Chapter 13
Right, Evaren said, taking on the commanding air he had at the very, very beginning of the mission. Now it's time to get things straight. Of the Shorm, I am total Captain, but will respect the choices of Commander Marcax and his crew. Alloran is my T.O., Zachary Hummal knows the most about our engines and technical equipment.
Ajax, Ralimn, Yaolyn, Kelt, and Jennifer know how to man weapons, helms, you name it. We shall help out in whatever way we can - I personally apologize for getting you into our trap.
Marcax held up his hands, "No, no. You did well, Andalite. Had you not have arrived, we would not be further in our goal. Making the Metropids pay. We would not be here today. And, we would not have gained more knowledge about your people and the other races of the galaxies."
Chessi nodded her agreement. "Now, let us get to work. Commander Evaren, if you will, please set a direct course for us to follow. T.O. Alloran, you can oversee the bandaging of the Shorm, Rafax and your engineer Hummal should do a fine job along with Mazi. Qyn, Klift, and Jamani will take good care of the engines.
"Ralimn can man the helm with Kacran as temporary overseer. Kelt may take the weapons, with Jennifer Lovedye as a shield manager. The rest can, well, rest for now."
I sighed, more time to relax.
Ajax, Cawri, Neslixi, and I began toward the Recoop Room.
Once in, Neslixi climbed up a strange tree and relaxed. In no time she was asleep.
With Ajax alongside me I grazed. Soon after Cawriana joined us. She didn't eat, rather, she talked.
With a long, mounrful glance to Neslixi she sighed, "Poor Neslixi. She is so old."
I glanced around, not wanting to interrupt.
"Her fur is mottled. Her pouch is tattered and useless, her pinchers and tailblade are dull. She has lived many seasons, with most of her life in a cage back on the Metropid home world, Kolorpa. For many years she hid her pregnancy with Mazi, and gave birth to her in secret, hiding her in her pouch until Mazi was too big.
"When the Metropids found out about Mazi, they took her away, performed tests too see how she was bred. They never knew the female Monkakes could recreate cells from their past mates and breed on their own.
"That is what Mazi did, and she now has a daughter and a son, but they were both born in cages too. Until one day when years after my mother and father had escaped Metropid prison, and we were fully grown, attacked.
"It was a long and grueling battle. Jamani almost died, though she will never admit it. My father, Marcax very nearly lost my mother, who was suffering great blood loss. I helped the weak, revived the unconscious. That is my only profession, doctoring."
I nodded, slowly. What do you diagnose on Neslixi?
"She is old, and weak. She refuses to eat sometimes, but my mother forces guilt on her, makes her eat. If this continues, Neslixi won't make it to see her great-grandchild. I'd almost guarantee it."
My hear reverberated, though I did not know all of their past, the tale was heart-wrenching on its own. Later I learned that Monkakes usually live to only be 200 years old, with one year equaling one-half a standard Earth year. Neslixi was already 238 at this point.
Cawriana did not stop talking there, either. She went on, telling us about what happened on Kolorpa years ago. Really it was too much. I didn't want to know everything, but, perhaps it was good to know what went on in shipmates ives. I do not know anymore.
Marcax was the first Devilian to ever be captured by Metropids, they thought it a great goal. Marcax was placed to work in the mines, digging up gems and other minerals under watchful eyes.
Neslixi had lived their a few seasons longer than Marcax. The Metropids had warred on her world for years, eventually killing off all the other Monkakes. They found Neslixi hiding and took her captive.
Next to them was Blinx, a Blazerailis. He was a traitor to all Blazerailises. He gave away all of their secrets to a different species, which let loose a plague on the home planet. For Blinx's help, they took him aboard the ship, but soon found he had no other use except for blabbing secrets, and they traded him to the Metropids.
Pretty soon, the Chesgant planet was spotted and warred upon. The Chesgants were sorely outnumbered. They were literally slaughtered. One Metropid scout found Chessi still breathing on the ground, sorely injured. He brought her before the High One.
The High One was a creature none had seen before.
"Kacran and Jamani have been wary of you," Cawri said, "because they had battled the High One. And, I admit, the creature did resemble you Andalites."
Chessi was placed in a cell inbetween Marcax and Neslixi. Marcax despised her on the spot. But he soon softened up.
The Metropids forced Marcax and Chessi to mate. After that day, they plotted, and escaped. Months later, the first Devigants were born.
