Chapter 16
The two of them stared at each other in silence for a long time. The Visser had four eyes, but Tobias's eyes still had the look of the hawk about them. I was reminded vaguely of the staring contests Tobias and Ax used to get into. They'd get to do that again, soon.
The Visser broke the silence. ((Well, Tobias? What is it you want to say? I'm sure you've fantasized about this moment for a long time. What will you say to me? What could you say? I feel no remorse for what I've done, no guilt. Words, you see, are meaningless to me. Action is what matters.
((What do you want to say, Tobias? What can you say? What is it that you even hope to accomplish by speaking to me? Do you think I will ever apologize for anything I did? Will you apologize to me for all the men you killed? The hosts you freed? The time I spent in prison? No. We are, both of us, warriors, Tobias, and warriors do not feel guilt.))
Tobias continued to stare at him in silence, so the Visser kept speaking. ((Do you know what I did when I learned who you were?))
"No." He didn't ask to hear it. He knew the Visser would tell him anyway.
((I morphed into a Rakin Ghoula. Do you want to know why? Because it is the only creature in the known galaxy capable of kicking itself in the back of the head and in the teeth. To think... all those years ago, you were sitting right next to me. I could have had you infested. But I thought you were a waste of a Yeerk.))
"I know. I heard you say it to the lawyer. You said Elfangor's son should have been a worthy foe. What do you say now?"
((Now, I laugh at my ignorance.))
"That'll involve a lot of laughing," Tobias answered. "Do you know what I vowed that day?"
The Visser nodded. ((Presumably, that you would find yourself in this very situation. Like your father, I am now helpless in your grasp. Funny, I think it, that you will do to me what I did to him. Such an ironic world we live in. Aximili does not appreciate it; I hope you do.))
Again, they glared at each other for a few minutes. I guess I can't blame them. What do you say to the person who killed your father? And what do you say to the son of the man you killed, especially when you aren't even the least bit sorry?
Again, the Visser broke the silence. ((Do you know what it's like to feel your life slipping away?))
"Yes," Tobias and I answered at the same time.
((Then you know. I am starving now. Your friend, dear Aximili, is fighting harder. He thinks he can overpower me. But he is still foolish.))
"Better to be a living fool than a dead genius," I said.
((Many would disagree. But I do not have the strength to argue anymore. I will speak my final thoughts to you so that someone remembers. How will you like that?))
"I'd prefer it if you'd be quiet," I answered. "Tobias, isn't there some way we can duct-tape his mouth shut? Isn't there an Andalite equivalent of a gag?"
"Chloroform?" he suggested. "But I want to hear this. Go on, Esplin. What are your last thoughts? After all this time…after these seven years in Hell, I want to know what the Devil has to say."
((I think…this war has gone on so long now. I was a young Yeerk when it all began. I may be one of the last left who was alive before the Yeerk Empire. I think all of the original members of the Council of Thirteen are dead. It may just be me now. And Guraff.
((Do you know? He was the first of us all. He had a Gedd host way back in the beginning. He stole a Shredder and used it to kill an Andalite. He drew the first blood in this war. In a way, this is all because of him. But he was lucky. He was frozen and left in space, so now he's younger than me. But he's still old. It is strange. I am an old man, now. I can feel it. How many Yeerks have aged to death? Very few. Most take a pair of mates and reproduce. Strange, isn't it?))
Suddenly, the Visser started to laugh. ((Can you imagine it? A Yeerk produces thousands of offspring. Can you imagine a thousand Yeerks just like me? The galaxy would be on its knees in no time. I see what Elfangor did with just two sons. If I gave life to thousands… Wouldn't that be ironic, though? I, who have killed more than most beings have ever even seen alive, could end my life by giving life. It is almost worth it just for the irony.))
"But that won't happen," Tobias answered. "Instead, you're going to shrivel up and die here, on this ship."
((But I will never really die, you know. No, no, Tobias. Men like me never die. I will always live on in the nightmares of mankind and of the Andalites. I will always have a place in history. No one will ever forget Esplin Nine-Four-Double-Six.))
