Chapter 16
Cassie and Ronnie arrived by the time we made our way back to the apartment. All things considered, ti was very crowded in there. Prince Tobias did not look surprised when we returned, but I could hear it in his voice. "You're back early."
"Yeah...um..." James trailed off.
"Kalroth attempted to have Sergio killed," I explained. "Several vehicles full of gunmen began attacking the warehouse. It was, apparently, not anything Sergio's security personnel could not handle."
"Doesn't surprise me," Prince Tobias answered. "A lot of those guys seem to be ex-military, and I think one or two of them might have been Yeerk-trained. We don't talk much, but I can tell you for sure that they aren't just random thugs and hired muscle. They're professionals, even if they don't look or act like it."
James took over the story from there. "After Sergio and his friends fought off the attackers, our boss got one of his ideas. He's decided he's had enough of Kalroth and is going to round up everyone he can to attack Kalroth's estate and kill him. And probably burn the place to the ground and steal some stuff, too. You know he is."
"I take it he wants me there?" Tob - Prince Tobias finished. One must always address one's superiors properly, even in one's own head.
James nodded. "You've got that look..."
"Yeah; we've been doing some planning while you were out. I think some of our problems have just solved themselves for us. First, let's talk about what we're going to do about Sergio."
Rachel raised her hand. "Ooh! I know. Can I tell them?"
Prince Tobias sighed. "If it makes you happy."
It did indeed seem to make her happy. "When that idiot starts shooting up the place, it's going to really, really distract Kalroths' guards. I can't really think of a better time for you to sneak in there and do some work of your own. If Kalroth goes into hiding and you don't have the chance to kill him, you can probably find some useful information there."
"That makes sense," I agreed.
"And that brings us around to our solution to our problem with Kristina," David said, continuing from where Rachel left off. "The problem with her father is that he's got a lot of power. So we don't need to kill him; we just need to take away his power."
"That shouldn't be too hard to do," Prince Tobias finished. "Considering that Kalroth's dealing with people like Sergio, I'm sure there's plenty of evidence floating around. Just grab some of that while you're in there and we should be able to get Kristina's father demoted or fired."
"He will still be a Controller," I pointed out.
"Not an important one."
"But we have to free him!"
Prince Tobias shook his head. "Sorry, Al, but we've got no place to keep him. I'm not even sure what we'll do with Kristina. I have no clue what we'd do with her parents."
"We cannot leave her parents as slaves!" I insisted.
Naturally, it was Cassie who gave me a level look and asked, "Al, is there something you aren't telling us?"
I couldn't bring myself to say it in front of Kristina. I shook my head but said "Yes. However it is not something important to the mission. I have...personal reasons, which I will disclose at a later date if I may. I assure you, my Prince, that although I am keeping a secret, it is not one that will effect the mission. I will tell you if you order it of me, but I ask you not to do so. At least, not now. "
He closed his eyes and thought for a few moments. Then he nodded. "Alright; if it won't hurt the mission. But after this, you're going to have to tell me."
"As you command, my Prince."
"How are we going to get inside?" James asked.
"You're going to go through the front door," Prince Tobias replied. "Sergio's crazy, but he's not stupid enough to march up that way. He'll come down out of the mountains or out of the woods. The guards will go that direction, so you'll have a clearish shot at the front. With the guards engaged in battle, you'll encounter mostly passive defenses, which I am sure Al can neutralize."
"You're talking like you won't be going with us," David pointed out.
"Not at first," Prince Tobias explained. "Sergio's going to want me in the attack and I can't just say no to him. I'll be in the fighting a little bit, then slip away, morph, and join you inside. I'll probably have to bring Sergio someone's head as a trophy, though..."
Rachel pouted. "I wish I could come with you. Gunfights, break ins, decapitation... Tobias, remember when we had all the fun?"
"It won't be too long now," Prince Tobias promised. "Just a few months and you'll be back in action."
"It's just so boring sitting around here while you're out fighting Yeerks..."
"Rachel?" Cassie said. "I know this will sound odd to you, but not spending your days almost getting killed is a good thing. I promise."
"Moving on," Prince Tobias continued, "I'll join up with you as soon as I can. It shouldn't take me too long. Not much slows down a Howler. I'll leave the rest of you to look over what data we have about Kalroth's estate, since you're going to be the ones doing the deed. I'm sure I'll be able to find my own way in." He flashed us a smile that made me just a little uneasy.
