Rosalie's pov:
My eye's snapped open, the memories of the previous events flooding through my mind. My vision was blurry at first, but as I blinked the haziness away, I could see clearly.
One is awake I heard a voice say.
Wait a minute, thats thought-speech.
My head whipped toward the direction of the words. My eyes met one stalk eye of an Andalite.
How in the world did we end up here?
"The others…" I gasped quietly. I looked over, spotting the remaining animorphs.
I silently thanked the lord, they were ok.
You and your friends are a human, yes? The Andalite asked.
My eye's didn't move from the forms of my friends. "Yes."
You don't seem shocked at seeing another type of creature other than humans and the species on earth. He spoke.
I slowly looked up at him, narrowing my eyes. He looks old, but not too old. He is defiantly older than Ax. Perhaps the age close to the abomination Visser Three… His voice sounds stern, but not too stern. This is indicating that he is not a high ranking figure on this ship, but he still holds the Andalite arrogance.
You are suspicious of me, are you not? He asked. You are human of course. Humans are not like us Andalites.
"Where are we?" I asked plainly.
The sick bay of our ship. He answered.
"You are not high ranking, like the captain or perhaps the T.O." I said. "Not to mention you are in the sick bay, which means you are the doctor of the ship. Am I correct?"
His eyes widened slightly. How did you—
"It, doesn't matter how I figured it out." I said, my voice dripping of boredom. All I wanted to do was complete the mission we had at hand before.
Well I am Doctor Coaldin-Ashul-Tahaylik. He said.
He walked over to my friends, examining them. Next to me on my left, happened to me Marco, then Rachel, then Jake, then Cassie. The doctor leaned over Marco.
I saw Marco move slightly. He is waking up… This can't be good.
I stood up, shakily, walking over next to the doctor.
Marco's eyes fluttered open. The next second he tensed, looking horrified, probably about to scream.
"Its not Visser Three." I said softly.
Why do you humans not have tails? The doctor asked
He then seemed like he was listening to something.
"Thought-speech?" I asked.
He looked reluctant to say yes, but that didn't matter. I already knew the answer. I am being called by the captain. It seems as though the Andalite that was with you is awake.
I nodded slightly. Ax would be basically interrogated.
The doctor turned and walked out of the sick bay. The doctor already must have informed the captain of the situation.
As soon as the doctor left. Marco grabbed me by my shoulders, pulling me into a hug. I tensed, my eye's widening.
"He literally scared the living day lights out of me." Marco said. I slowly relaxed and hugged back awkwardly.
"I could tell."
Aximili's pov:
I am Aristh Aximili-Esgarrouth-Isthill, I said.
Prince Elfangor's brother? One of the Andalites blurted.
Yes. I am Elfangor's little brother. I sighed a little at that. I know its ridiculous, but as much as I loved and admired Elfangor, it did get annoying always being called "Elfangor's little brother."
They were three Andalite warriors. You could tell they were warriors by the way they carried themselves By the way they managed to look totally straight and stiff, and yet had just a little bit of a casual slouch in their hind legs.
That, plus the fact that each had a military issue Shredder weapon and extra cells slung on a bandolier.
I am Samilin-Corrath-Gahar, captain of this ship, The oldest of them said. My tactical officer Hareli-Frodlin-Sirinial, and our ship's physician, Doctor Coaldwin-Ashul-Tahaylik. Now what in kaolin are you doing drifting around Zero-space with five aliens?
Did you save them? Are they safe? The aliens I mean?
Doctor Coaldwin answered. Yes, they are quite well. But what unusual physiology! Five of them are clearly bipedal, but lack any sort of tail. They walk on two legs and manage to do so with out any balance of a tail, a female was able to demonstrate as she calmed another. Quite fascinating. The female also seemed to have high intelligence for a human, not to mention the remaining alien—
The female that was described must have been Rosalie. She would have the information requiring Andalites… She would not appreciate that comment about having a high intelligence of a human though. I thought to myself.
Yes, thank you, Doctor, Captain Samilin interrupted. The question for the aristh is what was he doing in Zero-space in the company of these… these fascinating aliens.
I climed to my feet. I felt shaky, but I couldn't just lie there. Captain, I was in morph. In a very small morph. Then I heard a popping sound and suddenly I was in Z-space.
