The Liberation Chronicles

by L'Angel

The continuation to The After-Earth Chronicles. The Animorphs must try and liberate Earth.

2. Part Two: The Assignment

The Liberation Chronicles #2: The Assignment

For "J." CYHKL

DISCLAIMER: Animorphs and all related stuff belongs to Scholastic and K.A. Applegate. (Duh.)

AUTHOR'S NOTE: Just a short one, I promise!

1. The "Andalite myth" in chapter four is actually a Jewish myth, I believe. I vaguely remember reading it in a Reader's Digest story once, and I borrowed it for this.
2. Thanks to Kat and Tobiasrulz for reading this piece by piece, and especially to Kat for listening to me ramble it out in a loooooong conversation one night that finally made me get my ideas for the entire series in order. J

And thank you to all of you for reading. Enjoy. ^i^

Prologue

The Yeerk Homeworld . . .

The Hork-Bajir by the door stood silently, watching for any sign of danger, and pretended not to hear the conversation being held within ten feet of him. He was not even a sub-visser; it was not his place to overhear conversations of this sort. The Yeerk he guarded was far too important – though he was officially one of the twelve lower members of the Council of Thirteen, he was regarded as Supreme Counselor Esplin 9466's closest confidant and advisor, and therefore unofficially the second most powerful Yeerk in the Empire. No, the Yeerk in the Hork-Bajir's head decided. It was not his place to hear this conversation, much less pass judgment.

"He is mad," the Yeerk said quietly to the faceless voicing coming from the speaker on the computer console. The conversing Yeerks both held human hosts: the Counselor's, an older man; the other had the voice of a young woman. "I never advocated for peace the way you did, Visser Forty-one, but this . . ." He shook his head. "What the Supreme Counselor speaks of is pure lunacy."

"He has been a lunatic since his days on Earth," replied the woman.

"Yes, but there was a kind of insane vision to him then. Now he has succeeded in fulfilling his dreams of grandeur, and is consumed by the need for war and killing. We have no need of more hosts – with the humans conquered, we have more than enough."

"Yes," she said bitterly. "More than enough slaves."

"You're much too sentimental," he chided. "I do not join your movement for moral reasons. I join because the Supreme Counselor must be stopped before he destroys us all, and your group will never succeed without my aide."

"If we win, will you consider my proposal?"

"Ah, yes," he said with unconcealed skepticism. "Speaking of lunacy . . ."

"It is not lunacy!" she insisted. "We could free the hosts and still have our eyes! And more!"

He looked at her, half in pity, half in near-contempt. "That compassionate side of you is the reason you have not been promoted higher. Does your host not scream?"

"No," she said flatly. "Because she knows that one day when I am able, I shall set her free."

"Why not now? You could go back to the Pool permanently."

"And leave her to someone like the Supreme Counselor? No. There are no free humans on Earth. She would be found out and killed or reinfested. And I can do no good in the Pool."

"You are a sentimental fool, Visser. But your movement may save the entire Yeerk species from utter destruction. For that, I shall help you."

"We thank you for your help, Counselor Iniss 226," she said stiffly.

"I am not looking for gratitude."

"Good," she said coolly. "May the Kandrona shine and strengthen you."

"May the Kandrona shine and strengthen you." The Counselor switched off the speaker and stood for a moment, watching the barren landscape outside his window. His host was silent. He had had this body for so many years, since long before the fall of Earth. The Yeerk wondered if it even still knew how to think for itself.

He was so absorbed in his thoughts that he did not notice the sound of a heavy body dropping to the floor. Too late, he spun to meet the face of Supreme Counselor Esplin 9466.

Greetings, Iniss, he said coldly.

"Supreme Counselor Esplin 9466," the lesser Yeerk returned with a deferential bow. As he straightened, he suddenly wondered why the Hork-Bajir guard had not announced the Supreme Counselor's arrival. He jerked in shock when he saw the head of the guard lying several feet away from the body, dark Hork-Bajir blood pooling around it. "What is this?" he demanded, a hard edge to his voice.

I overheard your conversation, friend. I am disappointed that one as trusted and highly-ranked as you could stoop to treason.

"I work for the good of the Yeerk Empire! It is not treason!" Iniss gasped.

Oh, but it is . . . or would be if there was a Council left before which you could be tried.

"Excuse me?" he asked, fear making his stomach turn as he suddenly saw just how mad the Supreme Counselor's eyes were.

Yes, you see, the other eleven members have met . . . untimely ends.

"You assassinated them?!" Iniss nearly shrieked in terror. He is beyond mad! he thought in horror. Regicide was not unheard of in the history of the Yeerk Empire, but for one Council member to assassinate another was absolutely unthinkable.

Such a harsh term, Esplin commented, almost conversationally. They lacked my vision, Iniss. For old times sake, I was going to let you live . . . but now I see that you are no better than they.