"Where are you going?" James asked.
"Dan, Rachel, and I are headed out to lunch. We've got to discuss some things that are wonderfully non-Animorph related. We'll be back in two hours or so and then we can make final preparations. Oh, and one more thing."
"Yeah?" David asked.
"Until I get there, James is in charge. Just so we know."
Chapter 17
We had elected to take a novel approach in invading Kalroth's estate. James and I hovered in the air above the estate in Pythag morph. David, in his rat form, was in one of my talons and Cassie, in a squirrel morph, was in the other. James was carrying a Shredder and a small explosive device I had made. Once Kalroth's men were distracted, we would begin.
I could see things quite clearly from where I was in the air. Several large vans, almost exact duplicates of the ones that had attacked us earlier, were making their way up the long, winding road to the estate. The guard outposts were doing little to stop them.
They were a diversion, of course. Prince Tobias would never have allowed Sergio to mount a direct attack like that. The real attack force had been moving through the woods and mountains since shortly after Sergio's warehouse was attacked. Nicolai and most of Sergio's men, including Prince Tobias, were almost in position for their own attack. Sergio's men had been joined by some others, presumably men who were in the same line of business as Sergio and did not like the fact that Kalroth had attacked one of their own.
Kalroth's guards were taking up positions along the front wall of the compound. Just as planned. They were not aware of Nicolai and Prince Tobias. At least, not until a small explosion tore a hole in eastern wall. Then Nicolai's team came through, firing everywhere with a variety of weapons. There was a lot of gunfire, but a few wielded Dracon beams, Shredders, and I even saw one man with a Pythagi Oda cannon. The guards realized their mistake very quickly and were already breaking up to go deal with this second attack.
((Now we go,)) James said, descending. I was right behind him. We landed and Cassie and I began demorphing. David immediately started morphing to lion. James waited so that we would not be completely exposed. Even before I was fully demorphed, Cassie was halfway into a wolf morph. ((I win,)) I said privately to David when I finished demorphing. He was still growing his mane and was missing claws.
He muttered something in my head that I couldn't quite hear and then finished morphing. I went to work with the explosive device. It was nothing elaborate, really, just a small device made from a few household supplies. One would have to be very close to the blast to be injured at all by it. I set the timer and then told the others, ((We have fifteen seconds to move a safe distance away. I suggest we begin doing so now.))
Fifteen seconds later, a flash of light nearly blinded my stalk eyes. ((And now we have an entrance,)) David said smugly, looking at the five-foot hole in the roof.
((You mean I have an entrance,)) James corrected, leaping into the hole. He buzzed his wings for a bit and managed to avoid injuring himself when he landed. The room into which he dropped was large, with a high ceiling.
((Okay guys, just a moment here,)) he assured us. Approximately forty seconds later, he shoved a couch beneath the hole. ((Just try to land on that.))
David went first and landed with appropriate grace on the couch. He immediately bounded off. Cassie was next, also graceful. I jumped down last, with far less grace. The fall hurt my legs and stomach, but I was more or less unharmed. While we were jumping, James had demorphed. He was now partway into lion.
I took a moment to survey the room. It was large and held a good deal of comfortable looking furniture. I was not entirely sure what it's purpose was. Perhaps it did not have one and was simply another quirk of human architecture. Although to be honest, I find all architecture a bit quirky. Why not simply live under the sky like other beings? Bad weather, after all, is just a passing thing.
In addition to the furniture, there were two sets of double-doors, made of some sort of wood. A chandelier hung from the ceiling, affixed not far from where we had made our entrance. The room was dark, and I had just a bit of trouble seeing. Thankfully, Andalites have keen eyes so the moonlight coming in through our entrance was enough for me. I could not see nearly as well as Cassie, David, and James, but it would most likely be enough.
James was about halfway morphed when Cassie and David both said approximately the same thing. ((Someone is coming.)) They took up positions on opposite sides of one of the sets of doors. I ducked behind the couch, peeking over the top with one stalk eye while I checked to ensure that my Shredder was on the proper setting. James joined me a moment later, moving as fast as he could on mutating legs.