"No. But how much do you think we'll remember of you? We won't remember the real you. In ten, twenty years, you'll be a joke. Cartoon parodies of you will spring up all over the place. You'll be a pun. That's what we do to our villains. We make fun of them and suddenly, they aren't scary anymore."One day, I'll have a kid. And he or she will be sitting on the couch on a Saturday morning, watching the TV. I'll hear him or her laugh at something on the cartoon and the punch line will be you. It happened to Satan. It happened to Hitler. That's what's going to happen to you.
"I can hear the late night comedy people, too. David Letterman. I know you know who he is; Ax and I watched him often enough. One day, I'll be watching his show and he'll have a list: top ten things on Esplin Nine-Four-Double-Six's tombstone. And I'll laugh because in every ridiculous joke, there will be a kernel of truth. Hell, Marco will probably be the one writing the jokes. Or maybe even telling them.
"That's what you'll become, Esplin. You won't be some phantom in our nightmares. You'll be a running joke. That's all you'll be when this is all over. Just another pun. After all the fear, all the death, all the hatred, all the pain you've caused, you're going to bring us laughter. That's the ironic thing about your death."
For a few long moments, the Visser was silent. I guess it's hard to think of something to say to that. When someone tells you that after everything you've done, all we're going to do is laugh at you, it tends to shut people up. I guess that's the thing about the Visser. He could accept being seen as a villain, a traitor, and a monster. But never a joke. ((I think…I think I will rest now. Good night, Tobias.))
The Visser slumped. Then, slowly, a stalk eye twitched. ((Tobias?)) whispered Ax's voice. The Visser's presence was gone now. It was just our friend.
Tobias put an arm around his shorm. "Hey, Ax-man. Don't worry. It's almost over. Tomorrow, you'll be free. We'll fly to the Cinnabon and you can eat as much as you want. Won't that be great?"
There were tears in Tobias's eyes. I never realized until that moment just how much this meant to him. Even I've only seen him cry once or twice. ((Yes, Tobias. That will be great.)) He paused. ((I am very tired. I don't know why I'm so tired. I haven't done anything in so long. Why am I so tired?))
"Don't worry about it, Ax. Just go to sleep." Tobias held Ax close to him and stroked the fur along his back. It reminded me of the time Al had had a nightmare. Tobias found him in the kitchen, sleepless. He calmed him down and got him back to sleep.
I rubbed my stomach. Yeah, this kid could do a lot worse for a father.
Chapter 17
Guraff came again the next morning. Tobias met him for breakfast. I was surprised that Guraff was able to eat my cooking. Hork-bajir bodies are made for eating tree bark. They can't digest anything else. I am either a really good cook or a really bad one. I'm betting good, since we always meet over breakfast.
Guraff started the conversation. "I have found the records Esplin was keeping of his feedings. He has a little more than six hours left to live. I'll ask you again to return him. If not, then this all ends in six hours."
"And if I give you Esplin without Ax?" Tobias asked.
"I do not know. Esplin will insist that we secure his host. But you will not be on a time limit anymore. Perhaps you would be able to think of a way out, thought I doubt it. We put a force field around your ship, so you can't walk out of here. It is a spherical one, so you cannot hope to dig your way out, either. You will not get away unless I let you."
"I'll have to discuss this with everyone. Guys," Tobias called, "we need a vote. Do we let Esplin go or not? I know Ax better than anyone. And the one thing I know he'd want more than his freedom is to take this slug down with him. He'd gladly give his life to end the Visser's. So I say we give AX what he wants. I won't be the one to deny him this last, small comfort."
"If we're all going to die anyway, I say we let Ax die free," Marco answered. "As much as I'd like to take the Visser down with us, we might be able to make a plan with enough time."
((I've already got a plan,)) David answered in what I pray was private thought speak. ((But I need more time to work out the kinks.)) To everyone he said, ((I'm with Marco.))
Jeanne nodded. ((We can at least give Prince Aximili his last days as a free creature."
"Al?"
((I will obey your decision, Prince Tobias.))
"Of course. What about you, Rach?"
"Does it matter? Even if I'm against it, I'm already out voted, unless we're counting Al's vote. But I don't care what Ax wants. Sometimes, what people want and what they deserve are two different things. Almost always, actually. Ax may want to take the Visser down with him, but he deserves to die free. Let's hand the slug over."
