Link and Loss





*6:49:00 REMAINING*

Rachel! Tobias cried. Behind you!

Rachel flared her wings and turned around. With some difficulty, due to the burden she was carrying in her talons.

Another bald eagle was closing in on her fast.

Drop the transponder! a voice ordered.

Rachel almost laughed. It was her own voice; the younger her.

Almost laughed. Not laughed. Because all of a sudden she found herself trying to hack at the other eagle at the same time as she stayed airborne and hold on to the transponder.

Tobias, Ax said. Maybe we should…

Tobias was busy with another set of birds. He was easily the most skilled flyer in the group, but the numbers were the three of them against dozens. And he didn't want to hurt anyone badly; it might mess things up. They were playing games with time itself, and then it is a very bad idea to mess things up.

Ax blew to the side to avoid an osprey from hitting him. Then he dove down to avoid another one. A merlin came at him, but Ax flapped once and avoided that one as well.

Rachel was still locked in combat with the other herself. The transponder was making things difficult.

We need backup! she yelled.

Gee, you think?

A osprey blew past, slamming into the much larger young-Rachel eagle with just enough force to knock her off course.

Tobias was so surprised by the sudden thought-speak voice that he was hit by a harrier and got a large number of wing feathers torn out. He couldn't maintain altitude and fell.

Ax noticed the voice as well, looked at the osprey for a few seconds in disbelief, but then noticed that Tobias was falling. He dove down, grabbed the hawk's wing and flapped hard to slow down the fall.

Rachel steadied herself in the air and managed to avoid the eagle that was the younger her when it came the next time.

The osprey blew down again, this time knocking a peregrine falcon out of its course. Happy to see me? he wondered.

Almost, Rachel snapped. So you're not dead, Marco. Where's Larynia?

Above, Marco said. We were in the neighbourhood, and decided to dive by.

Then Ax rose upwards again close to them, rejoining the fight. Rachel! Tobias is on the ground, he's morphing the wolf. He could get the transponder away from here if we cover his back.

No prob, Rachel said.

Marco snatched the transponder from her talons and dove downwards with it. The weight was much too heavy for his small bird morph, so he couldn't do much else than dive. In the confusion, the other birds didn't pay any attention to him. Maybe they thought Marco was one of them, since he had "snatched" pretty roughly.

Move! Ax suggested.

Ax and Rachel began flapping away from the pack of birds. Larynia, a hawk just a bit larger than Tobias, swooped down to join them.

Marco rode on Tobias's wolf shoulder. He was small enough.

Oh, no you don't! the younger Rachel suddenly yelled, and struck the older version of herself with talons stretched out. Rest of you, back off! This one's mine!

Rachel tumbled through the air, straightened herself, and turned to meet her attacker.

Rachel! Larynia said. Not the time to…

Oh, shut up! Rachel snapped. I'll keep them back, just get outta here!

Larynia wasn't an experienced flier. Normally, she would have protested when anyone disagreed with her, but right then she was busy with using all her skill to avoiding the birds of prey that were everywhere around her.

Rachel flared her wings at the last second to fake a hesitation, but then folded them and smashed beak-first into the other eagle.

Xena, come on! Marco said. He was up in the air again, flying close next to Larynia, nudging at her whenever she needed to get out of some bird's way.

Marco! You're back five seconds, and already you're annoying me! Rachel moved out of the eagle's way and flapped hard to gain some lost altitude. Get that transponder outta here!

Ax didn't agree. Rachel, it would be unwise…

SHUT! UP! Rachel screeched.

She can take care of herself! Tobias called from ground level. At least I hope so. Let's go! We don't have time to convince her!



*5:50:00 REMAINING*

There, Tobias said as he was demorphing. See? Still in one piece. I might have sharp teeth, but I can still carry things.

Marco looked down at the transponder critically. "And slobber all over it. Nice going, Bird-Boy."

Tobias grinned.

Just one question, Ax said as he lifted up the transponder and used his tail-blade to cut some grass to dry it with. Where is the Time Matrix?

