::Chapter 3:::

I looked at Cassie and gave her a hopeful wink, just to loosen up the moment. I took off my baggy clothing and handed them to Cassie. She put them in her jacket. I concentrated on my spider morph and I could feel 4 more arms grow out of my sides. It didn't look pretty, but it didn't feel painful, which I'm glad for. Tiny hair grew out of my body like a fast-forwarded video of grass growing. I could also feel other eyes pop out on my head. My mouth melted together. If you tried to move your mouth when you were morphing anything that didn't have a mouth, it'd feel like your mouth was duct taped. Couldn't open it, couldn't make audible sounds. I started shrinking and everything around me became bigger. I already knew how to control my spider instincts, so I didn't have to worry about a different personality trying to take me over.

I finished morphing and could see Cassie's shoe. It was huge. I blinked, or at least I think I did, and tried to fight off my huge urge to eat anything that was alive. I was hungry. I remembered my first time morphing the wolf spider. I got over my fear of them, so I'm not so shocked as seeing four legs on both sides of me. Still, wolf spiders were very rough and they were killers. If they were in porportion to humans, then we'd either be dead or held as Nature's Freaks in spider circuses.

Spider eye sight was good. I haven't used thought-speak for a while. Hey, Cass. Don't answer me back, I can't hear that well. Anyway, just tap part of the gate that's closest to the clothes. I walked my eight legs closer to the gate and I could see Cassie's shoes. I saw her tapping the gate and I felt the hair on my body move. Spiders are sensible to things like that, even leaves. I crawled over to where the sound came from and crawled to the other side of the gate. I crawled down the gate and onto the floor, demorphing. I was growing bigger, and my arms were sucked back into my body. The hair faded away, my eyes disappeared, and my spider hunger disappeared.

"Marco, you better hurry. People are coming."

You know how you hate it when people hurry you in the most frantic times? Sure, Cassie's an angel, and yeah, she was trying to help me, but please, just don't hurry me up when I'm putting my clothes on.

I pulled on Rachel's dad's black jacket. It looked like a tuxedo's jacket. I put on the dress pants and stuffed my feet into the shoes. They were a size too big, but hell, I'll deal with it. I straightened my jacket as a couple walked by.

I nodded to them and they nodded back. They turned a corner and left to their rooms. Cassie hissed, "That was close."

"Stay in the room and I'll be back. Don't come out... I'm not sure if white people here are as brutal as it seems in America. I doubt, but just to be safe."

She nodded. I hoped I didn't scare her, but what I said was true. I didn't want anyone to attack Cassie just because she was black.

I watched her leave to our room, then I pulled out the Titanic pamphlet that had a map inside. Cassie circled the gate where I was at with a red pen and she traced the route that I'd take to get to the dining area, which was on B-Deck. It was next to the Grand Staircase. I'd get to see the Grand Staircase, or I think so. In the Titanic movie, that place looked really bright. I looked at the map again. Damn, the route Cassie drew me, I didn't get a chance to pass or see the Grand Staircase. I guess she didn't want me to draw any attention. That'll be kind of hard, with my good looks and all.

I started to walk up the stairs to C-Deck. Then, I kept walking until the 3rd hallway. Wait, was it the 3rd of the 4th? I looked at the map. It was the fourth. I took a few steps forward, rounded a left corner, kept walking, walked up a flight of stairs, nearly hitting into someone that I didn't bother to say sorry for, and I was on B-Deck. One more deck and I'd be there. You know, these stairs were pretty long. It tired me out already and I wished I could've just morphed a fly or mosquito and flew over to Rachel or something. But, it was too late now.

I walked and flew up the stairs. I stopped as the stairway ended. To the right was the dining saloon and I saw people walking from it. Everyone looked rich. I mean rich. This one lady had at least 5 pearl necklaces, a silk shawl, a shiny dress that reached the floor, and shoes with diamonds on them. Her date, on the other hand, wore a regular tuxedo. Though, he looked sharp and alert. I kept away from those kind of people.