Tobias nodded. "Marco, go gorilla and get Ax out here. Tell the Visser he gets to go home."
Marco morphed and went off to the bathroom. A moment later, Ax was tied up on the floor ((Guraff. You came for me. I'm touched.)) He sounded surprisingly honest.
He must have been really out of it. "I'm here, Esplin. Don't worry. You will be alright soon. But first, you need to get out of the Andalite."
((What?))
"That was the bargain. We will come back for your host later. Right now, you need Kandrona."
((But I… Alright.))
We watched as the Visser, our greatest enemy, emerged from his host. He was a tiny slug. I could have squished him in my hands. It was almost impossible to believe that…that thing…had caused so much death. I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't been on the receiving end of it all.
Guraff nodded to us. "You will likely deal with Esplin now. He will probably decide to get a new host and just blast you. If you intend to get away, I'd work quickly. Good luck, young beast."
"I'll see you later, Guraff," Tobias promised. It was a taunt, really. He was implying that he'd get out of this.
"Okay," Tobias said once Guraff was gone. "We need to think of something. David, you had a plan?"
((More or less. The Yeerks want Ax, right? And Guraff said he'd let us go if he got Ax, so—))
"No. They Do. Not. Get. Ax. Period."
((That wasn't what I'm suggesting. What if one of us morphed Ax and turned ourselves over to the Yeerks?))
"No. I can't send someone off to get infested."
"Tobias," Marco said, "if this isn't done, we're toast. And that's the end of Earth. And the rest of the galaxy, since Crayak will lose his war. Heck, it might be the end of the universe."
Tobias was silent for a long time. Then, "If anyone's going to do it, then, it has to be me. I already have an Ax morph. And I cannot, cannot send one of you off to do this."
"Tobias, you can't go," I protested.
"I have to, Rachel. If someone has to go, it has to be me. That's all there is to it."
"But…" I tried to tell him, but I just couldn't get it out of my mouth. I couldn't tell him he was going to be a father. And to be frighteningly honest, I'm not sure that would stop him. His own father left him to fight, to do what he had to do. Would Tobias be any different?
"Look, I know it's terrible, but there is no way I can order any of you to do this. I can't even ask you to volunteer. I—"
"No, Rachel's right," Marco agreed. "You're the leader, man. We need you. Without you, it's game over. Someone—"
He cut off because the bathroom door exploded. Three Hork-bajir leapt out, followed by a pair of Human-Controllers with Dracon beams.
"How…?" I began.
((They must have been hiding as bugs on Guraff's body,)) David shouted. I didn't have time to tell him I meant, "How did three hork-bajir and two humans fit in the bathroom?"
"Dammmm herrroww," Marco started to say something but cut off as his gorilla jaw bulged out.
"Stop morphing," one of the humans ordered. "I'd prefer to take prisoners, but I'm just as happy with corpses."
We all froze. No one moved. ((This is bad,)) Marco commented. ((Rachel, would now be a bad time to tell Tobias that little secret we've been keeping?))
"Now would be a very bad time, Marco."
((Okay then.))
We all froze, unsure what to do. I don't think the Controller expected us to listen. Well, one of us didn't. In the blink of an eye, the Controllers were still holding their Dracon beams, but those hands weren't attached to their bodies anymore.
((Sweet save, Ax,)) Marco said, hitting a Hork-bajir over the head with a chair.
Tobias, half Howler now, leapt halfway across the room and snapped one Hork-bajir's neck. The other sank a blade into his back, but something like that doesn't really hurt a Howler. Tobias responded by tearing out the Hork-bajir's throat.
FWAP! FWAP! Ax knocked out the Human-Controllers. ((Just like old times, is it not?)) Ax said in that dry, understated way Andalites have.
"Almost," I agreed, wishing I could morph.
((I have not done that for far too many of your years.))
I'm pretty sure gorillas can smile, since Marco did. ((Ax, how many times do we have to have this conversation? They are everybody, years, everybody's hours, and especially EVERYBODY'S MINUTES!))