The doors swung open and five men stormed through. They did not look like they were moving to attack anything, though. They were walking as though they were in a hurry. Their weapons were down at their sides. That was a fatal mistake. Once they were all five through the door, Cassie and David struck.
Neither of my friends howled or roared as many might have. They were as quiet as possible. David dove with his paws outstretched, landing on the backs to two different men. His teeth made short work of them after that. Cassie lunged forward in tandem with David, her teeth tearing into the leg of a third guard. She brought him down easily and began making sure he would be no threat to anyone in the future.
The remaining two guards turned and began to raise their weapons, but they were too late. I rose from my hiding place and fired off a few bursts from my Shredder. I am no expert with that weapon, but I have had enough training to use one. Both of the remaining guards fell. Even as they did, though, James dove over the couch, racing towards them.
When he realize that the battle was already over, he turned his head to look at me. ((That's cheating, Al. Those two do not count.))
((Aww, let him go, James,)) David said.
((Thank you, David,)) I began.
Then my shorm added, ((He needs the points.))
((Why do you three insist on pretending this is a game?)) Cassie demanded.
((Because it helps us forget we're murdering people,)) James answered simply. David and I nodded. Cassie did not respond after that. I did not think she was expecting an honest answer, much less a very good one.
((Which way do we go now?)) James asked.
David pointed towards the unopened doors with a paw. ((Unless this place is a maze, that way leads deeper into the building.))
((Where is Prince Tobias?)) I wondered.
James perked up an ear. ((You hear that?)) he asked.
I listened carefully. Just barely, I heard some people screaming. Perhaps in pain, perhaps in fear. I was not sure. ((I hear screaming,)) I told him.
((Then I'd imagine he's in that general vicinity. Don't worry, Al, he'll catch up with us soon. Knowing him, he'll be waiting in Kalroth's office for us.))
I nodded. Then, we headed deeper into the building.
Chapter 18
The doors led to a hallway lined with more doors. I cannot speak for my comrades, but I will say that the very sight of all those doors set off every mental alarm in my head. Anything could be behind any one of them. We advanced warily, trusting our senses to warn us of anything up ahead.
((I hate this,)) David muttered as we crept slowly down the hallway. ((I mean, under normal circumstances, this would be bad. But add in the raging battle and my rat paranoia and I'm really thinking of turning and climbing back out of that hole.))
((Don't get all 'Marcoy' on us,)) Cassie chided. We both knew the galvanizing effect that would have on David. Although he and Marco had laid most of their animosity aside when David rejoined us, they were still not especially fond of each other. Though to their mutual credit, they had attempted to rectify that.
((David, just remember. At least you don't have to lead this little parade,)) James said. ((I really don't know what Tobias was thinking. Did he forget that the last time I lead a group of Animorphs, they all got killed?))
An idea suddenly struck me.((I believe I have a solution to your fears,)) I informed them .
((And that is...?)) David asked.
Calmly, I aimed my Shredder at the door next to me and fired several bursts through the door. Once the holes stopped smoking, I could see that there had been nothing inside. ((This room is clear.))
((That boy is spending entirely too much time with Tobias and Rachel,)) Cassie muttered.
I decided it was best to ignore her. Then I realized a more efficient way of accomplishing my task. I stepped into the room I had just cleared, took aim at the wall, thumbed the Shredder to a higher setting, and fired.
A beam of green light flashed through the wall, through the room beyond it, and through two more rooms after that. It did not kill anyone or anything, but it did assure me that the rooms were empty.
((I am surprised that I must remind you, Cassie, that though Prince Tobias and Rachel are unorthodox, their methods are usually devastatingly effective.))
((Can't argue with that,)) David agreed. ((I've been on the receiving end of that... Not something I want to repeat. I consider myself lucky just to be small and furry.))
I fired into the door on the other side of the hall, entered, and did just as I had done in the previous room. In this way, we advanced down the hallway with impunity. Our actions were wasted, though. We encountered nothing. But, being Animorphs, that just made us more suspicious and paranoid.
((I really don't like this,)) Cassie muttered as we advanced, never breaking from our procedure. There was not much hallway left. We were within twenty feet of a pair of double doors.
((I think we're probably the only people who would complain because no one is trying to kill us,)) James said quietly. ((Almost there. Al, you want to finish up here?))