Before Iniss 226 of the Sulp Niar pool could respond, the Supreme Counselor's tail snapped forward and severed his head from his shoulders. Almost daintily, the Supreme Counselor stepped past the still-twitching body and picked up the head of the human-Controller who was once called Chapman. He stared into his vacant eyes for a long moment before flinging it away in disgust.

He reached the computer console and pressed the code that allowed his thought speak to be translated into the series of clicks that was the Yeerks' natural language, and be broadcast into all the home Pools, while also being heard at every major base on the home world. Yeerks, this is your Supreme Counselor, Esplin 9466 speaking. The Council of Thirteen is no more. I am the sole ruler of the Yeerk Empire now. Let the Andalites know that they will be shown mercy no longer! And let those among us who dare to go against me know that they shall no longer be tolerated. With me as your emperor, we shall rise to the highest station in the galaxy, and even the Andalites will grovel at our feet!

The self-proclaimed Yeerk Emperor turned away. At last he would have the power he so craved, almost more than Kandrona rays.

And he would have revenge as well. Revenge on those who had caused him such humiliation:

That Andalite brat, the brother of Beast Elfangor. And the humans called Animorphs . . .

Chapter One – Aximili

The water that gives birth to us welcomes us once more in the end, I intoned quietly. I held my hands out over the quiet stream and allowed the black, chalky ashes to fall from my fingers into the water. Tobias watched silently.

"From the water we come and to the water we return," he said quietly, and sprinkled a handful of rich, moist dirt and blue-green shreds of grass into the same water that now carried my mother's ashes to the sea.

We return Forlay-Esgarrouth-Maheen to the sea, the womb of existence, I said, finishing the ritual.

"May she rest in peace," Tobias said, adding a human touch to the Andalite ritual.

He and I watched the water for several minutes, silently, though the ashes and grass were long since washed away. Finally, I stepped carefully through my family's memorial glade, a shaded area filled with large trees, ages old. I crossed onto the grass of my home and blinked away the shock of light after the shadows of the glade. Tobias and I began the lengthy walk back to my scoop. I could have covered the distance quickly, running, but Tobias was slower, and I wished to speak to him, my shorm and nephew.

I know the others would have liked to come, I said.

"Yes," he agreed. "But they understood."

Perhaps they could have come. My mother may even have wanted it so, I said with some regret. But tradition calls for only blood relatives at the spreading of the ashes.

"I know, Ax," he said. "It's okay."

Why did Sara not come? I asked. Sara was Tobias's daughter, my mother's great-granddaughter, and could have attended the ritual.

"Rachel felt she was too young," he replied.

Yes, that was probably wise.

We walked in silence for a few more moments, as I regarded the property that was now, by hereditary rights, mine. It was the same as always, a comforting fact on a day that had spelled the end of a large part of my life.

Tobias and I reached the top of a hill and I glimpsed the scoop below. I saw a two human figures with blonde hair sitting outside, the smaller one nestled into the larger one's lap: Rachel, Tobias's wife, and their daughter, Sara. I saw Tobias's eyes light up at the sight, and felt my own hearts wrench. I do not think I will return to the scoop just yet, I said, attempting to keep the emotion out of my voice. A twinge of jealousy made my stomach turn. I was jealous that Tobias had someone with whom he could weep, and I did not. I had no one with whom to share my grief as only a wife and lover is capable of doing. And though I would never, in a thousand years, deny my shorm the happiness he derives from his marriage, this day I did not wish to see him and Rachel taking comfort in each other.

My efforts to hide the strain did not fool Tobias. "Ax-man, you okay?" he asked, using the name he had often called me when we were younger and living on Earth. He had not used it in years.

Yes, I said, though he knew I was lying. I think I shall visit my Garibah. My Guide Tree. For the first time in my life, I wondered if communicating with the ancient tree would ease my pain. I doubted it, because at the moment, I did not mourn only for my mother, but for my whole childhood and everyone who had made it happy. My brother and father and mother were all gone, and I was alone and almost sick from the grief.

Tobias nodded understandingly. As I turned, one of my stalk eyes saw Rachel spy Tobias standing on the hill, and she smiled. It was not the smile I usually saw on her face – the ruthless, nearly cruel expression she wore into battle. This was the smile of the person I had come to regard as the real Rachel – genuine, joyful, even gentle, tempered now by sympathy and her own sadness at the death of my mother. A vast change from the Rachel who held the position of Tactical Officer on my Dome ship, the Noorlin.

I ran to my Guide Tree, running as hard and as fast as I ever had, as if I could leave the whole morning behind and forget that I had just said good-bye to my mother for the final time. I cleared the babbling, quiet stream without breaking my stride, and crossed the grass to the stand of ancient trees on the far side of our . . . my property. I finally slowed, and then stopped, gasping for air, greedily sucking oxygen through my nose. I stumbled, exhausted, to my Garibah and grabbed it in my hands, leaning my forehead against it. Bella Donia, I murmured. It did not speak my name back, of course, but it felt my presence and my pain.