Tobias turned to Jeanne and Alloran. "This is a historical reenactment of a very famous debate. Pay attention."
"Just as long as Marco doesn't go off about uniforms," I grumbled. For the first time, Ax laughed.
((Hey!)) Marco shouted. ((He finally gets human humor!))
((Do what with the what now?))
Chapter 18
Ax and Al decided to sleep in the Scoop under the ship that night. I couldn't blame them. David was with them, trying to work out the remaining issues he had with Ax. Marco and Jeanne had decided to go for a walk before we all died.
I didn't know how much walking they could get done inside of the force field, but I didn't really care. After being in Marco's head, I trusted him a lot more with Jeanne.
I lay on my bed, trying to sleep. I knew I couldn't. I couldn't let Tobias go off in Ax's place. Something had to be done, but what? Then, I heard Tobias talking.
"Hey…it's, uh, it's Tobias. I know, I've never called you before. I've never reached out to you. I guess because I never thought you were real, especially not after all that I saw. But…well, Santorelli believed in you. That has to count for something."
What was he doing? Was he on the phone with someone? I looked over at him. I guess he thought I was asleep. He was kneeling by the side of his bed, his hands folded, his eyes shut. Oh. This was new.
"I guess I know how you feel now. I know what you felt that night they killed you. You had to give yourself up for the sake of everyone else. But I guess my situation's a little different.
"I have to sacrifice someone. Anyone but me. That's the worst part, I think. If it was me walking off to this…but it's not. I'm stuck between two choices. Both intolerable. I can give one of my friends up to slavery. Or I can give up the universe to the One.
"I guess when I put it that way, it doesn't sound like such a hard choice. But which of my friends? That's the hard part. I guess, in a way, it was easier for you, maybe. You knew who to send. Your son; yourself. But what am I supposed to do? Just what the hell am I supposed to do?"
He was crying, I realized. This was what I was afraid of. Tobias always made the cold, heartless decision. He once sacrificed an entire sentient race and all of the dinosaurs to save mankind. That was why Jake put him in charge; because he could do it. He would make a choice. But that choice might destroy him.
I heard his tears stop. "Okay. Okay, that's the only way. Yeah. Ax will take over the fight. And I…I'll go to the Yeerks. And once the others are safe.. I won't live as their slave. I'll do what I wanted to do for a long time. That's all I can do." He climbed into bed, pulled the covers tight over him, and went to sleep; or at least pretended to.
I snuck out into the scoop. Marco and Jeanne were just getting back from…whatever it was they were doing. "Okay," I said, "We've got to do something. I just heard Tobias…well, he was praying."
Marco winced. "That's getting desperate for him."
"Yeah. He decided what he's going to do. He wants Ax to take over his job as leader. And Tobias is going to go, in Ax morph, to the Yeerks. And once we're safe, he's going to kill himself."
((No!)) Ax shouted. ((I'd sooner be a Controller again than let that happen.))
((I think we all would,)) David agreed. ((One of us has to go in his place. The question is, who?))
"Draw straws?" Marco suggested.
"Not for this," I argued. "Someone has to volunteer."
"Well, not you," Jeanne said. "You're pregnant."
Ax and Al's stalk eyes stretched to their maximum lengths. I think they were surprised. ((Congratulations,)) Ax said after a moment.
"Yeah. She gets to be out of the running," Marco grumbled.
((Guys…)) David began. ((It should be me. I'm the only one. If I go, they can't keep me as a Controller because every time I demorphed, I'd kill the Yeerk. They get me, infest me, and find out what really happened. By then, you're all long gone.))
((And then what happens to you?)) Al asked.
((Then, Guraff probably kills me.))
"David, I don't like the sound of that plan," Marco said. "I mean, you're not my favorite person, but…"
((It's the best way. Besides…I think I want to do it. I've done so many bad things… There's so much I need to make right. This is all I can do. I hope that this can make it up to all of you. Uh…especially those of you who I tried to kill.))
Marco held up a finger. "Okay, that's one vote for Davy-boy. That's one out of six. Anyone else going to vote?"
I shook my head. "One out of five, Marco. If I can't run, I can't vote."
