I answer questions in hope of more questions..er...reviews;

~For the person who thinks Scyeth is sort of like Jake in a furry bluish kind of way.

*grins sheepishly* I just wanted to say that -don't you like pointless comments?

~Jinako-chan

Yeah it's a cover up. (What's wrong with me today? Am I really answering questions or responding to people's reviews?!)

~morpherkidvb

Ahh, my favorite reviewer. Manages to always write a small story within a review. You think new technology is, er, ordinary? I was going to put something like germ warfare but that's overused too. Frankly, I just can't think like Yeerks so how can i brew that much trouble in so little time...?

Aright. I'm a little bit offended, (hah, not really) will it really bother you if i told you she acquired it in the TV series just before Jake did...hehehe...no, seriously, they had a circus carnival...no, it was a gift from the Chinese to a zoo! Wait, that can't be right either, you can't have tigers in China, they have pandas...fine, she just bumped into the tigress in the mall, it was a beauty contest.

You noticed too? It sort of annoyed me when KA switched from Bengal to Siberian a couple of times, I'd thought soon she'd be talking about blue eyes and white fur sprouting instead of orange...

And oh yeah, just post another chapter, I don't think you copied me, the idea's pretty simple. Hey! Everybody! Morpherkidvb DIDN'T COPY ME!

There you go. *Settles down*

~Lauren

Thanx. -I just had to say something to your review, if i didn't, it would look like i left you out. Hehehe. Something's wrong with me, must be my coffee, better switch to decaff.

Alright. One more thing:

Just one note; this happens a day after Scyeth tells the team what happened the evening they took him to BaseOne. I didn't write that part down so I'm telling you now. The chapter starts off as Scyeth tells them he decided to join the military.

THE THIRD BROTHER

CHAPTER SIX

Suspicions And Coincidences

Since when? Hagher asked as he knocked a driftball towards a post, watched as it missed it's target and bounced against the back wall, he turned to me. Speaking seriously but with a disbelieving tone that made it sound like he thought I was being ridiculous or stupid. people don't suddenly decide to change their careers.

Especially when they spent a fort night thinking about. Lumnar added skeptically.

Lumnar- I lifted an arm to the air, -the voice of reason and justice. I bowed, and also a great pain in the hindquarters.

No, he's right, Cathydor insisted, you should listen to Lumnar, these sort of decisions should not be taken lightly.

Maybe seeing your brother in battle turned you on a bit. Ajeel said, don't worry, it wears off, not every male is born a fighter.

Excuse me? I said angrily, could you repeat that, I'm afraid I haven't heard you correctly the first time round.

Dargeion rolled his stalk eyes about, he meant that some males are built to chase around females instead of chasing after enemies.

Now I was feeling even more provoked, my tail rose defensively.

Look- Ajeel smiled slyly, he winked at Dargeion, he even has a tail blade, tell me, Scyeth, you use that for trimming your hooves?

I stared. I could feel the anger bubbling up inside of me, Hagher looked alarmed as the usual bickering between Ajeel and I had actually turned into a real fight. You're going to take that back, Ajeel!

Ajeel laughed, kicked at the grass with his left fore-hoof, Make me!

Now look, Hagher mumbled, why can't we all be friends?

Cathydor too, mumbled something, but whatever it was I didn't know.

I'll show you, I hissed, Ajeel, you're going to regret ever saying anything like that.

I have somewhere else I have to be, Lumnar said, his thought speak tone full of disgust, I noticed Cathydor edging towards him –great, he was leaving too, that guy had no backbone- some of us might not want to waste their time watching you two kill each other.

I ignored Lumnar and concentrated on Ajeel, he was inching towards me as we circled around. I was looking for a chance to swipe at him, all four of my eyes were locked on him, which was a mistake, I couldn't see what was going on behind me, I didn't at first realize why Ajeel was grinning so broadly –until it was too late that is.

I saw Idgar and Hagher look at Ajeel and me nervously, Idgar looked like he was going to run off any second to get help and Hagher looked like he was going to jump right into the fight.

Wait. If I could see my friends, and they were in front of me that meant Dargeion was behind me, so…

WHAP!

I received a powerful blow to my back legs, it caused my rear end to buckle to the ground pinning my tail beneath me, Ajeel, grinning at his friend as he advanced towards me, I struggled to get up but Dargeion kicked me again.

I fell down hard.

Hey! Hagher yelled, Haven't you two jerks heard of a fair fight?

Ajeel's tail snapped down towards my throat, the dull side slapped my face. Ajeel turned to Dargeion and uttered some snide remark, he turned to me again, come on, Sceyth, can you fight like a warrior? Or are you just charm and looks?

I was furiously angry with Ajeel, I was even angry with Hagher and Idgar and even Lumnar who wasn't there. And Cathydor. That gutless chicken. You'll regret this! I screamed angrily, then I lunged at him.