What? You are the extrude mass from a low-mass morph? It's impossible! The doctor cried, his eyes bright with excitement. I mean, it's not impossible, perhaps, but it's never happened. This will annihilate every existing theory of morph mass displacement. This will be a scientific breakthrough of —
Yes, no doubt. The captain interrupted again, sounding more testy. But as fascinating as it is scientifically, I have a bigger question. We know how you came to be floating in Zero-space, Aristh Aximili, but how did these aliens arrive here, since only Andalites possess the morphing power?
Even though the captain's tone was very accusatory, I had this sudden urge ti start laughing. it was sheer relief. First, because my friends were well. But also because I was back among Andalites.
Answer the captains question! The tactical officer roared, speaking up for the first time, As the number two officer, tactical officers are the ship disciplinarians.
Sorry sir, I said. Its just that I haven't seen fellow Andalite in a very long time. And I thought I might never… That i might be stuck on Earth for the rest of my life.
The T.O's fierce expression softened. But not too much.
The captain nodded and said, Just give me your report, Aristh."; But he said it nicely.
Yes, Captain. I have been marooned on Earth for approximately point seven standard Andalite years. I believe I am the only survivor following a battle between the Dome ship where I served and a Yeerk Pool ship. The Pool ship was assisted by a concealed Blade ship belonging to Visser Three.
The T.O. made a sneering, disgusted sound.
The Dome was separated prior to battle and ... I was in the dome. It wasn't by choice. I was ordered to the dome. I felt foolish defending my actions. But I didn't want it to look like I was some kind of coward.
Anyway, the dome fell from orbit and crashed in one of Earth's oceans. I was down there underwater for several Earth weeks, until the humans came to rescue me. The same humans who are now in sick bay? the doctor asked.
Yes. I lied. Rosalie did not rescue me like the others, but they could not know what and who she really is. I do not wish harm to come to her.
They used some human diving craft? The T.O asked.
No. They morphed into aquatic animals and rescued me.
The captain showed no expression, except ta wary tightening around his main eye's. They morphed. And where exactly did they acquire the ability to morph?
This was going to be hard. Some time ago I had managed to make contact with the Andalite command. They had basically told me to take the blame forgiving humans morphing ability. They didn't want to blacken Elfangor's reputation as ahero. Giving away morphing technology is a major crime.
I did, sir. I gave them morphing capability.
The captain just looked at me. I see. You are not a good liar, Aristh Aximili.
My hearts skipped a few beats. Sir?
The T.O. sighed. You young fool, if you gave the morphing power to the humans, how did they manage to already be in morph the first time you saw them? Obviously, they were already capable of morphing by the time they discovered you.
What could I say? I hadn't exactly had time to prepare a good story. I was supposed to be a mosquito a few billion miles away. Now I looked like a liar and an idiot. I said nothing, just tried to stand at attention.
Doctor, thank you The captain said, dismissing the doctor. Perhaps you'd like to go check on your "humans." And see if you can't analyze this Zero-space problem young Aximili has discovered.
The doctor left.
Rosalie's pov:
By this time, everyone else has come to. We sat near each other trying to wrap our heads around this situation.
"Rose, what happened when you woke up?" Jake asked me.
"I was confronted by the doctor on this ship." I said, as I stretched my arms out.
"What did he say?" Cassie asked. "Anything that involved morphing?"
"No, he just asked why I wasn't suspicious of him and why humans don't have tail." I said. "That was also around the time when Marco woke up."
"Marco and his beauty sleep" Rachel joked, rolling her eyes.
"Hey I was up before you guys." Marco shot back, smiling.
"Suuuure. You were also the first one to hug Rose." Rachel teased. Marco visibly paled. Everyone seemed to get a kick out of that.
Marco turned his head to the side, avoiding eye contact with me.
"Anyway, the doctor left to have a word with the captain and Ax." I said, trying to get back on the topic.
Rachel and Cassie chuckled at the sudden change of topic. I sent a small glare their way.
"How do you know he went to talk to Ax?" Jake asked.
"Ax isn't here and they would want to know why five humans and a red tailed hawk were floating in Zero-space with him." I answered.
That makes sense. I mean it seems only natural that they would want answers. Tobias said, speaking up. Suddenly I hear footsteps, or rather hooves walking toward the sick bay.
All of our attention was diverted to the door. The door opened revealing Ax.
