I've got Charlotte! Marco. Just another voice. My breathing was laboured.
A drop of sweat made its way down my left cheek. I willed myself to do it,
to get it over with.
Let's bail! Tobias! Get Erin! Get Erin. Shoot Erin. Kill Erin. Tobis! What are you doing? Jake's tiger eyes had seen me.
Tobias!
My name. Everywhere. in my head. Laughter ringing in my ears. Voices. Screams. Bullets. Beams.
Do it. Erin. Her head was down in the water. Soon, she would be a slave.
I pressed the trigger.
TSEEEER!
Chaos. Visser Three reared back like a frightened horse. He scanned the area. Saw me looking at him, watching him with narrowed eyes. His eyes went from my face to my dracon beam to my face again.
You! He cursed angrily. I knew he would regret. That boy! Get that boy! He begin to run. He was afraid I would get him. I enjoyed his fear.
Tobias! What did you just do? Cassie cried. I stood still, my eyes diverted back to a heap of blue on the ground. I didn't care that Hork- Bajir and human-controllers were coming my way, ready to capture me. Rachel did. She trumpeted loudly and began to charge towards me, her powerful trunk sweeping people and aliens out of her way.
Marco, get Charlotte out. Find a safe spot. Whatever you do, do not let Charlotte out of your sight, do you hear? Jake ordered.
Yes sir. Come on little girl. Stop screaming. I heard a gorilla's roar. Bullets.
TOBIAS! Rachel. I felt a rough thick cord wrap around my waist. Looked down to see that it was Rachel's trunk. Snap out of it! Don't go comatose on me okay? I nodded. Barely.
Everyone to Tobias! Jake yelled.
I need to put you down. Run or demorph, okay? Rachel asked. I nodded again. I felt firm ground beneath my feet. I felt her let go.
I began to run.
Behind me, I was vaguely aware that there was screaming. Maybe dying. I didn't know. I ran, soles slapping against the hard floor. My ragged breathing pounded in my ears. I reached my destination, fell to the floor, bracing myself with my hands.
"Erin..." I whispered, touching her.
Blood.
Blood was gushing out of her stomach. Her breathing was heavy too. My hand was on her shoulder. I felt her veins pulsating weakly. Her heartbeat was slowing down. "Erin, I'm sorry..." I whispered.
Don't be. She looked at me. There was a look in her eyes, like Ax had when he was smiling. You did what I told you to do. I took her hand in mine. Andalite fingers are so fragile. Like life.
Thank you, Tobias. Erin said softly. Your father would have been so proud of you. I watched Erin close her eyes. Her hearts beat once more. Then they stopped.
"ERIN!" I shouted. I shook her. I tried to get her to wake up. "No!" I choked.
She's gone, Tobias. Rachel lifted me up from the ground. I clung to Erin, unwilling to let her go. She's gone.
The tears blurred my vision as Rachel laid me on her back. I felt the vibrations of her muscles moving. I felt her heartbeat. It was strong.
But life was so fragile.
I cried out as I clung to Rachel's back. Tears streamed down my face. 'She's gone, Tobias.' Shouts and animal roars. 'She's gone.'
Let's bail! Tobias! Get Erin! Get Erin. Shoot Erin. Kill Erin. Tobis! What are you doing? Jake's tiger eyes had seen me.
Tobias!
My name. Everywhere. in my head. Laughter ringing in my ears. Voices. Screams. Bullets. Beams.
Do it. Erin. Her head was down in the water. Soon, she would be a slave.
I pressed the trigger.
TSEEEER!
Chaos. Visser Three reared back like a frightened horse. He scanned the area. Saw me looking at him, watching him with narrowed eyes. His eyes went from my face to my dracon beam to my face again.
You! He cursed angrily. I knew he would regret. That boy! Get that boy! He begin to run. He was afraid I would get him. I enjoyed his fear.
Tobias! What did you just do? Cassie cried. I stood still, my eyes diverted back to a heap of blue on the ground. I didn't care that Hork- Bajir and human-controllers were coming my way, ready to capture me. Rachel did. She trumpeted loudly and began to charge towards me, her powerful trunk sweeping people and aliens out of her way.
Marco, get Charlotte out. Find a safe spot. Whatever you do, do not let Charlotte out of your sight, do you hear? Jake ordered.
Yes sir. Come on little girl. Stop screaming. I heard a gorilla's roar. Bullets.
TOBIAS! Rachel. I felt a rough thick cord wrap around my waist. Looked down to see that it was Rachel's trunk. Snap out of it! Don't go comatose on me okay? I nodded. Barely.
Everyone to Tobias! Jake yelled.
I need to put you down. Run or demorph, okay? Rachel asked. I nodded again. I felt firm ground beneath my feet. I felt her let go.
I began to run.
Behind me, I was vaguely aware that there was screaming. Maybe dying. I didn't know. I ran, soles slapping against the hard floor. My ragged breathing pounded in my ears. I reached my destination, fell to the floor, bracing myself with my hands.
"Erin..." I whispered, touching her.
Blood.
Blood was gushing out of her stomach. Her breathing was heavy too. My hand was on her shoulder. I felt her veins pulsating weakly. Her heartbeat was slowing down. "Erin, I'm sorry..." I whispered.
Don't be. She looked at me. There was a look in her eyes, like Ax had when he was smiling. You did what I told you to do. I took her hand in mine. Andalite fingers are so fragile. Like life.
Thank you, Tobias. Erin said softly. Your father would have been so proud of you. I watched Erin close her eyes. Her hearts beat once more. Then they stopped.
"ERIN!" I shouted. I shook her. I tried to get her to wake up. "No!" I choked.
She's gone, Tobias. Rachel lifted me up from the ground. I clung to Erin, unwilling to let her go. She's gone.
The tears blurred my vision as Rachel laid me on her back. I felt the vibrations of her muscles moving. I felt her heartbeat. It was strong.
But life was so fragile.
I cried out as I clung to Rachel's back. Tears streamed down my face. 'She's gone, Tobias.' Shouts and animal roars. 'She's gone.'