TITLE: "Adventures in Clubbing"

AUTHOR: Doctor Strangelove (strangelove317@hotmail.com)
RATING: PG-13
SPOILERS: Um, I don't know. No particular spoilers. Visser Three is still Visser Three.
FEEDBACK: I'd love it.
DISCLAIMER: K. A. Applegate owns the Animorphs.

"Adventures in Clubbing"

Written by: Doctor Strangelove

"Huh." I heard my voice say. Then I collapsed to the floor. My legs didn't seem to work anymore.

Oh God. I thought. I couldn't look down. I wanted to, but I couldn't. Fucking Esthrill. I had to look down. Had to make sure it was really happening. Had to make sure that blood was mine.

Because I couldn't tell if the Andalite had really sliced me open. I couldn't feel it. Shouldn't it hurt? Shouldn't I be in blinding pain.

And then I remember, the surgery. The Yeerks. The same process that made me so powerful, it numbed nerve endings. I couldn't feel pain anymore. Then why couldn't I stand?

The blood, I realized. I'm losing too much blood. Not so invincible after all. But the metal was blocking a lot of the blood. I was gonna die slow. God, I'm gonna die and I won't even feel it.

And then I was looking down. My head jerked. I did it. I could move my head! My hands, my head, my eyes, they were all mine again. Esthrill was trying to get out. He was trying to save his own sorry ass. I gave a weak laugh.

"But you can't, can you?" I mumbled.

What? The Andalite turned to me.

I looked up at him and laughed. "He's trying to leave. But he can't. The process they did, he can leave my brain, but he can't leave my head." I laughed again as I remember the song "Hotel California." "You can check out, but you can never leave." I sang.

Then I remember the Andalite. He had said Marco, hadn't he? He had called the one I killed Marco. That's an odd name for an Andalite.

Then I saw him.

The Andalite I had killed, he wasn't dead. He wasn't an Andalite either. It was Marco.

Jake's friend. The kid I had been "dating", more like seducing into a life of enslavement. Actually, I guess I was doing the dating, and Esthrill was seducing. Using me.

"So," I chuckled. Getting gutted was turning out to be a funny thing. "I did hear that right." Marco just stared at me. "Heh, well they were right after all."

"Who?" He asked quietly.

"Oh, the Yeerks." I explained. "They know you're human. Well, they have suspicions. But don't worry, your secret's safe with me." I giggled at my little joke.

Marco stared at me before asking, "Tom, are you okay?"

"Oh, I'm super, thanks for asking! Actually, I think I've lost a little blood. S'making me all crazy."

I laughed again and continued to hum "Hotel California." Finally Marco came forward and kneeled down next to me. "Tom, I'm-"

"Don't apologize." I cut him off. "Don't. It's not your fault. I guess technically it's his," I pointed to the Andalite and giggled. "but blame's not important. It's not even that sad. I died a long time ago." I laughed and then started coughing. Blood spurted out of my mouth and landed on my chest. "Now, that can't be good."

Marco looked like he was trying to avoid my eyes while also trying to avoid my gaping wound. "Tom, about the Yeerks. Their plan, the one that made you strong."

"Oh, you know about it? You decoded the disk? Well good for you. Kudos! What about it?"

"How do we stop it?"

"Stop it? Oh, there's codes, somewhere. But then there's me. When this body dies, this whole experiment goes with it." I started to laugh when I suddenly flashed on a memory of Esthrill's. "Oh shit."

"What is it?"

"This building. The labs are beneath this building. When I die, this building's gonna blow." I smiled at Marco. "I guess that means you should leave."

"Tom, we ca-"

And then Esthrill was back. I guess he had given up on trying to escape. He looked up at Marco and the Andalite with utter contempt. "You think you've won?" I heard my voice come out harsh and bitter. "You think this victory, my death, that they mean anything? When He comes. When my Master gets here," Esthrill laughed using my body. "Oh, you'll wish I killed you all."

And then I used my last ounce of strength to give Marco one last message, "Go! You don't have time."

"Tom..."

"GO!"

And they left. And I was alone. "So, I guess it's just you and me, buddy." I said to the hellspawn inhabiting my head. And then, I thought I saw... Could that be...? No, I must be seeing things. Things were starting to fade in and out. There was no bright light. Just... darkness. Things were getting very dark and

To reviewers: Jinako-chan: Tom's freaky killing ability is officially gone. Yep, it was Tom that dies. I guess it was pretty obvious all along. Why, does Ax kill Tom in Threads of Fate? 'Cause that would suck. I think Ax and Tom would've gotten along. Hey, maybe in some parallel universe, Tom survived and they became friends. Actually, I've changed my mind. It's gone back to three. I had two fics that would kinda fit in, but they would also mean that all six of the Animorphs would be gay. Which, while neat, it pretty damn unlikely. Hell, I'm pushing it with three. I was listening to "Mrs." whilst writing this. And only one chapter left, I think I'm gonna cry.

BurrowedLurker: *hugs back* Thank you.

Myst: I was waiting for someone to mention the Everworld reference. I have since seen the Matrix. And the sequel. Both were very good. Um, Jeffrey is a meat cleaver. He originated when in one of Jinako-chan's fics, she said not to attack her with meat cleavers for her characterization of Ax. Thus, Jeffrey was born. He's not for attacking though, just cleaving meat. He did attack, he just quipped first. Villains do that. Yes, poor Ax. But he'll get his chance to "experiment" soon enough.

Myself: A speaking suspicion, eh? What exactly is it? Maybe the wings will show up somewhere else. In fact, I guarantee they will.

Lisa-Ann: Yes, he will. In fact, he just did.

Aqua Rhapsody: Sadly, I have to go with the less fun, dramatic ending. Although that one would be really neat.

Black Goddess: Jason Montoya is based off a guy I know, a close friend of mine. I was too lazy to come up with a new name though.