I coughed, patted down my hair, and straightened my jacket again. I tried to hide the white tee shirt under the jacket. Oh, I look fine enough. I grinned and walked down the hallway. I stepped past the glass doors and looked around the huge room. The dining saloon was really big. There must've been at least 8 tables per row and 12 tables per column and a lot of people were seated down. Waiters walked around, smiling, picking up plates, setting down dishes, and scurried off. They were everywhere. A quintet was in the room, too and they were playing a happy classical song. I looked around, trying to search for Rachel. I started by walking down the rows, looking sideways. It wasn't that hard, since there were lots of adults. All I had to do was look for a teenage girl. I finished walking down the row and there wasn't a sign of her or her dad. I sighed. I walked left, and bumped into someone.

"Sorry, sir," I said.

"Sorry," he replied.

I looked up. He was walking away. Somehow, that voice sounded familiar. I shrugged it off. I needed to find Rachel because if I found her, I found Ax.

I eventually found Rachel on the other side of the room, next to the windows. The sky was gradient with dark blue and black. Stars were popping out and the moon was up. The water looked beautiful. I swear, this ship was enclosed with beauty. Everywhere. Even the napkins were pretty.

I went up to Rachel's table and bowed to her dad and her. I guess I didn't have to do that since they started chuckling at me. Well, Rachel's dad was chuckling. Rachel was giggling again. I sort of felt like smacking her and telling her to stop. It was too un-Rachel and it made me mad. Ellimist was playing with Rachel. That just wasn't right.

"Evening, both of you," I prompted. I decided to behave extra courteous.

"Evening," they both said.

"Would you like to join us?" asked Rachel's dad.

"No, thank you. I already ate in the second-class saloon." I smiled.

"Ah... How did you get up here? I thought second-class was restricted," said Rachel's dad.

"It is. I had to lie to tell the steward to let me in."

Rachel grinned at me.

Her father, however, looked disappointed. "Well, I guess lying's the only way to get up here."

I nodded.

"I was wondering where Max was staying because I need to talk to him."

"Oh, well, do you want me to show you?" Rachel asked. She looked at her dad. "Is it all right?"

"Yes, but be back in 10 minutes. The food will be here."

"Oh, well, no, that's okay, you don't have to show me. Just tell me what room number he's in. I don't want to trouble any of you."

"But, I'd really like to show you --"

"Now, now, Rachel, if he doesn't want you to help him, then don't press him in."

She half-glared at her dad and leaned back in her chair, her arms folded.

"He's in room 16 in this deck."

I nodded, smiled big, bowed again, said, "Thank you. Have a nice evening." and left. I looked at the map. Rooms 1-20 were on the far end of the deck. I walked briskly over to the end, glancing at the sky. The more it grew darker, the more time I knew that we didn't have for Cassie.

I found room 16 and braced myself for what might come. I calmed myself down and knocked on the door.

No response. Damn, he has to be there.

I knocked again. "Max?" I yelled into the door. There was no response.

I blinked. "Ax?"

The door swung open and I saw Ax in human morph. He was wearing a tuxedo. ... Marco, you're a fucking idiot. The guy you bumped into earlier was Ax...

I smiled big and laughed. "Ax! It's you!"

He gave me a funny look. "I believe you are mistaken. My name is Max. And, what is it that you need? I am very busy right now."

I stared at him. No, not him. I figured Ax wasn't going to be in this British Titanic act crap. He's one of the most important person in this group! He was the alien. He was the only one connected to the Andalites.

"Um... Well... I was uh... Visiting. I'm Rachel's friend. I just wanted to meet you because, well, as you can see, there aren't many people our age around here."

He nodded and stepped in. "Would you like to come in?"

I looked at the clock that was in his room. "Sure, but I'd have to go soon."