Ajeel easily dodged me and knocked my head with the side of his tail-blade, he snickered.

Cut it out you two, Idgar said, this is really foolish.

Foolish? Or is it just too much for you? Ajeel laughed, tauntingly. You people aren't ready for battle. I bet none of you would last for a second on the battlefield. Least of all you, Scyeth.

Idgar stared.

I stared.

Hagher stared.

Even Dargeion stared. He turned slowly back to his friend, oh yeah? And you've seen open battle to judge who'll survive?

Ajeel's eyes gleamed dangerously. There was something there that I've never seen before. As a matter of fact, I have.

Dargeion looked surprised. We all did. Ajeel had seen battle?

How was it like? Idgar asked. Why didn't you tell us this before?

Ajeel snickered. As if you would ever understand.

How come you never told me? Dargeion asked, his eyes narrowed.

Ajeel shrugged suddenly, there's nothing to say about it.

I bet you're lying. Hagher retorted. I bet you haven't even smelt battle, if you have then what are you doing stuck here?

Ajeel smiled at that. He did not offer a reply. He turned and walked away. Dargeion didn't follow him. He looked lost in private thought.

Personally, I was glad he was gone, who needed him around? He's nothing but trouble. Of course the fight between both of us hadn't settled. Of course I'll make him take back every word he said today –I will, when I find out how.

See what I mean? Hagher said scornfully, I'd be a fool to think that Ajeel's a worthy friend.

Hey! Dargeion replied angrily, you be careful about you say around me. I'm no fool and neither is Ajeel. He's just…just-

Confused? Hagher interrupted, mentally twisted? Insane? mad? Obsessive? Dargeion, you have a lot to choose from. Don't trail off like that.

He's not like that. Dargeion snapped, you know, he's a lot better when you get to know him in person.

I bet he is. Hagher suppressed a snicker, turned to us laughing loudly, can you imagine that? Ajeel a decent person? Hagher shuddered, I can't even imagine what sort of decency that would be.

Oh, so wait. Idgar snapped suddenly, we have to watch what we say in front of you but your lies have no boundaries?

Dargeion kicked at the grass angrily, he turned and started leaving. It was about then that I decided that I should say something.

You know what Dargeion? If Ajeel's as strong and smart as he thinks he is, then how come he's not captain and I am? Face it, you two are losers and picking on us like that is the only way you could hide your embarrassment.

That made Dargeion turn around. Oh yeah? Don't we all know how you got to be Captain?

I snorted, we all had a fair chance to compete for the position.

Dargeion shook his head, we all got chances but they were anything but fair.

That's what all losers say, I sneered, but at the back of my mind I noticed that Hagher and Idgar hadn't pressed their opinion on the matter. This observation caused my next remark to sound lame and fake. You just can't face reality.

Dargeion was silent for a moment watching my face, as if he was thinking about me. He seemed to have made up his mind –formed some kind of opinion- and just before leaving he said, you know what Sceyth, not many Andalites believe in luck. But I believe –I know- that some of it contributes to who you become. As I also know that luck keeps people from finding out who they really are.

What? I drew back confused.

You are living in a dream Sceyth. Dargeion shook his eye-stalks sympathetically. And when this illusion of yours shatters, you'll wake up to a bloody shameless world.

What? I snapped again, what was he talking about? I shot a look at the others but they too seemed confused.

You'll only understand later, Sceyth. But Ajeel understands, and that's why he survived.

It wouldn't surprise you if I told you that I had no idea what he was on about. But what might surprise you is that I can guess…and speculate…about what he was talking about.

You see, I'm not really that clueless. Just a bit slow. I'd admit to that all right. But admitting to anything else would be too much.

As I watched Dargeion's figure disappear behind trees I couldn't help think about how –a few days ago- had seemed like the average boring day. That a few days ago, I hadn't considered changing my career or meeting a long-dead brother who might have just died again.

I was only suspicious at first but now I had to reconsider the gaps left out of my brother's stories. How my parents never really talked about what they did outside the scoop. In fact, I remember that any time I tried to ask them about my brothers they'd avoid me or change the subject.

At first I thought it was just avoiding grief. But now I sensed more. The others had no way of understanding what Dargeion was talking about. But I did. I knew he was talking about my brothers.

First that Estrid person asking me if I had ever talked to or seen one of my brothers, then there was –coincidentally or not- the communication my supposedly dead brother had managed to send. Then this, Dargeion acting like he knew something about my family that I didn't know.

What worried me was that he was probably right, he probably did know something about my family that I didn't know about, what with my parents avoiding my questions and Ramor who never gave me a direct answer…

He knew, but how could I extract that piece of information from a person who was a friend to the person who hated me so badly.

I didn't know.

But I'll think of something. And judging the way things were going, I'd rather find it out sooner than later.

You are all welcomed to review. I wouldn't press charges -just answer your questions.