Marco laughed. "Time Matrix? We got rid of it."

And hopefully, it will not be found any time soon, Larynia added.

Tobias looked alert. "When you say 'got rid of it', you don't mean 'got rid of it permanently', right?"

"Of course permanently!"

Ax and Tobias exchanged a glance.

Not good, Ax commented.

"Definitely not good," Tobias agreed.

"What do you mean by not good?" Marco wondered.

We had ten hours left when you disappeared, Ax started.

"Explain," Marco demanded. "Ten hours what?"

Tobias shook his head. "Now, we have less than six hours left."

Six hours what? Larynia asked.

Six hours till the Yeerks storm into the resistance camp and kick our butts, Rachel said and landed to join the group. You picked a hell of a good time to drop us off, Marco. We've got a really tight dead-line.

Marco swallowed. "I messed up?"

"Yeah, you messed up," Tobias said and nodded. "You messed up big-time."



If there were any vibrations in the ground from near-by footsteps, Jake didn't feel them. He crawled up from under the leaves again. He needed to demorph - and see if the force field was gone. The force field gave out a slight tremble that even the roach senses had a hard time feeling. He couldn't be really sure if it was gone or not.

Jake knew - as well as any roach could - that he was as good as hidden by a few bushes and the shadows of nearby trees. So he demorphed, being careful to crouch down when he was finished. Then he felt out to the side with one hand to find out if the force field was gone or not.

It was still there. So Jake sighed silently to himself and began morphing again before some Yeerk guard came along and found him.

Then Rachel's voice called from a distance. Jake? You there?

Yeah, I'm here. Any problems?

Not really, Rachel said. But a surprise. Larynia and Marco are back.

Marco? Larynia? Jake said with a glimmer of hope in his voice. What about the Time Matrix?

They… got rid of it. Jake was silent, so Rachel continued; It's hidden somewhere out in the ocean. Hidden well, Marco says. Looking for it will take much too long.

And we don't have time to waste, Jake agreed. How about the transponder?

We've got it, Rachel confirmed. They're working on getting it working right now.

And they sent you away because you tend to loose your temper -

…with those respect-less, dim-witted, four-legged…

That'll do, Rachel, I get the picture. Jake sighed. Let's hope Larynia is as good at convincing War Council members as Marco claims she is.

Rachel sniffed loudly. He'd claim she could turn straw into gold if it helped her in any way.

Jake felt like nodding, but - being a cockroach - he didn't. Probably, he said instead. Probably. But from her temper, I'd say she could convince anyone the sun was blue.

Let's hope so, Rachel sighed. Her voice was heavy - a part of the pain inside her had cut through her shell. Let's hope so.



*5:30:00 REMAINING*

Larynia pawed the soft grass gently, smoothing it out before placing her hoof down on it.

Tobias was asleep, curled up in the shadow of the thick tree branches above them. Maybe he was a little cold, but otherwise the spot seemed comfortable. Larynia never really had gotten used to the strange poses humans rested in.

"Taste good?" Marco asked. He was resting, sitting and leaning against a tree. This was another one. The very concept of leaning her back against something was strange. It made her spine tingle.

Good enough, Larynia replied softly.

"Good enough for you ever considering to stay on Earth?"

Larynia took a few steps away, feeling uncomfortable. No use, Marco. When we erase this time line, we in this group will be erased with it.

"I know." Marco closed his eyes and slid down lower against the tree.

Larynia glanced at him, resisted the urge to do something about the way his hair looked, and took the few steps over to Ax and the transponder.

Anything? she asked.

No, Ax said. They're not answering. I believe they know whose transponder is trying to call them.

Possible, Larynia agreed. So change the dial code.

Ax blinked.

Larynia smiled. Poor Aximili, she said. Tired?

Perhaps a little.

Go rest, Larynia said. I'll keep an eye on the transponder. And change the dial code.

Ax nodded and did as he was told. He left the transponder on a large stone where it was easily reached for an Andalite - which meant they didn't have to go through the awkward procedure of standing on their knees and bending down even further just to reach something happening to lie on the ground.

