Chapter 16-Axmili
We let Jake sleep. Any prince should be allowed to rest after a battle. This battle was more personal for Jake, though. We had to kill his brother. No Andalite would ever dream of having to commit such an act. But most Andalites have not fought Yeerks as much as we have. Most Andalites do not have siblings who have been infested.
"Hey, look at Visser One!" Cassie exclaimed, pointing her finger at the body of Alloran-Semitur-Corrass.
A gray slug was slowly emerging from the Andalite ear. At long last, we had freed the only Andalite ever to be infested by the Yeerks.
"Here we go," Marco said, lifting up a black box. Humans call it a 'briefcase'. I am not exactly sure why.
"Cookies! I am a little hungry," Marco said. He took out a bag that contained many chocolate chip cookies.
Of all human foods, chocolate is one of the best. When I eat chocolate, it is wonderful. I cannot describe the feeling one gets when they eat chocolate.
The slug that was Visser One was now laying on the floor, helpless. This was the creature that had killed so many Andalite warriors. He had spread destruction across the galaxy. Most importantly, he had murdered my brother, Elfangor.
I whipped my tail and impaled the Yeerk on the end of my blade. Visser One was dead. The evilest Yeerk was no more.
"What did you do that for?!" Rachel demanded, in her human form. She had demorphed from grizzly bear. "Jake said to take the visser prisoner, not to kill him!"
Visser One killed my brother, I replied slowly. By Andalite custom, I must avenge my brother's death. There have been many times I could have killed the visser, but I could not. Now I have finally done my duty. My brother can now rest in peace, now that his death has been avenged.
"You'll have some explaining to do to Jake, Ax-man," Marco said.
My actions are justified, I responded.
"Justified?" Cassie questioned. "Elfangor was helpless when he was killed. Visser One was helpless when you killed him. You're just as bad as the Yeerks are!"
"Cassie, Ax is an Andalite," Tobias, my shorm, said. "He follows his customs. If we don't like them, it's not our business to go changing their rules."
The free Hork-Bajir came to the bridge. Most of them were ones we had freed from cages. Toby was in the front.
"These are the remaining Hork-Bajir," she said. "We are here, at your service, if you are in need."
Thank you, I answered. I looked out at the Dome ship. I saw a shuttle departing from the landing bay. They would be at the Pool ship in a few minutes.
We should wake up Jake, should we not? I asked.
Cassie went over to Jake and shook him. "Jake, the Andalites are almost here. We need you."
"Huh? What? Oh, okay," Jake said, wiping his eyes. He stood up, and surveyed the bridge. Besides the Animorphs, the free Hork-Bajir were present, as well as an unconscious War-Prince Alloran. A small group of experienced warriors.
"Ax, do you think the Andalites will give us a morphing cube?" Jake asked.
I do not know, I replied truthfully. Before my brother gave you the morphing power, only the Andalites possessed the technology. Never before have we willingly given the power to other species. I am not sure. Captain-Prince Kerrath is fair, though. If we explain, we may be able to convince him.
"Yeah, like you Andalites have ever come off your white horse," Marco muttered.
We do not have white horses. It would be-
"Ax, it was a figure of speech," Marco said. "An expression, a metaphor. Forget about it."
There was a drilling noise somewhere on the ship. It was the sound of the shuttle docking with the Pool ship, but my friends did not know that.
"What's that noise?" Rachel asked. "It sounds like someone carving a hole in the ship."
Andalite shuttle have drills in order to dock with any ship. A hole is made so that the passengers can exit, I said.
I heard the plodding as the Andalites exited the shuttle. There was a lot of stomping as they made their way towards the bridge, where we were waiting.
The Andalite warriors came in, shredders raised. Extra power cells were slung around their shoulders. Some of them looked at the Hork-Bajir with raised eyebrows. Nearly all of them got a glimpse of Alloran, who was still 'out cold', as humans would say.
Captain Kerrath came in, with four of his senior officers following him. He walked around the bridge and observed us. I felt trapped. The Andalite warriors had surrounded us, as though we were prisoners.
