" I asked, his shoulders rose into a shrug under my arm.

"Well, even if we are just guessing, what if that Bug Fighter stays around for a while."

I shrugged this time, "For now, I'll asked you to stay over, say you're going to help tutor. Dad's busy with work right now, even with his broken toe."

Ax nodded, thoughtfully, and I realized that, in a way, the forest was Ax's home. Having the Yeerks there, looking for him, us, must have been causing him a little anxiety.

I squeezed his shoulders, "Ax, its just someone who's hoping for a quick raise. They tried this once before remember? They found nothing then, and they wont find anything now. Just lucky we caught them before you or Tobias went home."

Ax nodded again, and I wasn't sure whether I made it worse or not.

We came up to my driveway and I noticed my dad wasn't home just yet. I took my arm from Ax's shoulders and fished my key out of my pocket and opened the door.

"Dad?" I yelled through the house, just in case. There was no reply, so I shut the door behind Ax and motioned for him to follow me upstairs.

On the way to my room, I glanced in dad's room, and the bathroom, but nope, he still must be at work.

"Just put your bag in here. There should be enough room in the bathroom for you to demorph when you need to."

Ax nodded again, still quiet. He took the bag off his shoulders and placed it down beside my dresser.

"Alright well, get comfy, I think we might have to move somethings around later." I said thoughtfully, remember the incident on Saturday...

..And looking down at...

'Alright brain, enough.' I scolded myself.

"Come on, Ax-man, everything will be fine."

He looked up and gave me a small smile, "Yes, you are probably right."
"See, at least someone gets it." and his smile widened slightly at that.

"Well, it's supposed to be my night to cook, which is something precooked and easy. So lets go watch TV."

"I thought you wanted help with math?"

I groaned, "Dammit, I was hoping you forgot." I grabbed my bag off the bed, "Fine fine, I'm still watching TV though."

Back downstairs and to the couches. I rushed to the kitchen after dumping my bag, grabbing two Coke's a bag of chips and headed back out to Ax, who already had the TV on some show, and had all of my books spread out in front of him, his eyes quickly scanning through the pages of my textbook.

"By the way, how do you know how to speak, and read, English?" I asked, putting the cokes down on the table and settling down next to him.

"I don't technically," Ax replied, his eyes still scanning, "Although math is math. Some symbols are different, but it all means the same. Thought-speak is on a different level, therefore there are no language barriers, but when an Andalite becomes an aristh a translator chip is inserted in our brain. It can deceiver almost any language given enough time, unless there are words I purposely want to speak that are my own language, like aristh, nothlit, shorm."

"So if, for whatever reason, it stops working you couldn't understand us?"

Ax nodded, setting my textbook down, "But the chips are built so well, the only way it would fail is if it was removed, and you would always understand me because in my natural form, I use thought speak, but I would not understand you."

"Well that's good, because that would be a major handicap." I opened my binder to my homework and turned the textbook to the right pages. Ax took a quick look and immediately began explaining.

It was nearing the two hour mark when Ax decided to go demorph when the phone rang.

"Marco?" my dad.

"Yea, hey. What's up?"

"Nothing kiddo. Just that, Jeff got sick, that flu that's going around. Anyways, there's a conference across the country and my boss needs me to go or the whole thing is canceled."

"No problem. How long?"

"Well, that's the thing. It's a three day conference, and the company is paying for me to stay there until at least Sunday."

"Yea dad, hey no problem. I have enough allowance to eat nothing but fast-food for the next month. By the way, I was wondering. Since I'm going to be alone, can a friend stay over for a while. If his parents say its cool of course."

"Yea,yea sure. Listen, I'm sorry but I have to go. The plane is leaving the airport in a few hours."

"Then go. Call me when you land though alright?"

"Yea, yea. Alright Marco, love you, stay out of trouble." and he hung up.

"Someone is pulling some serious strings." I muttered, putting the phone down. How convenient.

"Hey Ax?" I yelled, as I headed back to the living room. Ax, fully morphed again, paused on the bottom step, "Turns out, my dad is going across country for the week. So, no excuses."

He blinked, "How convenient." he stated, moving towards the couch.

I laughed, getting a puzzled look from the boy.

"Yes, very."

AN: Alright Chapter 3. Review please, and I'll work on getting Chapter 4 up soon.