My mother is gone, I whispered. My father. Elfangor. Everyone is gone.

But Bella Donia had no concept of a mother, a father, a brother. She knew I was hurting, but her comforting essence and warmth through my fingertips did not soothe me as it always had. With a sigh, and a melancholy gaze at the ancient tree, I stepped away.

And found myself facing Salia.

Chapter Two – Aximili

I started, jumping back slightly.

I'm sorry, she said softly, also looking a little startled. I did not mean to disturb you. But I saw you . . . you looked so sad. I – I should not have interrupted –

No, I said quietly. It is fine. I'm afraid I am not drawing much comfort from my Guide Tree today.

Though they are wise in many ways, there are things trees cannot begin to understand, she said gently.

Yes, I agreed. She stepped closer and took my hand.

I remember once, when we were very small, we were playing, right there, she said, focusing all four of her eyes on an area not far away. Your brother had just left to return to the army, and I was chasing you . . . Suddenly you stopped and walked over to a tree – not your Garibah, a different one, I don't remember which. And you swung your tail and hit the tree, like you had seen Elfangor do, a thousand times. Then you looked at me and said, "I will be great warrior someday. Just like Elfangor."

And you laughed at me, I said, finishing the memory.

Yes, I did, she said, smiling. I could not see you as a great warrior. You were just Aximili . . . my shorm.

I smiled faintly. And now, she said, a touch of awe, or even pride in her voice. You are a great warrior. Just as you said you would be.

I said nothing. She moved closer and I closed my eyes. I sensed rather than saw her hand come up to stroke my face, and pulled away before she could touch me.

I'm sorry, Salia said after an awkward silence. She released my hand. I thought –

No apology is required, I said stiffly. She looked embarrassed and I suddenly felt like a fool. For all my military experience, in the ways of females I might as well have been a child. During the time when I normally would have been becoming more interested in them, I had been among humans. After I returned, I was older and thrown immediately into duty as an Andalite warrior. I had had no time to marry, nor had I found a female I desired for my wife.

But why, I wondered with a jolt, had Salia never married?

Aximili, I am very sorry, she said, and I realized that I had been quiet for a long time. I should have been considerate enough to realize that such gestures would be inappropriate on this day – or any day, she added awkwardly.

No, I said. You were attempting to bring me comfort. There is no more appropriate gesture than that on a day such as this.

She smiled gratefully, though still embarrassed. I should not have been so forward. But I wanted you to know that I am here and that I share your sorrow. She took my hand once more and looked at me with large eyes that were more blue than green, a rarity I had not noticed before now. It was a beautiful color, I thought.

But then, Salia was beautiful. Even as a child, I remembered my mother remarking how lovely she was.

I had made a disgusted face. Salia is not beautiful, I protested, thinking of the tiny, mud-splattered female who, just that morning, had been scolded with me once again for tracking dirt into the scoop.

Oh, Aximili-kala, my mother replied, exchanging a knowing glance with Elfangor who stood nearby, laughing. Someday you shall look at her, and see her with different eyes. And then you shall know that she is beautiful.

Never, I had denied with a scowl.

And as I grew older, I saw other females with the different eyes my mother spoke of – but never Salia.

But now she looked stunning in the late morning light. Had my mother's prediction come true?

Aximili? she said, bringing me back to the present.

Sorry, I stuttered. I must go. Cassie will be returning shortly with her husband and a friend. I need to be at the scoop when they arrive.

Of course, Salia said quietly. I shall see you another time then.

Yes, I agreed.

When must you return to your ship?

I am to be sent for, I replied. I am not certain when.

Please be sure to come say good-bye to me before you leave, she said.

Yes, I said. I will most certainly come to bid you farewell.

Thank you. She paused. If you require anything, you need only to ask.

Thank you, I said, knowing she truly meant it.

Good-bye, Aximili.

Good-bye, Salia.

Chapter Three – Tobias

Jake and Marco arrived that night. It was great to have everyone together again, like it was in the old days. Of course, it would never be exactly as it was back on Earth – Sara, Julie, and Tom were reminders of that. But it was wonderful to see everyone together, and it was also very good for Ax. He'd never admit it, of course, or show any outward signs, but I knew that his mother's death had hurt him some place deep inside, some place the mourning rituals could not touch. Hopefully, having everyone together would help him get through it in one piece.

"How long are you home, Jake?" Rachel asked after dinner. We were sitting around on the floor of the scoop, the dirty dishes stacked in a corner. Ax, who had decided to morph to human to join us, had barely touched his food. I wasn't sure if the reason was my cooking or his lack of appetite.