"Um, this doesn't look so friendly," Marco said.
"Shut up," Rachel told him.
What are these Hork-Bajir doing here? Captain Kerrath's thought-speak boomed in our heads.
They are our allies, I said politely. We could not have achieved this victory without their help. Although it was a very un-Andalite thing to say, I believe in giving credit where it is due.
Hork-Bajir as allies?! Have you forgot what they taught you in history class? Kerrath said, slightly disbelieving.
"Ax, I'll take it from here," Jake interjected. "Captain, these Hork-Bajir are part of the free Hork-Bajir colony. During the war, we have been able to free some Hork-Bajir, and they live in a hidden valley."
Why do they need to be present in this meeting? Kerrath inquired.
"Their leader, Toby Hamee, is a seer," Jake said. Toby stepped forward. "She is smarter than the average Hork-Bajir, and is as smart as any one of us. She is here to represent their interests."
As you say. This is remarkable, Kerrath said, softening the tone of his thought-speak. A few Hork-Bajir, a handful of humans, and one Andalite. Amazing. He touched the walls of the Pool ship. You have stopped the spread of the Yeerk Empire. You may have saved the galaxy. He eyed Alloran. What about the visser?
"War-Prince Alloran is no longer infested," Jake replied. "The Yeerk has been removed his head, and is being kept prisoner."
Show us the Yeerk, Kerrath ordered. I want to see Visser One in his slug form myself.
Jake looked at Marco. "Where is he?"
"Um…" Marco looked at me. "Actually, Ax killed him. Nailed him with his tail blade. We all saw it. You were sleeping."
"You killed him?!" Jake asked, his face turning red. "Without telling me?"
Andalite custom states that I must avenge my brother's death. That is all I did, I answered solemnly.
"I told you not to kill him! You were supposed to put him in a container! Why didn't any of you stop him?" Jake asked the others. They shrugged their shoulders.
Prince Jake, Aximili was following his customs. There is no need to punish him, Kerrath said.
Jake's shoulders sagged. He was beaten on that point. "Okay, whatever," he said softly.
We have transport waiting to return you to Earth, the captain said. Is there anything else you would like to tell us?
"Yes. I have promised the Taxxons a chance to acquire the morphing technology. Perhaps we could allow the remaining Yeerks to acquire it as well," Jake said.
WHAT?! Kerrath bellowed. You promised those foul species the chance to acquire Andalite technology? Absolutely not. Permission is denied.
"Sir, don't you see?" Cassie said. "The Taxxons are prisoners to their hunger. We could allow them to become nothlits, and they would no longer need food constantly. As for the Yeerks, they need the Kandrona rays. As nothlits, they would no longer need them. There would be no need to be parasites."
I refuse to give you the technology. No other species are allowed to acquire the morphing power. I will not allow it on my watch.
There was a silence. Jake and Kerrath glared at each other. The Andalites shuffled their hooves, and my human friends were whispering to each other. Toby was talking with them as well.
I could not do anything. I had disobeyed the Andalite high command before. I was not going to get myself in more trouble. Kerrath did have a point.
The humans looked at me. I looked away. I knew they were 'counting on me' to 'come through' for them, but I couldn't. Even if I wanted to, it was impossible.
Tobias walked over to Jake. "If we give in now, we're the ones on the low end of the ladder," he said to my prince. Jake nodded.
Kerrath himself looked preoccupied. The senior officers seemed to be thought-speaking privately with him. They kept looking at me. I was nervous, wondering if I was being talked about.
I will confer with my senior officers aboard my ship, Kerrath said abruptly. I may also contact the high command to determine the proper course of action. He motioned to the warriors, and they marched back to the docking ship.
The humans breathed a sigh of relief. I could tell that they had been very nervous. I was nervous as well. My arms and legs were shaking. My fur was covered in a damp sweat.
"How long will it take them to come to a decision?" Cassie asked, sweat dripping off her face.
It depends, a new voice said.