I nodded, then fired into the door to my left. As all of the other rooms had been, it was empty. I unleashed a barrage of Shredder fire at the wall and, once again, wasted the effort. ((It is clear,)) I assured James.
He nodded and then rushed towards the doors. Nothing attacked him. David went next, then Cassie and I arrived together. ((They probably heard the Shredder fire,)) David remarked. ((So either no one's in there or they're content to wait until we walk inside. In which case, I guarantee this is a trap of some kind.))
((You say that like it's unusual,)) Cassie noted. ((We always seem to be walking right into traps. But they haven't caught us very often.))
James turned to me. ((You're the one with hands.))
((You and David weigh more,)) I reminded him. ((And if this door is unlocked, then I must vehemently protest our entrance.
((Fair enough.)) James reared back on his hind legs, balancing himself against one door. David did the same to the other. A moment later, they gave a push and both doors fell in. I had no doubts as to where we found ourselves. Subvisser Kalroth's office.
It was a large room, though not as large as the one through which we had entered. The floor was made of some stone. I believe it is called marble. At the far end was a dais. There were several large chairs arranged in a half-circle in front of it. On the dais was a large desk, behind which sat the Subvisser himself.
He had a human host, though he looked unlike any humans I had ever met. His eyes were slanted, his flesh was just a bit on the yellow side, and his long, black hair was completely unkempt and wild. He wore a suit, but it looked extremely out of place on him. He would have fit much better had he been garbed in Sergio's attire.
He appeared to be alone in the room, though that was not strictly true. A small, green cube on his desk was favoring us with an image that I am not afraid to admit chills my blood. It was a Hork-bajir nearly two feet taller than the average. There were a few scars on his body, testaments to mistakes he would not repeat. In one hand, he held a sword that I knew was once the stinger of a Kelbrid. Undervisser Guraff 427. Even as a hologram, he made me want to take a step back.
Guraff was not looking at us, though. He and Kalroth appeared to be arguing. "-made the mistake of involving yourself with this man," Guraff was saying. "The consequences are yours to deal with." I could hear a slight change in his voice as he added, "A few criminals should be no trouble for one who would serve the Visser."
"And them?" Kalroth asked, looking at us for the first time. Guraff's hologram turned. Although I am not good at reading Hork-bajir facial expressions, he looked disappointed. "Only four of you? Where is the Devil Prince?"
We all looked at each other, unsure what to say. Guraff scared all of us. We knew that, as a hologram, he was no danger. But there was a power in his voice that made us all question that simple logic.
It was James who eventually answered. ((He's making sure those 'few criminals' are more trouble than someone like Kalroth can handle.))
((You should probably say goodbye now, Guraff,)) David added. ((I don't think you'll be seeing Kalroth again.))
"Oh?" Kalroth asked. "I am disappointed, Animorph. You were supposed to be more observant than that."
"Stop playing games, Kalroth," Guraff said, irritated. "Summon them and have your fun. I suppose it is best that the Devil Prince is not here. I would not like it very much if someone other than I killed him."
"As you command, Undervisser. Never would I disobey the right hand of the Visser." Then, he shouted a word that I mistakenly thought must have been something in the Yeerk language. "Apostates!"
I heard a terrible noise from above me. I imagine it was somewhat similar to the noise a chunk of steel would make in a garbage disposal unit. I turned both stalk eyes towards it, keeping my main eyes on the Yeerk leaders. There were two of them, standing on the ceiling above us as though gravity was of no relevance.
The creatures stood on strong legs, bent at the knee. Their feet were an odd, dome shape. Something beneath that dome must have allowed them to affix themselves to the ceiling. Their arms were long and muscular and very nearly reached their feet. Both arms ended in claws. Each claw had four long, slender fingers. One of these was far longer and thicker than the other and was hooked at the end. It was covered in small hooks. I had no doubts that this was a weapon. The creatures had short tails that ended in very long, thin spikes somewhat similar to my own tailblade.
While crouching as they did, their shoulders were about even with those of a human. But rising from their massive shoulders were long, strong necks that reminded me of my tail more than the creatures' own tails did. Their neck were at least as long as the rest of their bodies and ended in a foot-long triangular blade. On each side of the blade was a deep, black eye that did not seem to blink. One reared it's head back and I could see that beneath the blade was a triangular mouth rimmed by sharp teeth.