"Fair enough. Maybe you should go back inside, Xena. We don't want bird-boy to come out looking for you. How would we explain this to him?"
I nodded. "Okay. Uh…whoever goes, just know that…I... You're saving my family. Thank you."
Chapter 19
Tobias woke up the next morning looking like he hadn't slept. I knew he had. He was tossing and turning all night. I almost wanted to tie him down, but that wasn't part of the plan. Although we might have to do it later…
"Morning," he grunted. He looked like he wanted to say something more meaningful, but he didn't. Instead he just got up and started making some coffee. Like nothing was wrong.
Jeanne and Marco, who had been sleeping on the floor, woke up as he fiddled around in the kitchen. "That's not Rachel in the kitchen, is it?" Marco asked, not opening his eyes.
"No, it's Tobias," I answered.
"Good." Marco looked like he wanted to go back to sleep. Why didn't he want me in the kitchen? I could cook while pregnant. Oh well.
Ax, David, and Al came in through the floor hatch. Tobias turned around. "Good, everyone's here. I…I made a decision about who to send."
"We know," I said. "We can't let you do it, Tobias. And don't try to argue because we aren't going to put up with it."
"Rachel, I—"
FWAP!
The flat side of Ax's tail blade smashed into Tobias's head. He wouldn't be awake for some time. Long enough for us to do what we had to do.
((I cannot help but feel a bit guilty about that,)) Ax muttered. ((But we do what we must.))
Next, he contacted the Blade ship. Guraff spoke to us, since the Visser was still waiting for his host and wouldn't condescend to take anything less than an Andalite. ((Guraff 427, it is I, Prince Aximili-Esgarrouth-Isthill. In order to spare the lives of my friends, I will turn myself in.))
"Good. Walk outside of your ship and go the edge of the force field. We will drop the force field. The Reliquary will fly away. And then we will pick you up. If you run, if you flee, if you fight back, we will destroy the Reliquary. Is that understood, Prince Aximili?"
((I understand. Allow me a moment to say goodbye to my friends.)) Ax turned to us. ((Are you prepared?))
((Yeah,)) David said. ((I hope this makes up for some of the stuff I've done. Guys…thanks for the second chance. Or third. Or maybe fourth. Thanks for forgiving me.))
FAWP!
We all jumped about a foot as Al's tail blade came down on David's head. He was unconscious like Tobias. "What the hell was that about?" Marco demanded.
((David is my shorm,)) Alloran answered. ((I cannot allow him to do this. I will go in his place. I acquired Prince Aximili last night. This is my duty, as a brother, friend, nephew, and warrior. I will go.))
"Well…" Marco trailed off. "Well, hurry up, we're running out of sacrificial lambs. Al…I'll miss you. You're a good kid." Marco gave him a brief hug. "You reminded me a lot of all the good times we had back when we were still young. You helped give back something that I never thought we could get. Thanks."
Jeanne knelt down and kissed him where his cheek might have been. "I hope that I one day have a child like you." Then, she said something long in French that I didn't catch.
Al apparently understood it, though, because he nodded and said, ((Thank you, Jeanne. I completely agree. I wish you the best of luck.))
Ax said the only thing he could think of. The highest compliment he could give. ((Aristh; no, Warrior Alloran-Sirinial-Fangor, you are just like your father and brother.)) They touched tail blades in the Andalite fashion. Then, I guess they decided that wasn't enough, because they hugged human-style.
Al turned to me. I'm not ashamed to admit that I was crying. I mean, Tobias and I had been raising this kid. We were a family. "No matter what happens, Al, no matter what that slug says or does, we'll always be your family."
((I know. Thank you, Rachel. I…You are as much my family as Prince Tobias is. I love you both.)) I think that was the only time I've ever heard an Andalite say that. ((Please let Prince Tobias know that.))
We all embraced him one last theme. Then, he morphed to Ax. It was weird, because it was like watching Ax grow up in fast motion. Kind of like how we all had to grow up really fast. It made me want to cry some more. The pregnancy hormones probably had something to do with that, too.
The hatch opened and Al walked out like the proud Andalite warrior he was. I had no idea what would happen to him. He might just be killed. He might be infested. I had no idea. But at least Tobias didn't have to live with knowing it was all because of him.