"Ax? That didn't sound like you," Jake said, looking around.
Correct. This is War-Prince Alloran-Semitur-Corrass, said my fellow Andalite, standing up, freed after years of enslavement to Visser One.
I am sorry for knocking you out, I told Alloran.
Do not be. You did what you had to do, aristh Aximili, the prince replied. Although I may be disgraced forever by my actions on the Hork-Bajir home world, as well as being the only Andalite to be taken alive by the Yeerks, I will help you. He swiveled his stalk eyes to Jake. Jake, out of all his many enemies, Visser One feared you the most. I have seen your leadership, and you are to be respected. As long as time permits, I am yours to command. He bowed his head down.
"Um…thanks," Jake said hesitantly. "Anyways, what were you saying about the Andalite high command?"
It will depend on many things, Alloran said. Many years have passed since I last saw my planet, so my assumptions may not be correct. I knew Captain-Prince Kerrath when we were both arisths. He is a very logical and impartial person. Our best chance lies with him. The Andalite high command is nothing more than a bunch of politicians. I suspect that they would revolt at the idea of giving other species the power to morph.
"Great," Marco muttered.
"How long will it take?" Jake asked.
I do not know, Alloran answered. We will have to wait and see. If I remember Kerrath, it may take some time. He always thinks carefully before arriving to a decision.
"Yeah, well, he didn't seem so hot about our idea," Rachel shot back.
War changes people. When I was a young, naïve aristh, I knew nothing about war. Later on, when I became a warrior and eventually a war-prince, I became a foreigner, even to myself. The war had changed me in ways I had never known possible. Even now, as I look back, it is hard to remember what I used to be.
Receiving a transmission from the SilverBlade, I told Jake.
"Put it on the viewscreen," Jake replied.
Captain Kerrath appeared. He appeared unhappy. That could be good or bad. During my time on Earth, I learned that rarely does something have only one meaning. That made me wary of drawing conclusions hastily.
Greetings, he began. I have considered all- His eyes flickered in Alloran's. Alloran? Is that you? he said wonderingly.
Yes, old friend, it is I, Alloran said, tears forming in his eyes. I am free, at last. You do not know how terrible it is to be enslaved. Many times I thought I would never see this day, but the gods have smiled on me.
I am happy for you, Kerrath said politely. He was impatient. We can talk later. At the moment, I am here to deliver my orders. After considering both sides' arguments, I sought advice from the Andalite high command.
Jake ran his hands through his hair. "Twenty bucks I can tell you what his orders are," Marco hissed. There was a hint of sarcasm in his voice.
Aristh Aximili-Esgarrouth-Isthill is hereby elevated to the rank of War-Prince. War-Prince Aximili will be provided with an undetermined number of Escafil Devices which he will use as he sees fit. Transport will arrive in five minutes. The screen went black.
Prince? I was a prince? A few minutes ago, I had been a lowly aristh. Now I was a war-prince, the highest rank in the Andalite military. I didn't know what to say.
Congratulations, Prince, Alloran said, raising his tail over his head. I brought my tail up, and our blades touched.
"I guess you don't need to call me your prince anymore," Jake said. I believed he was joking. Human humor is a very hard concept to grasp.
I looked out the window of the Pool ship. The shuttle had left the Dome ship and was nearly docked with us. It would be time to return to Earth.
"Alloran, would you like to come with us?" Tobias asked gently.
Thank you, but I would rather stay with my fellow Andalites. I would like to speak to my family as soon as possible, Alloran said.
War-Prince Alloran, we have such a device, I blurted.
He turned his face towards me. How? You have broken the law of Serrow's Kindness! It can't be! he said, astonished.
"It was the only way to contact the Andalite home world," Jake spoke up. "I think the Andalites wouldn't mind."
I will go with you, then, Alloran said, straightening up. The captain will probably interrogate me for many days. It would be difficult to speak with my family. Yes, I will go with you to Earth.
With that, the war-prince turned and walked towards the docking bay. I followed, along with the rest of the Animorphs and the free Hork-Bajir.