Marco joined her by the transponder and helped her change the dial code. The transponder was primitive in more ways than one compared to the ones she was used to. Changing the dial code wasn't as easy as doing it on the advanced transponders she and her brothers had played with as children.

But after some experimenting and some work the dial code was changed. And when they switched the transponder on and told it to call the Andalites, the reply was almost instant. The link to help was established.

And cautious, as any Andalite. Who is this?

Larynia directed her thought-speech to the device. Who are you?

This is the Dome ship River's Promise, the voice said with a note of pride. I am Jaruili-Taninis-Eredric.

Larynia remembered the River's Promise being one of the ships shot down when the Andalite planet was taken. She decided not to mention that. This is Larynia-Tanele-Sirinial, she said. She left out from where she was calling.

There was a short silence. The Andalites on the other end were probably going through their computer. Larynia-Talene-Sirinial is a youth, said the Andalite finally. Or barely an adult. Not old enough to match your voice.

I am aware of that, Larynia said. This is an older version of me. A few friends and I found the Time Matrix and used it to go back in time.

That got their attention. Time Matrix? It is a myth!

No, it is not, Larynia snapped. She knew they didn't have that much time. Now listen to me. You can contact my parents and the younger me and I shall prove who I am if I need to. The important thing is that you listen.

A short silence. Possibly going through the computer again. Possibly deciding not to trust her, but still to listen to what this maniac who wasn't even able to get a fool-proof cover had to say. We are listening.

Okay. First of all, if you don't do as I tell you, we can all kiss our planet goodbye.

A laugh. A cruel, mocking laugh.

An Andalite's laugh. Larynia's tail twitched, but Marco gave her a look which told her to keep calm.

You speak like a human, the voice said.

I spend time with humans, Larynia acknowledged. A glance at Marco and she added privately: Too much time.

And you are the cousin of Aximili-Esgarrouth-Isthill.

Ax's head flew up. Larynia met his gaze. He looked like he was warning her about something.

Yes.

The laugh came again. Larynia hated being laughed at; her tail twitched again. Marco grabbed the end of it to keep it from slashing at the transponder.

No use listening to such low individuals, the officer at the other end sneered. Larynia was sure he was an officer; there was a tone in his voice which suggested superiority. They try to save Earth when our own home is under attack. Disloyal keerach!

Larynia, now quivering with rage, was preparing to say something sharp in reply but Marco knew her well enough to stop her in time. He gave her tail a sharp tug and when her stalk-eyes darted back and glared at him, he motioned for her to keep silent.

Marco leaned closer to the transponder. "What did you say your name was?"

Jaruili-Taninis-Eredric.

"Tell me something, Jaruili," Marco said sharply. He didn't like this Andalite; 'keerach' was one of the worst things an Andalite could call another. And this Andalite had used the word to call Larynia. "Do you want to see your wife infested?"

Another pause. Then… Are you Yeerks? Jaruili growled.

"No. But I was. In your future. But my past. Is your wife called Alarna-Faulene-Brithila?"

Perhaps, Jaruili muttered. How do you know that name?

"I met her in the Yeerk pool," Marco said, increasing the sharp edge in his voice. "She was weeping because they had killed her two sons." When Jaruili was silent, Marco continued. "She was weeping because her husband was missing in action, her two young sons had died trying to keep the Yeerks out of your scoop and she herself had cut her own daughter's throat."

Jaruili remained silent.

"I'm telling you the truth," Marco said. "You might not like it, but it is the truth."

How did you know my wife's name? Jaruili said finally. How did you know I have two sons and a daughter?

"I told you. In a near future, the me of this time will meet your wife - in a cage - in the Yeerk pool."

Liar! Jaruili shrieked. Liar! LIAR! How dare you? Who are you?

"My name is Marco," Marco said. "I was part of the last human resistance. In about five hours, that resistance will fall. Ten hours after that, I'll watch my best friend kill the girl he loves to keep her from being infested. A few minutes later, I'm screaming helplessly at the Yeerk in my head. Do you want to know more? The Yeerk's name? I can tell you the name of the Yeerk who'll be very happy about having your wife as a host. Do you want to know it? Do you want to know what he thinks about your daughter being dead?"