The four tiny creatures aged quickly in mind in body, and once old enough Chessi and Marcax trained them. They gathered up a small army and raided the same Metro-Base they had been slaves in. They freed Neslixi and Mazi.
Marcax tried to get Blinx to come, but the Blazerailis had gone into deep moral depression and would not leave. Minutes later, the base was blown up.
"The High One came down from his ship," Cawriana recalled. "I was tending to my mother's and father's wounds. Rafax was helping Neslixi.
"Kacran and Jamani was faced against the High One and his Underling. Jamani fought the Underling, a fat Metropid who was advisor to the High One. She ended up winning shortly after she knocked him on the ground.
"Kacran fought a grueling battle against the creature. The beast was nimble and swift. It was covered in a dark cloak. My brother's sword embedded itself in the cloak end, and the cloak fell from the creature's head."
It's head was that of a serpent's, eyes wide and red. There were no scales on the upperbody, however, just fur that was slightly darker than Alloran's. The creature had no mouth noticeable, yet it did speak with a "voice". It had four arms, and though each arm was delicate-looking, they held one dagger each. It was a tauropod - it had four legs. They ended in hooves, but were covered with scales from the hock/knee down. It's tail was no as deadly as my own Andalite tail, but it could cause some damage. The tail was very long, longer than the beast's body, and ended in a club that whirled around.
Both Kacran and the High One recieved extensive wounds, but neither would give up. Finally, one of the daggers fell from the creature's hand. Kacran picked it up with his free hand. Then he let fly with the dagger and immediately swung his sword.
Being intent on the dagger, the High One never noticed the sword blade, until it was too late.
"And now, we're out here in space trying to get the rest of the Metropids something to think about," she ended.
I thought about her story. It made me believe that Metropids were no better than Yeerks, enslaving and destroying other species' lives.
But, then again, wasn't that what we were thinking about doing? Destroying some Yeerks, killing some Metropids?
No, I told myself, they started this. And we'll end it by teaching them what they have done.
And then Chessi poked her head through the doorway, "Aristh Yaolyn? Captain Evaren wishes to see you."
I nodded, an began toward the main room, still thinking about the story.
Right, Evaren said, taking on the commanding air he had at the very, very beginning of the mission. Now it's time to get things straight. Of the Shorm, I am total Captain, but will respect the choices of Commander Marcax and his crew. Alloran is my T.O., Zachary Hummal knows the most about our engines and technical equipment.
Ajax, Ralimn, Yaolyn, Kelt, and Jennifer know how to man weapons, helms, you name it. We shall help out in whatever way we can - I personally apologize for getting you into our trap.
Marcax held up his hands, "No, no. You did well, Andalite. Had you not have arrived, we would not be further in our goal. Making the Metropids pay. We would not be here today. And, we would not have gained more knowledge about your people and the other races of the galaxies."
Chessi nodded her agreement. "Now, let us get to work. Commander Evaren, if you will, please set a direct course for us to follow. T.O. Alloran, you can oversee the bandaging of the Shorm, Rafax and your engineer Hummal should do a fine job along with Mazi. Qyn, Klift, and Jamani will take good care of the engines.
"Ralimn can man the helm with Kacran as temporary overseer. Kelt may take the weapons, with Jennifer Lovedye as a shield manager. The rest can, well, rest for now."
I sighed, more time to relax.
Ajax, Cawri, Neslixi, and I began toward the Recoop Room.
Once in, Neslixi climbed up a strange tree and relaxed. In no time she was asleep.
With Ajax alongside me I grazed. Soon after Cawriana joined us. She didn't eat, rather, she talked.
With a long, mounrful glance to Neslixi she sighed, "Poor Neslixi. She is so old."
I glanced around, not wanting to interrupt.
"Her fur is mottled. Her pouch is tattered and useless, her pinchers and tailblade are dull. She has lived many seasons, with most of her life in a cage back on the Metropid home world, Kolorpa. For many years she hid her pregnancy with Mazi, and gave birth to her in secret, hiding her in her pouch until Mazi was too big.
"When the Metropids found out about Mazi, they took her away, performed tests too see how she was bred. They never knew the female Monkakes could recreate cells from their past mates and breed on their own.
"That is what Mazi did, and she now has a daughter and a son, but they were both born in cages too. Until one day when years after my mother and father had escaped Metropid prison, and we were fully grown, attacked.
