My first battle scene. Tell me what you think. Review!

The countdown has begun. Two more chapters until the end.

Chapter 10

((Are you sure he said it was in the construction site?))

((He said, "It all starts in the construction site." I'm assuming that's what he meant.))

((You sure?))

((Yes.))

((But are you sure? You weren't hearing things?))

((I'm not crazy.))

((Oh man, we're doomed.)) There was a pause.

((Are you sure?))

((YES!)) I answered for the billionth time.

We were in owl morph heading towards the construction site. Yes, of all places, the construction site. There was some sick irony in that.

When we got there, I nearly screamed in frustration and cried in relief. A dozen hork-bajir made a big circle around the Visser. Two other hork-bajir were closer and guarding him. There were two Taxxons a few feet away and another in a huge tunnel about five feet in diameter. I'm guessing they were digging up the Time Matrix. Six humans were spread out. Each one had a dracon beam and their eyes in the skies. Looking for us, no doubt. And in the center next to the Visser were my parents. Both of them. Alive.

It was all I could do not to call out to them and tell them I was fine. It was all the others could do not to turn around screaming.

((That's a lot of hork-bajir,)) Cassie said shakily.

((Come on we've faced worst odds,)) Rachel answered with forced enthusiasm. At least I think it was forced.

((Jake, if you die, which you probably will, and I live, which I probably won't, can I have your stuff?)) Guess what genius said that.

((Alright,)) started Jake, ((you know what do right, Erek?))

There was a shimmering from below that I took as a 'yes'.

((Okay, wait for the signal.))

We landed behind one of the abandoned buildings and demorphed. I leaned against the wall to keep from falling over.

"You okay?" Jake asked giving me a worried glance. I nodded. "How many times how you morphed today?" Fly. Human. Eel. Human. Dolphin. Human. Roach. Human. Owl. Human. Owl. Human. All in a time period of about two hours.

"A lot," I answered simply.

"How may times?" Rachel repeated. "Be specific."

"It won't matter if Visser Three gets the Time Matrix," I snapped. "It's not like if he'll stop what he's doing to let me sleep."

"Someone's cranky," Marco muttered. Cassie shot him a look.

"Alright. Let's morph," Jake said.

I concentrated. For a scary second nothing happened, but then a tail shot out of my butt and Marco made a disgusted look. I shrank and fur covered my body. A set of ears appeared from the top of my head. I fell on all fours. Next to me Rachel grew in height and green scales appeared on Marco's skin as he shrank. Stripes appeared on Jake's fur and Cassie's face bulged out. Ax didn't change. He caused enough damage on his own.

((Okay, you ready?)) Jake asked.

((Yes.))

((Yeah.))

((Nope.))

((I am ready, my Prince.))

Jake looked at me. ((What? I've been ready all night.)) If I could have, I would have smirked. ((Let's do it.))

((No!)) Rachel yelled. ((You can't steal my line!))

((Somehow, it sounds scarier when you say it, my dear Toby.))

((Don't call me that.))

"Visser! They found it!"

((Get it out!))

((Alright, alright. We have business to do.)) Oh yes we did. ((Erek, this is the signal.))

((Really, Jake? 'This is the signal'? How original,)) Cassie teased. As soon as she said that there was a loud tiger roar that could make the Cyclops pee his pants. I almost did the first time I heard it more than a year ago.

I heard various "Andalites!" and some "Get them!" followed by a few "Tseews!"

((I hope Erek is okay,)) Cassie said.

((Chee are indestructible.))

((Go! Go! Go!)) Jake yelled.

We ran towards were the Yeerks were. A woman turned around and screamed. She pointed her dracon beam at me and fired. I dodged. "Turn around! Turn around!" Too late! We were on them in seconds. More then half of the hork-bajir and all humans but the woman and my parents had run after the distraction, the "tiger".

((Fools! Come back! Get the bandits!))

I pounced on the woman. She screamed and dropped the weapon. I grabbed in it my mouth and ran.

((AX!)) I yelled. ((Catch!)) He didn't. He was close enough that he could grab it with his tail.

((Marco, where are you!?)) Jake screamed.

((Help!)) He yelled. I turned. Two hork-bajir were stomping frantically. A huge white sphere was a few meters away from them. I assumed it was the Time Matrix Marco was ordered to reach. I jumped on them. Suddenly they were more worried about me than the worm-like creature in the ground.

((Thanks.))

