"Sir, you must understand, it is of dire necessity that you send ships to investigate the disappearance of Prince Aximili Esgarouth Isthil and Jake Berenson," I was tired of playing games with this guy. Asculan-Semitur-Langor, the very same jerk that confronted us shortly after we claimed the pool-ship had been assigned to be Ax's replacement as the ambassador for Andalite-Human politics.
< We do not know if they are merely too busy with the chase to contact us. >
"That's the point! Do you not realize that they could be injured, dying, or dead? Your own people, sir! And you don't care at all." I jabbed a finger in his blue chest. He stared at me in sheer hatred and I hastily retracted the offending digit. "Please, listen to reason!"
< I have spoken with 'Reason' and I was told not to interfere! > Ha ha. < Any dealings with the Kelbrid are off limits to all Andalites, > he turned to leave. I was ready to bite his head off, morph or no morph. I jogged ahead of him and stopped in front of the only exit.
"You, Captain-Prince Asculan, are a coward and a disgrace to your people." He flinched as if I had struck him.
< And you are the little human female who was too scared to leave the security of her home planet, to go on an inherently dangerous suicide mission with the friends, who she now hopes to rescue with Andalite help which would cause the start of an intergalactic war. > I would have slapped him, but I would be cut down by Andalite tail blades the second I made contact. He waved his hand as if to brush me off and trotted out the door with his two officers.
"Katherine."
"Yes, Ma'am?" My aid now stood beside me.
"Contact the President at once, I have a matter of utmost importance to discuss with her."
"Yes Ma'am," she left the room to make the phone call.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
[ Marco ]
The Kelbrid were as we expected. No, they were probably worse. The One grinned and gestured toward us. A great cry arose from the mouths of thousands of Kelbrid.
"Battle morphs NOW!" Jake called above the roar of the stampede. Menderash ran over to Jeanne and Santorelli. They clambered onto his back and he took off in the opposite direction. I don't blame him, he didn't have half the combat experience we had, and at least they'd have a chance for survival now. Tobias started morphing Ax. How ironic. Jake went tiger. I went wolf. In this situation we required speed and killing power, so gorilla was not an option. Morphs now finished, we went after Menderash. I mean, really, what else could we do? The three of us against ten thousand Kelbrid. Real fair.
< What are we going to do? > Tobias said.
< It seems that we don't have anywhere to hide, > Jake looked around.
< I say, to hell with running. If we have to die, we have to die fighting. > I can't believe I just said that, I guess it was a Rachel moment. The Kelbrid were gaining on us. Despite our head start, there was only a good twenty feet between us. I stopped and whirled around. Tobias and Jake followed suit. My heart felt as if it would burst from my chest. I exhaled sharply and we raced toward the enemy.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
[ Jake ]
This was it. The three of us made an about face. We then made our brave charge into the Kelbrid. Tobias lanced out and beheaded a Kelbrid. The monstrous head thumped onto the ground, followed by the body. I pounced onto another's huge face. Gripping the front nostrils with my back paws, I reached under the coverings and clawed it blind. It let out an ear-bursting squeal and tumbled backward.
Marco was latched onto the back of one's head. His powerful jaws refused to give way as the Kelbrid shook its massive head violently. Another came behind him and snapped at his dangling body. Marco sprang from the first and over the second. The Kelbrid bit into the other, and bisected it from shoulder to hip. A Kelbrid hammered me with a fist, I flipped over and sprawled on the ground. I saw part of my pelvis breaching the skin of my hip. I tried to pull myself up and slumped back down.
Marco screamed as one Kelbrid head-butted him and another bit off his back legs. He crawled forward and sagged down in a pool of blood. Tobias' tail had been torn off and eaten, blade and all. He leaned forward on his front hooves and back-kicked a Kelbrid. Its neck broke with a sickening crack. He kicked out again and was attacked from the side. His front legs were quickly severed, followed by his right arm as he tried to push the demonic being away.
The mayhem suddenly stopped and the Kelbrid formed a ring around us. They parted as the One entered the circle. He moved toward us and peered downward.
"Don't tell me that's it. The famous Animorphs can't even put up a fight for two minutes?" He scoffed. It had been less than two minutes? I can't believe it. Marco growled weakly and Tobias was breathing very hard.
< You will pay > I tried sounding tough, which is kind of hard to do when one is in a heap on the ground with a completely shattered pelvis. The One laughed heartily.
"I think not, 'Jake the Yeerk killer'" He sneered at those last words. The look on what had been Ax's face made me sick. "You have killed millions of Yeerks, yet you as a group can take out a total of three Kelbrid, and wound two others, how utterly pathetic." The One cocked his head. "No matter, it was due to occur sooner or later, I'll begin the absorption process."
Without warning, the nearest Kelbrid sagged and fell over. Two others crashed to the ground beside it. A rider-less Menderash struck again and again at a group of Kelbrid. The One hissed and launched himself at the Andalite. He swung his tail and pierced Menderash through the back. The blade exited on the right side of his chest. Menderash's eyes widened in shock and pain and his arms fell limp at his sides. His stalk eyes fluttered and closed, and his main eyes closed halfway. The One tossed the wounded Andalite with his tail. He landed next to Marco and turned his head to look at me.
< I've failed you, Captain. > His eyes closed and he was no more.
"As I was saying before I was so rudely interrupted-" The One began.
"ENOUGH!" An earth-shattering yell filled the air. The Kelbrid parted again. An old man walked through to the center of the circle. "You wretched excuse for a gamer!" The Ellimist snarled at the One. He threw his hand downward and gestured toward Menderash. He awoke and shook his head. Time froze and we reverted back to our human selves. Rachel stepped out from behind of Kelbrid, her white gown flowed to a non-existent breeze. The One and the Ellimist were staring each other down.
"You have broken the rules of the game, and you will suffer accordingly," The Ellimist said in a suddenly calm tone. Gamers do not actively participate in the game, you know this well."
"What the hell is going on?" Marco broke the silence.
"You see, after the Animorphs had defeated the Yeerks, I had also defeated Crayak. He moved on as did I. This new being called the One opted to challenge me to a game. I accepted. This," he waved his arms around, "is all part of it," he turned to the One. "However, the rules of all games expressly forbid the gamer from participating in the game itself. Our friend here should not be commanding the Kelbrid army." The One laughed nervously. "It seems that since the regulations have been violated I will have to alter the game accordingly."
The Ellimist faced us. "I am sending you back to Earth, where you will lead the Earth's forces against the Kelbrid opposition. I also reluctantly permit Rachel to possess the ability to change realms. She will be available for Earth come time for the battle, until that then, she remains in my presence. You on the other hand," He jabbed a finger into the One's chest. "Will not interfere in the slightest manner for the remainder of the game, whatever the outcome is, you will abide by it. Should you choose to infract the rules a second time, I will personally see to your destruction." In the blink of an eye, we were back on Earth, where Ax's scoop used to be. Vegetation covered the area where his home had been.
"What now, oh fearless leader?" Marco raised an eyebrow and looked toward me. Jeanne, Santorelli, and Menderash were also present, they were in an apparent state of confusion.
"Prepare for war."