"It was a long and grueling battle. Jamani almost died, though she will never admit it. My father, Marcax very nearly lost my mother, who was suffering great blood loss. I helped the weak, revived the unconscious. That is my only profession, doctoring."
I nodded, slowly. What do you diagnose on Neslixi?
"She is old, and weak. She refuses to eat sometimes, but my mother forces guilt on her, makes her eat. If this continues, Neslixi won't make it to see her great-grandchild. I'd almost guarantee it."
My hear reverberated, though I did not know all of their past, the tale was heart-wrenching on its own. Later I learned that Monkakes usually live to only be 200 years old, with one year equaling one-half a standard Earth year. Neslixi was already 238 at this point.
Cawriana did not stop talking there, either. She went on, telling us about what happened on Kolorpa years ago. Really it was too much. I didn't want to know everything, but, perhaps it was good to know what went on in shipmates ives. I do not know anymore.
Marcax was the first Devilian to ever be captured by Metropids, they thought it a great goal. Marcax was placed to work in the mines, digging up gems and other minerals under watchful eyes.
Neslixi had lived their a few seasons longer than Marcax. The Metropids had warred on her world for years, eventually killing off all the other Monkakes. They found Neslixi hiding and took her captive.
Next to them was Blinx, a Blazerailis. He was a traitor to all Blazerailises. He gave away all of their secrets to a different species, which let loose a plague on the home planet. For Blinx's help, they took him aboard the ship, but soon found he had no other use except for blabbing secrets, and they traded him to the Metropids.
Pretty soon, the Chesgant planet was spotted and warred upon. The Chesgants were sorely outnumbered. They were literally slaughtered. One Metropid scout found Chessi still breathing on the ground, sorely injured. He brought her before the High One.
The High One was a creature none had seen before.
"Kacran and Jamani have been wary of you," Cawri said, "because they had battled the High One. And, I admit, the creature did resemble you Andalites."
Chessi was placed in a cell inbetween Marcax and Neslixi. Marcax despised her on the spot. But he soon softened up.
The Metropids forced Marcax and Chessi to mate. After that day, they plotted, and escaped. Months later, the first Devigants were born.
The four tiny creatures aged quickly in mind in body, and once old enough Chessi and Marcax trained them. They gathered up a small army and raided the same Metro-Base they had been slaves in. They freed Neslixi and Mazi.
Marcax tried to get Blinx to come, but the Blazerailis had gone into deep moral depression and would not leave. Minutes later, the base was blown up.
"The High One came down from his ship," Cawriana recalled. "I was tending to my mother's and father's wounds. Rafax was helping Neslixi.
"Kacran and Jamani was faced against the High One and his Underling. Jamani fought the Underling, a fat Metropid who was advisor to the High One. She ended up winning shortly after she knocked him on the ground.
"Kacran fought a grueling battle against the creature. The beast was nimble and swift. It was covered in a dark cloak. My brother's sword embedded itself in the cloak end, and the cloak fell from the creature's head."
It's head was that of a serpent's, eyes wide and red. There were no scales on the upperbody, however, just fur that was slightly darker than Alloran's. The creature had no mouth noticeable, yet it did speak with a "voice". It had four arms, and though each arm was delicate-looking, they held one dagger each. It was a tauropod - it had four legs. They ended in hooves, but were covered with scales from the hock/knee down. It's tail was no as deadly as my own Andalite tail, but it could cause some damage. The tail was very long, longer than the beast's body, and ended in a club that whirled around.
Both Kacran and the High One recieved extensive wounds, but neither would give up. Finally, one of the daggers fell from the creature's hand. Kacran picked it up with his free hand. Then he let fly with the dagger and immediately swung his sword.
Being intent on the dagger, the High One never noticed the sword blade, until it was too late.
"And now, we're out here in space trying to get the rest of the Metropids something to think about," she ended.
I thought about her story. It made me believe that Metropids were no better than Yeerks, enslaving and destroying other species' lives.
But, then again, wasn't that what we were thinking about doing? Destroying some Yeerks, killing some Metropids?
No, I told myself, they started this. And we'll end it by teaching them what they have done.
And then Chessi poked her head through the doorway, "Aristh Yaolyn? Captain Evaren wishes to see you."
I nodded, an began toward the main room, still thinking about the story.