Chapter ?: Marco the Mighty
RACHEL:
"Sleeping beauty your prince has arrived." I opened my eyes and found Marco's face only a foot away from my head.
"Where? I don't see him." Marco reached out a hand to help me up. "Thanks" I mumbled under my breath as I grabbed his hand and got up.
I looked around as I started wiping the dirt off of my clothes. Aquaris sent me here wearing some semi fashionable sweats. They were the kind that made a swish noise when you walked…not too our advantage if we had to sneak past anything. I was also wearing a midnight blue tank top that matched the sweats, not something I would normally wear but I could live with it.
I saw that everyone else was still rubbing their eyes and stretching. All but Tobias who looked like he was still trying to morph hawk, and it wasn't working. "It won't work." I said as I finally gained the courage to walk up to him. Normally this would be no problem, but after I had seen him when Aquaris was trying to take control of him…it was too much.
He turned around and looked at me as though he blamed me for doing this to him. "Then how are we supposed to kill Crayak?" He asked with a new uncertainty in his voice.
"You heard Aquaris, as long as we get past his traps and memories all we have to do is hit him in the gut." Tobias looked at the sky as though he was angry at it. There was a new rage that I noticed was trapped within him. This was something I feared, I knew this kind of rage very well…this was the rage that had imprisoned me during the war. Ever since I had to stay there with David, ever since I had to watch him become a nothlit and hear his screams and pleas. That was what changed me, and that was what was happening to Tobias now. That same rage was now imprisoning him.
I turned around and headed back to where everyone else was. I knew that Tobias was following me because I heard his uneasy feet pound against the wet earth. "Okay, everyone has to make sure that they've had a drink of water and some of those berries before we leave because I'm not sure how much longer we'll have to go without food or water. We can try to carry them with us but speaking for myself, I have no pockets so…"
"I have my backpack with me." Cassie stated as she held it out. How did she always manage to help us in every possible way without knowing that we would even need help? "I was going to go hiking, it has two water bottles in it and an ice pack." Everyone just stared at Cassie, not sure what to say. "Did you know we were coming here?" Marco finally asked laughing. "Why does this remind me of the days back in Cassie's barn." I started thinking about it and almost smiled, ALMOST. But then I remembered that I wasn't supposed to remember because I was never there. "Yea…. you can all reminisce about this or we could save the universe." I said sarcastically. "It's your choice."
"Is there a third option?" Everyone ignored Marco as we started gathering water, food and anything else we thought we might need.
MARCO:
I had spent the past few years as a happy man. Seriously, I was so god damned happy and yet I agreed to this! I put my life in jeopardy again and once again was trapped with Jake and Tobias with a slim, very slim mind you possibility to save the Ax-man who was now some huge Andalite Prince. Not that I have anything against them, Jake's my best friend and well the bird boy…for a while we had something in common.
But here I was crashing to my death on the Rachel when I black out and suddenly find my self with my face in the dirt. Where was St. Peter? Where was the big guy? I got up and looked around, nope not heaven. It was a nice place, some sort of valley but I was pretty sure this wasn't where I would be confessing my sins and impure thoughts…Deje vu man….
* * * FLASH BACK * * *
* * * FLASHBACK-OVER* * *
Those were the good times, and it was too bad that they were over. Not that I was pissed that the yeerks were gone, no I was quite happy about that but the way it was like to go flying, all 6 of us in the beginning, and to do it just for kicks. Before the war started putting weight on everyone's shoulders. I never thought I'd say…err…think this but those years were probably the highlight of my life. Just don't tell Jake I said it.
Whoa, I just heard a voice in my head…where was I? Ah, yes. The good times, the times where we'd go out on a suicidal mission like this every month. I wonder whatever happened to Ellimist. No one's seen him for such a long time. My theory is that he got sick of the whole 'helping the small people' bit and got a condo in Miami. Jake laughed at that, but I don't know why I was serious. Well actually I wasn't but it's funny right? Ladies love the funny. So what if I'm as tall as an oompa loompa, my witty remarks and intelligence makes up for it!
"Is there a third option?" I asked expecting to hear at least one small snicker or concealed laugh but nothing, who were these people and where were my fans? Then I realized I was once again on a suicidal mission where there was only a very small chance I would live to see tomorrow. Oh yeah, that's why no one laughed. Where was Xena when you needed her for a nice come back?
"Yea, the third option is that you can be blasted into total oblivion by Crayak when he finds out we're here." That was too freaky…Hope walked past me and acted like it was nothing. "Oh, so I guess your taking the third option then? Good thinking, you'll be a good decoy." She laughed as she turned her head back in front of her. Where was this woman all of my life? She was smart, funny, witty, and beautiful. But I didn't trust her, everyone else might think that I would throw myself all over her, and I did but I didn't trust her, she seemed too familiar like I knew her from somewhere.
Marco, I must speak to you about something. Ax looked at me nervously with his main eyes and swept the area with his stalk eyes. There wasn't really anything that he could miss with those things.
"Sure Ax-man, shoot." This was the first conversation I had had with the guy for years, but somehow I didn't think that it was some catching up or heart to heart on our past girlfriends and crap. No, with Ax it was usually something that was A: Serious and could get you killed or B: about some form of junk food. I was leaning towards option A at this moment.
It's about The One. Yep, I was right. Option A.