Most of their bodies were covered in what appeared to be quills. The quills alternated between blue and black, giving the creature a dark appearance. Pencil-thin lines of gold seemed to be traced all across their bodies. I could not say if this was the result of some natural coloration or perhaps some ritual tattoo. Oddly, they had no quills between their claws and elbows, or on the last foot of their necks. Instead, they possessed golden scales.
((What...what the hell are those things?)) James demanded.
"Those," Kalroth answered, "are the Ssri'Kai Apostates."
Chapter 19
((That doesn't exactly clear it up,)) Cassie said quietly. The Ssri'Kai had not moved. They were apparently content to wait for an order. An order that Kalroth had decided to delay.
"The Apostates are the newest addition to the Yeerk military," Kalroth told us. Unfamiliar as I was with human vocal tones, even I could tell that he was overflowing with pride. He must have been heavily involved.
"They are, simply put, the best. Each one, host and Yeerk alike, was chosen by the Visser Himself for qualities that only He can perceive. Each Apostate has been indoctrinated by me personally in the Truth of the Visser. Their belief and devotion are nearly as strong as mine are. They will never surrender. Only death can stop them, and that is a task beyond any of you.
"They are the smartest warriors on the battlefield. Each one has been educated by Salheer Six-Seven-One, in whose wisdom even the Visser places trust. Your petty tricks will not work on them. And in combat, they are nearly unequaled. Each one, Yeerk and Host, was trained personally by the Undervisser. They would not be standing here right now if the mightiest warrior in the entire Yeerk Order did not believe they were prepared to stand against you."
David said a word I have been instructed not to repeat. James repeated it. As did Cassie. At that point, I could not help but say it myself.
"You will find the Ssri'Kai more than a match for your morphs," Guraff warned us, picking up where Kalroth had left off. "They are one of only three species known to have successfully defeated a full Kelbrid invasion. I myself cannot stand before more than three of their best."
That sent a chill down my spine. ((Prince Tobias?)) I called.
((I'm...way,)) his voice called faintly. ((...happening?))
((We have encountered some elite Yeerk warriors called Apostates. They are of a species called the Ssri'Kai, which we have never encountered before. I fear we may be in danger.)) I had no way of knowing how much of my message got through.
((...Guraff...?))
I guessed his meaning. ((Only as a hologram.))
((Just....hold...get there.))
All of the Animorphs had heard our exchange. We began to take up positions. James and Cassie stood side-by-side. David stood next to me. ((Hey, Al? You do know the Brode says you can't let this thing claw me open, right?))
((I shall endeavor to remember that.)) And then they attacked. One jumped off of the wall, angeling for James and Cassie. The other came for us. It's leg was extended and I could see dozens of small suction cups on the underside of the foot. I realized what the tactic was at once. It would try to immobilize me with the foot and then impale me with its claws. But an Andalite is faster than that.
I neatly stepped to the side as David circled around. The Ssri'Kai landed between us. A deadly mistake. I struck with my tailblade even as David leapt on the Controller's back. I felt my blade sink deep into it's flesh. I heard a scream of pain, but it was not from the Apostate. It was from David.
He rolled off of it's back, roaring. Hundreds of quills were stuck in his stomach and arms. ((It burns!)) he shouted. ((I can't...can't see! Everything's red!))
"Did I forget to mention the poisoned quills?" Kalroth said, mockery clear in his voice. "Perhaps you should be more observant, Animorphs."
I kept three eyes on the Ssri'Kai I was fighting and one stalk eye on the second one. Cassie and James were not doing very well either. They hadn't made David's mistake, but they couldn't get close enough to try and find a weak point. Cassie made the logical guess and jumped for the Ssri'Kai's throat. Her teeth sank deep into the neck. But the Apostate didn't even flinch. Instead, it shoved a barbed claw into her side and pulled her off of it's body.
"Do be careful of those hooks," Kalroth warned her. "They hurt more going out than they do going in, you know." As though to demonstrate this, the Ssri'Kai pulled it's hook out of Cassie's body. I have not often seen that much blood come out of a single creature. I think there was some sort of organ in the Apostate's hand. She collapsed. Hopefully, she was only unconscious. Two of us down in less than a minute. This was going very, very poorly.