We sealed the hatch and watched. Tobias was stirring. He stumbled to his feet, looked around, and realized who was missing. "What's…no…NO! AL! NO!"
Marco and I pulled him back from the view screen. "ALLORAN NO!"
Tobias pulled free and surged for the control node. The hatch opened. He tried to dive out. Again, we pulled him back. "Tobias, no," I said. "You have to get us out of here."
"No! I can't leave him! It should be me!"
"Tobias, it can't be you. We need you. All of us." I took his hand and put it on my stomach. "We need you," I repeated. "Both of us."
His eyes widened. "You mean…"
I nodded. "Yeah."
He was silent. Ax flew the Reliquary home. We couldn't stay to see what happened. I hoped, no I prayed, that Alloran had been killed. That would be kinder.
It's a sick world where the death of a child is the lesser of two evils.
Chapter 20
Tobias was in too much shock over that day's events to celebrate Ax's return. That didn't stop him from taking us to the mall where Ax could get the one thing he loved more than his own freedom.
"That's nine cinnamon buns in one sitting," Marco counted. "I didn't think he could do it."
Jeanne just stared, disgusted and partially terrified. "I thought Alloran and David were bad but this…"
Ax's human face was completely covered in icing. I mean completely covered. He was trying to eat himself. David and Marco decided to drag him off to the men's room to clean himself up. They needed Jeanne's help to drag him away from the tenth cinnamon bun that was still sitting on the table.
"So…" Tobias said at last. "I guess you and I need to talk. Why do I get the impression that I was the last one to know?"
I smiled weakly. "Because you were."
"Okay. Well… I think it's kind of obvious that we have two choices at this point."
"Two?"
"Yeah. You can get an abortion and keep fighting. Or you can keep the child, but that means you're out of the war."
"I never considered that first option and I'm not going to start now," I answered. "We're keeping this baby."
"I was hoping you'd say that. We'll need to start looking for your replacement. Any suggestions?"
"I don't know. Jordan said she wanted to help but I don't want her involved in this."
"We'll put that on the back burner. I think the other issue is…we'll have to get married at some point."
"Is that a proposal?"
"Not yet. Believe me, Rachel; you'll know when I'm proposing. The whole galaxy will know. I'll probably call in favors from entire alien races. I'm pretty sure the Helmacrons owe me…"
"Please, no Helmacrons," I pleaded.
"We'll see." He was silent for the next few moments. Then he gave me a small smile. "You know, I think this is a good thing. It gives me more reason to fight."
"Yeah?"
"Definitely. I'm going to make you a promise, Rachel. Our child will grow up in a world where he doesn't have to be afraid of Yeerks. I'll finish this war before he's born."
"Or she," I reminded him.
"Or she," he agreed.
I shook my head. "I just don't know what I'm going to do without the war, though. For so long, it's been who I am."
"Rachel, that isn't true."
"Yes it is. I loved it, Tobias. I still love it."
"Rachel, it was never the war you loved. What you loved was to be needed. The people of Earth, everyone on the whole planet, needed your help. That's what you loved. You're the kind of person who needs to be needed."
"You think so?"
"Of course. Rachel…long ago, I needed someone. Anyone at all. You barely knew me, but you were there every time I needed anything. That's just who you are. That's what you love. And believe me when I say that no one is going to need you more than this baby. You'll be fine without the war."
"But it's just such a huge part of who I am," I repeated. "I mean, without it, what would I have become? I wouldn't be who and what I am today."
He nodded. "Yeah. But are you happy with who you've become now?"
"I guess so. Yeah, I think I am."
"Then why do you need the war anymore?"
I didn't have an answer to that. He went on, "Rachel, we both needed this war for so many reasons. Without it, neither of us would have had a future. I'd be dead in an alley by now and you'd be…I don't even know but you'd hate every minute of it. But we both got what we needed from this. You got your purpose in life."
"And what did you get?" I asked. I knew what he would say. But I wanted to hear him say it.
He kissed me. "I got you."