He nodded anyway and I stepped into the room. There were two big beds. One was probably for his parents and one was just for him. Lucky bastard. I got stuck with a twin size bed and he gets a queen-size. I really should've gotten first-class.

"I'm Marco Vadel. Originally from America but I lived in Spain for most of my life. Rachel's dad generously bought me a ticket back to America."

He smiled. "Your parents live in America, don't they?"

"How did you know?"

"Rachel told me all about you today. She's very fond of America; wants to be an actress or singer. She loves to perform."

I nodded. "She seems the type."

"Oh, sorry for not introducing me." He took my hand and shook it vigorously. "I'm Max Isthill."

I raised my eyebrow. That was interesting. "Isthill, huh? Interesting last name."

"Yeah... I didn't know my parents. I'm living with my aunt and uncle since I was a month old. They say my parents died in a car crash, but..." He leaned to me and said, "I think they're covering it up. I think they just didn't want me." He leaned back.

"I lived with my Aunt but she's financially unbalanced to--"

"To keep you, I know, I know. Rachel told me. She sounds like she's in love with you."

I coughed, grinning, and straightened up. "Wait, say that again."

"She sounds like she's in love with you."

Wow. Xena's in love with me.


I smiled all proudly and straightened my jacket. "Well, I can't blame her. I am cute and the girls can't resist me."

He grinned and shook his head. "You're the only other guy on this ship her age. I'm sure it's that."

"So, you're insulting my good looks and my charm."

"I am."

"You are very brave to do that. No man, no woman, no child has insulted me without fear. You, on the other hand, are different," I said. Wow, I'm getting into this British thing too.

"So, are you calling me odd?"

"No, I'm just calling you brave."

"But you did call me different and being different is being odd, weird, or strange."

He had the mind of Ax but the personality of Max.

"Not to me..." I said.

There was a short drag of silence. "How's America like?" he asked.

I didn't remember much about America in the 1910's... So I guess I'll have to lie. "It's big. If you go to New York, it's crowded with many people. There's also this new music called jazz and swing. Jazz and swing is very popular."

"I never heard jazz or swing. Here, we're still focused on Classical music. It does get quite dull but it sounds good to hear American music once in a while."

"If we reach America, maybe I'll let you listen to some."

"That... will be great. I can't wait 'till I see America. I heard many rumors that the Americans are a bit... rough."

"What do you mean?"

"They're not so courteous and kind."

I laughed. "That can be true if you get on the wrong side of people."

"I never heard that expression, 'wrong side of people.'"

"It's like... when you talk to someone when they're upset or not in the mood to talk."

"Oh. So most Americans are mad?"

"Most Americans have... different kinds of lives."

He nodded. "Like you? What kind of life do you have?"

"Do you really want to know?"

He nodded. "You're the only other guy my age on this ship."

"Actually, you're not."

"Ah... I'd like to meet these people one day."

"One's in third-class and one's in second-class."

Max muttered, "Third-class..." and shook his head.

My defense side came up. "What's so wrong with third-class?"

"They're just so... dirty."

"Dirty?" He called Tobias dirty. Tobias was a friend. Max, well, he may look like Ax in human morph but hell, he's just not. "Not all third-class are dirty. The service here treat third-class like trash. Maybe that's why they're dirty. If they treat first-class like third-class, then Hell, you'd be dirty as them, too."

I looked at the clock. Fuck, I have to go. "Well, nice meeting you, Max. I hope your opinion on third-class change pretty soon." We shook hands.

"I hope I will meet them."

I left the room, never looking back.

:::

Sorry that this chapter's not as good and that you never got the chance to meet Tobias (yet.). This chapter turned out longer than I thought it would, so that's why I cut it off when Marco meets Max/Ax. I was thinking of making Max humorous so it won't bore you, but as Rachel described Max, he's kind of off-humor and serious. ~shrugs~ But, you WILL get to see Tobias in the next chapter. =D