And yes, I cooked all the meals. Rachel's one attempt had ended in charred cuftres with a side of overcooked carrot mush. Not at all appetizing.

"Well, I'm not sure. They said I was home until they sent for me," Jake said.

"That's funny. They told us the same thing," Rachel said.

"Hey, me too," Marco said.

"That is extremely odd," Ax remarked. "This is not their usual policy. I simply assumed that Rachel and I were given this leeway because of the circumstances surrounding our need for personal leave. But normally we are given a set length of time."

Jake shrugged. "Well, I'm not arguing. It's a bit of a hassle to not know when I'm going to be called back, but we'll deal with it," he said with a smile in Cassie's direction. She smiled back and tried to lean her head on his shoulder, but gave up because Julie was already in his lap and blocking the way.

"Marco," Cassie asked. "What's going on with you?"

"Well, a lot of stuff I can't really talk about," he said apologetically. "I'm really glad for this break. I've been working practically round the clock the last few weeks."

"Who are you reporting to?" Ax asked.

"Quirien-Gesher-Turrul. War Prince," Marco said with a grimace, raking a hand through his shoulder-length black hair. "He's brilliant, but a tyrant. I have yet to figure out when he sleeps."

"I have heard of Quirien. He is said to be somewhat strict," Ax said.

"Strict? I feel like I'm twelve years old when he talks to me. I don't know if it's that he's so smart he makes everyone else look stupid, or if he's just a pain in the butt, but whatever it is, he makes me crazy. On top of which, I don't think he likes having a human around."

"I get that sometimes," Rachel said sympathetically. "I think that's why they made me Ax's T.O. No one else wanted me."

"No," I corrected. "No one else knew what to do with you."

"Tobias is correct, Rachel," Ax said. "You are a human female with aggressive tendencies, something an Andalite male, especially one in the military, is not prepared to handle."

"Chauvinistic pigs," she muttered. Cassie smiled, while Ax sighed, obviously preparing to fight an old battle.

"We are not chauvinistic," he began.

"Yes, you are," Rachel insisted. "Half the time I give an order on that ship, some male looks at me like I'm something stuck on his shoe . . . or hoof, or whatever."

"Rachel, the truth is that I requested you," Ax said in a conciliatory tone. "I needed a Tactical Officer and you needed a promotion. We had worked together before. It was a logical decision."

Rachel sat back, looking slightly mollified. "Fine then. But don't tell me that part of it wasn't that I'm female. They never had to search that hard for a place for Jake."

"No," Ax allowed. "That is true."

The conversation hit a lull and I yawned, blinking tiredly at the thought of the stack of tests I had to grade. By this time, Julie and Sara had moved under the overhang, and were now slumped next to each other in the grass, struggling to hold their eyes open. Tom was sprawled across Cassie's lap, sound asleep.

"Honey, we need to go," Cassie said to Jake, nodding toward the girls.

"Yeah," Jake agreed. He went over and shook Julie awake. "C'mon, sweetie," he said. "Time to go home." He picked her up and said, "See you guys later."

"Yeah," Rachel said. "Bye." They left. After a few moments of silence, I heard Rachel sigh. "I need to talk to you two," she said quietly.

Ax put down the plate he'd been washing, and I looked up from the exam I'd been reading. "Okay," I said, recognizing my wife's deadly serious tone. Ax obviously heard it too, because he demorphed quickly. He likes to hear news, good or bad, in his natural form. It's easier on him. He says humans have too many weird chemical reactions to emotions.

Rachel sat next to Sara, who had given up trying to stay awake and was just sacked out. She took a blanket and spread it over her daughter, then gently ran a hand over her blonde head, pulling a few stray wisps out of Sara's face. Ax and I watched silently.

Finally, she looked up. "I'm not going back to the Noorlin," she announced.

What? Ax's thought-speak voice said as my own shocked voice echoed, "What?"

"I'm not going back. I'm putting in for a change of assignment tomorrow."

"Why?" I asked.

"Because I'm missing my daughter's childhood. I'm a mother. I should be working ten minutes away, not ten light years."

Rachel, Ax said, sounding as shocked as I felt. I ask you to think about this very carefully. You are a very gifted warrior. Are you certain you want to leave?

"Oh, I'll never give up the fight," she said "But I can work out of SD3 and still come home every day." She smoothed the wrinkles out of the blanket covering Sara and said, almost to herself, "I'm her mother. I belong here."

Yes . . . Ax said, slowly, and in an odd tone, but my mind was reeling too much for me to think about it.

My wife was going to be home. Every day. No more worrying about her, no more wondering if she was all right. I suddenly grinned. "You're really not leaving?"

"Not if I can help it."

I grabbed her and swung her around in a circle. She yelped in surprise, while Ax jumped back, rolling his stalk eyes at us. I finally set her down and kissed her, a long wet one that made Ax sigh and turn away.

