What first appears to be a gentle conflict of opinions winds up being a full out quarrel, I like this chapter, you don't notice that Tom and Ax are really arguing until things are said in black and white.
I'm saying this as a hint to all those who are reading, notice how the two get on each other's nerves. Tobias is sort of bouncing between the two. He doesn't catch onto what's happening. (by the way, the first line is said by Tom)
Chapter Twenty-seven
Is that so?
Ax hesitated, All I meant is that decisions made on instinct are far more accurate than those made on dreams.
Assuming there's a difference between the two. Tom cut in, What if your gut instinct is influenced by what your brain imagines overnight?
Tom has a point, Ax-man. You can't deny that. Tobias said. He was in his natural form soaring high above the two.
Ax sighed, I feel that we are wasting our time. If we truly wanted to find the culprit I believe that going to Victor would prove more worthwhile.
What? Surveillance hours kills you? Tom laughed. He flapped his wings to gain a higher altitude. Tom was in the first morph he acquired; bird of prey. Coincidentally; the same morph his brother chose.
It's not that. Ax bristled. It's-
It's all right Ax-man. It gets to us all. Tobias interrupted dryly. Besides, it's not like I'm going to hold a grudge against you for it.
What, you two think this is wasting time? Tom asked mocking disbelief.
It doesn't matter what I think. Tobias said firmly, or even Ax. All it is we're saying is that maybe-
Maybe Jake sent us to beat around the bush? Tom completed, but then he sighed too. I get it. So maybe this isn't the most brilliant idea Jake is capable of coming up with. But excuse me, we exhausted the 'let's talk to Victor' idea, he isn't talking. Wouldn't.
The idea of spending three hours watching him do nothing is just as exhausted, we've been doing that for what, three days? Tobias said neutrally, I don't have anything against Jake at this point, I mean, hey, it isn't like we've come up with any bright ideas.
That is true Tobias.
Do you always point out the obvious? Tom asked.
It's a habit. Tobias answered for Ax.
Look. Ax said, ignoring the two, I believe Victor is on the move.
Tobias started gaining more speed, Looks like our friend here is in a big hurry. Huh?
Oh, good. Tom murmured, how convenient, he decided to take the neighbor's Ford for a little spin.
Convenient for him maybe, but not us, Tobias remarked, We've got to move faster. Ax, Tom, I suggest you gain some altitude, this way you'll gain more distance.
Whatever you say Tobias. Tom said gleefully, You're the expert. I'm not arguing.
Whoa! Tobias said. He's flooring the gas isn't he?
I do not think we are able to gain sufficient speed to keep up with him. Ax observed keenly.
Thanks again, Ax. For pointing out the obvious.
It's a habit. Tobias reminded, You'll get use to it.
Our dilemma is over. the Andalite announced. Victor has stopped and disembarked from his stolen vehicle.
Tom said nothing but permitted a long sigh.
Tobias murmured something to himself as Victor ditched the car and tore into an empty building; he glanced both ways before entering. The building was in the less flattering side of town.
Okay. Tom said briskly, Here's what we do. Two of us go in and one stays up here. Tobias you stay in the sky and Ax come down with me.
If Tobias or Ax were thinking of resisting Tom's order's they didn't show it. Ax though, was feeling a bit disgruntled and Tobias well, he didn't really care; he enjoyed keeping watch from above. He was used to doing more of it than the others so he didn't complain. Since Ax was curious about why Victor had suddenly ran for it he decided not to object to Tom's orders and follow it out.
But being Ax, he decided to give Tom a little piece of his mind as they went down, just to show that he was resisting the idea of Tom's being in charge.
As Ax demorphed he said, I suggest you do not stay human for a longer period of time than is necessary. We do not need any other humans discovering that you are alive.
As soon as Tom's human lips appeared he gave Ax his reply, "I'm going in as me."
Ax glared, You are behaving foolishly. Not only don't you have a powerful combat morph yet, which I insist is necessary, but you are trying to endanger the other members in resistance.
"My brother wouldn't have sent me if he didn't trust me to do the right thing." Tom sounded annoyed.
Ax took a step forward and said in a low thought speak voice, Your brother sent you with us, so that we keep an eye on you. He had not done this for your convenience or so that you could dish out orders.
Tom was taken back at first, then the reality of the words struck him and he felt stung. Tom lifted his head and said in an angry voice, "I'm going in as me, if you can't deal with it then you're welcomed to leave. As for me; I'm going in."
Having said that, Tom entered the dark building, Ax hissed at him to stop but Tom being Tom didn't cooperate.
Ax fearing that there were innocent humans or a large mass of a Yeerk task force inside; morphed human to regain some amount of cover. He sent a private thought-speak message for Tobias and then went in.