((Just get to the Time Matrix!)) I shouted. One hork-bajir raised his arm to attack. I jumped back just in time for the other hork-bajir to kick me. I screamed as I flew back and crashed into the wall of a nearby building. The Time Matrix was just a few feet away. I had to reach it.

((Tobias!)) I tried to stand up but staggered. I fell. Blood poured out of my stomach. ((Tobias!))

((No!))

I saw the Visser running towards the Matrix. I tried to get to it first. I failed and fell. I cried out in pain.

The hork-bajir ran towards me to deliver his final blow. A tiger stopped him and I was rewarded to the sight of Jake ripping apart his throat.

((Demorph!)) he yelled.

((They'll see me,)) I muttered sleepy.

((It doesn't matter. They already know who you are. Demorph!)) I obeyed. Slowly, human features started to appear.

((Marco! Get the Visser!))

TSEEW! TSEEW!

((I'm going! I'm going!))

I fell on my knees. I gasped. "I can't morph again. I can't." Somebody shot at me. It was a sloppy shot. I rolled out of the way. Jake jumped on the person and swatted the dracon from their hands. I caught it.

((Watch out!)) I turned and shot the hork-bajir about to jump on Jake.

((The Time Matrix! Guard it fools!)) I turned to look at the Visser. He ran towards the recently-dug machine. Ax was on the ground with a deep gash on his side. I fired at the Visser. He turned. He saw me. His stalk eyes narrowed. ((You! Get the child!)) But it was at that moment that Marco decided to make his move. He wrapped himself around the Visser's legs and opened his mouth. Venom was dripping from his fangs. ((STOP!)) Everybody froze. I smirked.

"What was that Visser? Do you still want to get me? Go ahead. Order them to fry me. Let's see if you can survive a cobra bite. You're fast, but my friend is faster. You won't last long." I kept my dracon aimed at him.

((You're lying.)) But I could tell he was uncertain.

"Am I? Why don't you ask the human Controllers? Ask them." There was silence. I could see the dread in the Visser's eyes as he realized the truth.

((Tell him to order everyone to drop their weapons,)) Jake whispered.

"Tell them to drop their weapons," I ordered. He didn't comply. "Tell them!"

((Drop your weapons.)) They were instantly dropped. He turned to me. ((You can't win. You're surrounded. You won't get out of here alive. I'll make sure at least you don't.)) I considered it.

"Maybe not. Now, release my parents. Order the Yeerks out."

((Don't push it, you moron!)) I ignored Marco. This was my chance.

((No,)) he answered simply.

"Do you want to die?"

((Do you?)) No. I didn't.

"A life for a life. A bandit for a Visser. Go for it."

((No!)) Rachel shouted. ((Stop it, Tobias!))

((Tobias, stop. That's an order. This is your life you're bargaining.))

I ignored them. He wouldn't do it. He wouldn't sacrifice himself. And besides, I hadn't come all this way to leave without my parents. I wouldn't. I couldn't. I could see the Time Matrix a couple of feet from the Visser. A couple of feet from me. If one of us tried to do anything, the other would jump.

I guess he told the Yeerks what would happen if they didn't obey, because the next thing I knew two Yeerks were crawling out of my parent's ears. They immediately ran over to me.

"Tobias, move!" A Taxxon appeared out of nowhere. It was rushing at me full speed! I shot. It exploded.

Everything else happened in an instant. The Visser's tail shot down fast and Marco screamed.

"NO!"

((MARCO!))

The Visser made a run for the Time Matrix. I shot his legs and ran. I missed, but it slowed him down enough.

((You control it with your thoughts. Tell it where to go, but concentrate! One wrong thought and you're doomed,)) my dad told me in private thought speak.

I reached the Matrix before he did. He reached something else.

"TOBIAS, STOP!" my dad screamed. I turned around. I really shouldn't have.

((You leave and she dies.)) Visser Three said coolly. He had his blade at my mom's throat. Her eyes were wide and the color drained from her face.

"No," I whispered.

"Don't do it, Tobias! He'll kill her!" My dad was screaming. I could tell he was crying. I didn't look at him.

((Tobias…))

He couldn't have the machine. He couldn't. I looked at my mom. "I'm sorry."

She nodded and smiled. She mouthed 'I love you'.

"NO! YOU CAN'T! NOOO!"

((I am serious child. If you move, she dies.))

But I'd already made the choice. I slammed my hand on the Time Matrix and concentrated. My dad's screams were the last thing I heard before I disappeared.

Huh. Talk about family bonding. Six reviews for the next chapter. Don't you want to know if Loren died or not?