Chapter Nine ~ Eventualities
"Chapman," said Victor Trent. "You know what we are looking for."
"Yes, Visser," said Chapman. Privately, he thought this plan had about as much chance as all the others of succeeding, but he had enough brains not to say so. Kandrona starvation was painful, he'd heard from survivors.
"Have you alerted the teenage human-Controllers?"
"Yes, Visser."
"How many are there?"
"Thirty-four, Visser."
"Be on your guard, then."
"Yes, Visser."
* * * * * * *
Wednesday morning, thought Ax. Funny to think last night he was being held prisoner in Erek's house. Unconsciously, he rubbed his knuckles where he'd taken his anger out on Erek. Ouch. Metal is a lot harder than human flesh.
If I had my tail blade, I'd take him apart, android or no android.
He had a basketball game after school, he remembered. Cyril was counting on him, as the new star shooter, to be there. And win the game for them, he thought wryly.
He started a little as he saw the bald businessman striding down the corridors, looking intently at the necks of the male students who passed. Said male students gave him nothing more than funny looks that plainly said, You pervert. Ax felt the necklace heating up. He tucked it into his shirt.
Perhaps if I took it off and hid it somewhere… that thought was immediately replaced by a stronger one, NO! You do not part with it, even for a second.
But… the smaller voice was protesting. Ax tried to listen to it, but it was drowned out by a roar in his ears. You DO NOT part with it. Even if it means you run the risk of being caught.
Ax nodded to himself, the internal decision over. He did, however, prudently duck into an empty classroom as Visser Three walked past, his neck stuck out, scanning all the males' throats. It was, in all, an impression of a starving vampire. Ax felt like telling the Visser how stupid he looked, but he probably shouldn't do that…
Fuck should and shouldn't, said the malicious whisper in his head. Tell the scumbag.
Ax stepped out into the corridor. "You look like a perverted vampire, Viktor," he laughed, putting on a Dracula accent. "It kinda goes with your pale complexion. Heard of sun?" he laughed loudly, pushing past before Visser Three could see his necklace.
The Visser scowled deeply, and went on his way. Ax sighed, then remembered the possibility of student Controllers. Thankfully, he was wearing a collared shirt for a change. It might have had something to do with Erek only having collared shirts.
* * * * * * *
The Animorphs had turned out in force to watch the basketball game. Marco was collecting wagers on how many goals Ax would score. Cassie and Jake were holding hands and looking anxious. Rachel had arrived with a blond boy, presumably from another school. (Allison and Brittany checked out her new boyfriend, but seemed to be put off by the way he had almost zero facial expression.)
The game started. Ax scored the first three baskets for his team in rapid succession. Then the other team got going and drew even. James (ex-star shooter) got two. Ax flipped one in from the halfway line, causing the crowd to rise to their feet in cheers.
Ax, down on the court, was concentrating hard. Every shot he threw, no matter how wild, went in. Cyril was ecstatic. The boy never missed! They'd slaughter the other team.
After half time, the home team was leading comfortably with about double the other team's score. Marco was collecting money from people who'd guessed a lower figure than Ax has shot as yet. He looked as though he might be a rich man before the evening was over.
Down on the court, three of the reserves from the other team took it upon themselves to eliminate the problem that Ax presented. They strong-armed him outside, and aimed their punches.
Cassie, who had followed them out, opened her mouth in horror. She couldn't do anything to prevent Ax from being beaten to a pulp. She backed into the shadows and started her wolf morph. Too slowly.
The first fist descended. Ax shouted in pain. Cassie, whose eyes were changing, heard more yells and sounds of punches. Frantic, she tried to speed up the morph. They could kill him…
When she loped out into the small area, only one of Ax's assailants was still standing. She ignored the two writhing on the ground, and leapt for the last. She slammed him into the ground, paw over his mouth so he wouldn't scream.
Ax glared, furious. "Cassie," he began, in a temper now, "I can handle myself."
I'm helping! Geez! Gratitude!
"Bugger off!" Ax stalked up to her, shoved her sideways off the boy, and laid him out cold by banging his head efficiently on the ground.
Cassie was astonished. Strength enough to push a wolf…
Ax… she began.
"Save it," he said curtly. "I have a game to win."
* * * * * * *
Jake was not pleased with the events, to say the least. He helped Cassie drag the unconscious boys to a sheltered room, and somehow passed an anonymous note to their coach, explaining where they were. The coach took off immediately, leaving his team to play without his advice.
Down on the court, a fierce battle was being fought. Ax had increased their lead, and wasn't tiring. He'd taken penalty shots -- not all of the opposition played fair -- and still had a perfect record.
Ax raced beside a tall, ginger haired boy. He reached out to steal the ball. Sweat trickled into his eyes, momentarily blinding him. He stumbled, and the person on the opposing team, dribbling the ball, couldn't stop fast enough and rammed him from behind. They both overbalanced, the other boy putting out his hands to try and break his fall. One finger caught in the string of the necklace that Ax was wearing, and tore it away.
Ax sat, winded, on the floor, watching the melon seeds bounce freely on the hardwood floor. Something nagged at his mind, hadn't he seen this before? The other boy got to his feet and offered him a hand. "Sorry about that, man. You okay?"
In the stands, Marco, who was watching in horror, said urgently to Jake, "That guy is gonna get it, what with Ax's temper on a hair trigger and all. I just hope Ax doesn't punch him or anything, he'll get thrown out of the game!" he proceeded to gaze at the scene with disbelief building up as Ax took the proffered hand and got to his feet.
Down below, Ax suddenly felt very drained. The tide of adrenaline he had been riding throughout the game has receded. He took the guy's hand and pulled himself to his feet. Something told him that he should be really pissed off about the necklace, but he only felt a little sad, nothing more. Where was the anger and frustration that had seethed during the past week and a half?
A little shakily, he took the ball for the penalty shot. James, his voice thick with jealousy, sneered, "Don't choke."
Ax glared at him before tossing the ball confidently through the air.
It hit the hoop squarely, hard enough to produce a ringing sound like a gong -- and bounced off. James snickered. Ax whirled, to punch his grinning mug… and didn't. He couldn't even summon the energy to lift his hand.
James, seeing the expression on his face and finding genuine sympathy, said, "You okay, man? I mean, no big deal, right? You've missed before."
"Yes," said Ax, just letting the words speak themselves. "I'm fine."
Three minutes later, Ax got another chance at a shot. It was a crazy angle, but he took it anyway.
It dropped through the hoop without touching the rim. The bleachers, at first stunned with the lapse of the Talent, erupted in screams and war whoops.
They won, 56-20. The away team trooped back to their homes in defeat, and, in the case of Ax's attackers, considerable pain. Ax didn't care. His head felt really clear as Cyril, beaming widely, presented him and James with the miniature trophy (they'd won it for the game, duh!) and said "You done me proud, kid."
Ax let James keep it. He bowed a bit for the thanks, and during the first part of the celebrations, slipped out of the gym to find the rest of the Animorphs.
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There's only one more chapter to go. To all my readers who have supported me beyond the ending of the Animorphs series (Damn K.A!) THANKS!