I kept striking my Ssri'Kai with my tail. It tried unsuccessfully to keep me away with it's hooked claws. Though it had greater reach than I did, I was faster and could manage to deflect each claw and sink my blade into its flesh before it could attack me again. There were some quills in my tail, and I was beginning to feel the pain of the poison in the tip of my tail, but there was not yet enough in my system to be a real danger. Again and again I felt my blade sink deep inside of its body but it didn't seem to care!
"You are wasting your time, Aristh Alloran," Guraff's voice said. "Beneath their flesh is a gel, which contains their organs. Puncturing their flesh causes the organs to shift. They are beyond your reach. It is possible that the Ssri'Kai will eventually fall unconscious due to blood loss, but as you can see, they bleed little and I believe it will be able to fight long after you are too exhausted to continue."
His voice didn't have that tone of mockery as Kalroth's did. It was almost like he was trying to help... But no, Guraff would not do that. He was like...like a scientist showing off a new discovery. He wanted me to appreciate what he had done. I suppose that on some level I did. But mostly, I was just terrified.
It was not hopeless yet, though. I still had my Shredder. I had refrained from using it because I was quite close to the creature. Close enough that the flashback from the Shredder would harm me, too. And since it was considerably stronger than I was, I would have to shoot it on a high setting. And though the damage to me would only be about half as great as that which the Ssri'Kai suffered, it still might be enough to kill me. I would need some distance before I could shoot.
James was almost dancing, trying to avoid the Ssri'Kai's claws. ((Any ideas, Al?)) he asked. He might as well have been panting.
((Just this,)) I responded. Then I thumbed my Shredder to it's highest setting.
And aimed it at Kalroth. ((Halt your attack or this is the end of your Subvisser.))
Chapter 20
The Ssri'Kai continued attacking. And Kalroth laughed at us. "Foolish Andalite. I told you their devotion rivaled my own. My life and death are irrelevant, as are theirs. The only deaths that matter are yours. Such are our orders."
I fired. The beam of green light streaked towards Kalroth. But then it appeared to slow, and then it stopped and fizzled out. "Andalites; quick to invent, slow to learn," Kalroth said. "Pythagi force field. I understand you fell for the same trick when that traitor and heretic Mersa fled to the Pythagi."
"Enough of this, Kalroth," Guraff said sharply. "Battle is not something with which to be toyed." His hologram turned towards us. "Finish it, Apostates."
They struck faster than I could believe. Faster even than my tail. It was not the hooks or the feet; it was their heads. Both of them shot their heads forward, their necks propelling them faster than even I could react. I stared in disbelieving as the Ssri'Kai's arrow-shaped head pierced my chest. And then the pain hit. I screamed; not a warrior's cry of agony. This was a scream of pain and terror.
And then I screamed more when If felt it. The Ssri'Kai's teeth on my upper heart. A moment later, the Apostate pulled it's head out of my chest, a bit of my heart still in it's teeth. I dropped to my knees and then fell on the ground, trying uselessly to hold my chest closed. It..it ate my heart!
If Andalites did not possess two hearts, I would have already been dead. I could survive on my lower heart if need be, and morphing would restore my upper one. However, I had at best a few minutes before my body shut down due to massive blood loss. Enough time to demorph. But the Ssri'Kai would never allow that.
My vision was fading. I could see that James was in a similar predicament. He was just slightly luckier. He had already been moving when the Ssri'Kai struck, so its head had pierced his shoulder instead of his chest. He stood in front of Cassie on three legs, still trying to fight. It was a futile gesture. The Ssri'Kai struck with its head again. This time, though it did not pierce him. It simply swung its head like a battleaxe, chopping his remaining foreleg out from under him. James fell forward, completely defenseless.
The Ssri'Kai I had been fighting turned towards David, who was now stumbling and disoriented. I doubted he even knew what was going on. The Apostate reached forwards with one leg, it's suction-cup foot attaching itself to David. It pulled my shorm closer, then threw him to the ground. I hadn't realized how powerful those legs were. The Ssri'Kai hooked a claw into David's collar bone and then pulled. I heard a sickening noise as his shoulder completely separated from the rest of his body.
I tried to shoot, but I couldn't feel my arm. I wasn't even sure where it was. All my world was darkness and pain. And then I heard a voice in my head. A familiar one; one I had grown to love. It spoke only one word. ((Demorph.))
Then I heard Guraff's voice. "He has come. Apostates, show the Devil Prince your training."
