ON THE ANDALITE HOME WORLD
TIME: 16:25
DATE: 15/06/2020
LOCATION: MAIN SPACEPORT
TOBIAS
It was cool, I was happy for Ax, really I was. But I worried that his joy
wouldn't last for long.
It had been twenty-six hours since his first expose to the virus and he
didn't look so good.
His parents, both of them were close by, they talked to him when he was
awake and stood at his side when he wasn't.
I was a bit jealous. No, make that a lot.
Maybe I'm a lousy person, but I've never had any parents, nor people
who cared for me, aside from Rachel, Ax and my friends.
I was on a stand near were Ax was lying down. His mother had gone to do
something but his father was there, his father was busy talking to the Sasi scientist.
Ax informed me that he had never seen his father quite this angry.
"You want to know what I know about the virus?!" The scientist whose
name was George replied shrilly to the 'mob's' request.
He was not just talking to Ax's father but a bunch of other Andalites.
In any case I was glad that Ax couldn't hear the reply.
"The virus takes around eighteen hours to fully incubate on exposure
and only starts reproducing after twenty-two hours. When that happens it is only
a matter of time when the virus attacks the Andalite immunity system, it works
only too much like a human virus called HIV and aids. But in
warp-factor-ten-speed.
"Once the immune system had been shut down whether or not the carrier
of the virus is hit by an infection or disease the virus will attack the blood
cells that are responsible for transportation of oxygen and nutrition to cells,
when that happens the carrier's blood would start to breakdown and deform and
a painful period of three days would be taken to fully kill your son." George
spat out, "There you go. Happy? Do you have a graphic image of what your son
is going to endure? Are you satisfied?" He laughed.
I swear his father was going to self-combust he lunged at George who
shrieked and dove behind a raised table.
Ax was watching this as if far away. It wasn't like they were miles
away; he could see them moving around, but he wasn't listening to them.
I was considering baling, you know, I so wanted to talk to Rachel but
decided to stay put, this wasn't the time to bail on Ax.
So I decided to talk to the jerk of a scientist. Hey George. Hey.
Yes, that's me; the red-tailed hawk.
He turned his head and glared at me, his tired gray eyes and pale skin
made him out to look older than what he really was.
I opened my wings and floated towards him, landed expertly on the table.
I don't know what kind of stupid idiot you are or what you think you could
gain by this, but if I were you I would try to be much more cooperative.
He laughed dryly, "And why would I?"
Why would you? I repeated, I don't know why wouldn't you,
dude, you're in a lot of trouble, and since you're on Andalite ground you do
realize that they could do anything they want, right?
He snorted, "My people know that I'm missing, how long do you really
think it would take them to realize that you took me along as an effort to break
down the virus? I wouldn't betray them."
All the Andalites watched me and George, I nosily rearranged my feathers
and said, You wouldn't have to betray them, they've already betrayed
you.
"What?" He stared at me suspiciously. His eyes flickered. And I knew
I hit a nerve in him. "They wouldn't do that. I've been loyal to them,
never breathed a word outside the perimeter!"
It appears that your loyalty had been over nothing. I said.
"Huh?"
George, the Sasi would never stand up and admit to what
they've done, if you like, you could hack into their files, Solo did it, your
entire 'mission' is non-existent. And not only that but also you and a
couple more of your friends are listed as having criminal records and have come
together to rebel against the Andalite and human government. What's more is
that the human military soldiers have been offered a reward if one of them
catches you alive…or dead.
George stuttered. "No. No. They wouldn't…" But I could see the
truth in his eyes, he knew that they would.
So if I were you, I continued conversationally,I'd spill
out every last detail to the Andalites here before you end up killing one of
their own and you alone would be held responsible for it.
He went pale; that got him, it defiantly got him. He sat down on the
chair that had been provided for him, put his head on clasped hands and muttered
something. I heard it but the others couldn't.
So they could hear you.
"Alright!" He yelled angrily, looking up at us, looking like he
didn't like what he was in, "Okay, okay; I'll do it!"
You better do it right. Human. Ax's father snapped.
I took flight and flapped out of the room. When outside I heard Noorlin,
Ax's father call me. I landed on the hard corridor and waited for him to catch
up. Wait. He said. Let's go in here, I want to talk to you.
This perked my interest. I followed him.
Noorlin hesitated slightly before speaking. I wanted to thank you for
what you did back there. I was beginning to think the situation is
impossible.
It was nothing. You don't have to thank me, I said aghast
slightly. I'd have done it for anyone in my team. We look out for each
other.
Ah, yes, Aximili told me.
This perked my interest even further, was that what you were talking
about? Us?
Not always, but when I first met him he talked about you. He told me
all about you.
I think my bird heart stalled a few beats right then.
He did? My heart did this expert impersonation of a machine gun.
Yes. And we knew before he told us. We would like you…my wife and I
will consider you as family. And would be happy if you decided to join us.
That was it.
I swear my bird heart practically jumped out of my bird throat and
stopped at the same moment.
You would? I began to feel just a bit light headed. You know,
when Ax told me he'd share the Andalite traditions with me and teach them to
me I almost stumbled over myself.
Now that his family was saying they'd give me a home…I didn't just
stumble, I fell flat on my face.
Er. I'll consider that. I managed to get out, I'll have
to think about this okay? I said, trying not sound like a jerk about it. But
you know, I've been offered a home a couple of times, and they were always
fake. A trap. Was this another trap?
Of course, take all the time you need.
He left me alone. And I flew towards the others and called Rachel aside,
I wanted to see what she'd say about this.
"What is it?" She asked cautiously.
His father, Ax's father asked if I…you know. They know who my
father is. And he said that if I wanted…that they would take me in.
Somehow Rachel
got what I was talking about and smiled up at me, "That's great Tobias!"
Yeah, I know, but almost too great, what do you think? I asked
anxiously.
"I think it's great. But let's tell the others." Before I had
time to object the whole thing was out.
"That's great Tobias." That was Cassie of course, and she truly
said it like she meant it, Jake and Marco were happy for me too. But you know
Marco; he has this weird way of acknowledging things.
He was adamant that he doesn't make a big deal out of the thing so he
said, "Oh really? Think they'd be thrilled to have the one and only superior
bird of prey around here? Oh wait.-" He made a mocking look of over
exaggerated fear, "Don't come back all arrogant and blue okay? I like your
resemblance to the awesome flying cow; brown white and a red tail."
I laughed at that. I'm keeping my red tail. But my laughter
kind of stalled when something occurred to me, What about you guys?
"What about us?" Rachel said breezily, "Twenty years, jeez, and
most of humanity fell to Yeerks, we're over that okay Tobias? Don't prevent
yourself from having what we don't have. Okay?"
I ruffled my feathers and mentally bit back a sigh.
"What are you talking about?!" Marco cried out, "Man Tobias, if you
live with the blue deer we're right behind you."
They all laughed.
I guess you're right. I said I'll try to figure
something, okay?
"Don't push it if you can't." Cassie said.
"Don't worry." Marco muttered, "He'll push it for Rachel only.
It's what he wants."
I was glad I wasn't human, I'd have blushed like crazy, but Rachel
smiled sweetly up at me and waved.