"Got her knocked up," Marco chimed in. They had returned. "Xena, bird-boy, that's sweet and all, but do you mind? I'm trying not to vomit and after watching Ax eat, it's kind of hard already. Don't push it."
"Oh my god, I just realized something," I said.
"What? Al was the only one who knew how to fix the microwave?" Marco asked.
Jeanne elbowed him. Hard. "Too soon," she hissed.
"No. What am I going to tell my parents? And Jacques? Sara? And Loren? Oh god, that'll be awkward. I think I've said maybe five words to Loren in my whole life. She doesn't even know I'm alive!"
Tobias put an arm around me. "Don't worry. We'll figure it all out. Parents can't be as scary as some of the stuff we've seen, right, Ax?"
"I am not sure I agree, Tobias. I remember when Elfangor had to tell my parents that he had a son. He was frightened."
"You kids want to see frightening?" Our heads whipped around. The Drode was walking towards us through the middle of the mall. Judging by how no one looked at him, he was either invisible or he looked totally normal to them.
"Drode," Tobias said. "What brings you here?"
In response, he shoved a ridiculously oversized cigar in Tobias's mouth. "Congratulations, that's what. The Ellimist was too stiff to stop by, but I could take some time out of my busy schedule to congratulate my two favorite Animorphs."
His voice lowered. "And I'm willing to bet that this little bastard is going to be quite the demon. I'll probably love him. I can't wait. I can't help but notice something, though."
"What?" I asked.
"You seem to be missing an Animorph. I thought you came in a six pack. If you ever want a new guy, all you have to do is call."
"What's the price?" Marco asked. He looked at me.
The Drode laughed. "Oh, I'm not going to ask for their child if that's what you're worried about. With those two as parents, he'll come to me in his own sweet time."
"Or she," I corrected.
"Trust me, it'll be a boy. My price, Marco, is that I get to pick your new teammate."
"Why do you care who we get?" Jeanne asked.
"Why do I ever do anything?. Didn't anyone ever tell you, sweetheart?" The Drode laughed. "I'm the Wildcard."
With that, he disappeared. Tobias still had the comical cigar. "He knows I don't smoke," Tobias grumbled. I gave him a look and he sighed. "On weekdays," he amended.
Marco snatched the cigar. "I bet Crayak has the best stuff, though. I mean, you probably can't buy it in this country. Or this planet..." he remarked.
He and Tobias shared a look. Tobias smiled at me. "We'll be right back. Ax…stay here. You get way too hooked on stuff way too fast. There's no way you're getting some nicotine."
Jeanne and I watched as Marco and Tobias disappeared with the Drode's cigar. Jeanne turned to me. "Does it ever bother you that stuff like that doesn't seem odd anymore?"
I smiled. "Nah; normal got boring long ago."
And now, to leave you with some words of wisdom from Streetlight Manifesto:
"When
you wake up And even if it was so
Everything is going to be fine
I guarantee that you
wake in a better place
In a better time
So you're tired of
living
And feel like you might give in
Well don't
It's not
your time
Oh I wouldn't let you
go
You could run run run run but I will follow close
Someday
you will say "That's it, that's all,"
But I'll be
waiting there with open arms to break your fall
I know that you
think that you're on your own
But just know that I'm here
And
I'll lead you home
If you let me
She said "forget me."
But
I can't"
—A Better Place, a Better Time
Don't miss the next installment of the Animorphs series:
65: The Pact
"No," Naomi said. "You are not getting another of my little girls. I already lost one daughter to this war and I will not let you cost me another."
"It should be Jordan's choice, mom," Rachel told her. "We were all given a choice to make. Jordan at least deserves the option to fight."
"Would you have ever said no?" Dan responded. "What do you think the chances are that Jordan will?"
"Jordan isn't me, dad. And she knows what she's getting into, unlike we did. Jordan understands what's going on. The rest of us, we were thrown into this war by accident, by chance. She can choose not to fight. We can find someone else. But she deserves the same chance we had. She deserves to be allowed to fight for her planet."
Naomi glared at me. "What do you think, Andalite?"
I don't know why she asked my opinion. I did notice, though, that she said 'Andalite' with almost the same hatred that a Yeerk says it.