STOP IT! LIAR!

"I'll tell you," Marco growled. "Your wife's Yeerk tortured her mind for weeks because she killed your daughter. Killed a very valuable host."

Jaruili was screaming now. You couldn't understand what he was saying any more.

"Listen to me," Marco said. "I'm going to break this connection. In a few minutes, I'll call you again. By then you will have decided whether or not to listen to my friend Larynia. If you have decided not to, then don't reply when I call. But then what I just told you will happen. And your planet will, as Larynia said, be history. Understood?"

A stubborn silence.

"UNDERSTOOD?!!"

Yes, Jaruili replied.

Marco cut the transmission. And looked up to find Larynia and Ax staring at him.

That was very cruel, Ax said softly. Playing on emotions. Playing on the most basic instincts; protecting loved ones.

"Cruel." Marco nodded bitterly, looking down. "But necessary."

Larynia placed a hand on the side of his face. How did you know that?

"We were lucky," Marco said. "Alarna's and my Yeerk shared feeding schedule for a few months. We got to know each other pretty well."

Larynia managed a smile. Not too well, I hope.

"She was just one of many broken Andalites there." Marco shivered. "I hate the Yeerk pool," he spat. "No-one deserves that. No-one."

I know, Larynia said, taking his hand.

Marco pulled loose and turned his back to her. She felt rejected, and that made her feel empty. "You don't know at all. Someone who hasn't been there can't understand. You don't understand what people do to avoid it, for themselves or others."

Larynia looked helplessly at her cousin with her stalk-eyes. But Ax looked away. He had also been in the pools. He knew exactly what Marco meant.

"No-one deserves it," Marco said. "That's why we're trying to prevent it." And then he walked away.



Larynia was still standing in the same place feeling distant when she realised that someone was talking to her.

It's time, Ax repeated. The connection has been initialised.

Larynia nodded and trotted up to the transponder. She replied in a low voice when the Andalite called Jaruili declared that he would listen to what they had to say.

But Larynia had barely begun her prepared little speech when a voice screamed in her head. Her stalk-eyes darted behind her and she saw a bald eagle flapping hard and coming straight at them.

Yeerks zooming in fast! Rachel screamed. Morph and let's get outta here!

Tobias jumped up from where he had been sleeping and was morphing before he was even on his feet.

Ax snatched the transponder from Larynia and barked into it; Yeerks closing in. Breaking connection and will call back later if we survive.

Then Ax switched off the connection despite Jaruili asking all types of questions at once. He held up the device and Rachel caught it in her talons as she dove and soared upwards again.

Morph! Ax snapped at his cousin and feathers began growing all over his body. Fast!

Where's Marco?! Larynia cried. Marco's not back yet! We have to warn him!

Not the time, Tobias said. He was already on his way into the air, fighting a strong downdraft. We'll find him and warn him, we can't stay here!

Come on! Morph! Rachel ordered. Fast!

Larynia began morphing. The others were already in the air. Ax had just lifted and was flapping with all his might to win over the downdraft.

She was the last one on the ground. And her stalk-eyes had caught a movement in amongst the trees. A flash of brown and greyish green that could be nothing less than a Hork-Bajir.



Marco! Morph! Morph!

The sudden voice made Marco's head snap upwards.

Yeerks coming! Rachel informed him. We're leaving!

Marco looked up. Rachel was carrying the transponder in her talons and the entire group was slowed down by the burden.

Ax had a few tail feathers missing. The rest were blackened. A Yeerk dracon had taken a glance shot. Tobias was still the best flier; he was the least tired.

Larynia wasn't with them.

Marco looked again.

No.

She. Wasn't. With. Them.





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Author's note;

Oops. Cliffhanger. Again... oh, goody. *Hehehehe.*

REVIEW! Please? A few reivews before the next part. At least five.