When I let her go, Rachel turned to face Ax. "The one thing I'm sorry about is not being able to work with you anymore, Ax. I really have enjoyed it."

As have I. It is highly unlikely that my next T.O. will be as talented as you are.

She smiled and I slipped my arm around her waist. "Should we tell Sara?" she asked, looking at our sleeping daughter.

"Sure – " I said, but Ax interrupted me.

I would wait until you received confirmation of the change of assignment, he advised.

"Why?" I asked. "Don't you think they'll give it to her?"

Normally, yes. But there have been some odd changes in policy recently, as Prince Jake mentioned tonight. I cannot predict what they will do.

But Rachel just grinned at me, put her hand behind my head, and kissed me again.

Ax, sounding extremely embarrassed, said, I am going for a walk.

Chapter Four – Aximili

The next morning, Rachel sent her application for a change of assignment to Space Dock Three via the electronic mailing system – email, as my friends called it. Under 'Reason For Request,' Rachel had put, Family obligations. As her commanding officer, I had signed the request and added, Rachel was an exemplary Tactical Officer. I highly recommend a promotion.

She inserted the application into the slot that would send a copy directly to SD3. She paused, looked at Tobias and me, drew a deep breath, and hit the key. There was a soft beep, and the paper slid back out. "Done," she said with a nervous laugh. "Wasn't sure if I'd be able to do it or not."

"I'm glad you did," Tobias said quietly.

She hesitated for the briefest moment before saying, "Me too."

I smiled at her. I would be very sorry to see her leave; she had been an outstanding T.O. I also harbored serious doubts about whether this decision would make Rachel herself happy, but I knew it would make Tobias and Sara happy, and that would be enough for her.

I went for a walk again after that. Sara was in school and I knew Tobias and Rachel wished to be alone. I walked to the edge of my property that bordered Salia's, hoping to see her.

She was not there.

I sighed. I had wanted very badly to see her today. Since our last meeting, I had thought about her quite often, especially in conjunction with a conversation my mother and I had had just after my father passed away. It was the night after the memorial ritual, and my mother and I were standing outside the scoop, looking up at a sky that was filled with a million stars because there was only the smallest moon, with a tiny sliver of the next largest, out that night.

I miss him, I said after several minutes of silence.

I do as well, my mother replied. But at the same time, sometimes I feel as if he is here with me, watching over me. Protecting me.

I said nothing. According to Andalite beliefs, that notion was nonsense – there is no afterlife. But after spending so much time among humans, many of whom believe very firmly in some sort of afterlife, I was less inclined to dismiss such ideas. So I stayed quiet, and allowed my mother to voice her thoughts.

There is an old Andalite myth, she continued softly, in a voice that made me think she had nearly forgotten I was there. In it, there are these . . . beings. Guardians who live in a wonderful place that we all come from, and that we all return to after we die. It says that before we are born, just before, these guardians proclaim a yenalur, a chosen one, for each soul. This male for his female! they declare . . . And after that, we are born. We cannot remember who we are destined to be with, but the guardians see to it that we meet. And that we know.

I knew she was talking about her and my father. But I had asked, How do you know? How do you know that person is the one the guardians chose to be your yenalur?

You know, Aximili, the same way you know the sun will rise each morning, she said softly. Love is not the same for all people. Your father and I fell in love almost at first sight, so quickly that at times it actually hurt. But other times two people may know each other for years and not realize they are each other's yenalur until one day they look at each other and simply . . . see.

I looked up at the vast night sky and said, I do not know if I have someone ordained for me. I think I have been changed too much by my time on Earth. I am not as . . . as Andalite as I once was. It hurt me to admit that. It was not that I considered my human side inferior or thought that it somehow tainted my Andalite side, but I am proud of my heritage. Even though I respect humans, I somehow felt reduced.

But, Aximili-kala, that was part of your destiny. Your time among humans had to change you. That does not mean there is no one chosen for you. Quite the opposite, in fact. The female the guardians designated as your yenalur must be a very special person indeed, one willing to accept you as you are.

I nodded, a human motion that suddenly reminded me of how different I was from any other members of my own species. It is only a myth, I said, looking down and scuffing a tuft of grass with my front hoof.

Yes, my mother agreed slowly, almost reluctantly. It is only a myth.

My mother's words echoed in my head:

But other times two people may know each other for years and not realize they are each other's yenalur until one day they look at each other and simply . . . see.

Had Salia and I finally seen each other as my mother said?

I wished desperately that she was still alive to guide me in this. But she wasn't. I would have to work through it alone.

Aximili?

I jumped, startled. Salia! Hello . . . I'm sorry . . .

You were daydreaming, she said with a smile.

I . . .Yes, I admitted.

About what? she asked playfully, coming closer.

My mother, I said in a low voice.