((I am not here to think. I am here for moral support,)) I answered. Honestly, I didn't have much of an opinion. I did not know Jordan. During the brief time she knew of my existence, during our stay in the Hork-bajir valley, we did not interact at all. Her mother kept her children away from me as much as possible.
"I'm not surprised," she sneered. "I never figured thinking was your strong suite. You're just a hired killer, aren't you."
"Naomi, that's enough," Loren said. "I know you're upset but that's no reason to take out on Aximili. He's had a hard enough time lately as it is."
((Thank you, Loren. And if you truly want an answer, Naomi, I have no opinion on this matter. I do not know Jordan. I have to trust Rachel's judgment.))
"I do not want my daughter to be one of you," Naomi insisted. "I've seen what this does to you. Rachel, I barely recognize you anymore."
We heard a new voice then. And yet, at the same time, it was an old one. "Well, Naomi, there is another option."
Rachel groaned. Tobias nodded a quick hello to the creature that appeared in the living room. The Drode. "Drode," Tobias said, "what brings you here?"
"What is that thing?" Naomi demanded. Dan took a step back in his hologram. Loren just shrugged.
"We aren't entirely sure anymore," Tobias answered.
"Call me the Drode," Drode answered her. "Now, we seem to be at an impasse. The Animorphs need a new member. They want Jordan. You, Naomi, do not want them to have her. How, oh how, I ask, do we resolve this?"
"Get to the point," Rachel snapped.
The Drode grinned. "Pregnancy's making you grumpy, Rach. You need to chill." Suddenly, the temperature in the room got very cold. I could see my breath, as could everyone else.
"Oh, great, he's started with the puns," Tobias sighed. "Are you happy now, Rachel? It's like we're dealing with Marco." Rachel decided it was safest to remain silent. "You were saying?" Tobias prompted.
"Well, I happen to know someone who would make a perfect addition to your team, Tobias. And it's not someone who anyone would worry about."
"No deal," Tobias answered. "If we're getting a new teammate, we're choosing them ourselves. I am not going to deal with another fiasco like what happened with David. It's going to be someone we choose, not you."
"Oh, but you already chose him," the Drode laughed. "Of course, neither you or Rachel was there at the time. In fact, I suppose the people who chose him are gone now. What, with Jake…incapacitated, and Cassie too busy to deal with saving the world anymore. Of course, Marco is still around."
"What are you rambling about?" Rachel demanded. "We never chose another Animorph."
"Sure you did. You chose more than a dozen. I saw the whole thing. Are you going to tell me you don't remember?"
"The auxiliaries," Tobias concluded.
I nodded. ((That seems to be the case. But the Drode cannot raise the dead. Nor can Crayak. At least,)) I added, looking at Rachel, ((not by himself.))
"Who said anything about raising the dead?" Drode asked.
((One of them survived?)) I asked.
"More than you'd think. Some of them trapped themselves in morphs rather than morph back to injured human bodies. Ah, such a lovely move by you, recruiting the disabled. It makes me proud. I didn't even have to influence your decisions at all.
"But yes, Prince Aximili, some of them survived. One of them happens to be a normally functioning, healthy man now. He went off to live with the Andalites and learned quite a few things you might find useful."
"Who?" Tobias asked.
"His name is…but you know what, I'd rather show you. It's so much more fun that way."
Suddenly, there was a new person in the room. He darted his head around, nervous, confused, and afraid. Then, his eyes fell on Rachel. "You? You're supposed to be dead."
"Back at you, James."
Preview Summary
The Animorphs are losing members rapidly. First Rachel. Then Santorelli, followed by Jake. Cassie left and Alloran was captured. And now Rachel must leave the fight once again. The Yeerks are pressing in on two fronts and the Animorphs are down to just five members.
To top it off, the Visser has infested Alloran. Alloran was a technological prodigy; with his mind under their control, Yeerk security systems would be unmatched in all of the galaxy. Their weapons would be the best in the known universe. Ax, Tobias, Marco, Jeanne, and David need help. So when the Drode offers them a new teammate, they have no choice but to accept him. But how far can they trust someone chosen by the Drode; especially when it's someone they abandoned and left for dead…