There wasn't time to wonder.
There wasn't time to wonder about what Alexxen's words had meant, about who Alanna really was, about what they had said. But I didn't like it.
I was angry at myself, and confused. Had I led us into a corner we couldn't get out of? All my decisions had been based on big assumptions. The assumption that we could trust Alanna, that she could take care of Alexxen… What would the results be if I had been wrong?
But there was no time to wonder.
I led the attack out of the storage room. (All right, we want to be quick!) I yelled, with a roar that echoed throughout the ship. (Rachel, Ax, find the Visser and- and we'll keep the others busy.)
Why hadn't I wanted to say it? Find the Visser and kill him. That's what I wanted them to do. But I couldn't force myself to just announce someone's death, not even his.
I saw Rachel and Ax slide out of the way down the hall as the first wave of Controllers came, hearing my call.
(Jake…) Cassie said hesitantly.
(They'll be fine,) I said, more for my benefit than for hers. (They'll get him.)
I leaped at a nearby Hork Bajir, burying my teeth in its neck. I quickly lost sight of Ax and Rachel as I fought, fighting to keep the waves of Controllers away from the direction they had gone. There were so many of them! And now we were two people short…
Through the haze of blood and violence I could see Alexxen, watching eagerly, like a beggar to a scrap of food. Where was Alanna? My head jerked up as a Dracon beam sliced past my shoulder. I roared in pain and frustration. (Cassie!) I yelled. (Do you see Alanna?)
(Ah! Jake I- No, I don't.) There was a sudden note of fear in her voice. (I think she's gone.)
Gone. Wait… wasn't she supposed to make sure we got out? Make sure Alexxen stayed in line? I fought with renewed fear and despair. Who was protecting us from Alexxen?
My claws were out as I took out one Controller and the arm of another. My shoulder was bleeding but by now I had grown numb to the pain. All I could do was fight and hope, hope beyond belief that Rachel and Ax would find him and kill him, that they would come back in one piece, that we would all be able to get out alive.
I've been in this war long enough to know that if something can go wrong, it will. I had gotten us into this mess. I should've called off this mission long before we were in so deep. But there was no time for regrets either. Only time to fight.
Or die…
And it was deep in the middle of that fight when our luck finally gave way. I heard the sharp, stinging laughter and when I saw it was coming from Alexxen, my heart stood still.
We wouldn't be able to beat him this time.
"It's been long enough, Andalites," he sneered. "You've had you're ten minutes of glory, now it's time to face the music."
And he came for me.
I knew I was going to be first from the way he looked at me. He pushed through bodies, alive and dead, with a quick, fluid motion, and I found myself face to face with an opponent I had no chance against.
"How do you feel about dying today, Andalite?" he said. "I must admit, I admire the body you've chosen- it should be quite a fight." He paused, and his smile grew. "Albeit a short one."
(You won't win,) I said. It was too late for silence, and besides, I wanted to get this out. (They'll kill the Visser.)
He cracked his knuckles, and that single, small action made me shudder despite myself. "Don't be ridiculous," he said. "You're friends are probably already dead."
(You're wrong!) I yelled, feeling my anger replace my fear. I would not die a coward. Not for anything.
Alexxen laughed again. A flicker of- something- passed his face, but it was gone before I could catch it. "Andalite loyalty. Funny. It's almost a pity to see you go, Andalite- perhaps I could've learned something from you?" It sounded like a question, but not one I could answer. He suddenly shrugged and was back to normal. "Or perhaps it would've been fun to torture you."
(Rot in hell,) I sneered, preparing to pounce.
"You first," he laughed, and we sprang towards each other.
Hey, thanks for the reviews. Finals are over (Yeah, baby!). Tell me what you think, of course, as always!
There wasn't time to wonder about what Alexxen's words had meant, about who Alanna really was, about what they had said. But I didn't like it.
I was angry at myself, and confused. Had I led us into a corner we couldn't get out of? All my decisions had been based on big assumptions. The assumption that we could trust Alanna, that she could take care of Alexxen… What would the results be if I had been wrong?
But there was no time to wonder.
I led the attack out of the storage room. (All right, we want to be quick!) I yelled, with a roar that echoed throughout the ship. (Rachel, Ax, find the Visser and- and we'll keep the others busy.)
Why hadn't I wanted to say it? Find the Visser and kill him. That's what I wanted them to do. But I couldn't force myself to just announce someone's death, not even his.
I saw Rachel and Ax slide out of the way down the hall as the first wave of Controllers came, hearing my call.
(Jake…) Cassie said hesitantly.
(They'll be fine,) I said, more for my benefit than for hers. (They'll get him.)
I leaped at a nearby Hork Bajir, burying my teeth in its neck. I quickly lost sight of Ax and Rachel as I fought, fighting to keep the waves of Controllers away from the direction they had gone. There were so many of them! And now we were two people short…
Through the haze of blood and violence I could see Alexxen, watching eagerly, like a beggar to a scrap of food. Where was Alanna? My head jerked up as a Dracon beam sliced past my shoulder. I roared in pain and frustration. (Cassie!) I yelled. (Do you see Alanna?)
(Ah! Jake I- No, I don't.) There was a sudden note of fear in her voice. (I think she's gone.)
Gone. Wait… wasn't she supposed to make sure we got out? Make sure Alexxen stayed in line? I fought with renewed fear and despair. Who was protecting us from Alexxen?
My claws were out as I took out one Controller and the arm of another. My shoulder was bleeding but by now I had grown numb to the pain. All I could do was fight and hope, hope beyond belief that Rachel and Ax would find him and kill him, that they would come back in one piece, that we would all be able to get out alive.
I've been in this war long enough to know that if something can go wrong, it will. I had gotten us into this mess. I should've called off this mission long before we were in so deep. But there was no time for regrets either. Only time to fight.
Or die…
And it was deep in the middle of that fight when our luck finally gave way. I heard the sharp, stinging laughter and when I saw it was coming from Alexxen, my heart stood still.
We wouldn't be able to beat him this time.
"It's been long enough, Andalites," he sneered. "You've had you're ten minutes of glory, now it's time to face the music."
And he came for me.
I knew I was going to be first from the way he looked at me. He pushed through bodies, alive and dead, with a quick, fluid motion, and I found myself face to face with an opponent I had no chance against.
"How do you feel about dying today, Andalite?" he said. "I must admit, I admire the body you've chosen- it should be quite a fight." He paused, and his smile grew. "Albeit a short one."
(You won't win,) I said. It was too late for silence, and besides, I wanted to get this out. (They'll kill the Visser.)
He cracked his knuckles, and that single, small action made me shudder despite myself. "Don't be ridiculous," he said. "You're friends are probably already dead."
(You're wrong!) I yelled, feeling my anger replace my fear. I would not die a coward. Not for anything.
Alexxen laughed again. A flicker of- something- passed his face, but it was gone before I could catch it. "Andalite loyalty. Funny. It's almost a pity to see you go, Andalite- perhaps I could've learned something from you?" It sounded like a question, but not one I could answer. He suddenly shrugged and was back to normal. "Or perhaps it would've been fun to torture you."
(Rot in hell,) I sneered, preparing to pounce.
"You first," he laughed, and we sprang towards each other.
Hey, thanks for the reviews. Finals are over (Yeah, baby!). Tell me what you think, of course, as always!