I opened one stalk eye and turned it. Prince Tobias was standing in the doorway, in Howler morph. He was still wearing the same clothing he had been wearing earlier. Black jeans, black shirt, and trench coat. His sunglasses were gone, as were any weapons he might have been carrying. It was a good thing Prince Tobias was already near Howler size when he was not morphed.
"New toys, Guraff?" Prince Tobias questioned. "I didn't think you were one for games."
"They are Esplin's toys," Guraff answered. "However, I cannot deny their effectiveness. They defeated your soldiers in less than two minutes." There was a challenge in his voice. One that I knew Prince Tobias would accept.
"Then I suppose I'll have to kill both of them in one."
All the while, I struggled to demorph. To focus on some image long enough to become it. But I couldn't. Too many visions flashed through my mind. Various morphs. Friends from school. Kristina. My father, the few times I saw him. My mother, and my other family members. The automatons who raised and taught me. Craig Ferguson. Too many. I could not concentrate on any one thing.
Darkness was coming. There was nothing left to hold on to. Soon, it would all be over. The pain would be gone. And though I would leave Prince Tobias, Prince Aximili, my mother, and Rachel, I would have my father. I could finally get to know the man who was a hero to so many. Maybe it would not be so bad. Maybe...
I was rudely shaken back to my senses by a sound that was literally ear-splitting. Prince Tobias threw his head back and howled at the top of his lungs. I do not know if it could literally wake the dead, but it came very close. It woke me up, at least.
All of the glass in the room shattered. The hologram of Guraff disappeared as well. The howl must have shattered the lens. Kalroth fell to the ground, clutching his ears. The Ssri'Kai threw their heads back and screamed as well, but I believe it was a scream of pain. Then they struck.
One rushed towards Prince Tobias and thrust its head at him. Again, I could not see the head move. One moment, it was above the Ssri'Kai's body. The next instant, it was inside of Prince Tobias's chest. My Prince gave a shout of pain, but that was it. Then he struck back. The eyes of the Ssri'Kai were still exposed. That was enough for Prince Tobias.
He drove one steel claw into each eye. The Apostate's screams of pain were muffled by Prince Tobias's body. It twisted and writhed as Prince Tobias drove his claws in deeper and deeper until his fists were almost inside of the Apostate's head. The Ssri'Kai flailed at him with it's hooks, tearing chunks out of his chest and his arms, but those woulds healed very quickly. The result seemed inevitable. The Apostate twitched and convulsed for a few moments. And then it was silent.
Prince Tobias pulled its head out of his chest, dropping it to the ground. It's eyes were completely destroyed. And presumably, its brain was also obliterated. Prince Tobias stood there for a moment. He was bleeding badly but the wound in his chest was already healing up. The second Ssri'Kai was staring at him with what I believe was either shock or terror. It is impossible to read a Ssri'Kai face, but I cannot imagine any other emotion it could have been feeling.
All the while, we were demorphing; or, in my case, morphing. My vision was getting clearer, and a human heart was replacing the hole where my own used to be. James and Cassie were slowly resuming human shapes. David was shrinking, becoming his usual rat self.
The other Apostate made it's decision. It attacked Prince Tobias. It did not repeat the mistakes of the previous Ssri'Kai, though. It swung its head towards Prince Tobias's neck like a battleaxe, presumably planning to decapitate him. Prince Tobias linked his claws and caught the Ssri'Kai's head between them, holding it in place with both arms.
Then he started kicking it. Lightning fast kicks aimed at its body and neck. His legs soon began to pick up quills, but he did not seem to care too much. The Ssri'Kai hooked one claw behind his leg, dug the barbed hook into the muscle, and pulled. Half of Prince Tobias's thigh came off of his leg and he fell to the ground.
The Apostate stood over Prince Tobias, one claw and its head raised for what might have turned out to be a killing strike. I am not sure if a Howler can survive a simultaneous decapitation and having its heart torn out. And I was not in the mood to find out. I raised my Shredder and fired. There was a flash of green light. And then were was no Apostate.
Prince Tobias climbed to his feet, looking at the pile of ashes in front of him. That was all that remained of the Ssri'Kai. "Al," he said slowly, "isn't that cheating?"
Special thanks to John3Sobieski for his help in the creation of the Ssri'Kai.