Her bantering tone disappeared as she said, I'm sorry. I remember how difficult it was when my mother died. Memories were always surfacing at the most inopportune moments.

Yes, I agreed distractedly.

She studied me intensely for a moment, until I nearly squirmed under her scrutiny. There is something else as well, though, isn't there?

I closed my main eyes and felt the back of my neck break out in a cold sweat. I wanted to tell her how I felt. I did not know when I would be called back, I wanted to take this moment to tell her . . .

But what if she did not feel the same?

Aximili? she asked, sounding concerned.

I . . . I have to tell you something, Salia.

Yes?

I . . . I am very sorry if I do this awkwardly. I have never done this before.

Done what? You are beginning to frighten me.

Frighten her? That was the last thing I wanted. I never wanted to frighten her or hurt her, ever. And I wanted to make certain no one else did either.

Salia, I . . . why have you never married? I managed.

I could have sliced myself with my tailblade. I had lost my courage at the very last moment.

She looked surprised. Well . . . I don't know. I never found the right male, I suppose.

There was an awkward silence. Then she asked, Why? in a tone that made me almost think she was hoping for something.

Salia, I love you, I blurted out, not even looking at her as I said it.

There was a very long stretch of silence. Finally, I could no longer bear the weight of it, and looked into her eyes.

She looked shocked, as if someone had just informed her the sun was purple. I felt my hearts sink. She did not return my feelings.

But after the morning of the memorial ritual I had been almost certain . . . It must have been my imagination.

At least you know, I tried to tell myself. Salia, I am very sorry, I said, quickly turning away. Irrationally, I wanted to get away and find someplace to morph to human and cry, to experience the emotional release that comes with the physical pouring out of tears. It would not change anything, it would not make her love me, but it would make me feel better, I knew that much. I could not handle this rejection in addition to everything else.

No, Aximili – she began, but I could not let her finish. I did not want her pity.

I must leave, I said as evenly as possible.

I was waiting for you, she cried desperately, even as I began to run away.

What? I gasped, whirling around.

I love you, Aximili-Esgarrouth-Isthill. I have loved you for a long time, longer than you can possibly know. I never expected you to feel the same about me, but that is why I never married. I was waiting for you.

Why did you think I would not love you? I asked in amazement.

Because I was me and you were you. You are a great hero and I am a nobody.

Salia, you are anything but a nobody. You are beautiful and kind and strong. I love you, I said again, trying the syllables out in my head. Of course, it was not the first time I had told someone I loved them, but in this way, this new and extraordinary and utterly bizarre way . . .

She walked to where I stood, rooted to the ground, stunned. She reached up and stroked my face with her hand, a movement that sent a tingle all the way down my spine to the very tip of my tail. I put my arms around her waist and drew her to me.

Salia, I –

"AX!!!" I heard someone yell frantically. I released Salia quickly and turned.

Rachel was racing towards us across the fields. There was an element of desperation in her awkward human gait, something that made the movements even more comical. Beside me, Salia tried to hide a smile.

I did not laugh, though. There was a look of combined rage and grief on Rachel's face, contorted by her gasping breaths. When she reached us, she ignored Salia and shoved a paper at me. As I read it, she bent over and put her hands on her knees, pulling ragged breath after ragged breath into her oxygen-starved lungs.

It did not take me long to read the document, for there were only two words.

Request Denied.

Rachel, I am very sorry. I was afraid of this.

"How . . . did you know?" she gasped out. Rachel is in very good physical condition. She must have run full speed all the way from the scoop for her to have been so out of breath.

Salia, I said gently. I do not think it would be appropriate for you to hear this conversation. It may involve speculation about military strategy, and –

I understand, she said quickly. Since Rachel was still bent over, attempting to recover her wind, I stroked Salia's face for a brief moment, and she left, with a last glance over her shoulder at me.

Rachel, I think there is a reason your request was denied.

"A reason?" she repeated. "I don't really care about the reason, Ax. How could they do this? They never do this."

I believe the military has something in mind for us.

"Us?" she repeated, glaring at me.

Prince Jake, Marco, you, and I.

"What?"

I do not know for sure. I have my suspicions, as does Prince Jake, I assure you. Requests such as yours are not usually denied.

She sighed. "At least we didn't tell Sara," she remarked bitterly.

Yes, that is good.

She looked down at the paper in her hand. "And . . . as much as I want to be with my family, Ax, I think I belong in the field. I may have acted too rashly in sending this in."

I thought as much this morning. I am glad you have the opportunity to rethink it.

"But Tobias and Sara . . ." She trailed off and I saw tears in her eyes. Then she wiped them away and said, "It is not as if I have a choice, though, is it?"

We shall have to see what develops, I said.

She only nodded.