The interior of the building was bare and unfurnished. Tom was a few yards ahead. Ax scanned the floor they were in and caught Tom vanishing around a corner. Ax followed Tom's trail. Whether he had done this assuming that Tom had heard something or simply because he wanted to retrieve him was as unclear as what happened next.
The interior of the building was as dark as the out side, actually, darker still. Straining his human ears, Ax could hear that there was someone inside.
Two people.
One voice was clearly female. Sharp and alert. The other voice; haggard and tired, a male's voice, and judging from the particular qualities of the voice it no doubt belonged to none other than Victor.
Ax decided to delay reprimanding Tom and focused his attention on the voices.
The female's voice had lowered dangerously and a thud was heard which was followed by a dull groan.
Tom caught Ax's attention by staring at him, he motioned that he was going to go in.
Ax shook his head indicating that Tom should not do so.
Tom glared angrily and started to contradict Ax. But Ax grabbed him carefully –as not to make any noise- Tom opened his mouth to speak his mind but Ax's other hand went over his mouth. Ax opened up communications by speaking in semi-private thought speak.
We will not interfere with what is happening. Ax said heatedly, We need to understand what sort of situation we are dealing with.
"You don't decide that for me." Tom hissed angrily, getting angrier by the second by the Andalite's attitude. "Besides, I knew all that."
You were ready to storm in! Ax accused.
"Shut-up, shut-up." Tom snapped, "I'm trying to hear what Victor's saying to the mysterious women in there. It could be Abby."
Ax had demorphed and stood at attention, ready to react at anything that got in his way.
A brief snatch of the conversation was heard and Tom exclaimed loudly at it, "Son of a *****! That little weasel! He's ratting out on us! I don-"
Ax was about to silence Tom but it was too late. The door slammed open and Victor was flung outside.
Victor tumbled onto Ax and knocked him on the ground, Tom was left to confront the girl who appeared at the doorway.
Despite Ax's shouting and Tobias yelling, Tom didn't try to stop the girl. She gave him one dirty look that said 'get-the-hell-out-of-my-way-or-I-swear-you'll-regret-it' and then shot out of the building.
Ax shoved Victor off of him and thundered out of the building. Tom would have followed the girl if not for Ax's Stay on Victor.
It would have been stupid not to listen to him for a third time that day. Tom figured he had already screwed up bad –not that he would openly admit that.
Sixkiller was already out of the building when Tobias bore down his talons at her with a distinct raptor shriek. He missed her completely. And ended up as a feathery lump on the ground –stunned stupid- and Ax almost stepped over him if not for Sixkiller's angry glare in Tobias's direction.
It was a chase from then on. Sixkiller was a swift runner, Ax felt confident that he could out run her but sensed that her rhythm was not on bases of speed but endurance. And indeed her pace was set not as that of a sprinter but that of a long distance runner.
In any case Ax could not continue pursuing her in his natural form. He gave up and headed back to the building were he rewarded Tom with an angry glare.
Tobias was the only one who noticed the glare, Tom was too busy talking to Victor. Tobias flapped over to Ax as he trotted in.
I know Ax-man, not good, but let's let Jake handle this one.
Ax did not comment on this though when he did turn to Tom it was not to reprimand him, What does Victor have to say about this?
Tom still looking at Victor said, "Sixkiller's up to something alright. According to Victor here she's homing in on Abby. She's killed Mickey and Dominic-"
"I had nothing to do with this." Victor said bitterly, but his defense was very weak, considering that the Animorphs had stumbled upon him with –putting it in Ax's words- the culprit.
If it had been going badly for Victor it was about to get much worse from then onwards.
And by the looks of it; much worse for Abigail.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Did you like it? I did. It seems much shorter than the other chapters though it's actually longer (relatively).
You finally get to see some intense feelings put alongside the plot. Got to give it for our boys; Tom & Ax. 'If they can't screw it no one can!' hehehe. Just imagine the chapter if Tom was all goody-good and Ax the obedient servant of his Prince. Saying this you'll have to remember that even though Ax pledged an oath to his Prince that does not mean that he has to tolerate his Prince's older brother.
Despite Tom's foolish advances I don't hold a grudge against him or anything, its not like the way I hate Victor –that's just not going to happen to Tom- but I decided that the series would be a bit more colorful if some of the Animorph members felt a bit…uh…displaced by Tom's arrival. And if there's going to be anyone I thought -instantly- that person would 'Ax'.
I bet you people are worried I'll screw the plot or something, sure the story is long but I haven't confused my leads –not yet. There will be a part three and by then most of the narration is taken on by Sixkiller. By then you'll know why she needs Elfangor and uh, why she did the things she did. I'm telling you one thing about part three; expect the unexpected.
I said the same thing when I started part two and look where we are now!
Like always, review! -you guys are doing great though -so much inspiration, thanks!