Chapter Five – Tobias

The next week was both one of the best and one of the hardest weeks I'd experienced since coming to live on the Andalite homeworld. I taught my classes during the day, took the Lift to Ax's scoop in the evening with Cassie, made dinner with Sara and Julie who liked to "help," and spent the evenings with my friends. At night, I went to sleep with my wife in my arms.

All of which was wonderful.

But it was as Cassie had once said: it could not last. In a few weeks, Jake, Marco, Ax, and Rachel would have to leave again. Marco would go back to the relative safety of the Research and Development Center at Space Dock One. But the others would have to return to their various Dome ships and face the Yeerks again.

It was a miracle we had all survived as long as we had when so many others had died. How much longer would that be true? Eventually, our luck was going to give.

And when it did, Marco's cynical prophecy from the very beginning, from before our first mission as Animorphs, would be fulfilled. We'd end up standing around, crying because one of us was dead.

It was these thoughts that were filling my head as I lay in bed one night, without Rachel who was taking a bath in the other room. It was one week to the day that she had received the letter denying her request for transfer. We hadn't really talked about it, but I knew she wasn't as upset as she seemed to be. She loved battle, craved the adrenaline rush of a good fight. And no matter how much she wanted to be with her daughter and me, that rush had a magnetic pull on her that just refused to let go.

Rachel finally came in, drying her long hair with one towel, while another one covered her thin, athletic frame. She let the towel wrapped around her body drop a few inches and smiled teasingly at me, but I just shook my head at her. She frowned and pouted.

"Sorry," I said.

She slipped her nightgown over her head and slid into bed next to me. "You're brooding again," she accused me gently.

"Yes," I admitted.

"Why?" she whined softly, even as her lips probed for the sensitive spot on my ear.

"Don't whine," I told her snappishly, pulling away from her attentions.

I could feel her glaring at me even though I had closed my eyes. "Fine," she grumbled, laying down and facing the other direction. "Gee, seeing as I'm only home once in awhile, I thought you'd at least want to cuddle."

I sighed. "I'm sorry," I said, truly regretfully. "I'm tired."

"At least you don't have a headache," she replied cuttingly.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Needless to say, things were somewhat frosty between my beloved and I the next morning. I had the day off, unfortunately, so there wasn't much of an opportunity for us to calm down either. Jake picked Sara up to walk her to school with Julie and Tom, and gave Rachel and I an odd look when he saw us standing silently on opposite sides of the room. I had the feeling the last few days had been like a second honeymoon for him and Cassie, but their relationship has always been easier than mine and Rachel's. A hawk and a girl tend to have complications.

By mid-morning, Ax was taking yet another walk, this time to get away from our bickering. Poor guy, I thought to myself. Rachel and I were always shoving him out of his own scoop for one reason or another.

"What's wrong with you?" Rachel finally yelled at me, as soon as Ax had escaped but probably before he was out of earshot. "I'm only home for a few weeks. Do we have to spend them mad at each other?"

"We wouldn't have that problem if you'd stay home for good!" I shot back.

"I tried!" she shouted angrily. "Request Denied. Remember?"

"I remember all right! My problem is that YOU don't seem to be all that upset about it!"

"Don't seem to be UPSET? I'm plenty upset!"

"No, you're not! Not really!"

"ARRGH!!" she roared in frustration. She spun away on her heel and stalked to the other side of the room, facing the wall. At last, she turned around again. "How can you say that to me?" she asked, suddenly quiet. Her voice quivered and I was shocked into silence by the sight of tears on her face. "Of course I'm upset. I want to be with you and Sara so badly I can almost touch it."

"It doesn't seem like it."

She sank down to the ground and pulled her knees up to her chin. At that moment, I wasn't sure who I was looking at – my wife . . . or my daughter. "You know who I am, Tobias," she said softly. "You've known me since I was thirteen. You knew when you married me that you weren't getting June Cleaver."

I turned away. "But I thought I would have a wife. I'm raising Sara alone, Rachel. I go to bed alone and wake up alone. I reach for you in the middle of the night and you're not there. I love you more than life itself, but I'm never with you," I said, finally venting the horrible frustration and resentment I felt.

She was silent. Then she said in a low voice, "Ax thinks I was denied my transfer because of some special assignment the army is going to give him, Jake, Marco, and me. If that is the case, and if that is the reason, then I give you my word that this is my last battle. My last fight. After this, I will come home for good. I'll even resign from the military if needs be."

"Do you mean that?" I asked, staring out the scoop entrance.

"Yes. You and Sara should not suffer for me."

I looked at her. "Do you really think you could be happy here?"

"Yes. I'd be with you and Sara. You would be happy. And therefore I would be happy."

I sat next to her, took her left hand in mine, and intertwined our fingers so that our gold wedding bands touched each other. "And when I reach for you in the middle of the night –"

"I'll be there," she finished.

A smile slowly spread across my face. She grinned back and I kissed her. She laughed and I kissed her again. "Still tired?" she asked.

"Nope," I replied, and cut off any further conversation by placing my mouth on hers.

Suddenly there was an exasperated thought-speak sigh in our heads. I will return later, Ax said, sounding very put-out.

He left, mumbling to himself about heaven-knows-what.

Rachel laughed again.

And all I could think was that soon I would get to hear that wonderful laugh every day of my life.

Chapter Six – Aximili

Another two weeks passed. By now, Rachel and I had been on leave nearly a month, an unusually long period of time. I began to question why we had been allowed to remain at home for so long, as did Prince Jake and Rachel. Only Marco seemed to not be bothered by questions to which there were no answers – perhaps, I began to think, because he knew them. Marco's work was classified, and even Prince Jake and I were not privy to that information.

Every morning, I left the scoop early, before anyone one else was stirring. I trotted across the fields and met Salia at our usual place, by my Garibah. The others knew nothing of my relationship with her; of them, only Rachel might have seen anything, and at the time she was so distressed by the denial of her request for transfer that she had not noticed. I did not know why, but I wanted to keep my love for Salia to myself, a wonderful secret between the two of us.

This morning, we met and then went to the place where the stream left my property and entered hers. We performed the morning ritual, though as a civilian, Salia was not required to. As we finished, I noticed Salia's eyes were not focused on the rising sun as they should be, but on a small tree mammal called a hoober that was balancing in the branches of a nearby tree, watching us intently through huge, comical eyes.

Salia? I asked.

Look! she said in obvious delight.

What? I asked.

That hoober. It has four toes. Salia was a biologist, or would be when she finished her schooling, so it was not unusual for her to notice details about living things that I did not.

I studied the normally three-toed animal. Ah, yes, so it does.

He's good luck, she declared.

I glanced at her, surprised to hear such a superstitious statement from her. It would have been more likely coming from my human friends. Good luck? I echoed skeptically.

Yes. The day my father asked my mother to marry him, she says she saw a four-toed hoober in a tree. She watched the animal with a captivated smile on her face until it left, scampering up the tree and among the leaves. Then she turned back to me and saw the strange look on my face. Oh, she said, embarrassed. I am sorry. I imagine that must have seemed very foolish.

No, I replied, surprising even myself. I glanced at the sun. But I must leave you, love. The others will be waking soon.

She smiled at me and I felt my hearts beat just a little faster. Salia took my hand and touched the tip of her tail to mine. With her free hand, she stroked my face, and I returned the gesture. I love you, she whispered.

I love you, too, I replied. Would you like to go running tonight?

Of course, she said.

I will meet you here at dusk, I said. She inclined her head slightly, indicating the affirmative, and gave my hand a last squeeze before I galloped away.

When I returned to me scoop, I was surprised to find everyone gathered in a group, talking in loud, confused voices.

What has happened? I asked the general gathering.

"Where have you been?" replied Tobias, breaking away from the others.

I . . . I was feeding, I replied, which was not a lie because I had eaten on the way home from my meeting with Salia. I looked around at everyone else. Only Marco appeared calm. What is going on, Tobias?

"I haven't the foggiest idea," he said, throwing his hands up in the air.

"Well," Marco said in a patronizing tone, "if everyone would shut up for two seconds I would explain."

I glanced around. Where are Sara, Julie, and Tom?

"Julie and Sara had to go in to school early for fropis lessons," Tobias said, naming an Andalite string instrument. "I took Tom in with them and left him at daycare. When I got back, this is what I found."

I looked at Marco again, who was standing to one side, watching Rachel, Cassie, Prince Jake, and now Tobias and I with an amused smirk on his face. Finally he rolled his eyes, put two fingers in his mouth, and blew. The result was a piercing whistle that caused me to cover my ears with my hands and made the others wince and fall silent.

"Okay then," Marco said after a moment. "Now that I have your attention, maybe you'll let me explain." He sighed. "All right, for Tobias and Ax who missed the excitement, this" – he indicated a document in his hand with a vigorous shake – "came through on the email this morning."

"What's it say?" Tobias asked.

Marco gave him a scathing look. "I was getting to that. It is a standard military recall form. The only unusual part of it is that under the category 'Name of Person Recalled' it says, 'The Animorphs.'"

That is somewhat strange, I agreed. The name 'Animorph' was what we had called ourselves on Earth, but officially there was no such group. But this means you, Prince Jake, Rachel, and me, correct?

Marco shook his head. "No."

"No?" Cassie said in shock.

"No," he reiterated. "They do not want four of the Animorphs. They want all of the Animorphs."

"But Tobias and I aren't in the military. They can't do this," Cassie said, resisting the idea of having to once more actively participate in the war.

"Probably not," he said. "But they are."

"And just where are the 'Animorphs' going?" Rachel asked sharply, though we were all aware of what the answer would be.

"Earth."

To be continued . . .